A/N: Apparently I got the days wrong so I'm finishing these off now. This is a universe where the world is colourless until you meet your soulmate.
As always, I don't own anything. Please enjoy and review.
Aurora shifts on her horse, a slight movement, not enough to reveal her impatience. The wind is cool on her face, a perfect day for a ride but instead she is waits at the crossroads, castle at her back, a member of the greeting party.
According to the scouts, their guests should be arriving at any moment so Aurora uses this thought to stop herself from shifting again. Rose whinnies and she uses her horse to distract herself, gently stroking her neck.
She wonders sometimes if her horse is truly beautiful, she has been told she is. A coat the colour of honey but Aurora does not have the faintest idea of what colour honey is so the comparison is lost on her. She glances around the fields, grass stretching away from her. Aurora is sometimes nearly overwhelmed by curiosity, the desire to know what colour truly is. But then she considers the price, having a soulmate, someone she could be completely happy with and one day having the colours fade away as she sits in her castle with another man as her husband.
No, she thinks, as she straightens in her saddle. Seeing the world in its true beauty would not be worth a lifetime of heartache.
A horse crests the hill she was gazing absently at, one of their scouts, followed by a party of knights. She lets out a sigh of relief, glad for this charade to be nearly over. She waves her hand and a soldier blows their horn, alerting the castle to prepare for their arrival.
Aurora fixes her best smile upon her face as the party stops in front of them, her fiancé at the helm.
"Your Highness," her scout says, clearing his throat, "Prince Philip and his entourage have safely arrived."
"Thank you, Scout Michaels," she says graciously, biting back the comment that that is blinding obvious. She rides closer to Philip and dips her head, offering her hand, "It is a pleasure to see you once again, Prince Philip."
"And you, Princess Aurora," he replies, with a gentle kiss on her hand.
Her eyes drift over his party and she speaks with a louder voice, "You all must be tired from your journey. Let us go back to the castle where you can properly rest and recover." She turns to Philip, "Will you ride with me, Your Highness?"
"Of course, Your Highness," he replies with a smile, "Only if we can drop the formalities."
"I would enjoy that very much, Philip," she laughs and turns her horse.
Their return to the castle is relatively uneventful, Aurora and Philip merely exchanging events that they have not recently written about. She finds herself thinking how much she missed him, that sparkle to his eye and his gentle manner but she fears her earlier thoughts upon soulmates have made her melancholy.
They had agreed upon their first meeting that although their marriage was arranged they would make the most of it and always be honest with one another. It had been a test on that day, for Philip had also admitted that colour had entered his world as soon as he saw her.
It had nearly broke her heart to tell him that her world was still decidedly colourless.
"You're looking rather thoughtful," Philip states, as they cross the moat.
"I'm sorry," she says, "I simply have a lot on my mind."
"That I understand," he sighs, "I'm glad that after this visit we can be finished with the wedding preparations and actually be married. Then we can truly be united against Maleficent."
She ignores the churning in her gut and smiles, "That will be wonderful."
Philip knows her too well and lowers his, "Aurora, I know you consider this your duty but if you are truly unhappy... We can make our alliance work another-"
"No, Philip," she cuts in, "If I am to be married to anyone, I would chose you, for myself and for my kingdom. But I feel nothing but friendship towards you, do you not want the chance to find someone who feels more?"
Philip shrugs, "I consider myself fortunate to marry someone who is witty, kind, strong and cares for me. I do not need a burning love."
They finish their ride in silence, Aurora catching herself thinking that they may not need a burning love, but they may deserve one. She shakes her head, cursing her guardians for telling her so many romantic stories and knights and quests as a child before forcing the thoughts out of her mind.
"Shall we go in?" Aurora asks, as a stableboy takes Rose away.
"Just a moment, there's someone I want you to meet," Philip says, before calling loudly, "Mulan, over here!"
"Mulan?" Aurora questions, "The knight you recently befriended?"
"That's the one," Philip says as an armoured knight strides over, helmet still affixed, "I think you two will get along."
"Aurora, this is my friend, Mulan. Mulan, this is Aurora, my betrothed."
Aurora can barely hear the words as her world completely shifts. The knight raises their helmet, eyes meeting and her heart pounds in her chest. Colour does not so much burst into her view so much as settle, as though it was there all along. She knows the colours without ever having being taught, Mulan's armour a beautiful contrast of black and maroon, studded with gold.
Aurora cannot tear her eyes away from Mulan's, the enticing brown that she knows will haunt her until the end of her days.
"You're a girl?" She stutters, although she knew this from Philip's missives.
