Chapter 1: Prologue
Chapter Text
Robin Buckley’s life started out perfectly.
She was born to a loving mother, Melissa, and caring father, Richard, and grew up in a lavish mansion at the end of the kingdom. The Buckleys were incredibly well off, but both hard workers; her father a travelling merchant, her mother a dress maker. They were wealthy enough to have a team of staff who tended to the house’s cooking, cleaning, farming, and eventually tutoring of the young girl. The staff were treated well and were pointedly never addressed as or made to feel like servants; they were part of the family. They kept the house in such perfect shape, it was comparable to the royal family’s grand palace.
At only 5 years old, Robin tragically lost her mother to a swift and sudden illness. Melissa’s death came as a great shock to the whole household, Robin herself not fully comprehending what had happened, but feeling the loss immensely. Her father was fortunate enough to remain in land for a couple of years following his wife’s passing, making sure Robin had the love and attentiveness of a parent, also allowing him time to grieve properly. During this period Richard planted a weeping willow in the centre of the back garden; his wife’s favourite tree. It would serve as a beautiful reminder of the woman Melissa was, and how her presence would live on in the house she made a home. He tended to it every day himself.
Robin did not let the loss of her mother drag her spirits down. She continued to grow up curious, delighted by the tales her father told of all the cities and kingdoms he visited. A fascination with Europe began to form in particular, her father bringing back paintings of Paris, Venice, Madrid, Vienna, and so many other cities. She hung these paintings all around her bedroom and dreamed of travelling to them all one day, when she was old enough. Her father also began to bring back language books, Robin studying them intently and become fluent in three other languages; spanish, french, and italian.
A love of music also sparked in Robin during her childhood. Her affinity was for the trumpet, learning to play it incredibly quickly. She would often apologise to the house staff for disturbing their work, but they never minded too much. Every so often, when young Robin was proud of a particular piece she had mastered, she would gather her father and all the staff and play a small personal concert for them. Literature was her other passion, spending hours upon hours reading poetry, sonnets, novels, fairytales, language books, anything she could get her hands on. If she wasn’t up in her room practising the trumpet, she was in a corner of the house somewhere with her nose in a book. Her favourite spot was under the growing willow tree.
When Robin reached her early teens, her father decided he had to take another wife and provide Robin with a new mother figure, to aid her in her transition to adolescence and womanhood. He soon met Lady Click; a wealthy widow with two children the same age as Robin also looking to fill the hole in their family. He liked her well enough, however she was nothing compared to Robin’s late mother. He had accepted that. This marriage was for their children’s sake.
Robin did not mix well with her step-family. Tommy and Carol, the two children, were rather mean and selfish, refusing to accept Robin as their stepsister. They hated how plainly she dressed, the pair being utterly vain. They called her weird for always reading, and said the trumpet was a terrible instrument. Robin’s father told her they were simply adjusting. She thought that Tommy and Carol must have inherited their coldness from their mother. Lady Click was worlds apart from the mother she once had, treating neither Robin nor the staff with any respect. Robin dreaded every time her father would leave her alone with her for his business trips. Even if she was never directly callous, there was something about that woman that deeply unsettled Robin. She never shared her concerns with her father, not wishing to disappoint him or make him unhappy.
Not long after Robin’s 15th birthday, the house received the tragic news that Richard had been killed in an accident while out at sea. The news broke Robin; not only had she now lost both her parents, but was now left in the care of her stepmother. She’d learned to look after herself while her father was away, now it seemed as though that was to be her permanent situation.
After the funeral, Robin was told by her stepmother that Richard had left the house and his entire estate to his widow in his will. She never let Robin see it, locking it away in a drawer in what used to be her father’s study. Robin knew she was lying; her father had told her many times the estate would belong to her once he passed, even after he remarried. There was nothing she could do about it. Any attempt Robin made to bring up the will had severe consequences.
Things only got worse from there. Lady Click, now the head of the house, did not care to keep the staff around or pay their wages, so promptly let them all go. Robin’s last sense of family was gone, only her father’s willow tree remaining. Her stepmother became crueller and crueller, banishing the poor girl to sleep in the attic and giving her bedroom to her step-siblings. Her bedroom was always bigger than theirs. Robin’s stepmother also took away her trumpet, complaining that it was too noisy and destroying it in front of her. She was glad that Lady Click had never been told Richard’s willow was for Melissa, or else she might destroy that too.
It wasn’t long before Robin had to take over care of the house all by herself. She was ordered to cook every morning and every evening, and consistently make sure every inch of the house was spotless. If she did not comply, she risked being sent away with nowhere to live. If ever she stepped out of line, punishment was promptly given. She had become a servant in her own home, her education and freedom taken away from her. The house slowly became drab and joyless, just a shell of the vibrant spectacle it was in Robin’s youth. Her stepmother had sucked all the life out of it.
Robin’s life of abuse continued for several years, her only friends being the resident mice of the attic that had become her bedroom. Steve she would consider her best friend; he was encouraging, sympathetic, funny, and just the sort of mate she needed to keep her sane. She could share all her deepest secrets with him. Nancy was also a valued friend, a more sensible and gentle counterpart to Steve’s bumbly nature. The two mice helped Robin in whichever ways they could, hoping to make her life just the smallest bit easier until she was free.
When that day would come, none of them knew.
Chapter Text
“Robin? Robin, wake up.”
The little white mouse scampered up the box-turned-nightstand, aiming to wake the human laying in the creaky, worn bed. She gave no response; just continued breathing steadily with her eyes closed.
He looked out the window and over at the clock tower, warning a little louder, “it’s almost seven.”
The sleeping girl mumbled something indecipherable.
“You know I don’t understand it when you speak italian.”
“It was french,” her eyes cracked open, looking dead at the mouse, “I was telling you to leave me in peace.”
“Oh, I apologise for being your personal alarm clock,” he defended.
Robin’s expression softened as she began to sit up, “no, I appreciate it, Steve. I was just dreaming.”
“Dreaming about Europe again?” the mouse asked knowingly, earning a shy smile of admittance from Robin. “Where’d you go this time?”
“Paris.”
“Explains the french.”
Sighing wistfully, Robin’s eyes drifted over to the vivid painting of the Champ de Mars hanging in the dark attic, “it’s such a beautiful city, a beautiful culture. I hope it’s as beautiful in real life as in my dreams. Not that I’ll ever know.”
“Sure you will,” Steve immediately countered. This was a conversation they’d had many times since the beginning of their friendship, when Robin’s life took its unexpected turn. Her mouse friend was ever the optimist, always having hope for her freedom and fulfilment of her dreams. He never let her give up hope.
Steve observed the girl’s face, becoming suspicious of something, “were you… alone on your travels?”
“What makes you ask that?”
“You’re blushing.”
Robin brought a hand to her cheek, “I am not!”
“You dreamt about a pretty girl, didn’t you?” the mouse teased.
Trying to hide a smile, Robin conceded, “alright, I admit, there was also a girl in my dream.”
Her mind cast back to the girl she had travelled the cobbled Parisian streets with in her subconscious. Petite; blue eyes; rosy cheeks on a pale complexion; and the brightest, richest, almost pumpkin red hair. Something like a princess.
“She was…” Robin sighed again, her eyes glazed over all dreamy, “she was perfect in every sense.” Coming back to reality, she despairingly concluded, “no girls like that around here.”
“I believe she’s out there,” Steve countered again.
“You do?” she asked, raising an eyebrow.
“She has to be,” the little mouse insisted, “if Paris is out there waiting for you, so is she.”
His moment of encouragement came to a sudden end with the loud chiming of the tower. Seven o’ clock.
Hopping out of bed, the girl remarked with a huff, “doesn’t look like I’ll be finding her today.”
Robin swiftly began preparing herself for the day. Her clothes were nothing to look at; a dull, white work shirt and brown slacks. Easy to clean in. She only owned a couple of these shirts and trousers, having outgrown all of her dress clothes from before her father died in yet another growth spurt. Washing them regularly was difficult, so they ended up permanently stained with soot and dirt from her usual duties. It didn’t matter; the only time she left the house was to buy food from the market, so she would just wear an overcoat to hide it.
She ran her fingers through her wavy, sandy bob to detangle the knots. It was cut to just below her chin, both out of preference and practicality. Her stepsister would always tell her girls should have long, flowing hair to be considered pretty. Robin didn’t think that was true. Even if it was, she didn’t care.
Slipping on her shoes, Robin took a brief look at herself in the mirror. A shaggy, dishevelled, and emotionally beaten girl looked back at her. She knew she was simply a shell of the person she was formerly, but it’s what she had to be to survive. Paris was a pipe dream.
“Steve!” a voice came calling in. The pair turned their attention to it, seeing another mouse rush into the room through the tiny hole in the door. “Did you tell her?”
Steve’s eyes widened, “oh, no, I forgot-”
“Tell me what?” Robin interjected. Her face filled with concern as she observed the two mice’s looks of panic.
“Steve, I asked you to tell her!”
“I’m sorry, Nance, she was asleep, then we got talking, and-”
Ignoring his excuses, Nancy switched her attention to the tall human, “Robin, there’s someone in the trap.”
“What?!” Robin exclaimed, her body filling with panic. Her stepmother had ordered her to set mouse traps around the house, but she knew Steve and Nancy would never knowingly set foot in them. She dreaded to think whoever had been caught in there was hurt.
“The one on the stairs,” Nancy continued informing, “we’ve never seen him before, he must have gone in during the night. I can’t unlock it myself.”
Robin nodded in understanding, speeding out the door with the two mice following close behind.
The staircase to the attic was cold, dark and spiralling, made of creaky old wood. The attic was only ever meant to be used for storage, so no need for nice stairs. Dust and cobwebs hung in every corner and crevice, some of the wood rotting from occasional leaks. Robin was never ordered to clean it; she thought Lady Click revelled in her living space being so dingy compared to the rest of the house.
She soon came to where the trap was set, spotting something moving inside it. Not running around, but trembling in the corner. Poor thing must be seriously frightened to have been trapped so cruelly all night.
Kneeling, Robin cautiously opened the small prison so as not to startle its captive. Up close, she could see he was a little younger than Steve and Nancy. She made sure to be gentle as she picked up the trap, peering inside.
“Hey, it’s alright,” she soothed, trying to coax the little mouse out and onto her hand, “you’re safe, I’m not going to hurt you.” She gave a warm expression, hoping her words would settle him.
Cautiously, the mouse crept out, still shaking as he landed in her palm. Robin gave him a small smile, satisfied as she put the trap back down. She held the small mouse in two hands, checking him over for injuries. Fortunately, he appeared to be fine. Just shaken.
“Hi there,” she greeted warmly, sitting back on the nearest step, “there’s no need to be afraid, you’re safe now. You can trust us, we’re not going to let anything hurt you. Do you trust us?”
The mouse glanced at each of them before nodding, perking up slightly.
“Do you have a name?”
The mouse thought for a moment, before shaking his head. He finally spoke, voice a little squeaky, “no name.”
“Well that’s okay. We can think of one for you. My name is Robin Buckley.”
“Robin,” the mouse repeated.
“Yeah. Like the bird.”
Fear suddenly struck the mouse’s face, “birds eat mice!”
“Oh, no, no, no, no, no!” Robin desperately tried to assure, “I’m not a bird, I’m not going to eat you!” She cringed, appalled at herself that she’d scared the poor creature, “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to imply that. My name is Robin, but I’m completely human. I certainly do not eat mice, I promise you are safe with me.”
She waited for the mouse to calm down, letting the misunderstanding pass. He took a couple of deep breaths, visibly relaxing.
“Okay, I’m okay now,” he declared, “thank you.”
Giving another satisfied nod, Robin continued the introductions, “these are my friends, Steve and Nancy. They live with me up there.” Her head gestured upwards to the attic.
“Thank you for helping me this morning,” the mouse gave a shy grin to the female mouse.
“Oh, it’s no problem,” said Nancy, “we’re glad you’re alright.”
“Yeah, Robin doesn’t like those traps, but it’s not up to any of us,” Steve added somberly.
“So, that’s us, but we still need a name for you,” Robin thought out loud. Her eyes wandered around the stairwell, hoping to land on some sort of inspiration. Nothing but wood and dust and cobwebs.
“Well it is pretty dusty around here… how about I call you Dustin?” she suggested with a slight kidding tone.
“I like Dustin!” the mouse immediately beamed, “Dustin is great!”
Pleasantly surprised, Robin accepted his decision, “alright, Dustin it is!”
“Hi, Dustin!” Steve grinned, sending their new friend a dorky wave. Dustin gave one back. Already Robin could tell those two were going to get along amazingly.
“Now, Dustin,” Robin started, “if you would like, you are welcome to come and stay with us in the attic. It’s not the most glamorous, however it is safe, and you are free to wander most of the house so long as you are careful not to get caught by my step-family.”
Steve cut in, “yeah, you get food, and a warm bed, and Robin is the kindest and coolest friend we could ask for. We’d be seriously screwed without her.”
“Would you like that, Dustin?” Robin asked with an anticipating smile.
The trio looked to the young mouse, waiting on his answer as he considered the offer. After a moment, he beamed, nodding deftly.
“That’s great! Happy to have you, Dustin!”
The welcoming of their new friend was promptly interrupted by a loud, screeching voice.
“Robin!!!”
The girl’s face turned to dread as she began to stand up, “oh no… that’s my stepsister, they must be up.”
“Robin!!!” a different, deeper voice called.
“I’m coming!!” Robin shouted back, tone apologetic as she hurried back up the stairs, Dustin still in her hand. She set him on the floor at the doorway, the three mice standing together.
“I have to get to the kitchen,” Robin told Dustin, “my step-family don’t like it when breakfast is late. Steve, Nancy, please tell him how everything works around here.”
“Got it, we’ll go through everything with him,” Nancy obeyed.
The two voices downstairs called Robin’s name again, this time with more frustration.
“Robs, you’ve got to go, we’ll be fine,” instructed Steve.
Nodding, Robin clumsily bounded back down the steps, heading straight for the kitchen.
“Took you long enough.”
Robin zoomed past her step-siblings sat impatiently at the dining table, muttering, “sorry, Carol.” She could hear the tut Tommy gave her as she hurried into the kitchen.
Breakfast was always the same; oats, eggs, toast, and a pot of tea. Her stepmother’s came first, which she ate in the study. Robin wasn’t sure what business she had to attend to so early in the morning; it seemed more of a power symbol. Or to stop her from getting into that locked drawer before the day began.
Robin’s breakfast routine was also the same every morning; one slice of dry bread while she tended to the tea. It was all she had time for.
Fetching a tray, Robin laid out her stepmother’s breakfast and singular cup of tea, before backing out into the dining room. She swallowed the last of her bread, hoping to avoid another remark from Tommy and Carol as she delivered the tray to the study. Balancing the tray on her knee, she gave a sharp knock on the door.
“Come in.”
Clumsily, she turned the handle with her elbow, “good morning, stepmother.”
The older woman gave an uninterested hum, staring down at some papers. Robin moved as quickly and steadily as she could, setting the tray down on the desk.
“Were you hungry this morning, Robin?”
The young girl startled, lifting her head up. Her stepmother was staring at her, eyeing the side of her mouth. Realising, Robin hastily wiped away the bread crumbs from her face.
“Sorry.”
“There’s no problem, Robin,” her stepmother commented, turning to her breakfast, “we can’t have you fainting on the job, can we?”
There was no comfort in her voice. She only wanted her well to keep working for her. Robin quietly thanked her anyway.
Promptly, she headed back through to the kitchen and got started on Tommy and Carol’s breakfasts. They were a little more flamboyant; always wanted fruit on top of their oats and a separate tray of tea. Lady Click wanted to be served, but Tommy and Carol wanted to be treated like royalty.
Robin brought their tea and food out as quickly as she could, being extremely careful not to drop anything. Luckily over the years she’d managed to mostly avoid such accidents, but it occasionally happened. Her step-siblings usually only made a cutting remark if it did; she dreaded to think what her stepmother’s reaction would be.
“What’s wrong with your face?” Tommy asked snarkily as she set their plates in front of them.
Giggling nastily, Carol replied, “that’s just the way she looks, silly.”
“No, really, there’s something on her face.” Tommy accentuated his observation by pointing at her cheek.
Looking closer, Carol noticed what he was talking about, “oh, yeah. Looks like you’ve been scrubbing your face with coal.”
Robin’s heart sank. She’d been working over the fire this morning and last night, and had been too tired to clean herself up. She hadn’t even taken any notice to it in the mirror this morning.
“It’s from the fire,” she reluctantly informed, trying to hide the marks with her hair.
Tommy and Carol gave a look to each other, before bursting out laughing.
“It’s cinder?” Carol made plain, voice high in hysterics, “hey, we can call her Cinderobin!”
“Cinderobin! That’s hilarious!” Tommy bellow laughed, slamming his hand against the table.
Keeping her composure as best she could, Robin took off back into the kitchen. She was used to their nasty jokes by now; nothing she could do about them. Not without consequences, anyway. All she could concern herself with now was cleaning the pots.
Before she’d even got the water running, a blood curdling scream sounded from the dining room.
Robin rushed back in, hearing a loud crash of metal and porcelain. Carol, who had seemingly thrown what was left of her breakfast across the table, was stood with her chair knocked over and arms thrown out in fear. Her brother was also standing, rearing back in terror, but his tray was fine.
“Oh, that’s disgusting!” shouted Carol, her voice grating with anger.
“Gross!” Tommy echoed.
Cautiously, Robin moved closer to the scene, her eyes desperately scanning to see what had happened. “What’s going on?”
“You!” Carol whipped round to face her, spitting venom at her with an accusatory expression, “don’t act like you don’t know!”
Robin stepped back, slightly intimidated but ultimately confused. Was there something wrong with her breakfast? She’d made it a thousand times, she thought she must have the hang of it by now. Her brain desperately racked to think what she could have done so wrong this time.
She dared to ask, “I don’t know what?”
Carol’s expression turned to furious disbelief, letting out a dramatic scoff. She didn’t say anything more to her, just whirled around in the direction of the door, calling, “mother!”
Tommy backed up to follow her across to the study, staring Robin down and pointing, “you are sick!”
“What did I do?” she called after them, receiving nothing back.
This was bad. They were telling on her, and she didn’t even know what had happened.
Her eyes looked towards the mess on the table, hoping to find the answer within the aftermath. She saw something shaking behind Carol’s tea cup, her stomach dropping and eyes widening as she quickly realised who it was.
Dustin.
“Dustin!” Robin approached, whisper shouting, “what are you doing down here? I thought you were upstairs.”
Trembling, the little mouse stuttered out, “I wanted something to eat so I followed you down, I got trapped under there, and she-“
“Oh, no,” Robin whined under her breath, folding herself in and pressing her fists to her eyes. This was unbelievably bad; Carol must have thought she had put him in there on purpose.
“Robin.”
The girl snapped up, her stepmother’s voice calm but commanding from across the way. Robin looked through the doorway to see her outside the study with Tommy and Carol, her dominating presence even from two long rooms away freezing her in place.
“I want a word,” her stepmother beckoned, slowly turning back into the room.
Lady Click was rarely aggressive when she was angry; her collected and eerie manner was more intimidating than any level of shouting or dramatic expression. It was how she kept control of Robin. She didn’t need to rant and rage at her to threaten the roof over her head. That didn’t mean she didn’t have her ways of keeping the girl in line.
Robin took a breath, not bearing to look at Dustin. She could worry about him later. Briskly, but timidly, she walked across to the study. She knew what was about to happen.
She kept her head held up, but avoided the gaze of her step-siblings, who were smirking, hands on their hips cockily as they watched her approach. They knew what was about to happen, too.
Standing in the doorway, Robin saw that Lady Click was on her feet in front of the desk, rather than sat behind it. Her arms were folded, and despite keeping her calm demeanour, a dark expression graced her face.
“Close the door behind you.”
Robin did as she was told, wasting no time in attempting to defend herself, “I swear I didn’t-”
“Silence.”
The harshness to her voice made Robin freeze again. This was really, really bad.
Taking a breath, her stepmother leaned back to perch on the desk, asking unsettlingly calmly, “do you think it’s funny to play practical jokes?”
Daring to walk further into the room, Robin tried defending again, “no I don’t, and I promise I didn’t do anything, I had no idea he was under there!”
“Don’t lie to me, Robin.”
“I’m not lying!” the young girl pleaded, trying to sound as sincere as possible, “do you really think if I wanted to play a practical joke I’d put some poor creature-”
“You want to play a practical joke?” Lady Click rose again, tilting her head up ever so slightly.
“No,” Robin swallowed, feeling her throat going dry, “that’s not what I meant.”
Her stepmother did not speak as she walked slowly towards her. Robin was tall, but felt herself shrink against her domineering manner. She risked making eye contact.
“I would never do something like that, I promise.”
In a second, Robin was knocked to the ground by the sharp palm across her cheek.
Her eyes stayed fixed on the floor as she held herself up. She’d learned to hide her scowl, barely feeling the tears that pricked up at the sting anymore. Hearing footsteps move back towards the desk, Robin stood before she was told to.
“I want the kitchen cleaned top to bottom,” Lady Click began instructing, sitting back behind the desk, “if there are rodents in there, you must not be keeping it tidy enough. You can also set more mouse traps around the house, and no setting them free this time. Any that are caught are to be drowned in a bucket outside. Once that is done, you can get on with your usual duties, is that understood?”
“Yes, stepmother.”
“Get out.”
Without hesitating, Robin retreated back out the door. There was no use in trying anything more; once her stepmother had decided she had done something wrong, there was no convincing her otherwise. If she found an excuse to punish her, she would use it.
Clicking the door shut, Robin looked up to see her step-siblings still standing outside. From their expressions, it appeared they had definitely been listening in.
“I want a fresh pot of tea brought to the drawing room in five minutes,” ordered Carol, face smug as she skipped away.
“And no rats in the cups this time,” Tommy added sternly. He took a second to snicker at the red mark on Robin’s cheek before following his sister.
The poor girl took a breath, desperate to cling to her composure. Crying or breaking down wouldn’t get her anywhere. They were never going to stop; she’d already accepted that. Mostly.
Robin made her way straight back to the kitchen to make the tea. She could clean the dining table later, before she got started on her stepmother’s orders. Upon entering, she saw her three mice friends had gathered on the counter, looking eager with worry for her to return.
Dustin started, “Robin, I’m so sorry-”
“No, it’s our fault,” Nancy added, “we should have told him the kitchen was off limits first.”
“Yeah, before we knew it, he was gone,” informed Steve.
“I really only wanted something to eat,” their new friend cleared up, his tiny hands wringing apologetically.
Robin gave a sad smile, trying to show that she was okay. She hated that they were blaming themselves for the incident.
“It’s alright. Don’t be sorry, any of you.” she met the eyes of the little mouse in the middle, “Dustin, you weren’t to know what my step-family are like.”
Her expression changed to concern, “are you okay? Carol didn’t hurt you, did she?”
“No, but she screamed so loud, it was scary.”
The human girl sighed. She’d told him he would be safe with her. She let him down.
Not wanting to dwell, Robin swivelled to reach into one of the top cupboards as she explained, “the kitchen is off limits, mostly for hygiene reasons, but also to avoid incidents like that.” Her tone became knowingly perkier, smiling as she set a couple of food items in front of the mice, “I do have a secret stash of cheese and bread reserved for you, however. They don’t come in here, they’ll never find it. If you’re ever hungry, just let me know and I can bring some up to you.” She broke off small pieces of the cheese and bread, handing them to each of the mice.
Dustin took his pieces, almost bigger than his own head, with a fascination glittering in his eyes, “woah, thank you!”
“We’ll take this upstairs, and finish telling him the house rules,” Nancy told, leading Dustin to the hole to take them back to the attic.
“Thank you, Nancy,” said Robin, watching them leave, “be careful.”
Steve didn’t follow them. He waited a moment, watching Robin place the items back in the cupboard, noticing her expression falter ever so slightly with the others gone. He hated seeing that red mark on his best friend’s cheek again.
“Robin?” he approached slowly, “are you alright?”
Facing him, the girl tried and failed to give him a genuine smile. She sniffled unnoticeably, “I’m fine, Steve. I’m used to it by now.”
“You shouldn’t be.”
Their eyes met, Steve trying to show her sympathy and determination.
“If I could, I would square up to her!” the little mouse declared, light heartedly puffing his chest out and putting his fists up, eliciting a giggle from Robin, “if only I were human size, I’d defend you from her, and get your house back.”
“Well, that’s very kind of you, Steve,” Robin smiled gratefully, beginning to prepare her third pot of tea of the morning, “unfortunately wishing wells and magic lamps don’t work, so we will just have to grin and bear it.”
“I know you’ll be free one day. This won’t last forever.”
Steve met her eyes again, sending her a hopeful smile, “you will travel to Paris with some beautiful girl.”
Robin exhaled, speaking determinedly, “well for now, Paris is just a dream, and I have a kitchen to clean.”
“Was that meant to rhyme?” Steve smirked.
“No, but it sounded nice, didn’t it?” she scrunched her nose with a grin, the two friends laughing and joking with each other.
Robin knew that as long as she had her friends, she could get though anything. She would be eternally grateful for their high spirits at her lowest moments. Steve’s boundless optimism truly made her believe that her freedom was possible, and the girl of her dreams was out there, somewhere. She was just a miracle away.
Notes:
In all honesty I cannot promise any sort of regularity for when this will be updated, hopefully I can get the coming chapters to you as soon as possible! In the meantime my socials are @/smalltownrobin on twitter, tumblr and instagram, come for more Robin Buckley brainrot and Maya Hawke simping!
Chapter 3: Chapter 2
Notes:
If you are reading this at all, thank you! I was actually terrified to post this, so to have any kind of support on it has meant so much, so really thank you. Hopefully I can get the rest of these chapters to you as soon as possible!
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
As the clock’s hands turned to a new hour, the young princess of the palace ran excitedly through the grand halls, whizzing past and almost knocking over the royal guards and servants. She shouted apologies, gleefully beelining across the palace, swinging the door to one of the large bed chambers open.
“Father!”
The princess halted as she laid eyes upon the king, sat at the foot of his bed with his shirt open; the doctor was attending to him, holding an instrument to his heart.
“Oh, sorry, I’ll come back later.”
“Do not worry, Victoria,” the king assured, waving her in, “you’re not interrupting. What was it you wanted to tell me?”
Perking back up, she walked over, holding her sleeves out slightly, “I just finished my fitting, isn’t it gorgeous?”
The princess span slowly, showing off her jacket. It was emerald green, embroidered with gold and patterned at the cuffs and collar. It might have made her look like a prince, but the princess was so daintily feminine it didn’t look at all boyish on her.
“It’s beautiful, Vickie,” her father complimented, “very charming. It will do perfect for tonight.”
Vickie swivelled to observe herself in the large mirror across the room, beaming, “I really like the colour, I think it goes well with the ginger.” She touched at her hair; cut short but still an elegant, feminine shape that framed her face, and a striking, rich red.
“Well, it’s why I wore the colour so often myself,” the king commented, sharing a laugh with his daughter.
Vickie had inherited her red hair from her father, the older man having both a head of hair and full beard of it. He wasn’t incredibly tall, but rugged; practically the opposite of his daughter’s petite stature. The young girl had taken after her late mother on that front. His heritage was in Ireland, so hints of an accent tended to come out in his gruff voice.
“Oh!” the princess moved quickly across the room, sitting beside her father, “I also was going to wear these earrings tonight, do you think they look nice with the jacket?” She tilted her head to the side, letting her father see her ears.
The king took a moment to observe the earrings; dangling, shining gold, with pink roses adorning the end. Classy and modest.
He held one with his finger, remembering softly, “these were your mother’s, weren’t they?” Vickie gave a gentle nod. “They’re perfect.”
“You’ve said everything I’ve shown you is perfect.”
“Well, you are perfect,” the king chuckled, before exhaling with pride, “I’m so lucky to have a daughter like you. The kingdom will be in fantastic hands.”
The young princess’s face faltered as reality overcame her. Swallowing, she looked towards the doctor, who was finishing up.
“How is he?” she inquired, worry written on her face.
Taking a breath, the doctor informed, “I’d recommend no physical exertion, and certainly no alcohol. Strolling around would be fine, but try to avoid stairs, and of course continue with your current diet.” The king quietly thanked him as he packed his instruments away.
“No physical exertion,” Vickie repeated, “I suppose that means no dancing then.” She tried to sound light hearted, but her voice held a sombre undertone. She had hoped for the best, despite having known her father’s condition for some time now.
The king lay a comforting hand on his daughter’s shoulder, before calling to outside the room, “Powell! Callahan!”
Two of the royal guards entered, wearing scarlet red uniforms.
“Yes, your majesty?” the slightly older guard, Powell, asked, standing straight.
“Callahan, could you please see Doctor Owens out.” The taller, scrawnier guard nodded and followed the order, escorting the doctor out of the room.
“Powell,” the king caught the older guard’s attention, “gather the guards and deliver the invitations to every residence in the kingdom for tonight.”
“Certainly, your majesty.”
“Do try to be done before noon, the ballroom will need as many hands as possible to be ready in time.”
“Of course, your majesty.” Powell nodded, giving a slight bow before leaving the room.
“Father,” the princess started, shifting to face her father straight on, “you know I’m very excited for the ball, but must it be three nights? You heard what the doctor said, no physical exertion, you can’t even dance or walk up any stairs, three whole nights could be too much for you, and I don’t want you to make yourself worse, or else you could-”
“Slow down, Victoria, slow down,” the king calmed her, placing his hand on her arm, “there is no need to worry. I will be fine, these nights are for you, not for me.”
“For me to meet someone,” she reminded with no enthusiasm.
“Yes, that is the case, but it is not the only one. It is certainly why we have invited so many young royals from other kingdoms and queendoms. That’s why it must be three nights, there are so many potential suitors for you to meet, you couldn’t possibly get through everyone in one night.”
“I know, you have cordially invited every eligible young person in the kingdom, no matter their gender, in honour of Princess Victoria,” Vickie repeated word for word from the royal invitations drafted by her father, “you would still prefer if I ended up with royalty, wouldn’t you?”
“I would be happy with whoever you choose, my dear, however royalty would of course be good for our image.”
“Well, if it’s going to be my queendom, I don’t care about image,” the princess argued as politely as she could, “I care about love. Would it not be a better image for me to rule with a loving partner, no matter their status?”
Sighing, the king made his closing statement, “just prioritise making a good impression for the other royals, alright? If not for personal relations, then for our public ones.”
Vickie conceded with a gentle nod, expression down. Perhaps she dreamed too big; for a princess, marriage was not for love. Her father had loved her mother so dearly, even so many years after her passing, however it seemed that was not the standard. In the back of her mind she hoped that type of love was possible for herself. She only had three nights to find it.
~~~
By mid morning, Robin had cleaned the kitchen, washed all the pots, laundered the table cloth, hung it out to dry, and laid more traps around the house (after discussing with her mice friends the best whereabouts for them to be avoided). Now she was busy with the task of sweeping and scrubbing the floors, equipped only with a cloth and a bucket of soap and water. Kneeling on the wet floor caused the damp to soak through her trousers; Robin found the sensation unbearable, but had no choice but to carry on.
“Dustin’s so funny,” Steve chatted, swinging his little legs off the side cabinet, “and he said he thought my hair was cool!”
“Well, you do put an odd amount of care into your hair for what you are,” Robin remarked, seeing him check out his tiny quiff in the reflection of the vase, “I knew you two would be good friends.”
“Hey, just because I’m a mouse doesn’t mean I can’t look nice, some other good looking rodent could come join us and I want to make an impression.”
Robin rolled her eyes affectionately, dipping her cloth back into the bucket. Only a small section of the entrance hall’s floor was cleaned so far, but she had to doubly make sure every inch was shiny and spotless. Plus, she hadn’t exactly been given the most efficient means with which to complete the job.
Their conversation was soon suspended by the sound of the doorbell.
“Who’s that?” wondered Steve.
“That question will be answered by opening the door, Steve,” Robin joked, setting the cloth down. She came to her feet, but slipped slightly on the freshly scrubbed floor, having to steady herself on the side cabinet.
“Well, it’s definitely shiny and spotless,” she commented, laughing at herself, “she can’t fault me there.”
Brushing herself off, Robin strode across the room to the front door. Upon opening it she was greeted by two men; Powell and Callahan, the royal guards.
“Good morning, miss,” Powell spoke, “we deliver a message from the king.”
Robin’s eyes widened slightly as she was handed an envelope. Inspecting it, she saw it had been sealed with red wax, the royal crest embossed into it. An authentic letter from the palace.
“Thank you,” she uttered, stunned at what she’d been given.
Callahan looked the young girl up and down, a snooty expression on his face, “do make sure it gets to the…” he cleared his throat, “residents of the house.”
Robin met his gaze a little challengingly. Trust someone who works for royalty to take one look at her and assume she was merely a worker.
