The Chocolate Shoe - A Short Story Of Fantasy

Once upon a time in a land far away there lived a chubby prince who'd eat night and day.

His parents were so much about their boy concerned, that one day decided his loneliness to end.

A ball with all the beautiful and single girls would throw,

So that their son would find a wife and quit from chocolate dough.

Oh, but the prince was lickerish, his sweet tooth never bothered.

That's why he is still a single man with face all chocolate covered.

Image from flickr.com - Creator, Marco Verch - License

In a land fruitful and blessed there lived a prince that had a thing for... food and especially sweets. He would spend all day in the royal kitchen, tasting all the delicacies the royal chefs would make. His father, the king was so worried about his son. 

- He will never be a real king. All his enemies will easily trick him over a bunch of doughnuts. Mark my words sweetheart, if I die he is capable of trading his kingdom for a pastry shop, the king would say to his wife.

- Don't worry my dear, he is just a child. 

- He is not a child! He is a twenty-year-old pig. Should he keep eating like that, then we won't need a sweet-stuffed pinata for his next birthday party! We'll have him!

- He has a sweet tooth, we all know that. But don't blame him for it, we let him grow like that. Remember how much you paid all those chefs and pastry makers to cook for him ever since he was young? You never wanted him to miss anything. It was only natural that he'd grow the way he did.

- I guess you're right, but... what can we do now? He needs to find a wife soon. But what girl will ever want to get married to a fat, greedy man, even if he is going to be king one day? Tell me! 

- Oh! Now you're talking like all that matters is someone's looks.

- You know that's not want I mean. I didn't choose you just for your looks, he said and gently touched her wrinkled cheek. Of course your beautiful green eyes were a bonus to your kind heart, he giggled.

- But you talk about our son as if he is an animal that all he cares about is food.

- Sweetheart, you know how much I love him, but you also know that it's true. He is my son, I know what a good person he is, but I also know what most people think of him. We live in a superficial world, admit it.

- You're right, I know.

And just like that, the worrying parents started to brainstorm until they finally came up with a very promising idea! They should throw a big party and invite all the single ladies of the country to meet the prince who has now come of marrying age and seeks to find his bride. Every girl started getting ready for the greatest event of the country in panic! Tailors got flooded with orders for fabulous gowns, hairdressers were all booked for the big night. 

The palace was on a fire of preparations and so were the rest of the people. In a pastry shop in the capital, a pastry maker and his two ugly and silly daughters heard about the great festival the palace would hold for the prince.

- Oh! We need to go shopping, father! We can't meet the prince in those rags you're buying us!

- For 200$ each, those rags must be really something daughter, don't you think?

- Nonsense! Give us your credit card. We are going to the mall.

- And who is going to take care of the shop?

- That stupid Cinderella can step a bit from her kitchen and help in here.

- You listened to them, child. What can I do? Do you think you can manage? the pastry maker asked his young and talented assistant.

- Sure, boss. Why not? I can finish the chocolates for the King's gift basket later.

Cinderella wanted to go to the party, but it was a dream never to come true. With her dowdy looks how was she ever going to step near the palace? They would take her for a beggar and throw her out at once. She would stay at the shop, in the little room her boss had spared her to sleep and keep imagining the glorious event, the gowns, the tuxedos, the dances, the food, the drinks.

On the night of the party her boss' daughters left the shop all dressed up and confident that the prince would fall in love with one of them. Lying on her old mattress, Cinderella's eyes were closed as she was trying to sleep. 

- Pick me, prince Eric. I am the silliest girl on the country but I wear 1.000$ clothes, she mocked the two girls trying to mimic their voices.

And there she suddenly caught a very intense scent of chocolate and sugar in the room. Her room would smell like candies, after all she lived in a pastry shop, but this time, the smell was much stronger than usual. She opened her eyes and was confronted with two beautiful young girls. The one had dark skin, ebony hair and full lips, the other was white, with hair silver-gray and blue eyes.

- Hi there, the dark girl said. I'm the Chocolate fairy.

- And I'm the Sugar fairy.

- We're here to help you!

- Help me? No one ever helps me, Cinderella complained.

- That's not true, the Chocolate fairy said in an angry tone.

- So not true! the Sugar fairy added. We will help you get to the palace and have fun and drink and eat and dance and meet the prince. Even if you don't get to be his royal wife at least you'll have been to a great party.

- Come on, girl! Don't be such a whiny-ass.

- Hey! Language, young lady, the Sugar fairy told her sister off.

- Pardon my French.

And just like that, the two fairies didn't even wait for an answer and started casting their magic spells. Cinderella didn't have the time to realise what was happening. She would only look in surprise unable to speak. All of a sudden sparkling dust started floating in the room and twirling around Cinderella. A sweet scent of vanilla and chocolate and caramel flooded the air and when the sparkle stopped Cinderella found herself in a beautiful white dress, all covered up in icing sugar and her shoes... Oh! They were made from belgian chocolate. Gosh! She looked so tasty, ehm... beautiful! She looked beautiful.

