No Revolution For You
by: Linda J.
Rated: PG-13 (strong language, adult situations, violence)
Summary: Sequel to It's A Happening Ending For Everyone. Belle and Adam's daughter is now a beast herself, and Forte is adjusting to life as a human once more. Meanwhile, the flames of revolution burn in the hearts of common people, and soon will engulf the nation. Are the benevolent inhabitants of Adam's Castle to be victims of the out of control mobs, as they lay waist to all remnants to the rule of absolute monarchy?
ch1
July 10, 1789. Dawn was breaking and the horses stood ready. Prince Adam gave his precious wife Belle one last kiss goodbye before mounting up. "I will write often," he assured her, as the Premier Ecuyer handed him the reigns.
He could tell she was concerned about this voyage into the Black Forest. For generations, stories had been told of the wondrous yet dangerous things one would encounter inside that dark and mysterious place. Even his mother had her own stories of gnomes and elves that would make life for human travelers either delightful, or treacherous, depending on their flighty moods. If he had known that he would someday need to journey into that very same place on horse back with his trusted paneterie and dear friend Lumiere, he would have never repeated his mother's tales to Belle. Adam had always been confident that his mother's macabre and some times gruesome tales were only meant to entertain and perhaps frighten him a little when he had been particularly obnoxious, and now more than ever he depended on that notion to be true. For if his mother's stories of ill tempered trolls or vengeful witches were true, even the four guards that would accompany him on this journey may not be enough to guarantee a safe return.
Lumiere, who was already one his steed, looked over to see Belle's knitted brow. "Don't you worry, my fair Princess, I will take good care of your husband."
Belle smiled kindly, trying to erase any appearance of doubt, "I know you will, Lumiere; and I will look after your dear Fifi."
The gates opened and the two men rode off toward the northern eastern regions of Adam's territory. If luck would have it, they would find what they needed there and the sooner the better. Maybe a wise spellbinder, or a friendly, helpful sprite with no ill intentions would have the information they needed to make Denise human again. If not, they would travel on, deeper into the dark forest until they found someone who had the right answers. Both men knew fully well this trip would very likely not end quickly, but both men would eagerly give up their own lives to see Denise made whole again. So quietly, solemnly they began their adventure, hoping that it would not be in vain.
oOoOoOoOoOoOo
Forte didn't recall much once he was led to his new living quarters, on the east side of the castle. He vaguely remembered Cogsworth mention, something, about, something else, and then went on about something more, while Forte collapsed, still half drunk, onto his new bed, with just enough vim to take off his vest, undo his shirt buttons, and kick off his black leather shoes. He then groaned some profanities under his breath, while Cogsworth took far too long to say goodnight. That was all Forte remembered, and that was all he cared to remember. Then came morning, and just as all the other mornings Forte could remember from his human years, it came far too early.
"Go-o-od m-m-morning, Monsieur Forte!" Cogsworth bellowed loudly in english, mocking a cheerful tone. Forte, jumped and jerked from his sleep; he growled like a mad dog who had just been dowsed with ice water. "Get out!"
As if that hadn't been torture enough, the majordome, then briskly yanked wide open the curtains that faced directly east, letting the ever so bright and burning sunlight into the room, blinding Forte. He howled in fury again, as he clumsily flopped over facing the opposite direction.
"Ah, the east wing," Cogsworth opened the window, and inhaled the morning air deeply, marveling at the garden which was two stories below the bedroom window. This room in particular had full view of the beautiful eastern gardens, as well as the snow capped mountains off in the distance, nothing at all to block out even one ray of sunshine, especially this time of the year.
"I knew I had been saving this particular room for a special someone." Cogsworth taunted cruelly. He then turned and stared indifferently at Forte, knowing exactly how the man must feel, after so much wine the night before. As he then yanked open the next set of curtains, along the same wall, he began to antagonize Forte, continuing their conversation in english. "You know, I never believed those stories about vampires hating sunlight, but, now, I see I was wrong." He then moved on to the next and final set of windows.
Suddenly, Cogsworth heard a whizzing sound fly by his ear. From the corner of his eye he saw the blur of a black leather shoe, just as it hit, and cracked, the window pane that was closet to his head. He turned around to see Forte sitting up in his bed, with a vicious, mean scowl on his face; his other shoe in hand. He spoke slowly and angrily in english, "I threw that one with my eyes closed; you open one more bloody curtain and I promise you Cogsworth, this shoe won't miss its mark!"
Cogsworth only snorted with his nose in the air, "You'll have to pay for that you know." He did however stop opening any more curtains, which made Forte satisfied and feeling victorious. He let the the shoe drop down onto the floor, as he flopped back in his bed, crossing his arms over his eyes, wishing he had not drunk so much wine the night before.
"Oh, that reminds me," Cogsworth then folded his arms over his chest and cocked his head, "What did you do with all that money, Monsieur Forte?"
Forte lowered his hand away from his face far enough to peek at Cogsworth with a glaring eye.
"Sense you apparently are not capable of realizing the obvious, Cogsworth, this is no time for riddles. So I will have to ask you, what money?"
"Why the money you took from the opera house in Rome." Cogsworth coyly smiled as he passively accused Forte of stealing. "I know all about your dirty criminal past."
Forte slowly removed his arms from his face, and sat up again. His shocked expression slowly turning into vehement rage.
Either Cogsworth do not see his anger, or did not care. He continued on with his accusations, making sure Forte knew exactly what he though of him and his actions. "Stealing from your employer was bad enough, but to run off with the manager's wife, as well!" he then coughed abhorrently. "That's just revolting!"
