A Backwards Fairy Tale

Once upon a time in a fancy castle on a faraway land, there lived a beautiful, but miserable girl named Cindy. She was a kind, gentle soul, so she didn’t mind having to do all of the household chores.

In this castle, she lived with a mean old lady, who was her stepmother, and the stepmother’s two bratty older daughters. The younger of the two, Buttercup, dreamed of becoming a princess and would constantly give Cindy barking orders, emulating her mother. Blossom, the older step-sibling, also longs to be a princess, but unlike Buttercup, she is very kind to and extremely close with Cindy.

One day, the family received separate invitations to a party. But not just any party; this one was held by the prince of this glorious land. Of course Cindy wanted to go, but, before she could, her stepmother insisted she do the dishes. They had plenty of time, she told her, so it could be out of the way before it was time to leave.

A considerable amount of time later, Cindy rushed to the foyer where her stepmother and stepsisters were waiting for Cindy to get done.

“I finished all the dishes, mother, just like you asked me to,” said Cindy. “May I please get ready to go with you now? Please, please, please?” she begged as she got to her knees.

“Get up. Get up,” the stepmother urged, clearly embarrassed. “Of course you can come with us…”

“MOOOOOOM!” Buttercup whined.
 

“Buttercup, let me finish,” the stepmother groaned between gritted teeth. “Gosh. You can come, after you clean the floor."

“That’ll be easy,” Cindy said to herself.

“With this toothbrush,” As the stepmother handed her the toothbrush, Cindy froze with shock.  

Meanwhile, Buttercup and Blossom were arguing over who the prince will fall in love with between the two of them. “The prince is so gonna fall in love with me,” Buttercup said haughtily.

“You just wanna marry him for his money,” Blossom countered.

“Why do you wanna marry him, then?”

“Because he’s perfect for me.”

“Now, now, let’s not be too hasty,” the stepmother coaxed. “Let’s do last minute inspection.”


As Cindy scrubbed the floors with her toothbrush, the others were about to leave.

“Cindy, since you’re staying home,” the stepmother said on her way out, “you might as well clean the whole house. Bye.”

“It’s okay, Cindy. The prince would never have fallen in love with you anyway,” Buttercup shot, “but we’re wearing the shoes you made us, and that’s the closest you’ll ever get to being there.”

“You don’t have to clean my room, Cindy,” Blossom told her stepsister. “Oh, and I’ll tell you all about the ball. See ya.”

“Yeah, see ya,” Cindy replied without looking up.

Hours later, her hand was starting to cramp up and her back was killing her, and she was not even halfway finished. She nonetheless took a short break, but not without expressing her complaints.

“Why does this house have to be so big?” Cindy shouted. “I just wanna go to the ball! I wish I could go to the ball.” After saying this, she laid on the floor and started crying. However, she stopped when she noticed a dainty figure floating in front of her.

“Is that what you wish?” the figure asked with a warm accent and pleasing voice.

“W-w-who are you?” Cindy queried.

“Why, I’m your fairy godmother,” she told Cindy. “Now, do you wish to go the ball?”

“Yes, I do!”

“Okay, then. Just hold still.” As the fairy godmother waved her wand, magic sparkles emanated from it and surrounded Cindy, turning from a servant looking girl to a princess look-alike. She rushed to the mirror to view her transformation; her hair was curled into a bun, she had glamorous make-up on, was dressed in a pink, sparkly gown with a matching tiara, and on her feet were matching high heels.

“I look so beautiful,” Cindy gushed. “Thank you! Thank you so much!” She then wrapped the fairy godmother around her arms.

“No problem, dearie,” she replied. “Oh, and one more thing: you have to be home by midnight. That’s when the magic wears off."

“Yeah, yeah. Whatever,” Cindy said as she ran for the party.


It was a grand old party and a fun time was had by all. Well, except for the prince, who was looking for a woman pretty enough to elope. He walked around mopingly with his servant and best friend, Jeffery.

