The Gold Slipper

The Gold Slipper is the fourteenth part of the Town of Haven fiction.

Sypnosis
"An unknown criminal known as the Gold Slipper appears to be framing random girls by dropping a gold slipper with their size. Would our friends figure out who? Or would the criminal succeed after midnight?"

Plot
The group were in the middle of the streets, taking a stroll, when a nearby billboard suddenly shows a breaking news:

"Gold strikes again! An infamous criminal known as the "Gold Slipper" has robbed one of the stores, framing a nearby teenage girl afterwards by dropping a gold slipper that somehow fit the teenager`s size. The girl, however, revealed to the police on what she looked like: sunglasses, a purple scarf, and a large sized white hoodie. What would the Gold Slipper do? We`ll find out more soon..."

Mei suddenly looked at a lady on the other side of the street that is staring at them.

"Sunglasses... Purple scarf... Large white hoodie..." Mei then gasped. "Guys! Its her! The Gold Slipper!"

The lady smiled and then spoke infront of them. "Try to catch me, and youll regret it." The lady then ran towards a nearby intersection, with the group pursuing her.

The group kept on following her until they found her entering the Mall. But as soon as they enter, they lost her. But infront of them was a gold slipper on the floor, with a crumpled note inside it.

"She must have tried to hide her plans..." Orion spoke. "I wonder what her plan was."

Orion then read the note infront of them.

"Step 1: Brainwash the prince. Spiking a drink for him may do the trick. Step 2: Ask or force him to be his bride. Step 3: Steal the prince`s family`s wealth. In case he already found a bride. Murder her silently."

Just as Orion finished reading the note, the group spotted the lady standing on the other entrance. Once again, they follow her out of the Mall, only to arrive at an old manor. As they enter through the front door, a woman is seen standing by the living room with a gold slipper in her hands.

"Was it you that robbed almost everything and framed innocent girls?" Neko spoke.

"Its not what it looks like." The woman replied. "It is that my stepdaughter, Cinderella, framed me."

"Wait what!?" The group spoke at the same time.

A laughter can be hear behind them. And as the five looked behind, Cinderella can be seen holding what appears to be a glass bottle with sleeping gas.

"I told you that you`ll regret following me." Cinderella spoke. She then threw the bottle at them, and one by one, they fall to the floor unconscious.

Regaining consciousness, the group find themselves in the manor`s basement, with its door locked. Later, a loud metal rustling sound can be heard.

"Whats that noise?" Jashley wondered.

Evelyn spotted the source of the noise, it was the rusty pipes shaking. "Guys, i dont want to worry you, but i think the manor`s gonna need a plumber." The pipes then came loose, resulting in a rapid leak. It is only a matter of time before the group drowns to death.

"Orion! Neko! Can you shift into werewolves and break the door open?" Dexter

spoke.

The two werewolves tried to shift, but to no avail. "We cant." Orion spoke. "The effects of the gas were too strong, it would take a minute for us to regain our strength.

Mei then found a dull axe in a box, Orion then sharpened the axe with a brick lying in the basement floor and successfully broke the door open. As everyone escaped, they found the sun setting, and in the ground was a card.

Evelyn then read the contents of the card:

"To Ms. Ella Sterling, you have been invited to Prince Hector`s party located at Shadow Lake Park, wherein at midnight, the prince will decide a woman to be his bride."

"We better get to that party, fast!" Dexter spoke.

"But how? We dont have any ways of transportation! Orion`s car was at his house!"

Orion and Neko tried to shift once again, this time, it was a success. The two managed to become werewolevs and made the others rode into their backs. Arriving at the party, they found Cinderella with a glass of wine spiked with a potion that can brainwash a person. She is then seen talking to Prince Hector.

"Prince Hector. I never knew you look ravishing in person. Here, lets drink as a celebration for this party."

Prince Hector then hold the glass of the spiked drink and spoke. "Uhm thanks. Im used to drinking champagne, but i guess i`ll take it."

As the prince drink the spiked wine, his eyes turn purple, showing that he has been brainwashed. "This drink... Its exquisite. And you, my lady, look magnificent. Why dont we go somewhere else? We can have our private conversation there."

Both the prince and Cinderella walked towards a nearby gazebo. When the group tried following them, a guard suddenly blocks their path.

"You cant access this area for a moment." The guard spoke. "But... If you do me a favor and i`ll grant you access."

"Tell us what is it, quickly." Mei spoke.

