Hello once again, everybody....I've been having a lousy week...and the only thing I've been able to do is start new stories...anyway, I was reading over some of my older finished fics, and I got this idea...it's another MST, only with some of my longer fics. This first one is "Cinderella, well sort of..." It's also not going to be exactly the same...and, I'm going to have to break this first chapter up into several parts as I'm pretty sure it won't all fit into one post....

Editor's Note: If you don't know why the characters know about Mary, you might want to read her earlier work, "My Lovely MST". But you can read this without reading that.

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Chapter One: Slightly Skewed Fairy Tales and Deadly Glares

Sherlock Holmes frowned slightly as he gazed around the monochromatic room. Everything was a brilliant sapphire, including the two sofas, on each of which sat two people. Including himself and Lestrade. He bent over her still unconscious form and gently shook her shoulder. Her brows creased in annoyance and she opened her eyes.

For one moment she simply stared at him, obviously disoriented. Then she too noticed the odd decor and their strange companions. Instantly she was sitting up and looking around, suspicion filling her gaze, as well as rancor for whoever had done this. Holmes stifled a grin. Miss Christmas would certainly not like to meet Lestrade in a dark alley any time soon.

"All right, Lestrade?" he asked, knowing full well what her answer was likely to be.

"All right?" Lestrade asked incredulously, twisting about to look at him, "We're stuck again, prey to the whims of someone worse than Moriarty, of all people!"

Holmes stifled his laughter, as his attention was caught by the stirring of the people on the couch directly across from where he and Lestrade sat, was a boy with dark hair, glasses, brilliant green eyes, and a scar in the shape of a lightning bolt. His companion was a girl about his age with bright red hair and freckles. Both were looking slightly terrified and were clutching long wooden sticks as if they were the only protection between them and whatever was going on.

The boy met Holmes' gaze straight on despite this. "D'you know what's going on?"

"I have my suspicions...." Holmes began, only to be cut off by Lestrade.

"Yeah, a really crazy person has kidnapped us and is probably going to force us into reading terrible stories about us!" She leveled her patented death glare on the boy, who leaned back as far as he could.

"Now, Lestrade," Holmes admonished, "We do not want to alienate our new friends." He adressed the next to the boy and girl, "I am Sherlock Holmes and the glowering beast next to me is Beth Lestrade." He completely ignored the "beast's" glower sent his way for that.

The boy and girl relaxed a bit and the boy offered, "I'm Harry Potter and this is Ginny Weasley."

Ginny smiled at Lestrade. "Boys can be so difficult, can't they?"

Lestrade smiled for the first time since waking up here. "No kidding...."

Before she could say anything else a sheaf of notebook paper landed in her lap. Her eyes narrowed, and Holmes quickly retrieved them before she could toss them away or tear them up. Judging by the malicious glint, they were very lucky there weren't any deadly weapons around.

Holmes cleared his throat, and began reading from the top sheet:

Dear Holmes, Inspector Beth (do stop glaring, it'll give you wrinkles and then what would Holmes think of you?), Harry and Ginny,

I suppose you're wondering what you're doing here; then again, knowing Holmes and Lestrade, you already know. Or do you? Oh well, it doesn't really matter does it? I'm in need of a good laugh right now and You Guys are gonna provide it. Yep yep.

Holmes and Lestrade, you know the drill: Read the story!!!!!! Holmes, I think you'd better read this first one though because....well...you know. And no trying to get out of it!!! You're trapped, okay? Good.

Love,

Mary Christmas!!!!!!

Lestrade's glower grew -- if that were possible, and she began muttering dire threats beneath her breath. Holmes ignored her, even as Harry and Ginny began whispering something to each other. He cleared his throat and raised an eyebrow, and the looked at him after grinning at each other as if they'd a secret.

"I suppose I should begin now; the sooner we get through this, the sooner she'll get bored."

Lestrade grumbled some more but agreed.

Holmes cleared his throat and began....

Cinderella, Well Sort Of.....

Lestrade: Oh, now there's an original title for you. (snorts)

Harry: I dunno, it sounds kinda...ominous to me....

