Author's Note: Wow, thank you so much for the reviews! I'm honored!
And as I did before, I shall respond to each and every one of you!
Belle: Ah, so it IS your real name. Super cool! Unfortunately, this IS going to be a Lumiere/Belle tale (Lumielle), and there is nothing anyone can say that will change my mind about that. But don't worry. It won't be a rushed romance. It'll be gradual and flow as nicely as it can with the plot. I hope that the romance doesn't keep you from reading, so thanks for leaving the review!
A Person Who Likes Comedy: Whoops! I do believe I forgot to respond to you last time. My sincerest apologies, my friend. I do hope you are having a good read so far! I've been working especially hard to further the plot and write these things out, and it's a lot harder than it sounds. Or looks.
Lumiere8645: That sounds like an interesting idea for a climax. Though I'm unsure how Lumiere would actually do the deed, being a candelabra and all. But perhaps by then, the enchantress would have made an appearance and changed some things? Who knows? Gaston's master plan is also a toughie, and I'm still trying to figure it out. If you have any suggestions please write another review or message me if you want. :) Thanks again!
Dearie: Writing Gaston's character isn't the smoothest of tasks, so I'm glad you're finding him enjoyable!
Noname: Poor me! My fingers have gone absolutely numb from typing!
Diamondback Mako: Thinking about what should happen is the only thing that helps ME get through work, haha! My upmost thanks for reading this chapter and leaving a constructive review. It's sometimes nice to get a review that just don't include happy faces and good jobs but something a bit longer and thoughtful. Not that I don't like those reviews that are short and sweet. ;) LeFou is definitely not done with Lumiere nor Cogsworth, so stay in your seat! We're not done yet.
A Vegan: Might I suggest one of Ramsey's delectable steaks? Lol, just kidding. Thanks for leaving a review, that was really sweet of you! I do hope that you enjoy this chapter for I put a lot of effort into it and a lot of blood, sweat, tears, and other fluids.
Gaston: Oh please. You little muttonhead!
Noname: Gaston's master plan is a toughie that I'm still trying to figure out myself. If you have any ideas, please message me!
singertobe: Well, if you keep reading, you'll find out. ;) Thanks for leaving a review, man! I really like your name by the way. It's so random!
Bailey Noelle: Finally! Another person who likes Lumielle! Yes, I'm calling it that. That's gotta be my OTP as well! I came into the fandom looking for stories like that, and I was sad to discover that I only found one! One measly story out of a whopping thousand! I just had to add to the nonexistent pile, didn't I? I plan to write more one-shots surrounding those two in addition to this story. Maybe you could help? That would be super fun! :D
And last but certainly not least...
Unknown user: Uh, a crossover between Beauty and the Beast and Power Rangers? Well, I'm flattered that you want me to write that, and I'd love to, but unfortunately, I've never seen Power Rangers. And without knowing the source material, there's really nothing I can do. Thanks for the suggestion though!
...
The torrential rain had lessened into a light drizzle by the time every enchanted object and every human had been convened to begin the short journey back to the settlement. A thick mist had just settled over the courtyard, nearly choking everyone with its unwelcome aura. Everyone but Gaston, that is, who was having the time of his life up there on that high horse with a despondent Belle seated carefully behind him.
She had watched with bloodshot, runny eyes as the people she grew up with in her village destroyed her friends, the ones she had come to know all those months in the Beast's castle. Watched them scream. Watched them burn. Watched them die. It was too much. Too much for the young woman to witness firsthand. Her heart was quickly succumbing to an undying depression, which had first taken root when the Beast had been brutally murdered, right before her very eyes.
She had to bear it, though, if Lumiere-and of course the rest of the staff were to live. It was only fair, she assumed, for he had put his life on the line to protect her more than once now-even if several of those times had been against his will. But he would rather have died, she realized, as Gaston's horse began to trot towards the woods. Up on that balcony, when the enemy had held him over the edge, he had begged her to resist-even if that meant he would fall to his death.
