Girl Power

by Duke_The_Bounty_Hunter

Summary:

Cinderella (1997), Danielle de Barbarac and Ella (Cinderella 2015) meet for the first time and work together to take down the Ultimate Evil.

Chapter 1: Impossible things are happening everyday

Summary:

Brandy (1997 Cinderella) lives a life of servitude but wishes she could run away.

Will she sit and wait for rescue or go and rescue herself?

Notes:

I decided to call 1997 Cinderella 'Brandy' to avoid confusion with Ella (Cinderella 2015). Their step-families, however, will still call them Cinderella.

"What do you think, Mother?" A girl asked the woman in the marketplace as she wore a hat with feathers on it.

"That's not the sort of thing you see every day," the mother replied wearily.

"I saw it first!" Another girl argued with the first girl as she put the hat on herself with a grin. "How do you think it looks on me, Mother?"

"Awful!" The first girl glared.

"I didn't ask you!" The second girl glared back.

"How can a mother choose between such two extraordinary daughters?" The mother forced a smile to her daughters before she turned away, a bit repulsed.

"Cinderella? Cinderella!" One girl called to the girl who carried the boxes.

"Yes?" The girl asked once her name was called.

"What do you think?" The second girl smirked with the hat. "Does it look better on me?"

"Or me?" The first girl added as she took the hat for herself.

"Well, I don't know much about hats, but I don't think it flatters either one of you." The girl smiled sheepishly.

The two girls looked insulted.

"What did you ask her for?" The first girl growled at the one who responded.

"She doesn't know anything about hats," The second girl told her sister before she took the hat away. "She said so herself."

"MOTHER!" The sisters cried out.

"Nothing ever changes between Calliope and Minerva." Brandy sighed at her step-sisters.

----

Madame Bernadette soon led Minerva and Calliope back home after they heard the news. The family soon stopped suddenly at the door as Brandy followed them. Madame Bernadette sighed as she expected Brandy to open the door for her and her daughters.

"Cinderella? The door!" Madame Bernadette called sharply.

"Oh... Right away!" Brandy replied as she ran towards the door and opened it to let them inside.

After Cinderella got the door, everybody else filed inside of the house.

"Cinderella, my wrap," Madame Bernadette then said.

"Cinderella, my head!" Calliope called sharply.

"Cinderella, my glove!" Minerva added.

Brandy soon did as they said. "Cinderella, have you dusted the rails?" Madame Bernadette asked.

"Not yet, Step-Mother, I've had a busy day." Brandy said softly.

"Hmph... You've had a busy day?" Madame Bernadette rolled her eyes.

"Yes, I've had a busy day," Brandy told her step-mother. "I've been in the village with you."

"Hmph! The impertinence!" Madame Bernadette huffed as she got settled into her home as she gave books to her biological daughters. "After your father died, everyone said I should've thrown you out in the streets; be a swan, Minerva, be a swan," she then advised before continued. "But I kept you here all these years and this is the thanks I get?! Shoulders back, Calliope, shoulders back," she then told her other daughter. "I've always been told I got too big a heart."

"You got too big a heart, Mother." Calliope and Minerva said as they kept the books on their heads from falling off as they started to sit down.

"We'll take our tea upstairs." Madame Bernadette beamed. "Come, girls, it's time to get our beauty rest! We want to be our best for the ball tomorrow night."

Calliope and Minerva soon came to follow after their mother as they tried to balance the books on their heads.

"I don't know about you, but I'm exhausted!" Madame Bernadette yawned loudly as they walked up the stairs.

"I'm tired too, Mother." Calliope said.

"You're tired?" Minerva glared.

"Yes, I'm tired!" Calliope glared back.

"Step-Mother?" Brandy called out.

"What is it now?" Madame Bernadette replied in aggravation.

"I was wondering about the ball," Brandy smiled softly. "All eligible women in the kingdom are invited."

"And I suppose you think the prince is going to take one look at you and fall madly in love?" Madame Bernadette smirked with a laugh at the very thought.

"I didn't... I didn't mean that..." Brandy said softly.

"Take my advice, Cinderella," Madame Bernadette advised. "Know your place and be satisfied with what you've got; I promise you, you'll be much happier."

"If my father were alive..." Brandy whispered to herself.

"Well, he's not, is he?" Madame Bernadette replied firmly.

"He's alive in my heart," Brandy defended.

"Don't cling to the past, Cinderella," Madame Bernadette sighed before she left with a smirk. "It's not very attractive."

"Cinderella! Hot water!" Minerva soon yelled out.

"Cinderella! Warm milk!" Calliope added.

"CINDERELLA!" The two step-sisters snapped.

----

Brandy soon began to make her way into the kitchen, repeating to herself of what her step-sisters told her to do. "Cinderella, hot water... Cinderella, warm milk..." she mocked.

"I'm as mild and as meek as a mouse, when I hear a command I obey," Brandy began to sing as she carried out her chores before she sat by the fireplace. "But I know of a spot in my house, where no one can stand in my way.

"In my own little corner, in my own little chair, I can be whatever I want to be," Brandy sang. "On the wing of my fantasy, I can fly anywhere and the world will open its arms to me.

"In my own little corner, In my own little chair, I can be whatever I want to be," Brandy continued to sing a bit happily. "On the wing of my fancy, I can fly anywhere, and the world will open its arms to me.

"I'm a young Egyptian princess or a milkmaid, I'm the greatest primadonna in the land," Brandy sang, as she wrapped a scarf around her neck.

"I'm an heiress who has always had her silk made, by her own flock of silkworms in Japan!" Brandy sang as she danced around. "I'm a girl men go mad for, love's a game I can play, with a cool and confident kind of air."

A broom then fell over as Brandy danced about, before she picked up the broom.

"Just as long as I stay in my little corner, all alone in my own little chair," Brandy sang as she sat down on the chair close by the fireplace.

The family soon began to call out for Brandy.

"I can be whatever I want to be, I'm a thief in Calcutta, I'm a queen in Peru," Brandy sang as she grabbed random items such as cups, plates, and the broom while she daydreamed about being more than a lowly servant in her own home. "I'm a mermaid dancing upon the sea, I'm a huntress on an African safari, (It's a dangerous type of sport and yet it's fun), in the night I sally forth to seek my quarry, and I find I forgot to bring my gun!"

Brandy ducked behind the staircase, pretending. "I am lost in the jungle all alone and unarmed when I meet a lioness in her lair," Brandy sang before she rushed back into the kitchen before closing the doors behind her. "And I'm glad to be back in my own little corner, all alone in my own little chair."

"CINDERELLA!" The family called out again which made Brandy spring into action.

Later when Brandy returned to the kitchen, she found a cup of hot chocolate and a sparkly light blue dress with a tiara, a necklace and opera gloves waiting on the table.

"Who could this be from?" Brandy asked herself quietly and found a note near the cup.

To whomever lives here,

Sorry to intrude but I thought that you might want to take a break from your duties and have a drink before you go to the ball.

This is your chance of making your dream a reality. Don't let anyone - even yourself - stop you.

Hope you like the dress also.

Yours faithfully,

TJ

 

Brandy made up her mind to thank this 'TJ' whoever he was, when she got the chance. She drank the hot chocolate, got dressed and hastened out of the door. However, the palace was a long way from her house, so she spotted a horse - the Kelpie - and rode him to the ball.

----

The Kelpie managed to find the prince with his valet Lionel and his parents Constantina and Maximillian. Though he tried to figure out how did the monarchs have a Filipino son, he thought it best not to question such things.

He gave Christopher a note and the latter met with Brandy to elope.

Chapter 2: Daring Danielle

Summary:

TJ (the Kelpie) goes to the film Ever After and remembers why Danielle is a badass

Once upon a time, there was a young girl, who loved her father very much. For a time, all was well, and Auguste married Rodmilla De Ghent, therefore giving Danielle a new mother - for want of a better word - and sisters the fair haired Marguerite and dark haired Jacqueline, until the fateful day as Auguste was leaving on a trip to Avignon with the intention of returning in a week, Auguste died of a fatal heart attack and gave his last words to Danielle and not Rodmilla, therefore causing hatred to stir in the older woman's heart towards Danielle unknowingly to him.

But that was then. This is now - ten years later, when Danielle was 18 and picking some apples as she recognised her late father's horse came riding through with a stranger on the reins.

"Come on you stupid beast," urged a stranger's voice. "Come on. Yah!"

"Oh no you don't!" Danielle hastened like lightning and pelted the stranger with apples, not realizing he was the Prince because his face was covered by the hood of his robe.

Prince Henry tried to shrug off the attacks. "Ow! Ooh!"

"Thief!" Danielle exclaimed. "This will teach you to steal my father's horse!"

"Please, my own has slipped his shoe, and I had no choice!" Henry exclaimed back.

"And our choice is what? To let you?"

"I was merely borrowing it!"

"Get out or I'll wake the house!" Danielle threw another apple at Henry.

"Ow!" At that, Henry pulled his hood away from his face. Danielle, upon seeing that it was the Prince of France whom she had assaulted, fell to her knees in reverance.

"Forgive me your highness, I did not see you."

Henry rubbed his temple wearily. "Your aim would suggest otherwise."

"And for that I know I must die."

"Uh, then uh speak of this to no one and I shall be lenient."

"We have other horses your highness, younger if that is your wish."

"I wish for nothing more than to be free of my gilded cage." Henry climbed back on the horse and prepared to ride off, but before that he tossed her a bag of gold coins. "For your silence." He rode off as Danielle got to her feet and headed back to the manor with elation for that meant that Louise's husband Maurice can reclaim his freedom.

Eventually, Danielle got to the front courtyard of the palace, wearing a beautiful yellow gown. There was a crowd at the edge of the bridge leading into the palace courtyard. Guards were keeping the people at bay. Danielle came running up but slowed to a walk as she approached the bridge.

"Make way for the lady," a guard called. The crowd parted for Danielle and she walked over the bridge. On the far side of the courtyard some men were being loaded into a cart. Maurice was among them.

"I have money to pay for my debts, please listen to me!" pleaded Maurice.

The Cargo Master ignored him, closed the door on the cart and climbed into the driver's seat. "Come along, move it!"

"God give me strength," Danielle said quietly to herself in order to carry out the necessary task.

"Come on!"

Danielle strode up and grabbed the reins of the horse, stopping it in its tracks. "I wish to address the issue of this gentleman, he is my servant and I am here to pay the debt against him."

"You're too late, he's bought and paid for," the Cargo Master told her.

"I can pay you 20 gold francs." Danielle held out a pouch of money.

"Madame you can have me for 20 gold francs, now drive on."

"I demand that you release him at once, or I shall take this matter to the king."

"The king's the one who sold him. He's now property of Cartier."

Behind them Prince Henry and the palace guard rode into the courtyard. Intrigued, Henry rode over to investigate.

"He's not property at all you ill-mannered tub of guts," Danielle exclaimed. "Do you honestly think it's right to chain people like chattel? I demand you release him at once."

The Kelpie had been passing by at this point and, like Henry, was intrigued to discover more about Danielle and her daringness.

The Cargo Master was having none of it. "Get out of my way!"

"You dare raise your voice to a lady, sir?" Henry questioned.

"Your highness? Uh forgive me, sire. Uh, I meant no disrespect. Uh, it's just uh I'm following orders here. It's my job to take these criminals and thieves to the coast," the Cargo Master explained to the prince.

Danielle faced Henry, to give her point and to defend Maurice and the others from the horrible accusations. "A servant is not a thief your highness, and those who are cannot help themselves."

"Really?" asked Henry. "Well then, by all means enlighten us."

Danielle paused momentarily and then spoke. "If you, suffer your people to be ill-educated and their manners corrupted from infancy and then punish them for those crimes to which their 1st education disposed to them. What else is to be concluded, sire, but that you first make thieves and then punish them?"

"Well there you have it," said Henry to the Cargo Master. "Release him."

"But sire…" The Cargo Master faltered.

"I said...release him."

"Yes sire." The Cargo Master quickly went and unlocked the door to the cart. Danielle tossed the money to a nearby man and walked over to the door as Maurice climbed down.

"I thought I was looking at your mother," Maurice said quietly.

"Meet me at the bridge," Danielle said in the same tone. Then a bit louder she said, "Prepare the horses, we will leave at once." She thanked Henry and walked past him but he climbed off his horse and followed.

"Have we met?" Henry asked.

"I do not believe so your highness," Danielle answered.

"I could've sworn I knew every courtier in the providence."

"Well, I am visiting a cousin."

"Who?"

"My cousin."

"Yes, you said that. Which one?"

"The only one I have, sire."

"Are you coy on purpose or do you honestly refuse to tell me your name?"

At this question, Danielle stopped walking. "No! And yes." She resumed walking.

"Well, then, pray tell me your cousin's name so that I might call upon her to learn who you are. For anyone who can quote Thomas More is well worth the effort."

Again, Danielle stopped. "The prince has read Utopia?"

"I find it sentimental and dull. I confess the plight of the everyday rustics bores me."

"I gather you do not converse with many peasants."

"Certainly not, no, naturally."

The Kelpie followed them, while keeping his distance from them.

"Excuse me sire, but there is nothing natural about it." Danielle resumed with the walking. "A country's character is defined by its, 'everyday rustics' as you call them. They are the legs you stand on and that position demands respect, not-"

"Am I to understand that you find me arrogant?"

Danielle ceased walking. "Well you gave one man back his life, but did you even glance at the others?"

"Please," pleaded the prince. "I beg of you, a name, any name."

Danielle sighed. "I fear that the only name to leave you with is Comtesse Nicole de Lancret."

Henry beamed. "There now...that wasn't so hard."

"Oh Henry, you're back!" called the voice of Marie before both Henry and Danielle turned to look at the Queen.

"Hello Mother," greeted Henry. As Henry was occupied with his mother, Danielle quickly turned and hurried away not wanting to be seen. The Kelpie snuck off also.

"The king would like a word with you, several in fact," Marie told her son.

"He usually does, I shall be right in," said Henry but when he turned to continue his conversation with Danielle, she was gone.

----

The Kelpie, meanwhile, stopped by the lake for a bit of a breather, and to fully comprehend what he had witnessed earlier - Danielle demanding that one of the prisoners to be released and her philosophical conversation with Prince Henry. Never had he seen such a thing, apart from the time when Destiny stood her ground against some homophobic people who disliked the fact that her partner was a woman also. Honestly, it was the 21st century for goodness sake!

Hearing voices chatting nearby, the Kelpie plunged into the water. It could not have been that hag as she would have gone alone. Who could it be, if not that hag?

Then from under the water, he spotted someone - a country girl, no doubt - and what looked like minature boats so he decided to surface and explore closely.

"It looks like rain." An oldish man with a long white beard commented to the girl who opened her eyes and screamed in shock. Leonardo, the oldish man, yelled too as he fell over out of his shoes and into the lake.

"Here's your shoe," the Kelpie responded and nudged one over to Da Vinci who was staring like he had seen a ghost.

At the waters edge was Prince Henry. "Is all well, Signore?"

"I should leave walking to the Son of God. Fortunately, I tripped over an angel," was Leonardo's response as he escorted Danielle out of the water while the Kelpie was nudging the other shoe alongside the one that Da Vinci was carrying. "And her companion."

"Comtesse," Henry said to Danielle.

"Your Highness." Danielle tried to show reverance but fell over by tripping on a rock.

Luckily, Henry helped Danielle up and wrapped her in his cloak. "Is this your steed?"

"Uh..." Danielle was lost for words.

Luckily for Danielle, the Kelpie decided to step in. "Prince Henry, forgive me, but we were recently acquainted. My learned friend, the Marquis of Carabas has learnt of the Comtesse's action in saving a life and that of the other innocents and wants to give her this gift."

"What, pray tell, is this gift?" Henry questioned, taken aback that a horse was talking to him.

The Kelpie pawed at the ground. "It's underneath the x."

With some quick digging, the prince of France uncovered the heart of the ocean necklace and handed it to Danielle. He learnt also that he had been gifted with a gold ring.

"It's beautiful." Danielle had never been given a gift, not since her beloved father passed ten years prior. She wanted to wear it, but didn't want to risk Rodmilla seeing it so she hid it up her sleeve. "And. . . you can talk?"

"Yes. I will write to my learned friend and inform him of your gratitude to his presents. May we meet again soon."

"Yes," Henry, somehow found himself agreeing but did not know why, "yes we might. Farewell."

Leonardo and Danielle waved as the Kelpie took off into the woods. 

Another day, the duo Henry and 'Nicole' got lost in the woods and the latter thought it a great notion to stand on a hilltop clad only in undergarments.

