Beauty and the Beast: The Tale Continues

Chapter 34 - An Unexpected Turn

Author's Note: Disney is the rightful owner of this franchise. I just own this story.

It was almost midnight by the time Nathaniel had returned to his castle, and as he climbed down from his horse, the elderly ruler let out a sigh.

"Well, Samuel, if my nephew can be a better person to his servants, then I can certainly do the same for my own... you go and get some rest, okay?"

The horse gave a quick nod of his head before making his way to the nearby stables, and Nathaniel smiled as he began to walk up the steps that led to the castle doors.

Thank you, Adam... and Belle... for helping me realize-

BOOM!

Suddenly, Nathaniel felt a sharp pain coming from the back of his body, and as he collasped to the floor, the elderly man looked up to see who the person was that shot him with a rifle.

"What... are you... trying to...?"

The newcomer gave Adam's uncle a sly grin, and he replied, "I am here to take back what belongs to me... and I will not let you stand in the way of that."

BOOM!

True to his word, once he and Belle had finished with eating breakfast, Adam brought her to one of the world's iconic monuments, and as he watched her face glow with happiness after they had reached it, Adam could not help but smile at the very sight of it.

"That'll be 25 euros, Monsieur."

The dry vocal tone of the ticket seller interrupted Adam's thoughts, and he gave him an apologetic smile. "My apologies."

After placing the currency on the worker's desk, Adam started to lead Belle to the entrance gate when the ticket seller said, "Uh, she has to pay, as well."

"What do you mean?" said Adam, who started to frown. "I thought it was only twenty five for two people."

"Well, monsieur, you thought wrong," replied the ticket seller. "It is twenty five each, so if you want to take the farm girl up with you, one of you has to pay another twenty five."

Belle felt a slight mixture of anger and annoyance after being called a farm girl, but then again, she was wearing her casual and favorite blue-colored outfit, and it wasn't like this was the first time she had been called that.

However, Adam definitely did not appreciate it, and so, he growled, "Look here, monsieur, you'd best apologize to my wife, or else I can make your life a miserable-"

"Hey, I don't make the rules, okay?" interrupted the ticket seller. "And, besides, what could someone like you possibly do?"

Adam, who was currently not dressed in any sort of royal-like outfit, gave the man a menacing glare, and replied, "It just so happens that I am also a prince, you moronic fool, and I expect you to show some more respect to a princess."

Unfortunately, after the ticket seller took one look at Belle, he began to erupt into laughter. "You cannot be serious... her, a princess?"

Adam's eyes began to glow in anger, and he was almost about ready to yank the ticket seller away from his desk, but then, Belle gave him the required amount of euros, and she said, "Come on, Adam, let's go."

"Not until he offers you an apology," exclaimed her husband.

"Fat chance, my friend."

Before Adam could do anything else, Belle grabbed him by the shoulder, and they began heading into the tower, but not before the young prince made a quick offensive gesture at the ticket seller.

"Adam, please, just relax," said Belle, trying to keep him calm. "He was only doing his job."

"Well, I don't appreciate someone like him insulting the love of my life," said an irritated Adam. "He's almost as terrible as the villagers were back when I was still cursed."

Belle sighed, and she replied, "Yes, but for now, I would just like us to enjoy our special time together... besides, it is early, so no one will be on the top floor but the two of us, so it'll be all to ourselves."

As the two of them started to climb the steps that led to the summit point of the Eiffel Tower, Adam let out a sigh, and said, "Alright, Belle... I'm sorry... I just don't like hearing or seeing people like him insult or disrespect you."

"And I love you for what you tried to do back there," said Belle, giving him a quick kiss on the lips. "But right now, I would just like to continue being excited about what the view will be like from up at the top."

"If you aren't tired by the time that we actually get there," muttered Adam, who was still a little annoyed with the ticket seller. "There must be almost 2,000 steps alone in this place, and we've barely completed a sample of that."

"Well, we could go faster if - whoa!"

"Way ahead of you, my love," said Adam, who had placed Belle in his arms, and was now sprinting across the steps of the tower.

"Adam, not too fast," replied Belle, who couldn't help but laugh at his actions. "You'll tire yourself out sooner than you think."

The young man gave her a toothy grin, and said, "Not to worry, my love, I shall be fine."

An hour later...

As Belle took her first steps onto the top floor of the Eiffel Tower, she was momentarily speechless at how beautiful everything looked right now.

This is amazing, thought Belle, who walked over to the nearest telescope that allowed her to see almost all of Paris.

"Glad to see... you are having so much fun," gasped Adam, who made his arrival a few minutes later.

