Once upon a time in a small kingdom there lived a wealthy gentleman named Emiliano who lived with his loving wife Carmela and their little daughter Frida. Together they were very happy until one day when Frida was still a child her mother became fatally ill and on her death bed she said to her daughter.

"My dearest child, be patient, kind, and have faith in the Lord and he will reward you for all you have suffered in life. Promise me that you will do those things, Can you promise me that Frida?"

"Yes Mother." The little girl sobbed at her side. "I promise."

It was truly a sad day when he mother died. She and her father mourned her for many years and during that time it was just the two of them. Until one day when Frida was a young woman her father got married again. His new wife was the refined and high class, local widow Carmelita who had two pretty daughters from her first marriage named Sophia and Zoe.

While Frida was not too thrilled with the idea of a new stepmother and two new stepsisters, she chose to welcome them warmly for Emiliano's sake. But shortly after the marriage her father fell deathly ill and eventually like her mother he passed away. Frida was greatly heartbroken by her father's death and wept inconsolably for many days but her stepmother and stepsisters did not shed a single tear. For Carmelita was a proud, cruel, and haughty woman who had only married Emiliano for his wealth and while being fair of face were vile, wicked, and black of heart. All three of them were dreadful and they were very jealous of Frida for she was a maiden who had been blessed with incredible beauty, a sweet disposition, and a loving heart.

Once Emiliano had died, Carmelita sized control of the household and forced Frida to work as a scullery maid. She had to do all the cooking, the cleaning, the sewing, and she had to obey every order Carmelita, Zoe, and Sophia gave her. They took away all her nice dresses and clothes and made her wear rags. She was kicked out of her bedroom and forced to sleep by the fireplace which resulted in her always being covered in ash and soot. While Zoe and Sophia spent their days wearing fine dresses, looking pretty, and lazing around.
Though Frida wore rags, worked as a maid, and was covered in ash she only seemed to grow more beautiful with each passing day. While her stepsisters seem to only grow more ugly and spiteful.

"Frida where's my breakfast?" Sophia screeched one morning. "I expect my eggs to be done in ten minutes!"

"It's almost done." Frida called.

"Frida start my bath!" Zoe demanded. "And make sure that the water isn't cold and that you add the rose water or you'll be sorry!"

"Alright." Frida grabbed a tray that held tea, fruit, and eggs then made her way upstairs to Sophia's bedroom.

"I said I wanted ten minute eggs not twenty minute!" Sophia screamed.

"Well maybe if you had eaten the chicken eggs I had made instead of making search for duck eggs they might have been cooked faster." Frida replied.

"Don't get smart with me or I'll tell Mother! Now leave and get started on my lunch!"

"Not before you start my bath!" Zoe called from her room.

Frida sighed then left Sophia's bedroom and went to fill buckets with water that she carried into the bathroom and filled the tub with. Once the tub was full she poured rose water into it and waited with a clean towel. Zoe walked in and put a finger into the tub.

"Ahh! That water is boiling hot you wench!"

"Well you didn't want it cold." Frida joked.

"So you're trying to burn me is that it?"

"No but-"

"Mother!"

"What is it my little starling?" Carmelita asked coming into the room.

"This dirty, cinder wench is trying to burn and damage my perfect skin."

"Perfect? Compared to what?" Frida mumbled.

"Hold your tongue!" Carmelita snapped. "Zoe I'm sure your bath will be cool soon now if you'll excuse me I shall speak with our little maid alone."

"Are you going to punish her Mother?" Sophia asked.

"Beat her with a stick!" Zoe suggested.

"Enough now girls I shall deal with er myself, Frida come."

Frida sighed and followed her stepmother into the living room.

"Now then Frida tell me what exactly is all the fuss about?"

"Nothing. I gave Sophia her breakfast-"

"Which took twenty minutes when she expected ten"

"She wanted duck eggs. We don't raise ducks , we raise chickens so if you want duck eggs I have to go look for them by the pond."

"I'm not interested in your excuses. Now what happened after that?"

"I got Zoe's bath ready-"

"With water that was too hot."

"Well the water is always hot when you first get in there, you have to wait awhile."

"Could you not bring warm water?"

"If I had then by the time I filled up the tub it would've been cold."

"Excuses, excuses. My you are quite the lazy thing aren't you?"

"Lazy? Are you kidding me? I'm the only one whoever does anything around here! I do all the cooking, cleaning, and sewing while Zoe and Sophia sit on their butts all day and scream their heads up!"

"Be silent! Frida you forget your place."

"My place?"

"Yes. Now Frida when your father died and I became the head of this household did I throw you out?"

"No."

"Or send you to the work house?"

"No."

