Disclaimer: I do not own anything of Strange Magic. It all belongs to George Lucas.

A/N: This has become one of my new favorite movies alongside Beauty and the Beast. It is loosely based on Shakespeare's A Midsummer's Night Dream and it contains a lot of great songs from Elvis Presley to Lady Gaga. I highly recommend watching this movie for its cuteness and… you will see how easily Rumbellable it is!

A/A/N: For now, I'm only to make this the last of the four prompts that introduces a new verse. I'm only going to focus on the verses that are already established and wrap them up. As for new requests for AUs that are not currently found in here, I still have them in a notebook and will revisit them once I have some other stories written. Thank you everyone for reading and reviewing as well as your suggestions!

Strange Magic

Prompt: Princess Belle ponders over what lies beyond the border to the Dark Forest. Meanwhile, the Dark King makes a royal decree. (Rated K)

It was a little known secret that the fairy princess Belle was obsessed with the Dark Forest. It was a forbidden place—a dangerous one for all the fairies and elves and the other wee folk in the Light Fields. Since birth, they were warned never to enter the Dark Forest for if they did… they will disappear forever. So it was because of the impediment that drew Belle in.

For years, she tried to uncover the Dark Forest's secrets by searching the many scrolls, texts, and books of her people, hoping the ancient and historical documents would shed some light. Belle knew the Forest was where the goblins and the other unnatural inhabitants and nasty creatures lived, but what she wanted to know was their customs, their cultures, their state of beings. One day she will become Queen and rule the Light Fields and it was only fair she knew more about the neighboring kingdom.

Alas, her research was fruitless in it yielded more questions than answers. She tried asking her father but King Maurice insisted she cease this nonsense and focus on important matters like her upcoming nuptials to the Captain of the Guard—Sir Gaston.

However, try as she might, Belle couldn't get the Dark Forest out of her mind.

"C'mon Belle! Get your head out of the clouds and come help me decide on the floral arrangements!" shouted her younger sister, Emma.

The perky blonde fairy with wings of soft pinks and blues tapped her finger on her chin while her pixie handmaidens revealed their work. They were all beautiful with their bright colors and representing different meanings when it came to describing Belle and Gaston's love. Of course, it would be easier if the bride-to-be was involved.

"Belle! I can't decide which ones for the theme!" Emma shrieked again, and this time her sister flew in and landed next to her.

"Sorry Emma. I was busy…" Belle began to say.

"You're always busy. This is your wedding! I know I'm the wedding planner and all, but I do need your input once in a while."

Belle looked down at the dozen different arrangements. The pixies certainly outdid themselves as Emma's group looked up at her with abated breaths. Belle's handmaidens buzzed above her head, chatting all at once over which ones they liked. Finally, Belle pointed to the apple blossoms, blue bells, and the marsh marigolds.

Emma clapped her hands with glee. "I was thinking the same one! Okay, girls, the bride has spoken! These are the ones we're going to use for the ceremony and centerpieces and we will need these colors for the tablecloths and such."

As Belle spread her wings, she jumped into the air and was quickly seized by her ankle.

"Emma…" she sighed.

"I want this to be perfect for you. I know how much Gaston loves you and you him, but I can't help get this feeling that something is bothering you."

"Oh Emma," Belle softly gasped, floating back down. "I'm sorry. It has nothing to do with the wedding, I promise. It's just… I'm going to be Queen in a few years when Dad steps down and despite all my training… I can't help but feel like I'm still unprepared. And I have all these ideas twirling in my head—"

"I'm sure they are wonderful ideas!" Emma gushed. "You will make an excellent Queen, Belle. Why, just the other day, Baelfire and I were talking about how fantastic you'll be. Plus, you'll have Dad to guide you and the Council of Elders and Gaston!"

Baelfire was one of Emma's best friends and an elf. Belle knew from him that the elves had some concerns about trade and such, and she certainly was going to make it a priority. In addition, she knew like every other citizen of the Light Fields… everyone was worried about the Dark Forest. Even with the line of primroses serving as a border, some of the residents were fearful that it wasn't enough to keep the goblins from invading if they choose to.

