Well I hope people enjoyed the early update of Chapter 9 the day after Chapter 8 had been put up, I've just had a random spurge of typing and for those who are fans of Inuyasha and Death Note and Gundam Seed you should check out my other story, "The Only Well" it's a mix of those animes along with a few of my own characters added in as well. Any who, enough talking, thanks goes to all you readers who are enjoying my story and all you reviewers who take a short time out of your life to let me know what you think about my story, thank you very much I greatly appreciate it! Enjoy the next chapter of my story!

Disclaimer: I do not own any characters from Kingdom Hearts, Final Fantasy or Mulan they belong respectfully to Square Enix and Disney (or whoever first came up with Mulan).

Chapter 10: I'll Make Soldiers Out Of You

Alexandrex sat down on the mattress in his room, and took in the utter and complete silence that filled the Castle. The entire building seemed to have quieted down ever since Xhomast, Lixicaa and Demyx had left. Alexandrex sighed heavily, what was he supposed to do here? The only friends he had were on a mission, he was alone in this castle. Alexandrex quickly bolted up from his bed, "I'll just make friends with some guys around here!" He ran out of his room excitedly. If he was able to make some friends here it wouldn't be as bad to be living in the castle. There was just one question, who to make friends with? Saix? No he seems to hate all the new guys here. Xaldin? He seemed somewhat friendly but he also seemed to only care for violence and fighting. Marluxia? He only cares for flowers and people who like flowers so there was no chance there. Xemnas? Obviously not, he doesn't like Alexandrex, not at all. Axel? He's obsessed over Lixicaa, his sister and that's kind of odd and creeps him out. Xigbar? Yeah he seemed like a nice guy, enjoys himself, seems to have fun doing whatever.

"That's it I'll go find Xigbar and attempt to hang out with him and sees how that works out!" Alexandrex cheered and ran down the hallway but soon stopped and remembered something; he had no idea where anyone lived in this castle or where they hung out, so where would Xigbar be? This castle was huge, it had at least 14 rooms per floor and there were 13 floors, not one for mental math, Alexandrex decided not to figure it out because it would most likely just dash his hopes in the end. He sighed once more, well he had nothing else to do so he might as well search for Xigbar no matter how long it took, and hope that Xigbar would want to befriend him.

Alexandrex spent the day opening up random doors that he happened to pass by praying that one of them contained Xigbar's living quarters. But Alexandrex had no luck as he opened door after door to find rooms filled with Nobodies hanging out or rooms filled with weapons or boxes that were sealed shut. He frowned, why were there so many rooms filled with useless objects.

Closing yet another door filled with various objects Alexandrex came upon an odd looking door, it seemed to be a different colour than all the rest, it clearly stood out, for there was a blue glow outlining the doorframe. "Odd, what's so special about this door?" He reached for the large door knob and grabbed a hold of it. He twisted and attempted to pull the door open but had no success. He noticed a small sign on the door reading, "No access to any member at any cost, entrance will resolve in severe consequences."

Alexandrex scoffed, since when was there not severe consequences? "Hmm maybe the door needs to be forced open somehow, or maybe there's a hidden key around here somewhere?" He glanced around the door in search of anything that could hold a key inside of it. Than on the wall he noticed a drawing of a small grey key, it seemed to be out of pencil crayon or something similar to it. "Why would there be a drawing of a key by the door? This place gets weirder and weirder every minute longer I spend here." He rubbed a hand over the key drawing as he continued to investigate the area. His eyes widened as the sketch began to glow at his touch, a blue aura similar to that which surrounded the door. The aura dissipated and a solid key formed, falling right into Alexandrex's hands. He held the key up in front of his face and examined it carefully making sure that it wasn't an illusion or something, yet it seemed awfully real to him. He shrugged, "Well at least now I can find what's so secret about this room."

He made his way back to the front of the door and inserted the key into the lock. Quickly glancing to both sides of the hallway to assure himself that no one was around, he quickly flipped his hood up for extra insurance and than twisted the key and opened the door, shutting it behind him very fast. A gasp came from behind him and he quickly spun around to face the owner of the voice and he gasped himself as his eyes laid upon a girl his height with long blonde hair, "Namine?"

