The Beauty and the Beetle Chapter 14: The end is near, a beetlejuice fanfic

Author's note: Oh god, one more chapter left. Sorry guys, but I had to get this chapter out before I lost it and had more writers block. I had some time before school to write this up, so I did. The first half is a song fic, something I used to love writing when I first started writing. The song that is put in this is called 'The Brightest Green' by 'Anarbor'. I would highly recommend listening to it while reading the first part. It sounds surprisingly like a Beetlejuice type song.

Also, the next, and last, chapter will probably be up soon. It's going to be a real treat.

So, time for thank you's. I would like to thank Cybernetic Mango, Reader, Substitute reality, and rubydesires. You guys are great.

Disclaimer: I do not own Beetlejuice, but I do own Lance and the crowd of towns people.

Now, onto the next chapter of:

The Beauty and the Beetle

Ch. 14: The end is near

---

On a night like this, normally Lydia would have her new camera. On a night like this, when the glows of greens and blues and pinks from the ghouls and creatures, that would not normally belong of this world, would hit everything just right, she would admire the slightest strand of hair for capturing all the colors. On a normal night, she would be preoccupied. But, this was not a normal light, now was it? What with Lydia, a rather beautiful person herself, dressed up to the point of dazzling even the roughest of hearts.

There were no need for candles, or for manmade light in general, because one glance at what they saw, at what Beetlejuice saw, any other lighting would be frowned upon.

She stood there, in awe at the lighting that the creatures gave off, in her black dress, layered at the skirt into an elegant puff of purple, royal blue, and hints of silk maroon. The top though, was a deep shade of blood red around her shoulders and upper arms, as well as the upper chest area-which slowly faded to a very dark red (almost considered black) as it reached down her sleeves and stomach. Her sleeves were bellowed out into a wide oval. Under her sleeves were black and white striped fingerless gloves.

When she noticed him she smiled mischievously, the red of her lips becoming deeper the more she smiled. Her eyes had a deep purple around them, making her deep brown eyes stand out even more. Her hair pushed to the side slightly as she cocked her head, flashing her teeth. The ink of her bangs fell over one of her eyes, as her high ponytail seemed to beckon to him, waving him over as she shifted her weight and crossed her arms just right.

He gulped.

He was just dressed in his black and white striped suit, with maroon undershirt. He looked down right grungy compared to her. He scoffed at himself and stuffed his hands in his pockets, sticking out his lower lip in frustration and defeat. She just laughed lightly at this, a toxic green seeming to frame her figure, making her seem like a nuclear angel.

He mentally screeched and blushed. She smiled and watched him with bliss. Then, out of the corner of his eye, a group of ghosts started to emerge with ghostly instruments of all sorts. He grinned as a wiry tune started to play, almost seeming to be on repeat. He grinned even more, turning it into a feral smirk. Oh yeah, he could get real comfortable with this tune. She waved him over, and good lord, did he seem to melt into step, a sort of sizzle in his tracks. His heart skipped a beat as she walked over to him, meeting him half way. She uncrossed her arms as she tilted her head the other way, lidding her eyes and smiling wildly at him. She seemed to enjoy this tune too, as the voice of the transparent group put his lips to the microphone.

"So, are we going to dance?"

It was late last night before she hit me up,
Baby, don't you know nothing good happens after midnight?
You see the night before I couldn't keep my hands off her,
Yeah I wanted to drink her up.
Her body burned like a fire and I knew, I knew I couldn't take anymore from her.

She put her hand to his shoulder, thumb accidently brushing against neck, and the room seemed to burst with green, every detail of the dance floor lit with a brilliant electric emerald. He then smiled wildly, and she met his smile with the same. He grabbed her by the waist and pulled her to the air, spinning her and dipping her back.

I'm burn burn burning,
My stomachs turning,
My hearts giving into my eyes.
I'm stare stare staring
At the skin shes sharing,
My hearts giving into my eyes.
Now it's too late, for me it's too late,
I'm burn burn burning, yeah my hearts giving into my eyes.

When he looked down at her, she smirked up at him, her eyes reflecting the green in his eyes; the deepest and most haunting green that was ever seen, alive or dead. She would never admit it, but she loved those eyes, and the glow that he radiated. She loved a lot about him she even…she frowned at herself. Love? Maybe admiration, but not love. He drove her crazy, and got under her skin, and made her do things that she would never do normally. Even if he wouldn't leave her mind, and her heart beat every time she was near him. She felt more excited around him than anyone else. She adored him, but she didn't love him. He blinked at her, and grinned, leaning over her, making her skin shiver at the closeness. "Hey babes, the fun's just getting started." He said, voice low, and she blushed deeply.

