Once upon a time there was a mean wicked stepmother called Callisto. She had three of her own daughters and also a stepdaughter named Cindergabby. They called her that because ever since she came to live with them all she did was talk. The wicked stepmother and her daughters were so fed up with her they would not let her sleep in one of the bedrooms so she would cuddle up each night in the cinders of the fireplace to keep warm. Each night she would dream of a prince in shining white armour who would come and rescue her from this drab, dreary life. She did not know his name but she knew one day he would come and she would be free of her wicked stepmother and her three even more wicked stepsisters.
One day as she was sweeping the floor for the umpteenth time there was a strange sound outside the door. It was the Royal Town Crier. His voice was loud enough to be heard all over the country. The king was having a royal ball and he especially wanted single ladies to attend. His son, the Prince of Warriors was going to choose a bride for himself at this ball.
Cindergabby was excited. This would be her moment! She knew her prince was here and all she had to do was to make herself a dress for the ball. But where could she find the material? And when would she find the time to do this since her stepmother and sisters kept her so busy? She was determined to find the time even if she had to stay up all night sewing when they were asleep.
Her stepmother, now a widow and therefore single, and her stepsisters were almost beside themselves trying to get ready for the ball. They scurried here and they scurried there. The scurried all over and in the process they would not leave Cindergabby alone.
"Over here, Cindergabby. Here there is some dust on the window ledge."
"Over here, Cindergabby. My shoes need dying to match my dress."
"Over here, Cindergabby. This corset has to be made tighter so I can wear my dress."
"No, no, over here, Cindergabby. Sew up this seam for me."
Cindergabby did not know which way to go. She was wanted by four mean, cruel people who did not care about her at all. "Scrub the floors!" "Do the dishes!" "Make my dress!" "Clean my jewelry!" "Over here!" "Over there!" "Do this!" "Do that!" Oh, she was so tired and every evening she would pick up the leftover materials and try to make herself a dress, but it was no use. She could not put the bits and pieces together. She was so tired, she would fall asleep on the floor, only to be awakened by one of her sisters, tripping over her. Cindergabby was so exhausted, she would just crawl away to get out of the way. Finally the big night came.
The sisters walked around the room, practising how they would address the prince. Cindergabby watched them with envy. She had not been able to even make herself a dress. Besides that she felt that the cinder dust on her would never come off and she would always look like a dirty little tramp.
Callisto was very proud of her daughters. They looked so beautiful, at least to her. She thought that if the prince did not want an older woman, at least he would become her son-in-law and she would live off his wealth for the rest of her life. The four women finally left. Cindergabby was alone. She sat down on the floor and cried and cried.
"Why is life so mean to me? What did I do to deserve this? Why can't I get a break?" She said to herself through her tears. Then she heard a voice.
"Your time is now little one." Cindergabby looked up and there stood a tall dark haired woman, dressed in a short leather outfit with some armor on. She had a round thing at her side and a sword in a sleeve on her back.
"Who on earth or anywhere else are you?"
"I'm your fairy godmother, Xena, little one."
"Dressed like that? You've got to be kidding! You look like a, well, I'm not sure what you look like, but it sure isn't my fairy godmother."
"Well, I wasn't sure what a fairy godmother should wear when I applied for the job. I've been looking all over for a calling on my life, but I don't know what to do. I did like this outfit though. I thought I'd try this gig for a change. I've been watching you and I will give you the desires of your heart, at least for one evening that is."
"But how can you do that? I'm so dirty and I don't have any clothes to wear. Besides that I don't even have anything to go to the ball in. I tried to make a dress, but it just didn't work. I tried to clean myself up, but that didn't work either. I tried ..." but Xena interrupted her.
"OK, OK, now I know whey they call you Gabby. Goodness, what do you think I am doing here? That's my purpose. I'm supposed to do all that. Now just stand still. I don't know if I have this down pat yet, but let me try." Xena took her sword out of the sleeve and touched Cindergabby's shoulder with it. "Now is that? No, that's for knighthood. You don't want to be a knight do you? No, I don't think so. That's when I tried to be a queen. Couldn't handle that. Now let me see." She thought a moment. "Aha, I know!" Cindergabby was curious as to what she would do next. She was getting a bit frustrated too. Xena took the round thing, hanging from her belt, and put it on Cindergabby's head.
"Now, close your eyes. Think clean thoughts. One, two, three! Whoosh! You're clean!" Cindergabby opened her eyes and looked at herself. Her hands, her arms, her legs were clean. She had been washed clean. But what next? Xena started waving the round thing in the air. All over. Up and down and around Cindergabby.
Cindergabby could not keep up with her. She was going so fast.
"Close your eyes again." Xena told her. She closed her eyes and heard Xena chanting something. It sounded like a war cry.
"Aiaiaiaiaiaiaiaiaiaiaieeeeeeeeeea! There you go!" She opened her eyes and looked down. On her was the most beautiful ball gown she had ever seen.
"Now let's do something about that hair. Ugh, it looks terrible."
Again she placed the thing on Cindergabby's head and chanted. Her hair had a mind of it's own and formed into a beautiful style.
"Hey, I'm batting a thousand tonight. Wow! Just look at me go!" Xena obviously was thrilled too. She looked around and saw six mice scurrying along the floor. She threw her round thing at them and poof! They turned into six white horses.
"Oh boy, is my stepmother going to be mad at you. They are going to mess up this house something awful." Xena nodded. She took the first two and lead them outside. The others had to follow since they had reins on. She went over to the garden and looked at what was in it.
"Hmm. No pumpkins eh? Well, let's see what we can do. A watermelon! That will do." She threw the round thing again and it hit the watermelon and it turned into a chariot. "Well, can't expect anything else since you don't have any pumpkins."