"That's right, I didn't instead I let you stay here and believe me it wan't easy especially when your father spent our entire short marriage talking about you. Talking about how pretty you were and how much you reminded him of your mother so believe me I was tempted. But I decided to show compassion therefore in return  you must do as I say or I'll throw you out on the streets like the beggar girl you are! Understand?"

"Yes ma'am."

"Good now go polish the sliver."

Frida wanted to leave the house, she wanted to go somewhere else, get a job, and live a life better than what she had here. But the problem with that was her stepfamily had been telling nearly everyone in the kingdom that she was a lazy, thieving, and irresponsible girl and almost everyone believed them so if she ever went to get another job no one would hire her. 

One day while she was folding the bed sheets there was a knock at the door.

"Open in the name of the king." It was Davi the royal messenger. 

"Good day." Frida said answering the door. 

"For you Senorita." He said handing her an envelope.

"Thank you."

She closed the door and opened the envelope.

"What's that?" Carmelita said snatching it from her and reading the letter inside. "Girls I have grand news."

"What Mother?" They said.

"By order of King Rodolfo, a grand ball is being hosted for his son Prince Manny to find a wife. Every eligible maiden is to attend"

"The prince? Oh I hear he's very handsome and rich." Sophia said.

"No doubt once he sees me he'll want to marry me right away." Zoe said.

"Or me. I'm beautiful too."

"Yeah right you're a bag of bones!"

"Well you're nothing but a cloud of gloom and doom!"

"Girls that's enough." Carmelita said. "Right now we must prepare for the ball. Frida start getting them ready."

"Wait a minute." Frida said. "Can't I come too?"

"You? A dirt covered wench?" Sophia said.

"You're too ugly for the prince." Zoe teased. 

"And clumsy."

"And loud."

"And poor."

"And dirty."

"But it says every eligible maiden is to attend." Frida said. 

"And you're eligible?" Zoe asked.

"Now girls." Carmelita said. "Of course she may go that is if she can finish her work in time."

She then pulled out a long list of chores which stretched all the way to the door. Frida huffed in frustration. She had feeling that a night at the ball was not in her future. Meanwhile at the castle Prince Manny was not at all pleased with the ball.

"But Father I don't want to attend this stupid ball." He complained.

"Why not?" The king asked.

"Well for thing I don't exactly find a bunch of shallow girls screaming over me fun."

"Now son you will be king in a few weeks and every king needs a queen."

"But I don't even wanna get married yet besides what if I don't like any of the girls at this ball."

"You'll have to like at least one of them. Son I'm only thinking of your future."

"I think I'll go join the circus."

"You set one foot out of this castle and I'll have you arrested in jail."

"I don't know what that would be like but I think I would prefer it to this."

"What?! So I guess you'd rather have your father be made a fool of. Is that it?"

"Well....Not exactly."

"Don't get cute with me I am the king and your father and you will attend this ball."

"Fine but I won't like it."

"Well we all most do things we like."

"Yeah like be tortured by screaming women at boring balls."

"Quiet! I'm still king around of here."

"King of losing your temper." He mumbled.

"What was that?" 

"Nothing."

So like it or not Prince Manny would be attending the royal ball but the same could not be said for Frida. For the entire week she was busy getting her stepmother and stepsisters ready for the ball.

"Frida fetch me my purple velvet gown with raven feathers!" Zoe screeched.

"Frida where's my green cape with topaz!" Sophia cried.

"Frida do my hair!"

"Tighten my corset!"

"Shine my shoes!"

"Ow! Not that tight you clawd!"

"You missed a spot you wretch!"

It was never ending but eventually she got them ready.

"Don't I look fabulous?" Sophia cheered. "Just wait til the prince sees me."

"Yeah he'll want to gouge his eyes out." Zoe scoffed.

"You both look marvelous girls now come along the coach is waiting." Carmelita called.

"Wait I finished all my work." Frida said. "So can I go?"

"I suppose you could if you had something suitable to wear." 

Sophia and Zoe laughed as Frida looked down at her ragged dress and apron.

"I guess you won't be coming with us." Carmelita said.

"But you said I could."

"Well I lied. Don't feel too bad Frida no one would've wanted you there anyway."

"But that's not....You can't do this! I work hard everyday, I do everything you tell me to do but you all still treat me horrible and never let me do anything I want!"

"Are you sassing me?"

"Yes! I do more this house than anyone and you have no right to treat me-"

SLAP!

Without another word Carmelita struck Frida right across her face knocking her to the ground. The young girl placed her hand on her cheek which burned and stung from her stepmother's hand. She looked up and saw no remorse in her stepmother's eyes for what she had done.

"Make sure this house is cleaned when we get back."

The three of them then left the house and went to the coach. Once she was alone Frida ran downstairs to the fireplace and began to cry. As she wept she couldn't help but wonder how they could be so cruel to her? What had she done to deserve this? How she missed her mother and her father. How she wished they were here. She tried to be patient, kind, and have faith in God like she promised her mother but it was so hard when the people around her were so cruel and when she had no where to go.

