Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters mentioned herein despite all wishes to the contrary.

The girl looked around confusedly, carefully scrutinizing each face as she scanned the ship. When she had looked at everyone onboard, she turned back to Phillip and looked even more lost.

"Brother, your messenger spoke of a great warrior who saved your life, yet I see no such person on your vessel. Has he already disembarked? I came early so that I could show my gratitude to this man for saving the person who is nearest to my heart." She smiled sweetly to him as she said this gesturing to the inhabitants of the ship as well.

I had never heard a voice like hers, and the difference between her manner of speaking and her brother's surprised me. While he spoke using similar words and with the same self-confidence, his words were more defined than hers were. She pronounced things differently, and I found the new accent strange.

Phillip took his sister's hand and extended the other towards me. "Sister, this is Mulan, the warrior who saved my life. We fought many battles together."

"You're…you're a girl?" She turned back to Phillip in shock, fully ignoring me. "You fought many battles with a girl?"

I could not take her continued dismissal of me, and despite the impropriety of interrupting her I could no longer contain my words. I cut in, "Woman." I would perhaps have said more, but her beauty was so overwhelming, I was surprised that I had even choked that one word out. Her head snapped back to me at my response, but her face relaxed a bit after Phillip's hand reached around her shoulders as he pulled her into a sideways hug.

"Mulan, as I assume you've figured out, this is my rather outspoken sister, Aurora." Both she and he grinned at this and she teasingly pushed his head to the side before she spoke to me again.

She approached me and curtseyed, lifting her purple skirts up from the deck as she did so. Smiling brightly, the princess laughed and it sounded like the most beautiful songbirds of the forest were collaborating in song with a choir of bells. "Please forgive my words, Mulan. I was simply unprepared to discover a woman warrior on my brother's ship. He has, of course, invited you to our castle?"

If her face had not already shocked me into virtual silence, her laugh would have completely stolen my very breath away. The princess tapped her foot on the deck as she waited for my response, and her eyebrows went steadily higher at each moment that passed without an answer. Drawing a deep breath in, I tried, unsuccessfully, to calm my beating heart, and began to reply. "Indeed he…um I think…He mentioned…I don't…" Reaching my head around the princess, I glanced pleadingly at the bemused prince, and taking my queue he stepped forward.

"Of course I invited her to visit, Aurora. Did you think I would forget my manners that far?"

"Well, it has happened before…" She smirked and hopped out of the way as he playfully swatted her shoulder with his gloved hand. "Phillip! I was kidding! … a little. Well, I should probably return to the inn; my maid doesn't know I've left yet. See you this afternoon?"

"We will leave as soon as possible, sister. Thank you for meeting me here. I…I missed you." I turned away as Phillip and Aurora hugged again before she disembarked. Despite them just being siblings, I felt intrusive—after all it had been a more than a year since they had met, and they had had to share the moment with me.

I was tapped on the shoulder and turned to find the princess once more close to me, and was shocked motionless when she swooped in and gave me a quick hug. Still speechless, I could only stare, maintaining an indifferent expression as she said goodbye to me.

"Words will never adequately describe how grateful I am that you brought Phillip back to us. I hope that you will pardon my words from earlier and that we can be friends?" The pleading expression in her eyes begged for me to give a positive response, and I mustered all the strength I had.

"As you wish, Princess," was all I could muster, but she smiled at me, considering my answer sufficient and spun away, auburn hair floating in the sea breeze as she once more dashed down the gangplank.

Phillip renewed giving the men orders with alacrity, practically tripping along the deck in his frenzy as he rushed to ensure that the ship unloaded quickly. I was still frozen in place, watching the last street corner where the princess had turned to pass out of my sight. Instead of being allowed to dwell on this, I noticed Princess Emma and Regina slowly walking towards me. Regina had yet to completely heal, and was supporting most of her weight on the curly haired blonde by wrapping her arm around her shoulders. Surprisingly, the blonde did not seem to mind, and both women appeared happy as they approached me to say goodbye.

"The princess tells me that I have you to thank for my life. I know it is a debt I can never repay, but before we left, I wished to thank you, and tell you if there is anything I can do for you in the future…"

Emma cut in before the other could finish. "If you ever need anything, come to us in England, and I will do all in my power to get it for you. I also owe you an un-repayable debt for saving Regina's life." The blonde hesitated, voice dropping an octave as she attempted to maintain her composure. "Nothing you could ask would be too high a price for what you have done."

