Chapter 6

Two days had passed since the dance. Prince Charming was no closer to knowing who it was that he’d danced with. The only clue, it seemed, was the glass slipper. He had emailed every girl he could think of asking about that glass slipper. He still knew nothing.

He had decided that he would now personally go and meet every girl he had invited. He would go with the glass slipper and check them out.

***

Ella was disconsolate. Her best friend was missing.

Snow had dropped her home after the party and made to go home. Something must have happened on the way back because no one knew where she was. The King’s absence made everyone more worried. The Palace was in chaos. Even Artemis seemed strangely out of control. She had refused to contact her husband on Jupiter. He must not be disturbed, she said.

What had happened was this: Artemis had sent a pre-programmed robot out to lie waiting for Snow. It would intercept her, take her to the nearby forest and finish her off. But apart from being breathtakingly pretty and with etiquettes and charms to match, Snow was also an accomplished programmer. Artemis had no idea. She’d always liked to keep her distance from the girl who played with the servants.

She had quickly undone Artemis’ programming and sent the robot its way and gone her way – out. It was quite unfortunate that Snow had not been wearing her GPS-enabled watch that time because she was soon lost. No, really, what use would the watch have been in a dance party?

She walked deeper and deeper into the forest. It was past midnight, she was lost inside a forest and there seemed to be no way out. She had been in the forest once on a picnic, but at that time, the sun had been shining. And, she hadn’t been so deep inside either.

At night, every friendly bird seemed to be staring at her. Every crunch, every echo, seemed like a strange animal. And, there were bats swooping over her head. She didn’t even want to think about Count Dracula.

She was hopelessly lost and dance shoes didn’t quite seem too appropriate given the situation. She almost cried out in desperation. But she resolutely kept on walking. After all, what else could she do?

The trees appeared to be thinning in front of her. Something dark was looming up ahead.
She stumbled on in the dark. She swore she’d never wear heels ever again.
The structure, about a few hundred yards before her, looked like a house.

She walked up, reaching out for the door. The sensors in the doormat triggered a camera and a mic-cum-speaker.

“Snow? What are you doing here? It’s past midnight.” A male voice spoke out to her. It was a very familiar male voice. It was Hansel. Snow was so relieved, she could hug him.

The door opened and there stood Hansel and Gretel. It looked like they had just returned from the party because they were both still dressed.

“So this is your famed chocolate house, is it?” asked Snow.
“Yeah." An uncomfortable silence filled the air.
"You’ve never cared to visit us before. Why at such an odd time?”

Hansel and Gretel had been Snow’s childhood playmates before their parents had died and they had shifted to the chocolate house that they had taken over from the old Witch. Unfortunately, neither Hansel and Gretel, nor Snow had kept in good touch, relying only on the odd instant-messaging ever since they had shifted out. And then, they met at common events like Charming’s aforementioned birthday party.

But they were still friends nevertheless and after the initial pissing off, they did ask her inside. No matter how many years it was since anyone had initiated contact, they couldn't leave her outside, could they? It was decided that she would return to the Palace only when the King returned.

The day after, inevitably, MyrorMe still showed Snow to be the prettiest.

That, was why Artemis looked shaken and out of control.

***

Charming had reached Ella’s house. Ella heard sounds of him being welcomed inside by her step-sisters. They insisted on trying on the shoe even though it was quite apparent that their feet would just not fit.

One's feet were too long and the other’s was too fat. So that was that. Prince Charming would walk away, and Ella would be left behind and he would never get to meet the girl he had danced with. And perhaps, some girl would get her feet cosmetically modified and fit into the glass shoe and they would marry and live unhappily ever after because they were obviously not meant to be.

Or so it seemed.

Because, right then, Ella came in.

“Why don’t you try, lady?” asked Prince Charming.
“Erm. There’s no need. She hadn’t even attended the party”, her step-mother offered.
“But I believe everyone was invited. Why don’t you go ahead anyway?”

She did. And of course, it fit her foot like a glove fits a hand. What’s more, Ella had the other shoe in her hand. There was no denying it. She was the girl Charming had danced with.

Her step-sisters were shocked.

“How did you get there? Where did you get your clothes?”

All that Ella said was that her fairy godmother had helped her.

