Reflection

AN: I don't own Digimon or Mulan. All you lawyers satisfied now?

Look at me
I will never pass for a perfect son
Or a perfect Chosen
Can it be
I'm not meant to play this part?

Everyone's grown and changed so much. But not me. Everyone has become a better person. But not me. I'm the only one of us who's stayed the same decidely imperfect person ever since we came here. Why am I here then?
Crest of Friendship. Hah. The only person who doesn't fit his crest. The misfit. Probably I was chosen by accident.

Now I see
That if I were to truly
To be myself
I would break my brother's heart

And the worst part is that I've built up this illusory me, one who is friendly and a great person. One who fits the crest I have. One who believes in friendship, instead of thinking it just an illusion. What would it be like if I became myself? Cherrymon thinks I should, but do I trust him? What would my life be like if I just accepted what I know to be true, that friendship is just as real and long-lasting as that reflection of Tai in the water in front of me. Not real, and as short-lived as a mayfly.

Who is that boy I see
Staring straight
Back at me?
Why is my reflection someone I don't know?

Why Tai? Why him, of all people? Is it because he is my rival, as Cherrymon says? I don't really trust Cherrymon farther than I can throw him, but his words have the ring of truth. Is it because I love Tai or something? I always thought I was straight, but... Or maybe it's because Tai and I are alike at the root of all this. We're both trying our butts off to help. But he is sucessful and I fail. Why? Why Tai of all people?

Somehow I cannot hide
Who I am
Though I've tried

So now I go to fight. I have accepted the walls I built when my parents divorced. I now believe as well as know that friendship is a pretty word, nothing more. Goodbye, Matt who believed that the group staying together was the most important thing. Goodbye, Matt who yelled I need Tai, and Sora! I need Mimi, Joe, and Izzy! outside of Digitamamon's diner. It was nice knowing you, but the pretty façade you provided for my ice-cold walls needed to drop sometime.

When will my reflection show
Who I am inside?

Maybe that was why my reflection showed Tai. Because I was no longer myself, Matt the cruel, the cold. Maybe my reflection will only show me when I am being my true self.

A voice echoed softly through my head. But is your real self those walls or what's hidden behind them? I ignored it. I was Matt, now, not Tai whose brashness masked occaisional sentimentality. My reflection in the Lake of Truth was now me, I was sure even without checking.

When will my reflection show
Who I am inside?