"NO!"

Belle screamed at the sight of Gaston's sword that was pointed directly toward the Beast. As soon as the silver tip made contact with the Beast's body, she flinched

and turned away. But the sound of the roar of pain slashed through her like the blade of Gaston's sword. And still she looked away. She couldn't bear to watch the

Beast suffer.

"AHHH!"

She whirled around just in time to see Gaston lose his balance. She gasped at the sight of his eyes wide with horror when he began to teeter, just seconds from falling

off of the castle ledge to a certain death. But to her amazement, the Beast held out his paw and pulled Gaston to safety. It was in that moment that Belle realized how

much love the Beast held inside.

Gaston struggled to his feet and prepared to lunge for the Beast once again, but the Beast let out a roar that echoed so loudly that Belle covered her ears. Gaston

gasped and slithered away as quickly as possible, but Belle hardly noticed. Her attention was on the Beast. He was badly hurt and she had to do something quickly. He

was still holding onto the ledge of the castle, struggling to stand.

"Here, let me help you!" She cried. She reached for him and lifted him to safety. He was heavy, much heavier than she'd anticipated but somehow she managed to pull

him toward the middle of the balcony. It was there that she cradled his face in her hands, stroking his soft fur. As his bright blue eyes met hers, he smiled weakly.

"Belle… You came back."

"Of course I came back." She said, her voice trembling. "I had to. I couldn't just leave you."

The rain continued to fall in heavy sheets, but she hardly noticed as she held him close and sobbed into his fur.

He reached up with his paw and touched her hair. "Don't cry, Belle. Don't cry. It's all right. At least I got to see you one last time."

"Don't talk like that. You're safe now. You'll be all right. You'll see. We're together now. And everything-."

He groaned and drew one last breath before collapsing in her arms.

The sight made her sob even harder. "No! Please, don't leave me! I love you!"

But it was too late. He was gone. Her heart shattered into a thousand pieces. Even though he was a Beast, she loved him with all of her heart. And he was gone

forever. She cried until she was certain that there were no more tears to shed and then turned to her friends. Who knew that a teapot, a teacup, a candelabra and a

mantle clock would become the best friends she'd ever had? They made her feel more loved than any human had ever made her feel. Except, of course for her father.

"Don't cry, dear." Mrs. Potts said in her gentle voice. "It will be all right."

"No…" She shook her head. "It will never be all right! I-I never should have come here! I should have… stood up to the Beast and demanded that he let my father go

free! I would have gladly become his prisoner! I didn't mean to fall in love with him. I couldn't help it! But it doesn't matter anymore. It's too late. He's gone!"

Lumiere and Cogsworth hopped over to where she sat, stroking the Beast's fur, dampening it even further with her tears.

"Don't worry, Belle." Cogsworth said. "Ms. Potts is right. Everything will be fine. You'll see."

She tried to smile at Cogsworth, but it was impossible. "No." she replied, her voice barely a whisper. "Everything that's happened is my fault! I caused all of this! And

now…" She sobbed even harder but the presence of the teacup, the teapot, the clock and the candelabra at her side did little to ease her grief.

After a short while she rose to her feet. "I-I have to leave!"

Her friends protested at once.

"Leave?

"Go? Go where?"

"Please don't leave!"

"Please stay!"

"Don't leave us!"

"No. I can't." she replied firmly. "This was my fault! If I hadn't come here, the Beast would still be alive! I'm so sorry!"

"It's not your fault, dear." Mrs. Potts said, in her sweet, reassuring voice. But Belle knew better.

"You're wrong! It is my fault! And I can't stay here any longer. Goodbye." She took off running, painfully aware of the fact that Mrs. Potts, Cogsworth, Chip and

Lumiere were running as fast as they could to catch up to her, shouting pleas for her to stay. All of them, that is, except for the Beast. She loved her friends of coures

but it was the Beast who had stolen her heart. And now he was gone forever.

Her heart pounding, she ran through the ballroom and down the circular staircase that led to the first floor. Nearly breathless she raced toward the castle's grand

entrance until she came to the large wooden door. It took great effort to open it, but as soon as she did so, she called for her faithful companion.

"Phillipe! Phillipe!"

The horse seemed to appear out of nowhere and she rushed into the driving rain. The horse was wearing a look of distress which caused her to stroke his mane in

what she hoped was a reassuring manner. But she quickly mounted him and pulled on his reins.

"Take me home, Phillipe! Quickly!"

Phillipe took off and she sobbed the entire way. She didn't dare look back at the magnificent castle. She didn't belong there. Not anymore and perhaps not ever. She

only belonged in one place and that was home. It was where she should have stayed all along.