"Hand me a drink and i`ll let you pass."

The group walked towards a table with wine glasses and bottles of cocktail, champagne, and wine. As soon as Jashley prepared a glass of champagne, Neko quickly spotted something on the ground.

"What is it?" Orion questioned.

Neko picked up the object. "Its a bottle... With a label: Sleeping Potion. Use this incase someone is in your way towards the prince... By Cinderella?"

"She probably dropped it when she found the prince." Evelyn spoke.

Dexter took the bottle from Neko`s hand and poured a few drop of the potion on the champage.

"What are you doing?" Neko spoke.

"Just in case he is going to bother us once again." Dexter replied.

The group then returned to the guard and gave him the spiked champage. As soon as he drank it, he suddenly walked towards a nearby bench and fell asleep. As the group proceed towards the gazebo, Prince Hector can be seen in the gazebo, standing idly like a ghost possessing him. He then began talking to them.

"Hello... Have you seen my soon-to-be bride, Cinderella? She`s out gathering fruits... She`s charming, isnt she?"

Suddenly, a ringing noise can be heard. It was the clock tower of the Town Hall nearby. The group then heard Cinderella coming, so they quickly hide behind a large bush, they can hear both Cinderella and the prince talking.

"Just in time, Cinderella. Its midnight. We should get to my mansion, the other guests could be there."

Footsteps can be heard leaving the gazebo, leaving it unattended. The group then left the bush.

"What should we do now?" Mei asked.

An old lady suddenly entered the gazebo area and asked the five for assistance.

"Excuse me dearies, do you mind helping a poor lady out?" The lady asked.

"Uhm sure... What is it?" Evelyn asked.

"I wanted a cup of water from the lake, but i seem cant quite reach the water. Guess im too old now..."

"Ill help, sure." Orion responded.

"Take this cup, dearie."

Orion grabbed the cup and ran towards the lake to fill it up, he then returned the full cup to the lady.

"Ah... Thank you, dearie." The lady spoke.

"Why do you need the cup of water?" Jashley asked.

"Of course... I forgot to tell you..."

The lady then walked to an open space near the gazebo, the lady then threw out a stick to the air. And sparkles formed around the lady and the stick. The sparkles then disappeared and the old lady was gone. In her place was an elegant woman in a silver dress. She then caught the stick, which turned into a wand made of glass. Presumably the old lady transformed into her.

"Who are you?" Mei asked.

"Well my dearies, im the Fairy Godmother... Cinderella`s godmother to be exact."

"Cinderella?" Neko responded. "Do you know the reason why she brainwashed the prince and doing crimes?"

"Let me tell it to you all what happened..."

Time then paused around them, giving the Fairy Godmother time to explain to them about Cinderella. During her explanation, she casts magic, creating various illustrations of Cinderella`s life.

"Ella Sterling, now known as Cinderella. You may know her as an honest and kind person in storybooks, but in truth, she also acts like a spoiled brat. After her mother`s death, Cinderella`s father married to another woman, who is also kindhearted. Cinderella then treated her like a second mother. Years later, her father died, and Cinderella blamed her stepmother for her father`s death. One day, a gentleman announced about the party held by Prince Hector. Cinderella found this as an opportunity to remain in a wealthy life. So she became the criminal known as the Gold Slipper and the current events follow."

Time resumed when Fairy Godmother finished her story.

"What do we do now?" Dexter asked. "The prince would wed Cinderella anytime!"

"Here... Take this." The Fairy Godmother then gave them a small note with strange words. "Its a spell. Read it aloud during your confrontation with Cinderella alone, i will be summoned when you cast the spell." When Neko grabbed the note, the Fairy Godmother casts a spell on them, making them wear casual outfits and masks.

"Dont worry, the clothes you recently wear will be in a trunk of a carriage your gonna ride." The Fairy Godmother spoke.

"What carriage?" Orion asked.

The Fairy Godmother casts a spell yet again. This time, she sent them inside an empty carriage.

Orion inspected the carriage`s chest and found the group`s clothes in it, including his. "Fairy Godmother`s right... Our clothes were in here."

The carriage then suddenly moved, horses can be heard galloping. As Jashley peeks out of a window, she saw a gentleman leading the horses carrying the carriage somewhere.

"Excuse me sir..." Jashley spoke. "Do you know where were heading?"

"Were going to the party, miss." the gentleman spoke. "Were going to Prince Hector`s mansion."

Evelyn then realized. "Thank you, Fairy Godmother..."

