Chapter 3: Training Part 1

Buffy groaned as she woke. Her head was pounding and her cheeks felt as though they were on fire. She had felt hangovers before and she knew she had one now. "Damn them," she said. "This is one of several reasons I hate alcohol of any kind." She looked over at Mulan lying next to her. "How do you feel?"

"Awful," Mulan replied. "I was so gullible listening to Skatch's advice. I should have known not to drink his wine."

"Yeah," Buffy said with a sigh. "I have a reason behind why I don't drink hardly anymore. "I call it Cave Slayer. I drank some enchanted beer once and let met tell you things happened that I'm not quite proud of."

Buffy turned and looked back at the sky to see the ugly bird staring down at her. "You again. Our friendly neighborhood bird is back."

Mulan sat up quickly, instantly regretting her choice. She let out a moan. Then, when she could stomach it, she looked around, eager to tell Skatch and Ramtish just what she thought about their advice.

The fire was out. The monks were gone—and so were their horses.

"Buffy!" Mulan said as she got to her feet in a flash.

Buffy looked up as she too got to her feet. "Damn thieves!" she cursed.

The clearing was silent. Whistling loudly, they waited. There was no answering whicker or sound of hoof beats from either horse. They whistled again. Still nothing. Their horses were gone.

In place of the horses was the monks' raggedy, tired donkeys.

Buffy sighed as she looked around. They were pretty much out of the frying pan and into the fire. They had no horses and no food.

Stomping her foot in frustration, Mulan yelped. Buffy looked down and noticed that Mulan's shoes were gone and then she looked down at her own feet and saw hers too were gone.

Suddenly there was a loud squawk. Looking up, Buffy and Mulan saw the bird once again standing in their way. The creature's wings were spread, its head tilted to the side as it stared back at them.

"You!" Mulan shouted. "Leave us alone!"

The bird didn't move—at first. Then, as Buffy and Mulan watched, it shifted on its feet. Bringing its wings behind it, the bird stretched out its neck as if in midflight.

Mulan gasped as she began to recognize the elongated neck, open wings, and powerful stance. "The phoenix statue?" she ventured, seeing the creature for what it was: the bird from her family's shrine brought to life.

Buffy's eyes went wide. "I didn't know magic existed in your world," she said.

"It does," Mulan answered as the Phoenix dropped its wings and nodded, as if to say, Finally! "I think I understand," she admitted. "It's here to protect us."

Buffy and Mulan eyed the bird, who gave a barely perceptible nod.

"Couldn't I just have my horse back?" Mulan asked.

In response, the Phoenix let out a very un-birdlike hiss. The bird hopped over toward Buffy and Mulan, then moved past them and jumped on the back of one of the donkeys. Settling in, she made herself comfortable.

"You can get as comfortable as you like," Mulan said. "But I'm not going home."

The Phoenix didn't move. With one last squawk, the Phoenix shifted again on the donkey's back so that she was facing his tail. Sitting down, she settled in, clearly ready to enjoy the ride.

"Well it looks like we have our selves a companion," Buffy said as she took the reigns of one donkey and Mulan took the reigns of the other and they tugged them forward.

"We're going to be a laughing stock in the next town," Mulan groaned.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

As they arrived at the edge of a huge field, they took in the sights and sounds of the huge army encampment. Banners flew above large tents surrounded by smaller ones. The smell of cooking food wafted through the air, making Mulan's stomach rumble once again. The sounds of horses' hooves blended with clanging metal as soldiers practiced fighting. Large gates had been set up on the outskirts of the camp. In front of them was a line of hundreds of men, all clutching conscription papers. Every few minutes, a dozen or so would be ushered through the gates and disappear inside the teeming encampment.

Taking a deep breath, Buffy and Mulan pulled the donkeys forward. The Phoenix, who had fallen asleep shortly into the ride, woke with a start. Seeing the encampment, she let out a squawk and jumped off Mulan's donkey, hopping over to some bushes for cover.

