Once upon a time in the prosperous country of Divinia, a wealthy, handsome young man named Zach lived in a grand estate. Although he had everything his heart desired, Zach was spoiled, selfish, and unkind. But then, one winter's night, an old beggar woman came to the estate and offered Zach a single rose in return for shelter from the bitter cold. Repulsed by her haggard appearance, Zach sneered at the gift and turned the old woman away. But she warned him not to be deceived by appearances, for beauty is found within. And when he dismissed her again, the old woman's ugliness melted away to reveal the beautiful enchantress Miss Misa. Zach tried to apologize, but it was too late, for Miss Misa had seen that there was no love in his heart. And as punishment, she transformed him into a hideous beast, and placed a powerful spell on the estate and all who lived there. Ashamed of his monstrous form, Zach concealed himself inside his estate. Miss Misa gave him two things: a magic mirror as his only window to the outside world and the rose. This rose she had offered was truly an enchanted rose, which would bloom until his twenty-fifth year. If he could learn to love another and earn her love in return by the time the last petal fell, then the spell would be broken. If not, he would be doomed to remain a beast for all time. As the years passed, he fell into despair, and lost all hope. For who could ever learn to love...a beast?