Danielle: Why is it men never stop for directions. (points) Ah! There it is, it is back that way!

Prince Henry: And I still can't believe that I'm down here while you're up there and in your undergarments no less.

Danielle: Well I couldn't very well climb up here in that gown now could I? And besides you might break your royal neck and then where would we be?

Prince Henry: You swim alone, climb rocks, rescue servants, is there anything you don't do?

Danielle: Fly! Now turn around so I can climb back down.

Henry turned around only to see that he’s surrounded by gypsies. "Oh no! It's you again. Stay aloft Madame, there are games afoot." He drew his sword and he and a gypsy began to duel.

The Head Gypsy picked up Danielle’s dress from the ground. "My wife thanks you for this fine gown Mademoiselle!"

Danielle, still in her undergarments, called out while climbing down. "You will give me back my dress sir!" She made it down and the gypsies grabbed her.

"Let her go, your quarrel is with me," Henry ordered.

The Head Gypsy turned to the gypsy who was holding 'Nicole' captive. "Release her."

The gypsies turned 'Nicole' loose.

Danielle addressed the leader gypsy. "I insist you return my things at once and since you deprive me of my escort I demand a horse as well."

All the gypsies laughed heartily.

"My lady, you can have anything you can carry," said the Head Gypsy.

Danielle paused. "May I have your word on that sir?"

The Head Gypsy nodded. "On my honor as a gypsy, whatever you can carry."

Danielle went over to where Henry stood, lifted him up onto her back and with a quick bow to the gypsy she began to walk away. The other gypsies watched in shocked surprise and then burst out laughing. One even asked, "Can I have a turn?"

"Wait, please come back, I'll give you a horse!" called the Head Gypsy.

Chapter 3: Have courage and be kind

Summary:

Ella (Cinderella 2015) finds solace with the Kelpie and goes to the ball with him.

Notes:

Was inspired by the scene from the live action remake and decided to take some liberties such as the Kelpie acting as fairy godmother by mending the dress.

N.B. The picture of Thomas Cromwell is because the Kelpie was masquerading as him.

Ella hurried to the railing, her mother's dress having been torn by Lady Tremaine and Drisella moments earlier, tears running down her fair face, hopes and dreams crushed by the wicked stepmother who insulted her mother by saying her taste was questionable. Would she ever stay hopeful after being told she will not go to the ball?

Meanwhile, the Kelpie, having escaped from the Old Crone, stumbled into the garden by chance and found Ella weeping quietly. "Excuse me," he said politely, "are you alright?"

Ella turned around and gasped, having not expected company, before she put on a wide smile like a costume. "Yes, I'm alright."

"In that case, may I trouble you for a trough?"

"I don't have a trough, but I can get you some water. Would you like some?"

"By all means," the Kelpie responded, thanking Ella for the drink when it was given to him and took a sip. "By what name do I call you?"

Ella was momentarily stunned. "My real name is Ella, but my family call me Cinderella." Ella poured out her heart: of her idyllic childhood, her beloved parents who passed away, how she got her demeaning nickname and her desire to go to the ball and her mother's dying words to have courage and be kind.

"I will call you Ella, if that is your wish, and help you get to the ball."

With a needle and thread and a pair of scissors, the Kelpie managed to fix up the sleeve that Lady Tremaine had torn and redecorate the bodice as well so it was good as new by also fixing the ribbon. He spoke soothingly to Ella. "Don't worry, Ella. You will go to the ball, I promise. I bet your parents would be happy if they could see you now."

Ella nodded, now having happy tears. "Yes, thank you so much."

"My lady." The Kelpie bowed.

"I’m only a girl, not a lady."

"You're a lady because of your kindness. Your stepmother is only a lady because of her title."

The Kelpie became a black horse and knelt down so Ella could climb up on his back before galloping away to the palace for that was where the ball was held. "Hahaha!"

Eventually they arrived, and Ella dismounted and the Kelpie resumed the appearance he was earlier when he met Ella and they headed inside upstairs into the grand ballroom. Upon reaching the end of - another - railing, everyone stopped dancing to see the new arrivals.

"Do you see your friend?" The Kelpie asked Ella, looking for the Tremaine family.

"Yes," Ella said, beaming. 

The Kelpie faced Ella and she faced him, after finding the Tremaines. "Try not to let your stepfamily recognise you. If they do, come and find me and I'll get you home. Have fun. You deserve it." He bowed and headed into one direction while Ella took the other.

Kit smiled at Ella as she reached the bottom of the stairs and they started towards each other.

"Mr. Kit," Ella said by way of greeting.

"It’s you, isn’t it?"

"Just so."

"Your Highness, if I may…that is, it would give me the greatest pleasure, if you would do me the honor, of letting me lead you through this. The first…" Kit hesitated.

"Dance?" Ella prompted.

"Yes, dance." Kit laughed and, from where he was standing, the disguised Kelpie saw merriment in his eyes. "That’s it."

Ella smiled, nodding her head, and the Prince put one hand around Ella’s waist, which made Ella gasp, as they begin to dance. "They’re all looking at you."

"Believe me, they’re all looking at you," Kit remarked as everyone watched them as they danced.

"Who is she?" a woman questioned to a moustached man next to her.

The Grand Duke shook his head. "I have no idea," he admitted, not wanting to admit that he promised Kit's hand to Chelina.

The guests applaused for the Prince and Ella after they finished their dance.

"Who is that, mama?" Drisella asked her mother, baffled.

Lady Tremaine shrugged with indifference. "I’m not exactly sure, but this does not bode well."

"That’s a lovely dress she’s got on."

"And how pretty is she?" added Anastasia.

Lady Tremaine rolled her eyes in exasperation. Why did she have two ditzy daughters? Couldn't they have been blessed with brains? "Concentrate! You must turn the Prince’s head, you fools! Now, get out there!"

Anastasia moaned. "But no one’s asked us to dance!"

Lady Tremaine pushed her daughters forward towards some guests. "Gentlemen, may I present my daughters, Anastasia, Drisella."

Anastasia and Drisella were picked by two male guests.

Lady Tremaine waved them off. "Off you go!" She urged her daughters as they danced to smile to make a good impression for suitors. "Smile!"

The Kelpie was slightly grateful that the attention was on Ella and not him and as he was making his way to the palace garden for 'fresh air', he bumped into the woman with the pink dress and black patterns. "Forgive me, Madam. Are you well?"

"Yes." The woman introduced herself as Princess Chelina of Zaragosa.

The Kelpie bowed and was about to continue on his way when Chelina asked if he knew the identity of the mystery girl.

"Princess Lynne of Northumb," was the Kelpie's answer and he bowed (again) and went on his way outside.

Meanwhile, as they were dancing, Kit had an idea and led Ella off the dancefloor. "Come with me."

Lady Tremaine was still trying to get her daughters to capture the prince's attention. "Over there! Smile!"

Kit took Ella to a private room where, alas, his portrait hung on the wall. His opinion was that his father's was a more ideal sight.

"So you’re the prince?" Ella queried, curious. Was this the same fellow she met in the forest when her friend the stag was being chased?

"Well not 'the' prince exactly. They are a bunch of princes in the world, I’m only 'a' prince."

"But your name’s not really Kit."

"Oh, sadly it is and my father still calls me that when he’s especially unpeeved at me."

"But you’re no apprentice."

"I am an apprentice monarch. I’m still learning my trade."

Overwhelmed, Ella exclaimed, "Oh, gosh!"

"Please forgive me. I thought you might treat me differently if you knew. I mistook you for a good honest country girl. Now I see you didn’t want overwrought a plain soldier."

"Little chance of that."

"No more surprises?" Kit extended his hand to Ella, like a gentleman.

"No more surprises." Ella agreeing, took his hand for a moment when she noticed his painting. "Is that you?"

"I hate myself in paintings, don’t you?"

"No one’s ever painted my portrait."

"No? Well they should."

The two left the ballroom.

"Who is she?" The Grand Duke demanded of the Royal Crier.

"She gave no name, Your Grace."

"You didn’t ask?"

"Well, I was out of breath, Your Grace. On account of introducing princesses to the royal…"

"Oh, shut up, will you?!"

"Shut up? Absolutely. I don’t believe this!"

The assistants went through the many invitations to look for Ella’s name and showed him one of the invitations.

"No, not her!"

Chelina approached the Duke. "Your Grace, I was told by one of the guests that she is the Princess Lynne of Northumb."

"Ah, ok." The Grand Duke momentarily frowned. "I am not familiar with Northumb."

"Maybe it is a faraway country, Your Grace," suggested the Captain.

"Ok."

Kit led Ella to the palace gardens.

"Won’t they miss you at the ball?" said Ella.

"Maybe. But let’s not go back just yet."

They took a stroll in the garden.

"What’s wrong?" Ella asked, concerned.

"When I go back they will try to pair me off with a lady of their choosing. I’m expected to marry for advantage."

"Oh. Well who’s advantage?"

"That is a good question."

"Well, surely you have a right to your own heart?"

"I must weigh that against the king’s wishes. He’s a wise ruler, and a loving father."

"Well, perhaps he’ll change his mind," suggested Ella hopefully.

Kit hesitated before replying, a touching subject to address. "I fear he hasn’t much time to do so."

"Poor Kit."

---

"People are saying she’s a princess. Our prince seems quite taken with her."

"She went straight for him. You have to appreciate her efficiency."

"Surely if she is a princess this may be good."

"I’ve already promised him in marriage to the Princess Chelina," the Duke responded.

Just then Lady Tremaine came up behind them and interrupted them. Thinking quickly, the only option was to defer to the upper nobility. "Oh, forgive me, Your Grace. I did not mean to intrude."

"No, it’s you who have to forgive me, Madam." The Grand Duke returned the bow.

"Your secret is safe with me."

From his hiding place in the garden, the Kelpie shook his head. Fools, they were. They could not interfere in matters of the heart. It would end in disaster.

----

"I’ve never shown this place to anyone," admitted Kit as he opened the door to reveal a secret garden, reminding the Kelpie of the one Henry showed to Danielle.

"A secret garden! Oh, I love it." Ella walked over to the swing.

"Please," answered Kit, gesturing to the swing.

"Oh, I shouldn’t," said Ella, shaking her head.

"You should," countered Kit with a nod.

"I shouldn’t."

"You should."

"I shouldn’t."

"You should."

Ella eventually surrendered. "I will." She sat on the swing as Kit stood behind her.

"May I?" Kit asked.

"Please."

Kit took his time with swinging Ella gently and then Ella dropped one of her blue pump shoes, cuing Kit to pick it up. "Allow me."

"Thank you."

The prince gently lifted her skirt and placed the shoe on Ella’s foot. "There."

"There," Ella agreed, smiling.

Kit pulled Ella closer to him. "Won’t you tell me who you really are?"

"If I do I think everything might be different."

"I don’t understand. Can you at least tell me your name?"

"My name is… Ella."

Then the clock struck 12. Bong, bong, it went. "I'm sorry," Ella apologised. "I have to go."

"Wait, Ella please." Kit kindly took Ella's hand in his, not wanting her to leave so soon. "At least allow me to escort you home."

"Oh, ok." Ella hoped that the Kelpie would not mind having an extra rider on the journey, so she hastened with Kit back to the ballroom where they found the Tremaine matriarch and the daughters trying to catch a glimpse at the mystery princess and then they by accident bumped into the King.

"Sorry, Your Majesty." Ella curtsied low as a sign of respect. 

"No need to apologise my dear," the King responded kindly. "Kit, what are you doing?"

"I was going help Ella get back home."

"Have a good night."

Ella curtsied again and, with Kit by her side, they hastened to the front steps where a black horse was waiting at the bottom. "My stepfamily didn't recognise me but I decided that it would be better if I made it home before they discover me missing."

The Kelpie, as a black horse, nodded in understanding and Ella climbed up on his back before galloping away because the Grand Duke and some guards were following them on horseback also. Kit could not follow as the Duke told him it could be a trap.

"I met your father earlier, nice fellow," the Kelpie had told Kit prior to leaving. "I sincerely hope you will be as great as him."

"Thanks, I guess," Kit responded.

"Do not worry, you are in safe hands," the Kelpie assured Ella after he had managed to evade the guards. "It could be a lot worse. With Danielle, it started when she refused to make Rodmilla her stepmother and stepsister Marguerite breakfast, and then later when they went through Danielle's things and she pointed out that the shoes belonged to her mother, Marguerite insulted the mother and got socked in the eye. The worst part about the ordeal was that upon surrendering the shoes, Danielle's book from her late father got burnt and then she got a lashing."

"Dreadful." If the Kelpie saw Ella's expression, he'd have seen pity for Danielle.

"Actually, her father's book was still safe. The book that got burnt was the one from the prince's library."

"Thank goodness. Are you certain this is the correct way to my house?"

"Actually, I was thinking it'd be better to sort things out with the Tremaines while you... stay safe," said the Kelpie and stopped by a cottage. "Here we are."

He walked up to the front door and knocked on the door.

"How now, who calls?" called an old lady voice, sounding similar to the Queen Liz 2.

"It's two friends who need your help, Madam," the Kelpie called back.

The door opened and an old witch draped in a purple cloak and a purple pointy hat answered. "Come in out of this rain. You will catch your colds if you stay outside."

The Kelpie - Ella stil on his back - came inside. Ella dismounted.

"What seems to be the problem, me dears?" Imelda waved a hand at the nearby coffee table and conjured up a tea set. "Is she still after you?"

The Kelpie nodded. "Is it possible for our friend to stay here while I sort things out with the Tremaines? It would be peculiar for them to go back to an empty house. I don't want trouble brewing."

"Of course, dear." Imelda beamed kindly at the other guest. "Please, what is your name?"

"Ella," Ella responded.

Imelda clapped her hands. "Oh, how wonderful. I have a plan: Ella, you can stay here. Oh, and son," Imelda beckoned the Kelpie over, saying quietly, "don't give that Lady Tremaine any suspicion that it is not the real Ella with them. And as a precaution." She waved a hand and the Kelpie's waterweeds became invisible. "Hate to break it to you Ella, but some people like your stepmother don't behave the way you do. She is consumed by bitterness and envy. Don't go down that same path."

Ella nodded, albeit a bit confused by the older woman's words. The Kelpie took on the face and dress of Ella, as part of Imelda's plan. "See you both later," he said in Ella's voice and gave Imelda one final hug before heading to the door.

"Wait," Ella called.

The Kelpie aka Fake Ella turned around, waiting patiently for what she had to say.

"You did not tell me your name."

"It's TJ."

The Kelpie ran off into the night. Imelda invited Ella to sit down and got out the food from the picnic basket that the Kelpie had packed earlier.

----

Days later Fake Ella ran into the attic and immediately removed the floorboard, presumably searching for the blue pump. Her fake look of outright confusion when it was not there was absolutely priceless.

"Are you looking for this?" said Lady Tremaine from the shadows, holding up the blue pump as she did so, and Fake Ella turned to look at her. "There must have been quite a story to go with it. Won’t you tell me? No? Alright then, I’ll tell you a story." She hadn’t originally intended to say that, hadn’t originally intended to draw things out like this, but it just wasn’t fair. None of this was fair, and the girl deserved to know exactly why.

"Once upon a time," began Lady Tremaine, watching Fake Ella’s face carefully throughout, "there was a beautiful young girl who married for love." It’s the first time she’s ever spoken of Francis to the girl, albeit in a roundabout manner. She continued, "And she had two loving daughters. All was well. But one day, her husband, the light of her life, died. The next time, she married for the sake of her daughters, but that man, too, was taken from her."

In the Kelpie-as-Ella’s eyes, there was compassion.

"And she was doomed to look every day upon his beloved child," continued Lady Tremaine. The Kelpie’s gaze flickered downward for a second, and Lady Tremaine added, "She had hoped to marry off one of her beautiful, stupid daughters to the prince. But his head was turned by a girl with glass slippers. And so I lived unhappily ever after.

"My story would appear to be ended," said Lady Tremaine. "Now tell me yours. Did you steal it?"

Fake Ella shook her head fearlessly. "It was mine, Madam and it was given years ago. Also what kind of mother would call her own daughters 'stupid'?"

"Given to you? Given to you," laughed Lady Tremaine bitterly, ignoring the last question. "Nothing is ever given. For everything we must pay, pay—"

"But that’s not true!" interrupted Fake Ella. "Kindness is free. Love is free."

