Disclaimer: I do not own anything related to the Walt Disney Company nor do I intend to use it for profit.

Episode VIII 8: An Unlikely Bond

Belle mounted on Phillipe and began riding into the woods through the harsh winter winds, hoping to get away from the castle.

Natius, Anakin, and Jeanette began to pursue Belle only to be cornered by wolves and bandits!

"Anakin, you shouldn't be out here when you're injured," Natius cried, worried about his health.

"Don't worry about me," he said. He took out a lightsaber chokuto and began attacking the wolves.

The bandits were mesmerized by the brightness of the chokuto lightsaber!

Jeanette fired her pumpkin pistol at the bandits while they were distracted, turning them into foxes.

The icy wind began to sting her face. "This is too dangerous! We have to get out of here!"

Anakin slit a throat of a bandit that was coming close!

Anakin felt someone grabbing him! It was one bandit that Jeanette missed!

He cried, "I got the shiny sword!"

He turned to his young victim as he held the knife at his throat and stated, "Don't worry. This is not going to sting one bit."

Just as the bandit was about to slit Anakin's throat, the Beast was right behind the bandit as he roared at the wicked thief!

He also began fighting off the wolves trying to attack Belle. The bandits who were turned into foxes cowered at the sight of the Beast and fled deep into the woods.

The bandit was still holding Anakin with a knife towards the boy's throat!

The boy used the Force to take out a small ninjato lightsaber, but he dropped it as he focused his hands to getting the knife away from his throat!

The bandit threatened, "If that girl with the auburn hair comes in the forest again, we'll sell her!"

Danyal took out an arrow and she drew the bow as she fired it, a silver doe began to sprint at the speed of the arrow!

Jeanette looked in surprise at the arrow and the animal spirit as the arrow pierced into the bandit's neck, killing him. The wicked man collapsed on his side and began gasping for air as each breath became more painful as if he had been trampled by the deer's crushing weight and powerful hooves wishing for his pain to end!

The wolves realized that they were no match for the Beast and ran away in fright. The Beast collapsed, wounded and exhausted from the fight.

Danyal noticed that Anakin collapsed from blood loss and the harsh weather conditions were not helping.

Anakin felt like that he was going to black out!

Natius carefully set Anakin on his back so he could carry him. Belle was considering leaving there, but she thought again as she understood that the Beast just saved her life and it wouldn't be right to just leave him to die. So she decided to take him back to the castle and treat his injuries.

When Anakin awoke, he found himself lying on a sofa and he asked, "Where am I? What happened to me?"

"Don't try to move around so much," Natius said softly. "You lost a lot of blood fighting those bandits. After you collapsed, we carried you back to the castle."

Anakin heard a loud roar from the Beast!

It wasn't one of anger, however, but one of pain as Belle was trying to clean his wounds.

The Beast yelled, "That hurts!"

Danyal began laughing to herself as the two were bickering between each other.

Bianca asked Danyal, "Why did you kill that guy?"

Danyal answered, "That bandit was just about to slit Anakin's throat, and he threatened to sell Nausicaä. I have no tolerance for anyone who would threaten human trafficking."

Bianca asked as she hopped over to Danyal, "So you killed that guy to protect that boy? What happened when you fired?"

Danyal answered, "I saw a silver doe running at the speed of the arrow."

Anakin wasn't sure what Danyal was talking about since he didn't see what happened, but he figured he should at least thank her for saving him. "I don't really know what happened, but I do know you saved me, so thanks."

Belle gave the same gesture to the Beast after he allowed her to treat his wounds. "Thank you for saving my life," she said gratefully.

"You're welcome," he replied.

It seemed like tensions were starting to soften up. Natius thought about Nausicaä, hoping she got treatment for her own injuries and that she and Maurice were safe.

Maurice was able to take Nausicaä to a medical center at his village!

Nausicaä asked Maurice, "What about the castle?"

"None of the other villagers want to help, so I'll go back by myself." he decided.

Nausicaä was against it. "I'm going back too."

"What?" Maurice asked. "No, not in your condition."

"You won't be able to find your way back to the castle by yourself," she protested. "Besides, you're not at full strength yet either."

Maurice replied, "I don't care what it takes, I'll get to that castle and get them out of there."

Nausicaä admired the man's courage, and she gave him a pistol with a cartridge of bullets and she stated, "Use this to defend yourself. If you see that boy. I would like to have a word with him."

Maurice thanked Nausicaä and returned to his home to stock up on supplies. When he finished, he went on his way back to the castle.

