Chapter 4

"Hello?" she exclaimed, but no response came, and as she looked around she could see so fancy a front patio lush with green bushes of flowers and roses she did not think grew elsewhere in the country.

Then she wondered where her father had picked up the rose from, but she was busy looking to see if there was anybody inside the place at the moment.

The sun was setting, the light of day deeming and the sounds of Kriketunes and Hoothoots filled the air slowly.

She left her Rapidash wander about the yard and told it not to go anywhere, and that she would return in a minute.

Walking up the entrance stairs and knocking on the big wooden doors of the eerie place, she called out for assistance if any, only to have such doors creak open for her.

She walked into the castle; the hall was long and carpeted in red but dark.

The only light came from deep within the place, perhaps the living room or the kitchen or some sort of big fancy room.

She walked past large, ripped and aged oil paintings and dusty, old armors in display as well as head trophies of Stantlers and Piloswines.

She could see desiccated stands of fearsome posing Ursarings and Noctowls and other big pokemon she had never seen before but indeed looked big and dangerous to tame along the halls for decoration.

Once again she tried calling out for assistance, "Hello? Is anybody here? My father says the master of this place sent for me?"

She stood in place, waiting and she turned to see something that caught her attention.

It was something small, white and hopped along the carpet with a flame on top; at first she was sure it was a pokemon.

On closer look, she saw it may be but as bizarre as it was, it resembled a candle and soon she had second thoughts.

"Welcome, welcome! I am Hitomoshi the butler and my master awaits you in the living room, please follow!" it said, hopping back on the floor and leading the way up to the well lit and warm fireplace.

As they entered, Belle could see the immense living room lit by the flames of the fireplace.

In front of the fireplace she could see a large creature, a pokemon lying on the floor resting in front of the flames.

The beast turned to look and startling Belle in shock to see that it was indeed, a beast of legend; an Entei.

The Entei rose, stretching its body briefly and standing still as Belle approached it by feet; the small candle pokemon then excused itself with a bow and hopped away.

Belle was speechless, she bowed to greet the big pokemon who also bowed its head and welcomed her.

"Welcome, you are Belle, correct?" it said in a deep, coarse but welcoming voice.

"Yes, my father says you sent for me, I thank your hospitality for what have you done for him. He is old and apparently I am the only he can rely on as for my brother and sister are still young as they say and my mother is sick," she said, though Entei was none so amused.

"My apologies," it said, but Belle said otherwise, "No, no my apologies. For my father unwillingly trespassed your property and your roses."

She showed the Entei the large and lush red rose, the Entei stared for a moment before saying it was okay and nothing to worry about.

"I trust you must hunger, care to accompany me for dinner?" asked the beastly pokemon, to which Belle accepted and followed it to the bequest room where a table had been set for them only and where they were served and dined together.

Belle was meek about using utensils and her manner of eating; though she could see her host companion did not take table manners too seriously as the Entei ate the way any Growlith or Houndour would when hungry.

It was then that she did not mind how she ate as long as she was kind enough to keep him company a while.

After diner, she accompanied him for a brief stroll about his garden where Sunfloras and Budews, Roselias and Bellsprouts roamed peacefully about making him proud of how well he took care of it all.

In return, Belle flattered him by saying she had never seen most of those pokemon before, for the countryside was bare and very cold in the winter time.

He thanked her for such, letting her close to the charming Roselias he had cared for and which interacted with his guest.

"If you would please come with me, I have something to show you," it said as he led her the way up to a room on the second floor of the castle.

As they went, she could see the place was dusty and somewhat littered and ripped, scratched and burn in some places but none which she really wanted to find out.

Perhaps these were pokemon who had come to make themselves at home in the castle, an abandoned castle.

Opening the door, Entei let her enter first to see it; it was big and had a fireplace of its own.

The bed was red and so were the drapes and covers and all, on top of the bed were dresses for her.

Belle turned confused, but the Entei moved its head in signal that she may as well touch them and look at them.

They were lavish, made of fine fabrics and delicately detailed with embroidery of glistening threads and intricate decorations.

She was charmed to see said dresses also came with their own shows and hats and gloves and all.

"They are so beautiful!"

"They are my gifts to you, I am glad you like them very much," it said, it seemed Entei was blushing but it was impossible to tell apart that it gazed away from her, shy.

Belle was speechless, her charmed smiled no longer on her face but rather the crawling of confusion and denial.

"Thank you… but… why? I only came to pardon the intrusion of what happened and well, I cannot stay… I must go soon, the night is befalling."

"You cannot leave, has not your father told you I had sent for your presence instead of his to stay at my castle as my prisoner?"

Upon hearing those words, Belle gasped with shock and fear and let drop the lavish crème and yellow dress.

"NO!"

"YES, you shall remain my prisoner for his intrusion!"

"You can't do that! I shall escape instead!"

"I shall pursue then."

"This is foolish, nonsense! I said I am sorry and so was he!"

"Indeed, but I fancy you would live with me instead. Now, would you fancy dinner with me?" asked the Entei, to which Belle response was 'no' no matter how many times the beast had insisted until he left.

Belle closed the door, and cried from the utter horror as the night fell no soon in the horizon and the stars filled the sky.

That night, as Belle watched the flames of the Magmar that sat on the fireplace burn she heard a knocking at the door.

It was a soft, almost scratched knock and she turned to ask who it was and what they wanted.

The voice of the Entei replied, softly and asked if she still was awake and if she wanted anything, to which she said 'no'.

The Entei pleaded saying that she was his guest and as a rule of courtesy, to treat her right if she needed anything, to just let him know or his many servants in the castle.

Belle still said, "Thank you, but no thank you."

He then asked suddenly if she would marry him, to which she responded angry with shock, "NO!"

Upon hearing her response, the Entei walked away and disappeared for the night.

Belle turned sadly at the burning flames, only to see the sad expression of the Magmar stare back and turn its gaze away…