Part 3: Their Story

Chapter 1

A detailed retelling of the classic Beauty and the Beast story

Hey, welcome to Beauty and the Beast: Their Story.
This is part three of my Beauty and the Beast trilogy. Please read His Story and Her Story to avoid confusion.
Enjoy, and comments (or constructive criticism ) are very welcome!

After a long argument and a tensed stillness in the house caused by Belle's sulking her father finally relented and agreed to take her to the Palace. Belle had put on her shabbiest dress and refused to take any belongings with her as she said, "It would make my 'stay' there seem permanent if I did." They left the village after telling everyone that Belle's married cousin had asked her to come and stay with her in the capital saying that she would provide Belle with an education if she did.

They travelled for what felt like days through the forest before, just as they were about to give up hope, the palace loomed up in front of them, seemingly from nowhere. They had finally arrived at the Palace of the Tsars and a fate both dreadful and enchantingly thrilling lay in front of Belle.

Hesitantly, I walked towards the gate. Upon touching it, the gate swung open noiselessly and casting my father a worried smile that seemed to say, 'stay with me for just a little while longer', I passed through the open gate.

I turned around waiting for him to follow me up to the palace.
"Wha...What's wrong? Aren't you coming to see me off?" Seeing his puzzlement I understood. The gate had swung shut in his face barring his entry.

"Pa!" I shouted, rattling the gate. "Open up! I want to say goodbye!" But the gate didn't budge and with fresh tears coursing down my cheeks I smiled, for what I thought was the last time, at him.
There was anguish in his eyes and it seemed to pain him to say something. "Belle...I hope you'll be happy. You know that as long as you're happy, I am. Take care Belle" he said softly, his eyes glistening with unshed tears.
"Don't go!" I tried putting my arms through the ironwork but something pushed them back.
"You know I hate goodbyes, Belle. Don't make this harder for me. Please," he whispered backing away from the gate towards the trees behind him. For him, I put on my bravest smile and said, wiping my wet cheeks dry, "I'll make this...Beast wish he'd never met me Pa."

Beast's POV (please note that the point of view will switch regularly between Belle and Beast)

I calmly watched their teary goodbye. So pathetic. By the looks of it it didn't seem that the girl came here of her own free will. At all. Suddenly a snatch of their conversation caught my 

attention: "... Beast wish he'd never met me Pa." A smile appeared on my face involuntary. The girl had a backbone after all.

Andre' hated himself for what he had just done. He had given his daughter over to a monster, and he didn't know if she was scared or hurt that he hadn't said more before saying goodbye. First his wife and now Belle. And he had never properly told either of them he loved them before they left him.

Belle's POV

I ascended the flight of stone stairs and looking back one last time at him, I smiled, waved cheerfully and continued climbing although my heart was heavy, I had to show him I was not afraid.

I climbed the stairs slowly, as if to prolong the time before I had to see the Beast as I had started calling him...it. I counted the steps beneath my breath. "24, 25, 26..." I trailed off when I heard something move in the darkness of the trees on my right.

I squinted in the gloom but trying as hard as I could, I was still unable to make out any unusual form in the darkness. I shivered and wrapping my arms around me, I continued my ascent.

Finally. I had reached the last landing and before me stood a massive carved oaken door with wrought iron work. I raised my hand to one of the lion head knockers and gripping it tightly in my sweaty palms I gave two swift taps of the knocker upon the door.

One door swung inwards upon silent hinges and I stepped back, shocked and speechless at the view I had been awarded, through another open door behind this one, of a spectacular fountain. I heard the calming sound of moving water and without looking at the interior of the ante chamber; I advanced quickly into a courtyard. Which, by the way, was beautiful. I stood there awestruck barely hearing the sound of the door, shutting softly behind me, over the roaring of the gold and silver leaf decorated fountain with bright mosaic patterns inlaid in the cold marble.

I looked around me and sucked in my breath, surprised. What a wonderful immaculate garden! Everything about it was neatness and clean cut lines but although it struck me as...pretty it wasn't exactly to my taste and it felt so restricted that I quickly tired of the view.

