Disclaimer: Don't own, please do not sue I really have nothing. Especially when thinking of returning to school.

Pairings: 1x2, 4x3, 5x?

Warnings: Will be an eventual lemon, but there is some strong language and adult topics.

Story: Prince Heero has been under a curse from birth, will Duo be the one to break it? Or will the forces pulling them apart succeed?

Author's Note: That's right! I'm doing my first ever re-interpretation of an old fairy tale. In this case Beauty and the Beast. I was watching the Disney one the other day and thought to myself, this would be cool. It's new and thought the basic idea is similar. I love it been working on it the last couple of days and wanted to share it. So please enjoy!

Cursed

Part I – A Matter of Fate

Once upon a time, for that is how all good fairytales begin, and what is this but another spun yarn? A story that time, place, and events can change and evolve over the ages. Yet two constants consistently remain; it was always once upon a time. The other; they all live happily ever after. These two are a promise made by the narration of these stories, and these dear reader are a promise. What lies between however is what makes this particular story so honest and real. As a great man once said, "The course of true love never did run smooth." No matter what however, just remember there is always the promise of a happy ending.

This tale begins like so many of it's kind with a death and birth. The first was of the Queen; an unearthly beautiful women who gave birth to twin boys before dying of complications soon after. It would be a lie to say she was well loved and missed, by anyone; for the truth was far more convoluted then that. As a young woman she had made a deal with an enchantress for beauty beyond compare. In exchange the enchantress would name her price later, unfortunately her untimely death left the debt unpaid. Enrage the enchantress exacted her revenge on the first born by no more then minutes. The young baby cursed ten fold with the ugliness his mother had once possessed, doomed to be hideous beast.

In fear the King banished the baby along with a small staff deep into the woods, to what had once been the summer castle. Despite the terrifying curse placed upon the baby there was as in most spells, a loophole. If he could find someone to love him, for what he was, the spell would be broken. A seemingly impossible hope.

At the same time in a small village buried in the green hills, another very different set of twins was born. A boy and a girl, too a poor farmer and his angry dissatisfied wife, she ran away several days later leaving the farmer to raise the children on his own.

Two destines where created that faithful day, waiting the right moment to begin. The wheels of fate began to move and grind, slowly, yet with care. As the years passed, each day the same as the one before, peaceful and serene. Until their 21st year when those wheels began to move faster, and destines collided. This is where our tale begins dear reader, in the small village where one man is rising on his twenty-first birthday…

-#-#-#-

"Relena?" came the deep voice floating up the rickety stairs. "What?" she snapped back, angry at having been interrupted. The man at the base of the stairs almost visibly shied away from the angry voice. "Nothing," he mumbled moving back towards the door he had chores to be about anyway. Sighing he pulled his boots on headed out into the bright, sunny, spring morning. Whistling softly he threw open the darn doors, "Morning Henry!" he called cheerily the big horse whining in response. Still whistling his cheery tune he fed Henry, and Bessie the single cow they owned. "Easy girl," he mumbled setting the stool beside her he milked the old cow with ease. Filling the pail and small dish he kept nearby. Finishing his task, he took the dish over to where Maggie the old barn cat had yet another litter of kittens. Mewing in gratitude she and her new little ones lapped at the milk.

Smiling the man hunkered down rubbing the soft heads, "You guys are adorable," he mumbled always happiest when he was in the barn with the animals. "Duo!" came the harsh, high-pitched voice of his sister form the entrance to his sanctuary. Sighing he stroked the soft fur one last time before standing and going to meet his sister at the door. It would be a cold day in hell before she set foot in the barn. "Good morning," Duo said quietly, tentively trying to gauge her mood. "Is father back yet?" she snapped, crossing her arms across her chest a trick she had learned long ago that seemed to work on the men in the village. Not, however on Duo. "No Relena," he mumbled fighting the urge to turn and run back into the barn. Frustrated she stamped a pretty foot, pouting in a practiced beautiful way. "He needs to get back here with my new dress, how am I supposed to get ready for the ball without the dress Duo?" her voice was grating and irritating. Her brother shrugged. "Useless," she spat at him before turning and stomping back to the house. "Make sure you finish the kitchen, and do the washing up. I need to rest." Duo shot a sour look at her back, "You just got up." He grumbled turning to go back into the barn, at least Henry wouldn't yell at him.

Anyone in the village could tell you about the Maxwell twins, boy and girl, and no two people could be more different. Relena was petite, and beautiful, her face heart shaped and breathtaking her eyes like her fathers, an ice blue. That could be warm or cool depending on her mood. She was gorgeous and she knew it, having the village males wrapped around her dainty pinkie. Her looks did not match her personality, a vain bitch, much like her mother. She was selfish and cruel, and rode roughshod up and down her twin brother.

Duo on the other hand was the complete opposite. A kind hearted, man he took after his father, tall and thick his big body belied the gentle sprit he possessed. The towns people had compared him to his father before he married his bitch of a mother, leaving him an broken hateful man who spent to much time in drink. His face was too strong to be handsome, his skin deeply tanned from long hours of work outside. His eyes, the only thing that he had inherited from his mother where an unusual violet colour; large and expressive.