"Now, now what's all this crying for?" A gentle voice asked from behind her. She turned around to see a woman dressed in blue, shining and glimmering like stars sitting in a chair. "I don't mean to sound heartless but you know crying doesn't really solve your problems."

"Excuse me but who are you?" Frida said. "And how did you get in here I thought I had the door locked?"

"I'm your fairy godmother dear and I'm here to help you. Now what is it you want more than anything in the world?"

"To have my parents back."

"Oh...Sorry sweetie I can't raise the dead."

"Oh then I want to go to the ball."

"Now that I can do. Let's see first thing's first how are you going to get there, you certainly can't walk there."

"My stepfamily took the last carriage."

"That's not a problem for me, do you have any vegetables?"

"Sure. We have tomatoes, carrots, beans, pumpkins-"

"A pumpkin perfect."

"What do you need that for?"

"You'll see."

They went outside to the garden and pulled out the biggest pumpkin they could find. Her fairy godmother then pulled a wand from her slave, she pointed it at the pumpkin and in a flash it changed into a white and gold carriage.

"Whoa!" Frida gasped. "Impressive. How'd you do that?"

"Years of practice. Now then do you have any horses?"

"No."

"Alright then let's see...How about some mice?"

"Mice?"

"Trust me."

She led him to the mouse trap which held four gray mice, two lizards, and a black rat. With a flick of her wand she changed the mice into four white horses, the lizards into footmen, and the rat into a coachman. 

"Tada!" The fairy godmother said.

"Wow. Thanks." Frida said.

"Alright then off you go."

"Um one problem."

"What dear?"

"I...Well." She looked down at her clothes.

"Oh dear me! You can't go in that."

She waved her wand over Frida. A shower of glittering dust fell upon her changing her ragged clothes in a beautiful gown made from fabric as pale as moonlight, stitched with thread as golden as the sun, and decorated with jewels and sliver as dazzling as stardust. The ash and soot on her face was washed away while her hair was styled up and with strings of pearls tied into it. On her feet were a pair of delicate glass slippers. 

"You like?" Her fairy godmother asked.

"It's perfect."

"Alright now hurry up, you don't want to be late and remember be back before midnight."

"Why?"

"Because everything will go back to the way it was."

"Okay. Thank you fairy godmother."

"Remember it all ends at midnight."

The footmen then helped  Frida into the carriage. The coachman then had the horses take them to the castle. Inside romantic music was being played and all the guests were talking and dancing. But the prince was bored out of his mind. many fine and pretty young ladies approached him and were hoping he would ask them to dance but Manny just wanted to disappear and he considered sneaking off until the guests suddenly became silent and looked in the same direction. Curious to what had caught everyone's attention he followed their gaze which led to a carriage arriving and carrying Frida who looked as beautiful as a princess. The guests awed at her beauty, even King Rodolfo himself could not resist admiring her.  Manny fell in love with her almost as soon as he saw her. He himself helped her out of the carriage and led her to the ballroom where all eyes were on her.

"Why is everyone staring at us?" She asked him nervously.

"They're not staring at me. They're staring at you." He said.

"Why? Do I look bad?"

"No of course not."

"Then why are they staring at me?"

"Because out of all the young ladies here you are the most beautiful." He said kissing her hand making her blush. "May I have this dance?"

"It would be my honor sir."

Romantic music played and the two of them began to dance. All through the night neither one of them danced with anyone else and Manny's hand hardly ever left hers nor could he take his eyes off of her. As for everyone else at the ball they could not help but marvel at the beautiful girl who had captured the prince's heart. Frida was having the time of her life, she enjoyed dancing, the food was delicious, but most of all she loved being with Manny. He was so handsome and sweet and funny. She had never met a more wonderful man but when the clock chimed eleven she knew she had to leave.

"I'm sorry but I have to go." She said.

"But why?" Manny asked.

"I...I can't say. Goodbye."

"Wait!" 

But all too soon she slipped away from him and was gone. She arrived home in the nick of time and she was so happy that she had gone but she was sad that she couldn't have stayed longer. As for Manny the young prince was hopelessly in love and desperate to see her again so much so they he insisted that another ball be thrown much to the surprise of his father. 

"Can I please come to this one?" Frida asked her step family when she heard about the second ball.

"No!" Carmelita snapped. 

"You would only humiliate us." Zoe said. 

"Just like that stupid, pretty princess did." Sophia said.

"Princess?" Frida asked.

"Yes that little tramp stole the prince from us!" Sophia said. 

"Everyone was saying how beautiful she was when the truth was she was just as ugly as you are." Zoe complained.