Holmes: (scowls) If you don't mind? We've only got past the title....

Harry&Lestrade: (mumble) Sorry....

Once upon a time, in the fair land of New London...

Lestrade: (snorts again, but stays silent at a glare from Holmes)

Ginny&Harry: (look at each other in confusion)

Okay, so it wasn't so fair, what with all the pollution and hovercraft filling the sky, blanketing it so that you couldn't even really tell if it was blue or not....

Holmes: (pauses and glances at the others)

Others: (pretend innocence)

Anyway, one fine fog-filled day, a man's wife died. He had loved her very much and was in mourning for her. However, they did have a daughter whose name was Elizabeth.

Lestrade: Her name was what?!

Holmes: (calmly, and not a little impatiently) Elizabeth, Lestrade...now....

Lestrade: (groans) Why didn't I guess...why?

Ginny: Because you were holding out hope that this wouldn't happen?

Holmes: It does not matter (showing more impatience) May I continue reading now?

Harry: Do you really have to? (looks nervously at Lestrade, who is clenching her hands into fists and gnashing her teeth together)

Holmes: Yes.

So, though he mourned inside, he knew he had to put on a good face for her at least.

Two years had passed since the woman's death, and the man was now married to a lovely woman named Edith who had two daughters of her

Lestrade: (opens her mouth in outrage, but all that comes out is a whimper as Holmes jabs her in the side and continues reading)

own that were the same age as Elizabeth. Their names were Deidre and Mary. At first, the whole family got along pretty well. Then, the man died, leaving everything to....Edith, Mary and Deidre! There was nothing for poor Elizabeth, because Edith had changed the will when no one was looking, and had had a French geneticist named Fenwick poison her husband.

Ginny: How awful!! What a horrid woman! I know a few good hexes that I'd like to try on her!

Harry: (nods in agreement)

Lestrade: (frowns) Hexes?

Ginny&Harry: (look at each other)

Ginny: Er...you're a muggle, aren't you?

Lestrade&Holmes: Muggle?

Harry: (shakes his head slightly) Er...it doesn't matter...just...keep on reading, 'kay?

As each of them were introduced, they all gave a little bow. "It is a pleasure to speak with you at last, Miss Cinderella," the robot squeaked in a highly dignified little tone. "You always looked so lonely sitting in that corner all by yourself. I wanted to come speak with you...but there are rules against that. Unless you accidentally overhear us, we cannot speak in your presence."

Lestrade: (sarcastically) Oh, that certainly explains things...thank you very much...

That, of course, was the beginning of a beautiful... well, okay, it was a very interesting friendship, to say the least. Myst had learned (from Ghost, of course) that Cinderella could talk to them, and very willingly chatted with her as she completed the stable chores.

Ginny&Harry: (glance at each other)

Harry: Definitely Dumbledore.

The chickens and the birds that hung about the place didn't speak, but then what else would you expect from such bird-brains? The one cat they had was a calico and was absolutely worthless at catching mice. She seemed to have more fun playing hide and go seek with them. She didn't speak, either; but that was because Cinderella had saved her from drowning, though not before there was some slight brain damage. The kitty was a sweetheart, though, and even the cold, tough hearts of her stepfamily were swayed by the little thing. Kitty was her name.

Ginny: At least they aren't all bad...

And now, we finally come to the point I have been trying to get at all this time.

Everyone: WELL, IT'S ABOUT TIME!

It had been five years since her father's death, and Cinderella had all but forgotten life before this. It was a cold and dreary day -- weather in London always being such most of the time. (p.s. Don't try to figure that sentence out...it gave me a headache too....) And we are going to completely change perspectives on you because I feel like it.

Lestrade: (rolls her eyes) Gee, wouldn't be more obvious if you just said it? Oh wait, you did...

At New Scotland Yard Castle

Lestrade: New Scotland Yard Castle? (laughs)

Ginny: (looks slightly confused)

Harry: (tentatively) Isn't New Scotland Yard the police?

