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Beauty and the Beast Chapter 17

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Back downstairs, the battle was still taking place. Most of the humans had fled from the castle, though a very few held their ground against the various furniture and animals that kept them from pressing any further. Just then, at the precise moment when the occupants had the upper hand, a loud whistle echoes on the main room. Everyone turns around to see Gaston standing at the top of the steps, as the fighting came to a slow halt.

"We have done it!" He shouted. "Behold: The terrible Beast!"

"What?" Lumiere asked, in shock.

But the man known as Gaston was not kidding. For behind him, dragged down the steps by Hans, Wolfe, and Angus, a chained and bruised Maria stood before them. The villagers were quite shocked by what they see, but their shock was much different. For before them, this beast was practically near lifeless and seeing this creature in this shape was... Sad. Was this really the terrible beast they had heard about? Gaston certainly believed it was.

"It was a long, crushing battle," Angus replied with a smile. "But in the end, we prevailed in possibly our greatest fight to date!"

"Eh, I had better," Hans replied.

"Why is no one cheering for us?" Gaston wondered. "We come all this way to capture this filthy creature. Why is there no applause?"

"Fear not my friend," Wolfe replied, handing Gaston his signature sickle. "They'll cheer once you've gained your trophy."

Gaston smiled sadistically, his blood began to pump the moment he took the sickle in his grasp. He knew all eyes were on him, everyone was waiting to see what Gaston would do next. He knew the results would be worth it, Gaston would be more of a hero than he ever was in his life. Slowly, he lifts the sickle high in the air and aimed to bring it down with all his might towards Maria's head…

"NO!"

A loud shout caused the villagers to turn back to the front doors, as a figure burst through on horseback. A lone man riding a dark-colored horse, a look of determination on his face. In the light, they recognized his face. It was Frederick, and he was raging mad.

"Don't you touch her, Gaston!!"

But the sickening thump of the sickle landing made him freeze in his tracks. Gaston finally acknowledged Frederick's presence with a triumphant grin plastered on his face. Before Frederick's very eyes, he had done it. Now, all he had to do was collect his bounty and then he would proceed to deal with the impudent school teacher.

He reached down to pick up the severed head of the beast, except it came up only with air. There's no way Gaston could've missed, he never missed a swipe in his life. He had to know for sure, as he turned down the floor. But there was no mistake, where the decapitated creatures should be. No more but an empty space on the floor there was. It was as if it disappeared from out of thin air, all that stood in it's place was the sickle embedded on the floor.

A cry of delight causes Gaston to turn around as Maria kneels a mere few feet from Frederick. Gaston had failed to noticed Maria rolling out of the way just before the sickle could touch her. From where she was, she looked towards Frederick with heartfelt eyes. Though she was bound in heavy chains, she smiled seeing that Frederick had come back… As he promised. Seeing the two eyeing each other, the townspeople were in disbelief.

"That's impossible!" Hans cried. "How did you escape?"

"Let's just say I had some help," Frederick replied, as Katrina ran past him.

"Mama! Mama!"

"Katrina!" Miss Doe cried, pulling her into a fast embrace.

"I'm sorry for running away, mommy. But if I didn't, Frederick would still be locked in that cold, dreary cellar!"

"Leave Maria's home… Now!" Frederick shouted, his eyes narrowed at Gaston.

"I think not," Gaston retorted, giving a bellowing laugh. "We were just about to finish what we started and we can't have school-teachers running in and interrupting our business."

"Look at her, Gaston, does she look vicious to you?"

"Wolf's snout, ram’s horns, claws… I've seen them on many creatures, but all at once… Yes, I would say she is," Gaston replied, sneering down at him.

"Look, small man, my comrades and I have traveled hundreds of miles for the thrill of a hunt," Wolfe said, giving a short bark of laughter. "We refuse to leave this castle empty-handed, we has reputation to uphold… Though we do wish the hunt was more 'challenging'."

"Now, we have wasted enough time with words," Angus added. "If you don't mind, we have a trophy to collect! So hand her over… Or we'll take her by force!"

