Beauty and the Beast
By Sniffles & Freewater
Disclaimers : Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball Z and Dragon Ball GT's story line and characters are copyrighted to Akira Toriyama and the various companies who produced the anime and merchandise. "Beauty and the Beast" belongs to Mme de Villeneuve (who created the original story) and to Mme de Richemont (who shortened it to create the version everybody know nowadays). This work of fanfiction was produced exclusively for entertainment purpose ; no money exchanged hands nor was any other kind of material profit made from this.
Category : Romance, Fairy Tale, Disney's Parody, Humor, Sappy, Alternate-Universe, OOC & Shonen Ai.
Pairing(s) : Gh/MTr
Rating : PG - 13
Spoilers : None that I can think of, unless you've never watched Dragon Ball or read/watched Beauty and the Beast.
Summary : DBZ version of Beauty and the Beast.
Notes : The first three chapters were written by Sniffles but she lost interest in the fic. The others chapters are written by Freewater who kindly took over the fic with Sniffles's approval.
Beast played by : Gohan
Gaston played by : Mr. Satan a.k.a Hercule
Lefou played by : Krillin
Belle played by : Mirai Trunks (just because he's cuter and GT Trunks couldn't make the audition. )
Maurice played by : Vegeta heheheheheh
Phillipe played by : Phillipe
Archive : Ask my permission first.
Feedback : Of course! Comments and criticisms always received with extreme happiness!!!! ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Chapter Twenty Two: Bittersweet and Strange
Tale as old as time
True as it can be
Yamcha, Chi-Chi and Piccolo all stood by the dining room with fantastic smiles on their faces. All watching the scene before them in utter delight as Gohan miraculously managed to remember his table manners as he ate, and as Trunks became more and more mesmerized by the sound of the many violins playing themselves on a small couch nearby.
Things were going perfectly smooth. So perfect that it appeared as if nothing at all could go wrong. But none of them bothered to voice that thought out loud for fear of jinxing themselves.
Yamcha and Chi-Chi had only returned from when they left a few minutes ago. To check on the lighting of the ballroom by making sure all the candles and chandeliers were lit, and Chi-Chi just had to make sure that the music would be perfect.
Piccolo stayed behind. In a dark corner where he knew Gohan could see him in case he was needed. But so far, to his delight, it appeared as if he didn't need him at all, and was doing just fine. They had even started up a few nice conversations, and Gohan had even managed to make Trunks blush madly on a few occasions by commenting on his looks.
Then, without warning, Trunks got up from his seat before running over to his side of the table, excitedly grabbed his much larger paws and pulled him out of his seat. Gohan was obviously a little shocked with the sudden act, but to his horror he realized what Trunks was doing when he led him into the ballroom.
Barely even friends
Then somebody bends
Unexpectedly
As they followed, Chi-Chi and Yamcha were praying mentally that he wouldn't bungle it up, but Piccolo simply had an amused smirk on his face. 'This should be good.' He thought, trying to keep himself from laughing out loud.
"Uh, Trunks?" Gohan started up nervously, finding it harder and harder to breathe once they made it to the center of the ballroom.
"Ya?" He asked, taking one of Gohan's paws into his hand before putting the other on his waist. With the size difference, it would just look too weird if he were to lead the dance, so Gohan had to do it.
Gohan gulped nervously at the contact. "I-I... I'm a lousy dancer." He stuttered, trying to shut out the thoughts of his many bungled practice attempts with the few servants brave enough to get near him.
Just a little change
Small to say the least
Trunks shrugged. "I wouldn't worry about that, so am I." He explained.
And Gohan blinked down at him. "What?"
"We're just going to do a slow dance. Think of it as walking around in circles while facing me." He explained simply. "It's the easiest kind of dancing there is."
Gohan would have done a face vault, but he caught himself in time before he could. That certainly did sound a helluva lot simpler than the instructions he was given by his dance teachers. Right foot moves to position B and such. But Trunks had just summed it all up for him while admitting his own weakness with it as well.
But still, he couldn't help but just be a little nervous.
What he didn't know, was that Trunks was nervous too.
