Once Upon a Gundam
A Tale as Old as Time

Chapter VI: Dinner Time

Miriallia laid on the bed still crying. She heard something clicking against the door outside of her room. Sitting up she wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes. She looked at there door. Was that a knock? She wondered. She stood up and over the the door. She opened it and looked around, but no one was there. Hearing the clicking again she looked down surprised to see a tea kettle and cup hopping closer to her room.

"Who… Who are you"

Lacus and Kira looked at one another. They had already disgusted how to deal with that question. Not that they were fans of lying. "I'm Miss Potts" She replied hiding her true name. She pushed open the door and they entered "I thought you might want some tea?"

Amazed at the fact she was listening to a walking tea set she was almost speechless. "I… uh" She said stumbling back bumping into the wardrobe.

"Ouch! Watch it!" The wardrobe snapped at her.

She looked back at it surprised before turning to sit down on the bed. She looked at them all staring at her. "This can't be possible…"

The wardrobe shook her head and shrugged. "Believe me, I've been telling myself the same thing for years" She took a deep reluctant breath "Yet here we are"

Mir slid off the bed onto the floor watching as the teapot filled the small cup beside her. "Told you she was cute" Kira said hoping over"

Miss Potts just laughed kindly as he started to advance towards the girl "Go slowly, we don't want you spilling.

"Thanks" Mir said picking up the cup. She was about to take a sip when Lacus spoke.

"It was brave… what you did"

"Everyone thinks so" The wardrobe added.

"But… now I've lost my family… my dreams… everything" She said sadly.

"Cheer up!" The teakettle said happily "I promise everything will turn out in the end you just have to have hope… you'll see" They smiled at one another before the pot starting giggling. "Look at me talking when there is meal to prepare. Come on Chip!" She said as they started to leave.

Before exited Kira turned and looked at the wardrobe, almost like he was giving her a look of warning. Then he turn to Mir and smiled. "It was nice meeting you"

"You as well… Chip"

"Yes… Chip" He repeated as if he was trying to remember that was his name.

Once they were gone the wardrobe approached her. "You don't by that act do you?" She asked.

Miriallia looked up at her confused. "Act?"

"Please don't tell me you believed that garbage they fed you?" She said looking down at the young girl. "Miss Potts and Chip? Honestly couldn't they come up with better names than that? And they expect me to go by wardrobe… I suppose that is even less creative." She scoffed.

"You're saying they lied about their names?"

"Couldn't you tell"

"I guess something did seem off about them… then again they were a talking tea set. And you're a talking wardrobe."

"You'll find this castle is full of creatures like us. Here you'll discover all kind of strange enchanted things. A clock that can tell you the time without ever looking at it. A candlestick that can lite their own wicks at the drop of a hat. Even a beast can be more than he appears." She said in a mysterious tone. "But if you really want to understand… understand everything you need to go to the West Wing"

"But… He told me it was forbidden" She replied.

"And you were satisfied with that?" She asked raising an eyebrow at the girl.

"I did ask… what was there. But he… he just yelled at me."

"Because life is not that easy. You want to know what is in the West Wing… it's answers. You go there and pieces will start falling into place."

"If I go there… if he catches me"

"You agreed to live here forever right? To never see your family again. Do you really want to live in a place where a mystery is held over you like this. A secret you'll never learn?"

"If you know what is there why not just tell me? Save me the trip, and the danger?"

"What's wrong? Hate adventure?" She asked questioning the girl. Mir looked at her surprised. For as long as she could remember she wanted to chance to be part of so kind of adventure. Was travelling to the West Wing really going to satisfy that? "Listen I can't tell you what's there. Honestly it's something you need to see for yourself. You can sit here wallowing in self pity wonder how you got to this place or… "

"Or?"

"You jump in with both feet. Discover the mysteries of this place… learn who the beast truly is"

"What do you mean who he truly is?"

"Like I said their names aren't 'Chip' and 'Miss Potts', and mine isn't 'Wardrobe'. So what makes you think his name is Beast? Our Master does have a name… and maybe someday he'll trust you enough to tell you"

She smiled up at the wardrobe. She was a bit rough around the edges and direct, but at least she was honest. "Well since you're clearly not a fan of the aisis they gave you why not tell me your real name?" The wardrobe looked at her, like she was questioning whether to tell her or not. "I promise I'll keep it to myself. No one needs to know you told me."

"It's Shiho"

"Shiho… it's nice to meet you. I'm Miriallia, but you can call me Mir"

"It's an honor." Shiho looked out the window. Judging but the amount of light outside she knew it was almost suppertime. "I guess we should get you dressed for dinner" She said reluctantly opening her doors. She was embarrassed to see moths flying out. "Sorry… guess I haven't opened them in a while." She reached in and pulled out a dress. "There that should do" The dress was elegant… fit for a princess.

"Thanks but no thanks" She said sitting on the bed. "There is no way I'm going to dinner"

"But you have to!" She replied quickly almost panicking. This dinner was an important stepping stone to breaking the spell. If she didn't go Shiho might be stuck as a piece of furniture for the rest of her life!

Just then a clock walked in. He looked up at Shiho and could tell there was something wrong. He looked over at the girl. She was sitting on the bed, and didn't look like she was going anywheres anytime soon. "It's dinner time" He informed her.

