June 27th (Early Morning, Day 2)

Mulan wakes up to the sound of crickets. Actually, it's one cricket. She opens her eyes and right in front of her is a small, red dragon. "Mushu. What are you—"

"Sorry, Ping, but Cri Kee and I just couldn't wait to tell you the great news!"

Mulan sits straight up in shock. "Ping?" She pats over her body. Broader— no— stronger arms. And a flat chest? Mulan stands up, sees herself wearing red robes, and touches the metal that's around her neck. "This has to be a dream."

She rushes to the other end of the room and Mushu follows. "This is no dream, boy."

Mulan sees herself, his self in the mirror. It's almost exactly as I remember, except stronger, taller. She turns to the side. Flatter.

Mushu climbs up to Ping's shoulder, "Come on, now, boy. Ask me what the big surprise is."

Ping questions, "What is it?" He puts his hand up to his throat. My voice is deeper too. Oh, my ancestors, what have you done?

Mushu begins to whisper, "The people are so pleased with you." but his excitement gets the better of him. "They are going to present a giant statue of you! Right in the center of the village!"

Ping growls, "Ow. Mushu."

Mushu backs away and a sad tone escapes him, "Hey, can't a dragon be excited?"

Ping puts a hand up to his head, "There's a difference between excited and yelling, especially this early."

Mushu puts a claw up, "What do you mean early, boy? You're late."

"Huh, what? But you just said—"

"I know what I said. Just forget it. The sun's up, and your father wants you in the dining room."

"My father?"

Mushu gives a look, "No. Your girlfriend. Yes, your father! Now, come on. Walk out of here and into the dining room like a man." Mushu whispers into Ping's ear, "We don't want anyone to find out your little secret now, do we?"

"Wait. You know?"

"Of course I know. What did you think? That I was born yesterday?"

Mushu laughs, but Ping still doesn't understand. "If you knew, then why didn't you—"

"Good morning, my son."

Ping hadn't realized it, but he has already walked into the dining room. "Ah, good morning." Baba? Father? "How are you today?"

"Good. Very good. Have a seat." Ping sits where his father's chopsticks motion him to. "Would you like a dumpling?"

"Dumplings for breakfast?"

"Yes. Would you like some?"

Ping hesitates, "Ah, no. Thank you." He turns to the dragon hiding in the corner. "I'm not very hungry." He sees suspicion on his father's face.

"Now, that's nonsense. A growing man has to eat. Take one." Fa Zhou drops the dumpling into his son's big hands.

"Ah. Thank you, sir."

"I am your father, not your commanding officer. Address me as such."

"Sorry, Father." Ping nibbles on the dumpling. "Where's Mother?"

Fa Zhou effortlessly pours tea into Ping's cup. "She is in the fields."

He turns around and begins to stand, "I should help."

Fa Zhou motions for him to sit, "You don't need to help. We have servants, and she is only out there to give orders."

"Why?" Ping sits back down.

"It makes her feel good about herself, and she has already done her household chores."

Not what I meant, but okay. "What should I do?"

"Eat the dumpling and drink the tea." Ping takes a sip before nibbling on the dumpling again. "Then, before you leave, I would like to give you a sparring lesson if that's alright." Ping widens his eyes in surprise before looking around for his father's usual cane, but it's nowhere in sight. "What? Do you think that I can't take you?"

Ping shakes his head, "I didn't say that."

Fa Zhou crosses his arms, "Then you won't mind sparring with me. Come on, weakling." He stands and Ping follows, uncomfortable, rubbing his arm.

Mushu runs up Ping's back and whispers in his ear, "Come on now. Don't be a wimp. You need to prove to your father you are the man he thinks you are."

Ping whispers back, "I don't think I can do this."

His father comments, "Of course, you can. You defeated Shan Yu. What am I in comparison but a cup of tea?"

Ping remembers Mushu exploding Shan Yu with the fireworks. All I did was pin him to the roof. He looks at Mushu, "Well, I had some help."