A large flight of stone steps leading up to a large ornately carved wooden doorway, in front of me, caught my eye and I advanced towards it. I hesitantly ascended the staircase and standing in front of the double-doors I whispered, "This is it." and banged the knocker only once this time. I held my breath as the door swung open and I stepped inside. I sighed in relief. The Beast obviously wasn't prepared to greet me yet. The admittance room or whatever it was called, I thought, was spacious and expensively decorated with rose wood floors, carved wooden panelling and heavy dark oil paintings depicting morbid battle scenes.

I noticed the open book and stand ensemble a few meters in front of me between two staircases one spiralling up to the next floor the other winding downstairs. Moving to stand right in front of it I was able to read what was written upon the smooth expensive paper which I fingered lovingly. Bu...But the pages were blank! I flipped through a couple of more pages that were also blank, my mouth hanging slightly open. I swore silently. Why have a 

blank book standing in the middle of nowhere, so invitingly? But as I moved away to observe a wall hanging writing began to appear upon the page.
'Hello Isabelle. Welcome to the Tsar's palace.' Obviously it's the palace. The only one known in existence to have been lost, forsaken hidden away for hundreds of years.

'Please kindly refrain from opening closed doors...or trying to. Proceed down the spiral staircase on your far right. Turn right, carry on and enter through the door on your right, into the dining hall.'
Right, I thought, just for a play on words. I sighed and followed the instructions placing me feet carefully upon each step, as there were no railings and upon the smooth marble I knew it would be VERY easy to slip and fall.

I ogled at the sight before me. The dining hall was richly decorated with wooden patterned floors, priceless stain glass windows, and iron wood panelling. But what was of more interest to me was the food. The sweet aroma of freshly baked pie wafted towards me. I suppressed a maniacal nervous laugh at the thought of actually being hungry.

I sat down on a upholstered chair with detailed carvings at the end of a long thin table that stretched from one end of the massive dining hall to the other end which had hidden in shadows; not lit up by dozens of candles like my side.

With relish I looked at the three courses placed around me. There was even wine! Oh, and of course the pie. I resisted the urge to smack my lips. Suddenly a candle flared to life on the other end of the table illuminating my host only enough for me to catch a glimpse of his silhouette. I gave a start but then my fear subsided slightly. Hmm...let's see. A human looking head, check, a human looking torso, check. Sharp carving knifes for teeth and huge crushing paws that can tear me limb from limb? Unconfirmed as yet. I let loose a sigh of relief which must have been audible to my host for more candles sprang to life on his side and I got a very clear view of him...it.

His skin was of a poisonous shade of bright turquoise and lank black oily hair fell in a long fringe across almost half his face, the rest of his hair fell to his shoulders which were bear like, massive and like his arms, bulging with muscle. I saw that he wore no shirt exposing his muscle bound torso which threw the light like a faceted gem in a million directions. Ah my eyes! It hurrrrt! He was shiny! I wrapped my arms around myself as I caught sight of a thick tail snaking out from under the table. I almost fainted. Almost.

And he was staring at me like I was some kind of freak. The very nerve of Snakey! (I have dubbed him Snakey because...well he looks like some kind of serpent)

"Please stop staring at me, it's rude and I don't like it when people watch me while I'm eating," I said it as confidentely as I could but beneath the table my hands trembled. Even from this distance I could tell how...monstrously terrifying he could be if he wanted to though at the moment I was pretty terrified already.

Beast's POV (Please take note that I, the author calls Beast, Beast but Belle being Belle, calls him Snakey. Okay now that I've cleared that up on with the story)

The distance between us wasn't far enough. I gripped the table, my knuckles turning white as I struggled to control the instinct that seized me. It was almost twelve o'clock and I had to get the introductions finished and over with so that I could 

make my escape. I should have postponed this until I was in more control.

"I wasn't the one staring," I said, chuckling inside but I recovered my manners "I'm sorry if I scared you-"

"No you didn't, I was merely surprised-" she interrupted.

But I only smirked and continued, "But I'd rather greet you at night time. Day makes me seem all the more...fearsome." This wasn't exactly true. But I wasn't about to tell her that. The scent of her was intoxicating and I knew I couldn't sit calmly like this in her presence for much longer. I smiled exposing my abnormally lengthened canines which she must've seen judging by her shocked yet fascinated reaction.

