"It looks like you could use some assistance." The fairy fluttered her eyelashes sweetly. "My name is Paisley. I'm here to help!"

Ella glanced upwards, eying the fairy suspiciously. "Yeah I'm sure you are, just like the last one, who helped soooo well."

Paisley tapped her chin with the twig in her hand. It was thin and polished, silvery in color, but still just a twig. "Someone is a little stressed."

"You think?" Ella grumbled, standing up. She folded her arms.

"I know exactly how to fix it! I know Niamh caused a bit of trouble with your sister, so let's stop worrying about it!" Paisley exclaimed.

"As in you're going to wake her up?" Ella hoped.

The fairy ignored her. "Let's make things a bit more fun. Take the stress off, you know?"

Ella rolled her eyes. "That'd be great, but-"

Paisley didn't wait around long enough to hear the end of Ella's sentence. Instead she flicked her wrist, waving the silver twig in her hand.

The wind caught Ella off guard and she nearly toppled over. She spun where she stood.

The tattered rags she always wore grew heavy, layers upon layers of silk, lace, and ribbons. They had become a shiny gold in color, almost enough to blind anyone who glanced her way. White silk gloves rested on her hands.

Her hair had pulled itself into a high ponytail, falling in graceful curls. The dirt and frizz had disappeared.

"I don't-" Ella hissed. Paisley wasn't done.

"Hmm the gold really brings out the warmth in your hair and in your cheeks, doesn't it? But it's a bit flashy. Let's try something else."

Ella hadn't had time to prepare herself before she was sent spinning once more. Barely catching herself before she could fall in the water, she stomped her foot.

"This isn't-"

The ballgown she wore now was nearly identical to how it had been, with a few less frills. The color had shifted drastically, from gold to emerald. Her hair remained the same, besides the ribbon keeping it held high turning colors to match the dress.

"Emerald really is your color, isn't it?" Paisley sighed happily, letting her wand rest. Her nose scrunched as a thought came to her. "But green is popular isn't it? Especially seeing as it's one of the kingdoms colors. No no this won't do! Sure we don't want you to stick out like the court jester but that doesn't mean we want you to fit in like shrubbery!"

Before Ella even had time to argue Paisley waved her twig wand, her eyes focused between the twig and Ella, a smile lingering on her lips.

The dress shifted from emerald to shining silver. Ribbons tastefully dressed the gown, the back tying into a graceful bow. Depending on the lighting the dress seemed to shimmer like a pale northern lights, as if the aurora borealis was woven into the dress itself. Tasteful yet stunning and elegant yet simple that dress could make the entire kingdom look her way.

"Perfect! But you're missing something." Paisley tapped her chin again. The idea struck her and her wand rose.

A tiara, something simple and sweet rose from sparks to rest on Ella's head.

"Still missing something..." Paisley muttered.

The sparkles appeared in front of Ella's eyes. Glancing in the stream she found the dirt and soot had vanished from her face. Color painted her face, her cheeks rosy and lips pink. Her eyelashes appearing longer and darker. Normally she was beautiful, even coated in soot, but with a bit of magic it was impossible to describe her as anything other than stunningly gorgeous. She glared.

"This isn't exactly where my priorities lie!" Ella began, finally managing a sentence before Paisley interrupted her.

"I know! We're almost done! Just let me give you two little gifts."

A silver mask rested upon her face, with sapphire and aquamarine gems decorating its elegant design.

Ella pulled up her skirt as she sparks flew under her dress. Her worn thin, brown flats disappeared, only to be replaced by two shiny slippers. They felt like pillows on her feet, but by looking at they you would have expected them to be hard as crystal, or perhaps glass.

Paisley winked. "Those are from me to you. The mask and slippers won't disappear at midnight- Did I mention that that's how long the magic will last?"

Ella shook her head. "No you didn't, but honestly this is all too much!"

Paisley waved her hand. "Of course it's not. You need it, trust me! Ooh let's sweeten the deal, shall we? I mean, after all I can't expect you to walk all the way there. I am not letting that dress get ruined."

Paisley looked around, her eyes landing upon a nearby apple tree. Plucking one of the red fruits she waved her wand. The apple grew, shifting shape and color to become a gorgeous silver carriage.

"It'll drive itself don't worry!" Paisley grinned. Her face fell as she observed Ella. "What's wrong?"

"It's just- I don't want to go to the ball." Ella stated.

"Hogwash! All young maidens wish to attend the festival. I understand you're nervous, but it'll be fun. This is no time to get cold feet." Paisley exclaimed. Her eyes trailed down to Ella's feet. "Ooh I know!"

She waved her wand for one final time. Ella's feet began moving on their own, striding towards the carriage. She tried to latch onto a nearby tree, which only resulted in breaking a tree branch.

"You'll thank me later! When you're in a better mindset I suppose. Have fun!" Paisley yelled, as Ella gently climbed into the carriage, her free will temporarily stripped away.

Her feet were still on the carriage ride there. The ride was surprisingly smooth on the way there, due to fairy magic, Ella blamed. She certainly couldn't throw herself out the window of the vehicle. Her body wouldn't let her.

Instead she waited patiently for her limbs to begin working as they normally did so she could either throw herself off a bridge or hightail it out of there. Whichever was faster, she supposed.

The carriage halted in front of the  palace gardens where the event was going on. The first night would apparently take place majority outside.

The gardens were enlightened by floating lanterns of every color. They reflected her dress as she exited the carriage, her feet moving without her permission. Her dress appeared rainbow in the light, like the luster of an opal.

Instantly she had heads turning as she strode through the cobblestone path towards the fountain nearest to the castle wall. She had no clue what convinced her on that spot, but her feet did as they wished.

Heads snapped back to their previous object of attention. She hadn't done anything all that interesting after all. She simply was a gorgeous and mysterious woman. Why would the kingdom care about that?

Mumbling to herself, "Stupid fairy. Stupid spell. Stupid magic."

She regained control as she stood next to the gorgeous fountain. It was a rather large golden fountain with a mermaid decorating it. Large enough to hide behind, which is why it shouldn't have came as all that shocking when...

A hand grasped onto her wrist, yanking her behind the fountain. No one noticed her disappear.