Disclaimer: All of the little charies in this story are mine mine mine!

Author's Note: Beauty and the Beast is perhaps one of the most retold stories in the world! I've decided to take a shot at it, perhaps it'll turn out to be a decent story! lol! Read on! And don't forget to review!

Chapter 1: How it Came to Pass

The reptilian yellow eyes of the Beast traced the rain as it fell in torrents upon the castle. His keen ears flinched as the crashing of the thunder outside echoed in rages. His moist nose caught the scent of the age old mildew which had crept along the walls of the formerly glorious dwelling. Life was lonely here, but he did not mind. Invisible servants were the best ones in his opinion. They had been very aggravating the years before the Curse. The Curse... The hairs on the nape of his neck bristled whenever he thought of it. The Curse was the reason he had lived the hundreds of years... yet he bore no feelings of gratitude towards it. On the contrary, he loathed it, and he loathed the sorceress who had brought it about. He had been a human - once, but his pride had been his downfall. Beast's mind wandered back into the depths of his memories, where everything that had happened in the past remained the same... unchanged.

The day was a bright and sunny one. Sunlight filtered through the trees as larks and bluebirds sung their little ditties from their lofty perches. Creatures of all sorts scampered through the woods, some as small as field mice and some as large as full grown grizzly bears. An arrogant Prince Rileynt sat ridged on top of his mount, he considered these morning rides a waste of time, yet he had to venture outdoors or else his bumbling old nurse would harass him to no end. He had no fear of the creatures that roamed the woods, in fact it was they who feared him. Even the largest of the grizzly bears would not venture near Rileynt, rather they kept their distance and eyed him with shrewd black orbs. Rileynt's mount, a large black stallion named Ashbourne, was also uneasy with the Prince. Ashbourne's gait would frequently become unsteady and bouncy, something Rileynt hated. Several times the Prince had threatened to have the horse sold, but for some reason he never carried the plan through.
Prince Rileynt sighed with exasperation, he could be doing much more important things now. Bunching up the reigns he wheeled Ashbourne around, back towards the direction of the castle. After a few moments of Ashbourne's brisk, uneven trot Rileynt pulled the stallion to a halt. Something lay in the path of the pair. A haggard old woman, the ugliest Rileynt had ever seen, turned her watered, bloodshot eyes up towards the Prince. Her cheeks where hollow, many scars pitted the surface of her ruddy face like craters, warts and other disfigurements were placed across her face and body. A few string of greasy limp hair clung to her mottled and scabbed scalp. Rileynt recoiled in horror, could this creature possibly be a woman?!
The old hag spoke, revealing a mouth with only so many teeth left, and those rotten. Please kind sir, give me a bite to eat? Or even perhaps a place to sleep... and I will reward you. Her words came out slowly, accompanied by a abhorrent stench and revolting drool.
For a few short moments Rileynt was speechless, but finally he uttered several harsh, unfeeling words. God forbid that I nor any other man should offer you a kindness of any sort. You're better of dead hag. Now out of my way! Rileynt reached down to push the loathsome creature aside.
With a strange fiery look in her bloodshot eyes the woman took a hold of Rileynt's gloved hand. Her grip was surprisingly strong. You are nothing but a savage beast! She cried and shoved him back. Suddenly a eerie light surrounded her and Rileynt was blinded for the slightest moment. Before him stood a beautiful creature, an angel clad in soft white flowing gowns. Soft golden curls fell into place and pale blue eyes, the color of an azure sky, stared with venom at the Prince. Rosebud lips withered into a frown of contempt. You are nothing but a beast! The beautiful woman repeated with malice. So a Beast you shall become! You shall be feared and loathed where ever you trod. A lonely life you shall bear. And what a long life it shall be! The rosebud mouth curled into an evil smile. You shall have no end to your treacherous misery. Forever you shall carry the burden of life! The only way out is to find someone who could actually care for you and love you. That girl, if she will ever exist, is your only hope. You, everything, and everyone whom you possess will be cursed! Become what you are creature! Another flash of brilliant light and the sorceress was gone.
Rileynt was suddenly wracked with pain. He stared in horror as course brown hair sprouted from his body. Fingernails and toenails were replaced with ebony claws and teeth with savage fangs. Something was protruding from his lower back. His bones stretched like rubber, a fiery pain searing through them. The screams that escaped Rileynt's mouth became roars. He could feel himself growing taller. Ashbourne shrilled in terror and streaked off through the woods. Suddenly the pain stopped. Shocked Rileynt gazed in mortification at what he had become- a Beast.