FAST FORWARD THREE MONTHS
Adam and Belle are celebrating their birthdays together, since they're only about 3 days apart. The kingdom is welcomed in to celebrate as they throw a grand ball, just like their celebration of fixing up the villages. They asked everyone to stay for the night, and had a giant sleepover. Friends huddled together, some ventured out and met people from other villages, but everyone stayed up most of the night talking and staring at the stars. It was a beautiful night.
The next morning was just as beautiful. Everyone awoke to fresh fruit and pancakes and the announcement was made while everyone was eating. "Today is a special day, it's between mine and Belle's birthdays, and we've been planning this for a while and didn't know how to invite everyone so we just did everything in one fell swoop." Adam announced. "Today, we wed!"
After the announcement, Wendell approached Adam. "I'm surprised it took this long." Adam huffed. "I'dve thought you'dve come to me last night when I saw you enter." "Umm. No. I've… I've come to terms that I can't ask you to love me, or have a relationship with me, I burned that bridge, honestly, way before your mother died, and solidified it when she did. I wish you and Belle nothing but happiness and love." He said while his eyes trailed off to his wife and children. He smiled gently and looked at his son. "You have your mothers eyes. I couldn't handle the idea of looking into them after she died, but now that I do, I see that you have her love and wisdom." "Wisdom? No sir. That would be Belle. She's so smart and her and her father have invented so many things to help this kingdom. She really is…" Adam was saying. "Remarkable." Wendell finished. "Yeah." Adam said, looking at Belle, surrounded by a bunch of giggling girls. She looked over in time to catch his eye and smiled and waved. The girls around her noticed and started giggling more. Then they led Belle away to a side room a little ways down the main hall. Adam was led to another.
While Belle and Adam got ready, most of the kingdom's people waited in the throne room talking amongst themselves. It was beautiful. The walls were a soft baby blue and there were matching banners that read 'Salutations and congratulations.' Each of the chairs were covered in a baby blue seat cover with a cute purple bow on the top. Mrs. Potts made the announcement. "Since this WAS slightly last minute, we've provided bows to be used either as a neckpiece or in your hair that would also match the theme. If anyone wants to take this time to spruce up, they may do so." Most women took the time to do their hair and put the bows in, but a few men here and there helped each other tie it around their necks.
The rest of the throne room was decorated with lavender flowers in every hanging pot and on every table. The carpet leading to the thrones was a new thing, it was tie-dyed and purple and blue swirled around playfully with each other. The throne room looked beautiful and not exactly like a throne room. It looked like the wedding decorations to advertise wedding decorations. The people of the kingdom, after getting spruced up, all took in the soft colors and oohed and awed.
Until Adam came out, dressed like, well, a prince. For the first time, he looked princely. He wore a lavender color suit with baby blue trim and a baby blue shirt with a white bowtie and white ribbons to tie his hair back. He stood in front of the thrones. Just then, the people of the kingdom realized there was another man standing up there already, the officiator. Everyone in the throne room waited with baited breath.
Until the doors opened, and out came several small girls, the ones that Belle would teach to read in her village, all in tie-dye dresses and carrying baskets of rose petals. As they danced around each other, they threw petals on the ground, at the crowd, on the tables, and anywhere else their little arms could throw petals on. They made their way to where Adam and the officiator were, but before getting there ducked off to a small pew that was empty just for them. Everyone applauded, and then turned behind them to see the double door once more.
The doors opened again and in came Belle, wearing a baby blue dress with lavender ribbons and trim and a small white clip in her hair. Everyone gasped. Not even the people of her village had ever seen her so beautifully dressed, nor so happy. She radiated down the carpet as she walked up to Adam and the officiator, beaming at everyone, with a bouquet of white lilies in hand.
'This is a wonderful day. The first day of the rest of our lives, of our forever.' Belle thought happily when she made it to Adam and the officiator by the thrones. She was so happy she hardly heard the man talking until she heard Adam say, "I do." Her heart thumped so hard she thought it would thump right out of her chest. The officiator turned to her, and said, "Do you, Belle, take this man, to love and to hold, for richer or poorer, health and sickness, forevermore, till death do you part?" Belle looked into Adam's eyes, smiled, and knew. "I do." She said. "You may now kiss the bride." The officiator said. Belle took Adam and swung him by his shoulders, holding him in a dip, and planted the biggest kiss she could muster. When she helped Adam get upright, he took her in his arms and romantically twirled her, and then kissed her. The entire throne room erupted into loud and raucous cheers. He put her down and they held hands.