Lady Tremaine could have clawed the stupid, idealistic young thing’s eyes out on the spot, but resisted the urge. Instead she simply stated, "Love is not free." She told the disguised Kelpie that no one will listen to a poor servant girl; she’ll need a respectable gentlewoman to put her forward, and Lady Tremaine was willing to be that respectable gentlewoman so long as Cinderella made her the head of the royal household and got Anastasia and Drizella paired off with wealthy lords.

"And I," Lady Tremaine continued, "shall manage that boy."

"But he’s not a boy," the Kelpie responded. "FYI, he's king now."

"And who are you?" retorted Lady Tremaine. "How will you rule a kingdom? Just leave it to me," she said, moving the shoe back and forth in her hands as she headed toward the attic door. "That way we all get what we want."

"No," said Fake Ella, and Lady Tremaine stopped short.

"No?” she replied.

"I'm sorry that you lost your first husband, but being bitter of the circumstances is not going to help you in the long run. I cannot help you manipulate the king into doing your will."

"Well," she said, trying to stay calm, "that is a mistake." With that, she took the shoe and attempt to smash it against the wall but failed because it was not made of glass.

"Madam, you are on dangerous ground," warned the Kelpie, livid. "You'll be in hot water if you don't speedily hold your tongue." Not to mention that you said glass slippers in your story when Ella was not even wearing such things.

Lady Tremaine was taken aback. Since when did her stepdaughter/servant ever speak to her in such a manner? Not before and definitely not now.

"I don’t understand it," continued the Kelpie, still fuming. "I tried to be kind to you." It took every ounce of willpower not to turn into his horse form just to give Ella's stepmother 'a jolly good kick'.

"You? Kind to me?" Lady Tremaine asked, incredulous.

"Yes," continued Fake Ella, "and no one deserves to be treated as you have treated me. Why do you do it? Why?" He knew the reasons, he just wanted Tremaine to say them on paper.

In the end, though, all Lady Tremaine said was, "Why? Because you are young and innocent and good, and I—"

She paused. Fake Ella waited for her to finish, but she found that there wasn’t anything left to say.

So instead Lady Tremaine turned, left the attic, slammed the door behind her and locked it.

Moments later, the Kelpie saw soldiers from the palace standing outside. Thankfully only the door was locked so with help from the mice - Teddy, Matilda, Jacqueline and Gus -  the window was open and the Kelpie abseiled down, using the bedsheets as a rope. If Princes Henry and Rhys could do the same, then so could the Kelpie.

Outside, upon spotting Kit in green, the disguised Kelpie bowed. "Majesty."

"Ella?" Kit asked, puzzled.

"No, that's Ella over there."

Kit, the Captain Nonso, and the Grand Duke turned in the direction of the forest and saw Ella walking out of the forest with Imelda. While their attention was elsewhere, the Kelpie resumed the appearance he had been when he first met Ella and walked away.

He was certain he would see them again.

Chapter 4: You and I must fight for our rights

Summary:

In a period where reforms were introduced, Margaret has to make a choice: stick with the Catholic beliefs or not.

Maybe there was another way - a compromise.

Notes:

The characters e.g. Anne Boleyn, Henry 8, Thomas Cromwell etc, are their portrayals from the Tudors.

Timothy is based upon the page boy from S3E7 when he finds Cromwell praying.

The title is taken from a line from Knights of Cydonia by Muse.

1536. Margaret Hall was reading Tyndale's bible in the Queen Anne's chambers, supposedly drawing 'spiritual nourishment', but she was actually planning her next ritual with friends Luke Halls and Miguel Webb. So engrossed was she in one of the readings that she did not notice Her Majesty standing over her. 

"Lady Hall," Anne Boleyn said, snapping her fingers in front of the other woman.

Margaret looked up from the bible, closed it and curtsied. "Majesty. Is something the matter?"

"I have been informed that you had refused to swear on the bible when you swore in as lady in waiting. Why is that so?"

"Uh, because... because I thought it better to promise in words rather than do something that seems almost like blasphemy. Wasn't one of the commandments not to take the Lord's name in vain?"

"Yes, but the reason why you swear on the bible is to make your oath sincere. Also there are other matters to address." Anne told the others to leave. When all of the other ladies, including Nan, had left the room, Anne turned back to Margaret. "What is your opinion on the closing of the monasteries?"

Margaret hesitated.

"It's alright," Anne assured her lady in waiting, gently patting her on the shoulder. "I won't judge you on what you say. Do you believe it is papal thraldom, idolatry and superstition?"

At those words, Margaret looked the young queen in the eyes. "No, Majesty. Everyone is entitled to their beliefs. You want superstition? Throw salt over your shoulder to ward off evil. The statues are not idols. Catholics do not worship Mary or the saints, but ask them to pray to God on their behalf. Statues can also help to focus a person's mind on an aspect of prayer or worship. For example, a statue of Jesus on the cross can help us remember the sacrifice of Jesus. Statues act as a visual aid for the worshipper. Does that make sense, Majesty? I will fight for my beliefs if I need to."

Anne was momentarily lost for words, no witty comeback. "Go and get Mr Secretary. I hope to discuss with him what to do with the assets from the monasteries besides it going into the king's treasury. Do you think it could be put to better uses?"

Maggie nodded and left the room. She came to a set of doors and went in. There was a man who wore black, though some parts of his clothing was white such as what looked like the ruff and the sleeves, thigh high boots and had black hair. He wore also the collar of esses.

Thomas Cromwell, the king's secretary and Lord Chancellor. Timothy Green, Thomas's assistant, was there also.

Maggie bowed. "Mr Secretary. Mr Green."

Both men returned the greeting. "What can we do for you?" Timothy asked.

"Can I just say that you both are so bloody gorgeous in black?" Margaret clasped her hands over her mouth in astonishment. She never swore before. Why would she say the word 'bloody'? Anne had told her and other members of the household no swearing on pain of dismissal and banishment. Hopefully Thomas won't tell Anne that I said a rude word, Margaret thought.

"Th-Thank you," both Thomas and Timothy said, not usually complimented. 

"We think you're, uh," Thomas hesitated, searching for the right word.

"That you're a stunner," finished Timothy, with Thomas nodding. He then questioned the reason behind Margaret's visit and nodded when the latter said Queen Anne wanted to speak with the Royal Secretary.

"I-I'll see you there," Margaret said with a curtsy and left the way she came. She found Miguel and Luke in the corridor and told them of what happened. "We must find a way to avoid conflict, for His Majesty's sake and his good health."

The two men agreed. Miguel clutched his head. "Dios!"

"What is it, amigo?" Luke asked.

"Some creature is at a woman's bedside and deposited embryos directly down her throat to gestate in her stomach," Miguel said in his native Spanish, not wanting people like the Boleyns or the Seymour brothers to overhear.

"Where is this woman?" Luke asked.

"Uh, in a hospital. St Jude's hospital, maternity ward. There's another woman and she is helpless to stop the situation. It will probably happen many centuries into the future."

"How bloody and terrible," Margaret exclaimed. Agreeing that they will speak again soon, the three friends, who were also mages, went their separate ways. Margaret returned to Anne's chambers and found the sovereign with the secretary. She acknowledged them before going to work with the embroidery.

The Kelpie was in the next room watching unseen. He later met with Margaret and Thomas.

----

Margaret had a dream. She dreamt she was going horse riding in the woods, enjoying the relaxing solitude, until she noticed Cromwell on his horse. "Mr Secretary."

"Lady Hall," he greeted amicably. 

Margaret looked around to see if anyone was coming before dismounting. "I'm going to walk my horse friend here. Care to join me?"

Cromwell just smiled and dismounted also before going over to her. He leaned close and ran his lips across Margaret's temple. She shivered at the sensation. Margaret's knees weakened and she fought to maintain her balance.

"I'm not heartless, whatever some people think, quite the contrary, but I serve the king."

"Of course, the king and the reformist."

"With your help, Cranmer and I can destroy the corruption that is the Catholic Church and bring about the reforms. But," Thomas draped an arm over her shoulders, "we can also do that compromise that you wanted instead. 50/50, so everyone's happy. How's that?"

Margaret smiled. Her kiss with Cromwell sent sparks of passion racing in her blood. She could feel both their hearts beating in the rush.

Then Cromwell took her to bed…

Chapter 5: Ultimate power

Summary:

Set before Lucifer's allying with Dumbledore, the former decides to show the world why he is the ultimate power.

The first thing Lucifer did was teleport himself to the maternity ward in a hospital and spotted a nearby woman who was one of the doctors on duty. He did not care about whether the victims were married or not, wanting children or not, all that mattered was raising his army.

The doctor, sensing a presence and looked up from the clipboard that she was holding and having seen Lucifer crept up to her, would have called security. However the archdemon responded by attaching his mouth to hers. She let out a moan of approval as his tongue massaged hers and he ran a thumb over her knuckles, utilising tactile sexual arousal.

Using the kiss as a distraction, Lucifer secretly impregnated her with demonic embryos and then employed the same tactic with the other women in the ward and left laughing. He cared nothing of consent, like what had happened with Cecilia Locksley. 

Then he returned to the doctor. He stood to greet her at the fire - an illusion - and his warm fingers trailed down her neck. "Just as I thought...your skin is like ice."

She shivered and he delighted in watching her flesh rise and respond to his warmth.

"Allow me to help you get warm?"

She nodded and he raised the glass of wine to his lips, sipping once and leaving beads of red on his lips.

"Would you like some wine, girl? I find that it warms you from the inside...much like I plan to do later." The corner of his mouth turned upwards and she knew with all certainty his intentions.

He dipped a finger into the glass and smeared some more wine on his lips and surged forward to meet her mouth. She licked at the wine on his lips and his tongue met her own.

He kissed her and she felt his warm fingers run over the tops of her breasts and down to cup them through her uniform.

A brown woman with black elbow length hair, pink lips, chocolate eyes and wearing a black leather jumpsuit and heels appeared in flames. "I hope I'm not interrupting anything."

"No, not at all. Everything is going according to my plan." Lucifer laughed through the kiss. "Soon, we will unleash hell on Earth and no one can stop me, Demona." He pulled away to face the she-demon.

Demona nodded. "In the Harry Potter universe, there is Dumbledore wanting to be the Master of Death by getting the Deathly Hallows - the Elder Wand, the Resurrection Stone and the Invisibility Cloak."

"Yes, but we will corrupt the infants here. Having loads of power makes a character desirable." The Demon King saw Demona's expression. "What is it?"

"Michael is The Charmer, but he doesn't callously use women then throw them away. He mainly uses his charm to get what he wants or move through life easier, but he isn't someone to take advantage of a woman's heart."

Lucifer put a finger to his lips, motioning the doctor to be silent, before he leaned in and French kissed her and she returned the gesture. With a wave of his hand, they were both nude. He sniffed then inhaled. "Someone's coming. Guard the door. No one is to come in."

Demona nodded and went outside, shaking her head. Despite the nigh omniscience, Lucifer was arrogant and it will be his downfall.

A nude woman with auburn hair teleported next to Demona. "Hey, De."

"Hey, Lil. Have you been with Michael?"

"Yes. He's really cool. He's bisexual, like Sebastian. I'm comfortable with my sexuality, but patriarchy assumed me to be the succubus and incubus or the night hag who sits on the chests of men and causes them to have perverse dreams so that they will ejaculate. I could take the form of either a man or a woman, appear to mankind, to men in the likeness of women, and to women in the likeness of men. Men fear me because I knows the power of my sexuality and I know that my sexuality has power over men. Women, who are like the submissive Eve, also fear me because of the power I hold. I am not an enemy of womankind."

Demona nodded. 

Lilith leaned in and kissed Demona's palm. "Want to go exploring?"

"Sure. After Lucifer has finished his 'work' with the human female doctor."

The two giggled.

If anyone got in the way of Lucifer, he would end their life by driving them mad with visions or let strife tear them apart. No one, absolutely nothing will get in his way.

Chapter 6: The meeting of the minds

Summary:

The 8 characters - Brandy, Prince Christopher, Danielle, Henry, Ella, Prince Kit, Margaret and Thomas - meet for the first time

Demona and Lilith sat by the lake, with their feet in the cool water. Rather than staying guard outside the maternity ward in the hospital, the two women had decided to leave and explore. "You know, Lilith, if Lucifer is nigh omniscience, wouldn't he know about our coup? He knows about me and the fact I just went to some random flat and conjured up furniture to make it fit to live in. My friend betrayed me for his power and coldly reminded me that I was common. That was after I wanted to better myself by leaving the countryside."

"You are strong, standing by your beliefs. We're about to have company. Shall we hide or go and meet them?"

"Observe from the sidelines." Demona made both Lilith and herself invisible and hid behind a tree. They saw a woman with brown skin, brown eyes, braided black hair held up, tiara and a sparkly light blue dress. There was also a Filipino man wearing white e.g. Gloves, black trousers and shoes, a Caucasian woman with blue eyes, brown hair and wearing a blue dress, another man wearing white and having wavy, shoulder-length brown hair, another man wearing white and with blue eyes and brown hair, another woman with blonde hair and brown eyes and a pink dress, a man wearing black, though some parts of his clothing was white such as what looked like the ruff and the sleeves, thigh high boots and had black hair. He wore also the collar of esses. There was another woman with a blue dress and black hair.

Demona gasped and whispered to Lilith: "That's Brandy, Prince Christopher, Danielle de Barbarac, Prince Henry, Prince Kit, Ella, Thomas Cromwell from the Tudors and Margaret Hall. What would they be doing here? What is this, some sort of crossover?"

"No, more like crossing paths. Free entertainment. There's mistrust, confusion. They're from different eras, timelines intertwined." Lilith turned to see that a splendid black horse had joined her and Demona. She knew the horse to be the Kelpie. "Hello, TJ."

The Kelpie inclined his head. "Lilith, Demona, hello. What can I do for you?"

Demona pointed to Brandy, Christopher, Danielle, Henry, Kit, Ella, Thomas and Margaret standing nearby and talking and looking confused. "Isn't it weird that all the men but Tom are wearing white and Ella is the only one wearing pink? You can go and get them to do activities together, cooperation for when that time comes."

"And what will you two do?"

"We are going to meet with Fabian and Saranna. If you need us, just say our name and we will be there."

Fabian was the Fay prince and Saranna was his human friend.

The Kelpie nodded in understanding and thanked them before they vanished and he revealed himself to the others, seeing the look of recognition from them all. "Hello."

Brandy, Danielle, Ella and Margaret curtsied while Christopher, Henry, Kit and Thomas bowed. The Kelpie quickly disappeared behind a tree and reemerged as Adrian Foote from the 1996 film Loch Ness.

He spoke in a Scottish accent. "Welcome everyone. Let's talk about our plans for tonight."

Chapter 7: All things connect

Summary:

The group share their life stories and realise that they each have similarities

"Tonight?" Kit asked.

"Well, not plans per se, but getting to know each other," the Kelpie responded. "United we stand. Divided we fall."

"Yes, yes. Unity is important." Kit went to join Ella and they held hands like a married couple. Christopher and Brandy were engrossed in their own conversation, as well as Margaret and Thomas.

"H... Henry, there is something I must tell you," Danielle said.

"I also have something to tell you," Henry murmured, stepping towards her and taking her hand. His mind was filled with so many thoughts and ideas; he hardly knew where to start. He looked at her, smiling slightly, happily telling her his life story. He had no reason for telling her, but the sight of her made him want to tell her everything that he could. As he spoke, he could see Danielle struggling to keep her composure.

"You're not making this easy..." she said softly, her voice trembling. Henry stopped, and looked at her. Her eyes, her bright, beautiful, blue eyes were damp with tears. It made Henry's heart break to watch her strive to keep up her pretence. Slowly, he stepped towards her and softly caressed her cheek.

"You... are unlike anyone I have ever met," he murmured quietly.

It was a long time before Danielle spoke again.

"Why did you have to be so wonderful?" she whispered sadly, her tears trailing down her cheeks. Henry smiled slightly, lifting up her chin with his finger. The moonlight burst through the trees, and dappled moonlight fell across her face. Whatever he intended to ask her was gone. Softly and lovingly, he pressed his lips against hers, wrapping his arms around her waist. Suddenly, she cried out in pain (and so did Margaret, who was nearby, with empathy power) and pulled away from him. Henry stared at her, bewildered. She stared back, tears streaming down her face.

"No... No, no..." she murmured, running away. Henry stared after her, feeling hopeless.

"Nicole..." he whispered softly. But it was no use. She was already gone.

Danielle made it as far as the forest lake and fell over, weeping in despair. Then, after some moments, she raised her face and saw the Kelpie with a tear running down his face. "Friend, why do you cry?"