“Oh, I can assure you, sir,” she sent the taller guard a grimace, ever so slightly condescending, ”that order has already been fulfilled.” Not giving them a second more of her time, she closed the door with a deft clunk.
She had to be nice to her step-family. She didn’t have to be nice to everybody.
With the door practically slammed in their faces, Powell shook his head at his subordinate, giving him a tut.
“What?” asked Callahan, baffled.
Walking away from the house, Powell stated, “you have got to work on your people skills.” A few paces behind, Callahan rushed to catch up to him, the pair beginning to make their way back to the palace.
Inside, Robin turned the envelope in her hands, studying it intently. It felt like she’d been trusted with something so sacred; what could the palace want from their family?
“A letter from the palace?” Steve asked, having been listening, “what could it say?”
“I don’t know,” said Robin, “it’s got to be important, though.”
With a sigh, she glanced in the direction of the drawing room, “I suppose stepmother will want to read it first.”
She quietly instructed Steve to go back upstairs, watching him scamper off through the nearest hole, before making her way to the drawing room where her step-family was conveniently gathered. The letter had to be for the whole household; that snobbish guard did say ‘residents’, plural. Surely that would include her, too.
Knocking courteously, Robin entered the room, abruptly imposing on their conversation.
Her stepmother shot her a venomous look, “oh, what is it, Robin?”
“I’m sorry to bother you, but this letter just arrived from the palace,” Robin informed, holding out the envelope.
“The palace?!” Tommy and Carol repeated, both jumping up. Shock and excitement immediately appeared on their faces, and they practically leapt over furniture to see it.
Standing up too, Lady Click marched over to Robin, snatching the envelope from her hands, “give that to me!” It was as if Robin was unworthy of even touching it.
Tearing open the letter, her face lit up as she scanned the words on the page. It must have been good news.
“There is to be a ball tonight at the palace!” she informed gleefully.
“A ball!” Tommy and Carol repeated again, eerily in sync.
Robin felt her heart swell. This was incredibly good news.
“His majesty the king will be holding a three night ball at the palace, starting tonight,” Lady Click read off the invitation, “which every citizen of the kingdom is free to attend, and he has cordially invited every eligible young person in the kingdom, no matter their gender, in honour of Princess Victoria!”
“The princess!” Tommy cried, “in honour of the princess!”
“Every eligible young person,” Carol turned to her brother in excitement, “that means us! We’re eligible!”
“One of us is going to marry the princess!”
“A ball sounds so much fun!” Robin exclaimed, perhaps a little too excitedly. Her thoughts had gotten away from her as she listened; three nights of fun and freedom at the palace that she was cordially invited to. It sounded like a dream.
Her step-family stopped to stare at her judgementally, taken aback. Robin suddenly thought she should have kept her mouth shut.
Tommy snickered abruptly, raising an eyebrow, “you think you’re eligible?”
“Oh, I can see it now,” Carol started, melodramatically clutching her heart, “I’m so happy to meet you, princess, my name is Cinderobin! Please excuse the dirt, I spent all day cleaning the house and had no time to clean myself! I’d love to dance with you, but… would you mind holding my broom?”
Robin swallowed, trying her best to take her step-siblings’ mocking as they erupted into hysterics. She was going to stand her ground on this one. This was a royal command; that overrode any order they could give her.
“I don’t see why I can’t go,” she insisted, causing the pair to stop.
“Oh my god, she’s serious,” Carol realised, amusingly surprised, “she really thinks she’s eligible!”
“Look, I’m not saying I’m eligible, I’m saying that the invitation from the king states all citizens are welcome to attend. I’m citizens.”
“You really think you deserve to go,” Lady Click interjected, grabbing the girl’s attention with a menacing tone, “after this morning’s events?”
Robin sighed internally. Her stepmother raised a good point; they weren’t likely to allow her to go on a normal day, nevermind a day where they made an excuse to punish her. That wasn’t going to make her give up.
“It’s by the king’s order,” she stated.
Her step-family all gave each other looks, not speaking. Already Robin could see they weren’t convinced.
“Do let me go, stepmother,” she began pleading, “it’s all I’ll ever ask of you. I don’t even want to go for all three nights, just tonight. I won’t even speak to the princess, or to you, you don’t have to bother with me at all, just let me go with you for one night.”
A long, anticipating silence hung in the air. Lady Click considered her request, glancing between Robin and the royal invitation. Eventually, she announced her decision,
“Alright, Robin, you may go.”
“What?!” Tommy immediately spluttered, he and Carol looking horrified.
Beaming, Robin exhaled, “oh, thank you, stepmother-”
“If,” Lady Click raised her finger to halt her, “you get all your work done, and you find something appropriate to wear, and you help Tommy and Carol get ready first.”
Her eyes shifted to the side to gesture to Robin’s step-siblings, “they are the ones who will be dancing with the princess, after all.”
Nodding, Robin accepted, “I can do all of that, I promise, consider it done! Thank you, thank you so much!” She left the room full of spirits, excited by the prospect of the evening; a night of freedom.
Once Robin had left, Carol stormed up to the older woman, “mother, how could you let her go?”
“Yeah, she’s going to make us look bad in front of the princess, we can’t be seen dragging some disgusting servant around!” added Tommy.
Lady Click said nothing as she slowly sat back down; only gave them a sinister expression, one that indicated an equally sinister plan. She knew exactly what she was doing.
Notes:
Yes I made Vickie irish you will not tear this headcanon from my mind.
As usual my twitter, tumblr and instagram is @/smalltownrobin come for Robin Buckley and Maya Hawke based antics!
Chapter Text
As soon as she received that permission, Robin sped through the house and straight to the attic stairwell, bounding up the steps two at a time.
“Steve! Nancy!” she called excitedly as she neared the top, her face beaming. She couldn’t wait to tell them her good news.
She threw the door open, the three mice’s attention being caught by the tall human’s loud entrance. Once they saw her gleeful expression, they looked between each other with anticipation of what she was about to tell them.
“What’s going on, Robin?” asked Nancy.
“Is it the letter, what did it say?” Steve added.
“They’re letting me go! To the ball, stepmother said I could go!”
“What ball?” quizzed Nancy.
“The ball at the palace, tonight, that’s what the letter said!” Robin explained, practically bouncing with excitement, “there’s a three night ball in honour of the princess, and stepmother said I could go tonight!”
“The palace?” Dustin questioned, slightly confused, “they’ve invited you to that big house where all the royalty lives?”
“They’ve invited the whole kingdom! Well, in particular everyone eligible for Princess Victoria, I assume to take over ruling with her when the time comes for her to do so.”
Steve’s face lit up with a slight smirk, “so, you’re going to meet the princess?”
“Oh, gosh, no,” Robin tucked her hair behind her ear, demeanour becoming a little more awkward at the thought, “I don’t think I qualify for dancing with, or even being around royalty, she probably won’t even look at me.”
Shaking her head, she reasoned further, “besides, I’m not even thinking about that, I’m just getting one night of fun, you know, dressing up, going out, dancing, maybe talking to some beautiful girl, I don’t know! I have a whole night to do whatever I want, I have to make the most of it, I’ll probably never get an opportunity to do something like this again, I’m surprised stepmother even said yes at all, and sure I have to get all my work done and help Tommy and Carol get ready first, plus find the time to actually put an outfit together and make myself look presentable at the royal palace, it’s probably going to be quite a difficult task, but it will certainly be worth it!”
Robin inhaled sharply, catching her breath back as she managed to stop herself from talking. The excitement was getting to her a little; all her inner thoughts were tumbling out of her mouth.
“Another thing you should know around here,” Steve leaned towards Dustin, arms folded with an entertained expression, “Robin rambles a lot.”
The human girl scoffed with amusement, suppressing a grin as she rolled her eyes at her mouse friend.
Moving the conversation along, Nancy inquired, “so, what are you going to wear?”
“I was thinking…” Robin started, holding up a finger as she scampered over to a pile of boxes. She pulled a couple out before finding the one she wanted, bringing it over to her bed and kneeling in front of it. It was leather, burgundy coloured and decorated with gold accents; it looked out of place in the dingy attic.
Lifting the lid, Robin revealed its contents to the three mice; a black pinstripe three piece suit, complete with a grey tie, lapel pin and cufflinks.
“Oh, yes, this will be perfect,” she decided, pulling the top half of the folded suit out. The jacket was double breasted, with six shiny black buttons, and a lapel pin in the shape of a bird.
“Woah, that’s awesome,” admired Dustin, eyes sparkling at the sight of the suit, “where’d you get that?”
Standing, Robin informed him, “it was my father’s. He never wore this one much, but when he did I always secretly wanted to wear it myself. After he died I snatched a few of his suits before stepmother could sell them on, but I never got the opportunity to wear any of them. Well, until now.”
“It’ll look great on you, Robin,” Steve declared, “the ladies at that palace won’t be able to stop staring at you!”
Chuckling, she asked, “you think so?” She didn’t exactly believe him, but accepted the compliment.
Robin took the jacket and slipped it on, turning to look at herself in the mirror. It was here that she encountered a problem; it was slightly too large.
“Guess my growth spurt wasn’t as big as I thought,” she joked, twisting to check the fit from different angles. Sideways on, she pinched the back, pulling it in to fit her better.
“There we go, that’s all it needs!” Determined, Robin went back over to the pile of boxes, “luckily I still have mother’s sewing stuff.”
She brought another box over, this one wooden, full of thread, needles, scissors, pins, a tape measure, and a book.
Turning to Dustin, she began explaining to him again, “my mother was a seamstress, I’m nowhere near as good as she was, but I’m sure I can fix this up fine. There should be instructions to take it in somewhere in here.” Robin flipped through the book, soon landing on the right page and laying it out before standing to look in the mirror again.
“While you’re at it, you could fix it up a little, too,” suggested Steve.
“What do you mean?” Robin asked.
“Well, sure, that suit is great, it’ll look amazing on you, but all black and grey for a palace ball could be a little dull.”
Tilting her head at her reflection, Robin hummed in thought, her lips pressed together, “I suppose it could be a little flashier. The buttons definitely could stand out more.” She picked up the grey tie, holding it up to herself, “maybe a different tie as well, so it doesn’t look so couture funeral.”
“Yes, a bright colour would stand out much better,” Nancy chimed in, “maybe like a red.”
“Red, yes!” Robin exclaimed, “I can really see this coming together now.”
Her enthusiasm was promptly shattered by the incessant calling of her name coming from downstairs.
Sighing, her face fell as she removed the suit jacket, “suppose I have to get back to work, I’ll get started on this later.” She lay the jacket back on the bed, lamenting further, “I’ve still got to finish the floors, tend to the garden, clean all the windows, dust everywhere, do the laundry, make dinner, wash the pots, help Tommy and Carol get ready, and who knows what else they’ll come up with.”
The three mice watched sadly as she trudged out the door, the squawking voices of her step-family calling her name again. Sending them a half hearted wave, she headed back downstairs.
As the door shut behind her, Dustin turned to the two older mice, “are they always running her ragged like that?”
“Unfortunately, yes,” answered Nancy, “every day she’s overrun with chores, fetching and carrying for them, while all they do is be cruel to her and make fun of her.”
“Yeah, they tore her life away from her,” Steve added, gazing towards the girl’s late parents’ items laid out on the bed, “now all she gets is, ‘Robin, clean the floors! Robin, make us tea! Robin, do this! Robin, do that!’ She only gets a moment to herself when she goes to sleep.”
Dustin sat upon hearing this, sighing with sorrow, “poor Robin…”
A silence fell over the three mice, saddened by their dear friend’s predicament.
Steve broke the moment with a despairing thought, “I don’t think she’ll get to go to the ball.”
The other two whipped their heads at him in confusion, Nancy exclaiming, “what?”
“But her stepmother promised her,” Dustin naively reminded.
“She promised she could go if she got all her work done,” Steve clarified.
“I think Robin’s perfectly capable of getting everything done in time,” defended Nancy.
“Lady Click wouldn’t make it that easy for her,” Steve argued, defeat laced in his tone, “they’re going to give her an endless amount of work to do so she can’t go, she’ll have no time to fix up her suit before they leave.”
“She wouldn’t make her a false promise, would she?” asked the youngest mouse, sounding unsure of himself given what he had just learnt of Robin’s stepmother.
Looking glum, Steve remarked, “that’s exactly what she’d do.”
Another despairing silence hung over them; Steve’s logic couldn’t be faulted. Lady Click was leading Robin along, getting her to do double the work dangling the promise of an actual reward, but she would never make it attainable. There was too many conditions to her bargain.
Suddenly, Nancy had a thought, “well, why don’t we help her out?”
Steve shot her a look, not quite following, “help her out?”
“Why don’t we fix her suit for her?” she explained, “it can’t be that difficult, not if we have instructions.”
“The three of us tiny little rodents are going to tailor a human sized suit?” Dustin asked sceptically.
“It only needs a few adjustments, and Robin’s mother has the handbook of tailoring, we can do it no problem!”
“I don’t know, Nance…” Steve worried, “I don’t want to make a mess of her father’s suit.”
“So we won’t make a mess of it.”
Nancy stood so determined, looking between the other two mice in encouragement. She really had faith in this idea.
She pushed her case further, “don’t you think we owe this to Robin? She has done so much for us, she saved you for a start, Dustin.”
The smallest mouse looked down in consideration, remembering the events of the morning. How cold and afraid he had been until Robin rescued him, and gave him the promise of a good home, and some friends to talk to and rely on. How she had made sure he was okay after he had gotten her in trouble, not even getting slightly angry with him.
“After all that she’s been through, she deserves something good in her life, and if we can help give that to her, we at least have to try,” Nancy gave her final argument, hoping to convince the two boys.
With a final moment of consideration, Dustin nodded his head, “I’m in.”
“Steve?” Nancy turned to him, both her and Dustin waiting for his answer.
He paused, giving it his own moment of thought before asserting, “we owe it to her. She’s my best friend, I want to make her happy.”
“Right, let’s do it then!” Nancy beamed, immediately formulating the plan of action, “so, we need the thread and needle and the scissors, is there a measuring tape in there too? We can just take the measurements of her other clothes. We also need to find a tie and some buttons from somewhere.”
“Dustin and I can do that later, there’s got to be something around here.”
“Excellent, we’ll start with altering the jacket.”
Pulling something out of the sewing box, Dustin shouted, “found the measuring tape!”
Nancy searched across the room, “her shirt’s hanging up, we’ll measure that first, then measure the jacket and take most of the difference.”
The three little mice soon began to get to work, determined to fix up Robin’s suit well enough for tonight. None of them could wait to surprise her with it; a gift for all of her kindness and generosity. Lady Click would find her so stunning in her suit, she would have no choice but to let her go to the ball, and maybe even dance with the princess.
~~~
Finishing the entrance hall floor, and fulfilling her step-family’s immediate orders, Robin’s next task was to tend to the garden. The house had a moderate, exquisite garden at the rear, filled with a multitude of features and decorations. There was an allotment, berry bushes, stone walls, a stone well, and a three tier water fountain, surrounded by trees. It looked something out of a painting.
Her father’s grand willow tree stood at the centre, spiral patterned white metal benches positioned in front. Often, Robin and her father would sit by the tree, reminiscing about Melissa, Richard telling stories of her from when they first fell in love. Little robins would fly down from time to time; her father telling her the birds’ attraction to the garden was what lead him to naming her so. Robin kept the whole garden in good shape, but paid special attention to the lasting memorial of her parents.
She began by brushing up the autumn leaves that had blown across the garden, clearing them from the ground, benches, and walls. Extra care had to be taken to remove them from the well and fountain, but Robin was in such a hurry to be done, she ended up splashing herself a little bit. That was more water that ended up seeping through her clothes, but she hadn’t time to change today. She then tended to the allotment, watering and planting seeds where needed. The pumpkin patch in particular was looking about ready to harvest.
With the garden eventually all tidied and attended to, Robin took a moment by her father’s tree. She eagerly anticipated what the night was to bring, but deeply wished her parents could be there to see her. Fixing up her father’s suit with her mother’s trade, part of this night was for them in her eyes.
“I hope you’ll be proud of me,” she whispered, as if sharing an intimate confession with them. Robin didn’t exactly believe in any divine powers, but she liked to think her parents were somewhere out there still, watching over her. It gave her comfort on her darkest nights just to pretend she still had some small communication with them, even if one sided.
“Robin!!” her stepmother’s voice cut in, shouting from inside, “these windows are not going to clean themselves!”
Exhaling, Robin reluctantly spun back towards the house, “duty calls!”
With it already being past midday, Robin hoped she’d be done soon, enough to fix her suit for the ball in time.
~~~
“Which tie would look better?”
Robin’s eyes flicked thoughtfully between two brightly coloured ties Tommy was holding up; one red, one yellow. Neither matched the obnoxiously blue suit laying out on his bed.
She pointed to the tie on her left, “definitely the red.”
Without a second’s thought, Tommy looked dead at Robin as he made a show of tossing the tie she had picked behind him.
“If you like it, it must look bad,” he stated cuttingly, glaring at her before loosely putting on the yellow tie, “throw it out, I don’t like it anyway.”
Before she could move to pick up the discarded tie, Carol shouted to her from the other side of the room, “Robin! Fasten this up!”
Silently huffing, Robin obeyed, reaching to lace the back of the gaudy pink ballgown she was trying on.
Whilst they were all occupied, none of them noticed two little mice sneaking round the corner, their eyes on the red tie Tommy had strewn across the floor.
“Right in our laps, this is perfect!” Steve whispered excitedly, eyes gleaming.
“How are we going to get it without being spotted?” asked Dustin, looking around at the busy humans. Two problems presented themselves if they were caught trying to snatch the tie; Robin’s surprise would be ruined, and Tommy and Carol would most likely trap them and order them to be drowned. It was essential they got away unseen.
Steve eyed the boy checking out his attire in the mirror, coming up with a plan, “wait until he turns round, then we’ll sneak. We have to be stealthy, okay?”
Nodding in confirmation, the two mice watched and waited for the coast to be clear. The moment Tommy’s eyes were away from the doorway, they scampered over as quietly as they could, holding on to and dragging the garment out of the room to take back to the attic. Fortunately, they stayed unnoticed on their mission, succeeding in nabbing the red tie for Robin.
“Ugh, stop pulling, you’re going to rip it!”
Robin flinched and halted fastening the back of her stepsister’s dress, muttering, “sorry.”
Carol took a moment to observe herself in the mirror, fluffing up the large, blowout curls of her auburn hair. Her face contorted to distaste, shaking her head at her reflection.
“No, I can’t be seen by the princess in this colour. Get me something else.”
Robin went to obey the order, spying a vibrant orange dress with elaborate puff sleeves; she thought it could vaguely match Tommy’s suit. They’d most certainly stick out like a sore thumb at the ball for their extravagant colour choices, but that was what they wanted. For Robin’s step-siblings, fashion was about being noticed and making a statement, not modesty or class.
Speak of the devil, Tommy called to her again, “Robin, where’s my ruffled dickey?”
Hurrying across the room again, she picked up one from his open drawer and handed it to him.
Tommy looked at it with repulsion, the frilly cuffs of his dress shirt swishing as he waved her away, “no, not that one, the other one!”
With another silent huff, Robin passed him the other ruffled dickey from his drawer. He took this one without a word; second time lucky.
“Robin! My dress?”
“One at a time, I beg,” the poor girl said under her breath, already tired of running back and forth between the pair and their demands.
“God, you are useless,” Carol spat as Robin handed her the orange dress, “I can’t believe stepmother’s letting you go, you shouldn’t be allowed anywhere near the princess.”
Unlacing the pink gown, Robin stated simply, “well, I’m not fussed about meeting Princess Victoria, I only want to have a good time.”
Tommy piped up from across the room, pulling his jacket on, “you’re a joke, Robin.” He raised an eyebrow, asking rhetorically, “a good time?”
“There’ll be no time for a good time with a princess to win over.”
Robin helped Carol out of the dress, trying best to keep her tone calm, “as I said, that’s not my concern.”
“Anyway, who said it’s you that’s winning over the princess, Carol?”
The girl laughed coldly, “oh, be serious, Thomas. If the princess is going to pick one of us, it will be me.”
“No, it will be me! Who else could you see as future king?”
Gazing at her reflection, now in the orange dress, Carol remarked quietly, “a doormouse, perhaps?”
It suddenly occurred to Robin how strange it was that her step-siblings were so focused on winning over the princess when they hadn’t even met her yet. Princess Victoria was royalty, sure, but Robin didn’t think of her title as something at all desirable in a partner, not over genuine love and connection. Given the way even the king’s guard turned his nose up at her this morning, perhaps she just didn’t like royalty all that much.
“So, neither of you are actually thinking about whether you’ll even like the princess?” she dared to ask.
Scoffing, Tommy looked at her like she was stupid, “no, why would we?”
“It’s not any of your business, Robin,” Carol snapped.
Shrugging, Tommy gave an answer to his last question, “the palace will be so big once we’re married I won’t even have to bother speaking to her if I don’t like her.”
Robin knew she wasn’t the joke here. These two were so vain, they didn’t even care about maintaining a happy life with the girl they so desperately wished to win over. It wasn’t the princess they wanted, it was the validation of themselves from someone they saw as above them. More importantly, it was the status and power that would come from marrying a princess. She dreaded to think what would happen to the kingdom should Tommy or Carol become ruler.
~~~
As evening fell, Robin finally finished all of her chores. She’d completed every task her step-family ordered, and even gave herself a few extra ones to make sure there wasn’t a single mark of dust in the house, just to really please her stepmother. After serving dinner, she helped Tommy and Carol get dressed before rushing to clean the pots, and finally, after many long hours of labour, she was done.
The trouble was, now she had no time to fix up her suit. If she had nothing to wear, she couldn’t go. All of her efforts were for nothing.
Sighing, she tried to convince herself a ball wouldn’t have been that much fun anyway. It would have been loud, and crowded, with much too many people to be mindful of. There would have been dancing, and music, and she would have got to dress up nicely, and… Robin was really disappointed she couldn’t experience any of it. She supposed an evening to herself with one of her books will have to do.
“Robin! Robin!” a voice called after her, drawing closer. She startled, but calmed once it registered the voice wasn’t of one of her step-family. It was Steve’s.
The little mouse came scampering into the kitchen, clambering up on top of the counter, trying to keep her attention, “Robin!”
“Steve, you’re not supposed to be in here!” she hissed at him in a hushed tone.
“Robin, you-” he tried to speak breathlessly, “come upstairs, you need to come upstairs right now.”
“Steve, I’ve had a really long day, which was all for nothing, by the way, just give me a minute-”
“No, you’ve got to come with me, right now!” the mouse didn’t wait for her, dashing back off towards the attic.
Bewildered, Robin ran after the mouse beckoning her, following him upstairs. It was nearly six o’ clock; the carriage would be here soon, and her stepmother would no doubt want her to see them off, just to rub in the fact she wasn’t going. Whatever Steve wanted had to be quick.
She watched the mouse shoot through the hole in the door, so opened it after him. When she did, the sight that graced her took her breath away.
Her father’s suit, hung up on the mirror, now with a bright red tie and the front buttons replaced with shimmering, silver ones. It looked ready to wear; exactly what she had envisioned that morning.
“Surprise!!” Dustin and Nancy shouted, standing on her bedside table, waving their arms towards the garment in presentation.
“Yeah, surprise!” Steve added seconds later, having only just climbed up to join them. He turned to them annoyed, “you didn’t wait for me to say it!”
“Well, she already saw the surprise, we couldn’t have waited any longer!” argued Dustin.
Their bickering didn’t break Robin’s attention for a second; her eyes were practically sparkling, fixed on the suit hanging up. She couldn’t believe what she was seeing. As she approached, inspecting it further, she could see that it had been taken in, looking closer to her size. When did this happen?
“Guys…” she gasped in awe, turning her head towards the three proud looking mice, “did you…?”
“We tailored it, and made some adjustments,” Nancy explained, “it’s all ready for you, for tonight.”
“Yeah, we knew you probably wouldn’t get chance with all your work, so we did it ourselves,” added Steve.
“It’s a thank you gift,” told Dustin, giving her a toothy grin, “for everything you’ve done for us, we hope you like it.”
Robin’s face softened immensely at their reasoning; she felt as if she could cry. Happy tears, of course. This was the nicest thing anyone had done for her in a very long time.
“I… I don’t even know what to say.” She gazed between the suit and her friends again, admiring just how well of a job they had done, and how kind their gesture was, “it’s absolutely amazing! These buttons match so well, and the tie, was this the one Tommy threw away? When did you even get it? It doesn’t matter, it’s so perfect, I mean, I can’t thank you enough! If I could, I’d hug every one of you!”
“Alright, we don’t have time for that right now,” Steve stopped her, voice becoming more urgent, “the carriage will be here any minute, now come on, you need to get ready! You’ve got a ball to go to!”
Beaming, Robin took the suit off the mirror as she declared, “I’ve got a ball to go to!”
~~~
Lady Click peered obsessively out of the front window, watching for the carriage to arrive. She smirked as she saw it roll down the path to the front of the house, parking outside. Robin had only finished her chores less than twenty minutes ago.
“Tommy, Carol, come along, the carriage is here,” she called, ready and eager to leave for the palace. Tonight was to be their first impression for the princess; they couldn’t arrive late.
As the three convened in the entrance hall, Lady Click admired how fancifully Tommy and Carol were put together. Her own dress was brightly coloured and extravagant, enough to draw attention to the three of them, but would keep the royal family’s focus on her two children. Their eye-catching attire would instantly capture the princess’s attention, start a conversation, and then they could charm her from there. With no doubt, one of them would be able to win her over.
Before she could open the front door to leave, a voice rang through the house, fast approaching,
“Wait, I’m ready! Hold on!”
The trio’s attention turned to where the voice was coming from, their eyes laying on Robin rushing and stumbling into the room. Except, she didn’t look like usual. Her hair, usually in tangled waves, was all pinned up at the bottom of her scalp, with a couple of thin, neat strands framing her face below her fringe. Her complexion was totally clean, almost glowing; not a speck of dirt or ash on her cheeks. She was wearing a fitted three piece suit, a bright red tie the focal point against the black, pinstripe material. The buttons and lapel pin on the jacket glimmered against the light, but they weren’t overly dazzling. She looked a vision of refined elegance next to her step-family’s gaudy apparel.
“Robin, what are you doing?” Lady Click asked, taken aback by her stepdaughter’s boldness. She reared back slightly, Tommy and Carol joining her in gazing at the girl with alarm.
“I’ve gotten all the work done, the house is spotless head to toe, there isn’t a pot unwashed or a mark of dust on any surface,” she eagerly explained, almost beaming with pride. Robin had done everything her stepmother asked her to, and more, that had to count for something.
Glancing down at her outfit, she presented herself to her step-family, “I also found something to wear.”
Looking the young girl over, Lady Click subtly sneered as she asked, “you did, did you?”
Robin hesitated for a moment, before explaining further, “it was father’s suit, but I altered it to fit me.”
She could see that her step-family’s expressions weren’t changing much. They looked unsure about something. What was the problem? She met all of their conditions, that meant they were going to let her join them tonight.
Her face faltered, stating, “it didn’t cost anything.” She couldn’t think of what else could be making them stare at her like that. This wasn’t going how she thought it would.
Her step-family gave each other looks, conversating silently. Robin hoped they were all agreeing to allow her to go. From their expressions, however, it didn’t appear that was to be the case. A pit of dread formed in her stomach as Tommy began to approach her.
“This tie looks familiar,” he commented snarkily as he stopped right in front of her, close enough to pull the accessory out from her waistcoat, “isn’t it mine?”
Robin stuttered, stunned by the question, “you wanted me to throw it out, you didn’t want it anymore-”
In an instant, Tommy grabbed the tie by two hands and ripped it in half.
Before she even had chance to react, Carol suddenly appeared behind her, “terrible seam work at the back here, it just rips right apart.” The shorter girl grinned wickedly as she tore the stitch attaching her jacket sleeve, half of it now completely detached.
“Stop it!” Robin exclaimed, unable to believe what her step-siblings had done.
They didn’t stop there. Tommy and Carol continued savaging her suit, leaving tears all over the jacket and waistcoat. They ripped her sleeve cuffs apart, broke all the seams, pulled off the buttons and her lapel pin, totally undoing all of her friends’ hard work. Robin tried to squirm away from them, but their grips were too strong.
Once they finally stopped, they stepped away, smiling and laughing nastily to themselves. Robin gazed down at what they’d left, seeing her suit completely in shreds. Anger and despair rose up inside of her, utterly shocked at how far they’d gone to hurt her.
Lost, she met the eyes of her stepmother. The woman was looking down at her, posture and head held high. Not a single hint of sympathy was in her demeanour; in fact, she looked totally unphased by the actions of her children.
Condescendingly, she remarked, “I don’t think that’s very appropriate attire for a ball, do you?”
Finally, it clicked. Her step-family never had any intention of letting her go. This was all a nasty trick, a game they played with her emotions. They gave her false hope, only to stop at nothing to keep her from getting what she wanted; the one thing she ever asked them for. Robin realised she was a fool for believing they could show any kindness towards her.
She clenched her jaw hard, determined to keep her composure under the cruel gaze of her step-family. She wouldn’t let them see her break.
“Tommy, Carol, we must be going.”
Without a show, the three walked out the front door. Lady Click gave her one last look before shutting it with a clunk, leaving Robin stood in the aftermath. Frozen on the spot, she bowed her head in sorrow.
Silently, the three mice came closer to her, having witnessed the entire thing from the stairway. They gazed at her with sympathy, their hearts aching for their dear friend. None of them were bothered that their day of hard work was ruined in an instant; they only despaired at Robin’s tragic situation. Dustin in particular felt very distressed, having never seen an act of such callous cruelty before.
“We’re so sorry, Robin,” Nancy spoke comfortingly, not knowing what else she could say.
The human girl gave no response; didn’t even lift her head. Her body slowly tensed, then released.
“Robin?” Steve asked worriedly, trying to observe his best friend’s expression. He had never seen her so quiet before.
Still, she gave no words. Her body tensed again, before she bolted towards the back of the house. Steve moved to run after her, but Nancy gently stopped him. They could check on her in a few minutes; right now, she needed a moment alone.
This was far from anything her step-family had done to her before.
Notes:
ENDING ON A SAD NOTE I KNOW I'M SORRY but we all know how it goes, right?
As usual my twitter, tumblr and instagram is @/smalltownrobin come for Robin Buckley and Maya Hawke based antics! ALSO for rovickie specific content you can follow @/dailyrovickie on twitter!
Chapter 5: Chapter 4
Notes:
So it's been three months, which I thought was a long time, until I realised this chapter is over nine thousand words, so... whoopsie?
IT'S VERY LONG I'M SORRY (this chapter alone is genuinely longer than all my other fics that's a big whoopsie doozle) but I hope it's enjoyable at least! Big things happening (they finally meet, spoiler), a lot to get through, so grab a snack, get a drink, and have fun in there.
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
Robin swung the back door open as she fled into the garden. She stopped at her father’s grand willow tree; gazing up at the one reminder of the happy life she now grieved for. Seating herself on the bench, the tears she had bravely held back in the face of her step-family instantly began to flow. Bringing her knees up to her chest, she hid her face and simply sobbed into her tattered suit.
She knew they were cruel, but this was downright evil.
Her soft, defeated cries were all that cut through the quiet of the cold night air. Not even the wildlife gathered around the garden made a noise. Despite them, Robin was utterly alone. Her tears were not only for the night’s tragedy, but a build up of all she had suffered through her years of abuse.
This was her what finally broke her; no longer could she grin and bear it. It was too much. She had lost all hope of ever being happy again.
As Robin continued to cry, a swirl of sparkles slowly rose up next to her, appearing from thin air. She didn’t look up, too overcome with despair to even notice the glistening light appearing beside her. Within moments, the sparkles began to shape the form of a woman.
Fully materialised, the woman looked upon Robin softly, placing a gentle hand on her.
“Don’t worry, sweetheart, it’s okay,” she comforted, rubbing soothing lines on the girl’s back, “I’ve got you, settle down.”
This caught Robin’s attention. Lifting her head, her tear stained face met the gaze of a warm and motherly figure. She had never seen her before, but instantly felt an odd sense of safety in her presence.
“Dry those tears, Robin,” the woman wiped them away with a kind smile, as if she had done it a thousand times before, “all will be right, I promise.”
Blinking, Robin’s crying came to a stop as tried to think of how she knew this woman; or more importantly, how she knew her. Her mind only drew a blank.
“I’m sorry, who are you?”
The woman suddenly perked up at the question, grinning, “I’m glad you asked.” She stood, presenting herself grandly, “I, Robin, am your fairy godmother!”
Only now did Robin take in the woman’s full appearance. She was short, but not stumpy, her shape and demeanour rather elegant. Her shiny, brown hair sat in large, delicate waves just past her shoulders, and her face was structured, but warm, appearing to be around 50 (that is, if she was even human. What’s the ageing process like for fairies?). She wore a deep blue dress, down to her ankles, which was overlaid with a long vest looking layer in the same colour. Dashes of fairy dust followed her every movement.