Prince Charming wanted to cart her away and take her to live with him. She didn’t look like she had any qualms either. She had had enough of living a life of poverty in a rich step-mother’s house.

Chapter 5

Ella was sitting by the electric fire, her usual place. It had earned her the name of Cinder-Ella, even though cinder was non-existent. Her step-sisters and her step-mother were getting ready. It was Prince Charming’s birthday party that night.

She heard the door slam shut, their vehicle, a Ferrari rolled away.

And then, there was Snow before her.

“Okay, hurry, we don’t have a lot of time.”
“Where’d you come from?”
“I told you that we will go to the party, so hurry up. I bought you a dress.”
“Hold on. This is just the one that I’d wanted! How did you know?”
“Ctrl + H, silly girl. So go now, wear it.”
“This is so awesome! It’s like magic. It’s like you’re my fairy godmother. Thank you, thank you!!”

The two girls left in Snow’s car. Ella knew that she would have to return before midnight so that her step-sisters did not suspect a thing when they returned. For extra measure, she and Snow had worn masks. Snow had no need to, of course.

The party was a splendid success. It was to be expected. All of Charming’s bashes were always a success. He was turning eighteen. Therefore, this one was even grander than usual. Every girl and guy in the place had been invited. A live band – Prince Charming’s favourite – was performing. The place had just the right kind of lighting and ambience.

Ella and Snow had arrived just a little after Ella’s step-sisters and step-mother. As Ella had walked in, she could feel everyone’s eyes on them. Even with the mask covering her eyes, it seemed that she looked stunning. One mustn’t forget that Snow too was looking beautiful.

But she was a bit of an attention-avoider. She was contented to be in Ella’s shadow. She had refused most dances and just had a few with Hansel.

Ella reveled in the anonymity and went all out and danced to her heart’s content. It wasn’t long before the Prince noticed her and asked her for a dance too. That, thought Ella, was the cherry on the pie.

Too bad that as soon as they’d begun, the clock struck midnight. Ella could have killed the clock, she really could have. She pecked Charming on the cheek, thanked him for the wonderful time, dragged Snow and ran. Charming was left speechless. He was feeling just a little disgruntled at having been brushed off so smoothly. He ran after Ella.

But when he reached the car park, all that he found was a glass slipper.

Chapter 4

The King had left just yesterday. Already Artemis was feeling lonely. Snow didn’t talk to her much. She somehow liked to spend a lot of time with that servant girl - what was her name again? - Ella. She had been told that Snow’s best childhood friends had been the woodcutter’s children. Maybe it was better that she saw Snow less anyway. It would hurt less.

Snow’s friend Ella, too had a step-mother. An evil one at that. Snow was thankful that Artemis was nothing like Ella’s step-mother. Snow and Ella had grown close recently, bonding over hot coffee and Ella’s tales about her step-mother. Snow now had someone who could understand what she felt like.

It also helped her to appreciate Artemis, who had, these days, begun to act rather haughtily with the servants. But Snow had promised her father that she would take care of Artemis, and she did that dutifully.

***

“Are you going to Prince Charming’s party?”
“No. My sisters have been invited, not me. Actually, I bet the invitation mentioned me too. But you know how they are. It’s not as if they’ll tell me anything.”
“Ella! You can always come with me. I’m sure he invited you. I mean, he invited every girl – and guy - in here.”
“Well, for my sisters, I’m hardly ‘every girl in here’ – I’m just a slave. And when you’re as mean as they are, you don’t take your step-sister to a ball with you.”
“I bet they don’t want you to go because they’re afraid that since you look way better than them, Charming will end up liking you.”
“Whatever the reason, the simple plain thing is, I’m not going to be going.”
“You don’t know that yet. In fact, if I can help it, you will go.”

***

Every self-respecting girl and guy was breathlessly awaiting Prince Charming’s birthday party. Preparations were full-fledgedly on. The event was only 2 weeks away and every hairdresser was booked full a week from the party. Every online designer clothes shop was raking in money like never before. Ella’s sisters had ordered their dresses early, so that they could avoid the rush. Problem was, everyone had thought like that.