"In any case, you have been honored as the hero of China." Ping sees a smirk on his father's face as they turn into the last hall. "Sparring me should only keep you on your toes."

Ping still can't believe it. Hero of China? "I didn't do that much." His father turns around at the training room doorframe. "I don't understand why I, specifically, am being awarded." Ping recalls the dozens of men they had started with, and how only about half a dozen were left by the time they had reached the Imperial City. "There were other soldiers."

His father motions for him to enter the room, "All truths reveal themselves with time, my son."

That's what I'm afraid of. Ping enters the room and is surprised to see two wardrobes, instead of the usual one, and the many weapons on the side. "This is—" Different.

Fa Zhou walks in, "General Li Shang has brought over some weapons for your private lessons."

"Shang?" Ping turns around in confusion. "He's still in the village?"

Fa Zhou begins to walk up to his son, "I find it curious that you are on a first-name basis with your commanding officer."

Ping slightly turns his head and rubs his neck, "I was the top in class." He clenches his teeth in a smile, "I guess it just became convenient to shorten our names when addressing each other."

Ping's father isn't impressed, "Hmm." He tilts his head to the wardrobes. "Put your armor on."

"My armor?" Ping turns around to see the two wardrobes. "What about you?"

His father walks to the one on the right. "Do not worry. I will wear armor as well."

Ping doesn't move. I have my own armor?

"Come on. Put in on. We don't want any accidents."

Ping walks up to the left of his father, and they exchange a glance before he opens the wardrobe. Ping pauses for a moment as he examines the expensive armor. How can we afford this? And the servants? Ping looks over at his very recent healthy father. Is he working more again?

Mushu berates him, "Come on, boy. Your father is nearly done putting his armor on." He yells, "Now, put on yours."

Ping hurries to put on the polished armor, as his father comments, "How is guardianship treating you, Mushu? Good, I trust."

Fa Zhou finishes putting on his armor and turns to a small dragon on the floor, but before Mushu can say a word Ping questions with shock, "You know each other?"

"Of course, we do. I'm not blind, you know." Mushu squirms. "The first time I saw him I thought he was a lizard. I was rather surprised when I was about to throw him out into the rain and he talked, saying he was your guardian dragon."

Ping gives Mushu a look, and Mushu can only say, "Yeaahh. That was my mistake."

As Ping finishes putting on the armor, his father asks again, "So, how is guardianship, Mushu?"

Mushu innocently answers, "Ah... It's good. I'm getting a lot of respect from the ancestors."

"Hmm. Is that right?" Mushu only nods. "So, what does my son do in his spare time?"

Ping turns around, armor fully equipped. "Father!"

"What? It is a reasonable question, is it not?" Before Ping can comment his father asks once again, "What does he do, Mushu?"

Mushu stammers, "Well, ah, he." He laughs in fear. "Ping doesn't do anything he shouldn't be doing." He ends the stammering with a giant, fake smile.

Fa Zhou comments, "Right." before pulling the sword from his belt and pointing the blade at his son. He sees fear within Ping's eyes. "Fight back. Defend yourself."

Ping responds with stress, "I thought this was just a lesson."

His father pulls the sword back but keeps it high. "The best lessons are learned during combat."

When his son pulls out his own sword Fa Zhou thrusts his through the air. Ping defends himself, but within three blows he's on the floor in shock. "I lost."

"Get back up. Your opponent will never wait. If you are on the ground he will finish you off." Ping stands up, remembering how after firing the cannon he just sat in awe as he saw the avalanche start and how while he sat there in the snow stupid Shan Yu stabbed him. Ping reaches for his lower abdomen, expecting pain, but there is none, so he continues the motion by swinging the sword at his unimpressed father.

"This is how you fight." His father laughs. "You fight like a girl." Ping sits on the floor in hopelessness after his seventh loss. "General Li Shang must not be teaching you right."

Ping stands up but does not fight, and instead he moves back to the wardrobe. "He teaches well." Ping shifts his head back to his father, "It's just not the way you do."

