Short stories

Beauty and the Beast

The original beauty and the beast is weird and creepy when you think about it too much so I'm making it better.

     Belle and her father had moved to this poor provincial town in hopes of scraping by after her mother died. She was an architect and brought in most of their money. A strong woman Belle strived to be like every day, she learned as much as she could. But all she could manage to do is work cleaning up in the dungeons of the king's castle. He was a wretched corrupt king, as all of them are, hoarding his wealth and food and resources from his people the very people who produced that wealth and those resources. Belle spat on the ground as she thought of him, kicking the dirt up with her feet before continuing her shameful work of cleaning his dungeons. But if she didn't work she are her father would starve. She sighed heavily, heaving the bucket full of water up as she tossed it over the stained stone floors and began to mop.
     A familiar whistle came from the cell deep in the castle, Belle checked to make sure the guard wasn't looking and then headed down the steep stairs. It was a dark dim dungeon, not welcoming at all. But this was her favorite prisoner, and her only friend. "Belle you always take forever to get here your legs are so short." Beast groaned from the dark corner of their barely big enough cell. Belle rolled their eyes, Beast was rough around the edges but kind and respectful when it mattered. "Well if you're just going to complain." Belle said, pretending to be angry. "Oh don't pout now, I just missed you." Beast said suavely, reaching a hand through the gaps in the crooked old bars to gently tug Belle's sleeve. She turned dramatically holding her hand on her chest, "Eek! Oh no! I'm so scared the beast clawed at me! Such big teeth you have! Such big paws!" Belle teased, they smiled knowingly at each other as she got up and opened the cell door. "That bit just might be getting old, Bee." Beast grumbled, coming into the light shaking her thick fur.
     On her haunches Beast stood at a staggering seven feet tall, a menacing sight to anyone but Belle. Beast was quite literally as her name said, an anthropomorphic wolf like beast stocky and muscular with thick dark fur and a deer skull for a face. But Belle knew Beast would never hurt her. She shooed Beast out of the cell to a bench next to a candle, "Alright now hurry up I need to clean you up and mop the cell before the guard comes back." Belle said firmly, sitting Beast down and beginning to dress her wounds. "Why do they do this to you?" Belle asked, "You ask that every day, Belle. I'm beginning to think you actually want to know how I got the worst punishment the king could think of." Beast said gruffly, wincing as Belle tightened a bandage on her arm. "Because I do, because it's kind of an important part of your character if it ended you in eternal torture from the king." Belle huffed, turning away and spitting on the floor for good measure.
     Beast laughed at the little notion of spite that had become a recognizable trait in Belle. "Why do you care so much about my character hm? I think you're just nosey." Beast grumbled, "AAuGrH!!" Beast shouted as Belle poured alcohol on a deep wound in her side. "Beast please, the guards." Belle hushed her, worried the guards would come down and catch them like they had that one time. They nearly beat them both to death that day. "If you don't want to tell me I can't make you, I respect your choice not to tell me. But I'd be here to listen if you wanted to." Belle said, adding the last part softly.
      Belle continued to wrap up Beast's wounds in silence, then moving on to mop the blood off the cell floor. Just as Belle was about to finish, Beast stood up and loomed in the cell's doorway. "Do you..really want to know...why I'm here.." Beast spoke, her voice was low almost a growl. Belle felt a shock of cold run through her, she turned around slowly and nodded. Beast stepped closer. "I...was a human. Like you." Beast began, sitting cross legged on the stone cell. Belle sat across from her, every inch of her body anticipating the best story she'd ever heard. "I used to be...the princess. I revealed that I didn't agree with the king on anything he was doing, and he cursed me. After that I went berserk. I ripped his court members to shreds and ate his hand before anyone could get me down. Then he threw me in here, claimed someone had killed me and started a wild goose chase to slaughter the Maldoras for killing me. And everyday he leaves the door unlocked. And everyday he asks if I wish to leave, if I still disagree with him, if I want to come back and live life with him and those well fed pompous fucks." Beast's voice in venomous and low like a snarl. "And every day I tell him the most obscene thing I can think of. And every day he tortures me."