Their honeymoon was scheduled for after Adam's coronation. But there was an afterparty to go to outside. Belle and Adam, hand in hand, led the way. Outside, by the gardens, there were freshly planted rose bushes and a new gazebo. They went to the gazebo and gave everyone a moment to clamor around. Their announcement was that, "We plan to continue running the kingdom as we have been. We plan at least two MORE technological advancements before my next next birthday." Adam said. "And I plan to set up libraries in every village so everyone has access to books, blueprints, and other materials." Belle added. Everyone cheered. Nobody could remember having a king before two years ago, and now none of them could imagine a life without THIS king. Adam and Belle basked in the cheers for a moment. 'So this is what being beloved by all feels like.' Adam thought to himself. 'It doesn't feel nearly as good as being loved by Belle.' He thought while squeezing Belle a little closer to him and kissing her atop her head. She smiled and blushed.
The afterparty went on for hours. So long that the sun was rising before people started leaving. "Have to rest up today for the celebration tomorrow." Most people said as they were heading out.
As the sun rose, Gaston and Benjamin sat on the roof of their cottage and drank some coffee. It was roasted fresh with the beans that Benjamin collected the day before. "And it's delicious." Gaston thought out loud while blowing steam off his mug. "Thank you." Benjamin said. "But I really just let nature do all the work." Gaston rolled his eyes and smiled. "I've seen you bustle about to create liquid from a solid, or to create spices to flavor foods, or to create medicines to help people. It's not ALL nature." Gaston chuckled out. "So stop being so modest. I'm not. I'm the greatest hunter this side of the river." "You're the only hunter on this side of the river." Benjamin said, laughing a little of his coffee out of his nose. "It BuRnS!" He screeched, scaring some birds out of a nearby tree. Gaston used his paws like a cat and pounced. He caught three birds before the rest flew off. "I guess that's dinner taken care of. Can today just be a lazy day?" Gaston asked. Benjamin was wiping coffee drippings from his nose, and then answered. *SNIFRK* "I don't see why not. We do work pretty diligently. AND we already have dinner taken care of." He added, chuckling.
Gaston and Benjamin spent the day splashing around in the river, running to the rock formation that looked like a pile of books and laughing. As they lay on boulders by the rocks that look like a pile of books, they dried from their swim. In the warmth of the sunlight, Gaston started purring. It was soft, and kind of calming. The two took a nap where they were. When they awoke, the sun was starting to set. So they made their way back home.
At home, they prepared dinner, ate, and then sat out on the roof watching the stars. As Gaston laid out, he asked Benjamin if he knew constellations. He did not. "Oh. I can tell you and show you. My mother taught me to read the stars in case I ever got lost so I could always find my way home. Like pirates used to." He said, beaming. "Was your mother a pirate?" Benjamin asked. "No She was a witch, but the way people treat pirates and witches…" Gaston shuddered at the thought. "... It's basically the same thing." He took both pawed hands and ran them through his hair. He looked like he was about to cry. "I'm sorry for whatever happened." Benjamin said, reaching a hand over to pat Gaston's knee. Gaston smiled weakly. "You don't have to be. It's not like you were there." Benjamin answered, looking deep into Gaston's eyes, "Either way, I feel for you. I lost my mom about 20. When did you lose your mama?" "I don't exactly know. I know I was walking at the time, but I don't recall much besides hanging on my mother's coattails. I maybe lost her around 6-7ish, maybe? I spent a LOT of time with my mama before she passed. Then my dad took over raising me. He was 1000% the complete opposite. But he also passed. I think when I was about 13. He told me what it meant to be a man and I tried so hard. I worked out and ate right and got big muscles. I was the best hunter and tracker for the next four villages. I kept my village fed through the excruciating winters. I was envied by all the men and wanted by all the women… Except one." He gritted through his teeth. "I don't know why!" He added frantically to Benjamin. "Why wouldn't she love me, Benni?" He asked, close to crying again. "Did you love her, or did you love what she would make people think of you?" Benjamin responded. "I… I… I never really… well… I never really thought of it that way. I… I guess… I just wanted the smartest most beautiful woman to want me so we would be the perfect couple, envied by all." He stammered out, processing his thoughts as he did. "And what do you want now?" Benjamin asked. Without hesitation, Gaston said, "More lazy days like today." They both giggled. Gaston started showing Benjamin the constellations in the sky and pointing out their names and stories. Before noticing that Benjamin was asleep, Gaston said, "I think I know what I want. I want to write my own story. My dad wanted me to follow the script of being a perfect man, and I always did, but it always felt like work, not at all like this, where even on the days we work, it doesn't feel like work. There's something about me… I… I think I wanted Belle BECAUSE she didn't want me. And I don't understand why." He said, unloading his thoughts and feelings before realizing that Benjamin was fast asleep.
