At the front entrance of the Charmings' ball, you stand nervously waiting for Cinderella to arrive. In one hand you hold a bouquet of flowers. In another, you hold the shoehorn.

Within moments, an elaborately decorated carriage pulls up. It's shaped somewhat strangely, but it's beautiful, and the horses are as silent as mice. The footman opens the door, and out steps Cinderella, a vision of loveliness in a silver-white gown that makes her look even more like an angel. Your eye gets caught by a twinkling at her hem, and you notice that her feet are tiny, and they're encased in shiny glass slippers. You look at her in wonder.

Cinderella's eyes meet yours, and she dazzles you with her smile, then notices the shoehorn in your hand. Why she notices that first, and not the flowers, you don't know.

"Uh," you begin telling her. Suddenly, the shoehorn seems inappropriate, since her feet seem dainty enough to fit the slippers perfectly. But what the hell. "I was told you might need this, but apparently, you don't."

She smiles, and it takes your breath. "Thank you, no, I don't." She gives you a preferential nod, which momentarily confuses you and renders you still, and continues toward the front door, showing her invitation to the doorman before being allowed in.

Frowning, you realize with a shock that she must have thought you were some kind of servant, or shoe salesman, or something equally low. You open your mouth to say something. After all, your name may be Valium, but you're still a prince.

But then, you realize that she's already gone in without you, and you go after her, until the doorman asks to see your invitation with a single gesture of a gloved hand.

"I was supposed to go in with the young lady who just went in," you tell him, pointing towards the hallway, at the end of which is Cinderella, who is now passing under the main arch into the ball proper.

The doorman arches an eyebrow but says nothing, his hand still outstretched, a silent request for you to provide an invitation card as a pass to enter.

Impatient, you tell him, "I was supposed to go in with her! I just told--" You roll your eyes and decide to forget trying to convince him. You go past him and enter anyway...

...only to be stopped by the guards.

"Now, hey! Wait a minute! I'm Prince Valium!"

Your protests achieve nothing but snickers, and you are unceremoniously dumped at the bottom of the front steps. You realize that there's nothing you can say to them, so desperately, you make your way around the building and peer in a window, hoping to catch Cindy's attention so that she can vouch for you. When you catch sight of her, you gasp again at her beauty.

She's in the middle of the room, enchanting and looking enchanted by the sight of it all, the high ceiling, the decorations, the beautiful gowns and flowers. Everyone in the room is gazing at her admiringly, whispering amongst themselves and wondering who she is and why a beautiful woman like her is alone. Then her eyes immediately stop their roaming, and she looks entranced.

Confused, you turn and peer so that you can see what she's looking at. It's Prince Charming, of course, and he's looking at your Cinderella like a man in love. Their gazes are locked, and with a groan, you know your planned marriage to Cinderella is doomed.

Face it, Valium. You've lost her already.

Damn.