Chapter Text
Once upon a time on a faraway land where a kingdom was located hidden on the Hills of the Island of Sodor. The castle was very shiny and grand from the many pieces of red roses spread around making it look like a plant kissed it. Often blue bellflowers were hidden within the corners of the floral appearance the cobblestone castle has. Life in Ulfstead Castle was splendid and peaceful with the many people who served in it. There were many benefits upon being a servant to the first king who raised a wonderful son with his beloved queen. Unfortunately life shattered for Ulfstead Castle draining the many colors out of it due to a heavy loss of both rulers.
It was still tough for everyone, especially for the very spoiled prince who had everything he owned in his possession. He wasn’t the prince anyone pictured when they thought of their future king. It was as if his innocence and goodness was shattered from losing his parents. He turned cruel, vain, and only cared for himself more than anyone else. His servants though didn’t treat him any differently, only with kindness. A drip of their kind hearts wasn’t enough for the prince who wants more and more. His heart was stone cold, bricked up like a wall he built to hide the pain and the pressure on becoming a king.
When Ulfstead Castle had a ceremony to celebrate his coronation becoming a King, preparing for it was a nightmare. His highness demanded red to be the color for anyone to wear. No other clue mattered and didn't get the servants started with how big of a fit he made when they mentioned blue. In his cold mahogany eyes, red means power and superior above any other color. So the ballroom was painted in many shades of red that it took the white and gold hues away.
To make himself high and mighty, he dressed in all black for the coronation with bits of red creeping out.
The ball for the new King to dance with the many maidens was a struggle because he didn’t seem to care. Many ladies were dressed like the pretty flowers that had died in the Royal Garden. Bright and bold. He frowned, yawned, and laid within his gold royal throne. Guests fumed upon his rude behavior, they were disgusted by his Highness. The servants watched as the King looked like he was having the worst night of his life.
The King demanded to leave his throne to get something peachy to drink. Once he made his way to where the gold glasses were covered in red ribbon, an old female in green robes accidentally bumped into him having her glass of white wine stained his finest suit. The King screamed and made a snarky comment at the elderly. His outburst caught many people’s attention who glanced at the commotion. The old lady apologized many times but the King fumed more than ever for her to whimper in fear.
With disgust and annoyance, the King demanded the elderly lady for treason. The old lady apologized one more time, begging him to take this bellflower for forgiveness. The bellflower had the one color that the King hated the most. Blue. He didn’t even hesitate to reach over to the plant and tossed it on the ground as if it was nothing. He huffed, turned his back on the horrid poor lady who was feeling despair. Guards in metal raced over to the lady with swords, asking her to follow them.
The lady in green velvet refused and had enough. Golden magic shone brighter than the red all over the people. This surprised the King the most because he saw her face and body transforming from being completely wither to majestic and beautiful. Her golden long hair resembled magic, her pink eyes twinkle, her outfit was in this magenta pink dress with long sleeves. Her hands moved around with gleaming swirls coming out as she floated up in the air with butterfly wings that resembled steam engine pistons and rods of dark gray.
People in the room immediately got scared and realized that the person the King had hurt was the Enchantress Lady of Sodor. Tales of the golden fairy to everyone on Sodor was a simple folktale not knowing she even existed in their time. Tonight has proven the theory of her appearance as she focused on the King who is now being the coward underneath his ruthless behavior. The loyal servants went in front of him, begging Lady for their pardons on his behalf. They cared so much for the King to risk their lives against someone who has magic.
Lady didn’t care. She was angry and demanded the King to accept defeat. She went on about how awful he was to the guests and the servants for not appreciating that they chose to celebrate for him. She called him out on his spoiled ruthless behavior thanks to their encounter by their punch bowl. What truly upsets her was how the King tossed the pure flower she had offered.
The King’s face dropped and kneeled in front of Lady hoping she would stop her madness. He felt very stupid for his actions, hoping tonight wouldn’t make his life miserable. Messing with a goddess like Lady was no joke at all. The fairy scared the guests away by sweeping them out of the ballroom, out of the palace with one gust of pixie dust. It was only the loyal servants and the cowardly King in the ballroom alone with the immortal.
To punish the King, Lady transformed him into the monster that resembled his true nature. It was horrid for the guests to witness an awful outcome for the King who doesn’t feel human anymore. He was now a beast in torn clothes with claws from his furry hands and arch feet. He roared in pain and anger. He didn’t look like the handsome ruler he was anymore.
The loyal servants took half of the punishment to become random objects instead of humans. They were scared, praying this wasn’t gonna be permanent. Lady reassured them that they’ll keep His Highness company through the many years ahead of them. As cold as she could be, she didn’t want the King to feel any loneliness.
The fairy flew down to the bellflower that was still fresh by the given curvy petals. She placed it in a vase she created with her magic for it to be safe. The vase landed in front of the Beast which he didn’t seem to be amused but part of him felt like he had to keep this close. Lady told him that there’s a way for him and his servants to go back to being normal.
In order for the curse to be lifted, the Beast must learn to love and be loved by someone who will love him not for his appearance but his good heart. If he couldn’t earn the love from that person by the time he’s 22 once the last petal of the bellflower dropped, the King will forever become a Beast for the rest of his life.
With the fairy disappearing in pixie dust, Ulfstead Castle became a nightmare. The red has faded to be black and gray instead with roses in front becoming long ivies and thrones scattered to keep any light to shine inside the palace. Every bit of the cobblestone became very frail with nothing but isolation spreading all over the place that was once lively.
The Beast stormed off to the West Wing where his bedroom was holding onto the vase with his new large hands. He was furious, crossed, and filled with anger. The hatred in his heart grew more when taking upon his new appearance. It tore a portrait of who he once was, scratching deep for the paper to rip. He destroyed his bed, his entire room, and many red clothes that were tossed everywhere to the large golden mirror he would always stare at. Shattered.
The only thing the Beast didn’t destroy was the bellflower floating in blue dust. It was the only thing that filled with light in this hollow palace. The Beast grew hopeless watching for the blue plant in front of his monstrous eyes as the clock ticked day by day to take on this life he ordained.
The loyal servants remained kind though and kept a relationship with the Beast despite their given appearances. Their loyalty didn’t make the Beast feel any guilt of putting them through the punishment because of him. They all hoped and prayed that someday, someone will step in Ulfstead Palace but so far no human has made any attempt to go in there.
The question still remains in their minds everyday, a question that they couldn’t have an answer to.
Who on Sodor could ever learn to love a Beast?