*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. This particular chapter also references a Yeah Yeah Yeah's song.*

Mulan

"Come onnn, Mulan, hurry up!" Anya whined from the doorway, pulling up her strapless blue dress. "It's cold as tits out here."

"Just a second!" she replied from inside the house. She pulled a cap over her hair, and looked over the reflection once more. Mulan posed, throwing shoulders back and accentuating her jaw. Excitement ran sparks down her spine, standing her hairs on end. She had an eerie feeling of safety, as if she were all synced up. She threw on a coat and met Anya at the door.

Anya furrowed her brow, leaning against the house. "That's 'dressing up'?"

Mulan shrugged her shoulders, cheeks turning red. "Yeah."

"Ohhh," Anya smiled, her foggy breath steeped with alcohol. "I see what you did there. Drag show. Well aren't you clever." She smirked and turned to walk towards the car.

Mulan unhooked her keys from her pants and followed her to the lot. She had a weird sense of disappointment and relief from Anya's reaction. She hoped Anya wouldn't read too much into the wardrobe shift, but maybe it wouldn't be so bad for someone to notice...

Mulan shoved the keys in the ignition and they drove the rocky curve through the forest and onto the highway. As they neared town Anya stopped messing with the radio and put her hand on Mulan's shoulder.

"Mulan, you gotta get some action tonight. I know that's not what you want to hear, but it's true."

Mulan groaned. "I don't need that."

"Like hell you don't. I don't like how all cooped up you are in the woods. All alone…it makes me claustrophobic."

"Claustrophobic? In the woods?"

"You know what I mean! I just think you could use some company. I know lonely when I see it." Mulan pulled the car into a spot walking distance from the club. "I'm just glad we're going out tonight," Anya concluded with a grin. "WOOO!"

Mulan rolled her eyes and they both started walking toward the big, brightly lit entrance. The wide door was sculpted as a tiger's head and above the eyes read "Cave of Wonders: 21 and over."

"Let's just go in, I think my friends are already inside." Anya pulled Mulan behind her.

Mulan had been to a few bars before, but never to such an overwhelming dance club. Music radiated through the walls, and all sorts of flamboyant, colorful people crowded around standing tables and circled the stage. Rainbow flags and lights swept the walls and trimmed the bar. Yep, this place was queer alright.

"Dimitri!" Anya yelled, clomping up carpeted steps in heels. She hugged a man with mid-length tossed brown hair and a vest. "Dimitri, this is Mulan. Mulan this is Dimitri- that friend I've known since FOREVER. He's the only person I can remember from before the accident." A big smile stretched across her face, betraying her slight inebriation.

"Oh my God girl, don't even!" Dmitri laughed loudly. "This girl drives me insane," he said to Mulan. "I can't tell you how many adventures we've had and she is just impossible to travel with. You know I taught her to walk in those heels." He turned back to Anya, "And pardon my manners- don't you look like royalty this evening, Anya."

Anya curtseyed, "Why thank you kind Sir."

"Care for a dance?" he asked her.

"Oh, um, Mulan is that okay? I'll be right back-" Anya started.

"-Oh yes, she'll be right back." Dimitri drew Anya to the dance floor.

Mulan sighed and looked around. Well, she thought, 'might as well order myself something. She squeezed through the crowd and sat down at the bar. She spotted the bartender.

"Hi, excuse me!" she called, her voice drowned out in the music. She cleared her throat and spoke in a deeper voice: "You there- excuse me!"

The bartender turned around. "Sorry, didn't see you there, man. What can I get ya?"

Mulan replied with the deep voice, "Uh, I'd like some water to start with, please. No ice."

"Coming right at you," he poured a glass and slid it over the counter.

"Excuse me, Sir," Mulan heard a woman's voice behind her. "Is anyone sitting there?"

Mulan realized she meant her and turned around to see a girl with big blue eyes. "Oh, uh, no. Please sit down."

"Thank you! It's getting a bit crowded here, don't you think?" she sat beside her on a stool, adjusting her pale blue headband.

Mulan nodded, afraid that at any moment she'd realize that she's not a "sir."

"I'm Cindy," she extended her hand. "What's your name?"

"Uh…"

"Do you…have a name?" she teased.

"Yes! I have a name…and it's a boy's name too…Ping!"

"Ping," Cindy smiled. "What a nice name."

"Ladies, Gentleman, she-he's and he-she's!" bellowed a broad, shirtless man on the stage. "I am Genie, and you are all about to witness the magnificence- and maleficence- of our fantastic Saturday night show. I give to you- the one and only- Queen of Hearts!"

Mulan and Cindy both turn towards the stage as a queen wearing a gown of red and pink shimmering hearts marched down the run way. Off, Off, Off With your head! Dance, Dance, Dance 'til you're dead!, blared through the speakers and filled the room.

"That dress is gorgeous." Cindy swooned.

Mulan spotted Anya slowly making her way towards the bar with Dmitri. She turned to Cindy.

"Hey…uh…do you want to dance?" she asked in her deep voice.

"Huh? Oh sure. Come with me, Charming," she led Mulan onto the dance floor.

The music pulsed through the room as queen after queen rocked the stage in a confidence that Mulan couldn't help but envy. They flipped their hair back so naturally and their strut felt so…uninhibited. Mulan admired these queens from afar while periodically locking eyes with Cindy, who was getting really into dancing. Thankfully she didn't make any moves towards dancing closer, or it could get pretty awkward fast.

After the next couple songs had ended Cindy stops dancing. She pulled out a locket time piece and frowned, looking back up at Mulan.

"Ping," she leaned in. "It's midnight."

Mulan looked confused. She didn't generally like to stay up late either, but the show wasn't even over.

"Goodbye!" she starts back towards the entrance.

"Wait, don't go yet." Mulan followed her.

"I have to go. My friends are waiting for me. It was really nice meeting you."

Mulan deflated. "Will I see you again?"

"I don't know, I don't really come here often." Cindy thought for a second and then pulled off one of her shoes and gave it to her. "If you see me again it was meant to be. Otherwise, here's a memento."

Mulan took the shoe uncertainly and watched Cindy leave the club. She held it to a light and saw the name Cindy Ella stitched into the side. Weird gift, but at least Mulan had something tangible to remember her night as Ping. Now all she had to do was find Anya, and maybe soon drive back to the shrouded woods she knew and loved.