But back down Frederick would not, Gaston and his boys have had their way for the last time. Frederick knew what he had to do, it was a long shot but he had to try. Not just to save himself, but to save Maria as well. He turns to the angry mob, imploring them to hear him out.

"Friends, neighbors, beloved townsfolk, please, I beg you to look at her. I mean 'really' look at her. Does this creature, the one you call a 'beast', does she look like she could hurt anyone? Any of you?"

The mob had nothing to say to Frederick, his words were like a stake pinned to their hearts. For as they turned to gaze at this poor, suffering creature, laying before them on the floor, helpless… Innocent… Sad… They felt ashamed. Here they had came, with the promise of protecting their homes from a savage beast, only to realize that everything they thought they knew was a lie. Though some tried to shake their heads in denial, they could not turn from Maria's pleading eyes for salvation. Frederick was right, he was right about everything and they had never felt so foolish until this very day.

Gaston's expression soured. Here he was at the peak of succeeding with his task and this school teacher bursts in and is starting to turn the villagers against him. No, he wouldn't have it.

"It… Is… A… BEAST!" Gaston shouted. "She is a monster, nothing more and nothing less. Here we have this creature, at our mercy, and you DARE to tell these people about pity?"

"The only monster here is YOU, Gaston!" Frederick retorted.

"… Really, Freddy? Really? I do admire your guts, you really want to play this game again… One last time? The clock's ticking and these people came to see results."

There is a long pause between the two, Frederick and Gaston. Frederick stared fiercely towards Gaston, who simply just shakes his head.

"Don't give me that face Frederick; I'm not the bad guy! I'm a hunter, I've been hunting beasts all my life and I at least did this god forsaken town hundreds of favors. You were nothing, a nobody…  And then you met me. That's when the whole world decides to give you a shot. Then you blew it waylaying me, telling me how I should be living my life. The fact is: You can make 'all' the promises you want, but you'll never understand how the world works. But surprise, here's your pal Gaston! The mighty hunter coming to give you one… Last… Chance."

Suddenly, Gaston darted to Maria and grabbed her by the fur atop her head. She yelped as Gaston dragged her back, removing the sickle from the floor. Frederick rushed toward them, but he held it out in front of Frederick and halted him in his tracks.

"Your choice Frederick: Your life or hers. But now that I think of it, either way, I could kill her anytime I want. Then, I can finish what I started… With you. So choose wisely Freddy-boy, are you ready to throw away everything in your life, or what's left of it? A broken family? A woman who was almost your wife? The world you knew all your life? You'd throw all of it away… For this mangy creature? You know how it ends school-teacher, someone's life will end and it will all involved 'me'."

"GASTON!!!"

A powerful voice shouted, causing the mob to turn. Before them stood Mr. Le'Roux at the doorway, Gabriella close behind him.

"Father!" Gaston spoke, laughing. "I did not expect you to be here too… So soon."

"Where is the creature I‘ve been hearing about?"

"This thing, right here. Foul, isn't it?"

Mr. Le'Roux walked through the mob, who separated from both sides to give the man some walking space. He slowly approached Gaston, looming down to Maria. For a moment, he just looked at her as she looked back with a hint of fear.

"May I borrow an axe?"

Without hesitation, someone from the mob handed Mr. Le'Roux an axe. He nodded his thanks to the man, who anxiously made his way back to the group. He slowly turned to Maria, lifting the axe above his head and casting a shadow upon the beast. She closed her eyes, expecting the worst. With great force, he slammed the axe down… Cutting Maria's chains.

"Father?" Gaston asked, confused. "Are you releasing it for sport? It won't run - it didn't when we caught…"

SLAP!!! The mob gasped when they saw Mr. Le'Roux slap his own son right across the face. They were all surprised to see one of the most notable men in their village do that to their kid, but none more surprised than Gaston, who turned from that smack with a cheek redder than before. At first, he was at a loss for words that his own father would do such a thing.

"Father…"

"Don't you 'father' me!" Mr. Le'Roux shouted, interrupting Gaston. "Your sister told me everything: Threatening to throw the La'Belles into an insane asylum, threatening my daughter with violence, and locking up my future son-in-law in a cellar!"

