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100fandomhellTitle: Blessings
Author: Apache Firecat
Rating: PG-13/T
Fandom: Disney Princesses
Wordcount or Timestamp: 4,286
Through dangers untold and hardships unnumbered, I have fought my way here to the castle. The words from one of Belle's favorite stories echoed in her mind as she edged slowly, quietly forward. She was surrounded by women, and Cogsworth, Lumiere, and Mrs. Potts, her three best friends in this crazy world outside of her husband, hopped along beside her. She wished she could have convinced them to stay behind. If something happened to their Master and herself, they would sorely be needed. The three beside her were the only ones who could possibly take care of all of their subjects in the wake of their deaths or, possibly worse, curses and not let it fall into shambles. "It's not too late," she whispered, glancing down at the trio, "to turn back."
"Nonzenze! I will fight anyzing zat has ze Master!" Lumiere leaped out ahead of them, striking invisible foes with his lit candles.
Cogsworth waved his hands at him, the hands on his face ticking nervously. "That's what's nonsense!" he blustered. "You couldn't fight your way out of a wet paper sack, Frenchman, but when I was with the Navy -- "
"Oh pish posh! Both of you boys were scrappers back in the day, I'm sure, but none of us have any business fighting much of anything! However, Your Majesty," Missus Potts addressed Belle, always the voice of reason, "I must insist on us accompanying you! Why, the Master would have our hides if we let anything happen to you, not to mention the young Prince -- "
"Sh," Belle addressed them, a hand subconsciously going to her stomach, but her voice and simple, subtle action was not missed by at least two of their party.
The Indian and Chinese women both stepped immediately closer to her. Mulan drew her sword, taking the lead and stepping in beside the Queen in the glittering ballgown who insisted on leading the way, while Pocahontas stayed beside Belle. The raccoon on her shoulders chattered and shook his tiny, black fists at the hummingbird flying around the Native American Princess, who suddenly, wordlessly handed Belle her staff.
Belle reached to take the long, wooden stick but hesitated. Looking at it doubtfully, she asked, "What are you -- ?"
Pocahontas' answer was to remove a bow from her back and string it with an arrow which Belle could not, for the life of her, deduce from whence she had drawn it. It was clearly one of their people's from the color of its feathers, and Belle remembered, with a small gulp, that Pocahontas now lead her people without any of her male warriors questioning her. The rumors had it that their new world had proved too much for Powhattan, and although Pocahontas had at first been questioned by her people, the tongues of even the strongest of their men had been silenced when she had beaten them in single, hand-to-hand combat.
There were other rumors Belle had also heard, but she reminded herself firmly that it was not her place to question the other Princesses. If any of their number needed questioning, that would go to the blonde in the lead, but they had all paid their own dues, fought their own enemies, and won over their own little kingdoms in order to be here, to be one of this group which was one of the most powerful and influential throughout their entire magical realm. Besides, there were plenty of rumors flying about about her, which was exactly the reason why she now so quickly moved her hand away from her stomach. It would not do for the people to learn yet that she was with child, especially not when both she and their Prince had decided to keep his beastial transmogrification in this new world.
His reverting back to the Beast had caused more than enough of an uproar, but he was more at home in his beast form despite having been born a human. Furthermore, in their previous world, he had needed the strength, claws, and teeth of the beast to fight their enemies. She had thought that time was over -- they all had --, but they had all been terribly, terribly wrong.
The only man in their group suddenly pushed through the throng of their flowing skirts. The Dwarf took one look at Belle, harrumphed, and quite literally stuck his big, red nose up into the air. Her mouth opened in quiet exclamation, but before she could form any actual words of protest, their second-in-command brushed pass her with the same offensive air. She sighed, her shoulders sagging, but shut her mouth. It wouldn't do to start an argument now, not now when they were so close to finding those they had been searching for for months.
She felt a gentle hand on her shoulder and looked up, surprised, into the dark eyes of the Arabian Princess. She had heard that Jasmine had all but in name taken the leadership of her kingdom from her father as well, but she also knew well the stories of how she had married a commoner and refused to refrain from mingling, and more importantly caring, about their people. She still often and openly walked the streets of her father's kingdom and had fallen into more than one potential disaster doing that very, unPrincessly thing.
"They'll get over it," Jasmine whispered. "Come on, but be quiet."
Belle edged slightly closer to the cavern's wall as a massive tiger walked between them. His striped head was turning constantly to the right and left as he took in his surroundings, and a low growl ushered forth from him, spooking Lumiere into jumping into Cogsworth' arms and causing Missus Potts to let go of a sudden burst of steam. Belle grabbed the tea kettle, who had had to agree to keep her enchanted form in order for the Master to take back his beastly self. Many of the people thought that it was sad that all of their Prince's subjects had reverted back to their enchanted object forms, but Belle knew, from many long discussions with each one, that most of them agreed with her husband. They had simply been cursed for so long that tottering about on human legs and having human arms, and all the fallibles that went along with being human, was more trouble than they wanted.
