Disclaimer: I do not own Once Upon a Time

AN: A big thanks to GranddaughterOfCaskettAndTivia. Just so everyone knows, by the way, adding Shang in was completely her idea! I hope everyone enjoys this next chapter! ~ XOXO MAS

Chapter Ten

Mulan grumbled as she rounded the halls of the castle with Ruby, her face twisted into a displeased scowl. "He's an arrogant man who believes women can't hold more than one thought in their mind at a time. If they can manage an original thought at all. I can't believe he will be the one to take over our kingdom one day. I'm so glad I left, honestly, at least Robin is upfront about who he is and what he wants out of life," she muttered to Red. "Robin owes me for this."

Ruby sighed, her mind flicking through the events since they came back from Neverland. No one had been crazy about Hook and Emma together at first, but since they arrived here, he'd been up front and honest about who he was and what he wanted. None of it made any sense, there was something she was missing, she just wasn't sure what it was. Yet. She would find out. With a sigh, she interrupted Mulan's disgruntled ramblings about the visiting prince. "I just can't believe Emma and Regina just threw in the towel like that. It just doesn't make any sense. It's not like either of them." She'd been chewing on the fact that they just left with no word to Snow and Charming and no reason other than Emma wasn't happy. Ruby knew Emma was a runner in the past, but since Henry she'd stayed. She always stayed. Unless Regina running with her meant that she was back to her old ways. Now she could have her son, her boyfriend (is that what Killian was?) and her friends. Maybe running wasn't such a bad option, now.

"Let it go, Red, they're gone," Mulan muttered, pushing the door to the War Room open. "Let's find out what's going on here. Maybe if we can do that, we can get them back."

"Mulan?" Both women stopped as Prince Shang stood up. Apparently he hadn't been forewarned that the female warrior was with them.

Mulan took a breath, schooling her features, and reluctantly bowed. "Prince Shang," she murmured demurely.

He nodded to her, clearly pleased by her submission. "I wasn't aware you were here," he commented, sitting back down. "No one has heard from you since you were discharged." She wanted to snort, he more or less kicked her out of the military for being a woman. Philip had been the first man to really see her strength and ability. He and Robin were honestly the only two who had. If Mulan was being honest, one of the reasons she'd actually liked Emma when she first met her was because she had never questioned the fact that Mulan was a female warrior. Perhaps it was because Emma had heard of Mulan from some fairytale back in her world, but Mulan really believed it was because Emma knew and understood the strength of women. She herself had been forced to face most of life alone.

"I work with Robin Hood now," Mulan responded, her posture was straight, her head held high, proud of her decision to band together with the Merry Men.

Prince Shang scowled. "Why am I not surprised," he muttered.

Mulan chose to ignore him. Instead, she straightened. "Ruby and I would like to know what has brought Prince Shang to this kingdom and what exactly is going on."

"Leroy would like to know, too." The dwarf pushed the door open, letting it slam shut with a bang. "What's going on here, exactly? What threat are we faced with now?"

Snow and David stared at them, their mouths clamped shut. Approaching them slowly, Ruby asked, "Emma's not here, why can't you tell us?"

"Because she wants Regina and Emma," Snow finally blurted out.

David closed his eyes and groaned. "Snow!" He admonished.

Snow turned to her husband. "I have kept this secret far longer than I thought possible and Ruby is right, Emma and Regina are upstairs and we need to start focusing on assembling the guard so we can protect them properly."

Prince Shang motioned to the table. "Come, sit, I will tell you what I know of this witch, Zelena, and what it is she's after."

"Who is this Zelena?" Mulan snapped the moment she was seated.

"She's from a land called Oz," Shang began, leaning forward. "And she wants to kill her half-sister, Regina."

Leroy groaned. "There are two of them? Seriously? Cause one evil queen just isn't enough!"

"Leroy," Snow scolded lightly. "We're giving Regina a second chance," she reminded him.

"Yes, we're giving her a second chance," Ruby snapped. "But second chances aren't for everyone, are they?" Snow and David cringed at her words. "I'm through playing games." Her eyes turned on the prince. "Get out, Shang. Now." She waved her hand absently towards the door before turning back to face Charming and Snow, her arms crossed over her chest and her the look on her face determined.

Shang stood. "You do not give me orders." His voice boomed throughout the room, demanding respect. Ruby chose to ignore that.

The wolf snarled at him. "Get out before I take off my cloak and escort you out." She warned.

Mulan stood, latching onto the prince's arm. "Let's give the kingdom a moment to get their affairs in order." She yanked at him. "And I am not a part of your court anymore, so I do not take your orders either," she reminded him.

When the door shut, Ruby splayed her palms out on the table. "Why does Regina get more than just a second chance? This is her millionth chance and you both know it. Why doesn't Killian get one?"

"Because he's going to hand Emma over to Zelena!" Snow yelled back. "So, no, he doesn't get a chance. Not when my daughter is involved."