Lestrade: *rolls her eyes*

(Yep, New Scotland Yard Castle....)

Holmes: Well, I think I'm done now...we all need to take a bit of a rest and....

Lestrade: Not so fast!! (snatches the papers away from him) Ah ha! (begins reading now)

there lived a portly old king, who had a very annoying son whose name was Sherlock. Now, Prince Sherlock was not satisfied being a prince. In fact, all he wanted to do was detective work, which was so much more satisfying. He had already caught the gold smuggler, the guy who was embezzling funds and a whole bunch of other baddies.

Lestrade: (scowls and hands Holmes back the papers) That is totally unfair...you get to stay in character and I don't!

Holmes: (sighs)

On this particular day, however, King Charles was adamant.

Lestrade: (gapes) King...Charles? She can't mean...can she? (starts laughing) Oh if only the chief were here!

"No, no and no again! How many times do I have to tell you that you cannot be a detective! That is what the royal guard is for!"

"Father, no offense, but the men in the royal guard couldn't find their way out of this castle if it weren't for the clearly marked exit signs." One of these brilliantly lit neon signs blew a circuit and went out, right over the king's head.

Harry&Ginny: (snort)

Lestrade: (sighs) Forced humor, now there's a novel idea for you...

"Right. Well, I tell you what. Since you'll be king someday, it would be good for you to be able to keep your kingdom safe. So, I'll let you be a detective. On one condition, however."

Sherlock smiled, knowing he had it won. "Anything, Father."

Lestrade/Harry/Ginny: (wince)

"You will be married by this time next month."

Lestrade: Oh!!! I knew something like that was coming....

"What!" Sherlock was shocked. His father looked incredibly pleased by this, judging by the smug smile on his face. However, Sherlock knew that the man was simply trying to get him to back down. As much as he hated the thought of marriage, it was the lesser evil. "Very well, Father, but I expect to have a choice in the matter. All eligible females in the kingdom. And by eligible I mean of marriageable age, not bank account." The king gaped at his son, but knew there was no way out. Oh, well, you can't win them all. He instantly sent for the Grand Duke and Sherlock's best friend Watson. Watson was a robot, but who really cares?

Ginny: A robot, really? Er...what's a robot?

Harry: It's a muggle thing that erm...acts like a person...I think....

Lestrade: (nods) Yup...though, I'm still not sure what a muggle is....

"Watson, I want you to get this notice out immediately. All females of marriageable age are required...er..okay, are invited to attend a ball in the prince's honor."

Lestrade: (pouts) Even the chief gets to be somewhat in character!! That is not fair!

Harry: (in an odd, mysterious sounding voice) But that's the way it is, isn't it?

Ginny: (also in an odd, mysterious sounding voice) Them's mine!! Give 'em back!

Harry&Ginny: (look at each other and then back at the other two)

Holmes&Lestrade: (in exasperation) Mary.

"A ball? Now wait a minute, Father...."

"No, no, son, this is the best way to catch them out. You'll get to meet them all, talk to them, dance with them, and decide. Now you go on and do your detective stuff."

Sherlock could only agree and walked out.

And now, we skip a couple of days ahead to the market square where Watson is nailing up (what? you don't understand? Oh, well, then, let me explain...I don't really, either. It's not supposed to make sense. Just go with it, okay?)

Lestrade: (glaring at nothing in particular) Do we have a choice?

a flyer. When he had done and walked off (not before Deidre had got a couple of very nice jewels off him) Edith, Mary and Deidre shoved their way to the front of the crowd. The flyer read as follows: Attention all females of marriageable age. You are required...er, okay, invited to attend a ball in the prince's honor, one month from two days ago. We expect...er, hope to see you there. All the women in the marketplace squealed happily and ran home. The dressmakers were required to provide materials for ballgowns for free, since a lot of the girls couldn't afford their exorbitant prices. And so followed a month of frenetic energy. Poor Cinderella didn't even have that short time to herself any longer, what with helping her sisters with their dresses along with cooking, cleaning, sewing, mending, washing, etc. Anyway, during one afternoon session of trying to convince Mary to put on her corset (those things are torture devices! Much worse than bras!)

