"Oh really?" exclaimed Cinderella in ecstasy after hearing the excellent news. "I wish I could go, but.....but I'm too fat, and the dress I'm wearing is torn by the branches of the forest. I won't have time to get home and get dressed to be ready in time."
"Do not worry, my dear Cindy," said Lily LaLac. "Well, let's see what I have here to work with."
The fairy godmother mumbled as she glanced around her garden, then her eyes brightened when she spotted what she was looking for. After locating her target, which was nothing but a watermelon, the fairy godmother pointed her magic wand at it, and in the blink of an eye, the watermelon was instantly transformed into a luxurious coach, which was gilded all over with gold.
"Wow!" Cinderella, the scarecrow, Mr. Knight and the wolf exclaimed in one voice in astonishment.
Then, the fairy godmother spotted two squirrels on a pine tree. Again, with a wave of her magic wand, the squirrels turned into two horses neighing in front of the carriage.
"Now, we need a coachman," muttered Lily LaLac.
"May I have the honour of being Ms. Cinderella's coachman?" enquired Mr. Knight timidly.
"Of course, Mr. Knight, thank you so very much!" exclaimed Cinderella in joy as Lily LaLac transformed the knight's clothes into the uniform of the coach driver, with a livery all beset with gold.
"What about Cinderella's dress?" enquired the scarecrow.
"Hold on, I'm getting there," answered the fairy godmother good-humouredly as she touched Cinderella with her magic wand. In the blink of an eye, Cinderella's dress was turned into a dazzling gown as white as snow, decorated with luxurious diamonds. On her neck was an elegant pearl necklace. But that was not all! Cinderella's plump physique was immediately transformed into a slim, dainty figure.
"OMG, I feel so light and....and pretty!" exclaimed Cinderella in ecstasy.
"Oh! Thank you, thank you so much for all these presents, grandma!" said Cinderella gratefully. "Am I ready to head to the ball now?"
"No, just wait a second, my dear Cindy. I need to do some finishing touches," said Lily LaLac as she tapped Cinderella's shoes with her wand. Instantly, Cinderella's worn-out shoes from so many days of walking in the forest were replaced by a pair of elegant, pink high-heels that glimmered brightly.
"These shoes are made of rubies," explained the fairy godmother. "Now, you're all set to go! My dear Cindy, don't forget to enjoy yourself!"
As Cinderella hopped eagerly onto the fine coach, Lily LaLac suddenly thought of something. "Oh! I almost forgot, there is one very important thing that you have to keep in mind!"
"What is it, grandma?" queried Cinderella.
"You have to keep in mind that nothing lasts forever," answered the fairy godmother. "And that includes my magic spell, especially after the lack of practice for so many years. So, remember, you can stay as long as you like at the ball as long as you do not eat anything; no matter how delicious the food looks! The moment you eat anything, everything will turn back to how they were before, including the coach, the horses and your slim physique. Do you understand, my dear?"
Scarcely able to contain her happiness, Cinderella quickly promised her grandmother that she would keep all this in mind and after waving goodbye to the scarecrow and the wolf and promising to visit them again in the forest some day, Cinderella was driven off by the knight towards the prince's large palace, wherein the grand ball would take place that very evening.
Hiding behind a pine tree unnoticed by everyone except for Lily LaLac was Dora the assistant and Ms. Vandertramp, who let out a sigh of relief after seeing Cinderella off to the grand ball.
"At last she was ready in time," said Ms. Vandertramp. "She would have lost her only chance of meeting the prince if she failed to attend the ball. Then, I will lose my right to her inheritance if the prince married someone else. Phew ~ that was close! All thanks to her fairy godmother!"
~To be Continued~
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