The carriage stopped infront of a mansion, one by one, various carriages arrived to drop guests and leave. The group`s carriage was one of them.

"Quick, we need to stop the prince from being brainwashed and stop Cinderella." Dexter spoke.

The group then found the Prince standing idly by the mansion`s staircase, like he did back at the gazebo.

"How are we gonna stop him from being brainwashed?" Mei asked.

"There!" Jashley pointed a nearby bar. "Perhaps we can make a potion..." The group then sprinted towards the bar. Luckily, its unattended, and no one seems to be interested to drink, since they were talking to other guests.

"How are we supposed to make a potion?" Orion asked.

Neko opened his bag and grabbed out his spellbook. "I hope theres a potion here that can stop people from being brainwashed..." Successfully, he did.

"I found it! "Anti-Brainwash Potion"..." Neko spoke. "Ill read the instructions, while you guys follow them."

Neko then began saying the instructions while the others followed them. "Place 3 strawberries in the container, followed by a cherry, pour a cup of 1/2 champagne, add mint leaves, squeeze a few drops of lemon juice, add 3 ice cubes, and another cup of 1/2 champagne. Shake the container, and pour the potion on a glass."

"Its done..." Evelyn spoke. "But how are we gonna convince the prince to drink it?"

"Leave it to me." Jashley answered. "Im a princess remember?"

Jashley the grabbed the potion and a glass with champagne, she then walked towards the prince. "Prince Hector... May we share a toast for this... Fine celebration you hosted."

"May i ask who you are?" The prince asked.

"Im a princess of the Mitchell Family."

Convinced that she is a princess, Prince Hector drank the potion. His eyes no longer became purple, showing he wasnt brainwashed anymore. The rest of the group reached Jashley by the staircase.

"Who are you?" The prince wondered. "How did i get here? Was it already midnight?"

The group then heard a scream. "NO! No no no!"

Cinderella was at the top of the staircase, watching the prince and the group. "I cant believe you made me do this for nothing!" Cinderella suddenly handed out a pistol and pointed at them before running towards a nearby elevator, heading to the rooftop.

"She`s probably going to shoot herself!" Mei spoke. The other took the same elevator to the roof, just as they arrived at the rooftop and stepped out of the elevator. Cinderella was already pointing at them.

"I cant believe my plans were ruined by some 5 teenagers!" Cinderella spoke. "You ruined my opportunity to become the richest. Now im going to ruin yours..."

Neko grabbed the small note out of his pocket and he and his group read the spell.

"Maidens of Godmothers, i call upon the godmother of gold and glass..."

Fairy Godmother then appeared infront of the group and Cinderella.

"Cinderella, dearie, what has gotten into you?" Fairy Godmother spoke.

"Stay out of this, Godmother. You didnt even help me when my family is running out of money."

"Its because of your hatred towards your stepmother."

"Dont even bring up about my stepmother... Screw this"

During their confrontation, police sirens can be heard in the distance, and Cinderella prepares to shoot with her gun. Just as she was about to pull the trigger, Fairy Godmother casts a spell toward Cinderella.

"What magic did you just cast to her?" Mei spoke.

"Change of Heart Spell... It can change people`s negative thoughts to positive ones." Fairy Godmother spoke.

Cinderella suddenly placed her pistol on the floor. Two policemen then quickly stepped out of the elevator and began to arrest Cinderella.

"My greed led me here from robbing and brainwashing the prince to almost murdering people. Dont worry, Fairy Godmother... I`ll try to make it up to you. I promise..."

Cinderella was then sent down the elevator along with two policemen.

"Case closed?" Neko asked.

"Case closed..." Orion answered.

Trivia

 * This is the second part to be the longest. The first one being The Hidden Escalator.
 * This part is loosely based on the French folktale, Cinderella.
 * This part also combines the Cinderella aspects from the video game "Dark Parables: The Final Cinderella"
 * This part also combines the Cinderella aspects from the 2014 movie "Into The Woods"
 * This part was released on April 5, coincidentally, on the creator of Town of Haven`s birthday.
 * Originally, this part was going to be released somewhere on March, but got delayed due to the 2019-20 Coronavirus (Covid-19) Pandemic
 * In the part where the group finds a crumpled note inside a slipper during the Mall scene. This is actually based on a real life scenario where the creator of Town of Haven found a crumpled paper in the middle of a mall, accidentaly mistaking it as his movie ticket, in which it turns ouit to be a grocery receipt.