Harry&Holmes: (flush with embarrasment suddenly)

Ginny&Lestrade: (roll their eyes)

Cinderella tentatively brought up the question about going to the ball. Not that she really wanted to go. She didn't like corsets, either. It was, however, a chance to know more than this provincial life. (Oops, wrong movie....)

Everyone: (looks confused)

Lestrade: Trust Mary to put in half-understood references...

Edith looked down her nose at Cinderella, then smiled a nasty but beautiful smile. "But of course you can go Cindy dear...after you have completed your chores, you can make yourself a dress."

With a sinking heart, Cinderella realized that would never happen, and she made her way down to the stables to finish mucking out the single stall, even though it never seemed to be dirty. Myst was an odd horse.

Ginny: I think you're right, Harry.

Harry: (nods sagely)

What Cinderella didn't know was that her dear mousey friends, and the rat too, had overheard what was going on. They came up with a plan of their own.

"Okay," Alicia said, "we're gonna make her a dress. That way, when the night comes, it'll be done whether or not she's finished her chores or not. Right? Right."

"I do believe that is the most intelligent thing I've ever heard you say, my dear Alicia," Ratigan purred.

"Shove it, second most evil criminal mastermind in the world!" Alicia snarled. "And don't say my name like that. It gives me the willies."

"Yes yes yes!" Basil crowed, "here we are. Now we just need Ghost and Kitty's help in keeping the witches away."

And so Cinderella's loyal friends (and the rat) made her a dress. Though it wasn't the most stylish thing, it was rather lovely. Anyway, the night of the ball came, and the four (and the rat) presented it to her with a flourish.

Harry: Mary can't be too bad...I mean it seems as though she doesn't much like rats...

Others: (glance at him in confusion)

Lestrade: You don't like rats?

Harry: (stutters and flushes) Er...well...you see...not really.

Lestrade: Uh...huh....

"Oh, you guys...it's a good thing I finished my chores only a few minutes ago. Hurry, help me get it on! They'll leave without me!" So with much hustle, and a lot of work (Come on, guys, she's a full grown human and they are like way smaller....) they finally got the dress on. Of course she was still covered in soot, but oh well.

Lestrade: (hits her head with her hand) "Of course she was still covered in soot, but oh well." I just don't...grr....

She ran down the stairs, to find her stepmother and sisters already gone. There was no way she could catch up even if she did ride Myst, who was left behind since one they had used a rental coach. (Just to look more classy than everybody else.)

Harry: They sound just like the Dursleys.

Cinderella slumped to the ground in defeat. The grass was wet from the rain, but she didn't care. Alicia, Basil and Dawson all climbed onto her shoulders, and Ghost padded over and laid his head in her lap. "Thanks anyway, you guys. At least I know I'll always have you."

"Not so fast, my dear," a deep masculine voice said from behind her. They all turned around to see a man wearing a frilly pink dress, with a low bodice showing his chest hair, and a curly white wig. The whole effect was extremely incongruous, especially with the long, dark black sideburns, and goatee.

Lestrade: (frowns) Wait a minute....

He carried a tiny toy fairy wand -- you know the kind they have in with the fairy costume for Halloween? Yeah. Cinderella very carefully kept the grin off her face, as did Ghost, Vole, Basil and Dawson. Ratigan, of course, was nowhere near as reserved, and downright guffawed. "Who are you supposed to be?" the rat asked between laughs. "Cindy's fairy godmother?"

"As a matter of fact, vermin, I am," the man said with a sort of hurt dignity, "I am also the world's greatest criminal genius, Moriarty."

Lestrade: (suddenly lands on the floor, shaking uncontrollably)

Harry: Are you all right?

Lestrade: (gasping for breath between giggles) Y...es...Moriarty...fairy...godmother...

Holmes: (grinning in spite of himself) Too bad he isn't here, eh?

This only set the rat to laughing even more. "Oh...yeah... right...I suppose you were cloned by an evil French geneticist who thought he would control you but you ended up controlling him instead?"

