Two Worlds, One Family
A Disney's Beauty and the Beast Fanfiction
By
FantasyWriter'92
Please Note: This version is based on the 1991 animated movie, with a couple borrow elements from the 2017 version.
"Once upon a time in a faraway land, a young Prince Lived in a shining Castle. Although he had everything his heart desired. The prince was spoiled, selfish and Unkind. But then, one winter's night- an old beggar woman came to the castle. She offered him, a single red rose in return for shelter from the bitter cold. Repulsed by her haggard appearance, the prince sneered at the gift and turned the old woman away. But she warned him not to be deceived by appearances. For beauty, is found within. And when he dismissed her again, the old woman's ugliness melted away. To reveal a beautiful Enchantress! The prince tried to apologize but it was too late. For she had seen that, there was no love in his heart. As punishment, she transformed him into a hideous Beast! And placed a powerful spell on the castle, and all who lived there. Ashamed of his monstrous form, the beast concealed himself inside his castle with a magic mirror, as his only window to the outside world. The Rose she had offered, was truly an enchanted rose, which would bloom until his twenty first year. If he could learn to love another and earn her love in return by the time the last petal fell? Then, the spell would be broken. If not, he would be doomed to remain a beast for all time. As the years passed, he fell into despair and lost all hope. For who could ever learn to love a Beast…?"
Sounds familiar right? Like the beginning of a story, you've heard more than once?
Alright, maybe a thousand times, if you're anything like me. What? We all have that story that we keep coming back to. This one is very special to me for several reasons, and I can't wait to share it with you.
But Be Warned: Some of this you've heard and some of this you haven't. You ready? Good.
Our tale truly begins nearly ten years later in a small provincial town… As the sun quietly rose into the sky, lighting the way for the upcoming day, a beautiful young woman was seen leaving her house with a basket in her hand as she walked the short path that led into the village. Listening to the birds that chirped overhead and letting her mind wonder.
Even as the bells tolled eight o'clock in the morning, signaling the official start of the day and the townspeople could be seen hustling and bustling trying to set up shop.
"Good morning, Belle!" the baker called jerking her out of her thoughts.
"Morning Monsieur!" she quickly responded, heading over to him.
"Where are you off to?" he asked.
"The bookshop," Belle answered excitedly, as she took out a book from her basket to show him. "I've just read the most wonderful story, about a beanstalk, and an ogre and a-!"
"That's nice," he commented as he interrupted her to yell at his wife in the back of the stall about an order of baguettes that was needed.
Belle simply put away the book and shrugged her shoulders as she left and continued her way, quite used to these reactions. It was no secret to her that her fellow neighbors thought of her as "Odd." They gossiped about her even as she walked by them now. Belle tried not to let it bother her, but there were times. And it also helped reinforce her wish to see more than life beyond this village. Not today unfortunately, but someday. Probably when her father's genius was shone through. Until then, she'd have to make do with the written adventures in her books and her mind.
"Ah, Belle" the bookseller greeted her as she entered his shop.
"Good morning, Sir. I've come to return the book I borrowed" she explained, giving it back to her old friend. Monsieur Brooke had moved to the Village from Marseille when Belle was five years old. She and her sister Anne had spent many hours in the shop and their home, devouring the many tales he brought with him.
"Finished already?" the elder man smiled at her enthusiasm. "Oh, I couldn't put it down, have you got anything new?" she commented, grabbing the ladder and scanning the shelves.
"Not since yesterday" he chuckled.
"That's alright, I'll borrow…this one!" the Brunette answered, grabbing a blue covered book and handing it to him.
"That one?" he questioned, checking his glasses. "But you've read it twice!"
"Well, it's my favorite. Far off places, daring swordfights, magic spells- A Prince in Disguise!" Belle felt like she could go on and on. Monsieur Brooke smiled again, coming to an instant decision that would make both happy.
"If you like it all that much, it's yours" he said, giving her the book.
"But Sir!" she exclaimed in surprise. As much as she loved reading, books were expensive to own. Especially with kind of income Her papa and her had. So, this was…!
Belle tried to give it back, but the man wouldn't hear of it as he quickly escorted her to the door, "I insist."
"Well, thank you. Thank You Very Much!" showing her gratitude as she started off to make her way home. Maybe today wasn't going to be the same old routine after all?
First, a new book. Then home, to help Papa finish up his invention in time for the Fair. And finally, Anne was coming for a visit.