Namine stepped back from Alexandrex, her eyes wide with fear, "What do you want with me now? If Xemnas sent me you can tell him I'm not doing anything else for him do you hear me?" She ran behind a white table that was adorned with various sketches and pictures. "And how were you able to make the key real? Only those with friendly intent towards me can make the key solid, and that's only been Roxas, so how have you been able to Zexion?!"

Alexandrex gasped once more, she thought he was Zexion? Than he remembered that he still had his hood up so his face was hidden from sight so all Namine could base her guess on was height. Alexandrex quickly pulled down his hood and Namine's fear soon turned to surprise.

"You're not Zexion. Who, who are you?"

He smiled, "I'm Alexandrex, I'm a new recruit in the organization. I recently just joined with my older sister and her friend. It's nice to meet you Namine."

"How do you know my name?"

"It's complicated, but don't worry I'm a friend, I would never hurt you in anyway."

Namine slowly approached Alexandrex and than slowly smiled, "I know, I can sense you honesty, you seem like a good person Alexandrex, and it's a pleasure to meet you." She giggled. Alexandrex blushed slightly only causing Namine to giggle even more, "You don't have to be embarrassed silly." Alexandrex nodded and smiled back at her.

Namine gasped, "Oh no, someone is coming Alexandrex!"

Alexandrex turned towards the door, "Are you serious?! Oh no, if I'm caught in here I'll be in so much trouble! Is there any where to hide in here?" Namine shook his head, "Oh no, what am I going to do?"

The door opened and Alexandrex stood there wide eyed, waiting to be yelled at by the incoming intruder, "Oh…hello…Alexandrex right?" Alexandrex sighed, it was only Roxas, the one person that probably wouldn't get him in trouble, at least that's what he thought.

Alexandrex nodded at the mention of his name, "Yea, I'm going to go now, enjoy your time together." He left the room ignoring the stare he was getting from Roxas, as he left the room and closed the door behind him he heard Namine quickly whisper.

"Please come back and visit me another time."

XIIIXIIIXIIIXIIIXIIIXIIIXIIIXIIIXIIIXIIIXIIIXIIIXIIIXIIIXIIIXIIIXIIIXIIIXIIIXIIIXIIIXIIIXIIIXIIIXIIIXIIIXIIIXIIIXIIIXIIIXIIIXIIIXIIIXIIIXIIIXIIIXIIIXIIIXIIIXIIIXIIIXIIIXIII

"Lixicaa. Lixicaa. Lixicaa wake up already!"

Lixicaa groaned and slowly sat up, "What is it Xhomast? The sun hasn't even risen yet."

Xhomast grinned, "It's time to wake up. Did you forget? You have to follow Mulan and make friends with her."

"When you say it like that, you make it sound like we're only doing it for the mission. I actually want to make friends with her you know that?" Xhomast nodded, "Argh, fine I'll follow her but first let me have a shower at least ok Xhomast?"

Xhomast laughed, "Ummm Lixicaa, there aren't any showers, if you want to clean yourself you have to bathe in the river remember? And you're making me sound shallow, I want to befriend Mulan as well you know, now get going to the river already!" He grabbed a hold of her arm and yanked Lixicaa up onto her feet.

"Ok, ok already just leave me alone." Lixicaa walked out of the tent, wiping the sleep out of her eye. She followed a narrow trail of dirt and soon found herself at the river, "Wow that was really easy. I can't believe I found the river already." Lixicaa glanced around and soon found Mulan in the river cleaning herself and it seemed like she was talking to someone. Lixicaa stripped herself of her garments and made her way into the river, yelping at how cold it was. She eventually submerged her entire body before coming back up for air.

Mulan spun around quickly at the sound of splashing and gasped when she saw someone else in the river with her. She quickly cleared her throat making her voice get as low as it could disguising herself as a man once again, "Oh, uh hello there, guess you had the same thought as me, waking up early to uh bathe by yourself heh heh."

"You can stop fooling me; I know you're a girl."

Her eyes widened, "I don't know what you're talking about."

Lixicaa grinned, "Trust me alright, I know."

"B-but how?"

"Woman's intuition."

