A/N: This story comes as a request from soul96961, who wanted a Beauty and the Beast type of story. We took a few liberties with that and went back and forth on a few ideas. So let's give this a try. It'll likely be short, hopefully only a few chapters.

Sword: Yay! Beauty and the Beast belongs to Disney and Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont. Tails, Cream, and all related material belongs to Sega. The story, me, and Pen belong to the author.

Pen: Don't use without permission. Blah, blah, blah. Get on with it.

Thank you and please enjoy.

Chapter 1- The Master of the Castle

A long time ago in a distant land, there lived a kind and brilliant prince. The prince lived in a castle, alone save for his servants, in the middle of the forest and secluded from the rest of the world. There, the prince could pursue his passion for science. Day and night, he experimented and he created a wide range of machines to assist him.

However, the prince was curious to a fault. The temptation of new discoveries often led to carelessness and impatience outside of his calculations, harming his well-being.

One day, while gathering materials for an experiment, he happened upon a yellow emerald of pure beauty and flawless beyond compare, shining in the light like a pointed sun.

But when the prince picked it up, a guardian appeared as if from thin air, an echidna tied to the safety of the precious emerald, frightening him. She warned the prince that the Chaos Emerald's immense power was beyond his understanding and should not be tampered with. Ignoring her warning about respecting its strength and excited about his discovery, he rushed home to his castle and set up the emerald in his laboratory to generate and test the power it contained.

In doing so, he unleashed the emerald's great power, resulting in a magnificent blast. When the dust settled, the prince had been transformed into a hideous beast and all those in the castle were changed as well. The guardian of the emerald appeared again and he begged her for help, but it was too late. He had not heeded her warning and was reckless with the power. The only way he could reverse the emerald's effects was to harness the pure energy of love and compassion from a person willing to give it to counteract the Chaos energy. Doing so would reverse the effects and return everyone in the castle to their original self. If he didn't do so within seven years' time, he would remain a beast for the rest of his life.

However, the prince knew that he could not been seen by anyone, as they would never believe what happened and hunt him down. Lamenting his fate, he isolated himself in his castle and was forgotten over the years. Unable and unsure how to harness love, who to harness it from, and how he is supposed to use the energy once he does, he spends all his time in his laboratory, toiling away relentlessly and growing more frustrated, more wrathful with each failure and shunning those outside and within the castle. For how is one supposed to harness love and who would ever willingly give love or compassion to a frightful beast?

"Cream!"

The little rabbit rushed outside, picking up her orange dress with one hand and leaping over a mud puddle. Behind her, a little blue Chao flapped its tiny wings, struggling to lift a small basket of bread. "Come on, Cheese," she said, balancing her own larger basket of fruit. "We have to hurry!"

They carried the goods to the wagon waiting in front of the cottage. An older rabbit stood by the rear, checking on all the food baskets loaded already. When Cream and Cheese approached with their food, she added them to the pile. "Thank you, dear," she said, closing the wagon's rear.

"Are you sure we can't come with you, Mother?" she asked, walking with her to the horse. Her mother climbed into the driver's seat and picked up the reigns.

"The market can be a very big place," she said. "And someone needs to watch the house." Cream looked at her toes and her mother smiled. "Don't worry. It's only a few days. I've asked Vector to come check in on you from time to time. He's fun, isn't he?"

"Yes," she said. Her mother reached out for her and hugged her tightly. "I hope you sell a lot this year, Mother."

"So do I," she said. Cream buried her face into her mother's chest, not noticing the mournful look at their small, ramshackle cottage falling apart. While the building was as clean as could be, the window shutters were hanging on by a prayer and the thin door may as well have been a flimsy sheet. So many holes were poked in the house that it resembled the swiss cheese in her wagon load. And that was just a passing glance at the exterior. "So do I."

She broke from Cream and whipped the reigns. The horse trotted down the road and the wagon bounced along. Cream waved farewell until her mother was out of sight and headed inside. She dusted some furniture while Cheese pestered her to play a game. She relented and played hide-and-seek with Cheese for an hour, hiding around the house, or climbing the trees outside. Soon, a knock sounded at the door, opening it before she could even welcome the person in.

"Oops, sorry. Didn't mean that," the visitor said. He grabbed the knob and shut the door himself. Then he knocked again and waited for Cream to open the door. Standing on the porch, a large crocodile smiled wide at her. "Hello, Cream," he said. "Ms. Vanilla already leave?

"Hello, Vector." She stood aside and let him enter. "Yes, she just did."

