Once upon a time, in a very distant country, there was a girl who didn't know her name. Her mother had died when she was a baby, and shortly afterwards her father married a woman who alredy had two daughters. He thought it would be nice for his little girl, whom he usually called 'Pussy' or 'Candy Pussy'.

Unfortunately the father was often away from home for work, so he did not notice that the poor child was often bullied by her awful stepmother and her nasty daughters Vitriola and Citronella. It all got much worse when the father died as well. Vitriola and Citronella.were very lazy, just like their mother, and refused to do anything in the household. The poor orphan girl had to work from early in the morning until late in the evening. Every morning she had to empty the ashes of the coal stove, and when she met her stepsisters, they tripped her, so that the child was covered in ashes from head to toe and her golden blonde hair hung from her face in greasy strings. They called her 'Ashes' mockingly, and pretty soon she had forgotten what her real name was. The angry stepmother and her daughters had a lot of fun laughing and even hitting Ashes.. Just listen..

Ashes then would flee to her room and cry herself to sleep.

One day, something special happened...

Hmmm... You have to play simultaneously, gentlemen!!

Well, study better, boys!
Everywhere in the country appeared heralds with an important announcement from the king. It was time for his eldest son, the 25-year-old crown prince, to choose a woman. A large ball was to be organized, and all girls between the ages of 18 and 20 were invited. During the ball, the prince would announce who he was going to marry.

of course immediately went shopping with their mother..New dresses, new shoes and jewelry had to come! Of course they didn't take Ashes with them. In fact: her stepmother didn't allow Ashes to go to the ball at all!!

Instead, she had to light up the hair of the stepsisters and make up the two girls nicely.

Okay, where were we? Ashes was sitting at home all by herself. She felt the unhappiest girl in the whole country. But then...

Suddenly she's startled by a dazzling white light...
A little figure floats dancing through the room

And then... With a light thud she lands on the floor.

A LIGHT thud!!!!

Hallo, girl, says a friendly voice. WWWho are you? asks Ashes surprised and a little scared.
I am Erika, a good fairy, is the answer. Why are you so sad?
Everyone has gone to the ball, and I can't go there! Ashes sniffs. Well, I can do something about that, says Fee Erika.
While Ashes watches in amazement, the fairy waves a few times with her magic wand.

and then...
In less than no time Ashes has turned into a radiant young woman, dressed in a beautiful ball gown, designed by none other than Choco Chanel! There is a fairy-tale beautiful carriage waiting for her with four horses. A lackey reaches out to her to help her get in. Just before they left she hears Fee Erika calling out: the spell lasts until midnight, so make sure you go home in time. And then the carriage leaves at a flying speed for the king's castle.
The horses run as fast as they can, spurred on by the coachman, who doesn't spare his whip. His trumpet shouts and the lackey shouts loudly: Everybody out of the way!

Next stop: Royal Castle! And soon they arrive at the castle.

Curious, Ashes walks into the castle. She has never seen so many women together, some more beautifully dressed than others. They stand in groups, talking nervously and laughing, waiting for the prince.

Then a loud voice sounds: His Royal Highness Prince Petrus Adriaan from Here to There! All present hold their breath, and then ...
The prince appears, extra handsome in his Armanini costume, and taller than any of the collected women...

The prince welcomes all his future brides and soon it is crowded on the dance floor. The orchestra plays all kinds of popular tunes.

Soon, the prince's spying eye discovers a lovely appearance: Ashes. Immediately he asks her to dance with him: she is the most beautiful girl he has ever seen. And deep in his heart he knows: The prince has found his bride!

Even Ashes' competitors have to admit that the two make a wonderful pair.
While dancing, the two get to know each other more closely.
Ashes stammers: Ehhh Highness...
But the prince puts an end to every protocol: Just say Pete. What's your name anyway?
I don't know.
How is that possible?
But before Ashes can answer...

Frightened Ashes flees away. When she runs down the stairs of the castle towards the carriage, she hastily loses her glass slipper. Quickly, the coachman calls, we have no time to lose!

Just when they arrive near Ashes' house, the 12th chime sounds.

Lost ball dress, lost party make-up, lost glass slipper, lost carriage, lost horses, lost coachman, lost footman. Ashes is staring sadly ahead, again in her old clover.

Also for the prince the fun is gone and he leaves the party,

In the meantime, the party continues into the wee hours. Everyone is having a great time thanks to a group of Parisian girls that the prince had hired especially to show everyone the latest craze: the can-can!

Once again heralds are appearing all over the country, this time with a new important announcement from the King.

The prince found his bride, but unfortunately lost her again. All he has left of her is the glass slipper that she had lost on the stairs. With that slipper the prince will travel all over the country in search of the foot that fits in the slipper: the foot of his bride!

The prince goes from house to house and tries the slipper on all women aged 18 to 20.
NAfter many unsuccessful attempts, he arrives at Ashes' house, where

...are ready to go. But also for the two angry stepsisters the slipper is much too small. Ashes secretly looks around the corner of the door, and when Vitriola desperately offers to cut off her big toe, Ashes burst out laughing

The prince looks up, sees her and says, "Would you like to try it on?“ Shy, Ashes appears, the prince takes her foot, slips it gently into the slipper and... It fits exactly!

You're my bride, the prince exclaims, my bride and my... What is your name?
My stepmother and her daughters call me Ashes, the girl answers blushingly.
Ashes! What a shame! From now on you are my Cinderella!

And again there is a big party in the castle. The whole country ran out for the marriage of the prince and Cinderella. All subjects have put on their Sunday clothes. The ladies in particular have been extensively dressed up and are wearing a beautiful, overly large hat. Because that was the custom in that country on great occasions.

When the courtiers walk into the hall two by two, the loud voice is heard again: the princely couple: Pete and Cinderella.

It is a wonderful ceremony, and many tears are shed when the two young people pronounce their marriage vows.
The president of the parliament stands up and speaks the familiar words: Long live the princely couple! to which the crowd enthusiastically responds with "hurray, hurray, hurray!
Fairy Erika has provided a beautiful silver carriage and the couple is getting ready for the traditional riding tour.

Along the way, the company stops to watch a dance that the children from all over the country have rehearsed. And of course Cinderella participates enthusiastically.

Then the parade continues.

And what about the awful stepmother and her daughters? They were first addressed severely by the King and then chased out of the country.

And what about the newly wed? They lived happily ever after, and had 13 children.

And all that really happened!