"Rumplestiltskin!"

It was Belle who screamed her master's name but he didn't notice. He ignored the cat's attack and focused on blocking Ruel Ghorm. He knew very well that if she put enough magic into it, which she probably did, that the magic she blasted at him would mostly likely wound him just long enough for her to give another attack. Soon, she would have him knocked out long enough to trap him...again. That wasn't going to happen.

In a fair fight their magic were equal. Too bad for the insect that the Dark One didn't play fair.

Instead of merely blocking the attack and sending a separate attack back, Rumple used one of the oldest trick in fighting. Use your enemy's weapon against them.

He was a master of manipulation and he always found a way to use someone's own possession against them. It was easy. Wether it was their love, which was often, their hatred and anger, despair, greed, Rumple always found a way to use it. In fact, it was almost the only way he manipulated.

This time, instead of using any form of emotion since he was sure, like him, the fairy didn't have any, he sent a small amount of magic through Ruel Ghorm's blast to throw it back at her. It was clear that she didn't expect it since she made no move to avoid it and was thrown back in the air.

During this time, it gave the cat a clear path the Dark One. He lunged forward as Rumple was focusing on the fairy and aimed his sword. Blood spilled and a cry was heard. He made contact.

It was amazing how so many actions could happen in just a few seconds of one's life. In his three hundred years of living, there was only three moments where time slowed down that it seemed it would never end. The first was when his father let him go on that wretched island. The second was when he let go of his own son to that portal.

The third was now.

"Belle!"

The second between Ruel Ghorm attacking him and him sending it back to her, the king ordered his guards to arrest the cat, and Donkey made his own move against the cat only to miss when Puss moved towards the wizard. None of that mattered.

Belle ran as fast as her shoes would take her and stepped in front of her master, taking the assassin's hit, fearing it would hit the one she cared about most.

"Belle!" Rumple cried.

He caught her in his arms and gently lowered them both to the ground. He quickly brought magic to his hands and began using every form of healing magic he knew. It wasn't much, but it was enough to heal the wound and clean the blood. She was still alive.

"Belle!" The third time her name was yelled was from the princess. Rumple saw her run up and get on her knees to check on her new friend. Her and Rumple helped Belle sit up.

"Are you okay?" Fiona asked.

"Yes, I'm fine." Belle looked down where she felt the sword hit and notice there was no blood or wound. She looked up at Rumple and felt a slight pain in her heart when she saw that he wasn't even looking at her.

Instead, he had his eyes on the fairy who by now, gained her balance in the air and was floating beside the cat. Rumple looked down at the cat's sword. It was covered in a thing layer of blood. Belle's blood.

"You sent him here." The Dark One growled.

"What?" Fiona asked, shocked by the recent events. "Why?"

"Because she is the monster." It was Shrek.

"This whole time, I thought I was the monster and thought everyone wanted me dead. In fact, you told me that yourself." Shrek pointed to the fairy. "You told me that the king sent the wizard to try and kill me."

Harold look away, ashamed.

"Before you say another word, know this Ruel Ghorm. You've greatly upset me and you know better than anyone what happens to those who cross me."

Fiona stood up and faced the fairy. She wasn't sure what the whole story here was but she was going to find out.

"What is going on?! I want to know right now. I want to here the truth." She looked at her father, her husband, Belle, the fairy, and the wizard. Someone had to know the answer.

"Shrek told me you gave him a potion to make us human. Is that right?" She asked Rumple.

"The fairy told me that it was going to kill me but keep Fiona human." Shrek interrupted.

"She had told me the same thing too." Harold spoke up. "I am sorry Fiona. I had sent for the wizard because I did not know what to do. I'm sorry. And I am sorry for what has happened to you." He looked at Belle. "If I had only excepted the way things were, none of this would have happened."

Ruel Ghorm took this as an opportunity to remind the king that he had told the wizard that he wanted the ogre dead. Harold blinked at the fairy.

"Actually...as Mr. Rumple had told me. I only asked to get 'rid' of the ogre...not kill him."

"And I did just that. I have turned him human."

"Will they stay that way?" Everyone looked at the donkey who was now a stallion. With all that has happened, Rumple, Shrek, and Fiona had almost forgotten that the potion would not last unless they kissed before midnight. It was five minutes until. Time sure did fly fast when an assassin crashed your ball.

Blue opened her mouth to speak but Fiona held her hand up to stop her. "Shut up."

She looked at the wizard. Although she did not know the whole story still, she knew one thing. He loved Belle as much as she loved him and had shown that he truly did not mean harm to her family. Otherwise, he would not have fought the fairy back and made threats to the cat.

"I want the truth. What is the potion you gave us?"

"It is as I have told your husband. The potion will make you human for good if True Love's Kiss is performed before midnight. If not...you will turn back into ogres. The choice is yours."

Fiona walked up to her husband. "Shrek?"

"All I wanted was to make you happy. I wanted the best for you and...I'm not." Shrek looked down.

"Shrek, I love you. Ogre and all." She smiled. With one look, it was clear what their answer was.

The clock looking over the ball chimed twelve and everyone watched the two young royals. Light shined around them and they began to rise in the sky. Before everyone's eyes, the two humans turned back into ogres.

When they landed back onto the ground, Shrek held out his hand to the wizard. "Thank you."

To Belle's shock, Rumple took the hand and gave his welcome to the ogre.

"Thank you as well." Harold said. "I called you for help and you gave it. I should have trusted you."

"People are often shocked how I am a man of my word dearie." He shook the king's hand as his other was wrapped around his maid's waist, not letting her go.

"Uh, guys?" Everyone looked at Donkey. "What about that crazy cat and the fairy?"

Looking around, they all noticed that both were gone. Rumple assured everyone that the fairy was his issue and wouldn't bother them again. She had only come because he was here. The cat, however, he told the king was his own issue. Harold wasted no time ordering his guards to find the puss in boots.

"So, what about you two?" Shrek asked, looking at the other green man and his maid.

"Excuse me?" They both asked.

"Don't lie." He smiled. Belle and Rumple looked at each other and back at the ogre.

"Well, I must say, this has definitely been an interesting evening." Harold spoke up. "I do hope everyone will stay. Despite the recent events, we do still have lots of food." Everyone laughed and the ball continued. Soon, the attack of the fairy and the cat were forgotten, as well as the shock of the two giant green ogres. People began dancing again and the ball was as it should be.

Rumple held out his hand towards Belle and gave her a questioning look, one that reminding her of when he first gave her a rose.

"I do believe I own you a dance." He said.

"Thank you." She smiled. Belle took Rumple's hand and he led her out to the dance floor. They enjoyed the ball and soon, morning came.

Belle is alive, so you have no reason to try and find me and kill me lol. There is one more chapter, or two. Depending. Please review. :)