Ruby hadn't felt like going back to the hotel and decided to basically spent the rest of her vacation watching the various bedsides of Emma.
She was feeling guilty for just not being the best friend in the world to Mary, and her daughter was still not getting any better. She also personally know Lacey hadn't the best when in come to near panic around the sight of blood. It was very odd that this timed woman would be the last person she ever except to be a skilled surgeon.
But she was Emma's only hope
Ruby had felt and hoped that, but herself around Emma was quite another story.
She was the actress's biggest fan really and she never understood why Mary of all people would give her up at such a young age. Mary also never revolved who after all these years just who was Emma Swan's father, Ruby always felt a burning hatred for what that man did whoever he was.
They had moved Emma into the critical area of the ICU, there run a whole bunch of tests on the poor girl. Each time the doctors had it figured out there would always be a new crisis with her. Her nose bleeds become more frequent and her body would go into violet very long episodes like seizures , before anything could be done the attacks stopped.
Both Doctors Elsa and Anna could never figure it out, this was bigger it seemed then a fatal car crash victim.
Every now and then Emma seemed to be half awake but she would say random words that no one truly understand. Mainly things that seemed too childish for a young 27 year woman.
Such as saying in her sleep or even awake
Charming...
Bad Wolf
It was like a fever dream and it stomped Mary, Ruby as well as Lacey but only Emma know what these actually meant. Ruby felt helpless here simply because she had no clue how to help this woman.
At least with Storybrooke, she had some control but not here and indefinably not with Emma Swan.
She was the very definition of what Mandy usually called a "Lemur", a wild adventurous person always on the edge. Ruby had enough of that though when she get out of her coma in Australia, meeting Lacey for the first time. Emma was different from that even enough to cause the usually cool head madame mayor Regina to lose her temper once or twice during the filming of the blockbuster of HER HANDSOME HERO.
She seemed like a spoiled Hollywood starlet and yet the only one who really get through during the filming was Mary
Maybe it was an act but Ruby felt was there always more to the big movie star of Emma Swan, some felt that possibly she was the wrong choice for the role of the Queen of the Red Forest. Her very presence on set was something toxic mainly because she was so above anyone else.
Everything about that movie from behind the scenes was complete and utter chaos because no one else had ever get through to a person like Swan
Ruby even being her fan felt like this woman just wanted to go right to her nice Hollywood home, rather then work in the middle of the one biggest heatwaves to ever hit the state of Maine.
She only saw a selfish vain..."thing" of a girl who yelled out in anger if her meals wouldn't served right, or she would burst out crying just because the mayor speak to her in a harsh tone.
Emma even in all that werewolf makeup was still someone that actually angered a number of towns-people extras,
she talked down to them, called them names, basically thought the entire town was a "wasted land" and really hated Ruby above all.
Best of all she was hired to simply be her assistant, worst of all she get all the hatred that woman lashed on to with the town.
Being a big fan meant little to Emma including finally getting fired from the set
Ruby don't want to even remember the out right hatred she felt for Emma Swan, and later that evening basically told the actress that she should go straight to hell. This happened to be in the diner at most busiest and also naturally the time Mary entered.
What followed was one long painful argument between the friends and it seemed Emma in the middle of it, just couldn't care less. In ended though when just all three of them walked out of the diner, never talking about this ever again.
Mary felt like she can't really trust her ever again
Ruby felt like she wasn't in the wrong with how awful Emma was to her,
in fact Madame Mayor Regina would be quite equal in the hate department no thinks to her .
Ruby just know deep down there shouldn't be this...connection with someone as spineless as Emma Swan
But now all of that was meaningless now and this weak pale woman before her can't be that same person
And Ruby understood how she truly hated herself now, there wasn't the same sort of feelings.
She kissed the woman's forehead and felt like even more remorseful for what happened in Storybrooke, yet she was a stranger to her.
"Sleeping Beauty..."
Ruby quickly turned around to see Lacey smiling a bit at her "What?", she said very surprised at her. As Lacey walked toward the bed carrying a chart
"Her favorite story is Sleeping Beauty, i had told one of the nurses to begin reading her today. Elsa know someone in Japan who basically read to coma patients and it was her suggestion that would be calming for Emma to have among all the countless tests..."