Buffy and Mulan strode forward. They took their place in line. Ahead of them were two young men, roughly Mulan's age. One was chubby, his cheeks flushed. Beside him was a taller conscript. He said something to the larger boy and then laughed, revealing a sizable gap between his two front teeth that made him instantly look younger. Mulan and Buffy stood quietly behind them.

Just then, another young man, older by a few years it would seem, cut in front of Buffy and Mulan. He stopped inches behind the two boys. A long weed hung from the side of his mouth. Taking it out, he tickled the larger boy's ear. "I'm Cricket," the boy was saying.

"Longwei," the other conscript said, introducing himself.

Cricket nodded. "My mother said I was born—" He stopped, lifting his hand to swat away the insect that was tickling his ear.

Behind him, the older conscript bit back a laugh. Another conscript joined him, pointing to the weed and miming for him to do it again.

Unaware of the situation, Cricket continued chatting. His voice was friendly and open. "She said I was born under an auspicious—" The tickling had grown more aggressive and Cricket swatted harder this time. Only, instead of slapping a bug, he accidently slapped Longwei.

"Ow!" he shouted, putting a hand to his cheek.

Behind them, the two bullies howled with laughter. Then, pushing Cricket and Longwei out of the way, they took their place in line. The younger conscripts stumbled against each other, trying to keep their balance.

Sensing they were was about to get tumbled into, Buffy and Mulan moved out of the way. But Mulan hadn't seen the conscript who had come up beside her. With a shout, Mulan crashed into him, the impact knocking her to the ground.

"Sorry, tadpole," the conscript said. "My mistake."

"You okay?" Buffy said as she looked at Mulan as she extended her hand. Mulan took her friend's hand and she pulled Mulan to her feet.

Mulan then reached for her sword. She pulled it free and, lifting it in the air, pointed it at the other conscript's throat. "Insult me again," she said, forcing her voice to go deep, "and you'll taste the tip of my blade!"

"Jun," Buffy said as she shook her head. "Lower your sword. He's not insulting you."

Cricket, Longwei and the bullies watched Buffy and Mulan. Buffy and Mulan heard someone whisper "Honghui," and a few others repeat the name. Mulan's arm shook and she wanted to drop her sword, but she couldn't. Not until the other conscript, or rather Honghui, dropped his.

Out of the corner of their eye, Buffy and Mulan saw another person approaching. It was an older man, his face lined with age and experience. There was a flash of movement. Before Mulan could blink, her arm was twisted behind her back. A moment later the sword was removed from her hand and her arm dropped to her side. Beside her Honghui rubbed his own arm, his eyes on his weapon and on the other side Mulan saw that someone had taken Buffy's sword from its scabbard.

"I am your commanding officer—Commander Tung!" the man shouted. "Fighting will not be tolerated. Am I clear?" He stared at the young man; his eyes icy.

"Yes, Commander," the other conscript said immediately.

The commander turned to Buffy and Mulan and repeated the question.

"Understood," Buffy added.

"Understood…what?" Commander Tung replied glaring at Buffy.

"Understood, Commander," Buffy corrected.

He looked at Mulan, who's voice stuck in her throat. She nodded.

"With your voice, soldier," Commander Tung ordered.

"Yes, Commander," Mulan said.

Across from Buffy and Mulan, Honghui took back his sword and glared at Mulan. Handing Mulan and Buffy their swords, the commander hesitated, his gaze catching on the engraving on their blades. Recognition flashed over his face and he looked up at Mulan with renewed interest. "What's your names, soldiers?" he asked.

"Hua Jun, Commander," Mulan said, the fib gliding off her tongue.

"Mei Chi, Commander," Buffy added.

"Is this your family's sword?" Commander Tung asked Mulan looking at her sword.

Mulan nodded and then remembered that the commander wanted words.

"It belongs to my father, Hua Zhou," she said.

