Beast honestly couldn't have been sure, but he felt like that was probably the truth. He slowly nodded his head, "Yeah... I... I really think she tried to... she just...". He didn't want to say anything more, the boy was already devastated enough.
He heard a whisper and a sniffle, "I know I can be with Momma Juliet, but you need me more...Mama always said that you are stubborn, but you are happy when you try...C-can you try to love me like a papa? I...I never had a papa...", and Beast blinked in surprise, looking at Carlo who's looking shyly conflicted.
Beast remembered Perla's voice, seeing the look of her little smile when he said that he promised to be there for Carlo, that he's their son. Carlo wanted to make him happy again...just like his mama.
Beast gave a purr as he heard his primal side approving, knowing that it's what his mate would want him to do, and he gently kissed Carlo's forehead, "Carlo, I already do love you...I'm here, son...", and Carlo gave a small smile of surprise and joy before he hiccupped, burying himself in a flash, into Beast's shoulder and chest, "Papa! I miss Mama already!", tears falling as Beast held him in a cuddle...
"I know...I miss her too...I'm here, son...I'm right here, Carlo...", Beast rumbled gently as the newfound father and son grieved for their mate and mother, unknowing of Perla being actually alive, and in a whole different place in the mountains.
Time seemed slow as it passed on, for the next two weeks, Perla hunted, traveled, and nursed her leg, learning to use her new primal instincts to survive next to her human knowledge of useful wild foods and herbs, as her baby bump swelled just a bit more every day, the teats becoming plump and full of milk, using caves, old entrances of abandoned mines, and even winter-wrecked abandoned cottages when she noticed that the human smell was very much gone.
She can feel the familiar pressure of one of her children impeding to be born, and on the first day of the third week, just as she was foraging through edible berry bushes, she felt a water bag break, and she took the rusted bucket of berries as she breathed deeply through her nose, heading for the cave she had found this afternoon after traveling a bit in the morning.
"I know, I know... you obviously tried to give me as much time... I'm sorry... Mama couldn't be faster...", Perla apologized to the soon to be born child as she positioned herself to get ready for the birth; very much glad at least that she had prior experience to this whole thing, but it still would be very much new, considering her body and her children.
She wished that Adam was there by her side, or Juliet, but she knew she has to do this on her own, as she breathed deeply through contractions, unknowing of the transparent visitor she's having in her cave; the one and the only Enchantress.
Unlike Evangeline, the Enchantress recognized the dark magic, and seeing that it was Perla, the true love of Prince Adam aka the Beast, she decided to amend her mistakes, starting with helping Perla, but invisible and unheard and unable to be smelled by her.
She approved of Perla's preparations of a crude nest, not blaming her for the traveling need, and sent a bit of calming magic to Perla as she labored for 30 minutes before she felt the need to push.
Perla instinctively checked her vagina, licking it, her primal instincts seeming to approve as she took deep breaths and then pushed, grunting as her claws clenched into the stone ground, as the Enchantress sent a bit of warming magic into the nest, making it comfortable and warm.
She cried out in pain as she felt the baby getting closer and closer, and then moaned as she felt something coming, and she swerved her body closer to find out, and with a gasp of surprise and relief, seeing a membrane with a little body, and she cried happily as she took a deep breath, grunting as she pushed, seeing the membrane slide out, landing on the soft fabrics of the nest.
Perla instinctively ripped the membrane away, licking her baby, her cub, her oldest child, and then came a loud, squealing cry of life, and she sobbed happily as the invisible Enchantress smiled proudly and in awe of the beautiful scene.
"Oh, look at you! You're so beautiful! You're not a monster or anything bad...you're my beautiful little girl...", Perla nuzzled and cleaned her new daughter, taking in her features that is shockingly similar to her papa, yet the fur tones is in all shades of black, and there's no horns or tusks as she crawled on the fabrics, squealing and whimpering.
Perla whispered lovingly, "Adam's going to be over the moon that he has a daughter who looks like him...", as she watched her new daughter sniff and crawl wobblily to her belly, soon finding a teat and began to suckle. "You need a name...I know the real Adam in the book has an Eve, but that's a bit weird...Let's see, what was the first daughter in the book? I know Adam and Eve was said to have a few daughters...".
The Enchantress whispered into the air, "Azure...", and Perla blinked as a name came to her, and she smiled softly, "Well, we will have to see when your eyes will open, but I think Azure will settle for you as who knows? You would be Adam's daughter through and through, my darling...".