Ruby bitterly smiled toward her girlfriend as she speak up again "Fairy tales seemed to work best on me too if your're remembered that"
Lacey put her hand around Ruby's shoulder, just like in the hotel several days before...
She and Lacey always felt like they were the right pair for each other and yet there was missing from it. As if they forget something in there lives besides themselves, Ruby kept this to herself though since she don't want her angst to overwhelm her love for Lacey...
...And Mary yet she felt couldn't have both
"Whatever your're heart or you're head is right now, am sure i'll understand whatever is troubling you.." Lacey said quietly as Ruby bitterly smiled at her
"Am just not having a good week for decisions or friendships, Mayor Regina was right in thinking me as an mindless "beast" or something..."
Now it look liked Lacey would had a bitter look to her as she smirked at that comment "Regina is not a good judge of character and i doubt her word is law.
Ruby, i know why you and i haven't talked in a while since that weekend at Disneyland but am sure of one thing..."
She give her girlfriend a curious look "What would that be?"
"...To me, you were never a "beast" to me"
Suddenly Ruby felt like laughing happily as she hugged her girlfriend warmly and she finished
"Thinks for that talk Lace, ummm i was just going to down to the hospital cafe would you join me?"
Lacey simply nodded "no" as speak up again "I'll just finish my shaft first and i'll join you later..."
Ruby smiled and understood as she headed out of Emma's room...
Alone with the patient, Lacey felt sad again
"You may not be a beast Ruby but i have the strangest feeling that i am"
As she put a blood pressure device on Emma's right arm, the young blond seemed silently begin to speak. Saying only one word...
"Morgiana"
"WHO?"
Snow White was suddenly run toward a old crumbing wall as the half tired Ruby get up. She noticed some words craved right into the wall of the bath house, smiling to herself knowing this was a clue of some kind.
"We need to talk to Locksley..."
Moments later, both of dressed and ready
Snow and Ruby want right to the former solder who sharping her blades...
"Yeah i know well enough who Morgiana is..."
Snow had hope in her voice as she spoke "Well we would pay you quite handsomely if we take us to him..." suddenly Ruby grabbed her arm tightly
"Did you forget both of us are kind of penniless right now!.."
Snow just smirked at her comment "Yes but she doesn't know that.."
In the mean time, Locksley was thinking quite a bit on the beautiful strangers's offer and finally smiling again
"Alright but so happens Morgiana lives in the most dangerous part in all the city..."
Ruby quite nervously questioned her "And where the hell would that be?"
"The lower courtyard of the Sultan's palace!"
Many hours later
Locksley had lead the two young women toward the courtyard, among the highest buildings that nether princesses would ever see in there lives. This part of the city just showed how much the region of Koura had been.
And it was rotten, some buildings were nothing more then burned husks which still had people living in them. The once marble jeweled streets were now blackened by ash. Everything that once been for the Sultan was destroyed, gigantic footprints were imprinted into whole parts of this area, the dragon wanted the people to be scared. Snow White know this would soon be like her own kingdom if she ever decided on "marrying" the wicked creature.
Passing what appeared to be a garden
Ruby saw inside that the trees were burning blue flames but not touching the outer street
Just more of showing Koura's insane power over everything
The head strong princess felt kind of helpless when it come to the fact that she was insane to even come here in the first place. Beginning with meeting up with someone like Lady Locksley and even taking a liking to someone like Snow White.
She could have easily said "no" to these around her, selfishly because her mother was still recovering from a late pregnancy and the fact that she would have a new baby sister. Gran had warn her about the further kingdoms and the trouble they bring. She felt at the time like simply laughing at her grandmother and the crazy she often brought but now she wasn't laughing any more.
She had noticed that her nose had recently taken to smelling all sorts of scents. Basically smelling now the burning remains of the buildings and like her heightened hearing pick out some of the items within them.
Princess Ruby can't figure out why or how she could ever even do this but she had one word for it...
It was freaky and she don't want to know anymore about it.
She simply know it wasn't normal and whatever it was would simply go away...
