Rio 26
"No uht uh, no" said Emma
She adamantly refused to let her mother even consider going into that fiery room.
"Emma stop, I know what I'm doing" said Snow
Mulan had left to find the dungeon or some other place we could lock aurora up in temporarily.
Emma looked panicked and was turning towards Rio for help.
Unfortunately what Snow was proposing was a necessary step.
"How do you know she doesn't go there every night anyways?" said Rio
Emma glared at her because that wasn't what she was looking for in regards to help.
"I used to but I learned how to control it. So I mostly stay in the dark area now." said Snow
Emma gave Rio another glare and she shrugged.
"Enough Emma I'm doing this. We need their help and this is the only way we have to contact them" said Snow
Emma looked visibly upset and like she wasn't about to let this go.
"Pity we don't get cell phone reception out here" said Rio
Emma glared at her again
"Yes but can you imagine the bill?" said Snow
"Mom don't encourage her and stop changing the subject" said Emma
Rio giggled because Emma had already lost the argument. She just wasn't admitting it.
Emma turned towards her to yell at her.
"I found it" said Mulan
She walked in the door.
Emma threw up her hands in exasperation because no one was listening to her again.
"Where?" said Rio
"Downstairs, I'm going to need help carrying her" said Mulan
"Okay lead on" said Rio
She closed the book again and set it down. She was fairly certain with what they had on hand.
She could make a potion or charm. So Snow could control her actions inside the room.
Emma groaned and followed her out of the room.
The only problem was she would have to get Emma to charge it.
Given the fact it was to protect her mother. She was certain Emma would readily agree.
They made their way into the room where Aurora was sleeping.
The princess looked peaceful. In fact it was the most peaceful they have ever seen her look.
She definitely looked like a sleeping beauty now.
"Have you thought about what were going to tell her when she wakes?" said Emma
"Why not the truth?" said Snow
"Because she likely to panic, if you tell her that" said Mulan
"Your certain?" said Emma
Rio nodded yes.
She had taken the girl's pulse earlier and found nothing at all under her questing fingers.
It only seemed to confirm what they all had feared. Aurora was compromised.
It remained to be seen how they would work around it.
Mulan moved towards her head and took a hold of her shoulders.
Rio grabbed her feet. While Emma got the door and held the lantern.
Snow helped them balance her so they didn't drop her. They walked her down the stairs.
Carefully balancing the unconscious girl between them.
Emma opened the door to the room and they carried her in.
They laid her on the small cot, covered her up and left her there.
Locking the door behind them as they exited.
They all felt bad they had to take this step but it was necessary.
Cora simply couldn't know what was passing between Henry and them.
It was bad enough. She already knew about Henry in the first place.
Their plans they would keep to themselves. Mulan was eerily silent as she climbed the stairs.
Her hand resting above her sword like it always did.
Her eyes held something dark now and her body language gave away her dark thoughts.
Rio guessed she felt guilty about Aurora even falling into Cora's hands to begin with.
The others were equally silent and the air had taken on a hint of severity that wasn't present before Aurora was corrupted.
Yet another thing to blame on Cora and in part on Hook.
She shook that thought clear. No he couldn't have known Cora already corrupted the girl.
He probably thought he was doing something nice for a change.
So she couldn't fault him for that. He was at least trying.
So she would give him the benefit of the doubt.
Rio frowned, she seemed to be doing a lot of that where Killian was concerned.
She mentally groaned when she caught herself doing it yet again.
Yeah Emma was right. She had it bad. Too bad it was more than likely over.
"We should try while we've got Aurora locked up" said Snow
"We'll try tomorrow tonight. Just give me time to work on something first" said Rio
Emma gave her a confused look. Mulan pushed open the door and they walked back into the hall.
They had decided. That the dining room was the perfect place for their meetings.
"We should all try to get some sleep tonight" said Emma
It was a good idea.
"Do you think she'll be okay down there?" said Mulan
Rio turned back towards the dungeon room door.
"Yeah she should be fine, one of us should check on her first thing in the morning though.
Just to keep her from freaking out too badly"said Rio
"I'll do it" said Mulan.
She sounded sad. Rio could guess she was rethinking her earlier stance on not killing the girl.
Rio sincerely hoped it wouldn't come to that because it would completely ruin Mulan.
The woman already felt like she had failed the girl. She didn't need to add being her murderer on top of that guilt.