"So, you are quitting." Fa Zhou watches as his son takes off the armor.

"No. I'm just beat, besides I have to go into town." He turns around to face his father, "Something about a statue presentation?"

Mushu climbs up Ping's leg to his shoulder, "Actually, the statue isn't being shown 'til tonight."

"Then why am I going to the village so early?" He looks from Mushu to his father.

Fa Zhou answers, "We have orders placed for barley and rice. You need to deliver."

"Oh." Ping moves past his father in slight disappointment. Have I really been reduced to delivering rice and grain? He stops at the doorway and turns around, not sure of how to phrase his question. "Uh, do I take the horse?"

Mushu looks at Ping with confused hate, as his father questions, "What were you expecting to ride? The shoulder carriage?" Mushu cries out with laughter but stops when it becomes apparent that Fa Zhou isn't joking.

Ping answers with immediate fear, "I, uh, no. Just, I— No." He continues with courage and strength, "I just wanted to know if I could take the horse."

The disappointment on his father's face is eminent, but he comments in a relieved tone, "Yes. You may ride the horse to the village."

After Ping reaches the village and delivers the food he heads to the center. Mushu comments from behind his back, "I don't see why you bother. I already told you it won't be there."

"Well, I don't see why you won't hide. I already told you someone will see."

"Pff, no one will see me. Stop that poppycock, boy, and just keep walking." Ping sees the center platform and frowns when his statue isn't there. "See that. I told you so. Ah, no."

Ping looks at the startled dragon on his shoulder, "What is it?"

"Eh, ah, nothing. It's nothing. Come on, now. Let's get you and Bessy home."

The horse snorts, and Ping sees Mushu become anxious. "Come on, Mushu. What's going on?"

"Nothing. Nothing. I just want to get you home before—"

"Shang." Ping sees him walking towards them with his horse's reins in hand.

Mushu runs his claws down his face, "Before he shows up."

Mushu scurries down his back as Ping is about to jump into a hug, but Shang stops him midway. "Not here. We're in public."

"Oh. I'm sorry." Ping apologizes as Shang looks around.

"It's fine. I don't think anyone saw." He smiles.

Ping hears Mushu mumble, "I saw." but keeps his attention on Shang.

He smiles back, "How have you been?"

"You mean since we talked last night?" Shang laughs and Ping blushes. "I've been fine. How have you been?"

"Oh, I'm fine. I just have this annoying dragon that won't get off my back."

Shang laughs, "That bad, huh?"

"You don't even know." Mushu grumbles. "I was actually about to ride back to the farm if you'd like to join me."

"I'd love to."

As they begin walking out of the village, Mushu jumps into the horse's pack with Cri Kee, "Man, this boy's going to get me into trouble." The cricket only chirps, but Mushu is rather annoyed by its remark and doesn't say another word.

After they ride back to the farm's stable Shang helps Ping down from his horse and they hold hands as they leave the building, but they are greeted at the doorway by Fa Zhou. He looks over the two men carefully and notices the sudden shifting of the hands before addressing, "General Li Shang."

"Yes, sir."

Fa Zhou looks from his son to the General, "What are you here for?"

"I— I'm here to give Ping a sparring lesson, sir."

"You gave him one yesterday." Fa Zhou's face becomes slightly stern. "Are these lessons of yours becoming a daily occurrence, General?"

Shang hesitates for a moment, unsure of what to say. "Um. Yes, sir."

Ping's father turns to his son, "I gave Ping a lesson earlier. He said he was tired."

"I was, Father."

"I see." Fa Zhou turns his head away from the two men. "What has changed?"

His son answers, "I have regained energy, sir." He recognizes his mistake and continues, "I am sorry, Father, that I did not spar with you longer, but now that Shang— I mean, General Li— is here may he have his sparring lesson with me?"

When he doesn't answer Shang comments, "I did ride here for one, sir."