"I just remembered that out of your two stepsisters, Jacqueline is the prettier one. When I saw Marguerite and Jacqueline, I did not see their faces, but rather their hearts. Marguerite takes after her mother - rotten to the core - whereas Jacqueline is kind. She also spoke of her father, saying he was tried and executed as a traitor and she and her mother and sister had to flee to avoid sharing his fate."

"That's sounds awful. Why did Margaret imitate me?"

"I'm guessing she has some sort of empathy power. If you wish, we can go to her and she might be able to make the lash wounds go away. It hurts me to see you - or hear, even - in pain." The Kelpie nuzzled Danielle's arm. 

Once Danielle was back on her feet, she followed the Kelpie back to the camp and was grateful to Margaret healing the lash wounds on her back. Then she joined Henry and everyone else on the logs.

"It could be worse," Margaret said to Danielle. "You told Marguerite you were going to rip her hair out. I would have gone for the throat."

"How violent!" TJ (the Kelpie) exclaimed. "Anyway, why don't we get to know each other better? We'll start in alphabetical order."

Brandy was the first to speak. "My name is Brandy, but my stepfamily call me Cinderella. I like to sit by the fire and the cinders fly and my face gets smudged, but someday I hope to run away and never come back. I also believe that a person should be treated with kindness and respect."

Then the others had their turn. They said similar things - feeling trapped and being defined by what they are and not who they are.

"Why can't you be an actor, Margaret?" Henry asked.

"Because, Your Highness, only men can be actors. I hope to see that change someday, not to mention it is awful because there are also the arrogant nobles who pick on Thomas and Timothy because of their humble origins," Margaret answered bravely. "I mean, it's like Laurent and Lionel with Christopher, they're your friends as well as being the captain and a valet. Timothy is not just Thomas's assistant, he's also a friend."

Henry, Christopher and Thomas nodded, agreeing with the point that Margaret made.

Eventually, it was getting late so Margaret conjured up tents and sleeping bags and everyone settled in for the night (Margaret had promised that the group could do glamping the next night), while the Kelpie went to sleep by the lake.

Chapter 8: Teamwork

Summary:

Everyone teams up to stand against cruelty.

Also how Lucifer managed to ensnare Pierre LePieu by mimicking Danielle

Notes:

The picture I used for Margaret (between Ella, Kit and Thomas Cromwell) has red hair while I described Margaret in the story with black hair, though Margaret did use magic to make her hair red as to have the tv trope of blond, brunette and redhead (and Brandy being black hair).

The sentence of Ella losing her father at a young age originates from the 1950 Cinderella (2015 Cinderella lost her mother as a child).

The next morning, after getting dressed and having breakfast, the group were debating on today's activities.

"Well, there's a monastery with a wide variety of books," Henry suggested, "and it has Thomas More's Utopia."

"That does sound wonderful," Danielle said to Henry and held his hands while gazing at his face. 

"Oh, I love reading," Ella exclaimed. "My father and I would often read together before he... he..."

Kit understood and encircled an arm around Ella's waist.

Margaret explained to Danielle that she had tele-empathy. "User can read minds/emotions and communicate telepathically and empathically, receiving thoughts and emotions from others, perceiving what others think while they feel, etc. Don't worry, I won't use telepathy on anyone without permission."

Kelpies in Scottish folklore were male water spirits who lured in victims to water. They would often drown and eat their victims, although some stories implied they kept their victims as slaves (although one interpretation is that they'd kill their victims and make their ghosts into slaves). When seducing women, they would take the form of beautiful men. When seducing men and children, they'd pretend to be horses, offering tired travelers a ride.

Brandy found the Kelpie awake and grazing by the lake. "Hello."

The Kelpie raised his head. "Hello, Brandy. Did you like the dress?"

"Wait, hold on a minute. Are you saying you got me those nice things? The dress, the tiara, the necklace, the opera gloves and the hot chocolate? And the note?"

"Yes," the Kelpie answered softly. "You can call me TJ and I'm a Kelpie."

Mimicking his tone, Brandy thanked him.

"You're most welcome. I think everyone is going to the monastery. Oh, look. Here they arrive."

Christopher, Kit, Henry, Danielle, Ella, Thomas and Margaret arrived. 

"Climb on. I'll take you all to the monastery," the Kelpie called.

As if in a trance, everyone climbed on. Margaret cast a non verbal spell so others would think and see that they were on separate horses rather than one stretched like a limousine.

----

Pierre LePieu was plotting away in his castle estate until he spotted who he thought was Danielle de Barbarac and then had the idea to put chains on so Danielle wouldn't run away as she did last time, but 'Danielle' got out of them and turned into Lucifer for that was who he really was.

"Really? Monsieur LePieu, save the bondage for the bedroom, not in your dining room." Lucifer chuckled. "I will give you Danielle, if you can help me stop the others. Prince Henry is there with her."

"I can't stop him, he's the prince. What others do you speak of?"

"There are other people like Danielle, from the same time period, but different countries. Send your goons after them. Their names are Brandy, Prince Christopher, Prince Kit, Ella Chaplin, Thomas Cromwell and Margaret Hall. You'll know when you see them, in time. Now, if you want I can give you what you want, as Danielle."

"Agreed." Pierre wasn't sure whether to trust Lucifer, but if it will get him Danielle, it couldn't hurt to make an alliance.

----

Eventually, everyone arrived at the monastery - with the Latin singing being heard - and minutes later going through the books. "There's so many," Margaret mused.

"Hmm, as long as there is no corruption, then that's fine," Thomas said to Margaret after looking up from one of the books he was reading.

Henry and Danielle addressed them. "I don't think the monks are going to be swindling anyone. They will probably be minding their own business, doing their own reading."

Then Henry and Danielle went off to a different part of the monastery.

"It makes me want to cry," Danielle remarked as she gazed at the countless books pilling high on shelves.

"Pick one," offered Henry generously.

"I can no sooner choose a favourite star in the heavens," Danielle told him.

"What is it that touches you so?" The crowned prince of France had never met, it seemed, a noblewoman with such an eloquent vocabulary of words. He had to know more.

There was that talking black horse that seemed to know something. Maybe he could ask the horse at some point.

"I guess it's because when I was young, my father would stay up and read to me. He was addicted to the written word. I would fall asleep listening to the sound of his voice." There was a nostalgic tone in Danielle that wasn't lost to Ella nor Brandy, having lost their fathers at a young age also.

"What sort of books?"

"Science, philosophy, I suppose they remind me of him. He died when I was eight. Utopia was the last book that he brought home."

"Which explains why you quote it."

"I would rather hear his voice again than any other sound in the world."

Henry turned away and headed downstairs. Danielle followed after him.

"Something wrong?" Danielle asked.

Henry stopped halfway. "In all my years of study, not one tutor ever demonstrated the passion you have shown me in the last two days. You have more conviction of memory than I have in... in my entire being."

"Your Highness, if there is anything I have said or done..."

"Please don't. It's not you."

"Then what could it be?"

"I don't know."

"I'm sure you'll find your answer in your heart."

When everyone had their fun, they exited the monastery and had not gone very far when there was two travellers arguing about which way to take.

"The map said we will head east to the castle," one of them said.

"No," the other disagreed, "the castle is west."

"Are you asking for a fight?"

"No."

There was even the moment that a third joined them and was mistreating the horse.

Margaret was quick to jump to the horse's rescue. "Hey, discard your whip or I will do that for you!"

"Or what? Stay out of our business."

"You dare raise your voice to a lady, sir?" Henry questioned.

"What are you going to do about it?"

"You are speaking to the Crown Prince of France," Henry said angrily, "I will not tolerate rude behaviour."

"Besides, horses are not to be trifled with," Margaret added. "Now, for the last time, discard your whip and treat your horses with care."

The rider reluctantly agreed and hurled the whip away from him. There were a smug smirk on his face. "You have bigger problems to deal with."

"What?" Danielle frowned, but then turned around and gasped when she saw who it was, along with Ella and Brandy. Margaret, however, did no such thing.

The group had been joined by the monarchs of England and Henry's parents, Ravenna (Margaret's stepmother), Rodmilla de Ghent and her daughters Jacqueline and Marguerite, Lady Tremaine, Anastasia and Drizella, and Madame Bernadette with Minerva and Calliope.

Chapter 9: Stepfamilies join and forcing beliefs

Summary:

The stepfamilies of Danielle, Ella and Brandy join (along with King Henry VIII and Queen Anne Boleyn)

Also dealing with that vegan teacher leads to confusion because veganism wasn't started until 1944, and our heroes and heroines are many centuries before WW2.

Notes:

To avoid confusion with Prince Henry and Henry VIII, one will have the number.

I have nothing against vegans, it is only those like that vegan teacher who judges people for eating meat, dairy and eggs. What you eat is your choice.

The group had been joined by the monarchs of England and Henry's parents, Ravenna (Margaret's stepmother), Rodmilla de Ghent and her daughters Jacqueline and Marguerite, Lady Tremaine, Anastasia and Drizella, and Madame Bernadette with Minerva and Calliope.

Upon seeing Henry VIII and Anne, Thomas and Margaret bowed and curtsied. "Majesty."

"How are the reports made by the commissioners regarding the monasteries?" Henry VIII asked his chancellor.

"There was some reports saying that they will give you the land and wealth when pigs fly. And others want to have 50-50," Thomas answered his king.

Henry VIII laughed. "Sure, we'll give it to them, but we'll actually make it 75/50, with us getting 25% extra." He turned to Margaret. "Lady Hall? I'll keep in mind about what you said regarding appointing councillors based on merit, rather than nobility."

"Thank you, Your Majesty, but it was Mr Secretary's suggestion."

"We're very pleased, Tom," Henry VIII said, and Margaret wondered if Henry VIII was referring to the royal we or Anne and himself.

However, later at a show hosted by the water bull, Aussie Tash Peterson ducked underneath the fence and started her protest.

"These gentle and innocent beings are going to be brutally murdered and shot in the head!" Tash shouted, while holding up a sign. "They're just as gentle and loving as our beloved dogs and cats!"

The crowd started booing at the upstart that was ruining the show.

The tarbh uisge snorted. "'Innocent?!' 'Innocent?!' I'll show you innocent!" He charged.

Margaret picked up Tash, hurled her over the fence and threw a circlet of flowers at the water bull and muttering a spell under her breath. The water bull calmed down.

Meanwhile, the Kelpie angrily berated the Aussie. "That was reckless of you! You could have got everyone killed in the name of your extreme propaganda. You want to protest against animal abuse? Go to pit bull fights not children's birthday parties." 

But Tash didn't listen. Neither did the vegan teacher who was there also. "Why shouldn't I tell someone to change their religion?"

Margaret counted on her fingers. "1) that's so rude as heck, 2) that's so fricking disrespectful, 3) religion is in no way, shape or form like changing clothes and 4) hearing that question proves that you know NOTHING about religion. You cannot call us animal abusers because we are before veganism and you are being hypocritical, saying religion is a fairytale and then state that Heaven is vegan and that people who eat meat will go to hell. You cannot say that."

"Why not?"

Margaret shook her head. "Any argument you both make will be countered with uno reverse card. God specifically told Noah that both plants and animals are food, in some form, in the Bible."

That Vegan teacher then compared Brandy to animals because she was black and called her the n-word which made the Kelpie's blood boil (Margaret used empathy and shuddered).

Tash countered - shouted - with more nonsense that Henry VIII called for the guards to arrest both vegans.

At that moment, Princess Catherine of Doriathan and Prince Fabian of the Faerie realm arrived.

"Your Highness." The Kelpie bowed. 

"What's the trouble here?" Catherine asked.

Danielle curtsied. "These two women were being discourteous towards us and we will not stand for it." 

Margaret added that both vegans were harassing everyone to go vegan. "Kadie Karen even contradicts herself by saying you won't go to heaven if you are not vegan and then says religion is a fairytale."

To avoid further tensions, Catherine got out a radio with a cd player and started playing Cliff Richard's Millenium Prayer:

#

Let all the people sing Amen

In every tribe and tongue
Let every hearts desire be joined
To see the kingdom come

Let every hope and every dream
Be born in love again
Let all the world sing with one voice
Let the people say amen

Amen Amen Amen

Amen Amen Amen

#

While the song was playing, Catherine was doing overhead arm claps and everyone copied, even that vegan teacher - who was not religious - and vegan booty aka Tash Peterson.

Tash and that vegan teacher left to force their extreme vegan views and Margaret prayed that they would cause no more offence to anyone else, lest they get murdered for it.

Then there came the scene like disaster dominoes. Madame Bernadette somehow figured that Brandy was the girl that Prince Christopher wanted to marry and sent Minerva and Calliope to get some food.

"And you," Madame Bernadette called to Brandy. "Why, the thought of you dancing with the prince! It's... It's preposterous!"'

"Why?" Brandy asked as she stopped her from going after Minerva and Calliope. "Why is it so hard for you to imagine?"

"Because ...You're common, Cinderella," Madame Bernadette replied. "Your mother was common and so are you."

Margaret glared, looking ready to punish the step-mother.

"Oh, you can wash your face and put on a clean dress, but underneath, you'll still be common," Madame Bernadette continued to talk down to her step-daughter. "That a prince would even consider taking you for his bride."

Rodmilla and Marguerite laughed uproariously, as did Lady Tremaine and Drisella.

"It's laughable!" Madame Bernadette then said with a laugh.

"My father-" Brandy started.

"Your father was weak!" Madame Bernadette told her. "He spoiled you rotten! He filled your head with silly thoughts and dreams that'll never come true! Never."

Brandy began to look crushed from that. From behind a tree, Demona mirrored Brandy's expression, and Lilith watched with sympathy, knowing that her friend had been in the same situation years before.

The Kelpie, still as Adrian Foote, asked if Demona was alright.

Chapter 10: Duty to your country or to your heart

Summary:

Prince Christopher, Henry, Prince Kit, and Thomas have to decide whether to carry out duty to their country (or in Thomas' case, the king and the Reformation) or their hearts

"At least Thomas and you are not princes," Demona said to the Kelpie. "You'll have to decide duty to your country or to your heart. Well, with Thomas, it's more of beliefs and the king Henry VIII."

The Kelpie nodded. "At least they will live life to their full. Lucas, on the other hand, doesn't want to bear losing anyone, so he puts them in the friend zone. He said in his letter that he met Rapunzel, Snow White and the miller's daughter Adelheid. Then he will meet Beauty."

"The unicorn?"

"No. The character from Beauty and the Beast. Here's the letter."

Demona was given the letter and had a read through:

 

Hey, Charlie, Destiny and TJ!

I hope you are well, wherever you are.

I'm doing ok in storybook land, where I met Rapunzel and her hair reached the floor, until Frau Gothel and I suggested that we cut it to waist length - so it is still long and it won't get in the way. Gothel treated Rapunzel like her own child.

Then we, Frau Gothel and I, revealed to Rapunzel that she was sent away for her safety when she came of age at twenty one. She asked me if I knew about her biological parents and I said she could go and see them and that they anxiously await her.

The next story I went to was Schneewittchen (Snow White) and, like with Rapunzel, I managed to rescue the princess from her cruel stepmother and provided her with food and lodging. An Aesop is that she is appealing because of her kind heart, like her mother.

For my next adventures, I'm going to Rumplestiltskin and Beauty and the beast (more like Beauty and the dragon).

Hope you are doing well and keeping safe!

Write soon,

Lucas

 

While Henry VIII and Anne were discussing about Elizabeth and their future son, Thomas was reading a letter from Archbishop Cranmer, and the Kelpie visited the latter. 

"Mr Secretary," the Kelpie responded, and Thomas looked up. "Can I ask you something?"

"Yes, what is it?"

"What do you really think of Margaret? Be honest."

"She's knowledgeable about the Reforms, agrees that reformers are not heretics and overall a good friend. She agrees that priests should be allowed to marry also."

"That's excellent, you both have common ground: wanting what benefits England in some form." 

"TJ, forgive me but you should not presume upon the queen's good graces, nor ever assume that forgiveness is likely given."

"I do not so presume. I'm just saying that you both want corruption driven out of England. The other men, being princes, have to decide whether to serve country or their heart. As you are not a prince, but you're just as important, you have to decide the king and the Reformation."

"If I may, I sometimes wonder whether Margaret would be better off with a fellow catholic as a friend or a spouse."

"Better off doesn't necessarily mean happier. She said the same thing, that she thinks you might be happier with a woman like Katerina." The Kelpie sounded exactly like Cromwell. "Cranmer's wife. Anyway, Margaret will be here soon, so you can talk about your feelings. See you later."

