I was watching Mulan as I wrote this, completely unintentional U^_^
In the morning, Aurora woke early to nurse Phillip since he was an early riser, like she was.
As she sat on the rocking chair in the corner with him, listening to the sounds of the other inn occupants rising for the day, the princess wondered about Mulan and how she was.
Aurora was also hung up on the fact that Mulan was pregnant. Just who was her baby's father? Were he and Mulan together? Or married? Everybody knew that Mulan was a private person, but still—surely she would have said something about a husband and child.
"I really hope we can find Mulan today." Aurora confided in her son as he finished and she made herself decent before she began the process of burping him. "I imagine that she's more than a little scared, and that she just wants to be with Mei. I know her, Phillip, and I know that she'll do anything to find who she loves… that is, if she's well…"
Phillip's only response was to let out a large healthy burp. Just as Aurora finished cleaning him up, she noticed that Mei was waking up and stretching out in the bed.
"Good morning, little bird." Aurora greeted Mei as she sat with her. "Did you sleep well?"
Mei let out a huge yawn and nodded, as she rested her cheek on Aurora's bust, using it as a pillow. Aurora could tell that even though Mei was accustomed to waking up early, she wasn't a morning person.
"Yes, Rora." Mei let out a yawn and looked around. "Where's Phillip?"
"He's here, cuddling." Aurora laughed and touched her cheek to the top of Mei's head. "Look."
Mei looked to where Aurora was pointing to see that Phillip was also leaning against the princess. Phillip was watching Mei fastidiously, and when she smiled at him, he burst into giggles.
"Phillip likes you." Aurora mused, hugging both of the children close. "It's not often someone he's just met makes him laugh like that."
Mei puffed up her chest in pride, and she looked around to see what Ruby would make of it, but then she noticed for the first time that she wasn't there.
"Where is Ruby?"
"Well, seeing as the sun is up, she's probably back in her human form now." Aurora said thoughtfully. "I think she went to change her clothes."
Mei's bottom lip trembled. "But what about finding mama?"
"We'll get to that, little bird, so don't worry. When Ruby gets here, we'll get some food and then we'll ask our friends to help you find your mother."
"Really?"
"Really." Aurora gave her an extra cuddle. "Ruby will be here soon."
Her words were still hanging in the air when there was a knock at the door.
"It's open!" Aurora called out.
Ruby entered, wearing jeans and red hoodie that was halfway zipped over a white t-shirt. Plain black flats where on her feet, and she wore a black fedora on her head. Aurora noticed it wasn't up to Ruby's usual wardrobe standards, but she didn't say anything about it.
"R-Ruby?"
Mei's words came out in a stutter as she realized that Aurora had been spot on when she'd said that Ruby was just as beautiful in human form as she was in her other form. To Aurora, it looked like Mei had just been lovestruck for the first time ever.
"You're my puppy from last night?"
"Mhm," Ruby sat next to her, laughed when Mei scrambled into her lap very quickly. "And you know what? I noticed that you needed new things to wear, so this is for you."
Ruby had been carrying a wicker basket on one arm, but she quickly put it in Mei's lap.
"Go ahead and open it."
Mei lifted back the flap of the basket and squealed in delight—and in a decibel that should have been unachievable so early in the morning—as she pulled out a new dress, a new pair of leggings, matching boots, and a warm wool poncho. The weather was getting cooler, and these things were perfect, especially since they were all in her size. There were even mittens, a hat, and a scarf to complete the look.
Ruby happly helped Mei get dressed, and even did her hair for her.
"Where did you get those things?" Aurora asked the woman in red as Mei flounced off to check out her own reflection in the closet mirror. "I didn't think any of the shops were open yet."
"Some are, some aren't."
Ruby stood and held her arms out for Phillip.
"Is the baby ready for the day?"
"Yes. Why?" Aurora was taken aback by the sudden change in subject, but still handed her son over. "What are you thinking?"
"That I don't work today, so I can help you out for this adventure. I'll take the kids to the diner while you get ready for the day."
Aurora smiled gratefully at Ruby; the older girl was the sister Aurora had always wanted but had never gotten as a child.
"Thanks, Ruby. I'll see you all in awhile."
When Aurora finally made it to the diner, she found the others in a booth adjacent to the washrooms, just in case. Phillip was perched in Ruby's lap, absorbed in maintaining his grip on the bits of chopped peach on the saucer in front of him. He was a sucker for peaches and was happily stuffing his face now. Ruby and Mei were happily sharing a stack of waffles together, and Mei was even laughing as she tasted maple syrup for the first time. The whole scene was picturesque, so Aurora joined them, soon ordering her usual bowl of yogurt, fruit, and granola.
After everyone was done and clean, Ruby checked the time: eight-ten.
"You know," she said to Aurora as returned Phillip to her and scooped Mei off the floor and sitting her on her hip. "Emma should be in her office now. David, too."
Aurora's heart leapt; getting to Emma meant being one step closer to Mulan. "Then let's go."