She stood 5'4
She had the brightest green I'd ever seen, I've never seen these eyes before.
And just like that I was hypnotized.
I sit back, I roll fat, thinking of you again.
And I knew I couldn't take anymore from her.

He grinned and whipped her out to arms length, spinning her until she was outside of arms length. He grinned at her surprise, and before she could freak out from floating alone, he flicked his fingers. She came spinning back into his arms. She was then dipped low, being held close by him. She blushed deeply as they stayed in that position, staring into his eyes, which seemed warmer, and emerald instead of the wild toxic they normally were.

The band then started to turn into an anxious tone, different from the energetic one just a second ago. Beetlejuice started to run his fingers through her hair, feeling the silk feel to it, accidently pulling it free from its ponytail. He then ran a thumb across her cheek, and smirked at her, not noticing the flesh color of his own thumb. He was wrapped up in the deep brown shock.

I'm sweating bullets like a boy that has just been caught,
You say your love is all I need, but I don't need a lot.
You say you're sorry but I know that you're not

Lydia blushed deeply and stared up at him, into his eyes, absentmindedly bringing a hand down from his shoulder and brushing the flat of her hand against his face. She smiled as she felt the intense warmth of his face, even feeling some sweat on his forehead. She then ran a hand through his hair, brushing it back and wanting to see his whole face.

I'm sweating bullets like a boy that has just been caught,
You say your love is all I need, but I don't need a lot.
You say you're sorry but I know that you're not

They stopped dancing at this point, even though the music picked back up. They slowly inched closer to each other, wanting to feel more of each other pressed against, flesh pressed against flesh. Slowly their foreheads pressed against one another, and he grinned widely, something deep in his eyes. She smiled in return, their noses barely touching, and she looked him over. Her arms were wrapped around his neck, and his were wrapped around her waist. It got so hot, that steam filled the room slowly. Slowly, they almost touch…

As soon as the song ended though, there was a crash of the front door slamming open violently. The room went dark instantly, and Beetlejuice dropped her. She let out a sound as she hit the floor, and he panicked. "Oh crap! Lydia!" he screeched, as he zoomed down to her and tried to help her up. She looked at him, studied him, and sighed. He was back to looking slightly blue, with grungy hair and toxic green eyes…

He raised an eyebrow at her. "What?" She shook her head and stood up, looking him over and smirking lightly.

"Nothing…no…" they both turned as there was a shrill screech coming from the front. Beetlejuice grabbed her and took her there instantly. What awaited them was not a pretty sight.

Lydia gasped as a group as big as a town flooded the main room of the giant roadhouse. The crowd started to grow restless as two girls were tossed forward, as if to be sacrificed. The taller of the two groaned out loudly as she twisted in pain. Her left ankle seemed to be twisted, or broken. The smaller of the two whimpered softly. Her glasses and her nose both broken and covered in blood. Lydia gasped and made to move, but was held back by Beetlejuice, who was watching with stone cold eyes. He listened to the conversation below, exchanged between a big man, two boys, and the two girls.

"So, this is your alleged castle." The big one scoffed, looking around as if he owned the place.

The taller of the two girls groaned and nodded. "Y-yes Father Otho, we showed you exactly where we saw it…" She coughed and curled into herself.

The shorter red head coughed out blood and started to shake. "S-so please…don't drown us…don't drown us like them…" the girl whimpered.

One of the boys, the one who was dazed, spoke. "It doesn't seem like Lydia's father would come to a place like this." He spoke nasally.

The shorter of the two boys chuckled. "Yeah, this place is a dump." He then turned to the big guy. "Well expanding your land was part of the bargain." He said, with a grin.

The big guy nodded and seemed to smirk, scanning the place. "Well, even if we don't find that woman's father, at least I got my part of the bargain." He seemed to chuckle, ignoring the two girls who were staring in awe and fear.

"Y…you killed Adam and Barbara, for land?" The tall girl said slowly, not comprehending what was just said.

He turned to her, as if just remembering she was still there. He raised an eyebrow, as if talking to a child. "Sacrifices do have to be made in order to achieve the greater good my dear. Even if you have to get the blade a little bloody in order to do so."

