For Beauty is Found Within

by hestia273

What if Belle was sold off to the French Court to marry Gaston? What if Quasimodo was secretly the heir to the French throne, hidden away because of his beastly form? What if the curse impacted all of France? Read on and find out. Belle x Quasimodo, Rated T for mild violence.

1. Chapter 1: Prologue

DISCLAIMER: I own nothing, everything (including my soul) belongs to Disney or Victor Hugo

Once upon a time, in a faraway land, a young King lived in a shining castle. Although he had everything his heart desired, the King 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, the King 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 King tried to apologize, but it was too late, for she had seen that there was no love in his heart. As punishment she cursed him, declaring that his firstborn would suffer for his actions and reflect outwardly what the King had in his heart, and his kingdom would suffer until the sins of the father were forgiven by the child. Years later, when the child was born, his body was twisted cruelly and his features were a horror to behold.
Ashamed of his monstrous form, the King concealed his son inside a faraway manor with only a tutor, Claude Frollo, to watch the creature and teach him about the harsh world outside, and to keep him ignorant of his true heritage. The King told the kingdom that the prince died in childbirth, so that no one would know the true heir lived. They named him Quasimodo, which meant "half-formed." The boy suffered under Claude Frollo, and yearned for someone to love and to earn their love in return.

One night, the Enchantress returned to the child, and taking pity on him gave him the same rose she had offered him father, which was truly an enchanted rose. She promised him then, that when the last petal of the rose fell, if he was pure of heart and could forgive those who had hurt him and learn to love regardless, the spell would be broken. As the years passed, he fell into despair and lost all hope. For who could ever learn to love a beast?/span/p