Strange Magic

Prompt: Trading herself for her sister, Belle is taken to the Dark King's lair and makes a startlingly discovery. (Rated K)

It was a rough journey back to the Dark King's castle, but then again, Belle was trapped in a sack. Regaining consciousness after being knocked out, Belle found herself bouncing around, which is judging from the buzzing noise, she was on a dragonfly with a goblin.

Her hand instinctively went to her sword before realizing she had been disarmed. Grounding her teeth, she let out a soft growl that she was now defenseless and clearly in the mercy of these fiends. Well… She wasn't going to play the damsel in distress. These goblins hadn't seen anything yet and she will make them sorry for what they did to her people.

At long last, they arrived.

Belle grunted as the goblin carrying her began walking and she felt every jerk and flounce from every step. There was a groan like a door opening and she could hear what appeared to be victorious cheering before a distinctive voice rang out.

"Bring me the prisoner!"

"Hmpf!" Suddenly turned upside down, Belle fell to the ground on her hands and knees. Shaking her head, she lifted her gaze as the Dark King loomed over her with that despicable jeering smirk.

"Welcome to my humble abode, my fairy princess," he said, the last word sounding like a curse.

If anything, the place wasn't welcoming or humble in Belle's opinion. She could tell they were inside a tree from the decomposing bark to the green moss and mold on the walls. The throne where he sat upon was made from some kind of animal bone, which the back was smooth and curved, and the armrests stuck out with a sharp end. Not a very comfy seat but then again… the Dark King wasn't the type for comfort. However, there was a skylight and the moon was full, which provided a sliver of comfort and relief to the bedraggled fairy.

Pushing herself up so she could stand on her legs, Belle wavered until she found her balance. Then crossing her arms, she fixated on the Dark King.

"Is that customary to treat another royal with such crass? I gave you my word that I would come with you. I have wings in case you didn't notice. I could have flown with your men instead of being thrown in a smelly bag by the way."

Bingo, she thought with a triumphant smirk as the Dark King's expression faltered. Whatever he expected from her… it wasn't that.

"I, uh—" Realizing she put him on the spot, his wings bristled as he banged his staff. "Like I can believe a word of a fairy? Sorry, princess, but I wasn't taking any chances of you running off."

"Allow me to ease your mind—I have no intentions of going back on my word. I said I'd come and I will stay until your terms are met."

He chuckled darkly. "And who said I will release you?"

Now it was her turn to flounder. "You said you wanted your love potion back. That was your terms."

"Oh aye. I want the potion back in exchange for this collateral." He motioned behind her and it was then Belle saw the other bag slung over another goblin's shoulder.

"You see… tough girl," the Dark King went on. "I was more than insulted and disrespected. I have kept and followed the terms that were set by our ancestors, and twice now your people have set foot on my territory. I cannot tolerate such mistreatment or callous disregard without some recompense. I will free your sister when the potion is delivered; you, on the other hand, will stay for as long as I see fit."

With a flick of his wrist, Belle was once again seized by his men.

"Take her to her accommodations," he ordered.

"You can't do this! This is not the deal!" Belle shouted as she was being dragged away.

Minutes later, she found herself below the main level in her so-called accommodations aka a prison cell. She was unceremoniously tossed inside by her handlers. Belle quickly marched over to the bars, her small fists clenching, as she glared at the snickering goblins.

"I want to speak to your king!" she demanded.

"Sorry. The king's not taking any requests from you," the big, fat one told her.

"Yeah," his comrade, a smaller elf-like one, echoed.

With their laughter bouncing off the caverns, Belle watched as they climbed the spiraling stairs up. Sighing, she rested her forehead against the bars. On the flip side, she noted, she should be grateful that she had a mushroom she could rest on and wasn't stuck in one of those iron cages suspended from the ceiling.

It was then she saw something that caught her attention.

If the King wasn't going to talk to her, then she'll get his attention some other way, she thought gleefully, reaching for the stray twig. Man, it's a good thing I keep a dagger in my boot.

xxXXxx

It didn't take long for Belle to craft a makeshift pick that allowed her to pop open the cell door. Pocketing the twig, she kept her dagger out just in case. Now, what she needed was a sword and so far… she noticed that the goblins had rudimentary weapons such as stones and spears. She supposed a spear would do. After all, the Dark King broke his word about her sister so it was only fair that she break the rules too. She'll fight her way out of here and find that stupid potion herself if she must.

It was also a good thing her wings were dark colors—midnight blue with swirls of deep purple—so she didn't bring too much attention to herself as she crept along the corridor.

She purposefully avoided the throne room for the time being. As luck would have it, she heard the voices of a couple of goblins and quickly plastered herself against the ceiling as they came closer. Belle tilted her head as she watched two rather small goblins trotting along and one had her sword!

The fishlike creature was actually dragging it from behind while the other wore a top hat, criticizing the other for being too slow.

