Chapter 13.
Rose stood on the sidewalk outside of Mary Margaret's apartment building waiting for her. Looking around her environment Rose stood straighter, disliking the area, for Rose there was too much concrete and buildings, not enough wood and nature. She then looked down again at the clothes Regina had conjured up for her. Jeans, boots, a t-shirt, and warm jumper, and to give a small feeling of her royal status, a dark crimson red leather coat that had her royal insignia on its right upper arm to shoulder. Rose still was unsure of the attire but agreed it was better than wearing her armour.
"Sorry about that." Mary Margaret said as she came out to meet Rose. "I'd forget my head if it wasn't screwed on!" She joked; Rose smiled to her sister as they began walking. "So I thought I'd walk you around the town to show you everything."
"Sounds fine to me." Rose said eyeing the street they were walking down.
"At ease soldier." Mary Margaret teased. Rose looked to her sister.
"That obvious?" Rose asked pushing her hands into her pockets.
"Just a little. Relax Rose you're safe here." Mary Margaret explained as they headed towards Grannies. "Want a cup of coffee?"
"Sure." Rose nodded as they stopped opposite Grannies. Stepping off the curb together they didn't notice the car coming towards them. The driver suddenly blasted their car horn at them as they barrelled towards them. Mary Margaret stopped grabbing a hold of Rose's arm as Rose was closest to the car coming towards them.
"Rose!" Tyres screeched to a halt as the driver stopped with inches to spare before nearly hitting the two sisters. Rose stood still; looking at the car then down to her legs seeing the small gap there was between the two.
"What the hell? Why don't you look where you're going?" The driver shouted as they opened their car door stepping a foot out.
"Us look where we're going, what about you doctor?" Mary Margaret yelled back at Dr. Whale as she moved on to cross the street.
"Are you going to move?" Whale asked Rose who stood still in front of his car, her jaw clenched as she looked at him and began to move on. "Women." Whale sneered as he sat back in his car. Rose turned upon hearing him, pulled her dagger from under her coat and stabbed it through the hood of his car then carried on walking as Whale shouted after her.
Mary Margaret waited for her sister at the door to Grannies.
"You brought a blade with you?" Mary Margaret asked as she opened the door for her sister.
"Never leave home without one." Rose said as she walk into the diner, Mary Margaret followed after her smirking with amusement as she saw Whale trying hard to pull the blade back out from the front of his car.
"Good morning!" Granny called out as she moved round behind the main counter.
"Morning granny, two coffees please. To go." Mary Margaret called out as she walked up to the counter.
"Coming right up." Granny smiled as she pulled out two take away cups and filled them. "So this is the infamous Rose Red?" Granny said looking up from her coffee pouring to look at Rose who was looking all around the establishment, then to Granny when her name was mentioned.
"I'm sorry, yes! Rose this is Granny, Granny my older sister Rose." Mary Margaret introduced.
"A pleasure to meet you." Rose smiled to the older woman.
"Oh, I've heard of you, your majesty." Granny smiled pushing the coffee cups along the counter to Mary Margaret.
"You have?" Rose asked uncertain of Granny's reply.
"You once saved the life of someone very dear to me." Granny explained. "On the house." She said as Mary Margaret offered her cash for the drinks. Before either sister could ask more Granny was called away by another customer.
"Come on." Mary Margaret smiled to Rose as she led the way back out of the diner. The pair headed down the street with Mary Margaret pointing places out to Rose as they went.
"Hey!" Emma called out to the sisters as she got out of her sheriff's car. "Where are you headed to?" Emma asked as she joined them.
"I was just showing Rose around. I was about to take her to the forest and then on to the stables. The stables had Rose's ears prick up, everything else seemed odd and uncomfortable to her.
"Would you mind if Henry tagged along?" Emma asked motioning to the car where Henry sat in the front seat. "Schools out today and I have so much still to do, including something to do with Whale and his car being stabbed. You wouldn't know anything about that would you?" Emma asked turning to Rose.
"Ask me no questions and I'll tell you no lies my niece." Rose wickedly smiled.
"O-kay…" Emma said as she turned back to her mother. "So do you mind if Henry goes with you?" Emma asked again.
"Of course we don't mind." Mary Margaret smiled to her daughter, waving to Henry to come and join them.
"Thanks, I'll catch up with you later, maybe at the stables if I get everything finished." Emma smiled waving her thanks and ruffling Henry's hair as he passed her.
"So where are we headed?" Henry asked excitedly, happy to be with his grandmother and his new aunt.
