Belle descended the stair, scarcely afraid to breath for fear she would awake from some dream. The gown she wore floated around her, a deep gold trimmed in roses. She felt like a princess, and an impostor. She was a servant, who was she to go to a ball?

At the bottom of the stair stood Betty and Andrew, each waiting to see her off. Betty broke into smiles as Belle stepped into view, her fingers going to her lips,

"I just knew it'd be perfect for you." she gushed, having spent days going through old dresses, looking for one she felt was worth the occasion.

Andrew surprised her by bowing deeply as she reached the bottom of the stair, "You look very beautiful, Miss Belle,"

She blushed playfully, "Why thank you, Lord Cogsworth," she said with an exaggerated curtsy. Andrew tutted but stood a little straighter. Marcus came into the hall and stopped when he saw her,

"You look lovely, Belle," he gave her a smile, and she felt suddenly nervous.

"What if they know I'm just a servant, and they laugh at me?"

Marcus gestured to the jewels he had instructed Andrew that she should have for the evening, "You're wearing the king's crest, they wouldn't dare."

Belle touched the pendant with some astonishment, she had thought it beautiful but had not truly known what it was.

"Th-thank you, Lord Marcus," she stammered, and he smiled,

"You have earned this Belle. Go enjoy yourself. Just remember, you must be home by midnight."

Belle nodded, how could she forget? Staying later would be to break the covenant she had unwittingly signed, and no ball was worth a life of servitude.

"Won't you come?" Belle pressed, knowing it was pointless, but the thought of seeing so many new faces both frightened and excited her.

Marcus shook his head, "I have some things to tend to."

"Brooding in your study isn't tending." Belle covered her mouth quickly after she had said it, eyes wide, but he saw her grin through her fingers.

"Go," he said, raising a brow, "Before I change my mind."

She turned and scampered off towards the carriage that awaited, breathless with excitement.


Ariel shifted impatiently, she knew Belle was to go to the ball tonight, she had said as much in their lesson this morning, and Eric had promised to use the mirror to show her at least part of it, but he wasn't back yet.

She heard him at the door and darted forward as it opened, and he took in her pointed look with raised brow.

"What? I'm not that late."

He set down his pouch and crossed to the wall, grabbing up the mirror as he walked by. He settled onto a cushion on the floor, waiting for Ariel to come perch beside. For days now they had done little else but stare into the mirror, Ariel wanting to see anything and everything. She had demanded to see his old ship the moment she had learned he used to be a sailor, Eric had settled for showing her the ship he had taken with Prince Philip. She had leapt up excitedly then and had run to get one of her old drawings, of a ship and an ogre. She had pointed from it to the mirror and Eric had looked at her, understanding dawning,

"This is that ship?"

She had nodded eagerly.

"That was you, that night? When Philip fell, that was you?"

Her gaze had fallen and she nodded shyly, blushing for some unknown reason. Then her gaze had shot up and she glared at him accusingly, pointing from the picture to himself.

"Yes, I was there..." Eric said, not understanding. Then he had seen she was pointing at not the ship, but the ogre.

"That's me?" he had demanded incredulously, and she had crossed her arms and looked pointedly away. "Why on earth?" he had asked. She had sniffed disdainfully without looking at him.

Then he had realized, "You heard what I said, then, about mermaids?"

She had looked back just to glower at him.

"You're saying those stories aren't true?"

She had shaken her head adamantly.

"All mermaids are good?"

She had nodded once, hard, then seem to catch herself. She held up two fingers to indicate a small amount.

"So there are some that are like the stories!" Eric had said somewhat triumphantly. And she pointedly shrunk the distance between her fingers to indicate a very small amount, then she had crossed her arms again and looked away, still miffed.

"Fine," Eric had said, "I will apologize for thinking poorly of all your kind if you will apologize for depicting me like that." He waved the paper to make his point.

She had pursed her lips, considering, then Ariel had stuck out a hand, and Eric had shaken it.

Now she took her place beside him, tucking her feet under her gown, and looked expectantly at the mirror. Eric sat for a moment, just looking at her, but when she looked up fiercely at him, he rolled his eyes and asked to see Belle at the Kingdoms Ball.


Belle descended from the carriage carefully, taking the hand of the footmen, and paused for a moment to look up, up, up, at the castle before her. It was grand, far larger than Marcus's and bathed with light as everywhere there were torches and candles. She took a moment just to stare, before heading slowly towards the steps. There were people around her, arriving and making their way inside, calling to eachother, and bustling about. At the top step Belle paused, and tried to take a deep breath. Never had she seen so many elegant people at once. Colors flashed before her eye, silks and satin floated everywhere around women of every shape and size imaginable. She was stunned by the extraordinance of it all, feeling at once like she did not belong here. Recalling suddenly that she had told Eric to let her pupil, Ariel he had called her, watch her entrance to the ball, she took a moment to lift her skirt just enough to slide one slipped foot out, and watched the light sparkle across the crystals, hoping the girl would see.


