I lived in a little town called Beauty. 55 years ago, a girl broke our prince and town free of a curse. Her name was Belle meaning Beauty. You probably already know the story. Prince Adam, almost late King Adam, chose to name it after the woman that saved him. Again, that was 55 years ago. The queen is dead from a tragic car, chariot accident and now, there is no heir. The king is slowly dying from a broken heart since they were married for 38 years. Everyone wanted to have that kind of love because they knew it was true.

Twelve years ago, I woke up excited for the day to come. Putting on a short sleeved, puffy shirt, a pair of shorts, and my glasses, I danced with excitement. My mom hates the fact that I have the chance to work for the poor because she is selfish and cruel. She hates me for a son, but I am an only child.

"Bye, Mom! Bye, Dad! I love you!" I yelled as I was going to work knowing they would not respond. They were sleeping in from a party last night at a neighbors manor. It seemed pretty crazy there since my parents left the day before and did not get home until last night. I threw on my coat and ran down the stairs. Opening up the door, I saw two policemen running to catch the man in the hood. Light had not even hit the horizon and trouble was already stirring.

Robin Hood, or at least our version of him, was running rooftop to rooftop when I looked up. A chill went down my spine, despite the 70 degree, cloudless weather. He looked down and his eyes bore into mine. This man paused and had said something that I could not catch. Looking back, he saw the cops and continued to the forest. Knowingly, he was headed to the forest of the poor AKA Greenwood Forest. My parents and I, more like my dad and I, would visit because they are nobles and truly want to help see this town grow. Food, drinks, and warm clothing would be passed out, despite my mother's word being said.

My best friend, Dev, caught up to me a street away from Jacque's Bakery, the best one that there is. He was basically a six foot twig. With his brown, nest hair, and sea blue eyes, we made quite a pair. Meeting through a party that his parents threw, we never separated. Being the only two five year olds there, we had to have a maid watch us. Oh the pranks we would pull when we were young!

One time, Dev and I were around the age of eight when we went to school with a bucket of the grossest water that we could find. Every time someone opened up the door, a little would pour on them. They were small enough to fit through without opening up the door all the way. That was until the teacher walked in. She was soaked from head to toe! The laugh that we shared lasted for 15 minutes. Dev and I were tutored ever since that day.

"Did you hear about what happened last night at the inn?" he asked, wrapping an arm around me.

"I haven't heard a thing, mon ami."

"Well, I heard that there was a strange woman who ended all the men in one single punch! I also heard that she was something to see. Literally dazzle, dazzle, glitter, SPARKLE!" He jazz handed.

"A woman that strong?" I laughed. "Doesn't surprise me. We have been having some strange people come into town. There is a lot of suspicion when he came. These crusades surrounding us must end soon. I am just glad that our technology is quicker than everyone else's. Maybe there is a connection to the speed of technology and him coming in? Or is there some sort of Author as some tv show?"

"You and your conspiracy theories." He shook his head, "but what if Robin came," He took an archery stance, "to show us that there are people who are more powerful than us?" he lets go of his fake arrow and puts his arms down.

"Quite possibly." I shrugged.

"This man is going to make a great living if he continues with what he is doing. Doesn't your parents have relations to him?"

"I honestly don't know. My dad has a chance of that, along with me, but my mom hates with every fiber of her being what we do for those in the forest. So, they don't talk about it. Well, more like my dad doesn't talk about it."

"Strange. Wouldn't you think he would? He tells you practically everything. With you being his son and all. His wife is strange."

I did not say a thing. What he said was true, but that was my mom. She never agreed to me going to the bakery because she would rather have me the "man of the house" and have me stay inside all day ordering people around and learning the ways of a knight.

As I walked up to Jacques' quaint, futuristic bakery, in the windows, I saw steel pots and pans being thrown. Jacques was in one of his moods again. Going under the red, flimsy canopy to open the warm wooden door, I heard Jacques yelling at one of the bakers.

