Trigger warning: mild abuse, I'll admit it was therapeutic for me. Forgive me.

Act 17

LeFou took Marcy and Julia to his small home. "It's a modest home but it's mine," he said proudly.

The mother smiled. "It's a lovely home and we appreciate this very much. I still don't understand what happened. He just changed out of nowhere. He used to be so wonderful."

"Whatever happened, it wasn't your fault," LeFou said. "I can't imagine you could do anything to deserve this." He was too glad that she didn't hesitate to meet his eyes. So many women didn't take the time to meet his eyes. He was always glad to help Gaston.

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Bunny escorted the elderly inventor home quietly. He was trembling violently with despair so she quickly made him a hot cup of tea. While she helped him to get comfortable, she looked around. On the bookshelf, two spines caught her attention. One gold and the other silver.

"Now," she slid the cup of tea over to him as they sat at his table. "Tell me what happened and I might know someone who can help."

"I was on my way to the fair in Clermont-Ferrand. They were hosting an inventions booth. And on the way, my wagon broke and Philippe was spooked so he ran and I became terribly lost. And then the wolves… They chased me to this castle. I barely escaped with my life," he told her. "It was deep, deep in the forest. I went into the castle because it had begun to rain, it was freezing cold and the wolves were on the other side of the gate. I couldn't have left if I wanted to. Going inside was all I could do. Inside, I began looking around, calling out to let the residents know that a visitor was there."

Bunny drank her own tea, listening. She initially thought he was just really tired but he was so detailed. "Really, a talking teapot? And teacup?" She giggled as he related how the little one had attempted to ease his mind.

"But then… the door was flung open and this… beast… He attacked me and… he threw me in the tower…" Maurice explained. "The next morning… I wake up hearing Belle's voice and then she's there at the bars. She tried to get me out but he found us before she could. She… convinced him to take her in my place. But my daughter, my Belle. I cannot stand her being imprisoned in that dark, twisted place."

Bunny nodded. The story was so far-fetched but she found she believed him. With what she'd seen over the last week and a half, who was she to doubt? "Look, I believe you and I want to help."

"Why? I know you were one of ones talking about her," he asked. "Why would you help her now? And I'd never ask a young girl like yourself to…"

She shook her head. "You're right… I… I wasn't very nice to her. I was jealous. She's so pretty and she's smart too. And she's strong! Gaston likes her, like I think he might be in love with her." She looked down. "I'm sorry for hurting her feelings and I'm sorry for not doing more to help you both feel welcome here." She looked over at the bookshelf. "May I ask a question of my own?" At his nod, she fetched both books. "What are these books? Where did she get them?"

Maurice blinked and looked at them. "Well, this book, the silver one belonged to her mother. Colette, my dear Colette… she passed away a few months before we moved here." He wept. "What if I've lost Belle too?"

Bunny rubbed his back. "No, don't talk like that. She's fine. But… if I could borrow these books, I know someone who can help. But you cannot tell anyone."

The old man nodded, feeling hope. "Anything you can do. I don't think Gaston believed me."

Bunny knew he was probably right. She adored Gaston but he had his flaws. "Look, everything is going to be alright. Belle is alright. I mean, for all we know, maybe he's really prince and he was testing her and now she's living her best life as a princess." She tried to cheer him up. "Wait, what should my friend do if that's the case?"

Maurice laughed despite the situation. "If… if she's being treated well and she's happy… I'll be satisfied." He promised.

"Okay, then let's find out if she's happy and we'll do something if we need to," she suggested. She put the books in her basket. "My friend will come to see you late tonight to check in on you. Get some rest."

He nodded. "Thank you, Bunny. I may have misjudged you and I appreciate your kindness to this old man. I just don't know what I'd do if… if she came to harm…"

Bunny's lip wobbled as she left.

Later that evening, she sat around her kitchen table, eating dinner, before getting ready for their shift at the tavern, Blanche looked at Bunny. "I saw you with Maurice earlier."

Bunny ate her rabbit. "Yes, he was upset because Belle is missing and he went to Gaston for help. He says she's imprisoned by a beast in a castle."

Eloise laughed first, leading her sisters and ever her father into a low chuckle. "Oh, oh Maurice. I don't know why they haven't locked him up yet. He's absolutely mad. Belle probably ran away, poor girl."

Bunny frowned. "Why Mother? Why? Why did Belle run away? Why is he mad?"

