A/N: Wow, I'm touched! This story has the most reviews out of all of my fanfictions! Thank you my lovely reveiws! Btw, the italics are my responces to the reviews below! Enjoy the story! That's an order! LoL! J/K!

Dragon Spirit Fighter: LOL, this is very cute. You don't read nearly enough stories centered around Ling. Keep up the good work!
I agree, there are not enough stories centered around Ling! I'm glad you like it, I'll definitely not abandon this one, it is one of my best peices of work.

blackmail bomer:good story more chapters now,and could you make it a Ling/Mulan romance please and thankyou
I'm happy as always that you like it, and as stated earlier, and quoted from Mushu, "I shall not lose faith!" LoL! Sorry, this story is not going to be a romance, I might do one like that later. But hopefully you're not going to quit reading this just because of that though!

F.J Stellar:Hey, I'm really enjoying this! I like your style and who dosen't love Ling? lol Update Soon!
Who doesn't love Ling? Let's see... Everyone who dislikes Ling say "I". cricket chirps I guess that means nobody, except for that darn cricket... LoL! I'm glad that you like the style, I can't really do any other. O.o LoL(again)!

narfgirl:Hey this is a cool story so far I like it. I have never seen one about Ling before. Usually they're all about Mulan and her going back to war and falling in love with Shang. But this one is different, its original and with a different character. I would definitly like to see more of this so keep up the good work and have fun writing. :)
P.S. If you want. Check out my Mulan story Slavers, Misfits, and Dragons.
I'm honored that so many people like my little fanfiction here. sniff sniff If you want to read more Ling centered stories, I highly recomend The Palace Guard, the only problem with it is that it's not complete. I've read Slavers, Misfits, and Dragons, and I've reviewed! Keep up the good work with your stories!

Ling and Yao had just finished reliving their first acquaintance for Chien-Po's sake; Ling was still perfectly able to imitate his mess-up of the complicated battle move that he had first tried to intimidate Yao with. By time they finished Yao and Ling were doubled over from laughter, and Chien-Po, who had given a humorous smile, now watched them.

"You know what's more amusing than that, Ling?" Yao was red in the face, for once not from anger, but from laughing so hard.

"No, what is?" Ling's laughter was immediately stifled with curiosity.

"You know those girls you were talking too?"

"Yes, and I still can't believe how stupid I was."

"Well, I have to tell you something about them."

"Then tell me already!"

"They didn't work at that melon stand."

"What?" A weird expression flushed upon his face, what was it? "I got beat up by shoes for nothing?!"

"Yeah, guess so."

Ling blinked, "Whoops." He gave a 100-watt grin, "Still, once we return victorious, those girls are going to be sorry for attacking me for my youthful nonchalance." He gave an overly dramatic, very much exaggerated sigh, "I bet when we return as skilled warriors they'll be lining up at the door!"

Later, Chien-Po, whom had seen some old friends of his, wandered off. Leaving Ling and Yao alone to meander about the boot camp, stopping from time to time whenever something caught their eye. The day was going by quiet nicely, when...

"Look! This tattoo will protect me from harm!" A single soldier-to-be foolishly revealed the giant red dragon tattoo that ran from his chest to his stomach, only Yao, Ling, and another unknown boy stopped to look.

A sneer inched mischievously onto Ling's long face, even before exchanging glances with Yao; he knew exactly what his short friend would do. Yao gave a thoughtful, elongated "Hmmm....", and before the man had a chance to even guess what flashed across their minds, he was flung to the ground from the force of Yao's punch. Ling nearly doubled over, "I hope you can get your money back!"

The foolish one stood, sent Ling and Yao a tiny glare, then stalked off to find some more friendly faces. The third observer, mean while, was watching Yao, looking a bit uneasy about something. Yao noticed this, and, after spitting, snarled, "What are you looking at?" When the strange man kept silent, he turned away, seeing the form of Chien-Po approaching, the stranger smiled a smile that should've been a friendly smile, then punched Yao hard on the shoulder, sending him flying into his large friend.

"Oh Yao! You've made a friend!"

Ling sniggered, that was one way of putting it he supposed. Soon after, the stranger did something truly uncalled for. He slapped Yao on his behind. Yao jumped and spun around, furious.

"Woah-ho-ho! I'll hit you so hard it'll make your ancestors dizzy!"

Chien-Po picked up the now very angry Yao, "Yao, relax and chant with me."

"Errrrrgh...", Yao tensed, his face turning a violent scarlet hue.

"Nanuami tofu dah ..." Chien-Po began his chant, Yao copied and calmed down. Chien-Po having calmed Yao inquired, "Feel better?"

"Nrrgh. Ah, you ain't worth my time. Chicken boy."