The tiger -- Rajah, she thought his name to be -- was definitely on unease, which made Belle realize that they were, as she'd feared earlier and tried to tell Queen Cinderella, walking into a trap. Perhaps it was not a complete trap. Perhaps the enemy did not know they were coming. But if a tiger was nervous about where they were heading, what chance did she, a mere slip of a human girl with no special powers or abilities, have? Still she had no real choice. She had to do this for her husband!
"Ow," she murmured and wrapped her cloak carefully around Missus Potts to keep the kettle from burning her again.
"Oh, I'm sorry, dearie. I just got so steamed when I think about what they've done! How could Mickey have let this happen?"
"He didn't know," Aurora spoke gently. Her mere presence helped to put Belle back at easy. Having befriended the very Fairy who had cursed her as a child and preferring to spend her time with the Fae rather than with the human populations, Aurora was no stranger to being cast aside by fear and superior egos, or at least those, like the Dwarf and that Princess, thought themselves to be. As a matter of fact, Belle realized, her jaw suddenly setting and her brown eyes flashing, that Princess had a lot to talk about, what with her being rumored to be with no less than eight men! At least Belle knew and understood True Love, and she had always stayed true to the Beast, no matter how great or frequent his temper tantrums or how many troubles had plagued them.
"No," Aurora said. The barn owl on her shoulder hooted and spread his wings, as though agreeing with his friend. "Sh," Aurora told him.
The look on the owl's face had Belle instantly coming to his defense. "Oh, even if they hear him, they won't think anything of it," she whispered to Aurora. "They'll just think he's an ordinary owl coming into the cave."
"There's no such thing as an ordinary owl," Aurora whispered back though she smiled, "or any ordinary animal, for that matter."
"That's true. We know that to be fact," Belle said, feeling her lips lift into an agreeing smile, "but do they?"
She felt a shiver go down her spine as she thought about the other people, the people whom they were coming into the caverns so quietly so as to not alert to their presence. She could tell from the look that passed over Aurora's face that she, too, felt the same fears. "Do we even know who they are?" Aurora whispered.
"I heard Cinderella say a few names earlier, but I believe we are still uncertain as to exactly who or how many are in their number."
"It doesn't matter." The lioness who stalked suddenly between them made both Princesses jump. Nala's long, tawny tail swished angrily as she snapped, fangs bared, "They'll pay for what they've done."
As the lioness passed them, however, Belle again felt herself be relieved. "Whoever they are," she whispered to Missus Potts and Aurora while casting nervous glances around them, "I doubt it will matter much."
The owl again hooted. Aurora tilted her head in his direction. "I think he agrees." Besides, if things grew too terrible, despite Maleficent's hesitation to become involved, she knew her friend would come. She would come to rescue herself and Phillip if no one else, but she was far from the only one here with connections to the little people.
"If we free Genie," Jasmine called back to them, "the battle is as good as won."
"Ye're assumin' ye can get tae this Genie," the only redhead in their group spoke, her lilting accent making her sound angrier even than she was.
"What do you know?" Snow White questioned as Grumpy again harrumphed. "You don't even have a Prince to rescue!"
"Snow!" Cinderella chastised, speaking for the first time since they had entered the caverns. The mice perched on her lithe shoulders squeaked. Belle had to cover her mouth with her hand as the tiny one in a red dress pointed a finger at Snow White.
"I'm sorry!" Snow White pouted. "It's hard going from eight to one!"
"Charming must not be much of a man," Jasmine hissed at her, "or they're all missing something considerable!" Belle had never seen a tiger laugh until that very moment.
"That's enough! I'm not in this for that stupid Prince! I'm in this for my brothers or I'd turn around and leave all you dames stranded here!" Grumpy swung at empty air with his pick axe. "But a man doesn't leave his brothers."
"Silence, all of you!" Cinderella ordered. Even the Dwarf and mice instantaneously hushed. "I feel something..." she started and then let her words drop off as they rounded the corner and were met with the hot snort of the black dragon who towered above them all.
"It's not her," Aurora spoke immediately.
Mulan stepped forward and swept her blade through the dragon without making connection to anything.
Flit, the hummingbird, buzzed words Belle could not understand, but his friend clearly did. Pocahontas stepped through the dragon and put her hand up where a hole was in the cavern's wall. She immediately withdrew her hand. "Meeko, don't -- " But she could not stop the raccoon in time. Meeko squeaked loudly as hot air blew across his face. He ran back up Pocahontas and hid around her neck, pulling her long, raven black hair over him to cover him. Pocahontas laughed and assured them all, "He'll be fine."
"No more talking," Cinderella instructed them all. "We must be close."
Belle trailed along behind most of the group, hoping the fighters and ones with magical abilities would take the lead. Even the girl with the frying pan, she felt, stood a better chance of fighting the ones against whom they were about to have to clash. There was no choice, not if they were to get back their greatest treasures, but she'd never been much of a fighter. Still, she was the one to notice their next enemy.
"It's too easy," she heard Jasmine saying only a few minutes later. Looking up, toward the front of their group, Belle realized that there was a single hill that shot up out of the ground before them. On the very top of that hill, which some of their group, though not herself, could have easily scaled, glistened an antique lamp. Belle knew immediately why that lamp was so special that they had all come to an abrupt stop as those in the lead tried to figure out how to reach it.