Belle's POV

Snakey stood up abruptly. He gave a stiff bow and said quickly, "Excuse me. I have urgent...matters to attend to. We can better make each other's acquaintance later tomorrow. You may go where you wish; everything is for your sole enjoyment. Please refrain though from trying to open closed doors and wandering around at night, these rules are purely for your own safety. Your room is up the stairs on your left." He paused as another thought struck him.

"If you should be unfortunate enough to encounter me in the middle of the night do not listen to me. Not even if I plead and beg. Goodnight...Belle."
I averted my gaze as he moved past me. I did not want to see him close up, I was sure I would scream.

My father had that said Snakey (I let out a nervous giggle when I thought of the nickname) was half human and half snake, a Lind wyvern like in the myths. Except this was real and I had a phobia of snakes and the irony of the Beast turning out to be a...a freaking serpent man was just too much for me. I stared down at the crayfish, suddenly not so hungry anymore. I seemed to mock me with those beady eyes. "What're you looking at?" I snapped. I speared it with my fork and said through mouthfulls, "Ha. Not so tough now are you." In the end I ate all three courses and I was still hungry.

Beast
She loves me...Suddenly I had control over myself again but I didn't have any strength left to even breathe. I was still in the water but my head was resting on something preventing me from drowning. I cursed the monster, he had been a few 

minutes away from killing me. If I had not surfaced for another minute...But I cringed away from even thinking about what might have happened. I was safe and so was Belle. She loved me and I loved her, that's all that mattered. I opened my eyes, saw and felt Belle weeping with her cheek resting against my head.

Someone was lifting her up, whispering in her ears and gently asking, "Will you marry me Belle?"
"Yes," she said flinging her arms around him, her eyes still squeezed shut.
"Then open your eyes," she heard; and as Belle blinked back her tears it seemed that the air around Beast was filled with a dazzling white light obscuring her view of him.
The light around him faded and Belle let go.

But it wasn't Beast AKA Snakey she was looking at but a young man with aquillion features, piercing ice blue eyes, and a silly grin plastered on his face.
"Now you see me as I really am," he said smiling at the bemused expression on her face. "Only someone who could love me for myself could set me free from the curse I was under."

Belle smiled, delighted and said stroking his face with the back of her hand.
"I liked you were anyway but I guess I can't go back on my word, now can I?" she teased, pleased that he still had his thick black hair and the way his eyes twinkled even in their coldness.
"No, you can't. I...I'll never forgive you if you do," he replied grinning.

"I love you, you know that?" he said enveloping her in a bear hug.
"I know," she said smugly. Then she said, suddenly serious,"And I love you, more than I can ever fully express."
"You have to name me, over the," he thought for a while "Hundred and fifty years I've been cursed, I forgot my name somewhere along the way."
If Belle was listening- but I can tell you she was too happily absorbed in choosing Beast, unfortunate enough to have the most least creative fiance' when it came to choosing names-she would've heard her two chambermaids, now visible, congratulating each other on a bride well chosen and in the far distance the sound of the forest breathing a sigh of relief as the enchantment on it to stay forever gloomy and cold was lifted. And if she stayed quiet and stopped breathing she would've heard the far off rumbling as dozens of carriages, carts and wagons, loaded with people dressed up in their Sorday best, made their way to the Palace for the greatest wedding to have ever taken place.

Yay! It's finally finnished!
Ha ha! Shame I worked Belle to the bone with this story.
Sorry, it took soooo long, what with school, laziness and all that Jazz I couldn't get down to doing it.
Thanks to Modthesims2 and Xmsims for custom content. AND... Robin Mcinley who wrote 'Beauty' where I got cough cough QUITE a lot of my ideas from. Ha ha, joking, but her book REALLY helped loads and helped me stick to some sort of plot as I suck at plots. AND...thanks to my friend Jessica for giving me the idea and for 

typing a lot of the 'Behind the scenes' stuffies.
Please comment, and rate accordingly (If ye want to that is)
Ciao ya fellow sim lovers!

Before this story became a written story only I had it on website under the same titles, just with pictures illustrating the story and way more spelling mistakes. If you have an account on that site you can find it under my username: melt993 or under His Story/Her story/Their Story.