This was a school assignment. It's called a story poem, and the rhyme scheme was so not my idea! Read & review!
Beauty and the Beast
By Harvest x Moon
On a royal teen, by a fairy queen
A terrible curse was cast
To become a beast at his birthday feast
With terror unsurpassed
Spoke the spurned fairy: you shall not marry
Till much heartache have you known
Never to see the sky, or a blue bird fly
Fated to be painfully alone
But I'll set you free, if it shall be
That your love is fully returned
Like an ancient knight, for your heart she'll fight
Then your lesson will truly be learned
I give you this flower as proof of my power
Be sure to care for it well
For when the last petal falls, then your death soon calls
Unless you break this spell
Time passed by, and the queen did die
Leaving her son on his own
For most servants have gone at the crack of dawn
And the prince sat lonely on his throne
One night came a rider, and though he was an outsider,
The beast gladly opened up his doors
The table was set, and the man's need were met
The magical servants tended his sores
He touched the sacred rose, but the beast's sensitive nose
Soon discerned this invasion
He flew into a rage and threw the man in a cage,
Ignoring a desperate attempt at persuasion
My dear youngest child, who said as she smiled,
Papa, please bring me a rose.
That's all I wish for, please buy me no more
I'm happy, as everyone knows.
The beast stopped still and said, "If you will,
Grant this one humble wish of mine.
If you do as I say, you may go your own way
For your sake, you'd best not decline."
Then along rode a maid with eyes of jade
And she begged, "Please let my father go
I'll do as you please, though I've no expertise
Except in making things grow"
Perhaps I've been swayed, I'll consent to a trade
You must take his place in my keep
He will go free, but you'll stay with me
Though I know this will cause you to weep.
"No!" cried the father, but "Yes," said his daughter
"I will stay on in your stead
It's my fault you're here, my duty is clear
It's for your life I have pled"
In the end he gave in, and forcing a grin,
said "Diana, I love you, good bye,
I'll return soon with aid, so don't be afraid,
I won't leave you here to die."
As the man rode away, Diana heard the beast say
"No harm will come to you
I'll give you my word, you're near as free as a bird,
And to my word I am true"
"But if I cannot go home, why should I roam,
for Father may come very soon."
"Come and eat," said the beast. "I'm not hungry in the least."
"But," said he, "You've not eaten since noon."
"I promise you no danger, and though to you I'm a stranger,
I'll not take advantage of you
Come have a seat, till the meal is complete
Not till then will I bid you adieu"
"There is but one law, but here your rights I withdraw
Do not enter the northwest tower.
That's my private domain, you've nothing to gain
If you place myself in my power"
When she left for her suite, she was stopped mid-retreat
By the sound of a voice from behind
"Will you marry me?" he said, but she turned and fled
For his tone was inexplicably kind
The next night as they ate, Diana sat to wait
Until he allowed her to go
When he asked for her hand, she managed to stand
and curtsey before saying no.
For a month or so after, the girl and her captor
Fell into an odd routine
In the mornings they'd walk, and he'd listen to her talk
Of the castle, she now was the queen
But as they ate at twilight, Diana longed to take flight
When he asked the inevitable question
Her heart bled for her friend when he was forced to pretend
And hide his heartbroken expression
While she enjoyed her new existence, her heart felt with persistence
The absence of the one she loved best
She longed for her father, and felt it a bother
That her love had been put to the test
She asked her friend if she could spend
A short time at home with her kin
"I'll come back when you say, and I won't run away
But I must tell them how I've been"
Said the beast with a sigh, "You must know that I
Cannot ignore your sad plea.
Please return in a fortnight, and be back by first light,
Until then, I will set you free."
"If you don't return, then goodbye, for without you, I'll die,
You must know you've become my heart
You'll leave soon, I suppose... let me give you my rose,
for you to bring when you start."
"Now don't say such a thing; here, now take my ring
so you may trust I'll return.
I won't put you through such an ordeal when we've just started to heal
Though I cherish your concern."
"Diana, as you are leaving, I will be grieving
Will you ever marry a beast such as I?"
She turned away, eyes filled with dismay
To her shame, she began to cry.
As she fled upstairs, she was caught unawares
by a hot and powerful feeling
A wave of emotion for the beast's devotion
caught her and left her reeling
Then she rode toward the town, golden hair streaming down,
She recalled the beast's parting blessing
"If the rose is alive, then I yet survive"
With a look she found oddly caressing
The beast sat still as his love rode away; no agitation did his posture betray
In his hand he clutched a ring
In this gift his faith he placed, that soon again he would be graced
By the comfort Diana would bring
As night became dawn, she rode into the lawn
And said with a cry "Father, I'm here!"
Here family came out, and looked all about
As her father let out a cheer.
So she told them the news and how she couldn't refuse
When he asked for her return in two weeks
He was so gentle and kind, she found she didn't mind
It would hurt her to deny him what he seeks.
Thirteen days passed by in the blink of an eye
Diana readied herself to return.
"Stay one more night" they said, and she could not fight
In the face of her family's concern.
In a nightmare, Diana tasted despair
When her friend, the beast, lay dying
His eyes berated her, and she felt like a traitor
When she heard it was her name he was crying.
She awoke with a start and a pounding heart
With a cry she rushed for her horse
She rode toward her companion with unfamiliar abandon
Her soul ravaged by remorse.
The beast fell to the ground, and to her horror she found
That he had no heartbeat at all.
She hugged him to her chest, and in his final rest
A series of sobs echoed through the hall.
"My dear kind-hearted beast, know this at least
There's something I want you to know
I've fallen in love with you. I just never knew.
But now it's time for you to go.
Then a brilliant beam with a heavenly gleam
Fell on the beast's well-loved brow
Spoke softly a far-off voice: "You've made your choice,
And this I do allow.
The curse is lifted, his life is gifted
His true form he will take
He'll need your care, so be aware
With a kiss on his lips he'll wake.
With a blinding flash and a deafening crash
A prince lay in her arms
She brushed his lips with her fingertips
Stunned by all his charms.
She touched his face, with its new found grace
On his lips she placed a kiss
The prince slowly awoke to a feather-light stroke
He looked up at her in bliss
In a castle in the wood rich with spiritual goods
Now live Diana and her prince
They were finally wed and as it's been said,
They've lived happily ever since.
So… what'd you think? Please leave me a message, or else I can't improve. I know some parts have awkward wording, but I couldn't think how to fix it!