A/N: Hey, guys, welcome to Book 2 of The Modern Fairy Tale Town! I won't waste too much time here reminding you to go and read that story before this one, because really, it's common sense that you do that. I mean, who would watch a sequel to a movie before a prequel that came before it, right? I know this is a bit long, but I thought I'd show you a rather interesting opening to the saga, but don't worry. The chapter after this one will have Storybrooke and the adventure that comes with it if you're patient long enough, if not, then suffer until you see Evie and the others who will go on this adventure to see Phillip, Aurora, and Mulan, along of course with Lonnie and Audrey. I hope you enjoy it, but if not, I don't care either way. Just remember to Read & Review and not be a pain in the butt about it, okay? Okay... On with the show!
A grand castle was soon shown deep within the forest known as Misthaven which was often called "The Enchanted Forest" for some people, but you already knew about that from the last story. Right now, you must see what was happening to bring out a certain monster into Storybrooke in the first place that starts a brand new adventure in the newer story in this saga of "The Modern Fairy Tale Town" with the citizens of Storybrooke and its descendants and the story starts here in this palace before we see a girl who was sound asleep inside of a rather large pink bed with a very pink room that even included a fireplace. She had long brown hair and light brown hair and seemed to be smiling at the dream she was having before she would be woken up today. However, just outside, a large group of people, from all near and far to come to the palace on a special day like today.
You see, long ago lived a king and his queen after the former king stepped down from the throne who was the current queen's father. King Stefan and Queen Briar Rose ruled over long ago and soon, King Stefan and Queen Briar Rose had a child which they had named Aurora after the dawn for she filled their lives with sunshine. Aurora was then betrothed to King Hubert and the late Queen Ingrith from the land of Ulstead to their son, Prince Phillip. Phillip and Aurora were soon married and after their adventures together they soon had their own child as well they had named Princess Audrey Rose to give her "noble strength" for when she would become a Queen when she got older and right now today was a very special day for the young princess who was very different from her parents personality-wise. You will see what I mean very soon.
"Joyfully now to our princess we come, Bringing gifts and all good wishes too, We pledge our loyalty anew, Hail to the princess Audrey!~" The people began to sing as they came to join the princess on the anniversary of her birth like they did for her christening which was a royal family tradition. "All of her subjects adore her! Hail to the King! Hail to the Queen! Hail to the princess Audrey! Health to the princess, Wealth to the princess, Long live the princess Audrey! Hail Audrey! Hail Audrey! Health to the princess, Wealth to the princess, Long live the princess Audrey! Hail to the King! Hail to the Queen! Hail to the princess Audrey!~"
Thus on this great and joyous day did all the kingdom celebrate the long-awaited royal birthday as many people knew how important a girl's 16th birthday was, especially for a princess. However, as the people came to meet up, there was a light knocking on the door. Three women, dressed in red, green, and blue, stood there, waiting for an answer, but didn't get one, so the three women soon came inside of the room as Princess Audrey was still sound asleep. They were Audrey's guardians and protectors: Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather. They had a special secret they kept hidden from Audrey her whole life until they thought she would be ready to learn more about her parents and how they met and other family secrets.
"Good morning, Your Highness." The red woman said as she entered the room with the green and blue women before they soon curtsied to her.
Audrey soon sat up and yawned before looking at the three woman, gasping a little in surprise, but still smiled at them. They wore red, green, and blue dresses. The one in red was named Flora, the one in green was named Fauna, and finally, the one in blue was named Merryweather.
"Good morning, Your Highness." The blue and green women added as they curtsied on both sides of the red woman.
"Happy Birthday, my dear child." The red woman then added before she stood up with the other two women who smiled at her.
"...Yes, it is my birthday..." Audrey realized with a small smile.
"Not just any birthday, Princess Audrey," Merryweather spoke up. "It's your 16th birthday which means very soon, you shall meet and get to know your future husband."
"That sounds very lovely," Audrey smiled warmly. "This is going to be the best birthday ever."
"Come along, my dear," Flora said as she took Audrey's left arm. "It's time for you to get ready for the day and have a nice breakfast with your parents and then you'll meet the subjects for your presents."
"That sounds really great, Aunt Flora." Audrey grinned eagerly about getting so many presents.
"Just as long as you remember not to get too greedy, dear," Fauna gently reminded. "It may be your birthday, but you have to remember to be civil and respectful around others even if you are a princess especially since being a queen will give you plenty of work to do once you become of age and earn the keys to the kingdom."
"I thought that a queen could do whatever she wanted?" Audrey replied.
"There's a lot more to it than that," Merryweather said. "You'll see as you get older and we'll help you every step of the way so you can aim to please."
"There's more?" Audrey asked hopefully.
The three women chuckled as they soon came to help Audrey get ready for the day, such as bathing her and brushing her hair before she would meet her parents for breakfast. It seemed to be a pleasant day so far for the royal family until something was shown to be out one of the windows.
"...Strange, what's that?" Aurora wondered.
"What's what?" Phillip asked his wife.
"That," Aurora said, pointing to the window with her knife. "It looks dangerous."
Soon, Phillip and Audrey looked where Aurora was looking and saw something glowing right the window not too far off from where their palace was.