"First out to the forest and then the stables." Mary Margaret explained as they walked on to her apartment building to collect her truck first to drive them all there.
"You want me to get into that." Rose sneered at the old car nudging it with the toe of her boot.
"It's perfectly safe Rose, I promise." Mary Margaret smiled as she and Henry tried to conceal their laughter. Rose looked to them both un-amused. Pulling herself up to her full regal height she got into the passengers side of the car. Henry got into the back seat and quickly fastened his seatbelt.
"You might want to put that on Aunt Rose." Henry suggested pointing to the seatbelt beside her.
"Put what…?" Before she could finish her sentence Mary Margaret reached across her and pulled her seatbelt across and fastened it. "Well that's not at all embarrassing." Rose said sitting straight and looking out the car's windshield. Mary Margaret laughed to herself as she sorted herself and then started the car. Rose tried to hide how unsettled she was by the vehicle. As Mary Margaret pulled away Rose's hand grabbed on the inner door handle.
After a short drive to the forest Mary Margaret parked and the occupants exited the car. Rose was very happy to be out of the machine.
"Don't worry, you'll get used to it." Henry said smiling up to his aunt. "Come on, I'll show you some of the best parts of the forest!" Henry said as he grabbed Rose's hand pulling her along with him. Mary Margaret looked on happily, she imagined to herself how a similar scenario may have happened in the Enchanted Forest with Emma if everything hadn't… Mary Margaret stopped her thoughts and rushed after the pair. "So what do you think Aunt Rose?" Henry asked as he stood on a fallen tree trunk, making him closer to his aunt's height. They looked across the edge of the forest, across the cliff tops to the waters below and parts of the outskirts of Storybrooke.
"I think you have found possibly the best view of the place Henry." Rose smiled as she breathed in deeply closing her eyes as she did, breathing in the fresh forest air mixed with the sea air.
"Are you feeling alright?" Mary Margaret asked as she joined them.
"I'm fine Snow." Rose looked to her sister slightly confused.
"You're hand is covering your wound, I thought it might be troubling you." Mary Margaret explained, Rose looked to her self, she hadn't even realised what she was doing.
"Subconscious I suppose, I guess it twinges but nothing to worry about." Rose smiled reassuringly, Mary Margaret looked to Rose unconvinced. "I feel fine though honest." Rose turned to Henry and smiled broadly. "Henry, young prince, show me more of your grand kingdom." Henry's smile seemed to grow larger as he jumped off of the tree trunk and headed off through the forest.
"Come on!" He yelled back.
"You might have just made his day." Mary Margaret smiled as she watched Henry bound off ahead of them. Rose grinned as she headed off after Henry, stopping for a moment to look out across the water again. "Something wrong?" Mary Margaret asked.
Rose paused before she answered as she looked again before moving on after Henry. "Nothing, I thought I saw something but it must have been a trick of the light . Come on, your grandson awaits!" Rose rushed off after Henry. Mary Margaret looked over where Rose had been looking but also saw nothing. "Snow, come on!" Mary Margaret turned to where her sister was calling, chuckling she ran after them both.
When Mary Margaret found them both Henry and Rose stood in a clearing facing one another holding substantial looking sticks.
"What's going on?" Mary Margaret asked knowing full well what was happening.
"Your grandson, my nephew, has challenged me to a duel." Rose explained.
"Oh really? Henry I don't know if that's such a good idea." Mary Margaret began.
"Oh come on grandma, grandpa has been teaching me some techniques whilst you were away." Henry explained.
"He has, has he?" Mary Margaret smiled crossing her arms across her chest.
"Then show me what he has taught you young prince." Rose smiled.
"Rose." Mary Margaret began to protest.
"Snow, come on, I'm not going to harm Henry!" Rose said as she held up her hand holding the stick/make shift sword. Henry took his opportunity and knocked the stick from her hand. Rose watched the stick as it went up in the air. Jumping in the air to grab the stick, Rose twisted and did a half summersault to land to the side of Henry who stood flabbergasted.
"Whoh, will you teach me how to do that?" Henry asked as Rose raised her stick ready for him.
"Maybe one day, when you're a little older perhaps." Rose said. "Now, show me what you have learnt from Charming." Rose grinned. Henry smiled widely as he raised his stick and moved to attack. Rose parried and blocked Henry easily and gently guided him to use other techniques. "You're doing very well Henry, not bad at all. A real knight in training." Rose said as they came to a finish.
"You mean it, really?" He asked.
