AN: This story is partially inspired by Fantasia, Descendants, and Sofia the First. Its main inspiration, however, is in Beauty and the Beast (2017). I hope you'll enjoy what comes out of it.

Mal awoke on the ground. Not an uncommon event. She often awoke on the ground these days. She had been traveling for three days from Bald Mountain deep within the Moors and still had another day's travel required to reach her target.

What had her confused as she slowly rose to her feet was her dream. It had been the third night in which she dreamed of castle gardens and a prince. Why did she feel so warm, so good when she heard the prince speak? She could not remember what he had said, but she remembered the sound of his voice. It made her inexplicably happy.

You have a mission, she reminded herself as she dusted off her purple cloak. There are other worlds. They can be yours. You can wield unspeakable power. It all starts by crashing the prince's birthday ball.

The young fairy walked along the dirt path as she pondered her future. The woods did not scare her despite being all alone, perhaps because she was more scary than any forest she had been in.

The sky turned pink and orange with the dawn, and some small, soft part of Mal could not help but find it beautiful.

Prince Ben strolled through the kitchen, following Lumiere behind closely and watching carefully. He knew it was important to understand the inner workings of the castle if he was to be a good king. Watching the servants reminded him of the time his mother opened up a clock to show him how it worked. Like the clock, the castle only functioned due to the complex relationships within it and the teamwork of all parts. Virtues Ben had learned to treasure above all else.

"Ah, yes, let us go this way-"

"What is that way?" Ben asked, peering at the section of the kitchen Lumiere was steering him away from.

"Your birthday surprises, Your Highness," Lumiere said, shaking his head. "You are like your mother-very curious. It is a good quality, but not always. Come along, Your Highness."

"Of course, Lumiere," Ben said respectfully. His sixteenth birthday loomed nearer every day. Ben had chosen to take on the responsibility of running his birthday gala this year. This would be the year suitors would start coming. From the village, from other kingdoms, maybe even from within the castle, there would be young ladies competing for his hand.

Ben sighed. All the talk of courtship must have been getting to his head, for the previous night he had dreamed of a girl with violet hair in the gardens with him. Her image haunted him. For some reason even attempting to remember the fleeting of her image gave him a warm feeling he did not understand.

Still, he felt as though the dream was a clock and it was missing a cog-the cog that would help Ben understand it. He had tried to get the dream out of his head all morning, yet had failed.

He shook his head. He could think about this more. Later. Now, however, he needed to go with Lumiere to check on the ballroom decorations and remind Madame de Garderobe of the color scheme he had chosen.

Adam paced the length of the library, the flames jumping higher to match his agitation. Belle sat on the edge of her armchair, head in her hands.

"I cannot believe that they went off by themselves to confront whatever is in the Moors," Belle said. "What are they thinking?"

"Don't look at me!" Adam cried. "I just know that it's a bad idea to enter the fairyland."

"I'm not even sure that Queen Aurora has much faith in the expedition," Belle continued, glancing at the letter on the table beside her. "Princess Talia is coming to stay with us until Phillip returns."

"At least she will arrive on time for Ben's birthday ball," Adam said. He then sighed, and resumed his pacing. Belle sighed as well and picked up the letter. Her hazel eyes scanned the document for more information.

"It gets worse," Belle continued. "Remember the fairy in the Moors?"

"I've heard of her," Adam said. "She cursed Queen Aurora, if the tale is true."

"Her daughter's missing," Belle said reproachfully. "I can't imagine. . . If Guinevere was missing, or Ben. . . We have to help."

"Our castle is open to all who need it," Adam reminded Belle, his steely blue eyes as gentle as Belle remembered. "That fairy's daughter will find us, most likely. And we can search for her. But we must be here for our son's birthday. Besides, the girl's a fairy, yes? I think the fairies can do just fine on their own."

"And I think there's a girl that's probably scared out of her mind!' Belle shouted, rising to her feet. She stiffened, hesitating. "But you are right. It doesn't do our kingdom much good if I go myself. But we will assign a task force."

"Most definitely," Adam agreed. He couldn't help but admire his queen's heart. "Write back to Queen Aurora that we will help. And we will be overjoyed to take Princess Talia. It would be nice for Ben to see a childhood friend at his party."

"Indeed," Belle agreed. Her memories drifted back to the little princess playing with her son in the rose gardens while Belle and Adam discussed regal matters with Aurora and Phillip over tea. So much in her world was changing, but at least some things were the same.

"Your highness!"

Ben whirled around to see Lumiere approaching.

"Oui, Monsieur Lumiere?" he asked.

"Princess Evangeline of Valoram and Borealis has arrived," Lumiere told him.

Ben nodded. "Thank you, Lumiere, I'll go right away."

Lumiere smiled and nodded back, then hurried away. Ben straightened his jacket, and hurried himself along to the entry hall of the castle. He dodged servants carrying the princess's luggage, and saw the princess standing in the center of it all, looking around in wonder at the splendor of the castle.

