"Your 21st birthday..."

He turned endlessly in his sleep, growling at unseen memories.

"The flower...bloom... dying..."

He awoke with the stirring of the clock dashing across the floor. This sight, to normal people, would be frightening but for 10 years he was use to it. You see, his household was filled with living objects. His household was cursed.
"That flower!" He cried, "That damned witch and the rose!"

A decade ago, a lonely beggar woman asked for shelter, but the bratty prince replied with a condescending snarl and a rude spit. From then on, the curse has lived on.

And he was a beast.

His birthday was rapidly approaching, where the petals would fall off the rose and he would remain hideous for the rest of his horrid life.

The clock and the candle with whispering.

He got up from his cramped bed, slid his hoofs to the ground, and started towards a mirror. Within it, unknown to him, stood fate. His future, his bride, and his only chance at freedom were all hidden... for now.

Inside the mirror showed a village far away, with blurry visions of a beautiful youth. Her eyes were as luminous as the darkest of pearls, her hair shimmered with radiance. What did she mean to him? And why had the mirror kept a close orbit around her...?

"Gaston! Stop I need that book!" the voice belonged to a slender girl that looked no older than 18. One slim hand was stretched up above her as she jumped trying to snag the book out of it captor's hands. Today was a special day and she really needed that book! But as usual Gaston just didn't know when to stop.

"Oh? You need this book in particular?" Gaston taunted lowering the book just low enough that her slim fingers brushed against the spine before he jerked it upwards again. "You should know by now what I want my Beauty. Just agree to come out with me for one evening-"

An aggravated sound came from Aria. "I'm not your beauty..as a matter of fact I don't belong to anyone. Just keep the blasted book. I'm sure I'll do fine with out it." she said with a angry huff as she turned full prepared to walk off before a rough hand quickly grabbed her smaller much softer hand. Slowly the brunette turned her head to look up at tormentor one slender eyebrow raised curiously.

Gaston sighed softly as he returned the book. He'd tried everything! He'd tried being nice. He'd tried being rude. Nothing was working! Just what was it going to take to get her away from her silly books and out into the real world? "I'm sorry I didn't mean to anger you. What do you need this book for anyway?" he asked with a soft lilt of his head.

Aria smiled as the book was finally returned to her. She graced Gaston with a bright smile as she gently with drew her hand from his."I can't say. Its a surprise-I can't have you running off to tell everyone now can I?" she teased as she all but danced away from him her thick waist length hair floating freely around in her a dark halo as she walked towards her horse.

She was humming mindlessly as she easily swung herself up into the saddle and shifted until she was comfortable before tucking the book away in a saddle bag she'd thought to bring with her. She needed the book to find a particular flower. A flower unlike any other. It was..indescribable. It was something she had to get for her father. He wasn't getting any younger and the older he got to more time he liked to spend in his garden. Before her mother had died the tiny plot of land had belonged to Aria and her mother but once she'd passed away the garden had slowly withered away until one day her dad took an interest in it. And ever since then it had thrived-most from her dad's efforts but every now and then Aria pitched in.

Aria was dragged out of her wandering thoughts by a soft nervous whinny. She frowned softly looking around at her surroundings and tugging back on the reigns. Wait...just where was she? She twisted around in the saddle looking for some familiar land mark and finding none. This wasn't like the forest outside of town. It was dark...and eerily quiet. Almost...dead. She shivered softly as she turned her mount around planning to head back in the opposite direction before she heard a low threatening growl....

(Sorry its so long and yes I know its a lot like the actual story/movie but I wasn't too sure what to do. Sorry!)

(That's totally okay! We'll have fun with this :P)

"That's her!" the Beast through cunningly, "This is the woman my mirror keeps showing me! And she's wandering all alone far away from any village I know. How easy this will be..."

He lurked within the snowy bushes, icicles shattering with every step he took. His large form and earth-shaking noises made it near impossible for him to be silent. But this prey.. this girl.. had to be afraid. He had to instill fear.

He paused. She looked, and he charged. One glance was all he needed. Had he taken a moment longer after his presence was detected, the horse could outrun her and carry her away.

As soon as he lashed out, however, the horse bucked the lass off his back and rode away selfishly for his own life. The girl panicked, but the beast took no time to explain anything (or even prove that he could talk). He dug his claws into the show and let out a loud howl from the depths of his lungs. This woman was important to him, and dead or alive, he was determined to bring her back to his domain.