Baffled, Robin asked, “fairy godmother?”
“You can simply call me Joyce, sweetheart,” the fairy godmother informed, “think of it like joy, I am here to bring you joy!”
That only confused her further.
“You’re here to do what?”
“To help you get to the ball, of course!” With her declaration, Joyce produced a shimmering magic wand out of nowhere, her face beaming.
The young girl was stunned by the situation before her. She stuttered, wondering if this was all a crazy dream, that she’d really fallen asleep outside and was in fact fantasising an alternate course of events. Her hand gripped the bench, the cool of the metal grounding her. She blinked deftly, only to see the fairy godmother still stood in front of her. This was real.
“But, I don’t… how are you… how do you even know me? Why- why would you help me? What are you even going to do?”
“I’m afraid we don’t have time for questions, Robin, or else you’ll be late,” Joyce stated, focused on taking a glance round at the garden. Eyeing something, she swiftly moving towards the vegetable farm.
Robin stood and clumsily followed her, utterly bewildered at what this “fairy godmother” was about to do. What did she need vegetables for? She observed Joyce walking round the patches, studying each and every plant growing there.
“Wow, your pumpkins look about ready to harvest, that will do perfect!”
Perfect for what?
Turning back to her, Joyce asked, “do you have a knife?”
Just deciding to go along with it, she nodded and handed her the garden knife. In exchange, Joyce idly passed her the magic wand, asking without looking up, “could you hold this for a second?”
Robin stared wide eyed at the wand, holding it out at arm’s length. She didn’t trust herself to even touch it, not if it was genuinely magical. It fizzled and sparkled slightly, making her jump.
“There we are!”
The fairy godmother lugged the large pumpkin over to the centre of the garden, placing it down on the ground. She casually took the wand back, looking prepared to use it on the squash.
“Sorry, what do you need a pumpkin for?” Robin piped up.
“You need a coach to get to the palace.”
“And you’re going to use… a pumpkin.”
“It won’t be one for long, dear,” Joyce smirked, before placing her arm gently in front of her, “now, stand back.”
With a wave and flick of her wand, fairy dust shot out and enveloped the pumpkin. Before Robin’s eyes, it shimmered, beginning to grow and grow in size. Its stem and roots snaked out like vines, making specifically circular shapes. Within seconds, the pumpkin was transformed in a glow, now a large, golden carriage.
“Oh my…” Robin exclaimed, astonished at the sight. She leapt up the steps and opened the door, seeing a full luxury interior. It felt solid and sturdy; she would have never believed it was made from a soft vegetable had she not seen it. “That’s amazing!”
Suddenly, everything felt very real. Joyce really was her fairy godmother, and really was helping her to attend the ball, to have her one night of freedom. This truly was a miracle.
“That is only the beginning, Robin,” Joyce smiled proudly. Her attention immediately switched to a small flock of birds gathered next to the carriage, “oh, robins!”
Robin hopped back down, joining her fairy godmother in observing the red breasted birds, who were seemingly intrigued by the shining new ornament in their garden.
“They would be quite poetic, don’t you think?” she gave her a look, obviously implying the girl’s namesake.
“For what?”
“The coach won’t go anywhere without horses!”
With another fancy swish of her wand, Joyce showered the four robins in sparkles. Robin watched them grow and morph into white horses, dressed up and ready to pull the carriage to the royal palace.
“Woah,” she gasped out, still utterly stunned.
“Robin, what’s going on?”
Her near trance was broken by Steve’s voice; she looked behind her to see him, Dustin and Nancy scampering over from the house.
Joyce beamed down at them, “ah, what do we have here? Are these your friends, Robin?”
“Who’s this lady?” Dustin asked, the three mice taking in the image of the golden carriage and white stallion horses behind the two girls.
Sizing up the three rodents, Joyce’s eyes finally settled on Steve, “yes, you’ll do.”
“Do for what?” he wondered, not having a clue what was happening.
“The horses won’t go anywhere without a driver.”
The fairy godmother pointed her wand down towards Steve, and with another flick, dusted him in her magic. Dustin and Nancy hurriedly stepped back as he grew almost six feet taller, his body changing in a glow.
“Steve!” Robin shouted in disbelief. This was the wildest thing she had seen all night. Steve was human.
The boy’s now golden brown eyes darted around nervously, “what just happened?”
“Just a little magic,” Joyce explained with pleasure, “you must drive Robin to the royal ball.”
Steve met the gaze of his best friend (for once not having to crane his neck up at her), the two of them sharing a look of joyous disbelief. He comically patted at his jaw, “I’m human?”
“Hmm,” Robin gave a fake pout as she joked, “I didn’t think you’d be taller than me.”
Ignoring her, Steve whirled round and excitedly observed his full reflection in the window. He was dressed in fancifully smart coachman’s uniform, completely trimmed with golden thread, and accentuated with shiny black boots.
“Wow! Look at my hair, it’s glorious!” he remarked, long pink fingers poking at a perfectly styled sweep of brown hair sat on the top of his head, his ears at the sides rather than pointing upwards.
He turned towards the others, smirking as he smoothed his jacket, “I think I make a rather dashing human.”
Robin leaned towards Joyce with an affectionate roll of her eyes, “well done, you gave him an ego.”
“I’m sorry, what’s going on?” Nancy interrupted, needing answers, “what about the royal ball? And who are you?”
Grinning, Robin explained, “this is Joyce. She’s my magic godmother. I mean fairy godmother. Right? Doesn’t matter, she’s using magic to help me get to the ball!”
“Woah, seriously?” remarked Dustin, fascinated by the situation, “that’s so awesome!”
Excitedly, Steve ran over to Joyce, “hey, make him human too!”
With a smile, the fairy godmother obliged, “well, we will be needing a footman, too.”
She waved her wand again, the youngest mouse making the same glowing transformation.
“Woah, Dustin!” Robin exclaimed.
The newly human Dustin checked his reflection in the window; he was much shorter than Steve, but wore a similar smart uniform. His hair was bigger, tightly curled, and was sitting under an embroidered tricorn hat.
Turning back, he commented, “nice curls.”
The two former mice eagerly met each other, checking out and complimenting each other’s appearances. It appeared as though Joyce was making more than one person happy tonight.
Robin watched them with an amused grin, before having a thought, “what about Nancy?”
The final mouse jumped back at the implication, “oh, no, I don’t want any part of this!”
Shrugging casually, the two girls accepted her choice. Nancy must be perfectly happy with keeping an eye on the house for the evening.
Thoughtfully, Joyce scanned over her work, “well, I think that’s everything, except for…” eventually her eyes landed on Robin, suddenly remembering the girl’s ruined suit, “oh, how could I forget? You can’t go looking like that!”
Robin gave an awkward smile, glancing down at her outfit, “you think you can fix it?”
“I could… or if you’d like, I could turn it into something else?”
Robin shared a look with her friends, observing their reactions. It was their hard work, after all. However, it was immediately clear the three were eager to see what Joyce would come up with.
Nodding, the girl agreed, “yeah, alright, sure!”
With confirmation, the older woman narrowed her eyes in thought, looking the girl up and down. Her tongue stuck out slightly, deep in concentration. Everyone watched her in nervous anticipation, eager to see what she would come up with.
“Yes, I have just the thing. Now, hold still.”
Tensing, Robin braced herself; watching magic before her eyes was great, but having it done to herself was daunting. She wasn’t sure how it would feel, or if there would be any sort of side effects. Steve and Dustin seemed to be fine, however, so she told herself there musn’t have been anything to worry about.
With one final wave of Joyce’s wand, fairy dust slowly enveloped Robin from her feet up, gathering around her clothing. The girl watched in fascination as it began to shimmer, moulding and morphing as if her suit was mending itself. Finally, she was coated in a glow, her hair and clothes transforming. The last remnants of magic sprinkled off of her as she gazed down at her new suit.
Robin took a moment before turning to observe her reflection in the window. Her hair was no longer tangled and messy; half pinned up and held in place by a sparkling silver hair pin, just visible at the top of her head, with the rest of her bob laying down in neat waves. Her black suit had become pure white, a faint shimmer in the fabric. The shirt was open collar, the jacket hanging loose, and ever so slightly, fashionably oversized. She looked the perfect balance of dashing and elegant, almost angelic.
“Oh my…” she gasped, her face in awe at her attire, “it’s… it’s perfect. It’s more than that, it’s gorgeous! It’s better than I could have even imagined!”
As she stepped back towards the others, Robin took immediate notice of her shoes. They had a small, chunky heel, which concerned her ever so slightly, but the material was what surprised her more.
“Glass?”
Quirking her eyebrow, Joyce grinned and nodded, “makes a statement, I think. Very unique. Also surprisingly comfortable, you’ll find.”
Robin took her word for it; clearly Joyce was to be trusted. Perhaps with shoes made from fairy dust, she was less likely to trip and fall flat on her face in front of the whole kingdom.
“Alright, now go, you must go!” the fairy godmother declared, ushering the younger girl towards the carriage, “you don’t want to be too late!”
Leaping up to the driver’s seat of the coach, Steve spoke excitedly, “hop in, Robin! Let’s get you to that ball!”
Eagerly, Robin made her way over to the carriage. Excitement coursed through her veins, the adrenaline of all that had taken place in the garden making her trip to the palace even more special. For so long she’d had nothing, and in the blink of an eye, she had everything.
“Joyce?” she stopped, catching the fairy godmother’s attention. She took a breath, still processing all that the woman had done for her, “I can’t thank you enough for this.”
Warmly, Joyce accepted her thanks, “I am more than happy to help you, Robin.”
Her face turned more serious as she gave the girl and important note, “now, you absolutely must remember that the magic won’t last forever. On the twelfth stroke of midnight, the spell will be broken and everything will return to what it was, so you must make sure to leave before then.”
Considering the instruction, Robin called to her two friends accompanying her for the evening, “midnight sound good to you?”
The two boys gave a thumbs up, Steve announcing, “we’ll remember!”
Satisfied, Robin smiled back at her fairy godmother, “midnight is more than enough time, thank you.”
“Right, you best hurry, or you’re really going to be late,” Joyce guided the taller girl in the direction of the carriage again, “I will see you tomorrow evening, so we can do all this again.”
Robin stopped again, “tomorrow?”
“The ball lasts three nights, doesn’t it?”
“Oh, I only wanted to go for one-”
“Nonsense, Robin,” Joyce assured her, “there are no rules or ultimatums here. You may go for as many nights as you like.”
The girl really felt her heart swell. This was already more than what she’d wished for.
Softening, Robin accepted her offer, “thank you, Joyce. For everything.”
She moved towards the carriage again, only to stop herself with a gasp of realisation. She whipped her head round to face Joyce again, face filled with panic, “what about my step-family?”
Inevitably, Robin would be caught by them as soon as she arrived, making everything pointless.
“They won’t recognise you, don’t worry, no one will,” she clarified, calming the girl’s worry. She exhaled, releasing the sudden tension her body was holding.
Hurriedly, she waved Robin towards the carriage again, “now, go, go!”
“Come on, Robin.” Dustin held out his hand at the steps, offering her aid inside.
With a joking smile, she took his hand, “thank you, kind sir.” They shared a laugh as she cautiously stepped inside, Dustin closing the door and moving to hop on the back of the coach.
“Hi, Steve,” Robin greeted excitedly, leaning through the window behind him.
He twisted back to face her, beaming, “hi, Robin!” He looked more giddy than any of them.
“Keep your eyes on the road, okay?” she advised, suddenly slightly concerned at his ability to actually drive them there.
“It’s just steering a few horses, how hard can it be?”
Robin simply pressed her lips together, patting him on the arm. Hopefully Joyce had also added the knowledge of how to drive a coach safely to the mouse’s transformation. She moved back and gleefully greeted Dustin at the back window.
Grabbing hold of the reins, Steve called enthusiastically, “are we ready?”
Beaming, Robin and Dustin called back, “ready!”
“Onwards we go, to the palace!”
With a whip of the reins, Steve set the horses off slowly, leading the coach out of the garden. Robin and Dustin twisted back, happily waving to Nancy and Joyce as they approached the side of the house.
Waving back, Nancy called, “goodbye, have fun!” The two girls watched the coach edge out of sight, seeing it off on its way to the royal ball.
~~~
Miraculously, newly human Steve managed to manoeuvre the party through the kingdom with minimal issues. A couple of bumps in the road couldn’t be helped, but they arrived at the palace gates in one piece.
The coach slowed as it passed through the gates and came to a stop at the entrance, all other carriages already having cleared the area. Fashionably late. The two former mice immediately rushed to help Robin to the ground, as Joyce had instructed.
As the carriage door was opened for her, the dressed up girl gazed up at the royal palace, positively awe stricken at the sight; she’d gone into the village many times, but never ventured this far across the kingdom before. Her own grand house paled in comparison to the almost golden glow of the building, lit up for everyone to see.
Daring to step out of the carriage, Dustin gripped her hand firmly as she landed on the ground as carefully as she could, mildly terrified of her heels. He could feel just how much the poor girl was shaking with nerves, giving her a reassuring squeeze before letting go.
Robin looked between the two boys briefly, taking a deep breath before moving to walk towards the palace steps. She suddenly stopped herself.
“I can’t do this.”
“Of course you can, Robin!” Steve encouraged without hesitation.
More cautiously, Dustin asked, “this is what you wanted, right?”
“It is, but…” Robin looked around and fumbled awkwardly, suddenly appearing unsure of herself, “you know what royalty are like. I’m not a princess.”
“Could have fooled me,” remarked Steve with a smirk.
She bit back an amused grin, “you know what I mean, Steve. Suppose they turn their noses up at me.”
Her mind cast back to the guard from this morning; how he’d stared her down so condescendingly, assuming she had no status. Acted as though her status was any reason to treat her with such little respect. He was probably here tonight. If a mere guard thought so lowly of her, what would the royal family make of her? They had invited everyone in the kingdom, but the invitation didn’t seem so graciously extended to those not of a higher class. Robin couldn’t help but feel like she didn’t belong here.
“Who cares what they think, Robs?” the now taller boy spun them to face her head on, comfortingly laying the hands on her shoulders he’d wished he could for years, “you are here for you, not any of them. This is your night, and the next one, and the next one. Don’t even think about anyone else, not your step-family, not the princess, not the king, just you. Make the most of it before it’s over.”
Robin let his impromptu speech sink in, trying to take on board his advice. This was exactly what she wanted, and she’d already defied her stepmother to get it. Her former mouse friend was right; it would be incredibly stupid of her to let some toffee nosed monarchs deter her before she even went inside.
Nodding, she conceded, “alright. I will.”
With a smile, Steve gently steered her back in the direction of the palace steps. It was now or never, she supposed.
Stopping yet again, she turned back to the two boys, “do you two want to join?”
“Oh, no,” Dustin immediately waved her off, “we’re happy out here.”
“This is your moment, Robin,” added Steve, “we’ll just wait outside, you know, see what our human bodies can do.” He accentuated his point with a funky little wiggle of his arms, eliciting a chuckle from the smaller boy. “You don’t have to worry about us.”
Accepting, Robin took another deep breath, turning back towards the entrance. Her first night of freedom awaited her.
“I’ll, uh… see you at midnight, then.”
The next miracle of the night was to be if she could make it up the steps without tripping in her shoes. She’d be lucky to make it inside with both of them still on. It was almost daunting to make the first step forwards, but she willed herself to. She had already made it this far, this was the easiest part. Just one foot in front of the other.
“Don’t forget, Robs!” Steve called after her; a friendly reminder.
Grinning, Robin sent a thumbs up backwards to him, “I won’t!”
That oddly helped settle her just a little. She picked up her feet again, carefully, but a little faster, taking one step at a time up to the palace.
~~~
The grand ballroom had been made up spectacularly in preparation for tonight, if Vickie may say so herself. She had attended many balls and gatherings in this room, but thought she had never seen it so dazzling. Every crystal chandelier was lit, hanging high and illuminating the golden floor. Each surrounding staircase, pillar and ornament was shined spotless, almost creating a glow of their own accord, with bunches of flowers adding vibrant colour to the otherwise golden toned room. Even the palace guards were dressed and lined up at their posts like ornaments themselves. This had to have been one of the grandest affairs held at the palace, at least under her father’s rule. It pained her to think about why for too long.
As the guests arrived, they lined up up along the main staircase and out the corridor, to be announced one by one by Powell. Vickie was to greet every one of them; royalty first, of course. Her father had informed her beforehand who to make a particularly good impression for. For each, she bowed with the best sweet and polite smile she could manage. This part of being a princess was certainly the most dull.
“Prince Daniel Shelter of Purdue.”
Vickie bowed, making her smile extra wide. The kingdom of Purdue was close by to the kingdom of Hawkins; good relations would be extremely beneficial. In the back of her mind, the princess knew if she did not find someone to marry over these three nights, her father would most likely choose him.
He seemed nice enough; attractive, but a mildly cocky demeanour. This man carried himself as if knew he was royalty, and liked it. Still, so far he was the only one who had remotely piqued her interest; apart from Princess Heather Holloway of Brimborn, but that poor girl looked about as uninterested to be there as she did.
The princess gazed up at her father, sat observing from his vantage point. She gave him her first genuine smile of the evening, receiving an encouraging one back. Deep down, she knew he was aware her heart wasn’t in this, but neither of them had much choice. He wanted what was best for Hawkins; she couldn’t let him down.
With the ballroom dotted with all the eligible princes and princesses from surrounding kingdoms, the “commoners” began to be introduced to her. Vickie refused to use that word genuinely, thinking it to be such a derogatory way to address people. If anything, she was happier to greet them; the kingdom’s citizens looked more excited to be here than any of the royalty only looking for their own advantage.
Between the kingdom’s civilians, the visiting royalty, and her father, the princess felt she was the last person these nights were for, even if they were in her honour.
Clearing his throat, Powell’s voice rang throughout the rapidly crowding ballroom, “Lady Click, her son Thomas, and her daughter Carol.”
Once again, Vickie put on a smile and bowed politely to the trio. They appeared to be dressed much more extravagantly than others, the princess thinking they’d perhaps put too much effort in to try and make a good impression. There was something unsettling about them she couldn’t quite pinpoint; the mother’s demeanour came across more snobbish than some of the royals. Her instincts told her they weren’t the kind of people to be trusted.
She continued to greet the entire line of citizens, a bad feeling slowly growing in her gut. Ever since her father had planned these balls, Vickie knew that having to go through every eligible person in the kingdom, and eventually settle on spending her life with one of them, would be difficult. However, watching just how much each person was so desperate to make a good impression for her, when they didn’t even know her, cemented that feeling even more. Nobody was interested in Vickie; they were interested in Princess Victoria.
How she was supposed to make a meaningful connection with anyone under these circumstances was beyond her imagination. There was no real love to be found in this ballroom.
Eventually, every guest had been introduced and welcomed into the palace, and now the time had come for the princess to choose her first dance partner. Her pick would usually be her father, but he wasn’t an option this time. She had to choose from the sea of people all eager to dance with her; it was extremely intimidating a concept.
Glancing round, Vickie observed that not everyone’s eyes were on her. In fact, people had begun socialising and seemingly choosing dance partners amongst themselves. That was what she wanted. She knew the attention would come back to her eventually, but for the moment, the ball was beginning to fall into a natural place.
Her thoughts were interrupted by a voice, Callahan approaching her with a boy, “your highness, may I introduce Prince Daniel Shelter of Purdue.”
Of course. He had probably been sent over by her father. She had a good image to uphold.
The prince took her hand, smiling fondly, “it’s a pleasure to meet you, Princess Victoria.”
He gave a slight bow, pressing a polite kiss on her knuckle. The action made her wince unnoticeably; it was a formality she didn’t care for much.
Up close, the prince seemed nice enough. He was attractive in the objective sense; his neatly styled blonde hair paired well with the almost navy blue of his jacket, she couldn’t fault him there. Nothing breathtaking, just… fine.
There was no instant spark between them. Vickie didn’t expect there to be. She only hoped he would be a pleasant enough dance partner. She quickly had to swallow the thought of having to spend the rest of her life with him.
“It’s nice to meet you too,” she mirrored, promptly painting on a smile and a look of interest, “thank you for coming, I’m glad you could be here.”
Callahan stepped away as the two got acquainted. Royal small talk; the second most dull part of being a princess. He gave an attempt at charm, but it wasn’t quite working for her. She kept up her smile, only half listening; she wanted to at least appear as though she was making an effort.
Suddenly, a girl across the room caught her eye, walking down the ballroom steps. She wasn’t bringing any attention to herself, but Vickie’s focus was immediately taken. It was a girl she couldn’t place; she had no recollection of greeting her before. Perhaps she had arrived late, dodging the formality. Was she a princess? She looked like one; her honey coloured hair laid so elegantly around her face, white suit shimmering more than the whole ballroom. Everything about her was breathtakingly stunning.
Their eyes met. The spark was instant, even from such a distance. It was like the world stopped around them, the intense feeling shocking her body, reaching the depths of her core. Vickie felt a magnetic pull towards her, straight from her heart. She knew she had to go and talk to her.
“Your highness?”
Blinking, the princess turned back to Prince Daniel, unaware of how long her gaze had been fixed on this girl. If he had said a word since, she hadn’t heard a single one.
“I’m sorry, would you excuse me?” Vickie bowed slightly, not waiting for his response before she wandered off, her eyes searching the room. The girl had disappeared amongst the crowd. She had to find her.
~~~
Robin took a deep breath as she reached the top of the palace steps. That was one of the more physically challenging parts of the night over. Perhaps the shoes would get easier to move around in with practise.
The entrance doors had been left open, but nobody apart from the royal guards, lined up neatly along the corridor walls, was around. Everyone must have already gone inside. Her lateness couldn’t be helped, she supposed. The eyes of dozens of guards on her was somewhat intimidating, however.
It was here that the girl encountered another problem; where was she supposed to go? There was no crowd to follow, no usher to guide her in the right direction. The palace was huge, how was she going to find one singular ballroom in this place?
Cautiously, she wandered down the corridor, trying to look for any sort of signs to follow. The guards appeared to be leading up to a huge double doorway further down. That had to be it, right? If it wasn’t through there, they’d have stood in front of it.
“Um, excuse me?” Robin awkwardly approached the guard nearest the door, pointing towards it, “is that where I…?”
The guard said no words; just glanced pointedly in the same direction. Most help she was going to get.
“Great, thank you!” she kept her voice hushed, sending him a thumbs up and a smile. Not exactly how she was supposed to interact with any member of the palace, but her nerves were getting the better of her.
Taking another deep breath, Robin braced herself as she stood in front of the double doors. Everything she wanted was on the other side of them. Her nights of freedom, of anonymity, where she could be herself and not have to worry about her stepmother’s wrath. She knew that she had to make the most of it.
Bravely, she pushed the doors open, the atmosphere of the ball instantly hitting her. The chatter of the guests inside was immediate, closely followed by the gentle accompaniment of the band underneath. She stepped inside, glancing around as she felt her heartbeat quicken. The ballroom itself was a sight to behold; grand and gleaming. At her higher level, Robin looked down to the floor, filled with the most extravagantly and amazingly dressed crowd she had ever seen. She couldn’t even tell who was royalty and who was not.
Robin took a moment to think how lucky she was; everything she had hoped the ball would be, it was all right in front of her, and she got to be a part of it. It was an overwhelming feeling, but in a very good way.
She moved towards the stairs leading to the main floor, incredibly wary of how she stepped in these shoes. One wrong foot, she could send herself flying and cause an embarrassing scene, or at the very least, scuff the polished floor. Holding on tight to the bannister, she carefully began to descend, ready to join the ball.
Close to the final step, Robin risked glancing upwards, and was promptly stopped in her tracks by a sight from across the room. A girl, stood at the head of the crowd, talking to a boy, but looking directly at her. Maybe there was a few people were looking at her, but this girl was looking her straight in the eyes. Robin instantly felt her chest tighten, breath taken by her.
Petite; pale complexion; bright, rich, pumpkin red hair. It was the girl from her dream.
But that was impossible; she’d never seen her before, she wasn’t real. Admittedly, Robin couldn’t tell if the girl across the room and the girl from her subconscious had the exact same features, but the similarity was impossible to deny. She couldn’t believe it. Was there such a thing as destiny? Or was it sheer coincidence? One miracle had already occurred tonight.
In a second, someone tried to shuffle past her, causing her to get tangled amongst the crowd. Typical, clumsy Robin. She tried to spot the girl again, but she wasn’t there anymore. The boy she had been stood with was still there, but she had disappeared. Something in her heart told her to try and find her; to talk to her. She had to meet her properly.
Through quiet apologies, she twisted her way through the crowded guests without much direction, hoping to see her red hair or emerald jacket standing out. Robin’s eyes darted around, taking glances behind her, scanning the walls, trying to find where she could have vanished to so quickly.
All of a sudden, they were face to face.
“Hello.”
Blue eyes, rosy cheeks. She was even prettier up close. Something like a princess.
Robin froze up.
“Hi,” she squeaked out, clearing her throat a little as she felt her mouth go dry, “hello, uh, good evening.”
The beautiful redhead smiled up at her, “good evening. Have you just arrived?”
Even her voice was delicate; soft and sweet. She didn’t want her to stop talking.
Forcing herself to relax, Robin put on as endearing a smile as she could manage, “oh, yes. I was a little late, had some, uh… complications getting ready.”
The light, nervous laughter that followed her statement easily passed for polite and conversational; the smaller girl echoed it. It actually helped Robin’s nerves to hear.
“Well, I’d say it was worth it, you look gorgeous. Your suit is very charming.”
Robin hoped the smile she gave as she made a show of smoothing down her suit jacket distracted the other girl from the blush creeping up on her cheeks.
“Why, thank you. It was a gift.” Not a lie.
Her eyes glanced over the stranger’s attire again, admiring how the jewel green of her jacket complimented her hue of her hair, “I like yours too, the, uh, colour really suits you.”
The red haired girl smiled back, tilting her head in gratitude. A natural conversational rhythm was starting between them. Despite Robin being stood in front of, quite literally, the girl of her dreams, she felt her shaking heart begin to relax.
“Well, I’m glad you could make it.”
“So am I,” Robin agreed enthusiastically, taking in her surroundings again, “I couldn’t miss it, you know, dressing up, being in this beautiful ballroom, dancing…”
Her gaze turned back to the girl in front of her, gesturing towards her with a grin, “and getting to talk to you, of course.”
“Likewise.” The stranger smiled like she meant it.
A very brief, comfortable silence passed; Robin tried to think of something else to say, but the shorter girl appeared to be considering something to herself.
Looking her in the eye again, the redhead leaned forward with a quiet proposal; “don’t think this as too forward of me, but would you like to share the first dance with me?”
She held out her palm; an invitation for the taller girl’s hand. Robin felt her nerves bubble up again. The most beautiful girl she’d ever seen was asking her to dance at the royal palace. She had to be dreaming.
With little hesitation, she gladly took her hand, accepting her offer.
The hesitation caught up with her too late, “I must warn you, I’m not the smoothest dancer.”
The girl simply gave her a comforting expression, smiling gently, “that won’t be a problem.”
Robin was lead further into the dance floor where it was clear; she assumed some of the guests could see their intention, as the crowd had moved to give them some space. There was probably a few other pairs doing the same.
They found a space, standing ready to get in position. It had been a number of years since Robin had danced like this; the last time was with her father and a couple of the old house workers. This was the first time she’d ever danced with a girl (one her own age, at least). She had been wearing boots back then.
Despite Robin being taller, the shorter girl took the leading position, placing her hand on her waist and taking her hand with the other. Her breath hitched; the mildly intimate contact sent her heartbeat even faster. Robin swallowed some of her tension, laying her free hand on her shoulder.
The voices of the crowd hushed, the band becoming louder as the first song began. The beautiful stranger gave her a comforting smile, most probably able to feel her shaking already.
It was just dancing. She could do this.
The red haired girl took the first step in time with the music. Robin knew when to step, but she wasn’t sure where. Her father had never expected her movements to be coordinated, but this was a royal ball; she had to be neat. This was more difficult than she remembered, especially with her balance compromised.
Her step was in the wrong direction. Her foot didn’t land right, causing them both to stumble slightly. Of course she had already made a fool of herself.
“Oh, I’m so sorry!” she apologised immediately. This girl was surely regretting asking her already.
Like an angel, the stranger just gave her a reassuring expression, eyes gentle, “it’s okay. Just relax.”
She looked at her more intently, grip on her hand tightening ever so slightly. Instead of pushing her away, she pulled the taller girl further into her, their bodies almost flush together. There was no chance of Robin hiding the red of her cheeks now.
Softly, the smaller girl instructed, “follow my lead.”
Waiting for the correct beat of the music, they tried the starting steps again. With their bodies so close, this time Robin could feel where the other girl’s legs were moving, allowing her to follow with ease. The way her feet were landing didn’t feel totally right, but they were still able to move together. They were dancing.
Beaming, Robin remarked, “getting the hang of it now.”
“You are,” the smaller girl agreed, returning the smile.
The music continued, Robin not missing a step. She began to get used to the movements, feeling herself lose the tension she’d been holding and enjoy the dance. The charming stranger made it so easy for her; this was everything she had wanted and more. As they moved in sync, gliding and rotating across the floor along to the violins, Robin found herself lost in her kind, ocean blue eyes; her focus was on nothing but her. Everything else around them didn’t exist, it was just them and the music. If she didn’t know true magic existed, this would be her closest approximation to it.
Perhaps it was love. Of course, it wasn’t exactly; they’d only just met. Her heart pulled strongly nonetheless, enchanted by her.
Before she knew it, the song came to a conclusion. It was over already. It felt like forever had passed in the blink of an eye.
Robin snapped herself out of her daze as they parted, breaking into a polite smile, “thank you.”
“Thank you,” the stranger mirrored. Part of her thought she had felt the same; there was a particular glint in her eyes.
As they respectfully applauded with the crowd, the rest of the ball came back into focus, Robin noticing something. There was no other pairs around them. Everyone was stood surrounding them and the empty space. They had been the only ones dancing.
“Am I imagining it, or was everyone watching us?”
The red haired girl glanced round too as they stepped away from the space, letting out a gentle, almost knowing laugh, “they were most probably admiring you.”
Her eyes fell back on the taller girl, still smiling, “if I wasn’t lucky enough to be the one to dance with you, I know I would have been.”
Trying not to fluster at the compliment, Robin tried to emulate her expression, “I could say the same about you.”
The next song began, other guests taking their places on the dance floor.
Robin realised another thing, “sorry, I haven’t even asked your name yet, how rude of me.”
Chuckling softly again, the stranger assured, “you needn’t worry. I’m Vickie.”
Vickie. For some reason, it sounded oddly familiar. Had the girl from her dream actually been called Vickie too? Maybe. She couldn’t think of where else she had heard it.
“Well, it’s lovely to meet you, Vickie. My name’s R-”
Out the corner of her eye, Robin suddenly spied someone; her stepmother. She was a couple of people behind Vickie, watching the dancing intensely. She was whisper-shouting something harshly to someone on the dance floor. Robin’s eyes shifted, now seeing Tommy and Carol amongst the dancers, each with a girl of their own, but focus on their scolding mother. Perhaps one of the girls they were dancing with was the princess; on second thought, perhaps not.
Even if her step-family didn’t recognise her, she couldn’t let them hear her name.
Her gaze quickly turned back to Vickie, who was now looking at her with slight concern. She had to think of something, quick. She noticed the earrings Vickie was wearing; so pretty, golden with a painted pink rose on the end.
Rose.
“... Rose,” she finally answered, swallowing nervously, “my name is Rose.”
“Pleasure to make your acquaintance, Rose.”
Well, a false name would just be part of the illusion, she supposed. It wasn’t as if she would ever speak to Vickie, or anyone here, again after this; not while she still lived with her stepmother. For the next three nights, she was Rose.
The atmosphere of the ball was really coming back into focus now. Being stood right next to the crowd, people kept moving around them. Spotting her step family so close by had already put Robin on edge. This was becoming overwhelming in a bad way.
“Are you alright?” Vickie asked with concern, trying to meet her eyes.
“Oh, yes,” she answered quickly, “sorry, I’m just very aware there’s a lot of people around. I feel like I’m in the way.”
The redhead smiled like an angel again, calming her, “don’t worry, I get it. It is a little crowded around here now.”
From her demeanour, Robin sensed that maybe Vickie was finding it uncomfortable too. It made her feel less silly for feeling so; she had always been the only one to need more space than others.
Thinking for a moment, Vickie offered, “if you’d like, we could go outside?”
Looking confused, Robin asked, “are we allowed out there?”
‘Outside’ very much implied ‘away from where guests were permitted’. The kingdom had been invited to the palace, but it seemed only the ballroom was where anyone was going to be, apart from the guards. This was still the king’s home, after all.
But Vickie seemed to know better.