Commander Tung looked at Buffy's sword. "Your name does not…"

"Chi is a family friend," Mulan interjected. "He was visiting us. Since he had left his own armor and sword at home, my father allowed him to borrow my brother's sword and armor."

There was a moment as the commander looked back and forth between the swords, Buffy and Mulan, his face still but his eyes flickering with emotion. Then, noticing their bare feet, he nodded toward a tent behind them. "Both of you go get yourself a pair of boots," he said. Before either Buffy or Mulan could respond, Commander Tung had marched off, disappearing into the hustle and bustle of the encampment.

Mulan and Buffy watched him go before heading off. By the time they found a pair of boots that fit and training clothes that were only two sizes too big, it was growing dark. Walking out of the clothing tent, they searched for their assigned barracks. Each tent looked the same.

"Buffy," Mulan whispered. "I just thought of something neither of us thought of beforehand."

"I know," Buffy said with a sigh. She had thought of the same thing. "And I have no idea how were going to bathe without revealing that we're women."

Spotting their assigned tent, Mulan slipped inside. Immediately, Mulan wished she hadn't. In front of them, men in various stages of undress joked and laughed with one another. Mulan's face flushed and she felt her throat become dry. Buffy though kept her face neutral. She was thankful she had dated men and send them naked.

Buffy and Mulan made their way through the tent. Other than the soldiers, the tent itself was practically empty. The only furniture was the sleeping platforms that ran the length of the tent. Beside most of them were piles of clothing and equipment, thrown down by whatever soldier had claimed that platform. Spotting the two last empty platforms, Buffy and Mulan started toward it. But just as they were about to reach it, a conscript moved in front of them, his bare skin brushing Mulan's fingertips.

Buffy and Mulan stopped in their tracks.

A moment later, someone bumped into Buffy.

Turning, Buffy saw Cricket. And with him was Longwei. They returned Buffy and Mulan's gazes, eyebrows raised. But before any of them could speak, the larger conscript that had been bullying them earlier appeared. He, like almost everyone else, was nearly naked. As he spotted the younger conscripts, a huge smile spread over his face. For a moment, it almost looked as though he were genuinely happy to see Cricket and Longwei, like they were long-lost friends. But then he grabbed them both in a headlock and pulled them into the growing ruckus caused by the rowdy conscripts.

Not wanting any part of what was going on Buffy and Mulan once again tried to get to the empty sleeping platforms. But it seemed fate was not on their side, for just as they reached them, their eyes moved up and locked on Honghui.

"Jun," Buffy said shaking her head with a glare at Honghui.

Honghui was standing next to his friend, a man called Po. "Look who's here," Po said, nudging Honghui.

Honghui looked over at Buffy and Mulan. His expression darkened.

Suddenly a loud voice boomed through the tent. Instantly, the conscripts stopped their roughhousing as all eyes turned toward the front entrance. Sergeant Qiang, their commanding officer, stood with his face in shadow. "I told you to line up for showers!" he said, his tone angry.

"Showers?" Mulan repeated looking at Buffy, panic flooding through her.

Sergeant Qiang nodded. "Showers! You lot stink!"

As the other conscripts filed out, ready to follow orders and eager to wash the stink off themselves, Mulan and Buffy stood where they were. They knew if they went to the shower with the rest, they would be found out instantly.

"And I need a volunteer for night guard duty—"

Buffy and Mulan glanced at each other. They had been saved from revealing themselves. Their hands shot up in the air. "Us!" Mulan said pointing between herself and Buffy. Lowering their hands, she added, "I mean, Chi and I volunteer, sir."

"Jun is correct," Buffy agreed. "We both volunteer, sir."

As Buffy and Mulan made their way over to the sergeant, they saw Honghui and Po share a look.

"Better keep an eye out," Honghui warned, though he didn't sound very concerned.

Po nodded. "Those northern invaders eat tadpoles," he added.