"It's the middle of June. That's why there's no pumpkins. You expect me to ride in a chariot?"
"Oh, that's OK. I couldn't figure out how to make a driver for you, but I'll drive the thing. I always liked the ancient times. Come on. Hop in."
"Wait a minute! My feet! I have no shoes!"
"Ooops! I knew I forgot something." Xena waved her round thing over Cindergabby's feet and on them were the most beautiful glass shoes. "Hmm,. somewhat impractical, but I guess that's what this is all about. Ready to go now?" Cindergabby nodded and got on the chariot. She still wasn't too sure about this. Xena was not the best of drivers and Cindergabby felt a bit sick by the time they got there. People outside turned to look at the chariot coming up the street. Cindergabby had not had so much attention before. It was a bit overwhelming. It was also for Xena. She almost forgot the most important part.
"Cindergabby, oh let's just call you Gabby. I hate the cinder part. Gabby, you have to be home by midnight. When the clock finishes striking twelve, everything will change back into what it was."
"Oh, but why? This is my big chance. I need more time. It's now 9:30, so I only have ..."
"Gabby, quit talking and wasting time then. Get in there. I don't know why this fairy business has such a restriction. Just go!"
Cindergabby ran up the stairs into the hall. At first she was scared. She didn't know if anyone would recognize her. Maybe it was because she was all cleaned up that Callisto and her sisters didn't even know who she was. Then she saw him. He was sitting up at the top of the stairs. There was the King and his son was beside him. Joxer the Prince of Warriors. He had a weird helmet on that was pointed. His armor looked shabby, but he was her prince.
When Joxer saw her, he was stunned. He saw the most beautiful woman in the kingdom. He stood up and smiled at her. She smiled back. He started to come down the steps. He only had eyes for her. Tht's why he missed the first step and came tumbling down. His weird looking helmet flew off and he rolled down the steps and landed at her feet.
She was so surprised. He tried to get up and tripped over his sword. He fell back on the steps and just sat there staring at her. He finally found words.
"My lady. I am Joxer, Prince of Warriors and I am at your service." He stood up and took her hand and kissed it. As he did he did not have proper footing on the stair and slid back. He got up and went over to get his helmet.
"I must do something about those steps. They are far too slippery."
He looked at Cindergabby. "Dance?" She wasn't too sure about this but decided to go ahead and dance. After all, she did want a prince. He was better at dancing than he was at walking. They floated around the room together. All eyes were on her, wondering who this new lady was. It was a night she would never forget. It seemed like only minutes, but then she heard the bell tolling.
"Oh, what time is it?"
"My lady, it is midnight. I must say your skin reminds me of cream..."
"Oh, no, it can't be! Oh, dear!" Cindergabby ran off without another word to her prince. He ran after her, but she was faster. Besides he tripped over a lady's long train on her dress, or was that on purpose she tripped him? Anyway, Cindergabby got away from him. He did not even know her name. When he got to the door, all that was left of this special lady was a glass slipper on the step where it fell off and he could see a woman running down the street, but she was dressed in rags. This was not his lady. At the bottom of the stairs was a broken watermelon and six mice were scurrying away from it. A lady in a short leather outfit was watching the whole scene.
Cindergabby got home and started to cry again. She lost her prince. But then she heard Xena.
"It's OK little one. He will come again. Everything is gone except one glass show. He has that and will be looking for the wearer tomorrow. Your foot is the only one which will fit it."
"Yeah, right. I can see it now. He'll go from house to house. Are you out of your mind? He doesn't care that much about me. Besides he was a total clutz off the dance floor. He certainly won't be looking at dirty little me."
"Hey, clutz, smutz. Who cares? He is handsome and he is in love with you. Love conquers all."
"Well I don't think I want any of this stuff any more. I'm fed up with this life. I want adventure. I want to roam the countryside, helping people. Yeah, that's what I want." Just then she heard her sisters and Callisto coming home. She turned and Xena had disappeared. She ran over to the fireplace where she slept and lay there, pretending to be asleep. The women came in. All they did was complain that the prince would not dance with anyone else except one lone person. He was moody all evening until she came along. After she left, he went back to being moody and would not talk to anyone or dance with anyone. So, most of the people left. What a rip-off. Cindergabby smiled to herself.
The next morning, Cindergabby was dusting and she heard voices. They came from outside. Then there was a knock at the door. She went to answer it and then saw Xena standing beside her.
"I told you he'd come. He though, listen. If you're serious about this adventure stuff, I saw another gig. It's a princess warrior gig. I'd be the princess and you'll be my sidekick. What do you say?"
"Wait a minute." She opened the door. A royal guard was there and he told her he was looking for the woman whose foot would fit in this shoe. The sisters heard him and pushed Cindergabby aside. They invited him in and each tried the shoe. Their feet were too big.
Even Callisto tried it on. The prince came through the door. He looked at Cindergabby and realized it was her who was running away last night. He took the shoe and went over to her. He bent down and put it on her foot. It fit.
Just then Xena, who had been standing in the shadows, came out waving her round thing. Cindergabby turned back into the lady she was on the night before. Everyone gasped. She was so surprised herself, she didn't know what to do or say.
"My lady. Come with me and be my princess. I will love you forever." She looked at Joxer and then at Xena.
"Hmm, sidekick to Xena eh? I like the sounds of that. Sorry buddy, but I'm going after adventure and fun and, well, and a lot of other things. Let's get outta here, Xena." Joxer looked dismayed. He wanted his bride and she rejected him.
"Hey, this adventure stuff sounds cool. I like that idea. Can I tag along too?"
"Sure, why not. We can do with some laughs." So the three of them left the kingdom in search of adventure, fun, and well, lots of other things too. They helped a lot of people and became great friends throughout all their trials and tribulations.
The End.
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