Hey, guys, I hope you're enjoying it so far. Just a note to say that the story is going to take a bit of a turn, I'm putting a bit more adventure into the plot. It'll be a tad darker than the other stuff, but not too bad. I guess you'll have to read to see if it's your cup of tea, but tell me what you think. All mistakes are mine, I apologise for them profusely. Thank you to everyone who left such lovely reviews. Enjoy :)
"Belle?" replied Mulan, sweeping her dark, straight hair off of her face. Her sword was still pointed at Regina. It was obvious she didn't trust her. Belle glanced back to see Regina similarly uneasy.
"Relax," said Belle quietly to Regina, who reluctantly closed her fist, smothering the flame. Mulan lowered her sword, but kept a tight grip on it. She brushed snow off of her armour as she looked around.
"Where am I?" she asked, gazing up at the sky and around the trees. She turned in a full circle and looked through the blurry portal. She could make out the features of the land she had just come from, and this place wasn't all that much different. Belle and Regina's attire was certainly different though.
"You're in Storybrooke," said Belle, watching her closely. Regina remained a step behind Belle. They watched as Mulan reached out to the portal and sank her hand through it. The blurry image rippled gently, like a stone sinking into a pond, before Mulan retracted her hand with a sigh. "What are you doing here?" asked Belle, stepping closer, the snow crunching beneath her boots. Mulan turned and sheathed her sword, still glancing warily at Regina, but choosing to trust Belle.
"I need to find someone," replied Mulan. "I travelled for a long time to find this portal."
"Who are you looking for?" asked Regina. Mulan shifted her gaze to Regina, her eyes narrowing slightly.
"Rumplestiltskin." Regina smirked as Belle's gaze hit the floor, clearing her throat.
"Of course it's him," chuckled Regina. "Regina, by the way. I'm Mayor," she added. Mulan was unimpressed.
"Is this a problem?" Mulan looked pointedly at Belle, who seemed to be affected more than Regina by the Dark One's name.
"No, no," replied Belle quickly. "We just have… history here."
"Oh. So I guess you couldn't take me to him?" asked Mulan, shifting her weight from foot to foot. She was glad of her cloak to keep her warm.
"Mulan, you know that any help from the Dark One comes with a price," said Belle, placing a hand on the warrior's arm. Mulan nodded solemnly.
"I will pay the price for his help." There was a scoff from behind them.
"Look," said Regina, stalking towards them. "Rumplestiltskin is not the only one with magic here. It's not a good idea –"
"I know what I'm doing," replied Mulan coldly, staring Regina down. The former Queen held the stare as the atmosphere seemed to reflect their icy surroundings, and Belle was stuck in the middle.
"What do you need from him?" asked Belle, hoping to diffuse the tension. Mulan shifted her focus to Belle, ignoring Regina's triumphant smirk.
"I need something from him. Can you tell me where he is, or do I have to find him myself?" asked Mulan, a little curtly. Belle blinked, but recovered, clearing her throat. Woudl it be a good idea to see Rumple? Ruby definitely wouldn't be happy about it. For good reason, obviously.
"I'll take you to him," said Regina, cutting in to save Belle. Mulan's attention switched to the former Queen. Turning to address Belle's questioning look, Regina shrugged. "I need to talk to him about closing this portal anyway."
"We can't close it now! Mulan has to get back!" Mulan shivered slightly as the cold wind ruffled their hair.
"That won't be a problem," said Mulan quietly.
"What?" Belle stared at her, eyes wide. Mulan wanted to stay here?
"Belle, can you just take me to Rumplestiltskin? I've travelled a long way, I really just want to get some rest," she said softly. Belle could see how exhausted she was, and so acquiesced.
"Alright."
The trio walked back towards the town, Mulan and Belle catching up while Regina listened, hands stuffed in her pockets against the cold. Occasionally, she would light a fire and hold it in her hands to keep warm, but she sensed that any show of potentially aggressive magic would startle the already jumpy Mulan. Regina was not in the mood to have to fight right now. Belle and Mulan talked, Mulan taking in the surroundings, scanning the trees for foes.
