Chapter 12: kill the beast
I do not own kingdom hearts or the properties shown in this fanfic. They belong to the respective owners and the original story is based on the works of Darius Almighty. Kingdom hearts and trials of the keyblade is owned by square Enix, Disney, and Tetsuya Nomura. Please support the official release.
Right. Now for the final conclusion of beast's castle! Kudos to paying homage to the ending of x-men evolution season 2 episode 5 "the beast of Bayville"'!
With that out of the way, here's the next chapter. Enjoy!
"Any sign of him?" Sora asked again, as they searched through the forest. Their search was not going well. In his fit of rage and pain Adam had literally torn through the forest, leaving behind a trail of crushed and uprooted trees. If anybody were to get in his way...
"Nothing," Kairi replied.
"He's not here," Mulan said.
Sora frowned. Poor Adam. Forced to suffer the curse of the Beast once again, without Belle there to help him. There may be no going back this time. "Let's check the village," Sora suggested. "He may have gone there looking for Belle." His companions nodded as they started towards the village.
KHKHKHKH
The large castle loomed up ahead through the dark night, while lightning flashed in the sky. The beautiful angel statues had been somehow replaced with grotesque monsters, all staring hatefully down at any who would venture up the pathway. Adam took no notice of any of them as he rushed up the path on all fours toward the gate
The doors of the castle slammed open with a large crash and Adam ran inside. His torn shirt was long abandoned so he now wore only his purple cloak and torn blue pants. "BEEELLLLEEEE!", he roared through the castle, the call bouncing off the walls. He rushed through the foyer looking around desperately for any find of sign of the brown haired woman. "BEEEEEELLLLLLLLEEEEEEEE!", he roared again.
"Master?"
Adam turned around to the small voice but found that no one was there. His eyes then traveled downward. At his feet was Chip, no longer a boy but once again a teacup. His sad little eyes gazed up at the Beast, who looked down at him in shock.
From around the room, other servants emerged from their hiding places. No longer were they human, but pieces of furniture again. Cogsworth waddled up to him in clock form, his eyes showing deep remorse. Lumiere's flames were lit again, his candles burning in the their stacks. He hopped up to the prince and his flames died slightly to convey his emotions. Mrs. Potts hopped up beside her son and nuzzled him in comfort. Many other living objects and pieces of furniture, from pots and pans to the large wardrobe, hoped or walked or crawled to their beastly master, who looked at them all with open jawed horror.
Unable to take any more, Adam sunk to his knees, holding his head miserably. Then the tears came, dripping down his fur and onto the tiled floor. His servants, his friends, all crowded around him, offering what comfort they could.
KHKHKHKH
Reaching the village, Sora, Kairi, and Mulan saw that Adam was not there. The village was empty as everyone was inside because of the thunderstorm. They decided to head toward Belle's father's house and tell him the terrible news. "What!", Maurice exclaimed. "My daughter! She's gone?" He sat down in his chair and put his face in his hands. "Oh no, not again, not again. First by a Beast, now by the shadows. Will she ever stop getting into trouble?"
"Don't worry Maurice," Kairi said gently. "We'll get Belle back."
"Yeah, once we find Adam, he'll be able to help us," Sora said reassuringly.
This apparently angered Maurice. "No! No! No! I have had it with that man! With that Beast! He was the one who took her the first time!" He got up from his seat and rummaged through his things. "No, this time I'll help her myself!" He grabbed a mail satchel and placed in it an axe, a map, and various other items. Lastly, he placed an old army helmet on his head. "Hold on Belle, I'm coming!" He then rushed out the door.
"Hey, wait!", Sora called after. They all followed him out. They didn't have to go far as he was standing rooted to the spot at the bottom of his stoop. The reason was that all the villagers had gathered at the town centre, bearing torches to illuminate the night. "What's going on?", Sora asked.
"No idea," Maurice answered. They all walked cautiously to the assembled crowd to see the goings on.
"What's this all about, Gaston?", a villager asked.
"It's the middle of the night, what could be so important?", another asked.
"Pipe down! Pipe down! Let Gaston speak!", voiced the unmistakable voice of LeFou. At the centre of the crowd was the arrogant hunter Gaston, wearing a serious expression. "So what's going on Gaston? Timmy fall down the well again?"