They silently made their way back upstairs and to their rooms.
Rio slid under the covers and tried to sleep. Setting the book on the side table before drifting to sleep.
Sometime later, she heard Mulan's door open and her almost silent foot falls going towards the stairs.
Rio rolled over and went back to sleep. Even here she missed the warmth and still she couldn't sleep easily without him.
Sunlight streamed in through the window. She smirked and rolled over.
She had pulled some of the nails out. To let some of the natural light in.
She slid her feet out of the bed and stretched.
She padded towards the en-suite, used the facilities and brushed her teeth.
Walked back into the room and grabbed her clothes.
She downed the tea and crackers that were on her bedside table again.
Grateful for there presence again because she still felt nauseous in the morning.
She lifted her clothes to her nose and sniffed.
Once again something had washed them and this time it mended her shirt.
She pulled it on and frowned. It felt heavy for some reason.
She pulled it back off and inspected the repair work.
The thread looked shiny for some reason.
Frowning she walked towards the window and held it up to the light. The thread sparkled like gold.
She blinked in shock. Holy crap it was gold. She lowered the shirt and walked towards the wardrobe.
She opened the door and pulled out a dress. It too was heavy.
She walked over and laid it on the bed then grabbed another one.
Then walked to the curtains and pulled them open the rest of the way.
She turned and regarded the dresses which were now squarely in the sunlight.
She stared in disbelief. Parts of the dresses were sparkling in the sun.
She moved closer. Lifted one sleeve and inspected the sparkling part.
It was gold, all of the brocade was gold. Real gold not that fake stuff you get in our world
"Hey guys come here you've got to check this out" said Rio
She poked her head out of the door and shouted for her friends.
A few minutes later. A grumbling Snow and Emma appeared in the door way.
"What is it? What's wrong?" said Snow
Rio pointed to the two dresses.
"What the heck why are they sparkling?" said Emma
Snow moved closer to inspect the garment.
She lifted a sleeve same as Rio did and stared at the threads closely.
"Its gold" said Snow
"Huh, you've got to be kidding me, so the stuff about weaving straw into gold was true?" said Emma
Rio held up a sleeve.
"Looks like it is, I wonder how he did it?" said Rio
They gave her a strange look so she shrugged.
"What? Gold thread would be perfect for some of the filaments in my missile designs" said Rio
Snow glared at her and held up the blue dress.
"Were you planning on wearing these?" said Snow
Rio shook her head no.
"No I was just noticing them after they repaired my shirt" said Rio
"They?" said Emma
"The house spirits or elves or whatever he has working for him here" said Rio
Snow snorted and set the dress back down.
"Do you have another shirt to wear?" said Emma
Rio frowned because honestly she had just the one.
She couldn't possibly wear it with sparkling gold all over it. Someone might try to rob them because of it.
"No and I can't wear this one like this" said Rio
"You could pick out the repair work the hole wasn't that big" said Emma
Rio sighed and reached for her knife.
She used it to deftly cut through the gold threads and pulled them free.
It still left the hole unrepaired but it was better than attracting unwanted attention.
The last thing she needed was for everyone to know they had spent a few days in the dark castle.
Rumpelstiltskin would not be happy if he got robbed blind because of them.
Rio slid on the shirt and walked out of the room.
"I wonder where he did it?" said Emma
Snow opened her mouth to admonish Emma but Rio seized on the idea.
"We can search" said Rio
Snow rolled her eyes.
"Don't you think you've done enough snooping?" said Snow
Both Emma and Rio turned towards her and simultaneously said "nope"
Snow groaned but followed them anyways because she was out numbered with Mulan gone.
The woman was taking Aurora some food and more than likely explaining why she was locked up in the first place.
They rounded a corner and heard Aurora protest her treatment.
"But I haven't done anything" said Aurora
They retreated and they started heading for the wing they hadn't explored yet.
When they heard a thud. It came from the direction of Aurora's cell.
Rio glanced at Emma to see if she had heard that too. Emma nodded and Rio looked back at Snow.
She also nodded. So Rio signaled that they should remain silent and they cautiously approached the cell.
The door was open. So they moved closer.
Emma and Snow remained outside the door. While Rio snuck inside the cell.
Aurora was gone a quick glance told her that instantly. Mulan was laying on the floor.
