A/N: As the beta for my BFF, I helped her create a lot of ideas, and often we laugh at what we come up with. Her story "The Shattered Looking Glass" is so beautiful that she didn't want to ruin it with our randomness, so she suggested I make a spin off. To better understand what's going on, I suggest you read that fic first! This story takes places during her chapter 6. Please review!
Disclaimer: The characters are not mine, but the characters' development goes along with "The Shattered Looking Glass"!

Mulan leaned back in the chair, closing her eyes and shaking her head. With a heavy sigh, she closed the internet browser and stretched her arms above her head. Emma had recently introduced her to "internet streaming" and she had found some Chinese soap operas to watch. It was comforting to hear her native tongue being spoken, although in this world their speech was much more informal and casual than she was used to. It didn't take her long to pick it up, and the television shows helped.

Being new to this world, Mulan didn't initially understand the appeal of television shows or movies when Aurora and she were given a television by Ruby and Belle. After watching a few movies and shows that her friends insisted on watching, she got the hang of it. The Chinese drama she was currently watching was based on a young soldier who quickly rose amongst the ranks into a position of high merit. This was definitely something that a soldier like herself related to. However, this young warrior eventually developed feelings for the emperor's daughter, who was betrothed to the general's son. The general's son was the young warrior's friend and mentor. They had joined the military together and fought side-by-side in many battles. Mulan was enthralled with the action in the first few episodes, but too soon it turned into nothing more than a romantic drama.

At first, Mulan was repulsed by the romance. There was too much talking, sneaking around, and lying to each other. Soon, she couldn't stop watching. The young warrior was torn between duty, friendship and love. The princess, bound by honor and sacrifice, had an obligation to her kingdom. The general's son had no idea of the couple's love and he cared so much for the young warrior. Mulan's heart ached for the general's son and the warrior, hoping their friendship could last through it all. If only the princess wasn't in the way.

During the previous scene, Mulan watched attentively as the soldiers embraced tightly, the general's son swearing his undying loyalty to his friend. Their eyes met with determined passion. It wasn't until Mulan found herself crying from the intense feelings the scene created did she finally force herself away from the computer. There were only 5 episodes left of the show, but she needed to rebuild the strength in her heart. The strong soldier had no idea a television show could cause so much heartache.

Wiping her eyes, Mulan stood up and looked around the office. The phones were silent. Emma and she had finished all of the important paperwork before the sheriff left for her first family vacation. Knowing the importance of organization, Mulan had been showing Emma how to straighten up so the office was fairly clean. She walked over to look out the window into the bright day. The deputy had just finished her morning patrol; hence she "rewarded" herself with some television. A large book on a nearby filing cabinet caught her eye. It was the sheriff's rules and regulations book. There were several colored papers sticking out from the pages, marking the important laws that Emma thought her new deputy should know. Mulan had already read those, twice, and she was in the process of reading the entire thing. However, she didn't feel like being cooped up on a beautiful day like today. The grumbling of her stomach brought her attention to the wall clock. 1 o'clock already?! Where did the time go?

Mulan picked up the cellular phone that Emma had given her and clipped it to her hip on the belt of her dark skinny jeans, next to her deputy badge. Bending over she tightened the straps of her mid-calf leather boots, making sure the dagger within was also secure. Mulan put on the aviator glasses she found sitting in a desk drawer. She had never seen them before, and neither David nor Emma had ever worn them, but she loved them immediately. It didn't matter to whom they belonged because they were hers now. Mulan glanced at herself in the mirror. The large dark lens covered her eyes intimidatingly and the gunmetal gray frames stood out sophisticatedly against her tan skin. The thrill of being outside without the glare in her eyes gave her a new outlook on life, as if the day was hers to conquer. Holding her gray pea coat to wear over her gold V-neck blouse, Mulan stopped when she noticed Emma's red leather jacket on the coat rack. The girl was surprised that the sheriff would have left her favorite jacket. A sly smile spread across the deputy's face as she took the jacket and swung it around behind her, putting it on. Mulan was surprised it fit her so well. She straightened out the collar and pulled her ponytail out from behind her back, grabbed the office keys and headed out the door.

It was chilly out despite the sun beaming down when Mulan stepped out, and she was suddenly grateful she chose to wear her friend's jacket. She took a deep breath of the fresh outdoor air and exhaled slowly, then turned left towards the parking lot to the special awning Emma had installed for her. "Are you ready to stretch your legs, Mushu?" she asked her horse, untying its reins from the bicycle rack which she used as a hitching post. The reddish-brown horse snorted in response and the young warrior mounted her steed. Mulan gave it a quick squeeze with her knees and the horse started at a jolly trot.

Storybrooke was a much bigger town than the deputy sheriff expected but it was not a long journey to Granny's Diner. Her casual trot down the street turned many heads, most of which were more excited about seeing a horse in town. Mulan held her head up with pride and gazed down the street. All was peaceful in her new hometown.