“Of course we are,” the shorter girl grinned, taking her hand for the second time as she took her through the crowd and out the door; a different door under the stairs, not the one they’d entered through. None of the guards flinched as they hurried past them.
Vickie lead them effortlessly down a corridor or two, taking the two of them outdoors. She seemed to know where she was going fairly well; had she been here before? Was she a princess and hadn’t told her? Or just from an upper class family? Surely if she was someone of importance, Vickie would have introduced herself as such. Or maybe had someone do the introduction for her. Robin didn’t quite know how any of it worked.
They came outside, being greeted by the sight of the palace garden. From the head, it could pass for a maze; tall, vibrant green hedges sectioning winding, stoney paths, a colourful variety of flowers growing out of the shrubbery. A still stream cut through the centre, with a smooth stone bridge atop to cross it. Tall torches dotted around path corners were lit, but most of the garden was being illuminated by the pale, white moonlight.
Robin couldn’t keep describing every sight she saw tonight as magical, but no other word could truly capture the essence of it all.
“Wow…” she gasped, eyes taking in every detail from afar, “imagine a game of hide and seek in this place.”
With a shrug and a wince, Vickie joked beside her, “wouldn’t be much fun with only two people.”
Their eyes met as they smiled humorously, a look of mutual understanding being shared. It wasn’t often Robin’s attempts at wit were understood, even by Steve. Vickie returned it.
The pair began to stroll down the garden paths, becoming more acquainted with one another. They exchanged more compliments about each other’s looks for the evening, Vickie telling how her sweet little rose earrings belonged to her late mother, and how extensive her personal jewellery collection was, in particular preferring vintage earrings. Robin told her of her wish to travel, both agreeing on Europe as a much desired destination to visit. She also took the opportunity to show off the knowledge of languages she barely put to use anymore, her chest feeling pleasantly tight at how the red haired girl blushed at her.
An instant chemistry was obvious between them. This girl was wonderful. She listened intently, agreeing and complimenting every word she said. They were on the same wavelength. Robin could feel that spark when they danced, even when they first laid eyes on each other, but speaking with her and getting to know her was even better.
They came to a stop over the bridge. Robin peered over the stone ledge, gazing at the water beneath. The stream was illuminated blue by the moonlight, little waves and bumps in the water flashing in white. It reminded her of the painting of Venice’s Grand Canal hanging in her bedroom.
An awe-stricken expression graced her, a gentle smile growing as she felt Vickie leaning next to her, “it’s so beautiful, isn’t it?”
“Yes, it really is,” the shorter girl agreed.
Robin’s face fell, her heartbeat picking up again as Vickie pressed against her side. Even the slightest contact with this girl made her brain fuzzy. The night air around them was soothing for the heat blossoming on her cheeks.
“You know what I love the most?” Vickie asked, directing her eyes to a specific point in the stream, “you see the way the moon is reflecting in the water?”
Robin gave a gentle nod, eyes fixed on the moon’s vivid reflection within the gentle movement of the stream.
“The moon in the sky is a bright white, but the water makes it shine blue.”
Vickie twisted towards her, both their gazes leaving the reflection and settling on each other, “it reminds me of your eyes. Shimmering moonlight in the water.” Smiling softly up at the taller girl, she continued, “we may be in a perfectly kept palace garden, but you are the most beautiful sight out here.”
Robin’s heart fully stopped now, expression utterly stunned. Butterflies fluttered like wild around her stomach, feeling herself going weak under the beautiful redhead’s gaze.
There was no doubt in her mind she was falling hard for this girl.
Snapping herself out of her daze, Robin stepped away and broke the tension with a long, “wow~. You’re a smooth talker, aren’t you?”
A grin cracked on Vickie’s face, her head ducking down as she laughed shyly at her own words.
With a smirk, she remarked further, “I should think your full name was Vickie Charming.”
The shorter girl said nothing further; simply shrugged, appearing quietly proud of herself. She patted the arm of Robin’s white suit as she began to move past, smile audible on her voice as she gestured, “come on.”
Robin pressed her lips together, taking in the sight of her for a brief moment before following.
Their stroll through the garden carried on, the pair getting lost in another travel conversation. Robin idly wondered if Vickie was wealthy enough to go on any of the magnificent trips they dreamed of, or just didn’t have a cruel stepmother who would never allow it. If coming to a palace ball for one night was too big of a request for Lady Click to allow, Europe was far out of the question. Vickie would have to enjoy these trips for the both of them. She wouldn’t even get to hear about it.
They reached the far edge of the grounds, the expertly trimmed and neatened grass dissolving into a large woods. Wilder flowers dotted the further it went, unkempt and sporadic. Some of the heads had even been bitten off by presumably surrounding creatures. Robin thought of Steve and Dustin foraging in an area like this, before taking their human form. Perhaps they had even been here before she had.
Taking a glance around, her attention was taken by a movement in the bushes, spotting something emerging.
“Woah, there’s a rabbit!”
Without hesitation, Robin scampered as close as she could to the edge of the stone path, crouching slightly to get a look at the creature. It had settled in the open; minding its own business as it twitched and pricked its ears around, seemingly taking in its surroundings as much as she was.
Vickie approached slower behind her, asking with an amused smile, “you’ve never seen a rabbit before?”
Straightening, the taller girl tried to appear nonchalant as she answered, “yes, of course I have. I…” She gave a shrug, explaining, “we don’t get them in our garden, I only ever saw them out in the wild. It’s been a while, I got excited.”
Suddenly she felt stupid. Vickie must see a lot of rabbits where she lives.
“It is exciting,” the redhead agreed, tone extinguishing Robin’s embarrassment. She joined her in observing the white rabbit, “oh, she’s such a sweet thing.”
A thought crossed Robin’s mind, “do you think she’s hungry?”
“Maybe… oh, here.”
In a second, panic shot through Robin’s body as she watched the girl beside her casually walk all over the palace’s grass patch.
“Vickie, what are you doing?” she asked sharply, keeping her voice hushed in case any of the guards were close by. Her panic only worsened as the girl picked a long dandelion out of the ground.
Unphased, Vickie replied simply, “you said she was hungry.”
“You can’t- this is the royal garden! That is a royal dandelion!”
“So she gets a five star meal.”
The red haired girl sent her a settling look, wandering back over with the flower. Her feet stayed on the grass.
“No one is ever going to know,” she assured, holding out the dandelion to an unsure Robin, “here.”
The girl had a point, Robin supposed. This section had been seemingly ignored by the palace gardeners. The king probably wouldn’t miss one single dandelion; the animals had eaten all the other flowers anyway.
Taking one last check behind her, Robin stepped onto the grass, praying her heels wouldn’t dig into the earth. They were just about thick enough that the ground still felt mostly stable underneath her. She took the flower from Vickie’s hand, feeling another rush of butterflies as their fingers brushed. Cautiously moving closer to the rabbit, she crouched down as low as she could, making sure not to let any of the dirt touch her pristine, white suit. She wasn’t sure what Joyce’s policy on returning it damaged or marked would be.
She held out the dandelion, the rabbit’s interest immediately piqued by its stem. It came closer, momentarily sniffing the end of the flower before beginning to munch it down. Robin pouted in awe, Vickie crouching beside her as they watched the creature chew the stem down rapidly.
“Did not think attending the royal ball would end with feeding the resident wildlife,” Robin joked, changing her grip on the head of the flower to let the rabbit eat it.
As soon as the creature had finished, it looked up at them for a few moments, then hopped back off into the woods.
Robin beamed, watching the rabbit leave, “bye!”
That had to be one of the cutest things she had ever seen.
She met eyes with Vickie again, a momentary quiet washing over them as they simply grinned at each other. They had shared many magical moments tonight, but something so everyday still felt amazing with her. She had an overwhelming feeling of wanting to experience even the most ordinary with this girl.
Her face changed as she thought, “we should get off the grass now.”
Quickly nodding in agreement, Vickie easily stood and moved back onto the path. Robin panicked, not quite confident in standing seamlessly in her shoes. She tried to be bold, making to stand straight in one swift motion, but somehow she lost her footing yet again. Without her hands out to steady her, she stumbled drastically forward.
“Woah!” Vickie exclaimed, arms instantly clutching round the taller girl to catch her. They made eye contact, a sudden stillness between them at their intimate proximity. Robin tried to breathe normally, embarrassed at her clumsiness, but was unable to tear herself away from the redhead’s eyes once again. Even in the dim light, her rosy complexion was still charmingly visible.
Swallowing stiffly, Vickie asked softly, “you alright?”
“Yes, I’m-” Robin eventually let go as soon as she realised she was still holding on to her, “I’m so sorry. I’m okay.”
Laughing nervously, she glanced down at her feet, pinning the blame on them, “sorry, I’m not used to these shoes.”
Vickie followed her gaze, eyes widening as she took notice of her glistening, crystal shoes for the first time all night, “I didn’t even notice them.”
The corners of her mouth tugged as she observed them, inquiring, “are they made of glass?”
“Interesting choice, isn’t it?”
The shorter girl deftly nodded, eyebrows raised, but still clearly impressed by them.
“They were a gift too. I wasn’t totally sold on the material at first, but they are in fact surprisingly comfortable. It’s the heels I have a problem with.”
Meeting her gaze again, Vickie commented, “well, I haven’t noticed a struggle in you.”
Robin wore a smug expression, “I must be that good at pretending, then.”
Another laugh was shared between them, the two turning and heading back down the path towards the palace.
As they neared the building, Robin took a glance up, eyes landing on the large, grand clock at the top of the palace tower. She immediately stopped, alarm ringing through her as she saw it was only a few minutes to midnight.
“Is that the time?” she asked rhetorically, demeanour becoming more skittish and stressed, “I have to go.”
Vickie expressed her confusion, “already? It’s not even midnight yet.”
“I know, but I- I have to leave, I’m sorry.” Robin stepped around nervously, not quite able to walk away from her immediately, “I promise I’ve greatly enjoyed your company, I just have to go.”
She hated to leave it like this, but she had no choice. Midnight was not, in fact, enough time. An eternity wouldn’t be enough time with Vickie. But if she didn’t leave now, the magic would wear off, and she would be caught by her step-family, or at the very least, have no way home.
“But you will return tomorrow night, won’t you?”
Her question halted Robin as soon as she tried to walk back into the palace. She turned back, smiling warmly at the other girl’s wish. Vickie actually wanted to see her again. Even after they had spent the long hours of the evening together, Robin didn’t quite believe the red haired girl would want a repeated meeting with her.
“I will certainly try to.”
Vickie nodded with satisfaction, accepting her promise. They would meet again tomorrow, so long as Robin’s fairy godmother would also keep her promise of returning.
“Thank you, Vickie, for a wonderful evening,” Robin thanked as she quickly backed away, now really needing to get back to the coach, “until tomorrow.”
“Goodbye, Rose!”
“Goodbye!” she turned back one last time, waving to the beautiful redhead, before dashing back into the palace.
If she wanted to make it back in time, she had to move fast.
Moving as quickly as she could in her delicate heels, Robin hurried down the corridors back to the ballroom. The dancefloor was louder and busier than ever, dozens of couples prancing around excitedly to the music; a sudden obstacle course she had to navigate through.
Trying to stick to the sides, Robin muttered quiet apologies to everyone she passed, twisting and turning her way through the moving guests. She was certainly drawing some attention to herself now; she ignored people’s gazes, only focused on getting out of there as fast as she could.
Inevitably, she ran straight into someone.
“Watch where you’re going!”
Looking up, her expression widened with shock as she recognised the voice. She had run straight into Tommy, who appeared utterly disgusted she had been so careless around him.
For a moment, Robin was terrified he would know it was her, blowing her cover. As she stared at him, however, it soon became clear he had no clue who she was. He was only waiting for her to leave his space.
She just muttered a short apology to him, quietly thankful Joyce’s magic had truly worked as she ran past him towards the stairs. Bounding up them, she flung the large double doors open again, fleeing past the long row of guards and back down the palace steps. It was miraculous she didn’t trip once during her entire escapade.
The carriage came into view; Steve and Dustin casually conversating beside it. It was still totally unusual for her to see them as human.
Catching their attention, Robin called, “we have to leave now, we haven’t got long until the magic wears off.”
The pair faced her momentarily, before leaping into their positions.
“Alright, let’s get going then,” declared Steve, sitting at the front and grabbing hold of the horses’ reins, “come on!”
Dustin helped Robin up the carriage’s steps with no fuss this time, closing the door and hopping on to his post at the back. Seconds later, Steve got the coach moving, escorting them swiftly out of the palace grounds and on the road home.
Exhaling, Robin relaxed, knowing the night had been successful.
Peering through the back window, Dustin asked her, “did you have a good evening?”
With a grin, the girl leapt up to kneel on the seat, facing him, “the best. Truly, the best. I shall tell you all about it later.”
“Well, you certainly look happy,” the younger boy remarked, noting the delighted look on her face.
Thinking for a moment, he asked knowingly, “did you… meet someone?”
Was her expression that telling?
Smiling shyly, Robin remembered the beautiful girl she had met. Who she would meet again tomorrow. Vickie, the girl of her dreams, but who was so, very real.
“Perhaps,” she teased, choosing to say nothing more.
Notes:
The rabbit thing was entirely self indulgent I need you to know.
I'm also utterly obsessed with Joyce as the fairy godmother, and I need you to know I had this idea BEFORE we got any of the Robin and Joyce set pics for s5, so basically I'm a genius.
Hopefully it won't take an eternity for me to get out the next chapter! It should be much shorter than this one, so we should be okay...
As always my twitter, tumblr and instagram is @/smalltownrobin, tiktok is @/smalltown.robin, things are very dry atm but I aim to provide quality Robin Buckley and Maya Hawke content for you to enjoy! Also follow @/dailyrovickie on twitter for this ship specifically!
Chapter Text
As morning rose, the princess rushed again through the palace corridors, picking up her long, floral patterned skirt as she hurried to the dining room. She was late for breakfast; it had been an incredibly exciting night, and she had accidentally delayed her time getting ready daydreaming about it. So long it had been since Vickie had been infatuated so strongly by anything, let alone a charming girl.
Bursting through the doors, she slowed her urgent run to a brisk walk, now in the sight of the king sat at the head of the table.
“Victoria, it is unlike you to be late,” he commented, trying to sound more disappointed than he actually was.
“I’m sorry, father,” she breathed out, seating herself adjacent to him and unfolding her napkin.
Almost as soon as the princess had sat down, their breakfasts were placed in front of them by the royal cooks. Both Vickie and her father thanked them graciously, before preparing to start their meals.
The king picked up his spoon, momentarily staring bleakly at his dull “doctor’s orders” breakfast before asking, “so, did you enjoy yourself last night, Vickie?”
“Oh, yes,” the princess immediately beamed, “very much so.”
A smile graced her father’s own face at his daughter’s joy, “I could not see you after you danced with that girl.”
Vickie’s heart immediately skipped at the mention of her. All night and all morning, Rose was the only thing she could think about. She couldn’t wait to tell her father all about her.
“Yes, we both needed some space away from the crowd, so I took her outside.”
Looking directly at her father, she smiled blissfully as she told him, “we talked all night.”
“Really?” the king inquired, quietly pleased for his daughter as he swallowed a portion.
Nodding rapidly, Vickie began happily reminiscing of their night together, “she was so wonderful, father. We talked of travel, and of culture, and she speaks four whole languages! Well, five including english. She taught herself spanish, french, italian, and russian, and she’s fluent in all of them. She wants to visit Europe too, she said she has all these paintings of the cities in her bedroom. She was so sweet, and so funny, and her mind- it was as if our minds were meant to connect. We agreed on so many things, but she was unafraid to challenge me. She made me think of so much in a new light. I could talk to her for years on end and never get bored!”
“Victoria, careful!” the king warned, gesturing to the clunking racket she was making on the plate. Vickie panicked briefly as she stopped; too wrapped up in her own thoughts to remember her manners.
“Sorry, father,” she apologised, almost laughing to herself. Her father’s tone was never too stern, actually seeming amused at her antics. She made sure to use her utensils more delicately anyway.
Chuckling to himself, the king went back to their conversation, “so, who was this girl? I did not remember Powell introducing her.”
“Uh, no,” Vickie answered, finishing a mouthful, “she arrived late, so missed the introductions. Her name was Rose.”
“I see,” the king commented with a slow nod, “a princess?”
Vickie’s stomach dropped. In her eagerness to tell him about wonderful Rose, she had forgotten his expectation.
Swallowing, she stiffly confessed, “no, not that I am aware of. Just someone who lives in the kingdom.”
Her father said nothing. His face didn’t look wildly disappointed, but it was hard to read. She knew that was not exactly what he wanted to hear.
After a brief silence, the king asked another question, “did you greet the other royals well? I sent Callahan with Prince Daniel over, I thought you might like to make him feel welcome.”
Her heart sank again, replying more sombrely, “yes, you did. I spoke to him well. He was pleasant.”
That statement seemed to satisfy him more. Maybe part of him was pleased to hear of the girl she was truly interested in, but he, of course, still had his priorities. She couldn’t blame him too much. It was the way the monarchy worked.
Even so, Vickie knew that tonight, there was only one person she had any interest in seeing.
~~~
The rising sun shone through the attic window, casting a golden glow upon the girl laying asleep in her bed. The large hands of the clock tower inched past seven o’ clock, but she made no movement.
“Robin, wake up!” shouted Steve, now returned to the form of a little white mouse, scampering up her box-turned-nightstand to reach her ear, “it’s time to get up, Robin!”
With a groan, the girl only shifted further into the worn pillow under her head, “I’m so tired, Steve, leave me alone.”
Between working all day and dancing through the night, Robin had been utterly exhausted upon returning home. As soon as Joyce’s magic reversed, she headed upstairs and crawled straight into bed. She slept sound through the night, dreams filled with the beautiful red haired girl she had met at the ball.
Climbing up to join him, Nancy gave a louder warning to the human girl, “Robin, it’s gone seven, you really can’t stay in bed another second!”
Robin cracked her eyes open, giving the mice a confused expression before she turned her gaze to the window. Squinting at the sunlight, she made out the clock face on the tower, an immediate rush of panic shooting through her as she saw it was, in fact, quarter past seven.
“Oh, lord, no!” she exclaimed, throwing off her blanket and leaping out of bed, the two mice rearing back at how sudden she moved. Speedily, she got changed into her work clothes as she muttered nothings, cursing herself for sleeping in so late.
“Morning, Robin!” Dustin greeted cheerily as he bounded in from under the attic door, now also returned to his rodent form, stopping at the sight of the human girl frantically rushing, “woah, what’s going on?”
Pulling her shoes on, Robin whined, “I slept in, I stupidly slept in! I was just so tired from cleaning all day, and then the ball, and now breakfast is going to be late, and-”
“Robs, it’s alright,” Steve calmed, “take it easy.”
“You don’t want to do yourself an injury rushing around like that,” added Nancy.
Ignoring them, Robin continued getting ready, running her fingers through her re-tangled bob in front of the mirror.
“Don’t you have time to tell us about last night?” the youngest mouse asked, “you said you were going to tell us then fell asleep, you said you met someone-”
Everyone’s thoughts were interrupted by the incessant calling of Robin’s name coming from downstairs. The girl winced at the noise; she swore they were up earlier than usual. Taking one last quick look over at her appearance, she swiftly moved towards the door.
“I will have to tell you about it later, Dustin,” she apologised as she hurried out of the room, her name being called again as she swung the wooden door open, its hinges emitting a higher pitched creak with the speed. As much as she wanted to tell them all about her time with Vickie, her step-family had to be taken care of first.
“I’m coming!” she called down, not even having time to wave to her friends as she rushed down the steps and into the house.
Not daring to look up at her step-siblings sat waiting, Robin zoomed straight into the kitchen and got started on her stepmother’s breakfast. It was only a few minutes over when Lady Click expected it on her desk, but it would be more than enough time to anger her. She didn’t even take a second to eat her dry slice of bread before she carried the tray over to the study.
“Good morning, stepmother,” she greeted like usual, setting her tray down as quickly as possible without tripping or spilling anything.
“Breakfast is late this morning, Robin,” the older woman commented, clearly unhappy.
“I can only apologise, stepmother. The toast did not look toasted enough, so I made it again so as to get it perfect for you,” she lied effortlessly. The truth would do her no good.
Lady Click huffed, unimpressed, but asked no further questions.
A thought crossed Robin’s mind, and she couldn’t help but ask, “did you enjoy the ball last night?”
Her stepmother stared at her momentarily, slightly stunned by her question. To her knowledge, Robin had spent the night upset over being unable to attend herself. She had no idea of the reality of last night’s events.
“Yes we did, thank you,” she responded simply, turning her attention to her breakfast.
Robin had to wipe the amused smile off of her face before she faced Tommy and Carol again.
“Cinderobin!” Tommy harshly caught the girl’s attention as she speeded past them again, “where’s our breakfast?”
Heading back into the kitchen, she called back, “coming!”
Robin managed to put her step-siblings’ breakfasts together in record time, her body running purely on adrenaline; she was itching to be done and share the story of her night with her friends. Still, her efforts were ultimately unappreciated by the pair.
“Have you seen the time?” Tommy asked rhetorically, making his frustration at being kept waiting known.
Finally setting their plates down, Robin spoke half heartedly, “I’m sorry.”
Carol leered at the girl’s face again, smirking at the dark circles visible under her eyes, “she’s probably worn out from crying all night.”
“An evening without your piercing voice, I count myself lucky,” Robin muttered quietly. She knew she would hear her remark.
Her stepsister grabbed her wrist tightly from the empty tray, instantly making the taller girl look her in the eye as she threatened, “don’t backchat me, I’ll tell mother.”
Robin immediately shut up.
Carol’s eyes flicked towards their plates, “you forgot the tea.”
Without a fuss, the girl obeyed, sorting the tea tray she had left just by the door. Their conversation was in earshot, background noise as she set out the cups, checking no mice or other tiny creatures were underneath any of them this time.
Tommy spoke first, “so, have you any idea who that girl was last night?”
“The one in the white suit?”
Her ears pricked up.
Tommy had presumably nodded, as Carol answered again, “not a clue, I’ve never seen her before.”
Robin leaned closer to the door, trying to listen clearly to what they were saying. For sure, they were talking about her (well, about Rose).
Her stepsister’s tone became cattier as she talked of the supposed mystery girl, “I mean, who does she think she is, showing up late without even an introduction? Ran so fast out of there too, like she was someone special.”
Unable to keep the grin off her face, Robin silently chuckled proudly to herself. They truly hadn’t the faintest idea it was her. She must have made a bigger impression at the ball than she thought.
Still smiling, she picked up the tea tray to take it through to the dining room, having to awkwardly push the door open with her shoulder.
Casually, Tommy added, “well, the princess seemed pretty taken with her.”
“What?”
Robin’s expression immediately changed to surprise as she exclaimed, her attention diverted from her current task. She lost her hold of the door, resulting in it moving back on its hinges and pushing her into the door frame. The tray of tea took the blow, clanging against the frame and clattering to the floor.
The three of them stared in shock at the mess she had made, Tommy biting, “what’s the matter with you?”
“Sorry,” Robin apologised again, kneeling down to pick up the broken pieces. She would have to clean up the spilled tea later.
Rolling her eyes, Carol commented, “she’s such a klutz.”
The two took no further notice of her, continuing with their meals and conversation. Fortunately, that was the furthest they were going to take it today.
“Did the princess really spend the whole evening with her?” Carol inquired to her brother.
Robin’s head lifted from the mess as she listened, wondering if her ears were deceiving her. There was no way they had just said what she thought they did, right?
“They danced then wandered off outside somewhere,” Tommy recalled with his mouth full, inevitably spitting crumbs onto the tablecloth, “no one saw either of them again until she came rushing back through the ballroom and out the front door.”
Swallowing, his voice sounded clearer as he remembered snarkily, “she bumped right into me as well, she wasn’t that good looking, you know. God knows what the princess saw in her.”
She had definitely heard them correctly. There was no doubt about who they meant.
Suddenly, it all made sense. Vickie was Princess Victoria. No wonder her name had sounded familiar. That is why they could go outside, why no guard flinched as they walked right past them, why she knew her way around the palace. It was so blindingly obvious, and she had missed it entirely.
Robin had danced with the princess. She may even have fallen in love with her.
Picking up the tray of broken crockery, she stood, inserting herself into their conversation, “so nobody knows who she is?”
Tommy glared at her, mildly confused, “why do you care?”
Simply shrugging, she replied, “I’m not allowed to go, aren’t I allowed to hear about it?”
“No, you’re not,” barked Carol.
“Let her have her moment,” Tommy condescended, “give her something to cry about tonight all alone while we win over the princess.”
“If we can get rid of that girl. I hope she ran off for good, the princess just can’t spend another whole night with her. She hasn’t even had chance to dance with me yet!”
“Or me!”
“If she’s going to dance with either of us, it is obviously going to be me!”
Robin left them to argue, retreating into the kitchen to prepare their second tray of tea. She had to occupy herself; the revelation had stunned her.
This was unbelievable. Not only had a magical fairy godmother showed up in her back garden, turned her mice friends human, given her a nice suit and sent her off to a royal ball, but Robin had only gone and fallen for the palace princess after all of it. More than anything, it baffled her how she could not tell sooner. Vickie had never actually told her so, but surely she should have worked it out for herself. She felt a little foolish for not knowing that fact for the entire night they spent together, and more importantly, for not treating her as such.
As soon as she set Tommy and Carol’s fresh tea down on the dining table, she cut some cubes of cheese and rushed back upstairs, desperate to tell her friends everything.
She closed the attic door behind her, stopping the conversation the three mice were in the middle of. They twisted their necks to look up at her simultaneously, faces expectant for the girl to speak. Robin breathed out, allowing a second of quiet to pass.
“You are not going to believe this.”
The human girl then wasted no time in approaching the mice, kneeling to be at eye level with them as she laid the pieces of cheese out on the box they were stood on. Her friends’ expressions were intrigued as they took a piece each, all curious as to what had Robin looking so gleefully stunned.
“What’s going on?” asked Steve.
Robin inhaled deeply, gazing at each of her friends, as if bracing both them and herself to say it, “she’s the princess.”
Immediately, none of them knew what she was talking about.
“Who’s the princess?” Nancy quizzed, sharing a look of confusion with the boys.
“Vickie, she’s- Vickie is Princess Victoria.”
“Who’s Vickie?” Steve furthered.
“Is Vickie who you met last night?” Dustin tried to clarify, still chewing on a huge chunk of his cheese.
It was only then that Robin realised she had gotten ahead of herself, “yes, she’s- I met this girl, in the ballroom, only it wasn’t just any girl, it was the princess, and I had no idea until Tommy and Carol just said it!”
“Wait, how would Tommy and Carol know?” inquired Nancy, trying to string her story together.
“We danced, she- she asked me to dance with her, and we danced in front of everyone, but I didn’t know everyone was watching us because she was Princess Victoria, I just thought no one else wanted to dance, which now I realise was a little silly, anyway, then Vickie and I- we went outside, and we spent all night just talking, and connecting, and- she was so amazing, and I promised her I would meet her again at the ball tonight, only now I know she’s the princess!”
Robin sat back on her knees, the reality of the situation setting in, “I’m going to dance with the princess. I’ve already danced with her.”
She let out an exasperated laugh, running a hand roughly over her the messy waves of her hair, “oh, what in the world is happening right now?”
“Nice going, Robs!” cheered Steve, his face beaming with pride.
“That’s so awesome!” Dustin added, grinning wide in awe.
The young girl’s gaze drifted to a far away point, eyes unfocused as she began to spiral, “this is madness. Absolute madness. I mean, the king was watching me dance with his daughter, everyone in the whole kingdom was. What on earth was she doing dancing with me-”
“Relax, Robin, relax,” Nancy stopped her gently, taking her attention.
The little mouse looked at her intently, raising the question to her, “does this girl being the princess make her any different as a person to you?”
Robin barely took a moment to think it over, “I don’t think so… she’s a little more well off than I first thought. But the whole situation is insane now, everyone will be watching me, everyone will expect me to-”
“Don’t think about them, Robin,” Steve cut her off, trying to pull her out of her spiral, “I told you, don’t think about anyone else but you. Vickie is very clearly is interested in you, and wants to meet you again. Isn’t that all that matters?”
She thought about it longer this time. Her initial reaction was both excitement and terror, but she had only been thinking about what it meant to have publicly interacted with not only royalty, but who the balls were even in honour of. Her perception of Vickie herself had not even crossed her mind. Would this make her so different?
Before the ball, Robin had said she did not think a royal title made anyone more desirable in her eyes; she should apply that same logic here. Vickie being a princess shouldn’t make her think any less of her, especially not after they had connected so deeply. Inside, she would be the same person. Perhaps it was her own preconception of nobility that she had to let go of.
Nodding gently, she pressed her lips into a gentle smile, agreeing softly, “it is all that matters.”
There was still a little fear inside her of what this would mean for her meeting with Vickie tonight, a new layer of nerves being added. Would they even be allowed to meet again? Now, it wasn’t only Vickie she had to make a good impression for; it was the king too.
With a sigh and a shrug, she concluded, “it’s only for two more nights.”
“You’re certainly making the most of them,” Dustin commented lightly, earning a laugh from the human girl.
“Anyway, enough about me,” Robin leant forward and rested her elbows on the box, “how did your nights go?”
Steve’s face lit up, swallowing a mouthful of cheese and pointing at the youngest mouse, “oh, Dustin did this really cool thing with his shoulders!”
Robin tilted her head, “his shoulders?”
Excitedly, Dustin told the story, “we were testing how our human bodies could work, and somehow I managed to push my shoulders out like this.”
The human girl sat up and pushed her shoulders forward, mirroring what the mouse was trying to demonstrate, “like this?”
“Yeah, but they went even further than that, they were touching!”
“I tried the same, but I couldn’t make them go anywhere near as far as he did,” Steve stood straight and gestured at two points on his upper body with his tiny paws, “there was something about here stopping them.”
“Your collarbones?” Robin confirmed, pointing to her own hiding under her shirt, “these?”
“Yes!”
Grinning again, Dustin concluded, “I guess I don’t have them.”
The human girl laughed at the two incredibly enthusiastic boys, before turning her attention to the third mouse, “how was your night, Nance?”
She shrugged, answering a lot more simply, “read a book.”
“Which one?”
“Your mother’s sewing book. It was very interesting, your mother was a genius for being able to make the things she did.”
That very much warmed Robin to hear, making her smile shyly, “yes, she was.”
As much as she would have loved to stay and talk to her friends, far away from any chores or step-family, she knew it could not last a second longer.
“I’d better head back downstairs,” she sighed as she got to her feet, “I still need to clean up this morning’s mess, and I must get everything done before Joyce comes back tonight.”
“Don’t tire yourself out, Robin,” Steve advised, “you have a princess to dance with.”
Giving a light laugh at the reminder, she threw him similar advice back, “keep yourself alert too, Steve, or else we won’t make it to the palace at all.”
The mouse nodded deftly, the two silently vowing to follow each other’s instruction. Robin made her way over to the door, twisting back and shooting her friends a playful salute before she returned to her gruelling duties.
~~~
Having cleaned up the spilled tea in the dining room and washed all the pots in the kitchen, by mid morning Robin could finally begin her usual daily duties. Her step-family were out of her way, already preparing themselves for the evening’s ball, leaving the drawing room free to be thoroughly swept and dusted. Although she hadn’t many additional chores to fill up her day, she still wanted to complete them quickly to be able to meet Joyce as soon as her step-family left, to get to the palace as early as possible and get the most time with Vickie before midnight.
Although, with the peace and free space she currently had, Robin couldn’t help but try and squeeze in some light dance practice, trying to perfect her footwork as she swept the floor, both with the broom and her feet. She imagined following Vickie’s lead again, softly humming a tune to herself as she repeated their dance from last night as gracefully as she could manage (which was unsurprisingly easier in flat shoes). There was a lot more pressure on her to deliver now she knew precisely who she was dancing with; she couldn’t afford to stumble or step too clunkily under the king’s watch.
“Hey, Robin.”
The young girl let out a yelp, practically jumping out of her skin at the sudden voice behind her. Turning, her panic only faded slightly as she laid eyes on Steve, sat swinging his little legs off the cabinet with a mischievous grin on his face.
“Oh my- Steve!” she exclaimed, thrusting the broom into her other hand with frustration, “I didn’t know you were there.”
The mouse’s grin didn’t fade as he commented cheekily, “nice footwork.”
Calming down, she bit back a smile, “I’m practising for tonight. I kept stumbling, I’ve never been good in heels.”
“Heels are easy, you’ve just got to keep your balance, and everything else should come naturally.”
“And how would you know?”
“The life of a mouse isn’t totally boring, Robin,” he retorted, appearing slightly smug, “I’ve seen a few balls to know what makes a good dancer. I fancy myself a good one, you know, if I had a human body.”
“Well, you will tonight,” she gladly reminded.
Decidedly, Robin stood the broom against the wall, “alright, since you’re such an expert, why don’t you tell me how it’s done?”
