Distribution: Angel of Mine, TPWFLD, anyone else please ask first.
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: Angel and Willow etc do not belong to me. They are the property of Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, and the WB. All characters are used without permission. No copyright infringement intended. Cinderella belongs to whoever owns it.
Feedback: Yes please!!!! I live off it! :Hint. Hint:
Summery: A new twist on an old tale.
Spoilers/Warnings: None.
< > Indicates thoughts.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
List of characters…..
Cinderella = Willow
Prince = Angel
Fairy Godmother
= Jenny
Evil Sister 1 =
Buffy
Evil Sister 2 =
Cordelia
Buttons = Xander
Father = Giles
Prince's Aid = William
a.k.a. Spike
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Once upon a time in a small village there was a beautiful young girl named Willow. She was, however, terribly lonely for recently her father Rupert had remarried and her two stepsisters Buffy and Cordelia had come to live with them. Willow had at first been looking forward to having a new family but her sisters were terribly mean towards her. They made her work as a maid and while her sisters wore lovely gowns Willow was restricted to wearing nothing more than rags. She would work hard all day only to have her sisters scorn her work. Willow had never felt so alone in her entire life.
Willow had just finished her work for the day when she heard someone approach her from behind. Turning around she saw her friend Xander walking towards her. Xander was the only true friend she had. If it were not for him she was not sure what she would do. Smiling at him Willow motioned for him to sit with her.
As Xander moved to sit down next to Willow he looked at her closely. While she was trying to appear happy on the outside Xander knew how unhappy she truly was.
"Hello Willow, how are you?"
"Oh, I'm fine Xander why do you ask?"
Looking at Willow sadly he said "Come on Willow, it's me your talking to now. You know how much I hate to see you like this. Please, tell me what's wrong."
Willow looked into Xander's eyes and knew she could not lie to him. Sighing sadly Willow said, "It's my sisters. No matter how hard I try they just don't seem to like me and I have no idea why....."
Willow trailed off and Xander knew she was close to tears. "Willow, they're just jealous of you because you're smart and beautiful and...."
Cutting him off Willow said. "If I'm so beautiful then why do all the men in the village ask my father if they can see my sisters and not me? I'll never have anyone to love or to love me."
As Xander heard Willow's words he tried to control the loathing he felt towards Buffy and Cordelia for making Willow feel this way.
"I love you Willow." Xander said in some hope of comforting his friend.
"Yes, but that is different. You love me as a brother would a sister. Just as I love you like a brother myself."
Taking Willow's hand in his he said. "Willow, those men that ask of your sisters do not do so out of love. They do so because your father is a powerful businessman, and by courting them they hope to get a position at your father's side. You are far too good for such people Willow. One day you will meet someone who loves you for who you are, not for who your father is, and on that day you will have something you sisters will never truly know.."
"And what is that?" Willow asked.
"Happiness."
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Angel walked around the palace waiting for William his valet to arrive. Looking out of one of the many windows to the village down below Angel wondered about the people hurrying about the streets going about their daily routines.
"You called for me sir?"
Angel jumped at the voice behind and turned around to face William. "How many times have I told you not sneak up on people? You'll give someone a heart attack one day my boy."
"I am dreadfully sorry sir, I did not mean to give his highness a fright. I hope that no harm was caused?"
"Knock it off William." Angel said with a small smile.
"I have no idea what you're talking about sir." William replied innocently.
"William, you may still be my valet in title but we both know you have not served in that capacity for years now."
Smiling at the prince William said. "Well, it never hurts to keep in practice, now does it?"
"I suppose not." Angel replied distracted.
Noticing this William asked. "I sense that something is troubling you and has been for some time now. Would you care to talk about it?"
Sighing Angel looked out of the window again. "It's nothing really. I just wonder sometimes what my people are like. I rule over them, but yet have ever only spoken to a handful of them at most."
"There's more, isn't there." William stated.
"Yes, I suppose there is. I have all this wealth, this beautiful house and yet I still feel..."
"Lonely." William finished for him.
"Yes, I suppose I do."
Thinking quickly William said, "Well, I think I may have a solution for you then my prince."
"Oh?" Angel said, his interest rising.
"Well, how about we hold a ball? It would be the perfect way for you to meet your subjects and you also may find a lady that takes your interest."
"That is an wonderful idea! The ball will take place a week from now, have the invitations made and send out."
"Certainly. Besides, if you don't find someone I'm sure I will!" William added laughing as he walked out the door, ignoring the look he got from his master.
***
One week later,
Willow had just arrived back from a walk with Xander to find the house a disaster. Walking up to her stepsister's room she found them running around Putting on expensive gowns and applying make-up.