"That's fine." He seemed a little disappointed in the mouth, but quickly regained his smile. "So, what are you up to?" he asked.

"Cheese and I are playing hide-and-seek." A mischievous grin wormed up her face. "Try to find us!" Before he said another word, she took off like a shot into the kitchen and squeezed into one of the cupboards. Cheese joined her, making it a rather tight fit.

Vector counted to ten and tramped through the cottage, searching under both beds in the bedroom, the kitchen cabinets, and behind furniture in the living room. Cream giggled from the kitchen cupboards as he scratched his head, puzzled. She was tempted to jump out and surprise him, and waited for the right opportunity. He passed the cupboard, a little too far away. "Wait for it," she whispered to Cheese."

"How does she always do this?" he muttered aloud. "There's only three rooms in here. Think, Vector."

As he pondered her hiding spot, a knock sounded at the door, pushing it open. The new visitor barged in, unannounced and uninvited, stroking his thick red mustache and sniffing as the dismal domicile. His beady eyes hidden behind dark glasses spotted Vector and he nodded.

"Mayor Robotnik," Vector said and Cream came out of hiding, Cheese perched on her shoulder. "What's with the visit?"

Robotnik cleared his throat. "Is there a Ms?" he snapped his fingers. A short man, with stringy hair strands sticking up like he had been electrocuted and a pointed nose, held out a list. "A Ms. Vanilla living here?" he asked.

"She left for the market," Cream said. "She'll be gone for two days. May I help you?"

"Ah, yes, dear," he said, thrusting his chest forward. He thumbed the flaps of his ruby dress jacket and tilted his head up, as if addressing a grand audience chamber. "At this time of year, it is prudent to support the civil servants of our fair village as they once again find themselves at that most trying time of year." Vector and Cream exchanged confused glances. "Meaning, the upcoming election."

"Oh, right," Vector said.

"As such," he continued with his well-rehearsed speech, "we are paying each of the kind citizens a visit to ask that they contribute a modicum amount to our cause." Again, he was met with blank stares. "Campaign donations."

Vector waved his hand. "No thanks. I can't afford any donations."

"Ah, that's a shame," Robotnik said. "But no worries. We can work out a way for you to do your civic duty." He snapped his fingers again and the short man handed him a paper. "You rent the building for your little agency. I'll just bump up the tax amount."

"What?!" Vector shouted. "We can barely afford that place as it is!"

"Should've thought of that before you signed the lease," he said. "But I'm a generous man. We'll start out low. Maybe an extra couple percent each month?" Vector growled and raised his fist. Suddenly, the man was joined by two wobbly robots appearing from the front door. Their steam engines clogged the air in the cottage and they rattled, their parts shaking and chugging along with every movement. They handed Robotnik a musket and pointed their own at Vector. Robotnik leaned on his gun and smiled as Vector lowered his arm, defeated. "Thank you for understanding."

"Wait," Cream said. She ran into the bedroom, shut the door, and dug into her pillowcase. She dumped out a collection of coins and small money bills onto the bedspread and dropped one. Cream fell to her hands and knees and searched the space under the bed for the coin, but couldn't find it. She couldn't keep Robotnik waiting, so she counted the total. Thirty ring notes and some change. It should be enough.

Gathering all the money together, she ran to the living room and handed it to Robotnik. "Will this cover his donation?" she asked.

He thumbed through the bills while Vector pulled Cream aside and hissed, "Cream, what are you doing? Don't give this greedy guy anything, especially not for my sake!"

"Mr. Vector, it's okay. It's part of my savings. I have more." She looked down, ashamed to lie to him. Technically, it's the truth. There was that one coin. That didn't help her feel better and Vector wasn't buying it either.

"Hm," Robotnik murmured to himself. "This will do for now. Thank you, young lady. And as for your contribution?"

Cream wringed her hands and Vector stood in front of her, blocking Robotnik from the girl. The robots' muskets clicked. "You low-down—"

"My mother will have some money when she comes home," Cream said. "That's why she went to the market. To sell our crops and baked goods. She should have money for you then."

Robotnik stroked his mustache for a moment, then nodded. "Very well. We'll be back at the end of the week. Come along," he said to the robots and his assistant. They left, not bothering to shut the door on their way out.

Vector slammed the door shut. "That fat pig!" He rounded on Cream and the cottage, ready to vent his frustration. But his lividness evaporated when he saw Cream. She shook quietly and Cheese was patting her head. "Hey, Cream." He bent his knees, matching her height, and opened his arms wide. She accepted the hug and he tussled her ears. "It's okay. You don't have to worry about him anymore. I'll show him to mess with you and your mom."