Rajah growled, his long, striped tail swishing. He started to pad forward, but his mistress' hand gently yet firmly placing on his large head stopped him. He made the cutest sound and looked at her like a lost, bewildered kitten. Yet it was just at that time that Belle saw the shadows come. They seemed to come from everywhere at once, tugging on their dresses and hair, whipping the mice off of Cinderella's shoulder, knocking poor Flit for a literal loop, yanking arrows out of Merida's and Pocahontas' quivers, and even lifting Snow's yellow skirt all the way up over her head.
Belle felt Lumiere and Cogsworth trembling and heard both their bronze bases shaking as they leapt behind her. She turned, keeping the shadows away from Missus Potts. One with massive claws; red, glittering eyes; and fangs bigger than both the big cats' put together came to a stop right before her. It reached for her with its claws, but she stood her ground determinedly, the boys holding on to her left leg for dear life and Missus Potts trembling mightily in her cloak on her right hip. She could feel her baby kick too.
Still she stood her ground, her own courage surprising her, but this was her family these things were attacking! It was her husband who they had taken! With her jaw set and eyes flaring defiance, Belle told the shadow monster, "Do your worst! You can't scare me! I married a monster!"
A savage roar echoed through the cavern as Rajah disobeyed his mistress and ran for the lamp. The tiger jumped into the air only to be caught by the shadows. Yet Belle saw him grin as he was tackled. The shadows pulled him down, Aurora and Jasmine both rushing to help, but beyond the tiger, Belle could see that the lioness had succeeded in reaching the lamp. She grabbed it with her teeth, yanking it off the hill and landing just beyond with it. She frantically began trying to rub the lamp with her massive front paws.
It wasn't working, Belle noted, and wondered immediately if it was because it was a cat and not a human rubbing the lamp. She wasn't sure how things like that worked, but, grabbing Cogsworth and Lumiere up, she ran for the lioness and the lamp. Those shadows who were not currently battling Rajah, Jasmine, and Aurora headed straight for her. She saw Moana somehow manage to whack one with her oar and remembered that the girl had gotten all sorts of blessings from Maui. They should have insisted he join them, she thought as she dove through three on-rushing shadow beasts at once, but he had simply laughed, leaned back, and assured them that Moana could handle whatever they threw it at her when they had approached him on Pleasant Island. Queen Cinderella had been quick to say they didn't need the demigod's help, but Belle was not at all as certain.
She ducked again as arrows flew around her, Pocahontas and Merida doing their best to help keep the shadows off of her. "Take this!" Grumpy sliced his pick axe through one only to have the shadow pick him up, dangle him for a moment from the handle of his own axe, and then throw him into Snow. But in that time, Belle had reached Nala, grabbed the lamp, and rubbed it. She kept rubbing as blue smoke came spiraling out of the lamp.
"Can't a guy take a nap every -- " Genie paused as he took in the situation. What happened next was so blinding with bright lights and quick speed that Belle would never be able to describe it except that it was something magical. Then she and the others were lifted in a whirlwind, and when the winds cleared, she found herself next to her husband, who was chained to a stake. The boys and Missus Potts all three hopped out of her arms and began doing their best to untie his feet as she grasped his furry, handsome face in her hands.
"Oh, Adam! Are you all right?!" She undid the white cloth holding his mouth shut.
"My hands! Belle, quickly! Untie my hands!"
"Now we can't be having that!"
She glanced over her shoulder and felt fear fill her. She had heard tales of the voodoo doctor, and she knew mere, physical, brute force could never stop his magics. They could delay them -- possibly --, but never stop them. To make matters worse, he wasn't alone! There was a fat, old Witch who had held her own against Merlin many a time, Gaston, and a massive Sea Witch. Beyond the Sea Witch, she could see Ariel had already been taken captive, as they'd suspected when they had been unable to find her, and was being held in what appeared to be some sort of giant aquarium!
She wasn't sure where the other Princesses were. She didn't have time to look. But she heard Cinderella's stern voice call out in demand. "PRINCESSES, KISS YOUR PRINCES!"
"Belle, untie me -- "
The cruel, cackle of hyenas echoed in the cavern as the big cats were attacked by hyenas. She heard the twang of Rapunzel's frying pan, the zing of arrows, and the clash of metal filling the dark, dank air. The shadows were gone, thanks to Genie, but right now, Genie had his hands full with Doctor Facilier. Belle was suddenly seeing more and more enemies, some whose identities she could not even begin to fathom. It seemed silly, she knew, to just kiss her husband right here and now, but she was under literal orders to do so!
Looking back at him, she saw panic in his big eyes. His mouth opened to roar at her, but she grabbed him by the horns and firmly planted her lips onto his. She felt his massive chest heave against her slender body, felt him break free of his restraints and roar into her opening mouth. His tongue danced with hers as she tried to focus on giving everything she possessed to him, all of her love, all of her strength...