Mulan gasped and than smiled, "So you're a female as well than?"

Lixicaa nodded, "My name is Lixicaa, and it's nice to meet you."

"My name is Mulan. It's nice to meet you too."

Lixicaa grinned at her new friend; at least she would have someone else to talk to while she was here. Sure she could talk to Xhomast, but he could get annoying on occasion and it was always nice to have another girl to talk to. "So Mulan, why is it that you disguised yourself as a boy?" Lixicaa asked knowing the answer, ignoring how weird it was that she knew a lot about Mulan, at least the fictional character.

"I came to bestow honour upon my family. My father was too old to fight in this war, he would surely have perished in battle, which is why I took his place and disguised myself as a man, what about you Lixicaa?"

Lixicaa stood there in the water silently, what could she tell Mulan? That she's really from another planet and came here to destroy creatures made from the darkness of one's heart. "Oh, uh, similar story, my father is getting old as well and is suffering from an illness, if he had fought in battle he would most likely have died as well."

Mulan smiled widely, "Wow I wonder how much else we have in common."

Lixicaa forced a smile, she didn't like having to tell Mulan lies, but what else could she say? She couldn't have told Mulan the truth; she wouldn't have believed her even if she had tried. "Who knows, people tend to always surprise others. By the way, I saw you earlier and it seemed like you were talking to someone, is there someone else here or were you merely talking to yourself."

Mulan turned red, "Oh well it seems like I can trust you." Mulan turned around for a moment and from Lixicaa's point of view she grabbed something from a rock behind her. She turned back to Lixicaa, her hands clasped over each other, "I was talking to him." She opened her hands up to reveal a small red lizard.

"A lizard?" Lixicaa asked, completely forgetting about this familiar character.

"LIZARD?! Who are you calling a lizard? I am the great dragon Mushu, the guardian of this family. So what do you say to that girl? I bet you're embarrassed now, mistaking a great guardian like myself for a lizard."

Lixicaa narrowed her eyes, "Nope."

Mushu sweat dropped, "No one appreciates me." He jumped out of Mulan's hands and swam off clearly upset.

"Sorry, I think I upset him."

Mulan shook her head, "No he's just having a slight temper tantrum."

"Hey! Lixicaa are you still in there?!" a voice yelled out from back on the land.

Mulan gasped and lowered herself in the water so that only her head was visible, "Oh no, quick Lixicaa hide yourself before you are spotted! Someone is approaching the river!" She grabbed Lixicaa and dragged her down too so that only he head was showing as well.

"Don't worry, it's just Xhomast my friend, you know the other guy that sleeps in our tent."

"Is he a girl as well?"

Lixicaa burst into laughter, "No he's a guy but he knows my secret and he had a feeling about you as well, don't worry he can be trusted just like you trust me ok Mulan?" She nodded, "We're over here Xhomast!" Lixicaa and Mulan watched as Xhomast ran over to the entrance to the river and he stopped, turning slightly red.

Mulan gasped, "Lixicaa, it's not that I don't trust him but we are naked."

"You're right! Hey Xhomast get out of here you pervert!" Lixicaa screamed.

Xhomast stepped back, a shocked look on his face, "Pervert? What are you talking about?! I'm not doing anything wrong! I'm just standing here at the base of the river talking to two…naked…ok I'm going to go now." Xhomast was now a deep red at this point and he quickly ran off as Mulan began to laugh.

"You're friend is funny, at least he respects women, if any other guy from camp had shown up they would've came into the river regardless, and they could've found out our secret, we should get out before the other's start showing up."

"Yea you're right, heh heh, now I feel bad for yelling at Xhomast."

Lixicaa and Mulan got out of the river and dressed themselves up once again in their soldier's outfits and Mulan placed her hair back into the bun that she had it in before. "Oh Lixicaa, don't forget that at camp you need to call me Ping alright, I don't want anyone finding out I'm a girl, if I was found out I could be killed. You as well."

Lixicaa stopped in her tracks, great she thought. Once again my life is threatened; this sure happens a lot ever since I became a member of the Organization XIII but it was all worth it, being a member in this organization was one of the best things that could've happened in her life, "Don't worry I wouldn't even think of telling anyone your secret, we're friends Mulan right?" Mulan smiled and nodded.