"We don't have anything to worry about here," said Belle as Mulan's hand darted to her sword hilt for the hundredth time as a bird took flight from a nearby tree.
"Unless you count the ogres that are wandering in through the portal," added Regina. "Or the resident wolf. Or the Dark One –"
"Ruby wouldn't hurt anyone, you know that." Regina rolled her eyes before continuing.
"And then there are the troublesome citizens, the cars -"
"A car?" inquired Mulan. Belle looked back to Mulan, who was walking on her left.
"It's like a carriage, but not pulled by horses."
"Oh." Belle thought Mulan looked… troubled. There was something wrong with her, deep down. Belle desperately wanted to ask, but held her tongue, knowing it wasn't her place. She was concerned that Mulan wanted something from Mr Gold. Mulan knew his reputation. Belle just hoped she knew what she was doing.
Setting foot on snow covered tarmac, the three paused opposite the diner. Mr Gold's was along at the end of the road.
"You don't have to come if you don't want to," said Regina to Belle as she looked apprehensively down the street.
"No, it's alright," replied Belle with a sigh, gearing herself up. She hadn't had an encounter with Gold since the previous… incident. But she had to do it sooner or later, she guessed. Mulan was staring around, quirking an eyebrow at the occasional car. If she was confused by this world, so different to her own, she didn't let on. They began to walk towards the pawnshop, Belle breathing deeply as her heart started to beat faster. Then she shook her head and relaxed, letting her 'Lacey' side – the side that cared a lot less about Rumple, despite what he had done – out a little more. She was finding a happy medium between Belle and Lacey now, as they were both part of her. She took less crap from people while still being a kind person.
"Belle!" They turned at the shout as a tall, dark haired woman leapt out of the diner and jogged across the road to them.
"Ruby," smiled Belle, as Ruby kissed her quickly on the lips before nodding to Regina. Her eyes met Mulan, and she smiled politely. She noted a strange look in the stranger's eyes, an odd longing in her glittering eyes. It was gone as soon as the woman blinked.
"Ruby, this is Mulan. I know her from the Enchanted Forest. Mulan, this is Ruby."
"Pleasure," said Ruby. Mulan nodded in reply, a little distracted by the car that had driven past. She stared at it, her hand resting on the hilt of her sword, unsure whether to react or not. Turning to Belle, Ruby slid her hand into the librarian's. "I heard an ogre earlier. Are you alright?" Belle looked up into Ruby's hazel eyes, clasping Ruby's hands in her own.
"I'm fine. We're fine. It's dead."
"Good," smiled Ruby, planting a kiss on Belle's hands before rubbing them between her own. "You're cold."
"You will be too in a few minutes," laughed Belle. Regina and Mulan edged away ever so slightly, not wanting to be a part of this couple's reunion. They shared an uncomfortable glance.
"Wolf blood, remember?" smiled Ruby, but then she rolled her eyes as Granny yelled at her from the doorway.
"Girl, I might as well fire you!"
"Just give me a second!" Ruby hollered back across the road. Granny sighed and shut the door. "Where are you three going?" asked Ruby curiously.
"Just… showing Mulan around," said Belle with a smile, ignoring Mulan and Regina's shared look of confusion. Belle silently cursed herself for lying, but it was for Ruby's own good. She knew she wouldn't want Belle to see him, but she felt that she had to make sure Gold wouldn't manipulate Mulan. Maybe he would, maybe he wouldn't, she just wanted to make sure. The warrior had saved her life all those years ago, after all. Ruby smiled brightly at all of them, oblivious, and kissed Belle once more before running back through the snow and disappearing inside.
Belle turned to her fellows, who both raised an eyebrow at her. Belle rolled her eyes and brushed past them, looking dead ahead as she marched up to Gold's shop, cursing her conscience for being so moral.
"Belle?" said Regina, jogging a little to catch up with her. Mulan followed, concerned. She liked Belle, and didn't want to see her upset.
"Don't," interrupted Belle immediately as Regina opened her mouth to speak.
"But –"
"Let's just get this done, okay?" she said as she strode up to the door and opened the door. Regina shrugged and held out a hand to Mulan, offering to let her enter first.