This is a short story based on characters that I do not own and references to established works.

This is a reimagining of the fairytale Beauty and the Beast, with those characters and references.

Chapter 1

"The Prince"

Once upon a time, there was a young prince who lived in the grandest mansion in all the land. His father, Nicholas, was rich and handsome and his mother, Courtney, was kind and beautiful. For a while, the young family was extremely happy and loved being together. However, when the young prince turned five, his mother got very sick. Despite care from all the leading doctors in the country, Courtney knew that her time was short. One day before she died, she sent for her son.

"My darling Spencer, I love you with all of my heart and I will always look out for you, even when I am not here with you. Please remember this. Always be kind. Your kindness will be rewarded," Courtney said. "Do you understand my son?"

"Yes, Mother. I promise to always be kind. I will be rewarded for it," young Prince Spencer replied.

Afterwards, she kissed her son and died. Both Prince Spencer and his father were saddened. But Prince Spencer always remembered his mother's words: "Always be kind to others". For the next few years, he did just that, even when he was not rewarded, as his mother had promised.

"Some day my kindness will be rewarded, just as Mother said," Prince Spencer would say to himself, even when his father became increasingly distant towards him. Because he was an only child, the young prince was often alone and longed for friends.

One day Nicholas returned home from a business trip with a new wife, Ava. At first, young Spencer was excited at the possibility of having a new mother. So, he went out of his way to be kind to Ava. However, Ava was not interested in having anything to do with any child, not even her husband's own son. Despite that, young Spencer never stopped trying to be kind to his new step-mother. A year after his father wed Ava, young Spencer was told that it was time for him to learn how to be a proper prince. He needed to learn how to speak multiple languages, how to conduct himself in different situations, how to become adept at sports-especially horseback riding, among many other things. In order to do this, he would be going to an exclusive boarding school in France.

"But Father, I don't want to leave you or my home!" Spencer pleaded.

"Son, you are the heir to the Cassadine fortune and family business. You will be expected to take on a huge role in Cassadine Industries when you are older. This school will prepare you for that," Nicholas replied. "Besides, you will come home on holidays and for the summer," Nicholas added, in an effort to make the move more appealing to his son.

"Alright, Father. I will go to school and do my very best. You and Ava will be so proud of me when I return for my first visit," Spencer said eagerly, as he went upstairs with his nanny to pack.

Just as my mother said, by being kind and agreeing to go with no fuss, I'll be rewarded with trips home to be with Father and Ava," Spencer thought as he happily and obediently helped pack his things.

Meanwhile in the main living area, Ava waited until the young prince was gone and could not hear what she was about to say to Nicholas.

"You weren't really serious about him coming home for visits so soon were you?" Ava asked her husband. "How will he be properly trained and educated if he goes back and forth from school?"

"Well, maybe he can return for the summers, at least?" a clearly beguiled Nicholas asked meekly.

"Perhaps...if we aren't busy traveling abroad during the summers. But," as she prepared to lie, "we can always visit him."

"Perfect," a clueless Nicholas responded. "I'll go let him know."

"No, darling. There's no need for that now," Ava said sweetly, as she pulled her husband into a kiss, which seemed to put all thoughts of his young son out of his mind.

Spencer had looked forward to making friends at school since he had been so lonely at home. "If I am kind, I will be rewarded with true and good friends," he would often remind himself.

At first it seemed as if he would have those friends. While he would spend time with many of his classmates, none were truly good friends. In fact, many of them only played with and spent time with him because their fathers were in business with Cassadine Industries and did not want to get on the bad side of Nicholas, who was, of course, the CEO.

However, there was one classmate who appeared to be a true friend. Josslyn was never far from Spencer's side. Whenever anyone dared to bully him or try to leave him out of things, Josslyn would always be there to defend him. This earned her Spencer's gratitude and friendship.

Years passed and despite rarely seeing his father and step-mother, Spencer, who had grown into quite a handsome young man, continued to hold to his mother's words about being kind and being rewarded.

By that time, he had fallen madly in love with Josslyn, who was forever his defender and friend. However, he did not know that Josslyn was already promised in marriage to a young man from her hometown. On the day when Spencer went to tell Josslyn how he felt, he was surprised to find her with her betrothed, who had just given her a beautiful diamond ring.

"Spencer, I'd like for you to meet Cameron, my very good friend from back home. We will be married this spring!" Josslyn beamed, upon giving her friend the news.

Spencer congratulated Josslyn and Cameron and wished them all the best. He then excused himself and returned to his room, broken-hearted.