"Beastly -- Prologue" by Jenny Rowland

Once, there was a prince, who was beautiful on the outside, but ugly on the inside.

He was known in all the surrounding lands for his handsome appearance, his habit of throwing lavish parties, and his cruel temper.  His many servants -- all carefully chosen for their own beauty, for the prince would have no ugliness within the grounds of his estate -- counted themselves lucky to work for him, for though his wrath was frequent, his countenance was one that brought joy to all who chanced to look upon it.

One cold winter's night, long after his servants had gone to bed, an old woman came to his castle, seeking a room for the night.  She had little to offer him in return for the courtesy but her thanks, which reward the prince scorned in his selfishness.

"Why should I allow you within my home? asked the prince.  "The life of an ugly old woman such as you are is no concern of mine.  It displeases me to look upon you; therefore, begone, and trouble me no more."

What he did not know was that the old woman was a powerful witch, and one not pleased by his cruelty.  She had come to test him, and he had failed.

"Without you might be pleasing," she said to him, "but within you are the ugliest creature I have seen in many hundreds of years.  There is no human kindness within you -- and this is true ugliness.

"I cannot allow such a creature to exist in this world, and so I am giving you both a punishment -- and a way to redeem yourself."

The prince only laughed.

She frowned, and then muttered a few words.  And then she was gone.

Immediately the prince was stricken with guilt over what he had done.  A seemingly-helpless old woman, and he had been content to let her die in the cold!

But beyond that, there was the sudden realization of what a heartless life he had led -- of all the horrible things he had done to others in the past, uncaring as to the results of his actions.  Ashamed, he crept to bed, not bothering to force any of his servants to awaken and attend to him as he usually did.

When he awoke the next morning, every last one of his servants was gone.

Upon his bedside table was a note, writ in an old-fashioned hand.

"Your punishment and hope for redemption are one and the same, my good prince.  How well you rise to the occasion is up to you.

"You have been turned inside-out -- while your former beauty has become your inner self, allowing you to feel the sorrow of a lifetime's unkind acts, your former ugly soul has now manifested itself in your appearance.  Your servants have no doubt by now fled in terror.  No one will be able to stand to look at you now.  You are alone.  You will be forever alone, for while this punishment is on you you shall not grow old nor die.

"However, this is not entirely accurate.  There is a way both for you to regain companionship and to redeem yourself.

"Find that person who is within an example of perfect beauty -- no matter their outer appearance.  Find that person kind and true, who will see past your exterior for who you are inside, as I saw within to your black heart.

"Only then will you be free."