Hey everyone,

Just a warning, I'm on a real Disney Hype right now and this is actually a little something that I have believed could have happened to the plotline for the longest time in this category. I always lovingly watch Disney movies, but sometimes I just think: "What would happen if this character made this choice instead of that?"

So, here's just that,

Challenge #30

Welcome Home

Belle's POV

I've just had a night that I only thought could exist in books and to make it even more amazing is the person I have experienced it with not even fully human as the lord of this castle has been enchanted into a terrifying monster – or so I had believed until a few days ago when he saved me from the wolves and we became friends.

We have done quite a few things together since and the two most amazing of those things is the library he gave me to have and the incredible meal and dance we've shared this evening. By now we are seated at the balcony railing of the ballroom we just danced it and to my slight amusement, does Beast seem a little hesitant.

Wondering what could be going through his mind, do I allow him a few moments to collect his thoughts as I straighten out a small frill in my golden ball-gown with hoop skirt and golden buttons holding onto a gorgeous ribbon that runs around the entire skirt in bows before the Beast slowly moves closer and asks:

"Belle, are you – happy here with me?" And just by the gentle way that he grabs onto my hands, do I feel my heart melt as I say: "Yes." Yet this is not the full truth as the last few days have felt slightly empty and, like many times before, do I gaze out into the mountains and forest that surround the castle I live in.

My sadness seems to be visible to Beast as he asks me: "What is it?" And just because he earned my trust when he saved me, do I answer: "If only I could see my father again. Just for a moment, I miss him so much." Which seems to sadden the Beast as he moves his face away, yet then suddenly it brightens and he says:

"There is a way." And while this amazes me as I know I am still the Beast's prisoner as well as his guest, does he take me to the room where it all started; his own, where I almost broke everything by trying to take a glass casing off of an amazing rose, yet it doesn't seem to be the rose that Beast brought me here for.

Instead, he grabs a silver mirror of which the handle is just big enough to fit in his paw off of the same table and says: "This mirror will show you anything. Anything you wish to see." And this alone shocks me, yet I take the mirror from him with great reference and while wondering what I will see, do I say:

"I'd like to see my father, please." Yet the sight that meets my eyes is one no daughter wants to see. My father is clothed in his traveling outfit, yet he is fighting a storm wind, trying to move on, while his eyes are closed and then, as his hat is blown off his head, does he fall down and start coughing, worrying me as I say:

"Papa. Oh no, he's sick. He may be dying and – he's all alone." And while I fight the tears that threaten to spill over the possible imminent death of my dear father, does the Beast caress the casing of his rose, before he does something I would have never expected of his as he says: "Then – you - you must go to him."

To which I can't help but ask: "What did you say?" My voice full of hope as he answers: "I release you. You are no longer my prisoner." And while the last few days made me feel nothing like a prisoner, do I still ask: "You mean – I – I'm free." Part of me wondering why I am even asking this as Beast answers: "Yes."

To this I reach out to him and say: "Thank you." Before I turn away and say: "Hold on, papa, I'm on my way." And with that, as the enchantment on the mirror ends, do I want to give it back, yet the Beast again proves me what an incredible person is hidden behind his beast-like exterior as he speaks with a soft voice and says:

"Take it with you, so you'll always have a way to look back and remember me." And while he says this, does he softly grasp my hair and let it slip from his claw, the feeling of his fur against the bare skin at the back of my neck making me feel cared for in ways I – days before – never thought he would care for me like.

I look down on the newest gift the beast gave me and while pressing it close to my heart, do I warmly tell him: "Thank you for understanding how much he means to me." The Beast looks greatly saddened and I softly let my gloved hand go over his brown-furred cheek before rushing out of the room and over to my own.

Taking off the gorgeous gown, does part of me wish to take it with me, yet the only thing I really pack is the mirror before putting my blue dress with white apron and dark black cloak back on, ignoring how the wardrobe that provided me with my dress is asking me why I am changing like this before rushing out.

