Rumple's feet went faster as he watched the dot of blue light head around a corner. He wasn't exactly sure what made him go. He could easily have left it alone and given Belle her dance and let the rest fall in their places. Instead, he made an excuse to leave to talk to that fairy that already agreed all they could do was wait. So why was he leaving his maid to be picked over by every eligible men at the ball?

He was a coward. Simple as that.

He hated talking to that fairy but he had to pick on of two poisons. The blasted blue fairy or the blue of his maid's eyes. One was a sweeter death than the other but he couldn't find the courage to face it. To face her.

So he settled with the other.

"What are you doing here?" He asked. He turned the corner and found her standing there, but floating in the fairy but rather standing at adult size.

"I will do what must be done, one way or another."

"You just won't give up, will you?" He sneered. Oh he hated her.

"The curse that was placed on the princess years ago was meant to be broken and take true love's form. It has done just that, it cannot be changed back."

"What do you have against ogres falling in love? Or any beast?"

"I have never prevented people from falling in love."

Blue had to step back to prevent the Dark One's hand from grabbing her throat.

"No likes a liar. Now tell me, how does it benefit you to keep the two from being human besides your quest for the greater good that we both know is utterly false. You can say what you want but we both know that you love to watch others suffer more than me because it makes you feel like a bigger person...more than you are right now." He said after looking at her.

"You have no sense for greater good. You merely want to keep humans and everyone else it the world feeling miserable so they have someone to call on for help. Well, unless you've forgotten dearie, the king called for me first, not you. Now I suggest you leave before I force you to because you are currently keeping me from a dance." Rumple sneered.

Before the fairy could retort anything back to the wizard, a scream was heard from the crowd. He instantly magic'd himself to Belle's side and looked in the direction where she was staring. It was the Shrek and Fiona.

She was standing behind him as he used his arm to try and protect her. The majesties were also standing alert and all the eyes in the crowd was staring at a table. He quickly wondered why and than realized that it was not the table they were looking at, but rather what was on the table.

An orange fur ball. With a piece.

He was aiming the small sword towards the young royals who was staring at him shockingly and oddly.

"Pray! For mercy from...Puss! In boots." The cat yelled.

Suddenly, to make matters look even odder, the donkey turned stallion jumped in front of the couple, trying his best to look intimidating.

"I have come here to slay ye ogre!"

"Shrek! Look out!" Donkey cried.

"Donkey, you're the one standing in front of him." He said deadpanned.

"Step aside horse. I have been giving orders to slay this beast." The cat told while still aiming the sword at the three.

"Orders by who?" It was the king who asked, stepping up closer. Who dare harm his family?

"I have been told not to mention ye name."

Rumple dared a glance at the fairy who hid in the corner. He wasn't surprised when she looked the other way.

"Why are you doing this?" Rumple wasn't sure if he was surprised at his maid's bold question. He did grab her arm as she too took a step forward. He knew the cat couldn't harm her but it somehow became an involuntary reaction when she started living in his castle, to prevent her from stepping into harms way. It didn't really help though when she was cleaning, or trying to, in the castle.

"I have been paid a great sum of money to dispose of this...beast." The cat than hissed.

"Why?"

"Well I need the money. My mother, she is very sick, my father lives off the garbage. I have little of little brothers and sisters..."

"Enough!" Harold said, interrupting the cat's pity story. "You are not welcome here. Leave now or I will have my guards arrest you...you feline."

"No!"

Every head, even the cats, turned to the direction of the next voice, not heard before. Lo and behold to the other two Enchanted Forest residents, it was the Blue Fairy.

"I brought him here."

"You?" The king was shocked. He knew he should have followed his feeling about her. Now he knew who to trust. "Why?"

"That is my business."

"I'll tell you why your highness." The wizard stepped forward as well. "Because no matter what she might tell you, she does not care for other's happiness. She only believes in a cause that does not exist. She is merely here to ensure that her daughter and her husband remain ogre, happy or not. She believes monster and beast should not fall in love."

"Because it is not possible."

"What?" This came from Fiona. "Who are you to tell people wether they should fall in love or not merely because they are not human?"

"Yeah?" Donkey commented on the side.

"Never mind her. Are you going to continue to try and attack?" The Dark One questioned the fur covered assassin. "Because I assure you, if you do, you won't like what comes after."

It was now plainly clear to the king that the dark wizard truly wanted to help his daughter and Shrek. Now he just had to get rid of the fairy and let this ball finish. He should have orderer his guards to arrest.

The cat than lunged forward with his sword to the ogre. At the same time the wizard blasted some magic at the cat and the fairy at the wizard. All he heard next was two screams.

Puss! I had said he wouldn't show up but this needed a little more drama. :) Besides, watched Legend of Zorro a few days and really wanted him in the story. Please review :)