Their dresses had arrived in an awful state of folds. FOLDS!! Ella, of course, was made to pay. She had to make sure the Auto-Iron didn’t ruin the engineered crumpledness while smoothing out the folds. And her sisters wanted a custom-made look which meant that they made Ella work into the night sewing in tiny details. Sewing. Who did sewing?

Ella, as you might have guessed, had no new dress. She’d been window-browsing few days earlier and a beautiful little piece of garment had caught her eyes at the ittest online store, www.furnfabric.com. Unfortunately, she couldn’t afford it. And if she thought that asking her step-mother to buy it for her would have done the trick, you might as well strap yourself to a rocket heading towards the Andromeda Galaxy.

***

Dear Diary

I’ve come up with an amazing plan. It was so simple, so really in-your-face, I’d never even considered it. Artemis is generally a beautiful thinker. But this one time, I’ll make an exception.

When you want quick results, you don’t stop to think how it’ll make you look when you’re well-known.

And I want dreadfully quick results this time round. The King returns within a month. I need something that is easy to carry out, fool-proof (for that is what Snow is, a fool) and doesn’t involve me more than I’d like.

I sure love winning.

Artemis

Chapter 3

Dear Diary

Maybe I should have expected this. For the first time, MyrorMe betrayed me.

I mean, horrors, I asked it today the question I ask it everyday and for the first time, it said, ‘Snow’. Can you even begin to imagine what went through me when I heard that much detested word? For the first time, it had betrayed me.

Why does it always happen to me? First, my ambition, my singular desire, from when I was 5, crashed. The entire world seemed as if it had ended. At least, then I had my beauty. I knew that I was still supreme in something, but now, I can’t even pride about that. I was in mortal danger when my probe got detected. The King could have finished me. What saved me? Well, of course, my beauty and charm.

I hate Snow. She has everything her way: a loving father, nice friends, trust and support of everyone in the Universe, brains and now – even the best face. Possibly the only bad thing that has happened to her would be the death of her mother. But at least, she still has her father and friends and they all love her. I don’t have anyone. My marriage to the King wasn’t because he truly loved me. I know that’s what he said, but it’s not true, is it?

Make that: I detest Snow.

Artemis

***

Snow had never seen such intense hatred on anyone’s face. She didn’t ponder much about her. She had been caught bunking. The virtual teacher must have thrown a question at her. Of course, there was no one to receive the question. She had been caught in her act.

Next time, she must think of putting in an auto-answerer in her place when she felt like taking off.

***

That night during dinner, her father had some news for them. Generally, Snow had her dinner before her father. But she had been delayed that day with the extra homework she received as a punishment for being caught bunking. Given a chance, she’d have had her dinner in her room; talking online to this really cute guy she met a few days ago.

But it would be rude to do that when her father was also present.

“Snow, Artemis, I have something to tell you. Snow must be accustomed to this regular practice of mine. Artemis, the thing is, every year, I visit Jupiter and overlook my business projects there. I’m sorry it has to happen so soon after you came here. But they expect me around this time and they have some major events planned and I just cannot cut them off.”

“But, dear, how will I – I mean, everything’s so new for me here. Can’t I come with you?”
“Rubbish! Snow here will take very good care of you. Won’t you?”
“Of course father.”
“There you go honey, you will have no problems here.”
“But – er - ”
“Artemis, you’ll be staying behind with Snow. Is that okay?”
“Yes, I suppose.”

Secretly of course, Artemis was thrilled. Now she could do all she wanted with Snow. She had free reign. She knew Snow wouldn’t complain. Even if she did, she knew how to handle fuming men. She couldn’t have asked for more.

Snow of course, was used to her father’s annual JupiTrips. But this time, she would be left with Artemis and it would be a little awkward. Oh well, it wasn’t as if she spent a lot of time with her anyway.

Chapter 2

Dear Diary
Am I lucky or what?
I’m married to the Universe’s most powerful king. He’s kinda nice. And he has money too. One almost wishes one wasn’t how one is.

So what if my plans of universe-dominance went kaput? I married the most powerful king in the universe. Literally. I cannot get over that.
It’s just a matter of a few months now.

Anyway, I met his daughter yesterday. Her name’s Snow. A bit silly, yes. But she’s damn pretty. You take one look at her fair hair and smiling, dimpled face, you start feeling insecure.
However, MyrorMe still abides by me faithfully. Hah, perhaps Snow isn’t as pretty as me after all.