"So selfless," Belle thought sullenly. "He...He really cares about what happens to me...My now dearest friend, now that Beast has passed away... Lumiere..."
...
Lumiere was unceremoniously shoved into the cage against his will. The rough actions achieved him a few rough scrapes to his golden surface, and a few dents in his wax "hands" as he tried to catch himself when he fell, which greatly stung. Luckily, Cogsworth and the children were there to help pick him up from the cold metallic floor.
"Lumiere!" He cried, as well as the children, Chip, and Mrs. Potts from one cage over. "You're alive!"
They might've said more, but were rudely interrupted when LeFou shoved his face between the bars, frightening them enough to scoot back into a corner, although the two adult objects tried to put on brave faces for the children.
"Don't try anything funny," the little man warned, promptly locking the cage before he left them to shiver in the misty air. "Darn it..." he grumbled as he stalked away. "I really wanted to melt that one..."
Lumiere took one look at his friend and gasped. "Cogsworth, mon ami!" He grasped the shoulders of the other enchanted being and stared, horrified. "W-What have they done to you?!" Indeed, the clock was in rather bad shape. Abrasions littered his body like whip marks and his glass door was utterly shattered. He smiled stanchly, though, through his agony. "Oh, not to worry, Lumiere. It's nothing that cannot be fixed." He failed to mention who exactly would be fixing them, but the candelabra decided to let it slide for his friend's own sake, for now.
Mrs. Potts was across from them, her lid recovered, trying to soothe the terrified scullery drudges.
"Now, it's alright dears!" She tried to calm the shivering and softly crying teacups. "Everything will be just fine, you'll see."
"But Mama, where are they taking us?" Chip inquired, his little voice trembling with fear. Around him, his brothers and sisters murmured similar questions.
A sudden jerk caused them all to jolt, and they all realized that the wagon had begun to move. That was it, then. They were off. Lumiere hopped over to the barred wall of one side of the cage and grasped them. He stared out at what he could, being surrounded by other covered cages and whatnot. They were really on their way. It had been ten years since they had left behind the courtyard, the gates of the castle property. Some, who had so little faith that the Beast would find love, had left the castle in search for something more. What happened to them, nobody knew. But now it was their turn...
"I do believe that they are taking us to the village," Cogsworth informed the teacup without thinking much of just whom he was talking to, and just how sensitive he should really be. "To bloody sell us!" He scoffed, gesturing to his broken body. "Preposterous idea, isn't it? I don't know to whom I'd be much use, now that I'm tarnished-"
"Cogsworth!" Both Lumiere and Mrs. Potts hissed, and the children all cried out in horror at the news.
"Sell us?" One shouted.
"Like slaves?" Cried another.
"No! I don't wanna!" Chip whimpered, and would have covered his "ears" had he had hands.
"Keep it down in there!" Shouted a villager walking alongside the wagon, and he struck the cage with a club, causing everyone within it to jolt and shriek.
"Mon Dui! Well done; you've frightened them," Lumiere groaned quietly, palming his forehead with a wax "hand" once the villager moved on. "Quelle folie!"
"Wha-? Well, excuse me!" Cogsworth sputtered haughtily, putting his "hands" on his wooden framework. "But this is no time to sugar-coat things. Not when we're potentially headed for disaster. Not that you would know that, foolish waxen-"
"Enough!" Lumiere shouted, stunning everyone present. "Enough," he repeated softer when the villager returned with a warning look. He was finding it harder and harder to contain himself on the premise that he had perceived his own friends' demises. Witnessing those things had damaged his temperament to a certain to degree he was unsure of.
Once the villager moved on once more, he spoke again. "I-I apologize, mon ami. That wasn't...necessary. I just..." he rubbed the space between his eyes and sighed sadly. "Pierre," he revealed, "has met the end of the road, and Alfonso has too..."
"Oh, not Pierre," Cogsworth whispered, and they shared a small silence for their lost friends. "Alfonso... I witnessed them throwing him into the-" he paused, glancing at the children, and held his tongue.
