Chapter Text
Once upon a time, in a faraway land, lived a young, handsome prince in his shining castle. Although he had everything he desired, the prince was selfish. Spoiled. And the unkindest prince one could meet. But then, on one cold winters night, where the wind howled and the trees screamed, an old begger women came to the castle, offering the prince a single rose, in return for shelter from the harsh weather outside.
Repulsed by her appearance, and outraged by her demands, the prince sneered at the gift and turned the old women away. Yet the woman persisted. She warned him not to be deceived by appearances, as true beauty is found within. Yet the prince didn’t care for her childish comments, once again, turning her away. And when he dismissed that time, the old womans ugliness melted away to reveal...
A beautiful Enchantress.
The prince falls to his knees, taking in all this woman's beauty. Her soft pale skin, her silky blond hair, her long, gorgeous blue dress, and her dazzling ocean blue eyes. Her eyes. Judging him. The prince tries to apologise, but it was too late. For she had seen there was no love in his heart. As a punishment, she raises her star wand, casting a curse on him. She transformed him...
...into a hideous beast.
But the enchantress doesn’t stop there. Casting a spell on the castle and all who lived there.
Ashamed of his monstrous form, the Beast concealed himself in the castle, with a magic mirror as his only window to the outside world. To his side, the rose appears, she had offered a truly enchanted rose, which would bloom for many years. The Beast covers the rose in a glass dome, for protection.
If he could learn to love another and earn their love in return by the time the last petal fell, then the spell would be broken. If not... he would be doomed to remain a Beast for all time. The Beast gazes at the rose... trapped, forlorn and hopeless.
As the years passed, he fell into despair and lost all hope.
For who could ever learn to love a Beast?