Welcome back!

Banzi, you'll receive your answer in this chapter.

Krystall Klear, so nice to see a new reviewer!

Child of Dreams, you're about to find out.

ImagineATale, glitches were to be expected considering early on Agathe had warned them she wasn't sure how much would be lifted. But as Belle said the kids are going to love the year round snow XD

Mustard Lady, yes he was terrified. Now let's move on to the village to see what trouble is brewing there.

Yinlai, loved your review!

This chapter was written a lot faster than anticipated, hope you'll like it!

Chapter 24

"Papa!"

Agathe held up her hand, "He's fine Belle, when the spell broke he remembered everything. Everyone remembers you and Gaston again and therein lies the problem."

"Why would it be a problem if their memories were returned? Isn't that a good thing?" Adam asked.

"It would have been, except not all their memories were returned. You and the servants are still forgotten, what do you suppose would happen if the servants were to go to the village to find their families?"

"They wouldn't be recognised and people would start to panic." Belle realised.

Agathe nodded, "Therefore they cannot return, I'm sorry but they will have to wait."

"Isn't there anything that could be done?" Belle asked.

"Not for now, though Maurice has offered to keep an eye out for any changes. He is very proud of you Belle and he wished he had known it was you."

Belle remembered her visit to town, meeting her father. "He must have liked knowing I broke the curse."

"He did, at first he didn't realise it. He asked me if you had broken your curse, I told him that you visited him after you did. He recalled your visit and sunk to his knees, thanking me for setting you free. I told him you freed yourself, that he had raised the most caring and courageous woman that I know." Agathe explained. "Why don't you all enjoy today, I'll return tomorrow morning to think of a suitable solution."

Deciding to take Agathe's advice they split up, Gaston wanted to ride Philippe now that he could see where he was going and Belle and Adam wanted to start thinking ahead of possible solutions.

As Gaston was riding, he thought of all that had happened. He couldn't believe that Beast had been an actual prince, who was now treating him as his friend. But deep down he knew they had been friends a lot longer, he had just been too scared to admit it. He also recalled how happy Belle had looked, he had never made her smile in this way, or any way for that matter and he knew he had made the right decision in letting her go. She wasn't the one for him, thinking about it he had to grimace at the idea, he would have been stuck with all those books of hers.

Belle and Adam had returned to their chambers, though they had cared less about being proper when it was just them and Gaston, they had to reconsider now, they weren't married after all.

"I don't care what they think," Adam said. "You belong in this room, just as much as I do. The room is big enough and the beds are at opposite ends of the room."

"I know you don't care what they think, neither do I, but we do have to think about it."

"Everyone in this castle knows we wouldn't do anything too improper, and if you truly want to live by societies expectations, all you have to do is say it. Then I will move to another room, if anyone deserves the Master bedroom of the entire castle it is you. If it weren't for you I fear what would have happened. You saved us all, first by teaching me how to love and then with your plan of the second curse."

"Adam don't be ridiculous, I'm not going to make you give up your bedroom. You are the prince not me, I should be leaving."

Adam shook his head, "No this is your room and if you don't want me to leave it, you'll have to get used to sharing it."

Belle sighed, "Fine, we'll share."

The following morning, the hallways were bursting with excited servants. After all these years they would be reunited with their loved ones. All had gathered in the entrance hall and were awaiting the arrival of their prince, to lead them there. When he came into view, Belle and Gaston following him, all excited chatter seized and they listened attentively.

Adam took a deep breath, "My friends, I know you've all been waiting for this day to come for a long time. Sadly something has come to my attention, the enchantress, whose name is Agathe as I've learned, visited yesterday evening, bringing bad news. As you might have noticed not all effects of the curse have been lifted, the remaining damage to the castle and the winter outside prove this."

The crowd nodded, they had noticed all of this.

"It appears that the memories of you are still lost to your loved ones, therefore I cannot allow any of you to return to the village until this has been solved."

The effect of his words were instantaneous, shock and anger clearly visible on their faces and it didn't take long for the first shouts to come.

"We want to see our parents!"

"You can't keep us away!"

Raising his hand, Adam called for attention, "Agathe will return at any moment and we will find a solution, for now I ask you all to stay calm. We will find a way to bring your loved ones back to you, this I promise. We will not give up, all I ask is for you to be patient."

