Cinderella
Dipper scrubbed down the floor, trying to get the unrelenting grime off the hard surface. This was definitely one of his least favorite jobs that his horrid step-father had assigned him. Well, he acted so womanish you could call him a step-mother. Gideon was his name and he had two sons, Stanford and Stanley. Dipper didn't believe his mother had to remarry after his father died, but she believed he needed a role model. So she married Gideon, and with him came his awful attitude and two brats.
They weren't exceedingly older than Dipper, but they had a few years on him. Dipper was overjoyed when he heard he was getting brothers, the boys not so much. They mainly put up with Dipper to stay on their stepmothers good side, Stanford would let him help with experiments and Stanley would teach him how to fight. But once she passed, they only started to ignore them.
When Dipper would ask Ford if he could help him, Ford would reply with something like, "I wouldn't want you to overwork your tiny brain." Since Ford was one of the smartest people Dipper knew, this totally undermined his confidence. And when he asked Stan to show him some moves, he would either get something thrown at him or get a punch. "There, I showed you something," he would say smugly. Dipper stopped talking to either of one them unless they needed chores to be done.
His stepfather was even worse. He swore the only thing in the man's eyes was self-absorption. The only reason he married his mother was because she was as beautiful as him, or maybe just a little less so she couldn't undermine him. She also had a large amount of wealth left behind from his father.
His father was actually a prince, but he gave up his crown to be with his mother. Dipper thought it was all so romantic, and he was enthused to learn he had royal blood in him. "One day you'll find a princes," he remembered his father said in his foreign accent. "Then you'll have little princes and princesses that look just like you," he said, bopping the child on the nose.
His mother giggled at that, she looked just like her son which is why her husband said that. "How old do I have to be to get married?" Asked Dipper.
"Eighteen, maybe," replied his mother. She smiled and the boy gave a giggle.
"We'll have a big family!" He said, spreading his arms as far as they can go. "Then we'll all be really happy!"
Both of his parents smiled at one another, then his mother said, "Okay, time for bed."
"Wait, mommy, sing a song. Please???" He asked. He made the biggest eyes he could and quivered his lip.
"Ah, the puppy dog eyes. You know I can't resist those." She pulled the covers over him and gave him a kiss on his forehead. "Let's see..."
"A dream is a wish your heart makes, when you're fast asleep. In dreams you will lose your heartaches, whatever you wish for you keep." She sang like an angel, voice melodious and high.
Then his father picked up, "Have faith in your dreams and someday, your rainbow will come smiling through."
"No matter how your heart is grieving," she sang.
"If you keep one believing," he continued.
Then, Dipper came in. "The dream that you wish will come true!" They all laughed, then kissed each other goodnight.
That was one of Dipper's favorite memories to look back on, he thought they were the good old days. He looked down at the floor, finally seeing his reflection. He smiled, then he stood and started to waltz by himself. He remembered his parents doing this at parties they threw, and he would dance with his mother or some of his female friends. He didn't have friends anymore, his stepfather wouldn't allow it, but he became friends with the animals living inside and around the house.
He waltzed, he was pretty good after such a long time. He sung the melody in his head and counted his steps. Then he heard the door slam open. Stanley came running in, a large bag in tow and the constable chasing him. He was all muddy and he brought it onto the clean floor. All that work gone to waist!
"Stanley, this is the last time I let you get away with selling faulty products to the townsfolk!" Yelled the man. Stanley was now hiding behind Dipper, it wasn't working though. When the constable saw Dipper, he lightened up a bit. "Tyrone, how are you?" He said, using Dipper's actual name and not the nickname his wicked family gave him.
"Dipper, brother," Stanley said in that old, joking tone. "Please tell the constable that I was just trying to make some money for our poor family."
"I'm fine Durland, thank you for asking," Dipper said, ignoring his brother. "Please, don't bring Stanley in. He was just trying to get the money our family needs to survive." He looked to the man with pleasing eyes, ones the officer had seen many a times before.
"Alright, but this is going on your record Stanley," he said, pointing an accusing finger at the man. "I don't want this happening again."
"Of course not, sir," he said, crossing his fingers behind his back and slowly backing away.
"Well, have a nice day Tyrone. If you ever need anything, just ask." The townsfolk weren't oblivious to how Dipper was treated by his step family, but they couldn't do anything. He wasn't their son, or step-son.
"Thank you again, constable. Have a nice day." Dipper walked to the door, about to close it when the Royal Mail Carrier came along the path. "Good day," he greeted.
"Good day, a letter from his majesty Northwest. There will be a ball and every eligible bachelor is to attend. He is looking a suitor for his daughter," said the man. He handed an excited Dipper a fancy, golden envelope.
"Why, thank you sir!" He shut the door and stared at the beauty of it.
"Stanley!" Called Stanford as he made his way down the grand staircase. "I may need your help with something!" He was too busy fiddling with the device in his hands to notice the pale of water at the bottom of the steps. He made I'd to the bottom, but his foot went into the bucket and he fell flat on his face. Dipper just stood there, looking at his clutzy step-brother and the mess he made after dropping his invention.
"Stanford!?" Oh no, here comes the big one. "What happened, dear?" Gideon was wearing a fancy robe, it was bejeweled and seemed to be made of the finest of materials. It explains where their whole fortune went, and it would have been a shock if they didn't find things to spend money on.
Peeling his face off the floor, Stanford then sat on the steps. "I was just walking down the stairs and the this bucket was here and I fell into it. I wonder who's fault that could have been..." He said as he rolled his eyes to a Dipper.
