#it through a hatch in a small hidden room in the ballroom

[luxlightly]

Me when there is another big patch but the lever puzzle under Cazador's Palace is still broken:

Apparently the devs are "aware of the issue" and "working on" it. Unknown what this means but they've confirmed it's not just an unfinished remnant, it's supposed to work and do something, it's just busted.

I have no idea if there's anything of note that's actually going to be accessible if it gets fixed but it's driving me mad not to know.

[rainforest-rosegold]

Together (Pidgance Month Day 2)

Read it on AO3!

“So, does everyone have a companion for the banquet tomorrow?”

Pidge mentally kicked herself as Allura spoke, looking at each Paladin in turn.  Despite the princess’s warnings that the Evonrians would only speak to others in pairs, she hadn’t managed to find a date.  No, a companion, she corrected herself.  It’s not really a date.  Truthfully, she hadn’t had a clue who to ask, but she couldn’t just skip the banquet -- all the Paladins were expected to attend.

Hunk spoke up, snapping Pidge out of her reverie.  “Shay agreed to accompany me.”  Was it Pidge’s imagination, or did a hint of a blush color his cheeks?

Shiro was the next to respond.  “Matt will be meeting us there to accompany me.”

Pidge whistled.  “Nice going!”  She took a silent vow that her brother would never hear the end of her teasing.

The room fell silent, and after an awkward pause, Allura cleared her threat.  “What about you, Keith?”

Keith stood, shuffling his feet.  “Oh.  Well, I didn’t want to ask like this, but I was hoping maybe… that maybe you’d want to be my companion?”

Allura’s eyes widened briefly, then she smiled.  “I would love to.”

“Well, there goes my plan,” Lance grumbled.

Pidge glowered at him.  “You can’t try and tell me there aren’t loads of alien girls just falling over themselves to go with you.”

Lance rubbed his neck awkwardly.  “Well, yeah, but I… ah… I don’t really have ways of contacting any of them.”

Allura sighed.  “You had nearly a whole phoeb to find a companion!  How do you expect this to work?”  She let out an exasperated huff.  “Did anyone else wait until the last minute to ask someone?”

Pidge shrugged uncomfortably.  “There really wasn’t anyone I could ask, since the Evonrians don’t count robots as people.”

“Why don’t you two just go together?” Keith suggested drily.  “That would solve both problems.”

Pidge opened her mouth and found that she had no response.  Lance, for his part, began to complain, but Allura cut him off.  “I think that sounds perfect!  So it’s settled: I will be Keith’s companion, Shay will be Hunk’s, Matt will accompany Shiro, and Lance and Pidge will accompany each other.”  She turned and whisked away from the breakfast table, leaving the Paladins in stunned silence.

As the Castle approached Evonra, Allura lectured the Paladins and their companions.  If she was nervous, she gave no sign beyond her pacing and endless reminders.  “Remember, no matter how difficult it is, you must not let go of your companion’s hand.  Remain together at all times, and defer to each other in everything, the way Evonrians do.  When dinner is served--”

“Allura.”  Keith gently cut her off, hesitantly taking her left hand in his right.  “We’ve been over this at least five times.”

“You’re right.  I’m sorry.”

“Landing on Evonra in approximately… ah… seven ticks,” Coran warned, and everyone braced for landing.  “Six… five… four…”

Pidge walked over to join Lance, unable to meet his gaze.  They had avoided each other the whole afternoon, and several times, she had caught him glaring daggers at Keith.  Now, though, he seemed resigned to his fate, taking her right hand as soon as she was near enough and managing an encouraging smile.  “You ready for this?”

Pidge’s heart thudded loudly, and she felt certain she was gripping his hand much too tightly, though she couldn’t seem to loosen her hold.  “As ready as I’ll ever be.”

“Hey.”  At Lance’s tone, she turned to look him in the eyes and was startled by how soft his expression was, despite the mischievous smile that played around his lips.  “Since we’re stuck together anyway, let’s try and have some fun tonight, okay?”

