Briella

I was sitting in my home with my Grandpere and parents. My sisters were scattered around me listening to Grandpere talk. I felt so wonderful. I hadn't seen my family in so long. Sitting there on the floor I felt like I was on top of the world. But of course even in dreams happiness can't last forever. I watched in sorrow as the flames started consuming my home just like they had on the night of the fire. I stood up and started for the door but tripped and became dizzy as my world grew around me. When I stood back up I screamed, hopping towards the exit as fast as my form would allow. But I wasn't fast enough and my world turned to cinders as I watched.

I yelped as my eyes snapped open revealing the dusty cupboard walls. "It was just a dream, just a dream..." I murmured to myself. Well, actually it was a nightmare…my first one in months. I guess you could say that last night's incident had been a little traumatizing. I sighed to myself and looked around. Everyone seemed to be sleeping except me, but I doubted I could close my eyes again. Hopping over to the cupboard door I hit it with my tiny fist. Nothing happened, but I still paused, staring at my hand-if you could even call it that. It was more like a thin golden cord; my other arm was attached in a handle which made me shudder. I didn't want to imagine anyone picking me up as if I actually was a Sugar Bowl, even if I did look the part.

But this isn't a costume, I reminded myself. This is some twisted reality, but reality nonetheless, and I had to do my best to keep on living even though everything in my life had changed again. Taking a deep breath I choked on my tears and began to sob. This wasn't the reality we wanted! Why were we trapped this way? Was it something the Master had done before last night, and if so why were we all transformed? I had just gotten here! What had I done to deserve this peculiar form of torture! My crying grew a little louder, and I shoved my body up against the door of the lowest cupboard trying to get out before anyone heard me. Finally successful, I tumbled out, landing with a dull clink on the counter. I looked around for a way to get down but saw none, realizing again the implications of my new form. I probably would've started wailing , but I heard a gentler hopping sound, and turned to see Mrs. Potts coming towards me. She didn't say anything when she arrived, but just stood next to me while I leaned against her sobbing. Slowly my tears stopped leaving a sugary puddle on the floor around me.

"There, there dear, everything will be alright," she murmured softly. I nodded and took a deep shuddering breath calming myself finally, as the rest of the kitchen woke up. None of us knew what to do with ourselves, because it wasn't like we could go back to doing what we used to do. I settled on hopping over to where an expedition was forming on the floor to explore the castle. Everyone wanted to see what had become of our home, and more importantly our Master. I shivered thinking about what the Enchantress had done last night, and the look on the Prince's face as he turned her away. It seemed very harsh to me, transforming hundreds of people because of one selfish deed. Most of the castle's inhabitants hadn't seen the Prince's punishment and had only realized what had happened when they woke up in a new size or shape. A nightmare turned to life. I really pitied the Master though. After all, he was three years my junior, only 11. Not even done being a boy, he shouldn't have to live like this.

"Neither should I...or Maria...or Chip...or anybody!" I thought sadly. No one deserved this.

Everyone had sad and blank expressions as we started exploring this new version of the castle, but they soon turned to cries of dismay and shock. It didn't seem possible but the castle looked even stranger and spookier in the dim morning light. In fact, it looked almost...tortured. Yes, that was exactly the word. Everything just seemed dark, and in pain. Where I remembered, statues of angels, cherubs, and fairies, there were statues of screaming monsters, growling dogs, and dying souls. It was absolutely terrifying, because everything was so much larger than we were. The statues would have been large at my normal height, but now they were monstrous. Our size also made the journey a lot harder. We had a difficult time maneuvering over steps, and having to hop made it a lot more difficult. Most people, especially the silverware didn't have appendages so that added danger to the whole equation. We were a very hushed procession as we traveled through the gloomy halls. It was absolutely nothing like my tour yesterday filled with shouts of "baroque", and "statuettes, to break up the monotony. This time the only stops we made were when people recognized a part of the castle or were amazed by how much it had changed.

The tour took an even worse turn when we came upon an entire hall of mirrors. There was no other way to get through except the Hallway, but nobody wanted to be the first to see themselves projected in a hundred mirrors. One of Mrs. Potts' older children- a man turned teacup of about 20 years, was the first to venture down the hallway, hopping at a brisk pace without looking left or right. We all did the same, trying to ignore the urge to look in the mirrors. It was if we thought that if we didn't look, then this couldn't be real so everyone tried to move as fast as they could through the wretched hall. One by one all of us peeked, and gasps and sadness filled our ears and hearts once again.

I was still shocked when I saw my new reflection. I wasn't even recognizable as the human girl I had once been. The only thing I could see that had stayed the same was my eyes. Green and sparkling just as they'd always been-my Grandpere's eyes. His voice echoed in my head as a long forgotten memory.

"Briella...I love you...my sweet."