Then the Kelpie walked off.

----

Danielle was pacing, wringing her hands, trying to decide how best to tell Henry the truth - that Nicole was her mother's name and that she was not a Comtesse. Leonardo Da Vinci and her childhood friend Gustave were there too, with the Kelpie.

"He deserves to hear the truth from the one he loves," Da Vinci advised.

"He won't care about what you are, only who you are," added Gustave. "If you can save servants and empathise with gypsies, then he can handle the truth."

"You all have something in common, Madam," the Kelpie told Danielle. "You are each princes with humble country girls, except Thomas who serves the king of England and Margaret serves the queen. You are all defined by what and not who you are."

"I'm sure that Margaret sees Thomas as a prince in her eyes."

"Yes, a prince to be rescued from a cruel fate."

"Shall we head back to the others?"

"Yes."

Danielle and the Kelpie, with Demona and Lilith - fully dressed, thankfully - and Leonardo Da Vinci and Gustave headed back.

Chapter 11: The vegan skeleton returns

Summary:

The vegan teacher returns to try and force our heroes and heroines to be vegan - again.

Then she turns into That Meat Teacher Miss Tofu and That Vegan Nurse

Notes:

Again, like I have said in chapter 9, I don't dislike vegans, only those like that vegan teacher who judges people for eating meat, dairy and eggs, and especially now with one of her premieres from October 16 where she had explicitly written in a live chat that she wishes for everyone (who eats meat) to fall asleep and never wake up tomorrow.

TW: Brief mentions of SA and ED and the vegan teacher's horrible remarks.

However, when Lilith, Demona, Danielle, Leonardo Da Vinci, Gustave and the Kelpie returned to the group, they found the skeletal vegan teacher who was talking to Brandy, Christopher, Henry, Kit, Ella, Thomas, Margaret, monarchs of England - Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn - and Henry's parents Francis and Marie, Ravenna (Margaret's stepmother), Rodmilla de Ghent and her daughters Jacqueline and Marguerite, Lady Tremaine, Anastasia and Drizella, and Madame Bernadette with Minerva and Calliope. 

"Veganphobia is as bad as racism, it's as bad as homophobia, it's deliberate cruelty towards somebody who is defending the animals," that vegan teacher said. "We are born vegan, we never wanted to hurt animals. Now, I think, unfortunately that sounds terrible to say this but most of us has been sexually assaulted and many of us when we were younger had eating disorders."

"Bruh, lady, you cannot say that. Not everyone has been through that so why would you say such a thing?" Lilith asked. "I am not going to comment on the first one but we did not have an eating disorder."

"That is why you should go vegan. There's no excuse for animal abuse. Not religion, not an eating disorder, not peer pressure, not your monetary status."

Lilith did the blah blah blah gesture. "Haven't you heard of food deserts? Not everyone can afford to go to grocery stores and buy veggies, fruits, nuts and seeds. Besides, the protein supplements won't be enough. King Henry likes his meat."

"Well, that's no excuse, King Henry will have to be vegan to be a good person and if he wants to go to heaven." The vegan teacher said of farming animals and their suffering.

"Please don't say that, it's disrespectful, comparing r*pe victims to breeding animals," the Kelpie told the vegan teacher.

"Well, if you didn't like being s**u@lly a$$@ulted, why do you pay others to do that to animals?" That vegan skeleton went on a rant saying of what happened to bulls and cows in the dairy industry.

The so-called teacher said how the animals had it worse than humans and that humans were a virus on this planet. She mentioned that animals were here with us and not for us and her other misinformation that she was spreading.

But she crossed the line with saying that women like Danielle and Margaret were not a feminist if they were 'paying r*pists to assault other females' and that the bible was just peer pressure from dead people and that humans should only take the good things - the commandments about murder and stealing applied to humans not animals - from their religion and change it like pants.

Catherine and Fabian showed up with food. "Who's hungry?"

"It'd better be vegan food," remarked the vegan teacher.

"Oh, cheese and onion sandwiches." Fabian's hand dived in after them, and a bottle of water and a pain au chocolat.

"Wait, you didn't say vegan cheese."

"That's because it is not. BTW, I'm vegetarian."

"Being vegetarian isn't good enough. You must strive to be vegan, because vegetarians still pay for the r---, the torture and murder of innocent animals who never did a single thing wrong to us."

"Yeah," Lilith scoffed, "tell that to the humans who died in an animal stampede. Or any other animal attack, witch with a b."

Drastically, the vegan teacher's clothes altered to resemble a tie dye dress and her personality to resemble a hippie from the 1960s.

Miss Tofu had a carrot and hummus. "So that's the end of our sex lesson girls and boys. You can all put away your carrots and hummus now. Just remember the only kind of meat that you ever put inside of you is the meat from a vegan boy." That Meat Teacher Miss Tofu pulled out the carrot with the bottom covered in hummus and put it in her mouth.

Everyone looked revolted. "Did she just do what I think she did?" Demona asked.

"Yep. She just sucked off a carrot," Lilith answered.

Then Miss Tofu was that vegan nurse.

That vegan nurse was drinking soy milk from the carton with a red straw and saying of a woman drinking soy milk and spilling it all over herself and how she didn't like that. "We need a lesbian president but she's Canadian so I didn't really know what she meant, so I scrolled down and she said that she's a lesbian. I mean we all are a little bit right, I mean I am one too depending on the day of the week of course. But I don't understand what that has to do with anything, I mean if that's what lesbians do, I don't know if I want to have a lesbian president."

"Ha, ha, ha. I have to disagree. You cannot change your sexuality and we are not lesbians," Demona remarked.

Fabian ripped off the packet, took out a sandwich and took a bite into the sandwich. "Yeah, this is a good sandwich. Love the texture of the cheese."

The vegan teacher tried to ramble about the horrors of the food industry, but it fell on deaf ears. Catherine, knowing that Kadie Karen would be a problem, did a confusion spell on the vegan teacher and sent her away.

Notes:

The next three chapters are about Margaret's visions:

1) Margaret uses her mind-reading ability on Cromwell, and finds out that he's thinking lustful thoughts about her.

2) Before Margaret's fainting at court (found in chapter 6 of New Life)

3) Rodmilla reveals the truth to Henry and the undoing of Cromwell

Chapter 12: Desire

Summary:

Cromwell desires Margaret who knows he thinks she and Charles have a relationship, he knows Charles has contacts with the catholic rebels and he plans a way to have Charles at the gallows and Margaret for himself

Notes:

Italics are thoughts

"Charles, can we talk... alone?" Margaret asked the Duke of Suffolk Charles Brandon. She had found him leaving the presence chamber of the king and was heading only he knows where.

Charles nodded slightly and then led the woman to a remote room before Margaret closed the door. "What is it Margaret?" He sat in a chair and invited Margaret to do the same.

"It seems Mr Cromwell desires me. I know he thinks we have a relationship, he knows you have contacts with the catholic rebels and he planned a way to have you at the gallows and me for himself."

"I won't let any harm come to you from him." I swear, with God's help, if Mr Cromwell hurts Margaret in any way, I will make sure that he will pay for it. 

Margaret tapped the side of her nose. "Don't worry, Charles, I have a plan." She may not have a big interest in politics, but knew her way around them and their uses. They would definitely be of use to her in the current situation.

Charles gave a smile. Later that evening, Margaret was walking down the hallway, possibly to go and find the room she shared with the other ladies-in-waiting to Queen Jane, including Lady Rochford who was made principal lady in waiting, and then she saw the familiar form of the king's secretary approaching seemingly from out of nowhere. She got a book and started reading.

"Lady Hall."

Margaret looked up to meet Cromwell's gaze. "Mr Cromwell."

"You still seeing Suffolk?"

Margaret let out a laugh. "FYI, Mr Secretary, Suffolk and I are very good friends, like I am with Lady Mary. Surely you can see that." She focused on resting her fingers on his forearm, moving upwards to gently squeezing his biceps ("Oh my! What big muscles you have!"), before laying her hand on his shoulder. "You know sir, we can continue this… elsewhere." She smiled. She followed him to his office where it was devoid of the bustling of clerks.

"Mr Rich said that you're a Catholic," Cromwell said.

"Yes, it is true," Margaret said. "But I am not like Gardiner or Sir Thomas More in being a conservative Catholic nor condemning all reformers as heretics. I am open minded towards the reforms."

"Are you certain there is nothing going on between my Lord Suffolk and you?"

Margaret nodded. As long as the plan succeeds, Charles will be safe. He will not die.

"May I ask your opinion on the monasteries being closed?"

"I agree there is a form of corruption in the Catholic Church, but you don't want to make enemies in your efforts to please the king." Margaret turned her head away so the Lord Privy Seal didn't see her apply Nivea Soft Rose lip balm. It was enchanted so it would be like the magical girdle of the goddess Aphrodite of Greek mythology - to drive men insane with desire (or in Margaret's case, just Cromwell).

Dear Lord, what am I getting myself into, Margaret thought to herself. Queen Jane told me, like she did with Lady Misseldon: 'Do your duties honourably and virtuously'. And what am I doing? Hanging out with Cromwell, the king's right hand man and second most powerful.

She faced Thomas and they made themselves comfortable. She leaned in to whisper in his ear. "Sate your desire by doing what you want. Come on, you know you want to..." She smiled seductively at the guy and tossed back her black hair.

Then, under an urge, Cromwell drew Margaret close, kissing her intensely, wrapping one arm around her to stop her from escaping, the other on the back of her head.

So beautiful. Very soon now the Duke of Suffolk shall be no more, and Margaret shall be mine.

Somehow, enjoying the close physical contact and yet disliking Cromwell's thoughts towards Suffolk, Margaret placed her hands around him in an embrace.

Margaret pulled back for some air. "Just be cautious about the Solicitor General. He will stab you in the back, if you're not careful." She caressed Cromwell's back before attaching her lips to his neck (darn you collar, I will have to deal with the top half), kissing her way upwards towards his jaw and then to his mouth which she took with hers…

One thing you should know, Thomas Cromwell, I belong to no man.

Cromwell's voice laughed in Margaret's head. We will see about that. He slanted her head further, deepening the kiss…

Chapter 13: Loving king and wife

Summary:

Before Margaret's fainting at court (found in chapter 6 of New Life), Cromwell gets a surprise visit from Henry

Thomas Cromwell headed to his house, which was rare as he usually stayed at Whitehall Palace, feeling it his duty to serve the king anyway he could.

He went to the dining room.

"Thomas?"

It was Henry. 

"Majesty." Thomas bowed.

Fake Henry approached slowly, like predator after prey, until he and Thomas were inches apart. "Doest thou love thy sovereign?" 

Cromwell wholeheartedly nodded.

Fake Henry spoke more. "Would you do so in the same way that you love your work and... your wife?"

"No, Majesty. Loving you is different from loving work and Margaret."

Margaret turned back into herself.

Cromwell looked like he was going to say something, but then closed his mouth. 

"Thomas, did I give you a fright?" Margaret sniffled. She didn't want to hurt him.

Cromwell encircled an arm around her waist in an embrace. "I cannot say that I was not surprised by you impersonating the king."

"Do you love the king in the same way you love me?"

"No. I'd feel like I'm betraying you if I did." He kissed her temple. "You have my heart."

Margaret kissed him back. "And you have mine." 

Chapter 14: Danielle denied and The Undoing of Cromwell

Summary:

In Margaret's vision, Danielle goes to tell Henry the truth and gets abandoned for it, and then sees the one thing she dreads: losing Thomas to execution.

Everyone was waiting for the moment when Henry would announce whom he was marrying. Kit, Ella, Brandy, Christopher, Lionel, Jacqueline, Laurent, Margaret (with red hair), Thomas, the Kelpie, Demona, Lilith, King Henry VIII and Anne, King Maximilian and Queen Constantina and Kit's father were amongst the crowd.

Then they spotted Danielle with gossamer wings and makeup and a beautiful white dress and her hair was done up.

"Isn't that her mother's dress and the wings that Da Vinci made?" Demona asked Lilith.

Lilith nodded.

"Oh, she's so beautiful."

Baroness Rodmilla de Ghent felt sick to the core. Seeing Danielle standing there, in her dead mother's wedding dress of all things! It should've been Marguerite standing there! Rodmilla glanced over at her daughter, who looked crestfallen, and immediately knew how she felt. The wealth that she believed she deserved was slipping out of her fingers quicker than she thought possible. Anger rose up inside of her, as did a plan. Quickly, she grasped Marguerite's hand and pulled her through the crowd.

"What are you doing?" Marguerite asked, bewildered.

"Making you a princess!" Rodmilla snapped. She didn't have time to answer silly questions. Paris at Christmas was quickly slipping through her fingers, if they didn't hurry. Quickly, her eyes searched the crowd, finally fixing on Danielle and the Prince, the two of them running down the aisle and she knew she didn't have much time left before they reached the King. She had to do something! On impulse, she dived through the crowd and reached out.

Her fingers and palms scratched wire and stretched gossamer. Gripping hard, she pulled. Her ears filled with Danielle's shocked screams and the crowd gasps of horror as she threw the tattered wing to the ground. The Prince whipped around, glaring furiously at her.

"Madam, contain yourself!"

"This, sire, is an imposter!"

"No!" Danielle exclaimed.

"Her name is Danielle de Barbarac," Rodmilla continued, "and she has been a servant in my home for the past ten years!"

"A servant, Henry?" Francis asked. "Is this some kind of joke?"

"Baroness, you are on dangerous ground!" Henry warned Rodmilla.

"Ask her yourself, she is a grasping scheming little pretender and it is my duty your highness to expose her as the covetous hoax she is," Rodmilla stated.

"Tell these women who you are. Tell them."

Danielle was near to tears. Jacqueline and Laurent came closer to observe.

"Bow before royalty, you insolent fraud!" Rodmilla demanded of her stepdaughter.

"My God it can't be true," Henry turned to Danielle. "Nicole?"

"Nicole De Loncret was my mother," Danielle admitted, teary-eyed. "I am what she says."

"The apple, that was you?"

"I can explain..."

"Well someone had better!" Francis boomed.

"First you're engaged and now you're a servant?" There was disgust in Henry's tone. "I've heard enough."

"Henry, please..."

The crowd gasped. 

Henry's tone hardened and grew cold. "Do not address me so informal, madam. I am a crown prince of France and you... are just like them."

Danielle ran away crying and was spotted by Da Vinci who called out to her but she kept running back to the De Barbarac manor. Henry skulked off from the ball to some other part of the palace.

Running after her, the Kelpie managed to get to Danielle who sat in the doorway in the pouring rain crying her heart out. Seconds later, Margaret had joined them, holding the other wing. "Hey, if it makes you feel better, Da Vinci scolded Henry for his behaviour and left him with your other shoe." Using magic, she fixed the wing so it was now attached to the dress again.

----

Cromwell climbed the steps of the scaffold and spoke to the crowd.

"Good people, I have come here to die, and not to purge myself as some may think I should. I am by law condemned to die and I thank my Lord God that has granted me this death for my offense, for since I came of age I have lived as a sinner, and offended my Lord God for which I ask Him heartily for forgiveness." Cromwell started crying and it broke Margaret's heart to see him jeered and hated by the crowd, and so scared that she wanted to hold him in her arms and kiss away his tears and fears. "I have also offended my prince, for which I ask him hearty amnesty. I heartily desire you to pray for the king’s grace, and that he may long live with you in health and prosperity. And then after him his son Prince Edward may long reign over you. Gentlemen, you should all take warning from me, it was as you know from a poor man made by the print into a great gentleman then, that I am not contented with that, not with having the kingdom at my orders pushed you to a still higher estate. My pride has brought its punishment."

He knelt at the execution block and said a prayer. "Lord, grant me that when these eyes shall lose their use, the eyes of my soul may see of thee. God Lord and Father, that when this mouth shall lose its use, that my heart will say until thee 'Father, into your hands, I commend my Spirit'. Pray for the prince, and for the lords of the council, and the clergy and for the people. Now I beg you again that you will pray for me, pray," he turned to his executioner, "if possible cut off the head with one blow, that I may not suffer much."

The axeman raised his axe and staggered.

Oh no, he's drunk, Margaret thought. She dreaded what was to happen next. It was likely the executioner will miss and hit somewhere like the shoulder blades and cause Margaret a lot of agony.

As the executioner drunkenly staggered over, Cromwell laid his head on the chopping block and it was the moment that everyone anticipated.

The executioner lifted the axe and then swiftly swung it down.

THWACK!

"ARRGHH!" There came a scream (possibly from Cromwell) and the crowd gasped. This was not what they expected. They may have despised Cromwell but they didn't believe he should die in pain.