She was bleeding from a wound to her forehead. Rio quickly knelt down next to her.
"Mulan can you hear me? Mulan?" said Rio
Mulan groaned and slowly rolled over.
"Guys be careful Aurora's missing and Mulan's been bopped upside the head" said Rio
"Will do" said Emma
She heard the sound of metal leaving a scabbard.
She was glad that Emma and Snow had armed themselves at least.
Rio tried to get Mulan to come around by shaking her.
"Mulan are you all right?" said Rio
Mulan slowly pushed herself up onto her hands and knees.
"Where is she?" said Mulan
She sounded angry.
"We don't know we were going to go look for her" said Rio
Mulan pushed herself up more. So she was kneeling now and wiped the blood from her eyes.
"We should probably do something about that first" said Rio
She reached for the wound on Mulan's head. Mulan pulled away and stood up
"There is no time, you were right. She is not herself. We must find her" said Mulan
She headed out the door before Rio could protest. She walked past Emma and up the stairs.
"What did she mean?" said Snow
Rio followed Mulan out the door.
"Just that whoever was using Aurora scared me, I guess it scared her too" said Rio
"Mulan wait what happened?" said Emma
She was trying to catch the warrior woman, who was moving quite quickly.
"I gave her the food and we talked.
I told her she must remain in the cell until we decide what to do about her.
She changed, her face contorted and she for a lack of a better description looked evil" said Mulan
"Oh great so the princess is possessed?" said Emma
Mulan stopped walking.
"I sincerely hope that is not the case. For I know of no one who can cure her that is still here" said Mulan
The look on her face was worried. Her hand was hovering over her sword like she intended to use it.
Rio swallowed nervously.
Yeah she used to think the girl was annoying but she had contributed to this little expedition so far.
It seemed unfair to kill her for something she couldn't control.
"We can always recapture her" said Snow.
Rio could understand her reluctance. Aurora was as close to innocent as one can get.
Plus she saw Aurora as a second daughter or at least a kindred spirit.
"And do what with her? We can't leave her in the dungeon.
The food only appears in the dining room. She'll starve."said Emma
Rio could detect a hint of jealousy in her tone and wondered at it.
She gave Emma an appraising look. Yeah it was snow she was jealous of.
Probably because Snow was spending too much time comforting the girl.
Her solution was however viable. Leaving her in the dungeon was out.
Mostly because she would starve. Leaving her in the dining room however might just work.
"We could lock her in the dining room when we leave" said Rio
Mulan turned to look at her as if considering her plan.
Mulan fingered the top of her sword for a moment. A gesture Rio now recognized as a nervous habit for her.
"The doors do not have locks" said Mulan
"We could figure something out" said Snow
She was seizing on Rio's plan because the other alternative was abhorrent to her.
Mulan bit her bottom lip and seemed to be considering it.
"Very well we shall see how it goes first, if it goes badly. You are to leave me to deal with her. Is that understood?" said Mulan
She looked deadly serious and Rio could guess what she meant by dealing with her.
"Yes we understand" said Rio
Snow opened her mouth to protest and Rio shook her head no at the woman.
She could tell how much just the idea of killing Aurora hurt Mulan. Now was not the time to push her patience.
"Come on lets find her" said Emma
She sounded less than enthused by the idea.
"Well you did want to explore" said Snow
Rio snorted this was not what she had in mind.
They checked every room they had already explored.
Now it was time to check what they hadn't. The front door was stubbornly locked.
As if the house knew Aurora wasn't meant to leave.
Of course putting her in the dungeon more than likely tipped it off.
They were paused in front of the only wing of the house they hadn't entered yet.
"Well shall we?" said Emma
They started down the hall. Opening doors and checking inside rooms.
If it had cabinets they checked inside those.
Slowly making their way through each and every room.
Until they had checked almost the whole wing.
They were now stopped in front of the last door and Emma was picking the lock.
"I doubt she's in there if we can't even get in" said Snow
The latch clicked open and Emma turned the knob.
They pushed the door open and went inside. They froze in shock.
Aurora was in there all right. She was huddled in the corner freaking out.
Her eyes riveted on the only piece of furniture in the room.
A spinning wheel and a stool sat in the center of the room.
Other than that the room was bare.
There was however A bit of sparkling dust on the floor near the spindle.
Rio leaned down and picked up a piece.