Lestrade: You think?

"Now," Moriarty said, ignoring the rat, "I am going to need a dog, a horse, four mice or rats, and a pumpkin."

Cinderella blinked, not entirely certain she should trust this person. "We don't have any pumpkins."

Lestrade: Go me again!

Moriarty rolled his eyes and gave a long suffering sigh. "Fine. Do you have anything at all that is living that has a round shape?"

"Why, yes," Dawson supplied helpfully, "there are the tulip bulbs that have yet to be planted."

"Excellent," Moriarty exclaimed, rubbing his hands together. "Now just bring all the items to me."

Cinderella, still not certain she should trust him, did as he bid anyway. First she went to the stable and opened Myst's stall. Then she proceeded to gather up a tulip bulb, which she carried carefully back to where the others stood waiting.

The fairy godmother motioned for Cinderella to stand back as he lifted the toy wand. Tiny sparks flew from it, and a strange mechanical chamber as large as the house appeared beside him, along with a horridly disfigured man.

"My magic is limited," Moriarty explained with a shrug, "All right, Fenwick, the tulip first."

Everyone: (groans)

The weird little man did as he was told and placed the bulb inside the chamber, an insignificant speck against the yawning cavern. He then walked over to the side and pulled a lever. A heavy metal door slammed shut. Fenwick pressed a few buttons, and from within the chamber a flash of light could be seen. Afterwards, the door opened and there, sitting in regal splendor was an ivory coach in the shape of a tulip. "Now the rat goes next," Moriarty said, while Fenwick, surprisingly strong for such a short person, pulled the coach out.

Ratigan protested. "I am not a RAT!" and tried to run away.

However, Moriarty quickly captured him and threw him into the chamber. "Yes, you are." When the flashing light thing was done, out stepped a man dressed in white livery with gold trim. "Fenwick, you imbecile! The rat and the mice are supposed to be white horses!"

Lestrade: What, you actually expected him to perform to your standards?

"S...sorry, master. Et weel not 'appen again."

"It had better not! Now, try and match the other three to this horse, and turn the dog into the other human! Immediately!"

The rest of the transformations went without mishap and soon four beautifully matched white horses stood harnessed to the ivory-colored tulip-shaped coach. Ratigan was the footman (it was too much of a hazard to let him have the driving whip) and Ghost was the driver.

"Now, for you, my dear," Moriarty said with a smile.

Cinderella backed away slowly. She didn't really have to go to this ball, and who knew if that thing was actually safe?

"Oh, don't be absurd," the man exclaimed, "I'm going to use my limited magic to clean you up and make you more presentable."

"Oh," was all she could manage...Yeah, right. "Um...why is your magic limited, anyway?"

"I'm only a part-time fairy godmother," was the reply. Then he waved his toy wand and suddenly she was wearing a beautiful white ballgown -- and of course this wouldn't be Cinderella without the glass slippers. Moriarty also handed her a mask. "So your family won't recognize you. I can only imagine the heck you'll have to pay if they find out."

Lestrade: Okay, this is just way too...weird...Moriarty being nice...there has to be a catch....

Holmes: Be careful what you wish for Lestrade...if you recall, Mary and most of her friends seem to think Moriarty has a crush on you.

Lestrade: (shudders)

Harry: (thinks a moment and then...) Sounds as bad as if Snape had a crush on...well, on anybody, really....

Ginny: (shudders) I would definitely feel sorry for that poor girl.

Lestrade: (begins looking annoyed) I'm beginning to wonder what you two are doing here at all.

Ginny: (looks faintly alarmed)

Harry: (just shrugs and grins)

As the coach was pulling away, Moriarty called out a warning. "Remember, you have to be back by midnight! The genetic changes are unstable and won't last past that. And as I said, my magic is limited. Have fun!"

Lestrade: (still glancing suspiciously at the two teenagers--mimics the tone of the story) And it wouldn't be a Cinderella story otherwise.

Harry&Ginny: (snort)

And we're switching perspectives again.

Lestrade: Don't you just love when she informs us of these things?

