Louis and Odette got such energized and positive reviews, that Marie and Lucien decided to choreograph Sleeping Beauty as their penultimate performance. Of course, many of the other dancers thought this to be unfair as they didn't even get a chance to audition for the lead parts, especially Regine. However, this performance would not be for another two years, much training needed to be done. Two years had passed and the company found themselves with exciting news. Russian talent scouts would be in the audience. Louis was especially excited. Lucien had been grooming him for this role. Odette had been groomed for the role of Prima. Marie was especially proud of her young prodigy, who had turned into a beautiful graceful young woman. Her ivory skin smooth as silk, her long dark hair flowing like a waterfall down her back, her wide blue eyes clear as crystals, and her small pink lips; Louis found everything about her attractive. Odette thought Louis had matured quite a bit over the past two years. He was still as charming as ever, but he had a solemn air about him, he was more grounded and less cocky. Rosita had matured into a fine young dancer as well and her emerging talent was being noted by scouts as well. Auguste was on his way to becoming the director of the opera. Regine was still lagging Odette, but her hatred only made her motivation and drive stronger.
On the night of the performance, Louis and Odette shared a passionate kiss behind the curtains. Then the time came, Odette was laying in the prop bed, asleep. Tonight's performance was certainly taxing, she hadn't felt this tired in a long time. She always said that "It's when you're tired that you start to progress." Suddenly she heard screams. She opened her eyes and saw flames coming from the ceiling. The beams above her bed had caught on fire. As everyone was rushing off the stage and out the door; Louis was frantically calling out her name. He heard her screaming as she rushed off the bed and toward the door. Her efforts were in vain as a beam from the ceiling came crashing down onto her. It smashed her ankle and she was trapped. Louis was dragged out by Lucien and an equally frantic Marie. Louis and Marie were screaming at firemen to go get Odette.
"We can't go get her until we find another entrance." Louis was about to run back in to rescue his princess but was held back by Lucien. Meanwhile, Odette pinned under the wooden beam, felt the flames come closer. She shut her eyes willing the nightmare to end. Suddenly she felt something on her tutu, the flames had crept up and were now singing her tutu. She screamed again as the fire charred her skin from her knees to her torso. These would become third degree burns. She also accumulated small burns around her ankle. She smelled something and realized that the ends of her hair were on fire as well and began quickly traveling up her hair. Suddenly a fireman burst through the flames and extinguished the flames with what little water he had. Odette had fallen unconscious by this point. The fireman picked up her limp body and carried her out. Louis and Marie's eyes widened at the sight of her. Rosita had turned pale and Auguste had to look away. Regine stood by with a sinister grin on her face. The ambulance transported her to the nearest hospital. They took off her costume and put it in a box. (Marie would later save this costume).
Lucien, Marie, Louis, Auguste, and Rosita rushed to the hospital and sat in the waiting room while Odette was in surgery. When they were able to see her, all five rushed into the room. Rosita burst into tears at the sight. A majority of Odette's body was burned except from her chest up. Her long hair was singed short. One of her ankles was in a cast. The doctor finished wrapping her body up and turned to them. "It's a miracle that she survived. She needs to keep changing her bandages and cleaning her wounds." Marie turned to him and said in a grave voice, "What about her ankle?" The doctor sighed, "The bone has been completely shattered and there is no hope of putting it back into place. She will walk with a limp for the rest of her life." Louis and Marie both stopped breathing. That meant that she would never be able to dance again. The doctor left and Lucien choked out, "I will break the news to her if you would like." "No. I will." Louis managed to say. Marie took a deep breath and rested on a nearby chair. A while later; Rosita, Lucien, and Auguste had gone out to get some food. Louis and Marie remained by Odette's bedside. As night approached, Lucien offered to drive Marie home, which she accepted. She took Rosita and Auguste home as well. Louis insisted that he stay with Odette. He would not leave her side for the next two months. Lucien and Marie were worried about him; he barely slept and ate. All he did was sit by her bed, kissing her, touching her hair, praying that she would wake up soon. He needed his princess to be safe.