The Beautiful Beast

Once upon a time there was a happily married couple. They loved each other more than anything in the world. Well.. Almost. They were indeed the most beautiful creatures on this earth, and nothing compared to the love each had for themselves. It is due to this that they agreed to have a child. It would be tragic to let such a beauty die with them. Providing the future generation with an individual as beautiful as them is the greatest gift they could ever imagine giving to mankind. Unfortunately though, transferring so much beauty into something as small as a baby is far too overwhelming. To the couples surprise, their child was the most deformed creature in existence. Ashamed of their child's hideousness, they took it to every sorceror in hopes of a cure, but it was to no avail.
"We cannot let people know this.. THING.. is our child!" shrieks the man, and knowing that this is true they carry their child to the barn and toss itinto the pig sty. "Now you are truly home," the couple remarks and storms off.
Amazed at this new creature, which is now crying hysterically, the pigs gather around. "It's a monster!" screams one pig. "No," explains the other, "It is a blessing. We must raise this child as our own." And with that, he walks to the child and softly consoles it. "Don't be upset my child. Your time will come and the true beasts will be unveiled."
Years later as the child enters it's third year, it not only grows in height but in ugliness. No creature dares glance uppon it except the pigs who nurture it as their child. "Why must I be so ugly!" cries the child. "All the other animals mock me, and my own parents turn away in disguest." "Don't be upset my child," replies the pig, "Your time will come, and the true beasts will be unveiled."
On this child's sixth year, the pigs premonition comes true, and tragedy strikes the beauiful couple. Victims of a terrible car wreck, they become greatly disfigured. All beauty seems to vanish without a trace. They are scarred and burned so badly no one can possibly look at them without crying or screaming. This is a punishment the vain couple cannot handle. Without beauty, they have nothing so they lock themselves inside their house for all eternity never daring to let anyone see what has become of them.
"This is your time my child," the pig informs it's adopted offspring. "The true beast has been revealed. Now it is time to let your inner beauty shine through." And with that the child transformed into a handsome little boy. "How can this be?!" the child exclaims in shock. "You've always been beautiful," replies the pig, "and now it is time for the world to see. Use it wisely. THe rest of your life awaits you."
The boy never once dares to take the pigs wisdom for granted nor his own beauty. He is kind to all notjudging based on looks, gender, race, sexual orientation, or religion, and never treating any being, even the pigs, as superior. He understood beauty is only skin deep, and, though you may be perfect on the outside, one day the true beast will be revealed.
From then on all lived happily ever after except for, of course, the disfigured couple. Years after their accident, their house caught fire, but being too ashamed to show themselves in public, they instead perished in the flames.1

THE END2