"Christmas?! She's planning Christmas?!" the Beast growled from what he had heard. "Yes. Awful, isn't it?" Forte asked. "Sableye." Saber nodded his in agreement.

The Beast crawled towards his chair and sat down as he watched the fire. "Perhaps, she doesn't know how I feel about Christmas." "But she does know. She just doesn't care like I do. She's actually trying to bring Christmas back to the castle. And you know how much we despise Christmas." said Forte. Beast looked at the flames as he remembered his past. "The day my life ended."

(Flashback)

"Bring me my presents!" the prince yelled as he sat on his throne with Acel. All the guests, servants, and Pokemon were gathered around. Lumiere, in his human form, and Cresent bowed before him as Lumiere held a present in his hands.

"Here, Your Highness. Please accept this humble gift as a token of our appreciation. I know I speak for everyone when…" "Ah, just give it to me!" said the prince as he snatched it out of Lumiere's hand. Acel watched as he looked at his master opening his present and brought out a book in his hand.

"A storybook? You call this a present? I hope you have something better for me, Forte." he said as he looked at the humanized Forte with his Sableye. "Yes, sir. Of course, Master." he answered. Forte slowly played the organ as he was expressing his music, but the prince frowned.

"What is that?" he interrupted. Forte stopped and looked at him. "Um, a small piece in your honor, Master." he answered. The prince slouched on his throne in disgust. "I hate it. Forte, that stuff is gloomy." "Sol..." Acel shook his head in shame, not letting his master to notice.

Suddenly a knock on the door came from the main hall and the prince stood up in anger. "Who disturbs my Christmas?!" he shouted. He opened the doors and in front of him and Acel, stood an old beggar woman in a dark cloak and was holding a beautiful rose.

"Please, take this rose… in exchange for shelter from the bitter cold." she said. The prince scoffed and was repulsed by her haggard appearance. "I don't need a rose. Go away, you wretched old hag!" he said and slammed the doors in front of her.

The rose that old woman was holding, glowed and magically appeared in front of the prince and his Absol. They looked up and saw that old woman was the enchantress holding a magical rose. She looked at the prince and said, "You have been deceived by your own cold heart. A curse upon your house and all within it. Until you have found one to love you as you are, you shall remain forever… a beast."

The magic began to swirl around the prince and the servants. Their Pokémon watched and stunned to see their trainers turned into objects, but Acel watched in horror as the prince's scream turned into a roar and was magically transformed in a beast.

(End of Flashback)

"But we've come so far since then. We've risen above the tragedy." said Forte. The Beast furiously pushed his chair to the ground and looked at him. "Where is she?" "I believe she's gone to the boiler room, or so a little Fletchling told me." he answered. Fife chuckled and spoke, "Fletchling Fletchling." "Kricketune." said Karel.

In the boiler room, a couple of wood holders came in with logs for the boiler. Belle and Petite went in and saw how busy they are. Carrying wood, chopping them, throwing them into the boiler. "Eevee..." Petite looked around seeing so many wood and many objects working.

A wheelbarrow came by with a handful of logs and on top was a tin gas can. "Hey, hey, hey. Come on. Get outta the way. We're workin' here." It shouted. "Oh! Excuse me." said Belle as she and Petite moved out of the way to let the wheelbarrow pass by.

"All right, you guys. Now get back to work. The castle doesn't heat itself; you know." said the Axe until he spotted Belle and Petite walking by. "So, what can I do you for, lady?" he asked as Belle picked up a log. "I'm looking for a log." she answered. "All right. Logs we got. What do you want? Hard wood, soft wood? We got it all." he said as he dives into the pile of logs.

"We got birch, maple, pine, oak…" the Axe kept diving until his blade head was bumped to the floor. "Doi! Concrete." he said as he got up and a couple of Fletchlings were flying around his head. "My head. Don't worry. It'll pass." he shook his head and looked at Belle, "So, make up your mind already."

"Is it all right if I just browse?" Belle asked. "Suit yourself. Take your time. Me, I got work to do." said Axe and hopped away. "Petite, see if you can help me out." "Eevee." Petite nodded her head and jumped into a pile of logs but carefully not to fall.

While the two were looking, banging and boilings sounds were coming from the boiler. The workers stopped and stair, fearing like it was going to blow. The boiler tries to hold on as much it could, but as the whistle was blowing hard, the boiler let a steamed smoke and smiled. The objects sighed in relief.

"Hey, what am I payin' you for, being boring? Do that on your own time. Get outta here!" the Axe yelled and the workers continued working.

"Find anything, Petite?" Belle asked. "Eevee..." Petite shook her head until she spotted something. "Eevee eevee!" she hollered. Belle carefully climbed and saw the log that she was looking for. "Yes! Well done, Petite!" she said. "Eevee." said Petite as she was proud of herself. Belle grabbed the log and carefully slid down along with her Pokémon.

Belle examined a Yule log and smiled until she and Petite heard a growl. Petite turned and saw that it was the Beast. She had a feeling that he was not too happy or calm and decided to hide somewhere. Belle hid the log behind her as the Beast stood in front of her.

"What are you hiding?" he growled. Belle shrugged until the Beast quickly snatched the log behind her and looks at it. "It's, uh, a Yule log." Belle spoke and Beast looked at her. "A-a Yule log. It's a wonderful tradition. One log is chosen, and everyone in the house touches it… and makes a Christmas wish."

The Beast looks bitterly at Belle. "Wishes are stupid. You made a Christmas wish last year. IS THIS WHAT YOU WISHED FOR?!" His roared echoed as it caused a bunch of Zubats fly off. Petite hid behind a pile of logs and watched but flinched from the Beast's roar. But Belle stood firmly.

"No. But I will keep wishing. And when the log is burned on Christmas morning…" "There will be no Christmas." "But..." "NO! I am the master here." the Beast bellowed. "How can you be so selfish?" "You cannot possibly understand," he said as Belle frowned, listening to his ranting, "You have no idea what it's like to lose everything, to be trapped in your own castle, to be, uh…"

"Prisoner?" she spoke. The Beast became silent, taken back as the workers watched the two argue. "The only one holding us prisoner here is you. Well, I'm not giving up." she said and stormed out of the room. Petite quickly got out of her hiding spot and exit the room.

The Beast looked down as he held the log in his hand. "Prisoner." he said in mourn. He didn't notice that Belle was watching him until she left.

To Be Continued...