Tiana the Beauty of France-4

Chapter Four

"How dare she!" Gaston was enraged.  "Who does that little yankee think she is?"

"Yeah, darn American woman!" Le Fou tried to cheer Gaston up.  "Can I get you anything?  Some ale?"

"It's no use!  Nothing helps." Gaston sighed.

"Someone having lady troubles?"

Gaston looked up.  Standing before him was a tall, slim made wearing all black.  On his head was a fancy top hat with a red feather and he leaned on a cane.  He smiled, showing a small gap between his teeth.  There was something extremely familiar about him but Gaston couldn't put his finger on it.

"Hey, can't you see Gaston's in a funk?" Le Fou asked.  "He's not taking any calls right now."

"Oh hush up little man," The stranger snapped her fingers and Le Fou fell silent.  "Much better.  Now I couldn't help over hearing your predicament.  A little lady giving you some trouble?"

"Maybe." Gaston was still a bit wary.

"Oh pardon, I haven't properly introduce myself," A small card appeared between his fingers.  "Name's Dr. Faciler."

Gaston took the card and read it aloud, "Potions, tarot readings, dreams come true."
He took a look at a struggling Le Fou who was desperately trying to open his mouth.  Maybe he could use some help from the good doctor.

"You're not from around here, are you?" Gaston asked, nodding towards a chair.

"No, I come all the way from the Crescent City," The shadow man sat down.  "The home of a familiar dark skinned beauty."

He snapped and opened up his palm, showing a small version of Tiana.  She turned around, smiled and winked at Gaston.   Now he was interested and the good doctor had his full attention.  Faciler smirked.

"Now you may not know this but Tiana's got herself a best friend," Faciler snapped again and the image changed to Lotte.  "This bubbly blonde is going to surprise little Tia with a visit.  However, if something were to happen to Lotte like---I don't know a kidnapping?"

Faciler slapped his palm and pulled it up, revealing Lotte stuck in a cage, crying out in despair.


"And maybe a handsome young man came along." A mini Gaston appeared next to Lotte.

"And if he saved said girl" Gaston was catching on.

Faciler nodded.  The mini Gaston broke the cage which was holding Lotte.  She jumped out and began bowing at his feet.  Tiana then appeared and wrapped her arms around Gaston.  She showered him in kisses while Lotte continued to grovel.  Gaston smiled; he liked the way this man thought.
"You have a sick and twisted mind," Gaston chuckled.  "I like the way you think!"

"I knew we'd get along."

Faciler offered his hand and Gaston shook it.  Le Fou made muffled noises, trying to get someone's attention.

---

Tiana had fallen asleep.  The whole day had worn her out.  She was awoken by a gentle tap on the door.  Well, it certainly wasn't the Beast; the tap was way too calm.  Tiana stood up and opened the door.  She looked out but she saw no one.  She was about to go back inside when she heard a voice.

"Hello dear.  Care for some tea?"

Tiana looked down.  There at her feet was a talking tea pot followed by a tea cup and tow other objects that shouldn't be moving or talking.  Tiana screamed and stumbled backwards into the dresser.  It made a noise and came to life as well.

"Oh be careful!  You'll hurt yourself." The dresser said.

"I must be dreaming," Tiana sat down on the bed.  "This can't be real!  This is impossible!"

"I know, I know!" The dresser laughed.  "But here we are!"

"Sorry to startle you dear," The teapot said sweetly.  "My name is Mrs. Potts."

"And I'm Madame de La Grande but you can just call me Madame!"

"I'm----I'm Tiana."

"Pleasure to meet you Tiana," Mrs. Potts smiled.  "Care for some tea?"

"That'd be nice, thank you," Tiana slide off the bed and took the cup they jumped towards her.  "It smells good!"

"I can do a trick! Watch!" The tea cup began to bubble over.

"Chip!"

"Oh, how cute," Tiana smiled.  "Is your name Chip?"

"Yeah!  And you're Tiana!"

