Belle's realy sweet and the castle is dreary, But I dont own it, at least not in theroy...

That evening in a forest somewhere in France

Belle gasped as Philippe walked up to the gates of a castle. "What an odd place to put a castle," she mused, but that thought was forgotten when she discovered her father's hat lying on the ground just inside the gate. She brought Philippe inside, tied him to the gate and ran inside the castle.

Philippe snorted uneasily as a pitchfork walked over to him. It had a kind voice, and although he did find it odd for a pitchfork to be walking and talking, he went willinglyas it started to lead him to a stable. He was a sensible horse, and certainly wasn't pigheaded enough to want tostay outside in the snow.

Inside the castle,Cogsworth was mocking Lumiere."Couldn't keep quiet, could we? No, we had to serve him tea! Here,monsieur,how about you sit in the master's chair! Here, pet the pooch!" he yelled at the candelabra.

Lumiere rolled his eyes. "I was trying to be hospitable," he muttered. So intent werethey on their discussion that they did not hear Belle come in, calling for her father. The other members of the castle had already settled in for the night.

"This place is incredible,"Belle said as she wandered around calling for her father. The place was definitely designed for royalty with ornate rugs and tapestries - the ones that weren't ruined, that is. When she walked past the room where Cogsworth and Lumiere werestill arguing animatedly, they stopped and stared at each other.

"Did you see that?" Lumiere asked with a grin as he hopped off and looked down the hallway,Cogsworth rushing behind him. "It's a girl!" he gasped.

"I'm not blind," Cogsworth replied. Ignoring the grumpy clock, Lumiere went after her. "Wait a minute! I think that she must know that old man that came in earlier."

Lumiere stopped."Then we had better lead her to him, oui?" At least the girl was on the right floor. When she passed the door to the room with stairs leading to the tower they opened it. Hearing the dooor creak, she stopped and turned around.

"Papa!" she called, running into the room. She saw a light drifting up the stairs "Wait! I'm looking for my father." she called but as she walked up she realized that no one was there."Odd," she thought as she continued. When she got to the top, she heard her father's voice. Running towards it, she found him locked in a room. She heard him coughing.

"Papa! you're sick! We have to get you out of here!"she exclaimed.

Maurice gasped. "No! Belle, leave this place! There's no time to explain! There's a demon--"

He was interrupted by a growl. Belle froze. Suddenly she felt herself grabbed and twisted around. She dropped the torch she was carrying. It all happened so fast that she didn't see anything.

"What are you doing here?"a voice growled.

Belle couldn't see a thing."Who's there?" she called into the darkness. The only source of light in the room was a hole in the roof.

"The master of this castle."Cardell stared at the girl. One advantage of being a beast was that he didn't need much light to see in the dark. He didn't want this girl to see him; he wanted her to leave his castle, now! He growled again.

Belle detected a movement on the room."Please, let my father out! Can't you see that he's sick?"she begged turning towards the shadow. Whatever it was, it was big.

"Then he shouldn't have trespassed here,"the voice replied heartlessly.

She was almost pretty. He shook his head. He wasn't human anymore;why should he even bother to notice? "I accepted my fate years ago. Why is it tempting me now?" he thought.

Belle looked at her father anxiously. He couldn't stay here. "Please I- I'll do anything," she begged."Please God!" she prayed silently "Show me what to do!"

The shadow turned, and she caught the glimpse of a cape fluttering towards the door. "There's nothing you can do!"Cardell responded "Leave now, please." A feeling of despair washed over him. What would this girl do if she saw him ? "Probably faint on the spot," he thought.

"Wait!" She saw the shadow stop. "Take me instead."

She heard a sharp intake of breath. "You!"he choked. "Is she for real? Why would anyone volunteer to stay in this place forever?" he thought,turning towards her. "You would take his place?" he asked in disbelief

"If I did, would you let him go?" she asked,watching the shadow move closer to her. It almost seemed scared.

"Yes, But you must promise to stay here forever," he said. "Maybe, just maybe... could she be?" he felt a stirring of hope but it quickly died as she gave her response

"Come into the light," the girl asked him. "Oh. anything but that," he thought. But he walked slowly, almost timidly,and stepped into the patch of moonlight coming through the roof.

Belle gasped. She saw a humongous paw and the legs of a wolf come into the light. It was wearing a pair of tattered pants and a cape that was not in much better shape. It had no shirt on,and itsbody was covered in brown fur. When she saw its face,she shrank back against the cell door. It had the horns of an ox with a short pug nose, two canines protruding from its jaws. The most startling feature wasits eyes: they were cold as steel yet they looked afraid. She looked back at her father.

"Go ahead and leave,"Carell thought."Not even I can stand to look at myself." He watched in amazement as she stood up and actually walked towards him. He stiffened and pulled his cloak around him. "You have my word," she said, staring at him unflinching.

"Done!" he barked and strode over to the cell. Belle sank to the floor, her face in her hands. She heard the door unlock and felt her father hug her."No, Belle, listen to me! Don't do this!"

The beast walked by and picked up the man. "Wait" Belle cried out, but her pleas were ignoredas the beast dragged the man through the castle.

When he reached the palanquin outside he addressedtheman's pleas. She is no longer your concern," he growled, throwing him in. "Take him to the village." He turned back towards the castle. "Oh great, now what in the world am I gonnado with a girl?"he thought.

Belle laid on the ground sobbing. She would never see her father, Cozette, Reynard, anyone ever again. She was truly alone.

Lumiere had heard the whole conversation and realized that this girl, Belle, was not goingto fall in love with the master if he kept her locked up in the tower. When he saw Cardell walk up the stairs he stopped him. "Master, since the girl is going to be with us for quitesome timeI was thinking that you might want to offer her a more comfortable room." The beast gave a fierce growl."Then again, maybe not."

WhenCardell found Belle lying on the floor,he stopped. The girl looked up at him."You didn't even let me say goodbye," she said,tears running down her cheeks.

"What have I gotten myself into?" he thought as he rubbed his neck,a habit that he displayed whenever he was nervous. Then he remembered what Lumiere had suggested. The candelabra knew more about girls than he ever did.

"I'll show you to your room,"he said. She stared at him in disbelief. He looked around at the cell. Was this girl crazy? "You mean you actually want to stay in the tower?" he asked in amazement. She shook her head. He snorted, "Then follow me,"and with that he spun out of the room. Belle hurried to catch up with him.