Dull, dreadfully dull. That was all Sherlock could think of as he stood greeting each of the guests who entered the castle. Not a one of them was interesting in the least. Oh, they might have one or two points that would intrigue him, but he soon had the mystery solved and was once again bored out of his mind. Now, he was greeting the last three, and he was in a slight panic. How could he choose from this lot?

Lestrade: Again! He is....

Holmes: I most certainly am not in character. For one thing I would have left "New Scotland Yard Castle" long before any of this would ever have had a chance to come about...now leave it at that!

Lestrade: (appears contrite)

The smallest of the two girls, Deidre, was obviously a thief and most likely the one that had the Guard completely baffled. Though that showed she had brains, he simply wasn't interested. Her sister Mary, a plump young woman, was rather vacuous and didn't seem at all interested in him or the proceedings. He smiled at their mother and made all the appropriate remarks, then quickly walked away.

Surely this couldn't be all the girls in the kingdom? He was doomed, otherwise.

And then it happened. She walked in. A young woman with dark brown hair fixed into little ringlets atop her head. She had on an ivory-colored dress that shimmered as she walked, and glass slippers clinging to her dainty feet. But that wasn't the most interesting thing about her. Oh goodness no! Out of all the guests, she was the only one to wear a mask! It was...intriguing, mysterious, an enigma. Who was this young lady that she didn't want to be known? Surely with her beauty she would want all to gaze upon her. Perhaps that was it. She probably had scars or...no, he simply had to find out for himself.

Holmes: (sighs)

Lestrade: Is the thing almost over?

Ginny&Harry: (like little kids) Is it over yet, is it over yet, is it over yet, is it over yet...?

Lestrade: (scowls) I meant 'was it almost over', because I don't want to read a smarmy love scene, thank you very much!

Ginny&Harry: (grin secretly at each other)

Ignoring all the others, he walked towards her as if in a trance. He reached the stairs just as her name was announced. "Lady Elizabeth of Jewel."

Jewel. He had never heard of it, and it added to her aura of mystery.

Lestrade&Holmes: (dryly) That's because it doesn't exist

Ginny&Harry: (grin again)

"Lady Elizabeth," he said softly. Her face jerked towards him, and he was pierced by brilliant blue eyes that were filled with...discomfort? He grinned. "I perceive you do not want to be here, m'lady," he said, giving a gallant bow.

The girl's lips quirked up into a grin. "How very perceptive of you, sir."

"Ah, but I make it my life's work to observe that which ordinary folk overlook. They look without seeing, but I, I truly see."

"Oh, really? Then can you see that I am going to leave now?" The girl turned to walk out.

"Wait!" he called, "But give me one dance, and we shall see if I cannot convince you to stay, at least for a little while longer."

Holmes: (glaring at Lestrade) Will you please desist?

Lestrade: (who has been laughing uproariously, wipes tears from her eyes) "But give me one dance and...and...." (starts laughing again)

Holmes: (huffs and begins reading some more)

The girl turned back to him, surprise evident in those sparkling eyes. "I...all right." She accepted his hand and he pulled her onto the dance floor, just as the orchestra struck up a waltz.

"Do you know the prince?" she asked suddenly.

He glanced into her eyes again, startled. Was she joking? No, she truly did not know. "We've...met. So, tell me is that all you came here for? To see if you could succeed where others have failed, in securing the prince's hand?"

Lady Elizabeth snorted, a rather inelegant unladylike sound. He loved it. "Hardly. I just...wanted a change of pace, if you know what I mean."

There ensued a lively conversation that quickly turned into a stimulating argument. The song ended, but he was in no mood to end the discussion and led her out to the balcony, where they continued on until they both actually agreed on something, at which point they broke down into gales of laughter. Sobering up, he took one of her hands. "Can I not have just one look at your face, lovely lady?"

Lestrade: (still laughing, falls on the floor again)

"I...oh no!" The clock was striking the midnight hour, and the girl stood up and ran through the ballroom and out the door. He watched, rather dumbfounded, then gave chase. It was too late, however. All that was left of the enigmatic girl was a glass slipper that had slipped off her foot in her haste.

