An,

Welcome back. Here's your chapter 9 of A Dance Of Light And Darkness: Hellfire.

Enjoy your chapter.

Mulan and Belle exit then tavern of the small village town. Belle had to turn her head every so often while walking to Mulan's horse out of fear of being followed.

"The closest port in Seaworthy is about an hour's ride from here. Luckily my horse is well rested." She said helping Belle onto the beast.

"I didn't realize we were so close to Seaworthy."

"Yes, Lord Poseidon specially built this port on his borders to the Dark Forest to aide His Grace, Rumpelstiltskin. I bet you didn't you were also close to the Dark One's Castle."

Belle shook her head, but of course she did know. It was once her home. She wouldn't tell Mulan that, she spoke so honorably of him. The citizen must care a great deal for him she thought. Lord Poseidon builds him a port city, Lady Elsa invites him to her castle with full guest privileges, and Mulan even gave him the King's title of 'Grace'. But the last time she saw Rumpelstiltskin she saw no King, only a Dark One and Mulan would surely take her back to him to be burned alive. They rode until the Dark Forest began to thin and she could hear the waves of the ocean. When they reached the docks, Mulan dismounted first and helped Belle onto her feet. Belle thanked her and presented Mulan with her wolf's pelt cloak.

"It's the least I can do, I'm sure it's worth something of value."

"It's very beautiful, are you sure?"

Belle nodded and smiled. "It's yours."

"There Lady Belle." Mulan pointed to a ship that read the words Jewel of the Realm. "Find its captain and tell him you wish for passage."

"I can do that. Thank you again for this, I wish I could repay you in equal worth."

"Have a safe journey Belle." Mulan smiled and bowed before returning to her horse.

Belle walked down the docks to the Jewel of the Realm when she heard the shouting of a man.

"All aboardddddddd! Who's coming aboarddddd!"

"Sir, where is this ship going?" Belle asked the shouting man.

"We make many stops My Lady."

"I need to book passage to Avonlea."

"You're in luck. Their ports have been open now that the Ogre's War has ended. I'll show you to your cabin."

Belle was shown to her small cabin below the deck of the ship. It was only able to hold a cot and a small table. The room did have a small window facing starboard. Belle called for the man just as he was leaving.

"Sir?"

"Yes My Lady?" He said turning back to her.

"How long is the journey?"

"All the ships in Seaworthy are made from the stock of the magical bean plants." He saw the lost in Belle's eyes. "They can form portals My Lady. We have couple of other stops to make, but we will be in Avonlea in a few hours."

Belle was blown back by this discovery. The Enchanted Forest was truly something amazing. She almost hated to leave it, but it was her life that was at stake if she didn't. She thanked the first mate and closed the door when he left. She heard the voices of shouting men. Get the anchors out of pants lads and rise the damn anchor from the water, opennnn the portalll, get ready for descent you scallywags. Belle ran to her window just in time to see a green whirling hole appear in the water, the ship sail toward it and the hole swallowed the entire ship.

After a stop in Arrendale and Regina's land of Mist Haven, the portal finally spit the ship out off the coast of Avonlea. Belle jumped from her cot when she heard a men shout Drop the anchors boys, Avonlea hoooooo. She was about the open the door to walk out when she heard a knock on it. She began to fear the worst. That someone had spotted her and was keeping her from leaving the ship or that Rumpelstiltskin himself was on board. She found her bravery and opened the door. A tall man stood before her in royal navel attire, he wore a smile, but that didn't put an ease to Belle's worriment.

"I know who you are."

Belle's heart began to palpitate. "Please don't take me back to him. He's going to kill me."

"Who's going to kill you My Lady?"

Belle gave sigh of relief that the man was not working for Rumpelstliskin.

"Uh- No one. I was just being silly." She laughed it off as a jape.

"Clever ruse. You are the princess of Avonlea, are you not?"

"I am," She held out her hand. "Belle French Sir." The man kissed her hand tenderly.

"Well Princess Belle. I am Captain Liam. Allow me to escort you to your father's. I have fresh men and horses with a wheel house that can take you to your castle. All I ask in return is that tell His Grace, your father, of my good deed."

"I shall see to it that my father rewards you copiously for aiding me Captain."

Captain Liam escorted Belle onto the deck of the ship and to where the carriage awaited her. The ride was a short one from the docks, but in that short ride she barely recognized Avonlea. Trees topple over, broken at the trunk. Charred remnants of homes lined the road. The air was harsh and smell of blood and fire. She hoped she would see something that reminded her that she was in Avonlea but none revealed itself. That was until she made to the castle. It still stood, in all its glory, bold and beautiful. She was home. The castle guards escorted her to her father's throne room. When they opened the door, there were men standing all around the room doing construction or looking the at the renovation plans that were scattered across her father's war table. Belle's eyes meet her father's instantly and he rose from his throne. Belle ran to him and leaped into his awaiting arms.

"I told you I would see you again father." She said in his embrace.

"That's the last I ever doubt your words Belle." They let go of each other go and the King gave her a worrying look. "But you not supposed to be here, I signed the contract. You were to be Rumpelstiltskin's ward until you were married, you're not are you?"

"No father, I'm not married." She said coyly. "I escaped."

"Hello Lady Belle." A voice said from behind her.

"Gaston?" She barely recognized the now older boy. She gave him a hug too. "It's so good to see you, thank you coming to my father's rescue."

"He's my King too Belle. I would have come sooner if I could, but the LeGumes' are a small house. I needed to secure more man for the attack, though it took longer than expected."

"The Ogres are defected and the Princess is home, that's all that matter Gaston."

