chapter 30

Morning fell upon the castle, and Jewel was the last for it to fall upon. She yawned and stretched and got out of bed, when she heard a knock on the door.

"Come in." she said, getting out of bed. Of all the creatures in the castle, she never expected to see the Beast at her door. He came in and closed the door, as silent as his initial entrance. Jewel spun around to see who came in, and her eyes grew wide.

"Oh it's you." she said, covering her mouth. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said that." The Beast chuckled and held out his hand.

"It's all right." he said. As Jewel gathered her clothes together, she looked back at the Beast.

"Why are you here?" she asked. "Usually you send a messenger to tell me where to go to meet you."

"It's... tonight." he said

"What is?" Jewel asked, sitting on her bed.

"This is the night where I want to-"the Beast was cut off when Jewel held up her hand.

"I understand. Tonight you're planning on admitting your true feelings for Belle. But don't you think this is a bit early?" She said, picking up her shirt and putting it on her lap.

"I love her, and I think she loves me. Isn't that enough to break the spell?" he asked. Jewel opened her mouth, but the closed it to think.

"Hmm, I'm kinda... maybe... not... I don't know. As long of the two of you admit you both love each other, I guess that'll work to break the spell." Jewel said. "Then again, the only way to find out if it'll work is if we try."

"So you'll agree to help in anyway?" the beast asked, getting his hopes up.

"Of course I will."

"Thank you." he said, shaking her hand with his paw. He then left her room, shutting the door softly behind him.

"Ooooowwww!!" Jewel said, shaking her hand. "Ow ow ow ow!! He's got a good grip." She kept shaking it, until the pain was gone and looked down at her clothes for the day. After taking her shirt off her lap, she then began to get dressed. Before she put on her vest, she heard a knock at her door.

"Come in." In came a wardrobe, whose entrance, made Jewel jump on her bed.

"Did I scare you? I'm sorry, I do that occasionally!" She said, smiling.

"I wasn't scared!" Jewel said, quickly, "I was... Surprised."

"Uh huh, sure." the wardrobe said. "The master told me to see you about your outfit for tonight."

"What?" she asked, standing on the bed with her arms out, looking at her clothes. "Why can't I wear this?" The wardrobe broke out into laughter.

"You can't wear that to the ballroom! You need to wear something cute, pretty, flowing.."

"Y-you don't mean a... a..." Jewel said, a panicking look coming on her face. The wardrobe opened up and pulled out a pink dress.

"Oh! I think this will look perfect on you!" she said. Jewel looked at it, a horrified look plain on her face.

"Buh..."

"But of course, you love it! I know I do!"

"I..."

"Before you wear it though, you're going to need a bath."

"Deh..."

"You smell like Seawater and rum."

"Hey, I like my smell! It lets people know I'm a sailor."

"Well, you aren't a sailor here now, so I suggest a nice long relaxing bath." The word seemed to come out long and slowly.

"No. No. No no no. No no no no no! No no no no no no nononononono!!" Jewel said, shaking her head. "I don't want a bath!"

"But you're going to have to have one, whether you like it or not."

"Well, I don't like it, and I'm not going to have it!" Jewel grabbed her bandanna and jumped off her bed, running out the door. The wardrobe sighed as she watched the retreating girl.

"I was afraid it was going to come to this." she said

--

"Stupid bath..." Jewel said, walking and tying the bandanna around her head. "Stupid dress... He may want my help, I may want to help, but those two things are deal breakers." she finished her job and continued walking. "I hate the flowing it has, I hate the lack of coverage it has, and I hate the pinchy shoes that will go with it, and I know the pinchy shoes will go with it." She stopped and looked at her reflection in a mirror. She sighed.

"You can't run from them forever, Jewel-y." her reflection seemed to say.

"Yes I can. I can! I know I can! I'll hide in the music room!" Jewel said to it.

"They'll find you, but also you promised to help the beast and everyone else. You unlike most pirates keep your promises, remember?"

"That doesn't mean I can try to get rid of it!" Jewel smirked at the reflection, and reflection Jewel smacked her forehead.

"You're missing the point. You have to be found so you can help them tonight! This is their big night! Tonight could be the night their curse is lifted!"

"Yeah... and?" Jewel crossed her arms as reflection Jewel sighed.

"You do realize how ridiculous you look right now?" reflection Jewel asked

"Why?"

"You're talking... to a mirror... Acting as though you're talking to another person." Jewel's shoulders slumped and her eyes grew wide.

"Bugger. I'm becoming as insane as dad." She said. "I didn't know it was possible."

"Well, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree!" Reflection Jewel smiled a smug type of smile.

"I'm really starting to not like you." Jewel said, glaring at her reflection. "I'm never coming to this mirror again."

"Fine, be that way."

"I will."

"Fine!"

"Fine!" Jewel stomped away from the mirror. When she was a good distance away she shook her head.

"I have got to stop drinking so much rum." The sounds of Mrs. Potts cart, made her turn around and step back as it stopped right in front of her.

"Um, hi guys... What're you doing here?" On the cart was Cogsworth, Mrs. Potts, and Lumiere. The thing was, they had rope.

"I'm sorry to do this, but the wardrobe said whether you like it or not." Cogsworth said

"I see..." Jewel said. There was a moment of silence and Jewel quickly took off like a cannonball.

"Charge!" Lumiere said. The cart reared back then dropped on all four wheels and rode on after her.

"buggerbuggerbuggerbuggerbuggerbuggerbugger!!" Jewel said, running. She looked behind her at the cart.

"Please mon petite bijou. All we want to give you is a bath."

"Never!!" Jewel yelled, stopping suddenly and running in the opposite direction. The cart quickly spun around, almost falling over and raced after her. Lumiere looprf the end of the rope and made a lasso. He spun it around above his head and threw it at Jewel. Time seemed to slow down as the rope fell around Jewel's wrist and became taught, making Jewel fall down with a thud.

"Ack!" Jewel said as she landed on her back. "No fair! I needed a head start! I want to start this chase all over again!" Lumiere jumped on Jewel, and after a brief struggle, had her hog tied.

"I repeat: No fair!" Jewel yelled. Her voice rang through the castle as she was hefted on the cart. The cart sped towards a dreaded place, filled with soap, lotions, and water in a tub: The bathroom.