Chapter 16

“I might actually know a place,” Mary Margaret said quietly.

Everyone turned to look at her.

Lancelot stepped forward. “Where?”

She hesitated, glancing toward the pit. “Cora’s still nearby. I don’t feel comfortable voicing my plan here.”

Alex scoffed. “What, is she part bat? I really don’t think she can hear us from all the way under there.“

Mary Margaret frowned. “I just want to be cautious. She’s powerful.”

Lancelot nodded slowly. “No need to worry. The curse stripped her of her magic. But given her reputation, we’ve kept her locked up — just in case.”

“Nevertheless,” Mary Margaret said firmly, “I don’t want to take any chances. Let us go.”

Lancelot considered for a long moment, then nodded. “I’ll allow it. But you’ll take my bravest warrior with you. Mulan will defend you.”

Alex’s jaw dropped. “Wait. You’re Mulan?!“

Emma raised an eyebrow. “We can defend ourselves.”

Mary Margaret stepped in quickly. “Deal.”

Emma shot her a look, but Snow ignored it and turned to Lancelot with gratitude. “Thank you.”

Mulan approached them, standing tall and calm. “Follow me. I’ll take you to the weaponry so you can arm yourselves.”

They walked into a stone-armored hut, filled with racks of swords, bows, and axes. Alex stepped inside and immediately stopped, her eyes sparkling.

“This… this is like every RPG dream I’ve ever had,” she whispered. “Emma, pinch me. I think I’m dreaming.”

Emma gave her a flat look. “Just pick a weapon. And don’t even think about that giant sword.”

Alex flushed, already halfway to the biggest, shiniest sword in the room. “Busted. But come on, when will I ever get to swing one of these again?”

Emma sighed. “Fine. But only if you can actually lift it.”

Challenge accepted.

Alex grabbed the sword with both hands and went to swing it like a boss — and immediately fell flat on her back with a loud thud.

“Damn it,” she muttered.

Emma burst into laughter. “Guess you’ll have to go with something lighter.”

Grumbling, Alex got up and eyed a pair of sleek double axes on the wall. She grabbed them, along with a short sword she sheathed awkwardly at her waist.

Meanwhile, Emma turned to Mulan. “Can I get my gun back now?”

Mulan raised a brow, confused at first — then reached beneath her armor and retrieved the pistol. “Is it magic?”

Emma smirked. “Depends who’s pulling the trigger.”

As Emma holstered her gun and grabbed a small dagger, Alex gave her a side-eye. “Really? A toothpick? What are you gonna do with that, clean your teeth?”

Emma rolled her eyes. “At least I know how to use my weapon. You just picked a bunch of cool-looking things you’ll probably hurt yourself with.”

“Not true,” Alex huffed. “I watched The Witcher. I know how to use these. It’s just swing and stab, right?”

Mulan stepped between them. “Follow my lead. Do exactly as I say. And you might survive.”

Emma gave a dry laugh. “Thanks for the pep talk. But we’re fine. I just killed a dragon last week.”

Alex snorted. “Wow, one battle and suddenly you’re a fantasy expert.”

Mulan turned to face them, her voice cold and steady. “Have you ever seen an ogre?”

Emma shrugged. “Pretty sure I dated a few.”

Alex laughed loudly. “True. And all those dates ended with a broken nose.”

Mulan stepped up to Emma, face deadly serious. “Legends say when they kill… the last thing you see is yourself, dying in the reflection of their eyes.”

She turned and walked away.

Alex stared after her, pale. “Well. Good luck, everyone. I think I’ll just stay right here.“

She made a sharp turn to leave — only for Emma to grab the back of her shirt and drag her along.

“Nope. Where I go, you go.”

“Ugh,” Alex groaned, but followed anyway.

Mary Margaret caught up beside her. “Don’t let her rattle you. I won’t let anything happen to us.”

Alex gave her a look. “No offense, but… when’s the last time you actually used that thing?” she asked, pointing to her bow.

Snow smirked. “I know how to use it. Might’ve been 28 years ago, but it feels like yesterday. Just stick to the plan — we’ll be fine.”

Emma frowned. “Okay, but what is the plan? You haven’t told us anything.”

Snow hesitated. “The wardrobe.”

Alex blinked. “Wait. Like… the wardrobe?”

Emma nodded slowly. “The one that sent baby us to Maine?”

Snow gave a firm nod. “If it survived the curse… it might be our only way back to Storybrooke.”

Alex sighed. “So we’re risking our lives on a theory. Awesome. Sounds totally safe.”

Emma shook her head. “She has a point… but it’s the only option we’ve got. So where is it?”

Mary Margaret’s eyes softened. “My place.”

She turned to her daughters, voice full of quiet determination.

“You want to see where you’re from?”

Alex’s heart gave an unexpected flutter.

“We’re going home.”

Alex’s eyes lit up. “Wait — does this mean we’re going to a castle?”

Emma groaned, knowing what was coming.

“I wish I brought my camera.”

——————————————————————————————

A few hours later

“Are we there yet?” Alex whined, dragging her feet.

“It should be a few days… or less,” Mulan answered flatly. “We’ll make camp here for the night.”

“Thank God,” Alex groaned, dropping dramatically into the grass like a starfish.

Emma glanced around. “If we’re hiding from ogres, shouldn’t we maybe, I don’t know… not start a fire?”

“Ogres are blind,” Snow said as she crouched down, checking the perimeter. “They hunt by sound alone.”