The beast paced back and forth in front of the fire. Lacus and Athrun watched. They could tell he was nervous. So much was riding on this. Everyone was putting their hopes into this moment. He was the one who caused them to be cursed and he was the only one who could undo it. Time was running out. It was the end of the final year of the curse. Winter was beginning. The petals were falling… only a few weeks remained. Soon everything would become permanent.

"What the hell is taking so long?" He demanded "Where is she!"

"Please Master… be patient" Lacus urged "The girl has lost everything even her freedom all in just one night… give her time."

"Master… you do realize this girl, she could be the one. The one who could fix everything and break the spell"

"Don't you think I know that" He snapped.

"Good. Guess things are really falling into place. All that is left is you fall in love with her, and then she falls in love with you. We'll be human before morning!" He said with confidence.

"I'm afraid it's not that simple Athrun" Lacus said sadly. "Things like this… love it takes time"

"I knew the moment I met Cagalli over 22 years ago that I loved her. Love can be instantaneous when you find the one"

Lacus shook her head "Although I agree this isn't the same situation. She is alone in a place full of mystery and enchantments, ruled by a beast who took so much from her the minute she met him. You can't expect her to fall in love with him right away after that. She needs time. Time to get to know the real Master."

"But the rose… it's already begun to wilt."

The beast grabbed the mantle squeezing it slightly before saying in a sad tone "It's just no use… She's so beautiful and I'm…" He curled up his nose in disgust "Well just look at me!"

"You need to help her see past all that. See past the beast to the man hiding inside"

"I-I don't know how to do that"

"Start by trying to be more of a gentleman. Be kind"

"And when she comes in give her that seductive smirk you were always famous for" Athrun added. Hearing this the Master attempted to smirk. Unfortunately as a beast the effect wasn't so attractive.

Lacus laughed a nervous laugh. "Try not to frighten the poor girl" she requested.

"Try to impress her with your wit..." Athrun said.

"But don't be arrogant about it… " The beast's eyes looked back and forth between them as they instructed him how to woo the girl.

"Don't forget to complement her… "

"But be honest, don't tell her something if you don't truly believe it..."

"And of course..."

"Control your temper!" The two said in unison.

The door started to crack open and the beast wiped the smirk off his face. He looked at the door eager to see the girl. "Guess it's time" Athrun said excited.

But instead of the young girl it was only Yzak. "Evening" He said nervously. He looked up at his Master. He could see the anger was flaring up.

"Where is she" He growled.

"Yeah…" Yzak said like he was trying to buy himself some time before getting scolded. "There's a slight problem with that… She's not coming"

"WHAT!" He roared loudly shaking the entire room. Quickly he ran towards her room, the three servants trying there best to follow.

"Master! Stop! This isn't going to help!" Yzak pleaded

Miriallia sat in her room trying to relax. Her mind was lost in what Shiho has said. 'Even a beast can be more than he appears'. Those words seemed to echo in her head before it was replaced with the sound of a loud knock on the door. She knew exactly who it was.

"I thought I told you to come down for dinner!" He yelled angry.

"I'm not hungry!" She yelled back.

"Get out here or… or I'll break down the door!"

"Ummm… Master" Athrun interrupted. "Not to judge or anything but… that might not be the best way to win her heart." he suggested.

"Just try being nice" Yzak added.

Frowning at the two he said through gritted teeth "But she being a pain!"

"Please Master" Lacus begged.

Feeling dejected he asked again a kindly as possible. "Will you join me for dinner?" He asked. Mir could tell he was trying, but she wasn't ready to face him yet.

"No!" She yelled in response.

He looked down at his servants very frustrated. "Calm and gentle" Yzak instructed.

Trying to act formal he asked once more. "It would give me great pleasure if you would join me for dinner" Lacus cleared her throat indicating he missed something "...please" He added.

Still mad at this beast she refused him yet again "No, thank you"

Furious he yelled through the door. "You can't hide in there forever"

"Just watch me!" She said provoking him.

"Fine! STARVE! see if I care!" He growled. He turned his attention to the three next to him. "If she doesn't eat with me, then she doesn't eat at all!" he said before running down the hall slamming a door.

"Oh my… this isn't good" Lacus said.

"Athrun you should watch the door. That girl comes out let me know" Yzak said.

Athrun stood outside the door in guard position. "Right. You can count on me"

He sighed heavily "Guess we should go clean up" he said.

In another area of the castle the began knocking over and destroying things in his path. He was so angry. "Dammit." He yelled slamming his fist in the wall. "I try to be nice and still she refuses me! What the hell does she want from me. For me to beg?" He said to himself. Looking across the room he saw his magic mirror. He picked it up and looked into it. "Show me the girl" He demanded.

It began to glow green before revealing the girl talking to the wardrobe in her bedroom. "You know you could just give him a chance… get to know him a little" The wardrobe suggested.

"I don't want to get to know that jerk." She said still angry about him yelling at her "I don't even want anything to do with him" She pouted. He placed the mirror down and the image of the girl faded.

He watched as a petal fell from the rose gathering with the others. "I should just stop fooling myself... I'm a monster... That's all I'll ever be" he said helplessly, his eyes full of sadness.