Fa Zhou faces the general, "Something tells me you would have come anyway." before looking down on Ping, "But yes, you may have your sparring lesson with Li Shang."

Ping bows, "Thank you, Father."

"I trust we will finish our lesson later?"

"Yes, Father."

When Ping enters the training room with Shang he asks, "What is our lesson today, General?"

Shang had already taken off his restricting shirt and now stands in front of the many weapons. He smiles as he throws Ping a bamboo-stick and attains one for himself. "Blocking." He turns to Ping. "Find your center."

Ping questions, "Didn't you already teach us this in the army?"

He comes closer to his student, "It never hurts to learn something again." Ping blushes due to the close proximity but otherwise doesn't respond. "I will be the attacker. All you have to do is block and defend yourself." His smile widens, "Do you think you can handle that?"

Ping smiles as he leans on the stick towards Shang, "Yes, General."

Shang faintly laughs, "Rewards come from progress. Remember?" He pushes on Ping's shoulder to make him stand upright. "Take your stance."

Ping stands straight and spreads his feet, as he horizontally centers the bamboo-stick. "Ready." The attacks start slow as Shang intentionally hits Ping's stick, but as he starts to make less predictable moves they also increase in speed. Ping manages to block every attack up to ten minutes, but eventually it becomes routine and he gets distracted. He really is perfect... He's strong, smart, brave, and unlike most men he's actually clean...

After Ping misses a block he falls backward onto the floor. Shang goes down over him and pins Ping's left hand to the floor with his right. As the bamboo-sticks collide, Shang smiles, "You let your guard down."

"Maybe I wanted to." Ping turns his head, "I did last a while." and smiles brightly. "Do I get a reward, General?"

Shang laughs softly, "I think that can be arranged." He begins to lean in but stops when Ping looks to the doorway in fright.

"Father!" Oh, no. I've really done it this time.

Shang swiftly turns in utter shock and embarrassment, "Fa Zhou."

Ping's father doesn't react. "Where are the coins you collected?"

"Um, ah. I think they're in the horse's pack." His father nods before turning and walking away. Shang meets Ping's eyes in shock as they realize they're still in position, and they quickly separate to stand up. Ping runs past a worried Shang before he reaches his father in the hallway, "I can explain."

Fa Zhou turns to meet his son, "You have no need to." The worried look is still present on Ping's face so he continues, "You don't eat. You ask if you can take the horse. This is about what I expected."

Ping slightly shakes his head, "Aren't you upset? I dishonor us."

His father takes a warm breath, "You saved China. You saved the emperor. That is enough honor, even if you choose to act in this behavior." Ping is about to say thank you, but his father speaks again. "I still want you married."

Ping slowly nods, "Yes, Father."

"And you will show up to my lesson."

"Yes, Father."

That night Ping shows up to the statue's unveiling and sees the countless lanterns lighting the street. The statue presents itself as a tall, strong monument that depicts Ping riding his horse angrily into battle. He walks up to it and sees the scripture. Dedicated to Fa Ping for being the most honorable soldier, as he saved the emperor's life and rescued China from the Hun invasion.

Ping turns around to the silent audience, and he begins his speech. "I want to thank everyone for believing in me. It has never been easy." He looks within the audience and finds Shang. "At first even basic training seemed like a lot to handle." People begin whispering, yet he continues. "But in the end I managed to become one of the best." Ping looks over to Ling, Po, and Yao. "I want to thank my fellow soldiers for helping me achieve this honor. I couldn't have done this without them." He receives smiles from his friends but begins to feel dizzy, as the humidity takes over and makes his bun fall to his neck.

The whispers still echo in the streets, but he carries on. "I am so glad to stand here—" Ping reaches to his throat in fear of the high pitch he just heard, and when he brings his hand down he tries to keep his voice low as he endures, "To stand here is a great honor." He gets a couple weird looks from the soldiers, especially Shang. "I want to thank the general for training me the way he did." Ping sees his hands shrink and becomes anxious, but everyone's eyes are on Shang. "I couldn't have done it without you." Ping notices his chest beginning to swell and looks around in panic. Although most of everyone's eyes are on Shang, Shang himself is still looking directly at him.