Gideon looked over to the young man, scowl plastered on his face. "Excuse me little imp, but why was that bucket at the bottom of the steps?" He said, slowly approaching Dipper. The boy just shrank down and averted his eyes, feeling completely small. "Well, you must be mute too. Honestly, you should be greatly we even let you sleep in the house."
'I sleep in the attic, but I'd rather sleep in my room since it was my room first!' Dipper thought to himself. His family had forced him into the attic to make room for their own things.
"What's in your hand?" Asked the chubby man. Dipper was brought out of thought, getting a look of excitement on his face. Gideon snatched it out of his hands and opened it, eyes widening as he read the text. "There will be a ball for the Princess Pacifica, and every male suitor in the kingdom is requested to attend!"
"May I go?" Dipper asked. Gideon looked at him, face pale and eyes large. Dipper's eyes were so bright, so full of excitement. Gideon hated that look. Even Ford was a little startled by the idea. "Please? I'll get my own outfit, and finish all my chores straight away, and-"
Gideon held a finger up to Dipper's mouth which meant quiet and then began. "Of course you can go!" The man exclaimed.
"But father," Ford said as he got up from his spot. "I don't think-"
"Nonsense! This Little Dipper is a part of our family, and he should get to come." Gideon gave an evil smirk, but Dipper didn't care.
"Thank you so much stepmo- father!" He almost said it right in front of him. He was just ecstatic, he wanted to go to a ball so badly. He wanted to feel welcome and have a good time with people who may actually like him.
"Of course, now go get your chores done so you can come!" Dipper nodded, then ran over to the spilled over bucket and ran out to get some more water.
"You aren't actually considering to let him come, right?" Questioned Stanford.
Gideon just laughed at his oblivious son. "Never, he would horribly embarrass us. We'll just give him so many chores he won't be able to come. Now go get your brother, you'll have to start to pick out your clothes. And, remember to ask Dipper for help." Ford nodded and went off. Gideon would never let that child go to ball, but he knew how to play his cards. He just needed to crush the kids hopes enough so he'd never step out of line again. Just as he walked up the stairs, he knocked a vase over. "Dipper, can up you please come clean that?"
---
Dipper trudged up to his room, exhausted by the day's work. He wasn't able to finish his chores in time to touch up his outfit. It was his father's before him, worthy of a prince. Just as he kicked his shoes off and was about to go to bed, he noticed a light from the corner of his room. His animal friends! He was pretty sure Ford tested on them and that's why they were so smart. They fixed the outfit just enough so it was presentable. "Oh, thank you all so much! You really are true friends." They helped him get it on and he rushed down the steps.
His step family hasn't left yet, they were all dressed up in the clothes he helped them pick out. "Wait!" He called. He slide down the staircase banister and hopped off at the end. "What do you think?" He asked as he turned in a full circle.
Stanley and Stanford looked horrified, then went to their father. "You can't let him go!" They both whisper screamed. The truth was, they were both jealous of Dipper. If the princess saw him, they were sure they'd be overlooked.
"Now boys, we made a deal. Dipper can go," Gideon said calmly. "Why, these are some beautiful buttons on your vest. Wouldn't you say, Stanley?" Gideon asked, looking back toward his son.
"No, actually! I think thei- hey!" He shouted. "Those are the buttons from my old shirt!" He walked right up to Dipper and tore the vest clean off him.
"And that's the color of my sewing string!" Stanford yelled. He went down and grabbed at Dipper's pant leg, tearing it. The rest was a total blur for Dipper. All he could see was the jealous faces of his step-brothers tearing his outfit apart. Stitch by staunch, he was reduced to rags.
"That's enough boys, come along. Have a nice night, hon," Gideon called to Dipper as he closed the front door. Dipper didn't know what to do, so he ran to the garden in the back of the house. He stopped at the wishing well and let the tears roll off his cheeks.
'This will never end,' he thought to himself. 'I'll never get out of here, ever.'
"Young man, do you need some help?" Dipper, shocked by the high pitched voice, turned around to see a man. He wore a yellow tail coat and held a cane. The top hat he wore seemed to defy gravity as it floated above his head.
"Who are you?" Dipper questioned.
"Me? Well I'm Bill Cipher! Kind of like a fairy godmother or something to you." He held out his hand to be shook, but Dipper didn't take it.
"Why would you help me?" Dipper questioned. He needed help if he wanted to get to the ball, but he knew all magic came with a price.
"I can hear what you thinking, and the price has already been paid. Before your mother died, she promised her soul to me if you got one wish. No strings attached." Dipper stared dumbfounded at the being, then he broke down crying.
"What do you mean she promised her soul to you?" He didn't know what his mother did, but he prayed it wasn't terribly stupid.
"Oh no, child." The being went over to Dipper and lifted his head. He put it onto his lap and began to stroke his hair. "She was very ill, and wanted you to have something she didn't. You've never wanted anything more than this, to go to the ball." Bill lifted the boy's head up and wiped away a few tears. "She's okay, I swear."
The whole sob story of the boy's mother selling we sound was fake, but what was he going to do? He wanted to give the kid a wish, and after what those jerks did to him he thought magical justice was in order. He didn't want other demons to think he was going soft, so what's a fake deal? "Do you wanna go to the ball?" He asked Dipper. The boy looked him in the eye and nodded his head. "Good, now get up." He tugged the boy up and shook his shoulders. "Let's shake those tears out now," he said, trying to get a giggle out of the boy and succeeding. "Ready to begin?"
"Begin?" Dipper questioned.
"Yes, dear. We've got to start this miracle." Dipper nodded, now understanding. "Good, because even miracles take a little time."