While Mulan and Snow moved to deal with the cornered princess.
She lifted it to her face and stared in shock.
It was a small piece of gold thread about the length of a piece of straw.
"Holy crap he can really do it" said Rio
She said it softly but Emma still heard her.
"Can do what?" said Emma
Rio held up the piece of thread.
"It that what I think it is?" said Emma
Rio nodded yes and handed the piece to her.
She watched Emma turn it over in her hand and stare at it.
Aurora was still freaking out in the corner.
Neither Snow's soft talking or Mulan's comforting gestures were working.
Rio sighed and walked forward. She figured it was the spinning wheel that was causing the fit.
Maybe if they removed it she would stop.
"Come on Emma help me move this thing, she's having a panic attack because of it" said Rio
"Why it's just a spinning wheel?" said Emma
Rio gave her a dumbfounded look until Emma realized what she just said.
"Oh yeah right forgot, sorry" said Emma
She grabbed one side of the contraption and Rio grabbed the other.
Together they carried it towards the door.
"Where are we going to put it?" said Emma
"The next room is fine. We just need to get it out of her line of sight" said Rio
Rio grabbed the knob, opened the door and slid out into the hallway while still carrying her end.
Damn this thing was heavy. What the hell was it made of oak?
Rio opened the door to the next room and they squeezed it through the door.
Setting it down just inside the door. Leaving just enough clearance to close the door.
"Holy crap that thing is heavy" said Emma
"Yeah I know, wonder how he even got it up here?" said Rio
"Dur magic" said Emma
Rio grimaced she had answered her own stupid question.
"Come on lets check to see if that worked" said Rio
She was breathing heavily but she was glad her stomach wasn't threatening to heave again like it did this morning.
The mint tea and crackers she kept finding on her nightstand seriously helped.
She had upped her intake in citrus and greens.
Hoping she could stop this cold or whatever it was before it hit her completely.
She still felt tired every day though and oddly after the morning her appetite was hellacious for the rest of the day.
Maybe it was some sort of weird strain of flu
Emma pushed open the door and found Snow hugging Aurora tightly while the girl sobbed uncontrollably in her arms.
Snow was too busy with the girl to notice.
The look of irritation that passed over Emma's features when she took in that scene.
Rio couldn't help but think that this might become a problem later. Especially if they took the girl and Mulan with them.
She decided she would do some more research later when Snow went into the fiery room.
Maybe she could find some quest to send them on and they wouldn't want to come with them to Storybrooke.
She was certain the book contained more about the wraith than that one passage.
Rio frowned as she glanced at Mulan. She would however miss at least Mulan.
Aurora had grown on her somewhat but if it meant she had to go. To keep Emma from going off on her mother.
Then Rio was more than happy to sacrifice that friendship if it kept Emma happy.
Aurora was still sobbing as they escorted her back to the dungeon but at least she wasn't freaking out anymore.
As Mulan passed them she clapped them both on the shoulder.
"Thank you, we would not have been able to calm her with the wheel in the room" said Mulan
Rio smiled at her glad of the praise at least.
Emma was more grudging with her acknowledgment but Mulan didn't seem to mind.
In fact the woman looked relieved.
When they finally got Aurora locked up and returned to the main hall it was already lunch time.
Snow took the plate of food to Aurora this time while Emma hovered protectively behind her.
Rio stayed behind with Mulan.
"It was the spindle" said Mulan
She was slowly munching on the sandwich and alternating it with sips of soup. Rio nodded in understanding.
"I figured as much" said Rio
She took a bite of the cheese and followed it with some fruit.
"She hates her" said Mulan
She took another bite. She pined Rio with a glare that dared her to deny it.
"Its jealousy" said Rio
She didn't bother to try and deny it. Mulan was smart enough to pick up the clues.
The woman would make a great C.S.I. in our world Rio mused.
Mulan frowned her piece of bread halfway to her mouth.
"Why?" said Mulan
Rio shrugged
"Probably because Emma wasn't raised by Snow.
So she never got that mothering coddling stuff Snow's doing for Aurora" said Rio
Mulan frowned and looked down at her food.
"She didn't raise her? I assumed when she said she was her mother that she did?" said Mulan
"No Emma and I grew up in foster care" said Rio
"Foster care?" said Mulan
"The state took care of us in special homes and we were passed around to different families a few times" said Rio
Mulan looked shocked. So shocked she had stopped eating.
