"WOD" - Chapter Six

 

Chapter Six

            In their ‘Rania’ incarnation, Aznavorian the Tinkerer had the most experience with disguises, whether it be Lara Croft or Kimberly Hart (the former of which was an accidental incident between an ancient artifact and chameleon arch technology). So, disguising herself as a Disney Princess like Belle was a piece of cake, particularly after the case of mistaken identity she went through with Gaston the other day. Thankfully, she had clothes in the TARDIS wardrobe that were identical to what Belle wore when she first visited Beast’s castle.

            In addition to being a mistress of disguise, Rania was a talented actress, putting on some of the most convincing performances. The easiest ones were the characters she already knew, such as Belle. Interacting with her up close earlier certainly helped, as she was able to work out the exact vocal pitch, facial expressions, and body gestures.

            Entering Beast’s castle was a breathtaking moment.

            The main foyer was a lot bigger – and spookier – than it was in the animated film.

            Oh, Kristin…I wish you could see all this right now.

            “Hello,” she called out, her voice echoing across the room and the rest of the castle. “Is anybody around?” She, of course, knew that they were. Every item in the castle was once a servant to the young prince that transformed into the beast. She also knew there was no time to waste in an exact reenactment of the movie. As such, she yelled, “Cogsworth! Lumiere! Where are you guys?”

            “Comme c'est étrange!” She thought she heard a man’s voice barely whisper in French. “How does she know our names?”

            “Quiet, you fool!” Another man’s voice scolded. “She’ll hear you!”

            “But aren’t you curious?” The first voice inquired.

            “Not at the time of which we should be inanimate!”

            Rania knew those voices. Recalling where they were ‘hiding’ from her recollection of their introductory scene, she turned to one corner near the entrance where a three-armed golden candelabra and a pendulum clock were sitting on a table. They looked to be ordinary antiques, but Rania knew better. “You fellas don’t have to pretend anymore,” she told them. “I know you’re alive.”

            Slowly and cautiously (and curiously), a pair of eyes on each of the objects opened. “Mademoiselle,” Lumiere addressed. “You have us at a surprise. How do you know who we are?”

            “Are you a spy?” Cogsworth asked in an accusatory tone.

            “Cogsworth, don’t be so paranoid,” Lumiere said.

            “She is!” Cogsworth bellowed. “How else would she know who we are?”

            “Perhaps we have developed a reputation from afar,” Lumiere presumed.

            Rania didn’t have time for their debate. “Look, I can’t go into details right now. I just need to go to the west wing to find him.”

            Cogsworth flew into full-blown, panic-induced paranoia. “She is a spy!”

            “Or she could be the one,” Lumiere said. “The one to break the spell!”

            “YES!” Rania cheered, louder than she intended. “But, not the one you’re thinking about. There’s one far more dangerous that could change the fate of your entire world.”

            Cogsworth gasped. “The enchantress…she’s coming back!”

            “No, no!” Rania reassured him. “At least, I don’t think so.”

            “I’m afraid you are not making very much sense, mademoiselle,” Lumiere said, scratching his head. Lacking a proper head or hands to scratch with, it looked like he was just flickering flames between candles.

            “It’ll all make more sense later,” Rania promised.

            She proceeded on her way to the west wing of the castle, despite the many protests of Lumiere and Cogsworth.

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            On foot, Belle’s village felt a lot further than it seemed.

            Craig knew he and Riff were headed in the right direction once the weather started to change. The shift did not do any favors to his overall health; he was breathless by the time they neared the edge of town. Noticing this, Riff (seemingly immune to exhaustion) asked him in curiosity, “Why are you making those noises from your mouth? And why are you so moist when it’s not raining?”

            After taking a moment to pause, Craig swallowed and panted, “Because…I’m completely…out of…shape.”

            “You look to be in the right shape to me,” Riff said.

            This guy’s so weird! “Can’t you make yourself useful and give me a boost?” Craig requested.

            “A boost?” Riff scratched his chin quizzically. “A boost of what?”

            Craig was too tired to deal with his nonsense. “Never mind,” he groaned. “Let’s just keep moving.”