Both a little scared
Neither one prepared
Beauty and the Beast
Letting out a heavy sigh, Gohan found that he simply couldn't argue with him. Trunks wanted this too badly. "Whatever you say, just don't hold it against me if I step on your feet." He quipped, earning the delightful sound of laughter from his guest before they started to spin around the dance floor.
And to Gohan's surprise, Trunks was right. It was a lot easier than he thought it would be.
Yamcha was more than a little stunned with what he was seeing. "Is it just me, or is Master Gohan actually dancing? And doing it well, too." He asked.
Piccolo smirked again. "Evidently, Trunks is a much better teacher than the castle's own dancing experts." He said, glad that Gohan was getting the hang of his most hated enemy. The dance floor.
Before either of them knew it, Trunks had Gohan so into their waltz that the speed to their dancing had rapidly picked up. And Gohan even had Trunks doing spins around the ballroom. Both smiling brightly at the fun they were having.
Ever just the same
Ever a surprise
Ever as before
Ever just as sure
As the sun will rise
Once they had slowed down again, but still remained moving, Trunks didn't even notice when he nestled himself in Gohan's arms as they danced. His head resting on his chest with his eyes closed. "I'm really glad you agreed to do this." He mumbled
Gohan blushed beneath his dark fur. "I'm glad too." He admitted sincerely.
He was so afraid of spending this time with him. Of embarrassing himself in front of him. But it was exactly what he needed. Being with Trunks right now, holding him in his arms safely like he was, it just felt so right.
And he just prayed that Trunks was thinking the exact same thing.
Tale as old as time
Tune as old as song
Trunks just couldn't explain it. What was it about being so near him that felt so good? What were these feelings he had for him? They made him feel... safe... whenever Gohan was around he just felt happy and safe. That was the only way he could describe it.
Though, that made perfect sense for him to feel so safe when he was around considering what he went through to protect him from those hungry wolves those many weeks ago.
And to think, he actually thought that Gohan was a monster.
Looking up at him, and smiling brightly when their eyes met, he felt a twinge of shame running through him at the thought. Gohan wasn't a monster, he was just misunderstood.
Bittersweet and strange
Finding you can change
Learning you were wrong
It was then that Trunks blinked up in confusion, and Gohan realized that he wasn't looking at him any longer.
"What is it?" He asked, hoping there was nothing wrong.
"Those painted angels on your ceiling," Trunks said, still looking up. "I thought I saw them move."
Gohan blinked, turning his own head up to the ceiling. And Trunks was right, the angels had moved. He frowned in thought, wondering what they were up to. Because usually they simply hide behind their clouds and hardly ever came out for anything.
He suddenly chuckled at the thought, realizing what it was that they found so interesting. Him.
Dancing with a beautiful guest was hardly something he made a habit of doing after all.
"I wouldn't worry about it." Gohan said, getting Trunks to look back at his face. "It's probably just the trick of the light." He explained, taking his hand and twirling him around.
Trunks chuckled. "Ya, I guess you're right." He said, twirling back into Gohan's arms as they resumed their dance.
Certain as the sun
Rising in the east
Trunks chuckled again. "I bet Hercule would have a heart attack if he could see me now." He said finding the mental picture to be an amusing one at best.
This had Gohan more than a little curious. "Who's Hercule?" He asked.
Trunks shrugged indifferently. "No one important really, just this guy who has a crush on me." He explained.
Gohan's eyes darkened when he heard that. Someone was interested in his Trunks? Now that was completely unacceptable! "Oh?" He asked, trying not to let the teen in on how jealous he was getting.
Trunks nodded his head. "Ya, the guy's a real lunatic though." He explained, and Gohan found himself calming down when Trunks called the man a lunatic. "He thinks that I'm a girl and runs around calling me Belle!"
Gohan burst out laughing when he heard that, all thoughts of jealousy vanishing, and Trunks playfully smacked him in the arm. He just couldn't help it, it was too funny!
"I-I can understand why you wanted to cut your hair so badly!" He spat out, still roaring with laughter. And Trunks groaned.