Je suis désolé-" Lumiere started, but Cogsworth held up a small metallic hand.
"No, don't apologize," he assured his friend with a sigh, rubbing the back of his "neck". "I suppose around children I-I could've kept quiet."
"...What can we do?" Lumiere muttered quietly, as to not let the fumbling, shaking youngsters around him hear.
"Why, escape, of course!" Cogsworth replied with a whisper after looking about to make sure no villager was listening, making a determined fist in the process.
"They cannot contain us forever," Mrs. Potts agreed, overhearing them from her own cage.
"Exactly! We'll find a way, mark my words," Cogsworth promised when Lumiere looked at him with evident uncertainty.
The candelabra blinked. "And how do you propose we do that?" He asked doubtfully. "Even if we did manage to escape, what then? Gaston's men have completely taken over ze castle and there is nowhere else that we can go!"
Cogsworth stared at him, as did everyone else present, causing him to fidget. "Goodness gracious, what's got you so pessimistic all of a sudden?" He asked.
Lumiere glared at him. "Death, mom ami. I've witnessed the cruelty of mankind today. Not just to Alfonso and Pierre, but my late love." He glanced over his friend's form and sighed sadly. "Surely you have too, by the looks of it."
"I have," Cogsworth admitted. "And I'm so sorry about Fifi. She was a good person."
"Yes... She was," Lumiere murmured in remembrance, bowing his head, and Cogsworth put a hand on his shoulder. "I...I don't know if I can live on, knowing what happened to her.
"Chap, listen here," the clock assured, "She is no longer cursed as we are. She is free in the heavens."
Lumiere glanced at him, and it must be confessed that he teared up before swallowing hard. But it was nice to hear that she was no longer under the burden of the spell. That she was indeed free like a bird. "Oui... I understand," he mumbled. "It's just...its hard to lose someone."
"She wasn't just a...ahem...a bed bug?" Cogsworth asked awkwardly.
Lumiere glared at him. "Of course not! She meant more to me than zat!"
Chip blinked as he watched the adults converse, and nudged one of his sisters. "Why is he crying?" He asked softly before turning to his mother. "Mama, why is Monsieur Lumiere crying?"
Mrs. Potts smiled sadly at her young son, and decided it best to put it gently. "Chip, you need to understand that life doesn't last for an eternity."
"But Mama, ours do," Chip reminded her. "Ever since the enchantress came, right?"
Right. Ever since the enchantress came all those years ago, everyone except for the Beast hadn't aged a bit. The children were the proof. If everything were normal and they had never been turned into inanimate objects, Chip would be seventeen by now. But since the curse ten years ago, time stood still with the servants in the castle.
Mrs. Potts knew this, but she needed a reason other than death by murder. "He's lost someone very near and dear to him, love," she told him gently. "I think it'd be best if we let it be."
"Oh," Chip mumbled, feeling a bit sickish upon hearing the news. He looked to Lumiere, and before his mother could stop him, he hopped up to the candelabra and nuzzled his golden base with his cheek, as he had no arms to hug with.
Lumiere paused his conversation with Cogsworth and the two adults looked down to the teacup with surprise written all over their faces.
"It's okay, Monsieur," Chip cooed, smiling brightly up at Lumiere. "You still have us! And we'll always take care of each other, right everyone?" The children all giggled, spirits lifting as Lumiere's heart began to mend in crooked ways. He could always count on Chip to lift the dreary mood.
"Merci," he thanked the young child, who giggled before hopping back to his mother, who gave him a grateful smile. "Good work, love," she told him through the bars separating them.
...
Gaston's horse, Viril quietly trotted on, its head held high, it gorgeous black mane flowing with the slight wind. Upon it perched a proud Gaston, and seated before him was Belle, hunched over like a haggard elder, quiet tears spilling out of her eyes and down her face.
She couldn't stop thinking about what lay ahead in the near future. Never before could she even have imagined that she would marry Gaston, that cruel, vile snake. Never. And now it was actually happening! Belle sniffed, rubbing her eyes with a free hand as the other clutched the horse's mane.
