"No, you most certainly are not going to that village!"

"I've told you before Rumplestiltskin, that no one decides my fate but me! I promised Mulan I'd help her, and that's what I intend to do!" Belle stood her ground, looking an angry Rum straight in the eyes, neither of them willing to waiver.

He scowled at her and spoke matter-of-factly, "No, you're going to come with me, and we are going to continue what we set out to do in the first place!" He was referring to finding his son, but he didn't want to say that specifically due to Mulan listening in.

Mulan didn't want to be the cause of the two fighting so she looked at Belle and spoke up trying to remedy the situation, "You promised you'd help me track the Yaoguai, and for that I am grateful. I can handle it from here."

Belle turned to Mulan, "No, Mulan. I want to help you. I'm going with you to your village, and we are going to stop the Yaoguai." Belle looked back at Rumple who was glaring at her, "If only we could get there before the Yaoguai, we could warn them."

Rumplestiltskin looked appalled, knowing what she was implying, and he was still angry, "You think I'd take us there with magic after I've already said you're not going? And that I'm not helping her?"

Belle glared at him, furious and unwilling to argue anymore. She moved to storm away, determined to do what she wanted, but Rumplestiltskin's hand on her arm stopped her. Slowly she turned back around to face him surprised that she was no longer looking at an angry man, but the gentle one she had come to know and love.

"Belle please," he begged with pleading eyes without releasing his grip on her, "I've lost everything I've ever loved. I don't want to lose you too."

As she looked into his eyes, Belle could see then that he wasn't trying to control her like she thought, but instead he was terrified of her getting hurt or dying. She was still frustrated with him, but she was willing to be more understanding. Sometimes she wished he would just express his true feelings to her, instead of causing such a scene or hiding behind a mask. It was something she would try to get him to work on in the future.

She sighed heavily breaking eye contact with him. Thinking for a moment, she tried to come up with an alternative that would allow her to still help Mulan, but would keep her out of danger. She glanced back up at him knowing there was only one way, "Rum, please, you could just transport us there so we could warn them. We'd get there before the Yaoguai, and I could stay out of harm."

He scoffed, still trying not to admit she was right. He motioned toward Mulan, "You heard her before. Her people won't believe her, or you for that matter. And I'm sure the sight of the Dark One may be just as terrifying as the Yaoguai."

Belle took his hands in hers, "Rum, we have to try. I don't want to feel responsible for the death of so many, when I know we can help them so easily."

"Very, well."

Belle beamed, leaned up, and placed a swift kiss to his lips, "Thank you for understanding."

"Yes, well…" he replied aware of Mulan's eyes still on them. He wasn't use to displaying his affection for Belle in front of others, and was ready to get this over with.

Belle held one of her hands out for Mulan keeping a hold on Rumple's with her other, "Here take my hand."

"No need for that dearie." Rumplestiltskin stated to Mulan.

Belle looked back at him quizzically, but her question was answered before she could ask it. The three of them were now standing in the village center, the two women not even realizing they had been transported by Rumple's magic. Cheering and other loud noises could be heard close by. The town was clearly in the middle of a celebration.

"Let's go," Mulan said after the initial shock wore off and she ran off toward the victory parade happening on the next block over.

Belle ran off after Mulan, and Rumple was close behind, right after pausing to throw his cape over his head in hopes that he wouldn't be recognized. Bursting through the crowd, Mulan looked around and spotted her troops marching in the parade. She froze for a moment, taking a deep breath preparing herself to face them again since they had abandoned her. Belle came up close behind Mulan, glanced between the troops and Mulan's face, instantly knowing who they were. She placed a reassuring hand on Mulan's shoulder, "I know it's difficult, but what matters most now is everyone's safety."

Nodding and managing a small smile, Mulan sprinted up toward the soldier riding atop the horse.

Belle had to do well to keep her focus as she followed Mulan. She had never seen anything so decorative and colorful as that village. The parade alone was amazing. The colors and costumes where intricate and well made. Some lit up, or even made noise.

Mulan caught up with the head soldier and captured his attention.

"Mulan?" he asked confused by her presence.

"Shang, the Yaoguai is still alive and it's on it's way here," Mulan warned.

Shang rolled his eyes and faced forward again, "Go away Mulan."

She rushed ahead of him, "You have to believe me! Gather the others, it's time to fight."

Shang looked at her for a long moment, but walked around her and continued on.

Mulan, deciding he was a lost cause, turned to the others whom she had made friends with during her time in the army, "The Yaoguai is coming. You need to be prepared."

Several of the troops looked at her in anguish. They wanted to believe her, but disobeying their Captain would mean severe punishment.

"She's right," Belle confirmed coming up behind Mulan, "The Yaoguai will be here any second."

"Who is this, and why should we believe her?" Shang asked, appearing again.

Mulan held her head high, "Because she's my friend, and she's got good instincts. She tracked that beast faster than any of us ever could, and was able to get us here to warn you."

Before Shang could retort, he was thrown from his horse as the Yaoguai seemed to come out of nowhere.

The crowd began to scream and chaos broke loose as the people scrambled to get away as fast as possible. As Mulan looked over, she saw the Yaoguai was on top of Shang who was unconscious. She drew her sword and began circling it, yelling to try and grab it's attention. She was successful but only for a moment. As it took a step away from Shang, it's eyes focused on Belle standing right behind Mulan.

Belle's eyes widened in horror as she realized it was about to come for her. Stumbling a few steps backward, she tripped over her feet, falling on her bottom just as the Yaoguai bypassed Mulan and pranced above her. She laid there for a moment, hands propping her up from behind, and stared unblinking into the creature's eyes in fear. As her eyes bore into the Yaoguai's, she was terrified beyond all means, until she saw a flash of something, something she was sure she recognized as pain. When the creature snapped at her, almost instantly she forgot what she saw and squealed in fear. Using her arms to block her face, she shut her eyes preparing for the worst. But as she lay there nothing happened.