Walking into the room Willow asked. "Sisters, what is going on, what is happening?"
Cordelia looked at Willow disdainfully. "If you must know there is going to be a ball held tonight at the prince's palace and we are to attend."
Willow looked down at her feet knowing that she would not be going. Looking back up at her sister Willow fought to hold back the tears that threatened to spill from her eyes.
"Oh look at that, sister." Cordelia said. "She's going to cry!"
Buffy walked over to Willow and tilted her head up so she could get a look. "She is as well! Willow, did you really think the likes of the prince would want a maid at his ball? Unless it was to clean up afterwards of course!"
Willow pulled herself out of her sister's grasp and tried to ignore their laughter.
"You my sister," Buffy said. "You will be staying at home to wash the dishes, scrub the floors and turn down the beds for us as I'm sure we will be very tired when we return."
With that Buffy and Cordelia walked out of the room still laughing and headed off to the ball.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Willow sat down in the kitchen and started to cry. "It's so unfair, why do they get to go and I not? I'm so unhappy."
All of a sudden there was a burst of light and a fairy appeared before her eyes.
"Don't cry Willow, for I am Jenny, your fairy godmother!"
Looking up at the fairy Willow wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. "I don't understand, why are you here?"
" I am here to help you my child. I have heard your cries and I know you would love to go to the ball, and now you shall!"
"But how can I go? I have only these rags to wear?"
Smiling down at Willow, Jenny waved her magic wand and suddenly Willow was wearing the most beautiful gown she had ever seen.
"Now we have settled the matter of the dress," said Jenny, " but we'll need to get you a coach. A real lady would never go to a ball on foot!"
"Quick! Get me a pumpkin!"
Willow rushed off and soon returned with a pumpkin in her arms.
Taking the pumpkin from her Jenny said, "now I need six mice to turn into horses."
Looking around Willow said, "well, we could use my friend Xander's pet mice, he keeps them in this very house."
"Perfect, bring them to me"
Willow once again rushed off and quickly returned with the mice in hand.
Bringing the mice and pumpkin outside the house Jenny once again waved her wand and turned the pumpkin into a coach and turned the mice into beautiful white horses.
"Oh fairy godmother, this is just perfect!"
"Yes, but we still need a coachman." Waving her wand again Xander suddenly appeared in a smart uniform carrying a whip.
"Xander?" Willow said walking toward him.
"He does not remember who he is my child. This is your night, enjoy it."
"Oh thank you so much! How can I ever repay you?" Willow asked once inside the coach.
"I ask for nothing in return Willow. All I wish for is you to be happy. But beware you must leave the ball at midnight and come home. For that is when the spell ends. Your coach will turn back into a pumpkin, the horses will become mice again and the coachman will turn back into Xander... and you will be dressed again in rags and wearing clogs instead of these dainty little slippers! Do you understand?"
Willow smiled. "Yes, I understand. Thank you fairy godmother."
But it was too late, Jenny had already disappeared.
***
The Ball
When Willow entered the ballroom at the palace, a hush fell. Everyone stopped in mid-sentence to admire her elegance, beauty and grace.
"Who can that be?" people asked each other. The two stepsisters also wondered who the newcomer was, for never in a lifetime, would they ever have guessed that the beautiful girl was really Willow.
Angel was talking to some of his staff when William walked up to him.
"Sir!" William said excitedly. "You must come with me at once for I have just seen the most lovely lady of all the land!"
Looking at his excited friend Angel excused himself and allowed William to lead him towards the door.
"William, do you think you are over-reacting a little? Can this lady really be that special?"
Have a look for yourself." Was all William said as he pointed to the lady in question.
Angel looked up towards the door and stood speechless looking at the beauty before him. With a small nudge from William he slowly started to cross the ballroom towards her.
Walking up to her he gently kissed her hand and introduced himself.
Willow stared at the man before her who had introduced himself as the prince and stood spellbound as he asked her to dance. Willow meekly nodded her head for fear that she would be unable to say anything. Slowly she allowed Angel to lead her to the dance floor ignoring the looks of envy around her. Looking up at him Willow lost herself in his deep brown eyes, unable to look away from him.
All throughout the evening Angel danced with Willow, trying to find out who she was.
"Who are you, fair maiden?" the Prince kept asking her.
But Willow only replied sadly. "What does it matter who I am? For you will never see me again anyway."
All of a sudden, Willow heard the sound of a clock. The first stroke of midnight! She remembered what the fairy had said, and without a word of goodbye she slipped from the Prince's arms and ran down the steps.
As Willow fled the palace she tripped and lost one of her slippers. Not bothering to pick it up Willow ran home as fast as she could, never turning back.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
After the dance Angel was approached by William.