"If I have to marry him, I-...I don't think I could possibly bear the thought of living," she thought miserably. "But I have to do it. He's cleverer than I thought; he's used my friends against me!" She pursed her lips and shut her dull hazel eyes. "Oh, what am I going on about?! Not being able to bear the thought of living-ha! No, that's perfectly ridiculous. I need to stop thinking about myself and start thinking about others for a moment. The castle staff-Lumiere...Cogsworth...Mrs. Potts...Chip...they're in trouble, and I need to find a place safe enough for them to stay! But where on earth do I find a place suitable enough for a talking enchanted being?"
She thought for a moment and then opened her eyes. "Papa... When we find him, soon, hopefully, he can fix them up and have them in his shop. They can stay at our-his house!" She remembered desolately that now that she was going to be married to Gaston, she was going to have to move into his place, but...
"As long as they are safe...I am happy. I am happy," she repeated in her head. "I am happy if they are safe. I am happy if he is safe."
Gaston couldn't stop thinking about the wedding; the future, how he won the battle. It was a calamitous one to be sure, but like always, he had come out on top, just like he was always meant to. And now he had what he'd always wanted: Belle.
Did he need her love? No, he just wanted her...well...her! Did he need her support? Well, that was different; of course he needed that. He wanted to have kids with her, six or seven strapping boys like him, and how could he if she downright refused? He rubbed his chin thoughtfully. It could take a while but he would eventually straighten her out. It would probably take...persuasion of some sort. Why else would he keep that ugly candlestick alive?
...
"But hear this: what if all we needed to do was burn through those ropes?" Cogsworth pointed to the ropes holding down them all on the wagon, which was not far from their reach.
He and Lumiere had been arguing quietly for the last ten minuets over what escape route they should take, and they hadn't agreed on one...yet.
Lumiere stared blankly at him. "And then what?"
Cogsworth shrugged. "Erm, w-well, perhaps the force of our fall-"
"You mean crashing onto the ground?" One of the children interrupted, overhearing the plans.
"Correct! The force of the crash would bust this cage open-we open the door to Mrs. Potts', and anyone else's-then we make a break for it and hide in the woods!" He cleared his throat, motioning to the ropes keeping them steady. "Ahem. Lumiere, would you mind?"
The candelabra sighed and held out his golden "arms", to show everyone why he wouldn't be much use. "No wicks. Not anymore." He forlornly revealed.
Mrs. Potts gasped, and would have covered her mouth had she hands. She had assumed that he hadn't illuminated himself due to his depression. "Oh, my poor Dear-"
"It matters not. What does is what happens to Belle, her father-and us of course," Lumiere told her, completely brushing off the fact that he had been disabled of his fire control. "If we escape, Gaston has no leverage to use against her."
"Oh, that poor girl has been through so much," Mrs. Potts sighed.
"We all have," Cogsworth agreed.
"And her father-" the teapot paused, turned her back, and scoured the woods, searching, "-we don't know where he is, do we?"
"Oh!" Chip perked, and hopped upward. "I do!" All eyes turned to him.
"Do you?" His mother exclaimed. "Where?"
"Well, when we came to the castle, Belle went inside and told her dad to wait for her," Chip revealed. "He's probably hiding in the woods!"
"Where in the woods, young man?" Cogsworth asked the teacup.
"Oh..." Chip sagged guiltily, as he failed to know that bit of important information. "I dunno."
The three adults made eye contact. Well, so much for that. Although it did let them know that he wasn't at the castle. "Perhaps we'll run into him during our journey?" Cogsworth suggested with uncertainty.
"Perhaps..."
They were quiet again for quite some time.
"I can't imagine what she's going through. What he's been going through... What we've been going through...and they were so close, weren't they?" Lumiere moaned.
Mrs. Potts sighed sadly. "After all this time, the master finally learned to love."
"But she never did return those feelings, did she?" Cogsworth muttered.
