Archive of Our Own

The ball had been the best night of your life.

You had wandered through the halls of the palace, hoping to find your way to the ballroom, your glass slippers clicking along the smooth stones that paved the floor.

Then, miraculously, you had found the ballroom. You were so nervous about being there that you had put off walking out into the light. You were admiring the lovely decor when you had felt a hand take yours.

He was the most beautiful man you had ever seen. He had dark hair, dark eyes, and breathtaking smile. Your heart had just about leaped out of your chest.

And then you had danced with him. The bliss of just being by him was incredible, and you were on Cloud 9. You had almost kissed him. Then, all too fast, midnight had struck, the time when the fairy godmother had said the spell making you look like a princess would break.

You had run away from him. He had called after you, begging you, pleading for you to stop. One sentence burned into your brain.

"I don't even know your name! How will I find you?"

You had turned, almost stopped and ran back into his arms. But a little part of you said No, he's too good for you. Better to let him forget you. And so you had ran, leaving Hoseok behind with all of the other women at the ball.

The grand duke had tried to stop you, sending soldiers after you to catch you and beg you to come back. But you had hidden, and had returned to your house with one glass slipper and one night you would never forget.

Your only regret was that you hadn't met the prince. You had dearly hoped to even catch a glimpse of him, but you had been so caught up by Hoseok that you had forgotten the prince.

Somewhere along the flight from the palace, you had lost your left slipper, leaving it on a stair. You had almost run back and got it, but a part of your heart said Leave it. He might remember who you were. Might.

You were known for your hope, and your optimism, and your faith. But, even though you would never admit it to anyone, sometimes you felt like you couldn't bear it.

You had three new bruises on you. One on your shin, one on your arm, and the most painful one on your cheek. Your stepmother and stepsisters had taken out their anger at one of the daughters not being chosen to be the prince's bride on you.

Not that being abused was news to you. You still had the scar from two years ago when Drisella had purposely tripped you while carrying the breakfast tray. You had fallen, breaking the porcelain teapot and slicing your arm in the process.

Your only friends were the mice and animals around the house, and someone you had never spoken about to any other human being. You hadn't seen him for three years, and you missed Hobi.

You were now back to work, absently sweeping the floor, thinking about last night. How wonderful it had been. Staring into Hoseok's eyes, feeling him guide you around the dance floor, nothing but you and him...

You were brought back to earth by your stepmother angrily calling your name.

"(Y/N)!" She yelled, and you dropped the broom you had been sweeping the floor with.

You ran to her. "Yes?"

She sighed. "Oh. There you are. Where are my daughters?"

You answered "Uh, I think they're still in bed."

She made a disgusted noise. "Well, bring up the breakfast trays at once. And hurry!"

You ran back to the kitchen, your mind working as fast as your hands as they prepared breakfast. What was Stepmother doing up so early? As soon as the trays were ready, you carried them quickly up the stairs.

When you got to Drisella's bedroom, there was no one in, so you set the tray on the bedside table. You took your stepmother's to her room, which was deserted also.

When you walked into Anastasia's room, you were surprised by the amount of action taking place. You caught part of Stepmother's speech.

"...girl last night at the ball. The one who lost her slipper! They say he's madly in love with her!"

Anastasia yawned.

Drisella said "Who? The duke is?"

Stepmother snapped "No, no, no, the prince! "

The words hit you like cold water to the face. The pieces started falling together. The ball...the slipper...the prince... Anastasia and Drisella must have had a relatively close idea.

"THE PRINCE?!? " They shrieked.

"The prince ," you mumbled, and the tray slipped from your fingers.

Crash!

Stepmother whirled on you.

"You little fool! " She shrieked, slapping you across the face. "Clean that up."

Your cheek stinging, you fought back tears as you picked up the pieces of the broken dishes.

"Well, if he's in love with that girl, why should we even bother?" Drisella's sassy and sleepy tone was immediately cut off by your Stepmother. "Now listen here, you two! There's still a chance that one of you two could get it!"

Your stepsisters immediately sat up.

"One of US ?" they cried in unison. "Why mother, what do you mean?"

Then your stepmother had proceeded to explain. You had only half heard, and had absentmindedly gone up to your room, not realizing that Stepmother was following you. She had locked you in your room, leaving you crying and begging to be let out.

Then your mice friends had brought you the key. You dashed down the stairs, taking them three at a time, praying that you wouldn't be too late. You heard the door closing. You put on a burst of speed, throwing open the door.

"Wait!" You cried, tears streaming down your face. "Wait!" You ran to the door, past your flabbergasted Stepmother and stepsisters. You ran outside, watching as the carriage pulled away, just leaving the drive.

"WAIT!" You screamed after them, but they didn't hear you and they didn't stop.

Your heart shattered.

You fell down on the dust, crying. After a minute, you picked yourself up out of the road, dirt and tears streaked down your face.

You couldn't go back inside. You ran to the only other place you felt safe at: the glen where you first met Hobi. You fell to the grass, sobbing and holding the last glass slipper in your hand.

You stared at it, and then you clutched it to your heart. At least you had this. You bowed over it, sobbing your heart out.

