Beauty & the Beast: The Tale Continues

Chapter 57 - Thy Poison Is Quick

Author's Note: Disney owns the rights to this. I just own the story.

Also, I don't really know much about sword-fighting, so I apologize for not really being descriptive about it.

While Adam and Raphael continued having their sword duel, Maurice had already taken Belle away from the library, and into the nearest empty bedroom he could find.

Once she was laid on top of the bed, he laid the side of his head on her chest to see if she was still breathing.

To his relief, she was, but then, if that were the case, why was she not waking up?

When Belle finally opened her eyes, the first thing she noticed was a lot of white.

"What… is this place?" She wondered, and her response was given by a familiar voice.

"Let's just call this place 'limbo', my dear."

Belle turned around, and she found herself looking at Agathe, who looked even more younger than the last time she saw her.

"Agathe, what… a-am I-"

"Dead?" The Enchantress shook her head, and replied, "No, my dear, you are not… you are just currently in a state of unrest until the time is right for you to awake."

Then, she gave her a smile, and added, "You certainly have a lot on your mind, sweetheart. Why don't we walk and talk about it?"

After their swords clashed against each other yet again, Raphael smirked at his opponent, and said, "Well, you certainly have good swordsmanship, Adam, I will admit that much… but I think we should settle this elsewhere."

"What are you-" He started to say, but then, he noticed that Raphael was standing by the doorway, and watched as the arsonist quickly ran out of the library. "Hey, we're not through yet!"

And, so, he ran after him… then, a few minutes later, Cogsworth and Lumiere made their return, with each of them holding a large bucket of water.

"Alright, my friend, you take that section, and I'll take this one," said the former mantle clock. "Let's put a stop to this fire."

As Belle and Agathe continued their walk, the Enchantress asked, "So, what seems to be troubling you, my dear?"

The young woman sighed, and she gave a small shrug. "I… I'm confused, Agathe… I thought Raphael was my friend."

"As did I, Belle," replied Agathe, with a sad expression. "But there is a very powerful darkness inside of him, and as you've seen… it is not a very pleasant one."

Bringing her hands to her stomach and face, Belle almost felt like crying again. "But there's a goodness inside of him, as well, Agathe… I saw it back in Verona… when he showed up to my wedding… how can I save him again this time?"

"I am afraid that you cannot this time," admitted Agathe, with a look of regret. "There is only one way that he can live the rest of his life in peace."

Adam was now in the outdoor part of the castle, and he found Raphael standing atop a familiar bridge that was near his bedroom balcony.

"This is where your castle cost Gaston his life, Adam," growled Raphael. "And now, it's going to be where I cost you your own."

The young prince started to race towards him, but he stopped to think for a moment, and to Raphael's surprise, Adam began to lower his sword.

"Why are you doing this, Raphael?" He asked, speaking in a serious tone. "How could you do something so horrible to Belle… after everything that she's done for you?"

"Ha, as if…" exclaimed Raphael. "She never once cared about me!"

"Are you serious right now?" said Adam, looking at him, in disbelief. "You even said at the thankful-giving dinner that she was your friend!"

Raphael rolled his eyes, and growled, "Perhaps I did say that, back when she was still Belle… but you and I both know that she is not the same girl you fell in love with."

"Of course, I know that," replied Adam, who was slowly taking a step forward. "But I promised to her in my vows that I would always love her, no matter what changes would eventually come her way… she's my everything, Raphael."

The former soldier made a noise of disgust, but before he could speak, Adam added, "She was your friend, Raphael… and you betrayed her."

"Liar," growled Raphael.

"She loved you, you idiot!" exclaimed Adam, who was taking a page out of his wife's book. "Obviously not in the way she loves me, but as a friend, Raphael, Belle loved you… because she understood how it felt to be an outcast in the world, to listen to others talk about you from behind their backs… knowing what it was like to have almost no one in your life…

"And, you suddenly decided to throw that all away? For what?"

Belle could not believe what she was hearing from Agathe.

"There has to be another way," said the young woman. "I can't just-"

"It's the only way, Belle, and even he knows it," replied Agathe. "Otherwise, I fear that the next time something like this happens again, it will be much worse."

But Belle continued to shake her head, and she said, "I… I can't kill my friend, Agathe… I just… can't… he has to be in there somewhere."