Philippe, somehow, is already waiting for me at the gate, yet while I rush for the woods, do I hear the Beast let out a roaring screams that tears my heart in two and makes me feel as if I lost someone just as important as my father, Philippe himself getting scared by the sound and speeding up his run as we dash through the front gate.

Once in the forest, do I slow Philippe down to a trot in the hopes of having more chance to find my father and while scourging many paths and other parts of the forest, does it take me a good thirty minutes before I suddenly see something that makes me stop Philippe with a gasp of shock; my father, lying in the snow, unmoving.

I move Philippe over to him and push my father's passed-out body onto the horse sideways, his legs dangling over on one side and his face on the other, yet when I climb back on myself and look up after taking the reins, do I see the highest room at the tower that reaches up above all others of the castle and again I hear it.

The roar that the Beast released from his very heart as I rode away from his castle and I think: "I – I can't leave him. I – I care for them both. Beast – he – he understands how much my father means to me, but – but I never said that he too means so much to me. I – I can't leave that amazing world behind, not now that I found it."

And with that, while Philippe neighs in shock at first and tries to fight me, do I halt him, rub my hand over his neck as I say: "He was just hurt that we left, Philippe, he'll be thrilled when we come back. You'll see." And then, to convince my four-hoofed friend, do I ask: "Or would you prefer the outside over that stable you were in."

And instantly does Philippe reign up, his front legs moving into the wind in glee and one of my hands on my father to keep him stable before the might brown-furred horse rides back full speed to the castle where we were prisoners before, but welcome guests now. And to my relief, upon reaching the castle, do I still see the open gates.

Philippe happily rides into them and straight for one of the doors on the side of the castle, that leads to my own room the quickest. I get off my horse and instantly get accosted by several of those working outside and in the stables, all of them asking where I went and why I left, yet I ignore this for the sake of my father.

I pull the man, who is still out cold, off of Philippe and the state of the man makes many of those around me gasp, yet one gasping voice I recognize and without looking, do I say: "Lumiere, warn Mrs. Pott. I need lot of warm water, a few small towels and some fresh men's cloths. My father was in the middle of the forest for hours."

The candelabra nods and moves away, the other household equipment making room for him as he passes through a small doorway in the side of the wall, while I lift my father's arm over my shoulder and like with their friend, does everyone part away for me to move, yet at the end, do I turn around and smile:

"Don't tell him, I want to surprise him." And while many faces start to smile at hearing this, do I then silently move through the door, the equipment making sure the door closes behind me without barely a sound before I – feeling giddy and relieved at the same time – sneak through the small hallway and up to my room.

There I quickly have to move my finger in front of my mouth to shush the wardrobe and say: "You'll ruin the surprise." And while the wardrobe is now giggling with excitement, do I gently move my father over to my bed, the wardrobe shocked when she sees his state and helping me pull back the blanket and lying him down.

I then put the traveling bag I had taken with me on the end of my bed, only for it to actually move, the flap to open and little Chip the cup to hop out of it, his eyes looking around before he says in shock: "Hey, I'm home." Making me smile at him before he turns to me and says: "Belle, Cogsworth said you were leaving."

To this I look down and say: "I was released by your master, Chip, and my father was in the middle of the woods and very, very ill. I had to go to him, but – but once I reached him, did I realize that – if I left, I wouldn't be returning home at all. I – I realized I had found the home I have always dreamed of – right here, with all of you."

This makes both the wardrobe and Chip look beyond elated with joy and then Lumiere and Mrs. Pott enter the room, making me sigh in relief as they are followed by a hat-stand that is carrying a large metal pot and one that is carrying several white towels, before I ask: "Lumiere, did you tell the Beast yet of my return?"

The candelabra shakes his head and I smile: "Good, I want to make sure my father is alright before I surprise him, so not a word until I say so – okay?" The Candelabra nods and then Chip says: "Mom, mom, Belle says she feels at home with us. That she didn't want to return to the village because she cares for us more."

This seems to shock the two and Lumiere asks: "Is that true, Cheri?" I nod and say: "Yes Lumiere. This – this castle might not be what I expected I would want if I could be free of the village life, but – but it exceeds the boring repetitive ways that go on there in so many ways and – and so many of you understand and accept me."