Buffy glared at them. If not for the fact they were undercover and she could be punished for insubordination she would have hit them both. They followed the Sergeant out of the tent.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

Buffy stood with Mulan on the barrack walls; her Slayer eyesight and hearing was better than Mulan's as she explained what they were supposed to be doing to the inexperienced warrior. For the first few hours, they chatted quietly, they didn't want their voices carrying if the invaders were advancing under cover of darkness. But about three hours in, it started to get cold, and an hour later, the clouds rolled in. By the time they were only halfway through their shift, rain was falling in sheets in front of them.

But not on them.

They looked and saw the Phoenix. The bird was perched on the edge of the roof of the guard tower, her wings outstretched, creating an umbrella for Buffy and Mulan.

Mulan took a wide step to the right. Instantly, she was drenched.

Buffy shook her head and pulled Mulan back under the bird. "Be thankful the bird is sheltering us. If we get wet with how cold it is, we could get sick then we will be discovered."

Mulan let out a sigh and nodded.

They were ready to turn in when the next conscript arrived to relieve them. They hastily made their way back to her barracks. All Mulan wanted to do was lie down and sleep.

But when they pushed back the flap on the tent, the dreams of getting a good night's rest faded. Every platform was taken. Some of the sleeping berths even had more than one conscript lying across them. Loud snores and an occasional grunt sounded through the tent, making it almost as loud as if everyone were up and talking. Buffy and Mulan tiptoed down the narrow lane between the platforms. Their eyes scanned left to right and back again, desperately looking for an empty space. They passed Honghui and Po, lying back to back.

Just as they were about to give up and go find a place to sleep outside, Buffy and Milan spotted a small, narrow space at the very end of the tent. They made their way over. Looking around to make sure that no one had awoken, they took off the dirtiest, and in Mulan's case the wettest, of their layers. As theyt pulled at the tight leather bindings that covered their chests, they took a grateful gulp of air. The bindings were necessary to protect their identity, but they were not comfortable.

Dressed in simple long white shirts Buffy and Mulan carefully lay down, with Buffy right up against the tent wall with Mulan right in front spooning her. Then the soldier beside them let out a loud snort and turned over. As he did so, he threw his arm across Mulan, pinning her down.

Mulan realized it wasn't just any conscript—it was Yao! The same guy who had bullied Cricket. Lifting a hand, she went to gingerly move his arm off.

"Leave it," Buffy whispered into Mulan's ear just as Yao let out another snort and flung his other hand across Mulan. "I'm right here, I will protect you."

Out of the corner of their eyes Buffy and Mulan saw a feather appear. It was scrawny and faded but as they watched, it began to tickle Yao's nose. Ever so carefully, they looked and saw the Phoenix was standing at the edge of the platform, using her tail feathers to tickle Yao. He mumbled in his sleep and tried to brush away the feather, but the Phoenix kept tickling. Yao sneezed. Half waking himself in the process, he flipped over, turning his back to Mulan and Buffy and throwing an arm around the soldier on the other side.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

"Stealing! Penalty: death!"

Sergeant Qiang's voice rang over the parade ground in the center of the encampment. Buffy and Mulan had been awakened by the sergeant's loud voice billowing through the tent, ordering everyone outside for the morning announcements. Luckily, in the rush that had followed, Buffy and Mulan had been able to slink into the shadows of the tent and dress. Now they stood shoulder to shoulder with hundreds of other conscripts and seasoned soldiers as the sergeant barked a list of rules and the punishments for breaking them. Beside him, Commander Tung stood, his eyes moving over the men gathered in front of him.

"Desertion!" Sergeant Qiang went on. "Penalty: death!"

The men listened; their faces somber. Even Yao knew not to joke.

"Bringing women into camp or consorting with women in any way," the sergeant continued. "Penalty: death!"

Buffy and Mulan looked at each other. They had known going into this what might happen if they were discovered. But never in their wildest imagination did death enter the scenario.