"Thank you."

"There you two are!"

Lixicaa and Mulan both screamed and jumped back almost falling over one another at the figure that had suddenly jumped out at them. Lixicaa looked up at the person and gave him an irritated look, "Nice way to treat a new friend Xhomast, sheesh. Do you always scare your new acquaintances to death? Well do you?"

Xhomast looked depressed, "Sorry, I was just saying hi."

Mulan smiled, "Don't worry you didn't really scare me, it's nice to meet you Xhomast."

"You too…"

"Mulan."

"Right…you too……Mulan."

"Now that you two have introduced each other how about we make it back to camp and see if we can fit in some napping time while everyone else is taking their bath." Lixicaa suggested as she began to walk back to camp.

"Well I still have to take a bath myself Lixicaa, so you two can go back to camp while I quickly clean myself." Xhomast ran off down to the river and as Mulan and Lixicaa walked back to camp they heard a splash.

"We can use the time to get to know each other how about that Lixicaa?" Mulan suggested as she lifted the flap to the tent that Lixicaa, Xhomast and Mulan slept in, holding it open for Lixicaa. Lixicaa nodded and walked inside the tent, making her way over to her spot and sitting down cross legged.

"Lixicaa?" Lixicaa looked up as Mulan mentioned her name. "If you don't mind me asking you seem distraught. Is everything ok?"

Lixicaa blinked and stared blankly at her new friend, "What are you talking about? Not to be rude or anything but you just met me how could you know if I was distraught or not?" Mulan smiled at Lixicaa only confusing the red head even more.

"Oh nothing, I can just read certain people that's all and lucky for you, you're one of the people that I can read, along with Xhomast as well." Mulan walked over and sat down beside Lixicaa still smiling, "I'm sorry if I overstepped my boundary." She bowed in front of Lixicaa.

"No it's ok, and you're right I am kind of depressed at the moment."

"What is the matter? You can tell me Lixicaa, of course I would understand if you decided not to tell me, it would make no difference to me." Mulan smiled and Lixicaa just stared at the girl once more, reminding her completely of a friend of hers back at home who was just as nice as Mulan, actually even more. Lixicaa could only help but laugh at how kind Mulan was asking. Mulan raised her eyebrow in confusion, "What is so funny Lixicaa?"

"Nothing, you just remind of a friend of mine back home that's all. Besides I trust you Mulan, the thing that's bothering me is…well it's something I had said to a…friend of mine back from where I came from. You see it had been the last thing I had said to him that day and, well it wasn't exactly the nicest thing you could say to somebody, even though he can get very annoying at sometimes he's really a nice guy and I just feel bad that's all."

"Well based on what I know of you Lixicaa I'm sure that you couldn't have said something that bad to a person could you? I'm sure it's nothing, what did you say to him if you don't mind me asking?"

"I…I told him that he was heartless and I hadn't realized what I had said to him until he had already gone, I feel horrible Mulan but you have to promise not to tell anybody about this understand? Especially Xhomast, I wouldn't hear the end of it."

"Oh you mean like me saying that you like Axel?"

Lixicaa jumped up and cursed at Xhomast who was standing at the opening of the tent, arms crossed and a grin on his face, "I knew it Lixicaa, I knew you liked Axel. I guess you're over Zexion than? Wow that was fast."

"I DO NOT LIKE AXEL! BESIDES WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU BATHING IN THE RIVER? IF YOU DON'T YOU'RE GOING TO STINK AND THAN YOU'LL NEVER IMPRESS ANYONE SMELLING LIKE THE BACKSIDE OF A HORSE! AND I AM NOT OVER ZEXION SO JUST DROP THE SUBJECT ALREADY, SHUT UP AND LEAVE ME ALONE!"

Both Mulan and Xhomast stood there silently for several minutes before Xhomast finally began to speak, "Calm down Lixicaa, there is no need for yelling. First of all, I already bathed and cleaned my entire body so I won't smell like a… horse's backside? Second is that there is no need to freak out I was only teasing you about Axel and Zexion and thirdly I think you're scaring our new friend."