"Tonight is the first night in a long row of nights like this." Adam said, as Belle changed into her sleepwear. Adam just got into his boxers and laid into bed. Belle put on a nightgown and did a small twirl. "How do you like it?" "I didn't think it was possible for you to be any cuter. But lo and behold, you've been holding out on me." He said and then let out a booming laugh. "I love it. And I love you. Now come into bed." As she did, he pulled her by her waist and slid her closer to him, nuzzling her. She was quite comfortable and within minutes the both of them were happily asleep, spooning for the first time.
The next morning, everyone in the kingdom awoke happily. Today was the day they made their king official. Today was the day of his coronation and everyone in the kingdom couldn't be happier. Even his father. As he walked around the village and saw all the advancements Belle and Adam made everyday, he couldn't help but be proud. 'That's my boy.' He thought, wiping away a tear, seeing the school empty for the first time since moving into Belle's childhood home. Everyone was off to get ready for the coronation. "And that's what I should be doing." He said as he turned to walk back home.
Adam and Belle watched from the West Wing everyone trickle in for the coronation. "Are you excited?" Belle asked Adam. "I am. I'm ready to take the official title and do what's best for my kingdom." "Honey, you've been doing what's best for the kingdom for two years now. Do what's best for you." "I am. I love running the kingdom with you. I love your and your dads inventions. And I love making this place a little bit better each day."
As he said that, in front of hundreds of people, holding the scepter and wearing the crown, he caught his reflection. He looked so much like his dad. But he vowed in front of the gods and all the people at the coronation that he would be nothing like him, he would be better, he would be there for his people, and maybe eventually, his own children. He looked over at Belle and blushed.
After the ceremony, everyone erupted into cheers and applause. Adam took the scepter and handed it to Belle. "She is not merely a decoration, like most queens. She's most of the reason we have such improvements today, with her and her father's inventions. And I couldn't be happier to rejoice in this day with such a woman." He looked over at Belle and she blushed. "As a matter of fact. I have something that would help her understand the kind of woman she is." He said, as he had Clawathan bring a covered up something on a pillow. When he made it to Belle, he took off the cover and she saw that it was a dainty crown. It was small and gold with little rubies inlaid inside. "This is beautiful." "To accessorize your beauty with." Adam whispered to Belle. Then he announced, "The kind of woman you are is the kind of woman I love. You're you. You're kind and smart and radiate a certain energy from you. And I do believe that the kingdom could not ask for a better queen." After he said that, the entire room filled with applause.
That afternoon, while everyone was in the castle partying with the new king, Gaston and Benjamin were awake and laying on the roof, basking in the sunlight and not wanting to move. After a while of just sitting with each other in silence, happily, Benjamin scrunched up his face as if in thought and blurted out, "Last night you said a lot about what your father would've wanted for you. What about your mother? What would she want? What would she say?" Gaston sat up, twiddling his thumbs. "I think… she'd say something like 'I just want to see you happy and succeed.' or something like that." "So why not just follow the script she has for you? It seems pretty open ended. Less open and shut like your father's." Gaston thought about it. His father's plans included getting married to the prettiest girl in town, having children, teaching them to hunt, and continuing manly blood. 'Did I ever really want Belle like that? Whether I did or didn't I was so upset when I didn't win her over and instead got turned into this hideous thing. Father's script never made me happy, but I wanted to follow it. I wanted to be the kind of man who COULD. The man who killed every beast and conquered every challenge. And now my challenge is that I AM the beast.' He thought. 'I can't go back to that life now. It's not even an option anymore' He thought, looking over at Benjamin. 'Not that I'd want to.' He added, feeling surprisingly relieved. 'I'm happy here.' He thought as he lay back down, letting the sunshine warm up his fur. Benjamin sighed. 'It's truly blissful here.' He thought, smiling over at Gaston. Gaston caught his eye and smiled back.
After the day, everyone got into their pajamas and sat around. Most were talking and making up ghost stories, but Belle had a book that she was working on. It was in her top five books, The Legend of Hua Mulan. She was reading it for the fifth time in her lifetime and she loved every minute of it. Adam was looking at a book of blueprints Belle and her father created. He was slightly overwhelmed that she could do so much and he felt like he couldn't do poopy. But he appreciated all the things that were made and how they were made.
Benjamin went off to bed, while Gaston sat on the roof. He fell asleep on top of the roof again. He found it not just comfier, but more comforting.
