Summary: The story of Beauty and the Beast in Ella Enchanted's world. What if Lucinda turned a Prince into a squirrel,before she realized big magic was so bad? Would there be anyone who would look past appearances, and see the good within?
Disclaimer: I do not own this world of Ella Enchanted's and I never will. That honor belongs to a lady named Gail Carson Levine.
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My name is Beauty. It is a hard name to hold, especially when you do not fit the name at all. I am not exceptionally pretty, although Serenity and Patience (or rather "Pat") say that I look into a distorted mirror and that I am rather beautiful.
But they do not see the wide eyes of young men and women who are visiting in our village of Bast when I tell them my name. They do not hear the whispers or see the open gaping of mouths. I have even heard one young man remark to his friend, "That's a beauty?!"
I usually get this reaction, but that does not mean it does not hurt. I suppose I get it because I am not fashionably slender like my sisters, as I am rather wide-hipped and a little plump, but unfortunately not a very large bosom. I suppose I should not complain as my face never is blemished, and it is a rather lovely face, I just suppose I am a bit preoccupied with my own appearance.
Back to why I hate my name, well would you want to be called Beauty when you are not one? Patience hates her name as well, which is why she shortened hers to Pat. I cannot even shorten mine!
Serenity of course loves her name, and unsurprisingly, it is very fitting for her. Pat always scoffs at Serenity's admiration of our names, and claims that Father has no imagination (which is rather true as he is a banker) and Mother just loves him too much to object to these awful names (which is also true). Serenity is always terribly upset by these comments, so I usually spend most of conversation trying to soothe her feelings and Pat's temper, which is a very difficult thing to accomplish.
When I was five the governess who took care of me and my sisters always commented how I could calm everyone down in a time of turmoil, turmoil that usually consisted of Pat pulling Serenity's hair.
I can see my governess now, her radiant smile and chubby cheeks turning redder as she holds my five year old self's hand while speaking to my Father. Father, fat and jolly as ever, looks down at me, surprise marking his features as she speaks in a musical voice describing how I could be an ambassador to other countries someday. He remarked with a laugh that the only problem with that would be I would not know which country to advise, Kyrria or Granat, mother's country.
Mother is a foreigner to those in Bast, a fact that is remarked oftentimes in the marketplace. Supposedly, she is paler than those here in Kyrria, as the gossiping housewives say that she is as white as milk, which is rather true.
I believe it's more her behavior than anything else that surprises the people of Bast. The people of Bast do not know what to make of her imaginative disposition, and the way she behaved with my sisters and me when we were children, romping around and playing Knights and Dragons with us (a subject I researched before agreeing to play), just seems to confuse them to this day. Mothers here in Bast usually let the governesses and tutors do everything for them, which is perfectly silly if you ask me, which they did not.
My first awareness of how people perceive mother came when I was seven. I remember the moment perfectly, probably because my sisters and I speak of it so often. We were playing "Damsel in Distress". I was the wise King and the dragon, Pat was the fierce, brave Knight, and Serenity was, of course, the beautiful princess waiting to b rescued.
I had sent Pat on a long, perilous journey to save the princess, I even lowered my voice and wore father's spare spectacles to add to the effect, "Go now, young Knight and save our heir to the Kingdom," I would sagely say to Pat as she kneeled before me, her long, pale hair pinned up into a borrowed helmet.
"Yes, of course, your majesty," she bowed deeply, and then ran off to find Serenity in her hiding spot.
As soon as she left the area, I took all of my costuming off, and met my eldest sister in a small cave between our manor and the road that led to village of Bast. She was wearing one of Mother's old gowns and some of her own special jewelry. She was looking rather regal, for a ten year old that is.
It was not long before Pat showed up and we did battle, as Serenity did mock screams of horror in the background (which was rather annoying), until Pat finally defeated me and "Princess" Serenity was saved.
We danced, celebrating Serenity's freedom from the horrible, monstrous dragon until we fell down laughing. It was quiet for a few moments before we heard loud, insistent coughing, a sound that came from the road.
From our viewpoint, two pleasant looking women, one that I recognized of Lady Chalan, the wife of father's business partner, were speaking to one another in high pitched voices. Being the naughty children we were, we eavesdropped on their conversation by hiding behind a significantly large tree.
