It all happened so fast that there was no way to really comprehend everything. From the greatest night of her life to relief at finding her father alive to watching her village turn against her to Gaston fighting the Beast to killing him to watching him transform into a human along with everyone else. Her mind was filled with the image of this man who adored her but she was confused on what to feel. Where was her Beast, who was this man? Who are you, who are you…
"Who are you?" Belle mumbled as she slowly woke up, trying to find her bearings after the confusing whirlwind that was her dream. It was her room in the castle, but why was the mattress suddenly so hard and uneven and-moving! She put a hand to her mouth to stifle her gasp of surprise as she backed up, pressing herself against the headboard. What was a man doing in her bed? Did they—no, they were both fully clothed, and why did he seem so familiar?
She carefully moved next to him as she gently stroked his hair, studying the handsome face. That's right; it was the Beast, sort of. He died…but then magic fell from the sky and he transformed into a human, along with everyone else in the castle. She didn't ask any questions and he didn't volunteer answers; they simply spent the entire day celebrating the fact that they were together and everyone was human again. Like the gentleman he was, he escorted her to her room but they couldn't bring themselves to say good night and she invited him into her room where they again proclaimed their love for each other in words and kisses until they fell asleep in each other's arms. Her hand went from his hair to his face. The feel of skin was so alien to her that she unconsciously wished for fur, but his good heart and beautiful soul was still present in this strange body. It was just something she was going to have to get used to.
The prince's body stirred as he reacted to Belle's attention. His eyes fluttered open and his heart swelled as her warm smile greeted him. "Good morning," He said softly, basking the glow of her warm brown eyes.
"Good morning," Belle returned, finding it strange to see the eyes that she had so strongly fallen in love with in a completely different body. "Beast, what happened the other night? What made you and everyone else become human again?"
The prince tensed at the mention of his old name but he sat up to tell his story. "I was born a prince but I was spoiled and grew to be selfish and unkind. My parents knew I would not make an ideal king and thought I could never be saved. When I was ten, they cut their losses and abandoned me here in the summer castle with an army of servants to care for me.
"A year later, an old beggar woman came to the castle on Christmas and offered a rose in return from shelter from the bitter cold. I sent her away, wanting something of wealth in return, not a rose. She transformed me into a hideous beast to match the ugliness of my heart and denied me human company by turning my servants to household items. I could break the curse if I learned to love another and earn their love in return by the time the last petal fell, and if I didn't, everyone would remain exactly as they are, and I would one day devolve into nothing but a dumb animal, losing every ounce of humanity I ever had." He paused as he placed his hand on her cheek. "Belle, you saved my life and you restored me to my true self. I can never show my full gratitude for what you have done."
Instinctively she placed her hand on his arm as tears glistened in her eyes. "Why didn't you tell me this sooner? Why didn't anyone else? I thought whatever enchantment the castle was under was permanent and there was nothing I could do."
"I couldn't force your hand," He explained as he wiped the tears from her eyes with his free hand. "Whatever developed had to be honest and real, but it doesn't matter now. We're free to be together for the rest of our lives."
She smiled at him and then slightly frowned as a thought came to her. "Is that why you sent my father away, because your parents had given up on you?" Belle asked, curious to know if she finally had the explanation why he would only tolerate one prisoner.
"I am ashamed to admit it, but yes. Your eagerness to protect him surprised me and made me jealous and angry that I was denied the bond that you had with your father. I sent him away because I wanted you to suffer as I had suffered. I am forever sorry for what I have done, but he is welcome to stay here with us. I want him to stay, and I shall give him all that he desires in return for nothing but his blessing for us being together."
She could not find the right words to express her gratitude at his offer and instead gave him a loving kiss. If Gaston was her husband, somehow she doubted he would have supported Maurice despite easily having the money to do so. "Thank you, Beast…" That didn't exactly fit now that he was human. "What is your name, anyway?"
The prince narrowed his eyes slightly at the name, but then asked her to guess. Belle studied his handsome face but even after a few minutes nothing seemed to fit. "It's hard to see you as anything but my Beast," She admitted.
