Introduction pp.3-4
Bella and Luke – Chapter 1: Bella p.5
Bella and Luke – Chapter 2: Luke p.6
Bella and Luke – Chapter 3: Bella and Luke pp.7-9
Explanation of plot summary and choices pp.10-12
Introduction
For this assignment I have chosen topic number 2; “Write your own version of the Cinderella story, structuring your re-telling around the element(s) of the story that seem most significant or interesting to you. You can tell the story from the point of view of one of the characters or use third person narration. Think carefully about what specific aspects of the story you decide to emphasise and how you choose to represent them. Include, as an afterword, a brief explanation of your choices, and how they contribute to the point(s) you are trying to make in your story.” I have chosen this particular topic, because I am the most familiar with this style of writing, and I thought it would be interesting to re-tell the Cinderella story using this format.
The Cinderella story centres around the life of the main character, Cinderella. Cinderella is an only child, who was born into a wealthy family, and has a wonderful upbringing. One day her mother falls ill. After a few short weeks, she succumbs to her illness, and passes away. Cinderella is raised by her single father for a period of time before he starts to feel lonely. It is then he meets a widow, falls in love and marries her. The widow has two daughters and they soon movie into the large manor with Cinderella and her father.
Cinderella’s father often travels for work and on one of his journey’s he too falls ill, and soon passes away. Cinderella is an orphan who is now raised by her stepmother who is now struggling financially. As a result of their financial woes, Cinderella’s stepmother has to fire the employees of the house. It is then she turns on Cinderella, and forces her to cook, clean, and wait on her, and her daughter’s every whim. Cinderella spends a considerable amount of time being a virtual slave to her step mother and sisters before one night something magical takes place.
Cinderella meets her fairy Godmother who announces that she will give her everything she needs to attend a ball at the king palace that is held for his son prince Charming. The fairy Godmother transforms Cinderella into the epitome of a princess, and attends the ball. There she meets the prince and he instantly falls in love with her. Unfortunately, the magic that has transformed Cinderella is only temporary, and wears off a midnight. Cinderella notices the time and makes a run for her carriage before the magic ears off, and the prince sees the real her.
She leaves behind a glass slipper and gets away just in time. The prince is determined to find this mysterious princess, but doesn’t know her name or where she is from. He takes the slipper all over the kingdom and lets every maiden try it on to see if he can find the one whom it belongs to. At last the prince arrives at Cinderella’s house but Cinderella’s stepmother has locked her up so she cannot try on the slipper. She hopes that one of her daughters will be able to wear the shoe and marry the prince. After several unsuccessful attempts at trying on the shoe the price gives up. That is until he hears beautiful singing coming from inside the house. He questions Cinderella’s stepmother and sends his guards to investigate. They find Cinderella locked up in a room, dirty, and looking like a neglected slave. She tries on the shoe, and it fits. The prince is relived he has finally found his princess.
He takes Cinderella to his castle where a few days later they marry. Cinderella’s stepmother and sisters are banished from the kingdom. They live happily ever after.
Bella and Luke
Chapter 1: Bella
Star Log 3016.
It has been three years since my father’s death but it feel more like ten. Paula tricked my trusting father Edward into believing that he was securing my future as his successor. But instead he signed it away. Now I am forced to live here on Cinder, or better known on Earth as Jupiter, overseeing the terraforming process. Though my title suggests that I am a ruler, there is a difference between ruling over piles of ash and ruing over a kingdom of people.
This planet is unforgiving with storms that rage for hundreds of years. I am lucky that we have not seen one of those storms yet, but we have been privy to the harsh winds that can get up to 360 kilometres per hour. This means, until the terraforming process has been complete we are forced to live underground. In the rare moments when the weather is clear we venture out onto the surface to take samples from the ash and test the development of the atmospheric conditions. During this time my scientists are able to check their instruments and make any repairs necessary. This cycle of testing, and fixing instruments is all we do here, as the terra forcing device operates on its own. The days are long and the nights are longer, making my exile on this horrible planet even worse. Paul made sure that I would never make it back to earth by destroying any means of escape I am stranded here; all I can do is await the day of my death – death would be an escape from this darkness.