“Jeffery, none of these girls are what I’m looking for,” the prince said to Jeffery.

“Sir, what about that girl over there?” Jeffery replied while pointing over to Buttercup, who, with Blossom, was performing a rather unusual and inappropriate dance technique.

“Hello, Prince,” Buttercup greeted as he and Jeffery walked over to her and Blossom, “I’m Buttercup.”

“Pleasure to meet y-“ The prince was cut short by the sudden appearance of Cindy, who was sitting over at a table, exhausted from untranslatable ‘dancing’. “I gotta go.” 

“Sir, where are you going?” Jeffery called as the prince made his way to Cindy.

“I guess you’ll do for now,” Buttercup said as she pulled Jeffery to her.

The prince, on the other hand, was overcome by Cindy’s sheer beauty. It had been two seconds before he could actually speak. “Hello there,” he greeted.

“Hi,” Cindy meekly replied.

“Would you like to dance?” he asked.

“I don’t know how to dance.”

“I could teach you,” the prince offered. At that moment, Cindy looked up at the clock and noticed there were four minutes to midnight. 

Remembering the fairy godmother’s advice, she slowly backed away to the door. “I really better be going,” she said shyly.

“But we’ve only just met,” the prince coaxed.

“It was nice meeting you.” As Cindy walked away, she left one of her heels on the floor.

“Wait, what’s your name?” The prince didn’t realize it until he found and picked up the shoe. “Your shoe!” he called.


The next day, the prince and Jeffery searched the house of every young woman who attended the party. Whoever would fit the shoe was the one the prince was in love with that night. Alas, no one thus far fitted the shoe.

At a certain castle, Jeffery called out the occupants.

“I have a really bad feeling about this,” the prince said aside to Jeffery.

“Don’t worry, sir,” Jeffery replied. “We might have a lucky one this time.” As soon as Blossom, Buttercup, and Cindy entered the room (barefoot) with their mother following them, Jeffery sat the three girls down and had them try on the shoe one by one.

As Jeffery did this, the prince watched jealously, wondering why he appointed Jeffery to be the footsman of this caper in the first place.  

Unfortunately, Buttercup’s feet were too small, while Blossom’s were too big. Finally, when it was revealed that Cindy fitted the shoe perfectly, Jeffery felt like a huge weight had been lifted off his shoulders. “The shoe fits, sir!” he exclaimed in relief.

“That’s impossible,” the stepmother blurted out. “Cindy didn’t go to the ball.”

“Ma’am, ladies, Jeffery, please leave,” The prince ordered. The four obeyed and exited the room. “Well, then, I believed I asked for your name last night,” he said to Cindy. “What is it?”

“Cindy. My name’s Cindy,” she replied.

“Well, uh…. Cindy. I’d really like to marry you,” the prince said as he got on one knee and revealed a silver diamond ring. “What do you say?”

Cindy felt honored, but she didn’t want the luxuries of a princess. “I’m sorry, but I can’t marry you.”

“But why not?”

“You’re very sweet and handsome, but I don’t wanna be a princess, but I know someone who would.” She left the room and, a few moments later, reemerged with Blossom in tow.

“Hello, prince,” Blossom said as she bowed.

“No need to bow, dear,” the prince told her as he got on one knee and pulled out the ring. “Will you marry me?”

Blossom went wide-eyed with excitement. “Yes, yes, YES!” she exclaimed as she jumped up and down before giving the prince a big hug. At that moment, Buttercup and her mother, along with Jeffery, fell through the unlocked door and gave no indication that they didn’t hear everything.

“So prince, where are Once upon a time in a fancy castle on a faraway land, there lived a beautiful, but miserable girl named Cindy. She was a kind, gentle soul, so she didn’t mind having to do all of the household chores.