Steve sat up, as if to properly observe her, instructing, “stand like when you danced with Vickie last night.”
The human girl did as he said; placed her right arm out to the side, and her left on an imaginary shoulder, pretending the red haired girl was in front of her.
“Shoulders back.”
She rolled back her shoulders properly, her posture improving as her height grew ever so slightly. Hopefully Vickie wouldn’t be too low down for them to dance comfortably like this.
“Keep your arms in place, alright? Don’t just rely on her.”
Robin nodded, mentally noting his advice (she had no choice but to hold them up on her own right now, anyway).
“Now do a box step.”
Instantly, she was lost. “A what?”
“To the side, forward, to the other side, back. Sort of what you were doing before.”
“What was I doing before?”
“An incorrect box step. You have to close your feet.”
Understanding the note, Robin studied her feet intently as she began the steps, making absolute sure to close them.
“Don’t look down, look into her eyes,” the mouse ordered, making her head snap up, continuing the moves looking straight ahead, “head up, shoulders back, that’ll keep your balance.”
“What about the heels?”
“Heel toe when you step forward, toe heel when you step back, that should stick your landing. To the side, keep on your toes. Try to graze across the floor when you step together, instead of picking your feet up.”
The girl altered the positions of her feet as she stepped to follow his advice, repeating the moves over and over until she got the hang of it. A proud smile rose on both their faces as she executed the step near perfectly, Steve giving an encouraging cheer at her accomplishment.
“It sounds like you should be going to this ball instead of me,” Robin remarked, ending their impromptu dance lesson and picking up the broom again.
“Hey, don’t talk like that,” he met her eyes with a pointed look, “you deserve it, Robin, and besides, you have a princess to dance with.”
Mild dread filled her expression as she whined, “that’s what makes it so daunting.”
“Uh, Robin? From the sounds of it, I don’t think your dancing skills are going to drive her away.”
“I know, but…”
Really, Robin knew she was more terrified of everyone else’s opinion of her than she was of Vickie’s. She was confident the red haired girl shared similar feelings for her, as much as she still desired to impress her. Deep down, however, she couldn’t shake the feeling that neither of them were in total control anymore.
Choosing to ignore her worry, she conceded with a half smile, “yeah, I guess you’re right.”
~~~
By the time evening came, Robin had completed most of her chores with time to spare, leaving only the task of helping Tommy and Carol get ready again. The pair were much more snide and cocky this time around, smug with the belief that their stepsister would definitely not be attending the ball with them this time. They took every opportunity to try and rub it in her face, cruel remarks broken only by discussion of how exactly they intended to turn Princess Victoria’s interest away from that mystery girl in the white suit. Robin struggled to contain her snickers at the irony of it.
Soon after they were ready, the carriage pulled up outside, Tommy and Carol convening with their mother in the entrance hall. The trio lingered for a few moments, half expecting Robin to show up, begging to join them again. No intrusions this time.
Lady Click gave a final warning to her children, telling them to “absolutely catch the princess’s attention this time”, before they began to head out the front door.
“Have a good evening.”
Their heads turned, slightly startled by the sudden appearance of Robin in the dining room doorway. She was still dressed in her dirty old work clothes, stood with her hands behind her back, an eerily polite grin on her face.
Bewildered, her stepmother answered with little interest, “we will, Robin. Thank you.”
Robin didn’t say anything more; just continued to stand there, smiling at them. The four of them lingered in a mildly unsettling silence, the girl’s step-family unsure of her intentions, if she had any.
Before they continued out the door, Carol caught the girl’s attention again, “oh, Robin?”
“Yes, Carol?”
“When you’re done crying, there’s a pile of mending next to my bed, have it done by morning.”
Smile unfaltering, the taller girl replied, “certainly, Carol, consider it done.”
If her stepsister’s order had intended to upset Robin (which, considering her condescending tone, it certainly had), it did not have the desired effect. In fact, she appeared more than happy to carry out the task; to stay at home working as they went out to the palace ball she previously so desired to attend. Everything about her demeanour was beyond strange.
Looking her up and down, Tommy guided himself and Carol out the door, commenting snarkily, “let’s leave, before she trips and ruins our outfits.”
Robin sent one last wide smile to her step-family, giving them a small wave before the front door shut behind them. She waited a few moments before tiptoeing up to the window, seeing their coach pulling away from the house. Leaning forward, she watched until they were out of sight, swivelling with an excited grin to her mice friends waiting behind her.
“Let’s go.”
She dashed eagerly through the house and out into the back garden, currently as dark and empty as it had been the previous night. That would soon change.
Anticipating the fairy godmother’s arrival, Robin went straight to the vegetable farm, cutting the largest pumpkin left in the patch. She picked it up, hauling it over and setting it down in the same open space as last time. With herself, her friends, and the all important squash prepared, almost everything was ready for Joyce to work her magic and send her to the ball for the second night.
And so, she waited. And waited. And waited.
Hope turned to doubt as the minutes passed by, not a single sign of anything out of the ordinary. The only movement in the garden was the gentle breeze through the leaves, and the flutters and scampers of the wildlife. Robin was beginning to feel a little foolish, stood out in the cold with a single pumpkin by her feet.
Would Joyce even show up? Was she even real? What if Robin had made the whole thing up; truly had dreamt about it in her despair over her step-family’s cruelty. What if she hadn’t been to the ball at all, had made up dancing with the princess, projected her own dream girl onto her, created Vickie in her own imagination. The whole thing sounded too good to be true, now that she thought about it.
She gazed down at her mice friends, looking to them for assurance. They seemed nervous themselves. Steve still tried to give her a hopeful expression, which calmed her nerves ever so slightly. She couldn’t have made it up; they remembered last night too, they had experienced it together. But even they didn’t look sure.
“Sorry! I’m sorry!”
Robin’s thoughts were broken by the familiar voice; she looked to her side, seeing Joyce appear in a fast swirl of sparkles, hands up in apology and she walked briskly over. It definitely hadn’t been a dream.
“I got here as fast as I could,” the fairy godmother explained, giving an exaggerated sigh of fatigue, “busy day. This old toymaker wanted me to bring his wooden puppet to life, I’m sure that will go well.”
The two of them shared a small laugh, Robin confused but also compelled by the insight into Joyce’s other magical duties.
Shaking herself off, the older woman beamed up at her, “anyway, how was last night, Robin?”
That was a big question.
“It was…” she began to answer, eyes sparkling at the wonderful memories of the previous night she struggled to put into words, “beyond amazing, Joyce. I truly cannot thank you enough.”
Her demeanour changed slightly, remembering the most important detail, “oh, and something very interesting happened.”
“What is it?”
“I met Princess Victoria.”
Joyce’s expression turned to a confused frown, “I’m fairly sure everyone who attended did.”
Shaking her head, the younger girl clarified, “no, I mean- I met her. I danced with her. I- I spent the entire night with her. We connected so deeply, but I didn’t even know she was the princess until this morning.”
“That’s so great!” the fairy godmother exclaimed, squeezing Robin’s arms with joy for her. She was as happy for her as a mother would be for her own daughter.
Raising an eyebrow, she asked with intrigue, “are you meeting her again tonight?”
“Yes,” Robin confirmed proudly, “I promised her I would.”
Leaning forward, Joyce whispered playfully, “well, we had best get you ready then, hadn’t we?”
She stepped back, making a show of producing her magic wand as similarly as the previous night. The two shared a grin, both gleefully anticipating all they knew was to come.
Just then, Robin had a concerning thought, “hold on, what if the robins don’t show up?”
Joyce waved her off nonchalantly, “don’t worry, the carriage should attract them again.”
Everyone moved away from the pumpkin, the fairy godmother waving her wand fancily and showering the vegetable in fairy dust. It rumbled before growing in size, the roots spiralling outwards and forming the shape of the coach. With one final burst, a large, golden carriage stood in the centre of the garden for the second time.
Despite knowing what to expect, Robin was just as fascinated as the first instance.
“That is… truly spectacular,” awed Nancy, the three mice staring up in a similar captivation. They had missed the pumpkin’s transformation the previous night, this being the first time they had witnessed the fairy godmother’s full magical capabilities.
“Ah, here they are,” Joyce noted the group of robins once again drawn to the shining carriage, ushering them to the front of it, “come along, into position.”
She flicked her wand above them again, backing away as they grew and morphed in a glow, turning into the dressed up white horses to pull the coach to the palace.
Grinning ear to ear, the older woman turned her attention to the little mice awaiting their turn, “you ready, Steve? Dustin?”
“Affirmative!” Dustin answered, standing up straight.
“I’m ready, make me human!” Steve echoed the sentiment, practically bouncing on his toes.
Not leaving them in suspense any further, Joyce waved her wand above both of their heads, the pair sprouting up into their human forms. The boys gleamed at each other, excitable as they once again admired their bodies and attire. Simply seeing them happy was enough to make Robin laugh with delight.
Finally, the fairy godmother came to the young girl, the last transformation needing to be made.
“Are you ready, Robin?”
Taking a deep breath, Robin nodded with a smile of confidence.
“Any changes to your…?”
“Oh, no, thank you,” the taller girl declined adamantly.
She thought of the suit Joyce had given her last night; how stunning it was, how brilliant it made her feel. She wouldn’t have changed a thing.
“It was perfect the way you made it, Joyce. Please keep it as it was.”
Accepting her request, the older woman shot her a wink, whispering, “got it.”
Her wand gave one final graceful swish, emitting the fairy dust that coated around Robin’s raggedy old work clothes. Her shirt and trousers slowly began to morph, the girl enshrouded in silvery sparkles before everything transformed in a glow, leaving her in the shimmering white suit, hair elegantly styled.
Robin turned to gaze at her reflection in the window, more than pleased by the refinement of her appearance, and the lack of dirt on her complexion. Now she had changed, she felt mostly ready to face the royal ball.
“Looking stunning again, Robin,” complimented Steve, leaning on the side of the carriage, “there’s no way Vickie will be able to focus on anyone but you.”
“What about the ki-”
Her best friend cut her off with a look.
Robin immediately abandoned her sentence, putting her hand in front of her mouth, “sorry.”
Joyce looked between the two of them in confusion, “what’s this about the king?”
Lifting himself to stand straight, Steve folded his arms as he explained, “Robin’s thinking too much about meeting the princess again, that’s all. Either it’s her ability to dance, or her shoes-”
“Your shoes?”
Stuttering, Robin wrung her hands awkwardly, confessing, “I’m not the best in heels.”
“Do you want me to change them?” her fairy godmother asked genuinely, not a hint of reluctance or disappointment.
“No, no, please don’t,” the girl answered a little too desperately, “Vickie, uh… she liked them. Complimented them.”
A change would naturally be easier; she felt a lot more confident dancing in the drawing room in her flat work shoes than she did in the palace ballroom. She didn’t want to give up her crystal heels, however; not after how Vickie had admired them so. Robin had a sense of determination to persist with them.
Shifting on her feet, the taller girl admitted, “I’m just a little frightened of stumbling in them in front of everyone.”
Joyce thought for a moment, tapping her wand on the side of her chin. She approached the younger girl, laying a gentle hand on her arm, meeting her eyes with sincerity.
“Listen, Robin. As long as you walk in there with your head held high, and you believe you have the capability to do whatever it is you’re afraid of doing, you can accomplish anything. Even if it’s just walking in heels. Believe in yourself first, and everything else will follow.”
A quiet moment passed, the younger girl processing her advice. It made sense. Out of all of her worries, she knew deep down the main thing stopping her was her own self doubt. She could apply Joyce’s words to more than just her shoes.
“Wow, that was… that was very inspirational,” Robin complimented gratefully.
“I’m full of inspiration, you know. My job includes more than just magic,” the fairy godmother accentuated her point with a wiggle of her wand, stray magic dust sprinkling out of the end. She gestured it towards Robin, tapping her on the shoulder, “but I really do stand by it.”
Not a second went by before Joyce stepped to the side of the taller girl, motioning her in the direction of the carriage, “now, go on, hurry, you want to have as much time with Vickie, don’t you?”
Robin grinned and rushed over to the carriage, Dustin taking her by the hand helping her inside. Steve leapt up into the driver’s seat again, the younger boy hopping on the back, the three ready to set off.
“Midnight, remember!” Joyce called over.
Leaning through the window, the younger girl sent a smile and a two fingered salute, echoing, “midnight.”
With everything set, Steve gave a whip of the horse’s reins, shouting, “onwards we go!”
Nancy and Joyce waved to the coach as it pulled out of the garden, the remaining mouse hollering cheerful goodbyes. They watched it disappear down the side of the house, on its way to deliver Robin to the palace for the second night.
Notes:
In every universe I headcanon Steve Harrington as a ballroom expert, even if in that universe he is a rodent.
Also yes I stole the Pinocchio joke from the Cinderella episode of wizards of waverly place.
Not sure when the next update will be unfortunately! I feel like there keeps being long gaps between these chapters and it's entirely my brain's inability to focus and be productive, so I can only apologise to those actually waiting for updates (if you are... I love you).
As always my twitter is @/smalltownrobin, same user for instagram and tumblr, tiktok is @/smalltown.robin!
Chapter 7: Chapter 6
Notes:
I swear I am trying my hardest to update this more often than monthly but it appears my brain doesn't like that idea...
Anyway pure unadulterated rovickie romance upcoming!
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
The ballroom had been decked out and filled with guests all over again, the second ball commencing its proceedings. The introductions had been forgone this time around, the attendees, both noble and common, filtering in much more unceremoniously.
Vickie stood at the head of the ballroom, watching the crowds closely, observing every person who walked in one by one. Looking for that one girl. She recognised a few faces she saw coming down the stairs, but none of them were who she was waiting for.
Rose had promised her she would return tonight. The anticipation was eating away at her.
Eventually, the flow of guests slowed to an end, the dance floor scattered with people chatting, pairing up, and awaiting the beginning of the ball. It was the princess’s job to do so; to pick her first partner. Her partner wasn’t among the crowd.
Rose had been late the previous night, of course Vickie had already told herself she may well be again. Still, there was doubt in her mind as the minutes ticked by.
A few people were beginning to stare at her. Nobody made a move to approach. Perhaps they knew who she was waiting for; everyone had watched them dance together last night. She looked up at her father, his expression unreadable. She had to do something soon.
Suddenly, the entrance doors swung open. The whole ballroom looked up, Vickie breaking into a large smile as the girl in the white suit walked in. Rose had kept her promise of returning.
Some of the crowd made an effort to clear a path as she descended the staircase, the princess moving forward to meet her. Their eyes locked across the room, Vickie feeling that magical spark inside her chest again. From the grin on Rose’s face, she hoped she had gotten the same feeling.
They wandered up to each other, finally meeting again in the middle of the floor. Some of the guests watched them, some went back to their own conversations.
With a delighted smile, she greeted simply, “evening, Rose.”
“Good evening,” the taller girl greeted back, an oddly mischievous look on her face. She held her hands behind her back, leaning on her toes and addressing more pointedly, “your highness.”
The princess’s eyebrows raised slightly, a little stunned. Rose, to her knowledge, had not known of her title the previous night. Vickie had left out that information intentionally. Now she knew exactly who she was.
“Looks as though I’ve been found out.”
“I’ll say,” Rose appeared to bite back a laugh, attempting to keep up a mellow demeanour, “you certainly kept that little detail to yourself.”
She wasn’t put off by her falsehood; that was a good sign.
Rose was, however, now beginning to observe her surroundings, seemingly tense as she took in the many eyes on them. She looked over at the guards and her father in particular.
“I apologise, am I supposed to curtsy or-”
“No, please, you don’t need to do that,” Vickie reassured her adamantly, cringing slightly, “royal greetings are such a bore.”
This was what she had been nervous about; Rose treating her like anything other than an equal.
“Besides, it would feel unusual if you were to do it,” she shared sweetly, hoping to dissuade her from any intentions of changing her tone. Fortunately, the glint in Rose’s eyes told her she had nothing to worry about.
“No bowing or curtseying then,” the taller girl confirmed with a deft grin, giving a slight nod, “noted.”
The princess breathed a slight sigh of relief to herself, Rose’s easy acceptance calming her sudden nerves. Smiling warmly up at her, she held out her palm again.
“I would be honoured if you would allow me another dance, however.”
Still appearing pleased herself, Rose took her hand, “I’d be happy to.”
Vickie lead them a few steps further in to the centre of the floor, the crowd deftly clearing for them now. The conversations around them hushed, the room falling into a quiet, only a few inaudible mutterings around them.
They got into hold, the redhead contented with how easily their bodies slotted together, how well Rose’s hand fit around her own. She gazed up at her, smiling kindly, not feeling the other girl shake as much as the previous night. Her body seemed more confident this time around, although her face was still harbouring some uncertainty.
The music started, Vickie waiting for the correct beat before taking the first step. Rose followed with conviction, to her pleasant surprise, their moves flowing much more seamlessly this time around. Had she been practising? She seemed quietly proud of her ability, too, following her every step with a gracious smile, gliding and rotating around the floor with finesse. Their steps were not perfect every single time, but the stumbles did not deter either of them, instead embracing the clumsiness gleefully.
The princess grinned herself, esteemed with the honour of the whole kingdom watching them dance together; getting to see just how wonderful Rose was.
With a rush of boldness, Vickie got an idea. Leaning closer to the taller girl’s ear, not a single step was missed as she whispered, “I’m going to spin you, okay?”
She noticed a minor look of panic in her eyes, but one which told her she would still go along with it. Rose was far from a coward, that much she was sure of. So, the shorter girl promptly broke their hold and stepped away, keeping grip of her hand. With the music, she swiftly spun her once under her arm, then pulled her straight back in. It was somewhat clumsy, both girls beaming and giggling with carefree amusement as they regained their hold; that was what made this dance for them, not for anyone else.
Their dance came to an end as the music finished, the crowd applauding both them and the band. The two girls smiled gently at each other, quietly thanking one another, before moving away from the centre to allow more couples to enter the space.
Sighing, Vickie commented, “I love that music so much, it’s one of my favourites.”
“Mine too,” Rose echoed, taking a glance around at the other guests. As if she were checking for someone in particular.
“You enjoy music?”
Shrugging, the taller girl explained, “mankind came up with a way to take sound and craft it into a meticulous and beautiful structure, that’s rather special, don’t you think?”
Vickie had never thought about it in that way before, but she found that she agreed whole heartedly. Not only was Rose a fellow fan of music, her view on it as an art form was so beautifully fascinating.
Thinking for a moment, she took the girl’s hand again, “come with me, I want to show you something.”
~~~
Returning to the palace was one of the most daunting things Robin had ever done, she was sure. Re-meeting Vickie, knowing who she was, knowing that everybody there was there in her honour, was absolutely and utterly terrifying. Fortunately, the encouragement from her friends had given her the push to not back out of it, and seeing her again was certainly worth the immense, trembling nerves she felt inside.
Dancing with her was much scarier the second time around, too. Robin had confidence in her ability, thanks to Steve, but she definitely took notice of all the eyes on them. Many were gazing directly at her with awe, but some with bitterness. Of course people were jealous of her; she was keeping the princess’s attention, after all. However, Vickie herself did not seem to mind.
She was grateful when the shorter girl lead her away from the ballroom again, promising something to show her. A palace tour? They had spent the last evening in the gardens, naturally indoors was next. Now it made sense how Vickie knew her way around the palace.
After some winding and twisting around some rather long corridors, they came to a double door. There was many doors, obviously; this was an entire working palace. However, the princess had a particular excitability about this door as she approached it. Whatever was behind it must be special to her.
In a grandiose fashion, the red haired girl beamed up at her, before pushing down the handles and opening the double doors behind her. She stepped aside, allowing the taller girl to see properly what was inside. Robin’s eyes lit up at the sight, her breath taken.
A music room. A real music room, filled with instruments. The walls had a variety of woodwinds, brass, reed instruments mounted on display, with various other percussion and string instruments stood around the floor, and an intricately carved, concert grand piano in the centre. A large shelf of books, presumably holding sheet music and handbooks, stood at the far end.
“Oh, wow,” Robin sighed in wonderment, “this is amazing.”
Wandering round, she took in all the various instruments at Vickie’s disposal, positively awe-stricken. She was particularly drawn to the wall of brass instruments, displayed in a sophisticated, red velvet case.
“All of this at your fingertips must be a dream.”
“In all honesty, I don’t use this room as often as I’d like,” Vickie confessed behind her, her voice leisurely drawing nearer as she crossed the room, “I try to dabble in a bit of everything, but I can never seem to commit, apart from the clarinet. Perhaps it’s a little wasted on me.”
Robin’s attention was kept by one item in particular; the shiny, golden trumpet hanging in the display case. It appeared to be extremely high quality; clearly it would be, it belonged to royalty. Even at the peak of her family’s wealth, Robin never could have dreamed of owning a trumpet like that.
“You play at all?”
Vickie was suddenly right next to her, a smile of intrigue on her face, clearly having noticed her fixation on the brass instrument.
“Only the trumpet when I was younger,” the taller girl told, her expression turning to fondness at the memories, “I played it so much I knew every song I learned off by heart.”
Her face fell slightly, remembering just how long it had been, “I’ve not been afforded the opportunity to in recent years.”
The smaller girl seemed to consider something for a moment. Decidedly, she opened the case and took the trumpet off its stand, holding it up to her.
“Play me something.”
Robin couldn’t believe her ears. Vickie wasn’t just showing her her music room, she was actually willing let her play something. Specifically asking her to. This really was a wonderful dream come true.
Exhaling shakily, she delicately took the trumpet out of her hands, to Vickie’s delight. The redhead moved over to the piano stool, pulling it to the side and seating herself on it, anticipatory of the taller girl’s impromptu performance. Robin inspected the instrument, checking it was ready to play, mentally bracing herself.
To say she was nervous was an understatement. It had been a fair number of years since she played at all, let alone in front of anyone. It had been even before her father died since she last played; she had been too intimidated to with her stepmother around. There was a great risk of making a colossal mistake, misplaying, and embarrassing herself in front of Vickie, who clearly was some sort of a musical genius. This could go incredibly wrong.
In an attempt to calm herself down, Robin grinned and gestured with the instrument, joking dorkily, “I may be a little rusty.”
Vickie actually laughed at that; a real, genuine, sweet little snicker. That definitely helped her nerves.
Taking a deep breath, Robin held the mouthpiece up to her lips. The contact sent a strange sensation through her body, but one of familiarity. After all the time that had passed, she easily slipped back into it. The feeling was briefly a touch overwhelming, but she managed to keep her expression schooled.
She took another moment before beginning to play, picking a piece of music she had the confidence to remember fully. It was her father’s favourite, he had always told her. She had played it countless times for him, either to send him off or welcome him home from his travels, or simply to cheer him up. It has always been special to her because of him. Even after he passed, whenever she thought of him, this music came to her mind.
As Robin played, she found it was second nature to her, not faltering a single note. Her fingers pressed the valves rhythmically, the brass feeling natural in her hands. Her faith in herself grew as she went on, playing the melody with expert proficiency. On some level, the girl felt the support of her father through his song, whether his presence was truly there or not.
Her performance came to an end, her slight trance being broken by the enthusiastic applause of the princess.
“Bravo! Marvellous!”
Although Vickie’s praise was clearly genuine, she cheered with such an exaggeration that Robin couldn’t help but laugh and play along.
Tilting her head to the side, she wore a flattered expression, playing up being proud of herself, “thank you, thank you.”
Still smiling, she moved to put the trumpet away in the cabinet, not wanting to even touch it for longer than she was allowed to. Vickie slid the piano stool back in its correct position, before walking back over to the taller girl.
“You really haven’t played in years?”
As truthful as she was willing to be, she told, “I used to have one, but it had to go.”
The memory of her stepmother destroying her trumpet still pained her. Robin didn’t think she had ever held so many tears inside before; not until her step-siblings had torn up her suit, anyway. Her outlet of joy, a multitude of happy memories, gone in a matter of seconds.
“I wish I could have kept it.”
The princess’s face saddened, but chose not to pry about it. Instead, she lay a gentle hand on her arm, comfortingly rubbing it with her thumb. Even when Vickie was unaware of her reality, Robin knew she was there for her. She felt safe with her.
Lightening up a little, the redhead smiled gently, patting her arm, “come on, let me give you more of the tour.”
She lead them back out into the corridor, the two beginning to leisurely stroll through the palace. Vickie wasn’t rushing to take her anywhere specific, allowing them the chance to fall into comfortable conversation.
“So, Rose. You truly had no idea?”
“That you are the princess?” Robin clarified, receiving a nod.
They hadn’t properly spoken of it yet.
Frankly, she admitted, “you introduced yourself to me as Vickie, I didn’t make the connection to Princess Victoria. I thought a princess would introduce herself as such.”
A moment passed, the taller girl suddenly having a thought, “I apologise, I feel so embarrassed for not knowing-”
“No, please, don’t be,” the redhead assured, even more apologetic, “in all honesty, I may have not told you on purpose.”
“How come?”
“Because you did not seem to be aware of who I was when we met. Everyone who I greeted bowed or curtseyed and tried to make a grand impression, but you were simply yourself. Perhaps I wanted to see if you would like me for the person I am, not for my title.”
That stopped her. “Do you think me knowing you were the princess would have changed things that much?”
“Oh, certainly,” Vickie replied with absolute conviction, “all the royalty here to greet me is only interested in benefiting their own kingdoms, and all the eligible citizens, well, I am only a rich and noble ticket to luxury to them. You not being aware meant that you were the only one with any actual interest in me.”
That much was true. Tommy and Carol had certainly spoken about her in that way. Even now, Robin knew that Vickie’s royal status was one of the last things contributing to her attraction towards her, if at all.
Wincing, the smaller girl said regretfully, “I should apologise for omitting the truth.”
She opened a door, leading them into a large gallery room.
“There’s no need to apologise.”
Robin gave her an assuring smile, laughing slightly to herself, “I’ll admit, I’m a little more daunted at the fact I am casually strolling the palace halls with the princess, but you are still Vickie to me.”
Her statement, thankfully, seemed to put the princess visibly more at ease.
Robin had never thought a royal status could be an issue in these regards; she would have assumed princesses could have whoever they wanted. Perhaps that was part of the problem.
Something across the room caught her eye. Portraits of presumably a long line of the royal family was hung around the walls, a very familiar face among them.
“Woah…” the taller girl wandered up to it, astonished, “look at you.”
Vickie followed with a little more urgency, near whining, “oh, gosh, please don’t look at that. I hate it so much.”
The two girls studied the painting, observing the lavish attire and pointed, overly sophisticated pose of its subject. Robin thought it to look worlds apart from the girl she had come to know; unfaithful to her character. This was a portrait of Princess Victoria, not of Vickie.
“No, it’s good,” she lied deliberately poorly, swallowing thickly, “it’s nice, it’s very… elegant.”
Sighing, the princess admitted bitterly, “my father thought a portrait like that would make me appear marriageable.”
Robin snickered lightly, her comment rolling off her tongue without a thought, “as if you would need a stiff looking painting to appear as such.”
They both stopped, the taller girl realising what she had just said too late. Their eyes met, Robin feeling a sense of panic, but calming once it seemed Vickie was actually flattered.
She went back to observing the portrait again, getting a somewhat silly idea.
“Wait, hold on, let me try this.”
Robin moved to stand in front of the painting, facing Vickie. She took a quick glance at the pose, replicating it with an exaggerated precision.
“How do I look?”
Playing along, the princess put her hand on her heart, gasping, “why, Miss Rose, you are positively beautiful!”
“Oh, stop,” she pretended to wave her off, “I must be modest.”
A playful laugh was shared between them, Robin breaking her pose.
As Vickie’s laughter trailed off, she shared a passing opinion, “I think someone should paint your portrait if they haven’t already.”
“Oh, no,” Robin instantly rejected, demeanour instantly more nervous at the notion, “I don’t think that would be a good idea.”
She noticed the red haired girl’s look of confusion, seemingly not quite understanding her objection. It was almost definitely more complicated than she was thinking.
Shrugging, she bashfully offered one of the explanations, “I could never sit still for that long.”
“Neither can I.”
The smaller girl gestured to her portrait with a smile, “while posing for that, I was humming entire symphonies to myself just to focus on something other than fidgeting.”
Robin raised her eyebrows, gladly accepting her advice with a point of her finger, “that is a very good technique. I shall remember that one.”
Not that she would need it for posing for portraits, of course, but it could come in handy during particularly awkward and straining chores.
Their wander round the palace halls continued, the flow of their conversation never faltering as the hours passed. Even with her brain occupied by talking, Robin continued to be in awe of every corner they turned. The palace was as grand and refined as she had always pictured, but there was a surprising sense of comfortability. Perhaps it was Vickie’s presence, telling her amusing stories of her life growing up within these halls. It made the place feel like a lived in home, as her own once did.
Eventually, they came to a long corridor, with cushioned bay windows along the wall. Through the glass, the vibrant shrubbery and stoney paths of the garden was visible, the corridor seeming to run at least partly down the side of it. Vickie lead them to sit on one of the velvet cushioned seats, the pale moonlight beaming through the window illuminating them.
“Wow, this would be the most ideal reading spot,” Robin awed, gazing at their surroundings.
Pleasantly struck by her remark, the princess promised with a smirk, “it is. I’ll show you the library later.”
The taller girl’s head turned with immediate intrigue. “You have a library?”
“Sure do. It has novels, poetry, plays, collections, history books, theorems, philosophy, everything. I even believe there are some books in different languages you might enjoy.”
Robin grinned wide at the concept. Her own book collection she had shared with her parents was big, but a palace library sounded even grander.
“Well, I would be honoured to see it. Thank you.”
A brief, comfortable silence passed, the two girls smiling at each other. The moonlight shone on the red haired girl, lighting her up in a way which reminded Robin of just how beautiful she was. It made her heart flutter. No painting could truly capture the warm gentleness of her face.
Leaning toward her, she whispered almost secretively, “I want to tell you something.”
“You may tell me anything, Rose.”
“The other night, I had a dream that I was travelling through Paris with a girl. This girl was… so beautiful. She had bright red hair, and stunning blue eyes, the most strikingly delicate features. She was so kind, and so charming, and so sweet. She reminded me of a princess.”
Gazing at the redhead, she shared her confession with her best attempt at a soft charisma, “but, sitting here with you, I think I have met someone better than a dream could ever conjure.”
Their eyes lingered on each other, this moment more intimate than all they had previously shared. The romantic tension was palpable between them. Vickie continued to look upon her earnestly, appearing enchanted by her words.
“Is there anything you could say that would make me not fall for you?”
The taller girl felt her breath hitch, utterly smitten with the princess sat before her. Robin had charmed her, and Vickie had charmed her right back.
Steadily and naturally, their faces drew closer to each other, magnetised, until their lips met in a slow and tender kiss. Butterflies instantly rushed to Robin’s stomach at the contact, her hand falling upon the redhead’s arm. Her lips felt as soft and sweet as they looked.
They drew back gently, another quiet passing between them, gazes held. In that moment, Robin truly felt certain of what was blossoming between them; she had never felt it so strong before, but the pull deep in her heart was undeniable. There was no doubt in her mind that this was love.
Cracking a smile, Vickie asked lightly, “did you really have a dream like that?”
“I did,” she admitted, almost laughing to herself, “that’s why I was so taken by you, I… you were quite literally the girl of my dreams.”
“Well, I’m glad I live up to expectations,” the princess remarked with a faux, smug air.
Robin creased her eyebrows, playing along, “oh, you’ve more than exceeded them.”
They shared a giggle, automatically beginning to lean in again. She would kiss this girl all night if it didn’t mean sacrificing their conversations.
Before their lips touched, her eyes flicked out of the window, stopping her as she noticed the large clock face outside. It was almost midnight.
“I have to leave.”
“Again?”
Regretfully, the taller girl made to stand, “I do, I’m so sorry. I don’t want to, gosh, I wish I could stay, but I must go.”
Robin cursed internally at the one rule of this magic. With all that Joyce had done for her, she supposed she should accept the minor downside with grace. Still, it was a shame she had to keep dashing off every night.
The shorter girl stood also, calling before she hurried back down the hall, “same time tomorrow?”
Tomorrow. The last night. They could have one more night together.
“Certainly.”
She sent her a smile and a nod, grateful the redhead accepted it without question.
Fleetingly, the taller girl leant down and pressed a kiss to her cheek, wishing softly, “good night, Vickie.”
Swiftly, she whirled around, walking as quickly as she could in her glass heels. She could attempt a run once Vickie was out of sight; leave her with some illusion of elegance.
“Good night, Rose!” the princess called out again, visibly and delightfully amused by the girl’s excitable mystery.
Robin twisted to shoot her another grin, waving as she disappeared around the corner. Now was the matter of making it back through the palace, through the ballroom and out the front door before midnight struck. If they were by the garden, then the ballroom shouldn’t be too far to reach. She had more confidence in where she was going this time.
