Chapter 29: Tale as Old as Time

A few days later, a talking wardrobe presented Belle with a beautiful yellow dress out of the many fresh clothes it had given her since she had been staying with Adam. Taking it, Belle had her hair and makeup done by the same wardrobe after putting the dress on.

"So, what's the occasion, Madame Armoire?" Belle asked.

Cheekily, the wardrobe responded, "You'll see, my dear."

With her hands covered by matching yellow gloves and a ribbon that tied part of her hair up, Belle made her way down to the dining hall where she met Adam who was wearing a nice blue suit with his hair/fur tied into a ponytail. Neither of them spoke as Adam helped Belle into her chair and together they enjoyed a lovely dinner prepared by Mrs. Potts and the other chefs who resembled kitchen items and appliances. Having improved his table manners lately, Adam didn't eat as slovenly as before which made Belle feel better. Later, Adam offered his clawed hand to Belle and she took it as he led her into a golden ballroom she had never seen before.

Music was playing from an unknown location, and there were candles lit up throughout the room. Smiling, Belle and Adam took each others hands and they began to dance. Their movements were slow at first, since neither of them were experts, but they gradually grew more confident with each step until they were gliding across the room with Potts and Chip watching from nearby. Then as the music slowed down, Adam led Belle onto an overgrown terrace that was outside the ballroom where a full moon was shining.

After taking in the scenery, Belle turned to Adam and said, "Was this your idea of a date?"

"In a way," Adam replied nervously. "I wanted to make you happy, after all the trouble I've caused you lately."

"There's no need to feel bad about it," Belle assured, putting her hand over Adam's. "And you have made me happy. But, there is one thing that has been bothering me."

In response, Adam clasped his hand over Belle's. "Just name it, and I'll see what I can do about it."

"I'm worried about my father. He's been gone for over a month, and the police still haven't found him yet. So I was wondering if…I could borrow your magic mirror to see where he is."

Without hesitation, Adam took out the enchanted pocket mirror and gave it to her.

"Show me my father, please," Belle ordered.

In a green flash of light, the mirror showed Belle's father looking pale and shivering in a padded cell. The image then zoomed out, showing a building surrounded by forests.

"It's the asylum," Belle realized. "So Gaston wasn't lying when he said—

"When did he tell you this?" Beast demanded.

"This past week, while I was at school," Belle answered.

"Did he make any sort of deal with you?"

"No, he just offered to take me there."

"Then it must be some sort of trap," Adam guessed.

"But if my father really is there, I must go to him at once! Judging by his condition, he might be sick or dying."

Letting out a heavy sigh, Adam said, "Then do what you must. You're free to go."

###

After changing back into her normal clothes, Belle went down to the bottom of the hill and called a cab to take her to the asylum. Thirty minutes later, she walked through its forlorn entrance and beheld a man with a sullen face and beady eyes. Once she explained her situation, he led her to the cell where her father was being kept.

"May I see him?" Belle asked the sullen-faced man.

"It is past visiting hours, but for you I'll make an exception," the sullen-faced man replied, grinning a little as he unlocked the door for her.

Bothered by his smile, Belle went into the room and noticed her father was sleeping. Just then, the cell door closed and Gaston appeared in the window.

"Poor Belle," Gaston taunted. "Neglecting to visit her crazy old father while she was staying with a Beast."

Gasping, Belle said, "How do you know about Adam's condition?"

"Mostly through rumors, but your reaction implies they're true," Gaston answered. "Now, I could clear up this…misunderstanding regarding your father's condition if…"

"If what?" Belle braced herself for his answer.

"If you agree to marry me when we graduate high school."

Angered, Belle glared at Gaston. "Never! I would rather die than marry you!"

Frowning, Gaston walked away. "Fine, have it your way!"

"What are you going to do?" Belle demanded, running up to the window and seeing his retreating figure.

"Kill the Beast, of course!"

As Gaston's laughter echoed down the hallway, Belle reached into her skirt where she secretly hid her cellphone and called the police.

###

By the time Belle and her father were released from the cell, Maurice was taken by the paramedics along with all the other missing bus passengers who were all being kept there against their will. Because of this, the sullen-faced man was arrested being the administrator of the asylum. Meanwhile, Belle had the cab driver take her back to Adam's house. When she got there, Adam was lying on the ground while another body was covered up by a blanket. As for Mrs. Potts and Chip, they were standing on the steps of the house along with the other enchanted objects and the Enchanted Rose in its glass casing. Unlike before, most of its petals had fallen with one remaining. This sight made Belle start to cry as she rushed over to Adam and knelt down next to him.

To her surprise, his eyelids fluttered open. "Belle…you came back."

"Of course I did," Belle responded, looking at the covered body. "Is Gaston…"

"I think he's dead. He…came storming into the house. Potts and the others tried to fend him off, but he…brushed them aside and went straight for me. We had a struggle on the roof and I…pushed him over."

Looking down at Adam's side, Belle noticed a growing dark spot. "You're bleeding!"

"Yeah, he…stabbed me with a knife…"

"I'll call an ambulance!" Before Belle could pick up her phone, Adam stopped her.

"It's too late for me," Adam insisted. "Even if they came here, I would still die."

"Why?"

"Because…the Rose…is tied to…my life."

Looking at the Enchanted Rose again and then back at Adam, Belle's throat tightened. "Why didn't you tell me sooner?"

"The Enchantress told me that…in order to break my curse, I must gain the affection of someone…who loves me despite my outward appearance…before the Rose…dies…"

With a final breath, Adam became limp.

"No…" Belle sobbed, gripping Adam tighter. "You can't die! I don't care who you were before, because I love who you are now! With all my heart!"

Just then, the last petal from the Enchanted Rose fell making all the enchanted objects unhappy. A few moments later, there was a bright flash of light as Adam was suddenly lifted into the air. Belle and the enchanted objects watched in amazement as Adam's body shone with light which seemed to change before their very eyes. Once the light died down, Adam was standing up now resembling a fair-skinned young man with medium blond hair and piercing blue eyes.

"Adam?" Belle murmured as she stood up. "Is that you?"

"Yes, Belle," Adam said in an angelic voice. "It is me."

As the two embraced, the enchanted objects were suddenly changed back into humans with Mrs. Potts resembling a kind old woman while Chip was now a young boy. While everyone was celebrating, the police arrived after receiving a call about a disturbance in the neighborhood and were baffled by this strange sight.

End of Chapter 29