cw: Mention of power imbalance, misogyny, bones moving/transformation
W.I.P for @dabislittlebeaniebaby--
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‘Once upon a time, a handsome young prince lived in a castle. Although he had everything his heart desired… the prince was selfish and unkind. He taxed the village to fill his castle with the most beautiful objects. And his parties with the most beautiful people.’
Dabi snapped his fingers, leaning against his chair as the piano slowly filled the air, the women curtsied before standing back up, turning to one another as they began to dance. Dabi moved to his feet, joining amongst the midst of women adorned in white dresses with elegant hairstyles. He swayed with the different dancers, switching between different partners as he moved through the gaps of the groups with ease.
He could tell some of the women wanted to be with him, in one way or another, who wouldn’t want to be with a prince? He could have anything he wanted handed to him at a moments notice and barely lifted a finger for his needs.
His face contorted slightly as the song picked up its pace, the women moving faster as he swayed between them, barely paying them a passing glance now as he looked back at where his golden chair was. Women giving him smiles as they moved past him to the song.
A knock against the window broke the song as everyone paused in their motions, eyes drawn to the sound as rain poured outside of the castle. The doors opened with a gust of wind as the candles on the chandeliers blew out from the force, a hunched figure clothed in a dark cloak walked in as they walked with a stick.
Dabi grasped onto one of the candelabrum as it was handed to him by one of the servants, his head whipping back to the unknown figure walking into his castle.
‘Then one night an unexpected intruder arrived at the castle… seeking shelter from the bitter storm.’
Dabi marched forward, holding the candle in front of his gaze to look at the hunched figure who kneeled down in front of the prince. Wrinkled lines were etched into the elderly womans face as she looked up at the prince. The woman cautiously held up her hands, bringing up a dark flower with its petals in full bloom as she looked up at the prince.
‘As a gift, she offered the prince, a single rose.’
Dabi’s face became etched in disgust as he looked at the woman, her offering was pitiful at best to him. A mocking laugh made its way up his throat as he turned to look at the others behind him, laughing with a mocking grin.
The women began to laugh as well, most likely either agreeing with the prince’s notion, or merely attempting to win his favor. Some offered looks of disgust at the haggard woman as they looked at each other.
‘Repulsed by her haggard appearance,’ Dabi took the base of the flower between his fingers as he brought it up to his face with a disgusted look etched across his face. ‘The prince turned the woman away.’
He made a small look before throwing the flower back down in front of the woman with a disgusted scoff under his breath. He was a prince, he had whatever he wanted and his castle was already surrounded by carefully trimmed flower bushes that gave beautiful roses. Why would he ever settle for less?
‘But she warned him not to be deceived by appearances. For beauty is found within.’
‘When he dismissed her again.. The old woman’s outward appearance melted away.’
Magic slowly wrapped around the cloaked woman as the party guests gasped, stepping back away from the prince and the woman. Dabi took a step back as well as he watched the woman take the rose from the floor, rising to her feet
‘To reveal… a beautiful enchantress.’
Dabi could hear the guests and servants alike gasping as they attempted to move away. He fell to his knees as he gazed up at the woman, turning his head back as the guests screamed before running away from the enchantress.
‘The prince begged for forgiveness, but it was too late. For she had seen that there was no love in his heart.’
Everyone attempted to run away, pushing through the open door to leave the castle as the enchantress looked at the prince.
‘As punishment, she transformed him into a hideous beast. And placed a powerful spell on the castle, and all who lived there.’
Dabi groaned in pain as he felt his bones begin to grow, magic seeping into his body as fur grew and covered his skin. His teeth sharpening to form more of a beastly appearance as horns sprouted from his scalp, a roar escaping his throat. Anger coursed through his body as he dragged his claws across the painting, digging across the inked page and over what he had once looked like in disgust.
‘As days bled into years, the prince and his servants were forgotten by the world. For the enchantress had erased all memory of them… from the minds of the people they loved. But the rose she had offered was truly an enchanted rose. If he could learn to love another and earn their love in return by the time the last petal fell… the spell would be broken.’
‘If not, he would be doomed to remain a beast for all time.’
The beast cupped a clawed hand over the glass capsule that held the cursed rose, petals already had began to form on the bottom as winter seemed eternal in the castle.
‘As the years passed, he fell into despair and lost all hope. For who could ever learn to love a beast?’
No but you guys don't understand I found an amazing dramatic well written delena fanfiction with 22 chapters that I hadn't read yet And then I went to sleep at 6.30am because of it But dude I'm a happy person