Pidge felt a small smile creeping across her face in spite of herself.  “Okay.”

“Announcing the Paladins of Voltron and their Beloveds!”

“Beloveds?” Lance demanded in a whisper.

Allura twisted to answer him over her shoulder.  “That’s how the Evonrians refer to their companions.  One’s companion is the person they feel closest to.”

Lance turned bright red, and Pidge was certain she looked no better.  “You could have told us that before!” he complained.

“Shush,” Keith whispered.  The doors of the grand ballroom swung open, and Keith and Allura entered, followed by Pidge and Lance, with Hunk and Shay behind them and Matt and Shiro bringing up the rear.  The packed room burst into applause in the Evonrian way, stamping their feet rather than clapping their hands.  Tables were scattered around the edges of the room, with an open floor in the middle, and Pidge noticed that the chairs were each wide enough to seat two people comfortably.

As the Paladins entered the crowd, they were immediately swarmed.  Aliens of all races had been invited, but the majority of the guests were Evonrians, easily distinguished by their many arms.  On one side of each Evonrian, innumerable short, noodly arms waved and flailed, while to their other side, every tiny hand grasped the corresponding hand of a different Evonrian.  They were some of the strangest-looking people Pidge had ever encountered.

A pair of Evonrians in resplendent blue robes approached Pidge and Lance.  “Why are there only eight of you?” the one on the left inquired.  “Are there not five Paladins?”

“There are,” Pidge assured him quickly.  “Lance and I are both Paladins, we just came together rather than finding other comp-- that is, Beloveds.”

“I see,” said the Evonrian on the right with a smile.  “Surely you must be the strongest of all the Paladins, in that case.”

“Um…”  Pidge wasn’t sure how to respond to that.

“We’re not, like, together together,” Lance corrected, a little too quickly for Pidge’s liking.  The two Evonrians grimaced, turning and walking away without another word.

“That might not have been the wisest thing to say,” Pidge said drily.  “It looks like, for tonight at least, we have to act like we really are together together.”

A pair of voices rang out through the room in unison.  “Attention!  Dinner will be served shortly!  Please be seated!”

Pidge and Lance made their way through the crowd to claim a seat at one of the many small, square tables.  Each table had one double chair per side, providing seats for a total of eight guests.  Pidge and Lance ended up with a pair of Evonrians to their right, two somewhat awkward-looking, vaguely birdlike creatures across from them, and Keith and Allura to their left.

As soon as everyone was seated, Evonrian waiters emerged from doors all along the opposite end of the room from where the Paladins had entered, each pair carrying an enormous serving platter.  As they dispersed throughout the room, quiet music began to play from hidden speakers, and a low murmur of conversation began to fill the air.

The Evonrians at Pidge’s table broke the awkward silence that had hung over the four pairs.  “So, tell us about your Beloveds,” said one with greenish hair and huge eyes.

“Yes, how did your connections come to be?” asked the other, a thin Evonrian man with a long nose.

One of the birdlike aliens let out a long squawk, cleared her threat, and tried again.  “Krawwik and I have known each other all our lives.”

“Brekk and I were destined to be together from the moment we were hatched,” Krawwik agreed.

The Evonrians nodded as one.  “And what of you, Paladins?” Long Nose inquired.

Pidge and Lance exchanged an uncomfortable look, unsure how to respond.  Meanwhile, Allura leaned her head against Keith’s shoulder.  “When Keith and I first met, he wasn’t very trusting, but he gradually has opened up to me, and we have grown quite close.”

Keith nodded, resting his head on top of hers.  “I still can’t believe that out of everyone Allura could have chosen, she fell for me.”

Seeming satisfied, the Evonrians turned their attention to Pidge and Lance.  “What about the Green and Blue Paladins?” Huge Eyes pestered, and it seemed almost like a challenge to Pidge.

