The Beauty's Sister [COMPLETE]

Tale as old as time

Later that week, it was time for the dance. As much as Crystal hated to admit it, she wanted to dance with someone just like her sister would. After asking the opera singing wardrobe, she had been dressed in beautiful crystal gown that made her feel like a princess. When she reached the ballroom, Belle and Beast were already dancing, lost in each other's eyes. With a content sigh, Crystal pretended the room was full of people and proceeded to pretend dancing with an imaginary suitor. 

As she took a break, she noticed Lumiere staring at her from across the room, a white swan feather duster in his arms. He excused himself politely and ran over to where she stood. She smiled and picked him up, smiling at his open mouth. 

"Well?" He shook his head. "You're...breath-taking." She blushed. "You flatter me." But she meant it. "I know I'm not your height but...do you want to dance?" She was stunned, surprised he wanted, really wanted to dance with her. "I'd be delighted." And holding his bronze arms, she swayed along the dance floor. 

When the music finished, she walked out into the backyard with her friend still in her grasp. 

"That was delightful." He said and she smiled. "It was wasn't it?" Time seemed to slow as they walked together, they relaxed in each other's presence and felt safe in each other space. Just as they reached the front yard, Belle came riding over on Phillipe, her face full of fear. 

"Crystal! It's papa, we need to go now." Crystal's heart dropped down to her shoes. "What?" "Crystal...papa's in trouble." She nodded glumly and pulled herself onto the horse's back. She got ready to tuck Lumiere in her pocket but he hopped down. She looked at him, confused. 

"Lumiere...?" he smiled sadly. "Go Crystal, save your father, be free. I can't leave, go." Belle didn't have to be told twice. 

But as they rode away from the castle, Crystal watched her friend disappear as tears began to fall. Noticing this, Belle sighed. 

"You want some time alone don't you?" Her sister glumly nodded. "Go. I'll call for you once I save papa." Crystal then hopped off and flew off into the night. Not back to the castle, nor to the town, just away. 

~ 

Some time later, she was sitting in the center of a green hill, lost in thought. 

What happened to papa? What if he's hurt? What if I never see Lumiere again? The last one made her freeze. "What if I never see Lumiere again?" The question fell lightly from her lips but crashed into her soul like a china plate. 

"I love him." She wasn't quite sure when she realized this but somehow she always knew. "I have to go back. But how the hell do I do that?" She shot up into the night sky and sat on a cloud, ears pricked. 

Finally, she heard the sounds of horse hoofs and flew down, hovering lightly above the tree-tops, watching Belle ride. When they reached the castle, a battle had broken out and she swooped down to her sister. Belle's eyes went wide as her sister appeared beside her. 

"I don't think I'll ever get tired of how you make an entrance." Crystal smiled. "You don't have to. Now what do you want me to do?" Belle smiled. "Mess with them a bit, just don't hurt anyone." "Roger." She turned and ran up the stairs before bursting into the room. 

Only by then, she had turned into a white bengal tiger, who let out a roar so fierce, it the whole room went still. Upon spotting Lumiere, she looped over and picked him up in her mouth, tasting the bronze. 

"Crystal? Is it you?" She was relieved that he recognized her, despite what she was. When she nodded, he smiled. "I'm glad you came back." He raised one hand to stroke her white fur. At the contact, she almost dropped him but regained herself. 

As time flew by, Crystal keep Lumiere close by her side. When everyone was finally driven out, she placed him on the ground and turned back into herself. 

"We did Crystal! We did it!" She smiled at his joyful tone and swept him up in her grasp. When she finally stopped spinning however, she noticed the magical items going stiff as the ice around them and as she placed Lumiere back down, he smiled sadly before turning around and becoming an inanimate object, his flames going out. 

"Lumiere...?" She fell to her knees and lightly touched him, hoping he'd move. "No...please don't go...please..." Tears began to fall. "Don't go." Glancing around, she realized all of them had gone still. It was then when she remembered something Belle had told her about the castle. 

"The last petal..." She lay down slowly onto the ice steps. "Soon all this will be nothing but a memory." And with a heavy heart, she closed her eyes and fell into a rather light sleep.