Stage 1 - Part 3

"Wait wait wait. Let me get this straight. You're Mulan's daughter?" Snow asked. Rachel shrugged.

"How should I know?" she asked.

"Fair point," Snow conceded turning to Mulan. But you knew. Why didn't you tell us?" Mulan squirmed uncomfortably.

"Look, that was a very dark period of my life. I… I didn't know what I was doing."

"So, you had a child?" Snow asked, raising her eyebrow.

"I didn't mean to. I just kinda happened. I… I figured that if I gave up the child, everything would be okay. I never thought that I would see her again." Mula trailed off, the shock still obvious in her eyes. Rachel took this all in with a surprising calmness.

"Wait, you're Mulan's daughter. I get that. But how did you get to Storybrooke?" Henry asked. Rachel shrugged, and turned to Mulan.

"I think that's a question you need to answer," she said, narrowing her eyes at the warrior. "I think that there's a lot of things that need to be answered." Mulan half hung her head.

"I know." Everybody had gathered in the smoky room now, all eyes fixed on the scene playing out before them.

"I just don't understand," Emma admitted. "How could you have a daughter? ANd why did none of us know?"

"I've tried to bury it in my past," Mulan admitted, shooting Rachel an ashamed look. The savior just turned away. Henry moved closer, whispering something in her ear.

"Thanks," she whispered back, but kept her eyes fixed on Mulan.

"Alright look. Clearly there's a lot of explaining to do, but right now, we need to go somewhere else to talk," Regina said, taking charge. "We'll go to Granny's okay?" Everyone seemed to agree on that, and slowly, they began exiting the room.

"Why do I get the feeling we're walking into a warzone?" Hook commented to Regina as they left.

"I hate to agree with you pirate, but I feel the same."

"I just don't understand why we never knew about this," Snow said, giving Mulan a hurt look.

"Nobody knew about it," Mulan muttered. "Nobody but me."

"What about the father?" Snow asked. Mulan visibly stiffened, and her stride faltered.

"I don't know," she said, swallowing hard.

"Who is Rachel's father?" Snow asked, determined to find out the truth. MUlan closed her eyes, taking a deep breath.

"It's complicated," she muttered, striding ahead. Snow sighed, sensing she wasn't gonna get anything else from the warrior.

"Well, what about Rachel? Huh? What are you planning on doing now that you found her?"

"Nothing," Mulan said, leading the way into Granny's. Snow rolled her eyes, and followed.

When they entered, they were greeted with chaos. People were packed in, everyone shouting over everyone else. However, once Mulan entered, people seemed to quiet, and turn towards her. Snow could easily see the nervousness of her friend.

"We've got your back," Snow whispered, as they pushed their way to the front. They met up with the rest of the group, no one really knowing what to do.

"We have to tell them something," Hook muttered.

"Well, all we need to talk about is the dragon attack," Snow said firmly. "It's all the town cares about anyways."

"We can talk in private later," Emma chipped in. "Right now, we just need to know about this new threat."

"Mulan, she had a history with you," Regina said. "Would you mind telling us what?"

"I…" Mulan took a deep breath, like she was actually plunging back into her past. Her eyes locked with Rachel's, and the young savior gave a tiny nod.

"I first met her when I was protecting someone. She was trying to kill the person I was trying to protect." Mulan shrugged, tucking hair behind her ears.

"I protected her."

"Who were you protecting? And who the hell is this mystery… I don't know… devil witch?" Hook asked.

"Well, devil witch is one way to describe her," Mulan responded.

"Her name is Gothel. And the person I was protecting was named Rapunzel."

Rachel sat alone on one of the barstools as Mulan explained her past with Gothel. She caught bits and pieces, but overall, she was tuned out. The truth was, Mulan was what she had dreamed for a mother. When she was longing for family, she'd imagined that her mother would be the strong, able female. She'd dreamed about that her whole life. But now… she had that. But Mulan didn't want anything to do with her.

"Look, she's trying to get revenge on me. She must have learned that my daughter was alive, and come to Storybrooke looking for her." That part, Rachel did catch.

"Great, so another person is out for my head. Maybe this Gothel creep can settle for my hair instead." Rachel rolled her eyes, but let Mulan continue.

"Rapunzel had magic in her blood. Gothel wanted it for herself. I stopped her from getting it."

"But, that was, what, fourteen years ago," Emma said, confused. "Why is she striking back now?"

"I can think of two reasons," Mulan said after a few moments. "Either she managed to defeat Rapunzel, or she found out my daughter was actually alive."

"Yeah, there's something that I'm confused about. So, when did you get pregnant? I mean, how did this Gothel person know?" Zelena asked.

"Not only that, but why would she be coming after Rachel? I mean, doesn't she know that you weren't with her?" Snow asked.

"Well, Maleficent did something similar," Charming pointed out. "In her mind, she was hurting us by hurting Emma."

"Mulan, did Gothel think that Rachel was your weakness?" Regina asked, narrowing her eyes. Mulan nodded slowly. Rachel scratched her head, realizing she might not have it tomorrow.

"It's gonna be okay," Henry reassured her, putting his hand on her shoulder. She automatically flinched, but allowed him to keep it there.

"I don't know," Rachel admitted. "The odds are most definitely not in my favor."

"Hunger Games," Henry remarked. "Nice. So, that reminds me, how did you get to this world? I mean you were born in the Enchanted Forest."

"How should I know?" Rachel asked.

"Right," Henry apologized.

"But, how did I get here?" Rachel asked, addressing Mulan directly. She seemed to be pinning the warrior with her steady brown gaze.

"The truth is, you were sent to this world… because of Gothel."

Oh my gosh. Life just seems to be getting busier and busier. I'm really sorry. Updates will be once a week I hope. Thanks for sticking in there with me.

Next Time… Gothel's intentions in Storybrooke are investigated by the heroes. However, this also involves going deeper into her shared history with Mulan.

You guys are amazing.

R&R NightLightning21