She finally looked up with sad eyes, "Maybe we aren't meant to be? Maybe destiny and fate is working against us because I was suppose to fall in love with Phillip...not you..." Aurora seemed like she had dwelled on this more than this moment. I sighed knowing the stress all of this had put onto her. "Well, Regina said we have True Love, which is a very powerful thing. We have Jane who was made out of True Love...even though she isn't truly mine..." I tried to coax her head to look toward me, to show her I believed in us. And whatever fate and destiny decided, we were meant to be. "We have something special, Princess. Whether or not we know how it works or what it is. I know that here..." I placed her hand over my thumping heart, letting her know each heartbeat that was made was for her. She finally held her head up toward me, her eyes shining and gleaming like the stars at night. "Is where all the love that I have for you is, and that no matter what...I will always love you." She smiled crookedly, beginning to cry. She was an emotional wreck and I knew those words had helped. She leaned into my chest with her forehead just resting as she silently cried into me. I held her for as she spoke, "I'm so sorry to ever doubt you Mulan...you're my Warrior who protects me...who loves me...I should know that..." her words were muffled as she spoke, but I could hear perfectly. I rubbed her back as she just cried on. I didn't care if she doubted our family, our life, or even our love, because I knew she would still love me in the end. Fate and Destiny worked hand in hand to bring us together. Just because life got hard, it didn't mean our love grew weaker. It was human nature to doubt and worry, so I didn't blame her. I would never blame her for any of this.

Aurora and I fell asleep in the booth just leaning against each other as everyone else also fell asleep. The only person capable of being up and awake was Ruby. Because of her wolf's time being somewhat close, she is able to stay alert for as long as her body and mind would allow. Emma, Ruby, and I took shifts of staying up and guarding the diner. It seemed hopeless, but Regina warned that if the Shadow were here still and we weren't careful, we would all be dead. By reflex I awoke alerted and ready as Ruby barely called for my turn to begin. I slowly and carefully snaked myself away from Aurora's snug body and seated myself in the chair in front of the closed and locked doors. I noticed before I had completely got out of the booth, Ruby was clenching onto a vial in her hands. It was a small vial filled with some sort of liquid. She kept tensing her hands around it and occasionally looked at the vile. I didn't know what the significance of the vial was, but it seemed important. As I got up, Ruby sprawled onto the booths near the back and fell right to sleep clenching the vile in her hands. I just kept my eyes at the door waiting for any movement or sound. I could hear Granny upstairs shifting in her bed, the breaths of sleepy bodies in the booths, but then a third thing was heard outside of the diner. It sounded like tapping, but also footsteps. It was strange and kept coming closer. I didn't want to alert anyone if it was just pebbles being blown by the night wind, or even twigs rolling on the pavement. Suddenly, a dark shadow slowly moved in front of the draped windows. "Someone's here!" I yelled unsheathing my sword as soon as the door flew open, I charged at whatever was there.

Everyone awoke in a jolt, even Regina sprang to her feet with fire in her hands. I swung for the figure blindly, but I soon stopped my slice in mid air seeing who it really was. "Rumplestiltskin..." I mumbled gripping my sword even harder. Then I saw Belle come around the corner flushed and looking quite pale. Everyone looked at the both of them frazzled and surprised. "My my, everyone is here." Rumple began to sneer as he casually strode inside with his cane beating down as he did. I kept my sword up just in case he was up to something. Rumple stopped as he came up to Emma and Regina who were quite close, and quite exhausted. "A team of enemies working together...and for what? Does anyone know?" Rumple smirked as he kept on limping around everyone, making this situation even more tense. "Surely, you must know Deary." Rumple cooed as he completely stopped in front of Aurora, who just stood wary and exhausted as well. "Fighting for a forbidden true love, isn't that right?" Rumple darted his eyes toward me as he spoke, his eyes flooded with hate. It was enough, but suddenly Emma stood out and challenged Rumple as she defended Aurora and I. "What's there to be forbidden about? True love is true love. Fate and destiny are never wrong!" Rumple dryly laughed as he began to hobble toward Emma, giving her his full attention. "And you would know Ms. Swan?" Rumple smiled cheekily as he turned his back toward us, toward Belle. "I knew something was being conspired against me as soon as Belle came to my home. At first it was nice, but I knew Belle is with that excuse for a werewolf and-"
"She is not an excuse!" Belle shouted against him. She had formed fists and they were shaking by anger. Ruby stepped forward wanting to protect Belle, but Snow held her back. Rumple rolled his eyes at the show of affection and continued his speech, "As soon as she came, I knew the Shadow had come back. Do you not think..." Rumple cocked his head so his eyes could see us. "I wouldn't have known?" Rumple turned onto his heel, dramatically, as he faced us again. "I am the Dark One. And I know that your bastard of a daughter is my undoing!" Rumple was furious as he pointed his impish fingers toward me.