Cinderella: A Sailor Moon Story part 4


The next morning, Usagi awoke to screaming voices. She yawnedtiredly,climbing out of bed and padding over to her dressed. She opened the topdrawer to search for her white dress, but her hand closed aroung a cool,hardobject instead. She pulled it out, staring in amazement at the glassslipperin her hand.

"It wasn't a dream," she mumbled, dumbfounded.

As the voices grew nearer, she wuickly stuffed the slipper back intoherdrawer and slammed it shut.

Her bedroom door flew open as Rei entered, followed by Beryl andAmi.

"I just know it will fit me!" she was saying excitedly.

"I'm sure it will, dear," Beryl agreed.

"What are you talking about?" Usagi asked.

"Prince Endymion's mysterious disappearing date," Ami informed her."Apparently she ran off and left only a slipper behind, so now he'sgoingfrom house to house to have all the women try it on. The one it fits ishisdream woman."

"That would be me!" Rei cried gleefully, running a comb furiouslythroughher long black hair. "I'm the one, his one."

"Uh, Rei, I saw your shoes yesterday, and they were most definitelynotglass slippers."

Rei glared at her sister. "Just because I wasn't the one wearingthem,it doesn't mean they won't fit me."

"Honestly, Rei! How can you-"

"Now, now, girls," Beryl interrupted. "There's no time to argue ifPrince Endymion is comig today. We must get ready for him." Sheclapped herhands together. "Rei, Ami, put on your best dressed. Usagi, the entirehouse needs to be spotless."

"Of course." Usagi used this as her excuse to escape the awkwardconversation. Grabbing a broom from the hall closet, she began to swepthekitchen floor. 'He's looking for me!' She stopped sweeping as arealizationhit her. 'He's not looking for me. He's looking for the woman at theballlast night, the one in the beautiful gown, the one that doesn't exist.'

Tears pooled in her eyes. 'I could never be that woman. I'llalwaysjust be me, plain, simple Usagi.'

"Usagi, get in here!" Rei screamed from her room.

Quickly wiping the tears from her eyes, Usagi left he kitchenhalf-heartedly.



"I see his carriage!" Rei squealed from her spot in front of thewindow."He's on his way here!"

"Remember, girls, to be charming and agreeable," Beryl reminded hertwodaughters.

"Mother, what about Usagi?" Rei asked, panicking.

"I sent Usagi out to pick fresh flowers for every room in thehouse," shereplied, dismissing the thought with a wave of her hand. "She'll begone forhours."

"Great idea, Mother!"

Ami only frowned at Beryl disapprovingly, who paid no attention toherreaction.

As a knock on the door sounded, Rei and Beryl exchanged nervoussmiles.Beryl opened the door. "Why, Prince Endymion, do come in," she steppedasideand curtseyed as he entered, followed by his royal administrator. Onelastman entered, holding the glass slipper up on a blue velvet pillow.

"Oh, that's mine!" Rei cried, diving for the slipper. The manholdingthe pillow threw a look of pure fear at Endymion.

"Rei, calm down!" Beryl told her. "Patience, my dear."

"Do you mind trying on the slipper?" Endymion asked Ami, who shylyshookher head. She sat down in the armchair in front of him. He signaledfor theslipper to be brought to him.

Picking up the fragile glass gingerly, Endymion slipped it on Ami'sfoot.

"The slipper is a bit too big for me," Ami murmured, the slipperbarelyhanging onto her extended foot. She had just enough time to hand itback toEndymion before Rei pulled her off the chair.

"I know it fits me!" She grabbed the slipper from him and shoved itonher foot. "It-doesn't-fit," she said in disbelief. "My feet must beswollenfrom dancing last night, she rambled, trying to sound convincing. "Holdon,I'll make it fit." Rei grabbed the slipper with both hands and trieddesperately to shove her heel into it.

"Onegai, be careful!" Endymion panicked.

"It fits!" she cried in triumph. Somehow she had managed to cramherfoot into the delicate shoe.

"It does?" Endymion stood in shock.

"Of course it..." She paused, her face turning red. "Doesn't! Ofcourse it doesn't! I can't feet my foot!" She pulled with every ounceofstrength, trying to pry the shoe off. With one final tug she succeeded,theslipper flying into the air.

Everyone watched the slipper fall in slow motion, each of themcringingas it hit the wooden floor and showered the oom with fine glass shards.

"Kami, what have I done?" Rei whispered, her hand over her mouth.

"That was my only link to her," Endymion said sadly. "I'll neverfindher now. Come, now we must go." He turned to leave with his two men,

"Gomen nasai, your highness," Rei apologized thickly.