The crowd kept muttering their displeasure until Mrs. Potts stepped forward, "Will you all be quiet? As much as I would like to return to my husband and give Chip his father back, our Master has a point. They would see us as strangers, and that is not how I want my boy to be reunited with his father."

The crowd quieted down a bit, their head of housekeeping had a point.

"Thank you Mrs. Potts." Belle said.

"No problem dearie."

There was loud banging on the door before the door opened and in walked the enchantress they hadn't seen for eleven years. They split giving the woman ample room to move through the crowd, their fearful eyes following every move.

"My prince, shall we discuss our options somewhere private?"

Adam nodded, "Everyone, we will meet here again in the evening to tell you about anything we may have decided. For now please attend to your duties."

The crowd dispersed, tough their disappointment and displeasure was palpable.

"That went as well as could be expected. Shall we go up?" Adam suggested.

The group moved to the West Wing where they would have the most privacy.

Finding no reason to delay Adam immediately asked, "Have you found another way, or do we have to connect yet another curse?"

Agathe shook her head, "Sadly that seems our best chance, but I'm not very eager to do so, all things considering."

"But if there is no other way..." Belle stepped up, "I refuse to keep the servants from seeing their families. Where could we find someone to...well..."

Gaston stepped forward, "I might have an idea..." He shifted uncomfortably.

All eyes turned to him, what could he have thought of?

"I was wondering, is the one cursed always the one who has to meet the conditions set? I mean, could it be done that others have to prove something to the one cursed?"

Agathe pondered this, "It should be possible, they would in a way be part of the curse."

Gaston nodded, "Do you remember the conversation we had before I broke the curse?"

Belle and Adam knew they had spoken, but the details of the conversation had never been shared.

Agathe nodded and recalled all they had said, "I see where you're going with this, but are you sure?"

Gaston nodded and smirked, "I did say it might be interesting, didn't I."

"Could one of you explain what you are talking about precisely?" Belle asked.

"Indeed, I'm getting confused myself." Adam added.

Agathe inclined her head, "I told him I had contemplated cursing him many times before in the village, but lack of trust held me back as you know."

"I told her she should have, claiming they would have dropped me from my pedestal. What if she did curse me again and that they would have to treat me respectfully to regain their memories. Is it possible to make it easy to break the curse, like doing a specific action?"

"Yes, that is easy enough. Usually I set a condition to teach a lesson, but it can be any random act."

Belle smirked, "I might have a suggestion." She stepped forward and whispered something in Agathe's ear.

Gaston saw Agathe smirking at him, what exactly had Belle said? He dreaded to find out. "What did you tell her?"

Belle now moved to Adam to whisper the same in his ear who doubled over from laughter. This can't be good, Gaston thought.

"Could one of you just tell me what you came up with?"

Having trouble holding her laughter Belle moved closer and whispered the same in his ear. Agathe and Adam saw him turn white.

"No, not that! Can't you think of anything else? I am not doing that!"

Adam clapped him on the back, "Where is your sense of humour?"

"Not anywhere near yours." Gaston snapped. "But fine, have your laughs."

Having reached a decision the group made their way down.

"Are you sure you want to do this Gaston? I mean you don't have to." Belle asked.

Gaston looked at her, "I am sure, I want to help and this is the best solution."

Adam looked at Gaston with admiration, the same determination that he had cursed when the man had come to the castle, was now what would help them.

"Gaston wait," Adam suddenly said, "I want to thank you for what you're doing for us. This is more than we could have asked from you."

"No problem, but in a way I'm still being selfish for doing this. I want to go back and see how my friend LeFou is doing, but I don't want to fall back to my past behaviour. This is the best way to avoid it."

"You will never be him again, as you've said, you hate who you were before. There is no reason to fear becoming him again, just believe in yourself." Adam told him.

"I'd rather avoid the possibility all together, if that's alright with you. Now how about dinner before we meet with your servants again?"

When the sun was setting the group made their way to the entrance hall. Agathe was already standing in the entrance hall.

They had reached the grand staircase and saw all the servants that had gathered again, doubt and sadness of their predicament clearly visible on their faces.

Clearing his throat Adam spoke, "We have found a way, but it would be inappropriate for me to tell. Gaston will you step forward and tell them of your idea."

