Random Acts of Kindness
Beauty and the Beast (1991) 1991-2021
Lumiere, Cogsworth and Sultan were almost at the doors to the library, both of them completely unaware that Belle wasn't with them.
"Okay, madmoizelle." Cogsworth said. "This is the door to the library. It's probably the biggest library you had ever seen in your entire life. Now would you kindly open the door for all of us and you'll see what I mean? Trust me, you'll be simply speechless." There was an awkward moment of silence. This confused the clock. "Madmoizelle? Did you hear me? This is the libra…"
"Zut alors!" The candleabrum cursed. "She's gone!"
"Lumiere!" Cogsworth cautioned his friend. "Language! Chip or his siblings might be present and what do you mean she's gone? She's following us."
"No, she's not. Not anymore. If you just look, mon amie, you'll see what I mean."
"What!?" Cogsworth looked behind him. Indeed, Belle was nowhere in sight. It was just him, Lumiere and Sultan. He scratched his head. "I don't get it. Where has she gone?" Lumiere shrugged. "She was just excited when she heard that the Master had a library." He then gasped. "You don't think she ventured into the forbidden West Wing, do you?" Lumiere shrugged again.
"I don't know, but if she has, I'm blaming you." Cogsworth became mad at this.
"What do you mean?!"
"Well, you mentioned the West Wing to her, did you not? Even though I may not have ears anymore, I heard it quite clearly."
"Yeah, I did, but I told her there was nothing of interest to her."
"And isn't that kind of suspicious? Like we have something to hide? Because we do, the enchanted rose. Curiosity probably got the best out of her and she just wanted to go see."
"That's not my fault; that's her own for being curious and going against what she was explicitly told that she must not do. You should have kept a closer eye on her instead of jib-jabbering away."
"You are just as much at fault of that too." Cogsworth realized that he was right. "Come on, let's get the girl back on the tour before the Master finds out."
"I suppose." And so they both headed back to where they came from, along with Sultan.
Lumiere, Cogsworth and Sultan were walking up the stairs when they heard a thunderous roar. Sultan yipped in fright, and ran away to hide. The dog turned footstool heard the master's outbursts plenty of times before, but he still didn't like it. Cogsworth looked at Lumiere with great concern.
"Uh oh!" He observed. "We're too late!" As they were about to walk further upstairs, they saw Belle run down the stairs, putting her cloak on. She stepped over the two as they didn't exist.
"Wh-where are you going?" Lumiere asked the girl.
"Promise or no promise." Belle began answering him. "I can't stay here another minute!"
"Oh no, wait, please!" Cogsworth begged her. "Please wait!" But it was too late, Belle opened the door. The cold air blew in before she closed it behind her. Lumiere heard Cogsworth sniff sadly. The candleabrum grew worried.
"What's wrong, Cogsworth?" Lumiere asked.
"That girl might have been our last chance." The clock became frustrated and angry, "Why does our master ruin everything? Doesn't he know she could be the key to break the spell?!" He was so angry that he kicked the air, falling onto his butt.
"Of course he knows." Lumiere said to him, helping his friend back onto his feet."It's just been so long that he forgot how to be a proper gentlemen."
"Hmmpt!" Cogsworth huffed. "He's always been like that, even long before the curse."
"I'll go talk to him." The candleabrum hopped up the stairs. Cogsworth stayed behind with a scoff.
"Good luck!"
"Cogsworth?" Mrs. Potts asked him, approthing him. "Is everything alright? I heard one of the Master's outbursts."
"Oh, well, he just scared the girl so badly that she ran out of here of the castle despite her promise to him." The clock answered. Mrs. Potts was now concerned.
"Oh no, this is terrible!"
"I know. How can he fall in love before turning 21 now without the girl? She was key."
"No, I mean there are wolves out there." Cogsworth realized that she was right and panicked.
"I have to warn the master! Thanks, Mrs. Potts!" With that, he ran up the stairs.
"Master?" Lumiere asked, coming in the West Wing. He saw his master looking sad by the cased enchanted rose. "Are you alright?"
"I told her not to come in here." Beast said.
"I know you did, Master. I was with you when you did. You were really clear."
"Then why did she disobey me?"
"Well, you know, the girl had questions and she was curious. I guess it got the better of her."
"That's no excuse. She should have known better! First, she refused to have dinner with me and now the rose. What is wrong with her?" Lumiere shrugged.
"I don't know. Maybe it has to do with the fact that you imprisoned her father and then imprisoned her when she volunteered to take his place. That poor girl. I think it might be nice to put yourself in other people's shoes and see things from their perspectives."
"Did the Enchantress put things in perspective before turning me into a monstrous beast? Did she think of your perspective when she turned you and the other servants into objects?!" Lumiere shrugged again. Beast calmed down. "You think I should apologize to her?" Lumiere was about to answer when Beast beat him to it. "I should go apologize." He was about to go when Lumiere stopped him.
"I'm afraid you can't do that, Master." Beast was confused.
"What are you talking about, Lumiere? I thought you'd be thrilled that I'm apoligizing."