Endymion paused. "I know you did not break it purposefully. Demo...Now I have no leads, no way of finding her." He left, the door quietlyclosing behind his men.

"Really, Rei, how could you be that clumsy!" Beryl scolded. "Theprincewill never forget this!"

"I didn't mean to!" Rei ran out of the room in tears.

"I better go check on her." Ami followed her sister.

Beryl just watched them leave, an angry scowl on her face.



Usagi sat on the bench at the top of the hill, her elbows propped uponher knees, he chin resting on her hands. A large basket of flowers satather feet.

She had been sitting there for an hour, staring at the wishing wellwitha blank look on her face. Still tired form last night's events, Usagifoundit surprising she was awake at all.

'Why didn't I just tell him it was me?' she tormented herself withthequestion over and over.

Sighing, she closed her eyes. She had a chance to shine, to be withEndymion. Then again, who's to say that the revelation would have endedinhappiness? They barely knew each other, as she pointed out to him theotherday.

"Why am I thinking about this?" she wondered aloud. "It's all overanddone with. I can't change it now."

"I know how you feel."

Usagi's heart stopped, a tiny, hopeful smile forming on her lips. Shelooked up. "It's kind of frustrating."

"I agree." Endymion replied, sinking onto the bench next to her. "Thishas not been my day."

"Did something bad happen?"

"Only something that could potentially affect my future. But don'tworry, I won't bore you with the details."

"I wouldn't have asked if I didn't care." Usagi touched hisshoulderbriefly.

He turned to her. "I was so close, Usagi, I could feel it!" herelayed."I was nearing the end of the list, but somehow it all just fell apart,bothliterally and figuratively."

"What do you mean?"

"The woman I met at the ball... We were connecting on every level,butshe ran off at midnight. All that was left was a glass slipper on thestairs."

Usagi gasped. So that's what happened to the other slipper!

"I decided to find her by finding the woman whose foot fit in theslipper. Unfortunately, the last house I went to saw the last of theonlyclue I had. The slipper fell and shattered on the floor."

"It did?" Usagi had a troubled looked on her face.

Noticing this, Endymion told her quickly, "I knew you didn't want tobeburdened by my trouble."

"Iie, it's all right." She grabbed his hand when he started to getup.He sat back down.

"I just can't believe this is happening," he moaned.

"Was she really that special?" Usagi asked hesitantly.

"Hai, she was. She was sweet, beautiful, caring... And I'll neverseeher again."

"You don't know that."

"I think I do." He closed his eyes, leaning back against the bench.

"Oh, but you don't."

When Endymion opened his eyes, he thought he was hallucinating.

Usagi held the tiny glass slipper out to him, watching his faceintently.

"Am- am I dreaming? Where did you find that?" he wanted to know.

Taking a deep breath she answered, "It's mine."

"Iie, it belongs to..." Endymion stopped. "It was you?" hewhispered.

"It was," she confessed, looking down.

He lifted her chin and kissed her unexpectedly. Pulling back, hesearched her wide eyes.

"I don't... understand," she murmured.

"Then let me clarify. I knew there was something familiar about youatthe ball. I just don't know why I didn't realize that it was you, theonlyperson who understands me, who listens to me, who likes me for me andnot mytitle. You are so wonderful. Iie, I mean it," he knelt down in frontof herwhen she turned away.

"I didn't tell you who I was," she choked out, on the verge oftears.

"I think a part of me knew." He glanced over at the wishing well. "CanI tell you something?" When she didn't answer he continued. "I wantedit tobe you."

"Nani?"

He laughed. "Is that so hard to believe? I've been wishing all mylifefor someone, a person to talk to, laugh with, basically someone to love. Andthen I met you. You were everything I needed and more."

"If you keep talking like that, I might just fall in love with you,"Usagi joked.

"That's what I'm hoping for." Endymion scooped Usagi into his armsandshowered her with kisses.



"Ungrateful little wretch!" Rei fumed, stomping around the kitchen. Shewas helping Ami make dinner. "Four days! For four days she's beengone!When she shows up finally, she'll wish she had stayed away."

"You never did like her much," Ami pointed out, buttering the frenchbread expertly. "And it doesn't kill you to do work either."

"Oh, who asked you?" Rei grumbled.

The girls were startled out of their argument by a knock at thedoor.

"I'll get it!" Rei ran to the entranceway, followed by a curiousAmi.Flinging the door open, Rei's eyes narrowed.

"Usagi, you're back!" Ami clapped her hands together in delight.

"Where the hell have you been?" Rei demanded.

"I know I've been gone for a while, but I have a good reason," Usagibegan as Rei pulled her into the house.

"I don't want to hear your excuses!"