...In time, she wanted just to be normal and whatever was causing this wasn't. Such things like this also made her furious and she wanted things, happen when she was angry.
But for once she wasn't thinking about...
NOW
Shout a voice as a net dropped over all three women...hours later though
Ruby had adjust her eyes from the black sack being taken off of her. Just as the same young voice echoed through the rather massive hallway
"Locksley...still pretending to be a bloody "freedom fighter?" as Lady Locksley smirked as the figure come toward the bonded captives
"Morgiana...still thinkin you can take on the dragon prince all by your're lonesome?"
As a stunning figure in the torchlight stepped into view...
She was a bit taller in height to Princess Ruby, her eyes were pure green. Her lips were colored green as well that stand out among the fiery wild hair. She had dress herself in a silk made golden dress. Her fingernails sharpened and her legs long but her feet were bare and rough with blackened sand.
She was beautiful but still younger looking then Snow White...
Morgiana had punched Lady Locksley in the face to the shock of the both of the princesses, she seemed to be grinning as the men around her laughed
"THAT is for saving your're lovely ass again Locksley!...
RELEASE THEM" she cried out as the bonds were cut to all of them.
Ruby in her fury arrogantly walked toward the now smiling young woman "WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT?"
"Am sorry for the rough housing, my DEAR princess but there are many reasons that Agrabah isn't safe including tonight..."
Snow helped up the now awakened Locksley as she now looked curiously at both of them "What do mean? whose the princess?"
Morgiana was laughing at her as if she don't know
"Koura's human agents have been tracking you down ever step of the way to get to this city...as well as my own.
Your're actually extremely careless in your're thinking there, Princess Snow White..."
She then eyed Ruby
"...And your're skillful if still clumsy with a blade there,Princess Ruby!. Koura's men will not forget such a insult"
Now everything on Locksley's face was surprise and shock as Morgiana waved her hand as two of her robed men opened the solid doors..
All of them walking through to a even bigger grander area, a gigantic garden filled with waterfalls among beautiful multi colored lakes.
Snow could see in the dimness of the cavern, a huge underground palace as well as many people who were bowing before Morgiana. She was breathless by all the stunning beauty the cavern held but before she could talk, Ruby seemed to have read her mind...
"What is this place and who the hell are you people?"
As Morgiana stood looking at a giant statue and smiling at all of them
"This is the grand home of Ail Baba and your're all are in the mighty presence of his Forty Thieves!"
Later within the underground palace
Snow walked close to Morgiana as Ruby give off a look of what seemed to be...jealously?. But for now trying to ignore that she talked with the young leader
"Is he here?" she said hopefully as Morgiana slightly changed her mood around the princess
"Ail Babba hasn't been back to this place since he vanished all but five years ago...
I his most trusted has since watched over his Forty Thieves, each one skilled in there field but must now use it in order to combat Koura!"
Lady Locksley was now the one bitterly laughing toward her "AHAHAHA, how in the bloody hell you supposed to win against a dragon and his forces!?, i been trying to do that for eight full years now.
There isn't much skill in losing to what he has in store for us all once he gets his bride!...Basically her!"
Pointing toward Snow as the leader come right toward the former female solder "YOU GIVE UP A LONG TIME AGO LOCKSLEY, YOU CAN'T JUST TURN YOUR BACK ON YOUR HOMELAND, YOU TURN YOUR'RE BACK ON YOURSELF..."
"I had no choice in the matter.." Locksley said calmly even if Ruby could tell she was far from it
"YOU ALWAYS HAD A CHOICE!, what did you think Prince Koura could let you leave this city alive.
You would be DEAD without me and don't think for a second i would do it again...
Forget Norringham and her, just allow them to the comfort of thinking Lady Locksley is a dead woman.
A hero who died in the heat of battle, nothing more...and nothing less"
Locksley unleashed her sword on her in anger but was blocked by Ruby's own blade "WE need her, Locksley!..."
She just give her a angry look as she lowered her weapon and blankly said "Well you and her can get yourselves killed because I AM DONE helping you!"