"No, but he really should stay away from that well," Gaston replied. "I come to you all to inform, no, warn you of a terrible danger!" There were nervous murmurs through the villagers. "While hunting through the forest to find food for this happy town, I came across a terrible sight! A sight that I am barely able to describe! Something so horrible that small children should cover their ears."
"What? What is it!", LeFou shouted. The crowd was getting jumpy in anticipation.
"A Beast!" Gaston screamed. Sora, Kairi, Mulan and Maurice all gasped. "A monster! A demon! A creature of terrible size and strength."
There were unsure murmurs through the assembled villagers. "Impossible," one said.
"There's no such thing," said another. Gaston smirked.
"If you don't believe me, believe this!" He then reached into the collar of his shirt and pulled out the magic mirror. The Keybladers once again gasped. "Show me the Beast!" Gaston commanded. The mirror glowed green as it always did before it worked its magic. Appearing on the glass was the Beast, a very sad expression on his cursed face. The image was held up for all to see. Small children shrunk away in fear of the creature as did some adults, while the rest stared in astonishment.
"It's true!"
"It's horrible!"
"Is it dangerous?"
"No!" Sora shouted, working his way through the crowd. "He wouldn't hurt anyone! He may appear mean and vicious, but he's really kind!"
"Oh, really?", Gaston said, with his smug smile. "The Beast truly is a Beast. For I saw him gobble up our beloved prince Adam!" There were gasps in the crowd. "Killed before my very eyes at the claws of this creature! Now he rules the prince's castle! And he's holding our beloved Belle captive!"
"That's not true!" Mulan said. "Please. you must believe us!"
"If I didn't know any better, I would say that you were in league with this monster," Gaston challenged.
"He's not the monster, Gaston! You are!" Kairi shouted. Gaston glared at her.
"They're all crazy," Gaston accused. He turned to the entire crowd. "The Beast will make off with your children!" Many mothers clutched their children tight. "He'll come after them in the night!"
"No!" Sora pleaded, but was ignored by the crowd as Gaston raved on.
"We're not safe until his head is mounted on my wall! I say we kill the Beast!" The crowd voiced their answer in a cheer.
"We're not safe until he's dead."
"He'll come stalking us at night!"
"Set to sacrifice our children to his monstrous appetite!"
"He'll wreak havoc on our village if we let him wander free." Gaston grabbed a torch.
"So it's time to take some action, boys, it's time to follow me!" He threw his torch into a pile of hay, igniting it instantly in a fantastic bonfire.
Through the mist, through the woods
Through the darkness and the shadows
It's a nightmare but it's one exciting ride.
Say a prayer, then we're there
At the drawbridge of a castle,
And there's something truly terrible inside
Gaston holds the glowing green mirror depicting the Beast for all to see.
It's a Beast
He's got fangs, razor sharp ones
Massive paws
Killer claws for the feast
Hear him roar, see him foam,
But we're not coming home,
Till he's dead,
The crowd cheers
Good and dead,
Another cheer.
Kill the Beast!
Sora broke through the crowd and grabbed Gaston by the arm. "You can't do this!", he shouted. Gaston reared back and punched him in the stomach, sending him to his knees.
"If you're not with us, your against us!" Gaston spat. At his gesture people from the crowd grabbed the Keybladers by their arms and dragged them off. They took then to a cellar and threw them in, bolting the door behind them. "We can't have them running off to warn the creature!"
"Let us out!", Kairi called from the cellar. Her cries were ignored as Gaston stood above the crowd. The glowing green mirror illuminated his crazed features.
"We'll rid the village of this Beast! Who's with me?", he cried. The entire crowd cheered in answer. The village men grabbed their weapons and lit their torches. From pitchforks to clubs they readied themselves for their heroic act. Gaston clasped on a black hunting cape and a quiver of arrows. A bow was strapped to his back while a broadsword was strapped to his hip. He mounted his black horse, still clutching the glowing green mirror.
MOB: Light your torch, mount your horse!
GASTON: Screw your courage to the sticking place!
MOB: We're counting on Gaston to lead the way!
Through a mist, to a wood
Where within a prince's castle,
Something's lurking that you don't see everyday!
It's a Beast,
One as tall as a mountain!
We won't rest,
'Till he's good and deceased!
Sally forth, tally ho!
Grab your sword, grab your bow
Praise the Lord and here we go!
"We'll lay siege to the castle and bring back his head!", Gaston cried, rearing back on his horse. This was the song they sang as the men of the village marched toward the castle. The women and children bid them farewell as they left the village to the darkness of the forest. Gaston's glowing green mirror lit the way for the orange torches, LeFou at the side of his horse.
