Chapter 5 (SORA): The Beast's Decision

Chapter 5 (Sora): The Beast's Decision

        No sooner did Sora stumble out of the gates of the Matterhorn Bobsled attraction, then he was instantly tackled to the ground by two of his old friends.  As Sora became once more oriented with Disneyland, he looked down to see that Donald and Goofy had been the ones who embraced him.  "Donald!  Goofy!"  Sora hugged his friends as well, causing the trio of many legendary battles to let out collective yelps of celebration.  

        "What took you so long?" Donald asked Sora, before widening his eyes curiously at Sora.

        "Yeah, we were worried about you" Goofy exclaimed, before he too eyed Sora.  Too happy to question Sora, he giggled.  

        "What are you guys looking at?"

        "Is something wrong, Sora?" Donald asked.

        "Yeah.  You're face is red, a-hyuck!"  

        Sora shook his head, hoping his crimson face would fade away.  "Nothing!  It was just cold in Arendelle, that's all!"

        "It's about time you came back!" Donald proclaimed.  "We've been waiting for you!"  

        "You have?"

        "We sure have!" Mickey exclaimed, hurrying over to the situation.  "I heard from Merlin that you encountered Maleficent and Pete in your world.  Did ya have a problem with them?"

        "No problems at all, Your Majesty!" Sora proclaimed.  "So, what's this mission you have for me?"

        Mickey sighed.  "Well, I've been thinking.  It's not gonna be too long before we catch Xehanort and his cronies up to no good.  So, Master Yen Sid and I decided that we want to bring the Princesses of Heart here to Disneyland for their safety.  I just sent Riku and Kairi to Wonderland to get Alice back.  Kairi already brought Snow White here.  So, I need you guys to go and bring one of the Princesses here."

       "Sure thing, Your Majesty" Sora agreed.  "But why us?"

       "I can't risk sending Kairi or Riku after her, because she doesn't know them like she does you three.  She may not want to come with them like she may with you three.  That's why I'm sending you three to go and bring Belle back from the Beast's Castle."  

        "Belle?" Sora exclaimed.  

        "We haven't seen her in a long time!" Donald cheered.  

        "Gawrsh" Goofy gasped, "do ya think she and the Beast broke the spell over the castle?  Do ya think the Beast is human again?"

        "Well, there's only one way to find out" Mickey answered.  "You guys head over to that tavern and try to get Belle to come here to Disneyland.  I'm counting on you guys."  

        "You can count on us, Your Majesty!" all three friends proclaimed.  As Mickey hurried back towards Sleeping Beauty Castle, Sora led his friends over towards the tavern that had a massive statue of some kind of hunter.  In the windows of the tavern, were stained glass images of the Beast's Castle and the mysterious rose he protected in his room in the West Wing.  

        "What are we waiting for?" Sora asked.  "Let's go!"  

        

New Party Member: Goofy

HP: 40

MP: 90

Friendship: 100

Weapon: Knight's Shield (+2 STR)

Armor: Knight's Armor (+4 DEF, +1 STR)

Accessories: N/A

Items: x3 Potions

Abilities:

Goofy Turbo: Rush at enemies and send them directly at Sora (Costs 10 MP)

Goofy Tornado: Spin around, damaging opponents (Costs 10 MP)

Goofy Charge: Charge forward and stun attacked enemies (Costs 10 MP)

HP Gift: Give Up All MP to give all friends 30 HP

Berserk: Boost Attack when HP is Low

Item Boost: Boost the healing effects of all Items on the field

Second Chance: Ensures 1 HP remains after taking intense damage

Once More: Ensures 1 HP remains after taking damage from a combo

Jackpot: Increases the amount of money dropped by enemies in battle

New Party Member: Donald

HP: 25

MP: 120

Friendship: 100

Weapon: Mage's Staff (+2 STR, +2 MAG)

Armor: N/A

Accessories: Mystic Earring (+3 MAG, +4 AP)

Items: x1 Potion

x1 Ether

Abilities:

Firagun: Unleash a lethally powerful Fire type attack (Costs 10 MP)