"And killing all of the other suitors, too!" Gabriella brought up.

"You stay out of this you little-" Gaston spoke, pointing a finger.

"YOU??" Mr. Le'Roux accused, shocked. "That was YOU?! You're the reason all those men vanished?! When they left my daughter in the altar, for reasons 'you' told me."

"Father, I…"

"Gaston, I am ashamed of you. My own flesh and blood, my own son turns out to be a cold-blooded killer. And now here you are about to harm another innocent soul, blindly murdering this creature for your own gain. What has this beautiful creature ever done to you? Gaston… I would've known this day would come, when you 'spoiled' the family name."

"But… But…"

Gaston could find no words to explain, every word from his father hit him like a dagger. As Mr. Le'Roux confronted his son, Frederick ran up to Maria, pulling her into a warm embrace.

"Oh Maria," he cried. "Thank God you're alright."

"Thank you for coming back," Maria replied, hoarsely.

"Maria… There's something I have to ask you."

"What?" Maria asked, cautiously. "What is it?"

To Maria's surprise, Frederick slowly stood up over her. Then, he took a step back while clearing his throat, and lastly he held up his hand in the air.

"With this hand, I will lift your sorrows. Your cup will never empty, for I will be your wine."

Peter, Olivia, and Jean-Luc had just walked into the castle. By the time they did so, they were stunned to see what Frederick was about to do. Even Gaston, still getting over his shock with his father, was confused as he tried to make what Frederick was doing. Quite frankly, he thought he was mad. Especially when Frederick pointed to Lumiere, who observed what was going on atop a table.

"With this candle, I will light your way through darkness."

Frederick then reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a ring, a wedding ring.

"With this ring, I ask you to be mine."

And then, he did the unimaginable and something no one from the village had anticipated Frederick to do. With the ring, he slipped it onto Maria's finger. The very ring that everyone, even his family and friends, thought he was giving the ring to Gabriella. But instead, he gave it to the beast.

In all this Maria, she never thought that this was going to happen. As she lifted her hand, stared at the diamond ring on her finger, so many thoughts came to her head. Here she thought that Frederick was intending to marry another woman, but she never thought that Frederick actually wanted to marry her.

"Frederick…" She breathed.

"Maria…" Frederick interrupted, kneeling to the floor. "Maria… Will you do the honor of becoming my wife? Will you marry me?"

The room was utterly silent, no one spoke a word. Everyone was either really stunned, or just getting over the fact that Frederick was proposing to the beast they were led to kill. Stunned into mobility by what they have just witnessed, including Maria herself. Everyone, that is, except Gaston. Including his father, everyone else was distracted by this scene. Now he saw his chance to finish what he started. Seizing a pistol from one of the gaping villagers, he aimed the pistol, and fired point-blank… BAM!!!

A cry of pain echoed in the room, everyone inside seemed to come alive and gasped what they saw. Maria and Frederick watch eye-to-eye, not saying a word and their mouths gaped and none of them made a sound. But then, Frederick let out another cry and held his side trying to stop the bleeding, the blood staining the floor. Nearly half the room, villagers and castle servants, yelled in fury and ran to seize Gaston. However, it was Mr. Le'Roux who reached his son first and at that same time Maria flung herself down beside Frederick, who fell to the ground as she looms over him sobbing.

"Everyone, stay back!" Mr. Le'Roux shouted, his voice carried through the room. "I have him."

"Father! What are you doing?" Gaston cried, trying to pull free. "Don't you see I've done the right thing?"

"All I've seen is that we haven't done right by you, son! You were out of your place to shoot that boy, just as you were out of line to take those other innocent men. Hopefully some time at the asylum will bring you to your senses. Maybe they'll clear your head for what you've done."

As Mr. Le'Roux berated his son, Gaston could hardly believe what he was listening. This was not what Gaston had wanted, neither this was what he had planned. Gaston couldn't understand… Something was wrong with this whole scene. Gaston just shook his head, the blood boiling over, and finally he couldn't take it anymore. Finally, he pulled his arm out of his father's grasp and stared angrily at his father.