The Enchantress sighed, knowing that any more continuation of arguing would be pointless, and she said, "Belle… this is a dangerous situation… very dangerous."

Belle nodded her head. "Yes… yes, it is, but I still need to try. He has to still be in there."

Seeing that Belle was determined, Agathe gave her a small smile, and said, "Alright, then, my dear… but I warn you, this may hurt a little bit."

"What do you-" Belle began to say, but she stopped after Agathe suddenly clapped her hands together.

Maurice was currently sitting in a chair, resting himself after everything he had been through today, but all of a sudden, he woke up after hearing his daughter let out a painful gasp.

"Belle?"

The young woman took several deep breaths, and said, "I… I'm alright, Papa, I… w-where is… did Adam come back?"

"Yes, and he's outside with Raphael, but before you go out there…" exclaimed Maurice, who had his hands on her shoulders, and was looking straight at her. "Never scare me like that again, Belle. I almost thought I lost you once… don't make me have that feeling ever again."

As her eyes started to become watery with emotion, Belle nodded her head, and said, "I promise, Papa… and I'm sorry… now, where exactly did they go?"

For a moment, Raphael had remained silent, and judging by his facial expressions, Adam could tell that he was having some sort of conflict.

"You even asked me if I knew what it felt like to be truly alone in the world… and I did, especially when I thought that Belle was not coming back."

The former solider nodded his head, and muttered, "It was… before the horror celebration dance, and…"

############

"Exactly," said Belle, glad to see that her husband was understanding. "I know you don't always enjoy his company, Adam, but the truth is that I..."

"You care about him a lot," finished Adam, who then sighed. "Because you know what he went through... and, apparently, so do I..."

Then, he looked back at Raphael, and said, "I... I'm sorry to have thought wrong about you... but would you mind telling us ahead of time when your next visit will be?"

The former antagonist chuckled a little bit, and said, "I'll work on that…"

##############

"She… cares about me…" muttered Raphael, and Adam nodded his head.

Don't listen to him, you fool!

Then, to Adam's surprise, the former solider suddenly frowned, and reached into the side of his cloak, pulling out a M1740 firearm, which he then aimed at Adam.

"Stop lying to me," growled Raphael, who was actually speaking to both Adam and the darkness inside of himself.

"Raphael, put the weapon down," said Adam, trying to calm him. "I wasn't lying to-"

Who are you going to believe? Me or-

"Shut up!" yelled Raphael, continuing to aim his weapon at Adam. "Don't make me kill you, prince boy."

Before Adam could say anything, they heard a familiar voice cry out,"Raphael, stop!"

"Belle?" said the two of them, and Raphael watched as the young woman stood by Adam's side.

"Raphael, please, you are not a completely evil person!" cried Belle. "You are not Gaston… you are good!"

The former solider looked at her, with confusion, and asked, "I took away your dreams… your books… your roses… your rings… I nearly killed you myself… why do you keep trying to save me?"

"Because you are my friend, Raphael," exclaimed Belle. "I've seen the real you, and that monster version is not the person you are meant to be!"

Raphael's grip tightened on his firearm, and he replied, "You… care… about me?"

"Yes, Raphael, I do!" cried Belle, trying to bring out his kindness. "That's what friends are for… they protect each other!"

Once Belle said those words, Raphael remained quiet, for a moment, and then, he said, "Belle, I… I'm sorry… but w-we can't be friends anymore."

"What do you-"

CLICK!

She was interrupted by the sound of his weapon being loaded, and then, Raphael said, "You don't deserve any more pain, Belle…"

"Raphael, please, put down the gun," begged Belle, while Adam let out a sigh, knowing what choice he was going to make.

"This is the only way, Belle," said Raphael, who had now switched the position of his firearm. "I have to do this."

Belle tried to run towards him, but Adam held her back, saying, "He's made his choice, my love."

But she refused to give up. "Please, Raphael, don't do this!"

Raphael shook his head, and then, he said his final words.

"Oh, happy firearm… this is thy sheath."

Then, Belle felt herself being turned away by Adam, who refused to have either of them see what happened next.

BOOM!

"No….no…" sobbed Belle, who began crying into Adam's chest, while Adam let out a sigh.

As she continued crying, the young prince turned around, and just like he expected, Raphael was no longer there.

In his place was the rare and beautiful rose that Belle had recieved as a Christmas gift.