Blizzagun: Unleash a powerful Blizzard type attack (Costs 10 MP)

Thundagun: Unleash a powerful Thunder type attack (Costs 10 MP)

Aerogun: Unleash a powerful Aero type attack (Costs 10 MP)

Zero Gravigun: Suspend all enemies in air (Costs 10 MP)

Stopza: Seize all Time activities in battle for an extended period (Costs 12 MP)

Curagun: Restore all health of opponents and cure them of all ailments (Costs 99 MP)

Magic Boost: Boost the power of all Magic Attacks and Defense Spells

Leaf Bracer: Allows Cure to be cast even while under attack

Shell: Halve the Damage taken by Magical attacks when HP is low

Item Boost: Boost the healing effects of all items on the field

Draw: Draw in nearby orbs

Lucky Lucky: Increase the drop rate or rare items by enemies

        The mood within the halls of the enchanted castle of the Beast was filled with giddy excitement.  All of the servants of the Beast and Belle were in high hopes, because they believe that tonight was the night that the spell that had deprived them of their humanity and transformed them into the household objects they were today. 

        For years, the Beast's most loyal servants had slaved about their dreary lives as clocks, teapots, candlesticks, wardrobes and whatnot, pleading and praying for their day to become human once more, almost as much as their now monstrous master.  Having almost given up hope, the objects made their best impression when a young woman named Belle agreed to take the place of her father as a prisoner in the castle,  But there was only so much that they could do, for the Beast was very distant and ill-tempered towards his new guest.  It would take a long time for the two to even be able to sit in the same room as one another.  

        But, as time passed, the two began to trust one another and even began to gravitate to the other as a potential friend and perhaps more.  When Belle was kidnapped by the witch Maleficent, the Beast fought his way through hordes of opponents to rescue her.  No matter how difficult the odds, the Beast fought on, even convincing a depressed and powerless Sora to fight alongside him.  Sora and the Beast would fight a great battle against both Maleficent and the Heartless known as Ansem, ultimately saving the Princesses of Heart (including Belle), and restored the worlds to their peaceful states.  

       But no relationship can exist without overcoming great odds.  The Beast would fall under the influence of the Organization XIII member named Xaldin and drive away all of the people who cared about him.  Once again, Sora stepped in and intervened, encouraging the Beast to salvage his friendship with Belle and thwarted the evil schemes of the Organization in his world.  He and Belle would have to overcome their own personal issues and woes to even manage to keep their friendship.  And to the amazement of the castle staff, they succeeded.  

      And on this night, the Beast and Belle would have a romantic dinner and dance session in the ballroom, where Lumiere, the maitre'd of the castle, told his master that he should confess his love for the young woman and finally bring an end to the spell that plagued their castle.  

      The Beast and Belle sat outside on the balcony, admiring the stars.  The Beast had cleaned himself up, wore a suit he'd kept from his cursed days, and had behaved the entire night as a gentleman.  Even Belle was impressed with him.  Gulping nervously, the Beast approached Belle.  "Belle?  Are you--are you happy here with me?"

       Belle nodded.  "Yes."  The maiden lowered her eyes and sighed.  

       "What is it?"

       "If only I could see my father again" Belle remarked sadly.  "Just for a moment.  I miss him so much."  

        The Beast smiled.  "There is a way" he explained.  Reaching into his jacket, he pulled out a mirror.  "This is a magic mirror.  It will show you anything you wish to see.  Go on and use it to see him.  You could see him whenever you ask."

       Belle teared.  "Thank you so much."  Belle took the mirror from her friend and stared into the glass.  "I'd like to see my father, please?"  The mirror shined briefly before showing Belle what she had requested.  An elderly man struggled through the windy weather in the woods.  He collapsed into a patch of snow and wheezed heavily.  Belle cried out.  "Papa!  Oh no!  He's sick!  He may be dying and he's all alone!"  

       The Beast looked into the sky and sighed.  His thoughts lingered on the magic rose that he had tended for for many years.  Down to it's last petals, the spell would surely break if he could just get Belle to say she loved him.  But her father needed her, more than he did.  Though he knew that this decision would crush any chance he had at becoming human, he knew that he had to let Belle be with him.  "Then...you--you must go to him."