Chapter 2: Luke
Star Log 2016
My home, Haven is a beautiful place. Working in the King’s palace has its benefits. I am happy to perform any duties he requires in order to pay off my parent’s debt to him. However, I long for a life of my own. I long to travel the galaxy, explore new worlds, and perhaps meet the girl of my dreams. Fantasy and imagination is how I get by every day, it keeps me from cracking under the thought that this life may never change, and I’ll never belong to myself or find my soul mate.
Star Log 2017
Today the King has asked me to go to Earth as all his best men are on other missions outside of the galaxy. He was given a report that Earth – the planet under our rule – is experiencing some difficulties, but it is unclear what they are. He has informed me that this is not a soldier’s mission. I am to go to earth and observe what is going on, and report back to Haven right away.
Star Log 2018
Hour ago I left Haven behind but we became stuck in a meteor storm and it has knocked my ship off course. I have crash-landed on a strange planet. I plan to find somewhere to shelter and send a signal to get help before my oxygen runs out.
Chapter 3: Bella and Luke
“Who are you, and what are you doing here?” Bella asked sternly.
“My name is Luke, my ship crash landed here, and I am in need of assistance.”
“Where were you going?”
“I was headed to Earth. My King heard that there was some kind of trouble and wanted me to report back to him.”
“Where are you from?”
“I am from Haven.” Luke replied.
Bella was shocked by the arrival of Luke, but more so she was shocked to hear that there was such a disruption on earth that it concerned the ruling planet Haven. Deep down Bella knew that it has something to do with her wicked step-mother Paula and two step-sisters, Alicia, and Tanya.
“I am prepared to help you” Bella said.
“But with one condition” “I am coming with you”.
“Uh, I don’t think that is such a good idea Ma’am” He said.
“And why not!?”
“It’s a dangerous mission, I am not sure what to expect when we arrive, and surely a mission such as this is beneath someone of your stature?”
“You have no idea of what I am capable of” Bella replied sharply.
“We will repair your ship, and I am coming with you – that is my final word!”
After the repairs on Luke’s ship were complete the two set out towards Earth. Luke was startled at the strength of Bella and her resolve to go with him, whatever the cost. Unbeknown to him Bella had unfinished business back on Earth.
It was only a matter of a day’s journey to Earth. Upon arriving Luke and Bell discovered the world in turmoil. People were rioting in the streets, and the atmosphere was thick with black plumes of smoke. Luke and Bella armed, and ready, edged their way into the crowd of people. They saw an old woman who had been knocked to th ground. Helping her up Luke asked her what was going on.
“Oh, thank you Sir, it’s just terrible, TERRIBLE!” “Paula and her two daughters have taken over the ruling classes of earth and the people are starving” “This has bene going on for a year now, and there’s no one who can stop her.” “She seems to like this chaos and has announced that a New World Order will arise and bring peace to the Earth once again – with our without the support of the people.” “But the people are already starving – aside from her soldiers and elitist supporters, no one wants this type of ruler.” “But we are slaves to her, we have no choice to conform, she has sent armed of robots into the cities to take control, anyone who denies her is executed.
Bella was horrified that her wicked step mother could do this to her own people. Though she had faced her step-mothers cruel ways – she never dreamed that Paula would go this far – or stoop this low for power. Luke and Bella thanked the old woman and went back to his ship. There Bella revealed her relationship to Paula, Alicia, and Tanya. They both knew that Haven had little soldiers to spare. However, Bella was confident that she could use her insider’s knowledge to get into the castle and take them down. Together, they hatched a plan to free the people.
In the darkness of the next night, Bella and Luke slipped past the guards into the palace where Paula and her daughters slept soundly. Along the way Luke battled several guard robots that were keeping watch outside of their rooms. Creeping along the hallway, with Luke watching her back Bella snuck into their rooms and vanquished them. As the turned into piles of ashes, Bella was happy that she had avenged her father and his legacy. A full report of the incident was sent to the King of Haven. Upon hearing about the courage of Luke and Bella, he appointed them as co-rulers over the entire Milky Way. Luke and Bella enjoyed a coronation ceremony that was broadcast over the entire galaxy. They ruled together and brought harmony and peace to the galaxy once again. The people were happy, and previously uninhabited planets were terraformed and colonised. The galaxy prospered and Haven never had to come to the rescues of Earth ever again.