"I might need to check that out," Phillip suggested as he stood up after wiping his mouth. "It could be magic or an attack. I won't know unless I take a look."
"Oh, Phillip, are you sure?" Aurora asked her husband as she put her hand on his arm.
"I have to," Phillip replied. "It's my duty as King and your husband... And a loving father," he then added before looking at Audrey with a fond smile before he looked serious again. "I must go."
"But what about my party and our guests and... And... And my presents?" Audrey asked with a firm pout.
"I'll be back in time for them to cut the cake, my princess," Phillip said as he gently stroked some of her hair behind her ear. "It's probably nothing anyway."
"I'm not sure if I feel comfortable enough about you going there alone, Phillip," Aurora frowned at her husband. "I might not do much, but at least let me come for company and moral support."
"Well..." Phillip said before he sighed. "...I suppose you could come along. It might be dangerous."
"I can handle it... I've dealt with Maleficent and my mother dealt with Carabosse," Aurora insisted as bravely as she could. "Besides, we could get a closer look and if it's a serious threat, we could always get an army ready to attack before tonight."
"But I'm supposed to have fireworks at my birthday party tonight with my future prince and elephant rides and everything!" Audrey firmly pouted.
"Oh, Audrey, don't be like that," Aurora frowned. "It's not like we're cancelling your birthday or anything."
"Hmph..." Audrey just pouted and crossed her arms.
"Come," Phillip told Aurora as he took his wife's hand. "Let's go see what's going out there."
Aurora nodded before following him right out.
"It's not fair..." Audrey pouted. "It's my birthday... Why are they doing this to me?"
"Now, now, Audrey-" Flora began.
Audrey narrowed her eyes at her. "Princess Audrey." she then corrected firmly.
Flora flinched a bit. "V-Very well... Princess Audrey," she corrected herself with a weary sigh. "Your parents love you very much, but things are very complicated right now."
"Hmph..." Audrey firmly pouted before she turned away and crossed her arms. "Things were just fine until whatever that was out there just happened."
"Don't act like that," Merryweather told Audrey. "It's very complicated to explain, but things happen for a reason, Princess Audrey."
"And what are they even talking about?" Audrey then asked. "Who is Carabosse anyway? It sounds like a wicked fairy godmother like in the stories that my mother and father used to tell me."
Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather shared looks with each other just then.
"...What?" Audrey asked her three aunts. "Unless... You three were going to tell me a story?"
"...It's a very long story, dear," Merryweather replied softly. "We just weren't sure when you would be ready to hear about it."
"Mm-hmm..." Flora and Fauna added as they nodded in agreement.
"Oh, come on," Audrey said as she looked at them. "Wicked fairies can't have stories, can they? They're only stories that mommies and daddies tell their kids to help them sleep at night, right?"
The three women looked at each other and wondered if they should tell Audrey or not, but so far it sounded like they would probably have to. After a little discussion, the three soon nodded before looking back at Audrey.
"Well... You do remember that story about Carabosse, right?" Flora then asked.
"And the princess she cursed to sleep for 100 years?" Fauna added.
"Well, yes, of course," Audrey rolled her eyes like it should've been obvious. "She was a fairy with Sleeping Beauty's fairy godmothers who turned wicked and decided to curse the princess with that sleeping curse... But what does that have to do with-" she then started to ask before seeing a certain look in her aunts' eyes. "...What?"
"You see, Audrey, dear..." Flora said before she pulled into the air and brought out a magic wand suddenly and waved her wand to reveal her, Fauna, and Merryweather's true fairy outfits along with their wings and wands, making Audrey gasp, jump back, and clutch her heart suddenly. "We would know because we were there when the one called Maleficent struck your mother before you were born."
"And she is the daughter of Carabosse," Flora added urgently. "And because of this, you are the next Sleeping Beauty."
"The next Sleeping Beauty?" Audrey asked with wide eyes. "So that story is true?"
"Yes! That's what we've been trying to tell you!" Merryweather told the teenage princess. "Carabosse cursed your grandmother, Maleficent cursed your mother, and soon, the descendant of Maleficent will curse you. It's in your destiny in our world."
"...So my future is already set up for me?" Audrey asked.
"It should be, yes," Fauna nodded. "And nothing will ruin the timeline in storytelling as long as it goes as planned."
"Says who?" Audrey then asked.
"Says the universe," Merryweather told Audrey. "And now your parents have to protect you and the kingdom so that things go as they are supposed to be just as they have for your grandmother and Carabosse."
Audrey looked a little conflicted and surprised of what she was just told.
"Now, do you understand what has to be done for the good of the world and your family?" Merryweather soon asked, trying to comfort Audrey about the situation.
"I guess..." Audrey sighed softly in defeat. "...They didn't have to miss the most important day of my life though."
Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather sighed in a bit of frustration, but they understood why Audrey felt this way. Suddenly, Lord Duke stepped into the room and began to sound a horn, startling Audrey slightly before she turned around to the man.
"If you're looking for my parents, you're too late," Audrey soon told him. "They just left."
"I understand, Princess Audrey. I saw them on the way out." Lord Duke nodded.
