Oh boy, my first big foray into the Glee fiction writing. So, basically, many moons ago, one of my favourite authors, LauGS called out into the void requesting a Klaine Beauty and the Beast AU. So this is my attempt, because I love her, as well as my first Glee multi-chapter thing, and my first attempt at writing M/M smut, so please bear with me. I'll try to update this once a week and keep the author notes shorter than this from here on out. Please do let me know what you think in the comments!
I would like to give a shout out to the ladies from the Weekend Word War for letting me join in, and for encouraging me to keep writing. A great big, gigantic thank you to my beta GleekMom, who made sure this was not riddled with typos and that it flowed well.
I obviously do not own Glee, or Beauty & the Beast.
Once, many moons ago, magics were one with the world, and those who would abuse it were plentiful. Yet one magic endured above all others; that of true love.
If there was one thing the Lady Sue did not enjoy, it was the rain. Gifted though she was in the magical arts, she had no power over the elements, so being stuck in this nowhere town without a place to stay was not improving her already sour mood. The Mages Council had come down on her for transforming yet another lord into a frog, using up her yearly allotment of frog transfiguration spells, and told her if she did it again, she would be severely punished. If only all the lords in this world weren't such whiny little sycophants! They deserved to learn hardship! At least they could still talk and all it really took to get them back to normal was a good flick against the wall!
So now, here was Sue, stripped of her favourite spell, in some little backwater kingdom, trying to stay out of the rain and failing. She spotted a large manor up a hill and large manors always meant rich people who could put her up in style for no cost. She had tried every house in the town already and they had merely pointed through the forest to the house when they could be bothered to give her an answer. Rude, the lot of them! She decided to trek through the muddy path, wondering why this house was so far removed from every other citizen, and hoped they would at least have the decency of receiving her.
Upon reaching the door, Sue grasped the giant knocker and slammed it down, letting her aggression take itself out on the large brass ring. A minute later, a large, almost brutish looking woman came to the door. "I'm sorry ma'am, the Master Hummel is not at home. If you wish to convey a message for him, I would be happy to deliver it."
Hummel? Sue had heard the name before. He had been the lord magistrate of some kingdom named Lima and was known to have been a good man. Sue also knew he and his wife had been killed some years ago due to a curse from a far wickeder enchantress than herself named Terri, who had been excommunicated and stripped of all power for the crime. Since then, no magic user had ever been welcome inside Lima's walls. Sue knew she would have to be cunning to work her way into a dry place for the night. "Sorry to bother, but I am travelling through, and wished a place to rest my bones the night. I tried every home who would open their doors to me in town and they all pointed here. Please, can you assist me?"
"Let her in Shannon" a high pitched young voice said. A young man, no more than ten years with bright blue eyes and soft chestnut hair appeared before Sue's eyes and addressed her. "We can give you a warm meal and a place to dry by the fire at least. Unfortunately, many of the rooms are dusty and stale from misuse and unprepared for guests, so I've no real place for you to sleep, lest you wish the barn or a pallet on the floor."
"A pallet would be fine, little lord." Sue said gratefully, though inwardly she raged at not being offered the finest room in the home, as a guest. That night she ate her fill, and laid down by the fire to rest upon the many comfortable pillows provided by her host, whom she learned was Master Hummel's orphan son, Kurt. Kurt had been raised by Shannon, his governess after his parent's untimely deaths and was now being groomed to take over his late father's position, currently being held by some fool named Clarington.
In the morning, refreshed, Sue decided to take her leave of Lima, but not before 'thanking' her hosts for the roof. However, when she went in search of Kurt, she came across a display in the front hall she had not noticed the night before. It was Terri's wand, with a large plaque beneath it declaring 'Magic Users Beware!' Though Terri had lost her powers, the wand was said still to work and be one of great magic. Sue had longed for such a possession for an eternity. Plus, perhaps with that she could remove the block on her current hexes. She quickly took out her own wand, waved it over the case and removed the impressive artifact. However, as soon as she had it in hand, Kurt burst into the room.
"Thief! I should have known not to let a stranger in, and now, not only do I find you have stolen from me, but have done so using the forbidden magics! The Mages Council will hear of this and you will never again be able to use your terrible powers!" Kurt exclaimed, turning towards the door, to have Sue held until the council could be summoned. But Sue was not having any of that, she would not be banished!
She pointed her new wand at the boy and murmured an incantation, intended to turn him into a frog, but instead, the boy screamed in agony. Thick fur the colour of his hair sprouted all over his body, his nails lengthened into claws, his teeth became fangs and a large bushy tail appeared to rip through his trousers. His screams seemed never ending until he finally collapsed onto the floor. It was then that Shannon burst in, and in a surprising move, pulled a wand out of her own belt and pointed it at Sue, freezing her in place.
"I knew it was a good idea for the Council to station me here. You, Sue will be stripped of all powered and banished to the Shadow Lands for this." With a flick of her wand, Shannon stole the wands in Sue's possession and flicked her off to the Council chambers for justice. But Shannon knew they would come for her as well soon enough. Even though she had defended her lord, she had still used magic, and would be stripped and banished as well. But before that happened, she would do all she could to help Kurt.
"Come on pumpkin, look at me" she said, lifting Kurt's head, making sure he was conscious. "I wish I could fix this for you hun, but no enchantress can undo the spell of another. All I can do is try to alter it, and even that requires permission from the Council. I will have to leave soon, but I can't bear for you to be alone, so I will do something about that if I can. I will search for a cure, but until then, all I can do is hope you find a true love. If you find someone whom you love truly and who loves you in return, this curse will be lifted, I promise you that." With that, Shannon lay a kiss of protection on Kurt's forehead, and disappeared to await her punishment.
Kurt just lay on the floor whimpering. Who could ever learn to love a beast?