      Belle gasped.  "What did you say?"

      "I release you" he groaned.  "You're no longer my prisoner."

      "You mean--I--I'm free?"

       "Yes" the Beast answered, fighting off his building tears.  

       Belle cheered.  "Oh, thank you!  Hold on Papa, I'm on my way!"  Belle turned to give the mirror back to her friend, but the Beast stopped her and stroked her long brown hair.  "But this is yours."

       "Take it with you" the Beast offered.  "That way, you'll always have a way to look back and remember me."  

       The young woman smiled faintly.  "Thank you for understanding how much he needs me!"  Belle turned from her friend and hurried back into the castle.  The Beast, finally alone, felt tears running down his furry face and shook his head.  This was for the best, even though he would never be human again.  It didn't matter to him.  Belle's happiness was most important, and if she did not return his feelings, than he'd be a monster if he kept her from her family.  

        The main doors to the Beast's Castle flung open as Sora and his friends walked through.  All three let out a collective sigh as they noticed that very little had changed since they had last walked the halls of their friend's castle.  "I guess the spell isn't broken yet" Sora sighed.

       "Ya don't think they got into another fight, do ya?" Goofy asked nervously.

       "Aw phooey!" Donald exclaimed.  "Belle and the Beast were closer than ever after we helped them defeat Xaldin.  They're just not together yet."  

        "Oui, monsieurs" called a heavily accented voice by the staircase.  A small golden candelabra hopped his way over to the new arrivals.  "Bonjour, honored guests!  Welcome back.  I trust everything is going well on your journey?"

        "Hi there, Lumiere" Sora called, hurrying over to him.  "We're here to check up on the Beast and Belle.  Have the Heartless been acting up?"

        Lumiere shook his head.  "Not a one has been in sight for a long time.  The Master has been so occupied with Belle that he almost never has time to lose his temper on anyone."  Lumiere sighed happily.  "It will not be long now, my friends.  We have a feeling that tonight is the night they finally break the spell and we all become human again."

       "It had better be" chimed in another character.  A small mantleclock waddled over to the group.  "The Master's enchanted rose is down to it's last petals.  If the Master and Belle have their relationship fall apart...we may never--"

       "That's not gonna happen!" Sora proclaimed.  

       "Cogsworth" Goofy moaned, "you have to have faith in the Beast.  Otherwise, how will ya ever break the spell?"

       "I'm just on pins and needles every minute" the clock paced.  "We've left them alone since their dance ended.  Do you think the Master is too nervous to tell her?  Or perhaps Belle has rejected him?  Oh dear!  What are we to do?"

        The doors to the ballroom slowly walked open.  Belle slid past the door, a smile on her face.  She noticed Sora and his friends had arrived.  She gave her old friends a courtesy wave and hurried up the steps towards the East Wing.  Sora smiled.  "You see that smile Belle had?" he laughed.  

        "Oh my goodness!" Cogsworth cheered.  "We must congratulate the Master!  I cannot believe it!  He actually did it!"  Cogsworth hurried up the steps and pushed open the doors to the Ballroom.  "Follow me, everyone!"  Sora and his friends hurried after the mantleclock to speak with their friend.

        Sora and the others all walked out onto the balcony and stood before the Beast.  Their friend had his back to the group, looking out into the distance.  He did not address them when they entered.  Taking the initiative, Cogsworth walked up to the Beast.

        "Well, Your Highness" he proudly spoke to his master, "I must say everything's going just swimmingly.  I knew you had it in you, ha ha!"  

        The Beast lowered his head.  "I let her go."

        Sora, Donald and Goofy jumped back.  "WHAT?" they all asked.  

        "Yes yes" Cogsworth continued.  "That is splend--wait?  What?  You let her go?  How could you do that?"

        "I had to" the Beast uttered sadly.

        "Yes...b-bbb-bb-bb--but why?"

