Chapter 2 - The next morning in OZ

The next morning in OZ…

Mulan was up with the sun, stretching and beginning her morning meditation. She was in a small clearing in the woods that she had discovered during her time in Oz. It was a perfect spot for meditating, Tai Chi, and even some running if she felt like it. The forest was peaceful as no one but farmers were up at the same time.

She had started her Tai Chi and now felt extremely centered in mind and body. She spotted a large bolder off to the side of the clearing, and decided to try something she hadn't done in years. Climbing to the top of the bolder, she took a deep breath, and flipped into a handstand. She centered her breathing and found a comfortable position to withstand her weight and meditate… The silence and the sun made her whole body relax…

"Wow. How are you doing that?" A woman sat on another smaller rock in the sun, watching her.

Mulan turned toward the voice. Seeing long strands of hair reflecting the sun, she fell and summersaulted down the side of the rock.

Ruby felt the pillow below her moving up and down. It took only a moment to realize that her pillow was a strong firm thigh. She had her arms wrapped around and curled into a ball against it. She was so relaxed. As if the warmth from this body lying next to her had the sole purpose of guarding her as she slept.

She began to slowly wake and take in her surroundings. Her long body stretched out every limb and turned onto her back, keeping her head on Dorothy's thigh. She catches eyes staring back at her, fully awake and grinning. Dorothy was sitting completely up-right against the wall. A pillow propped behind her.

"Good morning, beautiful." Dorothy says as she leans down for a short kiss. "I don't think I've ever seen someone sleep so deep before."

"I was exhausted." Ruby stretches again as she moves to sit up next to Dorothy. "How long have you been up? Did I totally lock you in place with my death grip on your thigh?"

"No, not at all. It was kinda cute. You were holding onto my leg like a teddy bear. I just couldn't sleep… more."

Ruby leaned in and kissed Dorothy's cheek, snuggled in closer to the woman's neck as an arm circled her shoulders. A blanket pulled higher to cover them. "Now I'm really sorry I passed out on you."

"Don't be. When the sun started to light up the room, and I could see your face… I couldn't stop staring." Dorothy squeezes her shoulders. "You're very beautiful, you know."

"Not so bad yourself, Kansas." Ruby kissed the neck in front of her. "Mmm… so you like to watch me sleep... my True Love is kinda creepy."

They both laugh as Dorothy tickles Ruby's side. They slide down the bed so that they are lying side by side again.

"My True Love is an anaconda. I'm going to need to walk around a bit. Get the feeling back in my leg." Dorothy joked.

"Kansas." Ruby pinched her side. "Promise I didn't hurt you."

"You didn't hurt me. I promise." Dorothy kissed her gently on the cheek. "I still can't wrap my head around this, and what it all means. It's not just a, 'Hey I kinda like you and think you're beautiful.' This is Prince Charming and Snow white type, deal. Wait, you called that woman with Mulan, Snow?"

"Yeah, that's Snow. She and her husband, Charming, aka David, live in Storybrooke with their family. Snow and I actually go back. She's one of my oldest and best friends. She was there when I discovered Wolfie and I were one in the same. She was there when I accidently… you know. Her and my Grandmother helped me escape."

"You're Grandmother? Is she still?" Dorothy asked.

"Yes she's still around. I have a charmed mirror that lets me check in on her from time to time. I can't communicate with her, but I can see her. Most times, she's running our diner."

"That sounds like my Aunt Em. She didn't have a diner, but she might as well have. She was always cooking. I'm not talking small dinner for two. She and I used to cook for friends and neighbors in need. Aunt Em had some money from her parents and a brother who died in the war. She would BBQ for the whole neighborhood. Or rotisserie! She loved rotisserie…" Dorothy stopped talking when she noticed Ruby's face pale. "Red? Are you ok?"

"Dorothy there's something I gotta tell you. About where I was while you were sleeping." She sat up in bed and crossed her legs, pulling a pillow onto her lap. Dorothy sat back to her previous position against the wall. "When you disappeared, I knew Zelena had something to do with it. I used a tracking spell to locate her, and it brought me to a different land. I was in the Underworld."

"The Underworld?"

"Seems Zelena was sucked into a portal and sent there. That's where Snow and some others found me. They took me to Zelena to help me confront her. She didn't even try to deny what she had done to you. That she had put you under a sleeping curse, knowing that there was no one alive that could break it…"

Dorothy took one of Ruby's hands in her own. "Yes?"

"The girls asked me if I knew of any loved ones to track down. I told them how your family was horrible and the only one you loved was your Aunt Em. But that she…"

"Was gone. Then how?"

"I was in the underworld. Snow's daughter, Emma, had the idea of looking to see if your Aunt Em was there. Turns out she was right. You're Aunt Em was running a very successful diner."

"In the Underworld? But why? Has she been there this whole time? How was she?" Dorothy's face was searching for some clue in Ruby's face, but was met with only concern.

"We went to the diner. She was there. So was Hades."

"Hades? The God of …"

"Yeah. The same. He took your Aunt to warn others off helping my friends defeat him. I'm so sorry Dorothy."

"I… I don't even know what… if she's already dead, what is he going to do to her?" Dorothy stood and paced the small room. "We have to help her."

"We need to get in touch with my friends we left behind. Trust me, Dorothy. If anyone can defeat Hades and rescue your Aunt, it's them. Emma and Regina are very powerful on their own, but together. Trust me, they will win." Ruby stood to stop Dorothy in front of her.

"Kansas, I don't know if you've ever considered leaving Oz, but I promised Snow the slippers to get her back to Storybrooke, and to her baby. If we go with her, we can get better information about what's going on with the others. If we tried going to the Underworld by ourselves, there's no guarantee we can find a way back out. As it is, that's part of what the guys down there were trying to figure out. Hades keeps changing the game on who has to stay and who can go."

"I have to do something, Red. It's Aunt Em." Dorothy sat heavily onto the bed. "I've never thought of leaving here before. This is where I've built my life. Protecting Oz from Zelena and anything else that tried bullying the citizens. But-" Dorothy froze mid-sentence, then stood abruptly, "Glinda! Glinda returned about a month or so before I ran into you… I think we may need to go talk to her. Ruby, she may be able to help your friends!"

"Glinda, The good witch? You think she could help us?" Ruby joined Dorothy in getting themselves dressed.

"It's worth asking. I mean, maybe she can look after Oz so I can go with you and…" Dorothy was cut off by Ruby's lips against hers, and her body wrapped tightly in her arms. When they pulled away she said, "What was that for?"

"You want to go to Storybrooke? Really?" Ruby's smile was enormous.

"Yes really. If not for Aunt Em, then for you. I can't let you walk away. Not if we're… you know. Meant to be." Dorothy ducked her head, not meeting Ruby's eyes.

Ruby lifted Dorothy's chin so she's face her, and gently kissed her again. "Let's find Snow and Mulan, tell them my love's brilliant plan, and then go find Glinda."

Dorothy beamed. She kissed Ruby again, slower and holding her closer. They gathered their belongings and headed out the hut in search of the others.