Chapter 3
The table was set and the food smelled great. Dorothy couldn’t remember the last time she had a meal like this. Her Aunt Em could cook; no one else she knew could cook like her Aunt Em. This spread in front of her made her feel like she may have found a very close second. The first bite took her back to her Aunt’s kitchen and the fun times they had. Just like that she felt more at home.
“So Dorothy where are you from?” Granny asked.
Swallowing she answered, “Kansas.”
“Isn’t that in this realm?” She questioned them both.
“It is a state here Granny. I just don’t know if it's the exact realm or not.” Red explained.
“So we are in the United States?” Dorothy asked.
“Yes, Maine.” Red answered as she piled more food on her plate.
“So do you girls know where you are supposed to find this Glinda?” Granny asked after she took a few more bites of food.
“Snow and David had found her. There is a door in the Enchanted forest that leads to the world she is locked in. We have to figure out how to get her out. After that the three of us go back to OZ.” Ruby answered.
“What about Mulan?” Granny wanted to know what was going on.
“She will be staying behind to help another of our friends.” Ruby answered before taking a mouthful of food. She missed her Granny especially her cooking.
“It was nice of Prince Philip and Princess Aurora to invite her over for a meal.” Granny commented. By this time Dorothy had been filled in on who Aurora was and who Philip was. She knew that though it was nice it must be hurting Mulan to be there with people that don’t seem to know how you felt about them. Dorothy could tell that Mulan would never turn away an invite, it would be considered rude. So when they heard Red asking Granny about dinner Philip found Mulan and offered her a place at his table for the night.
“So what have you been up to Granny?” Red changed the subject.
“I went to Camelot with the lot of them. When I heard about them going to the underworld I thought they were out of their minds. I thought it best to stay here. I’m glad I did.” She gave a short lived smile to Red. Red smiled back before going back to her meal.
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Mulan had removed her armor for dinner with Philip and Aurora. They filled her in on what has happened to them since they last met. Aurora had the baby but for some of her pregnancy she was a flying monkey thanks to Zelena. She has been helping where she could around town doing small jobs here and there. Philip was also learning how to live in this new world. They both seemed happy about it though.
“So we have told you what has happened to us now you tell us your story.” Aurora said with a bright smile.
Mulan gave a small one back. She had ran when her heart was broken. She ran until someone needed her. “Well after I left you and Philip I found myself in a very far away land. There I was hired to train the King’s daughter how to fight. She was amazing with a bow but she didn’t know how to fight with a sword. So I was to teach her how to become just as proficient at the sword as she was with the bow.”
“A King allowed his daughter to fight?” Philip was amazed. Mulan was the only woman he had met that was a trained warrior. Snow was a legend with the bow but she was kicked out of her kingdom.
Mulan nodded, “Yes. The women from that kingdom where just as rough as the men I would have to say. The Queen could quiet a room with a look.” Mulan smiled as she spoke about the family.
“I would like to meet such a family.” Philip stated.
“Maybe you have heard of her,” Mulan said, since everyone seems to know everyone. “Her name is Merida. She is a Queen now.”
“Yes.” Aurora said with an excited smile. “The woman with the bow that Emma kidnapped.” She reminded Philip.
“Oh yes.” Philip remembered.
“What?!” Mulan was worried.
“Don’t worry Mulan, just a few days ago she went back home.” Phillip explained. Mulan felt her heart return to a more normal rate. “Surprising enough it was Zelina who returned her. Several of the others are still gone but she was able to get everyone who wanted to go back, back.” She barely missed her that means.
“I’m glad she is safe. She has a bit of a temper.” Mulan commented as she tried to figure out why Emma would have kidnapped her. Doesn't matter right now, what matters is she is safe and at home. This means she will be able to find Merida sitting on her throne.
Conversation for the rest of the evening was easier than it had been before. She was happy that her friends had found each other. She also realizes that neither of them would be able to fill her heart like she once thought. When she left that night she felt a door closing and she couldn't be happier about it.
When she made it back to the diner the place was closed. She walked around the building until she found a door on the side. When she walked into the side door she could see a light on in the back room from earlier that day. She walked in to find Red and Dorothy looking at a map that was of the Enchanted forest. “Where did you get that?”
Red looked up, “Granny. She found an updated map when she was in Camelot so bought it just in case.”
“We thought it would be a good idea to find where the door might be before we left,” Dorothy said as she stared at the map.
“How is that going?” Mulan asked as she took a spot to look at the map as well.
“Not good,” Red replied, “We don’t know where it would be. Snow hasn’t been back by so we haven’t been able to ask her.”
“Maybe we should go find her.” Dorothy pointed out. She wanted to get this over with as soon as they could. She wanted to go back to OZ and figure out what her and Red truly had.
“Agreed. The sooner we figure out where we are going we will know how we need to do this. Who knows what kind of traps Zelena placed in order to keep Galinda there.” Mulan said as she studied the map.
“Then let’s go. Snow’s apartment isn’t far from here.” Red said as she started to roll up the map. Dorothy grabbed the tube it went in, holding it for Red.
When they knocked on Snow’s door it flew open to reveal a smiling face. Snow was holding her son close to her. The door was opened wide to grant access to the others. “Sorry I didn’t find you sooner. Neal has been needy. I think he senses something is wrong.” The three walked in. Dorothy and Mulan looked around seeing things they never had before. Red shut the door and went to Neal so she could coo at him.
“I bet he will be better once David is home.” Ruby commented as she took the baby from Snow.
“I know he will. Until then I will have a very fussy baby.” Snow said as she walked towards the kitchen area. “Do any of you want tea?” She started a kettle before any of them answered.
“Actually we need your help.” Dorothy pulled the map out of the tub hanging on red. Seeing a clear table she laid the map out to let Snow look. “We need to know where the door is. Red’s Grandmother gave us this map and we were hoping you could tell us where it was.”
Snow moved the kettle off the stove, shut it off, then walked over to the table. “Of course. Lets see what we have here.” She started to study the map going over the memories of when she was last there. “Here,” she points to the edge of the dark forest. “I’m not sure who did this map but they did a very good job of it. It's more up to date then the ones we used when we went back.” Snow commented.
“The edge of the dark forest?” Red questioned.
“Yeah, I was ready to pop when we found her. Regina, David, and I found her to ask her for her help. We ended up casting the dark curse again in order to get Emma back to us to save the kingdom. The dark one told us ‘Through the door step inside if pure of heart then she won't hide.’ Regina couldn’t get through the door.” Snow smiled at Regina’s actions after they returned from Galida.
“Bet she didn’t like that,” Red said with a smile.
“No but she was supportive the whole time we were there. Well in her own way.” Snow said with a sad smile. She hoped her whole family would return soon. Snow took a pen and marked the area they found the door. “It's just a door. Nothing on either side of it to walk into, or so it seemed. When you see it you will know it.”
“Good, then we can get OZ back in order.” Dorothy said as she started to roll up the map.
“When do you leave,” Snow questioned.
“In the morning. We plan on finding Merida when we get there then finding the door.” Red stated as she looked at Snow with a little sadness in her eyes.
“Will you return?” Snow missed her friend.
“Of course. I already promised Red’s Grandmother that I would bring her back. She won’t be away for very long if I can help it.” Dorothy answered for Red. Red on her part broke into a smile. Mulan smiled at the scene between the two.
“Thank you Dorothy. I can’t wait to get to know you better as well.” Snow walked around the table hugging the other brunette.