Artemis

***

Good-natured Snow of course knew none of that. She didn’t know the mistake her father hadmade. She still believed that Artemis was as she looked – nice.
She’s the ever-smiling, friendly, little Princess. She befriended everyone. She was the epitome of sweetness. Of course, when you have a know-no-wrong Princess and an evil step-mother, you get a recipe for a disaster.

And such a self-obsessed step-mother at that. She was not known for her gracefulness when losing. And if she wanted something, she couldn’t settle for being second.
Every morning, she would open her Vaio, bring up MyrorMe and ask it:

“MyrorMe , MyrorMe, this you say,
Who’s the prettiest in the Milky Way?”

Yes, a rhyme. She might as well have added hand-actions too.
But since she was that breathtakingly beautiful, she was always given the same answer – “You” – by MyrorMe’s WAN which spanned across the Milky Way and compared owner shots.
That one single-syllabled word had a huge effect on Artemis. It fed her vanity.

***

Snow was, by now accustomed to seeing Artemis sit at the breakfast table, cooing away to her father everyday. She was used to seeing both of them together always.
She didn’t waste much time thinking about Artemis anyway. She’d grown up these many days without her, and she could continue growing up without her, thank you very much.
After breakfast, she would sit at her computer, studying. She was taking up three courses that year which meant a lot of time spent attending the online teaching sessions.
And then of course were the exams.
If there was one thing she hated more than sitting in front of her computer trying not to yawn or fall asleep during her ‘classes’, it was an exam. Ever since newer anti-cheating software had come up, she couldn’t even have any other piece of text in the same room other than the electronic test-paper in front of her. Spell Check was temporarily disabled the moment her paper loaded and other websites simply refused to open. If they detected any open piece of text around her, the software would just jam her test paper and she would be recorded for cheating.

That fine day, Snow had left her teaching session on and had gone off for a walk and the computer had started to beep horribly. Really, what was their problem??

As she ran towards her room, she caught a glimpse of Artemis’ face peeping out from her room window. She could have sworn her face was covered with hatred unseen before and all of it was directed right at … her.

Chapter 1

“Snow!! Here’s someone you must meet.”

Snow’s father was back from one of his long trips. He had with him, a lady that Snow had never seen before. Maybe she was another of her father’s guests – a business partner, perhaps.

“This is Artemis. Ever since your mother died, I’d been thinking of someone to look after you. You’re growing into a very pretty little girl, aren’t you? Well, Artemis is perfect for you. I’m sure both of you‘ll get along very well.”

“Hi Snow.”

Snow glanced up shyly at the tall woman. Artemis’ hair was long and black and completely straight. It fell beyond her waist. She had a very pretty face, with two huge, dark eyes and a kindly smile. Snow was a little apprehensive. It had been years since her mother had died of a myocardial infarction. But she still remembered her mother, somewhat. And she didn’t welcome this idea of letting another woman take her place. Still, she was a princess. It wouldn’t do to forget her manners.

“Hi Artemis. Won’t you be spending the night with us today?”

“Snow, she is spending the night here. Actually, she’ll be living with us from now on. I suppose I forgot to tell you … we married.”

Snow had guessed. Perhaps it was indicated in the casual way that her father’s arm was around Artemis. Perhaps Fate had decreed so – after all, fairy tales do involve evil stepmothers. Trouble was, Artemis didn’t look evil. She was the picture of saccharine sweetness.

Prologue

Once upon a time (for that is how all fairy tales must begin), the Queen of a distant far-away land had given birth to a pretty little girl.
The Queen was staring outside her bedside window, waiting for her baby to be cleaned, taking in the lightly falling January snow. The trees outside were being covered in a white cloak that contrasted sharply against the black night.

The Queen heard a gurgling laugh – it was her baby!! The Nurse was carrying in the currently-squeaky-clean girl. She placed it in her mother’s arms.

Like all female protagonists of a fairy tale, the baby was pretty. Fine golden hair matted her head, red lips parted laughingly against her snow-white body wrapped in a towel.

So taken was the Queen by the beauty of her daughter that she named her what came to her mind the first – Snow White.