     Beast finishes, putting her hands on her knees firmly and standing up before offering a hand to Belle. She was too stunned to speak, she reached up gently and caressed the side of Beast's face, Beast's knees buckled a little. "You deserve better. Just like everyone in this kingdom. I'm glad you took that fuckers hand. You just existing is defiance to him. Anyone who disagrees with him spites him and the more of us the merrier." Belle bit her lip after saying that, quickly drawing herself away from Beast. "Us? Is there..is there a resistance forming?" Beast asked. "Shush! Keep quiet please!!" Belle hushed her, they both stood still for a long while straining to hear if anyone was coming.
    Belle suddenly slammed Beast against the wall, using the surprise of the act to knock her off balance. Beast and Belle breathe heavily in each other's faces, Beast bore her teeth on instinct, Belle did not move. "You will not jeopardize the resistance do you understand me? No matter your relation to the king. You will deal out justice to him and those like him without hesitation am I clear?" Belle threatened, inches from Beast's face, sharp teeth and stark hard bone skull right in front of her. "Yes." Beast said simply, amazed and startled by Belle's sudden ferocity.
     After that day they planned the overthrowing of the kingdom and killing of the king. Two years later, with trained people and two years worth of planning, it was the day to complete their mission. Belle took her usual route to the castle dungeons like every morning, stopping by the baker then the castle kitchen to get the prisoners food. By noon there were several small skirmishes outside the gates, but they were solved quickly. Or so the guard thought. While Belle and Beast with some inside help crept to the plaza and waited. The king entered the grand doorway with a few members of his court and guards. Beast and Belle and five others ambushed them once the doors were closed and locked them. Beast leaned out the window and howled loudly, giving the signal for the final blow. Everyone moved in quickly managing to take over the guards in surprise. Belle ties up the king, raising a sword to his traitorous neck. "I I know what I have done is wrong I I've learned my lesson please I will be a kind and benevolent ruler from henceforth you have my word!" The worthless man squealed and begged. It deeply annoyed Belle. "What you have done is wrong. What you have done is unforgivable. You have blood stained hands and blood stained money. We have no need for your worthless suffering you insufferable-!" Belle was cut off by Beast, holding her arm gently.
     Belle huffed out an angry breathe, swiftly sheathing her sword. "You. Will get the consequences you deserve for your actions. You. Will have no one. No one shall show you a kindness in the world." Beast said, placing a hand on Belle's shoulder. She nodded to their comrades in the room, they took the king away. He was to be exiled from the castle. Forced to walk the streets without a penny to his name in a place where no one cares for him. As the rest of the kingdom came together and took care of each other. Sharing crops and resources as needed and loving one another.
       After almost a year of setting things up everything ran smoothly without anyone in power. People had what they needed and shared what they could, there was abundance and joy among all the people. Beast and Belle lived near each other in the woods while Beast lived alone and Belle lived with her father. "Belle, dear, you know you don't have to live with me just because I'm old. Why not move in with someone your age? That you oh I don't know maybe have an interest in? How about Beast you two are very close!" Belle's father Maurice said excitedly. Belle blushed and shooed her father off. "Father please! I've told you I'll think about it already just give me time to-" the front door creaked slightly, Belle turned to see Beast bending awkwardly to fit in the doorway. "...You want to move in with me?" Beast asked, slightly shocked. "I have some work to get done in the yard." Maurice says before scampering off.
      Belle sighed covering her blushing face. "I feel so embarrassed. Okay I guess I can't really avoid it now." Belle says mostly to herself, then she takes a deep breath and turned to face Beast. "I like you, like a lot. We've known each other for a long time and I really care about you and if you don't like me that's fine I can just be your friend or whatever you want." Belle rushed the words out, closing her eyes waiting for a response from Beast. Beast slowly began to chuckle. Belle felt the heat rising to her face. "Well you don't have to like me back but you shouldn't laugh at me." She pouted, turning away. Beast tugs gently on her sleeve, not letting her leave. "Sorry it's just, I kind of already knew. You should come live with me, Belle." Beast said happily, crouching down and looming over Belle holding her hands. Belle smiles, relieved, and kisses Beast on her teeth. The bone felt cold on Belle's lips, making her skin tingle. Beast mumbled some incoherent flustered none sense, making Belle giggle.