"No," she said. "Mother will make enough money. I know she will. Don't hurt him for us. She wouldn't want that and his robots will shoot you."

"Then I'll hurt him because of that stupid tax thing," he said. Yet one stern look from Cream and he dropped the idea. "You shouldn't have given him your money."

"I wanted to," she said. "You needed it more than I did."

"I'll get you the money back," he said. "In full. I'll round up my boys and we'll solve a case. You'll have it back in no time," he said. He stood up and headed to the door. "I should get back anyway. Have more work to do."

"Okay," she said. "Will you stop by tomorrow?"

"Of course, I will," he said. Then he was gone and Cream headed to the backyard. Their cottage rested atop a small hill overlooking the rest of the quiet village in the valley. Smoke rose from the blacksmith and bakery shops and peopled milled about the water fountain in the town square. In the distance, other hills poked up from the landscape and were dotted with cottages like hers, all larger and better-maintained.

She glanced at her cottage. While it had its problems and wasn't in the best shape, it was always a welcome sight. Cozy warmth and happiness exuded from it and that was fine with her. She liked that more than having a rich home like Robotnik's in the center of the village.

Robotnik's house stood a story taller than the tallest shop and leered over the village like the watchful vultures in the cemetery, ready to strike and devour anything smaller that wandered too close. It frightened her even to look at it, much less pass by when she went into the village. Day and night, smoke poured out of the chimney tops, clouding the air with smog, so much that it was often difficult to tell what were natural clouds and what was smoke. And machines of all kinds worked day and night. Robots greeted villagers at the front door, materials and parts were funneled outside by tubes and sold to surrounding shops, and even the scarce plants on the windowsills were watered by buckets attached to pulleys. It was a cold, uninviting establishment and the mayoral office sat on the top floor, with a circular window viewing the town square.

Cheese poked her head, begging her to play, and she forgot about Robotnik. She ran in and out of the cluster of trees nearby and spent the rest of the afternoon playing with Cheese.

Dusk fell when Vanilla entered the forest separating their village from the market in the next town. It was later still before she realized she was lost. The weathered map laid splayed across her lap and she lowered her lamp closer, studying the directions. She regretted not leaving earlier. Finding the right path was simple during the day, but at night, the trees all looked the same, their gnarled, twisted branches pointing her this way and that.

Up ahead, a signpost had fallen over and Vanilla climbed down from the carriage, holding the light to the town names. They were too faded to read and in the distance, a wolf howled. "We better turn around," she said, grabbing the horse by its bridle. "Try again earlier in the morning."

As she wheeled the horse around, the howling grew louder. The horse whinnied and stamped its feet. "Easy, girl," Vanilla said, patting its snout. Chills froze her fingers as more howls joined the first. Then, without warning, a snarling set of teeth appeared from the tree line with a pair of hungry eyes to match.

The horse reared up and dashed away as several wolves chased after it. Three more stood between Vanilla and the retreating horse. She picked up a nearby branch and waved it at the wolves. "Back!" she shouted. The wolves bared their teeth, drool pouring down their chins. One crouched low, its legs tense. Vanilla threw the branch at it as it lunged, then ran as fast as her feet could carry her.

The wolves followed close behind, snapping at her heels. In moments, they would catch her. She couldn't stop looking at their black eyes until a rock pelted one in the head. Then another in its body, thumping it hard. The wolf fell behind.

Vanilla looked up at a pair of turrets and a gate. Atop each turret, a metal ballista loaded with rocks fired upon the remaining two wolves. Vanilla ran faster, escaping the barrage of rocks and slammed into the gate. Locked. She turned back to the wolves. They were fighting through the rocks, inching their way close to her. Every time they neared, a rock hit their snout, scaring them away several feet.

"Please! Let me in!" Vanilla screamed at the ballistae. The gate groaned and slowly creaked open enough for her to squeeze through. Once past, the gate shut and she was inside a large courtyard, surrounding by a high stone wall that disappeared into the darkness on both sides.

The wolves yipped and gave up, limping into the woods. The ballistae stopped firing and a robotic voice said, "No more threats. Switching to standby mode." It was an curious sight, the likes of which she had only seen at Robotnik's house. Did he build the ballistae? Or some relative of his?

Uneasiness crept into her stomach, but it transformed to outright awe at the castle before her. The large castle rose high into the sky, its end hidden in the night sky, and it stretched wide, wider than the moonlight afforded her. She stepped around a bone dry water fountain covered in dead leaves and approached the tall doors. There were no handles or knockers. Only a screen and a few buttons on the side.

