Chapter 13

Kim walked out of the princesses' tent, feeling - well, a mix of emotions. On one hand, she had cheered them up. On the other hand, she wasn't getting to the root of the problem - the mission to Qui Gong. Which, if Ron's visions were to be trusted, was essentially sending them to their deaths.

She saw Ling, Yao, and Chien-Po sitting around the fire with Ron. Ron was telling them stories about how Mulan and Shang shook up Middleton High - and became priceless members of Team Possible.

"So Mulan used her staff skills for good?" asked Yao.

"It helps if you don't knock her over with it!" Ling reached over and socked Yao. Chien-Po tried to separate them, but got stuck in the brawl. They tumbled around in a ball of grappling and grabbing… and finally Ron got their attention. "Oy! Break it up!" The three separated.

"Look, I have something important to tell you." Ron continued. At this point, Kim came through the clearing.

"Oh look, it's Raging Fire." Ling joked.

"Can it." snapped Kim. "First, my name's Kim, not Raging Fire. Second, Ron has some information that… may change things."

The group went silent.

"I've been having visions." said Ron. "This mission to get the princesses hitched with princes from Qui Gong? Galyn Khaan is behind the whole thing!"

"Who?" asked Ling.

"Galyn Khaan is the son of Shan-Yu." explained Kim. "He's been trying to avenge his father's death for practically forever."

Yao jumped to his feet. "Nobody hurts Mulan! Lemme at 'im!" He swung his fists around and accidentally hit Chien-Po's belly.

"So what does this have to do with the mission?" asked Chien-Po, who had barely felt any impact.

"Everything." Ron continued. "He's advising Lord Chin and making alliances with the surrounding tribes. If they attacked China…"

"...the devastation would be unspeakable." finished Kim. "Which forced the Emperor to give us this mission."

"We have to get them away." concluded Chien-Po. "But how?"

"I have an idea!" said Ron. "Take the princesses and run off to safety!"

"Where's safe?" asked Ling.

"I saw a village from our camp. Barely a few minute's walk!" Yao exclaimed.

Kim paused before continuing. "But we'll have to do it without Shang finding out. If he finds out, he'd be furious."

Her gut instinct told her this was a bad idea. A very bad idea.

Meanwhile, Mulan was pacing in her tent. "Mushu, what am I supposed to do?"

Mushu had been waiting for this moment, and injected full enthusiasm in his answer. "Drop him like a hot potsticker! Kick 'im to the curb! Burn his letters and dance around the fire saying happy days are here again!"

Mulan sighed. "...Maybe you're right. He likes it nice and smooth… which life isn't. Which he isn't! What kind of compliment is you fight good? Especially after I had just saved his sorry..."

That was when Mushu noticed six silhouettes going over the hill towards the village "Mulan…" he sang, "Nice and smooth just ran out of camp."

"What?"

"Hey did you know almonds, rice and milk are part of a complete breakfast?" quipped Mushu.

"Mushu…!" Mulan groaned.

"Just trying to say, the princesses went AWOL."

"Where are the guards?"

"Eh, showing them the way." Mushu sounded much too casual.

"Wait, they're together?" Mulan gasped.

"Yep." Mushu cracked an almond and ate it.

"Together - together?"

"Do you not speak Chinese?"

Mulan didn't respond to her travel-sized dragon's latest remark, and grabbed her sword. "I better handle this... just make sure Shang doesn't wake up!" She exited the tent and followed the footsteps by moonlight.

Along the way, Mulan intercepted Kim and Ron.

"Do you know the princesses left? This could be serious!"

Ron whirled around and almost tripped over his own feet. "Mulan, we can explain!"

"Then explain, I don't want Shang getting angry again! Let alone for something that's not my fault!"

Kim sighed. "Ron's been having visions. If we go through with the mission, the princesses are in grave danger."

"How so?" Mulan was suddenly worried.

"This is gonna sound crazy... Lord Chin is working with Galyn Khaan!" Ron warned.

"Likely story, there's no way he survived that explosion!"

"Resistant to extreme heat, ringing any bells?" Ron countered. "He's allied with the surrounding tribes. Remember when we got attacked by bandits? They were working for him!"

"Oh great. So we have to stop the mission… wait a minute." Mulan suddenly brightened up. "This solves everything!"

"It kinda doesn't… I mean, there's still a treaty in place…" Kim paused.

"Well, I don't think the Emperor will want to be allies with the son of Shan Yu!" Mulan pointed.

"But how are you going to tell…" Kim was interrupted by the sound of flutes and drums. A parade was going by, complete with acrobats, flag twirlers, and dancers.

