Hello everyone! Yes I know, yet another new story, but don't worry I'm currently working on the new chapter to Across Oceans of Time. :) I won't abandon it. xD

For anyone looking for accuracy to the beginning of Beauty and the Beast, I have adjusted a few details such as time and description, like how long it will take Maurice to get to the fair (in the movie, it was evening and he 'should have been there already', but in this one they are going to Paris which will be a day and a half to get there. Also, he would be riding in a carriage big enough for two people instead of riding on Philippe. :)

Please enjoy!

Chapter 1 – The Inventor's Daughter

In a little provincial town far off into the countryside of France lived an inventor's daughter, a girl who was vastly different than anyone else in town for she dreamed of adventure, brave men, mystery, and true love. Such a strange beauty, everyone would say. Everywhere behind her back, whispers floated about how she must get it from her equally as odd father. No, Belle did not fit in with the stereotypical, single woman in their little community needless to say...

Belle was just leaving the bookstore with a new book she borrowed, and this wasn't the first time she felt guilty for not having enough money to actually purchase them, the owner was far too kind to her and often would simply let her pick one out as long as she returned it. She couldn't count how much he must be losing out on with the 'rentals' he would give her. Smiling sweetly at the thought of his kindness, she was truly fortunate for the life she had. Still she couldn't shake the tiny little feeling deep inside her that wanted more. She was so grateful for everything she had, for the life her father provided her and although it wasn't luxurious, she didn't need much to be happy. Her books were enough, right? She snuffed out the yearning and began walking back home knowing it would only return all too soon. Off in the distance she could hear an unmistakable voice calling her name, a smug, arrogant voice. One she did not care to listen to. Keeping her eyes glued to the pages of her new book, she walked faster, weaving in between the town's folk trying her best to lose the town throb.

"Belle, wait!"

Just as she was about to enter her gate to her home a hand grabbed her shoulder stopping before she could even reach the latch. "Belle, I'm surprised you can even walk so fast with you... reading." Gaston said in disdain. Belle rolled her eyes, "some of us are able to do more than on thing at a time, Gaston." Gaston puffed up proudly while exclaiming, "I can eat five dozen eggs while flexing my biceps, want come to the tavern with me and watch?" Belle grimaced, no not really. "I'm sorry Gaston, but I have too much to do today, I have to help papa with his invention. Another time perhaps?"

"Belle~!" Gaston whined, "I'm sure the old man can handle his crazy contraptions on his own, why don't you join me and –"

"They're not crazy, Gaston! Just because you don't understand it does not mean you have to be so rude." And... and closed minded! "Good day, Gaston." She said forcefully, as she quickly walked away from him closing her gate. Dismissing him without a further thought, Gaston gritted his teeth. How dare she! When Belle got into her house, an explosion of smoke came from the doors and chimney, Belle rushed to the cellar where she knew he was working on his latest invention. She threw the doors open and was assaulted with smoke and dust. Her father was already exhausted from fighting with yet another one of his revolutionary ideas, and was bouncing about after freeing himself from inside a barrel. Maurice cursed colorful words as he squeezed out of the plank-like skirt and incidentally squeezed out of his trousers at the same time. Belle's father kicked the metal contraption that had steam hissing from the boiler in frustration and was about ready to dismember it!

"Papa?!" Belle called out around all the commotion.

"Dog Gone it!"

"Are you alright, Papa?" Belle coughed as she went to her father, who was stumbling still with the planks. "I-I'm about ready to give up, on this... h-hunk of junk!" Maurice growled as he kicked the machine. Belle smiled and shook her head, this wasn't the first time he had reached this point, and it certainly wouldn't be the last and frankly it amused her. "You always say that," She said. "I mean it this time!" He shouted back, and again it wasn't the first time he had said that as well.

"I'm never going to get this bone-headed contraption to work!" He pointed at it, as if to scolding it. Maurice had clearly had it with the invention, at least until he had cooled off and thought of another way to go about it. "Yes you will, and you'll win first prize at the fair tomorrow-"

"Hmph!"

"-And be a world's famous inventor~!" Belle knew how to get him fired up again, it worked every time, her father fantasized at being recognized as brilliant man bringing revolutionary ideas to life... and not some looney who lived at the end of the road. "You really believe that?" He asked, looking as if she was crazier than he was. "I always have, Papa." A sudden burst of energy surged through him once more and he was once again, energizing him to do just that, and to prove the world he was a great inventor and if not to prove the world, than to prove that his daughter was not crazy for believing in a poor old fool. "Well what are we waiting for? I'll have this thing fixed in no time!" He got under the the furnace, "hand me that... that dog legged clincher there there." Belle reached into a tool box and pulled out odd looking tool with coils bouncing from it.

"So, did you have a good time in town today?" Her father asked while clanks and banging could be heard. "Well I got a new book..." Belle replied as she walked over. "Papa... do you think I'm odd?" "My daughter odd?! Where would you get an idea like that?" Maurice says as he pulls himself out from under the stove, his eyes being magnified making him look ridiculous. "Oh, I don't know... It's just that I'm not sure I fit in here. There's no one I can really talk to..." Belle hugged her book, as though they were really her only friends. There were her only consolation when she needed comfort or to not feel so alone. "What about Gaston? He's a hansom fella."