Fortunately, they were interrupted by the arrival of food.  A pair of Evonrian waiters set their enormous platter on the table, lifting the cover to reveal… berries.  Heaps of berries of every color and shape imaginable, and absolutely nothing else.  Eight large, scoop-like spoons with short handles ringed the platter.  The Evonrians each grabbed a scoop and began to alternate between feeding themselves and each other.

Lance made an alarmed, strangled noise.  “How are we supposed to do that?” he asked anxiously.

Pidge hummed thoughtfully.  “It’s like that time when Allura cuffed us all together to eat.  What did we do then?”

Lance gave her a blank look.  “Didn’t we start a food fight?”

Pidge smirked. “I seem to recall that we did.”

Lance’s eyes widened.  “I see where you’re going with this…”

As one, Pidge and Lance seized spoons, filled them with heaping scoops of berries, and flung their tasty projectiles across the table, where they splattered across the stunned faces of the Evonrians.  Allura gaped at them, a horrified expression on her face.  “What did you just do?!” Keith exclaimed, his voice drenched with shock.

After a very pregnant pause, Huge Eyes spoke.  “You challenge us to food combat?”

“Um… we challenge everyone to food combat!” Pidge declared, hoping this wouldn’t end up getting her thrown in prison or worse.

“Every pair for themselves!” Lance agreed.

“Then let us begin!”  Quicker than a blink, Long Nose began hurling berries at Pidge and Lance, his many tiny arms a blur.  She stood, tugging Lance over to hide behind Keith and Allura, who soon joined the fray.  Within minutes, the food combat became an all-out food war, all thoughts of eating abandoned as berries flew through the air, staining everyone's fancy clothes, not to mention the walls, floor, and ceiling.

Pidge and Lance stood in the midst of it all, laughing hysterically at the chaos they had caused, their hands still clasped together.  Grinning, Lance squeezed Pidge’s hand.  “This turned out more fun than I was expecting.”

Pidge giggled.  “Who would have thought the uptight Evonrians would get so into a food fight?”

Lance shrugged.  “And who would have thought my Beloved would be the one to start it?”

Pidge froze.  “Am I?”

“Are you what?”

“Your Beloved.”

“According to the Evonrians, yes!”  Lance started to laugh, but stopped when he saw the look on her face.  His expression turned thoughtful.  “Yeah, I think you are.”

That night, the Paladins and their Beloveds returned to the Castle completely worn out but in a good humor.  Rather than dispersing to their rooms, they gathered in the lounge, separating to collapse on the sofas.  Only Pidge and Lance remained connected, and Hunk noticed.  “You two realize you can let go now, right?”

Pidge laughed.  “Of course,” she replied, “but who says we want to?”

[shroudingmists]

A masquerade for the Night of the Nocturne. How quaint. How…cliché. Boring might’ve been a stretch, but at least the entertainment was grand enough to be a welcome distraction.

Strolling by a group of hidden, smiling faces behind fans, his eyes flicked this way and that. They spoke of him, in hushed whispers–because, masked or not, he was a sight to see. Or so they said, he was (thus far) unconvinced.

He would be lying, however, if it didn’t warm a little ember of a fire in the pit of his belly.

———————–

@frxemriss

When he found a cup of punch in his hands without really thinking about it, he lifted it to his nose for a quick sniff disguised as a long pull. Orange…cranberries, and other assorted citrus. Berry, of some sort. Nothing odd, so down the hatch–the pleasant sting of fresh fruit filling his throat and nose in a way that was actually quite nice.

Not as nice as a cup of his coffee, but…

Focus, a little voice grouched from inside.

Don’t think about him. Not right now, there’s better–

Better? Better than him?

Scoffing to himself, from behind that small glass of punch, Eleison rolled his eyes at himself.

His eyes trained on a tray of h'ordeuvres. Rich cheeses, spiced meats, carefully impaled on little toothpicks all fancy-like. Next to them, tiny desserts in tiny glasses. Berries, or chocolates, easy to eat amidst small talk. He had no interest, moving for the opposite side of the room, drink in hand.