There were popping sounds, but she dared not look up. She dared not look back. The hyenas weren't laughing now. Some were yipping. Some were crying and quite obviously, from the rapid distancing of their voices, running away.
She kept kissing Adam until she had no breath left, no strength left, and sagged against him. He caught her readily, his own energy and strength renewed, but as he looked over his beloved's head, he saw no sign of their enemies. The other Princes were also freed of their bonds, and Ariel was standing on two legs, freed of the aquarium. He saw Simba and Nala frolicking, Snow White being surrounded by her Dwarves and Prince, Pocahontas with her arms around John Smith as John Rolfe looked on forlornly, Genie seeming to be quite literally wiping his hands clean of something that he could only assume was whatever was left of either the Witch Doctor or whatever magic he had tried to use on the Genie... Everyone seemed happy. Everyone seemed... safe.
"And that's a wrap!" Genie exclaimed joyously as he flew over to Aladdin, Jasmine, and Abu were all on their magic, flying carpet. He still wanted to get one of those for Belle, but that would have to wait.
"What..." He grunted in confusion but didn't have to finish asking his thought.
"True Love," Cinderella explained to all from where she stood, embraced lovingly by her own Prince Charming. "There is more powerful magic in the land than True Love. Some of us may not have that blessing yet," she said, looking pointedly at Snow, "but there is nothing purer, nothing greater in this, our own, or any land. So much darkness could not withstand so much goodness. You may all go home now. Spend the evening with your Princes, and we will rejourn tomorrow. There is clearly a new threat in our new world, and although he is defeated for now, he will rise again."
She paused, watching the interactions between Pocahontas and her two Johns. She knew Pocahontas only loved John Smith. Rolfe had been something of a necessity at the time that she had met him, but she was no longer trapped in that loveless marriage in this new world. She was happy for her friend, but Rolfe deserved happiness now. Her regal gaze slowly swept over all those gathered in the cavern, pausing briefly on Raya who had also been freed in their explosion of goodness and purity. That girl was still too young and had no interest in settling down. Moana, also, was still too young.
Merida, however, was getting near the marrying age, and she knew the girl had began to grow wistful, wondering when she might actually meet a Prince who could hold her interest. She also noticed the Scot standing not too far from Pocahontas and the Johns. "Although, Pocahontas, why don't you take Merida home with you this evening? I'm sure she could use the break from her family, especially the twins. Introduce her to Rolfe, too, if you would." Even if the girl did not find Rolfe to her liking, she was bound to be attracted by one of the natives, and the same went for John Rolfe.
They all deserved happiness. They all deserved True Love. She looked back to her own Prince and kissed him once more, ever so grateful that rescuing them, once they had located them, had proved ultimately rather easy. There was nothing easier or that she enjoyed more than kissing her Prince, after all.
Suzy tugged on a strand of Cinderella's hair and whispered into her ear, reminding her that she had forgotten another duty. Taking her husband's hand, she led him over to where Beast, Belle, and their trio of most cherished subjects stood. "Now that we all have own most important treasures back," Cinderella announced, her voice, though not actually raised carrying easily throughout the cavern, "I have an announcement that needs making." Her eyes met Belle's, and she smiled fondly at the younger Princess while her husband reached out his hand to hers.
With one hand in Belle's, Cinderella reached out to touch her subtly growing stomach. She felt the baby kick beneath her gloved palm. Her smile brightened. He was strong. He might prove to have the fiery temper and the love of the wild his father possessed, but even if he did turn out to be a little beast, he would still be loved. She would see to that personally for Disney, the good side of the most magical place in this new world, welcomed all.
"One of our own is with child. The young Prince will be a blessing to us all, and," she continued, turning back to face all her most important subjects at once, "he is to be treated as such. If I hear any dismay over their blessing, either I, my Fairy Godmother, or the Genie will deal with it personally."
"Yes, ma'am!" Genie promptly saluted.
"That is all," she said, feeling a little tired. "Dismissed."
She clicked her glass heels as her husband lifted her into his arms, and just as she'd said they would, her Fairy Godmother's blessed enchantment on her shoes carried them straight home to the castle in the center of their new realm.
Meanwhile, Belle looked up into Beast's eyes. "Hum," she spoke, smiling nervously, "you're going to be a Daddy."
Hearing Belle's admission and realizing that her words meant that even her husband had not known until their Queen had spoken the news aloud, the others began to scurry from the cavern, each small grouping heading their own way. Beast stared, and then he roared. He roared, picked her up, and spun her around before realizing he might hurt her or their precious child. He shifted, cradling her in one massive arm, and scooped their subjects from the floor with his other.
"I know who the godmother is," he stated, looking fondly down at Missus Potts who bubbled happily.
"I know who the father and mother are," Belle confided, "and that the mother loves the father just the way he is." She stroked his soft fur, nuzzled his mane, and held on to her most precious treasure as he started, leaping, on their way home. "That's all that matters to me," she said. She had not slept since he'd been taken, and now suddenly, she was overtaken by exhaustion. Cradled in her love's arms, safe from any and all dangers, she slept as they went home.