Belle giggled, and she walked over to Adam, saying, "I did tell you that you'd be tired by the time we-"

"I know... I know..." replied Adam, as he tried to catch his breath. "My God, I have never been this tir-"

Suddenly, he was cut off by Belle, who kissed him on the lips, and once she pulled away, he let out a small chuckle. "Well, now I feel a little better... is that what it was for?"

"Possibly," teased Belle, bringing him over to the railing. "But it's also my way to thank you for sharing this experience with me."

Adam smiled warmly at her, and he replied, "It was my pleasure, Belle... anything to make sure that you're happy."

"Oh, I am definitely happy, Adam," said Belle, who also began to smile."And look how beautiful the view of Paris is from up here."

Turning around to see what Belle was talking about, Adam let out a whistle, and nodded his head. "Indeed it is, my love... but, um, exactly how long-"

"You want to return to the castle, don't you?"

Adam nodded his head, and added, "I would also like for us to go back home... if that's okay with you, of course."

"It is, actually," replied Belle, to his surprise. "I'm starting to miss Papa and everyone else..."

"As am I, my love," admitted Adam, letting out a sigh.

Belle nodded her head, but then, to his surprise, her stomach let out a loud growl.

"You mean to tell me that you're still hungry after all of that food you ate for breakfast?" questioned Adam, while a slightly embarassed Belle gave a small shrug. "Alright, then... but, um, you did bring the atlas with you, correct? I would prefer not to walk all the way back down-"

"Not to worry, Adam, I've taken care of all that," replied Belle, as she took the Enchanted Atlas out from one of her deep pockets. "And, yes, I am ready to return home, as well."

A few hours later

"Hey, Adam?"

"Yes, Belle?" said Adam, after he finished packing up his suitcase.

His wife smiled at him, and she answered, "I've been thinking of doing some reorganization in the library tomorrow morning, and I was wondering if you would like to help."

"Of course, my love, I would be delighted to help," replied Adam, as Belle brought her suitcase over to his. "How would you like to start? By letter, volume number, the year it was published..."

"I'll decide tomorrow, Adam," said Belle, as she brought a hand to her stomach. "Wow, I definitely feel full now than how I felt back on the Eiffel Tower."

"I'm not surprised," chuckled the young prince, as he re-opened the magical atlas. "I think Mrs. Potts has a special tea, in mind, to help you feel better."

When she and Adam finally returned to the castle, they were not expecting to be greeted by Lumiere, Cogsworth, and Mrs. Potts, as well as Plumette and Maurice.

"Welcome home, mademoiselle," sang a cheerful Lumiere, bowing in front of the married couple. "And the same for you, Master."

While Adam smiled and nodded his head, Belle let out a chuckle, and said, "Thank you, Lumiere... did we miss anything important while we were away?"

"Eh, sort of, but not exactly," replied the former candelabra, while Cogsworth fought the urge to roll his eyes. "But we've certainly missed having you two around. It has not been the same."

Belle's warm smile grew wider as she nodded her head, and said, "Thank you again... and the same goes for us."

Then, after noticing a tray of tea nearby, Adam looked over at Mrs. Potts, and said, "I was wondering if you could fix up a cup of tea that would help Belle feel less... well, full... she ate quite a lengthy meal."

"Of course, Master," replied Mrs. Potts, and she began to walk away. "You stay where you are, deary, and I will be back in a few quick minutes."

As for Plumette, who had walked over to Belle, she asked, with a sly smile, "So, do not take this the wrong way, madame, but did the two of you enjoy the wedding gifts that-"

"I'll tell you another time," muttered a blushing Belle, in a low voice so that Adam could not hear her. "But, uh... yes, yes we did... and thank you."

Adam was about to say something else to Lumiere when he noticed that Nathaniel was not in the room.

"Lumiere, do you know where my uncle is at?"

"Oh, I can answer that," replied Maurice, giving her a smile. "He told me that his castle and own servants were in need of his assistance, so I believe that he-"

Before Belle's father could finish speaking, however, Chapeau appeared at the doorway, and gave everyone an apologetic look. "Forgive me, but... there is a certain individual at the door requesting for you."

Giving the same look to the others, Adam then followed Chapeau out of the library, and towards the entrance of the castle, where he saw a well-groomed and official-looking man wating patiently for the young prince.

"Are you Prince Adam?" asked the newcomer, and the young man nodded his head. "Well, I do hope you've gotten used to this place... because it no longer belongs to you."

Adam could not believe what he was hearing. "I... I am sorry, but... who gives you the right to say something like that?"

"I am afraid it's the truth, Adam... as well as a certain marriage that needs to be discussed."

It had been several years since he'd last heard that voice...

Impossible! He is supposed to be dead!

But after turning around, the young man found himself looking at the one person he had never wanted to see again in his life.

"Aren't you going to welcome me home, son?"

With a slight nod of his head, Adam did the first thing that came to his mind.

WHAM!

"Welcome home."