Hangover or not, Forte flew out of the bed and practically charged at Cogsworth, bending down slightly to face the short, stubby accuser nose to nose, eye to eye. "You swaggering pathetic excuse for an englishman! You've got the story all wrong!" Forte's nostrils flared with rage, scaring Cogsworth half out of his wits.
"I was the manager of that opera house! It was my wife who ran away with that bloody bastard who stole the money!" Forte's deep ebony eyes were bulging out of their sockets and the veins in his neck stuck out like tree roots. Cogsworth didn't say a word, he stood frozen, unsure what Forte would do next.
"The owner's of the opera house, held me responsible. I was put in jail, and forced to turn over every possession of mine, to compensate for their losses." His voice began to quiet down, but not his rage.
"I lost everything I had! My home and all that was inside! My career, my reputation; everything I ever valued was taken from me all because I let my brains fall into my penis!"
He finally stepped back releasing Cogsworth from his glare, and sat on the edge of his bed, turning his head and looking off in the distance and chortled. "All because I played with that wicked little dagger called love."
Forte then brought himself back to the present moment, "Now, Cogsy if you don't mind, I need to find my chamberpot, so that I may puke out my guts!"
Cogsworth stood speechless; had he been wrong about this mad man all along? The letter he wrote inquiring of Forte was written in english, but the reply came back in Italian. So, did something get lost in the translation perhaps? Suddenly he felt flushed as he tried to regain his composure. Apologize to Forte? No; not until something or someone could clear Forte's name. For all Cogsworth knew, Forte made it up, he was a crafty devil after all.
"Very well, Monsieur Forte. But be quick about it we don't have all day." Cogsworth spoke gruffly, seemingly unmoved by Forte's story.
"We haven't all day for what, pray…" Forte paused as his stomached churned, turning his greyish skin even paler. "…tell?"
Cogsworth began walking out the door, to give Forte some privacy. "I'll explain when you are finished."
He closed the door behind him, and as he walked away, he heard Forte's vomiting from across the hall.
oOoOoOoOoOo
Denise had slept between Prince Adam and Belle that night, and she slept remarkably well considering all she had been through the night before. Before she even opened her eyes, she knew her parents were no longer with her, their scents were now faint and distant. She sat up, and took a deep breath, then realized how many different scents she was picking up in the room. She sniffed again, her nose wrinkling as her nostrils flared, taking in the air around her. Instantly, she knew breakfast was almost ready to be served downstairs, she could smell the ham and oatmeal. She could even smell Mrs. Potts' famous breakfast tea that she made up every morning. Her hearing was better too, she clearly heard the birds outside the castle, as if she was already outside herself. Denise sprang out of bed and dashed to the window with a speed she never had before. She threw open the window and leaned out as far as she could, the warm sun beat down on her new brown fur like honey pouring onto one of Andre's breakfast rolls. Had she been on the first floor, she would have leapt out of the window without a care, and run through the green grass or jump in the fountain under her parent's bedroom window. She looked down at the yard which was three stories away from her, yearning to run, like she had never run before. She sighed quietly, half excited with your new form, but still afraid of what she had become. Even before the bedroom door opened, Denise knew it was her mother on the other side. She could hear her dainty footsteps as she made her way to the master bedroom.
"Good morning Momma," she offered a sweet smile to her mother, who returned the smile with equal affection.
"Good morning, sweet daughter," Belle replied closing the door behind her, so she and Denise could talk alone.
"Papa has already left?" Denise asked as she closed the window and turned, looking disappointed.
"Yes, he left at day break, just as he said he would. He wanted to give you one more goodbye kiss, for luck, but didn't want to disturb you. You were sleeping so peacefully." Belle explained as she stroked her daughter's head, hoping Denise didn't think she was 'petting' her like she used to pet Sultan when he was alive. Denise looked up into Belle's eyes with her own deep brown, sad looking eyes, making Belle's heart break.
"Oh Denise, had I known you would be so sad, I would have woken you up to see your Poppa off this morning."
Denise shook her head, "I'm not sad Momma, I know Poppa will return soon. I just would to go outside, that's all."
Belle was taken back by Denise's calmness to her new found situation. From the stories Adam had confined in Belle regarding his days being a beast, Denise was certainly taking her transformation far better than her father had.
"Are you sure you are comfortable with going outside Denise? I know we don't get many visitors, but if someone unfamiliar with our… um… the castle's history, they may react very unkindly to you." Belle didn't want to alarm the child, but she had to be warned of the possibilities.
"I'm not worried about any strangers Momma. I will stay close to the gardens, and I won't go near the main gate. I promise." The wolflike child smiled as sweetly as she could, exposing her fangs the same exact way her father would have when he was in this state. Belle was reminded of her time with Adam before the curse had been lifted, and it brought a found smile to her face. "I guess there's no harm in that. I want you to take your brother with you though, I'm sure he'd like to go out and play too, don't you think?"
Denise nodded, but took a deep breath, as if she were just s bit unsure. "You don't think he'll be scared of me like this?"
Belle softly shook her head with a warm smile, "Madame Armoire and I talked to him this morning already; he understands that you are… different now. We explained to him that inside you are still his sister and that nothing else has changed except for your appearance. In fact," Belle's smile grew wider. "He sounds very eager to see you."
"All right Momma," Denise returned a nervous but trusting smile.
"Now young lady," Belle rested her arm behind Denise's shoulder. "Let's see if any of your clothes still fit you."