Ping runs off the stage in horror and hopes no one will follow as he slips into an alleyway. He looks over himself carefully, but it doesn't take long for her to realize she has turned completely back into a woman. There are footsteps, and Mulan stays completely still as they come closer. "Ping?" It's Shang's voice. Mulan doesn't know what to say; she doesn't know how much he's seen, and she hopes he won't have to. "Why did you leave? What's wrong?"

"Nothing." Mulan tries to keep her voice low, but after hearing it she reaches for her throat again. "I'm just not feeling very well."

Shang begins to come closer, "Yeah. You don't sound well."

When Mulan sees his shadow creep up on her she motions for him to stop. "Please. Stay away."

"Why?" He stops in his tracks. The question had been dealt with more fear than anything, but it turns into a slight sadness. "Why won't you let me see you?"

Mulan stays silent, not knowing what to do, but after a moment she turns around. Shang's face changes from concern to shock and confusion. Seeing him like that makes her feel hurt, and she responds desperately, "I can explain." He turns his head in anger and begins out of the alleyway. Mulan calls, "Shang." in irritated helplessness, but he keeps walking and is soon out of view.

When Mulan gets back to the farm she goes from the stable straight to their ancestral temple. She walks up to the burning bowl of fire and lights an incense before sitting down in front of the tombstones. Mulan stares at her reflection in anguish, "Why did you do this to me? Was this your idea of a cruel joke? Am I only an experiment to you?" She watches as a single tear falls into her lap. "How could you do this to me? Why?" Her words turn to anger and she clenches her teeth, "What gives you the right?"

Mulan looks at the temple's exit, desperate. "I can't let my father see me like this." She looks at her reflection again and calms down as the cool air runs over her skin. She takes the teal fabric out of her fallen bun and runs her thin fingers through the black, shoulder-length hair before fixing it. Okay. That's better. Mulan checks the shiny tombstone and sees another problem. Her chest is bigger and not in a good way. It's not as large as most, but it's still noticeable. She looks around at the offerings until she finds the gauze and a knife.

After cutting a decent amount of gauze from the roll and effortlessly binding her chest with it, Mulan puts the light-brown shirt back on and heads back to the house. Only a few lanterns are lit and her father is nowhere to be seen, but in the hallways she notices more light and goes into the brightness. In the training room her father stands with his hands clasped behind his back, "Are you ready for your lesson?" There is no emotion expressed in his face.

Mulan walks into the room and moves closer to him, "Yes, Father."

Her father notices, "You look shorter."

She shrugs to buy time, "Maybe you just got taller." When he doesn't respond Mulan tries to walk past him, but he blocks her.

"You will not need to put on your armor." Her mouth opens in confusion. "You have fought without armor before." Mulan remembers the encounter with Shang earlier. "You will not need it now."

Mulan takes a step back before turning to the weapons behind her, "So, what is the lesson?"

When she turns back around Fa Zhou stabs her in the chest with the sword he had hidden behind his back. "You will never be my son."

Mulan gasps for air and holds her left hand up to her chest, as she sits straight up in bed. She pants and moves her hand to her wet scalp, as Mushu comments, "That must have been some dream."

"Did I say anything?" The question came almost as a whisper from how tired she is, but she still notices Mushu at the foot of her bed.

"Eh. I don't know. Something about 'General'. Other than that it was just sounds. Luckily you didn't scream, and it wasn't about the war so that's good." Mushu sees a haunting look in Mulan's eyes. "Unless it was." He walks up to her. "Do you want to talk about it?"

Mulan shakes her head, "Not to you. Not right now."

Mushu tries to give a bright, comforting smile. "Are you sure? You know I'm your dragon. You can tell me anything." She just shakes her head tiredly. "Okay. Well, if that's the case, how about you try to get some more sleep? It's not even dawn yet."