Without a second glance at her, he scooped the now unconscious beauty into his claws and carried her on his fur. She had taken quite a fall from the mount bucking her off, so he decided to treat her a little more gentle then he would other human beings whose bones were scattered in his bedroom.

Perhaps if he had more then a glance of her face, he would've realized the great treasure of a beauty he was carrying in his mangled fur, and let her go.

But fate wasn't about to let that happen.
_________________________________________

As soon as he reached his castle, an unconscious Aria in tact, he slipped her off his back and onto the floor of the beautiful main all. Though dimly lit, you could see the magnificance of the ancient building. There was charm and passion in the arcitecture, with elegant tile work on the floors.

The beast needed a rest from his travel. He had captured what his mirror had been taunting him with for years, and he felt accomplished and proud.

He also wasn't about to let her slip away.

With the little magic he was taught as a boy, he sealed every doorway and window in the castle. His prize was sealed in, and he needed sleep. Quickly, he scampered up the stairs to his chambers, leaving this woman all alone-- until the objects peered around her. A clock, a teapot, and a candle were the first at the scene. A new face in this castle that wasn't a meal to the beast? "How odd" they all collectively thought.

"As soon as she wakes, we will inquire further"...

She stirred.

----------

((Be back later tonight.. going to my parent's house for dinner!))

Aria tightened her grips on the reigns and gently pressed her heels into her panicked mount's sides. Her mount whinnied and edged backwards before edging forward only to let out a loud shriek of panic before it reared up easily throwing its rider. Without a further though the horse cantered away whinnying and crashing through the dead forestry. Aria let out a panicked holler as she fell through the air but the sound was easily outdone by the beasts loud ferocious roar. She hit the ground hard her head smacking the ground hard enough to knock her out.

Before she blacked out completely she let out a soft groan as she was roughly placed onto the beast's back its rough fur scraping against her soft skin before she finally allowed the darkness to over take her..
------------------------------------

For a short while all there was was darkness. Not a sound. Just silence. But it wasn't the peaceful quiet of an evening at home or in town. It was different. Shifting softly Aria's chocolate hued eyes slowly opened. She winced slightly a low hiss coming through her clenched teeth as she gingerly at up her hand cautiously feeling out the throbbing sore before quickly jerking it away. She glanced down at her hand a soft sigh of relief escaping her lips as she noticed the lack of blood. OK that was good. She wasn't too badly hurt.

Now she just had to figure out where she was. She looked up an astonished look of awe and curiosity crossing her features before she got the odd feeling that she was being watched. She gulped nervously and brought her attention away from the high vaulted ceilings to stare at the assortment of house hold items in front of her. Her mouth dropped open as she noticed them. Was it just her or did they seem to be..alive? "Maybe I hit my head harder than I thought..." she whispered dazedly.

(Aww...ok ttyl)

"Ah! She's awake!" sprouted the candle to his other two friends, "Good lady, my name is Lumière. And, might I say, I am quite taken with your beauty--"

"Oh don't even try Lumnuts!" the clock laughed. "She is obviously here for a reason if the beast did not kill her, so try not to mess it up!" The clock looked up at her with a big smile behind the roman numerals. "Call me Cogsworth, mad'am! Do not mind my best friend. He tries to hard to be a bit of a ladies man I'm afraid. This dashing woman is--"

"Mrs. Potts deary!" A teapot came from the shadows, illuminated by Lumière's flame, "I bet you're quite thirsty aren't you? Come here, Chip!"
"Coming mama," cried a tiny voice. Tiny little clanking sounds came from what appeared to be a kitchen. Saddled next to his mother, the teacup stood proudly as his mother poured tea and offered himself to Aria. Noticing Aria's hesitation, the teapot laughed. "Don't be afraid dear, go on! Go on! There we are! No need to be frightened by us! We're quite friendly."

Lumière pulled Cogsworth aside and quietly whispered. "Do you think it's a good idea to be helping her? What if she is our master's next meal?" Cogsworth looked over his shoulder at the puzzled Aria and replied, "Be that or not, there is certainly a reason he didn't eat her yet. Perhaps..."
"You don't mean.."
"She could be the one!"
"After all these years?"
"Hush Hush!"
The candle and the clock returned to the amusing scene of Chip talking poor Aria's ear off. He is clearly not use to any visitors or new faces, and the excitement is showing in his voice.

"Come now darling, I will show you to a room! How awful of our master to leave you out on the floor like this! Chip, back into the kitchen! Lumière and Cogsy-poo, be dolls and clean this place up. Mad'am and I need some girl time alone."

She whispers to her object friends,"I'm going to explain to her what is going on. She has a right to know why we're like this."