- There you are, ready to meet the prince, the Sugar fairy said all smiling.

- And how am I going to get to the palace? There's no chance I can find a taxi at that time! 

- Women! They bring a disaster for everything, the Chocolate fairy frowned.

- Did you think we were going to let you walk? We got you covered, girl. Where is that scrappy bike of yours?

- In the back yard, Cinderella responded.

- Let's go there then, the Chocolate fairy said.

Back there, they were faced with a two-wheel piece of junk Cinderella rode to do the deliveries.

- Jesus, girl! Do you actually ride this thing? It is almost falling apart, the Chocolate fairy rolled her eyes.

- Well, it's not like I bought it or something. My boss gave it to do my job.

- Really? Do you carry it on your back along with the deliveries? 'Cause it doesn't look "ridable", the Chocolate fairy could not drop her ironic tone.

- Enough Choco, the Sugar fairy was getting angry. We're here to help the girl, not frustrate her more.

- You're right. Ok, now let's turn this piece of junk into a decent means of transportation.

And just like that, with a little more sweet magic the wrecked bicycle turned into a shiny red car that smelled like strawberry ice cream.

- Cool! I've never been in a ride like this before, Cinderella was amazed. There is just one little problem... I can't drive.

- Pff! This girl is a real pain in the butt, Sugar.

- Choco, please! And turning to Cinderella the Sugar fairy said, I know you can't drive that's why we've brought you our chauffer for tonight, and pointed to a stray that found shelter in the back yard regularly.

- Pongo, the stray? Cinderella wondered.

- Do you see anyone else available at the moment? the Sugar fairy answered back and with a raise of her hand she turned Pongo into a handsome man.

- Woof!

- Ah, hm... Yeah, you see he is not really a man, I mean he looks like one, but I can't get him to talk. It's not like he is getting to a conversation with anyone. He'll be waiting in the car until you leave the party. No one will suspect a thing, the Sugar fairy tried to make a good excuse.

- Stop babbling you two! You're ready to go, girl. Get in and remember, you must be back before midnight because the spells will break at twelve o'clock sharp!

- Ok, I got it! Thank you for everything, fairies!

- Have fun, girl! And don't eat to many sweets! both fairies said before they vanished.

The ride was smooth. Cinderella arrived at the palace. She got out of her fancy car and walked up the stairs to the big entrance. As soon as she entered the main hall she was astonished by all the people, the beautiful women, the glamorous dresses, the extravagant hairstyles and make-ups. The music was so loud and so many people were dancing and right there, in the middle of the buffet there he was. The prince talking to her boss' daughters and munching on some cupcakes, Cinderella made delicious cupcakes!

She kept walking. Got to the buffet and took a glass of champagne. She had never tasted that before, but she liked it. The prince was not talking to anyone now, but he was gazing at the dishes as he couldn't make up his mind on what to try next. And just like that he smelled her. This scent of vanilla and chocolate and caramel. It was her sugary dress and chocolate shoes that attracted him like blood attracts a hungry piranha. He got closer to her.

- Good evening, Miss! Allow me to introduce myself. I am Prince Eric.

- Nice to meet you, Prince Eric. My name is Cinderella.

- What a funny name. Nice to meet you too, Cinderella. Would you like to dance?

- That would be a great honor, my prince, she said with a smile on her face as she gave him her hand.

And they danced in the middle of the room. And everyone was watching them and whispering and wondering who that mysterious girl was. But those two could not hear a thing. They were into the music... and each other's eyes. She could not stop smiling, he could not stop inhaling her intoxicating "perfume". He could feel so warm around that mysterious girl that smelled like vanilla and chocolate and caramel. She had such a soft skin, her blushed cheeks called for him to touch them and her pink lips should taste like strawberry. This girl was a miracle!

But just like that the miracle disappeared. In a twist of their dance Cinderella's eye fell on the big round clock, it was five to twelve! "You must be back before midnight because the spells will break at twelve o'clock sharp!" Those were the fairy's words, she had to get out of there as soon as possible or the prince would be left dancing with a girl all covered in icing sugar, wearing clothes with chocolate and dough stains.

- Apologies my prince, but I have to go! she said in a stressed tone.

- But why? You can't leave yet. I mean the party hasn't finished, we still haven't got the dessert!

- I'm on a diet, I'll pass on dessert, she said as she started running towards the exit.

