Mulan's P.O.V.
We were having lunch when we heard the Emperor's horn, knowing that it's very urgent so we all got up and headed towards the gate, but Jade and I were told stay inside. Grandmother coughed a little pointed up telling us that we can listen to the announcement, so ran over to wall and started climbing. Once on top we saw some soldiers and a messenger, who happens to be part of the council. They were telling the villagers about Shang Yu having to cross the Great Wall of China and that they need soldiers, and also, they needed the soldiers to bring the Prince's bride to the palace for further protection. They started naming off family names, and usually the oldest male goes up, and I knew that they're going call father's name soon, so I got off the wall and headed towards the gate right when they called it.
I noticed that Jade jumped down as well, but to try to stop me. Of course, I won't listen to her, for I don't want I father going into war with the health he is in.
"WAIT!" I called out towards them stopping them handing father the scroll. "Please don't send father to war he is still..."
"Hold your tongue girl." The man from the council sneered staring straight at me. "Fa Zhou, you should teach your daughter to hold her tongue in the presence of those from the council."
"Mulan, you've disgraced me a second time." Father said glaring at me. "Get inside this minute and we'll talk about this later."
I went back inside and I noticed why Jade tried to stop, for she seems to be glaring at the council guy with hate. I stopped at her side with my head down knowing that I'll be punished if I say another word, and I watched as our father took the scroll from the soldier that was handing them out. After finishing calling the family names, everyone went back to either inside their homes or back to their businesses. We went inside and we started getting ready for dinner, but it was silent.
*Time-Skip*
It was dinner time, and everyone is still silent. Jade was avoiding my eyes, as well as mother and grandmother. I gotten to the point of slamming down my cup of tea getting everyone's attention.
"You don't need to go to war again!" I yelled at father, who was again glaring at me for speaking out to him.
"It is my duty and my honor to fight for the Emperor and for my family." He said closing his eyes for a brief moment before opening them.
"So, you'll die for honor." I argued and Jade looked like she was about to interfere. "Don't even think about, Jade."
Jade closed her mouth after I said that and looked disappointed at me.
"I'll die for what right," He said starting to look even angier. "I know my place, and it's time for you to know yours like how Jade knows her place."
I got up and ran, knowing that he is right in many ways. No one didn't stop me, which doesn't surprise me. I ran towards my favorite spot, and the rain and thunder were still going on.
Jade's P.O.V.
I know how my sister feels, but she doesn't know what damage she could bring to the family if she keeps this up. When she ran out I thought she just needs to cool off, and may be the rain will help with that.
'I better go check on her.' I thought going outside heading towards her favorite place when she feels upset.
When I finally found her, she was looking towards the window to our mother and father's bedroom, and I saw that father trying to consult mother but she turned away from him. I then looked at Mulan and saw that she had a sad look, and knew she just wants to help our father. She jumped down from where she was sitting and saw me standing there in the rain looking at her.
"Please, don't tell mother and father what I'm about to do." She pleaded once she was standing up right.
"I won't instead I'm going to help you." I said smiling knowing exactly what she is planning on doing. "So, let's hurry up and do what you wanted to do."
We then both headed towards our mother and father's room, and Mulan sneakily went to where the scroll, which was next to father on the night stand. After grabbing it and replacing it with her comb, she hurriedly away, we then went towards where father kept his military uniform at, and Mulan opened the cabinet the held the uniform and took the sword out.
"Do you mind helping me with my hair?" She asked handing me the sword.
"Alright, but I'm going to miss it." I replied taking the sword and going behind and started cutting her hair off. "Okay, it's at the length that I'm willing to go to."
"Fine with me." She said putting her hair up, and then taking off her clothes to put on the uniform. "Did you get what you wanted to bring with you, since you're going to be escorted to the palace by the soldiers."
"Yep, made sure that I did three days ago." I said helping her put on the uniform. "Now when we get there we'll try to think of the backup story and I'll vouch for you, okay?"
"Yes, thank you, Jade." She said after making sure the uniform is on correctly. "Let's get going before they wake up."
We got up from where we were sitting, and headed to the stables where my luggage's and bags are waiting with the horses. After making sure the luggage's are on the horses we took off and didn't stop for anything. I knew by we just got out of the village that they must have woke up and knew that we are gone. When we gotten to the point where we think that we are far from the village to be followed we decided to rest and wait until we figure out where our location is, and I ended up fallen asleep soon after.