I was shocked by the honesty and concern I heard in her voice and tried to minimize my contribution as I replied, "Many thanks for your kind offers, but truly I did nothing but what was honorable and right. Anyone would have done—"

"Cut the crap Mulan. If you hadn't jumped in, Regina would be dead now. Please don't pretend otherwise. Now we have to go and book passage back to England. Remember if you need anything…" After this, the princess and her fiend both offered me their hands and then slowly made their way down the gangplank towards a waiting carriage. I could swear I saw Regina whisper something in Emma's ear that made her flush bright red, but before I could tell, they were whisked away down the street.

I spent the next hour or so leaning over the railing and watching the people in the harbor town. Every so often I would see a carriage careening around the corner, nearly spilling out its passengers as it rushed along the harbor. Why the inhabitants were in such a hurry was beyond me, but these people were strange to me. The women in particular seemed far more promiscuous than those I knew. They wore much lower cut dresses than I had even seen—even princess Aurora had worn such a low-cut dress—and most of the women I saw were calling out at the men with such language that even the sailors of The Morning Star cringed. The streets themselves were much worse than I expected. While cobbled, they were filthy, and mud seeped through the stones everywhere making them appear slippery and dangerous to travel on. I could not understand why matters like this were not repaired. Did the rulers not care about the state of their people?

My thoughts were interrupted by the approach of Killian, who proffered me my gear. "Your horse has been unloaded, Mulan, and Prince Phillip is ready to depart. May your journeys continue safely."

"Many thanks, Captain." I turned to go, but realizing I might never see the man again, I turned back around. "Where are you going to go now?"

"My usual command, Milah, is waiting for me on the other side of port, and I intend to go out in search of more Spanish ships to fight." He smirked, but I could see sorrow in his eyes as the man continued. "There is always need for a good privateer."

"May your ship be ever victorious then, Killian." I offered him my hand as I readied to go, and he looked down at it, surprised, but he shook it anyways. I turned to go, but he stepped forwards once more catching my bag with his hook.

"Thank you for preventing me from killing the girl. Milah…She would not have been pleased to know I had become a murderer." He let go of me and gesturing towards the land wildly with his hook, continued. "Now get off my ship, oh honorable one! I have things to attend to."

This time as he said those words, there was no sneer involved, and I disembarked, looking around for Phillip. He was waiting for me holding the reins of both our horses, and alternating patting the noses of each. A half-filled bucket of carrots was nearby, and the guilty face on the prince indicated that he had been spoiling the horses. Pretending not to notice his expression, I started loading my gear into the saddle bags.

"So, are we to travel to your home today?"

"Indeed we are! Aurora is going to be waiting for us just outside of the town and then we are all going to ride to the castle together." I gave him a quizzical glance at this, not remembering the princess saying any such thing. "She sent a messenger with the details after visiting us. Also, she requests that we not mention it to Father. Apparently her betrothed does not wish her to travel anywhere alone."

He frowned and looked more pensive as he continued speaking, but we mounted soon after and galloped over the muddy streets away from the harbor and the Morning Star.

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We reached the edge of town after a few minutes of dodging expensively decorated carriages and hapless travelers on foot. I marveled further at the strangeness of the place as we passed through a suddenly clean and empty road. This portion of the town was calm, and I was confused again. If this was clean and safe, why was the rest so filthy? I was unable to question Phillip, however, as with a clear street, Phillip broke out into a gallop and threw his head back in pleasure as we raced down the street.

Aurora and her maid, a tall dark haired girl with green eyes that Phillip said was named Red, were waiting on horses when we passed out the city gates. Aurora was speaking quickly and the other girl kept interrupting, moving closer on her horse and waving her hands wildly as they spoke, but once they saw us, they stopped and greeted us. Phillip rode up to his sister and grinned.

"Are you ready to race home?"