"Rumor has it that the prince has fallen in love with her and that the only reason he's having this ball is to see her again." Carmelita said.

"Really?" Frida said.

"Yes but it's obviously a lie because the prince is going to marry either Sophia or Zoe."

"Sure he is." Frida mumbled while trying to hide her love sick smile and blush.

So as expected her step family left without her but once they were gone her fairy godmother appeared again turned the pumpkin, mice, rat, and lizard into a carriage, horses, driver, and footman. Once again turned her into a beautiful princess dressed in a shimmering pale gown of jewels, sliver, and gold with strings of pearls in her hair. Then once again sent her off to the ball. When she arrived she began searching for the prince but was greeted by a very unattractive man. 

"Hello." He said.

"Oh hello."

"You must be the princess everyone is talking about."

"I guess you could say that." She said.

"I'm Sergio. Would you like to dance?"

"Thank you but I'm actually looking for someone."

"Come on." He said leaning a little too close toward her. 

"I said no thank you."

"Why? I don't bite."

"I do." Manny said coming to her aid. 

"Oh she's with you? I didn't know I-"

"Disappear Sergio." Manny orderd.

"Yes sir." He said leaving.

"Sorry about him." Manny said.

"Thank you for saving me." She said. "I guess you really are a prince huh?"

He smiled, their hands joined and once again they began dancing. Later Manny asked her to join him in the royal garden. She saw it was eleven o' clock but she figured there was no harm in staying just a little longer so she agreed. The garden was full of gorgeous flowers and it had marble fountain of shimmering water. They sat by the fountain and gazed at each other. 

"So I heard through the grape vine that you only asked your father to have this ball just to see me. Is that true?" She asked him.

"Well...." He said blushing. "I guess there's no denying it now if everyone knows."

"What made you so sure I would come again?"

"I wasn't but I was desperate. I haven't been able to stop thinking about you ever since tha last ball."

She blushed then ever had before.

"Can I ask you something?" He asked her leaning in closer.

"Yes." She said leaning in as well.

"Do you believe in love at first sight?" They were centimeters apart now.

"You tell me." She said softly.

Their eyes closed and lips met in a soft kiss. They didn't break apart until Frida heard the clock strike twelve. It was midnight, she had stayed too long.

"I have to go." She said. "Goodbye!"

"Oh no not again!" Manny said grabbing her hand. "At least tell me your name."

But she just slid her hand out of his and ran.

"Wait! Wait!" He called but she just kept running. 

In her haste to get away she tripped on the stair way and dropped one of her slippers. Ignoring her missing footwear she hurried into the carriage only to find that it had returned to the shape of a pumpkin while the coachman, footman, and horses had returned to being a rat, lizard, and mice. She then changed back into a scullery maid and ran back home. 

"Where did she go?" Manny asked himself as he searched for her but he found no trace of the mysterious princess however he did find as slipper made of pure glass left on the stairway. His father suggested that they used the slipper to find her though Manny thought it was silly he couldn't think of anything else. So it was announced that all the women in the kingdom would try on the slipper and whoever it fit would wed the prince. Luckily the slipper was cleverly made to only fit Frida's foot so any other woman who tried it on couldn't get their foot in.

Manny and Davi  went from house to house trying the slipper on any woman there but it didn't fit any of them. The last house they visited was Frida's. First Sophia tried it on but her foot was much too long. 

"See it fits!" She said struggling to shove her foot in.

"Yeah I don't think so." Davi said.

"But it does fit! See?! See?!"

 "Ma'am please return the slipper."

Zoe was next but her foot was far  too wide.

"It's my slipper." She lied trying in vain the cram her foot into it.

"Ma'am please take it off." Davi said.

"No it's mine. Ugh! Why won't this stupid thing fit!"

"Because it's not yours now take it off!" 

"Madame is there any other maiden in your house hold?" Manny asked Carmelita.

"There's no one else sire." She lied.

"Um...May I try it on?" Frida asked from the fireplace. 

"Who is that?" Manny asked recognizing her voice.

"No one sire!" Carmelita lied.

"Woman do not lie. Who is she?"

"She's just a dirty little nothing."

"Madame it takes one as to know one as they say." Manny said annoyed. "Bring her here."

"Must I?"

"I'm ordering you to."

At those words Frida walked into the room and despite her poor attire Manny knew it was her. He smiled.

"I'd know those blue eyes anywhere." He told her. He had her try on the slipper, her foot easily slid in making it a perfect fit. 

"Hello again your highness." She said. "I hear you've been searching for me."

"I have and now that I've found you I have to ask. Will you marry me?"

"Yes."

The two of them were happily married and spent everyday falling more and more in love with each other. As for Frida's step family as punishment for their never ending cruelty her fairy godmother decided to blind them until they could learn to be kind and good.