"You're still beautiful as I remember My Lady." He said bowing to her.

"Thank you Gaston." She gave him a curtsy.

"Now tell us Belle, how did you come to escape the Dark One clutches?"

"I had to father. Rumpelstiltskin was going to have me killed."

"What! He was supposed to protect you." The busy room soon fell quite when the other men heard the King yell.

"And he did and we fell in love, but he broke your contract when I gave him my virtue."

"You mean he stole your innocent. He raped my daughter!" The King exclaimed.

"What? No father, I just said I fell in love with him."

"Slut!" The slap came hard and her face began to redden where he struck her.

"He spelled you Belle, he still raped you." Gaston said with a deterred look. "Then he tries to kill you to nullify the contract he broke."

"I gave myself to him. I wanted him. All of him!" She screamed at them. "You sold me to him father."

"I asked him for your protection and he turned you in to his concubine to feed his obscene, lustful desires." The king shouted back at Belle. "Gaston I order you take Belle to the Faith so she can be cleansed of the Dark One sick perversions."

"NO!" Belle screamed.

"Your Grace you know the Faith's methods. You can't really mean to do this. She's still the princess."

"I WILL NOT HAVE A DARK ONE'S WHORE FOR A DAUGTHER!" He screamed. "And it treason to not do as your King commands."

Gaston ordered two of his men to seize Belle. They grabbed her by her arms with a tight grip. Belle tried to kick and bash her way loose, but the men grip proved unyielding. She was crying and screaming to father as they carried her out of his throne room.

I love him father!" She screamed to him, so she knew he would hear. "I love him. I love him" She repeated until the doors to the throne room closed behind her.

Rumpelstiltskin was sitting in his throne room. He sat not upon the chair that resembles his Dark Castle, but a spinning wheel instead. He used it when he needed to think, the spinning quieted the voices of the Elders. They were still calling to him, wanting to know his plans for Belle. He ignored them by pulling the golden strands of thread through the spindle. She's Gone. An ethereal voice screamed his head. The voice wasn't that of the Elders and it shook him so that he stopped his spinning. As he did, the doors to his throne room flew open. It was Regina. She was dressed in an all black boiled leather armor. Silver chain mail covered her shoulders, neck, and hips. Her boots where leather too and laced up to just below her knees, a sword hung from her hip. A long ponytail set high atop her head and flowed down to rest on one of her shoulders to complete her battle ready look.

She dropped to one knee before him and he signaled for her to rise to meet his eyes. Rumpelstiltskin had feared what she was going to tell him by her attire alone.

"My Lord, Belle has escaped. She's nowhere in the castle. She's gone."

"What, how did this happen. Why wasn't Emma guarding her?"

"She- She-."

"She what? Was between your legs again?" He mockingly spat at her while pointing a finger. Regina gave him a confounding look. "You think I'm blind as to what goes in my castle. Dearie I have always known about you two. I let it continue because I didn't expect it would jeopardize Emma's job. I see now I was wrong." He condemned her.

"It's not Emma's fault."

"No, but it is yours." He yelled at her.

Regina bowed her head in shame.

"What are you doing to get her back?" He said with a defeated look.

"Emma is following a tracking spell I placed on one of Belle's dresses. She's has Destiny with her so I may receive word when Emma has found Belle." Destiny was a special bird, she was given to Regina on her birthday her first year as his student. Rumpelstiltskin charmed the crow with ability to fly through portal so messages traveled faster.

It was then they heard a squawking sound as the crow flew into the castle from a high window in the room, she soar down to land on Regina's awaiting arm. A small parchment was attached to her leg. Regina unrolled the message and read aloud from it.

"She's in Avonlea, but Emma believes some is wrong. She hasn't spotted Belle in the castle." She said handing Rumpelstiltskin the paper to let him read for himself. "What should we do?"

"Who anything about we?" He burned the parchment to ashes in his hand. "This is your fault. You will bring her back to me."

Regina thought to herself. "Then may I request an army to return her to you."

"I'll grant your request." Rumpelstiltskin waved his hand an army of eighty soldiers stood before them in eight rows of ten men. Their armor was silver, it covered most of the men's body except for the neck and hands. Regina saw that their skin look that of frost bitten death. The soldier's helms cover their entire face, excluding the eyes which glow an icy blue.

"The White Walkers?" She turned back to ask Rumpelstiltskin.

"They're the best." He nodded.

Regina nodded and saw a squire bringing out a horse to her. The squire held on to the reins to ensure the beast did not move until Regina was mounted. Looking down at the solders from the height of the horse brought her the courage she needed it to rally her men so they would fight for her.

"White Walkers!" She yelled to them. They all stood at attention at the same time creating a loud boom that echo in the throne room.

"The King of Avonlea is holding the Princess Belle captive, even though he signed a bidding contract with the Dark One! Your King! We shall fight to bring the Princess home and return her to Rumpelstiltskin as Queen of the Enchanted Forest!" She pledge in a prevailing voice.

The room roared as the White Walkers cheered their approval of Regina speech. Rumpelstiltskin thought it was beautiful that she wanted to see them married, but he was still unable to do so. He just wanted Belle safe. It roused Rumpelstiltskin that Regina's first unselfish act was to go to war for him so that she could return his lover to him. He never saw Regina as a truer Queen, until now. Regina looked to him, giving an assuring smile and nodded her readiness. Rumpelstiltskin waved his hands and Regina and the White Walkers were gone in puff of blood red smoke.

Deus Ex Machina: Mulan

Deus Ex Machina: Captain Liam

Deus Ex Machina: Portals

Don't you just love Once Upon a Time.

-RL