Rose of the Moon
Art Challenge: Draw Belle in Princess Venus' dress or as Sailor V.
Act 5
The next morning…
Belle sat on the large cliff that overlooked a peaceful river with her book. "And so the Mystical Silver Crystal was split into seven rainbow crystals and reborn inside the hearts of seven humans. When all seven rainbow crystals are found…"
A panicked whinny interrupted her reading and she looked up. Philippe was rushing towards her, still hooked to the cart, but without his rider. She gasped.
"Philippe! What are you doing here? Where's Papa, where is he? Take me to him Philippe, quickly."
Philippe complied, going as fast as his stocky legs would carry them. Their journey took them to a dark-looking castle in the middle of the forest. Bravely, Belle dismounted her house, steadying him as she looked about.
"What I wouldn't give to be able to be Sailor V right now." she murmured to herself, pushing open the gate. She nearly missed her father's hat, lying on the stone bridge. "Papa!" she dove for it, picking it up. "Don't worry Papa," she whispered. "I'm going to find you and rescue you."
Cautiously, she entered the fortress. As scared as she was, she couldn't help but wonder if this would be anything like her dreams. She almost hoped it would be. She would love to become Sailor V in real life and not just in a figment of her imagination.
"What am I thinking? They're just dreams." she muttered. "Just dreams. They can't be true. They can't be." she shook her head of those thoughts and turned her focus back to her task. "Papa! Where are you? Can you hear me?"
Suddenly, a door creaked behind her. She whirled around, hearing footsteps. Hurriedly she ran after them. "Hello, who's there? Wait please, I'm looking for my father…" She followed the footsteps up a large winding staircase. "I…"
"Belle?" came a surprised voice from up ahead as she reached the top at last.
"Papa!" Belle cried with joy, running towards the cell-door. She clasped the hand reaching out to her from the small opening in the door. "Oh Papa, you're so cold. We have to get you out of there."
"Just a minute Belle, how did you find me, you shouldn't be here." Maurice told his daughter. "I want you to leave at once, it's not safe."
"Not until I get you out of here!" Belle countered. "I won't leave you!"
A heavy hand clasped down onto her shoulder and flung her about. "What are you doing here?" A monstrous voice roared as she hit the wall.
Belle stood, assuming a stance she had taken many times in her dreams. "Who's there? Who are you?" She was prepared to fight, even without being Sailor V. After doing it so many times in her dreams, it seemed so natural to do it now.
"I am the master of this castle." the voice answered harshly.
"I demand you release my father, at once!" Belle ordered, almost consciously sensing her dream-self merging with her real-life self. "Can't you see that he is sick? Have you no compassion?"
"Then he should not have trespassed here! He is my prisoner and you must leave now!" the voice ordered her.
"If you will not release him, then I will have to…" she prepared to launch an attack but stopped.
"No, you must not attack him. Offer to stay in your father's place." a mysterious voice said. She looked around to see if someone else was there but saw no one, nor did she see any indication that anyone else had heard anything. "Fighting is not necessary here. It is here that you will find what you need. Offer to take his place." the voice said again. She had heard that voice only in her dreams before. What did it mean that it was speaking to her now.
Belle swallowed. "If you will not simply release him, I will make a deal with you. Let him go and I will stay in his place. I will be your prisoner."
The owner of the voice stared her down, but his eyes gained a softness. "You would really take his place."
Maurice shouted in protest, "No! Belle no! You can't! You don't know what you're doing."
"On my word, I will stay in his place. But you have to let him go in exchange."
The monstrous voice stepped forward into light to approach the cell. Belle fought down screams at what she saw. It was a horrible monster, like the youma in her dreams. She almost reached for the power stick but stopped, reminding herself that she wasn't in her dreams but reality. She reached for her father's hands again.
"Belle, please no. I'm old, I've lived my life. I can't let you do this." Maurice pleaded as the cell was unlocked.
"Don't worry Papa. I'll be alright. I know what I'm doing." she looked back up at the Beast. "I think…"
********
In a dark, evil palace of obsidian…
"Jadeite, report your progress." ordered a tall, lovely, red-headed woman. Her long form-fitting amethyst gown accented every curve.
A young, blonde man knelt before her. "My servant Morga is in place. We will begin collecting energy from these pathetic humans."
"Good Jadeite. Remember, we need an enormous amount of energy to achieve our objectives. It is time for us to gain control the Earth, the Moon, and finally the universe!"
"Yes, Queen Beryl. Soon, the universe will know your greatness."
********
A sleek young blonde girl in a coral pink frock walked with her sisters through the village. "Oh, isn't Gaston just the most handsome, manliest man you've ever seen in your life."
"Ohhhh yes." her green-clad triplet answered. All three let out a sigh of adoration.
"It's just a shame that he's got his sights on that Belle. What does he see in her? Why would he want her and not us?" The yellow one pouted.
Pink shrugged. "We have to do something to get his…"
"Bunny…." came a whisper behind her, causing her to stop.
Bunny looked behind her, bewildered. "Huh?"
"To get his "what", Bunny?" Green asked.
"What?" Bunny blanked. "Sorry Nanou, I got distracted. I mean, his attention. We have to break whatever spell that witch has on him." Witch obviously referred to Belle. "What do you think, Blanche?"
The three of them continued their stroll home. No one noticed the little black cat following after them.
AN: Alright, finally we have finished Part 1. Part 2 will begin shortly. Please, if you read, tell me what you think. Even if it's in the negative, please tell me.