Meanwhile back in the castle, Mahad scurried into the library, and he asked, "Where is that oil lamp?"

He was starting to realize he should have waited for Anakin since he knew, but the boy was still recovering from his injuries and Mahad didn't want to wait anymore. But so far, all he was seeing was shelves full of books. There were some small sofas near a fireplace and as he looked on the mantle, Mahad saw a few candlelabras and much to his delight, there was a brass oil lamp in the center.

Mahad scurried up onto the desk and he touched the lamp causing the ferret to change back into a human.

Mahad laughed as he saw a nearby mirror that showed a reflection of a boy who was fairly tan with brown hair and disciplined and focused brown eyes wearing the same clothes that he had when he fell into the portal at a shrine.

He walked out of the library to find his friends and let them know about this.

As he stepped out of the library, he began to wonder, should he bring the lamp with him to show to the others? Or would it be best to bring them all back here and let them see for themselves?

Mahad decided that it would be best to show them where he found the lamp.

"Guys," he called out, running through the hall.

He went to the room and opened the door.

Natius looked and was surprised to see Mahad as a human again. "Mahad, you're back to normal," he cheered.

"That means you found the lamp," said Jeanette. "Where is it?"

"It's in the library," Mahad said. "Come on, I'll show you." And he began running back with his friends following him.

Natius looked at the library and he stated, "I can't imagine how long it took you to find a way around here."

It actually didn't take long for Mahad. Being a ferret, he was very quick on his feet and nimble too.

Mahad guided the heroes to the desk that had candelabras and at the center of it was a brass oil lamp.

There was no denying it. This was the same lamp the heroes were looking for.

"We should take it with us." Bianca suggested.

Jeanette wasn't sure. "It's a castle decoration. We can't just take it."

Mahad asked , "I wonder if it has the Genie!"

He began to rub the lamp causing the Genie to manifest!

The Genie gave out a sharp groan. It felt good to be out in the open again after being confined in the lamp for so long. But he took in his surroundings in confusion, wondering where he was.

Mahad asked, "Is it possible for us to take the lamp outside of this castle?"

Finally, Anakin arrived. "So you found what you were looking for."

"Anakin," Mahad said.

"I couldn't help but overhear your question about taking the lamp outside the castle," Anakin was saying. "I can't let you do that. It's part of this castle's property and if you take it, you're stealing."

Mahad countered, "I need to ask your boss a good question. Where did he get the lamp? How was he able to visit Agrabah and acquire the lamp from Aladdin Nasir of Agrabah?"

Anakin wasn't sure that was a good idea. For one, Mahad was just turned back into a human, and this would be the first time the Beast saw him like this, mistaking him for another trespasser and causing more trouble.

The Beast was walking down to the library and Anakin asked Mahad, "Do you have a way to turn back into a ferret? I don't want you to be mistaken for a trespasser and get into a huge amount of trouble. That will destroy my chances of getting the Mirror of Recollections. There are two mirrors one is a window to the outside world and the other mirror is endowed with the power to show memories of the person who uses it."

Mahad wasn't sure. But there was no time to find a way. The Beast was coming and Mahad had to get out of sight.

Jeanette had an idea. She could use her pumpkin pistol to turn him into a ferret again. Quickly, she fired and Mahad was a ferret again.

"The master has confidence in me," said Anakin. "I'll ask him your questions for you."

The Beast brought Belle to the library. She was amazed, for she had never seen so many books in her life.

Anakin walked up to the Beast. "Master, forgive me for disturbing you, but I was hoping you could tell me about that marvelous lamp on the mantle of your fireplace."

"What about it?" the Beast asked.

"How did you happen to acquire it?" Anakin wondered.

The Beast stated, "My father bought this lamp at a bazaar. He told me that this lamp was said to be from Aladdin, a commoner who became the Sultan of Agrabah."

"Is there power in the lamp?" Anakin asked.

The Beast wasn't sure. He had never thought to find out for himself.

The Beast answered, "I'm not sure. I tried to pick it up, but it wouldn't budge."

"If I may be so bold as to suggest something," Anakin was saying.

"What is it," the Beast asked.
"You mentioned that the lamp belonged to Aladdin," he was saying. "Perhaps the lamp can only be touched by those in his family."

The Beast asked, "Why do you ask? Is there a descendant of Aladdin in this castle?"

"The ferret," Anakin replied. "He's really a human boy and a descendant of Aladdin. He says he was cursed by these Dark Masters and the lamp is the only thing that can return him to his true form."

The Beast wanted to see if that was true, so how called for Mahad and allowed him to touch the lamp.

