At the Beast's castle, Belle was enjoying a playful debate at the dinner table with Beast over one of the books they were reading. Beast insisted that the hero in the story was not being efficient in his undercover assignment for his king, while Belle argued that "Why not have some fun along the way?"

The servants were hiding behind the dining room doors, listening and giggling. "I agree with the master." Cogsworth huffed with his hands on his hips. "A soldier in a dangerous position must focus! And not waste his time frittering away over some frivolity that will never happen!"

"Perhaps you are right, mon ami." Lumiere sighed dramatically. "After all, what is love? What is love..." He turned to Plumette and gathered her in his arms in a dramatic dip, "...what is love but courage, and heartache, fire, and apologies, and togetherness!"

"Lumiere, this is foolishness." Plumette giggled in his arms.

"At least have the decency to remember that there is a child present!" Cogsworth wailed, ringing his arms.

"What is he talking about, Momma?" Chip asked curiously.

"Never you mind, son." Mrs. Potts grinned. "Why don't we all head to the kitchen and prepare to serve the master and the girl dessert?"

"Dessert?" Chip's eyes lit up. "Goodie!"

Beast and Belle emerged from the dining room, and made their way to the library. "You must miss your father, and your sister." Beast said glumly, feeling horrible for keeping her here against her will in the first place.

"Oh, very much." Belle hung her head sadly. "Oh, how I wish they could see all this, and know how happy I've been here. I'd like them to be happy like that too. If only I could see them once more!"

Just then, a sound like thousands of crystal glasses tinkling filled the room. A great white light blinded them so hard that Belle and Beast had to shield their eyes. When they looked up, there was a glowing woman in a sparkly, snowy white gown! She had light blonde hair and a crystal wand, and little wings at her back. Beast panicked in terror. The Enchantress! He thought frightfully. But, she looks so different! What has she come for?!

On the other hand, Belle just stared in awe. The woman in white cocked her head, making her neck crack, which made Beast and Belle cringe. "Ahh, yes. That's much better." The woman said in a casual voice. Then she turned and faced them. "Ah! There you two are!"

"Stay away!" Beast warned, throwing his arms around Belle. "Belle hasn't done anything! Leave her alone, before I lose my temper!"

Belle looked up at him, alarmed at the hostility in his manner. "Beast, what are you talking about? Calm down." She said soothingly.

"I'm afraid you have me mixed up with someone else." The lady in white chuckled. "Relax, Beast. I mean you no harm."

"Why should I believe you?" Beast growled. "So, you don't wish me harm, eh? You've come to play more cruel tricks, haven't you?"

"Beast, enough!" Belle scolded him.

"Oh my, oh my." The mysterious lady tsked. "This is going to be more difficult than I was told."

"Who are you?" Belle smiled.

"You don't know?" The lady asked. "Why, I am your and your sister Ella's fairy godmother!"

"What?!" Belle's eyes widened. "You...you couldn't be!"

"Why not?"

"They don't exi..."

"Oh, you're one to talk." Fairy Godmother teased Belle. "Are you not in an enchanted castle, with talking furniture, and a friendly beast?"

"Flattery will get you nowhere." Beast huffed. "I don't believe you."

"Beast, behave yourself." Belle frowned at him. "Sorry he's so grouchy. I can't understand what's gotten into him." She crossed her arms.

"I have drawn out various reactions out of all kinds of people, my dear." Fairy Godmother grinned. "This fellow has not offended me, I assure you." Beast bared his teeth and rolled his eyes. "You see, I have been Ella's fairy godmother since she was a little child. Her own mother believed in them too."

"If you are also my fairy godmother, it means you must know my name." Belle smiled kindly.

"Indeed. What a smart child." Fairy Godmother smiled widely.

"What brings you here, Fairy Godmother?" Belle asked.

"We shall to catch up some other time." Fairy Godmother frowned with worry. "I have come to tell you that your sister needs your help, Belle! She is in terrible trouble."

Belle's face fell and Beast glanced at her with concern. "Trouble?" Belle gulped. "What do you mean? What kind of trouble? What about Papa? Is he all right?"

"You have an enchanted mirror here, no?" Fairy Godmother suggested.

"Yes, there is." Beast replied, more gently now. "Come, Belle. I will show you." He led both ladies to the West Wing. The servants had heard everything in the background and followed at a distance. Belle brought Belle to the table with the enchanted rose. He picked up the mirror. "This mirror will show you anything you ask." He told Belle as he handed it to her.

"I wish to see Ella, please." Belle said. The mirror's reflection morphed into a dim image of Ella, slumping unconscious against a wall, in a crammed space. She looked like she was hurt, and what made it worse, was that smoke was filling the small room! "Ella!" Belle gasped in horror. "Ella! What's happening to her? Ella, wake up!" Beast came to Belle's side and gazed into the mirror. Sure enough, Fairy Godmother was right! He kindly gripped Belle's shoulder with his large paw.