"Adam," He gruffly informed her. "My name is Adam." He was no longer an animal but a man. Why did she have to keep bringing up their past? 10 years of his life wasted until the last few months when Heaven itself had sent Belle into his life. He was determined to move on and to only be the man that his love needed.
"Adam," She repeated with a smile and rained kisses on his lovely lips, saying his name to get accustomed to it after every one. "It suits you, my love."
His male pride placated, Adam would have kissed her forever if there wasn't a knock on the door. "Breakfast is served, my dear. Hurry before it gets cold," came the voice of Mrs. Potts.
Belle sighed and kissed him one last time before sliding off the bed. "She's right; we should go out and have breakfast." She went to the wardrobe, now just a regular piece of furniture, and pulled out a dress for the day, blushing as Adam remained where he was, giving her a twisted smile. "Do you mind?" She asked as she motioned toward the door.
"But I've already seen you naked," He pointed out, "and what a lovely view it was. Beauty like that should be savored over and over again."
"Adam, please," She pleaded. "I'm not ready just yet."
"You made love to the Beast yet you can't change in front of me?" He asked in a warning tone.
Men and their needs! "You and the Beast are the same person," She sternly reminded him, doing her best to keep her composure as she remembered that wonderful night. "If I couldn't separate the man from the animal, I never would have fallen in love with you and you would be dead. You've barely been human for 24 hours now and I never expected you to change. Please, give me time to adjust first."
"I am still the master here," Adam reminded her, infuriating Belle.
"Get out, NOW!" She ordered, pointing toward the door. "You may be the master of this castle but you certainly cannot order me to do something I'm not comfortable with!"
Adam took the hint and stormed out, unsure of why Belle was being so disagreeable. It was a reasonable request; why did she act like it was such a big deal? Nothing was going to happen, he just wanted to see her naked.
"A woman has rights of her own," Mrs. Potts reminded him. "Give her time and I'm sure she'll be happy to engage in such activities with you, sir."
"I hope you're right," he said as he went down the hall.
While the Beast transformed from an animal to being human, there was one witness who did not celebrate the change. Gaston had the unfortunate luck not to fall straight into the chasm but land on a flat rock face just outside the castle walls. He was unable to move and could not feel anything below his neck, but his breath still came, however raggedly, as he tried to comprehend the sorry end his great life had come to. The Beast was most likely dead but Belle was free to marry whoever she wanted, and Maurice was free of Mssr. D'arque's asylum. This could not happen! He was Gaston; he was always in control of the situation. Better for Belle to be dead then marry another man, and his death should have come from old age, lying comfortably in his bed with a score of sons and grandsons at his side with the village in complete misery, singing his praises of his long and glorious life. "This is not the end of Gaston," He growled, wasting his precious breath to speak to no one.
But someone did here as a man appeared completely from nowhere, dressed in the robes of a nobleman, and carelessly stood on the edge of the rock face as if there was no chance he would lose his balance and fall. "I have happened upon a lot of dying men in my time but never one so determined to live as you. Your spine is broken in two places, your bones are shattered, and a deep enough breath and you pierce your own lungs with a jagged, broken rib bone. You should died upon impact, yet you desperately grasp at life. How very interesting," He mused.
"I want revenge," He answered, uncertain as to whom this man was but did not care to find out. All he could focus on was the great rage in his heart that demanded Belle's blood.
The stranger laughed loudly. "You are different then other men. They wish to know who I am and if I can spare them from their fate, no matter what the cost. Even in death, your needs are your own and very selfish. Whether you care or not, I am not an angel, Death, God, or Satan; I am simply a humble Enchanter." He gave a quick bow. "How lucky you are that you amuse me, sir, otherwise I would leave you to your drawn out death. I'm sure you earned this through your actions in life, but I am very curious to see what a human does when revenge consumes his body to the point that it chases away death."
Gaston gave the stranger a grim smile, grateful for a second chance. There was a flash of pink smoke and Gaston's body tumbled over into the ravine, with the enchanter's laughter echoing in the chasm.
Author's Note: I will eventually write and post Belle and Beast making love as its own companion one-shot.