"You sure your name isn't Sloth? Cause DK wants us back pronto once we put this in the armory."

"It's heavy!" the other complained. "You try it."

"And ruin these newly polished claws? I think not."

"Well, I'm moving as fast as I can!"

"If you stop panting, then we would have been there by now!"

"Then take the damn thing!"

Belle waited for them to pass her and she dropped down without making a sound. Creeping up behind them, she knocked their heads together and grabbed her sword as she zipped off in lightning speed.

The two goblins rubbed their aching heads and looked all around for who did it, but couldn't find no one.

Hatter sighed. "Looks like we can head back to the throne room now."

xxXXxx

While Belle was busy, she had no clue about the commotion that occurred in the throne room. It wasn't until she was flying outside the Dark King's lair that she heard Emma singing at the top of her lungs.

Flying over the skylight, she peered down just as Emma was being carried out by her feet in the same direction as the dungeon. It wouldn't be long for those goons to discover that Belle was missing.

Knowing she had to act fast, Belle blew a wayward strand of hair out of her face and braced herself as she flew higher up. This was the time for her to take a stand and show them all what she was really made of.

The Dark King was alone. Her lips curved. Excellent.

Flapping her wings, Belle gained speed as she charged towards the skylight, releasing a battle cry, as she broke through the glass with her sword raised above her head. To her credit, the Dark King was caught off-guard with only seconds to react as he grabbed his scepter and held it up just as her sword came crashing down. Sparks flashed as her sword clashed with the staff, the infuriated fairy glaring at her prey.

Good. She got his attention now.

"How did you—?" the embattled King muttered then shook his head. "Never mind." Pushing her back, he stood up to his full length with his staff ready for the next attack. "I'm really starting to hate you fairy princesses."

Belle cackled. "Let's go then. I don't have all day."

With a roar, the Dark King swung his staff towards her. Belle ducked and blocked his next move and the two began swinging their weapons as they flitted across the throne room using anything in sight to slow or disable their opponent. But nothing seemed to work as the two royals kept on fighting with each other.

Hatter and Whale, hearing the commotion, rushed into the chamber and immediately froze as their King and the supposed prisoner were now locked in an epic battle by swinging on suspended chandeliers, kicking and clashing their weapons.

"Is it just me or does it look like they're dancing?" mumbled Whale, watching as each movement was practically precise and in tune with the other as they flew, crashed, banged, and deflected.

"What I want to know is how come he's not using his magic," Hatter pointed out. "He could have put that fairy out like a light five minutes ago. This fight is completely moo."

"You mean moot."

"No. I mean moo."

"Moot."

"Moo!"

"Watch out!" Whale cried as a piece of bark began falling towards them. Both goblins jumped out of the way in time as the bark landed, shaking the entire chamber as the Dark King and the fairy princess continued fighting with her somersaulting in the air to avoid his scepter.

"You fight well. For a fairy," the Dark King taunted, as he blocked her sword.

"Too bad I can't say the same about you," Belle rejoined as she counteracted his next move while looking at her nails. "I was expecting… more."

That rendered the Dark King speechless as the sound of laughter interrupted the mood as the two both looked sharply down at the two goblins.

Hatter jabbed Whale to stop him and the two minions looked at their King sheepishly. "Need any help sire?" they asked in unison.

"No!" the Dark King bellowed as he and Belle continued evading and delivering blows.

The two bewildered goblins stole glances at each other before finally the feuding royals began to grow weary and exhausted since it was clear the other wasn't going to yield. At last they came to an impasse as they were breathing heavily and staring each other down.

Lifting her sword so the point was poking him in the chest, she glowered. "Well?"

"Go ahead, kill me, but you won't get your sister."

Groaning, Belle lowered the sword. "Now what?" she asked.

A high pitch voice began ringing out in an off-key love song. The Dark King flinched as he slapped his claws over his eyes.

"Oh no…" he murmured.

Recognizing it was Emma, Belle couldn't help the visible shudder at the awful tone. Why in the world would she be singing…? She recalled the love potion and let out another groan. "What did she fall in love with?"

"It's better if I show you," the Dark King said reluctantly. "Follow me."

He propped his staff up and began walking to the dungeon. Belle trailed after him once she sheathed her sword.

Hatter and Whale looked at each other. "Are you thinking—"

"—What I'm thinking?" The two grinned.

xxXXxx

The singing grew louder as they descended the stairs and Belle couldn't help clapping her hands over her ears to block it out. Unlike the cell she had been in, Emma's had doors leading into it.

Setting his hand on the doorknob, he turned to Belle. "I hope you have a strong stomach."

Twisting it open, he stood back so she could peek in. To her jaw-dropping surprise, Emma was hanging onto the cell doors with her arm stretching out to touch… The Dark King?!

Slamming the door closed, Belle leaned against it as she looked at him. "You?"

"Aye," the Dark King mumbled.

Isn't that just great? Belle thought gloomily.