"Including the master, dear." Mrs. Potts says and I nod as I say: "I know, I – I felt so heartbroken when I heard the roar he emitted upon my departure and – and when my father was placed upon Philippe the first thing I saw was his tower room. It made that same roar repeat itself in my mind and – and I just had to come back."

The candelabra and teapot smile at each other and then the wardrobe lets out a squeal as she says: "My dear sweet Belle, if I didn't know any better, I'd say the Master has stolen your heart." At this, while her words shock me and make the others look at me with wide eyes, can I not help but blush and silently admit her right.

Then suddenly a weak voice sounds from my left and when we all look at the bed, do we see my father opening his bleary eyes slowly, his face one of shock as he rasps: "Belle." And while smiling at him, drenching one of the towels in the pot that is now filled with Mrs. Potts' warm water, do I rub it over his forehead as I say:

"It's alright, papa, we're safe." Silently adding in my mind: "I'm home." But not speaking this as I know it will take my father some time to get used to this castle the way it looks now, after everyone here worked so hard to clean the whole castle up again. The man gasps in shock and moves up to hug me as he says:

"I thought I'd never see you again." And while basking in the delicious warmth of my father's embrace, do I say: "I missed you so much." Only for the man to ask: "But the beast. H-how did you escape?" And while the same thought as before, that I am home, runs through my mind again, do I reply to him:

"I didn't escape, papa. He – he let me go." To which the man instantly asks: "That horrible beast?" Causing the others to gasp in shock and for father to look around, his eyes widening before he asks: "Belle, where – where are we?" And with great happiness and pride, do I answer: "My room, papa, the room I've been in the whole time."

The man looks at me and Mrs. Potts says: "She's right, good sir. The Master gave her this room only minutes after he released you. She's been staying here, free as a bird as long as she kept inside the castle walls. And what's more, when the master heard of your illness, he released Belle and allowed her to find you."

"He – he did?" Father asks me and the pot and we both nod before he asks: "Then – then why return here?" And while my heart feels like the fireplace the Beast and I have been seated in front of so many times while I read for him, do I answer: "Because this is my home, papa. This is my home and – and I want you to live here – with me."

Father looks at me shocked and then fearfully asks: "Will – will he accept?" To which Lumiere and Mrs. Potts share a worried glance, yet I ignore this and say: "He knows how much you mean to me, papa. Plus, he thinks I'm back at the village. Oh, I can't wait to surprise him with my return once you feel better again."

"He – he doesn't know we're here?" I shake my head and say: "Philippe was ever so quiet when we rode back here and I don't believe that the Beast would have stayed out on his balcony for long after I left. But – I won't leave this room and surprise him with my return until you're better again, papa. That's a promise."

And while Lumiere, Mrs. Potts and Chip all share a agreeing smile with each other, does father look thoughtful for a moment, obviously contemplating what I told him and what he remembers of the beast and, if only to convince him that what I feel is true, do I softly tell him: "Papa, I – I love him. I love the Beast – for who he is."

And while my father looks at me with more shock than he has all evening, do the smiles on the faces of Lumiere, Mrs. Potts, Chip and the wardrobe look as if I just gave them the crown to this castle or something and while I smile at them, does daddy then smile at me and say: "All I ever wanted, was your happiness, sweetheart."

The next morning

Beast's POV

Ever since Belle left have I felt more miserable than ever, even when I first realized that I was a hideous monster and that I had no more humans around me, only household furniture and equipment, yet this pain feels even worse as, while I told her that she was no longer my prisoner, did I curse myself for even calling her that.

No, Belle has not been my prisoner since she and I returned from after I saved her from the wolves of the forest, yet the fact that I still called her that tore at me. I however didn't truly voice this pain as it felt I would be speaking of it at the wrong time, while the girl of my dreams was ever so worried for her father and his health.

Still, the so-called release hadn't even made me feel the worst, it had been to see her riding that brown-furred horse of hers out of my castle, past the front entrance and through the main gates, the sight of her vanishing into the woods tearing at me so much I released an animalistic roar just to express the pain in my heart.

