After straightening herself out, Emma went towards the closet to get ready, placing the ribbon and necklace down on the vanity. She didn't know why she had so many dresses, she didn't even like their color. She sighed and resumed searching for a dress that wasn't like a doll's

She looked in the mirror and huffed, she didn't know why she always had to look like a doll, but knowing her father, its probably his own subtle way of telling her that he's the one in charge here, like some sort of twisted puppeteer

"Guards!" Emma called out, her usual innocent facade back up, yet a hint of annoyance grazed her tone

"Miss Ratri?" A guard said "what do you need?"

"Could you please take me to the training facility?" Emma requested

"Uh- sure..? But why-" 

"Now that's none of your damn business, is it?" Emma asked, snapping out of her persona of innocence

"N- no, it.. It isn't" the guard sighed "hold on, did mister Ratri approve of that..?"

"Nooo~ but he doesn't care as long as I don't do anything too reckless.. Are you gonna snitch? I won't be very happy if you did" Emma feigned naivety and pouted childishly, a subtle tone of warning just barely shining through

"I- I- of course n- not..! ... Well, unless he asked, maybe" the guard stuttered nervously

"heh, thank yoouuu!!" Emma smiled brightly and walked away, letting the guards release the breath they hadn't even known they were holding

{~'∆*∆'~}

"Oh, Normaaaaaaannnnn~" Emma called out in a sing-song voice, grabbing her keycard and scanning the lock and opening the door. There, Norman sat on his bed next to Rose. That girl hadn't left his side since they'd reunited, much to Emma's annoyance

"Owh, am I interrupting another family reunion? Sorry~" Emma gave a faux apology before approaching the two cattle children 

"What do you want" Norman said in an authoritative tone

"Nothing, nothing really" Emma giggled "just wanted to tell you I'm going out for a little bit so I need you to be on youw besht behaviow" she booped his nose as she spoke in a mockingly annoying baby voice

"Where are you going" Norman asked, his annoyed voice laced with curiosity. Emma stared at him for a few moments before turning to Rose

"She hasn't spoken much, why doesn't she take a little guess?" The gingerette pointed to the strawberry blonde girl

"Wait, huh...?" Rose whispered

"You heard me. Go on, take a guess" Emma giggled again

"Hey, don't drag her into your little game-" Norman's words were cut short by Rose's quiet voice

"I- its okay, Norman... Uh... Uhm..."

"Go on"

"Uhm... Are- are you going to... the sister training facility...?"

The gingerette approached her and gave her a few gentle pats on the head

"Correct!~ I'll be sure to bring you two something" Emma gave them a smile, almost mocking them for not having the same freedom she possessed

"What?" Norman muttered "you're going to the training facility? Did your father sign off on that?"

"Good god, why is everyone so worried about that!? He doesn't care as long as I don't do anything too reckless" Emma huffed and folded her arms in annoyance before turning and leaving the room

"Guards!" Emma called out, her voice now more ennui than innocent "lets go to the facility already"

"Now?" The guard rolled his eyes

"What do you mean "now?" What are you, a dipshit!?" Emma growled, her tone now one of pure annoyance

The guards looked at each other, confused at her sudden out of character outburst, before following her

{~'∆*∆'~}

Sooner than expected, they got to the training facility. Standing out like a bright chrysanthemum among a bouquet of dead flowers, the confidence and faux innocence she held herself with contrasted the tense atmosphere of the facility

The girl wandered around the facility, reviewing the classrooms, seemingly looking for somebody

Finally, someone approached. The Grandmother, Sarah

"Miss Ratri. We weren't informed of your arrival, what brings you here?" She asked

"Oh, hello, Grandmother! Sorry, I forgot to tell you. I'm looking for someone!" Emma smiled

"I might be able to help, who are you looking for?"

"24584" 

"Ah, Primrose? I'm not exactly sure where she is right now, but I've seen her around the abandoned parts of the facility"

The abandoned parts of the facility? Well, that woman has always been hard to understand, she's anything but predictable

"Alright, thank you!"

After thanking her, Emma wandered off to the abandoned section of the facility. That place wasn't exactly abandoned, more like nobody used them cause nobody has had a reason to

Emma stepped foot into the dark empty hallway and looked around, only seeing a few doors, all being closed. She spotted a stairwell door and entered

Inside sat the very person she had been searching for

Primrose

The older woman was sitting on the top step, singing a lullaby to nobody in particular. The gingerette leaned on the door frame and listened to her song. Soon, she wrapped it up and Emma, seeing this as a chance to mess around a little bit, started clapping

"Waaauuw~ you're a really good singer, Prim!~" Emma giggled, the innocent persona shining brighter than her condescension

Taken off guard, Prim turned to her

"Wha- oh. Its you. What do you want" Prim huffed lowly in annoyance

"Why is everyone so hostile today~" Emma whined "I just wanted to ask you a few things!"

"Which are?" Primrose scoffed

"Hm, just wanna ask you about your daughter!" Emma whined. The older woman several feet in front of her tensed up ever so slightly

"M.. My daughter...?" Primrose said "... You can ask, but I doubt I'll be able to answer most, if any, of your questions"

"Oh, I feel like you'll do just fine~" Emma took a few calculated steps closer "after all, a few files of hers have been found to be.. Tampered with"

"... What do you want... And if you say questions, I call bullshit. You're not the type to ask others for help"

"You're better at reading people, I'll give ya that! You're right, I don't want to ask any questions about Rosie.. But... I have a question for you..."

"What's your relationship with Smee?"