Beauty and The Beast
Once upon a time, in a small village, there lived a beautiful and slightly odd girl named Cagalli Yula Athha. She lived with her father in the village and although she longed to make friends, most of the other people in the village thought of her as very strange and some of them didn't want anything to do with her.
One day, Cagalli's father, Uzumi Nara Athha was called away on an important business trip in the city. Before he left for his journey, he asked his daughter, "Now, Cagalli, when I return home, what gift would you like me to get you?"
"Oh Father, I don't need anything. All I want is for you to return home safely," The young woman said humbly.
"Come on, there must be something I can bring back for you. What would you like?"
"Okay, okay. Since you are offering and all. I'd just like a red rose if it isn't too much trouble."
"A rose it is."
Uzumi nodded his head, gave his daughter a quick hug, and he was on his way.
After his meeting was finally done and over with, Uzumi remembered Cagalli's request, but he couldn't find a red rose for her. He searched every garden, every greenhouse, and every flower shop he could find, but he had no luck. As he was on his way home through a dark forest, Uzumi was suddenly caught in the middle of a horrible thunderstorm. During the storm, he came across a mighty castle, and surrounding the castle was the largest and most exquisite garden he had ever seen in his life.
Uzumi walked around the castle grounds with wide eyes, taking in the beautiful plants and flowers that surrounded the enormous manor. And suddenly, something caught his eye. A rose as red as fire, just what Cagalli had asked for. It was growing on a bush that grew all different colors of roses.
'A red rose! What luck!' He thought as he excitedly walked towards the bush.
But just as he picked up the red flower, Uzumi was greeted by an angry snarling roar, unlike anything he had ever heard before.
"Who is stealing flowers from my garden?! You're not welcome here!" A loud, unfamiliar voice boomed.
Uzumi was so scared that he almost fell over. He quickly whipped his head around to look for the source of the voice. When he craned his neck up, his eyes widened the moment he saw a tall dark figure standing over him. Uzumi gasped and cringed in terror at the sight. He backed away in horror, unsure of what to do.
"Don't just stand there. Who are you? What are you doing here? And why are you stealing my roses?" The figure demanded.
Uzumi caught his breath and he could finally talk, but his voice wavered from fear and panic while he spoke to the horrendous creature.
M-m-my...name is Uzumi, my lord. I'm just a simple man and I was lost in the forest after trying to find a present for my daughter," He said nervously, trying not to scream in terror.
"So that's it?" The figure asked. "You've come to steal from me, have you?!"
"Please, I meant no harm! Honest!" Uzumi pleaded.
"Likely story. I'll teach you a lesson you won't forget."
The dark figure reached out an enormous claw, snatched up Uzumi, and took him back into his castle, slamming the door shut behind him.
A week went by and Cagalli hadn't heard anything from her father yet and soon, she began to worry about him. Even though she was told never to leave the village borders because nobody had bothered to go into the forest that stood beside the town, Cagalli was desperate. She grabbed herself a cloak, headed outside, and ran into the forest in search of her beloved father.
She wandered the narrow forest paths looking for any sign of Uzumi, but hours had passed and Cagalli had finally realized that she was lost. As exhausted and hungry as she was though, she kept going, determined not to rest until she was reunited with her father at last. When hope seemed dismal, Cagalli saw an old iron gate hidden in the heart of the forest. She was confused at first, but she ran up to it, pushed open the gate, and ran up to what looked like the very same castle Uzumi had discovered.
'Maybe Father is here!' She thought before knocking on the door.
"Hello? Anyone home?" she called. No one answered.
Cagalli tried knocking again, this time a bit louder and harder, only to realize that the door was never locked and it slowly glided open. Gulping, Cagalli cautiously stepped into the castle, with the door closing behind her with a slam. As she walked down the dimly lit castle halls, Cagalli couldn't help but feel as though she was being watched.
Hello? Is anyone there?" she called nervously. "My name is Cagalli Yula Athha and I'm looking for my father."
"Cagalli? Cagalli Yula Athha, is that you?" An all too familiar voice called from the top of a nearby set of winding stairs.
