Once upon a time, in a kingdom since destroyed, there was a prince, hardened and selfish by the life he lived. He heavily taxed his people so that he could fill his castle with beautiful objects. As he grew older, he would only have the best of everything. He would only have the finest clothes, the most beautiful of people working in the castle. He would only face the strongest opponents in battle, and when he did face them, he went without any mercy, completely destroying his opponent in mind, Bey, and soul. Many of them thought this treatment was just, but for far different reasons than the prince.
One night, he decided to hold a grand party for his coming of age. Dressed in silken robes, he danced with the most beautiful women in the kingdom. Those who were allowed to attend had a grand time. They danced, drank, ate fine foods and made merry. Everyone there was happy. Until they were not.
Suddenly, a haggard old woman came into the room from an outer balcony as a storm blew the doors open. She had frazzled white hair and lime green eyes. In her hand she had but a single rosebud and asked the prince if he would let her stay until the storm passed in return for the rose. The prince sneered at the gift and turned her away, encouraging the people with him to laugh as well. The woman then begged him once again, telling him not to be deceived, for beauty was truly found within.
Once again he turned away from her and sent her out, and in that moment she changed. In a glowing golden light, she changed into a beautiful Enchantress, the White Rose as she was known. Still the prince was too proud to ask for her forgiveness until she told him of the curse that would befall him and all of his castle, including those who lived with him. Not only would they be unable to leave the castle grounds, but they would be erased from the minds of their loved ones and all of the people, while they still remembered those whom they loved and cherished. Only then did he ask for forgiveness. But it was too late. She had given him a second chance and he had treated it like rubbish. For his behavior, he was turned into a hideous beast, to match the ugliness within his own heart.
She gave him four gifts. The first of them was the rose itself. It would continue to bloom, then the petals would start to fall and die. If he could not break the curse before the last petal fell, then he would be a beast forever. The second of the gifts was a book, able to take him anywhere in the world. However, he was to return to the castle before the next petal fell, or the curse would be sealed. The third was a mirror that would show him anywhere he asked, or anyone. The last was a Beyblade. This was to be an outer reflection of himself. As he changed it would become more beautiful, or steadily remain the same if he refused to change.
The prince was afraid for the first time in his life, and begged the Enchantress for a way to remove the curse. She told him of only one way. He must find someone to love him for who he truly was. He needed someone who could see past the beastly exterior and see the man within. Until then, he and all who were in the castle would stay was they were, all but the rose completely frozen in time as the castle lived through an eternal winter. And then he fell into despair. For who could ever learn to love a beast?