"Woman," comes the short reply.
Aurora forces her eyes away and claims an expression of calm, even if this is the furthest from calm she has ever felt. She smiles at Mulan, what she hopes is sweetly and not strained, "Welcome, Mulan. Philip has told me much about your adventures."
Mulan nods and the conversation seems to be over, Philip awkwardly suggesting that they find their quarters to freshen up. Aurora startles, ashamed not to have offered and quickly agrees. Her pace is nearly too fast as she escorts them to their rooms, her eyes focused forward so she doesn't stare at the colours on the portraits and ornaments.
When Philip and Mulan are settled, it takes all her power not to run to her own chamber, where she slams the door shut and slides down it. Her skirts are bunched around her knees, a delicate shade of green and Aurora traces her hands over the material, studying the different shades.
A sob escapes her throat, then another and she holds her face in her hands, trying to hold back her tears and block out the colours. She succeeds at neither.
Aurora spends the next couple of days being the perfect princess, she is charming, elegant and always gracious. She does her best to make sure nobody notices that she never actually spends time with her fiancé's favourite knight or that she often loses herself in simply viewing the world.
It is difficult to pretend that her world hasn't completely changed, especially as her eyes are drawn to Mulan whenever she enters the room and she finds herself re-reading Philip's old letters, stories of Mulan burning into her mind.
On the third morning after Philip's arrival, she makes her way down to the stables for a quick ride before stumbling into somebody.
"I apologise," Aurora says shakily, lifting her eyes, "I was not paying..."
She trails off as she notices Mulan, dressed once again in her armour.
"I apologise, Your Highness. I should be more careful," Mulan replies formally.
Mulan is about to turn away when Aurora blurts out, "Are you going for a ride?"
"Pardon?"
"This morning, I am going to the stables for a ride. Are you going?"
"Are you asking?" There may have been a hint of amusement in Mulan's voice, or it may have been mocking but she is blushing too fiercely to tell.
"Yes, we are likely to be spending more time together so it is important we get along. And this way I won't need to find someone to guard me."
Mulan bows and gestures ahead, "As you wish, Your Highness."
Aurora nods gratefully and strides ahead, trying to take deep breaths and not think about what she is getting herself into.
It becomes a routine, waking early to ride with Mulan. Out in the fields, she can pretend she is in a different world, a bright one where she can be herself, be with someone who makes her laugh, makes her heart race and makes her feel like she is incredible. They have taken to having a break beside a large oak tree and Aurora studies the landscape as Mulan secures their horses.
If Aurora had any sense, she would pull away. She would stop seeking Mulan out, stop watching her as she rode, trained, stop memorising the sound of her laugh. But she does not apparently have sense, she wants the happiness that Mulan brings her, even if the cost if heartbreak later on.
Apparently once confronted with reality, Aurora's cynicism surrounding soulmates quickly fades.
"You have a leaf in your hair, Aurora," Mulan says, bringing her back to the present.
She freezes as Mulan steps closer, removing her glove and gently pulls out the leaf. The sounds of the castle fade in the distance as Aurora focuses on Mulan's face. Commits to memory the shade of her skin and the colour of her eyes in the sunlight. Mulan's eyes flick back to hers and her smile fades.
"I will not be able see the morning sky without thinking of your eyes," Mulan whispers so quietly it takes a moment for Aurora to understand her words.
"You can see the colour of my eyes?" She asks, astonished.
"Ever since you rode towards Philip, you were smiling but even then I wondered what a real smile would look like," a small smile breaks on Mulan's face, lighting up her eyes, "Just like that one."
"The first colour I saw were your eyes and now I spend my days trying to decide which shade I like best."
"And which is that?"
Sometime during their conversation, they had moved closer together and Aurora could feel Mulan's breath on her face as she spoke, smell faint traces of leather.
"When you finish your training practice, the sun is shining and your eyes light up. I never thought colours would be worth the heartbreak, but seeing that, it is."
Aurora couldn't say who moved first, only that one moment, time seemed suspended between them and the next her lips were on Mulan's, her arms wrapping around to bring her closer.
Mulan's lips are softer than she would have expected, parting easily under her own. Their kiss drowns out all other sensations and thoughts of duty and it feels as though Aurora is finally home. She intuitively understands how Mulan likes to be kissed, eliciting moans from the other woman. They stumble back to the tree, the bark firm against her back as she tries to bring Mulan closer, to leave no distance between them. A detached part of her mind wonders if it is the effect of potential lifetimes apart or simply her reaction to the other woman but as Mulan's tongue begs entry to her own mouth, she decides she doesn't care.