"Father?! Don't worry, I'm coming!!" Cagalli cried as she ran up the stairs until she found herself in some kind of dungeon-like chamber to the top.
She looked and gasped in surprise when she saw Uzumi trapped in one of the cells. She ran to the cell door and held her father's hand in her own, with a big smile spread across the gentleman's face.
"Cagalli, my dear! How in the world did you find me?" Uzumi asked.
"Oh gosh, you're as cold as ice. What happened to you?" Cagalli asked worriedly.
"It's a long story. You need to leave before it catches you."
"It? Who did this to you?"
"No time to explain. You have to go, now!!"
"No! I won't leave you here!"
Cagalli's sentence was suddenly interrupted by a loud roar that seemed to come from behind her.
"What are you doing here?!" A deep gruff voice asked.
"Who's there? Who are you?" Cagalli asked as she looked back at the stairs, only to see a large dark figure standing there.
"The master of this castle. Who are you and what are you doing here?" The figure asked.
"I am Cagalli Yula Athha and I've come for my father!"
"Your father is a thief."
"Liar!!"
"He stole one of my roses. And in return, he'll stay here for the rest of his life."
"A life sentence? For picking one flower?!"
"Apparently so," Uzumi grumbled.
"Quiet, you!!" The figure yelled at the gentleman.
"Wait! I asked for the rose," Cagalli said. "Punish me, not my father."
"Is that so?" The figure asked. "You would take his place?"
"What?! No, Cagalli, you can't!! You don't know what you're doing!!" Uzumi protested.
"If I did, would you let him go?" Cagalli asked.
"Yes, but...you have to promise to stay here forever," the figure said.
"Wait. Come into the light," Cagalli said, narrowing her eyes.
Reluctantly, the figure slowly stepped into the light of a burning torch on the wall, only for Cagalli to gasp in shock. The tall dark figure was revealed to be an enormous and hideous manticore Beast with gray hair and big green eyes.
"No, Cagalli. I won't let you do this!!" Uzumi cried, but it was too late.
She stepped forward and hesitantly said, "You have my word."
"Done," the Beast said before unlocking the cell door and letting the gentleman out.
Cagalli looked back at her father with tears welling in her eyes. She gave her father a tight hug before he was carried off by the Beast. Before Uzumi left the castle, the Beast told him, "One more thing. You will tell no one of this place."
And with that, the castle doors slammed shut right in Uzumi's face, leaving him in a state of shock and sadness. He turned around to go back home, only to find out that he was already home.
Back at the castle, Cagalli was left standing at the bottom of the stairs while still staring at the Beast.
"What are you looking at?" He asked.
"Huh? Oh, nothing. I...I'm sorry," Cagalli said, trying to hold back tears. "You know...I'll never see him again, right?"
"Uh...I'll show you to your room," The Beast reluctantly said.
"My room? But I thought..."
"Do you want to stay up in the tower?"
"No."
"Then follow me."
The Beast led the girl to a bed chamber of the finest furniture with silk on everything, the bed was an antique four poster with garnet red and golden yellow damask silk for the bedding and curtains, certainly the most beautiful Cagalli had ever seen. She sat on the bed and she was surprised at how comfortable it was. She looked at the walls of the room and she saw that they were lined with shelves filled with books of all kinds and the walls themselves are painted aqua green and there was a large golden sun painted on the ceiling where the chandelier was hanging. The sun resembled her tattoo.
"I hope this will be fine for you," The Beast said.
"It's...great. Thank You," Cagalli said.
You're welcome. I'll see you later...milady."
Before giving a quick bow to her, the Beast then left leaving Cagalli to get used to her new home. Cagalli didn't know what to think now, but when she was a little girl, she learned from her wise old grandmother that she should always look on the bright side of things, even if they might seem tough or questionable at first.
A week or two went by and Cagalli had already grown accustomed to living in the castle. She was given the best of everything by the Beast, but the best gifts he gave her were rare flowers and lots of books on whatever she wanted to read. The Beast watched as the beautiful young girl would trot through the garden and hum to herself without a care. He hoped that one day his life could change for the better and Cagalli would always be there for him.