Mahad touched the lamp causing the ferret to change back into a human.

"Amazing," Belle said, watching what just happened.

"Beast," Mahad was saying, "thank you for allowing me to touch the lamp and return to my true form. But now I must ask, will you allow me to take the lamp?"

The Beast decided to grant Mahad's request. "As a descendant of Aladdin, it rightfully belongs to you."

"Thank you," Mahad said, bowing. He took the lamp from the mantle.

Mahad walked over to a shed like area Omar's van was being stored and he saw Omar who was looking at his brother now a young boy again!

Mahad asked, "I was considering letting you use the lamp for your van."

Omar took the lamp. Would it really work? Well, there was only one way to find out. He rubbed the lamp and to his amazement, the Genie appeared.

The Genie asked, "What do you wish of me?"

Omar laughed. "As I live and breathe," he whispered. "The Genie." He cleared his throat. "I wish for my van to be repaired."

The Genie began to repair the van.

When the repairs were finished, Omar cheered, thinking he could go home. But he didn't want to forget his brother. "Mahad, you want to come home with me?"

Mahad answered, "My sister was kidnapped so I have to rescue her."

Omar was shocked. "In that case, I should stay and help." He wouldn't know how to get home anyway.

Mahad asked, "Are you familiar with a cat named Figaro?"

Omar thought and asked, "You mean that black kitten with a white face and paws?"

Mahad answered, "Yes. He is now a cat wearing boots and he wields a magical sword. He has been guiding us through worlds to find the weaponry or items associated with his or her ancestors."

Mahad added, "By the way, I asked if he could help me in finding Mana and he told me that he would do whatever he can to help."

"Are you saying I should look for Figaro and ask him for help?" Omar asked.

Mahad answered, "He said that he'll help you as well. He never met you, but I told him about that time that you caught me at a screening of Orphan."

Omar asked, "Where is he?"

Mahad answered, "In a room waiting for you."

He led his older brother back inside the castle and led him to a small room upstairs. Mahad knocked on the door to announce himself.

"Who is it?" Figaro's voice asked on the other side.

"I've brought my brother to see you," Mahad announced.

Figaro opened the door. "Come in," he invited, and the two boys stepped inside.

Figaro stated as he looked at Omar, "You're the security guard that worked in a theater. I have to say, you had every right to be furious with Mahad because that movie is rated R about a murderous little girl. By the way, I have never seen it and I don't plan to!"

"Mahad says you can help me get home," Omar told him. "Although after hearing about Mana getting kidnapped, I think I should stay and help him."

Figaro stated, "I have to warn you that the Dark Masters are among the most dangerous and evil of Disney Villains."

"Be that as it may, I can't let my brother get into danger," Omar was saying. "I should at least help him find Mana and get them home safely.

Figaro admired the man's courage and he stated, "I can help you with rescuing Mana."

Omar's smile brightened up. "You can? Where is she?"

Figaro answered, "I have a feeling that she's being held in Maleficent's dominion of the Forbidden Mountain. We need to break the curse of this castle before we could do that."

"How do we do that?" Omar asked.

"The Beast must learn to love," Figaro was saying. "As I understand, he has come to love Belle. In addition, she must love him in return. It's also important that she does not know that is the way to break the spell. She must come to love him on her own."

Omar asked, "What about that boy? Who was he?"

Unfortunately, that wasn't for Figaro to reveal and even if it were, Omar wasn't the one to reveal that to. The boy needed to recover his memories on his own. "I can say this, however, the girl Nausicaä, the one you saw with Belle's father, she's curious about him too, wondering if he's her lost brother."

Omar asked, "Where is Nausicaä?"

"Don't you remember?" Mahad asked. "After she and Maurice were released from the dungeon, they were sent back to the village."

He thought about Nausicaä and remembered that she was injured. "I hope she managed to get treatment for her wounded leg."

Bianca answered as she hopped over to the two, "I asked Anakin and he told me that the doctors in the village are giving her treatment as we speak."

"But that was days ago," said Mahad. "If they're just helping her now, her wounds must've gotten worse."
"I hope she's not thinking about coming back to the castle in her condition," said Omar.

Bianca stated, "I think that Maurice took her to the village's medical treatment center because knowing him, would want to make sure that young woman gets the help required. By the way, Anakin told me that if I change back into a human, he would lose the chance of getting the Mirror of Recollections. What is that about?"

Figaro answered, "The Beast was left with two mirrors one is a window to the outside world and the other mirror can allow the user to see his or her memories. I wonder why he would want to see it?"