In this castle, she lived with a mean old lady, who was her stepmother, and the stepmother’s two bratty older daughters. The younger of the two, Buttercup, dreamed of becoming a princess and would constantly give Cindy barking orders, emulating her mother. Blossom, the older step-sibling, also longs to be a princess, but unlike Buttercup, she is very kind to and extremely close with Cindy.

One day, the family received separate invitations to a party. But not just any party; this one was held by the prince of this glorious land. Of course Cindy wanted to go, but, before she could, her stepmother insisted she do the dishes. They had plenty of time, she told her, so it could be out of the way before it was time to leave.

A considerable amount of time later, Cindy rushed to the foyer where her stepmother and stepsisters were waiting for Cindy to get done.

“I finished all the dishes, mother, just like you asked me to,” said Cindy. “May I please get ready to go with you now? Please, please, please?” she begged as she got to her knees.

“Get up. Get up,” the stepmother urged, clearly embarrassed. “Of course you can come with us…”

“MOOOOOOM!” Buttercup whined.
“Buttercup, let me finish,” the stepmother groaned between gritted teeth. “Gosh. You can come, after you clean the floor."

“That’ll be easy,” Cindy said to herself.

“With this toothbrush,” As the stepmother handed her the toothbrush, Cindy froze with shock.  

Meanwhile, Buttercup and Blossom were arguing over who the prince will fall in love with between the two of them. “The prince is so gonna fall in love with me,” Buttercup said haughtily.

“You just wanna marry him for his money,” Blossom countered.

“Why do you wanna marry him, then?”

“Because he’s perfect for me.”

“Now, now, let’s not be too hasty,” the stepmother coaxed. “Let’s do last minute inspection.”


As Cindy scrubbed the floors with her toothbrush, the others were about to leave.

“Cindy, since you’re staying home,” the stepmother said on her way out, “you might as well clean the whole house. Bye.”

“It’s okay, Cindy. The prince would never have fallen in love with you anyway,” Buttercup shot, “but we’re wearing the shoes you made us, and that’s the closest you’ll ever get to being there.”

“You don’t have to clean my room, Cindy,” Blossom told her stepsister. “Oh, and I’ll tell you all about the ball. See ya.”

“Yeah, see ya,” Cindy replied without looking up.

Hours later, her hand was starting to cramp up and her back was killing her, and she was not even halfway finished. She nonetheless took a short break, but not without expressing her complaints.

“Why does this house have to be so big?” Cindy shouted. “I just wanna go to the ball! I wish I could go to the ball.” After saying this, she laid on the floor and started crying. However, she stopped when she noticed a dainty figure floating in front of her.

“Is that what you wish?” the figure asked with a warm accent and pleasing voice.

“W-w-who are you?” Cindy queried.

“Why, I’m your fairy godmother,” she told Cindy. “Now, do you wish to go the ball?”

“Yes, I do!”

“Okay, then. Just hold still.” As the fairy godmother waved her wand, magic sparkles emanated from it and surrounded Cindy, turning from a servant looking girl to a princess look-alike. She rushed to the mirror to view her transformation; her hair was curled into a bun, she had glamorous make-up on, was dressed in a pink, sparkly gown with a matching tiara, and on her feet were matching high heels.

“I look so beautiful,” Cindy gushed. “Thank you! Thank you so much!” She then wrapped the fairy godmother around her arms.

“No problem, dearie,” she replied. “Oh, and one more thing: you have to be home by midnight. That’s when the magic wears off."

“Yeah, yeah. Whatever,” Cindy said as she ran for the party.


It was a grand old party and a fun time was had by all. Well, except for the prince, who was looking for a woman pretty enough to elope. He walked around mopingly with his servant and best friend, Jeffery.

“Jeffery, none of these girls are what I’m looking for,” the prince said to Jeffery.

“Sir, what about that girl over there?” Jeffery replied while pointing over to Buttercup, who, with Blossom, was performing a rather unusual and inappropriate dance technique.

“Hello, Prince,” Buttercup greeted as he and Jeffery walked over to her and Blossom, “I’m Buttercup.”

