Rapunzel watched from the upstairs window of Pierre's house as Beauty stumbled through the snow to the front door. She felt a little guilty for making the young woman run from the castle to Pierre's house in the snow, but after remembering the Beast threatening to tear Will to pieces, she didn't feel so guilty anymore.

Beauty banged on the door repeatedly. "Papa! Papa?" she cried. There was no answer. Rapunzel watched as the girl pounded harder, her voice nearing hysterics. "PAPA!"

Just open the door! Rapunzel thought, rolling her eyes. Finally, Beauty got the message that her father would not be opening the door for her and slammed it open. Rapunzel heard her say, "Papa? Why didn't you answer the door?"

Rapunzel went down the stairs, and Beauty turned to her, confused, her green eyes crinkled in puzzlement. "Who are you?" she asked, rubbing at the tears streaming down her cheeks.

"My name is Rapunzel," she answered.

"Like the leaf?" Beauty said, her frown deepening.

Rapunzel struggled to keep her face neutral. She hated that comparison. She was not a piece of lettuce. "Listen to me," she said, trying to ignore Beauty's interjection. "My friend is being held in the castle because you refused to leave and let The Story take its natural course."

Beauty paled. "What have you done?" she whispered.

Rapunzel and Pierre exchanged confused glances. "The Beast will be fine," Rapunzel went on, "as long as you go back and tell him you love him and all that mushy stuff."

"You do not understand!" Beauty cried. "She warned me...she told me if I left, she would kill him!"

Rapunzel's blood froze. "She?" she repeated. "Who is 'she'?"

"Queen Mal," Beauty answered, her brows drawing together. "She told me to stay there, to not leave...and now she's going to kill him! You've ruined everything!"

"You've got that ring," Rapunzel said, taking deep breaths in an effort to calm herself. "You can take us both there." She had the horrible feeling that the Beast wouldn't be the only one this Queen Mal went after.

"Why should I take you? This, it is all your fault," Beauty argued.

"Yeah, it's my fault," Rapunzel admitted. "But you need to work with me. I don't think the Beast will be the only casualty tonight if left unchecked. So please!"

Beauty held out her arm, and Rapunzel looped her own through it. Beauty closed her eyes and twisted the ring three times on her finger.

Rapunzel closed her eyes as well and felt a tugging sensation in her stomach. Seconds later, she felt the heat of the fire vanish suddenly, replaced by cold air. She opened her eyes and found herself face-to-face with a woman's black eyes. She scrambled backwards, knocking Beauty off her feet as she did so. "Who the heck are you?" Rapunzel exclaimed, her hair shooting forward to wrap around the woman.

Queen Mal—for it could only be her—raised her hand and Rapunzel's hair stopped in midair, as though it had struck a wall. "Queen Mal," the woman replied. "As I'm sure you've already guessed."

"Beast!" Beauty cried, attempting move around Mal. The Queen's hand shot out again, causing Beauty to stop in her tracks. "Release me! Beast!" she wailed mournfully.

"Foolish girls," Mal said, shaking her head from side to side, her raven hair brushing over her shoulders delicately. "You cannot defeat me! I shall bring you to the Editor and reap endless rewards!"

That was when Will struck. He'd been lurking in the shadows behind Mal, and charged forward, a marble bust in his hands. He slammed it into the back of Mal's head, dragging her down to the ground with him. Beauty and Rapunzel were released from Mal's spell and Rapunzel's hair ensnared the Queen. "Hold her down, Will!" she cried, focusing on forming a Story door.

"Trying!" Will answered. Despite the massive hit to the head, Mal was still fighting against Will, clawing at him and trying desperately to escape. At least the blow had apparently stopped her magic.

Rapunzel's Story door opened, and she shouted at Will, "Get off her!" Will rolled off Mal as Rapunzel lifted the woman into the air and shoved her through the door with her hair. It closed behind the Evil Queen and disappeared from sight. Rapunzel extended her hair out to Will, who was still laying on his back while attempting to catch his breath. "Thanks," she said to him. "You really saved my hide there."

Will accepted the hair and she pulled him to his feet. "Good thing I started picking that lock right after you left," he answered, grinning a little. "Otherwise I'd never have gotten here in time."

"You're a thief," Rapunzel said with a frown. "Shouldn't it be easy for you?"

"One would think," was all Will said.

"Beast, you can't!" Beauty's cry of panic distracted them. They turned to Beauty, who was kneeling beside the prone Beast. Rapunzel could clearly see the knife sticking out of his chest. Beauty's tears slid down her face, touching the Beast's. "Je t'aime," she added in a much quieter voice.

The Beast's furry paw came up and cradled Beauty's face gently, lovingly. It was a tender and beautiful moment. "Forgive...me." The Beast's eyes were growing dim. Beauty sobbed, her tears falling onto his fur even faster. And...they began to glow.

She didn't notice. She kissed him, and immediately after she pulled away his whole body was covered in the glowing golden light. Rapunzel saw her clasp her hands together in prayer as the Beast's form changed. In a matter of seconds the light had gone away and where the Beast had lain before, a handsome prince had taken his place. The bloodied sword lay on the floor, and there was no sign of the wound on the prince's body. "Beast!" Beauty said, taking his hand and helping him up. They kissed for a long time.

Will looked away, flushing, and cleared his throat awkwardly. For a long moment they didn't pay any attention until he repeated the sound, louder this time. Rapunzel coughed to cover a laugh, and finally Beauty and the Beast turned back to them. "Je vous remercie," Beauty said, inclining her head to them.

"Umm," Rapunzel said, running through French responses in her mind, "de rien." She frowned. "That was right, wasn't it?"

"Oui," Beauty replied, smiling. She was much prettier when she smiled.

"Can we speak English, please?" Will complained. "I can't keep track of a single thing you people are saying!"

"If there is nothing else, Beauty and I would like to be wed, and there are many plans to make," the Beast said, putting his hands together with a smile.

"Just one thing," Rapunzel said, "err...what's your name? I just don't feel comfortable calling you 'the Beast' anymore."

"Louis," he answered.

Rapunzel nudged Will. "Ask them about why we came here!" she said.

Will looked blank for a minute before flushing. "Oh, right!" he exclaimed. "Umm...what can you tell me about 'the Editor'?"

"You are either brave or foolish to speak that name," Louis said grimly. "The Editor is cruel, and vindictive. They control Final Death, and have the power to write out anyone they so choose."

"The very name strikes fear into the hearts of any member of The Story," Beauty added, shuddering. "Why do you not fear it?"

Will and Rapunzel exchanged glances and shrugged. "We're either incredibly brave," Will said.

"Or incredibly stupid," Rapunzel finished. The Story door opened, and Rapunzel motioned to it. "That's our ride."

"What about Final Death?" Will asked, lingering there for a moment longer. "What do you know about it?"

"No more than anybody else," Louis replied, shrugging. "My apologies. I wish we could've been more help."

"Don't worry," Will assured him. "I wasn't expecting it to be that easy. Farewell."

"Au revoir," Beauty and Louis chorused, and Rapunzel and Will went into the next Story.