Locksley walked out of the palace as Morgiana looked on sadly as Snow come behind
"It seems you two have quite a history together then?" as she bitterly laughed at the princess
"Yes since i was the one who saved her life, the ogres had dipped there arrows in a special type of fast acting poison. I have never regretted for helping her recover or for giving her the letter that said her Marian had already married the Sheriff of Norringham. I thought i was doing her a favor but clearly i was wrong..."
Snow almost felt like Locksley in a way, trapped and it seemed...alone in some way. But Morgiana looked hopeful
She held Ruby's ring and before Snow could say anything, summoned Cyrus into the chamber
"Well i thought i never for the life of me see this place again" he said quite happily as he hugged Morgiana tightly like a old friend would
"It has been too long to see each Cy, after all i can't just go into Wonderland or everything" Cyrus seemed to laugh at that
"There is no one waiting for me even back in Wonderland but anyways why have you summoned me"
Snow give a look toward him as speak "I was wondering about you and Ail Baba as well as if this treasure could indeed help me"
Cyrus nodded toward her "Before i was a genie, i was a basically a street rat, lying thieving my way around town completely lost before found by him. Morgiana was a child back then also pretty much a street rat as well and both us found this man whose was on a mission.
He clearly looked like he want on a ton of adventures before meeting us but it was his idea to start the Forty Thieves
Life was good here...before Koura arrived trying to something that Ail wanted out of his hands.."
Snow was now very curious "And what was that?", now he looked bitter in his handsome features and before speaking Morgiana simply said "..You can tell her"
Cyrus begin "...He take over Agrabah in aftermath of the ogre's departure to look for a way to permanently changed the world.
Somehow the dragon found that only way to do that is have one whose an pure of heart and sent that person in order change the very laws of destiny itself!.."
Now she was confused "...THAT'S INSANE!"
"...It is what Koura believes and it was something that truly upset Ail Baba enough to travel into the northern desert"
"WHAT'S IN THE NORTHERN DESERT!?" Ruby interpreted as Cyrus back away from her as he continued
"Nether any us or the Forty Thieves knows but Ail Baba. Listen mistress that place is nothing but death and bones..."
Now Snow seemed angry at the genie "...And if i do nothing then the dragon gets to somehow destroy the world NO THANKS to me!"
Now it was Morgiana stepped into this conversion "For all i know Ail Baba is dead and you are on suicide mission to keep him from harming your're kingdom.
We can not fight now when Koura has his agents searching for this place.
You two should rest and in the morning my men will show you the way out of the city"
Ruby grabbed Snow's hand as a servant appeared to show them to there room. Morgiana angrily eyed Cyrus as she spoke
"You and i perfectly know what is hiding in the northern desert, we can't keep losing our friends to find what happened to him!.."
"Morgiana, we known each a long time but there is something about these two that will bring this city back.."
She stilled look angry at him "Agrabah is lost already, Cyrus...Ail was our one hope not a bunch of hot headed teenagers.
In the morning me and the Forty Thieves are leaving this city once and fore all.
You can tell me to Ra himself that there is hope but like Locksley i see none of it, all i see is death here and for you old friend i don't want to see that!"
She begin to walk away as just leaving Cyrus by himself.
To him at least maybe there was some bit of hope, looking at the elegant murals of the old palace.
Eyeing the upper part he smiled as he silently waved his hand...
Suddenly both Ruby and Snow were not underground anymore as well suddenly there in a raging sandstorm, in the dead of the cold desert night...
With two huge camels with packs of supplies as Ruby looked around both surprise and annoyed in equal measure
"Well THANK YOU CYRUS, you insane son of..."
"RUBY please not now let's found some place to sleep, then you can be angry with the genie..ahaha" Snow quite smiled and laughed a bit, although things looked blank once. Now it was getting better in her eyes, whatever scared the Forty Thieves was here though. She know that somehow and it strangely wasn't frightening her ether.
Overlooking them across a massive hill stood a tall dark man in bright green robes watching them.
A staff of pure gold appeared in his gloved hands as his eyes blazed red, his voice speak roughly and yet was as dark as the storm itself...
"Welcome, my dears to the Temple of All Knowledge...I do hope you survive it! for my sake..."
Next Chapter: The Oracle of Destiny