"Sir, this slipper was found outside the palace. One the servants said they saw a beautiful girl running from here at midnight and lost it as she fell."
Taking the slipper from William, Angel said. "This slipper must belong to the girl I was dancing with. I must find her again. Here, take this slipper and try it on every girl in the land! Go now William and bring her back to me."
And with that William left the palace and began his search.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
William had just about given up any hope of finding the girl when he came across the last house in the village. After explaining the purpose of his visit, William was lead to a room where two girls were sitting.
"Good evening ladies. I understand you attended the ball last night?"
The two girls nodded their heads wondering what was going on.
"I see, well after the ball this slipper was found. It belongs to the young lady that the prince was dancing with last night and his Royal Highness has asked for the girl whose foot fits this slipper to be taken to the palace to dine with him this evening."
After much pushing and shoving Buffy sat down on a chair and held out her foot. Placing the slipper on, it became obvious that the slipper was too small. Smiling to herself Cordelia pushed Buffy aside certain that her foot would fit but alas her foot was also to big.
Sighing to himself William asked if there were any other ladies in the house just as Willow's father walked into the room unseen by the sisters.
"Any other ladies in the house?" Buffy said. "I'm afraid not...except for the servants of course."
Uncertain of what was going on Rupert made his presence known. "Excuse me sir, may I ask as to what is going on?"
Standing up William said, "Excuse the intrusion sir but the prince has asked to dine with the lady whose foot fits this slipper. Although I'm afraid I have been everywhere with no luck, and seeing that there are no more ladies in the house I feel I should leave and let you get about your business.
"What do you mean there are no more ladies in the house? What about my daughter Willow!"
"But these ladies said they were the only ones." William said confused.
Rupert looked at the girls and said, "I don't know what they having been telling you but there is one more foot to try this slipper. Girls, go and fetch you sister for me please."
"But you don't really think that Willow..."
"Bring her hear now!" Rupert said angrily at his daughters.
Willow walked into the room and recognized William as one of the prince's men.
"What is it father?" she asked.
After her father had explained William leaned down and placed the slipper on her foot. It fitted perfectly.
Looking up at Willow, William said. "If it is to the lady's liking the prince would like to have dinner with you this evening."
Nodding her had in acceptance Willow thanked William and watched as he left and headed back to tell the prince the news.
Turing to face her family her sisters suddenly burst out. "This cannot be happening. Can they not see that this awful untidy girl simply cannot have been at the ball, that the Prince ought to marry one of us! Can't they see how ugly Willow is!"
Just as Willow's father was about to say something a burst of light filled the room and Jenny appeared.
"That's enough!" she exclaimed, raising her magic wand. In a flash, Willow appeared in a splendid dress, shining with youth and beauty....Just as she had the night of the ball.
At this transformation Buffy and Cordelia's mouths dropped open while Rupert looked on proudly at his little girl.
Looking towards the Jenny, Willow found that she had already disappeared again. Smiling to herself Willow started to get ready to see the prince.
***
The palace.
Willow walked around the large drawing room admiring the paintings hanging from the walls. Turning around Willow headed back towards the prince.
"Did you enjoy your meal?" Angel asked as he handed Willow a glass of wine.
"Yes, it was wonderful. I cannot believe that you would go to such trouble for me."
"You are more than worth it." Angel said as he walked towards Willow.
"I must tell you, these paintings are most beautiful."
Taking Willow into his arms Angel said, "Not as beautiful as you Willow."
Looking up at Angel, Willow asked, "Really?"
"Yes really." Angel said suddenly turning serious. "Willow, there is something I would like to ask of you."
"What is it?" Willow asked.
Getting down on one knee and taking her hand in his Angel simply said, "Marry me?"
Willow stood looking down at Angel in total shock. Realizing that he was waiting for an answer Willow smiled at him and nearly shouted her answer at him she was so happy.
"Yes! Of course I'll marry you!"
Getting up off the floor Angel picked Willow up and twirled her around the room in happiness. Finally putting her down he looked into her eyes and saw the reflection of his own. Happiness, joy and love.
Leaning down Angel softly kissed Willow, pulling her closer to him. When the kiss was over Willow wrapped her arms around Angel and leaned her head against his chest.
<Xander was right. > She thought happily. <I did find happiness. >
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The following day Willow and prince Angel's engagement was announced. Furious at what had happened Buffy and Cordelia left the village to stay with their mother far across the land.
The happy couple was married two weeks later amid the cheers from her father, Xander, the villagers and looked down upon by Willow's fairy godmother.
....And Willow and Angel lived happily ever after.
THE END