Time passed quickly and soon it was the day before the ball. I had been kept busy with work from my stepmother and had yet to ask if I could go to the ball as well. I had already picked a dress and done everything except for ask for permission to go. So, I set off to find my stepmother.

Even though I could normally find my stepmother in an instant, today she was nowhere in sight. I had checked the drawing room, the dining room, her bedroom, and even the stables, but she was gone. I desperately wanted to go to the ball and I wasn't sure what I would do if she said no. Not only would I be committing treason, but I wouldn't be able to see Anthony either.

I walked into the kitchen feeling defeated. No matter where I had checked, I hadn't found her. I went and leaned against a counter when I realized that someone else was in the room. To be more specific, my stepmother was in the room.

"Have you finished all your work?" She asked. I nodded.

"Speak up. You aren't mute are you" she snarled.

"Yes, ma'am" I quickly said.

"Good. Now I suppose you've heard that it's treason if you don't attend the ball" she said.

"Yes, ma'am" I said.

"Don't interrupt me when I'm speaking" she yelled. Yet what she had said demanded an answer. I didn't bother to point that out though.

"Yes ma'am" I said barely holding back a sigh.

"I suppose I have to let you go to the ball then, but you have to find your own way there, your own dress, shoes, everything else, and you have to complete every chore I give you tomorrow. Understand?" She asked.

"Yes, ma'am" I said resisting the urge to start squealing. I was allowed to go to the ball. I'd be able to see Anthony again. I'd be able to get out of the house. I'd be able to have fun for a night.

"Good" my stepmother said and then she left the room without another word. As soon as she was gone, I ran to Laney's room. I opened the door and saw her and Lele sitting on Laney's bed talking to each other. Before I entered the room, I checked for my stepmother. She wasn't anywhere nearby, so I ran into the room and flopped onto the bed.

"What's got you in such a good mood?" Lele teased.

"I get to go to the ball" I squealed.

They both joined me in screaming about the good news. Laney even went as far as to start jumping on her bed. We finally calmed down and Lele asked "There's some sort of condition, isn't there?"

"In order to go, I need to get there on my own and complete every single chore that she gives me tomorrow. If I can't, then I don't get to go" I said.

"Knowing her she'll load you down with so many chores that you won't be able to finish before the ball" Lele said.

"I may have found something that will free all of us from her control, but I still have a bit more research to do before I can be certain" Laney informed us.

"Will you be able to figure it out by tomorrow?" Lele asked.

"I'll try, but I can't promise anything" Laney said.

"I have a feeling she'll do anything to keep Cinderella away from the ball" Lele stated.

"I'll be able to do it. I'll do anything if it means that I get to go to the ball" I resolved.

"And we'll do anything to get you there" both of my sisters promised.

I know it's short, but it's just here to lead into the next part. After all, there needs to be some understanding of why her workload changes from almost impossible to completely impossible. So, this story is reaching it's end and will probably be finished within the next ten chapters more or less. I'm glad all the random people reading this decided to read this story and , I'm glad you were pretty much forced to read this story by me. Just kidding...kind of. Till next note

P.S. This story will end, but my love for pandas will continue