Beau and The Beast

-1- Tale as Old as Time

Rain fell hard against the window panes that shielded the princess from the raging storm that was occurring outside. Her face was currently being made up for the ball she was throwing. Anyone could tell that she was going to be the belle of the ball. Beautiful brown hair that went to her waist was now pulled into an elegant bun. Her striking blue eyes were covered in layers of mascara, eyeliner, and eyeshadow. Her plump lips were covered in pink lipstick. She wore the kingdom colors of royal blue and gold. She smirked into the mirror. Nothing could ruin this night.

The ball had begun and there was laughter in the air. Her subjects were all beautiful. The women wore elegant dresses and the men wore magnificent tuxedos. She was prideful. The people were dancing, singing, and laughing. She held her head high. A knock on the front door stopped the princess in her tracks. "Get the door!" She barked at her maitre d', Luminette. "Yes, your majesty." Luminette bowed as she opened the door.

An old man stood at the door holding a rose. "Please, Princess, I need shelter." The princess sneered. "Humph. As if I would let someone like you into my castle." The crowd laughed. The old man wasn't phased. He asked again. "Princess. I ask you again. I need shelter. In return, I shall give you this rose." The princess laughed. "No! Someone as hideous as you shouldn't even be allowed near my door." The old man sighed. A sudden gust of wind burst through the castle blowing all of the candles out. The princess gasped. The old man was no longer an old man, but a handsome sorcerer. The sorcerer looked at the princess sadly and said, "You have been deceived by your own cold heart. A curse upon your house and all within it. Until you have found someone to love you as you are, you shall remain forever a beast."

Since that day, the rose that the old man had presented her with sat under a glass vase, for she had until her 23 birthday to have the spell lifted, or she would remain a beast for the rest of her life.

6 years later-

Ben opened the door to his mother's house. He sighed. Surely there was much more to this provincial life? He shook his head as he headed into town. The streets were bustling. He held his library book tightly. He didn't want to lose it.

Giselle stared at Ben intently. Her sidekick, Leala, looked up at her and smiled. "You like him don't you, Giselle?" "And so what if I do, Leala?" Leala looked at Ben. "Nothing. I just don't see what's so special about him. He's just a boy." "Just a boy? No, Leala, you don't understand. He is the most handsome boy in this whole town. He's the best; and don't I deserve the best?" Giselle said, looking at her reflection in a shiny pot. Giselle was three things. One was arrogant. Second was incredibly beautiful, which was the cause of the arrogance. And the third, was that she was the best huntress in town. She strided toward Ben and tapped his shoulder. "Hello, Ben." She smiled. "Hello, Giselle." He looked even better up close. "Is there something I could help you with?" He asked. She smiled cockily. "You could help me with my relationship status." "Oh? And how could I help that?" He retorted sarcastically. "You could marry me." Ben laughed nervously. "No, I'm sorry, but I'd rather... um- you know... I have chores..." He said as he backed away from Giselle. Giselle rolled her eyes. "Whatever. You'll come to your senses."

Ben slammed the door to her mother's house. "Ben? Is that you?" Ben smiled. "Yes, mama." "Oh, good." Magnolia said as she wiped her hands on her apron. "How was town?" "Wonderful! The librarian let me keep my favorite book." "That was sweet of her." Ben nodded, then his face turned sour. Magnolia looked at her son, a knowing look implanted on her face. "Giselle proposed again?" Ben sighed angrily. "I wish she would stop doing that." He huffed. "Oh, she'll get over you. It's just a crush." Ben rolled his eyes. "Mama, do you think I'm crazy?" Magnolia looked surprised. "My son? Crazy? Now, where would you go and get an idea like that?" Ben shrugged. "I don't know, it's just-" Ben was cut off by the sound of an ax hitting wood. Magnolia gasped. "Oh my god, it actually works." She mumbled.

Ben smiled as he helped his mother board the horse. He knew how much this Invention Convention meant to her. "Be safe." He warned. "Always." Magnolia smiled. He handed her a bag filled with things she would need on the road. Food, and a canteen of water. "I may be gone for a few days, do you want me to bring you anything back?" Ben held a thoughtful look. Then he remembered that the rose was his father's favorite flower. " A single rose." Magnolia looked skeptical. "Just a rose?" "Yeah. It was his favorite flower, after all." Magnolia held back tears and smiled. "A rose." He smiled up at her and waved goodbye. He turned to the house and walked inside.