Blossom laid in her grove, her larvae still in their sacs. She smelled the sweet air and perfume that the various flowers gave off and smiled.
"Shall I tell my children a story?" she asked, though knew she would get no response. Chuckling, she began her tale.
Once upon a time, there was a simple kimeti named Glowing-Embers. She was always a kind one, with a good temper and golden heart. Her dam passed away when she was young, and her sire found another mare to mate. The mare already had two daughters that were Glowing-Embers's age. But they were not as kind as she. Their mother was no different. The three does would force Glowing-Embers to pick debris from their den, gather berries for them, and fashion accessories from branches, leaves, vines, and flowers. They would call her Cinder, because they were too lazy to say her full name. And Cinder could not tell her sire, for he was under the new dam's full control, and would have scolded the poor doe.
Soon enough, the Festival of Abundance came around, and all the does and bucks would gather, seeking love. The step-does were excited and planned out what they would adorn themselves with. While Cinder helped them and dreamed of attending as well, they mocked her and said she could never find a mate there.
As they left, Cinder cried alone in despair. Then a crane appeared beside her and from the foliage around her, she fashioned a beautiful crown, necklace, and bracelets. From the stone of their den, she prospected crystals, and formed hoof-covers. Cinder was ecstatic and immediately donned her new accessories. The crane spoke then, and said to attend the festival, but when the moon reached the center of the sky, her accessories would deteriorate.
When she arrived, every kimeti was enamored by her presence. She was so beautiful, that even a Legendary kimeti, Golden Crown, stayed by her side the entire night. The doe's step-sisters didn't even recognize her, and just before midnight, Cinder left the ball and returned home. Once there, she thanked the crane, and her step-sisters talked of nothing but the beautiful doe with the crystal slippers.
Later in the year, the Winter Festival occurred. And with the crane's help, Cinder attended yet again. Golden Crown was even more entranced by her beauty, but Cinder lost track of time, and left at the last stroke of midnight. In her haste, a crystal slipper fell off and was left behind. The legendary buck kept the slipper, and vowed to life-mate with the doe that wore it. Cinder kept the other slipper as well.
Golden Crown searched the swamp for a doe whose hoof would fit in the slipper. When he came across the den of Cinder and her family, the step-does tried in vain to fit inside the small crystal slipper. When Cinder asked if she could try, they taunted her and laughed. But the prince insisted she try, and her hoof fit perfectly. She showed them the other slipper, as proof, and the step-does begged her for forgiveness. She granted them that, and later life-mated with the Legendary buck. Her step-sisters life-mated with two of his closest friends. And they all lived happily ever after..
"And that is the end, my little ones.." said Blossom, wistfully thinking of the buck she mated with. She laughed, wondering if he were her prince charming, and looked to the sunset.