At the age of eighteen, her sister abruptly moved out of the house and the village, stating that she got a new job and had to leave immediately. That was two years ago and Papa and her still hadn't gotten a full explanation when she visited. Stranger still, the local fishmonger- Clothilde. The townswomen's head of gossip never spoke out anymore against her sister's equally "odd" habits whenever Anne was mentioned. In fact, the woman's stern face would gain an unreadable expression before deliberately changing the subject, most of the time being successful.
Turning her thoughts to more pleasant things, like what she loved in her book. Belle made her way through town, only to be stopped at the edge of it by a familiar voice: "Hello, Belle."
Oh no, not him. "Bonjour Gaston," the girl responded politely, not looking up from her book. Only to have it taken out of her hands.
"Gaston, may I have my book please?" she asked him annoyed.
But the big brute of a man took no notice of her tone and continued to hold the object out of her reach as he examined it. "How can you read this? There's no pictures"
"Well, some people use their imagination" Belle subtlety smirked at the local hunter's foolishness, while wanting to make hasty exit.
Unfortunately, Gaston had other plans as he tossed her book away into a mud puddle and tried to block her way as she attempted to retrieve it while he gave her a lecture on "How it wasn't right for a woman (or really anybody) to read" and the consequences of it. But the girl paid him no mind as she was finally able to rescue her poor book and begin to clean it with her apron. Only to have it yanked out of her hands again as the hunter tried to steer her towards the tavern where his "trophies" awaited.
"Please Gaston, I can't!" Belle cried, finally breaking away from his strong hold with her book intact. "I have to get home to help my father, Goodbye" giving further explanation as Gaston's smaller assistant "Le Fou" joined them, carrying an animal carcass.
"That crazy old loon! He needs all the help he can get!" "
Don't talk about my father that way!" scolded Belle, quick to defend him as the sound of a bomb explosion irrupted from her house in the distance. Ignoring their laughter, Belle immediately ran for home. Hearing another voice call out.
"Belle?!" "Papa?!" as the sound of hooves drew near and Belle quickly found her hand meeting another's as they pulled the cellar door open, and the smoke cleared, Anne.
"Papa? Please call out, let us know where you are!"
"How on earth did that happen?" an older man's voice responded much to the girls' relief.
"Are you alright Papa" asked Belle as she grabbed her sister hand and guided their way over to him. "I'm about ready to give up on this hunk of junk" their father replied, giving the machine he was working on a kick.
Anne smirked, "You always say that."
"I mean it this time! - Anne?" he paused, recognizing the other presence in the room. "I thought you weren't coming until Thursday"
"It is Thursday," she smiled as she leaned down to embrace him, which he gladly returned before stepping back to look at his daughter. His little girl was wearing brown pants and a white shirt again with her light auburn brown hair tied back in a loose ponytail but the most captivating thing about her was her big piercing blue eyes.
"I missed you so much"
"And I you Papa, but it cannot be helped. My Mistress has me working long hours. Let's just be grateful for the time I do have to see you and Belle. Now, what's this about you giving up?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Oh, I'll never get this boneheaded contraption to work!"
"Yes, you will" Belle corrected, "-And became a world-famous inventor" her sister added.
Maurice looked at his girls, "You really believe that?" "Always have," they chorused at the same time before laughing.
"Well, what are we waiting for? I'll have this thing fixed in no time!" the old man cheerfully when back to work, his confidence restored.
Anne silently listened as Maurice asked Belle how her day in town went. Same old, same old. It was obvious how much her sister yearned for adventure. Anne could relate in her early years. But now? Her life had become so unpredictable with her job that she lived day to day. After a little more tinkering, the machine started right up. The sharp ax came down and chucks of wooden logs when flying and onto the stack pile.
"You did it! You really did it!" Belle cheered.
"Hitch up Philippe and I'm off to the fair" Maurice said excitedly, before pausing as his face fell. "But that means… How long can you stay Anne?"
"I'm due back at work in three days"
"Then, I won't go,"
"Yes, you will. You deserve to show off your work Papa, after everything you put into it. Besides you know, I'll be back in the Spring. We'll have more time then. And if you do go now, Belle won't be alone"
Maurice sighed, "You have a point, it isn't fair though"
"Life isn't Papa, no matter how much we wish it was. I'll ride out with you to the main road if it will make you feel better?"
Their father smiled "Thank you, is that alright with you Belle?"