"What I've done? What… I've… DONE?!?! All I ever did, EVERYTHING I've done, I did it to make you proud! But NO! It never matters what I did, you treated me like I didn't exist. And even when you did, all you did was berate me and humiliate me… You never loved me!"

As Gaston ranted to his father, he slowly backed away out through the open front doors. His father slowly approached his ranting son, the rest of the mob following behind. Gaston was so busy confronting him and the villagers, he didn’t pay attention to where he was backing off too as he backed slowly toward a bridge wall over a small river.

"Everyday I put my life on the line for you and you ungrateful people! I rescue the town from certain death everyday, and what do I ever get to show from it... From you, father? NOTHING! You even liked Frederick more than me, the school-teacher over your own son?! You can punish me, you can push me away, and you can threaten to kill me, but you'll never escaped from the man you spawned! You will remember my name, ALL of you will remember me! I AM GASTON LA'RO--”

In the heat of that moment, Gaston leaned against that one spot on the wall, which fell loosely behind him. By the time Gaston realized what happened, it was too late. Gaston fell back over the bridge along with the wall and he screamed as he fell into the moat. Then, they heard a CRACK from the moat and rushed forward leaning by the wall. In the moat, it turned out the water wasn't very deep and lying face-first floating on the water next to the bits of the bridge wall that fell in, was Gaston. His neck was bent at a crooked direction, his eyes staring up into the sky devoid of life, and his mouth gaped loosely. Otherwise, the image itself was very clear… Gaston La'Roux was dead.

"Oh son… What haven't I done right with you?" Mr. Le'Roux mourned, before turning to Gabriella. "Go to Frederick… Let me know how he is."

"Of course, Father," Gabriella said, her voice quivering.

Several villagers stayed behind with Mr. Le'Roux, staring down at the lifeless body of the man they almost sent to the asylum. Even the hunters, who were hired by this man for a job, stayed watching over him and shook their heads from what just happened. Those that returned to the castle, rejoining the castle servants, crowded around Frederick, Maria, Gabriella, the La'Belles, and Jean-Luc. Gabriella slowly lifted Frederick's hand, shocked at the huge stain of blood that was clotting the whole area.

"Somebody get a doctor!" Gabriella shouted.

She slid down beside Maria, wrapping her arms around her shoulders in comfort. Though Frederick was still breathing, they came out in gasps as he struggled for air. Frederick, so weak, slowly looks up to Maria.

"Maria?" Frederick whispered, his voice hoarse.

"I'm here," She spoke, holding his hands gently. "Frederick… Did you really mean it when you asked me to marry you?"

Maria had to know for sure, she only thought Frederick said that to save her life. Surprise appeared on Frederick's face, even if he was in enough pain already. He simply smiled and shook his head slowly.

"Of course… Yes, I did. Maria, meeting you…was the best thing that ever happened to me. I… I love you… Maria."

"Oh, Frederick," Maria spoke, which was all she could think to say.

This was that moment, she could feel it. Here she was with the man who was once her prisoner. But now, before her, this man asked her to marry him. This one moment and the curse would've ended for good. But now, the curse didn't matter to Maria anymore. She had never cared less about it, all she ever wanted now was for one last moment with Frederick, who was slowly fading away before her eyes.

"Frederick… Please…" She begged. "Please don't die."

May… Be too late for that… Now," Frederick replied, smiling slightly. "But I'll obey… Ugh… I will try… But at the very least… I can die… Knowing… You… Love… Me…"

Frederick's voice trailed off, his last breath coming through his lips. Maria could feel his hands relax in hers, that was when she knew. Frederick was dying right before her eyes. But Maria would not accept it, she just shook her head trying to hold back the tears in her eyes and denying that the true love of her life will soon be gone.

"No!" She wailed. "Frederick, please. Wait! Come back to me! Please…! I do love you… Frederick."