Vanilla pressed one button labelled CALL. "Hello?" She waited a moment. "Hello? Is anyone there?" She scanned the doors again. Maybe there was another way inside. But apart from glass windows stretched high, there was no sign of anything. "Uh, thank you for saving me from the wolves. If it's not too much trouble, could I spend the night here? My horse has run away. I'd be happy to pay you, of course."

Perhaps whoever inside was asleep? But it was a tremendous castle. Surely a servant or some night guard was awake. "Hello? Please, I really need some help."

As if she said the magic word, the doors rumbled open and shook the steps, like a miniature earthquake. She peered deep into the black foyer within. Nobody greeted her or acknowledged her. She was hesitant to enter, yet the only other option was to head into the forest. She took a deep breath and stepped in. As soon as she did, the doors slammed shut behind her.

She crept down the red entrance carpet and noted weak lights strung on the walls on the first and second floors. Two grand staircases lead to the second floor and all was silent and empty. "Hello?" Vanilla called out. "Hello?"

She heard whispering nearby. "Not a word, Sonic. Not one word."

"I wanted to thank you," Vanilla said, searching for the voice. "Are you here?"

She picked up a muffled noise, then an "Oof!" A candle would help her search. She took a stray, solitary one on a table and a gust of air almost blew it out. "Oh, sorry about that." She leapt away from the person and covered the candle until it grew again. She held the candle to the dark, but only saw a blue container on wheels and a red cabinet.

"Where are you?" she asked.

"Right here." Eyes opened on the blue container and it rolled close to her. Vanilla covered her mouth, swallowing a scream. It was a vacuum, like Robotnik had in his office. Yet this was a talking vacuum!

The cabinet came to life as well, waddling on its wooden legs. "Great, Sonic. Great. You always have to open your trap. 'We have to let her in.' No, let the ballistae handle it. 'We can't leave her in the cold out there.' The prince will be upset. I agreed to those, but the least you could've done was—"

"Can it," the vacuum said, wheeling into the cabinet. "You may like solitude, but I don't. It's nice to finally have visitors again." He closed his eyes and rolled backwards, raising up his rear wheels in what Vanilla guessed to be a bow. A hose attached his side lifted up like an arm. "Welcome to the castle. How can we help ya?"

"I," Vanilla stepped back, her head spinning. "I…" She felt faint and her knees weak. Talking, walking furniture?

Sonic tapped his hose on the ground and a chair thumped over, catching Vanilla as she fell down. She plopped in the cushion and gasped. "It's alright, it's alright," Sonic said, patting her hand with the hose. "I know, it's crazy, but you're safe here."

"I don't feel so good," Vanilla said. She shivered and hugged herself tight.

"Can we get you something to drink?"

"Do you have any tea?"

He smiled. "Coming right up. Amy!"

The cabinet shushed him. "Not so loud! Do you want to wake the prince?"

Without warning, a stove rolled in. Its light red surface shined spotless and it was outfitted with all sorts of electronic knobs and buttons that Vanilla had never seen. "You better be apologizing, Sonic," the stove said, her frown and eyes glaring at him from the digital read-out above the knobs. "You always skip out of our da—Who's this?" She peered at Vanilla, who shied away from her.

"Amy," Sonic said. "This is our guest."

The oven's eyes lit up and her front door dropped open. "A guest? Oh, it's been so long! What can we get you?"

"Um, tea?" Vanilla asked.

"Right away!" Amy's knobs cranked up and she whistled to the empty hallway. Immediately, a trolley appeared next to her with cups, a kettle, sugar cubes, spoons, and tea leaves. The kettle scooped up the tea leaves and jumped onto Amy's burner, the water sloshing out a little. "Be careful," she scolded it. "Look sharp, everyone!" Within a minute, the tea was boiling and the kettle poured a cup for Vanilla. "How many lumps of sugar?" she asked Vanilla.

"Two, please." The spoon scooped out a couple of sugar cubes, mixed them into the tea, and the cup bounced into Vanilla's hand. She wasn't sure what to say except, "That was quite fast."

"It's the prince's design," Amy said, her eyes beaming. She hovered beside Vanilla, waiting for her to try the tea.

Vanilla sipped her drink and smiled. "Thank you. It's very good."

Amy turned to the trolley. "Good job, everyone. Back to the kitchen with you. Go on."