The crisp rush of a fire-laced breath spat out across the ballroom with great flourish, to the delight of clapping women in fancy lace. Nearby, a man balanced on a large orb, rolling slowly through the crowd with a pleasant smile.

Blinking, slowly, his head tilted…

And rested on a figure leaning against the intricate post of a rather grand staircase.

It was like a fairy-tale, really, he mused.

The people who stared at him were even more noticeable, and the assassin scoffed slightly at their transparency.

Although.

Tall. That was nice, at least. His brown dress would have been drab, if not for the leather flourishes that his intricate outfit took. If he thought about it, honestly, it was absolutely stunning. The suit he wore tapered to his long, slender body incredibly, so much so that he couldn’t help but let his eyes rove in appreciation.

There was no doubt that it was pure muscle that filled it out, tan skin offsetting the crisp white shirt and silken tie peeking from beneath a brilliantly embellished cloak.

But what most intrigued him was that mask–black, red, gold, all mixing with that soft sandy brown that offset the equally sandy hair spilling in loose curls from behind it.

Odd…familiar. Pursing his lips, he edged a bit closer.

Long, calloused fingers peering from cut-off gloves curled easily around a glass that he sipped from–dark red liquid, probably wine, swirling easily in his grasp.

His eyes. Let me see his–

Eyes.

When they met with his own, a shock jilted his entire system, his teeth clenching so hard he thought they would grind together.

Get it together.

…brown…brown eyes…his eyes. How was he–?

“Good evening. A lovely show, isn’t it?” a voice rich as ever, a voice he’d heard so many times, hummed among the lull of conversation.

“Lovely, indeed,” sighed Eleison in amusement, in vague annoyance, in…intrigue. What in the world was he doing here? How did he find out about this? Well…questions for another moment in time, he supposed.

“You’re enjoying yourself?” the voice smooth as his morning coffee whispered, now suddenly incredibly close. Eleison kept himself from shivering, barely.

“You know…honestly…I think the crowd’s getting to me,” he sighed, voice dreadfully woeful. A soft flutter of his eyelashes, teasingly, from behind his own mask. “It makes me wonder if–”

“A quieter spot is in order? Mmm, say no more…” the taller man whispered, pushing a finger to his own lips. He winked, briefly, settling his glass on a passing waiter’s tray. Offering up his large hand, Eleison found him taking it with little resistance.

I’d have beat you senseless if you’d pulled this shit before…so why…

And suddenly, he was twirling, among all the other bodies.

Well, I might still beat you senseless.

“Mind you manners, babydoll…play the game…you’re good at this game, aren’t you?” the voice at his ear whispered.

His knees trembled, nearly losing their step.

Fuck. Fuck, when you call me that, I…

“Chiron,” Eleison hissed under his breath. “Upstairs. Get me upstairs, before I–”

The Imperial laughed, grandly, flashing his brilliant white teeth. As if Eleison had told him some great joke. Ladies giggled, waved their fans. Curious men tried to hide their roaming eyes, failing, most certainly not unnoticed.

“Your wish is my command.”

And suddenly, they’d waltzed their way across the floor to an opposite staircase, one he himself had scoped out earlier. So, Chiron had too…

Just who was…or…had he been? Why hadn’t he asked before?

So many questions, but only one burning answer right now–the answer to his burning mind’s question: how fast can we get up there?

They played as if they were exploring, like many did, up to the higher balcony. All the while, sharing glances. Soft shoulder touches, and little laughs among themselves. That’s right. Play the game. Always play the game.

And suddenly, arms around him, whirling him around the nearest corner. With his back to a wall (how he hated his back to the wall–unless it was with him), the air suddenly knocked clean from him–at least for a moment–his lips were covered. Wine, and…

Yesss…there it was…

Dark, rich coffee, that special brew. It emanated from his clothes, his hair, his eyes, his goddamn soul.