"You have much to learn young man, but I think you're well on your way to becoming a great knight." Rose explained throwing her arm around his shoulders as they walked on with Mary Margaret back to the car.
"Like grandpa?"
"Well, if you want to limit yourself sure."
"Rose!" Mary Margaret stopped and turned to her sister trying not to laugh. "Your grandfather is a great swordsman Henry." Mary Margaret said defending her husband's honour.
"He is, yes, David is a very good swordsman." Rose agreed. "I'm just better." Rose finished laughing as she did.
"Really?" Henry asked.
"One day Henry, we'll have a tournament of some kind and put it to the test." Rose said taking his and her sticks and tossing them to one side in the forest.
"So you're staying then?" Henry asked as they reached the car. Rose stopped and looked to her nephew and then to her sister.
"Well Henry, with no way to get home right now I suppose I am staying. What else can I do?" Rose smiled to the youngster. Henry nodded and got into the car. Mary Margaret looked across to her older sister, she noted a sad look in her eyes as Rose realised she was indeed stuck in Storybrooke with the rest of them.
"Don't worry aunt Rose." Henry said as they drove away. "We'll get back to the Enchanted Forest, all of us together as we're meant to be." Henry excitedly said.
"I hope you are right Henry, I truly do." Rose agreed as she looked out ahead of her at the winding road.
The journey to the stables became very quiet, too quiet for Mary Margaret who was feeling an uncomfortable silence.
"I think you're going to love the stables Rose." Mary Margaret cheerily said.
"Well if there are horses there I'm bound to be very happy." Rose replied watching the road still as she spoke. "Have you learnt to ride yet Henry?" Rose asked.
"Not yet. Grandpa has said I have to build a bond with my horse first, a trust." Henry explained both women could hear the disappointment in his voice.
"He's right of course." Rose said agreeing with David's teachings.
"Yeah, but I wonder when I will be able to ride." Henry said as he looked out the window.
"Soon Henry." Mary Margaret said. "Here we are!" Mary Margaret pulled in to a parking space at the stables. Climbing out of the truck Mary Margaret and Henry led the way to the horses saying their hellos to people as they went.
"Here's my horse." Henry explained as he reached his horse's stall. His horse came to greet him and hang his head down to be patted.
"He's beautiful Henry." Mary Margaret said as she stroked the white and brown patched horse.
"That he is." Rose agreed, as she looked the steed over. "I'm sure this fine steed will let you know very soon when you are ready to begin riding."
"Shall we see if we can get you out on a horse?" Mary Margaret asked Rose.
"I would love to but what about Henry?" Rose asked looking to the young man.
"Henry has plenty to do here." Mary Margaret explained pointing in to Henry's horse's stall. "Looks like someone has some mucking out to do." Mary Margaret said looking to Henry whose face fell as he went to go and get tools to start his chores. "Come on, let's find us some horses." Mary Margaret smiled leading Rose away to the stables office.
A few moments later Mary Margaret and Rose were walking back to the stalls to find themselves a suitable horse to ride.
"You go on Rose, I'll let Henry know we're heading out and that Christine in the office will be looking in on him." Mary Margaret explained as she walked off towards her grandson. Rose nodded, as she was more interested in the horses ahead of her.
Rose walked passed several horses, greeting each of them but not finding the right one.
"Any luck?" Mary Margaret asked joining Rose.
"Not yet." Rose answered as she stroked the long nose of a chestnut horse. "But I think this one would suit you." Rose smiled to her sister. Mary Margaret nodded as she came to meet the horse. As Rose stepped back to allow room for her sister she was nudged in the back. Rose turned to come fact-to-face with a black horse with a white flash on the centre of its face. "Well hello to you to." Rose smiled as she offered her hand to the horse that bowed its head for her to stroke its face. "Do you want to go out and stretch your legs?" Rose gently asked the animal, in answer the horse snorted and stamped its hoof. "Well that settles it then." Rose smiled; taking the lead rope she attached it to the horses bridle and lead him out of the stall to ready him for riding.
Once saddled and ready the two sisters mounted their horses and began their trek away from the stables heading out to the open fields.
The sisters rode in silence for a small amount of time, taking in the views and just enjoying being out together in each other's company.
"Well that's more like it." Mary Margaret said looking to her sister who was smiling contentedly as she rode.
"What?" Rose asked looking across to Mary Margaret.
"Apart from your sparring with Henry earlier, I think that's the first proper smile I have seen from you all day." Mary Margaret explained.
"This is just more my element Snow." Rose explained.