The tall girl was starting to shake in anger, and looked at the small girl. She was passed out from the pain and loss of blood. She then looked back at the big guy. "You're a monster. A wolf in sheep's clothing." She said; her voice low and her anger burning through her eyes. She tried to get up, but she screamed from the pain in her ankle.

The short boy chuckled. "That will teach you not to move on a broken bone."

The taller of the two boys then tapped his chin in thought. "But what of Mr. Deetz? If he isn't here, then where…"

There was a crash at the back of the crowd, and a man dragged another man, half to death from the cold, with blond hair and wild eyes, to the front of the crowd. "Heh, here you go Father Otho. Found Chuck frozen a while back off of the road a bit." He said gruffly as he threw the blond man to the floor. There was a crack, and the blond snapped out of his fear with a sharp pain coming from his shoulder. He screamed and held his shoulder, feeling the dislocation.

The three males turned to the blond, two with smirks, and the other with a smile of relief and worry in his eyes. The shorter of the two boys then walked over to the blond, who was sitting up, about to fall over again. He then kneeled in front of the blond, and tilted his head. "Good to see ya Chuck. Say, can ya answer us if this is the right place you were going to?"

The blond stared at the short boy, trying to comprehend what he was saying and the pain at the same time. The boy frowned and grabbed the blonds arm, then yanked at it. The blond screamed. "Listen up Chuck. If you don't then bad things will happen." The blond was looking at him fully, trying to concentrate. The short boy then smiled kindly, letting go of the blonds arm. "That a boy Chucky. Now, get a good look at the room around you." The blond slowly did as he was told, almost phasing out of focus at one point. The short boy then snapped his fingers, and the blond looked at him. "Now, is this where Lydia is?" The boy tilted his head, pressing his hands down on his knees.

The blond blinked a few times, and hunched forward in thought. Slowly, as a frown reached the boys lips, the blond responded with a nod. "My..my pumpkin…my little Lydia…she…she was taken…by a monster…taken by a monster…" He then slouched forward, out like a light.

The shorter of the two boys frowned and kicked the blond over onto the tall girl, who grunted in pain, in the depths of unconsciousness. "What do you think Father Otho?"

The big man then tapped his chin, and turned to the crowd, getting everyone's attention. "Search this god forsaken place, and find the girl Lydia. If she is not here then burn the place down!"

"Even with them in it?"

"Even with them in it."

The crowd seemed to cheer, as they dispersed and searched the lower level.

Beetlejuice sneered and turned his attention to Lydia, who was keeled over and shaking, gripping her dress and biting her lip until it bled. He looked back down at the crowd, who were slowly making their way up the levels. He groaned, and scooped Lydia up into his arms. "Now's not the time to be having a mental break down Lyds." He sighed and zipped through the walls.

She started to shake in his arms, and he groaned. This wasn't good. He had to protect her, by all means. Fat chance fatty back there was going to get his hands on his Lydia. When they got to a safe place, he stared as all the servants from the castle were in the same place. They were in a corner, fearful that the strange people were going to hurt them. He sneered and looked at them. "What the hell. You bunch are wimps." He mumbled and looked at Lydia, who was still curled up in his arms.

He sighed and shifted her into one arm, and he started to shake her lightly. "Babes, babes…come on, show some life babes."

"They're gone…my friends…they're gone…"

He flinched as she spoke softly, brokenly. He stiffened and looked at her awkwardly. He flinched when he felt eyes instantly on him. "They were killed! The only two people that gave a damn about me in that town died. The other three are about to die, and you want me to be ok?!" She snapped and started to sob loudly. Everyone in that room flinched and stared at Beetlejuice and Lydia.

Beetlejuice started to panic, and did the only thing he could think of; wrapped his arms around her and hold her so tight that she wouldn't be able to breath, let alone sob.

She just rested her head on his shoulder and sobbed silently, gripping his jacket tightly. "Askel…" She mumbled, and he sighed, rocking her. This might be awkward as hell for him, but it's way better hearing his name then her crying her eyes out.

A large crash brought them all back to reality, as they slowly got closer and closer to the room. Lydia then pulled away from Beetlejuice, and he looked at her wide eyed and grabbed for her. "Lydia!" Beetlejuice said sharply. "Don't go out there, who knows what that fat bastard might do to you!" He said, angered by the sad look on her face. "Why the hell are you sad now? Don't fucking cry again, and don't sacrifice yourself, you stupid broad!" he sneered and grabbed her arm quickly, pulling her close. He then grabbed her around the shoulders and puller her into his chest, a sneer on his face as he looked from her to the doorway.