“How–how did y–yo–mmmph...”

A delightful interruption, a knee slipping between his legs as Chiron’s mouth silenced him once more.

“Oh, I have my ways,” the Imperial sighed into his mouth, dragging his tongue eagerly on Eleison’s, just the way he liked. He loved the way he leaned into it, like he was going to miss a blessed second of it.

“Smartass,” the Mirror groaned as that knee dug into him, head suddenly tilting back at the pressure of it. He was…insistent. He loved when he was insistent, even more so when it was mixed with urgency.

“Back room. It’s dark, and quiet…fancy a game?”

“Let’s play.”

“We always do, don’t we?”

“Yesss…” Eleison hissed, giddy, drunk with a power that only came from the possibility of getting caught. Screw that fat, drunken asshole downstairs. He could wait for a while, because this…ohoho, this…

“Aaahn…is that a dagger in your pocket, ooor?”

“Mm, no. That’s a little le–yeah, there you go.”

Chiron laughed, biting a dark mark onto Eleison’s neck with fervor. “Ah. I should’ve known better than to ask, you scamp…”

It was like they were floating, now, sliding against the wall between deep kisses and quick grinds. They were playful as pups, nipping at each others’ lips, Chiron even whining softly when Eleison ducked from his grip.

And then, a door handle, which was fumbled with clumsily, until they slipped into the dark.

The sweet, wonderful dark.

“Now…”

“With pleasure…”

“Watch the daggers, dear…”

Chiron laughed. Eleison blushed, glad it was hidden.

Dear…? Oh, that’s new…

Oh, well. Those kisses were too sweet, too distracting. He’d let it slide…for now.

[mystical-flute]

Twisted Destiny Chapter 2: Lovely Arrivals

Red could only wince as Snow's cry of pain echoed down the hallway. She hated that her friend was in so much pain, but, Red knew, at least they didn't have to worry about Regina's curse causing trouble for them. At least now Snow and Charming could raise little Emma as they'd hoped.

But still, Red couldn't stand the cries she heard coming out of Snow and Charming's bedroom… and she was downstairs in the war room with Happy.

 "I can't imagine what sort of things you must be hearing right now, Red," Happy remarked, looking decidedly less-than his name would imply as he looked at her in concern.

 Red shook her head. "It'll be okay. At least I know her screams are because of something good and not because Regina or George's soldiers have found her," she replied with a shrug and a wince as another cry pierced her sensitive ears.

 "This is why I'm glad dwarves are hatched," Sleepy said as he came into the room. "That way, we don't have to hear our friend scream in pain."

 "You – what?!" Red questioned. She hadn't known how dwarves were born but now she was certain she hadn't wanted to. And now she had multiple other questions that she definitely didn't want to know the answer to.

 "Oh yeah!" Happy piped up, "Dwarves are hatched by – "

 Red held up her hand. "You know what? I'm good. I don't need to know how it works."

 It was then that the doors to the war room opened with a flourish, and Red was on her feet in an instant as a soldier dressed in unfamiliar armor stormed into the room brandishing a sword, their face hidden aside from a pair of eyes that burned with determination.

 "Um… who are you?" Red asked, quirking a dark eyebrow at the soldier.

 "I heard the screams as we were pulling up to the palace. What's going on here?" came the muffled voice.

 Red snorted. "Nothing is going on. Snow's in labor, that's all," she said with a laugh.

 "That's… all?" the soldier asked. Red still couldn't tell if it was male or female, even with her wolf hearing.

 "Yes. That's all. I swear. Trust me, I would know if there was a threat in the castle. Now… you must be from the Wei Empire. Snow and Charming told me your emperor would be visiting today."

 The soldier shrugged as a tall man walked into the room, an amused smile on his face. "What was that proverb I told you about rushing to judgment now, Mulan?"

 The warrior – Mulan – shrugged. "I just wanted to keep you safe, your highness."