Sergeant Qiang finished his speech. "Dishonesty? Penalty…" He paused, letting the word hang in the air for a moment before finishing. "Expulsion! Disgrace." The conscripts gasped. He nodded. "Disgrace for you, disgrace for your family, disgrace for your village…disgrace for your country." Marching in front of them, he stopped, slamming his finger into the chest of the nearest conscript. "We're going to make men out of every single one of you!"

After their morning "talking to," they had been sent out into the middle of the parade grounds to begin their basic training. For hours, Buffy, Mulan and the other "men" had been practicing the same basic martial arts maneuvers over and over again. Using only their arms, legs, and body weight, they were supposed to defend themselves with minimal effort. Buffy was one of the few to succeed in that training. So much so that Command Tung who had been watching suggested she teach what she knew to the others.

It was during one kick that Buffy had demonstrated that Mulan had heard a loud pop in her hip. Buffy looked at her and asked with her eyes if Mulan was alright, Mulan nodded as she refused to let the pain stop her.

Slipping up, Mulan heard Sergeant Qiang shout at her and she hastily redid the move, fixing her mistake. Satisfied, the sergeant moved on to torturing the next conscript in line, Honghui.

Mulan looked at Buffy, despite the hard work her friend was putting in, Buffy's moves were fresh, her face focused. She had always admired that about Buffy.

As the day progressed, the conscripts were moved from one part of the camp to another. They spent time on the archery range, shooting arrows at a line of wicker targets set up on a hill, something else Buffy had excelled at thanks not only to her Slayer abilities but also the training Giles had trained her in. Sure, Buffy had only used a crossbow, but once she had the basics down, she outshone most other conscripts.

Their training continued into that night and the days that followed. Still avoiding showering with the other soldiers, Buffy and Mulan kept volunteering for night watch. But there was no reprieve. As soon as they learned how to move their limbs in the series of martial arts maneuvers, they were given their swords and required to learn the moves all over again. They continued to work on the archery field, the sun beating down on their backs as arrows flew left, right, and occasionally straight. But that was not the worst of it.

Day after day, when the sun was highest in the sky and the hottest on their shoulders, the conscripts were given two buckets of water. Lifting the heavy, awkward vessels out until their arms were level with their shoulders, they were told to climb.

Buffy and Mulan began the trek. The first few steps were manageable for Mulan, Buffy on the other hand had no problems thanks to her Slayer strength. But as they continued upward, Mulan's arms started to shake. "I wish I had your strength," Mulan whispered to Buffy who remained beside her.

Buffy glanced at her friend. Like with Dawn, she never wanted Mulan to know what it was like to be her. To have her strength, to have a destiny that said she would die before she turned eighteen. Sadly she hadn't even made it to seventeen let alone eighteen. She watched as water sloshed over the edge of Mulan's bucket and she saw that her friend seemed to be growing weaker and weaker until, at last, she sank to the ground, defeated.

"Go on," Mulan said looking up at Buffy.

"No," Buffy said as she sat the buckets down and knelt next to Mulan. "We're in this together. We go to the top together or we don't go at all."

They heard a shout from Sergeant Qiang, and saw that the others had dumped their buckets and were making their way back down the few steps they had climbed. As they arrived at the base of the steps, the soldiers rushed toward a large trough of water. They pushed each other out of the way, thirsty and impatient. Mulan and Buffy approached slowly. Waiting until the others had finished, they stepped forward. First Buffy and then Mulan took the ladle and drank.

Neither Buffy or Mulan noticed that Commander Tung was watching them. In the middle of the chaos, they were both composed. His eyes narrowed with interest. Hua Jun and Mei Chi were surprises. Every task thrown at them, they had met with a quiet grace and with Mei Chi had excelled at. Neither of them had not once complained, and even when they had been overwhelmed and weak, they had forged on. And now they had waited while the other men acted like beasts, allowing them the chance to satisfy their thirst first. Only the strongest of leaders had the strength of character to wait in such a way. The commander nodded to himself. Hua Jun and Mei Chi were someone to keep an eye on.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

"Now she is a girl worth fighting for."