If she was smarter, she would have kept an eye on the time, and asked Vickie to escort her back herself, instead of fleeing through the palace with little coordination. Her heart took over when she was with her, making her forget to consider such things. Perhaps she would remember the following night.
Although, if Vickie were to escort her out, it would open the conversation to particularly why she had to leave with such urgency before the stroke of midnight. That she could not reveal. Robin was certain things would be different should she ever learn the truth, just the same as Vickie had been about herself. Her case was different. The princess could never find out who she really was; nobody could.
They had one more night together. She was going to make the most of it.
Notes:
As always I'm @/smalltownrobin on twitter, instagram and tumblr, tiktok is @/smalltown.robin!
Chapter 8: Chapter 7
Notes:
This chapter is short and boring as hell I'M SO SORRY I backed myself into a corner with how I set this out and this chapter is definitely going to be the weakest, but I PROMISE the good stuff is coming, we're getting there, just bear with me, okay?
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
Robin drifted awake shortly before seven. Similarly to the night prior, as soon as Joyce’s magic had worn off, she showered and went straight up to bed, out like a light. 48 hours of all day work and all night excitement was beginning to wear on her, and she felt absolutely drained.
It appeared the nights’ activities were wearing on Steve and Dustin, too; they were both still curled up asleep in the corner, dead to the world. Nancy was the only one wide awake.
“Robin, listen, I need tell you something.”
The human girl yawned, drowning out anything the little mouse was trying to say to her.
“Sorry, Nance, can you tell me later?” she half-mumbled, dragging herself out of bed and getting ready for the day, “I have to get downstairs.”
“No, Robin, it’s important, I have to tell you before you see Carol.”
Rubbing her eyes, Robin groaned, barely registering her statement, “yeah, I don’t know how Tommy and Carol are doing this, they’re staying at the ball later than me and they’re just fine.”
“Are you even listening to me?”
Another yawn cut through her, the human girl stretching through it, “I suppose they’re not doing chores all day, though, so that’s probably why they’re not as tired.”
Fully dressed, she trudged over to the door, giving her mouse friend a lazy wave before descending the stairs, heading off to the kitchen. Nancy tried to call her back one last time, but got nowhere. She hoped Carol wouldn’t mention it before breakfast was over.
Robin lumbered through to the kitchen, much more lethargic than usual. Everything was beginning to catch up with her now. Her step-siblings probably muttered something nasty to her as she walked past, but she didn’t even register it. Splashing some water on her face might wake her up.
Making breakfast was a blur. Somehow, the girl managed to prepare everything, carry her stepmother’s food to the study, and serve Tommy and Carol in the dining room without any accidents; more successful than the previous morning. Carol, naturally, pointed out the dark circles under her eyes, Tommy remarking how she’s been losing sleep over missing out on the ball. Robin could take their mocking, knowing the reality.
She began to feel more alert once breakfast was over, having some peace with her step-siblings disappearing into the drawing room. Her mind was coming back to her.
With this alertness, however, came a dreadful realisation. The mending pile Carol had left for her to complete was untouched. She had forgotten to do it.
In a panic, she rushed to Tommy and Carol’s bedroom, hoping they would be long enough with whatever leisure activity they were doing that she could sew everything without them finding out. Uncompleted tasks had dire consequences.
Upon inspection, however, Robin found that the pile was already completed. Every possible tear and hole was neatly sewn up, each piece of clothing folded neatly and stacked at the foot of Carol’s bed. She had absolutely no idea how this could have happened.
“What are you doing?”
Robin flinched at the sudden question behind her. It was Carol, and she didn’t look happy.
Hastily, she lied, “I came to return your mending pile.”
“But you already returned it, it was there last night when we came home.”
It was done last night. Robin hadn’t touched it before she went to sleep.
Tone rising, her stepsister asked, “it was done last night, was it not?”
Thinking on her feet, the nervous girl put on a smile, “yes, it was, but I wanted to make sure I hadn’t missed anything.”
Thankfully, Carol believed it. “Alright. Fold it up and leave.”
“Right.”
Robin swiftly did as instructed, making to walk out as quickly as possible. As she came up to her stepsister, the shorter girl grabbed her arm roughly, forcing her to stop.
“There better not be any weak seams.”
Taking a breath, she responded, “I can assure you there isn’t.” She hoped it was true.
“I’ll be the judge of that.” Carol let go of her arm, still glaring at her, “now go.”
That was close. Robin headed straight for the attic, hoping her friends might have some answers. This truly was a mystery.
Had Joyce done it? Magically completed the chore for her while she was out? Or had she finally snapped and begun doing her housework in her sleep?
Entering the attic, Robin found Nancy anxiously stood on her box-turned-nightstand, seemingly waiting for her. Steve and Dustin were still sleeping in their corner.
Looking up at her, Nancy asked worriedly, “is everything okay?”
The human girl just nodded slowly, not entirely sure what she meant by that. She asked the mouse her own question, “did Joyce magically fix Carol’s mending pile last night?”
“No, I did.”
Robin’s eyes widened slightly at the revelation. “You did it?”
“After you left Joyce helped me get everything set up, I knew you would be tired so I practised a few techniques I learnt from your mother’s book.”
“Oh my, Nance…” the human girl stuttered, slightly overwhelmed by the situation, “I don’t even know what to say. I mean, thank you, that’s so-”
“Please, it’s no bother. It’s the least I can do to help.”
While Robin would never have thought that to be true, she knew Nancy believed it. Nancy, while afraid of the fairy godmother’s magic, was never the type to sit back and do nothing. She always had her own way of helping, and this truly did help. Saved her from an inevitable punishment.
“Well, I’d better…” Robin began to back away, gesturing to the door, “get back to it.”
With a warm smile, her mouse friend reminded, “don’t tire yourself out, it’s the last night tonight.”
“I won’t,” she responded with her usual two finger salute, “thanks, Nancy.”
Robin closed the door, off downstairs to begin washing the pots from breakfast. She tried not to think too hard about tonight being her last night of freedom; her last night with Vickie. For now, chores.
The pile of dishes seemed bigger this time around. Some were left from last night, the girl omitting to wash them in favour of getting to the ball earlier. She didn’t quite have the energy for all of this yet.
“Robin?” her stepmother’s voice spoke sharply, entering the room.
Glancing up at her, she responded with her mandatory politeness, “yes, stepmother?”
Robin wasn’t quite sure whether it would be a better idea to carry on with her work, or pay her full attention. Both seemed like the wrong choice. She opted to keep cleaning.
“Would you care to tell me why two pumpkins are missing from the patch?”
“I’m sorry?”
“Pay attention when I am talking to you.”
Wrong choice. The younger girl put the pot down, gently shaking the water off her hands. The sensation of it trickling over her skin was unbearable.
Satisfied with her full attention, Lady Click explained further, “two pumpkins have been cut from the patch. There are only four now. As you are the one who tends to the garden, I assume this has something to do with you.”
The pumpkins Joyce had been using; they hadn’t been replacing them.
Robin was thankful for her ability to lie effortlessly as she answered, “I am not sure what you mean, stepmother. There has always been only four pumpkins growing there. The winter was harsh, and they did not plant to their full potential.”
“I remember there being six,” the older woman countered accusatory, “are you implying that I am mistaken, Robin?”
Demeanour unfaltering, she stuck to her story, “I cannot tell you anything else other than there has only been four pumpkins in that patch ever since they began to grow, and I tend to that garden every single day. I can assure you, I have not cut a single one.”
Her stepmother paused, holding her glare, however she argued no further. The woman definitely seemed suspicious of her stepdaughter, but believed her reasoning. For now, at least.
She looked round the kitchen, tilting her chin up at something across the room. “Those shelves look as though they could use an awfully good clean.”
Nodding, Robin accepted meekly, “of course, stepmother.”
Lady Click turned on her heels, leaving without another word. Robin breathed a sigh of relief, panic slowly rising about her secret nightly escapades. It felt like things were beginning to fall apart somewhat.
To see Vickie again, it would be worth it.
~~~
After another long day of labour, and a couple more sly dance lessons from Steve once the mouse finally awoke, evening fell again. Robin, for the last time, helped Tommy and Carol get ready for the ball, the pair mocking her noticeably less tonight. Perhaps they had not much to say, given it was the final night for them too.
Robin, once again, lingered in the entrance hall, waiting for her step-family to leave. The wait was tortuous; as if they knew time was precious for her. She held herself back from practically pushing them out the door as she watched them fuss and bicker, knowing it would appear suspicious if she was too eager to get rid of them. They were already onto her with the incidents of the morning.
Finally, they hauled out the door, Robin watching intently for their coach to move out of sight, before running out to the back garden, her mouse friends in tow.
To her surprise, she saw the fairy godmother already sat on the bench outside, twisting her wand in her hands. The older woman jumped up when she noticed her.
“I thought they would never leave!”
Giving a knowing laugh, Robin agreed, “they certainly know how to take their time.”
Joyce grinned, approaching her with that excited, motherly air she always had about her, “so, final night, how are you feeling?”
“Good, I’m feeling good about it,” the younger girl admitted, although she began to spiral as she pondered it a moment longer, “I’m trying not to think too much about the finality of the event, I don’t want to dwell on never doing this again, and ruin the night for myself, how am I supposed to enjoy it then? So, I’m just thinking about the night ahead, getting to be with Vickie again, seeing all the wonderful things she has to show me.”
Joyce didn’t gaze at her in confusion. Didn’t even comment on her spontaneous ramble. She just smiled gently.
“Of course.”
By this point, Robin truly felt familiar with her fairy godmother. She treated her as warm, and kindly, and understanding as her own parents had done. It was a feeling sorely missed.
Perking up, the older woman glanced around, “so, are we all ready to go? No time to waste!”
It was the final time Joyce would perform her magic. They cut the pumpkin, Robin making sure to ask her to replenish the squash so her stepmother wouldn’t notice. The pumpkin was transformed into the carriage, the robins transformed into the horses, Steve and Dustin happily transformed into their human forms.
The fairy godmother met eyes with Robin, making sure she was ready for the final transformation. The last time she would ever wear that beautiful suit. She was ready.
With the final wave of Joyce’s wand, fairy dust swirled and gathered around Robin, her clothes changing into the white suit, hair styled in its classy half up-do. The glass shoes felt more comfortable each time she had them on.
“Alright, all set,” the older woman beamed, “you are ready to go!”
Steve leapt up into the drivers seat, Dustin coming around to guide her into the carriage. Before she got in, Robin turned back around.
“Joyce?”
Her fairy godmother smiled, coming closer to her. This would be the last time they would meet.
Wringing her hands, the younger girl spoke shyly, “before we say goodbye, can I ask you something?”
“Of course, ask away.”
She had to know.
“One thing I don’t understand is… why me? Why would you help me? There must be so many people out there worthy of their little wishes being granted, why am I the one you chose?”
Joyce’s smile didn’t falter. Her head tilted, explaining gently, “Robin, you don’t need me to tell you the hardships you’ve been through. You deserve some good fortune, a dash of joy in your life.”
She quirked an eyebrow, speaking more ambiguously, “and who knows, maybe this could help turn your life around for the better. It’s all up to you.”
The last part Robin didn’t quite understand. Maybe that wasn’t for her to know yet. Only time would tell the long term outcome of her nights of freedom. Her life may become a little more bearable, and for that, she knew she would be grateful.
“Right, you must get going!” the older woman reminded, hands motioning towards the coach, “make the most of tonight!”
“I will.” Robin put her hand on her heart, expressing the sincerity of her gratitude, “thank you, for everything, Joyce. I will never be able to thank you enough.”
“You already have. Now, go!”
“Hop in!” Steve called from his seat, antsy for them to get moving. The ball wouldn’t wait all night.
Just before she got in, Joyce pulled the younger girl into a tight hug. Robin actually felt slightly overwhelmed by the gesture, more so than anything the woman had done for her. As comforting as it was, this was their goodbye.
Encouragingly, she whispered, “good luck, Robin.”
She didn’t want to let her go, but she knew she must. Joyce had other wishes to grant, other people to help. Her time was through.
Releasing her, the fairy godmother stepped back, allowing Dustin to aid the taller girl into the carriage for the last time. The smaller boy grinned up at her as she thanked him, moving to his post at the back of the coach. Everything was in place.
With a whip of the reins, Steve set them moving out of the garden. “Final night, let’s get going!”
Nancy and Joyce saw them off for the final time, the party heading to the palace. Robin already had to distract herself by chatting to Dustin, not feeling herself capable of sitting with her own thoughts.
One more night. One last time with Vickie. Then it would all be over.
Notes:
Good stuff's coming, good stuff's coming, we're getting there, it's all going to go down soon...
Also, quick thanks to anyone that's actually reading this, all of you here for this silly little rovickie fairytale literally no one but me asked for means a lot!! I don't want to push anyone that is reading to comment or give feedback or whatever, but I really do love receiving comments like that, it really motivates me to keep going, but just the fact there are people out there enjoying this and coming back for updates makes me so happy, so thank you.
As always my twitter is @/smalltownrobin, you can also find me on instagram and tumblr, and my tiktok is @/smalltown.robin!
Chapter 9: Chapter 8
Notes:
An update already??? YES, to my own surprise, and probably everyone else's, I powered through most of this chapter in one single day. This is very unlike me and I will NOT promise it will become the standard, but we can all appreciate the moment while it lasts, can't we?
As I said, the good stuff starts happening in this chapter, might hurt a little bit, my apologies, but we're getting back to some PLOT, the third act is in sight, so I hope you enjoy!
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
Steve successfully got them to the palace once again, pulling up by the steps. The sight of the grand palace was still as spectacular as the first night, but simultaneously brought a sense of comfortability now.
Dustin opened the carriage door and took Robin’s hand, helping her out onto the ground. Steve hopped down too, the two boys smiling at her to wish her good luck. This was the last time they would do this.
Before the girl moved, however, one of the palace guards approached them. Robin thought she recognised him; the older one that had delivered the invitation. The less snooty one.
“Miss Rose?”
Slightly startled, Robin confirmed, “yes.”
“Rose?” Steve asked beside her. She had not told them of her alias. The girl just shushed him with a gentle bat of her hand, keeping her attention on the guard.
Straightening, the guard lifted something she hadn’t realised he was holding in an official manner, presenting it to her, “a gift, from her royal highness.”
This was unbelievable. Vickie had given her a gift.
Gaze moving to the guard’s hands, she could see he was holding a sleek, white, leather box, with gold latches and accents. It was a trumpet case. Resting on top of it was a single red rose.
“She thought you would get more use out of it,” the guard informed, passing the box and the flower into her hands.
Her friends stared in awe at the gift, Dustin inquiring, “is that a trumpet?”
Giving a gentle nod, Robin told, “she let me play it last night.”
The princess’s gesture was somewhat overwhelming, making her heart swell. She had remembered her story, cared enough to gift her the instrument so sweetly, adorning it with her namesake. Well, what she believed was. Robin felt so lucky to be so close with this girl.
Looking up at the guard again, she smiled in gratitude, “thank you.”
“We will keep hold of that,” declared Steve, taking the box off her hands and putting it on the seat of the carriage, “keep it safe.”
They would get to take it home; a lasting memento from the palace. She could never play it, of course, not with her stepmother around, but it meant the world to possess.
Stepping aside, the guard gestured to the palace steps, “may I escort you inside?”
A personal escort; she really was getting the royal treatment.
Biting back an overly flattered grin, Robin accepted, “you may, thank you.”
She stepped forward towards the steps, the guard taking position beside her to accompany her into the palace. As used as she was to the heels by now, she felt much more reassured knowing someone was there to catch her should she lose her balance.
Briefly turning her head back, she gave her friends a look of pleasant surprise, hoping the guard wouldn’t notice her expression. The two boys shot her a thumbs up; something they must have learned to do with their new human hands.
The guard saw her safely up the stairs and into the palace, no catching necessary. Robin didn’t quite know what to say to him the entire walk besides asking his name; it was Powell. Last name, of course.
Powell opened the ballroom doors for her, the girl thanking him again. This must be how Vickie gets treated every day. It was nice, but also felt unnatural.
Speaking of Vickie, as soon as Robin stepped into the ballroom, the red haired girl emerged from the side, meeting her at the top of the stairs, as opposed to on the dance floor. She had waited for her again.
Beaming, she greeted cheerily, “Rose!”
The taller girl returned the smile, “Vickie. Good evening.”
“Evening. Thank you for coming back.”
“I wouldn’t have missed it for the world.”
The princess moved to the side, arm motioning Robin’s attention across the room. There was an older, dressed up man with red hair and a beard sat on a throne-like chair, observing the ball from above. His eyes were on them.
“That is my father.”
She panicked silently. That was the king. She was presently making eye contact with the king, having spent two nights dancing and exploring the palace with his daughter.
Leaning to her side, the princess helpfully advised, “you might have to greet him a little more formally, he can be old fashioned on the royal customs.”
A royal greeting. Robin was a girl; the king would be expecting a curtsy. She had never exactly done one before.
Unsure, she held her hands out by her hips, placing one foot behind the other. The heels were instantly much harder to stand in on one leg. Putting on a smile, she slowly bent her knee, bowing her head towards the king. She had a slight wobble on the descent, but recovered subtly. Her movement must have appeared incredibly stiff.
As she came back up, she saw the king send her a wave of his hand as greeting, appearing to be satisfied.
“Did I do well?” the taller girl whispered, seeking the princess’s opinion.
She received a thumbs up, Vickie nodding her head in approval. “Perfect.”
Robin knew it was far from perfect, but ‘good enough’ was what “perfect” really meant.
Taking a glance at the ballroom floor, Vickie smiled up at her, “so, Rose, may I ask you for a dance?”
“Actually,” the taller girl offset, holding her own palm out this time, “I was wondering if the pleasure would be mine tonight.”
In her dance coaching with Steve during the day, Robin had asked to learn how to lead the dance. She wanted to lead Vickie at least once before their time together was over.
Vickie’s smile didn’t falter, but stared a moment too long that Robin doubted she understood what she meant by her offer.
“If you would be okay with me leading-”
“Yes, of course,” the redhead assured, graciously taking her hand, “I would be honoured.”
Happy, the taller girl lead them both down the staircase and onto the floor. Again, she was grateful to have the extra security, should her balance falter again. The guests cleared a path for them to the centre of the dance floor, expectant of what they were going to do by now. They all knew the princess’s interest was in Robin and Robin alone.
The girls took their positions, Robin feeling another flutter in her chest pulling the smaller girl in, hand on her back. Vickie’s hand felt right on her shoulder. Their bodies slotted together just as perfectly as when the roles were swapped.
A sweet, familiar smile was shared between them as the music started.
Masking her nerves, Robin started to lead the dance in time with the music, pleased that the shorter girl deftly followed her every step. Leading immediately felt oddly easier. Despite her best efforts, her movements weren’t precise every single time, but Vickie followed nonetheless, grin on her face. Growing in confidence, the taller girl even attempted to spin her, managing it mostly smoothly.
Dancing with her felt just as magical as it had the first night. If not, more so; now they had truly connected with one another. Robin knew unequivocally that she loved her.
The song came to an end, the dance over long before either of them wanted it to be. Their last dance together could never be long enough.
As other couples began to take to the floor, Vickie released their hold, but kept grasp of her hand, “shall we go?”
Robin actually considered it this time. She didn’t feel quite ready to stop dancing with her yet. Glancing round, she spotted her step-siblings amongst the pairs; Carol with the same girl from the other night, Tommy with a different man. Both had sour, jealous faces, appearing to rather be dancing with the princess.
Everyone’s eyes were still on them, and Robin was no longer afraid of the attention.
“Hmm… perhaps just one more dance,” she suggested with a smirk, pulling her back in. The music changed to something slightly more up tempo, a rush of excitement going through her, “I think we have more to show them.”
Entirely on board, the redhead gripped her shoulder again. “Take the lead.”
They started again, Robin suddenly feeling nervous at the noticeably faster steps she had to take. Vickie continued to follow her every move, the pair in perfect sync, which made it easier. Dancing with other couples around them was also a new challenge. It was slightly clumsy, uncoordinated, but entirely them. Both of them were happy for the whole kingdom to see it.
Their second dance came to an end even sooner, both of them deciding it to be the perfect time to leave. The princess lead her by the hand out of the ballroom to a corridor, the two slightly out of breath as they finally got liberation from everyone else’s observance.
Leaning against the wall, Robin exhaled, “wow, that was fun!”
“It was!” the red haired girl agreed, commenting, “you are a very good leader, Rose.”
“Thank you. I’ve been practising hard.”
“Well, it absolutely paid off.”
They caught their breath for another moment, before the taller girl spoke again, “I must thank you for your gift.”
Laughing to herself, Vickie responded, “oh, please, think nothing of it. It felt right for you to have it.”
An expensive trumpet in an equally expensive, beautiful case was not something she would ever think nothing of. It meant more to her than the other girl might ever know.
Gazing at her, the princess added sweetly, “I hope to hear you play again some time.”
Robin’s heart sank for a second. They wouldn’t ever see each other again.
Stepping forward, Vickie gave a knowing expression, “so… I believe I have a library to show you.”
Dismissing her thoughts, she matched the redhead’s energy, tilting her chin down, “oh, is it library time?”
“It’s library time,” she grinned at her wickedly, taking her by the hand again, “come on.”
They sped through the palace corridors, Vickie not once hesitating on which direction to go. Robin felt sure she would get lost all the time in a place like this.
The library was just as grandiose as she had been imagining. The walls were covered in tall bookshelves, each one filled to the brim with every genre and type of book she could wish to read. Sliding ladders were dotted around for access, giving the room the feeling of being its very own book shop. At the head of the room was a large, currently unlit fireplace, with a table and set of plush seating beside it. Another ideal reading spot.
Vickie showed her around every shelf, knowing the sections by heart. She must spend a lot of time in here. They took some books from the shelf of other languages, Robin taking a look at some she had in french and italian. Vickie picked out one in irish, suddenly revealing to be able to speak a few words herself. It was her family’s heritage. Robin asked to see a book of Ireland, the princess showing her all the places she had been to, and where she still wished to go. She wanted so badly to be able to visit them with her.
With the library exhausted, their journey around the palace continued, the princess sharing more fascinating and wonderful things from her home. If she was not showing her anything specifically, they were simply talking, laughing and joking together, even playing word games. Enjoying each other’s company. They felt so familiar now, it was as if they had spoken for an eternity.
After a conversation about the royal family, Vickie circled them back around to the gallery room. She showed her every portrait of her family members, her ancestors, previous monarchs, all as though Robin was meeting them for real. She had only greeted the king briefly; there was less pressure this way. Quietly, she wished she had portraits of her own parents, only having the memory of their faces left.
Noticeably, Vickie fell more solemn as she spoke of her father. Instinctively, Robin had a clue of what was going on, given her experience. She didn’t try to push it, but the redhead sat them down on the seat in the centre of the room, seemingly willing to confide in her.
“Can I trust you with a secret?”
Robin nodded gently. “Yes.”
“My father… he is not well. The doctor has visited many times, tells us it’s only a matter of months. He can sit, and watch, and talk, but that is all. He threw this spectacular three night palace ball as a sort of goodbye, and of course for me to meet someone. I am to take over the throne once he passes.”
Admittedly, Robin did not have experience with those specifics, but she tried to be compassionate regardless. “That must be difficult for you to handle.”
Shaking her head, Vickie continued, “the worst part is not the task of ruling the kingdom. I can’t even think about that.”
The girl looked up at her, voice wavering ever so slightly, “I am so afraid of when I lose him. He’s my father, he is the only parent I’ve had since I can remember. My mother died not long after I was born. I do not know if I will be strong enough to bear it when he goes too.”
Robin knew this all too well. The loss of both her parents was the worst thing that ever happened to her. She hated that Vickie was experiencing it too.
The princess suddenly waved herself off, “I’m sorry, I don’t know why I am telling you all this-”
“No, it’s okay.”
The taller girl’s hand fell of her knee as a gesture of comfort. Something so simple she wished she’d had herself. Their eyes locked, sharing their vulnerability.
“I know how you feel. Only a few years ago did I lose my own father. He was the only real parent I had for most of my life. Things certainly have not been the same since I lost him.”
Her voice softened even more, hoping her advice was of aid, “it won’t be easy, but I am sure that when the time comes, you will find that you are stronger than you know.”
They both smiled weakly at each other, a silent understanding of their similar pain.
“Thank you,” Vickie spoke, just above a whisper, “I’m sorry, for your father.”
Robin just nodded slowly, feeling touched by the sentiment. Not many people in her life had shown her such a small sympathy; not even her step-family.
“We don’t want to share the news of his condition, not yet, so as not to worry everyone-”
“The secret is safe with me,” the taller girl smiled with more assurance, squeezing her knee, “don’t worry.”
Something pulled in her heart. Something protective. She wanted to be there for Vickie, help her through her inevitable loss. She didn’t want to leave her to deal with that alone.
She didn’t want to leave her at all. It wasn’t her choice.
Their conversation turned lighter again as they continued through the palace, but Robin could no longer shake the heavy feeling in her chest. She knew their time was running out. It wouldn’t be long until she had to leave the palace for good, and never see Vickie again, return to a life of pain and abuse. She always knew that was part of the deal, but she never thought she was going to fall in love.
Maybe it was her mistake for letting them go so far together, but she couldn’t keep away from her. Now, she was in too deep.
Vickie decidedly took them up a flight of stairs, leading her to a common room. Across the common room was a door. Through the door was a balcony, looking over the rear palace garden. The sight of all the shrubs and paths, the bridge over the stream, the moonlight shining down on it, was all so enchanting. It was possibly the most romantic spot they had been.
“Wow… it’s so beautiful up here.”
“This is my favourite spot in the whole palace,” the princess told softly, “I have lived here my whole life, and even now, the sight still takes my breath away.”
If the moments they had shared previously felt intimate, this topped all of them. Robin’s heart was racing, but not entirely for good reason. Fear was creeping up.
The red haired girl took hold of her hands, gazing up at her. She had a gentle, romantic smile on her face. Robin felt her heart beat even faster.
“I am so happy I have met you, Rose.”
Swallowing, she echoed, “I am happy to have met you, too, Vickie.”
Robin watched the princess take a breath, about to tell her something. Something she knew would utterly destroy her. The fear crept up further and further.
Of course, Vickie began rambling clumsily, building up to the point, “in all honesty, I was absolutely dreading the ball that first night. There was such a pressure to find a partner, and I know my father cannot help his condition, but because of it I knew I had limited time. I wanted what my parents had, a real, true, magical sort of love, with someone who was completely my person, shared the same dreams as me, who I could talk to for hours on end, share my life with happily. I did not think real love like that could be found under these circumstances.”
Her blue eyes stared directly into Robin’s. She couldn’t breathe.
“That was until I met you. The moment I saw you walking into that ballroom, I felt magnetised towards you. Deep down, I knew you were that person, and spending these nights with you has only proven that to extents I could never even imagine. I love you, Rose. I am so in love with you. I… I want to-”
“Vickie, I have to tell you something.”
The taller girl sharply pulled her hands away. She couldn’t look at her. The guilt was overpowering. She never wanted it to come to this.
“I’m so sorry, I- I haven’t been honest with you.”
“Rose, what do you mean?”
Wincing, she finally confessed, “my name… isn’t Rose.”
The silence felt like it lasted forever. It was only a few seconds.
“I don’t understand.”
“I couldn’t…” Robin’s voice cracked slightly, eyes instinctively going towards the door, as if her stepmother was watching, listening. As if she would be found out if she even hinted at the truth. “It’s so much to explain. I’m sorry.”
Vickie paused, considering the revelation. Finally, she spoke, “well… what is your name?”
She froze. For a moment, she genuinely thought about telling the truth. Telling her everything. How she lived a life of misery, lost ownership of her house, suffered at the hands of her stepmother, had to come here in secret, was only here thanks to a series of magical gifts.
Robin could have everything. Be with Vickie, forever, finally be free of her stepmother. Vickie could take her away from everything in an instant, and they could live happily together. But in order for that to happen, she would have to find out what she really was. It was a huge risk; she could lose everything, too.
Before she could speak, a bell chimed. Her eyes landed on the clock tower, in sight behind the other girl. It was only a few minutes to midnight.
“I have to go.”
She tried to leave, but the princess grasped her by the arm, panicked. “No.”
“Vickie, please.”
Robin shook her off, heading inside. Vickie followed, continuing to reach for her.
“Why do you always have to leave?”
“I just can’t stay any longer, I can’t explain.”
“But I don’t even know who you are! How will I find you again?”
“I’m sorry.”
The redhead eventually got a grip of her wrist, desperately stopping her, “please don’t leave, I love you!”
“Vickie.”
Robin turned, finally looking her in the eyes again. Deep pain was behind them, expressing how much she didn’t want to walk away from her. She couldn’t stay, either.
Voice thick, she told her deftly, “if you knew who I really was, you wouldn’t feel that way.”
Vickie said nothing. Her eyes still begged her not to leave, but she spoke no words.
Letting go of her, Robin whispered painfully, “I have to go.”
She dashed off without looking back. She didn’t want to see Vickie’s face, or else she might not have the guts to go. This had to be it.
The red haired girl stood in the aftermath, despairingly watching her run away. Debating in her mind, she quickly realised that she couldn’t let her go, couldn’t never see her again. She had to fight for them. This couldn’t be it.
“No, wait!”
Vickie charged after her, quite a few paces behind. She had to catch up with her.
Robin clumsily stumbled through the palace, finding her way back to the ballroom again. She was running as fast as possible in her heels, terrified of tripping. She had to keep moving; if the magic reversed in front of her step-family, it was over for her.
Behind her, she heard Vickie calling after her, rapid footsteps following. She wouldn’t turn around. Bumping through the crowds of guests dancing, she made it to the stairs, bounding up them and barrelling past the guards towards the entrance.
The redhead drew closer, their chase attracting attention. Everyone was aware of the mysterious girl who fled every night, but never had the princess tailed after her before. It was causing a stir.
Robin made it out of the entrance door, seeing Steve already pulled up at the bottom of the steps. It was only this she had to make it through now. Rushing down stairs was much harder than rushing up.
Half way down, she inevitably stumbled. She went down a few more steps before managing to steady herself, suddenly feeling unbalanced. One leg was shorter than the other.
Looking behind, she saw one of her shoes lying on the step. It had slipped off. Typical, clumsy Robin.
“Please, wait! Come back!”
She went to pick it up, but Vickie’s voice from above stopped her. In shock, she stared up at her, seeing her hurrying towards her. She was almost caught up with her.
“Come on, we need to leave now!” Steve shouted from below.
Making a decision, Robin pulled the other shoe off her foot, running down the steps barefoot. She had to leave one behind.
As she finally made it to the coach, Dustin reached his hand out to help her in, grasping it tight. “Get in!”
She practically jumped inside, pulling the smaller boy in with her. They had no time for him to get to his post; they had to get out of here, right now.
“Steve, hurry!” Robin shouted, looking back at the palace as the coach began to pull away. The boy whipped the reins, trying to pick up speed as quickly as possible.
Vickie continued down the steps, expression turning to despair as she watched her leave. There wasn’t much chance of running after her now.
She was stopped on her descent, spotting something glinting on the steps. Bending down, she got a closer look. It was one of the girl’s crystal shoes; the ones she had admired. It was just left there. She picked it up, feeling it to be precious. It was all that was left of her.
An army of boots drew closer from behind, charging down the steps either side of her. Authoritatively, Powell’s voice commanded, “guards, follow that coach!”
He stopped beside the princess, instructing her more gently, “wait inside, your highness.”
Defiantly, she argued, “no, I have to come with you!”
“You can’t. You must stay here with your father.”
Exhaling, she knew he was right. She didn’t wish to leave him, either.
Tapping her arm, Powell assured, “we’ll get her back, I promise.”
He marched off down the steps, joining the party to follow after the girl’s coach. Vickie thought it to be a little cruel to pursue her in such a manner, but it wasn’t to catch her unwillingly. She just didn’t want to lose her.
Callahan bumped her shoulder more forcefully as he passed, joking cuttingly, “you picked a great one there, princess.”
She knows she did. She picked the best, and she wasn’t going to let that go so easily.
Away from the palace, Robin’s golden coach speeded unsteadily down the roads through the kingdom. Steve kept whipping the reins, willing the horses to go faster. They were already going as fast as physically possible.
Checking out the back window, Robin and Dustin panted, worriedly observed the king’s army behind them, nearing closer and closer. The younger boy shouted, “they’re catching up to us, you need to go faster, Steve!”
“I can’t go any faster!”
Facing the girl, Dustin asserted, “we need to shake them off!”
It was a clear path back to their house; not much chance of throwing them off their course. If they couldn’t speed up, they had to slow the guards down.
The first bell of midnight rang.
Robin peered ahead, seeing a small tunnel with a gate upcoming. If they could close the gate behind them, that should work.
Thinking quickly, she grabbed the tricorn hat off of Dustin’s head, opening the carriage door. Bravely, she held on to the side and leaned out as far as possible, positively willing herself not to fall out. The smaller boy took a grip of her, keeping her steady.