Six of them didn't look like the usual parade participants - three men and three women. The men were wearing martial arts uniforms - one tall and fat with a drum, another lanky with a flute, and the last squat and muscular with a flag. The women had their hair elaborately styled, and wore purple jackets and pants with scarlet and gold accents. One was tall and skinny, counting out loud to the beat of the drum and high-stepping. Another was average height and slightly more curved, twirling and leaping. The third was shorter and softer-figured, kicking way up in the air and grinning from ear to ear.

"Wait a minute…" Kim's eyes narrowed, then realization dawned. "Oh no." She face-palmed. "This is what I get for teaching princesses the basics of cheerleading."

Ron clapped his hands over his face to stifle a snort of laughter.. "You what?"

"I got an idea!" exclaimed Mulan. She swiped some cosmetics samples from a vacant stand. Then she undid Ron's shirt so it was open like Shang's training jacket. She dabbed some makeup on her face and did the same with Kim, ending the preparation by tying Kim's hair in two buns.

Just as she had at the palace showdown, Mulan took over. "Kim, you perform with the acrobats and dancers. Ron, you clap with the rhythm section. I'll hang with the flag twirlers."

"But you don't have a…" Kim's protest was interrupted by Mulan pulling a scarf from her pack and tying it to a fighting staff.

"You were saying?" Mulan raised an eyebrow.

Kim sighed. "Never mind." She joined the dancers and acrobats, hoping to catch up with the princesses. Mulan prayed she could corral Yao, while Ron tried to get a hold of Ling and Chien-Po.

The parade eventually split up, ending at the village square. Mulan, Kim, and Ron tried to follow them, but kept losing them in the crowds.

Yao and Mei went off to watch a wrestling match, which Yao couldn't help but participate in - beating an undefeated wrestler in the process. Chien-Po and Su found a food stand and bonded over sharing snacks. Meanwhile, Ling tried to break down Ting-Ting's serious mask with bad jokes - finally succeeding upon a very clumsy move, which unleashed a boisterous laugh from the eldest princess.

The covert couples waited on a bridge, gazing at the reflection of the full moon.

"It's the same moon we see from the palace." pointed Ting-Ting.

"But this one is… different…" Su sighed romantically, snuggling up next to Chien-Po.

All three couples nestled closer to each other.

"I'll admit, I've never seen anything like it." Mulan interrupted.

"Oh boy…" Yao hid the plush panda he had won for Mei behind his back.

"Fa Mulan, it's love!" Mei burst out. "Yao and myself, Chien-Po and Su…"

"And me and Lingy-bear… I mean, um, Ling…" Ting-Ting giggled.

Mulan paused, then squealed and jumped into a group hug. "I'm so happy for all of you!"

Then they heard a horse neighing. Apparently, Shang had woken up and followed their footsteps. And as Kim had worried earlier, he was furious.

"I'm sorry to interrupt your get together." he spat. "Party's over."

"Shang, before you jump to any conclusions…" Mulan began, but Shang interrupted her. "I found this in the princesses' tent." He held out a letter.

"That's mine…" Mei bowed her head.

"All yours?" Shang snapped. "Or did you have help?" He glared at Mulan as he read the letter. And so, dear father, I am unable to complete this mission. I have discovered that my duty is to my heart." He crumpled up the letter.

"Now who does that sound like?" He then turned to the princesses. Your Highnesses, you gave your solemn vow to be married in Qui Gong! If your father saw you now, breaking that vow, what would he say!" The princesses seemed to wilt like lilies.

He got in the guards' faces and ordered them to escort the princesses back, not to speak to them. "Not! A! Word! Do I make myself clear!" He had fallen into officer mode all over again.

The soldiers bowed and escorted the princesses back to the camp.

"Shang, there's something I have to tell you…" Ron tried to redirect Shang, but Shang wasn't listening. "Shut up, Ron!" He shoved Ron aside. "All you cause is trouble! Why does Kim keep you around, anyway?"

Kim's temper flared. "You may not see it, but Ron is trying to save all of us!"

"He's been having visions!" Mulan added.

"Prove it!" snapped Shang.

"You have to trust us. We're a team." Ron was surprisingly the most level-headed at this moment.

"You don't trust your heart…" Mulan added, but then said something she regretted: "Sometimes I wonder if you even have one!"

Those words cut deeper than any sword. Shang about-faced and stormed off.

Kim and Ron looked up. They saw thunderclouds starting to darken the sky and swirl over the moon. Meanwhile, Mulan stared into the distance, watching her General walk away from her without looking back.

TO BE CONTINUED...