Mahad remembered what Anakin told him. "Anakin said he couldn't remember who he was or where he came from before he came to this castle and that the mirror would help him."

Bianca stated, "I just hope that Anakin will be okay."

Figaro wished the same thing. "I must go now."

"Go? Where?" Omar asked.

"I can't tell you that," Figaro was saying. "But I'll be back to bring you all to the next world when you're ready."

Mahad thought he was ready. "I have the lamp, so I'm ready to rescue my sister."

Omar asked Mahad, "Is it me or did I just hear a rabbit talk with a human voice?"

Bianca snarled, "Like your brother, I was cursed! So far, I have yet to turn back into a human. I gave Gaston bites and scratches for the comment that he made about women. I can bet that if he was to say the same thing about women to a Spartan woman, he would have his head on a pike."

"Uh-huh," Omar replied. "So, what's it going to take for you to turn back into a human?"

Mahad had a question too. "How long do we have to stick around this world before we can finally find and rescue Mana?"

Bianca replied, "I have a feeling that we need to ensure that the curse gets lifted. I hope Figaro comes back."

Mahad hoped so too. Figaro said he would, but that didn't mean he promised.

Danyal was in another room of the castle with Vandela who was reading about self-defense and defending households. She looked carefully to see a small device on the girl's neck.

Danyal asked, "What happened to your neck? Did someone do this to you?"

Vandela retorted, "If I tell you, the Dark Masters will find me."

Danyal said, "You can tell me. Ever since the castle was cursed by the enchantress, anyone who would affiliate themselves with the Dark Masters would be paying a huge price. No one wants to know what the penalty is."

Vandela started to see the girl's brownish green eyes and she answered with sorrow, "I didn't come to Disney world freely. I was kidnapped, stolen or captured. My parents and I were coming home from a theater."

(Flashback 2011)

7-year-old Vandela and her parents were coming home from a movie theater. Her father was a man with blonde hair and hazel green eyes framed in glasses. He was dressed in a flannel red shirt and black pants. Vandela's mother had brown hair and blue eyes. She was wearing a white shirt and grey sweatpants.

Vandela's father asked, "Visste du njuta av den filmen sötnos?"

Vandela answered, "Ja pappa som jag gjorde."

Vandela's mother asked, "Är detta den säkra vägen hem?"

As the three were walking into the alley, Vandela started feeling something was wrong and she spotted a hooded figure.

She held on to her mother in fright as demonic creatures were surrounding her and her parents.

Vandela's father snapped, "Vem är du?! Vad gör du här?"

The hooded figure replied, "We want your daughter."

Vandela felt herself being grabbed as she screamed, "Låt mig gå!"

Her father looked in fright and punched the potential kidnapper.

Unfortunately, Vandela's mother was knocked unconscious as she was smacked in the skull with a blunt object.

Vandela shrieked in fright, "Mamma!"

She heard her father crying, "Vandela kör!"

She started running but she heard a gunshot ringing and saw her father collapsing from a bullet to his stomach.

She screamed in fear and sorrow mixed into her voice as she was being carried off with tears welding in her eyes, "Pappa! Mamma!"

Her father tried to crawl to save his little girl but felt his strength diminishing and he died failing to save his little girl.

Vandela cried as loud as she could; hoping someone would save her, "Mamma! Pappa! Hjälp mig!"

Unfortunately, no one came and she started crying tears of fright as she was being carried into the Disney world through a portal.

(End of flashback)

Danyal looked at her with sympathy and she muttered, "Good Lord."

Vandela answered, "That device is a translator that automatically changed my language from my native Swedish to English. That's a result of an experiment."

Danyal asked, "Why did they kidnap you?"

Vandela answered, "They thought I was one of the Chosen Children of Disney. When I told them that I didn't know what they were talking about, they subjected me, Toboé and several others to experiments."

Danyal asked, "What kind of experiments?"

Vandela answered, "Toboé was subjected to an experiment that made him into a werewolf like his paternal great great grandfather Larry Talbot. When they were performing the experiment, the Dark Masters liked the idea of a werewolf being their slave, but what they didn't know was that it only works in the Universal Domain and they also have to be associated with Count Dracula. I was given that translator chip on my neck by a horrifying being. Anakin too endured torment, but we were rescued from the Forbidden Castle by a powerful stranger who looked like a much older Hercules, and he carried a powerful shield that had a lion's head on the front, and it gave off a powerful roar to paralyze the guards and he brought us to this castle."

Danyal replied, "My God. At least you're safe from those demons."