She pouted and looked down at her saddle. "Really Phillip, how do you expect me to win riding side-saddle?" She gestured to her maid's horse saying, "Look even Red has a regular saddle, but Father insists I ride like this." He looked apologetic, and did not mention racing again—fully chastised already. As we began our journey, Phillip rode in the front with Aurora and Red and I followed behind. I could tell Phillip and his sister were exchanging stories about their time apart by the sword swinging gestures Phillip kept making. Aurora laughed every so often, and we continued our ride in this manner until we reached the forest.

While we were travelling through the dense woods, I saw Red stiffen and turn her head from side to side. I was confused by her actions until I heard branches breaking to our left, and I charged my horse forward as six figures ran out of the trees towards us. Phillip and I both drew our swords, and Red spurred her horse onward—away from the bandits, dragging a reluctant Aurora with her.

In only a few moments the highwaymen realized that we were more than a match for them, and ran dispersed back into the woods. Turning to check on Aurora, I noticed that both her and Red were missing, and with a cry of "Phillip" galloped forwards to where they had been seen last. On the way, both Phillip and I cried out for the two, until we reached a bend in the road, and saw Aurora brandishing a dagger at an unconscious bandit while Red stood over him with ropes.

Phillip immediately dismounted and assisted with tying up the man as I rode over to the princess. "Are you all-right, my lady?"

The purple clad girl straightened up and adjusted her feathered cloak as she glanced up to glare at me. "Did you think that I was some sort of princess that was completely helpless? I am perfectly all-right, and your concern is completely unnecessary. I have enough people waiting on me hand at foot at home—please do not feel the need to do the same."

I leaned back in my saddle, stung by her rebuke. After all, I had only wished to ensure her safety. Taking on a bandit with only her maid was a dangerous undertaking, and she was lucky to be safe, but after she spoke, I bowed my head in acknowledgement and dismounted to assist Phillip.

After tying the highwayman up, we needed a way to bring him back to the castle, and Aurora offered us her horse. Phillip initially refused, but instead of listening to him, she just got on my horse and raised her eyebrows at him. Initially my horse, Argo, whinnied discontentedly, and I expected the princess to be thrown off, but with a few pats and murmurs in his ear, he calmed down. Muttering "stubborn," Phillip helped me tie the robber to the princess' horse, and fasten the reins to the back of his own horse. Once that was done, I prepared to run after the horses by re-strapping my sword behind me, but Aurora looked at me curiously.

"What are you doing? Surely you do not think you can keep up on foot?"

"But Princess, how else am I to continue to the castle if I do not run with you?" Her eyes rolled at my statement and she trotted over to me, backing the horse up so the side was right in front of me.

"Mulan, get on. The castle is not much further, and you can ride with me the rest of the way. Did you really think I would be so selfish as to force you to run?" Honestly, I had had no idea what she had intended, but I would have run happily if she had asked me to. And, as a princess and Phillip's sister, it was my duty to obey her commands.

I got up behind her as softly as possible and we all rode at an increased pace down the path towards the castle. Being on the same horse with the princess was more distracting than I'd thought it would be before I had gotten up behind her. Her hair smelled like roses and was constantly waving in my face as we rode. I was repeatedly tempted to brush it to one side, but I was worried that the motion would result in my hand brushing her creamy skin, and for some reason I did not trust myself with such an action.

As the ride went on I realized that my senses were hyper-aware, and I could feel each time the princess moved or adjusted on Argo. Her dress rustled against my knees, and in the places where my armor did not quite meet my gloves, the fabric was soft against my skin. I had to resist the urge to slide forward so that, as I told myself, I could have better control of the reins. After a few minutes of me awkwardly leaning back, Aurora scooted forward and, grabbing my arms one at a time, put the reins partly in my hands as she leaned forward over Argo's neck. Once in this position with her hair no longer in my face, I was able to relax a bit, and we continued on in that manner for the rest of the ride.

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Luckily for me, the rest of the ride was indeed short, and about half an hour later, we rode into the courtyard of the castle. It was decorated festively, doubtless in honor of Phillip's return and the impending wedding, with red carpet near the entrance and hangings from each window. Streamers went from windows to the battlements in places, and all the decorations combined together to make the castle look like it was lit up with many tiny lights from everything that6 was reflected from them.

A few guards ran up to us and they took the reins of all of the horses and roughly grabbed the shoulders of our unconscious prisoner. I dismounted first and offered my hand to the princess, but she had already jumped down on the other side. Turning to the guards, Aurora began giving orders as we walked on the red carpeting towards the entrance.