This went back to Belle's pondering about the Dark Forest itself. She figured the only way to prevent all this worry and fear would be to open relations with the goblins. Even though, she did find a truce dating as far back as two centuries ago that stated all Light Fields citizens will stick to their side and the Dark Forest creatures will stick to theirs as long as no one trespassed on either side. It was a strange sort of peace treaty, but it was in place all this time and there haven't been any wars to everyone's relief. However, the potential threat was still very real and the goblins could change their minds about minding the treaty.

Gaston believed they should strengthen their armies and have the best weapons just in case the goblins decided to invade. But Belle was concerned if they were to build up their arms, then the word would get to the goblins and they might retaliate if they believed the fairies posed a threat.

Yet, during all this time, neither side had broken their word. So if there was to be an invasion… wouldn't it have happened already? And the last thing she wanted for her people was for a war to start over a misunderstanding.

No…

Belle wanted to open the doors and call for diplomacy between the two kingdoms. If the fairies and the goblins could work out some kind of agreement that would allow their people to travel into each other's territory without retribution, then that would end any speculation of a possible invasion or worse. Not to mention the advantages they could both benefit from if they were allowed to trade. There were all sorts of plants and flowers that lurked in the darkness that the fairies could harvest and possibly use for medicinal purposes. And she was certain the fairies had something the goblins might want for whatever they need. So basically it was a win-win situation.

Of course, whether or not she could get the Council on board with the idea was another thing. Although, as Queen, Belle might be able to push for negotiations and revise the treaty to suit the current needs and demands of the people.

"I know I'll have their support, but when it comes to something big! Something extremely important… will they have my back?" Belle quietly asked.

"You don't know until you try," Emma told her. "Now, let's get started on the wedding dress. And don't you say it's too soon. Four months from now you will be happy to know you have the perfect dress picked out beforehand."

Belle smiled as she stretched her wings and followed Emma back into the castle.

I'm positive their king is probably thinking the same as me. Something needs to change.

What the two princesses didn't notice was a stalk of primroses being cut down.

xxXXxx

In the darkest depths of the Dark Forest, there stood a wizened oak tree choked with vines and weeds with a skeletal possum head opened wide as an entrance to the Dark King's domain.

A vicious roar shook the foundation as several creatures scurried out of the lair as quickly as possible. But there was one voice pleading for mercy that fell on deaf ears as the King seized a staff with a bluish white globe and captured the wailing creature.

"It's not my fault! Just listen to me—"

"Take the prisoner to the dungeon. Make sure no one has access to the cell," growled the Dark King to his two most trusted henchmen—Hatter and Whale.

"Right away DK!" Hatter chirped, taking the glowing staff and holding it out in front of him as he and Whale ran to the dungeon below.

The Dark King stoically sat on his throne, his piercing amber eyes swept across his throne room where the few braver goblins remained and awaited their ruler's next orders.

Something needed to change, he thought and with a sharp and twisted grin he knew exactly what the change needed to be.

"Hear this!" he commanded. "Let it be known from now on in the Dark Forest that love is to be banned forever. There will be no mention of the word and anyone who is caught creating or using love potion will be jailed for the rest of their miserable lives! And to make certain no one is tempted… destroy the primroses. Starting immediately."

xxXXxx

It didn't take long for word to spread about the destruction of the primroses. Bad enough, everyone knew that primroses were the most important ingredient needed to make love potion and the only person capable of doing it was the Blue Fairy.

Furthermore, it was also discovered that the Blue Fairy herself was being held captive under the orders of the Dark King. Apparently, something had gone awry or… she trespassed.

Unfortunately, there wasn't a single fairy willing to brave the Dark Forest to find out why or even attempt to rescue her. As it were, the Blue Fairy technically did not live in the Light Fields so her imprisonment was not in direct violation to their treaty. The Fairy Kingdom was not responsible for her and if someone were to seek an audience on her behalf… then you were on your own.

So one night, while stargazing out her window, Belle wondered what would become of the Blue Fairy. Even though her kingdom had no allegiance to her, Belle still felt imprisoning her was wrong. Surely the Dark King could come to a sense of reason and excuse her for any offense she might have committed. After all, the Blue Fairy travels to all the realms and probably did not know about the history of the Dark Forest or the agreement.

Instead, all Belle could hear was her father's voice in her head: "The Blue Fairy knows the rules despite not being from this land. It's not our concern or our business."

Translation: If we undermine the Dark King's order in any shape or form, then we are asking for war.

Somehow, Belle's reign couldn't come fast enough.