And with that, Aria and the teapot head up the magnificent staircase into an empty dusty room.

Aria stared at the unbelievable scene in front of her. They were alive. But that was impossible. It just wasn't done ! Not that it wasn't amazing but....she'd never seen anything like this! She'd never seen anything like the thing that attacked her-oh. the beast! Her eyes widened in alarm and she sat up straight and tense her dark brown eyes glancing around nervously. Where was it? Was it still here?

She glanced down at the assortment of household items in front of her and relaxed just a little. If it was then wouldn't they be more...frightened? Actually they didn't seem frightened if anything they seemed down right friendly. She let out a soft giggle as the candle hopped forward. A soft blush coated her cheeks and she bowed her head forward softly in embarrassment before she looked up as the candle was dragged off. "Oh...its ok. He seems very..sweet." she said with another soft chuckle. Maybe sweet wasn't the word to describe the candle. Hmm if anything his personality seemed very warm-she let out a soft snort at her own joke before she sobered up some as the last member of the small group was introduced. "Its nice to meet you Mrs.Pots.." she said respectably. She opened her mouth to decline the offer of a drink but stopped. Now that she thought about it..she was just a tad thirsty.

Aria turned her head in the direction the tiny voice was coming from. She stared down at the tiny cup looking somewhat uncertain. She was thirsty but..she wasn't so sure she'd feel quite right drinking from the little cup in front of her. She blushed softly in embarrassment and politely took a sip a soft sigh of contentment escaping her parted lips as the small swallow slowly started to warm her up. She shivered softly puling her ragged cloak tighter around her as she dutifully took another sip. It wasn't long before she'd finished it completely her pale cheeks turning a soft rosy red as she warmed up just a little more. "Thank you." she said politely smiling warmly at all of them. She laughed softly as Chip entertained her with a story of something that had recently happened. She tilted her head forward nodding and making the appropriate sounds to let him know she was listening.

How ever upon hearing the darling little cup had to go she frowned softly. He was so sweet! But...he was a teacup. And its mom was a teapot and..ok none of this was making sense. Was she dreaming? Or was she really truly awake. She frowned as she slowly stood up and followed the tea pot up the stairs.

"My dear..." the teapot said quietly, "We have been expecting you for some time."

The room was dusty in dark, with a horribly lonely aura and lack of vacancy for years. In it was a vanity with a fogged mirror, beside it a lonesome dresser and across from that a bed which was currently occupied by the teapot and Aria. Beside the bed were double doors, squeaking on its hinges, to a balcony (which was perhaps the only breath taking part of the large and empty room). A candle was lit beside the bed, which illuminated the teapot in her hushed tones.

"That.. beast.. that captured you. He is our master." The teapot waited for a reaction, than continued. "But don't be hesitant. He is a good kind creature at heart." She stopped. "If.. he still has a heart. Somewhere in there is the boy I use to serve."

"We are all under a witch's spell," She sighed, "We are quite human and the beast---"

She couldn't finish. It was as if the curse wrapped around her voice with a gripping pain that bled through to her lips. She knew. Aria had to figure the rest out on her own.

She coughed. "Nevermind dear. Just know that we will not harm you. You can rest here until you may be released..."

Mrs. Pots didn't want Aria to feel like a prisoner by her choice of words but, after all, she kind of was now. She tried comforting her as much as she could, but she knew the poor girl was trying hard not to cry. From fear, anger, and perhaps pity. Who knew? These were troubling times indeed.
_______________________________

The beast sat in what could hardly be called a bedroom. Skeletons of human and creature alike lay scattered in piles. There was no bed, only rags and dilapidated drapes. The only amount of light streaming through the windows was a dusty fog that didn't even tough the floor.

What was bright, however, was the rose. The center of the room stood a grand golden pedestal with a rose in bloom inside a crystal glass. He could not touch it, or even move it. It was sealed to far inside.. all he could do was watch in agony as the bloom slowly started to whither petal by petal. On one wall was a mirror, which was to show him the key to the flower behind him. Its first purpose was completed, and the mirror no longer showed the image of Aria.

It just remained a plain mirror. No images, no visions. Nothing. The Beast had no idea what to do with the girl or why she was even here. Angered, he let out a loud growl of frustration and kicked down the large double doors to the rest of the mansion. He was going to confront her himself.

He dashed towards the guest room doors on the other side of his palace.