Mulan shakes her head and stands from the bed. "I don't want to sleep. I just want to work." She lights a lantern and puts it on the pole before exiting the room in her blue tank top and shorts.

Mushu follows her to the kitchen, "I don't think this is a good idea. What if you wake someone up?" The cricket shivers a chirp. "See. Even the cricket agrees. Let's all just go back to bed. He's cold."

Mulan raises an eyebrow and partly smiles as she puts on her shoes. "Why don't you and Cri Kee just go back to bed, then? I can handle myself."

"What? No!" He watches as Mulan grabs the big bamboo-basket, and he lifts his arms when she looks back. "I am the mighty, all-powerful Mushu." He puts his arms down when she smiles. "I can't just hide out with the cricket. Who will protect you if I don't?"

Mulan was going to say she can protect herself, but instead she laughs, "What are you going to protect me from? The weeds?" She sees Mushu about to say something else, but she doesn't want to talk. Or go back to bed. I just want to work. "I can handle myself, Mushu. Don't worry about me." She glances at the cricket, "Cri Kee needs you more than I do right now." She exits the house and leaves Mushu in disappointment.

"Come on, Cri Kee. Let's get you back to bed." The cricket chirps with excitement and joy. "With any luck, maybe her grandmother will mistake you for her." The cricket cries with laughter. "Yeah, yeah. We all know there's a size difference." Mushu shakes his head, "Get over yourself."

Outside, Mulan has the lantern's pole pushed into the ground as she begins to weed the field. Thoughts of the nightmare cross her mind.

"Sorry, Ping, but Cri Kee and I just couldn't wait to tell you the great news!"

"Ping?"

"This is no dream, boy."

"I know what I said. Just forget it. The sun's up and your father wants you in the dining room."

"My father?"

"No. Your girlfriend. Yes, your father! Now, come on. Walk out of here and into the dining room like a man. We don't want anyone to find out your little secret now, do we?"

"General Li Shang."

"Yes, sir."

"What are you here for?"

"I— I'm here to give Ping a sparring lesson, sir."

"Are these lessons of yours becoming a daily occurrence, General?"

"Um. Yes, sir."

"Something tells me you would have come anyway. But yes, you may have your sparring lesson with Li Shang."

"Father! I can explain."

"You have no need to. You don't eat. You ask if you can take the horse. This is about what I expected."

"Aren't you upset? I dishonor us."

"You saved China. You saved the emperor. That is enough honor, even if you choose to act in this behavior. I still want you married."

"So, what is the lesson?"

"You will never be my son."

"Why did you do this to me? Was this your idea of a cruel joke? Am I only an experiment to you? How could you do this to me? Why? What gives you the right?"

When the basket's full of weeds Mulan looks at the pale grey-blue sky in hopelessness, before she takes the lantern off the pole and heads back to the house.

- Let me just say that sexuality isn't a choice, unless you're bi in which case you can choose to ignore half of who you are; however, I don't at all advise you to do that. I just thought I'd mention that, as some characters seem to think it's a choice and in many cases no one tells them otherwise. I know that this was an insanely long chapter with over half of it being a dream sequence, but I hope you still liked it.

- Edit: Don't feel bad if your mind wandered to places it shouldn't have this chapter. When I started to write this I was hoping my mom would read it, and since her mind can get stuck in the gutter I thought it would be funny to purposely write this chapter with endless double meanings. Little did I know that it would bother her that the names were foreign and therefore she didn't know who was a boy or a girl and couldn't remember who was who... She does have a mental disability that involves memory loss, so I will pretend that she didn't mean to quit reading even though she's never made it very far in any of my other writings either. (Passive aggressive pent up anger. I know. I'm sorry, but can you blame me? She didn't even make it past the first chapter, so I couldn't even laugh at her interpretation of this chapter. Looks like my cleverness was for nothing... or maybe not. Maybe some of you caught on. ;) )