"Well," Watson said, coming up beside him, "it will be an impossible task to find this girl. That shoe could fit any small-footed beauty."

"On the contrary, Watson," Sherlock corrected. "Do you not see that this shoe was tailor-made to fit only one foot? It would make for an uncomfortable wear should one to whom it does not belong try it on. Come, Watson! The game is a foot!"

All except Lestrade: (groan)

Lestrade: (is still laughing)

(Okay, I just had to do that...)

Back to Cinderelly's point of view....Cinderella, even though the coach crashed just outside the gates of the house, was in a wonderful mood. Sure she'd never see that man again, or even know his name. But she still had her memories, and one glass slipper. Doing her stepmother and sisters' bidding would not be so bad.

Lestrade: (stops laughing) What?! Holmes, tell me you read that wrong.

Holmes: (smirks and shows her the paragraph)

Lestrade: (simmers) Oh! When I get my hands on that....

The thought of her stepmother reminded her that she needed to get Myst back into his stall, and change into her normal rags. She quickly finished, and was just sitting down on the stool by the fire when the girls and their mother walked in.

"Zedding prince!" Deidre exclaimed, "'E didn't even talk to anyone. Passed us right up, 'e did!"

"So?" Mary countered, "You didn't want to marry him, anyway."

"You didn't, either!"

"So?"

"So?'

"So?"

"So?"

Lestrade: (indignantly) She even has herself and Deidre in character!!! (begins hyperventilating)

Harry: (holds up his wand and mutters something)

Lestrade: (calms down and begins smiling, as if she had been having the most wonderful day ever)

Ginny: (whispers to Harry) Cheering Charm?

Harry: (nods and whispers back) I figured I'd better before she hurt herself...(looks slightly unsure of himself) Technically we're still in school so....

Ginny: (nods quickly) I don't think the Ministry'd be able to find us here anyway.

"That is enough, girls!" Edith shouted. "Now go up to your rooms; you're giving me a headache!" The woman turned to Cinderella and sneered. "Be grateful you got to sit here all alone, because you would have been more embarrassed than us. All that dreadful prince could do was dance and talk with that girl. Lady Elizabeth of Jewel indeed. I ought to jewel her!" This last was thrown over her shoulder at the girl as she walked upstairs.

Harry: That sounds a lot like....

Lestrade: (still grinning) Who cares?

Harry: (frowns)

Holmes: There, you see, Lestrade? I'm sure Miss Presbury would never do those things.

Lestrade: (mutters under her breath) You've never seen her at the wrong time of the month....

Cinderella waited until she was sure she was alone before turning to Ghost. "I...talked to the prince! Not just talked, I actually argued with him! Oh, how silly he must think me. 'Do you know the prince?' Well, it's a good thing he won't ever know who I am, right?"

"Maybe...." Ghost said, his tone unconvinced.

"Eck," Ratigan said, suddenly popping up from behind the firewood. "Remind me never to hide behind that again. Bunch of blockheads down there."

Everyone: Ha. Ha.

"Sure thing, Ratty, but aren't you one of them?" Alicia said sweetly.

Lestrade: I think I like this mouse version of me...at least SHE'S in character....

"I AM NOT A RAT!"

"Quiet!" Cinderella hissed, "And yes, you are! Allie, don't egg him on, please?"

"I find it rather amusing," Basil stated, scampering up to Cinderella's shoulder. "Ah, you know, it is very interesting to view the world from another creature's point of view? I think I'll write a monogram on it." Having said his piece, he jumped down and sauntered off to do just that. Dawson scurried after him, followed closely by Alicia and Ratigan.

Holmes: (pauses and scowls at the page before continuing)

Cinderella smiled, shaking her head at their antics, then lay down on her skimpy, hard pallet by the stove. Sleep soon claimed her and she was off dreaming about the prince.

The next morning she was awakened by a loud wailing.

Lestrade: I'll bet anyone here a fiver that it's Deidre.

Harry: I say it's Mary....