I stayed watching the forest for a few more minutes, yet the greenery was too dense, even in winter, for me to properly see her, her horse or which way she was going and the fact that she was out of sight made me turn around and return to my room, my body unmoving after I came back to my rose and my hand softly caressing its case.

The glass of the case had not done anything to make me feel better as it didn't feel at all like the smoothness of Belle's skin or the softness of her hair, yet by gazing into the case hard enough had I been able to envision her visage when she last looked at me before leaving and that had been the last thing I saw before going to bed.

Now it's morning and like the few mornings before today do I move into the dining room, the fancy blue and white suit that I wore at the dance still on me, yet neither my mind nor my heart feeling like taking it off as it feels like the last thing I have left to remember the beauty that was the girl I had in my castle for the last week.

I sit down at my seat and, just out of instinct, do I mutter: "Good morning, Belle." Yet, while I have my head down and my face focused on the bowl of porridge in front of me, do my eyes widen when I suddenly hear a soft, sweet voice say: "Good morning." And when I look up from my porridge, do I actually see her.

Belle is sitting across from me, just like she has been every morning so far and while she smiles at me, can I only rub the sleeve of my blue robe across my eyes before gazing at her again, barely missing how she tries to hide a soft giggle of amusement, which confuses me and I ask: "You're – you're back, but – but your – your father."

To this Belle actually acts as if nothing is out of the ordinary as she looks down to grab her bowl of porridge and says: "Oh, he's in my room. Mrs. Potts is bringing him breakfast, don't worry." And only then do I realize that the female teapot is not on the table like she has been for the last week and that only her son is here.

I look from the little teacup back to the girl of my dreams, the girl I thought I lost and say: "Belle, I – I don't – understand." And the girl sighs, worrying me as she says: "Beast please, hear me out." I nod at her, wondering where this could be heading and why she decided to come back, yet worried for her sigh as she says:

"Back in the village, I – I was a loner. I was constantly alone, I could practically do my daily walk while asleep and behind my back practically all the villagers talked about me behind my back. They – they thought me weird and – and strange, all because I was the only woman in the village that liked, no loved, to read."

This worries and hurts me as it almost sounds like how I felt when I first changed into a beast and Belle says: "My whole life, ever since I read my first book, have I always dreamed of leaving that village, seeing the world and having adventures just like the people I read about on a daily base. And then – I met you."

The wonder I can hear coming from her voice as she says this astounds me and while Belle still has her hands wrapped around her bowl of porridge does she go on and say: "Sure, you scared me at first and – and I felt as trapped in my room as in the village my first night here, but – but after some time I – I got to know you."

This, while the first part had made me feel terrible as I never want to bring fear to someone like her again, makes me smile at her hopefully and while Chip looks as if he is waiting for some big finale, does Belle say: "I know my father will need time to heal and to get used to all this – and he definitely fears how you will respond to him."

To which I instantly turn to Chip and say: "Tell the staff to prepare a room for Belle's father, immediately!" And while the little teacup looks a little disappointed over something, does he still nod and hop off the table, hopping away while Belle smiles at me gratefully before she turns back to her porridge and says:

"I owe you my apology, Beast. I – I feel terrible, but – but it took me seeing my father deadly ill and almost dying before – before I realized that – if I ever left this place – I would leave behind the one home I have always dreamed off. I don't belong in the village. I belong here, with the staff, with my father – with you."

And those last two words floor me and while Belle now looks up from her bowl, her eyes teary-eyed and at the same time shining with glee and an emotion I have never seen in her eyes before, does she say three words that, only the night before, I was willing to admit to one of my staff, yet not to her. "I love you."

For a single minute do I just stay seated, rooted to my chair as I cannot believe that someone as gorgeous as the brunette before me would ever say such a thing to someone looking like me, but then, while feeling the enchantment ready to finally break, do I dash out off my seat, across the table and over to the girl of my dreams.

Belle moves out of her own seat and only a second later, do I have her in my arms, her soft hands grasping onto the fur on the back of my neck as I whisper back: "And I you, Belle. And I you." And with that, like a twig of wood that breaks in half, do I feel the enchantment break, the break effecting me and my castle.