"Oh..." Audrey then said before she looked hopeful. "Do I still have guests outside waiting to bless me with their presents?"
Merryweather then subtly rolled her eyes while Flora sighed and shook her head and Fauna put her palm to her face as she bowed her head. Audrey was going to have a lot to learn to have more humility and think about others besides getting all of the attention and being spoiled rotten, unlike her mother before her who was often kind and sweet to others.
"Erm... No... It's two visitors..." Lord Duke replied.
"Oh..." Audrey said softly before she looked hopeful again. "...Did they bring any presents?"
"Audrey, honestly..." Flora firmly frowned at the girl.
Audrey stuck her tongue out a bit at Flora before she turned back at Lord Duke with a bit of a grin.
"Well... Uh... They certainly do have something to share with you..." Lord Duke replied before stepping away.
"Well... This should be good," Audrey replied. "Please do send them inside, Duke."
"Very well, Princess Audrey. Right away." Lord Duke nodded before he stepped away then.
"See? Today's not all bad." Audrey soon said to Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather.
"Hmph..." The three fairies frowned at each other before they went back to disguising themselves as human women.
Audrey then adjusted herself and stood up as Lord Duke blew his horn again as two girls stepped inside who didn't appear to come from the princess's home kingdom. "Huh?" she then blinked.
"Announcing Lady Lonnie and Lady Yi-Min of Northern Wei, Your Pinkness." Lord Duke then presented to the teenage princess.
Audrey then looked confused before looking over to meet the two girls that Lord Duke had told her about. Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather also looked over, looking rather curious.
"Greetings, Princess Audrey." Lonnie greeted before she bowed suddenly.
"Salutations." Yi-Min added as she joined her cousin in bowing.
"Why are you bowing?" Audrey asked. "You're both girls."
"That's just part of our culture," Yi-Min replied before looking at Lord Duke. "May we have a private audience with the princess, please?"
Lord Duke looked at her before looking over at Audrey and the three women.
"Please, that sounds most agreeable, Duke." Flora piped up.
"Very well..." Lord Duke nodded before he then stepped away.
"Thank you." Flora replied.
Soon, Lord Duke continued to walk away until he was out of earshot so that Audrey could speak in private with Lonnie and Yi-Min.
"Okay, we probably don't have a lot of time, so we'll make this quick." Lonnie soon urged Audrey.
"What is it then?" Audrey asked curiously.
"At least she didn't talk about more birthday presents." Merryweather soon whispered to Flora and Fauna who nodded in agreed response.
"Okay, look, this is probably going to sound very strange, but we need to go to the past," Lonnie told Audrey. "Our parents are in danger."
"What?!" Audrey then asked.
"It's especially about The Qui Shen, or known as The Wraith in English," Yi-Min explained. "The timeline is being altered and we traveled far and wide to look for the magic to restore the timeline."
"What does all of this mean?" Audrey asked out of confusion.
"If we don't help our parents, we could all be in a quite literal grave danger," Lonnie told the princess. "I know it sounds very strange, but we need to go right now."
"Of course... This is why Phillip and Aurora went away," Flora then realized. "Everything is changing."
"I don't understand. This doesn't make any sense," Audrey complained. "Why does all of this have to happen on my birthday?"
"Princess Audrey, there's no time to argue, we need to go to the past and help our future parents," Lonnie told the other girl, putting her hand on her shoulder. "Shan Yu could also be behind this. He knew my parents in the war, but now my parents are gone."
"Mine are too," Yi-Min then added. "My father Yao was in the war with Lonnie's parents and he eventually met my mother who was one of the daughters of The Chinese Emperor after saving her from an even worse threat than Shan Yu himself: Xianniang."
"Who is... That?" Audrey then asked, not wanting to risk pronouncing that name.
"We'll explain more later, but you have to come with us to the past," Lonnie said before looking at Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather. "And you can help us get back to the past, right?"
The three looked at each other before they looked back.
"Well, you did mention the one called Xianniang," Flora replied. "She has her own level of dark magic that could be worse than The Dark One."
"The Dark One?" Audrey asked before wincing. "I don't know what that is, but that sounds pretty scary."
"And Shan Yu and Xianniang are much worse," Lonnie nodded. "So please, Princess Audrey. You have to help your parents or else you will miss many birthdays."
"No! I can't let that happen!" Audrey gasped as she put her hand to her face in horror. "What do we have to do?"
"You two have to go to the past and help make sure The Wraith doesn't consume them, especially your future mother, Audrey." Yi-Min replied.
"You're not coming with us?" Audrey then asked.
"It has to be just you two since your parents are the ones at risk," Yi-Min explained. "This happens after Lonnie's mother had gone to war with her future father. I can't say too much and you can't either, especially since it might disrupt the timeline. People shouldn't know too much about their own destiny."
"She's right," Flora nodded before taking out her wand. "Also in those clothes, you girls will stick out."
"But... If we go to the past and help out future parents, what do we tell them and how are we going to help?" Audrey asked, concerned and confused.
"Well, first things first, you will wear these clothes to blend in." Flora said before waving her wand to give Audrey and Lonnie more simple clothing, putting Lonnie in pale purple clothes while Audrey wore a faded pink color.
