"How can we ever thank you for your help?"

A juicy steak, just perfectly browned lied innocently on the white tables, begging to be eaten. Vixen had to shake herself back to her senses. Salivating in front of the royals wouldn't be a good idea.

"As you can probably see, my form means that money doesn't help me much."

The seven heads of golden locks bobbed up and down, their acknowledgement in perfect sync.

"And while food is always appreciated, I think we all can agree that my involvement in this fiasco commands a higher price."

There was a significant decrease in enthusiasm in the head bobs.

"However," Vixen preened her sharp, long nails, ignoring the staring royals, "I also understand that your kingdom is currently entering a financial crisis, and scandal, now that you've all overthrown your evil uncle."

The siblings shared concerned looks, unsure of Vixen's intentions. Vixen chuckled. Here were six sons and one daughter, princes and princess of one of the largest, most powerful kingdoms in the world, yet they were fretting over of a woodland creature that only reached to their knees.

"I have only two requests."

"Only two?"

The youngest waved his arm and wing angrily.

"Hey, Ison, watch it! Your wing!"

Prince Edison sneered at his eldest brother, Crown Prince Edward, upon hearing his nickname. "If it wasn't for this vixen, I wouldn't still have this stupid swan wing!"

Vixen couldn't take it anymore.

It just smelled too delicious.

Lightly jumping up on the table, she sauntered up to the steak. "First of all, Prince Edison, if it weren't for me, you would be dead, with swan wings, body, head, and arse. If I hadn't stepped in and helped your dear sister figure out how to stitch rose petals together, you would all be dead by the hand of your uncle. So be grateful that it's just a swan wing, and not a whole dead swan."

She took a bite of the steak, letting the juices run down her mouth before flashing the young prince a toothy smile, meat, juices, and all.

"And second, it's the Vixen, to you."

His eyebrow twitched uncomfortably.

"Please ignore him, Vixen. He is still bitter," intervened Prince Edward.

"Clearly," Vixen scoffed, chewing further into the steak, "What an ungrateful bastard."

Prince Edison turned several different shades of purple and beet red.

"Here are my two requests. One, leave the beasts of Wildabeast Forest alone. I hope you know that you are not the only human-turn-beasts out there. Should any of you or your people feel the itch to go hunting for rich pelts, you risk killing other humans."

"Two, every one of you must answer my question."

Vixen swallowed before speaking again.

"What does beauty mean to you?"

The seven siblings froze. Vixen rolled her eyes and bruised herself with the steak, waiting for an answer.

"Beauty is that of physical appearance, simple as that," blurted out Prince Edison.

Of course you would. You and you stupid swan wing. It's not my fault that your sister was lazy and didn't bother finishing that last sleeve. I warned that girl, I did.

Without so much of an acknowledgement, Vixen glared at the next son for an answer, but it was pretty, sweet Princess Elizabella who answered.

"Beauty is that of actions, of works, of good deeds."

Vixen had to hold back an embarrassing laugh.

I have helped tens of thousands of beasts from their curses. I have done actions, works, and good deeds, yet still, here I am, still a fox.

"Beauty is hope, the feeling that makes the next day worth living for." Prince Edward clenched his fist, pounding it firmly on his chest near his heart.

Vixen snorted in her steak, but managed to cover it up as a sneeze.

Ever the optimistic idiot...I sincerely hope you can come up with better arguments than that as king, for the sake of your poor people.

"Beauty is internal. It's what on the inside that counts."

Prince Eric, the second son, ever trying to follow the glorious footsteps of his elder brother, puffed up his chest, glancing at his idol for approval, but was met with no response.

Vixen shook her head sadly to herself.

I pity you Eric. Until you create your own opinions and beliefs and stand by them, you are nothing but a shadow of your brother.

"Beauty is in the eye of beholder."

With a shrug and without a care, the third son, Prince Ethan left turning his back round and heading straight for the wine and ladies.

You lazy, stupid idiot! May you drown in wine like a sloth drowns in water.

"Beauty is pain."

The hollow fifth son, Prince Evan stared at Vixen with empty eyes. He had seen some horrors as a swan, there was no doubt.

Maybe, but I've been through so much pain I would have been freed from this form long ago.

"Beauty is being comfortable with who you are."

Vixen smiled warmly at the fourth son, Prince Edmund. A bright young man with a talent for insight, negotiation, and cunning, he was Vixen's vision of a king. Had he only been born years earlier, he would have indeed been the reality.

"An excellent argument, your Highness," Vixen replied respectfully, to which he smiled and nodded in turn.

"However," Vixen turned away from the royals to look at the sinking sun, "I don't think that's quite right either."

I am comfortable with being a vixen, in fact so comfortable, that I've forgotten what it's like to be human. I actually like this form. Does this mean I will stay a fox forever, simply because I am comfortable with it, and that makes true beauty? That bitch of a witch, she probably tricked me then. If you are right, Edmund, then I can never escape this form.

The beautiful hues of pink, orange, and red streaked the dark blue skies. A small breeze brushed her fur, tangling themselves cozily in her hairs, and plumping her bushy tail. She keenly watched the sunset, as she did every day, watching for the tattletale sign of magic.

"And why do you ask us this question, Vixen?"

Vixen tore her eyes away from the sunset, having seen the sign she was looking for. On the lavish table, there were still three more steaks left, and Vixen, licking the flavors of the first one off her lips, was ready to turn three into zero.

"That's none of your business."

Just as the sun sank into the horizon, Vixen made a dash for the steaks, grabbing all three of them in her mouth. Bounding on the table, crashing plates, silverware, and food, Vixen weaved out of hands, arms, and swords that tried to stop her. Sniggering, Vixen leaped gracefully off the tables and headed for the forest, a mob chasing after her. Just at the entrance of the forest, she abruptly stopped and gently set down her steaks.

"Let's see if you remember your promise, Prince Edward."

Vixen calmly sat, watching the crowd come, screaming and yelling. She found it entertaining how royals worked so hard to make rules about etiquette that supposingly made them seem elegant and perfect, but throw in anything outside their handbooks, and all of a sudden, they returned to the same savage nature that all humans innately have.

Maybe all men were actually beasts inside.

"STOP!"

Prince Edward heroically dashed in front of Vixen, sword out. Vixen watched him keenly. Though he did not have the brains of a king, he most certainly looked the part.

"We made a promise to Vixen. She is a beast of the Wildabeast forest. We must leave her alone."

"Very good," chuckled Vixen, "You passed the test."

The color drained out of his face. "What test?"

"Good question."

Without so much of a glance, Vixen picked up the three steaks in her mouth, and humming pleasantly to herself, trotted deeper into the forest.

A/N: And it begins! If you haven't noticed, Vixen is the Sass Queen.

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