 The emperor chuckled. "I am aware, but if you'd waited for the man next to me to explain the situation, you would have known we were in no danger from a woman giving birth."

 "I'm sorry that Snow and David won't be able to attend your meeting. We weren't expecting her to go into labor today," Grumpy said as the emperor took a seat at the table.

 The emperor smiled at the angry dwarf. "Do not concern yourself with it. I know that babies are ready when they are ready."

 The soldier finally seemed comfortable enough to remove the helmet, and it was with a bit of surprise that Ruby took in a woman.

 A very pretty woman.

 "And what is your name, young lady?" the Emperor asked, looking at Red curiously. "Not many people are brave enough to stand up to Mulan like that."

 "Oh. My name is Red, sir. I'm Snow's most trusted advisor."

 "Ah. That explains why you didn't seem nervous around Mulan. Most people get nervous when they meet her."

 Red could see Mulan's face twist into annoyance at the Emperor's words, but she could only shrug. "After everything we went through with Regina, there isn't much that scares me anymore," she replied.

 "You think Regina is terrifying? Try fighting thousands of Huns that just kept coming and coming," Mulan said with a eye roll.

 Red scoffed. "Try being hunted because you're a werewolf. Try dealing with a witch who knew how to do magic and could stop you at every turn."

 "Oh please."

 "I'm just saying, if the Huns were magic-wielders you'd have a point. One Regina was harder to deal with than ten Huns," Red replied with a shrug, adjusting her cloak. "Not to mention the curse she was going to cast on us. When the Huns could do something like that, then you'd win this argument."

 Neither of them noticed the amused, knowing look on the Emperor's face.

 "She's here! The princess is here!" Doc ran into the room and skidded to a halt in front of the table. "Red, Snow is asking for you."

 Red shot out of her seat and ran down the hallway before any other word was spoken, bursting into Snow's bedchamber with a wide smile.

 "Where is the little princess?" she squealed, darting over to the bed where she saw the purple blanket wrapped around a small bundle.

 "She's right here… waiting for her favorite aunt," Snow replied, shifting the bundle a little. A tiny little fist poked out of the blanket in greeting.

 "Aww…" she cooed, taking the tiny fist in her hand. "Hello Emma… we've waited a long time for you."

 Snow smiled softly and kissed the princess' head. "Nothing will ever tear this family apart, Emma. I promise, we'll always be with you."

 -----

 Red understood why Snow was so eager to have this ball. After everything they'd been through with the war with Regina, with the thought of never being able to raise Emma, Red knew Snow as going to take every opportunity she could to do the traditional, royal things.

 But Red had never been comfortable around so many people. Even though it wasn't Wolfstime, and she'd managed to tame the other side of her, Red could feel and sense the blood that flowed through all of the guests.

 But, she wasn't going to complain. Her best friend was finally happy and settled in to her life. With her daughter.

 "Red? What's the matter?" she heard Snow ask from behind her.

 She turned to face Snow with a calm smile on her face. "Nothing Snow… why do you ask? This is a happy night."

 "Red. I know you're lying to me. You can tell me if you're not happy," she replied with a small smile.

 She shook her head. "Don't think I'm not happy, Snow. I am. I'm very happy that you get to have all of this. But you know that I'm… a little uncomfortable in groups this large," Red replied with a small shudder.

 Snow frowned in concern. "Red, if you're that uncomfortable, you can step outside, or go be with Emma upstairs. I'm not going to force you to stay in the ballroom."

 "Yeah. I'm going to go get some air. Thanks Snow."

 Snow smiled and nodded as Charming pulled her in for another dance, Red outside and taking a deep breath of the fresh air.

 "You know, we never finished our argument about whose war was harder to fight in," she heard Mulan's voice say from next to her.

 Looking over, Ruby could only smile slightly at the other woman. "Why don't we just say that war sucks for anyone having to fight in one, magical enemy or no?" she said with a small laugh.

 Mulan gave her a small smile in return. "Deal."