"Ugh," Audrey groaned as she looked down at her dress before looking over. "You mean... Living in the past without life and luxury as a princess... For who knows how long it'll take?"
"We had to live like mortals when we hid your mother from Maleficent after her christening and also protect you from any other threats by being your aunt figures," Merryweather replied. "Believe me, living like mortals the first 16 years was very difficult before you were born of course."
"Don't get me started on that birthday cake we made for your mother without using magic." Flora added.
Flora and Merryweather also grimaced as they remembered that little misadventure very well.
"I don't know about this..." Audrey frowned.
"You'll adapt," Yi-Min replied. "Now, you have to go to the past and keep an eye on your future parents and make sure nothing bad happens to them or else this life as we know it right now will be erased from existence, including your special birthday party, Princess."
"Well... Okay..." Audrey sighed in defeat. "Can't I at least wear my birthday gown?"
"Sorry, Audrey, but you might attract too much unnecessary attention, especially to your future mother," Fauna advised. "Look on the bright side, if you do this, you can have the best birthday ever."
"Hmm..." Audrey firmly pouted before crossing her arms as she still looked very unsure about this.
"Now are you ready?" Flora then asked. "We'll send you away in a flash and you can get started on your brand new adventure. Don't worry about things back here."
"We'll all be just fine." Merryweather added.
"Oh, wait!" Audrey soon cried out. "How will we get back to this world?"
"Oh, yes, of course! How could we forget to send you to the past without a way back to the future?" Flora replied as she gently hit herself in the forehead.
"How careless would that be if we ended up doing that?" Fauna added.
"Very careless indeed." Merryweather agreed.
"...So?" Audrey soon asked rather impatiently.
"With this of course, my dear," Flora said before waving her wand and soon appeared a silver necklace that had three gemstones on it that appeared to be a ruby, emerald, and sapphire. "Once you complete your mission, the gemstones should glow and you should be able to come back to the future and everything will be properly restored. Just know that it won't ever work on midnight."
"Midnight?" Audrey asked. "What's wrong with midnight?"
"It's just part of fairy magic, dear," Fauna replied. "On the stroke of 12, any fairy magic expires until it recharges again."
"Oh, yes. Just ask Verna." Flora added with a nod.
Audrey then looked like she was about to ask yet another question.
"Verna was Cinderella's fairy godmother," Merryweather answered quickly, knowing what Audrey was about to say. "Now my dear, you must go and restore the timeline, or else our stories will all be unwritten."
"She's right, you know." Yi-Min added as she nodded.
"But-"Audrey stuttered.
"Audrey, we don't have time for this," Lonnie told the brunette girl. "We should get going to the past before it's too late."
"Oh... I don't think I like this..." Audrey frowned. "I think I'm starting to miss being 15 before I woke up this morning."
"Calm down. It's all going to be okay," Lonnie then said before she smiled. "Besides, you won't be doing this alone. Look at it this way too, you'll be making a new friend and having a new experience."
"Hmph..." Audrey pouted and crossed her arms.
"Very well... Now off you go," Flora soon said as she, Fauna, and Merryweather soon waved their wands. "Goodbye, girls, and good luck."
"We'll be right here waiting for you if you succeeded in your mission." Yi-Min added.
"Thank you, Yi-Min," Lonnie told her honorary cousin as they waved goodbye to each other. "I just hope I can save my father before the worse thing happens to him."
"Wait, something worse happens?!" Audrey cried out.
However, it was too late, and soon, Audrey and Lonnie were instantly sent to the past to where their parents currently were even if they weren't their parents yet where they were going.
"Oh, I hope they don't get themselves killed." Merryweather said with a deep sigh.
"Ah, I'm sure that we're in more danger over here than they are out there," Yi-Min replied with a small wink. "Let's just hope that they don't fail their mission."
The three fairies nodded as now all they could do was wait as Lonnie and Audrey were being sent back to the past.
A couple of people were soon shown on horseback. There were two adults and soon two certain teenage girls came after them on their own horses and one of the girls seemed to have a red lizard pet in her front pocket. They soon came to a stop to see another adult, a woman, lying down on a dais as the man cut through the vines while the masked stranger along with the two teenagers hung in the back.
"If this works, we don't tell her everything. Not right away." Phillip said to the masked stranger and the two teenagers who were Audrey and Lonnie.
Phillip then kissed Aurora while Audrey found it very romantic to see one of her parents' first kisses, which caused the spell she was under to be broken. A pulse of magic then spread throughout the land as Aurora woke up and gasped.
"Phillip..." Aurora gasped at her prince.
"Yes, Aurora." Phillip nodded at his princess.
"I told you not to come after me," Aurora then said before they kissed yet again, so Phillip helped her up. "How long have I been asleep? What happened?"
"It doesn't matter. The worst of it is over," Phillip reassured. "Now that we're together, we'll restore this castle and our kingdom. As we dreamt. We'll be here always."
"It will be truly wonderful." Audrey smiled.
"Where is everyone?" Aurora then asked. "Why does it need to be rebuilt?"
"It's a long story. And you, my love, need rest." Phillip replied.
"I've had my fill of rest." Aurora then said.