Back at the village, Sora hammered away at the cellar doors with his Keyblade. Outside, the doors were weighed down with several heavy objects, making the Keyblades powers of unlocking useless. "We have to warn Adam!", he said striking the door again.
"There's got to be another way out," Mulan said looking around with Kairi.
Outside, Maurice tried to move the weights that held the doors down. After many tries he gave up. An idea then popped to his brain. He turned around and headed to the direction of his workshop.
In the forest, the mob had chopped down a large tree and stripped it of its branches to fashion a makeshift battering ram. They carried it to the castle pathway.
We don't like what we don't
Understand, it frankly scares us
And this monster is mysterious at least!
Bring your guns, bring your knives,
Save your children and your wives,
We'll save our village and our lives!
We'll kill the Beast!
At the castle, the servants stood in the library. Their master had retreated to his room where he wished to be left alone. "Well it was nice being human if even for a while," Cogsworth said sadly. "Being a clock isn't so bad. I'll always know the time, I'll never go bald, and my cuticles stay nice and polished."
"Do not give up hope, my friends!" Lumiere said. "There is still a chance that Belle will return. Then everything will be fine!"
"Hey, look!" Chip exclaimed from the window.
"Could it be?", said Lumiere.
"Is it she?" Mrs. Potts asked.
Hopping and walking to the window, they saw that it was indeed not their saviour. "Sacre bleu! Invaders!"
"Encroachers!"
"And they have the mirror!" Mrs. Potts said, looking at Gaston who was leading the mob with his bow in one hand and the magic mirror in the other.
"Warn the master," Cogsworth instructed. "If it's a fight they want, we'll be ready for them. Who's with me?" By the time he had finished, everyone was already off. "Hello?"
At the pathway, Gaston lead the villagers to the castle gates. "Take whatever booty you can find!", he ordered. "But remember, the Beast is mine!"
Inside, the servants rushed to the door to stop the invaders, singing their song.
Hearts ablaze, banners high!
We go marching into battle,
Unafraid, although the danger just increased!
Outside, the mob reached the door, bringing their battering ram to the front.
Raise the flag, sing the song
Here we come, we're fifty strong
And fifty Frenchmen can't be wrong!
Let's kill the Beast!
Mrs. Potts hopped to the prince's room as quick as she could. A loud boom rang throughout the castle, signifying the mob's battering of the door had begun. She entered his quarters and found him standing in front of his window. "Pardon me master," she asked cautiously.
"Leave me in peace," was all he uttered.
"But sir, the castle is under attack!"
"Kill the Beast! Kill the Beast!", the mob chanted, emphasizing each chant with another ram to the door.
The servants had propped themselves against the door in an attempt to keep the invaders out, but the battering was too hard and the door would soon be bashed in. "This isn't working!", Lumiere cried.
"We must do something!", the wardrobe cried.
"Wait. I know!" Lumiere said.
"Kill the Beast! Kill the Beast!"
"What shall we do master?" Mrs. Potts asked the beastly prince.
Adam didn't even turn to face her. "It doesn't matter anymore," was his sad reply. "Just let them come."
"Kill the Beast! Kill the Beast! Kill the Beast!" The doors were finally bashed inside and the mob ventured in lead by Gaston. The foyer was dark with no light except the lightning that flashed outside. Nothing was present except many pieces of furniture and objects placed throughout the room. Gaston frowned and cautiously strode in, the villagers following after.
LeFou fumbled after his idol, but also took the time to assess the valuable looking objects strewn about. Gaston did say they could take anything. He spied a nice little candlestick holder that was made of gold that sat atop a table. That might fetch a pretty penny. He strode up to it and saw his reflection in the gold shine. Then suddenly the gold slipped away to reveal two mischievous eyes and a wry smile.
"Now!" Lumiere shouted. The furniture then sprang to life and charged to the surprised villagers. The table holding Lumiere bucked like a mule and kicked LeFou away. Couches, pots, tables, chairs, even a coatrack leaped for the attacking mob.
Sora hit the wood of the cellar door again, but it still did not give way. He panted as he kept on trying. "We have to get out of here," he breathed.
"We'll think of something," Kairi reassured. The sound of something coming their way came to their ears. "What's that?", Kairi asked.
