CH.3: Struggle to get it right

Lonnie had not turned around that night because she was fighting back tears. She hated doing this to Jay but really what other option did she have? His flirtatious habits seemed to have all the girls wrapped around his finger…even she found herself drawn in by his powerful personae. However…she also knew that she had strength to her that the other girls did not have and knew to pull back before she was lost in those eyes, lost in the way his body felt pressed against her on the dance floor…or the way he stepped down as Captain to allow her on the team.

Once the festive night had ended and they were back on campus she settled into her nightgown and lost herself to her dreams. Normally her dreams were peaceful but she couldn't quite shake the feeling of ill rest…could her bad feelings have to do with her last communication from her parents? Rose by parents Fa Mulan and Shang she was taught to be strong and never let her character waver…be all she could be and more.

She had been planning for a bit to visit China…have a family reunion. Most of the students here had their parents with them but her parents had opted to stay in China and keep it safe. Lonnie had argued with her parents…particularly her mother on why she should stay when peace had been held in China for several long years now. No one was fighting…the land was quite content and full of rich harvest and there was little need for weapons given Shan Yu was locked away.

She had to admit her words were a bit harsh and looking back now she wished she had phrased certain words better. China was a land far away and it held so much to her past…to her parent's past that it was worth taking a trip. Lonnie loved being with her friends and she knew how it was for her friends to go back home…how difficult it was for them, but, for Lonnie she felt like a piece of her was locked away from her.

Morning had come and she lifts her head feeling like she had cried her eyes out. It takes a bit for her eyes to adjust but when they do they see a lizard on her bed.

"Good morning sunshine…how we feeling, good? I bet you do, now, I don't want you to be alarmed…but you should see your eyes…"

"Ahhh!" Lonnie swats at him sending him off the bed and she races for the bathroom as she closes the door shut behind her. "I swear Jay if this is some sort of practical joke…not funny!"

"Who is Jay? Is he a guy you have a crush on or done something wrong…cause if he has I am going to whoop his butt some. What it can happen? What do you mean I scared her…you were chirping all night, yeah yeah…I'll go talk to her."

Who was he talking to? Wait…he could talk? She hears him approaching the door and she tries to calm her beating heart.

"Go away…whatever you are…if you were placed in here or had a spell cast on you to talk my friend can help you." Lonnie keeps still and she hears him speak again.

"I will have you know I have been speaking for a long time…a gift I would not give up for all the chicken and crickets around, yeah you heard me, that is what happens when I get no sleep. Look, my name is Mushu, I am a dragon…a handsome dragon and I come from China-."

"Mushu, aren't you a little small to be a dragon?' Lonnie opens the door and she looks down to see him holding his hips.

"I'm big as I want to feel…big as my enemies believe me to be. Look, I did not travel all the way here to talk dragon, lizards love doing that…anyway reason I am here is your mother and father have been captured by Xi-."

"Xifeng has my parents?!" Lonnie opens the door and Mushu falls onto his back. "Sorry. Now…about my family…what happened?"

"Yeah yeah I am telling her, no I do not want you telling her. Xifeng launched a surprise attack on your family while they were in camp…turns out Xifeng is not scared of shedding some…you know this is difficult even talking…do you have something to eat?"

"Uh yeah…I think I have something from the party," Lonnie heads over to where a mini fridge was set up. She gets some hotdogs she had brought with her and hands him one. Mushu wolfs it down and she takes a seat on her bed. Her parents…and…Xifeng?

"Mmm…those are some tasty dogs. Anyway you see…Xifeng managed to beat your father and your mother realized what was at stake ad sent me to warn you…not to save them, you are to stay put and I'm to look after you-."

"Wait…my mother doesn't want me saving her?" Lonnie frowns a bit at that. "I've been wanting to go to China for so long…and…there is this emptiness inside me and I've been away from my parents for so long…it is not fair to ask of me to not do anything-."

"Cri-Kee…enough…I can only stand so much of your badgering. Oh and before you think me crazy that there is Cri-Kee, say hi Cri-Kee." Lonnie looks over at the cricket companion who chirps a bit.