The End
Author: Apache Firecat
Rating: PG-13/T
Fandom: Disney Princesses
Wordcount or Timestamp: 4,286
Through dangers untold and hardships unnumbered, I have fought my way here to the castle. The words from one of Belle's favorite stories echoed in her mind as she edged slowly, quietly forward. She was surrounded by women, and Cogsworth, Lumiere, and Mrs. Potts, her three best friends in this crazy world outside of her husband, hopped along beside her. She wished she could have convinced them to stay behind. If something happened to their Master and herself, they would sorely be needed. The three beside her were the only ones who could possibly take care of all of their subjects in the wake of their deaths or, possibly worse, curses and not let it fall into shambles. "It's not too late," she whispered, glancing down at the trio, "to turn back."
"Nonzenze! I will fight anyzing zat has ze Master!" Lumiere leaped out ahead of them, striking invisible foes with his lit candles.
Cogsworth waved his hands at him, the hands on his face ticking nervously. "That's what's nonsense!" he blustered. "You couldn't fight your way out of a wet paper sack, Frenchman, but when I was with the Navy -- "
"Oh pish posh! Both of you boys were scrappers back in the day, I'm sure, but none of us have any business fighting much of anything! However, Your Majesty," Missus Potts addressed Belle, always the voice of reason, "I must insist on us accompanying you! Why, the Master would have our hides if we let anything happen to you, not to mention the young Prince -- "
"Sh," Belle addressed them, a hand subconsciously going to her stomach, but her voice and simple, subtle action was not missed by at least two of their party.
The Indian and Chinese women both stepped immediately closer to her. Mulan drew her sword, taking the lead and stepping in beside the Queen in the glittering ballgown who insisted on leading the way, while Pocahontas stayed beside Belle. The raccoon on her shoulders chattered and shook his tiny, black fists at the hummingbird flying around the Native American Princess, who suddenly, wordlessly handed Belle her staff.
Belle reached to take the long, wooden stick but hesitated. Looking at it doubtfully, she asked, "What are you -- ?"
Pocahontas' answer was to remove a bow from her back and string it with an arrow which Belle could not, for the life of her, deduce from whence she had drawn it. It was clearly one of their people's from the color of its feathers, and Belle remembered, with a small gulp, that Pocahontas now lead her people without any of her male warriors questioning her. The rumors had it that their new world had proved too much for Powhattan, and although Pocahontas had at first been questioned by her people, the tongues of even the strongest of their men had been silenced when she had beaten them in single, hand-to-hand combat.
There were other rumors Belle had also heard, but she reminded herself firmly that it was not her place to question the other Princesses. If any of their number needed questioning, that would go to the blonde in the lead, but they had all paid their own dues, fought their own enemies, and won over their own little kingdoms in order to be here, to be one of this group which was one of the most powerful and influential throughout their entire magical realm. Besides, there were plenty of rumors flying about about her, which was exactly the reason why she now so quickly moved her hand away from her stomach. It would not do for the people to learn yet that she was with child, especially not when both she and their Prince had decided to keep his beastial transmogrification in this new world.
His reverting back to the Beast had caused more than enough of an uproar, but he was more at home in his beast form despite having been born a human. Furthermore, in their previous world, he had needed the strength, claws, and teeth of the beast to fight their enemies. She had thought that time was over -- they all had --, but they had all been terribly, terribly wrong.
The only man in their group suddenly pushed through the throng of their flowing skirts. The Dwarf took one look at Belle, harrumphed, and quite literally stuck his big, red nose up into the air. Her mouth opened in quiet exclamation, but before she could form any actual words of protest, their second-in-command brushed pass her with the same offensive air. She sighed, her shoulders sagging, but shut her mouth. It wouldn't do to start an argument now, not now when they were so close to finding those they had been searching for for months.
She felt a gentle hand on her shoulder and looked up, surprised, into the dark eyes of the Arabian Princess. She had heard that Jasmine had all but in name taken the leadership of her kingdom from her father as well, but she also knew well the stories of how she had married a commoner and refused to refrain from mingling, and more importantly caring, about their people. She still often and openly walked the streets of her father's kingdom and had fallen into more than one potential disaster doing that very, unPrincessly thing.
"They'll get over it," Jasmine whispered. "Come on, but be quiet."
Belle edged slightly closer to the cavern's wall as a massive tiger walked between them. His striped head was turning constantly to the right and left as he took in his surroundings, and a low growl ushered forth from him, spooking Lumiere into jumping into Cogsworth' arms and causing Missus Potts to let go of a sudden burst of steam. Belle grabbed the tea kettle, who had had to agree to keep her enchanted form in order for the Master to take back his beastly self. Many of the people thought that it was sad that all of their Prince's subjects had reverted back to their enchanted object forms, but Belle knew, from many long discussions with each one, that most of them agreed with her husband. They had simply been cursed for so long that tottering about on human legs and having human arms, and all the fallibles that went along with being human, was more trouble than they wanted.