She begins fumbling at the straps of Mulan's armour, Mulan pulling at the laces of her dress and she loses herself in her touch, her taste. Anything that isn't Mulan becomes irrelevant and she loses herself in oblivion.
The grass is itchy under her bare back as she stares towards the sky, watching the clouds roll by.
"How long do you think we can pretend?" She whispers, not wanting to break the moment but no longer able to hide from reality.
"That this could be our future? Maybe another hour." Mulan whispers back, fingers tracing Aurora's shoulder.
"Philip can never know."
The fingers freeze on her shoulder and pull away and Aurora sits up, looking over at Mulan. Mulan is staring at her with such pain and longing that her breath catches.
Then she regains her mask and Aurora seeks out her own, ignoring the prickling of her eyes.
"You are correct," Mulan replies as she reaches for her armour, "This would hurt him unnecessarily."
They pull on their own clothes in silence, Aurora staring towards the castle once finished, wondering why anybody would wish for power and privilege. She would trade it all away if she could.
"Are you ready, Your Highness?"
Mulan's eyes are no longer bright, they are closed-off and dark and Aurora kisses her without thinking, wanting to know that this morning was real.
Mulan's easy response assures of her of that and there is a quiet desperation to their kiss that breaks her heart.
"We should return, Your Highness," Mulan says breathlessly, forehead to Aurora's.
Aurora nods and pulls away, easily mounting her horse and trotting away without waiting for the other woman. She ignores the tears that mark her face and doesn't turn for entire trip back to the castle, unwilling to see the heartache on Mulan's face.
By the time they return, they are both composed, smiles fixed as they pretend absolutely nothing out of the ordinary occurred.
A week later Aurora is exchanging pleasantries with Philip as he prepares to leave.
"Next time I come back, it'll be for our wedding. Are you ready?" He asks.
Aurora's eyes drift over to Mulan before she can stop them and she hopes the smile on the face doesn't turn bitter.
"Of course," she replies.
"Hey," he says gently, forcing her eyes to his, "Something has been wrong, Aurora. We said we'd always be honest, so you can tell me."
"It's nothing," she lies, "I'm just a little nervous."
He does not loos as though he believes her, but doesn't push the issue. He grasps her hand and kisses it.
"I'll see you soon."
She stands there as they ride away, being the beacon of strength for her people. From her position, she can see for miles and her eyes drift to a black and maroon figure, back stiff. If any people see her sadness, she will blame it on the idea of missing her betrothed. For now, she stares and wonders how a world with such colour could seem so dull.
Most days Aurora hates the colours, although she can never find it in herself to truly hate Mulan. Time passes in the fiery dream world she is trapped in, a world she's sure would be much less terrifying if she couldn't see the reds flaring, see the gold amongst the flames.
Maleficent had attacked their kingdom not long after Philip and Mulan's departure and Aurora had been banished to this realm during the attack. She spends her days shifting between hatred for her circumstances and wanting nothing more to be back in the field, safely wrapped in strong arms.
Aurora stares around her prison, wondering how long she has been trapped. Wondering if thirst or hunger would kill her or if she would simply be ensnared for all eternity.
She has explored as much of this realm as she dared, not willing to risk the flames. She stands and brushes off her skirt, an old habit, and is determined to venture further. She makes it two steps before there is a tingling on her lips, a feeling she could recognise anywhere and the world fades away.
Aurora gasps and jerks up in her bed, nearly knocking Mulan in the head. She is disorientated and realises she is in her room, Mulan seated on the edge of her bed.
Mulan clutches one of her hands and uses her other to tuck a piece of hair behind her ear.
"You're back," she whispers, "I was so worried."
Looking into Mulan's eyes, Aurora wonders how she ever hated colour.
A throat is cleared at the back of her room, "I'll give you some space then."
Aurora attempts to sit up further, "Philip," she says beseechingly.
"I never wanted anything more than happiness for you, Aurora. And now you've found it," he says with a nod to Mulan, "I won't stand in the way of that. The rest we can figure out when you're better."
He smiles, but his eyes are glittering as he leaves the room, the closing door resounding in the silence.
"Are you actually okay?" Mulan asks, bringing Aurora's attention back.
"I feel fine," she says with a reassuring smile, "Did you...?"
Mulan blushes but keeps eye contact, "I kissed you."
Aurora has heard enough of the stories to know what that means. For a moment, she can put all her worries aside as she smiles, leans forward and with one simple touch, comes home.
A/N: I have a weakness for soulmates aus, I'll probably end up writing more.
Adrina Stark