"You should come with us, uh, Princess Aurora," Audrey spoke up. "The people have gathered in a new safe haven. We all must join them."
"A safe haven... From Maleficent?" Aurora then asked.
"No. Worry not; she can no longer harm us." Phillip reassured.
"You just have to trust us." Lonnie added, though Aurora was still unsure.
"First, her mother goes after my mother, then me, and who knows what might happen if we have any children?" Aurora remarked. "Forgive me if I'm still a bit wary."
"Don't be. There are new dangers now, but nothing we can't handle." Phillip reassured.
"We're going to help you." Audrey promised as she stepped over with the other girl.
"You?" Aurora asked, not realizing she was talking to her future daughter, though noticed that there were two teenagers right in front of her. "But you seem rather young."
"Trust us, ma'am," Lonnie replied. "You need us a lot more than you think. Especially with Ping here."
"Ping?" Aurora repeated curiously.
The masked stranger nodded as that seemed to be their name.
"Oh..." Aurora then said, seeing that she had a lot to learn right now.
Audrey and Lonnie then both sighed together as this was going to be quite the experience for them as Audrey gently stroked the red, green, and blue gemstone necklace she had. She just hoped that this whole thing would be worth it in the end for all of them.
"So who are you two then?" Aurora asked the two teenagers.
"I'm your... Erm... Uh... Distant cousin," Audrey covered up, trying to remember what she and Lonnie were told before their mission. "I came to help you out in your time of need and my friend Lonnie here is going to help out too."
"That's right," Lonnie nodded before she held out her arm to shake hands with Aurora. "Distant cousins."
The red lizard then slipped out from Lonnie's pocket and out onto her arm, almost leaning into Aurora's hand.
"AUGH!" Aurora shrieked and jumped back up on the dais, panicking slightly at the sight of the creepy-crawly creature. "...You brought a lizard to help you out?"
"Dragon. DragON, not lizard!" Lonnie firmly pouted. "Mushu doesn't do that tongue thing."
The red lizard then suddenly flicked out its tongue like many lizards do, even licking one of its eyes. This just made Audrey roll her eyes while Aurora still looked cautious and repulsed.
"Except for that time." Lonnie then said with a sheepish smile.
"Well... All right," Aurora replied before facing Phillip. "Do you trust them?"
"So far, yes," Phillip nodded. "Plus... Something about this Audrey girl reminds me of you like when we were younger."
Audrey blushed and beamed, enjoying the sound of that while Lonnie rolled her eyes playfully.
"Okay," Aurora nodded. "She at least has good taste in clothes."
"Why, thank you~" Audrey giggled and beamed. "What? This old thing? I can pull off just about any look..." she then said before she did a twirl in her simple, not as effectively princess, but still not raggy peasant skirt.
Phillip and Aurora were talking, while the masked stranger surveyed the area. The stranger then paused before crouching down and felt the ground and quickly drew out a sword.
"What's going on?" Audrey flinched.
"Trouble," Lonnie replied as she took out her own warrior sword. "Brace yourself, Princess Pinky. We are not alone."
The masked stranger soon stepped in front of the two teenage girls to protect them before some sort of creature burst through the ground. The stranger then ran out to slash at the beast only to be thrown backwards as Phillip drew out his own sword and swung it at the creature.
"Phillip!" Aurora cried out for her prince.
Phillip and Lonnie slashed their own swords before one of them hit the chain of what appeared to be a medallion around the beast's neck, making it fall to the ground. The creature then flew away instantly and the group regrouped around the dropped medallion.
"What was that thing?" Aurora then asked.
"Something bad." Phillip replied as he looked down at the medallion in his hand.
"Will it come back?" Audrey wondered.
"Most likely," Lonnie nodded. "This is what we came here for."
"This time travel adventure better be worth it." Audrey firmly pouted to herself.
"It will be," Lonnie replied quietly. "Remember, we can't tell them too much otherwise it might destroy our future."
Audrey gulped and nodded as that sounded gravely serious.
"That thing was a cretin," Ping soon told the others. "In your land, you would call it a wraith."
Aurora glanced at the stranger. "Who are you anyway, Ping?"
"A friend." Ping replied before removing the helmet to show that he was actually a woman which made Lonnie smile.
"You're... A girl." Aurora noted.
"Woman." Lonnie corrected.
"Exactly," The stranger replied before giving her true name. "My name is Mulan."
"Her name was Ping when she was in the war in The Northern Wei when she took her father's place," Lonnie told Audrey and Aurora. "They only wanted sons and men in the army until she proved them wrong."
"Precisely." Mulan nodded to Lonnie's exposition.
"In your absence, she's helped me like no other," Phillip added to Aurora. "We fought many battles together."
"With a woman." Aurora then said flatly.
Phillip nodded in response.
"That is pretty unusual." Audrey whispered to Lonnie.
"That's my mother you're talking about." Lonnie whispered back sternly.
"And now, we have another to wage," Mulan soon retorted to Aurora before explaining more to her as this was extremely important, especially for Lonnie and Audrey to know. "The Qui Shen, The Wraith, is one of the most dangerous creatures in all the known lands. A soul sucker. According to legend, it marks its victims and removes their souls, damning them for all eternity."