"See that the bandit is taken to a dungeon and fed. You, take Mulan and Phillip's things to the rooms made up for them. Make sure that the horses are well watered and groomed as well. Next, I wan-"

She was interrupted by a running messenger who burst out the door we were heading to and staggered towards us. He kneeled at the princess' feet and broke in. "Princess, your Father and guests are waiting inside to properly greet your brother. He requests that you immediately proceed to the great hall." Phillip looked sharply at Aurora and mouthed "Guests?"

"We will be right in. Thank you, Gus." As he left to inform her Father, we resumed our walk inside, and she turned to Phillip. "My betrothed and his mother have come to stay with us until the wedding. How lucky for us, don't you think?" He hushed her at this outburst, but the sad look in his eyes told me that he agreed.

Right before we entered the hall, Red turned and, after being dismissed, hurried away to her room or next task. A guard was waiting at the humongous double doors leading to the great hall, and he bowed to us as we entered. The great hall was the most beautiful room I had ever seen. Stained glass windows extended on both sides from floor to ceiling and depicted various violent and peaceful scenes. Multiple chandeliers hung from the ceiling, and purple and red carpeting covered the entire floor. Tables were set out in rows on each side of us, and upon a raised dais, two thrones embellished in gold filigree and purple velvet looked down upon the hall.

At the base of the thrones, three people stood with their backs to us until they heard the doors and turned round to greet the arrivals. One of them, an older man in royal robes with greying blonde hair curling out at his neck, spread forth his arm at the sight of us and began to walk closer. Phillip ran towards him and caught him in what must have been a bone-crushing hug as he cried "Father!" joyfully. The other two, a woman with blonde hair and wrinkled skin wearing a blackish purple dress and many rings and a curly, dark-brown haired man, turned towards us. While Aurora was busy watching Phillip and their father, I saw the two exchange a smirk before rearranging their faces to display pleasant smiles.

After pulling out of the hug, Phillip gestured to me saying, "Father, this is Mulan. She saved my life multiple times on my way home. Mulan, this man is my Father, King Leopold." The king smiled at me and inclined his head.

"I am delighted to welcome any friend of my son's to my home, and you are especially welcome because of your assistance in bringing him back to us safely." He waved the other two forward presenting them with a proud and happy air to Phillip and me. "And these gracious guests are the beautiful Queen Maleficent and her brave son Prince August of Scotland. Our two kingdoms are on the verge of a happy union with the approaching marriage of my daughter, Princess Aurora, and Prince August. I am delighted that my son and his friend will be here for this happy occasion."

At this gracious introduction, both the prince and his mother bowed their heads slightly to us, and Phillip walked up and shook both of their hands warmly. I could see, though, that despite their smiling masks the two looked down on the jovial and sincere prince, and I began to worry even more about Aurora. What kind of man was this that she was engaged to marry?

The introductions over, King Leopold called for servants to show Phillip and me to our rooms, and as Aurora, Phillip, and I left, I saw him resume his discussion with the other two. As I followed the servant to my room, the actions of the royal pair continued to disturb me, and I contemplated ways to find out more about them. Once I reached my room, I removed my gloves and my dirty boots, feeling the luscious carpet between my toes. I walked over to the window and looked down at the courtyard below—my view was amazing, and beyond the courtyard I could see the sea and the sun setting behind the waves. Turning back around to the bed, I nearly jumped out of the window in shock as behind the curtain sitting in the middle of the bed, legs crossed, was the maid, Red. She stood and, grabbing a candle from one of the fixtures on the wall, walked up to me.

"Please put your boots back on and follow me, please. We need to talk, and this room is not safe."

Curious and confused, I obeyed her and followed her out of the room via a hidden panel in the walls that opened when she pressed on the stone below a candle holder near the bed. The darkness surrounded us as we entered the tunnel and the door snapped shut behind me.

AN: I know chandeliers didn't exist back then and that Pinnochio is August's real name. August fit better in my head, and yes, in this he is Maleficent's son. Please try to think kindly of Leopold in this—he was the only king left who isn't purely evil.

Also please review! :) Thanks for reading!