Beasts and curses go together
The next day, since she preferred the soft tavern beds to the forest floor, Belle remembered to take her book down, and spent the first half of the morning reading and drinking ale. Her book, or rather, Brienne's book, was one she had read before, but had thoroughly enjoyed. The Princess was just about to meet her Prince Charming, but she wouldn't know it was him until chapter three. At this point, however, she was distracted by a travelling swordsman and his company, who were searching for men to help them find and slay a deadly beast. She watched as he talked, riling up the men. A part of her wanted to join their expedition.
Her attention was caught by a voice next to her table at the edge of the room that said "Looking for an adventure?" She looked away from the group to find the dwarf from the night before grinning sheepishly at her. "Dreamy, right?" Dwarves had the most ridiculous names. He confirmed that that was him, and joined her at her table. Then he told her he and his love were running away together, and she smiled at the thought, happy for him. But soon enough her focus was drawn back to the rowdy group, and when the Dwarf suggested she sign up, she told him she was safer sticking to her books. Somehow, however, he changed her mind, and as a parting gift he presented her with pure fairy dust.
By the time the noonday sun had risen Belle was sat with the men on the men's wagon. She had payed Brienne for her food and boarding, and had returned the book she had borrowed. Now she was reading her own book, one about various creatures of the realms. It had a very convenient page on the Yaoguai, and the fact that it was in another tongue didn't bother her in the slightest. She understood a great many languages.
The cart was a crooked one, and she felt every stone they passed over in the six hour journey. The horses, beginning at a steady trot and now at a stately walk, were flecked with foam and whip marks, their bay coats suggesting cruel treatment. The men in the cart were few, and took little interest in her, save for the speaker at the tavern. Throughout the journey he had spoken rudely to her, or rather about her, and she found herself becoming quite irritated. She could sense another block headed comment coming on, and sure enough there it was. They weren't scribbles, they were another language.
Not wanting to give the men the satisfaction of intimidating her, however, when they asked she directed them to the lake, knowing that the Yaoguai preferred mountainous habitats above all others. So she was only slightly offended when the man with the large hat kicked her off the cart, and threw her book after her. She smirked and bade them farewell, and turned to find the Yaouguai's cave.
Trekking through the forest was a tiring business, particularly when going up hill. Thankfully the land was a dry one, and the lack of rainfall allowed the land to be sturdy and secure, so Belle only tripped once or twice on her way. When she found the cave most likely to be the Yaoguai's, she pulled her small dagger from her belt and moved forward. Her satchel had been left at the tavern with her dress, cloak and rope, and all she had now was the bread, one of the water-skins, the dagger and her book, and the clothes on her back.
She crept towards the cave, praying that the creature was sleeping, but she soon discovered that was not the case. A twig snapped beneath her boot, and almost immediately there was a reaction. A roar rang out from within the cave, and she turned on her heel and ran. Mere seconds later she could hear heavy footfalls from behind her, and knew the beast chased her. She tripped onto the floor just in time for the beast to miss her back with its raking claws. And then, as the fiery creature came back for her, an arrow struck it in the side.
The arrow came from an ornately dressed warrior, a slender figure in black and red armour with a plumed helmet, and a beautiful bow. She closed her eyes in thanks as the Yaoguai roared and departed, and raised herself from the ground. Her breath shook as the figure jogged towards her, removing their helmet, and as she straightened she was surprised to find the warrior was a woman. When the woman rudely informed her that she had ruined her hunt, she couldn't help but point out she had tracked the beast in a day, and with only her book for assistance. The woman was unimpressed, and warned her away. She stalked past, and her red cloak soon disappeared into the mist.
The next day, after Belle had finally found her way to a village, she was drawing water up from a deep well with a bucket. Her water-skin had been punctured when she fell, and she had not had a drink in almost twenty-four hours. As the bucket reached the top of the well she felt a hand on her shoulder, and before she knew it she'd dropped the rope and only her hands were stopping her falling into the well. Her feet had been lifted into the air. A face appeared on either side of her, and she recognised two of the men she had sent to the lake. They did not look happy to see her.
She tried to convince them to release her, but it was to no avail. The man who shoved her off the wagon was sneering at her and the other man, Claude, had a hold of her leg and was moving his fingers in soft circles across her thigh. But then suddenly, thank the Gods, something hit the hatted man across the throat, and he fell to the ground. Claude released her to help his companion, and that was when Belle saw the soldier. She strode confidently towards the well, there to protect her. Claude drew a knife and lunged, but the woman was quicker and soon he was disarmed and lying prone on the floor. It was then the woman's helmet fell off, but she didn't let that stop her as she knocked the man out. She moved to her feet to draw her sword and warn the men away, and then went to speak to Belle. It seemed she had warmed up to the shorter brunette, who counted that as a victory. Unfortunately, it seemed the woman was injured. But they continued all the same, Belle now invited to track the Yaoguai with her.
Hours later, when darkness fell, the two of them had finally found the Yaoguai, but it seemed Mulan could not continue. After walking such a long way, her leg injury had only worsened. Now Belle would have to slay the Yaoguai. Mulan believed she had the warrior's spirit and the ability, upon finding something worth fighting for, to never give up and to fight for it. So she untied her sword, and handed it over. As Belle stumbled down the hill, she kept her mind off the beast by admiring the sword sheath. The discs on it were very nice, but this one here was loose and... ah. She was out in the open now, in the same field as the monster. She took a deep breath and yelled, loud as she could, for the beast to hear and come to her. She regretted it instantly as it ran to her, faster than she could ever hope to be, the acrid smell of smoke filling her nostrils. She barely made it to the village in time, and ran right across the square just to run into some kind of water collection system. She hummed in irritation, and her voice was drowned out by the roar of the creature. It had found her.
Its fiery eyes stared her down, its mane shifting and growing with its every breath. It seemed its very soul was aflame. And that was when she realised her advantage. She drew the sword and, as the beast leaped at her, she brought the blade down on the fragile wood of the irrigation system. It burst out with the force of a flood, drenching the creature and dousing its flame. Belle stumbled forwards, sword raised in her hand, and watched the pitiful creature - did she truly have to kill it? She frowned, and saw that the beast was writing, actually writing, something. She twisted her neck to read from another angle, and was surprised to find she could understand what it wrote. "Jiù... save me..." She immediately sheathed the sword, and removed the fairy dust. What was the harm in trying? She upended the pouch, and sprinkled its contents onto the beast's head. Pink smoke shrouded the creature, and when it cleared before her lay a man. She had broken his curse.
She helped him to his feet, hoping the curser was not Rumple, and discovered the culprit in fact was a sorceress called Maleficent. It seemed the man was in her debt, and she asked if he would help her bring Mulan to the village. He agreed, and she made the trek back up the hill. When they reached the top Mulan was reading her book, but soon enough traded it back her her sword. Belle was happy to introduce her two new friends to one another, and as they left realised what Mulan had said was true. She had found something worth fighting for, and now she would fight for it. "I'm coming back Rumple."