Beauty and the beast
Once upon a time in a faraway kingdom…There lived a prince in a shining castle and although he had everything his heart desired the prince was spoiled selfish and unkind then one winters evening an old beggar woman was seeking shelter from the bitter cold all she could offer was a single rose as payment. Repulsed by her haggard appearance the prince sneered at the gift and turned the old beggar away but she warned him not to be deceived by appearances for beauty is found within when he dismissed her again she revealed herself to be a shining enchantress the prince tried to beg for mercy but it was too late for she had seen that there was no love in his heart as punishment she transformed him into a hideous beast ashamed at monstrous shape hid himself away with only a magic mirror as his window to the outside world the rose she had offered was truly an enchanted rose it would bloom forever until the prince had learned to love another and earn their love in return if not he would be doomed to be a beast for all time as the years passed into decades he lost all hope…for who could ever learn to love a beast?...
In a place of space and time on the space and time on the Discworld which is bore aloft upon the backs of four elephants on the shell of the great atuin the sky turtle and it is a place of magic a place of wizards and witches and in this place of magic there is a village and that village has a very special someone indeed her name is not important right now all you have to know that she is the witch of this small town where anyone smarter than a pig is generally frowned upon, Esme Weatherwax knew this and made sure to let everyone know what happens to witches elsewhere where people have the sense of a blind bat does not happen here or more importantly what does not happen to her otherwise she will happen. Right now, however was tea
"My teas gone all cold Gytha heat it up, will you?" Said a tall thin elderly woman sitting in a rocking chair*
*that's the thing about the rocking chair it was made for the very creaky because it creaked along with you!
"Sorry Esme but what you go and show me that trick fer!"
"You had to see it im showing up to those witch trails with this trick Lettuce Earwig will turn sour because of this you mark my words Gytha Ogg" The Two witches sat and mostly said nothing… I mean they had known each other for 50 years they knew what the other one was going to say even before she said it*
*this is called First sight Second thoughts and third thoughts and fourth thoughts until you cant think anymore and all you hear is yourself however a skilled witch or occasionally mad wizard may achieve this and usually end up more sane than usual.
Suddenly there was a pounding on the door a ragged young man dressed in green and chainmail fell on the floor panting with sweat "Take this!" just as the man passed out…from life. There was a flicker of light Then Standing in the Arch of the Doorway was DEATH "AH GOOD DAY ESME WEATHER WAX AGE 55 AND GYTHA OGG AGE"
"Oops I never tell me age dearie" "AH YES THAT WIT AND HUMOR OF THE OGGS" DEATH said sourly
What is it you want mr reaper our friend here?
"YES, AND THE BABE"
"Babe?" Gytha ogg picked up the bundle in the soldier's arm she opened the bundle to reveal a beautiful little baby girl with brown eyes and a little button nose. "Oh whos your precious nan yes you are yes you are goochy goochy goo"
"Gytha! Act your age!"
"Esme your not going to tell me how to raise a child with fifteen of my own?"
"EXCUSE ME BUT I HAVE OTHER CLIENTS TO ATTEND TOO"
Esme Weatherwax looked at the child she looked at her with all her mind and she saw something, but it was not there before she took in a breath and said "No the child you shan't have I will have to play you Mr. Death five card draw who ever has the higher hand wins the bet"
Death paused for the briefest moment and finally Death thought "VERY WELL" They both sat down on the sofa and drew from the top of the deck both not looking then Death said "TAKE MY HAND AND ILL TAKE YOURS" They switched hands and Esme revealed her hand it was 4 queens then death said " AH IT SEEMS YOU HAVE BEATEN ME AGAIN ESME WEATHERWAX, ALL I HAVE ARE THESE FUNNY ONE CARDS THEY KEEP PUTTING IN THE DECK I'LL NEVER UNDERSTAND IT" Death rubbed his shoulder gave Esme a brief look a look to suggest that the tiny blue pin in deaths eye socket dimmed for the briefest second and then was back to normal. "Need help with your shoulder Mr Death?"
"YES THANK YOU WHENEVER I GO TO SWING UP IT ACTS UP ON ITS OWN"
"Here let me help you with that" With a crack and twist Esme Fixed Deaths Shoulder
"AH THANK YOU AND NOW I MUST BE GOING BUT MAY I ASK? IF YOU HAD LOST WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE DONE?"
"For starters I would have broken your arm" Death Flinched suddenly
Some hours later Gytha had Jason make the baby's cradle its wonderous work when your mum comes in the middle of night yelling at you to make a baby's cradle but Jason Ogg knew not to pick this fight…or any fight for that matter for a slight to one witch even if its your mum is a slight to all witches and no one wanted Esme Weatherwax explaining that to you.
"Now theres a good lad fetch us some milk not too cold our Jason the little mite has had a long trying day the poor dear"
"Yus mum... um mum whats her name mum?" Gytha looked at the childs big brown eyes and little old grandmothers like nanny were putty in the hands of grandchildren and seeing how she brought beauty into her life Nanny named the Child…Belle.