The sound was getting louder now. Then Sora understood. "Everyone get back!", he shouted. They all backed away from the door before it was smashed inwards by Maurice's wood cutting invention. Out of the smoke and debris that followed came the inventor himself.
"Come on," he shouted. "We have a future son-in-law to save!"
Gaston tears away from the strange battle being fought in the foyer and headed up the stairs, bow and mirror in hand to search out the Beast. The battle was completely in the favour of the castle occupants. The villagers, not really knowing how to fight furniture, were being beaten back.
The wardrobe fought with a specialized style of kung-fu, using her drawers and closet doors to smash the men away. Knives and forks flung themselves towards the invaders, not to kill them, but to scare them away. Mrs. Potts and all her teacup children poured boiling hot tea down from the balconies.
Lumiere unfortunately was cornered by LeFou, who held his torch to the candle with a menacing look. Lumiere quaked in fear as the flames melted his wax away. At the top of the stairs, however, was Cogsworth, wearing a Napoleon hat and wielding a pair of scissors, looking braver and more daring then ever before. With a laugh he slid down the banister with his scissors pointed like a joust. At the end of the banister was LeFou's butt.
"YEEEEOOOOWWW!", he shouted when the scissors hit their mark.
Gaston kicked open the door and pointed his bow inside. In the room was the Beast, not having moved at all from his spot in front of the window. Gaston's bow was loaded but Adam still did not move, only regarded the hunter sadly. Gaston smiled cruelly and released his arrow. It flew straight and true to lodge in the Beast's back. The prince cried out in pain but still did not move. Gaston charged Adam and kicked him through the window where, outside, rain began to fall.
Adam raised himself up but still refused to fight back and was kicked again across the roof. "Fight me!" Gaston cried. "What's the matter prince? Ashamed to show your face?" Adam looked at Gaston in shock. "Yes I know who you are and it couldn't have come at a better time." A punch to the prince's jaw sent him tumbling down the roof, with Gaston following after.
Meanwhile, Sora and the others raced to the castle. Mulan rode the horse that carried the wagon towing Sora, Kairi, and Maurice. The rain splashed on their faces as they rode as fast as they could, the large castle looming in the distance.
Back at the castle, the villagers ran away, the fight lost. They threw down their weapons and ran back to the village, screaming in fear. At the castle gates, the servants cheered as the mob was forced out. "And stay out!" Cogsworth shouted.
On the roof, Adam was taking quite a beating. Gaston's ponytail had come undone so his hair flayed wildly in the rain, giving him an even more crazed look. Adam lay at his feet, still not raising himself to fight. "When you're gone prince," Gaston said drawing his broadsword and raising above Adam's head. "Belle will be all mine!" And the sword started to come down.
Beast snapped out of his pity party at this statement. He tackled Gaston in the gut and they both tumbled down the roof.
The horse carrying the Keybladers reached the pathway to the castle, passing by the villagers who were running away from the castle in fear, screaming of talking, moving furniture. "Look!" Mulan cried, pointing to the castle roof. The beastly prince and the arrogant hunter Gaston battled it out on the edge of the roof, Gaston swinging his sword and Adam using his claws. Without another word Mulan drove the cart to the castle doors.
On the castle ledge, Gaston swung his sword at the defenseless Beast who managed to avoid each attack. Adam retreated among the gargoyles decorating the castle and hid amongst them. Gaston followed after and struck the first figure he saw in the dark. His sword rang on the head of a statue breaking of a piece. Gaston growled and walked out to the other gargoyles.
"Do you think she'll love you now Beast?", Gaston taunted, walking amongst the statues which seemed to taunt him with their grotesque faces. "Do you think she'll come back to you? You're a monster! An atrocity! Answer me this! Who could ever love a Beast?"
"ROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRR!" Gaston swung around at the ferocious cry of the Beast, standing atop a statue and bellowing fiercely in the rain. All of the hunter's courage was drained at such a terrifying sight. In a flash of lightning something appeared in the prince's paw. It was large and thick with something dangling from a chain at the end in the shape of a rose.
Adam took little heed of its mysterious appearance, now completely focused on the man that would do him so much pain. He jumped off the statue and brought the large object down on the hunter. Gaston collected himself and managed to jump out of the way before the ground exploded where he was standing moments before. The Beast emerged from the crater he just created on the roof, still holding his strange weapon. Another flash of lightning revealed the weapon for what it was. A Keyblade. Rumbling Rose fluttered through Adam's mind but he barely regarded it. He then charged again at the dumbfounded Gaston.