Feeling lost knowing that the man was seemingly gone forever, Maria slowly bent down to Frederick and kissed him on the lips. She didn't expect Frederick to respond or acknowledge it. But she was so depressed knowing her true love is out of her life, all she hoped for was a miracle. Lifting her head, allowing Frederick's limp form to lean on her legs, she looked down as a tear falls down her face. She closed her eyes and sighed, her one chance to be free, for everyone's chances, had gone to waste.

"Well, this is not what I expected to see."

A new voice echoed in response to Maria's mourning. Everyone in the room turned to face the speaker, a very unfamiliar face to any of them. For making her way regally through the crowd of humans, objects and animals, was the Enchantress herself. Not much had changed over the years, she looked exactly as she had that fateful night. The night she had come to lay her curse. Now here she was, after all this time, looming before Maria, who simply stared back with anger and tears in her eyes.

"What are you doing here?" Maria blurted out.

"I knew your time was up tonight, child," The Enchantress pointed out, a quizzical tone in her voice. "I merely came to see if you had indeed managed to break my curse."

Maria turned away from The Enchantress, she was too upset to even look at her. It was all too much for her, her emotions were running so deep. It was as if The Enchantress could sense it, she didn't even have to look in Maria's eyes to see.

“But I seem to have arrived in the midst of tragedy instead of a happy ending," The Enchantress continued, crossing her arms.

"You've had all the time to wait before acting," Maria whispered miserably, before turning back to The Enchantress with heavy tears. "Isn't there something you can do, now? I'll do anything to bring him back… Please. Just for once… Help me."

The Enchantress regarded her request for a long moment. All this time, she was not sure what to make of this child, a person she felt needed a punishment for a misdeed from long ago. But now, she saw a completely different person and not just because of her changed form. Her mouth quirked slightly, she knew what must be done.

"It seems I misjudged you those many years ago, child. I confess, I was angry at your theft, and made such a hasty assumption. That you, like so many noble children, were spoiled little things that needed to be taught a lesson in humility. But now I see, your selfless love for this man proved that I owe you quite a substantial apology… Perhaps more than that. Yes, I think I know how to amend this."

The Enchantress smiled, bending down and tapped Frederick gently with the thin wand she held in her hand. To everyone's amazement, Frederick's skin gave off a slight glow at the touch. He twitched and moaned slightly, and as Maria looked down, she saw that the wound in his side was healing. His skin was pulling itself together, as muscles were mended. As the healing process continued, Maria looked up at the enchantress with bright eyes.

"Thank you!"

"It's the least I do, child," She spoke, pausing briefly. "I feel compelled to remind you that you have but seconds until the final petal falls from the roe. Be certain to make them count."

"Make them count?" Gabriella repeated.

It was the first time she had spoken since the Enchantress appeared. The first time it became clear of the curse that had consumed the castle in it's spell.

"This young man here has asked her a question," The Enchantress explained gently, turning back to Maria. "This spell only requires that she gives an answer. May it come from the heart, child, and however this ends… Cherish every waking moment… While you still can."

Before their very eyes, the Enchantress vanished in a shower of sparkles. Not long was the Enchantress there, that now no trace of her can be found.

"Maria?" Frederick whispered weakly, his eyes fluttered open.

Yes, Frederick," Maria spoke, squeezing his hands. "I'm here, I love you so much… Yes… Yes, I will marry you."

"Oh, Maria!" Frederick cried, looking at her with joy.

But before the two could fully embrace, another spectacle occurred before all those who bore witness to these series of events. Glowing light surrounded Maria and seemed to carry her high into the air. Before everyone's amazement, her cloak wrapped around her body, hiding most of her from view. She seemed to squirm beneath it, as if throwing something off of her. Not much could be seen, all there was to see was her brown hair blowing every which way at once. And then, another flash of light blinded the onlookers. Frederick could just make out Gabriella and his parents beside him shielding their eyes.

When his vision cleared, he couldn't retrain a gasp of surprise. Where the 'Beast' Maria had stood before, a delicately beautiful young woman took her place. She appeared confused, as she examined her hands with a sense of awe. But that wasn't what truly made Frederick surprised. He knew this woman… He knew this girl. Though she was older, she resembled the very same girl from his drawing, the one he met in the clearing years ago! And now here she was, one and the same.

