As a continuation of my summary, let me explain a little further what this story will be about. Though it is a crossover it involves no characters from Amadeus just some situations and dialogue. Centers mainly on the Prince's young life (that is, before the enchantment occurred) though I will continue writing after that point, and it does focus on the relationship that he and Forte shared. I've always thought that their relationship needed a little beefing up. That being said, I also gave Forte an actual name (not that he didn't have a legitimate name already) but I felt that if I gave him a more "human" name it would better accentuate some of the character changes he'll be going through, so bear with me I have good reason for doing all the things I do. And lastly, if at any point questions arise about the plot, have no fear! They will be answered, perhaps a little slowly but they will, I have a very intricate story line planned out and some times it takes a while. When my non-fanfictional life comes a-calling it can really slow things down.

Anyway, read and be merry.

.oOo. .oOo. .oOo.

Wind whistled high in the rafters of the castle, as a priest was lead down the long corridor toward the west wing. His footsteps echoed long and empty off of the high stone walls. He pulled his coat tighter glancing at some of the dusty, faded portraits that hung around them. They stared emptily out into the space in front of them. The chauffeur who was leading him looked over his shoulder, the warm candle light illuminating half of his face. It was quiet for a few more minutes until the man spoke. The priest was surprised due to the fact that this man he had believed to be a servant, despite his rich attire, spoke with a well-learned, clipped English accent.

"You'll have to excuse the master, he may be quite ill tempered when you arrive… Im sorry to say that the death of his wife has crushed every last ray of hope out of him. I fear for his health… we don't know how much longer he will be able to withstand the stress."

The chauffer stopped and turned to face him.

"He has also lost some of his dearest friends in the past few years. It has been one blow after another I'm afraid. He asked for a priest simply because he wanted some sort of repentance, you understand." The priest nodded, taking in what he had just heard. However, one word stuck in his mind. Repentance.

"From what does he need to repent? Or… is that not my place to ask." The candlelight glinted off the chauffeur's coal black eyes.

"I don't know, sir. He's never told any of the new staff. Everything that happened before we came died along with everyone who used to work here. All I know is that he was very close friends with my father, he grew up with him in fact, though they were not the same age."

The priest looked almost inquisitive. "If you don't mind me asking, who was you father?"

The chauffeur nodded towards the portrait behind the priest. It depicted a man from the waist up wearing a midnight black coat with sterling silver buttons. Large black and white gauntlets adorned the ends of the sleeves. An intricately made white shirt showed through between the heavy black material. He had high cheekbones, pale skin and dark eyes. Unlike the other portraits, this man still held an aloof beauty about him even after years of being un kept. The priest looked back at the man just now noticing the striking resemblance between the two.

"His name was Alexander, he was the court composer." A small smile formed on the man's face, a glimmer of pride peaking through his otherwise serious demeanor. "The only court composer to have a portrait done. His majesty's father commissioned it. I was told that he was thought of very highly… that he was… very talented…" The smile faded from the man's face as he continued to look at the painting. It was quiet for a bit before he spoke again.

"You'll have to forgive me, sir, it is not I who should be seeking comfort over old memories." The priest smiled comfortingly, seeing that the man's mood had dropped noticeably at the thought of this. They started to walk again.

"Come now, Im sure he loved you very much… And your name? Are you named after him?"

"Pardon my manners for not telling you. No my name is William, and I never met my father." Trying to ignore what William had just said the priest asked another question.

"Did, erm… his majesty's wife bear him any children?"

"Lady Belle? Yes they had two girls. Best not to ask about that unless the master chooses to speak of it." Sensing the inquisitiveness in the silence that followed William explained further.

"Both of whom where taken by fever."

The priest felt something drop in the pit of his stomach. The more he discovered about the castle and its inhabitance the more he felt as if he was entering the belly of some giant cursed beast. There was a deep silence for a few minutes until once again the priest spoke.

"Are you musically talented, as your father was?" William glanced over his shoulder again.

"Ive played piano since I was a boy, upon my mothers urging of course. I believe anything that has a keyboard I have played. I grew up around music. My mother, she was an opera singer from London. She was involved in an opera that my father wrote for the royal family. They performed it here at the castle; I believe that's how they met."

"May I suggest that you play for your master? Music always seems to tame a dark mood, it could really help." William laughed dryly.

"I've tried that, only once mind you. He nearly took my head off with a flower vase. I think perhaps because I resemble my father so closely he didn't want to be reminded of yet another friend he has lost. Now we just have a piano and the old pipe organ left. I took it on myself to restore both of them back to working order. They had been left for years with out care. I was told that there were two pipe organs at one time, the larger one being in the west wing. My father had it built… I don't know what happened to it though; perhaps they dismantled it after he died. The room it was housed in has been locked for years and the master refuses to open it."

By this time the priest was starting the think that William hadn't been told everything about his father, most notably how he had died. It seemed the truth had been bent for the sake of his and everyone else's sanity, most notably Prince Adam. The priest had a foreboding feeling that the lithe court composer he had seen in the portrait held some of the castle's as well as the prince's darkest secrets.

They turned the corner into the ominous west wing. Old marble statues stood on their lofty perches, looking down at them as they walked.

"Here you are sir. Im sure the master will be glad to talk to someone finally." The priest nodded placing a hand on William's shoulder. He honestly didn't know what to say. The feeling that something was looming dark and heavy on the other side of the door made the priest reluctant to leave the warm light and company of his chauffeur. William seemed to understand the priest's silence and in return offered to open the door for him.

"Remember, go gently sir." William whispered as he passed. The priest heard the heavy wooden door shut behind him. The room smelled thick, like the scent of antique furniture and candle wax. Despite what the priest had expected the room wasn't as dimly lit as he thought it would be. He listened for any sign of life when suddenly but softly he heard piano music on the other side of a thick curtain that obstructed his view of half the room. He stepped around it finding the prince's hunched form over a piano. This confused him for a moment. Based off of what William had told him, the prince shunned any sort of music. The tune was soft and melancholy. (same melody from the beginning of the first movie)

"Your highness?"