Chapter Text
The night for Ella had truly been wonderful. Magical. From the absolute certainty that her chance to meet Kit once more was gone, she - through the help of her Fairy Godmother - had been given a new chance to fulfil her wish. With a wonderful Carriage made from a pumpkin, Mr Goose made human to be its driver, the same with two lizards (that she referred to as Mr Lizard and Sir Lizard) as her footmen. And finally, her mother’s dress remade into a billowing blue masterpiece, with glass slippers that were both sturdy and comfortable. Despite the lateness of her arrival, Ella had managed to see Kit once more, learning to her surprise that he was actually the Prince - “Apprentice Monarch” he said to make his earlier statement true. The subsequent hours a flurry of First Dance, the Tour, and then shown Kit’s Secret Garden, a place he’d shown to no other before herself.
“My name is…” Ella began to answer Kit’s question before her eyes caught sight of the Tower Clock as its hands moved to 11:54. “…I have to go.” She amended hurriedly as she rose from the swing and raced out of the garden, the warning she‘d been given by her Fairy Godmother clear in her mind.
With so little time to spare, Ella raced through the gardens before turning into the castle, hoping she could lose Kit in the crowds long enough to put some distance between them as she saw him give chase. It seemed to work as Kit was forced to dance his way across the Ballroom Floor, but she herself was slowed by her bumping into...
“Your Majesty. I am so Sorry” She hurriedly apologised to Kit’s father, the King.
“Think nothing of it, my Dear.” He accepted Ella’s apology with grace and calm.
“I just wanted to say, your Majesty, your son Kit is the most lovely person I ever met. So good and brave. I hope you know how much he loves you.” Despite the lack of time, Ella was relieved that she had managed to say what she wanted to say to him so much, but now she had none left to spare. “Excuse me!” She finished as she raced away, hoping she could still make it away from the castle in time.
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11:57. At this time, by the steps leading into said castle two footmen and a coachman waited, though they were not really footmen and coachman but rather lizards and a goose, with even what they wore offering an allusion to what they really were. One of the Footmen, the one who spoken to Ella giving her the confidence to enter had started dozing off until a fly buzzed close by. Instinct taking over, perhaps due to his half-asleep state, a long tongue flicked out to catch it before he ate it.
“Hurry! Hurry!” The frantic cries of Ella snapped him back into wakefulness, all sensation of weariness blown away with hat back on as he swung the carriage doors open ready for her.
Before she reached them, she’d been forced to leave behind one of her glass slippers when it slid free from her foot, and held the other in her hand as she practically dived into the carriage, the doors shut behind her.
“Hurry, please!” Ella called out to the driver, who already flicked the reins hard to get the carriage moving, around the central pond and out the gates the instant they were open enough to allow them through.
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Back at the steps Kit stopped by the slipper, picking it up, his decision made. “Captain, my horse.” Declaring his intent to give chase to her.
“No!” The Grand Duke cut in. “It could be a Trick to lure you from the Palace.” The Grand Duke cut in harshly. “Your father needs you here.” He added rather more softly and left Kit to personally lead the chase, calling for the Captain of the Guard to accompany him.
“I was having a Fine Old Time, you just had to go and choose that one didn’t you?” The Captain asked Kit before leaving to join the Grand Duke, leaving Kit with the slipper in his hand and a smile on his face, there was only one answer to that question he could give.
“Yes I did.”
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The carriage Ella rode in had just made it to the end of the bridge while at the other end and closing in on them, the Grand Duke, Captain of the Guard, and a group of Palace Guards sought to halt them. Ahead of them all, the Clock’s hands shifted once more, both coming to a rest on XII. The hammers pulled back, then swung forwards, its deep audible chime heralding the End of the Dream.
“Be careful Mr Goose!” Ella warned the driver as the carriage bounced on the road, while they were negotiating a narrow bend, and that almost flung Ella out of it when it lurched to the side for a moment. “Oh my goodness.” She couldn’t help but gasp out.
Pushing the horses to run as fast as they were able, they reached a straight section of road, as they were now close enough to hear the Bell over the rattling and clopping of their flight.
Worse still for Ella, their pursuers had caught up to them, now well within sight, and able to be heard. “You there! Stop in the Name of the King!” The Grand Duke cried out to them, forcing his mount to pick up the speed.
“Such bad timing.” Ella managed to choke out, fearful for what may come if they were to see the Magic expire.
The only one to turn and face them was one of the footmen, choked noises escaping his throat while unpleasant tingling coursed through him. The hard pulling at the base of his spine the result of his tail re-growing, tearing itself through the seat of his pants.
“I know what to do!” Any panic he had was forced to the side with the lever controlling the main gate spotted to the side. If he could use his tail to catch it, then he could drop the lever which in turn would drop the gate itself and thus stop their pursuers. They could at least be unnoticed as the Magic continued to break down. Shifting himself slightly he readied himself, swinging his tail out to catch it.
“No!“ Perhaps his grip had not been as good as he’d hoped for. Or perhaps the lever itself was sticking at the time. Whatever the reason, it stubbornly remained in place as his tail was wrenched from it, the wrought-iron gate cold and stationary.
The sickness he felt in the pits of his stomach wasn’t the result of the spreading scales (although that was possibly a contributory factor) but rather the intense guilt he felt as his failure. One thing. He absolutely needed to do this one thing for Ella, and he’d failed in it. The Grand Duke, Captain of the Guard, and all the others still able to give chase with the Twelfth and Final Chime.
‘Can we make it?’ Ella thought nervously to herself as she leaned out to see the one of the horses now sporting large round mouse’s ears, then another.
Turning to look behind only heightened her fears dramatically, Mr Lizard was trying to set his hat back on as his ears sank back into his head, green scales having completely replaced pale skin. Not only that, she could now see that a number of the Palace Guards were on their trail, and almost within striking distance.
“Stop! Stop in, the…” The Grand Duke began to holler to them before his voice failed him. The disintegrating magic brought down the Glamour Charm, they could now see what was really happening as the carriage wheels turned green and leafy.
“Do you see that?” The Captain of the Guard asked, fear showing in his tone. All the pursuers slowing at the sight of the Carriage turning orange, the two clambering over the sides with long tails.
“I do.” The Grand Duke answered before his resolve returned. “Keep chasing them!”
Inside the carriage and not yet aware of their awareness, Ella’s breaths came quick and shallow, fear giving way to terror with the walls becoming sticky, their colour changing as the light inside began to fade. She noticed Mr Lizard through the opening as his powdered wig and three-point hat flew off for good, a very distinctive lizard’s head set atop the exaggerated tailcoat. A hard lurch sent him crashing inside, tail, bare feet and legs pressed to the opposing wall as he mustered the courage to look her in the eye.
“Ella. I’m, so, so sorry.” Even through the strained hissing, the sadness, the regret of his letting her down was evident.