Emma blinked. “Because that’s definitely something everyone knows about ogres.”

Alex chimed in with a smirk, “Em… it’s basic ogre etiquette, duh.”

Snow sighed. “Look, I know you’re out of your element—”

“I’m fine,” Emma cut in. “More than fine. I’m great.“

Snow raised an eyebrow. “Maybe you two should just stay here while we gather wood and water? Guard the campsite?”

Emma and Alex looked around the clearing, unimpressed.

“You mean the big empty patch of grass?” Emma asked.

“Yeah, we’ll guard it from the rogue cows,” Alex added with mock seriousness.

“It’s the safest place for you two,” Snow said firmly. “We’ll be right back.”

She and Mulan walked off into the woods, leaving the sisters behind.

Alex sat up. “Y’know, I don’t think it was a great idea to leave the two people who know nothing about this world to ‘defend the camp.'”

Emma shrugged. “We’ll be fine… let’s just hope an ogre doesn’t show up.”

“Comforting. I’m bored. Wanna play I Spy?”

Emma gave her a look. “Seriously? I Spy? What are we, five?”

Alex raised an eyebrow. “If you think about it, it’s multitasking. Like—’I spy… an ogre!’ Boom, situational awareness and a warning system.”

Emma sighed… but agreed. Boredom wins.

After several rounds of “I Spy: Forest Edition,” the sky turned dark. Snow and Mulan returned with firewood and canteens.

Alex perked up. “Took you long enough. I was about to start naming pine needles.”

Snow began setting up a fire. Mulan handed over water skins. Just as they started to settle in, a blur of white moved behind Snow—and suddenly, a knife was at her neck.

Snow flipped her attacker with brutal precision, pinning her to the ground and disarming her. Alex and Emma just watched, mildly horrified, as Mulan rushed over.

“Stop!” Mulan barked, grabbing the knife. “Don’t hurt her.”

“She tried to kill me!” Snow shouted.

BANG!

A gunshot rang out.

Everyone froze. Birds scattered in the distance.

Alex jumped. “What the hell, Emma?! Was that really necessary?!”

“Emma!” Snow yelled. “What are you doing?!”

Emma raised the gun toward the stranger. “Protecting you. Drop the weapon.”

Alex facepalmed. “You idiot. You just attracted the ogres! I swear, your savior complex is going to get us all killed.”

Snow’s voice tightened. “She’s right. That was reckless.”

A low growl rumbled through the trees behind them.

Emma turned, face going pale.

Snow’s voice dropped to a whisper. “Run.”

They bolted.

“Split up!” Snow ordered.

Mulan and Aurora veered one way. Snow, Emma, and Alex ran the other.

As they sprinted through the woods, Emma tripped and fell hard.

Alex skidded to a stop and turned back. “Emma! Staring dramatically into the void won’t save you—get up!”

A branch snapped. An ogre burst through the trees, massive and snarling.

Alex raised a hand, silently telling Emma not to move.

But of course, Emma didn’t listen. She whipped out her gun, aimed—

Click.

The ogre heard it instantly and swatted the gun away.

“Seriously?!” Alex snapped, pulling her axes free. “You really thought that was gonna work?!”

A high-pitched whistle cut through the air.

The ogre turned. Snow stood across the clearing, bow drawn.

She loosed an arrow—dead center in the creature’s eye.

It collapsed instantly.

Alex blinked. “Damn. Nice shot.”

Alex helped Emma up. “Next time, listen to people when they tell you to do something.”

Emma, still stunned, turned to Snow. “That was incredible. When was the last time you fired a bow?”

“Twenty-eight years ago,” Snow said casually, lowering her weapon. “Guess it’s like riding a bike.”

Alex coughed. “That is nothing like riding a bike.”

Emma smiled, still catching her breath. “How did you even know you were going to hit it?”

“I didn’t,” Snow said bluntly. “Next time—listen. Those weapons don’t work here.”

She walked away.

Alex leaned toward Emma, grinning. “Haha, you got mom-scolded first.“

Emma shoved her lightly. “Shut up.”

They caught up with Mulan and Aurora not far off. The latter was trudging behind, her cape caught on every branch possible.

Alex raised an eyebrow. “Well, look who it is. Screw-up number one.”

Aurora glared, but Mulan just shouted over her shoulder, “Aurora! Keep up!”

“I’m trying!” Aurora snapped. “I’m not exactly dressed for the woods! It’s freezing out here!”

Mulan muttered under her breath, “Maybe you should’ve stayed back, then.”

Alex leaned over to Emma. “I think she’s mad at her.”

Emma took off her jacket and handed it to Aurora.

Aurora blinked. “But… I tried to kill your friend.”

Alex stepped forward, reaching for the jacket. “Good point. I’ll just take that—”

Emma pulled it back. “No, you won’t.“

Alex scowled. “But I need it more than Little Miss Princess Over Here.“

Emma rolled her eyes. “You don’t even get cold easily.”

She turned to Aurora, voice soft. “That’s not just our friend. She’s our mom. And she can take care of herself. And look—screwing up? You’re not the only one.”

Before Aurora could respond, Snow’s voice called from up ahead.

“We’re here!”

They pushed through the trees—and stopped.

Below them, nestled in the valley, stood a towering white castle. Majestic, untouched. Like something out of a dream.

Alex’s jaw dropped. “Okay. I definitely should’ve brought my camera.”