"Of course, it is. You two have fun"
A little while later, with the wagon loaded up and hitched to their horse. Belle waved goodbye as Anne mounted her mule, Pierre bareback and began to slowly walk in time with Philippe as they discussed the best route to take among other things.
"I wish you had brought along a better map Papa, that one is so old, you can scarcely see the landmarks. I should have borrowed you a spare one from the Manor,"
"Anne, you worry too much, I'll be fine. I have taken this trip before."
"Alright," she sighed, "Just promise me that you won't take any "short cuts" through the woods. The forest becomes more dangerous the farther you are away from civilization. Trust me, I know"
"If you say so, my little wilderness explorer" Maurice teased as he adjusted the scarf Belle had given him.
"Good luck Papa, I love you" said Anne as they parted. "Take care Anne, I love you too. Au revoir"
Anne turned Pierre around and headed back home, opening the front door to find her sister hustling and bustling around the cottage grabbing items.
"What's this project?"
"Um Laundry," Belle blushed, "I'm trying to invent something that would help make doing the laundry go faster" Anne smiled, like father, like daughter. "Can I help?" she asked.
Would you?" answered Belle, relieved to have help as they went over the plans that she'd had drawn up.
By midafternoon the washing barrel was up and running, with the help of Jean Potts' borrowed donkey, Henri. Belle glanced up from her book as she watched her sister's gentle way with him. Anne truly had an indescribable way with animals- "Anne!"
And children…
A dark brown haired nine-year-old girl ran up and hugged her sister around the waist. "You're back!"
"Cora, oh my little punctual one. How's your reading lessons going?"
The little girl grimaced, "Not good, the Schoolmaster convinced my mother that I should stop being something I'm not. And start learning about things that really matter, like how to cook and keep a home for my future "husband" Ew!"
"Well, I'm sure something can be done? Belle?" Anne asked, looking over at her sister. "Would you mind giving Cora a lesson or two in her free time?"
The older brunette smiled, "Of course, would you like to start now?"
The child nodded her head eagerly and soon she was slowly picking up the written words on the page: "The blue…bird…that flies in-? into the wood."
"Very good," Belle complimented her pupil while Anne proudly looked on.
"What on earth are you doing?" spat the infamous Schoolmaster's voice from behind them. "Teaching another girl to read? Isn't one or two enough, eyeing both Belle and her sister who was now in a light green dress. Anne paid him no mind as she gently fed Henri an apple. It did not good to argue with stupid.
"We've got to do something," said Clothilde as she came up beside him. "Cora! Get away from there now."
"Yes Mama" the young girl sighed as she hopped down off the edge of the fountain and gave the book back to Belle. "Bye!"
As soon as the little girl was gone out of sight, the headmaster, cohered a small group of towns people to take apart the wash barrel and dumped the wet clothes out onto the ground. Clothide still didn't say anything to Anne rather just shook her head and walked away. As The girls continued to pick up the clothing, they received an unwelcome visitor: Gaston.
"Oh Belle! I heard you got into a bit of trouble with the headmaster, he never liked me either. Can I offer you some advice? People are never going to accept the kind of changes you're trying to make around here. But if you were to-Anne? I haven't you around here in a while"
"Some of us must work Gaston, to earn a living. They can't always afford a game of chance that some lucky buck would come their way, at least according to my brother"
The hunter laughed amused, "And how is Andre anyway? Still with the Legion even though the war is over? I did my time in battle as you well know. But at least I knew when to come home."
Anne raised an eyebrow, "Gaston, are you telling me that you miss your competition?"
"Competition? Please! Though it was fun to watch your brother come in Second. That boy is dare I say Almost as good as Gaston, and he should be! We're both trained by the same great man, my father, Gustave!" the pride evident in his voice. "I'd also wager that if your brother came come, he'd be even almost as good as me when it comes to the ladies as well"
Anne rolled her eyes; he clearly missed his so called "Rival" whether he wanted to admit it or not. "Be that as it may we both must work to help keep our small farm."
"Yes, well I may have solution to your little problem sooner than you think" Gaston muttered as he turned his attention back to Belle. "I'll see you later" he told her before leaving.
"That was weird,"
"Not as weird as it could have gone?"
"You're right," Belle agreed, before smiling. "He still hasn't figured out that Andre, was you?"
Anne shook her head, "He only sees what he wants to see, same with the Schoolmaster, and besides being a "man" used to be the only way I could learn and be taken seriously in this town."
Belle put a hand on her sister's shoulder, "Maybe someday, things will change?"
"I hope so…"