*Disclaimer: The following characters are owned by Disney, Fox and/or other producers, I have simply revisioned them. The following may include quotes and references to such stories*

Mulan

Mulan turned the corner, destination in sight. Her cabin house only 100 feet away, she picked up speed from jogging to a full-on sprint. Leaping over stepping stones, she crashed against her front door. She keeled over, her hands on the door to support her weight. She pushed herself too hard this time, she thought. She'd ignored what she learned in training: push yourself to the limit- anything past that could break you. After she caught her breath, she unlocked her door and walked in, eager for a shower.

In her bathroom, she threw off her clothes. Catching her reflection in the mirror, a wave of sadness killed her dopamine rush. Without her usual baggy attire, she couldn't hide from her very female body. She glared at her breasts and the curve of her hips. She undid the tie pulling her hair back, letting it graze her sharp shoulder blades.

She stared hard at her reflection, wishing her hips would melt away.

She slid the shower door closed behind her and let the water drench her figure. She washed her parts as if they were someone else's. No matter how hard she scrubbed, she knew she couldn't scrub away that strange girl she saw in the mirror.

After her shower, she dried off and pulled a long strap of cloth out of a shopping bag in her closet. She yanked off the tag and bound her chest as tight as she could. Throwing on a tank top and shorts, she peered in her bedroom mirror. She turned to the side, glowing at her new, masculine appearance.

The doorbell rang. Mulan quickly stuffed the bag back in the closet and skipped to the front room to answer the door.

"Hey, remember me?" a tall woman with a reddish brown ponytail waved through the doorway. "Cause I sure don't."

"Pfff," Mulan scoffed. "Amnesia's not funny."

"You think I don't know that?" she bustled in, setting a grocery bag on her kitchen counter. "This is coming from the woman who doesn't remember her childhood!" she reminded her.

Mulan looked worried. "How is therapy, by the way?"

"Eh, not so bad. I'm going to this new guy…Vladimir something-or-other. He said he's worked with people like me before; adults with blurry pasts. He seems to know what he's doing." She shrugged.

"Look what I got!" she sang, holding a six-pack in one hand and a fifth of vodka in the other.

"You know I don't drink, Anastasia." Mulan sat on the couch, folding her legs under her chin, glad that her friend hadn't noticed her new choice of lingerie.

"Ugh, don't call me that. It sounds so…self-righteous." She scrunched her nose and crumpled up the paper bag.

"Fine, Anya," Mulan smiled. "What's with the booze?"

"I know you and your girl don't drink, but…" she tilted her head playfully. "I do. And I'm here a lot." She stashed the vodka under the sink and took a beer for herself, joining Mulan on the sofa. "I figured I'd keep it on hand."

She took a sip. "So how are you and Pocahontas, anyway?" she asked, casually.

"She's visiting her father and grandmother back on the Res."

"Oh yeah?" she looked confused. "How long has she been gone?"

Mulan thought for a moment. "Three and a half weeks."

"Whoa!" Anya sounded shocked. "And you didn't go with her?"

She shook her head. "She didn't ask me to. I think it's something she needs to do on her own."

Anya didn't look convinced.

"What? It's not like I take her to China when I visit my family. Besides, I can totally relate to the whole retracing-your-roots thing."

"It's still a long time," she mumbled.

Mulan leaned back, sitting with her legs farther apart than usual. "Not really, when you think about it. I've been away for months at a time. It'd be unfair to ask her for anything different."

"Were you guys even together last time you were sent overseas?"

"Yeah."

Anya raised an eyebrow. "I seem to remember a certain John Smith keeping her company while you were away."

Mulan nodded. "Oh, I know. It's our agreement."

Anya scoffed, setting down her beer. "And how's that working for ya?"

"It's fine," Mulan laughed. "Plenty of couples are non-monogamous."

"Sir, yes Sir." Anya saluted sarcastically. She looked at Mulan. "Is there something different about you?"

Mulan scratched her crotch nonchalantly, lounging her arm across the back of the couch. "Nah."

"I think this is the most comfortable I've seen you," she laughed, squinting curiously at her friend.

Mulan took Anya's beer from the coffee table and took a swig. She burped.

"Alright!" Anya cheered. "I'm liking this new Mulan!"

"Me too," she smiled to herself.

"Now let's see how State's doing." Anya turned on the T.V. and flipped to the nearest sports channel, reclaiming her beer as she and her friend rooted on their favorite team.