Mei patted Ruby on the shoulder to get her attention as they left the diner and headed out to the main avenue. "Ruby, I have a question for you."
"And what's that, my sweet Mei?"
"Did you say the names David and Emma?"
"I did."
Mei perked up. "My mama is friends with Emma, and she told me that David is Emma's papa. Is David nice to Emma?"
Ruby's heart broke to hear a question like that from one so small about people she so dearly loved, but she still answered the inquiry.
"David is nice to Emma because he loves her very much."
Mei grinned, pleased by this answer. "I have another question."
"Oh?"
"Is mama's friend Belle around here? Mama said Belle is a very good tracker and that that makes her very honu— honna—"
The little one pouted when she couldn't get the word right.
"Mei, are you trying to say the word honorable?"
"Yes!"
"Well, you're in luck: Belle does live here, so someone will make sure she comes to help."
Delighted by this, Mei gave Ruby a peck on the cheek and let her thoughts drift to something else.
"Hey, guys." Emma greeted Ruby and Aurora warmly when she saw them come into the office. "Who's your pint-sized hitchhiker?"
"Emma, this is Mei." explained Ruby as she caressed the little girl's back when she suddenly got shy. "I found her last night, wandering through the woods, on one of the hiking paths."
Emma raised her eyebrows, knowing that Ruby hadn't been quite herself last night. "You found her?"
Ruby nodded. "She told me she was very lost, but she was also frightened, tired, hungry, dirty, and cold. It wasn't like I could just leave her there, so I got her to get on my back, and I brought her to Aurora."
The sheriff-princess turned to the girl in purple for confirmation.
"Ruby did bring Mei to me," Aurora said with a nod. "And we looked after her since it was too late to call you."
Emma couldn't argue against that logic, so she approached Mei, who had been watching her this whole time from the safety of Ruby's arms.
"Hey, there."
Emma held a hand out, just to see what Mei would do. She was given a high five and when Mei kept her hand in hers, she took it as a sign of interest and trust.
"It's really nice to meet you, Mei."
The dark-haired child actually cracked a smile. "You're Emma?"
"That's right."
Mei held her arms out, wanting to see her up close. When Emma took her, she noticed that Mei was lighter than she should have been for a four-year-old child.
"Where are your parents?"
"I don't think my papa came with us to this land. That's good, though."
Fascinated by this child, Emma sat on the edge of the nearest desk with her. "Tell me why that's a good thing."
"Because he was mean and made mama cry all the time. Sometimes he hit her."
Mei's words, delivered with brute honesty, broke everyone's hearts.
"I'm so sorry, Mei." Emma reached out and stroked the little girl's face affectionately. "I'm so sorry."
"He shouldn't have done that."
"You're completely right." Emma agreed. "He really shouldn't have done that."
Wanting to get the conversation going in a proper direction, Aurora spoke pointedly to her little friend. "Mei, why don't you tell Emma who your mother is? It's a good time to do that."
"My mama is Mulan, and she said once that you and your mama are friends with her."
"That's very true." Emma nodded as she recalled their adventures with the warrior.
"Mama is also friends with Belle. Do you know where she is?"
Emma nodded and just as she made to reach for her phone, a new person entered the room: David.
"Emma, I—hi, everyone."
David was very surprised to see all the new people because it had been just him and his daughter when he'd left for the bakery a little bit ago. As a nice gesture, and as a way to break the awkward silence that had just popped up, he held open the paper bag he was carrying.
"Bagels, anyone?"
Aurora politely turned him down, and so did Ruby, but she seemed slightly off, like she was having an aversion to the smell of the warm baked treat.
"You alright, Red?" the prince asked of the woman he'd always regarded as a little sister.
Ruby most certainly was not, but she wasn't ready to talk about it. David believed her when she made up a passing excuse and used the phrase 'Wolf's Time,' in it, and Emma wasn't even paying attention because she was now at her desk with Mei in her lap, showing her how to spread cream cheese on a bagel. Aurora immediately suspected what Ruby was hiding but said nothing of it, instead moving towards David, quickly filling him in on the situation.
"Then where is Mei's mother?" He asked when she was finished. "She has to be around here somewhere."
"Mei's mother is Mulan the warrior."
"I beg your pardon?" The prince had heard many stories of the warrior, but from all of those, he never would've pegged her as the motherly type. "Mulan is here?"
Aurora nodded. "Yes, and apparently, she's out in the woods."
"And Ruby brought her to you?"
Aurora gave another nod. "Yes, but more to the point: how many trackers do you know besides Ruby?"
"Snow and Belle, for sure." The prince answered immediately. "Robin Hood can help, too. I'll contact them."
"Good." Aurora sat in the nearest chair with Phillip. "I will be happy to look after baby Neal if need be, but please impress upon whomever you recruit that speed is of the essence, because according to Mei, Mulan is pregnant."
David was on his phone in no time after that, and Ruby was dashing out the door, calling over her shoulder that she was going to go collect Belle.
All Aurora could do was wait.
Hang in there, Mulan, she thought. Help is coming.