They soon heard various screams which made them all concerned and nervous.
"What was...?" Audrey muttered.
"Those would be the sounds of the souls that stopped trying to escape, but fortune favored us, as we all avoided the mark," Mulan replied. "We need to begin our journey."
"I wanna go home." Audrey mumbled.
"Well, if you don't help out, we won't have much of a home to go back to." Lonnie whispered firmly.
"Okay. Okay." Audrey pouted.
Aurora still looked a bit anxious on the other hand.
"It's okay. We'll be safe with our people." Phillip reassured Aurora before hugging her and he then noticed the mark on the palm of his hand.
"Phillip, what is it?" Aurora asked as she suspected something suddenly.
"Nothing. Everything's fine." Phillip reassured, quickly hiding his hand.
Audrey and Lonnie could tell that that was a lie, but they tried to keep it to themselves.
Soon, everybody got on their horses and they began to venture out throughout the land. They soon made it into the woods. It took a while as they got there until Mulan had an idea that Lonnie just knew that Audrey was going to hate.
"We should camp here tonight," Mulan soon suggested to her party. "The Wraith only appears when light is absent. That's why it ran when it first appeared. Light is its adversary.
"And you want to stop. Now?" Aurora complained.
"I'm starting to see where you get your charm from, Princess Pinky." Lonnie teased Audrey.
"Quit it with the Princess Pinky stuff!" Audrey glared.
"It's looking for a mark; something alive." Mulan explained wisely.
"Our best bet is to be still until night passes." Lonnie added.
"Correct." Mulan nodded to her future daughter.
"They're right. We have to rest here." Phillip added.
Soon, everybody got settled and Phillip was making up a makeshift shelter for Aurora and Audrey.
"You are very helpful," Mulan told Lonnie. "You even seem like you might be ready for battle."
"Heh... Funny thing about that..." Lonnie chuckled a bit since that was what her name had meant and she was sure that was why her mother named her that.
"So... We're distant cousins like that pink girl is to Princess Aurora?" Mulan then asked.
"Uh... Erm... Yes... Something like that..." Lonnie replied with a nod.
Mulan suspected that Lonnie had told an untruth, but she decided not to make a fuss about it. "So, what do they call you?" she then asked.
Lonnie was about to say her name, but decided not to because it would probably be dangerous. She then quickly searched her mind for a different name to use until she thought about her grandmother's name which also happened to be her new last name after her father married her mother as she always liked how it sounded. "Li. My name is Li." she then said.
"Li... That's my mother's name..." Mulan said before nodding. "Well, Li, I don't know what you and your friend are up to, but... I suppose we can all trust each other for now."
"Yes, Mulan, that would be wise..." Lonnie replied. "Especially against The Wraith or anything else that might threaten this quest."
"My thoughts exactly," Mulan said before smiling a bit. "...You know, Li, you remind me of someone."
Lonnie looked over a bit then.
"...Like a young me," Mulan then said with a warm smile. "Just stick close to me and we should be just fine in the end."
"I think so too, Mo-Uh... Um... Mulan..." Lonnie nodded as she always wanted to hang out with her mother like this, so she decided to take advantage of the rare and unique once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. "I'm sure we'll become best friends."
Mulan smiled before Lonnie soon smiled back at her future mother.
Meanwhile, Phillip finished his task as Audrey yawned and decided to go by the name "Leah" to be on the safe side. "Here. You should sleep." he then told the girls.
"That sounds really good after what I've been through lately..." Audrey said wearily before looking over and groaning at the campsite, but she could tell that she was just going to have to step outside her comfort zone for this brand new adventure.
"No. I-I can't." Aurora then said, sounding afraid about going to sleep.
"Just relax. It'll come." Phillip coaxed.
"No, I mean I won't sleep," Aurora explained. "Not after what I just went through."
Phillip's demeanor then suddenly changed.
"What's wrong?" Aurora asked her prince in concern.
"I just missed you so much." Phillip then said softly.
"...And now, you don't have to." Aurora then said.
Audrey smiled as she watched her future parents interacting, finding it to be very sweet and romantic.
"I'm going to find wood to build this fire," Phillip soon suggested. "I'll be back in five minutes." he then leaned in to give Aurora a kiss.
"That's a 'see you in five minutes' kiss?" Aurora then asked.
"I'm making up for lost time. I love you." Phillip explained.
"I love you, too." Aurora replied.
"Aww~" Audrey cooed at her future parents.
Phillip nodded before he soon left.
"Lonnie... What's it like?" Audrey soon asked as she got ready in a tent with Aurora while Lonnie would bunk with Mulan, both deciding to stay with their future mothers.
"What?" Lonnie asked as she was soothing Mushu.
"Your home?" Audrey asked. "I mean... What's it like not being a princess?"
Lonnie sighed before looking over. "Well, it's a little tough," she then admitted. "People don't know you as well, even if your mother fought in The Northern Wei army against Shan Yu, he's a very horrible and vengeful man. Do you know who Shan Yu is?"
"Uh... I guess Lord Duke didn't teach me that when I was a little girl..." Audrey shrugged.