"Afraid not. Otherwise we'd be human again," Lumiere responded glumly.
...
Maurice was indeed hiding in the woods, but he wasn't alone. Alongside him was his trusty horse, Philippe. He had wanted to follow Belle into the castle, but when she insisted him that he stay...well...she knew more about that place than he did, and she seemed to know what she was doing.
Now to see her on the back of Gaston's horse, miserable and desolate with a trail of carts following closely behind with cages filled with enchanted servants, he could have blown his top, and therefore, his cover.
Instead, he tried to startle them, maneuvering Philippe to the center of the road and without warning.
"Belle!" He shouted, effectively managing to shock Gaston's horse. Said horse reared and whinnied, disheveling both riders from its back.
"Oof! Papa!" Belle cried as she landed hard on the ground.
"Belle," Maurice shouted again, this time with concern as he rushed to his daughter. "Are you alright?" He asked frantically, helping her sit up. "What's going on? Where's the Beast? Why are you with...?" He looked up to Gaston, who'd quickly situated his horse and glared down at him.
"Well, well, well, if it isn't Sir Maurice," he chuckled, maintaining his intimidating composure. "How do y' do on this fine morning?"
"Ah, so it's Sir Maurice this time. Not "the crazy ol' loon"?" Maurice asked angrily, putting his hands on his hips.
Gaston gasped, putting a hand over his broad chest. "Of course not!" He exclaimed. "Why in the world would I call my own future father-in-law such a thing?"
"Fa-Father-in-law?" Maurice repeated, appalled. "Belle," he whispered to his mentally beaten daughter in confusion, "what is he talking about?"
Mrs. Potts craned as far as she could to possibly catch a glimpse of what was going on at the head of the wagon trail. "Is-Is that who I think it is?" She asked, a real smile growing on her porcelain face. "Is it he?!"
"It is!" Lumiere exclaimed. "Oh, thank Dui he's alright!"
"I wanna see!" Chip whined, and Cogsworth gently picked him up to give him a better view.
"Ah, so you haven't told him about our little arrangement?" Gaston was smirking, rearing his horse.
Belle scoffed softly, folding her arms. "Well, seeing how we just met up with each other, I don't see how I would have told him before," she pointed out, but her father didn't understand.
"Arrangement?" He repeated, even more confused. "Belle, what is he talking ab-?" He stopped upon soaking in the defeated expression on her face, one like he had never seen before.
"Papa, we-...we're getting married," she quietly confessed.
"Married?!" He gasped, grasping her shoulders. "But Belle, you shouldn't!"
"I don't have a choice!" She cried, and Gaston frowned. "Trust me," she continued, a little quieter. "There is nothing I'd love more than to be free from this marriage, and I'd rather die than be infatuated with that cruel, cold hearted snake, but..."
"Gosh, you could at least pretend," Gaston scoffed under his breath and smoothed back his raven hair.
Maurice was shocked. "Now wait just a minute," he snapped, turning to Gaston and wrapping his arms protectively around his daughter. "There's no chance I'm allowing a brute such as yourself to marry my little girl. No chance!"
"Papa wait-"
"Brute? I'm wounded," Gaston sneered. "Remember what I'm capable of, old man, and of what you are: mad."
"I am NOT mad!" Maurice shouted, startling everyone. "Everyone knows that now! The Beast is real!"
"Was real."
"...What?" Maurice stared at Gaston, and then looked to his daughter, who looked close to crying herself.
"Papa, he-" Belle looked to Gaston, who gave her a warning look. "He passed away the night we returned."
"...Oh, my dear, I'm so sorry," he apologized gently, taking her delicate hands in his callused ones. He hadn't known the Beast for very long. In fact, the only time he HAD was when he'd been imprisoned, his daughter giving up her freedom for him shortly after. But she was a smart girl and had apparently the skill of turning the Beast around for the better.
"Don't you worry... Things will work out in the end. You'll see," he assured her, but Belle was nearly inconsolable at that point. Her father's face fell when she broke eye contact.
