Disclaimer: I don't own Saddle Club, Saddle Club is a copyright of Bonnie Bryant, I also don't own Beauty And The Beast, Beauty And The Beast is a copyright of Walt Disney Pictures.

The Beginning Of The Curse

Once upon a time in a faraway land, a young prince named Phil lived in a shining castle.

Although he had everything his heart desired, including an entire staff of servants at his beck and call, Prince Phil was spoiled, selfish, and unkind.

But then, one winter's night, an old beggar woman came to the castle and offered him a single rose in return for shelter from the bitter cold.

Repulsed by her haggard appearance, Prince Phil sneered at the gift and turned the old woman away.

But she warned him not to be deceived by appearances, for beauty is found within.

And when he dismissed her again, the old woman's ugliness melted away to reveal... a beautiful enchantress.

The prince tried to apologize but it was to late.

For she had seen that there was no love in his heart.

And as punishment, she transformed him into a hideous beast and placed a powerful spell upon the castle and all who lived there.

Ashamed of his monstrous form, the beast concealed himself inside his castle with a magic mirror as his only window to the outside world.

The rose she had offered, what in reality, an enchanted rose, which would bloom until his thirteenth year.

If he could learn to love another and earn her love in return by the time the last petal fell, then, the spell would be broken.

If not, then he would be doomed to remain a beast and his staff of servants would remain household objects for all time.

As the years passed, he fell into despair and lost all hope.

For who could really learn to love a beast?