Nearing closer, the girl eyed the lever for the gate, aiming at it with the hat. They passed it in a flash, Robin hooking the hat over it, pulling it down as they sped away. The gate slammed shut just behind them, leaving the guards stuck.
The second bell rang.
She fell back in, regaining her breath. Adrenaline coursed through her veins as she slumped back in the seat. That was so close.
“I can’t believe that worked!” she mused, turning to face Dustin. Except, she didn’t see him. “Dustin?”
“Down here!”
Following his voice, she stared downwards, eyes widening in horror. Dustin had turned back into a mouse.
The third bell rang.
Panicking, Robin called to her friend out front, “Steve?!”
“Something’s happening, Robs!”
She looked over at him, seeing giant rodent ears poking up through his styled, brown hair. A long tail suddenly popped out underneath his coat. Soon, he would be de-transformed too, leaving no one to drive the coach.
The fourth bell rang.
Hastily, Robin climbed through the front window and onto the driver’s seat, “out of the way, out of the way!”
Sitting beside Steve, she took the reins from him, clutching them for dear life. Her hair fell out of its pin, strands falling messily over her face. It was much more unsteady out here.
The fifth bell rang. Steve fully reverted back to his rodent form in a burst of fairy dust.
“How on earth do you drive this thing?!” the human girl whined, terrified as she tried to steer them round the corner, nearly toppling them over. The wheels underneath them suddenly softened into the ground more; they had become vines again.
The sixth bell rang. Before her eyes, Robin saw the horses sprout the wings of a bird, white coats turning to light brown.
“No, no, no, no, no!”
She kept propelling them forward as much as possible, praying for the horses to remain horses as long as possible. The seventh bell rang.
Appearing beside them, Dustin declared, “we’re going to have to jump for it!”
“What?!”
As dangerous as it was, they didn’t have much choice, or else they would inevitably crash.
“Grab the trumpet!” instructed Steve.
The eighth bell rang. Robin turned to reach into the carriage window, swaying the coach to the side.
“We’ve got it!” assured Dustin, the two mice taking hold of each rein for her.
Hands free, the human girl reached back into the carriage, quickly grabbing the trumpet and her glass shoe, holding them to her chest. As soon as she pulled them out, the carriage morphed back into a giant, orange pumpkin.
The ninth bell rang.
Still speeding along, Robin squatted on her feet, clinging onto the coach seat with one hand. Steve and Dustin kept hold of the reins, waiting until they came to a long, straight stretch of road.
The tenth bell rang.
The party kept moving, the carriage in tow shrinking smaller and smaller, to a regular sized pumpkin. The horses still charging also began to shrink, beaks sprouting on their faces.
The eleventh bell rang.
Coming up to a clear patch of grass at the side of the road, Steve commanded, “jump now!”
As the final bell rang, the two mice let go of the reins, all three of them leaping off the moving coach (or what was left of it). The horses morphed back into robins in a sudden glow, innocently flying away, the pumpkin tumbling and smashing to pieces down the road.
Lifting her head, Robin groaned from the impact with the ground. Her white suit was gone, leaving her back in her dirty, worn work clothes. Only now, she also had blades of grass clinging to her.
Glancing around, she made sure she could spot Steve and Dustin first and foremost. “Is everyone okay?”
Her mice friends confirmed, getting up out of the grass. Thankfully, nobody was harmed.
Sitting up, the human girl made sure her gift from Vickie was still in tact. The box was high quality; sturdy. She hadn’t crumpled it on impact. The trumpet inside would be untouched. The red rose took the fall, its crushed pieces embedded in the grass.
Silently, Dustin pointed out something else to her, awe-stricken. Her glass shoe. It was still here. The last stroke of midnight had already passed.
With a small smile, Robin gestured for the two mice to hop up onto the trumpet case. Getting to her feet, she picked up the case and the shoe, beginning to walk the rest of the journey.
“Come on, we need to get home before they do.”
~~~
They had actually managed to get the coach most of the way home, so it wasn’t a long walk back. Robin entered the still empty house, taking a moment at the notion of returning to her regular life. This house was her palace now; these walls, her world.
Trying to keep her head up, she ascended to the attic. Where she belonged. She had to put away her gifts before her step-family came home.
She shut the attic door behind her, Nancy looking up at them expectantly. The human girl just gave her a weak smile.
“And it’s all over.”
Letting the boys off the case beside Nancy, Robin took it to the large pile of boxes across the room, hiding the trumpet amongst them.
Exhaling deeply, she stated, “everything back to normal.”
“Not necessarily,” Steve countered. In a way, he was correct.
Grinning, Dustin pointed out the lump of crystal still in her hands, “the shoe stayed.”
Still unable to smile fully, she agreed, “it did. Joyce must have saved it as a keepsake. I shall put it somewhere safe, where my stepmother can’t find it.”
It had to be more hidden than the trumpet; somewhere she would never look. By her bed, she lifted a weak floorboard, slotting it underneath.
“So that’s it?” Nancy asked, slightly frustrated, “three nights at the palace, and all you have is a keepsake?”
“I got three nights of freedom.” Her face tried to convince her friends, although she mostly tried to convince herself. “I will cherish them forever.”
Saddened, Steve reminded, “but what about Vickie?”
Robin’s face dropped, breath catching in her throat. The sorest spot. They would never see each other again.
Voice heavier, she expressed, “I suppose I will become a memory to her as much as she will become a memory to me.”
With a shrug, she stood, moving towards the bed, “I got what I wanted. That’s it.”
Her friends looked between each other with concern. They weren’t convinced. She couldn’t be satisfied with this. None of them had even met Vickie, but they all knew Robin was meant to be with her.
As the girl sat on the bed, Steve stepped forward, cautiously asking, “but what about what you want now?”
Robin stopped, staring at the floor. Truly thought about what to say to that. She could list so many things she wanted; the sky was the limit. She had been dreaming about it all long enough. It was too much to think about, not when she had to get used to her normal life again.
After a long silence, she finally answered, “if it was that easy, I’d have been free long ago.”
Notes:
Yeah this one broke my heart a little bit to write so, again, my apologies.
Thank you for continued support on this again btw!! Comments and feedback truly do mean the world to me (and give me the motivation to power through entire chapters in a day), so I'm very grateful for the support on my silly little self indulgent fic.
Usual, my twitter is @/smalltownrobin, same on instagram and tumblr, tiktok is @/smalltown.robin!
Chapter 10: Chapter 9
Notes:
You know when I said don't expect me to power through another chapter really quick and update in a week? Well she's gone and done it again! I guess I really like writing the painful heart wrenching parts of this oop.
We're hurtling towards the end now (low key can't believe I've managed to get this far), really big stuff happening now, be prepared for some gut punches. x
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
Vickie sat at the top of the ballroom steps, looking down upon the now empty dance floor. Held the glass shoe in her hands. She had been glum ever since the guards informed her that they had lost her.
Her. Rose. She wasn’t Rose anymore; that wasn’t her name. Now she was just “that girl”.
She would never be just some girl. Vickie felt like she was the love of her life.
“My darling, Victoria,” the princess heard behind her, seeing her father approach. He knew something had happened, but not to what extent. The ending of the ball caused too much commotion for her to explain properly.
With some groaning difficulty, he sat next to her, face gentle. “What troubles you?”
Until now, Vickie had felt nervous about speaking of her to the king, knowing his expectations. But here, he wasn’t coming to her as the king; he was coming to her as her father.
Solemnly, she confessed, “I told her I loved her. She ran away. I will probably never see her again.”
The older man’s face softened with sorrow, laying a comforting hand on his daughter’s back. After a moment, however, his expression held some uncertainty.
“Powell said she gave you a false name.”
“She did,” the princess confirmed honestly, “I do not know why. Something was…”
She trailed off, still unsure of exactly what the reason was. It was clear that her intent was not malicious; she seemed more… insecure. Afraid. What she was afraid of, Vickie could not guess.
“No matter the reason, all it means is that I cannot find her again.”
The severity of the situation washed over her again, her emotions bubbling up. She tried her hardest to control them.
“I’m sorry, father, I know you wanted me to pair with royalty, and I spent all three nights with a girl I do not even know by name.”
“Do not apologise for falling in love, Vickie.”
The king sighed regretfully, admitting his own wrongdoings, “of course, I initially saw your marriage as an affair of advantage. I was wrong. Watching you with that girl… the way you spoke of her, it… it reminded me of how I felt with your mother. It would be wrong for me to tell you status and image matters more than happiness. Did she truly make you happy?”
Vickie nodded, smiling sadly. Remembered her, all that they had shared, and connected on. All she wished for them to do together. How safe and seen she had felt with her.
“Meeting her felt like meeting my other half. Her mind, and her heart were so pure and wonderful, I felt as though I could spend an eternity with her. She is the most extraordinary person I have ever met.”
Her gaze fell down to the crystal shoe in her hands. “Now this is all I have left of her.”
Sadly, she placed it on the floor beside her. Letting go.
“It wasn’t meant to be.”
The king observed the shoe for a few moments, forming an idea. “If you were to find this girl again, would you wish to marry her?”
It did not take long for her to consider the question. Undoubtedly, she knew she wanted to spend the rest of her life with her, show the world how in love with her she was. She had even been about to ask her before she had dashed off.
“Yes.”
Her father smiled warmly for a moment, before beckoning behind them, “Powell!”
Summoned, the guard stood officially, “yes, your majesty?”
“Draft a letter to be posted around the kingdom, tomorrow you are to search up and down and try this shoe on every eligible girl, let it be declared that the girl who fits this shoe shall marry my daughter.”
He held out the glass shoe, his expression telling him to take special care of it. It was precious.
Vickie’s eyes lit up, heart swelling. Her father had given his blessing, and was even helping to find her again. There was still a chance.
“I understand, your majesty,” Powell accepted, taking the shoe, “it shall be done right away.”
As he walked away, the princess looked towards the older man, touched by his gesture. “Thank you, father.”
Smiling back, he assured, “I promise you, Victoria, I will see my daughter marry the girl she loves.”
Vickie kept a brave face, tears pricking at her eyes. His promise had a double meaning.
“Yes, you will.”
~~~
Things were considerably quieter amongst the attic the following morning. Robin got up and ready perfectly on time, not making a fuss. Apart from to ask how her friends slept and if they needed anything, she did not say a word.
The three mice were incredibly concerned. Never had the human girl been this quiet; she was always wittering about something, to them or to herself. Now, she was so solemn; defeated. Not even her step-family’s years of cruelty had ever worn her down this much. Her heart was broken, along with her spirit.
Robin simply got straight to her duties without a word of complaint, fully accepting this existence now. No more magical wishes were to be made true. She made breakfast the same as usual, ignoring all of her step-sibling’s nasty jokes and comments they tried to upset her with. She just didn’t care anymore.
Nothing anyone could say to her would hurt more than having to let go of Vickie.
Taking her stepmother’s tray to the study, she was confused to find the room empty. Every single day, that woman had been sitting at the desk, waiting to be served. She never missed.
Cautiously, Robin approached the desk, setting the tray down. Tried to glance over anything that could be a clue to what was going on.
Idly, she remembered her father’s will in the locked drawer. The spare keys were sitting in the drawer beside it.
“What are you doing in here, Robin?”
Startling, she turned round, seeing Lady Click stood in the doorway. She was wearing her overcoat.
“I brought you your breakfast,” she quickly explained, hands shaking ever so slightly. She moved to show the tray as evidence. “I did not know you were out, I only just came in.”
The older woman glanced her up and down for a long moment, something darker than usual in her expression. As if she didn’t quite believe her.
“Out you go, then.”
“Yes, stepmother.”
Robin looked down as she headed swiftly out of the room, making sure not to bump into her. Lady Click simply stepped aside, removing her coat.
“And Robin?”
Stopping, the younger girl turned back round, “yes?”
Another long moment of unsettling silence passed, her stepmother looking her over again. Something was definitely going on. It wasn’t as if she did not believe her; it was as if she knew something that Robin didn’t.
“Make sure we have a sufficient supply of fruit in, it’s been days since you went to the market.”
Uncertain, she just accepted the order. “I will.”
Whatever was going on, she hoped she might find the answer on her outing.
~~~
When Robin made it to the town centre, she noticed it to be more bustling than typical for mid-morning. Everyone was chattering and gossiping, all seeming excited about something, the women in particular. Something was definitely happening; the same thing that must have contributed to Lady Click’s suspicious behaviour.
In the marketplace, most people were crowded around one of the large stone walls surrounding, where notices and other important news was typically posted. Robin would have tried to see what was causing all the fuss, but even despite her height, there was too many people in the way for her to see, and there was no chance she was going to risk getting close to that crowd.
Still watching in confusion, she walked up to the fruit stall, where her friend Jonathan worked.
Apart from the mice, he was really the only human friend she had, seeing him almost every other day when she came out. He knew of her situation, but his own made him unable to help further than being a confidant. It was all she ever needed of him (of course, apart from the goods he would sell), and she was grateful for it. Surely, he must know something.
“Jonathan, do you know what’s going on?”
Seeing her, the boy shrugged, seeming unbothered about what had everyone talking, “oh, it’s about that palace ball.”
Her heartbeat instantly picked up. “What about it?”
“Apparently there was some girl who showed up and talked to the princess?”
“Yes.” She quickly shook her head, changing her answer, “I mean, I heard, yes.”
Jonathan squinted his eyes slightly, trying to remember, “well, according to that letter, when she left last night she left her shoe behind on the palace steps. A glass shoe. But now the balls are over, the princess can’t find her again.”
The notice on the wall was from the palace. Her glass shoe that had remained, Vickie still had the other of.
“What do you mean, can’t find her again?”
“I don’t know, I guess she’s in love with her, but she doesn’t even know her name,” he informed as if it were amusing, “so they’re going round the whole kingdom trying it on everyone it might fit so they can find who it was.”
They were looking for her. Vickie was looking for her.
More urgently, she pushed, “well, what will happen when when they do find this girl?”
With another shrug, he replied, “letter says the princess wants to marry her.”
Robin swore her heart actually stopped for a second.
“You’re joking.”
“That’s what it said.”
She couldn’t believe it. Even after she had ran away, told her to forget about her, Vickie had not given up on her. She wanted to find her, was actively trying to, using the shoe she had left behind. The other one Robin still had hidden underneath her floorboards.
This was it. Her way out, her way to be free of her stepmother, for good. She would be unable to refuse a royal order. Once they found her, Robin would have the entire royal court on her side, to help put an end to her suffering and abuse once and for all.
She could be with Vickie for the rest of her life.
“I have to go,” she announced in a rush, throwing change on Jonathan’s counter, despite not taking any fruit from him. “Thank you!”
She had doubted herself, but now she knew that Vickie hadn’t given up on them, she wasn’t going to either. Her freedom was one shoe away.
Racing all the way home, Robin’s mind thought over what Joyce had said to her; how her life could be changed for the better. She had simply believed it to be in more of a sense of self, but now she could see her fairy godmother may have had other ideas. The shoes were not a keepsake; they were her way out. Had she planned this? Known that her and Vickie would fall in love?
No matter how, all that was important was that it was happening, and Robin was more than determined to take this opportunity. It was all that she wanted, and it wasn’t too big to wish for.
The girl stumbled through the front door, quickly checking for her step-family as she messily shrugged off her overcoat. She couldn’t let them know of her plan; she had to surprise them when the guards were already here, so her stepmother could not protest. Once she presented that shoe, it would all be over.
She was more than eager to tell her friends, however.
“Steve! Nancy! Dustin!” Robin shouted keenly, gleefully bounding up the attic stairs. They were going to be so excited. Maybe she could even take them with her once she was free, let them live openly in those beautiful palace gardens.
Upon opening the door, however, she was stopped by a puzzling sight. Her friends weren’t on the nightstand like usual. Wandering in further, she glanced around, still failing to spot them. She looked in their sleeping corner, and by the window, not seeing them at all.
As she turned, her breath caught in her throat as she saw an ominous figure, looming in the shadows by the pile of boxes. Staring at her.
“Stepmother.”
Dread filled her body, giving her an ill feeling. The woman wasn’t saying anything; not yet.
Her gaze shifted ever so slightly, stomach dropping once the glint hit her eyes. The crystal shoe was in her stepmother’s hand.
Incriminatingly, she asked low, “where did you get that?”
Finally, Lady Click stepped further into the light, expression darker than ever.
“That is what I would like to know, Robin.”
The younger girl swallowed, fixed to the spot. She had been found out.
“So, you’re the mysterious girl who turned the princess’s head, are you?” her stepmother began, slowly and menacingly circling round her bed to corner her, “I should have known. Only you would be stupid enough to make such a spectacle of yourself.”
Robin briefly glanced beside her, seeing her mice friends hiding under the bed. Lady Click couldn’t spot them.
Right in front of her, the older woman leant over her slightly, intimidating her further. “How did you do it?”
The girl’s voice was weaker than she hoped as she finally spoke, “you wouldn’t believe me.”
Clearly, that was not the answer her stepmother wanted.
Scowling, she turned away, moving a few steps away as she spat, “wretched child. After all I have done for you.”
“All you have done for me?” Robin echoed, voice stronger and louder this time. Now she was angry. “You took everything from me. You have done nothing but degrade and hurt me since the day father died.”
“I gave you a roof over your head.”
“It is my roof! I have to work every second of the day just so you will let me live in my own home!”
“Richard left this house to me.”
Robin actually scoffed at that, laughing humourlessly. It was unbelievable how, after everything, she was still trying to lie to her.
Her eyes narrowed, fearless to challenge her stepmother for the first time in years, “we both know that’s not true.”
The two stood off for a moment, Lady Click ever so slightly taken aback by her boldness. She was losing control of her.
No longer did Robin care about the consequences.
“The one thing I ever asked you for, you wouldn’t even let me have.”
“So you defied me!”
“And I would do it again! I would do it a thousand times over if it meant being with Vickie!”
Her stepmother laughed coldly, “Vickie.”
“I love her! And she loves me. She has sent her guards around the whole kingdom trying to find me!”
“Well, we don’t always get what we want, do we?”
That finally made Robin stop. As emboldened as she was, Lady Click still undoubtedly had the upper hand.
With control regained, the woman told her plan, “when the guards arrive here, Carol is going to be the one to be taken back to marry your precious princess.”
A new, sick dread filled her body. Her stepmother was so cruel, she wouldn’t even leave Vickie out of this. She was willing to take advantage of her for their own selfish gain, just like she had Robin. It was everything Vickie was afraid of, and much worse.
Now, she knew both their fates hung in the balance.
In desperation, she blurted out, “the shoe won’t fit her! They will only fit me.”
She wasn’t even sure if that much was true; they were magical, so it was possible.
“You seem to be forgetting, Robin…” Lady Click waltzed back up to her, making a show of holding up the shoe, “I have the other one. It is obvious that the owner of them lives in this house. No further proof will be necessary. And as for you…”
Aggressively, the older woman grabbed her by the ear, pulling her head and forcing her gaze towards her. Robin’s eyes widened, being filled with a sudden, paralysing fear. Her stepmother, over all these years, had never looked at her with such anger before.
“I shall deal with you later.”
She let go harshly, near shoving her towards the wall, before she marched off. The younger girl took a second to recover, brain scrambled with everything that had just happened.
When she looked back up, her stepmother was in the doorway, the attic key in her hand.
“No!”
Robin ran as fast as she could across the room, making it to the door just a split second too late. She grabbed for the handle, but it was already locked.
“No, please! You can’t do this!” She pulled and pushed the handle, trying it every which way, before resorting to banging on the door, “let me out!”
This wasn’t happening. This couldn’t be happening.
Inhaling, she practically growled, “bastard, let me out of here!!”
She continued to slam her palms, pound her fists, rattle the wood; anything to get her stepmother’s, or anyone’s, attention. Soon, she tired, her movements weakened, slowing as the situation washed over her.
With one last hit, she leant her head against the door, choking up, “you can’t do this, please.”
Only silence rang from the other side. Lady Click was long gone.
Defeated, she sank to the floor, still leaning against the locked door. The door between her and her freedom. It was over. Her stepmother had won.
Robin much too casually wondered if she would go as far as to kill her.
Coming out of hiding, the three mice slowly drew closer to their friend, all feeling the weight of her sorrow. If she had felt hopeless this morning, it was nothing compared to right now. They glanced at each other, wondering what on earth they could do to make this any better.
Tentatively, Steve spoke up, “Robin?”
The girl didn’t flinch, face still leaning into the door. She breathed heavily, voice croaky and weak, “I can’t believe I messed it up.”
“No,” he immediately countered, “don’t you dare give up, Robin.”
“I can’t get out, Steve.”
Her head lifted to face him, the mice seeing her eyes wet with unshed tears. There was quiet disappointment in her expression, entirely directed at herself.
“We’re too high up for me to climb out of the window.”
Steve began to feel a frustration of his own at his best friend’s sense of defeat. She had come this far, and he was determined more than ever for her to push this all the way. Get what she deserved.
Stepping closer, he boldly encouraged, “it’s not over. You can’t give up now, you can’t let her win, you can’t let Vickie live miserably with Carol! She is meant to find you. She wants to be with you, Robin, she loves you, you can’t just let her get away! You owe it to her, and you owe it to yourself to try! You get out of here, and you show them that you are the girl the princess is looking for, and then you will never have to suffer at the hands of your stepmother again! Do not give up hope, Robin, there is a way, and we’re going to find it! You won’t give up hope, will you?”
A much more optimistic silence hung in the air after the little mouse’s speech, even leaving Nancy and Dustin stunned. The human girl’s face slowly filled with the hopeful determination her best friend had been trying to instill, being convinced of his belief in her. His belief that this wasn’t the end.
Sitting up, she answered, “no, I won’t.” She wiped her eyes, sniffling away the last of her sadness, replacing it with hope. “I have to make it out of here.”
“Yes, you do!” Steve beamed, getting an idea. “Listen, we’re going to go downstairs and try and retrieve that key.” The other two mice nodded, agreeing to his plan of action.
“There’s a spare set of keys to the whole house in my father’s study,” Robin helpfully informed, a faint smile cracking on her face, “in the right side drawer of the desk. Not the left, the left one is locked.”
“Alright, we’ll go get those spare keys. You look around here for any other way out.”
Nodding, the girl picked herself up. “Okay.”
Nancy lead the trio of mice to the hole by the door, instructing, “this way, come on.”
As they ran out, Steve held back a second, shouting up to the girl moving across the room, “don’t you dare give up hope, Robin!”
“I won’t!” she called back, beginning her search around the attic. Every possible way out of here, she was willing to try.
Her and Vickie were going to reach each other; she knew it.
~~~
Downstairs, Carol was vainly fretting in front of her bedroom mirror, touching, fluffing and styling her hair. Ever since her mother had told her she still had a good chance of winning the princess’s hand, she was determined to secure her place in the palace. Tommy, on the other hand, simply sat sulking, watching his sister get what he wanted. He thought he would be a much better ruler than her.
“Where’s Cinderobin?” Carol asked in annoyance, checking herself out for the hundredth time this morning, “I need to look my best if they’re taking me back as a future queen.”
“Nevermind where Robin is.”
The siblings looked behind them, seeing Lady Click enter their room. “I have something for you, Carol.”
“What is it?”
“Something to make sure they definitely know you are the girl they are looking for.”
Coming closer, their mother revealed an item she had been concealing. One of the glass shoes. Evidently, the other one from the one the palace had. Both their eyes lit up.
“How did you get hold of that?” asked Tommy.
“Let’s just say an understanding has been agreed upon.”
“With that girl, you know who she is?”
Tommy and Carol shared a look, both slowly coming to the same conclusion. Robin wasn’t here.
Proudly, Lady Click declared, “you will not even need to try it on.”
Carol tried to reach for the shoe, but her mother sharply pulled it away.
“Now, make yourself presentable,” she ordered, “I shan’t have the royal guards thinking their future queen dresses as tackily as that.”
The younger girl’s expression turned to offence as the woman left the room, taking the shoe with her, obviously not trusting her with it. She wondered if her mother would even allow her to be queen once they joined the royal court, or if she would just take power herself. She wouldn’t put it past her.
Deep down, Carol didn’t feel quite right about this. It suddenly felt different now she knew she was smiting her own stepsister. It shouldn’t be any different than usual, but the stakes were much higher this time.
In a way, she realised she was mostly doing this because her mother had told her to. A lot of what she did was because her mother told her to.
If the mysterious girl really was Robin, then she was the one Princess Victoria loved. The princess would never love her. Was that really what she wanted for the rest of her life?
Decidedly, she moved to get dressed, to be ready for the guards’ arrival. Ready to do what her mother wanted.
Notes:
Adding jobin as a late addition friendship? Giving Carol a mini redemption arc? Hell yeah I did!
Only two chapters to go!! The next one will be LONG so I truly cannot promise a repeat of this rapid behaviour, but I will try my damn best!
Again, thank you for any lovely comments and feedback, what truly keeps me going, makes me a very happy camper to know that people other than me are enjoying this lmao.
My twitter, tumblr and instagram is @/smalltownrobin, my tiktok is @/smalltown.robin!
Chapter 11: Chapter 10
Notes:
WE'VE REACHED THE END
Well not the VERY end, but the end of the main story, which deserves its own little closing moment, I think. It's all been leading up to this, I definitely felt the pressure writing it, SO I hope you are ready and I hope you enjoy!
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
Since the early hours of the morning, Powell and Callahan had searched all across the kingdom for the mystery girl. The shoe she had left behind had been on the foot of every eligible commoner (whether they had been in attendance or not), still the right fit was not found. Callahan had wondered if simply asking for the girl to come forward would be a much more efficient method, but Powell was quick to point out that any girl could say she was the one Princess Victoria was in love with; the shoe was the only true indicator.
With hope dwindling, they arrived once again at the lavish, yet almost hauntingly lifeless mansion at the end of the kingdom. The owner of crystal shoes surely must live in a place like this. If luck was on their side, the search would commence here; if not, it would mean the mystery girl had truly disappeared, and they will have failed their order.
Inside the house, Lady Click watched eagle eyed at the front window, waiting for the guards to arrive. Her instruction to her daughter was simple; present the shoe, don’t say anything that could give her away, and her place in the royal court is cemented. Then they could deal with Robin.
The woman leapt into action as she saw the guards approach the house, commanding for Carol to take her place in the front room. Grandly, she opened the front doors before the guards even made it up the steps, presenting herself proudly.
“Good afternoon, gentlemen. I welcome you to my home.”
“”Thank you, madam,” Powell took the lead, “I am sure you know why we are here.”
“Of course, and I think I may have something very helpful for your search.”
Delighted with the guards’ look of intrigue, she stepped to the side, gesturing them inside, “please, come in.”
She lead them through to the front room, oblivious to the trio of mice scampering past them, to where Carol was stood waiting. Tommy sat in the chair in the corner, still scowling grumpily.
“Carol, these two gentlemen are here to see you,” Lady Click informed, before introducing them, “this is my daughter, and my son, Thomas, but he is of no interest to you.”
Ignoring her son’s offended expression, the older woman turned their attention to the object of significance, picking it up from behind the table.
“However, I believe this would be.”
She held it up, presenting the glass shoe to them, identical to the one in the taller guard’s hands.
Glancing between them both, he stated gleefully, “it’s the other one.”
“They certainly do match,” Powell also observed, with not so much enthusiasm.
“It must be you, then,” Callahan concluded, considering it to be a closed case.
The older guard, however, was not quite so convinced. He had actually met the girl they were searching for; he knew she was much taller, with shorter, sandy coloured hair. He didn’t need anything other than his own eyes to tell him this wasn’t the same person.
“Still, our order was to find the girl who fits the shoe,” he stepped towards the couch, gesturing for the younger girl to take a seat, “so if you wouldn’t mind, miss.”
As soon as the notion left his mouth, Lady Click was defensive. “What does she need to try it on for? She has the matching one, how many other shoes like that are there in the world?”
“I do not doubt you, madam, but it is our orders. Only a simple formality. Callahan, please.”
As Powell was the one with authority, Callahan did as he said, although still not seeing the point. Nervously, Carol sat, taking her current shoe off. She looked toward her mother, receiving a stern expression back, one which told her pointedly not to ruin this. She couldn’t fail now.
However, it was completely out of her control; as the guard tried the glass shoe on her foot, it was just about too small. It appeared as though it might squeeze in if he pushed hard enough, which he did, to no avail. It simply did not fit.
“I don’t understand.”
Slightly less confused than his subordinate, Powell questioned the older woman, “how could she possess the other shoe when it doesn’t fit?”
“I can assure you those shoes are Carol’s,” she answered, the slightest of panic setting in her demeanour.
She shot a venomous look to her daughter, silently commanding her to say something. Convince them.
“Try the other one,” Carol thought, snapping at the guards, “that one must have been altered with the whole kingdom trying it on all day.”
“Precisely,” Lady Click added, pleased with the idea, “they are very precious, you know.”
Conceding, Callahan took the other shoe from the woman, trying it on Carol’s other foot. It gave exactly the same results.
“No,” he huffed after one final push, “it won’t fit. My apologies, miss.” He stood, taking both shoes away from her.
“But that’s not possible,” the younger girl defended harshly, still feeling the glare from her mother, “I swear, they are mine!”
“What further proof do you need?” Lady Click argued. They were really beginning to lose this.
Ignoring her, Powell turned his attention back to the younger girl, posing her a simple question.
“Miss, what name did you give the princess?”
The room fell silent, everyone stunned, including his fellow guard. None of them had any idea what he was talking about.
Tommy spoke what they were all thinking, “I thought you didn’t know her name.”
Again, the guard ignored him, repeating himself more pointedly, “what name did you tell her was yours?”
He knew this girl did not have the answer. She opened her mouth, but said nothing. That alone told him exactly what he needed to know.
Facing Lady Click, he inquired further, “how exactly did you come into possession of this shoe, madam?”
“Excuse me?”
“Well, it is obvious they do not fit your daughter, and I highly doubt you are who Princess Victoria is looking for.”
The older woman near gawked at him, utterly offended. Rarely had she ever been spoken to in such a way, apart from Robin, before she got her in line. She had no authority over a royal guard. What was worse, however, was that her plan was falling apart.
Stepping towards her, Powell asked again, tone accusatory, “so, how did you come into possession of them?”
“Powell?”
Callahan called his attention over to the window, spotting someone approaching the front of the house. Joining him, the older guard observing what was happening. By the king’s order, they were supposed to be the only ones out searching for the mystery girl.
~~~
With her friends attempting to retrieve the spare key, Robin did her job of looking for another way out of the attic. She ransacked the room top to bottom, every box, every corner, every floorboard, yet found nothing. There was no way for her to open or break down the door, sneak under the floorboards, climb out of the window; nothing. Her biggest hope was that key.
Still, as the morning passed, she refused to sit back and wait. She had to try every method, which was why she had been calling out to the fairy godmother for the best part of an hour.
“Joyce, please!” she shouted, twisting and turning to face every which way of the room, unsure which direction she may be, “I need you, come on, I beg of you! What do I have to do to summon you, huh? Do I have to say a magic word, or tap my foot three times, or what?”
Pausing, she awaited a response, a sign, or anything at all; she got nothing. With frustration, she thudded her foot three times against the wooden floor. No response.
Sighing exasperatedly, she ran her hand through her hair, making one last effort to reach out to her, “Joyce, I am so grateful for everything you did for me, but I really, truly need your help just one more time.”
Her plea was only met with silence. After everything, she had abandoned her.
“I can’t lose Vickie, please!”
“Robin!”
For a moment, the girl jumped with hope, before realising it was only Nancy’s voice shouting her name. Facing the door, she saw her and Dustin slip under, both empty handed.
“We couldn’t get it,” the younger mouse informed, panting, “we’re so sorry.”
They climbed up onto their box, Nancy explaining more regretfully, “the spare keys were gone, we searched everywhere, Lady Click must have taken them. We’re so sorry, Robin.”
Falling solemn, the human girl sat on the side of her bed, eyes boring into the floor. She picked at her fingernails.
Stiffly, she asked, “have they arrived yet?”
Nodding gently, Nancy told, “they’re trying it on Carol right now.”
Robin swallowed.
“So that’s it, then. It’s over.”
The two mice shared a look. There wasn’t much they could say to her; this was typically Steve’s job. He hadn’t come back yet, said he was having one final check in the study.
“I’ll go see what’s happening,” said Dustin, hopping back off the nightstand and under the door. They could still have time yet.
“It doesn’t matter anyway,” Robin commented, mostly to herself, laughing non-humorously, “I have no way out of here.”
“Not necessarily.”
The girls turned, seeing Steve finally appear under the door, looking pleased about something. He was holding a folded piece of paper in his tail.
“Look what I did manage to find.”
Scampering up, he dropped the paper in front of Robin, gesturing for her to open it. Doing so, she glanced over the words on the page, instantly recognising the handwriting. A tiny smile cracked on her face, eyes lighting up.