The Enchantress was happy to hear that, and also happy that she was able to get away with that as even she worried that perhaps Perla might be aggressive with her. She was not a cruel witch, not like the one that clearly cursed Perla; she always had her reasonings. There were those that needed a taste of karma or needed to be shown things from a different perspective in a way that truly would make them take it to heart.
Adam was no different; the young boy, spoiled and already on a fast track to being just as cruel and terrible of a man as his father; and the staff sadly didn't have it in them to fix him. Too much fear was in their hearts, considering that they couldn't stand up to his father and felt the same with him. So, she cursed him, but she at least did make sure that he had a perfectly fair chance to break his curse. Tough but fair she thought of what she did. The servants perhaps were a bit much but cursing them was what she thought as necessary to allow the young prince to get his head on straight; to give him the responsibility that the others were depending on him.
But after so many years, at first, she was thinking that it was fairly clear that the boy hadn't changed, that all this was more or less a waste of time and that she was right to curse him and let it be permanent... maybe she would've swung back around to at least release the servants of their fate and guide them as far away from the Beast as possible.
That clearly had changed now thanks to Perla; she could very well see it with them... if anything, the curse really should've been broken sooner but neither one of them clearly must have gained the confidence to declare their love that they were all but feeling... but just not saying the words. But whoever cursed her clearly has other plans than the ones she had crafted, and that Perla was desperate to return. She would make sure the young woman would get back to the castle, back to her love... and figure out who cursed her and stop them because whoever did this was extremely dangerous.
Perla sighed deeply as she rested, her tail curling around as she ate the afterbirth of her daughter, feeling her other babies move around in celebration for their big sister's successful birth, "Don't worry, Azure, I think I can figure out something with you, but for now, perhaps staying a few days in here will have to do, to help you have the strength to come with me safely...I know the cave is warm and safe, and food is plenty, thanks to the fact that it's spring, but we need to get home before it gets cold in those mountains once autumn arrives.", watching her daughter suckling on her milk.
"Please... Adam... Just... just hold on, please...", Perla whispered to herself, praying that whatever happens, Adam wouldn't harm himself or the family could stay together. Or especially stay ahead of whatever Facilier had planned.
The Enchantress frowned, trying to think of something...She knew Prince Adam is wary of her, and yet he trusts the magical mirror, but somehow, on that day, the dark magic cloaked her beloved gift, and tricked Prince Adam.
She knew that Prince Adam is holding on because of Carlo, but she's afraid that the grief would be too much for him, especially if he thinks that the curse would never be broken at all, since he deeply cares about the family, even Perla's old lover, Juliet, but he doesn't have that true love connection with her, and she knew Juliet has a true love in the village, thanks to sensing Evangeline's aid and such.
Wait, maybe...the Enchantress would talk with Evangeline, to somehow give this beautiful memory to Prince Adam in a dream...After all, Prince Adam was taught a lesson by his mother. Once an accident, twice a coincidence, and thrice a pattern.
True, Perla's voice and appearance is different, but her eyes are still the same...And if two good magics work together, the dark magic couldn't be able to stop it..
She decided then and there that was what she must do... to help both of them; and to perhaps keep the prince above water, per se, long enough until she could guide Perla back to the castle. Of course... reaching Evangeline would be a challenge... the two of them had some history in the past such a long time ago, and they didn't part on decent terms.
She whispers to Perla ever so quietly that she couldn't even hear, "I will watch over you for Evangeline's sake. I hope she forgives me...", before leaving the cave to give the newfound mother and daughter some quiet time, seeing that the sun's heading down, with the Evening Star soon appearing.
The Enchantress took a deep breath as she used her magic to head to the highest spot on the mountain, staying immune to the change of altitude, and looked up at the Evening Star, "Cousin, I...I deeply apologize for the words I imposed on you, in that squabble that seemed to be so ridiculous now...I truly thought love doesn't exist for us enchantresses, witches, and fairies as we're immortal and all...And you've proved me wrong...You deserve to be happy with that mortal man, but that's not the reason right now...I've found the true love of the Beast aka Prince Adam, and Perla's both currently pregnant, and nursing a beautiful female cub. I can't cancel the dark magic on her as it's strong...But I have a proposition to help Prince Adam and Perla, which would require both of us...I understand if you do not want to talk with me.".
There was nothing for a little bit. Perhaps she was indeed being too hopeful and that what happened between her and Evangeline, was unable to be even partially repaired. The Enchantress took a deep sigh as she prepared to leave once more before she noticed the Evening Star shining much brighter.
The Enchantress exhaled in anticipation and hope as the Evening Star shone, with a pulsing beam to a spot just before the Enchantress, and Evangeline appeared, smiling at her.