"Oh, Fairy Godmother! What do we do?" Belle cried. "She's in trouble, and she won't wake up! She's in danger! Is there nothing we can do?"

Beast looked at the rose and his heart ached. "You must go to her." He whispered. Belle and Fairy Godmother both looked up at him.

"What? What did you say?" Belle gasped with tears in her eyes.

"You must go to her. No time to waste." Beast said firmly. Belle handed him back the mirror. "No, no. Keep it with you. Then you'll always have a way to look back on me." Tears were hidden at the back of his eyes.

"She's leaving?" Chip whimpered to his mother, outside the doorway.

"After all this time." Plumette hung her head dejectedly.

"Fairy Godmother, can you help me?" Belle asked.

"Of course, child. But we must make haste!" Fairy Godmother replied.

"Oh, thank you!" Belle cried, hugging the woman.

"Goodbye...Belle." Beast hung his head painfully. Belle gaped at him. What was he talking about. She ran to him and gripped his paw.

"Will...will you come with me?" She pleaded. Beast looked at her in shock.

"Me? Go with you?" He sputtered.

"Please!" Belle begged him. "My sister's in trouble, and...I don't want to go alone. I don't know if I can help her by myself. Will you, please?"

"Of course I will, Belle." Beast smiled warmly at her, after hearing the anguish in her voice and looking into her desperate brown eyes.

"Thank you!" Belle kissed his paw.

"Wonderful!" Fairy Godmother praised. "Come, come now! We must not waste another moment!"

"But there's no time. She'll be hurt or...before we get there!" Belle exclaimed.

"I know a way." Beast gripped her hand with his paw. "Lumiere, Cogsworth, Mrs. Potts? Can you manage and watch over things while we are gone?"

"Of course, Master!" Lumiere blurted.

"Go! Save your sister, dear girl!" Mrs. Potts told Belle.

At The Tavern

"Maurice!" Gaston put on a smug smile as he approached his accuser. "Thank heavens! I spent the last five days trying to find you."

Maurice glowered. "You tried to kill me." He argued angrily. "You left me to the wolves."

"The wolves?" Gaston sputtered. "Why, why would I do something like that? That is the most insidious thing I ever heard! It's one thing to rave about your delusions, old man. It's another to accuse me of attempted murder." Gaston smirked.

Using the portal book, Belle led Beast through the village toward her cottage. She was surprised not to see anyone around outside. But then, a horrifying smell filled her nostrils: burning wood! Belle cried out in horror when she saw part of her house burning! "NOO!" She screamed. "Papa! Ella!"

Beast was shocked and equally horrified. He hated the distress in Belle's voice and quickly pulled her back when she tried to dash into the house. "Belle, no! Stay here. I will go!" He told her.

"Please, hurry!" Belle wept.

"I'll get her." Beast told her reassuringly and hopped up to the porch, then burst into the door of the side of the house that wasn't burning yet. Belle turned in fear, but Fairy Godmother was gone!

"Be careful, Beast!" Belle shuddered.

"Ella!" Beast called inside the parlor and the kitchen, trying to yell as hard as he could above the nearby flames. "Ella! Where are you? Help is here!" His animal nostrils picked up on the scent of human flesh! He followed it to the pantry door in the kitchen. It was locked! The Beast, with his mighty fists, clobbered the much smaller than him door and it broke open. Inside, he found a very frightened young lady. Having heard his voice, Ella began to stir. But now she jumped back as the door broke into pieces, but when she looked up at her rescuer, she screamed in terror. The Beast couldn't blame her, nevertheless, he held out his large paw to pull her out. Ella's eyes rolled into the back of her head and she fell forward against him. The Beast hoisted her up on his shoulder and, coughing from the thick smoke, he quickly made his way toward the front door.

Belle was standing outside, watching with growing horror, waiting for the Beast to exit. She prayed hard that he would be safe with every tremor of her body. Finally, he emerged and Belle raced up to him. He coughed and sputtered but gazed at her triumphantly with his blue eyes. Belle stared gratefully back at him, then noticed her sister! "Ella!" Belle cried and reached up to help her. As the Beast gently lowered Ella down into her sister's arms, she began to cough and gag. Belle held her close, then Ella opened her eyes and cried.

"Belle!" She wept.

"Ella, what happened? Are you all right?" Belle asked with worry. Ella was still trying to catch her breath and Belle looked up at the Beast for help. He stared at her thoughtfully, his face saying she should give Ella a chance to calm down. He carried her away from the fire and Belle tried to soothe her.

But Maurice is in trouble too! Can't wait to share the next chapter!