The wolf woman took in her surroundings at a glance. Spotting the sleeping fighter on the raised diaus, like the mirror Zelena had shown her, Ruby felt her heart freeze in place. It took her best friend's encouragement before she could walk forward to kiss the figure.
Finally touching the soft lips that she had been afraid would never move again, the cloak wearing girl let loose a some of the tears she had been holding back for the past few hours. When the sleeping woman inhaled, Ruby felt her own heart start once more. She watched the lady came to, meeting the brown orbs squarely even as hers continued to fill with water.
"...Wolfie…?"
The soft spoken words lit her mind with warmth. For a moment, the red wearing lady thought she might truly be loved back. "Kansas."
Dorothy didn't hesitate to sit up, propelled by her own strength and the firm grip of the other woman's left hand. As she took in the scene around her, Ruby attempted to make sure the stoic woman didn't fall over and shifted her right hand uncertainly along the strong arms and sturdy back. The wolf woman's mind tried to function, to question, but the joy in her heart caused her to stutter for a few moments first.
It was after the ex-farmer readjusted her seat to face her head on that Ruby managed to speak coherently. "You left without saying anything…" The statement broke her heart anew as she waited, terrified, for a response.
"I was afraid…" The blue robed woman tried to keep her gaze steady on her rescuer but seeing a flash of fear and guilt along with another wave of tears in the green orbs caused her to look down instead. "I couldn't... lose you... to Zelena…" Dorothy's confession was staggered as the fear of being alone soared through her chest. The thought of failing once more, of being left alone, kept her usually sturdy gaze downcast.
"Well yeah, but I almost lost you…" Ruby's inner wolf whimpered causing her lips to tremble. Another trickle of tears slid down her cheeks.
"You didn't… You came back for me…" Dorothy's stoic face broke, almost openingly displaying her amazement. Her heart continued to beat faster as she realized she wasn't left behind. Her own eyes took in the beautiful figure in front of her and the distress she plainly felt, amazement at the circumstances roaring through her and leaving a skid mark on her mind.
"I always will." The red-cloaked woman stated firmly as she felt her core solidify at the affirmative. She watched, nervous, as the ex-farmer stared back in shock before moving her hands onto either side of the wolf girl's face. Ruby allowed herself to be pulled forward, smiling happily, as Dorothy initiated the kiss this time.
They both felt their bodies heat up as they continued the embrace. Their cores, for once in a very long time, felt whole. The world seemed to disappear around the duo as they pulled closer to one another.
Dorothy allowed her feet to drop to the ground, barely noticing the cold surface under her stockings. She felt her face break out into a proper smile, her eyes crinkling in happiness, while her cheeks seemed to burn heavily. When she needed to take a proper breath, she pulled back reluctantly, gulping down the air while she set her forehead against the other woman's.
Ruby could barely contain her ecstatic joy. Her hearing, always sharp, noticed that side from the two's deep breathing, no one else made a sound. Her heart fluttered briefly in worry before settling when she felt the stoic fighter's forehead resting against hers. She peered at the woman with a wide grin.
"You'd almost think we'd never get to kiss again, eh Kansas?" The wolf lady kept her grin as she glanced to the still silent crowd from the corner of her eyes.
The blue clothed fighter smirked as she straightened. "Maybe I'm just making up for lost time." Her gaze crinkled further at the other's bark of laughter. A light cough drew her attention away from her true love to Mayor Munchkin standing nearby.
"Hero of Oz, is everything ok now? These are welcomed guests?" The elder questioned, hands clasped neatly before her.
"Yes! Where is the Wicked Witch?!"
"Yes! Where is she, where is she?"
The other Munchkins began to chime in as well. Ruby remained by her love's side, both brows raised at their behavior. Dorothy however was well versed in how they acted and merely nodded, her face turning stern once more.
"Yes, everything is alright now. These are very welcomed guests, and should be treated as Heroes themselves." The warrior checked that she guessed properly and found a pleased smile waiting for her. She smirked back briefly before turning confused. "As for the Witch… I don't know."
The shorter people panicked, shifting in place with their hands flying up to their mouths and about their heads. Snow White and Mulan, standing behind the majority of the crowd, deadpanned at the theatrics. The princess took a half-step closer but paused when she saw her best friend was readying an answer.
Ruby kept a hold of Dorothy's left hand while raising her other to calm the group. "Zelena is in the Underworld. And except for very special magics, it's not easy to leave." She lightly tugged on the hand in her grip. "She gave us the silver slippers. That's how we got here."
