Beauty and the Beast: The Tale Continues
Chapter 12 - Payback, Part 1
Author's Note: Disney is the rightful owner of "Beauty and the Beast", while I just own the story.
Also, thank you so much, everyone, for reading/favoriting/following my story, and leaving reviews. I deeply appreciate it, and it helps me to continue the story.
After being unsuccesful (for now) in getting back her handwritten novel from Adam, Belle decided that she would try again once she had returned from the village.
"But me and your father just returned from there not that long ago," protested Adam, confused as to why she would go there in the first place.
"I just want to check on an old... well, friend of mine, and see how she is doing," replied Belle. "Plus, I want to pay a visit to Pere Robert, as well."
Adam sighed, and he said, "Alright, then... just promise me you'll be safe."
Belle let out a chuckle, and replied, "I am perfectly capable of taking care of myself, Adam... I'll be fine."
"Well, how can I not worry about the woman that I love?" questioned Adam.
Giving her handsome prince a warm smile, Belle then walked over to him, giving Adam a quick kiss on the lips, and placing her hand on the side of his face. "I will be fine, Adam. Trust me."
"I do trust you."
Then, after watching Belle ride away on Philippe, Adam said to himself, "It was just a dream, Adam, don't worry... besides, what is the worst that could happen?"
The Village
While Phillipe drank some water alongside the other fellow horses, Belle walked into the vestry of the church, and the first thing she saw was a stack of several rectangular-shaped packages.
"Ah, if it isn't my fellow bookworm," said the kind priest, entering the building. "I see you've already discovered the good news by yourself."
"What, these packages?" said a confused Belle, and Pere Robert nodded his head.
"There are at least five or six books in each of them."
After he had said that, Belle's eyes grew wide, and she said, "You mean to tell me that all of these contain new books?"
"Indeed, they do," replied Pere Robert, much to Belle's happiness. "Even the church itself recieved packages of desperately needed contents, from lights and pews to murals and song books... it's like a miracle."
Belle nodded her head, a wide smile on her face. But I wonder if there was more to the Enchantress' curse than from what I learned about.
"So, how are you and Maurice doing at the castle?" The priest asked, interrupting her thoughts.
"Wonderful. Papa looks a lot happier now when he paints, and I've... well... fallen in love with a very special person."
Pere Robert gave a slight head nod, and he replied, with a smirk, "Ah, yes, the young prince... do you two plan on bringing Romeo & Juliet into reality, and show up here in the middle of the night?"
Belle felt herself blush as she said, "Well, no, not exactly... I mean, he plans to ask me in the future, but we decided on, um, taking these sort of things slow, and-"
"I was only teasing you, Belle," chuckled Pere Robert. "I am glad that you found someone to be with..."
"Thank you," replied Belle, feeling very happy for the kind-hearted priest. "Oh, before I go, I was wondering if you've seen Agathe today?"
To her surprise, Pere Robert shook his head, and he answered, "No, I am afraid not... I haven't actually seen her since the night you came to help Maurice."
Where could she have possibly gone?
Several Minutes Later
Deciding that Agathe must have gotten her own well-deserved happiness, Belle had some words with the priest, and walked out of the church library, still happy in the fact that it would finally have some new and non-worn out books.
"Well, look who decided to show up in the village again..."
The young woman resisted rolling her eyes as she turned around to look at a trio of beautiful ladies that were known as the Bimbettes, who had always pined after Gaston.
"Good afternoon, Claudette, Laurette and Paulette," said Belle, trying to be as polite as possible. "How are you all today?"
"Oh, we're all fine, Belle," replied Paulette, who was the somewhat kindest out of the trio. "Except for the fact that the heroic man we loved is no longer here."
Belle sighed, and she said, "Oh, yes, he shall be missed dearly by many, I presume..."
"So, why are you back here?" asked Laurette, who was the not-quite-intelligent one. "Did you get bored of the castle life, as well?"
"No, I have not gotten bored," replied Belle, who was starting to frown. "I am only here for a visit."
Now, Claudette was the most intelligent of the three, even though Belle was more smarter than all three of them combined, and with a sly grin, she said, "Well, you could've fooled me, Belle... I assumed that the Prince had found someone else."
Remain strong, Belle. You are better than them.
"I will have you know that Adam and I love each other very much, and we always will," replied Belle, crossing her arms.
Claudette rolled her eyes, and said, "Oh, you say that to us now, but sooner or later, you'll be just like all of the other girls that he has been with in the past."
"You don't know that," exclaimed Belle, her frown becoming deeper. "And you don't even know anything about him."
