Hello! I saw Beauty and the Beast (2017) for the second time recently, and I hope to go again in the near future! I loved the movie, and if I love something what I often do is make a mental fanfic of it, which I sometimes write down and make an actual fanfic! This story is basically going to be about what happens when Belle and Adam need some dignitaries approval to marry, but things escalate. I'll just let you read it and decide what you think!

Me: Ready?

You: Wait! *Rushes to get nearest Ice Cream, rushes back to fanfic* Ok, ready!

Me: Good. *Turns to Disney* Right, I need the rights to Beauty and the Beast 2017 please?

Disney: Hmm...

Me: While you're at it, can you give me the rights to Tangled? And Mulan? And Enchanted? And Moana? Oh, and Frozen!

Disney: Fine

Me: REALLY! *Jumps up and down with happiness*

Disney: Of course not! Why would we give you the rights to some of our biggest moneymakers?!

Me: You should be disappointed in yourselves.

You: GET ON WITH THE STORY ALREADY!

Yeah... I don't own Beauty and the Beast (2017)! (Yet!)

"But Princesses just don't wear dresses like that! Especially not to official dinners!"

"I'm not an official princess yet. And I don't care what the dignitaries think."

"Still, you don't want to anger them. They control almost everything."

"Bernadette, are you saying they could stop the marriage? Because I'm pretty sure they have no ultimate control."

"I'm just saying be careful! They can make things work their way, and if they hate you… If they hate you they won't hesitate to ruin your life!"

"I think you may just be listening to village gossip. Anyway, I'm ready now. Thank you Bernadette, I'll tell you the results."

"Yes madame" Bernadette backed out of the room quickly. Bernadette was nice, and she was new to the staff, but one of the few who were. She was lucky that she'd never found herself turned into hairbrush.

Belle shook her head just thinking these strange thoughts. When she looked in the mirror, she only saw herself in a simple teal dress. Surely the dignitaries wouldn't be that offended by her 'casual' dress. She would never have worn anything like this when she lived in Villeneuve. She glanced at the ring on her finger. It was a ring handed down through the royal family, and she was honoured to have it. Then she looked at her other hand and stared at the ring that had once been her mother's. Whenever she thought about her mother, she thought about a fearless, determined, unique, likeable person. Belle had always tried to be like her, but people didn't seem to like her for it. They had just seen her as someone who needed to learn to fit in. That was until she came to the castle. She could be herself here, be appreciated for who she was. Appreciated by Adam. Why did she still have that lust for adventure? She shook her head. Now was not the time for thinking about that. She had some important introductions to make.

Adam met her out on what Belle called 'The Outdoor Walkway' (the one Lumiere had first taken her through, which meant it was one of her earlier memories of the castle, and one of her favourites).

"Ready?" She asked.

"Yes. What do you think?" She shyly twirled her dress around a little.

"Beautiful. As always," he smiled at her with the look of complete love that she often found him giving her.

"I know it's a little informal, but I hate corsets and it doesn't really matter. Right?"

"Belle, relax," he slid his hand into hers, "What you wear shouldn't matter. They will be impressed by you, and how amazing you are."

She smiled gratefully at him, "You might have a bit of bias."

He kissed her on the forehead, "That doesn't mean that it isn't true."

"You know, they are not going to be impressed if we're late, no matter how amazing I am."

They made their way towards the main entrance, where they waited whilst gentleman after gentleman made their own strange entrance.

First of all an older gentleman who walked with an air of being the most important person in the world. He wore a red suit with gold thread. He nodded to Adam and said "Your highness," as if he was the dignitary.

Adam simply smiled bemusedly and said "Sir Augustus, this is my fiancee Belle."

Augustus nodded to her with a glare, before proceeding to sit by the fireplace.

The next dignitary entered wearing all grey, and staring at a book. He raised a hand towards them muttering something before making his way towards Sir Augustus.

"That was Sir Albrecht," Adam whispered to Belle.

The next gentleman who entered was younger, with a big bushy moustache and a thinning head of hair. "Monsieur, Mademoiselle. I am Zir Theodore!" He was dressed in all green and walked with almost a spring in his step.

The next person was a young man, with brown hair cut in a style that looked almost exactly like a bowl on top of his head. He was wearing the most awful combination of reds, yellows, and greens, with a squashy blue hat with a giant purple feather to top it all off. He almost sprinted towards Belle and gushed "Mademoiselle, Tu es si jolie!" And sloppily threw his mouth against both cheeks before kissing her full on the lips. Belle was so startled that she stood for a moment before trying to prise this strange person off of her, which didn't quite succeed. Belle could feel his tongue trying to find it's way into her mouth when she heard an 'ahem!'. This was Sir Augustus, who was frowning. Sir Theodore had one eyebrow raised and Adam was trying his hardest not to burst out laughing. She narrowed her eyes at him before carefully curtsying to the strange young man and slipping away from him.

When everyone made their way to dinner Adam slipped his arm through Belle's, "I see you met Ralph," he whispered bemusedly.

"Is he one of the dignitaries? He's very…" She struggled to find a positive way of phrasing it, "…Very energetic. I'm guessing the kissing thing was a traditional greeting or something?"

