Cinderella nervously climbed the stairs to the second floor of the mansion. She knocked quietly on Lady Tremaine’s bedroom door. “Stepmother,” she said. “May I come in?”

“Yes, you may,” Lady Tremaine called. “Come on in.” Cinderella stepped into the bedroom and found her stepmother lying down with a cool cloth over her forehead.

“I’m sorry to interrupt you, Stepmother,” Cinderella said. “But there’s something in the garden that you should see right away.”

Lady Tremaine’s eyes flew open. She jumped off her fancy canopy bed. “Oh, no,” she said. “What is it now?”

Cinderella hid a smile as she followed Lady Tremaine out to the garden. Her stepmother gasped when she saw the beautiful new rosebush.

“Stepmother, it was an accident that all the roses were cut off the other rosebush,” Cinderella told her. “I’m very sorry that it happened. I went to the village this morning and got you a new one. I hope you will accept my most sincere apology.”

Lady Tremaine looked at Cinderella and gave her a small smile. “Yes, I accept your apology,” she said. “Thank you for replacing my rosebush. It was the right thing to do.” She paused. “Did you finish all of the chores you were asked to do today?”

“No, Stepmother,” Cinderella said sadly, staring at the ground.

“Well, I suppose the chores can wait until tomorrow,” Lady Tremaine replied. “You may have the evening free. But make sure you get them done in the morning.”

“I will, Stepmother. Oh, I most surely will!” Cinderella cried happily. “Thank you!” She rushed back downstairs toward the kitchen and grabbed her basket. “Gus! Jaq! Everybody!” she called. “I have wonderful news!”

“Lucifer is getting a new home?” Jaq asked hopefully.

Cinderella laughed. “No, silly—better than that,” she said. “Stepmother says I can have the evening free. I’m going to the fair!”

The little mice were quiet. “Oh,” Gus said softly. “Have a good time, Cinderelly.”

“And you’re all coming with me, of course,” Cinderella continued. “Come on, hop in the basket. We’ve got to hurry or we’ll miss the big parade!”

“Hooray!” cheered the mice as they leaped into Cinderella’s basket.

Cinderella hurried down the lane toward the village, carefully carrying the basket. All the mice were chattering excitedly about the fair.

“I want to see the Prince!” cried Perla.

“I want to see the big parade!” Jaq announced.

“And I want to eat some cake,” Gus added. He rubbed his belly. “Yummy!”

When Cinderella and the mice reached the village, they heard the sounds of the band playing as they marched in the parade. There were crowds of people everywhere, talking and laughing as the parade slowly moved down the narrow streets of the village.

Cinderella held the basket up so that the mice could peek out and see everything. “Oh, look!” she cried. “There’s the royal carriage. The Prince and his family are leading the parade!”

As the carriage passed by, Cinderella waved to the royal family along with the rest of the crowd. She turned to watch the carriage continue its journey to the village square—and saw something even more exciting. Right in the middle of the square were all the little cakes that she and the mice had made. They were beautifully arranged on a table.

“Our cakes,” she whispered to the mice. “Don’t they look beautiful? I hope the royal family likes them, I really do!”

As the carriage came to a stop, a hush fell over the crowd. The royal family stepped out. The men bowed and the ladies curtsied.

“Welcome, everyone,” the King grandly announced. “The village fair has officially begun!”

The crowd burst into cheers and applause.

“And I see here that our village baker has outdone himself, as usual,” the King said. He admired the little cakes.

“Your Majesty, I must confess that these cakes are the work of some promising young bakers in your kingdom,” the baker gently corrected the King with a low bow.

“Indeed?” asked the King with a smile. “I will decide how promising these young bakers are by tasting one of these cakes.” The crowd was silent as the King picked up a cake and took a bite. Cinderella held her breath—and so did the mice.

“Delicious!” the King proclaimed. “One of the best cakes I’ve ever eaten.” He turned to the baker. “Well done for finding such talented new bakers and introducing them to the village. And now, everyone, please enjoy the fair!”

“Did everyone hear that?” Cinderella whispered into the basket. “The King loves our cakes. We did it!”

The mice were delighted. Gus looked over at his new friends and smiled. What a day!

The royal servants made their way through the crowd and passed out the little cakes. Cinderella took two from the tray—one for her, and one for the mice to share. She took a bite of the cake.

“It really is as tasty as everyone says,” she whispered to the mice.

“Mmm, very tasty, Cinderelly,” Gus said happily. As he spoke, he sprayed a mouthful of crumbs into the air.

“It’s really good,” added Perla. “Really, really, really good!”

“And you know what else?” Cinderella continued. “I think it tastes even better because we worked so hard together. I couldn’t have done it without you—all of you!”

“I just have one question,” Jaq said as he licked pink frosting off his paws.

“Yes, Jaq?” Cinderella replied.

“Can we get another cake to share?” he asked hopefully.

Cinderella laughed. “Oh, I don’t see why not,” she said. “After all, those talented new bakers deserve to have a little more cake if they want some!”

Cinderella smiled as she looked around at all the people enjoying the desserts. Even the King was reaching for a second helping! Cinderella was so relieved that eveything had worked out. It had been such a busy day, filled with some mishaps and surprises—but the ending was sweeter than she ever could have imagined!