LeFou popped up, finally catching up to the head of the wagon trail. "Maurice!" He greeted, letting out a huge grin. "Long time no see!"
Maurice glared, having remembered what LeFou had done to him back in the village. "Get away from me, you cretin," he growled threateningly. Thankfully, LeFou recognized the danger signals right away and scurried off before Maurice could hit him or something.
"Papa, I'm so glad you're okay," Belle finally said, honestly relieved as she gave her father another hug. "Would you like to come back to the village with us? There's room in the wagons, if you'd like."
Maurice smiled and rubbed her shoulders. "Of course, my dear," he answered sweetly. "Will you join me?"
Belle nodded her head quickly before Gaston could say a word. "I...I would love to, Papa, but..." she looked to Gaston and then back to be father. "We have a lot to catch up on, don't we? Don't worry. We will when we get home."
"Home? But-"
She tugged him close. "Gaston doesn't want me near them," she whispered in his ear. "Keep Lumiere safe."
...
It took a lot of negotiating and threatening from both sides before Gaston finally agreed that Maurice could join the enchanted objects in the back of the wagon train. Belle would have to remain up front, however, with Gaston in order for that to happen.
So when the enchanted objects saw Maurice approaching, they all jumped for joy. And who could blame them for being excited at the arrival of this old man after all the hardship they had endured?
"Bonjour, Monsieur!" Lumiere greeted happily, gracefully enacting a deep bow to the man, who chuckled as he sat down next to the cages. "It has been a while, no?"
"Bonjour!" He replied, equally as happy, but gasped as he looked over the state of the enchanted objects. "Why, you're all a mess!" He exclaimed in horror. They all sagged. "Oh, I'm sorry," he quickly amended. "I meant nothing by it; I'm just concerned. What happened?"
"Gaston, I'm afraid," Mrs. Potts sighed. "It's been a long night for all of us. Thankfully, your arrival has brightened up the day, if only by a little."
"Oh, my sincerest apologies, Mademoiselle," Maurice respectfully apologized, saddened by the state of the once bright, cheerful beings he'd come to know during his short time at the castle. "When we get back home, I'll make sure to fix you all up. It's my specialty, you know."
"Is it really?" Mrs. Potts asked, her eyes shining. "I can't thank you enough, Sir."
Maurice smiled, remembering their kindness to him when he had first entered the castle, and how eager they were to help him. And then he remembered.
"Which one of you is Lumiere?" He asked, scouring them all.
Cogsworth raised an eyebrow and Mrs. Potts blinked before both she and the clock slowly glanced at the candelabra, which raised a golden arm hesitantly.
"Ah, zat would be me, Monsieur," he confessed, hopping forward. "Em, if you don't mind my asking: eh, how is it that you know my name?"
Maurice looked him over skeptically and folded his arms. Ah, so this was Lumiere. The candelabra—the first enchanted object he had met in that castle. "Well…" How could he explain this without sounding like an overprotective father? "It seems as though my daughter has taken a liking to you," he replied with amusement written all over his face. "She asked me specifically to keep you out of harm's way."
There was a moment's silence.
"Me?" Lumiere sputtered, surprised, and it must be confessed that Cogsworth snorted impolitely after raising his eyebrows in surprise. "Oh, but Monsieur, there must be some mistake-" Lumiere tried, elbowing Cogsworth in the side.
"There is no mistake," Maurice confirmed. "I don't know why Gaston seems to have it out for you, but he does." Lumiere cringed. It figured. "And my daughter wants to make sure that he doesn't lay a finger on ya. Even if that means sacrificing her freedom."
Lumiere sagged miserably. "I told her not to bother, mom ami."
The old man sighed. "She's headstrong, just like her mother. She'd do anything to keep her loved ones safe, and that apparently means you now too."
The wagon stopped.
"We're here! Let the auction begin!"
Author's Note: Uh oh. The auction… What does this mean for our heroes? …I actually am not quite sure yet. Still need to think of a plot over here… Ideas, anyone?