Beauty and the Beast: The Tale Continues

Chapter 26 - A Savior

Author's Note: Disney is the rightful owner of Beauty and the Beast, while I just own the story. Also, I apologize for not always updating asap, but there are times when I have to really think about how good the chapter will be, and if everyone is still going to read the story.

The day was almost coming to an end, and normally, Belle would have been excited because of the fact that their wedding would be the next day, but instead, she was starting to wonder if the event would even happen at all.

And without the book, it might take forever for Adam to come all the way out-

"Belle? Belle!"

To her surprise, Adam was suddenly in front of the cell door, and Belle was speechless.

"Belle, I'm sorry about-"

His sentence was cut short by the arrival of Raphael, who did not look happy to see the young prince. "How in the bloody hell are you here right now?"

Adam turned around, glaring at the sinister person, and he said, "It doesn't matter now... all I know is that I'm going to make you pay for what you have done to her."

Raphael let out a laugh, and shook his head. "I'd like to see you try."

"Gladly," growled Adam, preparing to tackle him to the ground, but before he could make a move, Raphael unveiled a sword.

"What, you thought this was going to be a fist fight?" asked Raphael, starting to chuckle.

Damn, I knew I forgot something, thought the young prince, who decided to try and use his word

s. "Look, just put that down, hand over the atlas-"

"Oh, I don't think so," replied Raphael. "Once I avenge Gaston's death, maybe then I can finally stop thinking about him."

Adam shook his head, and said, "First of all, I did not kill your half-brother; he tried to kill me."

"Yeah, your little princess over there said the same thing," replied Raphael, nodding his head over at Belle. "But it doesn't change the fact that-"

"Raphael, please don't do this," interrupted Belle, trying to speak to the kind part of her captor. "You don't have to be like Gaston-"

"I am nothing like that man," growled Raphael. "But he is still part of my family, and I-"

WHOOSH!

Taking advantage of the distraction, Adam used a nearby brick to knock away the sword, and before Raphael could do anything else, the young prince tackled him down to the floor.

"How... dare... you... kidnap... the woman... I love!" yelled Adam, in between punches that he threw at Raphael, but then, he was pushed off, and the sinister person wiped away some blood from the corner of his mouth.

"Is that all you got?" questioned Raphael, with a grin. "For a man who used to be a beast, I figured that you'd have more strength than that."

"Oh, this is just the beginning," growled Adam, and he was about to charge at him again when Belle suddenly grabbed his arm.

"Wait a moment! I think I can fix this..."

Before the young prince could give a response, Raphael asked, "Oh, so you're going to let the princess fight your battle for you, huh?"

"Not exactly," said Belle, looking straight at Raphael. "Think again about what you are doing. You don't have to-"

"Do not tell me what to do, Belle!" exclaimed Raphael. "All my life I have heard people tell me what to do, what not to do... I didn't ask to be born with a disorder, nor did I ask for my mother to marry someone else, or for my father to die, or have someone like Gaston in mydamn life!"

Belle just remained silent, knowing that her plan was slowly starting to work, and listened to Raphael continue speaking.

"Do either of you have any idea what it's like to listen to people talk about you behind your back, or to find out that the person you love is a monster?"

"Yes, I do," said Adam and Belle, at the same time, and she kept on trying to help Raphael.

"You can prove everyone wrong, then, by doing something that neither of them would ever expect you to do."

"What, release you from your cell?" asked Raphael, who had a facial expression of mixed feelings, at this point. "Just let you and the prince be married to each other, and live happily ever after?

"I hate to break it to you, princess, but life is not a fairy tale, so-"

"I know it isn't, but I've also spent my life hearing other people talk bad about me," replied Belle. "But I embraced the fact that I was different, Raphael, and I was able to have something more than what I had in a provincial life..."

"And thanks to Belle, I've become a much better person than my father could ever be," added Adam, finally catching on to what she was doing. "It's our actions that define who we are... and, yes, we both agree that Gaston was a horrible person."

Raphael was looking at Adam, then at Belle, and the enchanted atlas that was in his pocket, wondering what the right thing was for him to do.

"You should listen to them, Raphael."

Then, all of a sudden, a familiar person appeared in between Adam and Raphael, and Belle's eyes became wide with surprise.

"Agathe?" She whispered, surprised to see how much more youthful and beautiful she looked.

As for Adam, he remained quiet, since she had already appeared in front of him earlier.

"I can sense the kindness in your heart, Raphael, but I also sense the darkness in you, and you do not know which side is the one to go with."

She walked over to Raphael, who was at a loss for words, and retrieved the enchanted atlas from his pocket, which she handed over to Adam. "You and Belle are no longer needed here."

They both nodded their heads, and Agathe turned her attention back over to Raphael, who finally spoke after Adam and Belle were gone.

"Y-you are... the Enchantress from those... those stories, aren't you?"

A sly smile appeared on Agathe's face, and she replied, "What do you think?"

Meanwhile

Adam and Belle were now back in the library, and the first thing that the young prince did was place a lock on the book, then into a nearby safe so that only he would be able to access it.

Then, when blue-colored eyes met brown, the two of them ran and wrapped their arms around each other, relieved that everything was the way it should be.

"Belle, I'm so sorry I let him place into that cell," said Adam, feeling like he was whole again, now that the woman he loved so much was in his arms. "Did he hurt you? Touch you? He didn't try to-"

"Adam, it's fine, we don't have to talk about it," said Belle, knowing that if she informed him of what Raphael had done, then Adam would have gone back to actually kill the man. "Let's focus on... wait... we're getting married tomorrow, aren't we?"

Adam let out a small chuckle, and said, "Well, since you and I are back in France, then yes, tomorrow is our wedding."

Looking up at Adam, Belle smiled, and softly placed a hand on the side of his face. "I'm going to become your wife."

"And I wouldn't want anyone else but you, mademoiselle," replied Adam, before the two of them proceded with sharing a slow and passionate kiss...

... not paying attention to Lumiere and Cogsworth, who were watching from the doorway.

"Well, then, Lumiere, shall we let bygones be bygones?" whispered the head of the household.

"But of course, mon ami," replied the former candelabra. "I told you she'd be the one to break the spell."

Cogsworth rolled his eyes, and said, "I beg your pardon, old friend, but I believe that I was the one who told you."

"No, I told you, remember?"

"You most certainly did not, you annoying..."

While the two of them continued arguing, Adam and Belle were still kissing each other, feeling ready for whatever came their way the next day.

Author's Note: In the next chapter, ladies and gentleman, you are all invited... to be our guest... for the wedding of Prince Adam and Belle, who will officialy be known as a princess once she says the words 'I do'.