The tiger -- Rajah, she thought his name to be -- was definitely on unease, which made Belle realize that they were, as she'd feared earlier and tried to tell Queen Cinderella, walking into a trap. Perhaps it was not a complete trap. Perhaps the enemy did not know they were coming. But if a tiger was nervous about where they were heading, what chance did she, a mere slip of a human girl with no special powers or abilities, have? Still she had no real choice. She had to do this for her husband!
"Ow," she murmured and wrapped her cloak carefully around Missus Potts to keep the kettle from burning her again.
"Oh, I'm sorry, dearie. I just got so steamed when I think about what they've done! How could Mickey have let this happen?"
"He didn't know," Aurora spoke gently. Her mere presence helped to put Belle back at easy. Having befriended the very Fairy who had cursed her as a child and preferring to spend her time with the Fae rather than with the human populations, Aurora was no stranger to being cast aside by fear and superior egos, or at least those, like the Dwarf and that Princess, thought themselves to be. As a matter of fact, Belle realized, her jaw suddenly setting and her brown eyes flashing, that Princess had a lot to talk about, what with her being rumored to be with no less than eight men! At least Belle knew and understood True Love, and she had always stayed true to the Beast, no matter how great or frequent his temper tantrums or how many troubles had plagued them.
"No," Aurora said. The barn owl on her shoulder hooted and spread his wings, as though agreeing with his friend. "Sh," Aurora told him.
The look on the owl's face had Belle instantly coming to his defense. "Oh, even if they hear him, they won't think anything of it," she whispered to Aurora. "They'll just think he's an ordinary owl coming into the cave."
"There's no such thing as an ordinary owl," Aurora whispered back though she smiled, "or any ordinary animal, for that matter."
"That's true. We know that to be fact," Belle said, feeling her lips lift into an agreeing smile, "but do they?"
She felt a shiver go down her spine as she thought about the other people, the people whom they were coming into the caverns so quietly so as to not alert to their presence. She could tell from the look that passed over Aurora's face that she, too, felt the same fears. "Do we even know who they are?" Aurora whispered.
"I heard Cinderella say a few names earlier, but I believe we are still uncertain as to exactly who or how many are in their number."
"It doesn't matter." The lioness who stalked suddenly between them made both Princesses jump. Nala's long, tawny tail swished angrily as she snapped, fangs bared, "They'll pay for what they've done."
As the lioness passed them, however, Belle again felt herself be relieved. "Whoever they are," she whispered to Missus Potts and Aurora while casting nervous glances around them, "I doubt it will matter much."
The owl again hooted. Aurora tilted her head in his direction. "I think he agrees." Besides, if things grew too terrible, despite Maleficent's hesitation to become involved, she knew her friend would come. She would come to rescue herself and Phillip if no one else, but she was far from the only one here with connections to the little people.
"If we free Genie," Jasmine called back to them, "the battle is as good as won."
"Ye're assumin' ye can get tae this Genie," the only redhead in their group spoke, her lilting accent making her sound angrier even than she was.
"What do you know?" Snow White questioned as Grumpy again harrumphed. "You don't even have a Prince to rescue!"
"Snow!" Cinderella chastised, speaking for the first time since they had entered the caverns. The mice perched on her lithe shoulders squeaked. Belle had to cover her mouth with her hand as the tiny one in a red dress pointed a finger at Snow White.
"I'm sorry!" Snow White pouted. "It's hard going from eight to one!"
"Charming must not be much of a man," Jasmine hissed at her, "or they're all missing something considerable!" Belle had never seen a tiger laugh until that very moment.
"That's enough! I'm not in this for that stupid Prince! I'm in this for my brothers or I'd turn around and leave all you dames stranded here!" Grumpy swung at empty air with his pick axe. "But a man doesn't leave his brothers."
"Silence, all of you!" Cinderella ordered. Even the Dwarf and mice instantaneously hushed. "I feel something..." she started and then let her words drop off as they rounded the corner and were met with the hot snort of the black dragon who towered above them all.
"It's not her," Aurora spoke immediately.
Mulan stepped forward and swept her blade through the dragon without making connection to anything.
Flit, the hummingbird, buzzed words Belle could not understand, but his friend clearly did. Pocahontas stepped through the dragon and put her hand up where a hole was in the cavern's wall. She immediately withdrew her hand. "Meeko, don't -- " But she could not stop the raccoon in time. Meeko squeaked loudly as hot air blew across his face. He ran back up Pocahontas and hid around her neck, pulling her long, raven black hair over him to cover him. Pocahontas laughed and assured them all, "He'll be fine."
"No more talking," Cinderella instructed them all. "We must be close."
Belle trailed along behind most of the group, hoping the fighters and ones with magical abilities would take the lead. Even the girl with the frying pan, she felt, stood a better chance of fighting the ones against whom they were about to have to clash. There was no choice, not if they were to get back their greatest treasures, but she'd never been much of a fighter. Still, she was the one to notice their next enemy.
"It's too easy," she heard Jasmine saying only a few minutes later. Looking up, toward the front of their group, Belle realized that there was a single hill that shot up out of the ground before them. On the very top of that hill, which some of their group, though not herself, could have easily scaled, glistened an antique lamp. Belle knew immediately why that lamp was so special that they had all come to an abrupt stop as those in the lead tried to figure out how to reach it.