I gasped and swayed on my base. My Sweet. That's what he'd always called me, and now it had come true. Was that why I was trapped as a Sugar Bowl, because of a simple nickname? I frowned- food for thought, and continued hopping down the hall, my heart feeling heavier and heavier by the minute. The hallway mercifully ended not long after my realization and the Tour continued at a somehow more depressed pace. More and more objects soon appeared, chatted for a little while, and then went back to wherever they'd stayed the night. I was quite amazed by the variety of what we'd all become. There were objects as large as wardrobes, chairs, and Suits of Armor (one of which almost Stepped On Me!), but also objects the size of hairclips and perfume bottles. The one similarity between all of us was that we had all become tools for the Master to use. The epitome of a perfect servant-one who can't leave and caters to your every need. Although with what had happened last night I didn't think any of us would be getting any use any time soon. Sadly, I was wrong although I didn't know it at the time.

I was much happier when we reached the welcome safe haven of the kitchen. It was hustling and bustling with warmth and light- a drastic change from the rest of the castle. The oven was fired up, the sink was full of soapy water, and silverware was being enlisted to begin cooking the Master's Midday meal. I hadn't actually thought about that, but of course he had to eat. Since none of us had been turned into elaborate steak dinners (although if anyone had they weren't volunteering themselves), we attempted to make a decent meal. Fruit, bread, and meat were still sitting in the pantry and with Mrs. Potts' and Lumiere's help we made a meal fit for a Prince. It looked extremely appetizing but I didn't feel hungry in the least. Nor did I feel the need to go to the bathroom, thirsty, or even tired. I just felt heavy and cold, exactly how I thought a piece of China should feel.

Mrs. Potts came and found me soon after we finished, with the news that Tea would be served with the meal and I obviously had no choice but to go with it. I couldn't put up much resistance after all this was my use as a Sugar Bowl, but I still didn't want to be anywhere near the Master. On our tour we'd heard tortured roaring from the West Wing and I was reluctant to see the reason why. Before we left I searched all around for an inanimate Sugar Bowl to take my place, but most of the objects seemed to be moving around and it looked like I was the only one of my kind. It made me wonder, had our souls simply moved into the objects in the castle, and was there a giant pile of lifeless bodies somewhere? Or was everything taken away so we'd have to fulfill our uses? I'm not actually sure which I'd prefer. Is neither an option? I did take the time to find an inanimate pair of Sugar Tongs to use because there was no way I'd let anyone pick me up. Then, I leapt onto the cart with Mrs. Potts, Chip, Maria, and a large collection of other Objects to go to the West Wing.

The journey seemed to be much shorter (partly because of the supersonic speed the cart was travelling, and also how nervous I was) and before I knew it we'd arrived by the stairs leading to the West Wing. All of us disembarked and hopped and climbed up the carpeted stairs towards the roaring and growling. Before we entered all of us stopped collectively outside the door and looked around, as if maybe someone would come ad take our places. But nobody came and Mrs. Potts called out to the Prince behind the door.

"Master?"

"Leave me in peace." He growled menacingly while the smashing and breaking noises continued. But Mrs. Potts wouldn't take "No" for an answer when it involved her royal charge so we all shoved against the door as it creaked open revealing the chaos within.

I almost fell over I was so shocked by what had happened to the once beautiful Bedroom. Before it had been filled with a beautiful red bed, flowing drapes, paintings, mirrors, statues, and a chair and table set. All of these objects had been perfectly groomed and perfected but no longer. The room had turned to darkness and ruin. Ripped tapestries were draped across the walls and floor, mirrors were smashed, and chairs and pillows were strewn across the room. The beautiful portrait of our Master had been ripped by large claws that marred the handsome face. The handsome face that was now covered in matted brown fur and was...right in front of us. We all leapt back and Chip jumped behind his Mother, who visibly shook but stood her ground.

"Master, we brought lunch!" Mrs. Potts stated tilting upwards to look at him"

"I'm not hungry."

"But Master, if you..." she continued imploringly but he cut her off almost immediately.

"I said I'm not hungry!", he shouted grabbing the food and the plate and whipping them towards the wall. Maria shrieked along with the Plate as it seemed to fly towards the wall in slow motion. The Plate shouted out as he miraculously flew into a pillow and skidded and rolled down landing close to the Master's front paw. He rolled out past the Prince-turned-Beast stopping just behind some saucers and breathing hard. The Beast growled low in his throat and we all stared at him both in shock and fear. Any one in this castle...any of us could be dead and this Master, this Beast had the power and strength that could kill any of us when he got angry. The Master realized that at the same time as the rest of us, and with an angry snarl he slammed the door hard. The last thing we saw was the beautiful glowing rose floating on the table. The Plate voiced what we were all thinking as we stared at the cursed flower.

"We will never be human again."