All rights go to Disney and their new buddy Darth Mickey! (who I am not).

5 Years Later…

It didn't take long for trouble to sniff out its best friend; it followed the young man like a forest fire snapping at the teenagers heels. Li Ping rode through his small village as usual that day. He found joy in the freedom of riding and willed his horse, Konan, to ride faster. They slowed as they reached the market place and Ping hopped off his steed to tie Konan's reins to a sturdy pillar near a watering trough.

Ping wandered through the market place glancing in different directions fighting through the throng of busy shoppers. It didn't take him long to spot what he was looking for.

Setting his small shoulders high and thrusting his chest out, he grinned winningly as he stepped in the direction of his favourite stall. Of course when she turned around every one of the things Ping had done to try and make himself more manly melted away like butter.

"Why hello Ping," Guang said happily, smiling at her long-time friend,

"Eh, oh, how do Guang?! Busy morning?"

"Oh not really," she said still smiling and moving some of her fruit stock onto her stall,

"Here, let me help you with that," Ping said running around to assist, "Probably quite heavy those."

"You get used to it," Guang smirked as Ping nearly buckled under a crate of apples, "Practise makes perfect, right?"

"Right," Ping grunted, nodding as he willed himself not to make a complete mess of his task. As he managed to get the crate onto the table he sighed a heavy breath of relief. That went better than expected, he thought gladly. He watched in surprise as Guang seemed to lift and load things onto her stall with all the grace of an imperial horse, yes most his thoughts did seem to return to horses.

"Definitely got talent there," he pointed out grinning,

She replaced one more box before tapping her nose and saying, "Practise. So what can I get for you today, chivalrous sir?"

"Ooh, chivalrous, I like that!" Ping grabbed the list his mother had given him, fruit wasn't even on it. Thought that through well didn't you, Ping mentally face palmed himself, "Well, just some, er, yeah, three apples and five pears if you please, fair maiden."

His gentlemanly bow was rewarded with Guang's perfect laugh. I did not just think that about my best friend… okay, yeah, I did.

"It is my pleasure to serve you, brave warrior."

"And it is my pleasure to protect, such a rare jade."

Their laughing was easily soured by the arrival of Ping's not so friendly acquaintance, Pa Girge.

"Out of the way squirt," Girge pushed Ping roughly. Ping's expert balance easily allowed him to stay standing but what to do then…

Girge ordered a large amount of everything from Guang before she even had time to reprimand him,

"And then what say you about hitting the mountains with me, just the two of us," any girl would have been honoured to have been courted by such a 'manly man' as Girge but those who knew of his bigheadedness instantly thought of the best excuse they could to avoid any confrontation. Unfortunately for Guang, Girge had been more than a bit obsessed with her ever since she was twelve. Girge was large and beefy with several feet more in his legs and back (and even neck) than Ping had. He could hardly see inside Guang's stall without ducking. His arms threatened to burst out of his clothes at most moments of the day.

"Girge, I'm sorry, but if you don't mind, Ping was here first and-

"What!" Girge shouted and laughed all at the same time, "That deaf little runt, the only reason he's here is because he needs fattening up to get any size on him!"

"I might be deaf in one ear, but I can hear every word you're saying! You bigheaded, drowning water rat!"

"WHAT?!"

Before Ping had time to put any of his skills into action Girge had given him a great whack in the jaw. Ping was sent flying metres away from the stall he was originally at. It was just one of those manly urges he supposed, when you just had to kill something. He took a running jump at his giant opponent and succeeded in grabbing the back of his collar. The two boys tumbled to the floor.

Ping heard people yelling and calling names, some scurried for cover as Girge threw a crate in his general direction. A cage of hens was knocked over in their frenzy. Ping was an expert in defence but with his opponent's size advantage he would have trouble even reaching for and offensive strike. They worked their way past stalls all the while Ping backing up and Girge moving forward. Parry, parry, parry, was all Ping was able to do when suddenly two hands grabbed his shoulders and pulled him away.

He yelled assuming it was one of Girge's mates and desperately tried to fight back. This was when he noticed that Girge seemed to be having the same problem. Ping swung round to see his warden was none other than his Uncle Yao.

"Alright folks, nothing happening here, go back to your daily business!" called another familiar person, Uncle Ling was standing with his hands spread pushing the crowds back, using the little authoritative voice that he did have to clear the scene. Chien-Po popped his head around Girge to give Ping a small, friendly wave.

"That goes for you too, young lady," Ling called to Guang,

"Sorry sir," Guang muttered bowing to the soldier and hurrying back to her stall.

Ling sighed and shook his head, "All this trouble is making me lose my sense of humour," he then laughed as if this was his greatest joke of all time. No one else did.

"Okay then I'll leave that one," Ling shrugged.

"What do you two think you're doing?!" Yao demanded in his croaky voice folding his arms tightly,

"HE CALLED ME A-

"IF YOU'RE GOING TO SHOUT THEN I'LL BLAME ALL OF THIS ON YOU!" Yao shouted back at the teenager.

"Sorry, sir," Girge muttered,

"I'm sorry Uncle Yao, it was me, I overreacted… that's all," Ping hung his head. He would hear about this again he was sure, and his mother and father would not be so forgiving.

"You're lucky we don't tell Mulan!" Ling said,

"Wait," Ping looked up startled, "You won't tell Mama?"

The gang of three shared glances, "Well honestly," Yao said, "We don't want to get in the way of your mothers wrath any more than you do, so… we'll let this one slip."

"As for you," Ling turned to Girge,

"We know where you live," Yao beat his fist into his palm.

It was only after the gang of three had left and Ping was in the clear with all of his mother's ingredients did Ping run into trouble again. Just as he'd attached his sack of belongings to Konan's saddle he felt a great force behind him as he landed heavily in the watering trough.

"You'll pay for my humiliation runt, if it's the last thing I do," Girge was gone again before Ping could even clear his eyes of the water. Guang, as she was leaving for her lunch, passed by her sodden and stuck friend. She took his hand and pulled him out.

"Ignore Girge, he's just a sore loser," Guang put a hand on his sodden shoulder,

"He's right about one thing though," Ping said untying Konan's reins and mounting his charge, "I am just a runt."

Guang: light, glory

I'd like to apologise for my last chapter, it was almost one in the morning when I finished it and I dind't spend too long on it (Yes, I'm ashamed to admit it!). I read it over after I posted it and felt it lacked detail or punctuation or just something wasn't right with it, I'm not sure if you agree but if you do please say (I even misspelt ton and that was in the word after the chapter). I hope this one's better. I was planning to post chapters in a bundle but I haven't really thought of the next chapter yet, so rather than leave you waiting I'll put up this one. I hope you enjoyed it.

Please review! Bad English teacher! Feedback would be very (x6089, it's a random number with no significance) much appreciated!