(Disclaimer: I don't own FFVIII or Beauty and the Beast although I wish I did...oh well!)

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( Authors Note: Sorry, I knew how much you guys had wanted the candle to be Irvine and the clock Squall and so forth but by the time I had gotten the reviews, I had already picked out different characters for them to portray. Another thing is that I couldn't bear thinking of Squall as a clock [imagine, his face on a clocks body, that's just weird!] That's one of the reasons why in Snow White, the characters were not dwarves but SeeD's [ I can't also stand thinking of my fav. FFVIII characters as shrunken little men!]. On yet another note, I tried to make this fic humorous at some parts more around the end so unfortunately, this is mainly pretty serious. Sorry guys! But I would still read it cause...well, read and you'll see the pairing--exactly what I thought y'all would want! )

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Beauty and the Not Really a Beast

Once upon a time in a land far far away there lived a handsome but vain prince. So vain and cruel was he that he would not think twice about someone whose beauty did not surpass his own. One fateful evening, a haggard old woman appeared at his castle door. She offered a single golden feathered Chocobo in exchange for shelter from the bitter cold. The prince scoffed, turning his head the other way and dismissing her from his presence. But alas, a bright light blinded him momentarily and the vision of a goddess floated up from the old hag. Her ruby lips were set in a grim matter and her crystal blue eyes stared angrily down upon him. She set a curse upon the young prince for his unkind and selfish ways. A curse that enchanted the entire castle, hiding it from the world. A curse that could only be reversed if he ever learned to love another and that person felt the same way in return. A curse that turned the handsome prince into a beast.

*&*

The Fantasy Continues...

*&*

The girl's name was Quistis and she stunned all that she met. Not the typical girl looking for love, she engrossed herself in books and other pieces of literature, not caring for the outside world. Young Quistis lived with her father, Cid, and cared for him more then anything in this world. Her mother had died when she was young so she had no one else to care for and be loved in return. On this bright and sunny morning, her father had made up his mind to head off to another town far from their own where he would attempt to open a school for young, innovative children, and he would call it Garden. Quistis waved goodbye to her dear father and headed to town to take her mind off of the memories of her father. Once there, she ran into quite the pest who refused to give up on her hand.

" Please, young Quistis, you must allow me to have your hand in holy matrimony," Spoke the pesky Irvine Kinneas.

" Never," Quistis said sternly. " Now release my hand from yours, Irvine."

" I can't bear hearing those words from your lips," Irvine said, bowing down his head.

" You can have any woman in town, why do you keep harassing me?" Quistis asked.

" Because," Irvine's eyes twinkled and Quistis couldn't help but admit that he was, in fact, quite handsome. His brown locks were tied at the nape of his neck and he had the most blissful green eyes. All of the woman in town were helplessly in love with him and dreadfully jealous with Quistis. So jealous that Quistis received death threats in the mail and had to sleep with her windows and door locked at all times.

" Are you listening to me?" Irvine asked, and Quistis knew he was pleased about how she was smitten with him, even momentarily. " I was saying that I only want the best, and you Quistis dear, are by far the best in the land. Dare I say entire kingdom? Your golden locks entice me and your eyes send me into a drunken stupor of love."

" Be gone, you rascal!" Quistis cried out, smiling while at it. Yes, Irvine was quite the man but for some reason, she was far from attracted to him. It was almost like there was something bigger, greater calling out to her. Over those hills and past those plains.

" Daydreaming once more, aren't we darling?" Irvine said. He looked down at the other hand of his beloved that was not in his grasp and noticed a book. Quickly he grabbed it and held it high so Quistis would not be able to reach it.

" Reading is unhealthy for a woman," Said he.

" Give it back to me!"

" Marry me."

" Never!"

And he dropped the book into a puddle of mud. Quistis picked up the soggy book and nearly began to cry for the ink was running and the pages had crumpled. She held the book close to her, not caring that it soiled her blue gown. The blue ribbon that held her hair back had fallen out and she remained sitting in the town street, not caring for the whispers she heard.

" A book, is that what she's holding?"

" My, my, a young lady should not allow herself to be manipulated by such things."

" That Quistis, quite the odd one."

" It amazes me that young Kinneas continues to chase after her."

" Just look at that hair! Her ribbon has fallen out and she does not even bother to pick it up!"

It was her favourite book, the one that Irvine had dropped into the mud and ruined perhaps forever. It was about a young girl who was whisked away by her prince, leaving in the heart hope that dreams really did come true. Quistis slowly got up and began to sob as she walked home in her muddied gown. Dreams were useless to her and she might as well have married Irvine.