Ben had to admit the rumors about Princess Evangeline were very true. Her hair was blue-black and flowed like an ocean's. Her skin was a fair brown, and her lips were full and red as blood. She wore a becoming yellow gown with a blood red traveling cloak over it. She was as beautiful as the star she was named for.

He approached, and took her hand, kissing it. She smiled brightly.

"Welcome, your highness," he said. "I only hope you'll enjoy your stay."

"I think I will, Prince Benedict," she said with a flirtatious grin, and effortlessly flipped her blue-black curls. "Thank you for inviting me to this party. I wish you many happy returns and pray this will be a start of a long friendship."

"As do I," he said. "Do you need an escort to your room?"

"Why, yes, and I have never been to this castle before," she admitted. "Could you perhaps spare time to show me around?"

"Of course."

Ben had to admit that the princess was very good company. She was witty and bold, which made conversation easy. She was very fascinated with the architecture of the palace, and Ben couldn't help but smile and listened, impressed by her knowledge.

Of course, this led his mind to other thoughts. He was coming of age soon. That meant marriage loomed ahead soon. His father did not get married until he was twenty-one, and he knew his parents wanted him to marry for love, but it still was to be a priority soon, if only for the sake of Auradon.

A young woman like Princess Evangeline would make a very good queen to his people. Knowledge, wit, and courage were considered great virtues by his people. A woman of status would have an idea of the inner workings a castle required, and a kingdom. She was even beloved by her own people, from what he heard. And no wonder, for she did take after her mother, the Fairest of Them All.

"I'd like to go to my room now."

Pulled back to his guest, Ben turned. Evangeline's voice was tight, like a bowstring about to snap.

"Alright," he said, forcing himself to remain charming and smiling. "You must be tired from your journey. You're in the South Wing of the castle."

After escorting Evangeline to her room, Ben tended to party business for two hours, until at last, tea time was upon him. His pace slowed a bit more with relief. He entered the library, and spotted his mother's tea table in her favorite nook, where sun shone through beautiful stained glass windows his father had commissioned for their fifth anniversary.

She closed her book, and smiled as he seated himself with her. Ben poured her a cup first, then for himself, and offered the sugar and cream and so on. Time with his mother became more precious in days like these.

"How is the party?" Belle asked.

"At least three new crises popped up today," Ben admitted. "But I was able to resolve all but one and the remaining ones from yesterday. At least there's only a week left. I might actually be able to sleep then."

"I'll ask Mrs. Potts to brew you a sleeping tea this evening." Belle said with a frown. "I'll admit, what you're doing is impressive."

"Thank you, Maman," Ben said. "How have you been?"

"Writing and reading letters from the foreign embassies," she said, and she took a sip. "Rather boring, I'm afraid. This tea is spectacular, Chip's outdone himself."

"He has," Ben agreed. "Almost as good as Mrs. Potts. I'll have to drop by the kitchens again and tell him that."

He turned to check the clock, and suddenly rose.

"What's wrong?" Belle asked.

"Princess Talia's about to arrive, and I need to greet her," Ben said, and he checked himself over. "Sorry, Maman, to cut this short."

"No, I understand," Belle said with a sad smile. "Besides, we can talk over dinner, oui?"

"Oui," Ben agreed. He then turned and ran out of the library and down the stairs. He slowed at the grand entrance, and walked more regally. While he had known Talia as a child, she was notoriously difficult to impress. Talia was standing in the same spot Evangeline had stood in earlier, and was bossing the servants about in how to carry her luggage. She spotted a full pink gown meant to dazzle and impress, and her tiara was prominent against her dark hair. Her violet eyes glimmered mysteriously.

"Prince Ben," she said, her voice cool and rhythmic, like a babbling brook. "I am delighted to hear of your sixteenth ball. I am even more delighted that you let me take part in this event."

"My pleasure, your highness," he said, and he kissed her gloved hand. She smiled. "Would you like an escort-"

"No thank you, I remember this old place well enough," she assured him. She then brushed past him, leaving him very confused.

Ben exited out to the impressive rose gardens his father and Guinevere often helped the servants tend. He enjoyed them as well, especially the red roses. He was more of a bookworm, like Belle. Still, the fresh air seemed to be needed with all the time stuck indoors planning the party and greeting the guests.

He made his way to a hidden gazebo, and sat there, basking in the sunlight. He realized, after a moment, he was being watched.

His eyes flashed open. No one was there. He rose to his feet, assuming a more princely stance.

"Hello, is anyone there?" he asked.

He heard only a rustling of the rose bush in reply.

"Is anyone there?"

His heart pounded as he saw a pair of glowing green eyes in the rose bush. Then, out of it, in a black cloak, stood a small, slight figure. All he could see under the cloak were the glowing green eyes.

"Is there anything I can do for you?" Ben asked cautiously.

"I-" the green eyes blinked. Then they dimmed to nothing. The figure threw back the hood to reveal a girl's pale, heart-shaped face and violet hair. The girl was a fairy. Her green-gold eyes looked around in a panic. Then the girl looked to him. Her lips parted to speak. Then she collapsed.