"Well... I'll tell you about him someday, as well as Xianniang," Lonnie replied. "Just know that you shouldn't take your life for granted, whether you're a princess or a peasant."
"Hmm... I guess..." Audrey said thoughtfully before shrugging.
"Trust me, you'll thank me for that later," Lonnie replied. "By the way, you should call me Li from now on and call yourself Leah for a while."
"But we know who we both are," Audrey shrugged. "Why should we change our names around each other?"
"That way we can keep track and people don't think we're lying," Lonnie explained. "We could really tarnish the future if we do that. Besides, I have a big brother and little sister back home I'd love to be able to see again if I'm lucky."
"Oh... I guess I never thought about it like that before," Audrey shrugged with a chuckle as The Wraith wailed in the background while Mulan made a fire and conversed with Aurora in the meantime as the sun started to set. "I'm an only child, so I always had everybody's attention on me, especially from my grandfather, King Hubert."
"Somehow, that doesn't surprise me." Lonnie muttered to herself.
Audrey looked a bit bashful and quiet in response before she looked around. "...My father still hasn't come back," she then said quietly. "I thought he was coming right back."
Lonnie soon looked wide-eyed and concerned. "...Something must've happened." she then guessed before she got up and went to go see their future mothers about the situation as Mulan was making a fire for their campsite.
"Where's Phillip?"Aurora asked Mulan, approaching the warrior woman instantly.
"I thought he was in your tent?" Mulan replied.
"He said he was making a fire." Aurora explained.
"I'm making the fire." Mulan retorted bluntly.
"I can see that." Aurora replied.
Lonnie soon looked over. "...Guys? He's just gone," she then said urgently. "Look. The horses are gone." she then pointed out.
Aurora frowned at that. "Why would he leave?" she then asked.
"Because he was marked." Mulan then suddenly said as she gathered up her tinderbox and realized what this meant.
"By The Wraith?" Lonnie soon asked.
"You got it," Mulan nodded. "That's what it does and now it's time to make tracks."
"Wait... What are you doing?" Audrey then asked Mulan.
"Going after him. He's sacrificing himself for you." Mulan replied as she looked ready to go.
"No, for both of us!" Aurora replied before looking at Lonnie and Audrey, then back at Mulan. "For all of us! We have to get him!
"I'm going alone. You'll only slow me down." Mulan retorted as she suddenly took off.
"No, we won't slow you-" Aurora retorted before the warrior woman hurried off. "Mulan! Mulan! Mulan, wait!" she then grabbed the other woman's shawl, but she was already gone, so she hurried after her before looking around for her. "Mulan! MULAN!"
Audrey and Lonnie soon looked nervous together before looking at each other in deep fear and concern.
"Is this going to hurt anything in the future?" Audrey asked fearfully.
"I... I'm not sure... We better hope not..." Lonnie replied.
"I'm going after her and you two aren't stopping me." Aurora soon told Lonnie and Audrey out of determination.
"Who's stopping you? We're gonna go too." Lonnie replied.
"Aren't you two a little young?" Aurora then asked.
"Let's just say we're on a very special mission," Lonnie said. "There's no time to argue. We have to go now if we're ever going to find Mulan or Prince Phillip."
"And I can't believe I'm saying this, but I think that she's right." Audrey then added.
Aurora looked at them before sighing as she attempted to be as brave as Mulan or Phillip. "All right, but you guys better not slow me down either." she then told them.
"We won't. Right, Leah?" Lonnie then replied.
Audrey didn't answer at first.
"...Right, Leah?" Lonnie then repeated with a bit firmer tone before nudging the other girl.
"Huh?" Audrey blinked. "Oh, me. Right... Yeah, right." she then added.
"All right then... Let's go." Aurora then told them.
"Right!" Audrey and Lonnie replied before they then went off after Mulan while they still had time.
Soon, deep in the woods, Mulan was shown to be holding a torch, examining tracks on the ground when a sound was heard. She then reflexed instantly, drawing out and pointing it toward the sound, but it was only Princess Aurora approaching on horseback with Lonnie and Audrey at tow.
"We found one of the horses," Aurora told the warrior woman before dismounting. "We're coming with you."
"Mushu too." Lonnie then added as she showed her pet.
Audrey rolled her eyes a little bit at the red lizard who seemed to glare at her.
"You need to stay here, especially you two," Mulan retorted. "It's dangerous."
"Yeah, well, we weren't asking for your permission." Audrey defended.
Mulan sighed and shook her head. "That thing out there is dangerous. And Phillip? He left to protect you. So even if I don't believe in his methods, I'm gonna honor his wishes. I'm gonna keep you safe." she then replied.
"I never asked him to." Aurora said to Mulan.
"And neither have we." Audrey added.
"You never had to. Everything he does, he does for you. And now he's gonna die for you," Mulan reminded Aurora. "Love is sacrifice. Something you clearly don't understand." she then turned around to leave.
"We're not gonna let him face that alone," Aurora replied. "I don't know what Li and Leah can do, but they look ready to help too."
"He won't, but with all due respect, Your Highness, Phillip's best chance is me." Mulan retorted.
Aurora looked suspicious of something about the warrior woman. "You love him." she then noted.