Ginny: (shakes her head) I don't even know what a 'fiver' is....

(A/N: Neither do I...I just heard it somewhere....)

It was Deidre.

Lestrade: Ha!! I knew it!

Standing up quickly, she walked towards the living area, only to find a strange robot and...the prince! sitting on the sofa.

"I am telling you, it won't fit her," the prince was saying, "not only does the structure of her foot not match, I remember her face! Just as I have remembered all their faces!" The particular girl he had remembered here happened to be Mary, who didn't look too keen on trying on the glass slipper in the robot's hands. "The girl I am looking for was wearing a mask! Therefore, I would not know her face. So why do you insist on this foolish business?"

"Because your father ordered me to."

Lestrade: Yup, that's Watson all right...before he became Watson...

Harry: Huh?

Lestrade: Long story....

"Oh!" the prince groaned. "Very well, keep on!"

Of course the shoe most certainly did not fit Mary's foot. Cinderella quickly ducked from the room, but not before her stepmother caught sight of her.

"Your Highness," Edith said, "you are going to marry the girl whose foot this glass slipper fits?"

Lestrade: (sarcastically) No, he's just out to solve a mystery

"No. I am just out to solve a mystery."

Lestrade: (blinks) What? You mean Mary is actually going to make this a non-romance?

"Well, then, Cindy dear, come on out."

Cinderella gaped at her stepmother with wide eyes. She was slightly hurt that prince didn't want to marry her, but then, it was as she had thought. He thought she was just a silly girl whose name he had to discover so that his mind would be at rest. With a small sigh, she walked into the room, avoiding everyone's eyes.

The robot helped her to sit on the sofa, and took off her worn workboot. The prince clapped in satisfaction. "Oh, yes, yes, this is perfect. The structure is a perfect match. Now let me see your eyes."

Cinderella looked up at the prince as the robot slipped the glass slipper onto her foot. She was shocked to see him smiling as if in triumph. "And now, dear lady, if you would consent to take my hand in marriage, I would be a most happy man."

Lestrade: (groans) Spoke too soon...

"I thought you said you wouldn't be marrying the girl whose foot fit that slipper," Edith exclaimed, outraged.

"My dear lady, I lied. You see, when you asked that question, you looked back at the kitchen area. Now, ordinarily that would cause no comment. However, the young woman who came to the ball wore a mask. Why would she do such a thing? Because she didn't want to be recognized. I simply inferred from that that you had suddenly come to the conclusion that your stepdaughter was the young woman, and that you were making sure I wasn't going to ask her before letting her come out. Very clever, but not clever enough, I fear."

Holmes: (sighs again, but doesn't say anything)

"Oh, bravo!" Basil stated coming out of his little hole. "Who are you, sir, that I might mmmph!" Alicia popped out and pulled him back inside with a little apologetic squeak.

"Well?" the prince questioned, his voice uncertain.

"Yes. I will marry you!"

And so everybody lived happily ever after. Well, almost everybody. Poor Ratigan was hounded every day for the rest of his life by Basil, Alicia and Dawson. Moriarty, the fairy godmother, quit that part time job and went full time into being a criminal mastermind,

Lestrade: I knew it!!

though King Sherlock and his wife Queen Elizabeth stopped every single one of his ventures. The king and queen had two children, a boy and a boy. (Sorry, I've always wanted to do that....) Mary took off with Ghost and Myst to who knows where. Deidre met some undercover Guard people that Sherlock actually trusted and became one of them. Their names were Wiggins and Tennyson. Edith moved back in with her father and step-mother, who was a much better stepmother than she had been....

Holmes placed the sheaf of papers on the floor and breathed a sigh of relief. Harry and Ginny began whispering with each other, while Lestrade scowled at them both.

"They're up to something," she muttered.

Holmes nodded, but before he could respond further, a table appeared in between the couches, laden with food.

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A/N: Okay!!! If anyone wants to continue this little ficcie with their own fics or mine go right ahead....I'm afraid I didn't do too good a job....Plenty of Mary bashing available!!!