Second attempt from the executioner.

THWACK!

"ARRGHH!" This time the screaming came from Margaret, feeling as if she was the one having her head cut off, though in her case she felt pain in the shoulder blades because that was where the second hit landed - with Cromwell's shoulder blades.

Then came the third swing. 

"Oh my days! Make it stop! Just get the soldier to get the job finished!" Margaret exclaimed.

Another time, another swing. Another failure.

Many people in the crowd were horrified and disgusted by the brutal butchery that they were witnessing. One of the soldiers, having enough of the flimsy attempts by the drunk executioner, grabbed the axe and delivered the last shot.

Cromwell was dead.

But then so was Margaret.

The vision ended.

And Margaret woke up crying.

Chapter 15: Staying strong in dark times

Summary:

Margaret enlists the help of Charmed One's ancestor to stop Matthew Tate

Notes:

Regarding Prudence Warren, I decided to combine some of elements from Charmed novels: Something Old, Something New, and Whispers from the past e.g Prudence having blonde hair and telekinesis and premonition as well as marrying first mate Michael and having a daughter Cassandra

Margaret Hall took some deep breaths to calm herself. She would not allow the final vision to happen, but if it was His plan, then who was she to judge? Then she went back to sleep.

The next morning after breakfast, the Kelpie went to speak with her. "Are you feeling alright?"

"I'm alright. In a vision I saw Thomas dying by the axe. I couldn't save him and when he died so did I."

"You had some psychic link?"

Margaret nodded. "Be careful."

"Will do."

Later, the Kelpie was in church listening to the choir and then felt a hand on his shoulder. He looked to his left and saw Cromwell.

"Your Grace, may we speak?" questioned Cromwell and then went to sit with him. "The king wonders if there are others like those two women."

"There are some who support that vegan teacher, unfortunately. They say many terrible things, especially against religion. 'Jesus is dead. What matters is that if Jesus were alive right now, he would most certainly be vegan if he saw what we are doing to the animals. Be kind. Be vegan. Start now'. 'God did not put innocent animals here for you to use'. VegaGeorge says that religion is a fairy tale and that Ed Winters is his Jesus because he cares about the animals and calls the other one non existent. Also I was telling Tash that if she wants to protest against animal abuse, do so regarding cock fights not ponies dressed as unicorns. And…"

"Yes?"

"If the vegan teacher isn't stopped, she will go after the king and make him vegan. She'll take away his meat and replace it with vegetables."

----

With the rest of the group, Margaret was knitting the other piece of the scarf and there was a sinister laugh.

Lucifer showed up. "You think you can win?"

Margaret waved a hand. "By the power of Corin and Torin, I hereby summon the spirit of Melinda Warren."

In a swirl of orbs appeared a woman no older than Margaret, with blonde hair and blue eyes and wore 17th century clothing.

Melinda Warren.

Lucifer laughed mockingly. "What would a dead witch do against me?" 

"This!" Melinda waved a hand and sent Lucifer flying into a tree. "Where's TJ?"

"Here." The Kelpie arrived with Cromwell. "Hey, Melinda. Why didn't you save your life then?"

"I had a daughter. Her name was Prudence. She meant everything to me. If I had used my powers, I would've proven Matthew's charge and Prudence would've hanged too. So I thought, I'll accept this and pray some kind soul will take pity on my daughter and raise her in a safe home. Only then could the Warren line continue."

However a mob of townspeople passed by and accused the women - Brandy, Danielle, Ella and Margaret - of being witches (though Margaret was one, she was a white witch).

"People, fellow townspeople, calm. They're my cousins." A tall, dark, and gorgeously handsome man with a lean face with high cheekbones and a square jaw, and steely grey eyes made himself known to everyone.

"Where are they from?" One of the townspeople asked.

"Jamestown," Margaret answered.

The crowd believed the man and, satisfied with the answer, they returned to Salem at his request.

"What's your name?" Ella asked the man.

"Hugh Montgomery," responded Hugh. "I'm staying with Prudence at her cottage."

The Kelpie and Melinda looked at each other, wondering if Prudence was Prudence Warren, or someone else with the same name. 

Hugh invited everyone to Prudence's cottage and inside was a woman also blond and wearing 17th century clothing.

"Mother?" Prudence asked in amazement.

"Prudence," acknowledged Melinda.

The two Warren witches embraced. Hugh went to the kitchen and then came back with a tray of teacups. "Would anyone like some root tea?"

Everyone, but Margaret, the Kelpie and Thomas, took the cups and had a sip.

"What's in the tea?" Prince Christopher questioned.

"Oh, just an old family recipe," Hugh responded. "Prudence, why don't you tell everyone what you do?"

"I live in Salem and I work as a midwife. Hugh has been a good guest during his stay with me."

"That's nice," Danielle remarked, frowning because of the tea texture. "Monsieur Montgomery, do you remember what is in your family recipe?"

"French, eh? No, Mademoiselle, I must have misplaced it."

"Oh dear," Ella responded. "Do you want a hand looking for it?"

"No, thank you, Miss." 

Tap, tap, tap.

Outside the house was Lilith and Demona and they held up a note to the window in a different language. The Kelpie asked everyone to excuse him before he went outside. "What is the matter?"

"Tell Melinda Warren that her warlock lover is parading around San Francisco because Lucifer used her form to open the locket, knowing that she or any of her descendants can open it and free him," Demona explained. 

"Who's that?" Lilith asked, regarding Hugh.

The Kelpie told them.

"The note was enchanted, in case it fell into the wrong hands." Lilith and Demona, like Margaret, the Kelpie and Thomas, turned down Hugh's offer of tea.

The next day, Prudence had another cup of tea before she went to help the women who needed her help. Melinda was able to use premonitions to see that a woman named Elizabeth Hasting took Prudence in and gave her a home and allowed her a normal life by binding her powers. But then she foresaw Matthew Tate going after Prudence. She hurried to find her daughter and found Prudence with a patient. "Prudence, you're in danger. My former lover is after you and we need the spell to send him back into the locket."

"Where's the locket?"

"I don't know. It was stolen."

Margaret, Cromwell, and the Kelpie burst into the room. "Demona said Matthew Tate is parading around San Francisco because Lucifer used her form to open the locket, knowing that she or any of her descendants can open it and free him."

"Who's Lucifer?" Prudence questioned.

"Way more deadly than Matthew Tate, I tell you."

Luckily, the trio managed to tell the others - Brandy, Christopher, Danielle, Ella, Henry and Kit - about the danger. Henry vowed, as the crown prince of France, that he would do everything he could to ensure that no one got hurt on his watch, especially Danielle despite remembering how she dealt with the Cargo Master.

However later Ella went on a walk and she heard voices talking. One of them was Hugh, she recognised...

Chapter 16: Friend of mine

Summary:

Our heroes and heroines consider Ella a friend of theirs

Ella meets 1950 Cinderella

However late Ella went on a walk and she heard voices talking. One of them was Hugh, she recognised...

"Did you manage to succeed in your desire, Hugh?" a voice asked. "To corrupt the Warren line?"

"No, Falcroft," Hugh responded. "I had other discovered other guests. One of them is Prudence's mother. The others I don't have a clue. Only three didn't drink the tea."

"What three?"

"Two men, one woman. They all dressed from different time periods."

Ella listened close from behind a tree. She reasoned that she would speak in French if she got caught, since the 'have courage and be kind' motto might not work in this case. Reality wise, she didn't want to be caught.

"You are tasked to turn Prudence by feeding her a potion to slowly corrupt her, make her jealous and then turn her on her friends and her mother. Do not fail." 

Ella accidentally stepped on a stick and it snapped loudly underneath her foot when she quietly backed away to tell Kit and the others what she had heard. Not wanting to be caught, she lifted her skirts and ran into 1950 Cinderella. They were similar with pink dresses and blonde hair but Cinderella had blue eyes and Ella had brown eyes.

Together they ran.

Elsewhere Lilith and Demona encountered a 17th century warlock with brown eyes and black hair. "Great," muttered Lilith. "First Hugh Montgomery and now Matthew Tate. Remember, Dem, no using your powers. Matthew will be immune to them afterwards."

Demona nodded. "About the vegan teacher, I can’t believe people support this insane woman who thinks if you aren’t vegan, you're a horrible person for eating meat." She saw Ella and Cinderella and sent Matthew Tate on a detour to the zoo. "Ladies, you must be exhausted and thirsty. Please, sit down and have some water." She got a jug of water and served two glasses. Cinderella and Ella thanked Demona and took a sip.

"What happened?"

Shakily, Ella explained of how she was taking a walk in the woods and heard Hugh talking to someone named Falcroft and then gave her location away by accidentally breaking a twig and then ran and met Cinderella. 

Lilith and Demona faced each other. "We have a plan."

Our other heroes and heroines considered Ella a friend of theirs. They especially admired her courage and kindness in helping them out when they needed it. Ella found that she had similarities to Brandy and Danielle in staying strong despite horrible circumstances. She also decided to keep her mother's pink dress safe in a chest and changed it for a blue one. The Kelpie understood and respected her decision. "Next time we find Prudence Warren, we will ensure that she will not have any more root tea. Same with Melinda Warren."

Ella and the others agreed. She met also Areida, Slannen of Pim and Ella of Frell who volunteered to help out in the quest.

Chapter 17: Similarities

Summary:

There are many things to do with your life.

Henry talks with the Kelpie more

Notes:

Marie is from the German 2010 film Aschenputtel

There were two other versions of Cinderella - Marie and Elladora, whose name meant a gift sent from heaven, one who is filled with light. Marie was brunette with hair reaching the elbows and brown eyes wearing a white and blue dress. Elladora had wavy red hair and chocolate eyes. She wore a blue dress too.

Elladora and Marie were with Brandy, Danielle, Ella and Margaret. There was also Lilith, Demona, Prudence and Melinda Warren and a newcomer.

"I-I too am a witch," The woman explained. "I'm Theodora the Good."

"Theodora..." Margaret smiled softly. "That's a lovely name."

"Thank you." Theodora smiled back. She met the fine men who were princes (Margaret saw Thomas as her own prince) - Prince Christopher, Prince Henry, Prince Kit, and Thomas. What really caught Theodora's attention was the black horse of splendour. 

Also, since Marie spoke German, Margaret translated. "I have a stepsister called Clothilde who is terribly unkind to me, and a stepmother named Therese."

Afterwards, Theodora invited the Kelpie on a walk. "I've cried for so long," Theodora softly said to the Kelpie as they strolled together. "I lived a lonely life, but then you showed up."

"What about relatives?" The Kelpie asked.

"Oh, Evanora? She gets on my nerves. She tried to make me believe that you were seeing other women. Were you?"

"If you mean those women you met, they're my friends. Also Elphaba, but you mustn't make fun of her, ok?"

"Ok."

The Kelpie called Elphaba and Elphaba came on a broomstick. Theodora was more surprised by the broomstick than the fact that Elphaba was green and dressed in black. She even pointed this out. Elphaba explained that the broomstick was much easier than walking all the time. "Especially when the destination is faraway."

"That sounds like fun."

The trio had lunch by a river. It was relaxing and fun.

---

Matthew Tate had managed to locate Danielle de Barbarac and Prince Henry, along with Jacqueline, Laurent, Brandy, Prince Christopher and Lionel. "Where is Melinda Warren?"

Danielle played ignorant, as did the others, to protect Melinda and Prudence. "I don't know."

Matthew Tate then pulled out a gun. "Save yourself then. Stop time."

Henry glanced at the others, hoping to find a way to get to safety without any lives lost. Melinda and Prudence were gathering the ingredients needed for the potion. 

Please ladies, Henry thought desperately, hurry back if you can. Your ex-lover is going to kill Nicole. And then my friends. And then me.

---

Eventually, after meeting with the Kelpie, Theodora was sitting on the chaise couch in the castle, surrounded by lit candles all around.

"One bite is all it takes," Evanora instructed Theodora, holding out a ruby red apple. "One bite, and your world will change forever. One bite and your heart will become impenetrable. One bite and you and I will finally share the throne. Unless you'd rather see Oz and Glinda there."

Theodora looked wide-eyed at that last part before swiping the apple quickly and before she could bite into it, Lúthien Tinúviel and Catherine Lisolar swooped in and swiped the apple from Theodora. A multicoloured aura surrounded Catherine and her eyes were yellow. The apple glowed.

"What are you doing?" Theodora demanded.

Catherine - literally - turned green and her white dress darkened to black and her circlet shifted to a pointed black hat. She did the classic witch cackling. The aura and yellow faded.

"What my friend means to show is that is what will happen to you if you eat the apple," Lúthien explained. "Catherine just removed whatever poison there was. Now you can have it back."

Catherine changed back to how she was. "You can eat it if you want."

Theodora managed to eat the apple and Evanora went poof and became a serpent symbolically to represent how like in the Fall of Man she tempted someone with an apple.

---

There was that talking black horse that seemed to know something. Maybe Henry could ask the horse at some point.

Henry managed to escape capture with the others and located the Kelpie who had just bade farewell to Theodora and Elphaba and they parted ways as friends - besides the two witches were more into Oscar 'Oz' Diggs and Fiyero as romantic partners. He would feel ridiculous talking to a horse, but recalled he had done so earlier with 'Nicole'. "Signore!"

The Kelpie looked up and walked over. "Prince Henry?"

"Forgive me, I didn't know what other way to address you. Do you know the Comtesse Nicole de Lancret? How is the Marquis de Carabas? I want to thank him for the gift."

The Kelpie bowed whilst thinking about his answer. It was in Danielle's power to tell Henry the truth - and the Kelpie promised he would not say anything unless Danielle said it was ok - and she would tell him soon. "Yes, I know the Comtesse. The Marquis de Carabas is actually the username of my friend Marcus. He is in the marketplace so you will be able to thank him personally."

Later, after learning from Lilith that Pierre LePieu - actually Lucifer in disguise - sent goons after Ella, the Kelpie decided to take the bait with Margaret and Elladora while the others went to rescue them.

"My ship is rigged and ready and I must be sailing. When shall I return, love?" The Kelpie, as Ella, sang. "I just do not know. I shall cross oceans, be guided by the star's light, but the best star of all is is the light in your window."

Margaret and Elladora applauded with Brandy who was with them also. They managed to escape by overcoming evil with good. They found the others - Brandy, Christopher, Danielle, Ella, Henry, Kit, Thomas, Ella of Frell, Marie, Arieda and Slannen of Pim - waiting outside.

There was also Melinda and Prudence Warren. They elatedly told everyone that Matthew was trapped in the locket. They, along with Catherine and Margaret, had a vision of the Kelpie.

Chapter 18: The future

Summary:

Catherine, Margaret, Melinda and Prudence Warren see a vision of the future of the Kelpie.

Notes:

15/06 - The Charmed book Whispers from the past had arrived. 😊Yay

16/06 - Recieved the Warren Witches book

The Kelpie was by his lake home, chilling, and he spotted someone approaching which was rare because those who knew the myths of his kinds' reputation for eating their riders would avoid him.

It was Luis, the Each Uisge and the Kelpie's Puerto Rican friend. "Hey, my friend. How are things with you? How's Theo?"

Theo was the human alias for the Each Uisge.

"Things are going swimmingly. Theo said he had business to take care of, so he'll be back next week."

Luis chuckled softly, got close to TJ so they were inches apart and tenderly touched his face. "I'm more interested in you and your business. Are you busy right now?"

"No. Luis, are you feeling alright?" 

"Peachy keen. Is it ok for me to spend time with you?"

"Yes."

Luis continued to give the Kelpie his attention. He chuckled again but it sounded sinister like an evil villain laughter. The Kelpie turned around and saw that Luis was changing into Lucifer!

The vision ended.

Catherine, Margaret, Melinda and Prudence Warren knew they had to save their friend, and stop Falcroft as well as bring Hugh Montgomery back to the path of good. "I realise he's in thick with the demon but it's hard to believe him a warlock. He was once a kind, gentle man. To know he's truly fallen into evil is truly a heartbreak," Prudence said softly. She and the others had been free from the effects of the root tea, thanks to her mother. 

"Do not worry, Prudence," Catherine said. "There may be hope for Hugh."

Chapter 19: Revelation

Summary:

Danielle reveals the truth about herself and there are more people to see

Jess and Jules from Bend it like Beckham have each other's back.

Notes:

Macbeth characters are ones from Macbeth on the estate.

Lavinia and Bassianus are from Titus 1999.