"It's you!" He gasped in surprise.

Finally, she turned to face him as her blue eyes sparkled joyously. Something in the way she moved about, including the shade of her hair and eyes, told him that this mysterious woman was indeed Maria. Only this time, she looked more beautiful and magnificent since the first time he saw her. She returned a smile to Frederick, though a little hesitantly.

"Yes, Frederick. It's me. I wanted so much to tell you who I was, but..."

"Maria!"

Frederick ran up and grabbed her around the waist and swung her around and about. Before either of them quite knew what was happening, they were kissing fiercely while the rest of the room watched in utter shock. It was without a doubt the most beautiful moment the village had ever seen, a moment they had never seen everyday… In a way quite like this.

As the pair kissed, the magic took it's effect on all the servants. Before anyone knew it, the castle itself began to glow along with all the servants. White sparkles of the Enchantress's magic overwhelmed everything in the room, each servant and architecture touched by the curse and restored to the way they had been before. Animal and household objects alike became human, dressed in the attire they had once worn. The castle had never looked as clean or beautifully decorated, until this very day. The spell had it's effect on everyone and everything… Everyone strangely enough except Katrina.

As Katrina waited anxiously for her curse to be lifted, Gutknecht and Manx stared at each other for a brief moment. With excitement and joy, they embraced, clapping one another on the back delightedly. Lumiere took enough time before dipping Babette back in a kiss to shake Cogsworth's hand. Around the room, similar magic bursts occurred as the enchanted servants slowly rediscovered their human selves. By this time, Frederick and Maria had stopped kissing just to watch the scene take place.

"Maria," Frederick said, reaching into his pocket. "I have something for you."

Removing his hand from his pocket, Frederick held out the worn drawing he'd been carrying for so long. Never thinking he would finally get to give this picture to Maria, until this very day. Maria stares at the paper, before she took it. Opening the paper, she stares at the picture of how Maria looked when she was just a child. Frederick never forgot about her even after all this time. She was so happy that she cried tears of joy.

"Frederick, you did remember me. I wasn't sure if you would."

"How could I forget?" He smiled. "I always wondered why you never came back."

"Now you know, or at least you've guessed.

As all this is happening all around, Katrina looked around anxiously waiting for the magic sparkle to swirl around her. But something was off, she didn't feel any different… No magic came to her. She looked down at herself: She sees the same hooves, the same fur, and the same reflection of a regular Doe instead of the human girl she heard about in her stories. Katrina just couldn't understand. Why didn't the magic work on her? Then, she felt a hand on her shoulder and she turned to see her mother, or at least a different kind of mother. Miss Doe, now much taller and human-like, looked down on Katrina with a rather sad face.

“Mama," Katrina said, a hint of fear in her voice. "What's going on?"

"Katrina," Miss Doe sighed. "There's something I should've told you before... I just didn't know how to say it properly."

"W-What?"

"… I was pregnant at the time, when the curse came upon the castle. When I was transformed into a deer, that was when I brought you into our world. When I saw you, you were in fact a baby fawn and even so I was determined to raise you as my own. As you grew, I noticed that you had human qualities I had passed onto you and I for one was scared to tell you the truth about what you were. So… So I made up stories about the make-believe life of when you were a human child… I wanted you to feel that was the life you deserved. Oh Katrina, I am so sorry."

Tears slowly came to Katrina's eyes, she couldn't believe what she was hearing. Scared, she embraced her mother by the legs and tears fell down her face.

"I don't like this! I want everything the way it was before… I want my old mama back!"

"I know you do, Katrina," Miss Doe replied. "But I want you to understand something: No matter how we look or what we could've been, I will 'always' be your mother.”

"The poor child," Cogsworth said as Lumiere patted him on the shoulder.

"Yes, Cogsworth. It is hard to accept the truth, especially when it takes so long to be told. If only there was something we could do."

