Long ago, and far beyond the Great Wall of China, a young marked man named Min Yoongi lived with his family.
The marked were special men who were treated as women, because they were able to give birth and were treated like, or lower than, depending on your family, daughters or servants. The marks were on their chests, they had to keep their hair long, and they were not allowed to do anything men did.
One day, the Emperor's aide rode into town. "The Huns have invaded China!" he announced. "One man from every family must serve in the Imperial Army."
Yoongi's father Namjoon felt it was his duty to join the army even tough he had been injured in earlier battles. That night, he began to practice some fighting moves, unaware that Yoongi was watching. Suddenly, a pain from an old wound shot through his leg, and he collapsed on the floor.
Yoongi knew that his father wouldn't be able to survive another battle, so he decided to disguise himself as an unmarked man and take Namjoon's place. He cut his hair, put on soldier's clothing, and left in the middle of the night on his horse, Holly.
But Yoongi was not alone. The spirits of his ancestors sent Hoseok, a tiny dragon, along to protect him.
Hoseok caught up with Yoongi and soon they arrived at the army camp. Hoseok whispered suggestions about how to look manlier. "Show them your man walk," he said. "Shoulder's back, chest high, feet apart, head up, and strut."
"I don't think I can do this," whispered Yoongi.
"It's all attitude," Hoseok told him.
Yoongi took a deep breath, gathered his courage, and strode into camp.
He looked ridiculous, because he had always walked meekly, like a woman, but he did his best. When he tried to make friends with the other soldiers, Chein-Po, Yao, and Ling, he ended up causing a fight.
The camp was in total chaos when Captain Jungkook arrived.
"Soldiers!" the captain shouted.
Everyone sprang to attention and pointed at Yoongi. "He started it!" they said in unison.
"I don't need anyone causing trouble in my camp," Jungkook said to Yoongi.
"Sorry," Yoongi said. Then he realized his normal voice was much to womanlike and lowered it. "I, uh, mean, sorry."
"What's your name?" Jungkook asked.
"My name is…uh…Suga." Yoongi told him. He handed him her army papers and frowned. He was not off to a good start.
Captain Jungkook was a skillful leader, and though Yoongi felt clumsy and inadequate, he worked as hard as he could. He didn't want anyone to find out he was marked.
Jungkook led the recruits through a series of grueling training exercises to help them prepare for battle. One of the lessons involved retrieving an arrow from the top of a pole with a heavy bronze disk tied to each wrist.
"One represents discipline, the other strength," Jungkook said of the disks. "You need both to reach the arrow."
No one was able to do it. Finally, after several attempts, Yoongi had an idea. He pulled the weights onto his wrists, looped them together, and used them to hoist himself to the top. He had done it!
All the soldiers admired Yoongi's determination. And even his new friends, Chein-Po, Ling, and Yao, still didn't know that he was a marked man.
After much training, Jungkook led the soldiers to the Tung-Shao Pass to meet the rest of the army. When they arrived, they discovered that the army had been defeated-and none of the soldiers had survived. Jungkook was especially upset when he realized that his father, the General, had been killed.
"I'm sorry," Yoongi said, trying to comfort him.
Jungkook composed himself and turned to his soldiers. "The Huns are moving quickly. We're the only hope for the Emperor now. Move out!"
Before long, the Huns discovered Jungkook and his troops. Hundreds of them raced over the mountaintop, firing arrows at Jungkook's small band of soldiers. Yoongi seized a cannon and ran right toward the Huns. When he had almost reached their leader, Shan-Yu, Yoongi aimed the cannon above his head. The rocket hit the mountain behind him and caused a huge avalanche. Snow tumbled down quickly, burying the enemy.
Yoongi had been wounded, but he was still able to jump on his horse and pull Jungkook away from the snow just before he was buried.
As Chein-Po and the others helped them to safety, Jungkook looked at Yoongi with admiration. "Suga, you are the craziest man I've ever met. For that, I owe you my life," he said. "From now on you have my trust."
But Yoongi's wound had to be treated. It was then the soldiers learned he was a marked man.
At that time in China, Yoongi's deception was punishable by death. Jungkook spared him. "A life for a life," he declared. "My debt is repaid." He told him he would not be allowed to continue with the other soldiers.
Dejected, Yoongi watched the troop march away, leaving him alone with Hoseok, Holly, and Hoseok's friend, a cricket named Jimin. With a heavy heart, he confided in the dragon: "I should never have left home. I just wanted to do things right, so that when I looked in the mirror I would see someone worthwhile. But I was wrong. I see nothing."
"You risked your life to help the people you love," Hoseok replied. "But don't worry, things will work out."
That quiet moment was shattered when Yoongi realized that Shan-Yu and a few of the Huns had survived. Racing on horseback to the Imperial City, Yoongi found Jungkook and told him what he had seen.
"You don't belong here," he replied. "Go home."
"You have to believe me," said Yoongi.
But Jungkook wouldn't listen. Soon, the Huns seized the Emperor and ran into the palace. Yoongi turned to his friends for help. Chein-Po, Ling, and Yao tried to break down the palace door. It was no use.
"Hey, I have an idea!" Yoongi called. Eager for the help of their quick-thinking friend, the soldiers let Yoongi dress them up as women, himself already in the traditional garb of a marked man: a low cut tunic displaying the mark on his chest and a long skirt. After they were disguised, they used their sashes from their dresses to help them climb the palace columns. Jungkook realized that Yoongi was trustworthy and joined their effort. Once inside, they attacked the unsuspecting Huns.
Together, Yoongi, Jungkook and the others knocked out the Hun soldiers and rescued the Emperor. Than Jungkook went after Shan-Yu. Furious that the Emperor had escaped, the Hun leader drew his sword.
"You took away my victory," Shan-Yu growled at Jungkook.
"No," said Yoongi. "I did." He pulled his hair back, so Shan-Yu would recognize him and Jungkook's life would be spared.
"The soldier from the mountains!" the Hun leader cried. He began to chase him.
Leading Shan-Yu to the top of the palace, Yoongi grabbed his sword and pinned his cloak to the roof. Hoseok and Jimin shot toward him on a rocket. The cricket and the little dragon jumped to safety just before the rocket blasted Shan-Yu into a tower of fireworks.
After the battle, the Emperor approached Yoongi. "I have heard a great deal about you, Min Yoongi," he said. "You stole your father's armor, ran away from home, impersonated a solider, deceived your commanding officer, dishonored the Chinese army, destroyed my palace, and…you have saved us all."
Then, he bowed to Yoongi in gratitude. Stunned, everyone else did the same. "See to it that this marked is made a member of my council," the Emperor told his aide.
Yoongi was honored but knew he needed to return to his family.
"Then take this, so your family will know what you have done for me," the Emperor said, handing him a pendant with his crest on it. Then he gave him Shan-Yu's sword. "And this, so the world will know what you have done for China."
Yoongi thanked the Emperor and said goodbye to his friends. It was time to go home and face his father.
At home, Yoongi presented the Emperor's pendant and Shan-Yu's sword to Namjoon. "They are gifts to honor the Min family," he explained and bowed his head.
Namjoon put them aside and hugged Yoongi. "The greatest gift and honor is having you for a son," he said.
Jungkook had followed Yoongi home. He realized that his feelings for him had grown. He had been very courageous, and he admired him for it.
Yoongi invited Jungkook to stay for dinner. He and Yoongi's family, his also marked father and brother, Jin, and Taehyung, celebrated, delighted everything had turned out so well.