Dorothy looked down with a single brow raised. Spotting the metallic glint, she hummed to herself. "Well then, it looks like Oz is safe for now." The stoic woman declared boldly as she looked back to the natives.
The Munchkins all cheered, their fright turning to jubilation rapidly, and moved along, linking arms and giving little half-skips. "Yay! The Wicked Witch is trapped! The Wicked Witch is trapped! Long live our heroes, the Wicked Witch is trapped!"
The mayor halted and turned back, pulling out a pair of boots as she stepped back up to the group. "We had noticed your boots were missing and brought a spare, o Hero of Oz."
"Thanks." Dorothy accepted the offering and began to put them on. She rested against the marble structure for balance. Ruby watched, hand out to help with her love's balance.
The mayor grinned, pleased, and went back to join her people in celebration. The remaining women watched the munchkins leave with bland expressions. Just as Ruby turned back to her true love with a bemused grin, Snow White stepped up anxiously.
"Ruby… I know you just found your one true love..."
"Oh!" The wolf girl started, glancing between her best friend and the woman on her right. "Uhm, Kansas, this is Snow White, my best friend. She needs to get to Storybrooke, can we borrow your slippers for a little while longer?"
The fighter remained neutral, though her eyes kept a special gleam when she looked at the red-wearing lady. "Storybrooke…?"
"It's a long story. It's where we all lived for a while; Snow's son there, along with my grandmother and other people from the Enchanted Forest." Ruby smiled reassuringly. Her chest lightened when the blue-clad woman squeezed her hand in return.
"Sure."
The Storybrooke natives beamed. Mulan, however, looked dejected and glanced off to the side. Dorothy released her grip from her true love and was about to take a step back when a hopeful smile inched into her sight.
"Would you… want to come and meet my grandma?" Ruby kept her voice light and non-threatening. Though she couldn't prevent the spark of hope in her gaze and heart.
The taller woman stared into the green orbs and noted the hope there. Giving the other a half-smirk, she re-closed her fingers about the gloved hand. "...A-alright."
Snow beamed at the new couple and looked to Mulan. "Would you like to come as well Mulan?"
The female warrior shook her head, taking a single step back. "No, that's ok. I believe my path leads elsewhere, in these lands and not in that one."
Dorothy perked up minutely, looking over to the metal armored fighter, and held up her right hand. "If you're staying in this land, could you watch over Oz while I'm gone?" Waving vaguely, she lowered her voice as she continued. "It's not just evil witches that can be a problem here."
"Of course. It would be my honor." Mulan dipped her head respectfully. She looked to the others who stared back bemused. In seconds, Ruby and Snow broke out in laughter and each gave the armored comrade warm hugs.
"Stay safe…!" Snow White kept her words short, moving to stand near the blue clothed woman and smiling warmly.
"I hope you find the path you were hoping for…!" Ruby whispered to her friend as they hugged. Pulling back, she found the other was barely holding back warm tears.
"Yes, thanks to your and Merida's help, I think I will be able to." Once the embrace was finished, the tan skinned warrior wiped her eyes with the thick leather glove and turned about, leaving the wide stage. She paused when the other stoic fighter called out.
"The Munchkins do know about the area, if you need information with any sort of problem or creature. Or try the Good Witches of the East and North. If you can find them." Dorothy kept her voice level. When the wolf woman came within reach, her own hand automatically sought out the other's without conscious thought. She noticed the curious gaze of the others and half-shrugged. "It's a long story."
Ruby threw back her head and laughed. The reaction caused a full smile to appear on the ex-farmer as she traced the wolf woman's neck line to the inviting lips that dropped back down to kiss the fighter. Ruby couldn't help smooching the stoic lady, even as she reached out for Snow's hand as well.
A dog's barking caused them to pause. Dorothy bent down and scooped up her pet with one arm, never letting go of her rescuer's hand. Ruby checked that everyone was ready. Seeing that they were, she clicked her heels together three times, picturing the magical town stuck in a land without magic.
"Away we go…" The wolf lass muttered playfully with a smile as she kept her eyes closed.
Author's Notes: Yes, a much larger and expanded ending to the episode of the ship (and MUCH larger than the other chapters, I know. I couldn't help it!). I had to re-watch the scene many times (not that I minded), to get the face reflections right and figure out the motives/thoughts behind them. I touched a little on some of the themes I'll be going into more in future stories in the last chapter and slightly this one, wonder if you can guess what they were. It's pretty easy when you think of the trauma these two have been through and boil it down to one word each. That's what I will eventually be addressing. Anyways, hope you liked this chapter! Please leave a review, favorite or whatever if you liked it or want to suggestion something or noticed something. Thanks and see you in the next chapter!