Suddenly, there is a slight glow that appears before them. Cogsworth looks in amazement, as he tapped Lumiere on the shoulder.

"Maybe not us, my friend... Look!"

There before them, something magical did happen at that very last second. Miss Doe looked down to see her entire body radiating a golden glow. Katrina looked up and was surprised at what she saw. The magic wrapped around her mother, bending her down to the floor and glowing brighter and brighter. Katrina closed her eyes momentarily, but as the light faded, she opened them to see her mother lying hunched with her back against her. She nudged her mother curiously.

"Mama?"

Miss Doe finally stired, groaning for a moment. As she stood up, she noticed something different. Opening her eyes, she saw the room has grown slightly bigger and when she looks down she saw hooves. The reflection on the floor revealed that Miss Doe had in fact reverted back to her deer form, in the most unexpected of ways. She turned to Katrina, not sure what to say at first. But she didn't have to. She simply smiled at her daughter.

"Katrina..."

"MAMA!!!"

Rushing forward, Miss Doe and Katrina embraced each other as only a mother and a daughter could do. Tears streamed down their faces as they were reunited in some form, though it was confusing to some. But those who saw the meaning behind this change, the answer was clear: It never mattered how they'd look or how they could've appeared, nothing is more powerful than the wonder and magic of true love. The will to sacrifice the ways of the old to embrace the old and all that Miss Doe did for what really matters… The love for her daughter. It was as if the Enchantress answered a silent prayer, the next best amendment she did for this castle and their lives.

All of a sudden, the room abruptly went quiet. Turning to find the reason, Maria froze and would have fallen had Frederick not grabbed her elbow. Descending the stairs with regal dignity, glad smiles plastered on their faces, the King and Queen, Maria's parents, had arrived.

"Mama! Papa!"

Forgetting all her own dignity, overwhelmed by her excitement and joy, Maria flung herself toward her parents. Without a fuss, they opened their arms and gathered her up in an embrace just as if she was a little girl again. For they too had waited so long to their daughter again, no matter how long it's been. Now, here they were, together once more.

"We're so proud of you, Maria," Her father whispered in her ear. "Now, how's about introducing us to your fiancé."

Maria grinned, leading them down the rest of the stairs. As she did, she took note for the first time the amazed stares of the villagers, of Frederick's parents and servant. For years, they all heard the stories of the royal family, but never actually saw or knew what they were like. Now that they saw what they were, everything they thought… They may as well have thrown it out the window. Maria almost laughed aloud, it had been years since the village had seen them. A long round of explanations was in order and they would get to hear it from her and her family this time. But for now...

"Cogsworth!" She called.

Cogsworth rushed to her side with a deep bow.

"Yes, milady?"

"I think this warrants a party, don't you think?"

"Oh yes! Indeed, Mistress," He replied with a smile. "We'll see to everything, not to worry."

As Cogsworth scurried away to commence preparations, Maria's mother turned to face her daughter.

"Here, Maria," Her mother said, placing something prickly in her hands. "I get the feeling this was meant for your young man."

Confused at first, Maria looked down and gasped to see that it was the rose. Only, it was no longer wilted and no longer glowing. It was like every other rose, only much more beautiful. Even so, Maria looked nervous fearing previous events may occur again. Her mother could sense it and gave her a reassuring glance.

"I think it's just an ordinary rose now, sweetheart."

"I was going to give it to him when I picked it," Maria admitted. "How did you know?"

"Lucky guess," Her mother replied with a shrug.

Deep down, Maria probably knew there was more to it than that. But, she did not wish to pursue it at this time. After all, there were introductions to be made, and a party for everyone to attend just like the old times. Only this time, it would be much more grand than all the parties before.

"Come on," She said, taking her mother's hand. "Just wait until you meet him!"
Chapter 17 of my gender bending version of Disney's Beauty and the Beast. This version of the classic story has a Male Beauty betrothed to a woman he has never even known or met. But that soon changes when he encounters a mysterious She Beast in a dark and strange castle while searching for his lost parents.
© 2013 - 2024 HewyToonmore
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Isn’t the beast the one who usually gets mortally wounded?