Chapter 6- Miracles

Jiminy didn't like this one bit. He had watched from the side line this time as the long days of training had panned out. Mulan needed full concentration to focus on the different forms of training that the soldiers require before going into battle. He watched as she dropped her cane and was knocked to the floor for the second time. Once that was over he cringed while she struggled with the bow in archery practice and finally he had to leave halfway through her one on one combat, when Captain Shang gave her both a nose bleed and a black eye. Not to mention that the other soldiers still shunned her vary presence after the fight on the first day. If it wasn't for Jiminy she would be completely alone.

'There has to been more I can do.' He sighed as he sun began to set on the horizon. He hurried back to Mulan's make shift camp and got the fire blazing ready for her arrival. Then he went in search for items in the surrounding forest. Trudging over the hill Mulan didn't think there was a bone left in her body that wasn't aching. Her nose had stopped bleeding but it was sore to touch and crusted with blood. Her eye was difficult to see out of and she didn't need a mirror to know that she looked terrible. She knew as she sat by the fire that Jiminy was talking to her. Soothing her or reassuring her that it was bound to get better but somehow she doubted that. She felt something cold press up against her eye and found Jiminy holding a soaked leaf against her eye. She mumbled honest thanks and took it from him squeezing the cold water against her throbbing eye. Not long later she had collapsed into a deep sleep in her tent and didn't notice Jiminy fly off down toward the camp.

When he watched hopelessly as Mulan whimpered in her sleep, Jiminy had flown off in anger down into the camp not sure of what he was actually going to do. He was a cricket, it wasn't if he could make any difference but maybe there would be something said that he could use for their advantage. The rock that Gepetto had given had oddly heated up during the course of the day along with Jiminy's frustration. No one should suffer this much to save their family. He floated above the tent of the soldier's Captain whose shadow prowled back and forth. Another shadow was also present but when Jiminy peered in the tear of the canvas he didn't recognise him.

'Captain, your attempts to train these recruits are pointless. None of them are stimulating to the training and none show even a glint of promise. I wish I could say otherwise but it seems they are lacking morale. You even have recruits living outside the camp. Is that how you expect your soldiers to act?' the man spoke with a powerful and engaging authority that seemed to radiate around him.

'I am doing my best.' The Captain answered gruffly. 'Don't let my efforts be in vain.' He pleaded. 'I swear I can get these recruits ready, just give me the chance to prove to you, to the Emperor.' He added. The man looked up and Jiminy jumped out of sight hoping he didn't see him. He did however; get a full view of his face. A grey wisping moustache drooped over his wrinkled lips.

'Five days. You have five days to change my mind.' He replied after a seemingly aching silence and with a bow he left the tent drawing back the canvas and striding off into the night. Jiminy followed after him, zipping in and out of the surrounding trees. The wise man led him down toward a lake that glittered under the light of the stars.

'I have been waiting for you Jiminy Cricket.' He whispered but with still the prominence of strength in his words.

'Excuse me sir, but who are you?' Jiminy asked fluttering to a stand on a cooling rock beside him.

'I'm the Dragon and you Jiminy Cricket should have realised by now that this is not just Mulan's journey but yours also.' He said with a wise glance downwards.

'I'm not involved, I'm just helping Mulan. How can I anyway? I'm just a cricket.'

'Just a cricket. You wouldn't be saying that if you saw the difference you have mad e on the people's lives that you touch, Your conscience Jiminy is your strength, it is your aspiration to do good that enables you to help people and helped people you have.' He nodded to himself with a long stroke of his moustache.

'I give people advice; I hardly call that life changing.' Jiminy countered and he was answered with a gruff laugh.

'I know that statement to be wrong but I also know that for this part of your journey more is needed of you.'

'I don't understand. How can you know about me, about any of this? Who are you?' he persisted.

'I have told you, I am the Dragon. You Jiminy feel that in this form you are unable to help Mulan to your full potential and for this time I believe you to be correct.' The man who called himself Dragon continued down the gravel path to the lake and then started to wade in with his full robes into the water.

'But I can't change who I am. I chose to be a cricket so I could help Gepetto. I've been a cricket for a long time now.'

'What would you say if I said that you held something that could change that?' he smiled back at him.

'Change what? Me being a cricket you mean? You mean I could be a man again?' he asked a mixture of fear and excitement in his voice.

'Yes. For how long I do not know. A month, a year, perhaps until your time in this world is over. The magic in the stone you hold in your pocket is unfathomable. You're lucky no one knew that you carried it. The material price on it is rather staggering.' He explained the water now up past his knees.

'If I do, I'll be able to help Mulan?' He inquired unsure of what to think or do.

'Indeed. Jiminy with your ability you could change the fate of this entire camp with only a few choice words. Many underestimate the power of words when spoken wisely.' He said calmly and Jiminy remained silent the possibilities of what he could achieve pulsing through his mind. Not only could he perhaps save Mulan but even this whole war could be avoided. He had spoken at councils before, advising powerful people on the right thing for their people. He slipped a hand into his pocket and removed the stone that was now harshly hot in his palm. In his hands it looked big but really it was only the size of a fat pea. The gemstone inside shone through the black casing.

'What do I need to do?' he concluded with confidence.

'That's the ticket. Hop into my hand and I'll lower you into the water. When you are submerged simply kiss the stone and you shall be a man once again, for how long though no one can guess so be careful.' The Dragon held out his hand and Jiminy hopped on.

'What about Mulan? What shall I tell her?' he asked.

'You cannot tell Mulan of your true identity. Unless she guesses and that cannot be helped. I will excuse your absence but don't you worry. She will not feel alone with you there.'

'I hope you're right.' Jiminy said before he held his breathe ready for the start of his journey. The water was freezing and he gasped with the shock of it. Remembering why he was there he held out the stone before him and without another moment's hesitation he kissed the stone and everything faded to black.