Beside him Ariel bounced in her place, finger tapping the glass as she pointed, and she turned to look at him happily, hoping he had noticed the slippers she had gifted Belle. He was watching her, a light smile on his face, and she blinked at him a few times in question before turning her attention back to the glass.


Belle ascended the final stair, and paused uncertainly in the door way.

"Your name?" a foot man by the door drawled, and Belle looked at him in surprise, wondering if he meant to speak to her.

"So that I may announce you?" his overly prominent brow held high, and she blushed furiously,

"Its, it's Belle."

His head bowed slightly in acknowledgement, "And your escort...?"

Belle stared at him, feeling a little panicked. "Well I don't, " she began, but a voice beside her interrupted,

"Prince Philip, if you please."

Belle stiffened a little, and turned to see the blonde standing there, elbow extended easily, waiting for her to take it. Her mouth opened and closed a few times, but no sound came out.

Had Marcus told him to meet her here? She may not have come if she had known.

"Mi'lady?" he asked after a moment of her silence, and Belle gave in and took his arm. He led her forward through the door way as the footman called out loud,

"Lady Belle escorted by Prince Philip of Aberlene."

Eyes turned as they entered, and Belle felt rooted on the spot. There was candle light and silk tapestries strung from every service. Chandeliers glittered and high above them the ceiling was covered with golden depictions of cherubim.

She tried to remind herself not to gawk as Philip gave a slight bow to the room, then nudged her arm.


Eric gave a sudden unexpected chuckle and Ariel looked at him in question. She had been staring at Philip with an odd expression on her face, as if embarrassed.

"I imagine he looks different not covered in sea water." he quipped, and watched as she blushed furiously, before pointedly ignoring him.

They watched Belle a moment more before Eric spoke into the mirror again.

"Show me the Kingdoms Ball."

The mirror flashed and the scene changed. No longer focused on just Belle, Ariel watched dozens of ladies and men float by. The ring of conversation came as a pleasant hum from the mirror and Ariel settled her chin on her fists as she watched.


Belle allowed Philip to lead her fully into the hall before she stopped, "Lord Philip, I appreciate the escort, but you can tell Marcus I-"

Philip turned to her in surprise. "You know Marcus?" he asked, before his gaze landed on the crest she wore about her neck.

"You're from Marcus's palace?" He looked completely flabbergasted, and Belle's brow furrowed,

"I thought that was why you escorted me."

He shook his head, "No, I didn't realize. I just know how daunting it came be arriving at these things alone."

He smiled kindly as he said it and Belle blinked at him, "Are you feeling alright?" the question blurted out, and he sent her a funny look,

"Yes, Lady, Belle was it? Are you?"

Belle pursed her lips, staring at the man who had blown by her several times in a fit of agitation without obviously ever having seen her.

She wondered then if he knew she was a servant if he would even be speaking to her, and she was tempted to walk away. But her feet held and her chin lifted. King Marcus had sent her here as the representative of his castle. She belonged here just as much as Philip did, and it did not matter what he would think of her otherwise, tonight she would not let him look down on her.

"Of course," she answered lightly, then turned in an easy circle, taking in the room.

"How do you know King Marcus?" Philip asked in real curiosity. Then something clicked in his mind, Aurora had mentioned a Belle in her letters, a woman from the castle who had been kind to her.

He stepped forward quite abruptly, and drew close enough to speak low, "Do you, that is, are the Belle I would have heard spoken of from Aurora?"

She had stiffened at his sudden close proximity, and her brown eyes had flashed as if she intended to reprimand him, but at the mention of his sister her gaze softened.

"I am," she answered with a smile. "Marcus has spoken of her often and I hope one day soon that we may meet."

Philip flashed a sad smile, "She was meant to be here, you know, as a crowned princess?"

"You must miss her," Belle said quietly, feeling compassion rise.

"Every day," he muttered, before shaking himself. Then with a bright smile he extended an arm, "Shall we see what the kitchens have prepared?"

With only a little hesitation, Bell took his arm and walked beside him towards the table that lined the hall.


King Marcus strode through evening's collected shadows, to a stream deep within the wood. He knelt beside it, and watched the surface ripple as the nymphs gathered below it. They slipped into view, many of them, each carefully holding a piece of what the king had requested, and he took it from them with deep gratitude. They each bowed and slipped away as Marcus stood, and carefully folded his gift before tucking it away.

He turned and walked the quiet trail to the place the cabin lay, feeling strangely nervous. He had planned this night with a mixture of amusement and some embarrassment, knowing Philip would likely die laughing if he could see him now. The fairies were waiting for him at the edge of the clearing, and they were buzzing with excitement at his approach. He quieted them, and they loudly hissed to the nymphs to still their chatter, then with a nod to them all he crossed the clearing and knocked on the door.

Aurora opened it with a smile, but stopped in some confusion as she saw all the woodland creatures waiting behind their king.

"Lord Marcus," she stepped out into the coolness of night, "What's going on."

Marcus stood looking oddly stern, "I know tonight was meant to be an important moment for you, and we thought," he glanced at the creatures behind him, "That even though you could not attend the Kingdoms Ball, you still deserved to have one."