*&*

During the night, a strange dream haunted Quistis and she tossed and turned in her stiff bed. She envisioned her father trapped in the cell of a castle long forgotten and the capturer a horrible and hideous beast. She awoke with a start and was in a cold sweat. Had this been a vision of truth or simply something conjured up by her overactive imagination? Perhaps the old women were right, that it was wrong for a woman to read books about fantasy, love and learning.

Nevertheless, Quistis was determined to find out what her dream meant and if it was faux or the irritable truth. She ran down the stairs of her small cottage, pulling on her blue gown with the long fashioned sleeves and her dark blue cape. The young woman ran outside in her ragged blue slippers, then unleashed her horse from it's prison.

The horse galloped in the direction that Quistis steered it to go and after only an hour traveling in the dark forest, she found her father's wagon lying in a ditch.

" Oh father," She cried out, then began to wildly search for him. She noticed that in these parts of the wood there was snow and in the snow, hooves prints from a horse. Quistis followed the prints up to a large and looming castle, black from the bottom up. She was about to back away for the horse had begun to buck wildly when she heard a strangled cry from another horse. It undoubtedly belonged to her father and her vision was correct. Her father was locked in the dungeon of the master of this castle. As she got off from her horse and tied him up, she wondered about what kind of demon resided in this grand castle and how it came to be.

Yes, she was deathly afraid of going inside but there was no way she was going to abandon her father in the clutches of the monster she had seen in her mind's eye. Carefully she opened the gate and prayed to the god Hyne to protect her soul. The gate made an eerie creaking sound as it opened and the horses began to make great sound as she walked silently up to the castle entrance. She knocked on the cold wooden doors, frightened by the dead trees in the courtyard. The door slowly creaked open and she was greeted by dark and empty silence.

" Hello..." Quistis called out quietly but no answer was heard. Instead, her voice echoed through the halls. She ran quickly through the castle, knowing that the cell her father was in had to be in the basement. She placed her hands over the walls, hoping to find some secret panel way that would lead her to her father. Quistis never knew how many hours had passed but finally she had found a stairway hidden in the library which led to where her father was.

The old man was laying down on the cold floor, his lips turning blue and his eyes closed.

" Father!" Quistis whispered and the old man looked up from his cage to see his daughter's hands protruding through the holes between the metal bars.

" Is this a heavenly vision of my deceased wife thus showing that I am to die or is it truly you, dear Quistis?" Her father asked, grasping her hands.

" It is I, father. I have come for you!" Quistis tried to stop the tears from flowing but she couldn't bear to see her father in this state. " Who has done this to you?" She demanded. " Who has treated my father so unkindly?"

Now the old mans eyes went wide and he began to stutter and push his daughter away.

" You must leave," He ordered. " Before he finds you here!"

" Who?" The daughter pondered but then a sudden chill went over her. A shadow covered her father's face and an expression of pure terror. Cautiously, Quistis turned around to see a large and hideous beast looming over her. Its eyes were as red as blood, its fangs as sharp as knives, large claws for hands, horns on the head and fur covering the body. In an instant, Quistis fainted.

*&*

She awoke to find herself laying on a large canopied feather bed and her head hurt ever so much. She wondered if it was all a dream but then she noticed the portraits. Each one torn apart, but by who? She got up and walked towards one, picking up the shreds and putting them into place.

The picture was of a man, quite handsome, even more than Irvine. He had short golden hair, lighter than her own and sea coloured eyes which captivated her. He didn't smile, just scowled. Underneath in very fine writing was the name, 'Seifer Almasy' and 'Eighteen Years of Age' .

" Who is this Seifer?" Quistis said to the dark room but of course, there was no reply. Or so she thought. A small voice in the corner and Quistis walked towards it, leading her to a doll on the dresser. This doll had the most exquisite features, short flipped brown hair and shining green eyes. She was wearing a yellow gown and was smiling ever so sweetly.

" You're so life like," Quistis said, picking up the doll and admiring it.

" Of course I am, I used to be human, you know!"

Quistis cried out in surprise and dropped the doll on the floor where it cried out as well.

" You must be careful with me, I am a china doll! Very fragile!" The doll scolded.

" Very sorry," Quistis apologized, picking the doll up and placing her back on the dresser.

" Quite alright, nothing it broken, see?" The doll moved her arms up and down, then twirled.

" Excuse my rude manners," Said the doll, then curtsied in front of Quistis. " My name is Selphie and I used to be the seamstress in this castle before the enchantment happened."

" Enchantment?"

" Oh yes. A spell cast on the castle many years ago by a priestess who the master had angered," Selphie said, keeping her voice low. " But that is all I can tell you for now. I'm assuming that you are Quistis, the beautiful girl everyone was talking about."