Opening one eye, she saw the Yaoguai was still above her but now it was frozen in place like a statue. Mulan dashed over and helped Belle to her feet, "Are you ok?"

Belle smiled and brushed herself off, "Yes, I think so."

They were confused as to what was happening, but as they looked over at the remaining crowd, who was gasping and moving aside for someone, they knew who was responsible. People began to whisper to each other as they watched the figure lower his cloak revealing himself as Rumplestiltskin, or as they knew him, the Dark One. He walked forward with one arm held out in front of him, using magic to keep the monster from going anywhere.

Belle knew instantly the look in Rumple's eyes as he came into the light. Her stomach sank as her eyes wandered over to the Yaoguai. She knew it was about to die, that Rumple was about to kill it, and she couldn't let that happen. Reacting quickly, Belle hurled her body in between Rum and the Yaoguai, "No wait! Don't hurt it!"

Rumplestiltskin was taking aback, "Belle? What…Get out of the way!"

"No! Can't you see it's in pain?"

"Who cares? It tried to hurt you!"

There were screams and cries from the audience yelling to slay the creature, but Belle ignored them. "But it's not its fault! Look at it! There's more to this situation than we can see!"

Rumplestiltskin rolled his eyes, unwilling to argue anymore. The sooner he did something, the sooner they could leave. He stepped closer, motioning Belle to move aside.

She gave him an unsure look, then slowly moved away from the Yaoguai once she was certain Rumple wouldn't harm him.

Giving the creature a once over, he snapped his fingers. The Yaoguai was engulfed in purple smoke, putting out the flames. It seemed to shrivel up as the smoke dissipated, leaving behind a small heap. As Belle moved closer again she could see that small heap was actually a man. Mulan came up behind her gaping at this man who once was the Yaoguai.

The few people in the crowd that were left gasped in awe, but still stood back in caution. As the man got to his feet, Mulan addressed him, "Who are you?"

The man, still a little disheveled from what had just happened, looked around to see who was talking to him, "My name is Prince Phillip. Maleficent, an evil sorceress from my kingdom turned me into that monster, determined to keep me from my true love Aurora." He looked over at Belle, "I'm sorry. I never meant to harm you, any of you. It was part of the spell."

Rumplestiltskin walked up and put a protective arm around Belle, "Come Belle, it's time to go now."

Prince Phillip looked at Rumple, "And you, thank you. You released me from that curse."

Rumplestiltskin gave a mocking smile and laughed lightly, "It may have been my magic, but it wasn't I who released you." He looked over to Belle indicating her.

Phillip glanced back at Belle, "Then thank you. I am forever in your debt."

Belle offered him a genuine smile, "No you're not. I'm just glad my instincts were right."

Rumplestiltskin intent on leaving, tugged lightly on Belle's arm, and she said her goodbye's before following him. Mulan ran up and stopped her, "Belle, I just wanted to thank you for everything. If it weren't for you I would still be hunting the Yaoguai." "Phillip," she corrected swiftly, "…uh…I guess I would have never even known he was Phillip. This situation could have been much worse."

"I was honored to help you." Belle leaned in and hugged Mulan. "Perhaps someday we will meet again."

As Mulan pulled back from the hug, she looked over at Rumple, "Rumplestiltskin. It seems you're not as dark as people say."

Rumple grinned at her impishly and waved his hands through the air in a show fashion, "Now don't go spreading that around dearie! Wouldn't want people to start asking for miracles!"

Belle grinned and shook her head, "Goodbye Mulan."

Mulan said goodbye as well and watched until Rumple and Belle disappeared along the pathway.

Belle walked silently behind Rumple as they continued on to their next destination. They hadn't spoken a word in a good while. Eventually Belle spoke what had been on her mind since their encounter, "Did you know the entire time that it was a man?"

For a brief second Rumple's eyes over to Belle, but his focus stayed on the path ahead "Perhaps."

"Perhaps? You did didn't you?" She picked up her step to dart in front of him so he'd have to look at her. It was evident that she was angry, "You thought about killing him! Why didn't you just change him back to begin with if you knew?"

"Because, my dear," he replied sardonically, "I'm not one to be doing favors for others." Stepping around her he continued walking.

Belle was appalled and aggravated he wasn't telling her the truth.

"I told you. I don't help others unless it benefits myself. I'm the Dark One! I've warned you of the person I am."

Belle had no words for him, she just stared at him angrily.

Rumple chuckled, "Finally you're seeing the monster I really am. I don't help others, and I most certainly would have never helped him."

Walking away this time, Belle didn't chase after him. She took a moment to take in his words before swirling around, "But you did help him, in the end. You were going to kill him, but you chose not to. You're not the monster you keep insisting you are. I'll never see what you want me to." She brought her pace back up to his, "I see a good man in you and I know one day you'll see it too."

Rumplestiltskin glanced over at her, and Belle could see the corner of his mouth rise slightly but he didn't say anything.

"So, uh, where are we going?" she finally asked, feeling a change of subject would be good.

He smirked, "Why, I think it's time I take you home!"

Belle furrowed her brow and began to fret over his words. Home? What did that mean? Was he taking her back to her father? Why would he do that? Was he really that angry with her about everything that had happened with Mulan? Her fears were subsided quickly when Rumple continued.

"Our home. I'm taking you to the Dark Castle."

Next: The Dark Castle and a fun little chapter with the Emperor's New Groove Villains :)