Red and the Beast

The boy

Shadow smiles as knuckles walks through the courtyard with his horse. Knuckles had finally adjusted to his new life after four weeks and was enjoying it. He wrote his father letters letting him know he was ok. Shadow made sure the letters are getting to Locke who slowly stops worrying about his son since he is responding to his letters. Yet he still misses his son terribly as well as Mrs. Avery. Knuckles soon starts writing to her as well telling her everything as promised and managed to send the bracelet he got for her. She smiled with every letter happy he's ok. Shadow even surprised knuckles on his birthday with a cake and a small gift.
Knuckles wonders around the castle one day and accidentally walks through the north wing. He sees paintings, of the royal family and stops at one. "It's the boy...." He said and walks closer to the painting and couldn't believe the boy he spoke to that night was the prince all along. "Wait does that mean shadow is the—" "What are you doing here?!" Shadows voice boomed scaring knuckles. "I was just wondering around...." Knuckles said. "This is the north wing I told you it's forbidden" shadow glared. "I'm sorry I didn't know!" Knuckles said terrified and shadow sees the fear in Knuckles's eyes. He sighs and walks away from knuckles. "Wait shadow please tell me what happen!" Knuckles shouted following him. "It's non of your business" "Frankly it is since you didn't tell me you were the boy I shared my bag of cookies with as a child." Knuckles said and Shadow stops. "How did you—" "the painting shadow. Please tell me what happened to you." Knuckles pleas. Shadow sighs and leads knuckles to his room. Knuckles sat on the queen ann chair as shadow looks out the window. "My father was the reason we were cursed.... And I became this monster." He said looking at his paws.

After that night at the festival my father was furious with me. He smacked me across the face and I wasn't allowed to have dinner for a week. My mother sent her servants to my room with food while my father and her ate at the table. He was always cruel to us but never the servants or the villagers. There were times my father would be so demanding my mother would lock herself in her room. She never was hurt when finding him in bed with other women on nights she couldn't perform. My mother wished she could leave my father but under the arrangement she was forbidden to. I was the only good that came out of that arrangement. Then came the night of my eighteenth birthday..... it was a rather cold night and stormy night where nobody should be out. A loud bang interrupted the small party and my father answers the door. It was a older gentleman who was lost in the storm. My father slammed the door in the man's face. Yet he was persistent. My father answered once more. The old man begged for a room out of the storm. I tried to say ok but my father laughed saying cruel things to the man and pushed him. The old man rolled down the wet steps and was hurt. I tried to run to help but my father stopped me. He turns his attention back to the old man but saw a light. It was a enchanter and he placed a curse on us because of my father's cruelty. My father was killed and my mother was was blinded. He took pity on me and made me into this monster and my servants were transformed into objects..... all because my fathers cruel heart. I tried to care for my blind mother only to assist her in killing herself. Over time I became bitter and angry because here I was cursed with this even though I done nothing wrong besides trying to beg my father to help. I soon found out that this curse will remain permanent on my 26th birthday on the blood moon which is two months from now. There's only one way to break the curse.....and that is to find someone who loves me as I am....

Shadow looks at knuckles who was shocked. "You think I'm the one...." "Yes but.... I'm not going to force you to love me even if I stay a beast..... I'll be alone... my servants don't know it but if the curse isn't broken they'll become the objects they are turned to permanently." "Like they won't speak or move... just regular objects..." "Yes" "that's horrible...." Knuckles said looking down. Yet he doesn't know how to feel about shadow even if he doesn't break this curse he still wants to be his friend because knuckles knows what it's like to be alone. "Shadow you won't be alone even if the curse doesn't break I'll still be your friend. I know what it's like to be alone." He told shadow and he smiled. "That would mean a lot to me thank you" shadow said and they both smile at each other. "Would you like to see the library knuckles?" "You have a library?!" He smiled. "Yes I do come" shadow got up and walked to the door.

Knuckles follows him not knowing he's in for a surprise.