"I need eight loaves of bread, a wedding cake, and twenty dozen cookies made. The kids are having something special for the town and we need to have it perfect!" Jacques ordered.

"Why can't the king had his servants do it?" slurred a chef. "I mean, they have all this time. It would help ya know?"

"Do you know what TODAY ees?" he screamed. "The most important day in my life and you have to ruin it with going after that infidel girl!"

Despite the screaming and yelling, I loved going into the bakery for the smell of the rising bread, sweet, savory cookies, and the wedding cake being formed was heavenly as always. The cake that was on display looked too beautiful to even eat a morsel of the gooey deliciousness. The detail to each desert was carefully placed to make the shimmering display case even bigger. The glossy, white floor was a beautiful entry and mirrored the person looking down. The tables and chairs are carefully placed to have a walkway straight to the register.

"You know what you can do? Making les enfants happy ees something that I am proud of. The orphelins would be devastated ef the wedding for their "parents" did not go well. Now, either go and bake like you are hired to do, or get out of these bakery and never come back!"

The baker that was being chastised I felt awful for, but he was new and needed to learn. Dev and I put on our red, messy from multiple uses, aprons and lifted the heavy sacks of flour, four a piece. The eggs were easy to whip up for the cupcakes and I was thankful for the huge mixing bowls. The amount of work we have was more than any other day around this time of year. The orphans were putting on a play and they are always so talented, but the money they raise is through this bakery. 100% of the money would go to them for food, clothes, and shelter. This year, the couple that runs the orphanage is really getting married, but they wanted the kids to join in the festivities. So, they have this ceremony called "The Big Wedding" and invited everyone to see. With the partnership of the bakery and the orphanage, the food was free.

As we were putting the cakes into the muffin tin, Jacques came up to us. He smiled as we were faithful to him since we were twelve. He taught us how to bake, how to manage, how to serve. These past five years have been the most fulfilling in my entire life. There were times where the ladies were even impressed in us. Even more so today than any other.

"OUI! Dev and Jeane! Come, come. Thank you for your help." he said as usual while giving us a big hug. We kept nodding as he spoke and put the cupcakes in the gas oven and set the timer. "You know, boys, I have no heirs and am getting old. Maybe you two can take over one day? I know your fathers would love the idea of you running a shop of your own. Your mother, Jeane, might be hard to get on board, but still worth a try," the baker reasoned.

"That would be fantastic!" Dev shouted.

"I would ask my father, not my mother." I stated.

"Bon bon. I will set you two up with the estate soon."

As he walked away, Dev and I got excited.

"Think of all the creations we could make!" I stated.

"Donuts, Muffins, and so much more!"

Looking out the window after pulling the cupcakes out to cool, Emma Bisset, Dev's girlfriend, ran into the bakery with a worried look on her face. I elbowed Dev and he turned to see who it was. That look of admiration in his eyes, quickly turned into fear.

"What is it?" he asked getting her a drink of water.

Handing it to her, she gulped the whole thing down. "First, thanks, babe, for the water. Second, you guys have to go look out there. The king's guards are coming to our town!" Emma yelled.

Shocked, I had my heart racing. Jacques' Bakery was swamped and the second shift employees are in. Dev and I were now just in the way. We tore off our aprons, sloppily put it on the rack, and ran out the door. Seeing the guards walk by on the muddy gravel, we noticed that they were holding something. Getting through the crowd, I realized it was a casket. Not just any kind though. It had scratch marks like an animal had been there. Something about it made my stomach churn at the whole situation. The casket was specially made for the ones who are rich, and observing it made me want to hurl.

"Who died in the higher ranks?" "Who was so important that the guards were carrying them?" Questions that were floating around throughout the crowd. Dev and I shared a look and held one another's hand. Emma caught up to us and wrapped an arm around his torso. It was scary for the three of us since we all had highly ranked families. Upon the last guard, there was a doctor. And he was looking for someone.