There was a heavy knock upon the echoing castle door. Belle rushed to it in the cold silence that had filled the front foyer. The Beast was sleeping again after his first meal and would not be disturbed. She struggled to open the massive portal, but cracked it just enough so that the chill could not rush in. It was her father. "Papa!" she cried, immediately bringing him in. Maurice pulled his cloak closer about his shoulders, brushing off the frost. "Papa, you're not well! What are you doing up here in the cold!"
"Belle, I just had to tell you! Something horrible is happening in the village!"
"Come inside to the kitchen, Papa, it's warm by the stove." Maurice nodded, glancing about the dark corners and shadowed stairs. He noticed how his daughter moved through the palace as if it were her own, but he knew better. A monster lurked from window to window, and it was his walls that surrounded them. "Papa?" He pulled his eyes from the split staircase leading to the back halls and jogged to the dining room.
"It's just horrible," Maurice stammered, sitting at the table and sipping tea. Ms. Potts was listening carefully along with Belle and Lumiere. Maurice was so pale and shaken; Belle could only think the worse. "Gaston, he's taking over the village!" Upon hearing the words, Belle sighed and shook her head.
"You can't worry about Gaston, Papa, he can't even make it through town without that Lefou telling him what to do each day."
"You don't understand," Maurice fearfully argued. Chip was shivering from the draft coming from Maurice's clothes. "He's riled them all on his side. They've closed down the bookshop and turned it into a trophy case for all of his meaningless awards!" Belle's beloved bookstore was missing? She frowned and slammed the table top with a fury none had seen. Chip rattled, his contents splashing about. Ms. Potts hopped over to keep him still, alarmed at Belle's out lash.
"Je ne peux pas le croire! Why would he do something like this?"
"He's changing the way everyone thinks! He says the village needs less of this and more of that, but most of all, everyone is listening! Our own town hall might turn into a hunting pub." Belle leapt to her feet and snatched Lumiere into her hand.
"Where are you going?" Lumiere whispered as she carried him to the front hall. "You must wake the Master and tell him before you leave?"
"No, I won't worry him," she replied. Maurice was close behind as Ms. Potts and Chip raced along on the tea cart. "He should sleep as much as he can."
"What will he think to wake up and find you gone?" Lumiere asked.
"What would he think if I were here?" Belle demanded, facing the small creature. Lumiere glanced down; he had said too much. She placed him on an available ledge as she grabbed her coat. "Papa and I must return to the village and solve this mess before Gaston takes over the whole town." Lumiere looked to Ms. Potts for help, but she was equally worried and shocked. "I will try and return for…him." Lumiere nodded sorrowfully and Ms. Pott's expression fell. Even Chip knew this would prolong their master plan. Belle looked one more time to each of her friends. "I…I must go."
"Belle, Felipe is waiting!" Maurice cried from the front lawn's view. She ran to the open door. In a swirl of freezing air, she was gone. The wind was so fierce it blew Lumiere cold. Ms. Potts shivered even though she was full of steaming tea. The castle was dark again.
"They have left," Lumiere quietly realized. "She has left us again."
"She said she would try and return," Ms. Potts countered. Lumiere sadly shook his head, not bothering to light himself again.
"It will be too late by then. Too late for him and her."