Belle rolled her eyes, "he's hansom alright. And rude and conceited and- oh papa, he's not the one for me." She sat by the fireplace with her head resting on her palm and the book in her lap, she was near two and twenty way past the proper age of marrying. But she could never just settle down with someone she barely knew in an arrange marriage, and Gaston wasn't even an option. Hah the thought just makes me sick. Could you imagine, Madam Gaston?!

"Well, don't you worry, 'cause this inventions going to be a start of new life for us- I think that's done it. Let's give it a try." Maurice pulls the lever, and a blow horn sounded with smoke coming from the exhaust pipe, he cover his ears and prepared for the worst, and Belle ducked as well. But when he didn't hear the impending BOOM! Maurice looked up and saw that it was jittering and purring like a kitten. The gadgets were all working together, the coils and gears all did what they should, until an axe began to chop away at log and threw it over their heads and into a wood pile. "It works!" Belle exclaimed.

"It does?" Maurice questioned, looked back at his machine, "it does!" He said with excitement. "Papa you did it! You really did it!" Belle hugged her father, perhaps this would be a new start for them, this could change their lives! "It's up to Philippe, girl. I'm off to the fair!" They loaded the woodcutter onto a carriage and prepared Philip for the ride. "Papa, take care of yourself. Make sure to eat what I've given you, and please, make sure you don't get lost!" Maurice just laughed and patted his daughter on the shoulder, "come on Belle, give me some more credit than that. It's only in Paris, a day's ride from here, besides I've been there once or twice before with your mother!" Belle smiled sadly, that may have been so, but that was before she was born and she had died during child birth, it had been quite some time between then and now.

"You know, Belle... you could go with me? I may be the local crazy, but we have some friends willing to watch the chickens and goats while we are gone." He said, with a knowing smile, he could tell how much she wanted to go with him and get out of the daunting routine they all have been in. A change of pace was always good for the soul.

"Oh papa, you mean it?!" Belle rushed up to her father where he was gathering the reins, "absolutely! Besides, it had been a long time since we took a father-daughter trip- too long if you ask me." Belle smiled big and animatedly moved her hands, "Ok, ok. Hold on let me pack more food, and get my cloak!" Her father laughed at her enthusiasm and called after her as she ran to the house. "No rush dear, take all the time you need!"

Belle rushed into the house and grabbed cloth to hold a block of cheese and bread and swiped her clock of the hanger, closing the door behind her she made sure to lock the door and sat next to her father with her book in hand. "Ready, Belle?" She smile, "ready!"

And they headed off, everyone waving goodbye and on their way, Maurice stopped by the Barber's Shop and called out to his good friend Andre. "Andre! How are you? Care to do an old friend a favor?" A man with a big snowy beard popped his head out of the window above them and greeted them, 'bonjour, monsieur Maurice! What can I do you for?" The inventor laughed, "well you see, Belle and I are leaving for the fair, and will be gone for a few days and I need someone to look after the chicken coop and the goats. You would mind feeding them while we are away, if it's not too much that is?"

"Non, non, I will see to it in the mornings before I open up shop."

Maurice sighed in relief, "Thank you so much my friend."

And with that, they continued on their way. The sun had already begun to set by time they crossed the bridge to the forest and the wind picked up, but still they trudged on. After an hour or so of traveling through the forest, Belle with the map, they reached a fork in the road. Maurice looked and booth paths and didn't know which side to take. Left looked fairly safer while right was eerily dark and the trees all dead.

"Well I think we should go right." He said starting to steer Philip in that direction, "It's a shortcut I'm sure."

"Papa wait, I don't think we should go that way, the map says that the road on the left leads straight Paris." Belle said, as she placed her hand on his. Her father looked at her questionably, "well... if you say so dear." And with that, they took the path on the left, much to Philippe's relief.

When night approached and the stars were shining brightly, they finally met the half way marker and pulled up to the small inn called the La Lune in a trades town. The trade town was called Dainville, the roads were slightly broken and the people as well. They pulled the carriage over to the side and placed Phillippe into the stable. Belle patted him on the nose and kissed him goodnight, to which he neighed back. "Two rooms please." Belle's father asked a burly man who was sitting at the front desk. The man nodded and gave him two keys. "Five francs, monsieur" He handed over the money and they headed upstairs, but to Belle's discomfort, the innkeeper kept his gaze on her a little too long for her liking. She hurried to her father's side as they went upstairs casting a side glaces to the man, to find him shaking his head and chuckling. Once they finally made it to their room, Belle sighed loudly, they had been traveling most of the day and they were weary from the road.

"Belle, I'm across the room should you need anything." Belle nodded and thanked her father.

"Goodnight, papa"

"Goodnight my Belle."

Closing the door, Belle got ready for bed and went to the vanity sitting by the window and began to comb her hair. She wondered what it would be like once her father's invention sold or possibly was asked to make more, would they continue to live in their small little town or perhaps move? How long would they stay in Paris? She had never been to the heart of France before, she was all excited for the night to be over and back on the road. They would be there by noon tomorrow, plenty of time should they wish to sight see once their dealings were done! She smiled back at the looking glass and giggled in a girlish anticipation, it was only to Paris but traveling and seeing new things were always her dream, and finally she got to have a taste of it!

With that thought in mind, she tucked herself in and waiting to wake at first light.

What did you guys think? Please review! I would love to hear your thoughts are. :) And Clopin will be arriving very soon, I promise! xD Gotta build it up, ya know? Hehe ;)