Rajah growled, his long, striped tail swishing. He started to pad forward, but his mistress' hand gently yet firmly placing on his large head stopped him. He made the cutest sound and looked at her like a lost, bewildered kitten. Yet it was just at that time that Belle saw the shadows come. They seemed to come from everywhere at once, tugging on their dresses and hair, whipping the mice off of Cinderella's shoulder, knocking poor Flit for a literal loop, yanking arrows out of Merida's and Pocahontas' quivers, and even lifting Snow's yellow skirt all the way up over her head.
Belle felt Lumiere and Cogsworth trembling and heard both their bronze bases shaking as they leapt behind her. She turned, keeping the shadows away from Missus Potts. One with massive claws; red, glittering eyes; and fangs bigger than both the big cats' put together came to a stop right before her. It reached for her with its claws, but she stood her ground determinedly, the boys holding on to her left leg for dear life and Missus Potts trembling mightily in her cloak on her right hip. She could feel her baby kick too.
Still she stood her ground, her own courage surprising her, but this was her family these things were attacking! It was her husband who they had taken! With her jaw set and eyes flaring defiance, Belle told the shadow monster, "Do your worst! You can't scare me! I married a monster!"
A savage roar echoed through the cavern as Rajah disobeyed his mistress and ran for the lamp. The tiger jumped into the air only to be caught by the shadows. Yet Belle saw him grin as he was tackled. The shadows pulled him down, Aurora and Jasmine both rushing to help, but beyond the tiger, Belle could see that the lioness had succeeded in reaching the lamp. She grabbed it with her teeth, yanking it off the hill and landing just beyond with it. She frantically began trying to rub the lamp with her massive front paws.
It wasn't working, Belle noted, and wondered immediately if it was because it was a cat and not a human rubbing the lamp. She wasn't sure how things like that worked, but, grabbing Cogsworth and Lumiere up, she ran for the lioness and the lamp. Those shadows who were not currently battling Rajah, Jasmine, and Aurora headed straight for her. She saw Moana somehow manage to whack one with her oar and remembered that the girl had gotten all sorts of blessings from Maui. They should have insisted he join them, she thought as she dove through three on-rushing shadow beasts at once, but he had simply laughed, leaned back, and assured them that Moana could handle whatever they threw it at her when they had approached him on Pleasant Island. Queen Cinderella had been quick to say they didn't need the demigod's help, but Belle was not at all as certain.
She ducked again as arrows flew around her, Pocahontas and Merida doing their best to help keep the shadows off of her. "Take this!" Grumpy sliced his pick axe through one only to have the shadow pick him up, dangle him for a moment from the handle of his own axe, and then throw him into Snow. But in that time, Belle had reached Nala, grabbed the lamp, and rubbed it. She kept rubbing as blue smoke came spiraling out of the lamp.
"Can't a guy take a nap every -- " Genie paused as he took in the situation. What happened next was so blinding with bright lights and quick speed that Belle would never be able to describe it except that it was something magical. Then she and the others were lifted in a whirlwind, and when the winds cleared, she found herself next to her husband, who was chained to a stake. The boys and Missus Potts all three hopped out of her arms and began doing their best to untie his feet as she grasped his furry, handsome face in her hands.
"Oh, Adam! Are you all right?!" She undid the white cloth holding his mouth shut.
"My hands! Belle, quickly! Untie my hands!"
"Now we can't be having that!"
She glanced over her shoulder and felt fear fill her. She had heard tales of the voodoo doctor, and she knew mere, physical, brute force could never stop his magics. They could delay them -- possibly --, but never stop them. To make matters worse, he wasn't alone! There was a fat, old Witch who had held her own against Merlin many a time, Gaston, and a massive Sea Witch. Beyond the Sea Witch, she could see Ariel had already been taken captive, as they'd suspected when they had been unable to find her, and was being held in what appeared to be some sort of giant aquarium!
She wasn't sure where the other Princesses were. She didn't have time to look. But she heard Cinderella's stern voice call out in demand. "PRINCESSES, KISS YOUR PRINCES!"
"Belle, untie me -- "
The cruel, cackle of hyenas echoed in the cavern as the big cats were attacked by hyenas. She heard the twang of Rapunzel's frying pan, the zing of arrows, and the clash of metal filling the dark, dank air. The shadows were gone, thanks to Genie, but right now, Genie had his hands full with Doctor Facilier. Belle was suddenly seeing more and more enemies, some whose identities she could not even begin to fathom. It seemed silly, she knew, to just kiss her husband right here and now, but she was under literal orders to do so!
Looking back at him, she saw panic in his big eyes. His mouth opened to roar at her, but she grabbed him by the horns and firmly planted her lips onto his. She felt his massive chest heave against her slender body, felt him break free of his restraints and roar into her opening mouth. His tongue danced with hers as she tried to focus on giving everything she possessed to him, all of her love, all of her strength...