"Hi, can't believe I'm saying hi to a cricket…shows how much I'm out of it. Look Mushu, I remember my mother telling me when I was younger you were our Guardian Dragon…so…why didn't you protect my parents?"

Mushu had an indignation settle over his features and he folds his arms before he lets out a breath. She can tell that this is eating at him and she wishes to retract her statement…much of her behavior built upon her tension of fighting her feelings for Jay and her parents whom were captured by a girl who she only remembered being cruel and liked to pull her pigtails.

"I will have you know I did not like being sent off one bit…or the fact that Mulan did not plan to fight Xifeng. However given her situation she had no choice…and…given that I am a Guardian Dragon to your family it extends to you."

"So in short…you're my babysitter?" Lonnie heaves a sigh as she lays on her back. The cricket was chirping sympathetically and she offers a smile, weak, but it was something.

"I know, not pleasant to think of…and hey…given all these teenagers I'd rather be back in China in my own bed, doing Guardian Dragon stuff…but we make the best of this, you know? C'mon, cheer up, how about we have ourselves a little party…invite some of your friends…get the band going-."

Lonnie sits upright on the bed, her nightgown moving about her figure as she grips the edge of the bed. "Why should I be partying when my parents are being tortured or worse at the hands of the daughter of Shan Yu? I-I can't just stand by and do nothing…no…worse than nothing, having the ability to do something but restrained from doing anything!"

"Calm down…oh wait…I remember Mulan not liking that word, chill girl…no need to get fired up now, and trust me I know a little about fire…hey I may be no spring chicken but I can still spark a few flames Cri-Kee."

Lonnie fights past the rising panic, the unsettlement of her situation as she walks to her door and opens it…only to find Jay standing there.

"Hey Lonnie, I, uh…is this a bad time?" Jay stands there awkwardly and she wonders what he is getting on about. Her cheeks are flushed though and she realizes even with her dislike of his flirting she could not hide away from the way his smile makes her face light up and her heart racing.

"Yes, no, what are you doing here?" Lonnie folds her arms and she tries to get Mushu's words out of her mind.

"Right, um, I gave a lot of what you said some careful thought…and…you were right. However, I also want you to know that I meant what I said…I'm not going anywhere. I care for you Lonnie…and…no girl means the world to me than you do…which…standing outside your room may make this awkward…"

"Jay now is not a good time…" Lonnie hates this as she knows he is pouring his heart out to her, but, given her emotional crisis it was hard to really focus on this.

"Right…I get it; sorry to take up your time, I guess I'll be seeing you…" Jay offers a smile as he begins to head off.

"Go after him girl…you know, I had a hand in your mom and dad getting together. Stay out of this Cri-Kee…and that was only once…they got back together didn't they? Look you need something to get your mind off your mom and dad, ok that came out wrong, look I saw the way that boy looked at you, you care about him don't you? Go on…we'll be here when you get back."

Lonnie debates for a bit before she goes rushing after Jay. He had already rounded the corner and she was still in her nightgown. "Jay!"

Jay slows down as he turns around to look at her. Lonnie can't control her feet as she rushes into him in a tackle sending the two to the floor. Lying on top of him she feels her cheeks flush and she tries to say something…anything but it is kind of difficult. When he reaches up brushing her hair aside she smiles. "Lonnie…you mean the world to me and I would never do anything to hurt you-."

"I can't do this…sorry…" Lonnie gets off him and she is about to leave when she feels his hand on her arm.

"Lonnie…you know you can tell me anything right? You have been to the Isle of the Lost, you have heard stories of it and our life…I'm an open book where you can ask me anything and I would tell you. Even if we are just friends…I'm always in your corner-."

Lonnie began to cry then…and she felt herself pressing against him, her head resting against his shoulder and his hand is placed on her back. "My parents are captured…and I don't know what to do…"

Jay says nothing…and…she doesn't know why but it means so much to her. Just him being there…it means the world to her. Hugging him tight she shuts her eyes tight and waits for the sadness to disappear.

"Well…only one thing to do…we have to go save them." Jay's words lift her head and she shares a look with him. And her determination to go home soars.

Authors note: A sweet moment or two with these two and in the next chapter we go back to China as Mulan and Xifeng face off.