The stranger turned to scurry away, but seemingly mad, he called, "Chicken boy?! Say that to my face, you limp noodle!"

Anger leapt up within Yao again, his face turned that crimson red shade, "Rrraaaaghhh!" He grabbed the stranger aiming to teach that punk a little lesson.

Ling, whose face had gone temporarily void of all emotion while he had watched the action commence, now gave a rather queer smirk, prepared to watch Yao beat-up this unsuspecting, idiotic stranger, perhaps ready to help if he felt like fighting. But this odd boy wasn't as stupid as he seemed however. Ducking before the blows could hit him, Yao's swipes met a new target, Ling. The first hit landed right in the stomach, which Ling had to admit to himself, hurt very much. The following two hit both cheeks, one at the time; finally, the last hit struck Ling's right eye. The last strike knocked Ling off of balance, and at first rather dumbfounded, he fell back, his head spinning.

Yao, who had not been able to stop himself from delivering those blows in time, apologized after seeing whom he had hit,

"Oh, sorry Ling!"

Ling looked up, not at Yao but at the fleeing stranger.

"Get him!"

He pointed at the retreating figure of the man; Yao turned and saw his target escaping. Enraged the pair raced after him. The boy dared stop to look back, giving Ling time to pounce, but all he managed to do was knock over the idiot, whom kicked Ling in the nose, pushing him back onto Yao, and fleeing once again.

Not willing to let this man get away, they were soon up and bounding after the stranger, Ling pushing up his sleeve, Yao clenching his hands into fists, and Chein-Po just following for the sake of it. They went through tent after tent chasing the escapee, until finally they came out of a tent only too late to remember that the other man wasn't in front of them anymore. Yao halted just before running into the food line, Ling barely managed to keep himself from toppling over Yao, and Chein-Po, whose reaction was the slowest, knocked into them causing a domino effect.

The stranger slid out of the tent, clearly assuming the danger had passed, only to be met by the glares of many, many men. He gave a nervous chuckle as they advanced along with a near pleading "Hey guys..."

In a heartbeat the mass battle began, Ling, despite already having his teeth nearly knocked out, his stomach bruised, a black eye, and a nosebleed, fared well with the mayhem. The only new injury that came his way was a ripped sleeve, many more bruises, and a few scratches and scrapes. Before he could release all of the potential energy that built up in his rage, the Captain called his men to order.

"Soldiers!"

Everyone looked at the youth leader at once, Yao gave his victim a final punch before everyone cleared the Captain's sight to the stranger, all of them pointing an accusing finger yelling, "He started it!"

The Captain strode up to the stranger, who was straightening up.

"I don't need anybody causing trouble in my camp."

"Sorry..." The boy sounded oddly feminine there, but when he cleared his throat his voice suddenly became deeper, "I mean, sorry you had to see that. But you know how it is when you get those manly urges," a playful punch to the Captain, whom gave this soldier-to-be an odd look, "just gotta kill some thing. Fix things... cook outdoors..."

"What's your name?"

The boy stammered a series of "Um"s and "Uh"s before Chi Fu spoke up.

"Your commanding officer just asked you a question!"

The boy, looking almost panic stricken by the simple question managed a sentence, "I've got a name. And it's a boy's name too!"

Silence.

"His name is Ling."

The Captain put on a forced calm. "I didn't ask for his name, I ask for yours!"

"Ah-chu!"

"Ah-chu?!"

"Mushu..."

"Mushu?"

"No."

"Then what is it?!"

"It's Ping."

"Ping."

"Yes. My name is Ping."

"Let me see your conscription notice."

Ping removed the notice from his belt and handed it to the Captain. The Captain quickly glanced over it before looked up bewildered a Ping.

"Fa Zhou? The Fa Zhou?"

Chi Fu glanced at the notice, and gave Ping a slightly suspicious look.

"I didn't know Fa Zhou had a son."

Ping put on an air of casualty, "Er, he... doesn't talk about me much." He attempt to spit as Yao had done, but failed miserably in the process. Chi Fu muttered to the Captain loud enough for everybody to hear, "I can see why. The boy's an absolute lunatic!"

Ling and Yao sniggered as sinisterly at Ping as they dared, being in front of the Captain. The Captain continued his voice carry a slightly cruel amusement.

"Okay, gentlemen, thanks to your new friend Ping, you'll spend tonight picking up every single
grain of rice. Tomorrow, the real work begins."

The Captain left with what to Ling looked like a smug grin. Once he was out of hearing distance, and they were sure he wouldn't look back, all the soldiers glared at Ping as they went to receive bowls to store the rice in.

Ping made sure to steer clear of the crowd.