BANG! The Beast collapsed to the stone floor, blood seaping through his thick fur from his wounds. Belle ran to him and collapsed by his side, devastated at the disaster before her.
Behind her, Gaston took aim yet again, preparing himself to take the final shot...
Suddenly, Belle lurched to the side, effectively blocking the Beast's bloody back from view as Gaston pulled the trigger...
... shooting Belle.
The once cheery yellow gown was suddenly stained red as blood poured from Belle's back. A soul shattering scream reverberated through the frosty air as she collapsed, chest heaving as she fought to draw her final breaths.
The Beast turned to her, clutching her dying body in his paws as she slowly bled out before him.
"Belle, tell me what to do. Tell me how to save you" he growled frantically.
She merely smiled in response and, as her eyelids fluttered closed for the final time, she murmured "Beast - I love you"
She breathed her final breath and became still forevermore.
Unbeknownst to the grieving Beast, a golden glow seeped into the room, surrounding the Beast and bathing everything in a magical light.
Magic swirled around the Beast as he ripped out a final bellowing roar before all at once, the light rushed towards him, leaving him human once more.
But this was wrong. This was horribly wrong. It wasn't supposed to go like this. Belle should have lived out her life as a princess in his castle until she grew old and frail. But now she was dead.
The Beast made his decision and stood, steeling himself for the task ahead.
The Beast, no longer covered with fur, but with flesh, walked towards the edge of the tower and stood, facing Belle's lifeless body, taking in the sight one last time.
"I'm coming for you Belle" he murmured as he fell backwards into the ravenous gap that swallowed him whole and plunged him into darkness.
And thus, beauty and her beast spent eternity in death, happily ever after.