A strong gust of wind blows open the windows that are on the back wall of the room and while this shocks Belle, can I practically feel the magic of the enchantress in the wind that now blows into the room, changing my blue jacket into a cloak that surrounds my whole body and makes me release the girl of my arms.

The wind then takes me off the floor and while smiling at the shocked look upon my beloved's face, do I feel my whole form changing. My claws retreat into my skin along with the fur, allowing for long fingers with clear looking nails to appear instead, lights shining from the tips and into the room once they've fully changed.

The same happens with my feet, which had been bare due to the claws at the end of my toes, yet like the claws on my hands do those too retreat back into my skin and do the nails on my feet shine with the same bright light once they have returned and once my foot and ankle have returned to me, all of them fur and cushion free.

And finally does the one thing I wanted above all else happen, making me close my eyes in pure bliss as I feel the transformation going from my legs and arms up my neck to my head, the fur on my whole head receding back and turning into long, lush brown hair, while my furless chest and chin start to glow with the same light.

The light recede after this, the whole transformation from monster to human finally finished as the curse has finally been lifted and with the wind returning back to outside the castle, does it slowly drop me back on my own two feet, a slight shiver running through me when I feel the coldness of the stone floor under me.

I then look up, my sky-blue eyes gazing into the honey-brown eyes of my beloved, who looks at me as if she has never seen me before and, if only to make her know that I am still me, do I softly say: "Belle – it's me." Grasping her hand in mine and my heart elating the fact that I no longer have to worry over scratching her with my claws.

Belle still looks confused and hesitant and even tilts her head to the side, making her look even more gorgeous in a very cute way, but then she gazes directly into my eyes and by showing her how much I love her with my gaze, does she seem to understand what just happened, gasping before smiling widely as she says:

"It is you." And finally does the one thing I have been wanting to happen since we ended our dance last night happen as Belle wraps her arms around my neck, her hands curling into my new long hair and while I pull her slight frame close to my muscular own, do I happily kiss her gorgeous lips, her love and mine mixing together.

However, this sign of love apparently reactivates the breaking of the enchantment as I feel a new gust of wind surround us, moving around us like a hurricane before it shouts out the window and into the air, where a bright flash of light lights up the already bright morning sky, thousands of beams of light shattering down on the castle.

And to my absolute delight does every beam of light that hits my home break another part of the enchantment, the dark blue and black bricks and stones changing into white and red, the devils and gargoyles changing into statues of angels and goddesses, the dead plants that my staff was unable to heal turning into new plants.

All around us the castle comes to life once again after years and years and then the final piece of evidence that Belle and I broke my curse shows itself as a dangly looking man with brown hair which is tied with yellow ribbon runs into the room, followed by a chubby man with slim black mustache and a woman with white hair.

The three of them run at me and Belle, tears in the eyes of the woman as she dashes over and while Belle looks shocked, do I shout: "Lumiere, Cogsworth, Mrs. Potts!" And this seems to replace Belle's shock with happiness as we all embrace each other, all of us smiling, laughing and celebrating our new life. Our life as humans.

I keep embracing them for some time, but then release them and return to Belle, her eyes teary-eyed with happy disbelief and I happily and gently encase her beautiful face with my hands as I gaze deep into her eyes and whisper: "None of this could have been done without you, Belle. Thank you – and welcome home."

And with that, I kiss her once again.

HOLY CRAP!

That went so, so, so, so, so much better than I expected! I did have to take another look at a few scenes from the movie to make sure I could recap them right – the conversations between Belle and the Beast at the start and the transformation of the Beast and the Castle – yet the rest, I am just so proud that I wrote it.

I might do this for a few other movies, I can't say for sure quite yet, but for now, I am very proud of this and I actually think that this challenge really fits with our current holiday season. Honestly, I never understood why Belle didn't just pick up her father and then returned to the castle, but who cares, it's a great movie.

Enjoy the holidays,

Venquine1990
PS. The only rule for this challenge:

Change an important scene at the end of a movie