"Yes, and Ralph is very good at putting all his energy into it. Do I have competition now?"

"Adam, I am not that type of girl! Even if I were, he must have been eating something foul! I am never 'greeting' him in a traditional fashion again! Not that I wanted to in the first place!" She added quickly.

Adam was trying desperately to contain his laughter by now, "Oh, Belle! You know I was joking!"

Thankfully he'd calmed down by the time they reached the dining room. The dignitaries all seemed to be watching them alertly, even Albrecht had given his documents to his servant (Belle decided that she needed to introduce herself to each dignitary's servants and make them feel welcome), and was looking at Belle.

"Where's our…" Belle could see Augustus having the same struggle she'd had, "Young friend."

"He implied he'd be a little late for dinner," Adam replied.

"Zo, Mademoiselle…" Theodore began.

"Please, call me Belle."

"Do you like to read?" This was the first time Albrecht had spoken.

"Read! A woman! Albrecht, where did you get such an idiotic idea?!" Augustus exclaimed.

"Why can't a woman read!" Belle declared defensively.

"It's just not right for a woman to read! She might start getting ideas and opinions, thinking herself equal to a man! We just can't have that!"

"What can be wrong with a woman having ideas or opinions? Why should a woman have to be inferior to a man?" Belle said reasonably, but offended by what Augustus was saying.

Augustus looked truly taken aback for a moment. Belle had a feeling she was one of the first people to disagree with him. He then proceeded to glare with a horrified expression, first at her, then to Adam.

"My! My! How good it feels to relive yourself after a long – or even a short – journey! Am I right? Or am I right?!" He seemed to notice the hostility travelling across the table, or maybe it was Theodore's awkward expression. "I say! Did I miss anything?"

"No Ralph. Nothing at all," Theodore said quickly, before turning to the prince. "Zo, how deed you-"

"I say! I had the most devastating experience on the way here!" Ralph cut in, "I was having my favourite food, Sea Caviar and cucumber sandwiches, when this bird!" Ralph paused for intended dramatic effect, "Came and snatched one of them right out of my hand!" He flung his arms out to his sides, hitting poor Sir Theodore right in the face.

Conversation continued in a similar manner, with Ralph making strange theatrical gesture after strange theatrical gesture.

Everyone left the minute they got the chance. Sir Theodore and Sir Albrecht headed for the library, and Sir Augustus flounced to his room. This left Belle and Adam to stay in Ralph's company. Very unfortunately.

"Well," Belle said when she knew she couldn't hear about another daisy chains process of being made, "I need to sort something out with the servants, so I must leave you two to this – truly fascinating – conversation."

"I hope to talk again soon, Princess!" Ralph declared, throwing himself before her and slobbering all over her hand. Belle was so desperate to get away that she didn't bother to correct him.

When she looked back she saw Adam giving her one of his grumpiest looks.

She went and met Mrs Camomile, a thin, no nonsense cook with an exceptionally large nose. She wasn't very conversational, and neither was Robert, Albrecht's footman. Belle met and liked Manny Maple, Theodore's wrinkled old housekeeper who was very spirited when you got talking with her.

"I must say, I love your dress!" She was talking about Belle's blue pinafore, which she still liked wearing often.

"Thank you Madame!" Belle said, before abiding her adieu, and heading into the village with her washing contraption.

Belle was setting up her washing invention, which she still hadn't given up on, when a dark shadow loomed over her. She looked up to see a pale, stick thin man, who was wearing all black and silver, laughing at her with the most horribly chilling laugh.

"What on earth are you doing, you silly Oddity!" He continued laughing at her whilst she worked until he noticed something. What he noticed was the royal ring on her finger. This… This couldn't be the girl the Prince was planning to marry! He had to put a stop to this! A potential princess, playing in the dirt!

"Remove this rubbish!" He yelled.

"What! No!" Belle said, turning to face him.

"You are disturbing this village's peace! As well as their morals, no doubt!" He was so intimidating that nobody said anything.

"Sir, I do believe-" Belle started.

"Silence! For these reasons, I must insist that you leave this place, and never return!"

"What?" Belle said quietly.

"You are banished! To Reverie!"

"Where is that?" Belle barely spoke in a whisper, but apparently he heard her, for he pointed towards the mountains on the horizon. The place Belle had looked at whilst yearning for adventure. She couldn't leave though. What about Adam? What about her father? What about everyone else she cared about? She couldn't just leave!

But she had no choice. This monster of a man almost dragged her to the gates, and watched as she started walking away. Even when she was a good mile away, and turned back to look at the village, he was still watching her. She just had to keep going. Even though she could hardly believe it.

She'd been banished.

So, what do you all think? If anyone's wondering what Ralph looks like, google The Minstrel from Sleeping Beauty and imagine him in live action, wearing even more clashing colors with a pudding bowl haircut. Oh, and Sir Theodore and Manny Maple are the teeniest bit based on Hercule Poriot and Miss Marple! I apologise if anyone seems OOC, I'm not trying to make them that way! Oh, and I know mountains aren't exactly visible on the horizons in the movie, but let's just say that they're there. For the sake of an interesting plot.

Ok, that's all. Review!