Every night, the Beast would hold a grand banquet for Cagalli and himself, with the most lavish and delectable of foods, and every night as the Beast retired to his drawing room, he would ask her to marry him and every night she would say no, explaining that she only liked him as a friend and nothing more.
The Beast would always reply, "As you wish, milady." And he would leave her be.
A few months had passed and everything stayed the same. Both of them were happy with each other's company. They had grown accustomed to knowing each other's likes and dislikes. Sometimes the Beast would disappear for hours on end and he always came back unhappy and moody. Knowing he would scream at her if she tried to pry, Cagalli kept quiet.
Sometimes, she would throw a little party for the Beast to try and cheer him up. A few times it worked, but mostly they didn't. As the roses came in full bloom one Spring day, Cagalli remembered her father. She realized she wanted to go back and see him again. That night as they dined, she asked the Beast to let her go back home.
"Beast, I want to go back to my father," she said.
"Why should I let you go? If you leave, you won't come back," The Beast said, looking away from the girl.
"Let me go, Beast, please. I stayed here for a year already which means I will come back. Promise."
The Beast looked at Cagalli standing before him and saw that there was truth to her words. He knew what he had to do. He let out a sigh.
"I'll let you go for a week, but then you must come back. Promise me that you will come back on the date I ask."
Cagalli smiled a big grin and she hugged the Beast tightly.
"Of course, I'll come back. How could I leave my best friend behind? I promise," she said.
The next morning, she was waiting in the foyer to say goodbye to the Beast. He came towards her and hugged her tightly and gave her a beautiful amulet with a red gemstone. He told her that if she wants to go back home or back to the castle, she'll put the amulet on her head and follow the sun or moon and she'll be there. Cagalli gave the Beast her necklace and a big hug as a goodbye gift. She waved goodbye to the Beast before putting on the amulet and she ran out the door and towards the old rock farm by following the rising sun.
The next thing she knew, Cagalli could see her old house peeking over the horizon. She was almost home. Uzumi looked out at the town. It was so quiet since his little Cagalli Yula Athha left. But that was soon to change. He saw Cagalli come from over the hill to see that the farm hardly changed. Sitting just outside the door was her father. Cagalli's heart skipped a beat, and she ran to her father, giving him a big hug.
"Father! Oh, Father, I missed you so much! You have so much to tell me!" Cagalli exclaimed joyfully.
Uzumi smiled. His daughter had barely changed, except her face. It glowed with health and happiness.
"Cagalli Yula Athha, my darling, you've come back! I'm glad that monster didn't hurt you. But how did you escape?" He asked.
"I didn't escape. The Beast let me go to see you," Cagalli replied.
"That horrible creature?!"
"Aw, come on. He's not so bad once you get to know him. In fact, he's actually really sweet."
Uzumi smiled and hugged his daughter close.
As Cagalli was getting ready for bed later that night, she thought about the Beast and she dreamed of him all through the week. The week was up. Cagalli woke up with a heavy heart. She went down to breakfast and found her father staring at her with a sad look.
"Please don't leave me again, Cagalli," he said. "Can't you stay for just one more day, please?"
The tears in his eyes broke Cagalli's heart. She was reluctant to stay longer, but also to leave so soon. "Well, I know I promised and all but... Oh alright. I guess I can stay, but just for one more day. I promise the Beast I'd come back. What's one more day?"
As the sun went down on the eighth day, Cagalli felt very guilty for breaking the promise she made to the Beast. As she was napping, Cagalli had a horrible nightmare about the Beast. She saw him half dead on the floor of the castle, tears were streaming down his face and his claw was clasping around the necklace she had given him before she left. Cagalli woke up in tears. She just realized she hurt her best friend.
"Beast! I'm so sorry! Please forgive me!!" She wept loudly.
Uzumi came into her room and saw her in tears.
"Cagalli, dear, what's going on? Are you okay? Why are you crying?" He asked.
"Father! It's...it's the Beast! He...he needs me! I broke my promise to him and I...I feel so guilty about it! I have to go back!!" Cagalli pleaded through her tears.
Uzumi looked at his sobbing daughter and he could tell right away that she was being dead serious about this whole thing.