Anakin was in another room with the Beast, and he was discussing about what happened at the forest and the boy's thoughts were also about the first night in the castle, "Back when I was at the West Wing, I began thinking about the nightmares that have been bothering me for some time. I have been having nightmares about being brutalized by those Dark Masters. Another nightmare was about me being turned into a gerbil. The agony that I felt in those nightmares seemed so real."

As the Beast listened, he felt a hint of sadness for Anakin. From what he could tell, the boy had more than likely gone through some traumatic experiences. Since learning about the Dark Masters from the Enchantress, the Beast knew that they were cruel and dangerous.

"Strife," he finally said. Anakin gave him his attention. "I can't help but think that these Dark Masters did terrible things to you physically and emotionally. It's the only explanation I can think of as to why you would have these nightmares."

It made sense to Anakin. He could still feel pain lingering. That had to explain why his nightmares seemed so real.

The Beast placed a comforting hand over the boy's shoulder. "When the Enchantress casted her spell on this castle, she promised that her magic would protect this castle and everyone inside from the Dark Masters. As long as you and your friends remain here, you are safe even from them. And anyone affiliated with the Dark Masters would not leave this place without consequence."

Anakin was afraid to ask, but he felt he had to. "Master, if the spell breaks, will the castle lose its protection from the Enchantress?"

"I don't know," the Beast answered honestly. "I hope not."

Anakin was at a loss of words for a minute, and he stated, "I never thought of you as a monster. I thought you were an embodiment of one if the elements."

"What?"

"Compared to the Dark Masters, you are a lost soul going through great struggles," Anakin said honestly. "They are more of monsters than you are. I know because I remember seeing some of the things they've done. But you, you have a chance of proving yourself to be more than what you are now. And when you do, you may discover your own element."

The Beast scoffed and turned away. To him, it sounded ridiculous that a creature such as himself could represent any element.

"There is good in you, Master," Anakin said truthfully. "I know there is because you've kept me safe all this time and you haven't acted like a monster in any way."

Anakin was about to leave the room, until the Beast stated, "Strife. I have to say, you have the heart of a lion."

Anakin asked, "What do you mean?"

"You have more courage than you know, and you fight for what is just." he clarified.

Anakin began thinking about that time of defending himself against the bandits in the forest.

Figaro began using a teleportation device and he saw Master Yen Sid on his desk.

He used the device and appeared before the sorcerer.

"Welcome back, Figaro." Master Yen Sid greeted.

Figaro asked, "What did you summon me here for?"

Master Yen Sid answered, "I have brought you here because there's a small orange kitten in the Enchanted Dominion's castle. The castle of King Stefan. He is looking for the boy who owns a snow-white dwarf hamster."

The kitten's description was familiar to Figaro. "Do you mean Oliver?"

Master Yen Sid answered, "That's correct."

"Why is he looking for Natius?" Figaro wondered.

"The Dark Masters are becoming relentless," the sorcerer warned. "The Enchanted Dominion is also Maleficent's world, meaning the children are fated to encounter her."

Figaro asked, "Should I tell them about this, or no?"

Perhaps it was in the heroes' best interest to know. "Yes," Master Yen Sid finally answered.

"And also tell them the next weapon is located in that world as well. But wait until the spell on the castle has been broken before you do."

Figaro understood. "Yes, sir."

Figaro asked, "Do you need me to do anything before I head back?"

"Not yet the sorcerer answered. "I'll let you know when I next summon you."

Figaro headed back to the castle.

By the time he returned, he saw that the heroes were getting ready to leave. Belle had only discovered that her father was lost in the woods and was falling ill from the bitter cold. The Beast granted Belle her freedom, understanding how important her father was to her and deciding that the spell was of little importance right now. This satisfied Figaro, for this was an act of love.

The heroes went with Belle to find her father, hoping to see Nausicaä again too once they would return to the village.

Author's notes: What will become of Belle's father, will Anakin join our heroes? Tune in next episode.

The language I used for Vandela's kidnapping I used was Swedish and here are the English translations.

Visste du njuta av den filmen sötnos? = Did you enjoy that movie sweetie?

Ja pappa som jag gjorde. = Yes daddy I did.

Är detta den säkra vägen hem? = Is this a safe way back home?

Vem är du?! Vad gör du här? = Who are you?! What are you doing here?

Låt mig gå! = Let me go!

Mamma! = Mommy!

Vandela, kör! = Vandela, run!

Pappa! = Daddy!

Mamma = Mommy!

Mamma! Pappa! Hjälp mig! = Mommy! Daddy! Help me!