By then, the cabinet pushed Sonic and Amy out of the way and off to the side in private conversation. Vanilla perked her ears, listening in. "That's enough of this. I'm in charge here. She has to leave."

"Knuckles, have a heart," Sonic said. "Let her stay the night."

His eyes bugged out of his wooden frame. "Are you out of your minds?"

"Excuse me," Vanilla said. "I won't be a bother. I can pay you to stay for just the night and I'll leave first thing in the morning."

"Oh, please, you're no bother," Amy said. "You're very welcome here. Ignore Knuckles. He's a little uptight."

"Uptight?!" Knuckles choked. "The prince will turn me into kindling and you two into scrap if he finds her here!"

"Finds who here?" a deep growling voice asked. All eyes turned to the top of the staircase, where a dark form stood, leering at them. The shape was difficult to make out and when it leapt from the second floor onto the red carpet, a tattered cloak flowed behind it.

"Ah, uh, my prince," Knuckles said, standing at attention. "You see—" But when the creature stomped past him, he buttoned his mouth shut.

The very air around the creature chilled Vanilla's bones and the lights seemed to flicker and die in his presence. He stalked her chair and sniffed her scent like the wolves she escaped. A massive paw gripped the chair's arm, the sharp claws drumming against the wood. Then he was suddenly in front of her, staring her down. A shorter creature, half a foot below her height, but thick, with matted, tangled fur with all manner of oil stains and grease stains. His repugnant odor clogged her senses, like a wet, filthy animal and two tails flicked from side to side like a pair of serpents, poised to strike.

When he spoke, it was an intense noise, a deafened roar as if he restrained his fury. "Who are you?"

"I—"

"Are you a thief? Here to steal my machines?"

"I was lost in the forest," she said. "I was—"

"You should've went back the way you came!"

She shivered. "Wolves chased me here. I was trying to find shelter for the night and—"

"And you came trespassing in my castle?" he shouted.

"Ah, not technically, Prince," Sonic said. "I sort of let her in. She was being chased by wolves and—" The prince roared, blowing him backwards. Amy went after Sonic, checking on him. Then he rounded on Vanilla once more. "What are you staring at?"

She cowered under him. "Nothing," she said, looking at the exit.

He looked skeptical and snorted. "Look! Good enough view of the beast for you?"

"Please," she said. "I didn't mean to impose. I can pay you for the trouble." She reached for her pocket.

"Oh, you'll pay," he said, grabbing her arm, nearly crushing it with his strength. "You can pay and I'll give you a place to stay. You'll get your very own place!"

"No, please!" She dug her heels into the carpet and looked to Sonic and the others. But she was beyond their help. The beast dragged her up the stairs, her pleas falling on helpless ears. "No!"

Cream hummed to herself the next morning, sweeping the wooden porch and dusting the gable before cooking breakfast for Cheese and her. As soon as she started eating, a loud noise rumbled by the house and a familiar horse whinnied. She pushed herself from the table and ran outside, finding her mother's carriage and horse, without her mother.

"Woah, woah," she reached up and grabbed the reins. "Easy there, girl. Where's Mother?" She checked the cargo and all the food had spilled over in their baskets. "What happened?" The horse stamped its feet and Cream unhitched it from the carriage. She climbed onto its back and Cheese sat in her lap, nestled against the horse's neck. "Let's go!" Cream yanked hard on the reins and they took off, speeding by the village and into the forest.

Soon, they reached the weathered signpost and Cream found tracks in the dirt. She hopped off and crouched, examining them. Several pairs of wolf prints. Among them, shoes the size of her mother's. Cream's heart rose into her throat as she followed the trail, guiding the horse along. Please be okay. Please be okay.

The trail ended at a large gate, flanked by inactive ballistae. A castle lay beyond, imposing and quiet. Her mother was nowhere to be seen. Cream pushed on the gate and it stayed shut. She examined it for a moment, hit the bars with her palm, and climbed onto the horse. From the horse, she leapt halfway up the gate and shimmied to the top. She jumped into some bushes on the other side, which cushioned her fall. Cheese flew over the gate and perched on her head, hiding behind her ears.

"Stay here," she told the horse. She left the reins untied. If wolves were around, they needed a quick escape. Along the walls were several garden trees that barely reached the wall's top. She could climbed those and jump on the horse in a hurry.

She walked to the doors. Someone in the castle might know where her mother was. She knocked three times and tapped the screen beside the doors. "Hello?" she asked, pushing the CALL button. "Has anyone seen my mother? I think she came this way."