She stared at his neck for a second, before looking up at him and smiling sadly. "Thank you…"

He flinched and looked down at her. He sighed. "Don't thank me for saving your sorry ass."

She shook her head and pulled away, gripping his shoulders and staring into his eyes. "No, thank you for all this. You didn't have to be kind to me, but now you're risking your life to save me…even if it's at the cost of your friends…" she sighed and pulled away, looking at him sadly, regretful.

He stared, and then sneered as realization sunk in. "Babes, don't do this! It's not worth it!"

"It's not worth it to save you?!" she snapped, and he started to shake.

"No! It's not!"

She then grabbed his face and stretched out his cheeks, staring into his eyes. He started at her as she rested her hands back against his cheeks gently, rubbing the pinch marks with her thumbs.

"Beetlejuice, I care about you very much. I may not act like it, but to me you are a very special person. I've never been happier then I have been in these last few days." She smiled softly as her eyes lidded. "You've shown me something that I can never see anywhere else. I want to stay, but I can't. If I do, then the friends I've made here will be gone…" She sighed as her hands slid from his cheeks to his shoulders. The top of her head then rested against his neck, and she was pulled close by strong arms. "If I don't go then you'll be gone. I can't do that…I can't be the cause for so much death and despair. I've already caused enough…"

She looked up at him, with tears in her eyes. "Forget about me…please…" she sniffed as his thumb rubbed over her cheek. She smiled at him. "You have amazing eyes, by the way…" she then stiffened as there was a slam of a door a few steps away. She pulled away. "Hurry, before they see you…disappear." She then slammed the door open, and before he could do anything, she was grabbed and taken.

---

Lydia was dragged along by Vince, who was fawning over her. "Oh, my Lydia, my dear sweet Lydia, it didn't hurt you did it?" He questioned worriedly. She looked away, but spoke, as her friends were dangled in front of her by the crowd.

"No, he did not hurt me at all. He was great to me…"

"Ah, so you brainwashed that monster. I knew I loved you for your cunning." Vince said as he grabbed Lydia's hand and kissed it passionately. She jerked away, and met eyes with the melodramatic boy. He stared into her eyes, and frowned. "He took you for his, didn't he?"

She flinched and shivered. He smirked. "He did not then. Otherwise you would not be so disgusted with that idea." He smiled and pulled Lydia into his arms. "My dear sweet damsel, you will be mine."

She flinched and became stiff. "Y…yours?"

He nodded wildly and smiled at Lydia. "In the morning there will be a ceremony for our fates to be tied."

Lydia started to panic, and jerked away from him. "What? No! I don't want to marry you!"

Vince looked at her sadly, and Lance frowned at her, walking behind her with Otho to discuss some things. "My sweet Lydia, did it brainwash you? You are never like this."

"Like what?" she snapped, and was quickly grabbed by the lower arms, by Lance. Vince turned to her, all the while moving with the group.

"Speaking rudely to your future lover. It's almost as if you don't love me anymore."

She sneered. "I never loved you Vincent."

Vince flinched, and then smiled sweetly, and grabbed her chin delicately. "My dear sweet princess, it's brainwashed you into believing you love it. Don't worry, Father Otho will cleanse you of all the evil that has entered your body. He will cleanse you along with your friends, isn't that right Father Otho?" he asked, looking at Otho. Otho looked at Vince, and the now terrified Lydia, and smiled reassuringly.

"Yes my dear, I will cleanse you and your friends. Your father though, he is a lost cause." Otho said wistfully, and Lydia started to pull away from Lance, and was quickly grabbed by one of Otho's so called priests in masks.

"My father?! What are you going to do with him!?" She screamed, and Otho almost chuckled.

"Since he is filled with sin and taint, he will burn with that roadhouse."

Lydia became stiff and silent, staring wide eyed at Otho. Tears started to form at the fringe of her eyes. She then started to scream loudly. "Beetlejuice!" she screamed out as Vince tried to calm her. "Beetlejuice!" She pleaded through her scream, pulling harder at her captives grip. Lance started to pull her along with the priest, but she still resisted. "Beetlejuice!" She screamed, watching the road house as one person slowly made their way up the hill, dangling her father over his shoulder and gripping a gas can in the free hand.