There were popping sounds, but she dared not look up. She dared not look back. The hyenas weren't laughing now. Some were yipping. Some were crying and quite obviously, from the rapid distancing of their voices, running away.
She kept kissing Adam until she had no breath left, no strength left, and sagged against him. He caught her readily, his own energy and strength renewed, but as he looked over his beloved's head, he saw no sign of their enemies. The other Princes were also freed of their bonds, and Ariel was standing on two legs, freed of the aquarium. He saw Simba and Nala frolicking, Snow White being surrounded by her Dwarves and Prince, Pocahontas with her arms around John Smith as John Rolfe looked on forlornly, Genie seeming to be quite literally wiping his hands clean of something that he could only assume was whatever was left of either the Witch Doctor or whatever magic he had tried to use on the Genie... Everyone seemed happy. Everyone seemed... safe.
"And that's a wrap!" Genie exclaimed joyously as he flew over to Aladdin, Jasmine, and Abu were all on their magic, flying carpet. He still wanted to get one of those for Belle, but that would have to wait.
"What..." He grunted in confusion but didn't have to finish asking his thought.
"True Love," Cinderella explained to all from where she stood, embraced lovingly by her own Prince Charming. "There is more powerful magic in the land than True Love. Some of us may not have that blessing yet," she said, looking pointedly at Snow, "but there is nothing purer, nothing greater in this, our own, or any land. So much darkness could not withstand so much goodness. You may all go home now. Spend the evening with your Princes, and we will rejourn tomorrow. There is clearly a new threat in our new world, and although he is defeated for now, he will rise again."
She paused, watching the interactions between Pocahontas and her two Johns. She knew Pocahontas only loved John Smith. Rolfe had been something of a necessity at the time that she had met him, but she was no longer trapped in that loveless marriage in this new world. She was happy for her friend, but Rolfe deserved happiness now. Her regal gaze slowly swept over all those gathered in the cavern, pausing briefly on Raya who had also been freed in their explosion of goodness and purity. That girl was still too young and had no interest in settling down. Moana, also, was still too young.
Merida, however, was getting near the marrying age, and she knew the girl had began to grow wistful, wondering when she might actually meet a Prince who could hold her interest. She also noticed the Scot standing not too far from Pocahontas and the Johns. "Although, Pocahontas, why don't you take Merida home with you this evening? I'm sure she could use the break from her family, especially the twins. Introduce her to Rolfe, too, if you would." Even if the girl did not find Rolfe to her liking, she was bound to be attracted by one of the natives, and the same went for John Rolfe.
They all deserved happiness. They all deserved True Love. She looked back to her own Prince and kissed him once more, ever so grateful that rescuing them, once they had located them, had proved ultimately rather easy. There was nothing easier or that she enjoyed more than kissing her Prince, after all.
Suzy tugged on a strand of Cinderella's hair and whispered into her ear, reminding her that she had forgotten another duty. Taking her husband's hand, she led him over to where Beast, Belle, and their trio of most cherished subjects stood. "Now that we all have own most important treasures back," Cinderella announced, her voice, though not actually raised carrying easily throughout the cavern, "I have an announcement that needs making." Her eyes met Belle's, and she smiled fondly at the younger Princess while her husband reached out his hand to hers.
With one hand in Belle's, Cinderella reached out to touch her subtly growing stomach. She felt the baby kick beneath her gloved palm. Her smile brightened. He was strong. He might prove to have the fiery temper and the love of the wild his father possessed, but even if he did turn out to be a little beast, he would still be loved. She would see to that personally for Disney, the good side of the most magical place in this new world, welcomed all.
"One of our own is with child. The young Prince will be a blessing to us all, and," she continued, turning back to face all her most important subjects at once, "he is to be treated as such. If I hear any dismay over their blessing, either I, my Fairy Godmother, or the Genie will deal with it personally."
"Yes, ma'am!" Genie promptly saluted.
"That is all," she said, feeling a little tired. "Dismissed."
She clicked her glass heels as her husband lifted her into his arms, and just as she'd said they would, her Fairy Godmother's blessed enchantment on her shoes carried them straight home to the castle in the center of their new realm.
Meanwhile, Belle looked up into Beast's eyes. "Hum," she spoke, smiling nervously, "you're going to be a Daddy."
Hearing Belle's admission and realizing that her words meant that even her husband had not known until their Queen had spoken the news aloud, the others began to scurry from the cavern, each small grouping heading their own way. Beast stared, and then he roared. He roared, picked her up, and spun her around before realizing he might hurt her or their precious child. He shifted, cradling her in one massive arm, and scooped their subjects from the floor with his other.
"I know who the godmother is," he stated, looking fondly down at Missus Potts who bubbled happily.
"I know who the father and mother are," Belle confided, "and that the mother loves the father just the way he is." She stroked his soft fur, nuzzled his mane, and held on to her most precious treasure as he started, leaping, on their way home. "That's all that matters to me," she said. She had not slept since he'd been taken, and now suddenly, she was overtaken by exhaustion. Cradled in her love's arms, safe from any and all dangers, she slept as they went home.
The End