*Time-Skip*
It was morning and I opened my eyes to see Mulan acting and pretending to be a man. I saw Khan neigh like it was laughing and I couldn't help but laugh as well, and Mulan glared at both of us and threw her shoe at us.
"I'm trying here." She said still glaring while putting her shoe back on.
"Well I can say that you're..." I said pausing mid-way to not laugh. "Doing a great job."
"Urgh, it's going to take a miracle for me to get in the army." Mulan said frustrated.
"DID ANYONE JUST SAY MIRACLE?!" A voice rumbled and a shadow from behind a rock with fire near by looked like a dragon. "I'LL SHOW A MIRACLE, I THE GREAT DRAGON WILL HELP YOU TWO!"
My eyes were wide when I saw that it was a dragon, but when the dragon came out. It was just little red dragon that was pretending to be great.
"Who are you?" Mulan said taking the words from my mouth.
"Why I'm the guardian that your ancestors sent." He said. "And my name is Mushu."
"So, our ancestors, sent a lizard to help us." She said crouching down lifting Mushu, who smacked at her hands.
"Dragon, I don't do that creepy lizard tongue thing." He said doing the creepy lizard tongue thing.
"Really, you just did." I said grinning.
"Oh, hush." Mushu said glaring at me. "I'm definitely am a dragon NOT a lizard."
"So, what are you here for?" I asked starting to get annoyed with the little dragon.
"I'm here to make sure you two don't dishonor the family, so you Mulan either go back home or I could help you to become a man." He offered.
"Fine help me become a man then." Mulan said angrily.
"Well first you need stand up straight." He said looking at her. "Well what are you waiting for?"
Mulan stood up straight, and he then told to put legs out and puff up her chest. They then walked out of the forest that we were hiding in, Khan followed them. While they went on to the camp, I looked at the cricket that somehow was next to me, and took out some clothes that'll fit my part.
"Do you think you can help me with my hair while I put on these clothes?" I asked the cricket thinking that I've might have lost my mind, and I put on my clothes and the cricket jumped on my head. "Okay, what are you doing? I didn't think you understood me."
The cricket did just that, it put the upper half of my hair up into a high bun, but braided the lower half. I give it the jade comb that I am to wear to symbol who I am, and the cricket placed it on the right side of my head.
"Huh, you're really are useful." I said with my eyes wide with surprise. "Now let's go before my sister gets into trouble because of Mushu."
After that we both got up taken my horse, May, and started looking for my sister. I looked around and I finally found Mulan talking to Shang, and I hurriedly rushed up there.
"There you are little brother." I called out and Shang looked at me in surprise.
"My Lady Jade, I didn't know you had a brother." Chi Fu said trying to look impressive to me.
"Well, father never talks about him to anyone, and my dear sweet little brother here is mostly away from home." I said wiping away a fake tear. "And when he came back home father fell ill, and told him that he needs to escort me here. Well I told him since we're near enough I'll get changed from my dirty clothes when I fell off my horse and get changed, while he goes to the camp."
"I see, but why is he so here in the army when he could just be your escort." Shang said looking suspicious.
"Well you see, since our father is ill he sent out his three children one, my sister, to medical school, and him to be trained as soldier to get rid of his clumsiness and to try to bring honor to our family." I explained trying to hold back my anger towards Shang.
"Okay, then." Shang said still looking at me with suspicion, then looked at the other soldiers and my sister-brother. "LISTEN UP! EACH ONE OF YOU WILL CLEAN THIS MESS UP ONE GREIN A TIME!"
All of the soldiers looked towards Mulan with hate, and looked ready to kill her.
"THIS GIRL RIGHT BESIDE ME IS PRINCE ZIAN'S BETROTHED AND OUR DUTY AFTER TRAINING IS TO ESCORT HER TO THE PALACE TO BE FURTHER PROTECTED." Shang said standing beside me giving each of the soldiers dirty looks to each soldier. "YOU'LL TO RESPECT HER AND PROTECT HER WITH YOUR LIFE, YOU GOT THAT?"
"YES, SIR!" All of the soldiers yelled at once, and I looked at them and nodded my head in recognition.