FAST FORWARD A YEAR
Maurice was ready to show off his latest invention, and he let Belle be the test subject. Belle stood in her bathing suit and waited. Maurice started his spiel. "I got inspiration for this thing from watching the rain. It sprinkles water down on you just like the rain. I plan to call it 'a sprinkler.' whaddaya think?" He said as he showed off the weird rectangular cubicle. "You'll think more of it once I turn it on. Look. It uses a watermill to pull water and then pours that water down on you. It'll be the newest and best way to wash yourself. Go on Belle. Act like you're cleaning yourself." And she did as she was told. It was a little awkward for her to do, so she closed her eyes. After a few moments she started humming, and a few minutes later, she started singing. The chorus went, "April showers bring May flowers, and sweet bowers, where roses twine; Now I know too, I can show you, that it's so too all the time, if the sunshine came at one time, all the fun time would soon be through; April showers bring May flowers, so just wait 'till love comes to you." and when Belle turns off the machine and steps out, she's thoroughly pleased. "I enjoy the sprinkler." "Shower." Maurice corrected. "But why are you renaming it?" "Something about your song, "April showers bring May flowers. I like the word shower better." "Well, I like the shower. I can see it in everyone's home one day." "I think it's great if it makes people happy enough to sing. Plus, added bonus, it gets you clean." Adam said happily. "I think that's the first time I've heard you sing. You sing beautifully. It's almost enchanting, like those things in your book… ummm… Mermaids and sirens? I bet your singing is better." He said dotingly. Belle blushed and said she was going to change out of her wet bathing suit now. That made Adam blush. Even though they've been married for a year, and he's seen her naked plenty of times, the thought still made him blush.
Life in the cottage is great. Gaston has access to brushes and running hot water and feels like his fur is almost entirely gone because of his beauty regime. He still towers over most men, and his teeth still fill up his mouth like a pack of razors, and his hands still have claws, but he looks a lot more like his normal sporty-lumberjack-self. Enough like himself that he's started traveling to the tavern with Benjamin weekly after the market run. All the men around the tavern whisper, and a few of the women. A few reach Gaston's ear. 'Isn't it weird that two guys live alone out in the forest?' 'Don't you think their jobs are weird?' 'Why do you think Gaston left the village anyways?' When Gaston heard these, he snarled a bit, at no one in particular, and the whispering stopped. It was like that most nights he actually ventured out to the tavern. The rumors, the staring, the awkward gawking when he spoke. But every now and then, he got asked to regale tales of the past, when he was the finest huntsman in the kingdom and what he took down. These interactions were too far and too few in Gaston's opinion. After a few drinks, he loved regaling his old tales, and it was even better when someone ASKED for them.
Adjusting to life in the village was easy enough for Gwendolyn and Gamora, but Godric, being his fathers son, was angry that he was not a crown prince. Gwendolyn started teaching the children how to read shortly after Adam's coronation. She said she wanted to help make the kingdom better, any way she could, and for the same reason, Gamora taught sewing and crochet to anybody, regardless of gender, so everyone could make and repair their own clothes. Glenda, their mother was pleased with the girls, and found it harder and harder to find her son in the daytime nowadays.
Godric went off in secret everyday to train in the forest. There was a spot by their cottage that had trees all scratched up from his practice sword and he went to find a new, fresh clearing to practice in. What he didn't realize was that the new fresh clearing he started wildly swinging his sword around in was already occupied. There was a little cottage in the middle of the clearing, with plants surrounding it. He walked up to the door and knocked. There was no answer. So he carved a G on the door, as if to say Godric was here, and then went to the side of the cottage where the plants were growing. Some were potted, and some were growing wildly next to the cottage. He took one of the larger potted plants and ripped it out of the pot. Then he put the pot on his head, like a helmet. He then started to slash away at all the plants that were growing wildly by the cottage. He didn't leave to find a new section of clearing until he decided that the garden was appropriately trashed.
When Gaston and Benjamin came home from the market and tavern, they came home to their door being carved up and all their plants destroyed. Benjamin threw himself in Gaston's arms and started crying. "It's ok, honey. I'll find out who did this and make them pay." Gaston said, bearing his teeth. "You mean actually pay. Right? No fighting today. We already need to have a funeral for all these plants. We don't need to be stitching you or someone else up the same day." Benjamin said with tears in his eyes. Gaston kissed his forehead. "Yes. I'll make them pay."
Gaston started sniffing around, and soon enough picked up the scent of the one who did this. He runs off in the direction of the fields. When he gets to the fields, he sees a boy with a sword, swinging it wildly with nothing to make contact with. He runs up to the boy, yelling behind him the whole time. When he approaches the boy, the boy sneered. It was Godric, Wendell and Glenda's son. The boy started mocking Gaston and he thought, 'Gods, was I this insufferable as a teenager?' As he thought this, a weight lifted from him, a weight he'd grown so accustomed to, he forgot that it wasn't supposed to be there. The boy in front of him started changing before his eyes. First, horns started sprouting from his head, and then he fell on the ground as fur started creeping all over his body. All Gaston could think of was to offer advice and help. "Do good, not just to do good, but from the heart. Find someone to love. Make sure you groom yourself properly…" As he was still yelling advice, Godric howled, got up, and ran away, back to the forested area he just left.
There are no witnesses to the change that happens in the field, though later, many people in the village will whisper that a werewolf must have savaged Godric. But that's another story.