"That's what I get for telling you!" Trunks grumbled, scolding both him and himself.
Tale as old as time
Song as old as rhyme
Beauty and the Beast
After noticing that the light from the candles were slowly beginning to dwindle and die, Trunks stopped the dance. It was just getting a little too dark, and he needed some fresh air to calm himself now that they were done.
"Want to come outside with me?" He asked.
Gohan smiled down at him, glad for being invited along. And it was a nice night out as well. Not too hot and not too cold, and the stars were shining as well. It was the perfect setting to propose. "Of course. I'd love to." He said, allowing Trunks to take his hand and lead him out to the balcony.
Tale as old as time
Song as old as rhyme
Beauty and the Beast...
"Wow," Trunks breathed, when they made it outside. "It's beautiful." He said, and Gohan smirked in approval as he still held his hand.
He knew that Trunks had yet to see the scenery from this side of the castle, where the forest was greener and the waterfall could be seen with ease. You could even hear it if you were quiet enough.
Oh yes, this was the perfect setting for his proposal. Maybe if he was lucky enough Trunks would actually accept it.
Looking back down into his face, he was more than just a little shocked to actually see a faraway look gracing his features as he stared off into the distance. As if his mind was somewhere else.
"Trunks?" Gohan asked worriedly, squeezing his hand to get his attention. "What's the matter?"
Trunks turned his head back up to face him. "I just... Miss my father." He explained sadly, moving forward to wrap his arms around Gohan's much larger free arm for comfort. "I'm sorry for bringing it up, I know I'm not supposed to. But I just wish I could see him again. I miss him so much."
And with those words, Gohan had never felt more guilty in his entire life. Trunks was in pain and he was the cause. How he wished that there was something he could do, but he sent his father away. So how was he supposed to...
WAIT!! There was a way! Gohan smiled down at him, gently lifting his chin so he would face him again. "There is a way for you to see him." He said, not bothering to explain himself just yet at the sight of Trunks' confused face as he took his hand again and led him to the West Wing of the castle.
oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
When they got there, Trunks was a little nervous about entering his room considering what had happened the last time. But Gohan was quick to reassure him that there was no harm in entering this time. And that there was something important that he really needed to see.
When Trunks got inside, he was actually shocked to see that Gohan's room had been cleaned up, and looked decent even. But he had no time to dwell on that after Gohan finished leading him to the other end of his room where both his glowing rose and magic mirror awaited.
Just before Trunks could ask why the flower beneath the glass case was dying, considering he thought that magic flowers never died, Gohan picked up a white crystal mirror that lay next it before offering it to him.
Trunks took it, looking back up at Gohan for the answer to his unasked question. What was it?
"That mirror will show you anything you ask to see." He explained. "Even your father."
Trunks looked a little unsurely into the glass, his reflection not looking any more confident as he awkwardly asked to see his father.
There was a bright white glow that immediately came out of the mirror before it momentarily blinded him, but when Trunks finally managed to regain his sight the image before him made him pale want to throw up.
He saw his father, just as promised, but he was laying face down in the woods, and he wasn't moving.
Trunks choked back a sob as tears instantly filled his eyes, and this had Gohan more than a little worried as well as confused until Trunks finally found his voice. Even though it had gone frantic.
"Oh my God! Papa! He's dead, he's dead, he's dead!" He cried out frantically, feeling his knees go weak before he dropped to the floor and started to shake. Not taking his blurry eyes off of the horrifying image before him as he tried to will his mind into believing that what he was seeing wasn't real. It was just a mirror, it couldn't be real!
Gohan quickly snatched the mirror from his hands, ignoring the pitiful cry of protest Trunks gave off when he did. He just had to see it to believe it.
And sure enough, there it was. The image that was making his Trunks cry. His dead father. And he had shown it to him.
"Trunks, I'm so sor--" Gohan quickly stopped himself when he saw Vegeta twitch his arm ever so slightly, before letting out a sickly groan.
"Trunks! Look! He's alive!" He cried out excitedly, getting to his one knee and offering the teen the mirror again. "Look, he's alive, there's no need to cry." He whispered to him tenderly. Wanting nothing more than to just see his face clear up from his tears.