“The will,” she muttered, grin growing, “my father’s will. Proof this house belongs to me, in black and white.”
The one thing that had been standing between Robin and her freedom; what was rightfully hers. She always had faith it existed, and here it was, in her hands, when it mattered most. Her suffering was over.
Beaming, she exclaimed, “Steve, you are amazing!”
“Now you can take it back,” the mouse stated, matching her enthusiasm, “you will be free!”
As her friends celebrated, Robin’s smile quickly faltered.
“Just not with Vickie.”
The little mice quickly caught up with her. Even with her freedom, she would still lose Vickie, leaving her to suffer at the hands of her stepmother instead. She couldn’t do that to her.
Ultimately, Robin still wanted to be with her, even if it was the harder way out.
Breaking the silence, Dustin skidded back under the door, slightly frantic. “Robin, did you say Vickie had short red hair?”
“Yes, why?”
“I think she’s outside.”
Her heart stopped. “What?”
“She just arrived at the front, I think she was going to talk to the guards.”
This was unbelievable. Vickie was really here, at her house, right there for her to reach her. She was so close. If only there was some way she could signal to her, let her know she was here, that it was her.
There was one way she could think of.
“I have an idea,” Robin leapt up, pocketing the will as she instructed, “open the windows.”
Slightly baffled, the mice did as she said, pushing the attic windows open. They were at the side of the house, out of sight, but anyone below may hear something, should it be loud enough.
“What are you going to do, shout at her?” Steve questioned nonsensically, watching his friend move to the pile of boxes. Looking for something specific.
Grinning, Robin pulled out the white trumpet case.
“I’m going to let her know it’s me.”
~~~
Upon spotting her, the guards hurried outside to meet the princess, arriving on her horse. She must have come out in secret. Lady Click followed them out at a slower pace, not walking past the door.
Concerned, Powell asked, “your highness, what are you doing here?”
“This is the last house, is it not?” Vickie asked eagerly, dismounting, “you have to have found her.”
The two guards shared a look, not quite sure how to break the news.
“We…”
Slightly unsure, Callahan just decided to show her what they meant, holding up the pair of glass shoes.
“We have found the other shoe. But she is still missing.”
Visibly, the red haired girl’s hope turned into nervous dread. She had been so sure this would work, that she was out there, waiting for her. This didn’t add up.
“Well, she has to be here somewhere. She wouldn’t just disappear.”
Still onto her, Powell turned to Lady Click, inquiring, “madam, are there no other members of your house?”
Stiffening, the older woman paused, considering how to respond. From the cold look in her eyes, it was clear she was hiding something.
“No,” she declared firmly, swallowing, “there is not.”
Just as she spoke, a faint sound began to drift over where they stood. Music.
It took a moment to increase in volume, taking all their attentions. Someone was playing the trumpet, clear as day. Glancing around, the royal guards saw that there was nobody nearby, down the road, any walking distance away playing any kind of instrument. It was coming from above them; more importantly, from inside the house.
As they listened, the princess felt her heart swell. She recognised the sound, recognised the song. It was the same piece the girl had played for her in the music room of the palace, that nostalgically beautiful melody, playing just as exquisitely as the other night.
Vickie was certain she was here; no one else knew the girl had played that music for her. She was signalling directly to her.
Lady Click, however, appeared angered by it, face turning sour.
“Where did she get that from?” she muttered to herself, but Vickie heard it. This woman knew who it was.
The group stood in silence, continuing to listen, before Callahan’s eyes lit up in realisation.
“The servant girl. The one who took the invitation.”
Someone else did live here.
Suddenly, the pieces began to fall into place. The false name, her sudden need to leave early every single night, her insistence on being unable to reveal her true identity; she was protecting herself. Whatever her situation was here, it was not good. This lady did not want them to find her, most likely for her own selfish gain.
Now, Vickie felt more determined than ever to reach her.
Powell, also coming to a similar conclusion, stepped towards the older woman, meeting her now guilty expression.
“If there is no one else in your house, then who is playing that music?” he asked, even more accusatory than before, “could it be the same person who fits that shoe you claim to possess?”
“I told you, those shoes belong to my daughter.”
“Which daughter?”
The princess couldn’t take any more of this. The girl she was looking for, the girl she loved, was in here, and this was getting her no closer.
Without a second thought, she darted past and into the house.
“Your highness!” the older guard called after her, the others chasing her in.
Hearing the commotion, Tommy and Carol ran out to the entrance hall, both surprised by the sight of Princess Victoria stood in their house, searching round in every direction.
“Princess!” Tommy exclaimed, the siblings messily attempting a bow. She wasn’t impressed.
“Where is that playing coming from?” she asked, only receiving a blank stare. Was nobody in this house willing to tell her anything? “She has to be here!”
“Princess, please, calm down,” the taller guard tried, still holding a crystal shoe in each hand.
His attempt was to no avail, the redhead only whirling round, more frustrated. She wanted answers, and the lady of the house evidently had them.
“The servant, the one they met, where is she?”
Lady Click tensed, but said nothing.
“Where is she?!”
“Your highness, please,” Powell settled the younger girl more gently, before addressing the woman himself, in a much more official manner, “madam, it is at Princess Victoria’s request that you show us to wherever your servant is currently hiding.”
Glaring, she refused, “I will not.”
Having an idea, the princess stepped forward, holding her posture up high.
“This is a royal order. My father declared that everyone eligible must try on that shoe, and regardless of if the girl playing that music truly is the girl I am searching for or not, she has a right to try. Take him to her.”
For once, she willingly used her status to her advantage. This woman seemed like the type to respect that kind of authority, as begrudgingly as she might. Vickie dreaded to think what she may have done to the girl she loved, how she may have hurt her, even just today. She wasn’t going to let her be afraid any longer.
~~~
Stood by the window, Robin put all her concentration into playing her trumpet as loudly and perfectly as possible. She wasn’t quite sure how long it would take for anyone to notice, so she kept going, playing her father’s song over and over, waiting for a sign. Maybe nobody could hear her.
At her request, her mice friends stayed in the attic with her, out of sight, should it be one of her step family to come up after her. The human girl was not about to risk their safety, too; only her own.
It was a short while before she heard anything; the rapid creaking of the stairs, the sound of a set of keys in the lock. Startling, she immediately stopped, turning her direction to the door. Her body filled with an unsettling blend of fear and hope, anticipating who was about to enter.
The door opened. It was the royal guard, last name Powell; the one who had given her Vickie’s gift last night.
Her plan worked.
“Hi,” Robin greeted nervously, pleased smile gracing her face, “I mean, hello, good afternoon, yes.”
The guard smiled back at her warmly, a particular glint in his eyes. His gaze flicked towards the white trumpet case on her bed. He recognised her, too.
“Miss, please excuse me for intruding, but would you be so kind as to come with me. I am sure you are aware of Princess Victoria’s search for the young girl wearing glass shoes she met at the royal ball, and you have been requested to present yourself as a potential candidate.”
It was impossible to hide her gleeful expression, the girl biting back a shy grin.
With utmost sincerity, she agreed, “of course. Thank you.”
He stepped aside, gesturing for her to be escorted downstairs. To where Vickie was waiting. Where they would finally find each other.
Putting her trumpet down, Robin caught eyes with Steve in the corner. He beamed, all three of her friends silently elated for her. All she could do for now was send a small wave of gratitude; if it wasn’t for them, she wouldn’t be here.
Walking to the door, the girl’s smile dropped as she was suddenly stopped at the sight of someone else behind it. Her stepmother, keys in hand. She must have been ordered to let her out.
No longer did she have to be afraid of her.
Approaching her, the younger girl met her cold eyes, standing tall.
“It’s over, stepmother. You have nothing over me anymore.”
Lady Click did not speak. Wanted to be gracious in defeat, but the burning anger in her gaze was obvious.
Robin had nothing else to say to her.
Descending the stairs, she stepped into the entrance hall, seeing her step-siblings stood waiting. They didn’t say a word, or mutter to each other, not even glaring at her. Their expressions were unreadable. She could tell that they knew.
She chose to leave them alone; after all, her stepmother was the true villain here. If anything, they were mostly a result of their mother’s cruel upbringing. Forgiveness could not be given to them, however. Not yet.
Beside her, Powell gestured Robin towards the drawing room, indicating for her to go in alone. She took a deep breath. This was it.
Bracing herself, she opened the door. Her heart was racing. There was Vickie, sat waiting on the armchair by the fireplace. The glass shoes were in her hands.
At the sound of the door handle, the princess looked over, jumping up once she saw her. Their eyes met, pair smiling. It felt just as breathtakingly magical as the first moment they met.
Vickie spoke first, “nice playing. I thought you no longer owned a trumpet.”
“I was given one recently as a gift.”
The two wandered up to each other, the princess noting, “no bow or curtsey.”
Narrowing her eyes playfully, the taller girl answered with a question, “it’s such a bore, is it not?”
Face to face, they paused for a brief moment, taking each other in. Finally, they had reached each other, and no one was going to tear them apart this time.
Giggling, Vickie shook her head. “I don’t think we need to bother with the formality.”
She leant down, placing the shoes on the floor, out of the way. As she did, Robin’s eyes landed on the mirror behind her. Her own reflection; the messy hair, the scruffy work clothes, the dirt on her face. Something shifted inside her.
Straightening back up, the redhead gazed at her with a relieved adoration, sharing softly, “I’d most certainly recognise those eyes anywhere. I am so happy to have found you.”
Suddenly, Robin felt awful. Rotten. This wasn’t right. She stared down at the shoes; what Vickie expected of her, the elegant, polished girl in the white suit. She wasn’t her.
“I’m sorry.”
Unable to look at her, she ran out of the room, leaving Vickie unnerved.
“Wait, where are you going?”
Watching her zoom past, towards the back of the house, Powell shouted, “after her!”
He and Callahan moved to spring into action, but the princess stopped them with a hand in front of their chests.
“No, please. I’ll go,” she beseeched, before following after the girl herself. “Wait!”
Racing after her, Vickie came to the garden at the back of the house. Not as large as her own, but similarly picturesque, with a wider variety of features. Most notably was the large, beautiful willow tree in the centre.
She was sat by it, on a bench. Looking down; away from her.
“Must you always run away from me?”
Robin tensed at the voice behind her. She didn’t trust herself to reply.
Persisting, Vickie moved closer. “If you do not love me, please tell me now, and I will leave you in peace-”
“I do love you.”
The taller girl shifted to face her, expression tense with despair. The idea that Vickie believed she may not love her hurt more than any insecurity she had.
Still, she could not hold her gaze for long, eyes staring away from the red haired girl, stating shakily, “I never thought you would see who I really am.”
Vickie’s face softened in sorrow, heart aching for her. From her attire alone, she could see why she would have reservations. Her status wasn’t even a thought to the princess; then again, she wasn’t the one in her position.
Decidedly, she lowered onto the bench, sitting beside her. Meeting her on her level. She drew her gaze, looking into her eyes with absolute sincerity and gentleness.
“Who are you?” she asked, leaning toward her slightly, “I am not afraid of the truth.”
This was the moment Robin had been scared of. The moment Vickie found out the thing that would make her realise she didn’t want her. However, she also knew that no matter the consequences, no matter what became of them, she deserved to know.
She took a deep breath, and began her confession.
“My name is Robin Buckley. I am the furthest thing from a princess. I spend my days cooking and cleaning for no reward other than a roof over my head.”
Gesturing to the weeping willow behind her, she continued, “this tree is my father’s, he planted in memory of my late mother. Ever since they died, I have lost everything, even my own house. I am here because I was too afraid to try and reclaim what is rightfully mine.”
She closed her eyes momentarily, swallowing. A lone tear escaped.
“I allowed this to happen. I allowed my stepmother to hurt me, and to make me a servant, and to take everything away from me. I ran away from you because I was so afraid of her, afraid of you finding out I’m not who you think I am. I was ashamed. I am not who you need, Vickie. You, and this kingdom, deserve someone so much braver and stronger than me.”
A silence fell, Robin willing to hold herself together. These feelings were not new; she had held onto them ever since things turned bad, a guilt she was so ashamed of she had never even shared them with Steve. Barely admitted it to herself. Vickie wanted the truth, and as dark as it was, she gave it to her.
Vickie, however, did not run away, did not turn her back on her, or judge her. She did the opposite.
“Robin.”
The taller girl flinched unnoticeably; she had never spoken her real name before.
“Robin, look at me.”
She did so, terrified of what was coming next.
Softening her tone, the princess asked, “does any of that affect your heart, or your mind? Your wish to travel? Are you still a lover of literature, and of languages, and of music?”
Silently, Robin nodded. The gentlest of smiles grew on the redhead’s face.
“Then you are still the girl I fell in love with. None of that is going to change the way I feel about you. If anything, it angers me that you have been treated like this, and it upsets me that you don’t believe you deserve better. In fact, I know you do, or else I would never have found you. I came looking for the girl with the incredible mind and the generous heart I spent three amazing nights with, none of what you have had to endure could alter or break the connection we have. You are still all of the wonderful things that made me fall for you, and now I know of your strength and resilience and determination, if it’s possible, I think I love you even more.”
She reached for her hand laid on the bench, holding it tenderly. Comfortingly.
“You are exactly who I need. Being with you now, I know you’re the one I want to spend the rest of my life with.”
Bringing her other hand up to her jaw, Vickie swiftly leant in, crushing their lips together. Letting her know she meant every word. Robin reciprocated, feeling her sincerity down to her core.
Her insecurities did not disappear in an instant, but with Vickie, she knew she would be okay; safe. Whatever issues she had within herself, she could trust her to help her bear them, just as Robin wanted to do for her. They needed each other.
Pulling away, the redhead kept their faces close for a moment, whispering, “want to know how sure I am?”
Without waiting for an answer, Vickie let her go, only keeping hold of her hand as she stood and moved in front of her. She descended onto one knee.
Robin’s breath caught in her throat.
“Robin Buckley, if you would let me, I want to give you the life you deserve. A life of freedom, and of happiness, where you may choose how you spend your days. We can travel to Europe, and make music together, whatever you wish, so long as you will allow me to enjoy every moment with you. I would be eternally happy if you would let me spend my life with you, and rule this kingdom with me.”
Gazing at her deftly, the princess inhaled, before finally asking,
“Robin, will you marry me?”
She did not even need to consider her answer. Swallowing her tears (now of joy), she nodded with a grin.
“Yes. Yes, yes, I will!”
The redhead’s face lit up as Robin clumsily knelt with her, the two meeting in a tight embrace.
Feeling her own tears, Vickie beamed, “I’m so glad!”
Parting, they kept hold of each other, never wanting to let go. They would never lose each other again.
“I love you, Vickie.”
“I love you too, Robin.”
Their lips connected again, tender and passionate. They grasped each other tightly, knowing they would do so for the rest of their lives.
Pain was behind them, and pain was still to come, but both of them were certain they could endure anything together. It had taken them both time and suffering to find what they had been looking for; what they had been in need of.
They had finally found each other, and nothing was going to break them apart.
Notes:
And just the epilogue to go... it's quite sad really, I've been working on this fic for a lot longer than I even started posting it (which itself was about 9 months ago WOW), so it's kind of bittersweet to have it come to an end after so long, BUT we're not finished with it quite yet, one last chapter to go, I hope you like dorky happy endings cos that's what's coming.
Usual stuff, twitter is @/smalltownrobin as well as tumblr and instagram, tiktok is @/smalltown.robin, come pass the time until s5 comes out with me on there!
Chapter 12: Epilogue
Chapter Text
The clock hands steadily ticked by; fifteen minutes to the hour. The ceremony was at midday.
Still in the fitting room, Robin had a moment alone for the first time all day, all the royal dressers and designers and stylists finally finished with getting her ready. It certainly felt unusual to have a team of people take care of her hair and clothes for her, but simultaneously less overwhelming. She was in the best hands of qualified people, after all.
As she waited, Robin took a long gaze at her reflection, staring at herself in the sleek, white, three piece suit she had chosen. The royal seamstresses had asked for her guidance in the design, the girl dreaming up something close to her father’s style and her mother’s finesse, but also reminiscent of the suit Joyce had gifted to her. It was just as she had envisioned. Her hair simply laid down in neat waves, with a modestly small tiara of silver crystal adorning her head.
The tiara, typically, would never be something she would have thought of choosing, but it was royal customary, as Vickie had told her. It symbolised them belonging to one another, almost as much as their wedding rings. She simply thought she would be able to abide it for one day, but looking at herself in it, she actually rather liked it. Not something she could wear every day, though.
Even with her racing heart and bubbling nerves, Robin found a sense of comfort and gratification in her reflection. No longer did a dishevelled shell of herself stare back at her; this was truly her, albeit more glamorous than usual. Now she was the girl with a future, the girl who was happy, and free, about to marry the love of her life.
Still, she had a sense deep down that something was missing. Of course, she had always been aware her parents would never see her wedding day, even if she hoped they would be with her in spirit. She had gotten everything back, her house and her life, but she could never get them back. While she knew that to be true, the gap was still felt in her heart.
As she observed herself, she noticed a familiar swirl of sparkles in the mirror, rising up behind her.
“I always thought white was a good colour on you, Robin, and I wasn’t wrong.”
“Joyce!”
The younger girl beamed, turning and wrapping the fairy godmother in a tight hug. “I’m so glad you’re here. I didn’t think I’d ever see you again.”
“Oh, I couldn’t miss this! It’s your big day!” Joyce exclaimed as she pulled away, before giving her a pointed look, “one I knew would come.”
“I think you did,” Robin agreed wholeheartedly.
With a particular grin, the older woman stepped away, standing by the door.
“And… I have one more surprise for you.”
The door opened, a trio of people walking in. A sparkle appeared in Robin’s eyes; it was her friends. Her human friends.
“Steve!”
The girl launched towards him, giving her best friend an incredibly tight, but brief, hug. She moved down the line, also crushing the younger boy in a similar gesture.
“Dustin!”
Instinctively, she moved to the third person, only for her brain to quickly catch up, taking her aback.
“Nancy?”
This was new. The human girl, also much shorter than Robin, smiled shyly back at her.
“That’s me,” human Nancy confirmed, tucking a strand of her long, delicately styled, wavy brown hair behind her ear. “Not so bad, it turns out.”
The gap Robin felt in her heart filled a little more.
Gleaming, she looked around at them all, asking, “so, what’s this? What’s going on?”
“Joyce made us human,” Steve stated obviously, before clarifying, “permanently.”
She couldn’t believe it.
“Well, we can switch back and forth whenever we want,” added Nancy.
“Yeah, but why would we want to?” Dustin argued lightly, “being human is so awesome!”
Nancy just shrugged, “it’s nice to have the option.”
“It’s their reward,” the fairy godmother told proudly, “for helping you.”
Nodding, Robin admitted, “yeah, I… couldn’t have gotten here without any of you.”
Steve shrugged like it was nothing, “what else are friends for?”
Laughing lightly, Robin countered, “you’re not friends. You’re family.”
A moment passed, the group all sharing looks of warm joy. Wordlessly, they all joined in a group hug; one Robin had hoped for since she met them all.
Stepping away, she remarked to the new humans, “so, I guess this means you can come visit us up here whenever you want. Don’t have to worry about the guards thinking you’re vermin.”
They all grinned in agreement, the youngest boy asking, “but you’ll still come and see us, right?”
“Oh, every day. Vickie’s going to teach me to ride a horse, and I’m terrified. It’ll be like I never moved out.”
“Well, it is still your house,” reminded Nancy, “it will always be.”
“Yeah, not your nasty stepmother’s,” added Steve, clearly still resentful of the woman.
“It’s crazy how quickly they just went like that,” Dustin reflected, remembering how only within a few days of Robin leaving were Lady Click, Tommy, and Carol cleared out of the house, and the kingdom, as if they’d never even been there.
Shrugging, the taller girl joked, “palace legal team works fast.”
“Where did they go, do you know?”
“Oh, no, I don’t, and I don’t wish to know,” Robin told, before explaining, “I think it would hurt either way to know whether they’re happy, or suffering, or whatever. I don’t want to think about what will become of them, all I know is that they’re gone.”
Her friends all nodded, easily accepting her decision. Nancy met her eyes, sending her a look of assurance.
“They can’t hurt you any more, Robin.”
“Or you.”
Another moment passed, Robin unable to stop smiling at everyone.
“I really should thank you all again, for everything,” she shared, turning to the fairy godmother specifically, “especially you, Joyce. Vickie and I wouldn’t be together if not for you.”
The older woman smiled warmly at her, politely disputing, “I didn’t bring you and Vickie together, that part was all you. I knew you two would find each other on your own, and I knew you wouldn’t give up on yourself either, Robin.”
She bumped a shoulder up, squinting her eyes with more of a self-assured grin. “It was just a little helping hand. That’s what I’m here for.”
While Robin intended to disagree, she found that she couldn’t. It was true that Joyce’s magic was not the reason Vickie fell for her, it only facilitated their meeting. Vickie loved her for her, and it was her knowledge of that which made her so sure she could happily spend the rest of her life with her.
Before she could say anything, Steve made a show of stepping forward, holding his arms out in a grandiose manner.
Lowering his voice jokingly, he declared loudly, “all bow down to her royal highness, the future queen of Hawkins!”
At his cue, the three former mice bowed before Robin, in the most dramatic and non-serious way. Even Joyce joined in the theatrics, giving a slight curtsy at the side.
Finding the display utterly amusing, the girl raised her chin, playing along, “rise, my loyal subjects. You are excused from formalities today, and ordered to dance until your feet drop off.”
The “loyal subjects” rose, all laughing comfortably with each other. They were definitely going to be pulling stunts like this for a long while to come.
As their laughter died down, the door opened again, Powell, the royal guard, poking his head in.
“Robin? It’s time.”
Smiling gratefully, she nodded to dismiss him, “thank you, Cal.”
“Cal?” the younger boy inquired as the guard left.
“Calvin. I didn’t like using his second name.”
A proud smile lingered on Joyce’s face for a moment, before she leapt into action, “come on, we must be going! Don’t want to be late to your own wedding!”
The group eagerly moved at her instruction, all grinning in anticipation. Robin’s newly human friends made to file out of the door, not before giving the girl one last well wish each.
“We’ll see you out there,” Dustin grinned as he hugged her, patting her back.
Nancy also gave her a gentler hug. “Good luck, Robin.”
Joyce opted for a squeeze of the younger girl’s arm, whispering, “good luck, sweetie.”
The door closed behind them as they made their way to the ceremony hall. Only Steve was left.
“Well, here we finally are,” the boy observed, speaking as if this was an inevitable moment. He was always certain that it would be.
He grinned over at the girl smugly; knowingly. “Admit I was right.”
Robin pushed her jaw out, but bit back a grin. Of course he’d take pride in this.
“You were right, Steve.”
The two lingered in a comfortable silence, both failing to hold back their joy. They both got what they wanted, come through their painful hardships together.
Not even having to say a word, they launched to embrace in another crushing hug, this one lasting much longer. Robin could finally hug her best friend; she was beyond grateful to have him by her side, today, and for the rest of their lives.
Eventually, they forced themselves to pull away, both groaning at fighting back tears of happiness. They had to laugh at themselves.
Smiling, Steve stepped to face the door, holding his elbow out in an official manner.
“Shall we?”
Amused, Robin took his arm, standing beside him. Her gaze shifted to the door ahead of them, ready to take on the challenge of all that was to come.
“We shall.”
~~~
Royal wedding receptions were typically a more formal affair, but Robin and Vickie had insisted on a more intimate, lively atmosphere. Celebrating with their friends and family through music, dancing, and a less than elegant selection of food was all that they wanted, although the king was adamant on still making an official (and mildly embarrassing) speech.
The newlywed couple lead the first dance successfully, the taller girl feeling much more confident in a pair of heeled boots (her glass shoes had been put on display securely in the palace treasury, now part of the royal family’s history). Steve, Nancy, Dustin and Joyce all watched on with pride for their dear friend, Vickie’s father equally happy to watch his daughter dance on her wedding day. As they glided around the floor, Robin quietly hoped that she and Vickie would be dancing until they couldn’t any longer.
Time passed, the wedding party settling into a fun and relaxed mood. Vickie was taking a moment to talk aside with her father, while Nancy had kindly offered to dance with Dustin, the younger boy having the desire to, but not the confidence to ask anyone. Robin, having long since strewn her jacket somewhere, was stood by the buffet table chatting to Steve, telling him all her and Vickie’s honeymoon plans in Paris as he shovelled different types of cheese into his mouth.
As she rambled on, Steve took a particular notice of someone stood alone across the dance floor.
“And who is that handsome young man?” he interrupted, leaning towards his best friend’s side as he eyed up the stranger.
Robin glanced at where he was gesturing, telling amusedly, “that’s Jonathan. My friend from the market?”
“You never told me Jonathan was so… sharp.”
“I never told you, because for most of your life you’ve been a mous-”
“Shhh!” the boy cut her off, trying to play it cool. The array of cheese cubes in his hand wasn’t as subtle.
The moment passed, Steve speaking a little quieter as the pair continued to observe him, “so… what’s the situation with him? You know, is he…”
Considering for a second, Robin grinned, bumping his shoulder. “Go ask him to dance. Show off your smooth moves. He’s rather shy, I’m sure he would appreciate your guidance.”
The former mouse thought about it, clearly intrigued by the idea. Decidedly, he dumped the cheese into the girl’s hands, to her slight surprise, before smoothing down his jacket.
“I will.”
He walked over, Robin watching the two boys talk for a few moments. Steve then eagerly began to lead Jonathan to the dance floor, who was smiling shyly. That was sweet.
Occupied with watching her two friends dancing together, she hardly noticed her father-in-law approaching her, the princess beside him.
“Robin?”
The girl startled slightly, instantly straightening at the king’s presence. Awkwardly, she deposited the cheese in her hands back on the platter, hoping no questions would be asked about that, before facing him properly.
“Your majesty.”
“I would just like to say how very happy I am for you and Victoria.”
Robin smiled warmly at his flattery, sharing a glance with her wife.
He continued sincerely, “I think you are an incredible person, I could not imagine anyone better for my daughter.”
“I’m glad you think so, or else it would be a little too late now.”
The three of them shared a comfortable, little laugh at her joke. Having gotten to know Vickie’s father personally in the time since she left her step-family, Robin had the confidence to act a little more herself around him. He was a traditional, but very understanding man.
His laughter settling, the king complimented further, looking between the two girls, “truly, I have full faith in the both of you. Your queendom will be remarkable.”
Robin’s expression softened, truly feeling touched by his belief in her; in them. She had been so worried about not being good enough, and while that doubt had yet to leave her mind, Vickie’s father, and of course Vickie herself, made that doubt easier to manage.
Softly, she responded with a simple, “thank you.”
She accentuated her gratitude with the smallest of curtseys, mostly just bobbing down on her knee.
Amused, the older man leaned towards his daughter, “most I’m going to get out of her, isn’t it?”
Nodding, the younger redhead agreed, “I think so.”
They laughed again for a moment, until the king’s face turned ever so slightly, having to clear his throat.
Apologetically, he began to move away, “if you would excuse me.”
Vickie shifted to stand beside the taller girl, both of them watching him walk off, probably to sit down somewhere. Robin immediately noticed a sorrowful look on her wife’s face.
Laying a gentle hand on her arm, she asked softly, “are you okay?”
The red haired girl stared at her momentarily, clearly stuck in her own thoughts.
“Yes,” she shook her head dismissively, “sorry, yes. I just…”
Contemplating a moment longer, Vickie swallowed, staring off in the direction of her father.
“I’m so lucky that he is here. For a while, I thought he might not be, but he is. I wish my mother could have been here too, of course, but I am so grateful to have him here.”
Squinting her eyes slightly in thought, she looked up at the taller girl to talk to her directly, “it’s also quite bittersweet, maybe? This is probably the last major event in my life I will get to experience with him, he will not even be here for us becoming rulers, and as happy as I am today, I can’t help thinking why can’t I enjoy the fact that he is here, with me, without thinking about when he won’t-”
The princess stopped herself, suddenly being ridden with guilt for her ramble.
“I am so sorry. Here I am, wittering on about my father still being here, when your parents aren’t even-”
“Vickie.”
Robin halted her apology, taking her hand. Felt the press of her wedding ring against her fingers. She met her eyes with assurance.
“I’m okay. And you are going to be too. I promised to you today that I am going to be here for you through everything, and I do not plan on going back on that.”
She took a moment to consider things herself, feeling the empty space of her parents again.
“Of course it’s painful. That gap in my heart is always going to be there. But I have my friends, my closest friends in the world, who became more of a family to me than the ones who were only called it by name and circumstance.”
Squeezing her hand, Robin leant in a little, “and I have you. That gap is never going to be filled, but it certainly gets a lot easier to manage around the right people. We’ll be okay.”
Gazing at her with pure adoration, Vickie simply responded, “I love you.”
“I love you too.”
The shorter girl also gave her hand a squeeze, whispering, “you know you’re safe here, right?”
“Yes, I do.”
She truly meant it.
“And you also know,” Vickie reached up, fingers touching the accessory on Robin’s head, “that you look great in a tiara.”
“Yeah?” the taller girl grinned.
“Yeah, I’m surprised you were so willing to wear it.”
“Not too bad, actually. I quite like it.”
Their sweet flirting was soon interrupted by Callahan, who politely caught the princess’s attention.
“Your highness, the crowd is waiting.”
The two girls shared a look; the time had come for the second most daunting part of the day.
Inhaling, Vickie stated lightly, “big moment.”
They followed the guard out to the front balcony, Robin’s newly human friends close behind. They wanted to support the girl’s public debut as a member of the palace.
As they approached, the cheers and chatter of the crowd was incredibly loud; it sounded like the entire kingdom was there to see them, more of a turnout than the royal balls.
Quickly, Nancy came up to the taller girl, holding something. “Your jacket.”
“Oh, thank you,” she whispered, shrugging it on. She had to appear properly put together.
With Powell stood outside, awaiting his cue, Robin and Vickie took a deep breath together.
Much more used to the affair, the princess glanced up at her wife. “You ready?”
Tight lipped, Robin just nodded.
“Nervous?”
“Terrified.”
Understanding, Vickie took firm hold of her trembling hand.
“Don’t worry, I’ve got you,” she assured with a smile, “you will charm the whole kingdom just as easily as you charmed me.”
Though dorky, her encouragement honestly helped to calm the taller girl’s nerves. It was just smiling and waving, she could do this.
Sharing one last look, the princess gave the guard the signal. They were ready.
“Presenting, her royal highness, Princess Victoria of Hawkins, and her new wife, Princess Robin Buckley!”
The two girls stepped out, hand in hand, gleaming smiles on their faces as they greeted the excited crowd. Though they had practised, the joy in their expressions was completely real.
It didn’t feel as jarring as Robin had previously thought; it felt like a positively overwhelming mass of love and support. The entire kingdom was on her side.
Almost instinctively, they turned to face each other, their eyes both sparkling in adoration for each other. Everyone was here for them, for their love for one another, after all they had been through to get here.
They began to lean in, only to hesitate shyly at the low, encouraging cheer of the three former mice. Robin glared at them affectionately, thoroughly unable to keep the grin off her face.
She kissed her wife anyway.
More celebratory cheers erupted, from both outside and inside the palace. Robin and Vickie pulled away, gazes fixed. Magical was the only way to describe this moment.
As long as Robin had these people around her, she knew she would always be okay. Her hardships had ended, and she had come out on the other end with everything she had ever wished for, and more. She had safety, a new sense of family, the girl of her dreams she had promised to stick by for the rest of their lives.
Most importantly, she was free. They both were. Whatever was ahead, Robin and Vickie vowed to never lose hope in anything, as long as they had each other.
Notes:
Oh my god it’s over, we’ve made it :’)
Can I just say to every single person that has read this, truly, truly, thank you. I never thought anyone would care about this, so the fact that there are people who have been invested and taken the time to read this really does mean the world.
Not only have I loved crafting this as a work for a ship I love, and absolutely enjoyed moulding this story to characters that I adore, this is also just a story in of itself that I love so much and have had so much fun putting it together in a way which I find best. This is a story which gets adapted and altered so often, some versions are more successful than others, and even in writing this I’ve got to see a lot of the ways it has been done, so a lot of the joy came from picking and choosing things from different versions that I like, and even coming up with my own ideas. It’s like I have my own little perfect version AND it’s rovickie?? Yeah I’m very attached to this particular fic of mine.
This is just a story that has a very special place in my heart, and not simply for nostalgia, but for exactly the points I tried to convey in this fic. I hope if anyone who has read this did not see the story in this way before, that they do now, even if it’s only among the handful of rovickies that currently exist in this fandom.
Simply, thank you for reading. I hope all my time, and effort, and passion for this work has come through. And may the image of Steve Harrington as a mouse never leave your mind.
My socials are @/smalltownrobin on twitter, tumblr, and instagram, my tiktok is @/smalltown.robin, come hype with me about Maya Hawke and the (eventual) s5 release!
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