Sora, Kairi, Mulan and Maurice ran to the upper levels. After a brief encounter with the servant-furniture, who urged them to hurry upstairs to their master, they were now racing to the aid of the cursed prince. The ran out onto a balcony and were once again showered with rain. From their vantage point they saw Adam viciously attacking Gaston with what looked like a Keyblade. The thing must have weighed hundreds of pounds but the prince wielded it as if were nothing.
Gaston fended off the weapon with his sword but each attack created large shockwaves that shook the very earth. Gaston was tiring quickly but the Beast kept coming on. With a mighty roar he brought the Keyblade down again, shattering Gaston's sword to pieces. Adam then gripped Gaston's throat with his free paw and held him over the edge of the roof, his furry face with an expression of pure hate.
"No! Please! Stop!" Gaston pleaded as he looked down into the abyss below. "I surrender! Please! I'll do anything!" the prince said nothing, fully prepared to drop him.
"Adam, No!" Kairi cried from the balcony. The prince made no sign that he heard her.
"Don't do it!" Sora shouted. Adam ignored them all as he glowered at Gaston, who was still cowering in his grip.
"Adam!" Mulan cried. "What would Belle say?" These words struck Adam hard. As the rain wet his fur he remembered Belle's kind face and her gentle words. What would she say if she saw him now? He brought Gaston safely to the roof and stared into the hunter's eyes.
"Get out," he growled. He then threw Gaston to the ground and stalked away, dragging his Keyblade with him.
Gaston sat himself up and watched the Beast leave. He then smirked and pulled a dagger out from his boot. Sneaking up on the Beast he pulled back to plunge it into the monsters back.
He didn't see the Hidden Dragon Keyblade whizz past the Beast and hit him right in the head. He stumbled back to the edge of the roof and lost his balance. Gaston fell off the edge and plummeted to the black abyss, screaming all the way.
Mulan's Keyblade boomeranged back to her and she caught it skillfully with one hand. The Keybladers made their may down the roof from the balcony. The reached solid ground and walked to the prince, who stood silently and motionless staring down at the ground sadly.
Kairi walked to the edge of the roof and peered of the side. Gaston was no where to be seen. she then noticed the magic mirror sitting on the ground, no longer glowing. She picked it up and held it carefully. Suddenly it began yo glow again, but this time a clear light color, and began to lift into the air. Sora knew what this was. It a very expensive light show, the heart of the world appeared and Sora locked it.
When it was all over, everyone had gathered in the library. Every servant was there as well as Maurice and the Keybladers. Prince Adam stared out the window where the storm had stopped. "Adam's Keyblade must have appeared when he thought that Belle was going to be taken away from him," Sora said.
"But then why didn't it appear before, when she was kidnaped?" asked Mulan. Sora was stumped at that.
"It's because he wasn't the Beast,"
Everyone looked at Kairi who had spoken. "Adam's true feelings could only be expressed fully when he was placed in the curse again. When he was threatened to have his happiness taken away, his deepest feelings emerged." Sora nodded understandingly.
"But why is everyone furniture again?"
"We were always a part of the curse," Cogsworth said. "When the master was put under the spell, it affected the entire castle and everyone in it. Naturally we were changed back as well."
"And this time Belle cannot help us," Lumiere sighed. Sora frowned and walked over to Adam.
The broken prince gazed out into the dark night, the Rumbling Rose Keyblade still in his paw. "Adam?" Sora asked.
"Leave me alone," he replied sadly. Sora frowned deeper.
"Listen prince, you can't just give up,"
"I think it's clear that I'm just not meant to be happy. Please leave."
"Now, hold on. You just hit a few obstacles in your love, that's all. I mean who hasn't? Captured by a witch, captured by a Nobody, captured by a sorcerer, it's just another obstacle!" Everyone gave him strange looks. "Okay, I'm not so good with pep talks. But you have a Keyblade now. With that you can save Belle if you come with us. For your sake and theirs," he said gesturing to the servants. "Well, what's it gonna be?"
Adam looked at his Keyblade and into the eyes of his servants. He turned back to the window. "Please," he said, turning back to them, smiling for the first time since he was transformed. "Call me Beast."
And that concludes another chapter. Be sure to write nice reviews adapt the original story (Darius Almighty's work) on DeviantArt or post the story on TV tropes or follow and favorite it. And remember may your heart be your guiding key!