Since Danielle had refused to divulge the information on the whereabouts on her mother's dress, Rodmilla de Ghent locked her in the kitchen and threatened the servants with disemployment if they opened the door before leaving with Marguerite and Jacqueline to get ready for the ball.

While Gustave was going to fetch Da Vinci, a moving bronze casing that resembled a pepper pot - a Dalek - hovered by the top watching as Paulette tried to unlock the door and failed.

"Move aside," the Dalek - Oscar - ordered, and, when Paulette did as she was bid, fired a beam at the padlock and destroyed it.

Danielle got up and ran to the group when everyone came in. Like when she first met the Kelpie, she was confused by Dalek Oscar.

"Maurice said that the prince was expecting you," said Gustave who was dressed fancy and wearing a red hat.

"He is expecting someone who does not exist." Danielle sadly addressed Da Vinci. "Signore my name is Danielle de Barbarac and I am but a servant."

"Yes," agreed Leonardo, "and I am the bastard son of a peasant. What is that to do with anything?"

"And I'm a Dalek. Why should that matter?" Oscar remarked.

Danielle shook her head. "I've deceived him."

"The prince will understand," assured Da Vinci.

"Come, child the night is young. We must get you ready for the ball," urged Paulette.

"I do not wish to go," said Danielle. "And what is a Dalek?"

"Daleks are mutant creatures in armour that hate everything non-Dalek, but I don't," Oscar explained. "And there are very few like me."

"If you stay, the Baroness wins," added Louise.

"How can I face him?" asked Danielle.

"Because he deserves to hear the truth from the one he loves," Da Vinci advised, knowing it true.

"A bird may love a fish, Signore, but where will they live?"

"Then I shall have to make you wings." Da Vinci gave Danielle a hug and kiss like greeting a relative.

"Ooh no time to waste. Louise, get the dress," Paulette called as she hurried out of the pantry.

Minutes later, Danielle was garbed in her mother's wedding dress and the gossamer wings that Leonardo crafted carefully along with makeup and her hair done up. Oscar waited for her outside. "You wear the heart of the ocean necklace. It suits you. TJ aka the Kelpie can give you a ride, if you like. Or you can take a carriage."

"I'll ask TJ for a ride, and tell him of the gate tradition."

Once Danielle was on the Kelpie's back, and she did the tradition of waving at the gate, the Kelpie galloped off to the ball.

Lucifer was watching the scene as a magpie and followed them.

Everyone was waiting for the moment when Henry would announce whom he was marrying. Kit, Ella, Brandy, Christopher, Lionel, Jacqueline, Laurent, Margaret (with red hair), Thomas, Demona, Lilith, King Henry VIII and Anne, King Maximilian and Queen Constantina and Kit's father were amongst the crowd. So were Marie, Prince Leopald, Elladora, Ella of Frell, Areida, Slannen and Prince Char.

After Danielle dismounted, the Kelpie turned himself into Adrian Foote from the film Loch Ness.

Then everyone spotted Danielle with gossamer wings and makeup and a beautiful white dress and her hair was done up.

"Isn't that her mother's dress and the wings that Da Vinci made?" Demona asked Lilith.

Lilith nodded.

"Oh, she's so beautiful."

Danielle met with Henry and said that she had something to tell him. Henry, in his excitement, said that his answer was yes and even pointed out that he invited the gypsies.

Baroness Rodmilla de Ghent felt sick to the core. Seeing Danielle standing there, in her dead mother's wedding dress of all things! It should've been Marguerite standing there! Rodmilla glanced over at her daughter, who looked crestfallen, and immediately knew how she felt. The wealth that she believed she deserved was slipping out of her fingers quicker than she thought possible. Anger rose up inside of her, as did a plan. Quickly, she grasped Marguerite's hand and pulled her through the crowd.

"What are you doing?" Marguerite asked, bewildered.

"Making you a princess!" Rodmilla snapped. She didn't have time to answer silly questions. Paris at Christmas was quickly slipping through her fingers, if they didn't hurry. Quickly, her eyes searched the crowd, finally fixing on Danielle and the Prince, the two of them running down the aisle and she knew she didn't have much time left before they reached the King. She had to do something! On impulse, she dived through the crowd and reached out.

But before she could tear one of the wings off, Margaret was instantly next to Rodmilla. "Madam, contain yourself!"

"What's going on?" Henry demanded.

Jacqueline and Laurent came closer to observe.

"My name is Danielle de Barbarac and I am but a servant. Nicole de Lancret was my mother," Danielle stated, teary eyed.

"A servant, Henry?" Francis asked. "Is this some kind of joke?"

"The apple, that was you?" Henry could not believe what he was hearing.

"I can explain..." Danielle put her hands together.

"Well someone had better!" Francis boomed.

"First you're engaged and now you're a servant?" There was disgust in Henry's tone. "I've heard enough."

"Henry, please..."

The crowd gasped. Margaret spoke on Danielle's behalf. "Your Highness, by right Danielle is a lady and landowner, but when her father died, Baroness De Ghent prevented her from claiming her titles."

"Is this true?" Henry asked of Danielle. He got a nod as a response.

Timothy went to join Margaret. "Mistress Hall, there are others who look similar and identical to Mr Secretary and Mr Lake," he said quietly.

Henry laughed, confusing Marguerite and her mother and Danielle. "It doesn't matter that you served as a servant. Arthur Pendragon married Guinevere and she was a servant." He took Danielle's hand. 

"What about the princess Gabrielle of Spain?" Danielle asked.

"Oh," Henry pointed her to the Spanish princess with a Spanish courtier, "she's with her true love." He asked Margaret and Timothy about the others who 'who look similar and identical to Mr Secretary and Mr Lake'.

"We were going to find them," Margaret explained and left with Timothy when they got permission. Cromwell and the Kelpie accompanied them.

They wound up in a forest. "It's day, and yet it was night when we left," Timothy remarked.

"You're right, Mr Green," Margaret said. "Maybe it's the time zones. Listen."

The four listened.

"Who have we here? Rome's royal empress, unfurnish'd of her well-beseeming troop? Or is it Dian, habited like her, who hath abandoned her holy groves to see the general hunting in this forest?" One voice said.

Another voice sneered. "Saucy controller of our private steps! Had I the power that some say Dian had, thy temples should be planted presently with horns, as was Actaeon's; and the hounds should drive upon thy new-transformed limbs, unmannerly intruder as thou art!"

"Are they the ones you mentioned, Timothy?" Margaret asked.

Timothy nodded. "One of them. Maybe Mr Lake would know?"

The Kelpie peered around the tree. "I see Tamora, Lavinia the daughter of Titus Adronicus and Bassianus the brother of Saturnius the emperor."

After some snide comments from Bassianus and Lavinia regarding Aaron (Tamora's lover), the latter two turned to go back to their horses but the horses were startled and Demetrius was blocking their path.

Tamora turned and screamed (Margaret laughed at how ridiculous it was). Demetrius asked why she looked pale and Tamora lied (Chiron then showed up) saying that Bassianus and Lavinia were going to kill her and demanded to be avenged or not call them her sons.

Margaret shuddered, knowing Chiron and Demetrius' thoughts and feelings. "If we don't stop them, it will end badly."

The Kelpie agreed. 

Margaret waved a hand at the terrible trio and the daggers were flowers.

Tamora was baffled. Were the gods preventing her from taking revenge? "How now, who is here? Come hitherto presently!"

The four - Timothy, Margaret, the Kelpie and Thomas Cromwell - revealed themselves. "Oh, but gentle empress," Margaret said, "to murder your brother in law is prohibited by law. I understand your anger, but this will not work."

Chiron then made an attempt to get at Lavinia but Bassianus shielded her. He turned and laughed when he saw that Margaret was shielding Cromwell and Timothy was shielded by the Kelpie. "What, art thou a man? Once done we with pillaging Lavinia's chastity and kill Bassianus, we will do the same purpose to you and your companions."

Demetrius added, "We meant to-"

"I'll tell you what you meant my lord, you meant that Aaron told you to do this deed to avenge your older brother and because he enjoys cruelty. If Titus Adronicus finds out about your plans he will not be pleased," TJ warned.

"Yeah," said Margaret. She then noticed others. "Who are they?" She asked TJ.

The Kelpie looked at where she was pointing with her hand. "Peter Fleming, Franklin Mott, Theo Galavan, Macbeth and James Frain."

"And the women with them?"

"Clara Thomas, Tanya West, Anya Romanov, Lady Macbeth and Marta Cunningham."

"Ok. We need to get them out of here before disaster strikes. We can return to the ball in time."

"How do you plan to do that?" Timothy whispered. 

"This!" Margaret went to the horses and brought them to Bassianus and Lavinia and urged them to get on. She addressed the Goth Queen and Roman empress. "If ever you disturb our streets again, your lives will pay the forfeit of the peace."

Demetrius and Chiron lunged at the Kelpie but the Kelpie squirted them with water from a squirt bottle in the face and then Bassianus and Lavinia took the chance to urge their horses in a canter. 

"Shall we run?" Timothy asked, though he guessed by Margaret's dress that she would have to hold the skirt and then run.

"Run. Definitely run!" Margaret said and followed Bassianus and Lavinia on their horses. Margaret used remote teleportation to send them to the ball, as with Peter Fleming, Franklin Mott, Theo Galavan, Macbeth, James Frain, Clara Thomas, Tanya West, Anya Romanov, Lady Macbeth, Marta Cunningham, Timothy, Thomas Cromwell and the Kelpie and herself.

It was like they had never left. The Kelpie remembered how Jess and Jules from Bend it like Beckham had each other's back, especially when a girl from the other team called Jess a racial slur.

The other team member tugged on Jess' shirt and Jess fell over on the grass.

"What are you playing at?" Jess demanded.

"Push off, ----," the girl who tugged Jess' shirt retorted which enraged the Indian Sikh girl and she jumped up to push her in retaliation.

Jess and Jules were there at the masquerade ball, wearing what they wore at the club after the match.

Everyone had a good night. Rodmilla and Marguerite were cheesed off that Prince Henry chose Danielle.

Notes:

Next chapter: Lucifer gets even with Le Pieu.

Chapter 20: The Flower Garden of the Woman Skilled in Magic

Summary:

Lucifer teaches Le Pieu a lesson for letting the heroines escape

Marcus, a Shapeshifter from Supernatural, visits with Imelda

Lucifer paced up and down the room, Le Pieu attempting not to show fear. "You let the girls escape?!"

"Sir, you were pretending to be me," Le Pieu remarked.

The Demon King growled and then turned into Danielle. "How about I claim to Henry that you attacked me and have you hanged? Hmm? Don't question me. I will become you and ensure that you will not fail me again!" He disappeared and possessed Le Pieu, controlling his actions like a marionette puppet. "I'll find them myself."

Elsewhere, Marcus was with Imelda and he confided in her that he hoped that everyone was alright.

Imelda, who was knitting a hat, nodded. "At a cottage by the river lives an old woman skilled in magic. She tried to keep Gerda, but Gerda escaped after learning of Kai's fate from the roses."

"We still need to stop Lucifer. He is probably after Theo and the others. There's Claudia and Marília. And a bloke nicknamed Cinderfella. They might know. As for me..." Marcus metamorphosed into a Latina girl of ten years old. "I'll cross the river and then meet up with the others."

"Good luck. I'll join you later." Imelda vanished with the knitting.

Still as the Latina girl, Marcus, who took the name of Isabella, got into a boat and sailed on. He called out for help. 

He called still louder, and an old woman then came out of the cottage, leaning upon a crooked stick. She had a large broad-brimmed hat on, painted with the most splendid flowers.

"Poor little child!" said the old woman. "How did you get upon the large rapid river, to be driven about so in the wide world!" And then the old woman went into the water, caught hold of the boat with her crooked stick, drew it to the bank, and lifted the disguised Marcus out. 

"Come and tell me who you are, and how you came here," said she.

And Marcus told her all; and the old woman shook her head and said, "A-hem! a-hem!" and when the Supernatural Shapeshifter had told her everything, and asked her if she had seen any of his friends, the woman answered that they had not passed there, but they no doubt would come; and she told 'her' not to be cast down, but taste her cherries, and look at her flowers, which were finer than any in a picture-book, each of which could tell a whole story. She then took 'Isabella' by the hand, led her into the little cottage, and locked the door.

Marcus inwardly gulped. How could he escape to meet Imelda and his friends if he was locked in a house? 

The windows were very high up; the glass was red, blue, and green, and the sunlight shone through quite wondrously in all sorts of colours. On the table stood the most exquisite cherries, and Marcus ate as many as he chose, for he had permission to do so. While 'she' was eating, the old woman combed her hair with a golden comb, and her hair curled and shone with a lovely brown colour around that sweet little face, which was so round and so like a rose.

Marcus recalled that Imelda said that the comb made Gerda forget her playmate Kai, so he took the potion Imelda made to ensure he didn't get his memory taken away and then when he had the chance, he escaped.

How did he escape? When the old woman was not in the same place as him. 

---

Lucifer, possessing Le Pieu, found the group and decided to ambush them. He also remembered something else.

Aaron, Tamora's lover, and his dastardly scheme.

Chapter 21: Doom for Bassianus averted

Summary:

Zeus was not the only one with sinister intentions towards TJ

Title is taken from when Aaron tells Tamora 'This is the day of doom for Bassianus'

Marília was on a walk in the forest enjoying the scenery. Until she heard voices.

"Who have we here? Why, isn't it our friends?" One voice asked.

"Oh, leave us alone," said another voice. "If you weren't going as a character who was pretty, we'd have turned you away from here for intruding on our privacy."

Marília slowly peered around a tree. There was a woman wearing a pentagram necklace and a red dress and a black cloak with a hood. She had also a circlet and elbow length blond hair. She was with two other women who wore similar dresses and necklaces and they were standing opposite Elladora and a bloke. Her brother maybe. 

Then Marília rememberer the women with the pentagram necklaces were Halia (blonde), Salome (brunette) and Vashti (redhead). Halia wanted revenge on Raissa who was a friend of Elladora and Marília - especially Marília and her virgin power.

Halia smirked as she sauntered over to the heroes. "I know you were in the company of many other women and men. Where are they?"

"I don't know," Elladora said, pulling out a sword, "and even if I did, I will not tell you."

In rage, Halia lunged at the Kelpie and … pinned him down. "I want you for myself." Halia kissed him on the neck. The Kelpie let out a groan of pleasure. 

"Surely you want this also."

The Kelpie was at a loss for words. He saw Halia's fingers reaching out for the buttons. He struggled with all his might. "No. No, no. No!"

Salome and Vashti cackled. Elladora and Cinderfella fought with the sword and scared them off. Halia smirked before she vanished similar to Apparating.

Marília found the Kelpie shaking as if he was cold and wrapped him in a blanket. "We should go to Luca's cottage. We'll be safe there."

"Thank you, Marília. And you others also." The Kelpie got up shakily and went with them.

Chapter 22: Womanhood

Summary:

Margaret sees a vision of what if the others and she hadn't prevented Bassianus' murder.

"Who have we here? Rome's royal empress, unfurnish'd of her well-beseeming troop? Or is it Dian, habited like her, who hath abandoned her holy groves to see the general hunting in this forest?" One voice said.

Another voice sneered. "Saucy controller of our private steps! Had I the power that some say Dian had, thy temples should be planted presently with horns, as was Actaeon's; and the hounds should drive upon thy new-transformed limbs, unmannerly intruder as thou art!"

"Are they the ones you mentioned, Timothy?" Margaret asked.

Timothy nodded. "One of them. Maybe Mr Lake would know?"

The Kelpie peered around the tree. "I see Tamora, Lavinia the daughter of Titus Adronicus and Bassianus the brother of Saturnius the emperor."

After some snide comments from Bassianus and Lavinia regarding Aaron (Tamora's lover), the latter two turned to go back to their horses but the horses were startled and Demetrius was blocking their path.

Tamora turned and screamed (Margaret laughed at how ridiculous it was). Demetrius asked why she looked pale and Tamora lied (Chiron then showed up) saying that Bassianus and Lavinia were going to kill her and demanded to be avenged or not call them her sons.

Margaret shuddered, knowing Chiron and Demetrius' thoughts and feelings. "If we don't stop them, it will end badly."

The Kelpie agreed. He noticed movement behind Bassianus. "Watch out!"

Too late! "This is a witness that I am thy son," Demetrius said as he stabbed Bassianus in the back.

Chiron stabbed Bassianus in the front. "And this for me, struck home to show my strength."