"Why aren't you smart?  Pleasure to meet you all."

"I just wanted to let you know that you did a very brave thing dearest." Mrs. Potts said.

"I don't feel brave.  I feel foolish," Tiana sighed.  "I threw away everything I had and everything I could have."

"Please don't cry." Chip piped up.

Tiana smiled at the small tea cup and said, "I won't Chip."

"Everything will get better in time," Mrs. Potts assured.  "Well, I better head down and get dinner ready!  Come along now Chip."

"Bye bye!" Chip jumped down and followed his mother.

"Well now, let's find something for you to wear to dinner," Madame opened up.  

"Let's see. Too summery, too dull, ah here we go! Perfect!"

"That dress is mighty lovely but I'm afraid I won't be having dinner." Tiana said.

"What?  But you have too!"

"Sorry but I'm not letting that---that animal have the pleasure of my presence!"

Tiana crossed her arms.  "Not now, not ever!"
There was another knock on the door.  This time it was Cogsworth who entered the room.  He bowed lowly and said, "Dinner is served."

"Well that's a shame because I ain't going!" Tiana turned on her heel.

"We have a lovely salad made of spinach and arugula---wait, what?"

"Tell your 'master' that I would rather be boiled in oil than dine with him!" Tiana walked over the door.  "Now excuse me, I'd like to be left alone!"

She slammed the door and marched back over to the bed.  Tiana felt a fire burn in her belly. After all he had done to her, that horrid thing actually thought she would have dinner with him?  Just because she was his prisoner didn't mean she was going to be at his beck and call.  This was her way of punishing him and keeping her promise of not crying in front of him.  Her heart was still breaking into tiny pieces as the realization of her new life sunk in.  It was going to be hard but she still knew how to fight.

"Do you really think that was wise?" Madam asked.

"Wise or not, I'm staying in this room," Tiana told her.  "I may be stuck here but that doesn't mean my free will is gone."
There was a loud pounding on the door. It made everything in her room shake like a tremor went through the earth.  Tiana rolled her eyes and braced herself for impact.

"I thought I told you to come down to dinner!" The Beast bellowed.

"You did.  I just decided not to listen." Tiana replied coolly.

"Come out right now or I'll tear this door down!"

"Go ahead! You do that and I'll jump out the window."

She waited for the door to fall down but there was a pause.  She watched the door and then she got closer when she heard other voices.  They were talking in hushed tones.  

"Will you come down for dinner?" The Beast asked.

"I refuse." Tiana said flatly.

There was another pause before the Beast spoke again, "It would give me great pleasure if you would join me for dinner----please."

"N-o spells no!  I will never, ever, ever, ever, ever eat with you!  I'd rather starve!" Tiana screamed.

"FINE!" The Beast growled. "Then just stay there!  If you don't eat with me, you don't eat at all!"

"I can live with that!" Tiana shouted back.

The Beast, enraged at his new guest's behavior, stormed off to the West Wing.  He threw open the doors, breathing heavily.  

"How dare she!" He bellowed.  "I give her a place to stay and she denies me?  Where does she get off, treating the master of this castle like an ingrate?"

He marched over to the table that held the magic rose.  Next to it was an enchanted mirror.  The Beast grabbed it and commanded, "Show me the girl."
Colors swirled before revealing Tiana.  Madam was leaning next to her.

"You know the master really isn't such a bad guy.  Why don't you give him a chance?"

"No!" Tiana cried.  "He ruined everything!  I had the perfect life and the perfect dream!"

Tiana reached into her pocket and took out a picture. As she stared at it, a tear splashed onto the glass.  She shook for a moment before she started crying.  She pulled the picture closer to her and curled into a ball as she started sobbing.

"I'm so sorry Daddy.  Our dream is gone."

The Beast stared for a moment before setting the mirror down.

"Who am I kidding?  There's no way she'll able to see anything but a monster," The Beast sighed.  "This is hopeless."

As he said those last words, a petal fell from the enchanted rose.