Nanou laughed. "Are you serious? A machine to cut wood for you? Haven't you heard him? I heard him ranting to Gaston before you showed up."

"Well, I think you're wrong! He's not mad. He's a kind, old man. He just has ideas about making life better!" Bunny shouted, standing up.

Eloise gasped. "Bunny! Listen to yourself! What has gotten into you!"

She shook her head. "I just… it's not right for us to gossip about him and Belle. He's not mad, Mother."

She looked at her husband. "Raphael, do you hear this? This is what happens when a woman reads. She starts getting ideas that she knows more than she does. That's it. No more reading!" She stood up, aiming for the books. She grabbed the first book she saw. The pink book on top of the stack. She took it to the fire.

"Mama no! Papa, stop her, please!" She begged the man.

Raphael crossed over to his wife but not before she threw the book into the fire, hearing his daughter scream. "Eloise! Enough!" He used the poker to get the book out. He stared in shock for a moment. "I got it in time." He picked it up, intact. He picked up the rest of her books. "Eloise, you will stop this. Bunny, say what you want to say please. I'm listening." He handed her the pink book.

She hugged the pink book, relieved. "Mama, I don't think you've noticed but Belle may be beautiful but so are we." She gestured to her sisters. "And there are other girls just as beautiful as Belle in town. Gaston needs more than beauty. He's the town hero. He needs a wife worthy of the town hero. Someone both beautiful and smart. Strong and brave too. And if you want Gaston to maybe think about picking me, you need to let me read. And it's just bad manners to gossip about someone behind their backs. To be nice to their face but then turn around and speak spitefully. I did it too and I was wrong. I was jealous. I'm trying not to be jealous. Instead I'm… going to admire her. She is someone I want to be like and I hope she'll be able to forgive me."

Raphael smiled at his daughter. "Well, I am happy to see that I raised you right." He glared at Eloise. "She is right. It is wrong to speak badly about someone behind their backs. And I know that I did not raise gossips, correct, girls?" He challenged Blanche and Nanou who nodded.

"Yes, Papa," Blanche said. "We never gossip." Though Bunny knew she was lying.

Eloise stared at her husband with shock. "Raphael, you're spoiling her! Gaston'll never choose her!"

Bunny felt the barb deep. "You don't understand! You'll never understand!" She grabbed her books and ran up the stairs in tears.

She heard her parents fighting. Her mother was concerned that no man wanted an intelligent woman. It was more important to know how to cook without the crutch of a book. It was more important to know how to sew and take care of a house and a child. Everything she did all day took several hours. She didn't have time to read. Only noble women had time to read. And only because they had servants.

Bunny wept into her pillow, briefly before looking at the window. She had to find Belle. She looked at the books she had borrowed along with her own.

"I'm proud of you, Bunny," a voice said behind her softly. She turned to see Luna. "For standing up to your mother. For standing up for what you believe. That was brave."

"Luna, could… is Belle one of us?" She asked. "Look at what was in her house."

Luna jumped up on the bed. "I think the fact that you're asking means you know the answer to that question."

Bunny looked down. "I have to go see Maurice again. See if he'll tell me how to find Belle." She looked at the window. The full moon hung over her. She picked up her pendant.

Before she could get up however, the door to the attic opened. "Bunny, it's time to go to the tavern!" Nanou said as she grabbed her powder. "Wanna tell me what that was about down there?"

Bunny shook her head. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Alright, I'm going to just say it. You have been acting really strange lately," her sister said. "What's wrong?"

The other girl shook her head. "I just… if Belle ran away then it wasn't because of her father. It was because of the town. Because we've been cruel. Talking behind their backs. All because they're a little bit different. I feel guilty." She buried her head. "I don't feel well. I'm going to stay home and rest."

Nanou nodded. "Good idea. You desperately need it. I'll tell Mama and Papa." She sighed. "I know something's going on. I won't ask you to tell me since you don't seem ready to talk but… I can tell. But when you're ready, I promise… I'll listen."

Bunny watched her sister leave. "It's safe, Luna."

Luna came out from under the bed. "I thought she saw me."

"Me too," she said. "But when they leave the house, we're going to go find Belle. Can you go tell Molly to meet me at the edge of town in an hour. As Sailor Mercury?"

Luna nodded. Something changed in Bunny since she spoke to that Gaston. She was more willing to learn. She just had the issue with her mother and sisters.

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