"Oh, and you do?" said Paulette, raising an eyebrow. "How long have you been with the Prince now? A week or so?"
Belle smirked at the three ladies, and she asked, "How long have you two ever known him? Less than a day or so?"
"Why, you..." hissed Laurette, who began moving towards Belle, but Claudette held her back. "He is a prince, Belle, and is nothing like the ones you read about in your little fairy tale books."
Before Belle could give a response, Laurette added, "And if you do somehow stay with him longer than most girls, then he'll get rid of you after he gets what most people like him usually want."
Belle's face began to turn red in anger, but she tried to remain calm. "Adam... is not that type of person, and-"
"Oh, poor Belle," interrupted Claudette. "You have no idea what to expect when Adam realizes that there's someone else out there who can be better at giving him pleasure than you ever could."
Then, before Belle could say anything, Paulette took a closer look at Belle, and she said, "Well, wait a moment, Claudette, how do we know if she has even tried to satisfy him yet? I mean, yes, she is beautiful, but look at how she hasn't even-"
"You... have no business in saying stuff like that to me," growled Belle, who was almost at her boiling point. "And I highly doubt that Adam or any prince in general would ever want to be in any type of relationship with either of you."
Once Belle had said that, all of the Bimbettes looked extremely upset, but then, an evil smile appeared on Claudette's face, and she said, "You know, Belle, I never thought I would say this, but I always did admire that blue dress."
"Um... thanks?" replied Belle, giving her a suspicious look.
"It's just too bad that it got ruined so badly," said Claudette, and before Belle could say or do anything, she gave her a rough push, causing Belle to fall backwards into a pile of mud, which splattered almost all over her dress.
"You know what? I take that back, Belle, the mud suits you very well... enjoy your time at the castle, princess."
The Bimbettes walked away, laughing amongst themselves, and Belle's feelings were a mixture of anger, confusion, and pain, but she refused to let tears fall from her face.
"Belle? Is that... oh, my gosh!"
The next thing she knew, Belle was helped up to her feet by someone she did not expect to see. "Thank you, LeFou..."
"Oh, of course, anything for you, Belle," replied Gaston's former friend, as he tried helping Belle remove all of the mud from her dress. "God, I am so sorry that I didn't help you out sooner..."
As Belle started to head back over to Phillipe, LeFou said, "I could help you with getting back at them, Belle, we could definitely-"
"Thank you, LeFou, but I am not going to stoop down to their level," replied Belle, to his surprise. "Those girls will get what they deserve soon enough... I hope... so, please, don't do anything for me."
She then climbed onto her horse, preparing to head back to the castle, and as he watched her leave the village, LeFou sadly let out a sigh. "Why do some women have to be so cruel to others?"
One Hour Later
"Ugh! I swear, those three girls are the most depsicable, vile, and... ugh!"
Now back inside of her bedroom, Belle began to remove her dirt-covered dress, placing it inside a nearby basket, and was now wearing only her undergarments.
"If I ever have to see them again, I swear that I will literally take my fist, and just-"
"Belle?"
She turned around, and saw Adam standing in the doorway, looking confused. "Oh, Adam, I was..."
Then, Belle let out a small yelp, realizing quickly that she was wearing only her undergarments, and out of instinct, she tried to cover herself with her arms. "Adam! What are you doing in here? Why didn't you knock?"
"Well, I was worried because I did not see or hear you come back," answered Adam. "And the door was left open, so-"
"Can't you see that I am half naked?"
The young prince nodded his head, and replied, "Obviously, yes, Belle, but to be fair, I have seen you in a swimming outfit, so this is more or less-"
"Adam!" hissed a not-so-amused Belle, whose face was red with embarassment.
"Alright, I am turning around," said Adam, looking away from her so that he couldn't see Belle. "So, how was your village visit?"
"It was..." said Belle, beginning to explain, but before she went to pick another dress, the young woman found herself looking at her reflection in the mirror.
You'll end up being treated just the same way he treats other girls.
Belle shook her head, refusing to let the Bimbettes' cruel words get to her.
How would you know? You've only been with him for, what, a week or so?
She suddenly felt her eyes beginning to water up.
He's like every other prince, Belle, and once the prince realizes that he can find someone else who will give him pleasure, you will no longer be necessary.
"Belle?"
Just like everyone else...
Suddenly, Adam heard a sob, and he could not help but turn around to see what was the matter.
"Belle!"
The next thing she knew, Belle was crying into Adam's chest as he wrapped his arms around her, trying to comfort the woman that he loved.
What the devil happened to her out there?