 She leaned against the balcony and looked out toward the vast expanse of forest, the small village just near the castle a bustle of people coming and going from the ball. "Do you wonder what that place was like?" she asked curiously.

 "What place?"

 "The place Regina was going to take us to. The land without magic or whatever it was called."

 Mulan frowned. "No. I don't care to think about it at all. Whatever that place was… whatever it is… is not worth the pain of it all."

 Red let out a sigh and ran a hand through her hair. "I just can't help but wonder if it could have been a fresh start. It's weird, I know."

 "Why can't you get a fresh start here? We all have a new lease on life now that Regina's locked up in that prison," Mulan said, reaching to place a hand on Red's shoulder. "Fresh starts are hard but you certainly don't need to be transported to a new world in order to get them."

 The hand on her shoulder was comforting, but it didn't stop Red from saying what was on her mind. "Have you ever had a broken heart before?"

 Mulan tensed. "Yes. His name was Shang. We met fighting in the Emperor's war."

 "What happened to him?"

 "He died."

 Red nodded solemnly in understanding. "So did my first love. It was my fault… I killed him."

 "I'm sorry. What happened?"

 Red sighed and fidgeted. She wasn't sure if she wanted to tell Mulan the truth – Mulan was the first person she'd connected with since she'd met Snow. " You know I'm a werewolf… and I went out of control. So you can understand why I'd want a fresh start."

 Mulan looked at her in horror. "That's awful. I'm so sorry. But a fresh start is one thing… it's another thing to say you want to damn everyone in this world to another. There's always a way to find a fresh start. Why do you think I fight so hard for the emperor?"

 Red studied her, curious. She didn't claim to be an expert in human behavior, but there was something in Mulan's eyes. "Are you sure you're making a fresh start and not just blocking out the pain?"

 Mulan frowned. "I'm sorry?"

 "I'm sorry, it's none of my business but… you just look like you're so concentrated on doing your work for the Emperor that you've never really… processed what happened."

 The other woman exhaled slowly. "I don't know. Honestly." I guess I was just so concerned with protecting the Emperor that I never… focused on me. The Huns nearly killed him as well as Shang if I hadn't gotten in the way. I almost didn't stop them in time. If I had cried for just a second longer – "

 "Hey," Red murmured, reaching to take Mulan's shoulder. "It's okay. Now is the time to make a fresh start, right? Isn't that what we were just talking about?"

 Mulan scoffed through the tears in her eyes as she considered Red's words. "And now you're the one telling me about a fresh start after considering what would have happened had we been cursed to the Land Without Magic."

 Red blushed a little, the glow of the lanterns unable to hide the color in her cheeks. "Well… maybe I just needed to meet the right person to talk some sense into me."

 The other woman's eyes widened as she took in Red, and she could see a twinkle of something in her eyes. "Would you like to dance, Red?" Mulan asked as a slow waltz began to play.

 She nodded with a smile. "Yeah, of course. But I warn you… I don't know how to dance like this."

 Mulan laughed. "Don't worry. I don't know how to dance to music in this kingdom either."

 Ruby giggled a little as she placed a hand on Mulan's hip, the other in the woman's hand as they slowly began to move to the beat of the music… and the rest of the world melted away.

 Neither woman noticed as Snow White and the Emperor stood in the doorway watching as the love blossomed between the werewolf and the warrior.

 "I believe that the flower that blooms in adversity is the most rare and beautiful of them all," the Emperor said with a small smile as he looked down at the queen.

 Snow nodded. "I think that's a beautiful line. And true. You said Mulan lost a love as well?"

 "Yes. Li Shang. He was one of my best generals. Mulan's greatest adversity has been herself ever since."

 Snow observed the couple for a moment more. "I hope she's overcome that adversity. Shall we give them some privacy?"

 The Emperor nodded in agreement, and the two slipped away, leaving the bud of romance to bloom.

 But little did any of them know what else had begun to bloom in a far-off realm.