"Come, my lady, I'll show you where you can have your tent set up." Chi Fu said showing me the way. "And then I'll have one of these men pitch it up for you."
"Thank you, Chi Fu." I replied with smile pretending not notice the sarcasm when he said 'men'. "But I do need to speak the General Shang, but don't worry my brother will be with me."
"Of course," He said with a little disappointment in his voice. "General Shang, Lady Jade wants to speak to you and her brother, Pang."
'Ah, so that's the name that Mulan chose.' I thought watching Shang and my sister-brother coming my way.
"My Lady, you wish to speak to us?" Shang said wondering what I wanted to talk about.
"Yes, but in private." I said with a smile.
"Of course," He said leading the way. "This way."
When we went to the tent that Shang is staying in, I looked around to see if anyone outside is listening. I took out a scroll of paper and wrote down 'I'm just going to write what I want say on paper, but I'll speak about something else'. Shang nodded understanding what I'm getting at, and Mulan looked at me in confusion. I waved my hand at her to stand over towards the tent entrance.
"So, did Prince Zian tell anything why I'm really needed in the palace?" I asked then wrote 'My brother has a rare condition, and if he ever gets injured I'll be the one to take care of the wound.'
"Prince Zian told me to tell you that you may be in danger by the Huns if word got out that you're his betrothed." He said taking the scroll and wrote 'What kind of condition?'
"I see, but both you and Prince Zian knows that I can take care of myself, right?" I said and took the scroll, and wrote 'The reason why our father doesn't talk about my brother is because he has a mix gender and it could ruin our family name if it got out.'
"That may be so, but the leader of the Huns that have crossed the Great Wall is Shan-Yu." He said after getting over his shock, and took the scroll and wrote 'Don't worry your family secret is safe with me, but what would happen if he does get injured?'
"I see, but what does that really have to do with me, besides the fact that I'm Prince Zian's betrothed?" I asked taken the scroll and wrote 'If Pang does get injured, I'll send him back home with a message to father what happened.'
"The Emperor believes that he may end up kidnapping you to not only for ransom but to marry you." He said with a wince and I felt like throwing up, and he took the scroll and wrote 'That's good, and I'm guessing that's also the reason why you are to take care of his injury so the secret won't get if someone in the army, like Chi Fu for example, calling for a doctor from the palace when we get there, right?'
"That makes me feel disgusted by that feeling, now I know why they want me in the palace for further protection, but what about Prince Zian?" I asked with defeat, and wrote down on the scroll 'Pretty much yes, and Chi Fu might make it look like that my brother is actually female and try to dishonor family, and to try to break Prince Zian's betrothed with me.'
"From what I know Prince Zian won't be in the palace when you get there, for he and the Princesses were sent away to a different location for their protection." He said after taken the scroll and wrote down 'Don't worry I doubt Zian will allow that, or even the Emperor, for they'll call slender to the royal family if he ever tries anything like that, and I don't think he wants to lose his job.'
"Well that's good in a way, but wouldn't it be better if I was taken to the same location as Prince Zian and the Princesses?" I asked wondering why that is, and took the scroll and wrote 'That's good, but I still don't trust him.'
"That is the same question that Prince Zian and the Princesses asked, but the Emperor said that he needed to speak to you about something that'll help you understand, and afterwards send to their location." Shang said taken the scroll and wrote 'I feel the same way, but there is nothing we can do since his status prevents us from doing anything to him without proof, so shall we go for we've been in here for a long time and they are probably getting cousy out there.'
"That's fine with me, and we should get of this tent now." I said getting up from where I sitting, and took the scroll and started ripping it up to small pieces to put into the fire to fully destroy it.
We walked over to my sister-brother and we walked out, and we looked around to see if anyone had listened in to our conversation, but all that I saw was a shadow from the sun leaving. I looked towards Shang and leaned towards him a little.
"Someone must have listened in, and if brother seems to have problems in training, don't worry he'll catch up but act normal." I whispered quietly where only he can hear me, and he just nodded.
I went over to my brother and walked away from Shang, and headed towards where Chi Fu was at. Once there I let go of Mulan, so that she can start with her share of cleaning up. Chi Fu after seeing me, started leading me towards a spot that is close to his and Shang's tents to keep a better eye on me for my safety.
A/N: Sorry it took me long, I was trying to catch up with school work, and my other stories.