She quickly rushed outside and got down the stairs looking around for Pongo. Trails of icing sugar were left floating in the air behind her. She was so panicked that she almost tripped and fell, but Pongo was quick to catch her in his arms. She got in the car and they took off! They were just turning right the corner when the clock struck midnight and Cinderella found herself on that old bike of hers, wearing her work clothes and holding Pongo in her lap as her hands were now trying to catch the steering wheel before crashing into a traffic light's post in front of her.

- Phew! That was close, Cinderella said as she kept rolling the pedals back to the pastry shop.

- Woof! 

Back at the palace the prince had tried to run after her, but Cinderella was really quick and there were so many people that stopped him to talk to him that he lost her. When he finally made it outside there was no sign of the sweet smelling girl. Just a bike riding in a frenzy, do you think the rider might have seen which way the girl had gone?

Disappointed he sat on the stairs. For once he had met a girl that made him feel as comfortable as only cupcakes could and he lost her! He was left there with his head in his hands breathing out heavily in anger. Suddenly his nostrils picked up a familiar smell. He sniffed in... Chocolate! He knew that smell! It had to be chocolate. He looked around but couldn't see anything and then his eyes fell down the stairs. Could it be?

Right in front of the first step there was a chocolate shoe. It must have been Cinderella's, he recognised the smell! He picked it up and sniffed it. Yes! It was totally hers. He was so happy that he had something to use as a lead. He was going to find that girl no matter what! As he was sniffing on it he got tempted to take a lick. Oh! It was delicious, how about a tiny bite? No, he shouldn't! The girl wouldn't be able to walk if he ate her shoe. 

But it's just a tiny bite! When he finds her he will have his pastry makers make dozens of shoes like this! And he took a bite. As the hard piece met with his saliva and started melting in his mouth it felt like heaven was dissolving on his tongue. But wait! This taste was familiar and very, very distinguishing! He knew where this chocolate was made! He knew exactly where that store was and he knew exactly how to find his Cinderella! All he had to do was go there tomorrow.

And the new day arrived. Prince Chubby, ehm... Eric got on his fierce motorcycle and rode through the city streets. He was heading to the pastry shop where they made this heavenly chocolate. He was sure they would tell him more about the girl who ordered her shoes there. As soon as he reached it, he got off his motorcycle and entered the store.

The ring of the bell hanging above the door interrupted a conversation between the owner's two daughters. They could not believe the prince was in their shop! What was he looking for? Was it one of them he chose to his royal wife and came all the way down here to announce his decision? Oh! But which one?

- Good morning my ladies. I came here to ask for some information.

- Good morning our prince, they both replied.

- Do you by any chance have a customer named Cinderella that has her chocolate heels made here?

The girls looked at each other in surprise. At an instant they realised what had happened. Somehow that little bitch must have made a chocolate shoe for the delicacy basket they gave to the prince as a present and she must have put her name on it. The prince ate it and now he wants to find her and marry her and have her making chocolate shoes for the rest of their life. And them? What would happen of them? They would stay at this silly shop selling cakes and candies! No way!

- What do you mean, my prince? The shoes you ate last night were made by me. I sign as Cinderella, it is my commercial nickname.

- No you don't, sister. This is my commercial nickname and I am the one making those chocolate shoes!

The first sister gave her an angry look and and right before reaching for her hair Cinderella walked in with a tray of cupcakes ready for selling. The prince was confused looking at the two girls fighting behind the candy stall and then he gave a look at Cinderella. He recognised her beautiful eyes and that sweet smell of hers.

- It was you last night, wasn't it?

She looked down shyly, smirked and answered:

- Yes, it was me. But I am no fancy aristocrat or autocrat, I am not even a technocrat.

- Haha! You are certainly a funny cupcake-crat, he said and laughed.

Cinderella laughed back. 

- I only came last night because I wanted to see what these glamorous parties are like. But the party is over now and if you excuse me, I need to get back to my puddings.

- Puddings? Do you mind if I help?

- Are you sure? 

- Of course, I may share some secrets with you. I have so many years of experience with sweets. A prince can always come in handy in the kitchen.

- Ha ha! By all means, my prince!

And they both headed to the kitchen where the prince watched and guided Cinderella and it was the first time her sweet puddings came out even more tasty and sold like crazy. And to make a long story short, the prince took Cinderella away and they opened their very own pastry shop, made their very own sweets and lived fattily...oops! happily ever after! 

Image from pixabay.com

*Original story by @ruth-girl - Steemit 2018

This twisted version of the clasic Cinderella story was inspired after a comment from our splendid @reinhard-schmid:

I hope you enjoyed that as much as I did. I had such great fun writing it! 

And if this superficial world tells you you're not pretty enough or thin enough or smart enough, remember our prince was a chubby man who knew nothing but eating and Cinderella knew nothing but cooking and they got together and they worked wonders! 

Thank you so much for your time!

Until my next post,
Steem on and keep smiling, people!