Riding up to the curb, Mulan dismounted and lead Mushu up the sidewalk tying the reins to the fence. She stroked the horse's mane a few times then proceeded into the restaurant. There were already several people sitting at the outside tables. Ruby was serving the outside guests, and she gave Mulan a wink as she spotted her friend approaching the steps. With one fluid motion, Mulan swung the door towards her and stepped in. The happy jingle of a bell and warm murmur of voices greeted her as she stepped in, stopping a few moments with her hands on her hips to look around for a place to sit. Suddenly, there was the sound of a gasp quickly followed by the sharp clatter of breaking dishes.

The woman rushed over to the waitress, who was busy collecting the broken shards and obviously hiding her face in embarrassment. Ripping the sunglasses from her face, she asked, "Miss, are you all right? Please be careful, for you may cut yourself!" To her surprise, the waitress turned her head towards Mulan and from behind the light brown hair was the reddened face of her beloved. "Aurora! I did not recognize you! Allow me to clean this!" After slipping the sunglasses into the front of her shirt, Mulan took over collecting the broken plates and glass. A bus boy came with a broom to sweep the remnants from the floor.

The two girls stood up and Mulan carried the tray back to the kitchen with Aurora, who was still averting her eyes with flushed cheeks. After throwing the remains into the garbage and setting the tray on the bus station, Mulan turned to her girlfriend with a look of concern. "Are you sure you are okay? What caused you to drop the tray? Did something frighten you?" she asked.

Aurora, who had been looking to the ground, slowly raised her head with desire flashing in her eyes. "You, my darling, look absolutely ravishing!" she announced, fishing the aviator glasses from Mulan's chest and placed them on the other girl. Suddenly, Aurora pulled her lover close for a fiery kiss. Initially she was startled, but the feel of unexpected affections was exciting and Mulan returned the embrace with equal intensity.

"Hey!" a voice called out, breaking the two apart. Ruby peeked her head into the back and a knowing grin was on her face. "Break it up, kids! It's a Saturday, and we're only going to get busier!" she laughed. Aurora gave her girlfriend another quick kiss and rushed back out to attend her tables.

As Mulan walked past Ruby back into the general dining room, she felt a hand give her bottom a firm slap. She spun around and looked at Ruby in shock.

A light giggle escaped Ruby's lips. "Look at you, hot stuff! Emma's jacket looks good on you, but those glasses really set it off. Damn, woman! No wonder Aurora dropped her tray and can't keep her hands off of you!" Ruby looked behind Mulan, and the deputy turned her head to meet her friend's gaze. They caught Aurora stealing another glance at her girlfriend before blushing again and turning to attend waiting customers. Granny's chuckle could be heard from the register.

Mulan took the glasses off and replaced them on to the front of her shirt, and took a seat at the bar. "Thank you, I suppose," the girl answered. She was never really one for words and was at a loss at how to respond.

Luckily, her friend was always too observant and knew just how to set the mood, or change it. "What'll it be?" Ruby asked, sensing her friend's embarrassment at the sudden attention.

"I truly enjoy what this world does with its pork belly. I shall have a BLT and a salad, with iced tea," Mulan smiled, and the thought of bacon made her salivate. Pork belly was always a specialty of her mother's back home in mainland China, but the bacon here was truly magical. It was like a little slice of home so far away, but taken to the next level. A savory, salty, greasy level that sent her taste buds on a special journey.

"Double bacon?" Ruby asked.

A blur passed them answering, "Triple bacon." The door towards the kitchen swung closed but they were able to catch a flurry of light brown hair disappear behind it.

Laughing, she said, "Triple bacon it is. I can't argue with that. She knows what her woman wants." The waitress winked again and quickly jotted on the pad. After placing the order to the kitchen, she stepped out from behind the counter to attend more customers.

Leroy, who was sitting a few seats away from Mulan, looked at her seriously. She returned his stare steadily, assessing his current state. He was holding a glass that was half empty of beer. His dilated pupils and heavy breathing told Mulan that this wasn't his first, or even second, glass. "Yes, Leroy?" she asked calmly.

He gave her a large smile. "You've got a horse!" The excitement on his face bothered the woman.

"Yes…. Yes I do. As I am not yet accustomed to… cars, the sheriff was able to acquire a horse for me. From what I understand, it's not unusual for police officers to use horses although it is not common practice," she replied cautiously. The deputy wasn't quite sure why the man was so interested in her horse, but she knew she didn't like it.

"Can I ride it?" he asked eagerly. "I never had the chance back home, what with the height thing, but I'm taller now. I've always wanted to ride a horse!"

Mulan stared back at him. "I doubt you're tall enough even now to mount my steed without a pedestal."

Granny let out a loud laugh as she set down Mulan's iced tea in front of her. "She's right, little man! I think we've got a ladder in the back you can borrow!"

Embarrassed, Leroy grumbled into his glass and took a long drink.

Glad that there was something to occupy her, the deputy sipped on her tea. She didn't intend to humiliate the man, but she also didn't want to give him false hopes. Plus, Mushu was her horse and she was already in love with him.