" Why yes, but how did I get up here? I had a dreadful nightmare about a beast and--"

" Oh no, dear. That was not a dream running through your head but reality!" Selphie cried out. " That beast you had seen was the master of this castle and had traded your father for yourself."

" Whatever do you mean?" Quistis asked, her voice shaking.

" Your father Cid is free but you my dear are a prisoner in this castle for all eternity!"

*&*

Quistis had refused to believe the mad china doll but when she tried to open the door, it was indeed locked. She cried on her bed as time slowly passed by but then she heard a strange thumping at the door.

" Is the young maiden in here?" A deep voice asked another who just laughed.

" You can't save her now, dear friend. We are just here to give her bread and water!" Said the other in a more friendly tone.

She watched in anticipation as her bedroom door opened and in strolled a glass ballerina doll no bigger than her hand and a toy soldier with a scowl embedded on his handsome face. With them they dragged a large tray of hotdogs and placed it at the girl's feet.

" You must be the girl," The ballerina said. " I'm Rinoa."

" We haven't seen a girl around for quite some time," Said the soldier. " I am Squall."

" Thank you for the food," Quistis said, leaning down and taking a hotdog.

" Yes, well, when the master finds out about this, our heads will be on your next platter," Said Squall huffing.

" Oh, he's just uptight. Pay him no heed," Rinoa chuckled.

" My yes, for you are our guest!" Selphie jumped down from the dresser and twirled. Stage lights appeared on her and she smiled before letting out a tune.

"Ma chere Mademoiselle, it is with deepest pride and greatest pleasure that we welcome you tonight. And now we invite you to relax, let us pull up a chair as the dining room proudly presents - your dinner!" Selphie winced then whispered, " Very sorry it's only hotdogs!"

" Be our guest Be our guest Put our service to the test. Tie your napkin 'round your neck, Quisty, and we provide the rest. Soup du hotdogs, when did I learn french? Hot hors d'ot dog, we only live to serve--"

" Not me," Squall shouted.

" Do shut up and let me continue!" Selphie said, swatting Squall over the head.

" Try the hot dogs, they really rock. Don't believe me? Ask the...the..."

" Selphie, what the hell rhymes with rock?" Angrily asked the soldier.

" Oh forget it!" Rinoa cried out. " Just let her continue!"

" Squall can yell, Squall can shout, After all, Miss, he's a lout. And a dinner here is never second best--"

" That doesn't make sense!" Squall was now turning an interesting shade of red and Quistis could have sworn there was steam coming out of his ears.

" Go on, unfold your menu .Take a glance and then you'll see hotdogs, only hotdogs, since we eat nothing else.....

" Hotdog ragout, Cheese hotdog Pie and hotdog "en flambe" We'll try to make and serve with salmon cake, a culinary hotdog bake. You're alone, and you're scared, but I'm here singing with flair. No one's gloomy or complaining---"

" Except for Squall and the Master," Rinoa pointed out.

" Whatever."

" While Zell is entertaining. He tells jokes, and I laugh, my god the master needs a bath!"

" Selphie, your song really sucks, I think you're out of luck," Squall sang, surprising Selphie and Rinoa.

" Squall you're really mean, get out of this scene!"

" Uhm...be our guest...?"Rinoa sang out of tune. Squall and Selphie glared at her, then at one another.

" My head just keeps on ringing, with Selphie and all her singing. She's not whole without a soul to feed upon..."

" Hey!" Selphie shouted at Squall who just continued to sing.

" Ah, those good old days when she would shut up. Suddenly those good old days are gone. Ten years I've been a doll, wanting more then to be so small. Wanting to leave this castle and everyone in it. Most days I just hide in the castle. Hoping that no one would find me then you come in and Selphie cries 'Blimey!'"

" I actually said, 'It's a guest, it's a guest, sakes alive, well I'll be blessed. Sew her clothes and do the load, and Squall stop staring at her chest!"

" And while Selphie and Squall are fighting, I'll just tell you now the Master is frightening. He has the most terrible manners here, and I think he dresses queer!"

" So be our guest!"

" Yes our guest!"

" Get out before you regret!"

" Squall..." The ballerina was tapping her foot angrily. " You ruined the song!"

" It was already ruined with Selphie's horrible singing! Those lyrics didn't even make the slightest sense!"

" Oh, stop it, will you?" Quistis said. She laughed, feeling happy for the first time she was here. " I adored the song!"

" Really?" Selphie asked in disbelief. " Usually when I start to sing, all of the woman leave..."