"What?" Mulan then asked in disbelief.
"Phillip. You love him, too." Aurora explained.
Audrey and Lonnie suddenly looked a little awkward about that accusation.
"I owe him much. We fought many battles together, side by side. Nothing more." Mulan told Aurora.
"Deny it all you want, I know love when I see it." Aurora replied victoriously.
Mulan huffed slightly. "You're wrong." she then said.
Aurora soon heard the wailing again which startled Audrey both for the current situation with The Wraith and for her parents' future. "Phillip..." she then frowned warily.
Meanwhile, deep in the woods, Phillip could be shown trying to ward off the beast that caused him and the girls quite a bit of distress. "Come on, you bastard!" he then yelled out before looking around to see that he wasn't alone. "No! Stay back!"
Aurora and Mulan were soon riding up with Audrey and Lonnie joining them.
"Phillip! What are you doing?" Aurora soon cried out.
"You know what I'm doing." Phillip told her.
"No, please," Audrey replied to her future father. "We can help you fight!"
"Go! It will find me," Phillip warned before he showed them his hand to show a certain thing on the palm of his hand. "I've been marked. It's too late for me. Go, there's no other way."
Audrey let out a bit of a yelp before Lonnie held onto her to calm her down from the situation.
"Yes, there is," Mulan told Phillip bravely. "Give me the talisman, I can mark myself. You can live."
"This is my choice. To save you," Phillip replied. "To save all of you."
"No, Phillip, I don't wanna live without you." Aurora frowned.
"I don't think I biologically can." Audrey added softly.
"Neither do I," Phillip shook his head as The Wraith approached from above. "You four need to keep each other safe." he then urged.
"Phillip, no!" Aurora cried out as The Wraith hovered above her prince, making Audrey even more fearful.
"I love you." Phillip said softly before he saw The Wraith coming, so he threw down his torch to sacrifice himself.
"NOOOO!" Audrey cried out with wide eyes as she could tell that that was going to have great consequences on her and Lonnie's mission.
And then with a gesture, The Wraith sucked out Phillip's soul as Aurora, Audrey, Lonnie, and Mulan screamed behind him. Phillip then to the ground, lifeless, and The Wraith was sucked back into its amulet. The women hen knelt over Phillip's body with both Audrey and Aurora sobbing.
"Aw, jeez..." Lonnie winced. "...We failed."
Soon, later on, back in Aurora's Palace, Phillip was lying in state on the bier that Aurora had previously slumbered on. Audrey and Lonnie looked grave, but also confused since they were both still there even though it looked like Phillip was now dead which should have meant that Audrey would no longer be born. Aurora and Mulan were soon talking as they gazed at the fallen prince.
"This palace was to be our home," Aurora said softly. "We were to spend eternity here."
"How did you end up here in your cursed state?" Mulan soon asked Aurora.
"You're not the only one who knows about sacrifice." Aurora then told her.
"...I know quite a bit myself... I once had someone when we crossed a bridge to safety..." Mulan said softly before looking away, then withdrew The Wraith's amulet and placed it in a satchel to hand to Aurora. "You should have it." she then said softly.
"Thank you." Aurora replied as she took it.
Audrey and Lonnie still looked grave as they weren't sure what else to do or say right now. Aurora soon had her head on Phillip's chest, mourning him softly.
"We should leave this place. It's not safe here." Mulan soon suggested.
"But The Wraith is gone." Aurora pointed out.
"There's more. You need to know everything," Mulan replied before she paused for a few moments. "Much has changed in our land since you've been asleep." she then added.
"It was less than a year." Aurora defended.
"In a manner of speaking," Mulan replied. "You see, as you slept, and Phillip and I searched for you, something worse happened."
"Something worse happened than a soul sucker?" Audrey spoke up.
"Yes..." Mulan nodded. "Are you familiar with Regina, the Queen?"
"Yes." Aurora replied to Mulan.
"She cast a curse on this land. A terrible, terrible curse," Mulan soon explained. "It ripped everyone and their descendants away to another world."
"Oh, my gosh!" Audrey gasped.
"That must be what Flora, Fauna, Merryweather, and Yi-Min were starting to tell us about." Lonnie then whispered to Audrey.
Audrey then paused before nodding as that sort of made sense in context.
"But we're still here." Aurora then reminded Mulan.
"This corner of the land was untouched. No one knows why. But something saved us. And for 28 years we were frozen. And then, time started again. The terrible curse's power was weakened. Phillip and I were able to resume our search," Mulan explained to Aurora while Lonnie and Audrey listened closely and imperatively. "We found you, but the land is ravaged with dangers more fearsome than you can imagine. For those of us who remained, we found a safe haven. We must go there now." she then concluded.
However, before anything else could be said, a rustling could be heard, startling the foursome a bit. There was a hole left by the Wraith, but there was something else along with it.
"Something's in there. Stay back." Mulan warned Audrey, Aurora, and Lonnie.
"I wonder what it is?" Audrey replied.
"No clue." Lonnie shrugged.
"Either way, we should brace ourselves for it." Audrey then said.
"Right." Lonnie nodded before they waited to see what Mulan would discover.