        The Beast finally turned to address the group.  "Because...I love her.  If I kept her from being with who she wanted to be with--no--who she needed to be with, I'd be no different than the monster she sees me as.  I can't keep Belle here, not if she wants to be home."  

       "But Master" Lumiere cried out, "this means that--"

       "You can't just give up, Beast!" Sora exclaimed sorrowfully.  "Think about all you've done to be with her.  You were willing to die if it meant Belle was saved back in--"

       "Sora" Beast sighed.  "You're right.  I was willing to do that for her.  But did that really make her love me anymore?  No.  What she needs is to be with her father, not me.  She does not love me.  And I can't force her to, no matter how much it hurts to see her go."  The Beast turned away.  "I'm not that beast anymore."  

        "But Beast--" Sora persisted.  

        "I think his mind's made up" Donald sighed.  

        Cogsworth and Lumiere sighed.  "Then there's no use in keeping the castle waiting.  I'd better alert the others."  Sora thought he could hear both of the Beast's servants weeping as they returned to the ballroom.  As Sora prepared to try and encourage the Beast once more, both servants let out a scream in the ballroom.  Sora and his friends hurried inside.  

         Both of the Beast's servants were surrounded by dark creatures.  But these creatures were not Heartless.  Instead of feeding off of the darkness, they fed off the negativity engulfing Beast's Castle.  "Be gone from this place, you foul things!" Cogsworth tried ordering, but the creatures did not acknowledge him.  

       Sora jumped in front of them.  "Leave this to us!  Go find Belle so we can straighten this all out!  Cogsworth and Lumiere nodded before hopping and sprinting off to speak to Belle.  Donald and Goofy fell behind Sora.  

       "Not these things!" Donald gasped.  

       "Didn't we see these things a long time ago?" Goofy asked.

       "These must be the Unversed" Sora proclaimed.  "Let's take them out!"  

Defeat all of the Unversed!

        As Sora's Keyblade cut through the last of the Unversed, he sighed.  "Why isn't the Beast here?"  Sora looked outside once more, but the Beast wasn't there.  "Where did he go?"

        "He must have gone to the West Wing while we were fighting" Donald guessed.  

        "Should we go talk to him?" Goofy asked. 

        Sora shook his head.  "Talking isn't going to get the Beast to get Belle back.  And we need to bring Belle back to Mickey.  Let's go talk to Belle.  She might be able to get to him."  The trio rushed out of the ballroom.  

        As Sora and his friends exited the ballroom, they noticed Mrs. Potts sitting by the East Wing stairs.  Sora knelt down to speak with the teapot.  "Mrs. Potts" Sora asked.  "Have you seen Belle?"

      She nodded sadly.  "The poor child's run off to her father.  Cogsworth tried to stop her, but she's already long gone by now.  Why do you ask?"

      "We have to get her and the Beast back together!" 

      "Bless you, child" she thanked earnestly.  "But unless Belle is willing to come back on her own, the spell will not be broken.  I don't think there's a thing you can do to make her come with you.  I do wish the Master hadn't let her go like this."   

       "Why did he have to let her go?  Was Belle a prisoner here?"

       Mrs. Potts sighed.  "It was a long time ago.  An elderly man came to our castle, asking for a place to stay for the night.  We did our best to make him feel at home, but the Master saw him as a trespasser and threw him into the dungeon.  As it happened, that man was Belle's father.  A few days later, Belle arrived and begged for the Master to free him.  He staunchly refused, until Belle offered herself in his place.  The Beast immediately sent her father away and has kept Belle here ever since.  But he has tried to make Belle feel at home since then.  I guess this place couldn't be home without him."

      "Do you know where Belle's father lives?" 

      "There is a village down past the woods" the teapot explained.  

      "Then that's where we're heading" Sora proclaimed.  

      "But how can we get Belle to come back when the Beast doesn't want her to?" Donald asked.  

      "Oh, I know he wants her to come back" Goofy answered.  "I think we should just help Belle know how much the Beast feels about her.  I can't bear to see a buddy of mine so sad."  Sora, Donald and Goofy hurried down the hall and towards the doors to the castle.  

Obtained Beast's Castle Map