Cricket's voice carried over the eating area. Entering the chaotic room, Buffy and Mulan scanned the soldiers and seats, looking for a place to sit. Out of the corner of their eyes, they spotted Longwei leaving their barracks, head down with his meager possessions grasped to his chest. They had heard his name called. Sergeant Qiang had spotted him dumping water from his buckets to make the climb easier and immediately expelled him. It had been the smallest of infractions, but the penalty had been quick and severe. Mulan shuddered to think what would happen if she and Buffy were discovered.

They returned to finding a seat. Seeing the only option was near Cricket and another young conscript named Ling, Buffy and Mulan walked over and took a seat. As they started to eat, Ling held up a piece of paper. On it was a drawing of a young woman.

"We were matched twenty-seven days ago," he said to Cricket. "Her name is Li Li. Her skin is white as milk. Her fingers are like the tender white roots of a green onion…."

"Ling is a romantic!" Cricket said, apparently impressed.

Ling smiled dreamily. "Li Li inspires me," he went on. "Her eyes are like morning dewdrops, her hair like distant mountains, darkened by black clouds—"

Yao banged his hand on the table, interrupting Ling. "I like my women buxom!" he said, letting out a loud, booming laugh. Around him, other soldiers voiced their agreement. "With strong, wide hips!" he added.

Mulan glanced at Buffy, knowing her friend was from another place with different rules. She saw that Yao's statement didn't affect Buffy, like it was something Buffy had heard plenty of times before. "Do they talk like that where…" she whispered into Buffy's ear.

"Yes," Buffy replied.

"I like kissing women with cherry red lips," Cricket said, smiling at the men around him in the hopes of getting the same reaction Yao had received.

"Then your mother must have cherry red lips," Yao teased, "because she's the only woman that's ever kissed you!" The other soldiers snickered and Yao's smile grew broader.

"I don't care what she looks like—" Po started to say.

Buffy could see that Mulan was about to say something when she grabbed her friend's arm and shook her head. "Don't draw attention," she reminded Mulan.

"I just care what she cooks like!" Po finished.

"Tell us, Hua Jun and Mei Chi," Honghui said, calling out to them from across the table. He had been watching them, trying to read their reaction to the room and the comments. Deciding to push them, he went on. "Tell us. What's your ideal woman?"

Once again, the room filled with noise as the other soldiers voiced their encouragement. "Yes!" they shouted. "Tell us!"

Mulan looked at Buffy and then smiled. "She's blonde with blue eyes. She is brave and courageous."

The room grew silent. The men looked at each other, confused. They were all dumbfounded and disappointed. Except Honghui. He seemed interested by the answer.

Mulan went on, she didn't care if she was standing out. She was tired of beating around the bush. "And she has a sense of humor." Some of the men laughed. "She's also smart!" Now everyone was laughing.

Everyone except Honghui and Buffy. Buffy looked at Mulan for a long moment. Was Mulan saying that she found her attractive? As she looked at Mulan she realized in the time since she had been in this world her feelings for Mulan had moved beyond friendship.

"Courageous, funny, smart," Yao repeated. "Hua Jun's not describing a woman, he's describing a man! He's describing me!"

As the room erupted in laughter, Mulan continued to stare at Buffy. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Honghui smiling at her. He winked. Then, turning to Yao, he called out, "Courageous, funny, smart? No, that's not you, Yao. That's definitely not you."

The joke was now at Yao's expense, and the attention drifted from Mulan. Taking the opportunity, Buffy and Mulan slipped away.

"You were talking about me," Buffy said as they walked outside, out of earshot of the men.

"Yes," Mulan answered. "I've slowly been realizing it, Buffy. I know in this world two women is unheard of. But you are the one I prefer."