" I wonder why..." Squall said angrily, rolling his eyes. Selphie smacked him again and his large blue tin hat wavered on his head.

" Do you think that she is the one we've been waiting for?" Rinoa asked. " She did stay after hearing Selphie's song!"

" Yes, yes! She is!" Selphie cried out. She had climbed onto Quistis' bed and was hoping up and down. " And it's about time you came to see me!"

" Whatever," Spoke Squall. " You were confined in this room for a reason, dear Selphie."

The doll's smile faded and she glared at the small soldier.

" He used to be the head guardsman of the castle while Rinoa was the teacher of etiquette and dancing," Said Selphie.

" Oh yes, now my dear," Rinoa looked up hopefully at the blonde woman. " What do you think of our master?"

" He is most dreadful!" Quistis cried out and the small figurines began to chat with one another in a frenzy.

" This will never do," The china doll whispered from atop the bed.

" This girl is useless," Squall said angrily.

" But we mustn't lose hope!" The ballerina cried out. She blew away a strand of her dark hair that had fallen upon her creamy white face, then placed her hands on her hips in a haughty fashion after smoothing out her light blue tutu. " I am not going to remain a doll forever, you know! Just because our master is so vain and mad that--"

A chill swept across the room, blowing all of the candles flame out and cutting off little Rinoa.

" Oh dear!" Selphie cried out, jumping back to her dresser in record time, then hiding inside a convenient tortoise jewellery box. The soldier dived into the dresser cupboard and the ballerina hid under the large bed.

Quistis herself was most frightened, but she summoned up all of her courage to avert her eyes to the entrance of her room.

There before her was the creature she had seen. It snarled, then swept into the room, circling around the young maiden.

" Quistis Trepe, I presume," The beast growled and she trembled.

" Master, what on earth are you doing?"

The beast growled and turned to face another small figurine with the body of a chicken but the head of a blonde man.

" What is it, Chickenwuss?" The beast yelled at the half man, half chicken creature.

" Well sire, must you always scare people with that mask?" The Chickenwuss asked.

" He has a point, it looks worse than your actual face!" A voice piped from the jewellery box.

" SILENCE!" The beast roared and the Chickenwuss began to tremble. " You want her to see my hideous face? Do you?"

He cast his menacing glare onto Quistis who shook her head, too scared to say a single word. Normally she would have simply back talked to the rude creature and put him in his place but then again, her script said otherwise.

" Alright then, you will see my face..." And the beast placed his hand underneath the mask and pulled it off to reveal...the man in the portrait.

" But that is not the slightest bit frightening..." Said Quistis.

" Can't you see it?" Rinoa whispered from under the bed. " He's so hideous!"

" Ghastly!" Selphie agreed.

" Whatever." Squall said in a muffled voice from the drawer.

" I can't see anything wrong with him..." Quistis got up and walked straight to the so called 'beast'. She examined his face and he turned away in shame.

" I am so hideous. That mask hid my true self from the world," Seifer sobbed.

" But that mask was horrendous! And your actual face is..." Dare she say it? " Lovely..."

" Can't you see it?" The beast roared.

" The scar..." Chickenwuss whispered to Quistis. " The one between his eyes."

" That is what makes you so ugly?" Quistis thought that this entire castle was mad.

" Yes, it has blemished the man that once was..." Seifer said.

" I can't even stand to look at him any longer!" Selphie whispered.

" But he really was quite handsome!" Rinoa said.

" There's nothing wrong with him!" Quistis shouted. " Can't you fools see that? It's just a petty scar!"

The figurines and Chickenwuss began to whisper amongst themselves in a frenzy. The beast simply continued to shy away from Quistis.

" Well, you might as well take those fake claws off as well," Said the beauty. She bent down to where the beast was hunching and tried to pull his hairy claws off.

" Those are real," He said to the girl, looking at her as if she was some idiot. " Anyways, you are captive in my castle for all eternity. If you would wish for anything, just ask Messenger Seamstress , Rinoa, Puberty Soldier or Chickenwuss." And with that he left, swooping his cape behind him.

*&*

( Author's Note: I'm afraid that yes, I did have to break this story up into chapters. Why? Because I won't be able to write for a while so I'll have to leave you guys hanging. Sowwie! I would really appreciate some reviews...I know the beginning is really boring but I had to make sure it flowed with the rest of the storyline. So please review, I won't be like other authors who refuse to continue without reviews but if you wanna make me happy and write some more...who knows, perhaps I will in fact finish this before the Christmas Break is over! Oh, I would also like some response about the singing parts and if I should continue with those...so yeah! Thanks for reading the first part!)