Oh yes, Gabe went there.

--

Once upon a time in a far away land, a young prince lived in a shining castle. Although he had everything he could ever desire, the young prince was very spoiled, selfish and unkind, and then, one freezing cold winter's night an old beggar woman came to the castle and offered him a single bright red rose in return for shelter from the cold. It was beautiful and the scent lingered in the air, sending divine chills down anyone who came in contact with it's back.

Repulsed by the haggard's appearance, the prince sneered at the gift and turned the old woman away. She warned him not to be deceived by appearances, for beauty is found within, and when he dismissed her again the woman's ugliness melted away to reveal a beautiful enchantress. The prince tried to apologize, but it was too late, for she had seen that there was no love in his heart, and as punishment she transformed him into a hideous beast and unleashed a powerful spell on the castle and all who lived there.

Ashamed by his monstrous form, the beast locked himself in his castle with a magic mirror as his only window to the outside world. The rose the enchantress had offered, was truly an enchanted rose which would bloom until his twenty-first year. If he could learn to love another and be loved by him in return before the last petal fell, then the spell would be broken.

If not he would be doomed to remain a beast for all of time. As the years past he fell into a deep, grueling despair and lost all hope, for who could ever learn to love a beast?

--

Zexion sauntered out of his small house, swinging a small basket around. He fixed the apron that surrounded his petite waist and straightened up. Today was going to be a great day; he could feel it. Slowly, he made his way down a path that lead to town, humming a melodious tune. His small feet pranced onto a bridge and he smiled some, watching a few birds fly over his head.

"Little town. It's a quiet village. Everyday like the one before. Little town, full of little people. Waking up to say-" he was interrupted by some people popping there heads out of their windows to bid him a 'Bonjour'. He smiled and waved at them, continuing on.

"There goes the baker with his tray like always. The same old bread and rolls to sell. Every morning.just the same since the morning since we came to this poor provincial town."

"Good morning Zexion!" The baker looked back as he carried his day's work to his small bakery. Zexion turned, his mauve hair swishing to the side. His eyes glittered joyously as he waved.

"Good morning monsieur!"

"Where you off to?"

"The book shop!" Zexion said enthusiastically. "I just read the most riveting book about a-a...a beanstalk! And an ogre and a-"

Zexion was cut off by the baker. "Yeah, that's nice. Marie! The baguettes, hurry up!" Zexion shrugged and rolled his eyes playfully, turning to walk off. There was nothing surprising about a rushed day where he lived. He just thought everyone should take a break and relax every once in a while. Oh well. As the boy walked on he ignored the two women talking about him.

"Look there he goes the boy who's strange. No question!" Zexion simply brushed some hair out of his face and smiled. "He's quite destructive, can't you tell? He can stop any crowd. His head is in the clouds!"

Zexion hitched a ride on the back of the wagon that was crossing through town. He listened in all the interesting conversation being had, but didn't want to eavesdrop, so he disregarded them. Finally he arrived at the book shop, his sanctuary. He let out a small sigh, "There must be more than this provincial life!"

"Ah Zexion!" Cloud, the book keeper, smiled, reaching out to take the book Zexion thrust unto him. "Finished already. What a fast reader you are!" the blonde librarian chirped.

"Oh!" Zexion said as if awestruck. "I couldn't put it down! It was so...so wonderful! Do you have anymore new ones?" the boy inquired, beginning to scale a step ladder to reach the higher shelves of the book case.

Cloud chuckled and shook his head, baffled boy the boy's strong love for literature. "No, no. Not since yesterday!" he vocalized, sauntering over to an upset looking Zexion.

"Alright..." Zexion scanned various book titles, smiling as he found one that was appealing to him. He threw it into the librarian's hands and jumped off of the shelf, dusting his apron off gently. He stood up straight and primly, smiling widely to the librarian who looked take aback.

"This one?" Cloud inquired, grabbing a pair of reading glasses from the book shelf to his left. He laughed and held the book out. "But you've already read this book twice!"

Zexion laughed and got back onto the ladder, looking around. He slowly began to point at the book's spines, reading the titles. "Well it's my favorite!" He shifted to the right making the ladder slide down the shelf. He put a hand out, looking far out. "Well it's my favorite! Far off places, daring sword fights! Magic spells...oh! And a prince in disguise!"

Cloud put his hand on the small of Zexion's back, leading him out of the shop. "Well if you like it all that much, then keep it. It's yours," he grinned.

Zexion gasped and looked back at him, eyes wide. "But Mister Cloud, sir-"

Cloud shook his head, "Take it, take it. I insist!" He looked to the side, taking a moment to ward off the men eyeballing his favorite little customer.

"Thank you! Thank you! I just..I don't know what to say!" Zexion smiled, beginning to read the book. He took a moment to look back and smile sweetly at the man before he went off.

The three men watching Zexion sighed in a love struck fashion. "Look there he goes the boy who's so peculiar..." they sighed, leaning forward some to watch him leave. "I wonder, is he taken." One inquired to another. "He's always got his nose stuck in a book..."

"What a puzzle to the rest of us is Zexion." Zexion was indeed a puzzle. He was much different than the other young boys of the small village. He loved reading at home rather than going out and partying with the other boys. He hated dressing up and going to the royal balls, or anything along those lines. He was very different indeed.

Zexion looked up from his book, smiling at a hip that strayed from its herd. He smiled and pet it. "Oh, isn't this just amazing?" he nearly purred, referring to the exhilarating book at hand. "It's my favorite part because...well you'll see," he chuckled, reaching over to pet another large sheep. "This is where she's met he prince charming, but she won't discover that it's him, until chapter three!"

"Now it's no wonder that his name means beauty," a redheaded lady chortled. "Her looks have got now parallel."

A man cut into the lady's single person conversation. "But behind that feather complexion, is a boy that's much too odd...He's very different from the rest, yes he is indeed. Very different from everyone!"

"But he's Zexion!" the woman interrupted, trying on a feathery pink hat.