Belle came in through the basement doors outside, and smoke filled the room, she coughed loudly and called out to her father.
"How on earth, god d-" He pulled up his pants, and noticed his daughter. "God darnet!" He kicked some wood.
"Are you alright?" She looked over his body, covered in wood shavings and grease.
"Well, Im about ready to give up on this hunk of junk!" He kicked it fiercely. Belled tried not to laugh out loud.
"Dad, you always say that."
"I mean it this time, I'll never get this bone headed contraption to work!" He yelled.
"Yes you will, and your going to win first place at the fair tomorrow, and become a world famous invento~~~r." She smiled sweetly at her smirking father.
"You really think so child?" He questioned still unsure.
"I always have Dad." She reassured.
"Well, then what are we waiting for, I'll have this thing fixed in no time, could you hand me the dohicky clincher?" Bell grabbed the oddest tool in the box and handed it her her father.
"So, did you have a good time in town this morning?" He asked. Laboring over his invention.
"I got a new book....Papa, do you think I'm odd?"
"My daughter, odd?!" He snorted. "Where would you get an idea like that?"
"Oh, I don't know, its just I don't feel like I really fit in around here. There's no one I can really talk to." She frowned.
"Belle, we just moved here, and I know this town isnt quite like the lively one I raised you in, but...what about that Geston fellow. He's a handsome man." Yet he seemed to forget Geston was nine years older than her.
"Well, he' handsome alright, yet rude and conceded! Oh Father he's definitely not for me." She sat and rested her chin on her free hand, while the other held her book.
"Well, don't you worry hun, because this invention is going to be the start of a new life for us." he came out from under the giant metal contraption. "I think that's done it, now, lets give it try." He pulled a long lever, then ducked for cover, expecting it to explode again, Belle ducked to, until she noticed it was working perfectly, it began to chop at the wood, and fling it into a pile.
"It works?" He beamed. "It works!!"
"Dad! You did it! You really did it!" She hugged him tightly with gratitude.
"Hitch up Faleep belle, I'm off to the fair!" He cheered.
That evening...
"Good bye Father, good luck!" She waved.
"Good bye Belle, and take care while I'm gone!" He called out as Faleep, a fine Clydesdale pulled a fairly large cart containing Maurice's invention onto the trail leading to a town, just eight miles from home.
Some hours afterwards, Maurice lead Faleep to a dark forest, they were in about a half mile until Maurice brought out the map. "We should've been there by now. Maybe we missed a turn, I guess we should've taken the..." He looked at a sign that all the directions had been worn away. "wait a minute." Faleep sniffed the air, and turned to the direction his instinct told him to go until his master jerked the reigns over to the right. Faleep grunted as his masters direction was dark and filled with mist and chills. The full moon seemed to cascade over the scene, and Faleep insisted they go left where the birds were still singing in the night. "Come on Faleep its a shortcut, we'll be there in no time." Faleep followed his Master's wishes and began down the road. Faleep's ears kept twitching as wind and snaps of twigs flooded his eardrums. Suddenly a large dark figure flew past Faleep on his left flank. He almost reared up in shock and was moving backwards. "This cant be right! Where have you taken up Faleep?" A bloodcurdling howl signaled an attack that Maurice was oblivious to. "We better turn around." He whispered. Faleep moved backwards uncontrollably, and his Master tried controlling him. The end of the crate hit a tree, and a flock of bats flew out spooking Faleep to death, sending him on a flight.
"Woah, woah boy!!" Maurice cried, as Faleep almost took them over a cliff. "Back up, back up, back up!! Steady now, steady!Steady!" Faleep reared and threw Maurice off his back, and galloped back down the road. Maurice saw two giant wolves chase after him. "Faleep." He whispered. He steadied himself and secured his hat on his head. Then three snarls came from up a hill. He gasped as three huge wolves sprinted after him. He ran in any direction until he slipped and fell. It seemed hopeless until he saw an entrance to a castle. With his last bursts of energy he raced to the gate. "Help! Is someone there? HELP!" He pushed the gate open and fell. The wolves leaped at the gate and he pushed it closed with his foot. One wolf grabbed his shoe. "Let me go!" He demanded, and he yanked it away. The wolves kept snarling at the gate, and soon lost interest when he walked up to the dark, chilling castle. he gasped at its great size, but with a crash of thunder, and a sudden down pour, he ran for the front door, and banged loudly. The door willingly opened and Maurice peaked inside.