Hey everybody! Hope you enjoy this. This is just something I'm doing for fun, don't expect it to be a masterpeice. x3 Hopefully you'll like it. I hope everybody's in character and everything. Leave me a comment if there's anything I might wanna improve on or anything like that, or you can just tell me if you like it! xD And don't worry, there will be jokes later, this is just an intro chapter, basically. Thanks for reading!

It was a calm summer evening. The forest was filled with noises: birds chirping, squirrels scurrying about, a slight breeze in the trees. Everything in the woods seemed to be winding down. There was a cozy, contented feel to everything in sight. Except...

In the midst of the woods, atop a hill, there was a castle. Its towers ominously reached up towords the sky, and everything about it was dark and dreary. Even the statues were devilish monsters. A tall and foreboding gate kept all away from the already appalling castle.

Inside wasn't so pleasant and comfortable, either. Drapes and tapestries were torn; statues had cracks and missing peices. Mirrors were broken, and no light escaped from anything but the occasional lit torch mounted on the walls. Any artwork left moderately intact was grim at best. It seemed as though no one had lived there in years; as if wild animals had come and gone, tearing the place apart in their wreckless search for food.

But, in fact, someone did live there. Or rather, something. Up in a tower, in a broken room lit by moonlight, a beast was brooding. His head was like that of a bison, with the mane of a lion. He had the body of a bear, and the hind legs and tail of a wolf. A red cape draped over his shoulder as he leaned down on a small table. Upon the table sat a glass jar. Under it, there was a single red rose. It had a magic glow, and it was the center of the beast's attention. Slowly, the beast ran his hand delicately over the glass. His blue eyes were troubled as he muttered, "It's hopeless..."

"I can't stand it! I can't stand it!!"

In front of the fireplace, a stout little clock paced back and forth, ranting in a tightly-wound English accent and waving his arms wildly. Watching him pace were a few enchanted items: a candleabra, a teapot, and a little teacup. "Time is already starting to run out!" he shouted at them, pointing to the clockhands that served as a mustache on his round face. "And what is he doing? Moping around in his shipwreck of a room! If he weren't the prince, I'd, I'd... I don't know what I'd do!" He gave a bitter laugh. "That's how frazzled he's got me!"

The teapot spoke in a warm, motherly voice, trying to calm him down. "Oh, Cogsworth," she said, also with an English accent, "there's nothing he can do. It's not as if he can just leave the castle and find someone who can break the spell." She gave him an understanding look. "These things just don't work that way, dear."

Cogsworth barely gave any notice. "The first petal's already fallen! Oh dear, this isn't going well...," he complained, rubbing his temples and fading off into mumbling.

The candleabra hopped over to Cogsworth, giving him a light push. "Mrs. Potts is right, Cogsworth... You 'ave to calm yourself!" he coaxed with a deep French accent. "We still 'ave time; someone will surely break ze spell!"

"Lumiere, you're just too optimistic!" Cogsworth accused, waving off his words. "I'm being realistic, here!" He folded his arms stubbornly. "I'm afraid there's just no chance of us ever being human again."

Cogsworth turned away from the group. Dissapointment began to show in the others' faces. It had been ten years, after all, and it was becoming very hard to trust in the beast. The spell cast upon the castle demanded that, in order for the spell to be broken, the Beast must fall in love with another, and get her to fall in love with him as well. But who could ever learn to love a beast? Let alone come anywhere near the castle in order for there to even be a chance.

The little teacup spoke up in an innocent voice. "Mama, why does everybody wanna be human again so bad?" he asked, turning to Mrs. Potts.

Mrs. Potts looked at him sadly. The teacup had barely even been born when the spell was cast; he probably didn't even remember being a human. "Oh, Chip... It would be hard for you to understand, luv." She gave him a kiss. "Now.. we should all be getting off to bed. It's late, and we all need our rest," she said matter-of-factly. She glanced at Cogsworth. "You're worryin' yourself to the grave, you are," she told him. "Things'll work out. You'll see." She smiled warmly, and she and Chip hopped out of the room.

Lumiere looked at Cogsworth. "You've got to lighten up, mon ami. Maybe you don't think ze spell will be broken, but I..." he paused, then smiled. "Well, there is just no harm in dreaming, non?" He elbowed his uptight friend fondly.

Cogsworth sighed, exhausted. "Maybe Mrs. Potts is right..." He rubbed the back of his head. "All this worry can't be good for my health." He looked at Lumiere. "Do I have rings under my eyes...?" He pointed to his eyelids.

Lumiere rolled his eyes. "Good night, Cogsworth..." He pushed him along and out the door, closing it as they left.