            They were about to continue their way when they suddenly spotted Belle, riding on Philippe, leading a mob of villagers out of town and through the forest. “We’ll avenge Gaston and LeFou for what that accursed beast has done to them,” one of the villagers declared. The men chopped down trees in preparation for their assault.

            Craig looked on them in defeat. “We’re too late,” he whimpered.

            “No kidding,” Riff said. “That’s supposed to be Gaston, not Belle. The events have diverged way off the original timeline!”

            “We have to get back to Rania,” Craig said, moaning internally as he knew that meant backtracking the way they came – through the mist, through the woods, through the darkness and the shadows. “What a nightmare.”

            “Yeah, but it’s one exciting ride,” Riff remarked, to the irritation of Craig.

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            Despite Lumiere and Cogsworth’s best efforts, Rania finally made it to the west wing. The pair doubled back afterwards, opting to leave the strange girl they just met to her own fate than deal with their beastly prince. The wing was meant for Beast and his eyes alone. The access of all others was forbidden. In the original story, he made this clear to Belle upon her arrival. Rania, on the other hand, was given no such warning, even though she already knew about it…nor did she care.

            This world is about to fall into oblivion. No time to follow the rules.

            Making her way up an elegant flight of stairs and through a haunting corridor, she passed by the shredded portrait of the young prince that the Beast once was. Not far from it was the Enchanted Rose, its warm red glow basking the Tinkerer in it. Up close, it was a majesty to behold. But Rania could not allow herself to be mesmerized by it, even for a second.

            “Beast!” she beckoned. “I know you’re here! Let’s talk!”

            The room was deathly quiet. Other than her own breathing and the wind blowing from the open balcony, Rania did not hear anyone else in the room. And then she heard a thunderous voice ask her, “What do you think you’re doing here?!”

            Rania spun around and found herself face-to-face with the Beast himself.

            She had no idea where he even came from; he moved in and out of the shadows without so much as a peep. Other than the unexpectedness in his entrance, she stood fearless in his monstrous presence. “Like I said, all I want is to talk,” she told him.

            He towered over her, studying her beautiful face, which was fixed with unrelenting determination. “You’re not afraid,” he analyzed.

            “No, I’m not,” she verified.

            “Well, you should be! I’m not like anything you’ve ever seen before!”

            Rania tried not to laugh. “You’d be surprised.”

            “What business do you have here, girl?”

            “I came here to help you. I request sanctuary…here in your castle.”

            “Sanctuary?!” Now it was the Beast who could barely keep himself from laughing. “You’re either incredibly brave or incredibly stupid!”

            Rania playfully shrugged. “I’d like to think I’m a bit of both sometimes.”

            “THIS ISN’T A JOKE!!!” The Beast roared. “I wish to be left alone!”

            “And wait ‘til the last petal falls?” She gestured to the Enchanted Rose. In mentioning it, she triggered the Beast, who she heard emitting a low growl of frustrated anger. “Yeah, I know all about the Enchantress’s curse on you and your subjects. And I’m here now to tell you that it’s not the only curse you should be worried about.”

            The Beast frowned. “What are you talking about?”

            She was about to explain herself when she suddenly stopped, looking past the Beast and out towards the balcony. “Hold up for a sec,” she told him.

            He saw her brush past him and tensed up when she got near the Enchanted Rose. “Don’t touch…!” he started to say but stopped himself when he noticed her walking past it as well. “Why are you acting so strange? What other curse should I be worried about? EXPLAIN YOURSELF!!!”

            “SHUT UP!!!” Rania roared back at him. Her voice was louder than his own. There was enough ferocity in it to outmatch and silence even him.

            Rania stepped out onto the balcony that overlooked the black forest.

            Her hazel-brown eyes searched across the trees.

            Suddenly, something shot out like a rocket from one area of the forest, flying directly towards the castle. It was a robot of some kind – nearly the size of the castle itself. It stopped a few yards away from where Rania stood on the balcony. She stared at the behemoth in open-mouthed horror.

            “What…is that monstrosity?” asked the Beast, who was just as horrified.

            The behemoth drew up his right arm and unleashed a missile from a port that mechanically opened on its forearm.

            “GET DOWN!!!” Rania yelled to Beast, as the missile flew their way.

            It struck its primary target, obliterating the entire west wing.