The doors cracked open with a groan and she hurried inside. Nobody stood in the foyer waiting for her. Although sunlight shone through clean windows, the castle was dark and depressing. It reminded her of Robotnik's home and she hated it. Cream rushed through the first floor hallway, passing room after room. Bedrooms, studies, living rooms, storage, all devoid of life. At the end of the hall, a dank staircase awaited her, slippery gray steps fading into a black chasm.

"Hello?" Cream said down the stairs.

A faint, "Hello?" answered her. It almost sounded like her mother.

Excited, Cream dashed down the stairs, skipping two at a time. She slipped on one step and caught herself on the wall. Careful. Who knows what's in here. At the bottom, she entered a dungeon, lined with cells and one small light dangling from the ceiling. A cold draft blew through her clothes and she hugged herself.

"Hello? Mother?"

"Cream?" Two doors down on the left. Cream ran to the cell and there, staring out of the viewing window, was Vanilla, her cheeks tear-stained and smudged. "Cream! Oh, sweetheart!" A fresh set of tears welled up in her eyes. "I'm so happy to see you. Are you okay?"

"I'm fine. Are you?" She reached in, grabbing her mother's hand. It was ice cold and Vanilla trembled as another wind blew through. "You've caught a cold. What happened to you?"

"I was lost in the forest and ran into some wolves. I found this castle and—" She stopped, as if struck by realization, and clasped her daughter's hand tight. "Cream, you have to get out of here. It's not safe."

"What? Not without you!" She checked the lock. There had to be a key around here.

"Cream, you don't understand. There's a—" A shadow rose behind them, blocking the little light and an animal growled. Cream slowly turned and gasped at the blackened form of a monster standing there.

"What are you doing here?" the monster asked.

"W-Who are you?" she said.

"The master of this castle."

"I came to find my mother. Please, let her go."

The monster snorted. "She trespassed in my castle."

"Please, she cannot stay here," she said. "She's sick and needs help."

"Then she shouldn't wander into castles!" he said.

"Please." He simply glared at her. "I'll do anything if you'll let her out."

"There's nothing you can do," he said, grabbing her arm and pulling her to the stairs. "She's my prisoner and new assistant until I say otherwise."

"Wait!" Cream said, dragging her heels. Her mind went through a dozen things she could offer. "Wait! Take me instead!" He stopped and looked at her. "Take me instead," she repeated. "I'll be your prisoner and assistant."

"You would take her place?" he said. "Do you know what you're asking?" She nodded and he raised a finger. "You must stay here in the castle, with me, forever. And must assist me in all my experiments, no matter how you feel or how dangerous they are."

She peered closer at him. "Will you show me yourself?"

He waited a moment, his large eyes pondering the request. Reluctantly, he came into the light, fully displayed for her to see. He was a rabid, furry orange beast, with long wolf fangs and sharp claws, well-honed for destruction. His massive chest was that of three people and his limbs were as rounded at tree branches. His twin tails raised to his shoulders and pointed at her. What had appeared to be a cloak in the dark was a frayed, worn-out white coat draped loosely about his neck. His sky-blue eyes stared at her, waiting for her judgment.

Cream gasped and Vanilla squeezed her hand. "No, Cream! Don't do this! Forget about me. I won't let you throw your life away."

She ignored her mother. "If I do this, you'll let her go?" Cream asked.

"Yes," he said.

"Then I'll stay."

The prince swept past her and opened the door, letting Vanilla out. Before Cream could even embrace her, the prince lifted Vanilla onto his shoulder and carried her up the stairs. Cream followed behind, calling for her. "Mother!"

"Cream!"

The prince ordered the gates opened. He grabbed the horse's reins and sat Vanilla on top. "Take her home!" he said to the horse. When it timidly trotted back and forth, unsure what to do, he gave a mighty roar, scaring it down the path. Then the gates shut and just like that, Cream was trapped in the castle. Trapped with the beast for the rest of her life.

A/N: Man, this was a tough one to write. Originally, we planned to make them younger, but that wouldn't have fit with the timeline. We also added in some other aspects to the original story, such as making the prince more arrogant and hasty instead of obsessed with beauty. Hopefully, it fits the character more and sets it apart in future chapters.

Pen: Or you'll just end up making a cheap knock-off of the original tales.

*looks down* I'm trying to avoid that…We also tried to create a fairy-tale-esque introduction. Something different from our other stories…

Sword: We'd love to hear what you all think though!

Yes, we would. Please, let us know below. What do you think of it so far? And as always, thank you for reading.