Explanation of plot summary and choices
It is the year 3016 and humans have found a way to live on other planets aside from earth. Bella is the ruler of Jupiter, an ash like planet that the locals jokingly call Cinder. Cinder is a harsh planet to live on. It has storms that rage on for hundreds of years which create orange layers of ash upon its surface. The people on Cinder cannot live on its surface so they live underground. Under the surface of Cinder lies a labyrinth of corridors that all lead to a central focal point in the core of the planet. This place is called Cinderella Manor, named after the planet, and its ruler Bella.
Bella is unhappy with life in Cinder. She was forced to live there and rule by her wicked step mother. Bella was born into a wealthy and powerful family. Her father was the first man to colonize a planet. He invented a terra forming device that enabled humans to live on other planets. This device changed the atmosphere over time. Cinder was a new planet that was in need of terra forming. Upon his death, Bella’s father Edward unknowingly signed over his will to his new wife Paula who had tricked him into believing he was singing his wealth over to Bella. Instead the document would declare Bella as the ruler of Cinder and sentence her to live out her days there overseeing the terra forming operation. Bella’s step sisters, Alicia, and Tanya were named as co-beneficiaries of Edward’s wealth along with Paula. Thus Bella was doomed to live underground on Cinder for the rest of her life. She was more of a slave than a ruler and longed to be free from this curse.
Meanwhile, on a planet called Haven. Haven is a ruling planet and is tasked with the role of protecting earth from “other-worldly” threats. Luke was a poor man who lived in the King’s palace. He served faithfully as his personal assistant as he had done since a boy. He longed to pay off the debt that his parents owned to the King. He often dreamed about travelling to other planets, and perhaps meeting the girl of his dreams. One day the King heard about an emergency on Earth, but all his best men were already attending to other matters outside of the galaxy. Upon hearing this news Luke boldly approached the throne and offered his services to the King. After considering all his options the King agreed to send Luke on a reconnaissance mission to find out what was going on. On his way there Luke’s space ship was hit by a meteor shower and diverted off its course, crashlanding onto the surface of Cinder. With only hours of oxygen left, and a storm approaching, Luke was in desperate need of assistance. He ventured out onto the planet’s surface, when he found shelter in a nearby cave. After resting for a while he noticed something strange markings on the wall of the cave. He recognised those markings as an ancient language of Haven’s ancestors the Edenites. Just as he was deciphering the message, from the back of the cave two leather clad soldiers who promptly arrested him and took him to Cinder Manor for questioning.
Upon his arrival at Cinder Manor, Luke meets Bella and feels and instant connection to her, and she feels the same. But both, bury their feelings as she questions him. After Luke explains his purpose on Cinder, and hoe he crash-landed. Bella agrees to help Luke discover what is happening on earth. Her soldiers take his ship and makes repairs using old technology they have lying around. It is enough to get them to earth
They arrive on Earth to discover Bella’s step mother and two step sisters have taken over the ruling classes of earth and are waging war against anyone who dares to stop them. Luke and Bella then hatch a plan to free the people of earth and restore peace. Though they have an attraction to one another the mission takes its toll on their fledgling friendship and tensions run high as they make their way closer to the castle where Bella’s step-mother lives. They have to learn to work together, and along the way they learn about courage, faith, and love.
They manage to overcome their obstacles and defeat Paula, Alicia, and Tanya. One the King of Haven hears about this he is shocked and proud of how Luke and Bella overcame evil, so he made them co-rulers of the entire Milky Way. Their reign was a peaceful one and the Milky Way benefited from the lessons they learned and now portray to all of their subjects.
I chose to tell the story of Cinderella from a futuristic perspective as I love sci-fi. I chose to make Bella a ruler instead of a slave girl like the original as I think it is in line with where our world is headed. I didn’t want her to just be a victim, I wanted her to be strong, but still someone who had much to learn. I wanted the male and female characters to mirror each other, showing their equality. At the end of the story they rule the galaxy together. Both of them saved one another, and this is a story of friendship, and courage as it is a story about love. I also chose to tell the story from the perspective of both Luke and Bella in order for the reader to delve into the mindset of the two main characters and discover how they are similar and different, and discover how people so far apart from different cultures and classes can unite together towards a common goal. I decided to start the story with diary entries like the introduction of a movie, so the readers can get a sense of both characters. The following chapters is when they both meet and that is when the meat of the story takes shape and dialogue is introduced.