Margaret had felt what Saturnius' brother felt and collapsed at the same time he did. Lavinia had screamed in horror and clung to Bassianus' remains while Tamora and her horrible sons laughed. Then she raised her head in rage, as did Margaret via empathy. "Come, Semiramis, nay, barbarous Tamora, for no name fits thy nature but thy own!"

Tamora was going to try and kill Lavinia for her insult, but Demetrius suggested that Lavinia doesn't get away with putting on high airs. Chiron chuckled. "An if she do, I would I were an eunuch. Drag hence her husband to some secret hole, and make his dead trunk pillow to our lust."

"Eww," Clara remarked.

"What 'eww'?" Anya remarked. She saw Demetrius dragging Bassianus by the ankles. "Let go!"

Demetrius obeyed. Anya repeated her question. Clara shuddered. "Chiron is saying, 'Drag her husband to some secret hole, and we'll r--- her on his dead body."

Tanya tossed back her hair. "You messed with the wrong people!" With that she got a smoke ball and everyone - Peter Fleming, Franklin Mott, Theo Galavan, Macbeth, James Frain, Clara Thomas, Tanya West, Anya Romanov, Lady Macbeth, Marta Cunningham, Timothy Green, Margaret Hall, Thomas Cromwell and the Kelpie with Bassianus' dead body - ran for it. Clara did manage to get Lavinia away as well.

Chapter 23: What is this world coming to

Summary:

The world has gone completely dotty

After the group managed to escape from Tamora and her horrible sons, they stopped at a nearby barn. "We could stay here until we get to safety," Tanya suggested. "Unless anyone has a better idea of what to do?"

"You can stay here," said Marília, who was standing behind Theo Galavan and handed everyone blankets and pillows. "I had just been helping out at the charity shop and some customer I was serving was under the impression that Donald Trump was going to help homeless men."

Clara scoffed while texting. She recalled her friend Garth going on a date with someone who had expectations the size of Mount Everest.

"Okay, so I am just going to say my piece and potentially save us a lot of time. I’m a queen, and I deserve to be treated as such. I only agreed to meet you because you have a good job and I can tell you make good money. If you’re lucky enough to be considered to be in a relationship with me, then here are the rules that I will not budge on. You will be the provider. You will buy me things, and you will pay for dinners. You will take me on trips, and you will fly us first class. We will stay in five-star hotels, and you will take me shopping whenever I want to. In return, I will always look beautiful for you, and I will make sure all my followers on Instagram know that you’re my boyfriend. I expect you to hold yourself to a standard that maintains our lifestyle and how we are seen in the world. This means you will need to dress better, and you will need to learn how to take good photos of me on our trips. If you can’t learn to take good photos, then you will pay for a professional photographer to accompany us. I notice that you drove here in a Prius; that has to go. If you care about the environment, that’s fine, but they make expensive electric sports cars now, and you will need to make sure we’re seen in one of those. If you maintain all this and you treat me like the queen I am, then you will be graced with my presence. If you do not agree to absolutely everything I have just said, then it’s best that we part ways right now," Gareth's date rambled.

Needless to say, there was no further date with Garth for her.

Elsewhere, one of the Warriors named Aura was helping out in the children’s area of an 'upscale' gym. The problem was one of the children there was acting unruly such as stealing toys from other kids, trying to intentionally break things, ignoring the staff members, etc. It also didn't help that he was twice the size of other kids his age, and he knew it. His mum had been notified, but nothing had been done. One day, he had gone way too far and physically harmed a smaller child. Aura sat him in timeout until his mother arrived.

"Ma’am, I’m afraid we need to talk to you about your child," Aura said.

The boy's mother kept talking to the woman next to her, a friend possibly, and checked her son out. "I’m telling you, the doctor is amazing! You can’t even tell they aren’t real."

"Ma’am? Ma’am!"

"What? I’m here for my son."

"Yes, I know, but we need to discuss what your son did to another child today. He physically harmed him."

"Oh, I’m sure they were just playing and it was an accident."

"Ma’am, he punched and kicked another child who is half his size. I don’t think the other boy’s parents will consider that an accident."

"I can get you a referral if you want, they have—"

Aura had enough. "MA’AM! What are you going to do about your son?"

The boy's mother turned to Aura, enraged. "Excuse me?"

"If you can’t address his behavioral problems, he will no longer be allowed in the children’s area."

"Who do you think you are?!"

"I’m trying to tell you that you need to address this serious issue with your son."

"Don’t you tell me how to raise my child!” The mother grabbed her son’s hand and left. Right when they got to the door, the kid looked back and actually smirked at Aura and her coworker.

"Did that just happen?" Aura's coworker questioned.

"Yes, yes it did." Aura facepalmed.

"No wonder he has problems; his mom cares more about her boob job than taking care of her own kid."

Aura left, a week later. Her fellow Warrior, Roman, said how an odd middle aged woman took a photo of a teen girl at work and the lady captioned the video, 'please find this girl. She's beautiful.' "People are so sick."

"Tell me about it. Someone said their eight year old daughter was told by a Muslim classmate, 'I hate white people', teachers were told, the Muslims admitted it but nothing happened!"

"And yet if any native British citizen complain, they'll be branded as racist and far right."

Tanya tossed back her hair. "You messed with the wrong people!" With that she got a smoke ball and everyone - Peter Fleming, Franklin Mott, Theo Galavan, Macbeth, James Frain, Clara Thomas, Tanya West, Anya Romanov, Lady Macbeth, Marta Cunningham, Timothy Green, Margaret Hall, Thomas Cromwell and the Kelpie with Bassianus' dead body - ran for it. Clara did manage to get Lavinia away as well.

Margaret sighed. "This is happening in the United Kingdom. I'm sure that Europe has become its own downfall. There's even an Islamic preacher saying that children are adults when they have started puberty e.g. body hair."

"Really? Get rid of migrant hotels, lower tax, encourage new businesses, fix the NHS properly, compensate the vaccine damaged, and there will be no problems," Tanya declared. "We need reforms now. And to 

As an archetype, The Hermit is a highly knowledgeable sage-like being and at times sorcerer that represents creativity, knowledge, wisdom, intelligence, guidance, a connection to nature and have been powerful mystics. They also are self-isolationists. It has been present throughout various mythologies and continues in modern times.

Chapter 24: Desire for her mind

Notes:

Elaboration of chapter 12 and expanded chapter 1 of What if?

Italics are thoughts

Margaret Hall was busy knitting a scarf and then was joined by Lord Winterbourne. She paused in her task. "Can I help you, sir?"

"A young lady such as yourself needn't burden herself with such… labour."

Maggie laughed to herself. "Oh, sir, this is useful to keep my hands occupied when I am not serving the queen. There are many people who need help, and we must do what we can with what we have. There are millions and millions of Eva Smiths and John Smiths still left with us. We are responsible for each other."

The Earl decided to join the conversation and scoffed at the idea of women acting in theatre. "They won't be able to handle watching a tragedy and will just faint with shock." And that is why women are deemed the weaker sex - because they cannot handle manual labour.

Margaret, are you alright? Are these men bothering you? If they are, we can tell them to leave and read them the riot act about not to harass people.

The youngest Hall child saw her friends Luke Halls and Miguel Webb and went over to them. "No, I was just leaving to continue knitting outside as the weather is sunny and humans need vitamin D."

Luke and Miguel nodded. There was one person who Maggie could confide in, besides Luke and Miguel and her family.

"Charles, can we talk... alone?" Margaret asked the Duke of Suffolk Charles Brandon. She had found him leaving the presence chamber of the king and was heading only he knows where. Probably back to his place of residence to be with his family - his wife and son.

Charles nodded slightly and then led the woman to a remote room before Margaret closed the door. "What is it Margaret?" He sat in a chair and invited Margaret to do likewise.

Margaret sat down. "Mr Cromwell desires me. I know he thinks we have a relationship, he knows you have contacts with the catholic rebels and he planned a way to have you at the gallows and me for himself." She knew this because she saw Thomas Cromwell do like the Kubrick stare but without the tilted head down.

"I won't let any harm come to you from him." I swear, with God's help, if Mr Cromwell hurts Margaret in any way, I will make sure that he will pay for it. 

Margaret smiled and tapped the side of her nose. "Don't worry about me Charles, I have a plan." She may not have a big interest in politics, but knew her way around them and their uses. They would definitely be of use to her in the current situation.

Charles gave a smile. That evening, Margaret was walking down the hallway, possibly to go and find the room she shared with the other ladies-in-waiting to Queen Jane, including Lady Rochford who was made principal lady in waiting, and then she saw the familiar form of the king's secretary approaching seemingly from out of nowhere. She got a book and started reading.

"Lady Hall." 

Margaret looked up to meet Cromwell's gaze. "Mr Cromwell."

"You still seeing His Grace?"

Margaret let out a laugh. "FYI, Mr Secretary, Suffolk and I are very good friends, like I am with Lady Mary. Surely you can see that." She focused on resting her fingers on his forearm, moving upwards to gently squeezing his biceps ("Oh my! What big muscles you have!"), before laying her hand on his shoulder. "You know sir, we can continue this… elsewhere." She smiled. She followed him to his office where it was devoid of the bustling of clerks. It was probably late.

"Mr Rich said that you're a Catholic," Cromwell said.

"Yes, it is true," Margaret said. "But I am not like Gardiner or Sir Thomas More in being a conservative Catholic nor condemning all reformers as heretics. I am open minded towards the reforms."

"Are you certain there is nothing going on between my Lord Suffolk and you?"

Margaret nodded. As long as the plan succeeds, Charles will be safe. He will not die.

"May I ask your opinion on the monasteries being dissolved?"

"I agree there is a form of corruption in the Catholic Church, but you don't want to make enemies in your efforts to please the king." Margaret turned her head away so the Lord Privy Seal didn't see her apply Nivea Soft Rose lip balm. It was enchanted so it would be like the magical girdle of the goddess Aphrodite of Greek mythology - to drive men insane with desire (or in Margaret's case, just Cromwell).

Dear Lord, what am I getting myself into, Margaret thought to herself. Queen Jane told me, like she did with Lady Misseldon: 'Do your duties honourably and virtuously'. And what am I doing? Hanging out with Cromwell, the king's right hand man and second most powerful. This plan had better work, or I'm screwed. Her Majesty did also mention about doing what she could but must 'do it quietly'. Maybe I can apply that logic here.

She faced Thomas and they made themselves comfortable. She leaned in to whisper in his ear. "Sate your desire by doing what you want. Come on, you know you want to..." She smiled seductively at the guy and tossed back her black hair. Hopefully the hair flip should work in her favour.

Then, under an urge, Cromwell drew Margaret close, kissing her intensely, wrapping one arm around her to stop her from escaping, the other on the back of her head.

So beautiful. Very soon now the Duke of Suffolk shall be no more, and Margaret shall be mine.

Somehow, enjoying the close physical contact and yet disliking Cromwell's thoughts towards Suffolk, Margaret placed her hands around him in an embrace. Margaret pulled back for some air. "Just be cautious about the Solicitor General Richie. He will stab you in the back, if you're not careful." She caressed Cromwell's back before attaching her lips to his neck (darn you collar, I will have to deal with the top half), kissing her way upwards towards his jaw and then to his mouth which she took with hers.

One thing you should know, Thomas Cromwell, I belong to no man.

Cromwell's voice laughed in Margaret's head. We will see about that. He slanted her head further, deepening the kiss…

Earlier, Thomas Cromwell had been busy with carrying out the king's orders and he sat back in his chair after writing an important letter to someone that the king wanted to give a message to.

On that note, Richard Rich the Solicitor General paid a visit and said about the commissioner's reports about the monasteries. "Lands worth millions of pounds."

"Millions?" Thomas repeated. This could be beneficial to the king, but there was something else...

"Lady Hall?" Richard asked. "Well, I don't know much except that she's a Catholic. She might be like the queen and work to undo all our reforms." 

"No. There might be some use. Sooner or later, I will figure it out." 

Richard then left. Thomas Cromwell smiled as he mentally conjured up a plan on how to get the Duke of Suffolk away and Margaret for himself.

Then luck struck because just as he was walking down a corridor, he found Margaret reading a book.

Chapter 25: I will requite like, and I will show no mercy.

Summary:

The Kelpie doesn't back down.

Notes:

The 'beast wolves' and other opponents are from the Life of Wolf 2014 game.

I will requite like, and I will show no mercy.

Beast wolves, like the ones from the Life of Wolf 2014 game that Emily had played, turned up. They were ghastly looking, the boss beast wolf was just as ghastly as the subordinates - and bigger too.

(

Traveller, lie with me and ease your mind.

By lining your pockets?

Who can put a price on a moment's escape from the troubles of the world?

Horrifyingly enough, that’s better than wanting to see your son and his boyfriend do the deed. Yes, I actually have a friend who’s mom was caught more than once peeping on him and his boyfriend while they were busy in the bedroom. And the worse part is, they caught her because of her moaning.

There’s a reason why my friend went for therapy and loved his drink.

(I am out to my lunch with my brother, his boyfriend, and my boyfriend. All three men are 5’7” or taller and they all work out. I order a bunch of French fries for myself. The waiter brings them over and gives them all to my brother.)

Brother: “Here, [My Nickname].”

(As I’m reaching for the French fries, assuming it was a mix-up and the waiter will understand, he cuts me off and tries to hand me my brother’s burger.)

Waiter: “No! Sorry, but this is yours!”

(He pressures me into taking it, so I do, planning on switching them back. Then, I look down at the tray. On a napkin is written, “You’re hot enough to bang all night long, babe. ;)” along with a phone number.)

Boyfriend: “What’s wrong?”

(I show him, and then my brother and his boyfriend. My brother takes the tray, giving me the fries.)

Me: “What are you planning?”

Brother: “Shhh!” *waiter arrives* “Hey, man.”

Waiter: “Yes, sir?”

Brother: “About this note…” *lifts it up*

Waiter: “Oh, s***. I’m so sorry, I meant it for her!”

Brother: “Oh, d***. I was hoping it was for me.”

Waiter: “Excuse me?”

Brother’s Boyfriend: *leans over brother’s shoulder, smirking* “Yeah, been a while since we had a threesome.”

Brother: “And you never let me suck your d**k! Maybe this guy will, since you’re so particular.”

Waiter: *pales and flees* 

(We all burst out laughing. The waiter comes back with a manager.)

Manager: “Sorry, ma’am, sirs. I’m going to ask you all to leave.”

Us: “Huh?”

Manager: “According to [Waiter] you were verbally harassing him, saying sexually explicit things, and being nosy.”

Me: “No, no! He gave me this note, and my brother was messing with him to try to teach him not to do this stuff.” *gives the note to him*

Manager: *pause* “I’m going to look into this. If you all are lying, I’ll have to ban you from all locations. And if you–” *turns to the waiter* “–are lying, there will be repercussions.”

(He leaves and we all go back to eating, kind of worried about the waiter situation. Eventually, the manager comes back, seething.)

Manager: “I’m so sorry. We have cameras, there, there, and there–” *pointing at nearby cameras* “–and they were able to show that [Waiter] did give you the note. Plus, we checked his handwriting, and it’s the same. I’m so sorry you were uncomfortable, and while I must say that I don’t condone your response, it was warranted. Would you like your meal for free?”

Me: “Oh, no, that’s okay. As long as he doesn’t get away with it.”

Manager: “He won’t.”

(We still wound up getting free dessert, somehow, but I’ll never forget my boyfriend’s facial expression when my brother started talking about sucking d**k.)

I see a woman come in with her toddler-aged daughter, who has a chocolate ice cream in her hand. The woman takes the ice cream from her daughter and tells her:

Customer: “Go have a rummage through the toy bins to see if you can find something you like.”

This mother makes NO ATTEMPT to wipe her child’s hands, which are covered in melted chocolate ice cream. By the time I’ve walked over, all the toys in the bins are now covered in sticky and melted chocolate ice cream.

Me: “Ma’am, can you please wash your child’s hands before you allow her to… rummage.”

Customer: *Rolls eyes.* “Ugh, fine!”

Her “attempt” to clean her daughter’s hands resulted in… taking said hand and putting the whole thing in her mouth and then slurping the ice cream off.

Mom: *Glaring at me.* “There! Better?”

Me: “Actually, worse."

There was also an irresistibly, extremely and exquisitely lovely red-headed witch with intense blue eyes, wearing a light-colored pink summer dress, embroidered with stars and crescent moons, and a pentagram pendant. She was smiling radiantly and wearing stylish high-heeled shoes and she was named Caliste.

Series this work belongs to:

• Part 2 of The Kelpie's adventures
• Part 5 of Franklin and Tanya: Moments like these & Tudors