Ruby rocked backwards at Snow's words. "No." She shook her head. "Killian loves Emma. He loves Emma like you two love each other. There is no way that he would hurt her. No, not since he's accepted how he feels about her. He loves her and he loves Henry and how can you just believe that? Who told you that?"

David cleared his throat. "Neal told us."

Ruby raised a disbelieving brow. "Neal? You're going to believe Neal over Killian? Neal abandoned her. He sent her to jail and you're just going to believe him? Snow, David, wake up! What on earth is wrong with the two of you? And do you honestly think Regina would let Killian near Henry if she thought he was a threat? Look at all the evidence, look at-"

"Belle backed Neal's claim, Ruby. And Neal has Henry's best interests in mind," Snow whispered softly.

Mulan cringed from the other side of the door when she heard Ruby's next outburst. "Quite the dysfunctional kingdom I agreed to marry into," Shang commented as he and Mulan waited to be let back in the room.

Mulan shifted from foot-to-foot. "I don't think it usually is. Whatever you are hiding in regards to Zelena has stirred up quite a bit of trouble."

Shang shrugged. "We're trying to keep her attempts to take over the entire land under wraps. We don't want panic in all of the kingdoms, particularly when so many are just starting to rebuild after the ogres took over. Regina's curse wreaked quite a bit of havoc on the land, as you are aware. I'm surprised she was given another chance."

Mulan narrowed her eyes. "She was hurt. She reacted poorly. It happens." Leaning against the wall, she asked, "Now, why does Zelena want Emma?"

Shang glanced towards the door for a moment before sighing. "Perhaps we should give them some space."

Mulan considered this before nodding. Once they were out in the gardens, she repeated her question, "Why does Zelena want Emma?"

"She doesn't want Emma, she wants Emma's magic. Emma's magic can stop her. She wants Emma so she can harness her magic. She's going to try to use it to go back in time. She wants to change the past. And as for Regina, well, she wants her dead. That part I didn't mind, but Emma is a hero and her parents want to protect her. Our kingdom is the most equipped to handle her. We just need another ally. We understood that the Blue Fairy was with them in this other land. We thought she may help. We also thought that perhaps they had harnessed some of the Dark One's powers. We understood he was there as well. David told me he's dead though."

Mulan seemed to consider all of this information for a moment. "If Emma can stop her, if her magic is the threat, then why not use Emma? She's powerful. And she's a fighter."

Shang shook his head. "I thought perhaps a union might facilitate that, but Snow and David are adamant that she stay out of harms way. Zelena is the most powerful sorceress I've ever seen. Far more powerful than Regina. I'm afraid that our armies don't stand a chance against her. We need considerable light magic and-"

"Emma, you need Emma." Mulan paced in front of him and his brow quirked.

"You're hiding something," he accused sharply.

She paused, holding his stare. "No, I'm not."

He snorted. "You're still a terrible liar, Mulan. What is it?"

Mulan considered her options. Stepping forward she asked, "Are you opposed to keeping a secret from the king and queen? It won't be kept for long at this rate. They'll know by supper."

Shang's brows furrowed. "What have you and the wolf and the dwarf done?"

"We helped Emma and Regina escape with Tink and Henry. They're with Robin, the Merry Men and Killian," Mulan replied crisply.

OUAT

"Where exactly do you think we'll find the information we need?" Robin asked as they bumped along towards a port town in search of information.

"Well," Regina began, "I overheard Charming and Shang discussing Oz. We thought we'd start there."

Killian glanced down at the blond princess riding with him. "You realize that this is walking head first into an unknown danger," he commented slowly.

Emma smirked up at him. "And here I thought pirates and danger went hand-in-hand." At his answering raised brow, she sighed. "Killian, we can't just leave the kingdom to perish and whatever information my parents seem to be relying on is faulty at best. They need more allies. We need stronger allies. We need allies with more magic. Regina and I are the best equipped to find them. So, are you with us or against us?"

He chuckled and pressed a kiss to the back of her ear. "What a silly question, Swan. I'm always with you. You know that," he murmured. "I do think we should send word of your plans to Mulan, Red and Leroy, though. Best to have all the information in front of us from our spies at the castle."

Emma hummed in agreement. "Yes, we'll send word once we reach the port. I hope things are going well with Shang. Mulan didn't seem rather fond of him."

"She's not," Robin cut in. "She fought in his military. She claims he doesn't think highly of female warriors. To be honest, I'm not sure if I would've been so open if I hadn't seen her save Roland. She's quite the fierce one."

"She's incredible, really," Emma piped up. "I'll owe her another great debt of gratitude once we resolve this."

"I'll help settle that debt, don't worry," Robin assured her. "Now, just to warn you, a friend of mine told me your ship was in this port Killian." He glanced at the pirate. "It's been ah, commandeered."

Killian snarled. "By who?"

"You're not going to like it," Robin warned him. At Killian's look, he sighed. "Blackbeard."

OUAT

XOXO

MAS