A/N: Sorry for the long pause on updating with some things getting in my way, and I apologize for another short chapter. I'm finally moving the story along to having Beast and Belle actually getting into more adventures.

Date Written: 5/24/15

Chapter 7 In The Dark

Beast

'Maybe I shouldn't have said that to Belle. I felt like I was just in the moment when I said that, but I feel like she may feel the same way for me.' Beast thought to himself as his eyes looked down at the ground.

"Beastdon't think that I'm objecting what you told me. I would be honored to be with you, so stop doubting yourself." Belle said to Beast in a comforting tone.

"We have only known each other for so little time, and you know me so well already." Beast said to Belle as a long tree branch reached out towards them.

"These distorted humans are trying to grab us and I don't understand why," Belle said to Beast as they both stepped back.

It didn't matter that he was in the woods alone with Belle. He even realized that Adelaide was no longer on his mind anymore. It seemed to him that she no longer existed in his world since she had broken up with him. Now things seemed different for him and he was happy about it.

The distorted trees lifted up their feet which were the roots that kept them grounded and shook the whole ground where they were walking.

The vibrations made them feel like an earthquake was coming and they could feel their feet sinking into the ground, and swallowing them up at their ankles and then within seconds they were waist deep until they were swallowed up completely. The ground flattened and covered up the hole that Beast and Belle had sunken down in as if it never existed. Beast and Belle could not see anything because of the darkness.

"Belle are you conscious?" Beast asked Belle with a quivering tone.

"I'm okay, Beast. Are you hurt?" Belle said to Beast as she felt around for an opening.

"I'm going to dig us out of here," Beast said to Belle as he dug at the side wall where they stood.

She could hear Beast digging at the side wall of the hole that swallowed them up. Belle couldn't believe that the perfect moment was ruined because of the distorted human trees. She felt like she had so much to say to Beast, but she didn't know how to express her feelings toward him. Belle could feel her cold heart thawing out since the Beast said those kind words to her about the future. She knew in her heart that in the future that she would want to spend her life with the Beast even though he felt so human to her. Belle had started to wonder if Beast was not a monster that he must have been a human once in his life and just has not said anything to her about it.

Belle

Beast and Belle had finally gotten out of the closed up hole that they were trapped in and once again they started back walking.

"Those distorted humans just dragged us down to the ground for no reason," Beast said to Belle feeling dazed.

"It's like they are enchanted humans with no free will in their minds or hearts." Belle said to Beast trying to be reasonable.

"Maybe we can find a way to save these people lives. It wouldn't be right to leave them like distorted trees." Beast said to Belle feeling sympathetic for the distorted humans.

"Who knows how long they have been like this anyways?" Belle asked Beast with sadness lingering in her voice.

He could feel change in his superficial mind and heart over the distorted humans living out their lives in the woods. It didn't feel right to the Beast that the humans were cursed to such a fate as the one they are living in now. He felt as if that him and Belle were meant to somehow save these humans from their torment and keep moving on to the Enchantress Sanctuary.

'Everywhere you go there will be an obstacle that you and Belle must face together or alone. Everything that will be thrown at the two of you will always have a purpose and a reason behind it, but that is all I will say for now.' Dahlia said to Beast and Belle through their minds as her voice faded away.

"Did you also hear what Dahlia was telling us?" Beast asked Belle in astonishment.

"Yes, I heard what she told us. You are right, Beast it's definitely meant for us to be in the dark woods together. It was no accident that we met each other at all," Belle said to Beast as she thought back on what they went through so far.

"Her voice surprised me but I believe what she's saying to me." Beast said to Belle as he looked at her.

"I'm not afraid to go through obstacles. Because in the real world as humans we go through obstacles. I believe Dahlia may be testing our courage and strength to get through the dark woods in one piece." Belle said to Beast as she thought about what Dahlia was doing to the both of them.

Beast

"I have not talked to her since my fiancée left me," Beast said to Belle secretly hoping that she wouldn't be upset at what he said.

"Your fiancée? I shouldn't be surprised about that." Belle said to Beast as she looked into his eyes.

"How do you feel about me once having a fiancée?" Beast asked Belle curiously as they walked side by side.

Belle was astonished that he would tell her something that personal to her. In her mind it really meant that he felt some kind of way for her, which that made her happy. However, she was afraid to let Beast know how happy she was right now.

"You must have been quite the looker to get a fiancée. If you don't mind me asking you this question. How long were the two of you together?" Belle said to Beast in a casual tone.

"As a human man I was a jerk, and yes I was handsome. My ex-fiancée was so vain and was crazy about me for my looks and the sex that we had. I didn't realize it until now that it was an unnatural relationship." Beast said to Belle as he felt relieved that he admitted his true thoughts to her.

"You are not like other men, Beast. Most men will not admit that they were attracted to a woman for her looks and the sex that they had with her," Belle said to Beast as she admired his honesty.

"We need to find a way to free the distorted tree humans in the dark woods." Beast said to Belle as he pushed the thoughts of his superficial self behind.

"We can get through this obstacle and other future obstacles, and still make it to the Enchantress Sanctuary." Belle said to Beast confidently as they split up and walked towards the distorted trees.

Beast touched the tree trunk and could feel it breathing and that was when he knew those poor people needed to be saved. It didn't feel right to him that these strangers were fated to be distorted trees and terrorizing people that happened to come across the dark woods.

'Just because I was once a man that turned into a beast. It doesn't make it right for these people to be distorted human trees for no reason at all. Belle and I must find a way to save all of these people's lives,' Beast thought to himself as he watched Belle pacing around the trees.