"And I am. I would like nothing more."
"Then what's the problem?"
"Nothing. You can still apologize, but I'm afraid…she ran away from the castle." Beast was outraged to hear this.
"WHAT!? I told her that she was my prisoner. She doesn't listen!"
"You can still find her maybe and apologize that way if you can find her."
"That's a good idea. I'm going to do just that." He was about to go when they both saw Cogsworth at the doorway.
"Master!" He said. "Lumiere! Mrs. Potts just reminded me something important. There are wolves out there. That poor girl is going to be eaten alive, wait, can wolves eat people? It doesn't matter, it's still worrisome!"
"You two stay in the castle." Beast ordered the two servants. "I'll be right back!" He left the room in a hurry. Cogsworth and Lumiere watched.
"Oh, I just hope that the Master can get to her in time before the wolves do."
"He will." Lumiere assured him. "The wolves may outnumber him, but the good news with the curse is that he's mighty strong. The wolves won't stand a chance."
Belle couldn't believe it. The Beast just saved her life. The Beast! The monster that imprisoned her and made her father leave without her saying goodbye to him. The monster that was rude to her and scared her so bad that she had to get out of his castle. He just fought off those wolves. He didn't need to, but he did. He saw that she and her horse were in danger and came to the rescue. She looked at Phillipe and was about to mount him when something came to her. The Beast just collapsed in the snow. She may hate him, but he doesn't deserve to die in the snow, no one does, not even a ferocious beast like him.
"Kindness goes a long way, Belle." She remembered her father telling her when she was younger, "I want you to remember that. It's very important. And who knows? Maybe they'll be kind back and change their ways of how they treat people."
"Even people who are mean and complete jerks to you?" Little Belle asked. Maurice nodded.
"Even people who are mean and complete jerks. You just need to give them a chance."
"I will, Papa. I promise." Maurice smiled and kissed his daughter.
"That's my girl!"
Belle was about to mount Philippe when she stopped. Her Papa would not like this. She couldn't just leave with the family horse and just leave her saver behind in the snow, can she? No she can't. She made her decision. She knew she might regret this, but it's better than to just leave him behind as if nothing had happened. She went to the beast's side.
When the still unconscious beast was laying on Phillipe's back, Belle led the horse back to the castle. '
"You came back, mon cherie!" Lumiere exclaimed, coming out of the castle when he saw her and Phillipe enter the castle gates. Cogsworth was with him.
"No time to talk!" Belle told them. "Not now. Beast needs help." The two objects saw their injured master and both gasped.
"This way, quick!" They all went into the castle.
"So what happened?" Cogsworth wanted to know as they were now in the castle heading towards the room with the fireplace. "Was it those nasty wolves?" Belle nodded and looked at Lumiere.
"Can you get Mrs Potts?" Belle asked him. The candleabrum nodded.
"Of course, mon cherie! It's the least I can do for saving our master." With that, he hopped off.
"Thank you for saving Master." Cogsworth said to Belle. "Even though he's keeping you prisoner, it was the right thing."
"I know." Belle responded. "My Papa taught me to be kind to everyone, even cold- hard jerks such as your master…uh, no offense."
"No offence taken. He's always been like that for years. We're hoping a kind soul such as yourself can turn his life around for the better."
"I'll try my best."
Mrs Potts, Cogsworth, Lumiere, Babette, Belle and Beast were by the fireplace that Lumiere had lit up with his fire. Beast was on his chair. He opened his eyes and looked around.
"Where am I?" He asked, disorientated.
"You're back in the castle, Master." Mrs. Pots told him. "Belle brought you in after you attacked the wolves after you collapsed in exhaustion." Beast was confused as he looked at Belle.
"You did that?" He asked her.
"Of course." She told him. "You collapsed in the snow. I just couldn't leave you like that."
"She saved your life, Master." Babette said to him. "After your saved her life. She could've left you to die, but she didn't. What a kind soul, she has, non?"
"I suppose." Chip then appeared in the room.
"Mama?" The little teacup spoke. Everybody except Beast looked at him. "I can't sleep. I had a bad dream that we'll never see Papa again and the curse will never be broken." He looked at their master. "What happened to him?" Mrs. Potts sighed. This is the second time that her young son had woken up from his sleep that night. She faked a smile.
"Nothing to worry, love."
"Can I come in and help?" 'May I come in?' she would have corrected him, but was too tired to.
"I guess." Chip cheered.
"Yes! My siblings will be so jealous. This is the longest that I've been awake!" He hopped in next to his mother.
Beast thought over what had just happened. This young lady has just saved his life, but why? He had been nothing but rude to her, yet she still saved him? He was grateful for her, but it didn't feel right, She could've just left him, and he could've done the same thing. Why did he save her? He didn't know. Was something changing in him after all of these years? She and her father has been the first people in the castle since the Enchantress put a curse on him, his servants, and the entire castle ten years ago. Beast didn' know. He knew one thing though. She has saved his life and for that, he was eternally grateful.