Stepping forward Gaston observed all the faces in front of him, though he saw distrust in a lot of them other looked at him with hope in their eyes. He would prove to the first group that he could be trusted and to the rest that their hope wasn't misplaced. "The plan is for another curse to be cast, not what you want to hear I suppose but it is the plan. This one though will be very different, I will be the only one affected and those who show me compassion and kindness in my blind state will have their memories returned, when the curse is broken. The condition will be set on performing a random act." Here he shot a dirty look at a rather amused Belle. "Belle and Adam will join and help me, let's hope we can restore all their memories of you."

When he was done he looked around again, and all the faces staring at him were now full of hope and admiration. If he had any doubt if he wanted to go through with this, it was gone now and replaced with sheer determination.

Agathe and Gaston left for his room where the curse could be cast in a confined space without being disturbed or affecting anyone else, despite having offered it Gaston couldn't help but feeling nervous. The people in the village were very set in their ways and previous admiration or not, they would drop him from his high horse in an instant if he couldn't make a decent contribution to society. He was ashamed to think he was once exactly like that, if not worse.

Reaching him room he turned to face Agathe, "I'm ready, I think."

Agathe held out the rose, "Once again I'm going to use the rose as the base, considering their loss of memory was connected to it. Are you sure about this? Remember you'll be able to break the curse at any point as you know."

Being at a loss for words he just nodded, he could do this.

Agathe pointed the rose towards him and began chanting.

In the library Belle was packing a few books to take with her. They would leave early the next day and she wanted to have everything ready. She couldn't believe how much Gaston had changed, he was willingly getting cursed to help people who were basically strangers to him. After she finished packing the books she wanted to take with her, she made her way to the East Wing to gather her father's belongings which had been left behind. She would see him again and couldn't wait to hold him in her arms once more. Having finished she returned to Adam in their chambers.

Adam was packing everything they needed in their chamber's, he had no idea how long they might be gone and decided to pack as much as he could. The door opened and Belle walked in. "I'm almost done, I have also packed your music box and the book that you've brought from the village."

"Thank you, I am so excited to see him again!"

"I can imagine, it won't be long now until you are reunited. Let's hope we can do the same for the rest."

A knock on the door caused them to look and they saw Agathe walking in, "It is done, the magic is settling as we speak."

"I would like to say thank you, but the only one we should thank for this is Gaston. He just had his sight back and now it's gone again." Belle said.

Agathe agreed, "He is a better man than we all had thought. He said he was going to sleep, tomorrow will be stressful enough for him."

Belle nodded, "It will be, the people aren't exactly accepting of those who are different."

"We will be there for him, is there anything else about that dreadful village you haven't told me? All I know so far is that they called you a 'funny' girl for being different and that they will drop their town hero in an instant for being blind."

Belle thought hard about it, "Papa is there and you'll love the church. There are a few people who I would like to see again. Just try to control your temper."

"You are right, there are a few that are more tolerating." Agathe added. "I'll take my leave now and I'll wait for you all outside of the forest tomorrow morning."

Before either could respond she had left.

The next morning when the group left the castle they were met by the servants. Several looked at awe at Gaston who was oblivious to this, they now fully realised that he truly couldn't see and the ease with which he moved proved he was used to this.

"Master, do be careful." Cogsworth said.

"I will," Adam responded, "I've left the mirror in the library, so everyone can look whenever they want."

Several thank you's were heard throughout the crowd and Lumiere stepped forward, "Master, I wish you the best of luck and to monsieur Gaston I would like to offer my gratitude for what he is doing for those on staff with families."

"You're welcome," Gaston said. "Is it alright if we go, I just want to get it over with."

Understanding how nervous he must be Belle nodded and mounted Philippe. Adam mounted his own horse and Gaston would sit behind him.

They left the castle and servants behind and rode trough the gate. The passed the enchanted part of the forest without any problems and at the edge of the woods were met by Agathe who was holding a horse.

"Gaston, I have someone here for you."

Adam helped Gaston down and towards the horse.

Feeling his way around the horse and touching the saddle, he recognised the horse immediately. "Magnifique," He whispered. "I think I'm going to need to give you a different name, would you like that? I'll think of one later." He mounted his old horse and basked in it's familiarity, he had missed it. "Thank you, Agathe."

"No problem, I wish you luck."

The group continued their way to the village and when Belle saw it she took a deep breath. "There is the village." She looked at Gaston, "Are you ready?"

"As ready as I can be."