Finishing his work in the barn Duo trudged back up to the house to collect the washing, passing his sister stretched out on the settee box of chocolates nearby, her pale hands holding a book. Her blue eyes narrowed at him as he gathered the laundry heading back outside. Grunting Relena tossed honey brown locks over her shoulder, the one feature she shared with her twin. A sneer twisted her pink lips as her eyes roved the clean and tidy, yet too small house. She was so much better then this, eyes turning back to the book she smirked by the end of the week she'd be living in the palace.

Outside Duo was hanging the wet clothing, chuckling as Rex chased yet another butterfly the big dog sharing his masters sweet disposition despite his size. "You nut," he called at the big grey Wolfhound, tongue lolling he rolled in the long grass. His eyes straining past the rolling hills towards the tree line. Where was their father? He had left two days ago to the next town where Relena had demanded a new dress from this upcoming party at the palace. Of course he had rushed off, nothing was to good for his perfect daughter. Rolling his wide shoulders he bent to hang the last of the sheets up watching the clean material snap in the wind. Surely their dad would be back soon.

-#-#-#-

"Place gives me the creeps," the dark haired man muttered to his horse as the hoof beats echoed across the deserted courtyard. Straightening his spine Chang Wufei, current Captain in the guards at the palace, stepped off his mount satchel in hand. This was his least favorite task, riding out here to the middle of nowhere, yet more and more he had been forced into it. No one came to claim his mount, or to meet him, the horse shifted nervously in the overgrown space. "Easy," he murmured laying a gentle, gloved hand on his neck. Swallowing his own nerves he stepped away moving towards the large looming entrance. Still surprised when the door seemed to swing inwards on its own. His boots where muffled in the oppressive darkness inside, several candles lighting the way towards what he knew was a study.

He caught a shimmer of gold from the corner of his eye, that seemed to move from mirror to mirror along the wall. Quickening his step now he waited for that creak of metal that he knew would begin to follow him. Hastily he entered the study, a weak fire crackling in the grate. He knew the routine; he placed the satchel on the desk, gathering the other that was sitting there. "Thank you…" he mumbled backing away, eyes darting around the dimly lit room. A looming shadow began to move in the corner, whatever nerve Wufei had left deserted him. He was gone seconds later, all but leaping onto his horse riding as fast as he could away.

"Too skittish," came an echoed, disjointed voice. A seemingly inanimate suit of armor came to life. Moving stiffly, the helm raised as the voice issued forth; there was no one inside the suit, at least no one visible. "I would be scared too," came a whispery voice from nearby, an indistinct figure shimmered in the mirror seeming in constant motion. The helm of the suit turned towards the mirror, "He's right Trowa," a deep gravely voice joined them. The shadow that had frightened Wufei earlier was moving down the hall, the faint click of toenails was the only sound he made. The hulking figure paused beside the suit of armor, half in and half out of a pool of light. What might have once been a man walked on all fours, more paws then hands. His face and body where covered in thick hair, long canines jutted from a large jaw. He was grotesque.

"Doesn't stop that prat from sending him here," the echoed voice came from the armor again. What had once been the Captain of the Guard, Trowa, looked to the master he served. Prince Heero, the twin that had been banished to the hidden place from birth. The dark figure gave a growled chuckle, "You speak of my dear brother." He rumbled amused, a gasp came from the mirrors, "Trowa!" that whispery voice admonished. "Quatre," the armor replied mockingly. The figured moved across three mirrors stopping nearby, "You being a sour puss isn't going to break this curse any quicker." Heero snorted, a terrifying sound. "Been cursed for twenty-one years…but I am sorry you go caught up in this." There was a creak from the suit of metal, "It had been a honor to serve you highness." He said waist bending as best it could as metal. "Yes, always your highness." Came the whispered words from the mirrors. Heero the beast prince grinned gratefully his teeth baring in a horrifying way.

Turning the prince entered his study, leaving Trowa and Quatre in the hall. The suit of armor turned to look into the bigger mirror. "Today is his twenty first birthday…" the disjointed voice came. "I know; the sand had almost run out…" came the light voice from the mirrors. The helm turned again looking to where his master had disappeared. They hadn't always been like this, Trowa remembered a time when they had been people, selected to remain by the prince's side. A great honor for a young military man, promoted to Captain, that is until 'she' had returned. The enchantress who had been worried that Heero may find a way to break her curse.

Five years ago to the day she had shown up cursing the castle and all within in her to forever continue their service as parts of the castle. Trowa and his men at arms had become suits of living amour unable to step outside the castle gates. Quatre Winner, had been Prince Heero's right hand man. Running the household and seeing to his affairs that is until he'd become part of the castle. Now he was trapped in a world of mirrors able to be everywhere at once, yet unable to escape his glass world.

Steely fingers reached out slowly, clacking against the fragile, now dusty glass. In the dark hallway the empty helmet moved upward staring at the still shifting and shimmering golden figure. His once lover. "I will hold you again," he vowed quietly in the to big, to dark space. A gentle smile graced the face of the indistinct figure. "Go to him, I will keep watch." Long shifting fingers touched metal separated by the glass, before he disappeared all together. Trowa shuffled away joints creaking badly as he joined his Prince in the study.