Then a voice startled you.

"(Y/N)?"

There was only one person it could be.

Hobi.

He had been gone for three long years. Except when you turned around, it wasn't the Hobi you remembered.

Older, and handsomer.

And he was Hoseok.

Prince Hoseok.

Your eyes widened, and you slipped the slipper into your pocket. No need for him to see it. He fell in love with the princess you had been, not the servant girl you were. You stood up, your legs wobbly.

"Hobi," you whispered. "Prince Hoseok."

You tried to curtesy, but you didn't get a chance. He ran to you, and suddenly you were in his arms. You were incredibly self conscious; you were dirty and ragged and ugly. Not the girl you had been three years ago, before your father died and Stepmother had basically enslaved you.

"(Y/N), I missed you so much!" Hoseok cried.

You pushed him away.

"You shouldn't be seeing me like this," you cried, and tried to run off, but he grabbed your wrist. Pain shot up your arm, and you yelped.

Alarm flashed across his face.

"(Y/N)? Are you okay? What happened to you?"

He pushed up your sleeve and gasped.

"(Y/N)!" He breathed, eyes wide. You frantically pulled down your sleeve, but it was too late.

He had seen the bruises.

Hobi touched your cheek.

You flinched.

His mouth open with shock, he pushed up your other sleeve, revealing your other bruises. You began to cry.

"Hobi, please stop!" You begged, tears rolling down your cheeks.

He looked up at you.

"Who did this to you?" He demanded, voice breaking.

Close to frantic, you cried "It's nothing!"

His face got hard and his jaw set.

"Who did this to you, (Y/N)?" he asked, sounding murderous.

Your mouth opened and closed, unable to speak.

Then another voice did the talking for you.

"I did."

You and Hobi whirled. Standing at the edge of the clearing was a woman in a black hood and robes. Just looking at her, your heart felt heavy with fear. Hobi was practically radiating anger next to you.

"You did this to her?" He cried, having difficulty standing still. The hooded figure nodded, and her hood fell back.

You were frozen.

This wasn't your Stepmother. Then who....?

"You don't recognize me, (Y/N)?"

You slowly shook your head, clutching Hobi's arm.

She smiled.

"Perhaps you would recognize me better like this."

Then she began to change.

You almost fainted. Standing before you was an exact replica of your Stepmother.

"Who...are you?" you breathed, eyes wide with fright.

The woman's eyes flashed.

"You know who I am."

Then, a horrible revelation hit you.

"You are the one who killed my parents," you whispered.

She smiled, and that was almost scarier than her piercing stare.

"You got it, sweetie. I wanted their throne. So I killed them, but failed to kill you."

You reeled like you had been smacked.

"I was royalty?" You said, disbelieving.

The woman nodded.

"So, when I heard that you were alive, I had to make sure that you would never be a threat."

Hoseok drew his sword.

"You should die for that," he growled.

Her eyes flashed as she smiled and raised her hands.

"Come at me, your highness !" She taunted.

Instantly, you knew it was a trick.

Hobi yelled in defiance and charged her. You watched, horror struck, as your prince and your parent's murderer battled. She had some sort of hold over him, something that made it so he couldn't move. Time slowed down. His swings became slower, more animated as panic spread over his face.

Finally, he couldn’t hold up anymore. He stumbled, and she forced him to his knees. She stood triumphantly over him, a silver dagger at his throat.

"Now, princess ," she sneered. "Either you or this prince dies. Make your choice."

You were frozen in place, mind racing. Your slipper felt like it was burning your thigh through your dress. Then a thought hit you. You whipped out your slipper, and smashed the heel on the stones at your feet.

It shattered, and made the heel as sharp as a dagger.

"NEITHER OF US WILL DIE!!!" You screamed, and threw the shoe at her.

Her eyes widened as the slipper embedded itself in her leg. She shrieked in pain, dropping the dagger and clawing at the glass imbedded in her thigh.

The same time the slipper hit, she lost her hold over Hobi. He scrambled up, grabbing his sword, and swung with all his strength. Before his blade hit, she disappeared in a flash of light.

The only thing left was your slipper.

Hoseok picked it up carefully.

"(Y/N)," he whispered. "Is this yours?"

You nodded silently, throat tightening with realization.

He walked over to you and knelt at your feet.

"May I ?" He asked.

“Yes,” you choked out.

He slipped the shoe on your bare right foot.

It fit perfectly, as you knew it would.

He looked up, eyes shining.

"It's you, (Y/N),” he breathed. “You're the one."

He stood up, and took your hands.

"(Y/N), I love you. Will you be my bride?"

Tears in your eyes, you nodded. Hobi leaned in and kissed you. It was the happiest moment of your life. He held you lightly, careful not to touch your bruises.

•  • •  • • •  • • • •  • • • • •  • • •

After two weeks, things sort of went back to normal. You had married Hoseok. After he had gotten you back to the castle, he had gone back to your house. Your step-family had disappeared.

The slipper was kept, a reminder of harder times, but also a token of the future.

Your future with Hoseok.