"That woman and her children are absolutely dreadful" screeched the unknown woman, who up close, was not as pleasant looking as initially thought.
Lady Chalan sounded bored, "What did she do this time Clarice? Help her children with their lessons? Hm?"
Clarice got red in the face, only adding to her unattractiveness, "If you must know that foreign woman has plenty a male admirer in Bast, and now she is influencing her eldest daughter to be the same way as her." She spat venomously.
Lady Chalan looked mildly interested by this information, "Oh really, how so?" she drawled.
"She is refusing to send her daughter to finishing school for one thing. And she has not discouraged her daughter playing with boys. After age eight, it is not proper, you know that as well as I!" Clarice thundered.
Lady Chalan's eyebrows perked up at this tidbit, " Serenity is not going to finishing school? Ever?"
Clarice looked like a cat who is about to trap a mouse with her paws, "Yes, Lady, I have heard she refuses to send any of her daughters to finishing school, because she believes that her foolish governess from Ayortha does the job. Hmph, foreigners know nothing!"
Lady Chalan nodded slowly before walking away from the area. It was not long before we could not hear their voices.
The next thing I remember is Serenity bursting into tears, her lovely, pale face turning red and blotchy.
"I hav-have t-to ha-hav-have a pro-prop-proper mudder," she said choking on her own tears, as me and Pat exchanged worried glances over Serenity's shoulder.
"I wan-want to-to be married to-to a pri-prin-prince," she exclaimed, crying even more.
I rubbed Serenity's shoulder as Pat announced that that was the most boring future she had ever heard of. Pat went on to exclaim that she would rather be a pirate than a princess. I just stared at my sisters before saying softly, "Mother's miserable here, isn't she?" which startled my sisters enough to shut them up.
Of course when we talk about this day, they both forget their tirades about themselves in the process of disparaging that stupid woman.
I love my sisters but they are awfully silly. Even now, as they pack up for a journey to Frell, they are acting quite silly. Last night, it was revealed that the King of Kyrria is hosting a series of balls that every eligible woman must attend. Mother claimed that I am too young to go (which is fine with me, as I would rather be reading than attending a ball, especially three balls!), but Serenity and Pat are going.
Their reactions to the news were very different.
"A ball!" Serenity danced around her room with an invisible (but of course, handsome) dance partner, her light brown hair bouncing around as she twirled incessantly.
"Maybe you can snatch a prince after all, hm?" I said sneakily.
Serenity blushed a deep red, before quietly stating, "I would never presume such a thing, dear sisters."
Pat laughed, "Of course you would Serenity, but that is why we love you."
Serenity blushed again, and ducked her head as she folded more dresses that she needed to pack.
Pat looked longingly at her sword in her closet, "Ah, I wish I could take my sword Night with me. I don't want to get out of shape." She pulled on a lock of herblonde hair, her eyes lighting up as she turned and faced me, "Do you think I can get out of going to the balls if I cut my hair to pieces with my sword?!"
Serenity shrieked and then tripped on her own feet. It was hard not to laugh, but I seemed to accomplish the task rather nicely, and I was fortunate enough to not be able to answer the question as Serenity cut in with a "Are you crazy?!" remark.
Patience glared at Serenity, and surprisingly Serenity actually glared back, "Pat we are required by the King himself to go, a very bad haircut won't stop this!"
Pat sighed for a moment, before glancing back longingly at her sword, "I suppose you are right." She sighed again, and plopped onto her couch.
I smiled, before adding, "Serenity's right, and who knows? Maybe you will be the one to win the Prince's affections."
Pat's eyes became as big as saucers, and before I knew it I was being attacked by fluffy pillows by both my sisters. It did not take long for it to become a full-fledged pillow fight.
It was then I realized that I really hoped that neither of my sisters were taken away by the prince, because I would miss them too much.
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(A/N) So was it awful? Please tell me if it needs to be rewritten before I go on to the next chapter. I hope you enjoy some little surprises and links to Ella, and other characters from both Ella Enchanted and Fairest.
Oh and I looked everywhere for another country being mentioned in the books other Ayortha, and could find none, so I made my own country up (Granat, it is where the story will take place). It is next to Ayortha and to Kyrria.
If you know of another country tell me, so I can change that little detail.
Please review guys! Even if it is a little "Good job!!" that would make my day! I know its annoying but I would really appreciate it.