Lixicaa turned behind her and noticed that Mulan was still sitting there silently, a nervous look on her face. She smiled apologetically towards Mulan before sitting back down besides her. Xhomast walked over and joined the two women, sitting between them both and placing his arms around their shoulders, "As long as the 3 of us stick together not only will we be able to help one another in battle, but it will be much more enjoyable."

"Sorry to bother you soldiers but…" The soldier from earlier that had helped out Lixicaa and Xhomast had now entered the tent and he was staring at Xhomast, "Oh I'm sorry now I've disturbed you with two men. I will leave but once you are done the Captain has called out all soldiers to immediately arrive in front of the captain's tent understood? Good day." The soldier ran out of the tent before a beet red Xhomast could defend himself.

"Why is it that he always arrives when it looks like I'm in a compromising position with guys?! ARGH THIS REALLY SUCKS, I'M REALLY STARTING TO REGRET JOINING THIS ARMY IN THE FIRST PLACE! I SWEAR IF THIS HAPPENS ONE MORE TIME I THINK I'LL JUST LEAVE RIGHT NOW!"

Mulan and Lixicaa had burst into laughter while Xhomast was up and stamping about obviously furious. Lixicaa stood up and placed a hand on the back of her friend's shoulder, "Now who's the one freaking out?" Xhomast slowly turned his head, a gleam of evil sparkled in his eyes. Lixicaa yelped in terror and hid behind Mulan who was also now afraid. Xhomast merely opened his mouth and smiled widely showing off all his teeth.

"What are you talking about Lixicaa?" Xhomast asked, his teeth clenched together. "I'm perfectly calm, see perfectly calm." Lixicaa and Mulan both nodded in agreement in order to remain safe from their insane friend. Xhomast sighed and entered a state of depression, "Come on we'd better hurry and get to the captain's tent before he suspects something." Lixicaa opened her mouth to say something but with a swipe of her hand Mulan silence Lixicaa whose opinion was now a mumble behind Mulan's barrier like hand.

The 3 young soldiers left the tent and made their way over to the Captain's tent where they joined into the large group of soldiers. It was like being at a concert, the chatter amongst everyone was very loud and it was hard for Xhomast, Lixicaa and Mulan to start a conversation. However it soon became clear that now was not the time for chatting for silence soon engulfed the camp as Captain Shang emerged from his tent a stern look was on his face, but than again when didn't he look stern?

"It is time for us to commence our training!" Shang called out, "This will be our first time training as an army, our first time training as allies, our first time training as a team. I expect a lot out of each and every one of you, this training regiment will show me how well we will be able to fend off the Huns and it will show me who is hopeless and doesn't belong here. All of you pick up a spear and choose a sparring partner."

Everyone made their way over to the alignment of weapons and they each picked up a spear and split off into pairs. Xhomast made his way over to Lixicaa to spar against her but stopped as she watched his friend walk off with Mulan talking and laughing. Xhomast looked around but soon found out that he was standing alone with no one for a sparring partner. "Whoa I am totally having a school flashback." Xhomast said to himself remembering all the times that people got to choose partners for projects and no one had chose Xhomast so he would've had to do the project alone, it wasn't that he didn't mind doing the project alone, it was just the fact that no one wanted to work with him.

"Soldier! You seem to have no sparring partner, that's alright I will fight with you." Xhomast turned around and watched as Captain Shang walked towards him with a spear in his hand, "Don't worry this will be very good training for you soldier especially if you are able to knock this spear out of my hands. Of course, that most likely won't happen."

"Thanks for the confidence boost." Xhomast grumbled as he clutched the wooden pole in his hands. Xhomast cursed his father's genes as his hands began to tremble, this was a habit that he had obtained from his dad, whenever he was nervous or was doing something that needed concentration, his hands would start shaking.