He just couldn't stand to see him cry.
Trunks slowly reached out to take the mirror again, looking back into the glass and feeling a wave of happiness wash over him when he saw his father turn his head ever so slightly in his unconscious state.
He was alive. He was alive!
"Oh God." He breathed, feeling a twinge of hope that now he could at least be saved. "He-he's all alone! Why isn't someone with him! He's sick! He should be in bed!" He cried out, getting frantic all over again. His father could easily be dying and for some odd reason he was out in the woods all by himself!
Gohan bit his bottom lip. He was so close, he could feel it. But if he were to simply stand by and do nothing while Trunks' father died out there in the cold... he didn't know what he would do. Trunks would be miserable, and he couldn't have that. Would he even forgive him?
Alright, he had to save the old man, that much was now certain. But how would he do that? He was way too far away for him to go and get him himself like he did when Trunks ran away. And none of his servants were capable enough to go and get him either.
So that only left...
Gohan's eyes widened. 'No.'
He turned back to face Trunks, his eyes still tearing at the sight of his ill father. If he were to save the man's life, then he had to let Trunks go.
Gohan got to his feet, padding his way to where his dying rose rested beneath the glass case before placing a large paw on the glass. Only a few petals left now. There wasn't enough time.
"Get your horse ready, you have to go to him." Gohan mumbled miserably, not turning to look at him and hardly able to believe himself for letting him go.
Trunks blinked away tears up at him. He was so into his grief and worry for his father that he heard Gohan speaking, but he didn't know what was said. "W-what?" He asked.
Gohan raised his voice a little. "I said you can go. You need to go to him." He snapped, trying with all his might to keep his anger under control. This was the last thing in the world he wanted to do.
"Y-you mean...?"
"I release you. You're not my prisoner anymore." Gohan finished sadly, still not turning to face him, which made what happened next all the more shocking to him.
He didn't see Trunks get to his feet before running over to him and throwing his arms around his much larger waist. An act that stunned Gohan out of hypnotic state of self pity enough to look down at him shock His hands were barely able to reach around him, but his grip was tight, and Gohan put an arm around him. Relishing what he knew was going to be the last time he'd ever get to hold him.
"Thank you for understanding." Trunks mumbled to him from where his head was buried in his fur before looking up at him with shining and grateful eyes.
Gohan's heart broke when he pulled away from him before stepping away to leave. But Trunks didn't even get five full steps away before he stopped abruptly, realizing he still had the mirror in his hands.
He turned back around to give it back to him, but Gohan put a paw up to stop him. "Take it with you, it will help you find your father, but you'll also be able to look back." He said, risking running one of his paws through soft lavender hair. "Remember me?" He asked.
Trunks' breath hitched at the request, strangely finding that he actually didn't want to leave. And Gohan's request was enough to make his heart ache in terrible pain. But his father's very life depended on him. He had to go. So all he allowed himself to do, lest he start crying again, was nod his head in agreement before turning away and running out of that room as fast as his two feet could take him without looking back.
Gohan lowered his head and covered his eyes with his paw, using the other to hold onto a nearby table to keep himself from crumbling to his knees as he wept.
He wanted to be sick, he wanted to cry, scream, throw one of his all too familiar tantrums, anything at all to make the pain go away. Because it was simply unbearable.
And it was then that he realized why he acted so miserably towards everyone when he was still human. Because the right thing hurt.
Unbeknownst to the both of them, Goten was in the doorway listening to everything that had been said. He didn't mean to, he was just going up to offer them some of the tea in his cup, and when he heard his Master Gohan letting Trunks go, he just couldn't help but listen intently to what was being said.
And so, when Trunks ran out of the room, Goten followed. Hoping to catch up and stop him from leaving them all.
Because it wasn't just Gohan who would remain cursed if he left.
It was the entire castle
To Be Continued..........................
Thank you to everyone who reviewed me so far, and sorry that the update took so long, but I just moved and am currently without the Internet. Right now I'm on a friends computer and have to get off soon, so I'm not too sure how long this will last, but the story is still going on!