(Author's note: Hello and welcome to my latest project. For those who don't know, this is a Cinderella alternate universe, now titled "Of Shackles and Ashes", starring Disney characters. What you see here is a preview for the story. This may or may not be in the finished result but it can at least give you an insight of how this will go. I will try to update as soon as I can. Hope you enjoy!)

"Something the matter, my Queen? You look bored."

"Really? I wonder why." Daisy groaned as she slouched in her throne, her palm pressing against her cheek. Minnie, her lady-in-waiting, stood firmly by her side, though she began to fidget for reasons she hasn't explained yet.

There was no doubt that the Royal Masquerade was anything but terrible. The brilliant ballroom was packed with thousands of disguised guests rejoicing in conversations, feasts, and the lively tune of the orchestra. Everything seemed to be going as smoothly as anyone would expect it to be. The one commotion being that of an entrance of a metal carriage or whatever minor thing it was. But Daisy's problem wasn't the ball itself.

No, it stood in front of her, making his presence known. And not at all getting the memo.

"Perhaps I, your Majesty, can lift your spirits with a dance?" smiled the suitor, a duck with golden curls of hair and a green suit to match his Glover leaf mask to perfection. He bowed as he stretched out his hand, awaiting hers in return. Daisy didn't move.

"That won't be necessary, thank you," She answered bluntly. So much more could've been added to that, but then again, they were in public. There must be some dignity in giving rejections for she is royalty after all. The suitor simply cleared his throat and got up, dusting off his sleeves. No look of defeat or disappointment was present on his face, only his smile and pompous demeanor. Such charm...

"Very well, if you insist. But when you change your mind, I won't be very far" He gave another bow before finally leaving her sight.

As soon as he left, Daisy and Minnie watched as he headed for a crowd of what appeared to be the entire eligible male population hogging up the space in the ballroom. They were currently belittling each other's offerings of the traditional flowers, candy, and jewelry meant for the Queen. As for the Queen herself, she let out a droning sigh for Minnie to hear.

"I don't remember ever mentioning that I wanted a husband in the invites," she remarked, "And yet they come flocking here anyway."

Minnie, having predicted the outcome with the suitor, leaned in towards her with a nervous smile. "Um, about that, Daisy. If you're really feeling down, don't you think maybe sharing a dance with one of them can cheer you up?" This earned a blank stare, "I mean, of course, some of them are a little... self-absorbed. But who knows? It might actually be worth it."

After a brief pause, Daisy chuckled, "Well, I will admit, I am pretty gorgeous." She sat more upright while smoothing down her lavender gown and fixing her crooked lace mask, unaware of Minnie's soft giggling. She stopped when Daisy suddenly snapped, "But that's beside the point! Look at those gold diggers! The gifts I'll accept, but I bet you they don't know a single thing about me besides my title and they never will." She crossed her arms and turned her head away. Minnie, however, wasn't having any of that nonsense. While the guards behind them slowly took one step away to avoid any involvement, the mouse faced her ruler with hands on her hips and eyes on the verge of tears.

"Maybe they would get to know you better if you simply gave them a chance, your stubbornness," she nagged, catching Daisy off-guard and causing a bit of a scene, "Please, I'm not saying this because I want a king, I'm saying this because I know it'll make you happy. Something is eating you up inside and it won't go away if you keep ignoring it. It's not going to kill you to at least try. Now, pardon me. I'm going to have this little thing called 'fun'. Maybe you should try it. This was your idea after all."

Without a moment of hesitation, Minnie stormed away, leaving Daisy with a hanging beak. She could've stayed that way for hours had it not been for the increasing number of people staring at her in confusion. Once she snapped out of it, she shut her beak and forced a smile like nothing ever happened.

When the guests finally went about their own business, Daisy dropped the facade and slouched again. 'What now?' she wondered. She glanced around the place, but was unable to find her friend through the sea of masks. She noticed a faraway balcony. A pretty view of the night won't hurt, but getting trampled by unwanted suitors the second she leaves her seat certainly will. Trapped in her prison of a throne, all there was left to do now was ponder over Minnie's words.

It was then that her heart sunk to her stomach. The music muffled and the lights blurred. Daisy was now alone in her mind. As rude as Minnie was just a while ago, it pained her to admit that she had a point.

For years, Daisy never had trouble getting all that she desired, and that included boys. 'What a brat I was,' she thought. Even now, she could easily play those men like dolls without a care if she wanted to. Just a flutter of her eyelashes and they'd bounce to her on the spot. But she's not a little princess anymore. Responsibilities as the Queen have weighed in on her shoulders. One wrong move and that'll cost the safety of the kingdom, and as if the subjects don't take her any less seriously as it is. Not to mention the loneliness that's been creeping up on her lately...

Daisy took a deep breath. Though it burned her lungs, it felt good nonetheless. Was one night of leisure too much to ask? One night for her and her people to relax and have fun for once? "Maybe this whole arrangement was a bad idea," she choked as she rubbed her temples. If only she can go out for some fresh air-

"When I'm crowned, I'll make sure to banish you!"

Daisy's heart leapt back into place. Awakened from her thoughts, she along with everyone else turned to find the source of the shouting. Within the crowd of suitors, a bachelor's bouquet of daises ("How creative") laid crumbled under another's foot. "When you're crowned? Oh please, ya hardly worthy for a jester!" sneered the lanky rat crushing the flowers. The two continued to argue when the green-themed suitor calmly approached them.

"Gentlemen, while you were busy fussing, I've had the luck to speak with the Queen. So, it's clear I'll be the one victorious," he said and began to walk away.

"Oh yeah?! I'll show ya luck!" yelled the rat as he aimed a punch. He missed the duck by mere inches and hit a random suer, who didn't take it quite well. One punch lead to another and pretty soon, a full-on fistfight broke out between the rest of the suitors. The guests swarmed around, cheering and placing bets on the winner of the battle of so called honor. The guards rushed from their posts to break it off. No attention was put to the rapid clinking of heels as Daisy, in a huff, hopped right off her throne and dashed for the balcony.

'What's the point?' she thought. She'll never say yes to the right guy when everyone else keeps trying to woo her into making them King. The nerve of them! Oh wait until she sees the look on their little faces once she puts her defenses up. Say what Minnie will, love just brings more trouble than it's worth. "'Might be worth it' That's a laugh." She muttered to herself. The growing silence as she reached her destination became music to her ears. "Besides," she clenched a fist to her chest,"it's not like I'll fall in love at first sight."

Perhaps she spoke too soon, for when she walked out in the open, Daisy spotted a figure already there at the edge of the balcony. She tip-toed until she could at least make out the silhouette under the dim moonlight:

A duck in blue gazing at the sparkling ocean.