Rio took the moment to snag another of the small sandwiches from the tray of them.
This one looked like ham or something similar.
One thing about this world she wasn't going to miss. No more mystery meat.
She wanted her bacon to taste like bacon. Not something she couldn't even label.
"Why were you in foster care?" said Mulan
"Emma came through the portal and they found her.
Big surprise no parents came forth. So she ended up in care and I was taken away from my parents" said Rio
Mulan stared at her in shock. Her mouth partially hanging open.
"Why?' she asked at last.
Rio sighed she hated talking about this but Mulan did deserve to know.
"My mother tried to kill me" said Rio
She waited for the usual pity and was pleasantly surprised when Mulan didn't offer it up.
"You hate her" said Mulan
Rio nodded yes
"With more passion than a religious fanatic" said Rio
The look that passed across Mulan's features could only be described as sadness.
"What of you father?" said Mulan
"He walked out on us when I was little.
I honestly don't remember his face and the only way I remember his name is because it's on my birth certificate" said Rio
The sadness deepened and Rio went back to eating.
"You were going to kill her weren't you?" said Rio
Mulan nodded yes slowly.
"She is my responsibility. If she is beyond saving then her end is mine as well"said Mulan
The tone remained sad and Rio needed desperately to lighten the mood.
"I think I found something yesterday that you might be interested in" said Rio
Mulan gave her a curious look .
"What?" said Mulan
"A passage on the wraith. It says the souls it takes just travel to another plane of existence" said Rio
Mulan set her bowl of soup down before she dropped it.
"Phillip?" said Mulan
Rio nodded.
"You are certain?" said Mulan
Rio nodded yes.
"I will need to do more research but it should be easier to reach from here. Than our world is to reach" said Rio
Mulan didn't know what to say. Rio could tell she was shocked.
"Will you show me this passage?" said Mulan
"Yeah sure just let me finish this" said Rio
She quickly scarfed down the remains of her sandwiches and then rose.
She did indeed see something on the wraith in his book but she wasn't sure of how much use it would be.
Still some hope was better than none.
She led Mulan upstairs and pulled out the book.
Flipped a few pages until she found the area she was reading last night.
"Here" said Rio
Mulan read over the passage and frowned
"It does not say how to reach it" said Mulan
"Yeah I know but it's more than we knew before " said Rio
Mulan nodded yes.
"Thank you" said Mulan
"Your welcome" said Rio
Mulan flipped the page and frowned
"This is his handwriting is it not?" said Mulan
"Yep" said Rio
Mulan quickly pulled her hand back and gave Rio a worried look.
"You shouldn't be handling his stuff so casually" said Mulan
Rio shrugged and returned the book to its former position.
"The man is evil not the tools, likewise a sword is not dangerous except in the hand of an enemy" said Rio
"You intend to be our sword" said Mulan
"Yes if thats the only way to keep Cora here is to cut her down" said Rio
"Be wary magic is dangerous and you do not know yet what that bangle can do" said Mulan
Rio could understand what the woman was trying to say and she did in fact share Mulan's reservations.
Truthfully the whole idea made her nervous. She would be the first to admit she didn't know what she was doing.
" I am but the path ahead may require a bit of risk" said Rio
Mulan looked at her stomach for some reason and Rio raised her eyebrow in confusion.
"Just be careful how much you risk and make sure it is worth it" said Mulan
"Hey guys where are you?" said Emma
"In here" said Rio
Emma poked her head in the door.
"Hey did you guys see this spread downstairs?" said Emma
"Yes the small sandwiches are most delicious. I particularly like the griffin and cheese" said Mulan
Rio gave her an incredulous look and walked out the door to follow Emma downstairs.
"Griffin really? Then what was the bacon?"said Emma
"Basilisk" said Mulan
Rio gasped and made a disgusted look.
"Isn't that the one that looks like a snake?" said Emma
"Yes is does resemble a serpent why?" said Mulan
Emma's mouth moved in protest but nothing came out. Rio clapped her on the shoulder
"Just give it up sis" said Rio
They came back downstairs. Only to see Snow loading her plate with a bit of everything.
Somewhere she must have moved past the trepidation this place caused and just went with the flow.
She was glad they were all together now. It was time to lay out her plan to all of them.
Well all of them that could be trusted still.