"Cousin...I-", the Enchantress started to say when she was hugged by Evangeline, and she gave a joyful sob as she hugged her cousin back, realizing that words aren't needed for this, realizing that Evangeline did forgive her, and she long had missed her warm hugs of affection.
After a few moments, the hug was broken as Evangeline sighed. "I know... I know what you did to him was at least trying to help him... extreme, but same as you thought, that might have been the only way for him to see the error of his ways and try to become a better person.", Evangeline started.
"But I'm afraid someone that isn't connected to either of has gotten involved... someone very dark.", the Enchantress bit her lip.
One would think that they are sisters, as they both have pale flawless skin with blonde hair, but lengths and shades of blonde different in them, next to their eye colors and of course, favorite cloth colors which is sparkling blue for Evangeline, and forest green for the Enchantress.
While Evangeline has pale golden hair like the golden stalks of wheat down slightly past her shoulders and bright crystal blue eyes, the Enchantress has sunshine golden hair like the sunflower petals, down past her shoulders, halfway above her waist and emerald, green eyes.
But in truth, they aren't blood related, but they still see each other as cousins, as their relationship before their fight, was cousins all but blood.
Evangeline nodded, "I knew it...The fake body of Perla looked so real and everything...But I can't appear before the Beast, or he will accuse me of not saving Perla or intending to hurt him like you did...".
The Enchantress replied, "We don't have to...I have an idea. I have witnessed the birth of Perla's new daughter, and oh, she's such a cutie! If we somehow transfer my memory of it into a dream for Prince Adam, he could get hints...I mean, we need to keep him up above water, to not devolve into depression and grief, while I help Perla get home to the castle, of course, I can't rush her too much as she needs to keep her children fed and safe while traveling.".
Evangeline nodded, "I suppose that's the best way of doing it without doing it the direct way... as I said, I doubt I'd be able to convince him if I just told him... or he tries to kill me before I could even say a word.".
The Enchantress replied, "Same for me...He has been wearied of me. Anyway, let's do this, shall we?", as she flicked a wand from her pocket, breathing deeply as she chanted, a silver stream from her head, and then an orb formed, with the memory of where Perla first arrived at the cave, to the end of Perla resting her eyes, protecting her cub.
"There, a copy of my memory...How do we send this to Prince Adam?", the Enchantress replied as Evangeline smiled as she twirled her own wand, "By using the bond of their true love. After all, true love transcends no boundaries.".
The Enchantress nods, and replies, "Cousins forever?", with a smile, and Evangeline smiles, "Cousins forever.", and their wands intertwines into the orb, focusing on the bond between Perla and the Beast aka Prince Adam, and sends the orb zooming and flying to the castle, unseen or unheard by anyone or anything on the way, and finds Beast slumbering in his bed, exhausted from trying to socialize, keeping a smile for Carlo, and grieving when he realizes that Perla wasn't in the library again, out of habit.
The orb gently absorbs into Beast's head, becoming a dream, which he soon witnesses, by almost feeling like he was there, confused and shocked to see a creature both similar yet different to him.
But, this creature, he could tell, just from the eyes, her eyes... that this was indeed Perla. He watched as she was slowly giving birth, tears going down her cheeks as she was struggling with the pain, and quietly muttering things that he couldn't hear so well... but he was positive that she was talking about him...
His heart went a bit faster as he watched her labor for a long time, wishing to hold her paw, but couldn't as his paw was like smoke through her yet he can feel her, smell her, to hear her, and his breath caught as his eyes came into tears when she checked her vagina, seeing a cub within a membrane, and she successfully delivered, instinctively ripping the membrane, cleaning the cub...the cub that looks like him yet with Perla's black shade, in different depths of fur, as Perla was crying happily as the cub squealed with life.
He came closer, breathing in relief as Perla was watching their cub crawl, squealing and whimpering as it latched into a teat on her belly which is still big. He smiled as he heard his name spoken, and whispered in awe as Perla found a name for their daughter, "Azure...I wish you and your mama could hear me...She's not a monster...you're right, she's beautiful...".
Wait, what? Why did he even say that? This wasn't Perla, was it, really? He... he lost her to the wolves, she was never a creature like him... and yet... this felt so real and vivid, that not even something his own imagination could come up with.
And to see her beautiful ocean blue eyes in this creature, this creature who is clearly living, resting tiredly yet contentedly, watching their daughter have her first meal while talking about needing to get back home, to their family, to Adam, signifying that it's Perla, praying for him to hold on.