"Ready?" Shang asked a nervous Xhomast. Xhomast nodded and the two of them bowed before one another just to show respect. Shang charged at Xhomast, "Let's get down to business to defeat the Huns. Did they send me daughters when I asked for sons?" Shang swung his spear forwards vertically but Xhomast raised his own spear to defend against the blow. "You're the saddest bunch I've ever met, but you can bet before we're through Mr. I'll Make a Man Out of You." Shang thrusted the spear forwards this time and Xhomast ducked in order to dodge the head of the shaft and he made a side kick in order to attempt to knock Shang off his feet. Shang hopped and slid over to be standing behind Xhomast. "Tranquil as a forest but a fire within, once you find your centre you are sure to win. You're a spineless pail, pathetic lot and you haven't got a clue, somehow I'll make a man out of you." Xhomast was the one to attack this time as he struck horizontally in an attempt to knock the wooden stick out of his hands.

"We are man, we must be as swift as the coursing river with all the force of a great typhoon, with all the strength of a raging fire, mysterious as the dark side of the moon. Time is racing towards us, till the Huns arrive. Heed my every order and you might survive! You're not suited for, the rage of war so pack up, go home, you're through, how could I make a man out of you?"

Xhomast parried against another blow from Shang, actually feeling inspired by the song that Shang was singing and he thought back to the movie and how Mulan couldn't hit Shang at first but at the end she was able to.

"We are men, we must be as strict as the coursing river. With all the force of a great typhoon, with all the strength of a raging fire mysterious as the dark side of the moon." Shang jumped up into the air and came flying down, his spear/stick pointed straight downwards about to hit Xhomast. Xhomast knew that he was through, this would be it… unless. Xhomast thought of a way in order to actually win this battle. Xhomast waited for it and just as the head of the stick was inches from Xhomast's own spear he quickly side stepped, angling his own spear high up and swung landing contact with Shang's spear. A loud smash of wood on wood echoed throughout the camp for everyone else had stopped fighting to watch Shang take on a solider and they all gasped as Shang's spear went flying into the ground. Shang landed on the ground with ease, "Well done soldier, there may be hope for this troop just yet. As for the rest of you work harder!" Shang walked off back towards his own tent and the troops took that as a sign to split off and return to their own quarters.

Lixicaa and Mulan ran up to Xhomast, "I don't believe it Xhomast, you were able to knock the shaft out of Shang's hands!" Mulan gave him a pat on the back, "Xhomast?" Mulan and Lixicaa walked in front to face Xhomast and they stared at him. It seemed like he was out of it, "Apparently he doesn't believe it either, come on Xhomast let's head back to the tent." Mulan and Lixicaa each grabbed a hold of one of Xhomast's arms and they dragged him back to the tent in which they threw him inside and as he landed onto the ground he snapped back into reality.

"Did I actually beat the captain?!" Xhomast asked, a sparkle in his eyes.

"Yes Xhomast now get over it."

"You're just jealous Lixicaa."

"Jealous? Please, if I hadn't chosen Mulan as a partner than you would never have fought against Shang and miraculously have won against him so get a hold of yourself already."

"Yeah whatever Lixicaa, deny it all you want."

"Argh whatever Xhomast I'm going to bed."

"But it's the middle of the afternoon."

"I DON'T CARE I WANT SLEEP!"

Xhomast didn't argue with Lixicaa after that, instead he and Mulan left the tent and decided to go exploring around the outskirts of the camp to examine their surroundings. However the admiration of the scenery was soon interrupted as shadow like creatures emerged from the ground, Mulan gasped as she drew her blade forth from its sheath. Xhomast summoned his katana into his hand and they both entered their battle stance.

"Xhomast what are they?"

"I believe that they are heartless, don't worry Mulan you can fight tem as if they were the Huns understand?" Mulan nodded her head, "Alrighty than let's go kick some heartless butt!"

I apologize for the Disney song but it is my favourite Disney song from all the movies I just couldn't help myself. Besides this song is awesome so there shouldn't be any fuss about it being in the story :P and I was proud of myself, I remembered all the lyrics for that song by head woohoo oh and just to let you know I only did Shang's parts for the songs. WOHOO! I HAVE NO LIFE! Yes I am hyper which is very surprising since I typed the last few pages of this chapter at 2 in the morning, I really have to lay off the water, yes I said water, for some reason it really energizes me and makes me hyper! Just another piece of evidence that proves that I am weird. Also according to the word count on Fan Fiction, this is my longest chapter yet which only adds on to the awesomeness of this chapter! Thanks for reading and as always don't forget to review my story.