“Pleasure to meet y-“ The prince was cut short by the sudden appearance of Cindy, who was sitting over at a table, exhausted from untranslatable ‘dancing’. “I gotta go.” 

“Sir, where are you going?” Jeffery called as the prince made his way to Cindy.

“I guess you’ll do for now,” Buttercup said as she pulled Jeffery to her.

The prince, on the other hand, was overcome by Cindy’s sheer beauty. It had been two seconds before he could actually speak. “Hello there,” he greeted.

“Hi,” Cindy meekly replied.

“Would you like to dance?” he asked.

“I don’t know how to dance.”

“I could teach you,” the prince offered. At that moment, Cindy looked up at the clock and noticed there were four minutes to midnight. 

Remembering the fairy godmother’s advice, she slowly backed away to the door. “I really better be going,” she said shyly.

“But we’ve only just met,” the prince coaxed.

“It was nice meeting you.” As Cindy walked away, she left one of her heels on the floor.

“Wait, what’s your name?” The prince didn’t realize it until he found and picked up the shoe. “Your shoe!” he called.


The next day, the prince and Jeffery searched the house of every young woman who attended the party. Whoever would fit the shoe was the one the prince was in love with that night. Alas, no one thus far fitted the shoe.

At a certain castle, Jeffery called out the occupants.

“I have a really bad feeling about this,” the prince said aside to Jeffery.

“Don’t worry, sir,” Jeffery replied. “We might have a lucky one this time.” As soon as Blossom, Buttercup, and Cindy entered the room (barefoot) with their mother following them, Jeffery sat the three girls down and had them try on the shoe one by one.

As Jeffery did this, the prince watched jealously, wondering why he appointed Jeffery to be the footsman of this caper in the first place.  

Unfortunately, Buttercup’s feet were too small, while Blossom’s were too big. Finally, when it was revealed that Cindy fitted the shoe perfectly, Jeffery felt like a huge weight had been lifted off his shoulders. “The shoe fits, sir!” he exclaimed in relief.

“That’s impossible,” the stepmother blurted out. “Cindy didn’t go to the ball.”

“Ma’am, ladies, Jeffery, please leave,” The prince ordered. The four obeyed and exited the room. “Well, then, I believed I asked for your name last night,” he said to Cindy. “What is it?”

“Cindy. My name’s Cindy,” she replied.

“Well, uh…. Cindy. I’d really like to marry you,” the prince said as he got on one knee and revealed a silver diamond ring. “What do you say?”

Cindy felt honored, but she didn’t want the luxuries of a princess. “I’m sorry, but I can’t marry you.”

“But why not?”

“You’re very sweet and handsome, but I don’t wanna be a princess, but I know someone who would.” She left the room and, a few moments later, reemerged with Blossom in tow.

“Hello, prince,” Blossom said as she bowed.

“No need to bow, dear,” the prince told her as he got on one knee and pulled out the ring. “Will you marry me?”

Blossom went wide-eyed with excitement. “Yes, yes, YES!” she exclaimed as she jumped up and down before giving the prince a big hug. At that moment, Buttercup and her mother, along with Jeffery, fell through the unlocked door and gave no indication that they didn’t hear everything.

“So prince, where are our rooms going to be?” the stepmother asked.

Before the prince could speak, Blossom intervened. “I’m not taking you two,” she said. “You guys have been so mean to me and Cindy, so I’m taking her because she’s been more family to me than you ever were.” Cindy then whispered something in Blossom’s ear, and the latter had a sudden change of heart. “Okay, Cindy’s right. I guess I am being a bit unfair. You guys can come, but-“

“But what?” Buttercup interjected.

“You guys have to clean our house,” Cindy chimed in.

“Oh, that’ll be easy,” the stepmother said to herself.

“With this toothbrush.” As Cindy handed her stepmother the toothbrush, Jeffery and the prince tried really hard to hold back laughter.