"But it's not-"

"What is going on?" Beryl asked in irritation, walking up to thegroup."Usagi, you finally bless us with your presence."

"Hai, Stepmother," she answered. "I have some news-"

"Nonsense!" Rei interrupted. "She's just trying to get herself outoftrouble!"

"Must you always think the worst of everyone?" Ami accused hersister."I'm sure her reason is plausible-"

"Sure, take her side over your own blood relative, your realsister."

"That's not what-"

"Girls, stop arguing!" Beryl commanded, being ignored by bothdaughters.

"I have something to say," Usagi began. She wasn't heard over theirarguing. "I have something to-" she spoke louder. Growling infrustrationshe screamed, "Shut up!"

Everyone stopped talking and looked at her.

"Much better. Now, I have something to say."

"Later, tell us later," Beryl clipped impatiently. "Right now youcan gofix us some tea."

"And I need my new dress altered," Rei added.

"Iie," Usagi murmured.

"What was that?" Beryl wanted to know.

"I said, I'm not going to do those things."

"Nani?" they stared at her in disbelief.

"I am moving out," she announced in a tone of finality.

"Demo... You can't!" Rei sputtered. "Who's going to do all thechores?"

"You got along fine without me for four days. I think you'llmanage,"Usagi answered wryly.

"Why are you moving out?" Ami asked.

"I got married."

"Married?" Beryl and Rei screeched together.

"That's wonderful!" Ami enveloped her stepsister in a hug.

"That's preposterous!" Rei exploded. "Who would want to marry her?"

"Rei, you're so rude!"

"My husband is outside waiting for me," Usagi told them. "I toldhim Ijust had to pack my belongings really fast-"

Before she could finish her sentence, they rushed out the door tosee herhusband. All three gasped at the man before them.

"Nani? Oh, I get it. It's a joke," Rei chuckled uneasily.

"It's no joke," Usagi corrected from behind. She stepped aroundthem andover to her husband, who took her hand in his.

"Usagi?" Ami wondered, confused.

"Ladies, I would like to introduce you to my wife, my princess, yourfuture queen," Endymion announced grandly, kissing Usagi's handtenderly.

"Iie, you can't be married," Rei refused to believe. "I wassupposed tobe queen!"

"Gomen for bursting your bubble, dear, but it will never happen,"Usagismiled sweetly.

"Now wait a minute..." Rei growled.

"I am so happy for both of you!" Ami put in quickly.

"I knew you would be, Ami. That is why we invite you to visit us atthecastle whenever your heart desires."

"Arigato for the invitation! I'll visit often."

"What about us?" Beryl gestured to Rei and herself.

"Oh, both of you can have a lovely view of the castle when you passby inyour carriage. We must be on our way now," she turned away from astupefiedBeryl and Rei and a giggling Ami. "I'll send a servant for my things."

She climbed into the silver carriage, followed by Endymion. Hepaused onthe step. Turning back, he bowed to them. He climbed into thecarriage, andit drove away.



That night as the couple prepared for bed, Usagi sat deep inthought,absently brushing her golden mane.

"There's my beautiful wife," Endymion smiled as he entered the room.

"I like that word," she murmured as he came up and kissed her cheek.

"You'll have an entire lifetime to get used to it." He noticed herdistance. "Doushita no?"

"Nani? Oh, I'm just thinking... Was I too hard on my family?"

"They treated you like a slave," he pointed out. "They deserve nokindness from you."

"But they're still family," Usagi argued. She sighed. "I want tomakeeveryone happy."

"I know you o. You have such a big heart. It's not your fault theycan't see it."

"I guess you're right." She climbed into bed. "It's been such atryingday."

Endymion climbed in next to her. "That it was," he agreed. "Butit'sover."

"Thank Kami." Settling into his arms she mumbled tiredly, "How didI getso lucky finding you?"

"It wasn't luck. I wished for you."

"Nani?"

"I'd seen you a few times at the wishing well," he confessed. "Youwereso content by yourself that I didn't want to disturb you. But afterseeingyou that often, I decided that I had to meet you. Best decision I evermade."

"What about proposing?" Usagi asked, her eyes shining.

"That was also a good decision."

"I agree." Usagi pulled him closer and clasped his hands in hers."Aishiteru, my prince," she murmured sleepily as her eyes slowly closed.

"Aishiteru, my Usa-ko," he returned softly, his lips brushing acrossherforehead. "Sleep well, fair princes."


Fin


-----------Did it end all right? What did you think? Feedback, people! Keeps memotivated. Ja ne!

~Sailor Grape~

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"Seems to me that's how all things are,
Given and taken little pink stars."
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Go back to Part 3