"Go to him," Uzumi said, letting out a sigh in defeat.
"Really? You mean it?" She asked.
"I do. He needs you more than me now..." He said.
"Oh, thank you! Thank you! Thank you so much!!" Cagalli cried with joy.
She hugged her father goodbye one more time, grabbed the magical amulet, put it on her head, and ran out the door as fast as she could back to the Beast's castle. As the moon was now high in the night sky, Cagalli was back in the castle. She ran throughout the entire manor calling his name, but there was no sign of the Beast. And soon, she discovered him. Lying on the castle staircase was the Beast. Cagalli ran to him and held his body in her arms. He was so limp and cold. She looked at her friend as his eyes slowly opened to look at her. She let out a fresh spat of sorrowful tears as she held the Beast's claw.
"Beast! Oh, Beast! I'm sorry. I'm so sorry I broke my promise! I never ever wanted to hurt you!" Cagalli sobbed.
"I thought...I thought you deserted me," The Beast said.
"No, no, no, no! I would never do that!! You're my best friend and I would never leave you for dead! This is all my fault. I shouldn't have broken my promise!" Cagalli cried.
"No, Cagalli. Maybe...maybe it's better this way," The Beast said weakly.
"No! Don't talk like that. We're together. Everything's going to be fine, you'll see. My grandmother always told me to look on the bright side and that's what you should do too," She said as she tried her best to smile.
"At least...at least I got to see you...one last time. I'm sorry, Cagalli. I...I love you," The Beast whispered before passing away in the girl's embrace.
"No! Please! Please, don't leave me! You can't die! Not now!! I care too much about you! Please! I love you too, Beast! Do you hear me?! I LOVE YOU!!!!"
Cagalli began to cry rivers onto the Beast's lifeless body. She didn't want him to die like this. Suddenly, a strange bright light enveloped the Beast, lifting him into the air, and changing his form. The light was so bright and vibrant that anyone in any city could see it. Cagalli kept her eyes shut the entire time, she was too sad to even acknowledge it. As the light subsided, Cagalli opened her eyes and saw that her beloved Beast was turned into a handsome prince with navy blue hair and green eyes. As he descended, Cagalli could hardly believe what just happened.
"Cagalli...it's me! Don't you recognize me?" The man asked as he approached her.
"What? But-but-but...but how can that be? Who the heck are you?" Cagalli stammered.
"My name is Prince Athrun Zala and I was put under a spell." He answered.
"A spell?" She asked, confused.
"Yes," he said. "Many years ago, I was a spoiled brat living under my parents. They gave me everything and I took it all for granted. And to top it all off, I didn't know how to properly have a good time. One day, just to prove the darkness in my heart, a witch stopped by my old home, a castle in the city of the PLANTS. When she asked to come in for the night, I denied her request and sent her away. That was when she punished me by using her dark magic to change me into a hideous beast and leaving me in this castle deep within the forest, telling me that I would only turn back to my old self when I was ready to let friendship, love, kindness, and laughter into my heart. I kept myself here, shutting out everyone except for your father. There was something different about him, he told me about you and I knew you were the key to everything. I'm just...so glad that I found you." He kissed her hand and smiled.
"Wow. That's a lot to take in when you say it all at once. And I gotta admit, this will have to take some getting used to," Cagalli said.
"I understand. So...can I ask you something?" The Prince asked.
"Of course, what is it?" Cagalli asked.
"Cagalli Yula Athha..." Prince Athrun started as he took her hand and kneeled before her. "Will you finally...marry me?"
Cagalli gasped as she smiled a big grin.
"Yes!! Of course, I will!!" She cried as she embraced the Prince. He hugged her back.
As they were in each other's embrace, swarms of bright, magical light swirled around the two. The castle reverted to life and when they opened their eyes, Cagalli and Prince Athrun were both dressed in beautiful clothes. They quickly noticed that they were now in the castle ballroom which was now as clean and beautiful as can be. The couple then started to dance with many people, including Cagalli's father, who was happily watching them. That day, Cagalli Yula Athha and Prince Athrun Zala were married and they lived happily ever after.