Arias stared down at Mrs. Pots her brow wrinkled in confusion. She heard her..but she was having trouble believing this. Like her first moments after being introduced to Chip and the others she was having issues believing this. That Beast..was their master? But he was so..different! He hadn't been friendly in the least and there hadn't been anything human like about him! She shivered softly as the image of that snarling beast flashed across her mind. What did he want with her? What had she done to deserve to be dragged here and forced to stay?

"I can't stay here.." she mumbled softly blinking rapidly in some attempt to keep her tears at bay. She didn't cry often or easily. If she did then there was usually a pretty good reason behind. Hearing that she was stuck here away from home? Well that seemed like a pretty good dang reason to cry! She sniffled softly and wiped roughly at her eyes. She shook her head stubbornly biting her lip softly as she waited a few moments for the urge to break down to leave her. Slowly her sorrow left her. Only to be replaced by anger.

"Where is he?" she demanded sharply as she stood up pushing away from the bed. She was not just going to sit here like some..some damsel in distress! She was anything but that! She was not going to be like those silly princesses in her books and just wait around for some one to rescue her. Her life was not some story in a book. There was no imaginary puppeteer pulling her strings and controlling her life! She pulled open the door to her room and stalked out her hands clenched tightly at her sides.She exhaled slowly before she started walking.

She had no clue where she was going and she didn't care. She just needed to do something. She needed to think. She could hardly do that with a teapot talking to her. This was ludicrous! It was impossible. This only happened in books. In fairy tales. Right? So why did ever seem so startlingly realistic? Why couldn't she just push it all away and wake up? "This is confusing." she muttered turning down a semi-dark corridor only to come to a quick stand still as she saw the hulking figure at the end of the hallway. What was that? Instantly what ever thoughts of bewildered anger and hurt she'd been feeling disappeared only to replaced by something infinitely stronger. Fear. She gulped nervously and licked her lips softly before speaking. "Hello?" Maybe it was just some other piece of walking and talking furniture. Then again considering the way her day was going there was no way she'd be let off that easy. There was just no way.

The beast came face to face with his damsel of fate. His golden eyes flared wide, then narrowed. His sharp and deadly fangs glared with his snarling growl. His claws tightened, as if he was ready to kill. Although his intent wasn't to kill her, he was furious and wanted answers.

He charged.

She ran, but he knew his palace better than her. The clever beast ran her into another deserted bedroom and cornered her. His adrenaline caused him to smash the (non-living) furniture and tear into the tile floor.

"WHO ARE YOU?!" He howled. "Why has your image tormented me so?!" He saw her confused look, but wasn't buying it. He thought she knew the secret to reverse this curse. He thought, because the mirror showed her, that she would automatically have the answers. Was she bargaining with the witch that cursed this place? Was she perhaps related? His time was running out, and his patience was thin. It was obvious that his temprement and personality had not changed one bit. He had yet to learn his lesson, which was why the curse was there in the first place.

After minutes of heaving and dead silence, he brought his breath down to a slow pace. He went down on all fours instead of his haunches, so he would appear shorter and less dominant. He lowered his horns and sighed. He was finally calm., and appeared significantly less scary.

"I just wondered if you knew anything about this place, but it remains apparent that you do not. Unfortunately, until I find out why you are so important, I'm keeping you here," he snarled.

The three friends, Cogsworth, Mrs. Pots, and Lumiere, stood in the darkness silently overhearing their conversation. They were drawn there by the ruckess and noise, but breathed a sigh of relief at the Beasts minimal yet existant hospitality.

The trick to this curse was, those three knew exactly what was happening and how to break the curse. Aria had to fall in love with the beast before the last petal fell. The problem was, the curse kept them from telling either the beast or the beauty that exact key. They had to figure it out themselves.

Aria froze in place as her gaze locked onto to those familar golden eyes before dropping down to look at the menacing teeth. This was bad..extremely bad. Maybe instead of trying to decide just how bad this was she needed to run! Jerking herself harshly out of her thoughts she managed to make herself back up a few steps in preparation to run but she never got that far because the beast charged.

Then she ran. She didn't balk for a second more. She whirled and ran as fast as she could without tripping over her skirt. But it was to no use. She was at a disadvantage. He knew the house and she didn't so it wasn't long before he had her cornered. She ducked her head down and clamped her eyes shut as he rampaged near by. She winced hearing the splintering of wood and gasped softly her mind flitting back to the small group that had greeted her. Hopefully the furniture currently being destoryed wasn't alive..Yes it was a silly thought to have but then again she'd much rather think about talking furniture rather than the thing in front of her!

(Will finish posting when I get to the chance.)