"Storybrooke is a good place Rose, give it time."
"It has only been a day little sister, I've been unconscious for a few others to get to know this place." Rose said as she motioned the skies with her hand. "The fact remains though, I do not belong here and I must return to my kingdom." Mary Margaret sighed sadly; she had hoped her sister would settle at being with her and her family and friends in Storybrooke. "They are not my people Snow." Rose said as if reading her sister's thoughts. "I'm sure that for the most part they are good people, but they are yours not mine."
"They're not my people Rose, they're their own." Mary Margaret corrected her sister.
"But they still treat you and David as their leaders." Rose stated rather than asked. "Deny it all you want Snow, you are these people's leader, their queen." Mary Margaret brought her horse to a stop and looked to Rose who pulled up in front of her, turning her horse so that she faced Mary Margaret.
"That's the first time you have called me queen." Mary Margaret said.
"Well that is what you are, isn't it?" Rose asked smirking slightly.
"Well, yes, I suppose." Mary Margaret said stumbling over her words.
"I do not understand you sometimes little sister. You lead these people, you led them in battle against Regina and yet you show hesitation in your own title. David does not seem to show such hesitation." Rose said as she turned her horse away again to continue on riding.
"I've just never been comfortable with the title Rose." Mary Margaret began to explain as she rode to catch up with her older sister. "I think my time as a bandit showed me such a different life, I led such a different life, that trying to rule above my friends, the people I love so much, it just seems strange and wrong." Rose listened to her sister and nodded beginning to understand what she was trying to say.
"I see. So you feel that you are an equal to your people?" Rose asked.
"I suppose, yes."
"But you're not."
"How can you say that Rose? I am no different to them, just because I am of royal blood it makes me no different."
"But is does Snow." Rose interrupted. "You might not like it, and they may not be the way of things here in this world, but in our world, you are different. We both are."
"Well you're right about one thing there." Mary Margaret said. Rose looked to her sister quizzically. "We are different you and I. I couldn't be like you Rose, don't you have any friends?" Rose smiled and laughed slightly to herself at her sister's question.
"I did Snow and I do have a few, but many betrayed me and others were taken from me." Rose explained at the same moment a puff of purple smoke appeared before them startling the horses, both women managing to steady their steeds. "Are you alright?" Rose said quickly to her sister checking on her. Snow nodded in response as Regina stalked towards them.
"You, you took my horse." Regina was angry, that much Rose could already tell from the way she stormed towards them. "You could have asked Rose."
"Regina, how good of you come out and join us." Rose quipped.
"Regina, we were told we could take out any of the horses, no one said not to take your horse. I didn't even know you had a horse at the stables." Mary Margaret explained trying to calm the mayor. Regina simply scowled at her.
"Well at least it's you riding him, someone with skills to ride such an animal." Regina said as she approached and stroked her horse, he in return bowed his head to her and butted her shoulder.
"From the look of him Regina you haven't ridden in quite a while." Rose retorted to which the horse reared his head back snorting and whinnying. "I'm sorry friend, but you need the exercise not an abundance of oats." Rose said patting the horse's neck.
"I've been busy looking after my son and trying to help bring back your sister and niece." Regina responded, she was not impressed, nor did she like being challenged. She had forgotten this irritating side of Rose, the side where she was right and Regina wasn't.
"I understand but it doesn't take much to stretch his legs or clear your mind by riding." Rose said smiling at her friend. Regina turned away from her not wanting Rose to see that she was winning the argument. "Would you like to ride him back to the stables? I don't mind the walk." Rose offered more than prepared to dismount. Regina looked up to her and thought for a moment before answering.
"Just make sure you clean the tack and brush him before you leave." Regina said as she moved away from her horse.
"Yes your majesty." Rose teased. Regina turned on her heel to snap back at her friend but seeing the wicked grin on her face Regina huffed and left as she had arrived, in a puff of purple smoke.
"You realise no one else would get away with that." Mary Margaret said as she nudged her horse to walk on.
"I do." Rose answered following her.
"Do you care?" Mary Margaret asked grinning as she looked back to her sister.
"Of course not. Now, enough of this walking nonsense, let's really ride. A race perhaps?" Rose asked her sister grinning wickedly to her. Mary Margaret turned her attention back to what lie ahead of her and kicked her horse on to speed, calling out as she went.
"Go!"
Laughing Rose pulled up the reigns of her horse and kicked him on. "Let's go boy, let's see what you can do." They took off galloping across the open fields together.
