Belle

(Time line: Before Belle and her father meet 'The Beast')

Belle had found a private little clearing in the forest just outside her village to read her newly borrowed book. It was true that she had read every book in the village's bookstore at least three times, but this particular one was her favorite. It was all about a prince who rescues a princess with hair so long and strong that the prince could literally climb it into the princess's tower room!

Belle was reading the book in the silence of the forest clearing when she was interrupted by an unexpected visitor.