I don't anything or anyone, accept for what or whom I make up. All else belongs to Mister Kitsis and Mister Horowitz.

Aurora couldn't take it anymore. She was truly miserable without Mulan.

Not a day had gone by since the last time she'd seen her best friend and ever since, she had deeply regretted not waiting even an extra minute before sharing the news of her pregnancy she had later come to realize that the warrior had had news - other than joining Robin Hood's band - to share with her.

But now Aurora would never know.

That was all four months ago, and in the mean time, more was happening on the home front.

For starters, she and Phillip were growing apart. She'd been betrothed to him for literally her entire life until recently, and to be honest, they'd only kept the charade of an engagement up to please their parents, but they'd all since passed away while Aurora had been under the sleeping curse, three from old age, one from grief, although the latter was a private matter. What this finally meant was that she and Phillip were finally free to do as they pleased.

The child growing in Aurora's womb had not at all been forgotten about because the princess was hopelessly in love with it and very excited to be a mother. On the other hand, Phillip was reluctant to assume the role of being a father because he was not at all already to be one.

Instead, he yearned for adventure and the open road. Being a husband and father while wearing a crown and running a kingdom with Aurora were not on his agenda. He'd also seen how Aurora and Mulan had always looked at each other in the most intimate way that one looks at their True Love, and Phillip didn't want to stand in the way of that. So Aurora had been torn up when Phillip had informed her of his thoughts, including how she should go find her happiness with Mulan before it was too late, but she still provided him with a horse and provisions for his travels because she wasn't that coldhearted.

At the moment, the overall pressing matter was that the ogres were invading Aurora's realm, having already worked their way in from the neighboring Avonlea border. Not possessing the knowledge of how to run things, especially during times like this, Aurora was leaving everything in the hands of her war council.

One thing mattered to her, and one thing only - telling her best friend exactly that she loved her and that there was nobody else that she'd rather spend the rest of her life with.

All Aurora had to do was track Mulan down.

"Won't you let me come with you?" Aurora's faithful governess Clara was following her around the stable as she oversaw the final preparations for her quest. "Who's going to look after you now that you're with child?"

Aurora stopped for a minute and touched a hand to the swell in her midsection, smiling when she felt the baby wiggle around inside her. No matter how trying the times were, just the thought of her impending motherhood cheered her up.
But when she saw the old woman, her heart filled with sadness.

"Oh, sweet Clara, I know you want to come with me, but I promise you that I'll be safe."

"Because you have your best knights with you, but Your Majesty, I've helped raise you since the day you were born! I can't help but worry..."

Clara had indeed been around for the first sixteen years of Aurora's life so far, taking care of her and teaching her the ways of the world because her parents had been more busy with politics than their only child. Leaving Clara in the castle was going to be harder than she'd care to admit.

"I will be fine, and so will my child."

"Even with the wretched ogres roaming about?"

"Even then. My knights are loyal to me and will protect me at all costs."

"What about this Mulan? She's from a far off land, is she not?"

"Indeed."

"But where, though? Clearly not Neverland, but what about Wonderland? Or Oz?"

Aurora shook her head. "Mulan is from China, across the Great Sea."

"What an interesting name for a land. China..."

"Mulan doesn't like to talk about it, so I have never pried."

Clara changed the subject. "If she returns your feelings, will you please bring her back here so that I may welcome her to the family properly?"

"Of course!"

"If you followed your heart to this moment and you known your heart belongs with Mulan's heart, go ahead and go, but there is a question I must ask of you."

"What is it?"

"Is Mulan really worth leaving this place when the whole realm is on the edge of all-out war?"

"Mulan is my girl worth fighting for."

Before the governess could respond, one of Aurora's many stablehands called over to her. "The horses and carriage are all ready, Your Highness, as is your company of knights. You may depart when ready."

Aurora nodded in acknowledgement then turned back to Clara who immediately began smoothing out the wrinkles in the princess' dress and cloak, a last-minute attempt to keep her just a little longer.

"Be safe."

"I will be, and I'll be back before you know it."

Aurora allowed herself to give Clara one more hug before crossing the stable and boarding her carriage.

The young princess was a lot braver than most people gave her credit for or even knew - her adventures with Emma and Snow were nothing to sneeze at - but as she rode away from her home, her sanctuary, she felt as though she was on a voyage into the unknown.

In a way, she was. The only clue she had as to where Mulan could be with Robin Hood and his Merry Men was Sherwood Forest, and it sounded far away.

But like Aurora had told Clara - Mulan was her girl worth fighting for.

Just how was Aurora to know that this was going to be the very last time she'd see her castle intact, and all of its inhabitants alive?

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