He stepped aside then, and the fairie flew lightly into motion. The darted and spun through the clearing, hanging little drops of starlight in the air. Aurora looked to Marcus in open mouthed confusion and wonder as the fairies finished their lights, they came winking towards her. The nymphs gathered close, as the fairie began to spin about her. Light came from each glistening one, and began to wrap itself like fine silk about her. A tiara of flowers was placed on her head by two leaf fairie as the fairies gave one last touch and Aurora stood in a flowing gown of iridescent fairy light, that winked soft pinks and blues as she moved.

She had not spoken, had little chance to even believe it as music began from somewhere deep within the woods as King Marcus held out a hand.


"Shall we dance?" Philip asked as the first song began, holding out a hand, and Belle found herself blushing.

"I, " she ducked her head, "I do not know how."

Philip looked at her in disbelief, "There's easier ways of getting out of dancing with me."

Belle looked at him, words on the tip of her tongue to tell him that he would deserve it if she had refused, but instead she shook her head, "Truly, Prince Philip, I never learned."

He smiled almost gently, "Then let me teach you."

Scarcely believing she was doing this, Belle took his hand.


Ariel's eyes darted about as the dancing began, her chin bouncing a little to the rhythm of the waltz that drifted through the mirror.

Taken by a sudden whim, Eric climbed to his feet. Her mouth popped open in protest as he pulled the mirror away from her. She looked up at him, expression almost hurt, as Eric pocketed the mirror, careful that the music still played, and extended a hand,

"Shall we dance?"

Her eyes widened in stunned disbelief as very slowly Ariel raised her hand, and excepted Eric's own.


"It's quite easy," Philip said as he led her to the floor, "It's just made to look complicated. You take one step," the hand on her waist guided her back as he stepped forward, "And two smaller to the side."


Ariel tried to follow Eric's steps, her eyes fixed on his feet in concentration. His finger came gently beneath her chin and lifted her gaze, "Don't worry about your feet. They'll figure it out eventually if you let them."

She kept her gaze up, stumbling a little over a step, and Eric caught her, smiling encouragingly as she blushed, "You're doing wonderfully."


Belle sighed in a huff of frustration as she stepped on Philip's foot, again. He smiled at her, but not the condescending way she would have expected. She was flustered by so many people twirling around them that she could not focus enough on even the simplest steps, and despite Philip's unnatural kindness, she was suddenly wishing she had not come.

"Here," Philip said as the song ended, pressing her hand, "Come with me." He led her to the back of the room to a quiet corner where the guests had left their cloaks. They were still in the main hall but the closest dancing couple was some thirty feet away.

"We'll start slow." He took her hand and placed it on his shoulder, settling his on her waist, "Are you ready?"

Belle bit her lip, then squaring her shoulders, she nodded.


Aurora glided beneath the fairy light, her feet easily finding the steps she had learned since child hood. Around her the fairie twirled and darted, each elegant creature fumbling through the steps she had tried to teach them, and she laughed.

Marcus's hand was warm on her back, and he moved with an even grace that surprised her. His eyes flashed in the fairy light, and the magic that pulsed beneath his skin followed the rhythm of his heart. Aurora smiled up at him, so overwhelmed by his kindness that tears threatened. She ducked her head as if to hide them, and in doing so grew closer to the king, and his arm settled just a little tighter around her waist.


Belle looked up excitedly, having made several successful attempts at the steps, she thought perhaps she was finally getting it.

"You really have never danced before, have you?" Philip said with some amazement, and her eyes narrowed the smallest amount.

"Not everyone is born with the advantages you were, Prince Philip," She stressed his title slightly, and Philip regarded her a quiet moment.

She was here, at a royal ball, wearing a king's crest and her entire being held such an elegance she was easily one of the most beautiful women in the room. Her hair shone in the chandelier light, and her eyes held a deep richness that sparkled when she smiled. Yet at times she looked almost as if she resented him.

"Have we met?" Philip asked, wondering at it, and for some reason she smirked,

"The fact the we haven't should tell you much."

The song ended and the pair stopped moving. Just as Belle went to move away, the next song began in a rhythm that was obviously not a waltz, and Belle frowned. Oh rats, she thought, she had just gotten used to the first one.

Philip looked at her, a little of his smugness returning, and held out a hand. With a soft sigh, she took his hand and focused on the new steps.


Ariel was breathless with silent laughter as the next dance ended. It had been a fast-paced reel, and Eric had quickly forgone any correct steps and just twirled her in circles about the room. Her cheeks were flushed and her hair hung wild, but she thought she was in that moment happier than she had been since she had left the sea. She had forgotten for a second that she was a prisoner here, that her life had been stolen from her and her only companion was the man who was forced to keep her here. As the song ended, and she stood breathless and happy, her hands resting on his chest, she had forgotten it all.

Then the din of the bell ended abruptly as a voice rose from the mirror,

"Show me mirror, that I may see..."

They sprang apart, Eric pulling the mirror frantically from his pocket, and they stared into the face of the Enchantress.