The food came quickly, which she devoured. In her mind, she heard her mother's voice nag, "Aiyaah, Mulan! Slow down! A lady never shovels food in her mouth! How can you enjoy your meal if you do not chew well? You cannot savor the taste!" The taste of bacon lingered on her lips, which she licked deliciously. So much for not being able to savor her meal. There was another gasp and the sound of clattering dishes, though there were no broken dishes this time. Mulan turned to see Aurora recollecting herself and the glasses that had tumbled about on her tray. She wondered why her girlfriend was being so clumsy today, when she always carried herself with the grace of a princess.

Granny came by and handed Mulan the check. "You'd better get out of here. Aurora can't focus on her work today with you here and I don't think I can afford any more broken dishes," she said. Though she was smiling, Granny's eyes were hard with sincerity.

Pulling out a couple of bills and placing it on the counter, Mulan thanked the older woman. She pulled a toothpick out of the dispenser and put it in her mouth. After putting her sunglasses back on, she nodded her head to Ruby and Aurora.

As she turned, a voice gasped, "Oh, dear lord!" Mulan spun back around and saw that Aurora had fainted into Ruby's arms. She was about to rush to the aid of her girlfriend, but Ruby just shooed her away with her hand.

"You'll only make things worse by sticking around. Get out of here!" her friend called. With a shrug Mulan left the diner.

The afternoon patrol started slowly while the bacon digested within Mulan's stomach. She thanked herself for not being completely unhealthy; French fries as a side would have completely shut down her system. It's not that she was opposed to fried foods, but she didn't like to indulge in it too often. As she continued on her jog down the street, she spotted something. Finally, some action!

Looking down to the horn of her saddle, she saw the switch Emma helped her install. She flipped it, and a red light attached to Mushu's chest began to flash as Mulan urged the horse to a gallop and followed a car. Since they were still within downtown limits, the car wasn't going very fast, but it didn't seem to slow down. Mulan pressed her heels into the horse and rode to the side of the car. Pulling up alongside, the astonished driver finally noticed the officer clearly in pursuit of his vehicle. She glared at him, gesturing him to pull over. The red-haired man pulled his car to the side of the road and Mushu stopped several feet behind the car.

Mulan reached down into a pocket of the saddle to pull out a pad. She started filling out the proper paperwork: date and time, car make and model, license plate number, offense, her badge number. It seemed an awful lot of technicalities, but she didn't want to disappoint the sheriff. Additionally, she wanted to let Mushu catch his breath; he was the one that did all the work and chasing after a car wasn't easy.

Dismounting, the deputy noted several people staring at her in awe. Perhaps the townsfolk had never seen anyone being pulled over by a horse before but she didn't let the attention get to her head. She slowly sauntered towards the car, letting her legs readjust to walking after the hard gallop. Heavy, intentional footsteps followed each other one by one, echoing on the pavement. Moving the toothpick to the corner of her mouth with her tongue, Mulan bent down and leaned her forearm on the side of the car door. "License, registration and insurance," she said gruffly.

Archie gave a gulp as he gazed into his own reflection in the aviator glasses. He asked, "Um… what seems to the problem?" Shifting uncomfortably in his seat, he handed over his information.

Mulan looked at the documents carefully, and tucked them into her pad. "Sir, you are driving with a passenger who is not properly utilizing a safety belt, which is clearly defined by Maine state law, title 29-1, section 281: passengers less than 18 years of age riding in a vehicle are required by the United States Department of Transportation to be equipped with seat belts," she informed him, and looked towards his back seat.

The red-haired man twisted around and looked at his only passenger, Pongo, who gave a soft whine. He gave a laugh and turned back to Mulan, who was still staring at him intently. Clearing his throat, Archie stopped laughing and replied, "Mulan, I know you're new here, but that law doesn't apply to animals."

She frowned. "Why should it not?"

The therapist shrugged, "I don't know. It only applies to people. Look, there's no real crime here so why don't you just let me go? I have an appointment in 15 minutes and I don't want to be late."

"Why should you be the only one bound by law to ensure your own safety, while you risk your companion's life to travel in this monstrous vehicle without the advantage of a safety restraint?" she asked seriously.

The look on Archie's face was tremendous. He was shocked that someone suggested he buckle up his dog, but the shame on his face for being so inconsiderate to his best friend was clear. He got out of the car and opened the backseat of his car, so that he could secure Pongo in the seat belt. The Dalmatian seemed to bark gratefully.

A large smile threatened to spread on Mulan's face, but she remembered Emma's advice and kept her face hard and determined. "Thank you, sir. I'll let you off with a warning this time," she informed as she handed him back his information.

A sigh of relief was breathed appreciatively. "Thank you. And, did you really just pull me over on a horse?"

The deputy furrowed her brow. "I did not ask you to question my method of transportation. Do not make me regret not writing you up for animal neglect," she retorted angrily. She spun on her heel and returned to her steed.

Mulan patted his neck gratefully. "Some people have no respect around here!" she told him. Mushu let out a loud snort. The deputy remounted her horse and continued her afternoon patrol.