A/N: Howdy Team! Back story begins its entrance in this chapter. Prepare to meet the Shayan Empire (And some familiar faces =P)

Thank you for the reviews, follows and favourites! I love you all!

Enjoy! xx

Espionage

Twelve Years Ago

"We've obviously got a long way to go before any of you are ready for battle."

Zhanshi Mei was collecting the remnants of the men's food, balancing bowl upon bowl as she walked over to where her mother was standing by the river, already in the process of washing bloodstained clothing. Captain Li's voice was ringing out across the open field as Mei groaned, weighed down by the porcelain in her arms.

Her mother caught her just in time as she stumbled over some tree roots. Not a single bowl was dropped in her mother's pale hands as she both caught them and steadied her daughter.

"What did I say about taking too many Mei?" the lady sighed, with a soft smile, her kind eyes looking down at her.

"I'm sorry mama," the young woman replied with a sheepish grin, wiping dirt onto her simple brown dress. "I just wanted to get everything done quickly. Mulan's coming soon – the Emperor sent her."

"Mulan?" Mei's mother widened her eyes in doubtful wariness. She wasn't sure that she wanted Mei learning the ways of the sword. The war was no place for any man or woman – if you weren't called, then you didn't volunteer to go. "I'm not sure-"

"But you agreed mama," Mei all but whinged, pleading her bright eyes with her mother.

"Fine," her mother said as Mei jumped in excitement and began to speed off, "But be careful!"

Mei almost forgot her mother was there as she ran around the tents and headfirst into a woman dressed in training clothes. When Mei looked up at the smiling girl, she saw black hair pulled into a high ponytail and practically threw her arms around her neck, clinging to the woman in excitement.

"Okay Ella," Mulan laughed, peeling her hand off of her. "No need to smother me. Where's Mama?" Mulan had gotten into the habit of calling Ella's mother her own many years ago. Although two years separated them, as friends growing up they'd had little space to flourish, and so had been in each other's homes for the better half of fourteen years…before Mulan went off to war and saved the Empire.

Of course, Mei thought, her mother still didn't agree with Mulan's choice, even if she had stayed the war for two years. But now the enemy was from the west, not the north, and the war was brewing too close for anyone to be unprepared. Including Mei herself.

"Oh Mulan," Mei caught her arm as she was going to find Mama, looking up into her warm brown eyes and saying, "I know Baba used to call me Ella, but Mama doesn't like it."

"Not in Shayan?"

"Not in Shayan," Mei agreed with a nod as Fa Mulan walked away.

Present Day

"… and you know exactly where I stashed it Hook. But I'm not going back in there to get it. Felix told me he spotted some fins around there a few weeks back. And I don't know, they always tend to go for my face, and I quite like my face the way it is."

"You don't seem to care for mine however," Hook's voice returned. "How am I supposed to charm them without a face?"

"You've got a menacing attachment instead of a left hand Pirate," Pan sneered. "Get me those boxes by noon, or I'll find that assassin that's been murdering your crew and make sure they come for you."

As Ella crouched below the treetops, she watched Hook climb downwards, jumping the last few down to the forest floor, and walking away with his leather coat glistening in the light of the rising sun.

"You can come out now Ella," Pan sang. The girl had been sitting atop his tree house for ten minutes in the same position, but that kind of eavesdropping was part of her job description and she was used to the uncomfortable positions. She'd spend three hours like that once; since then, her muscles had never really protested again. Ella shifted a square wooden panel from the ceiling and slipped into the room silently.

Pan seemed curious as she appeared, looking up at the ceiling in wonder. "When did you do that?"

"Can't share all my secrets Pan," she muttered, looking over at him as he moved it back into place with magic. Ella had actually cut it about three years ago, only usually she'd walk in the normal way. It was designed as a quick entrance in case she ever had to kill Pan in his sleep, but she gave up on that after eight years of trying and failing. Inclining her head towards the man who had just left, she asked, "How long are we keeping him around?"

"Until he stops doing what I say," Pan shrugged, "Then you can dispatch him." Ella loved how it was her who would be doing the execution and not him who could do it practically with a click of his fingers.

"But right now," Pan continued with a point over his shoulder in the direction of the man who had just left. "Follow him. He's going to be a while, and I'd love to hear what he's got to say to make the cave work to his advantage."

"Don't kill him?" Ella's eyes narrowed. Wasn't he sick of the pirate already?

"Not quite Ella," Pan answered with a dark grin as she made for the door. "We aren't on the offensive just yet."

12 Years Ago

"You think these men are ever going to be ready to fight? We need to win the war, not run headlong into our deaths."

"Captain Li," Mulan's voice ran throughout the tent. "I don't want to have to pull rank on you."

"My apologies Major," Shang's voice wasn't entirely heartfelt. "But you know how I feel about underprepared warriors."

"The Emperor shouldn't be only accepting men," Mulan answered with almost a growl in her voice. Her silhouette began pacing across the tent. "Am I not proof that women fight better than half of you?"

She must have seen a certain look on Shang's face because a moment later her voice softened, "Sorry Shang. You know I'd promote you if I could. But Wu Tian does his job well on the front." Her hand clapped him on the shoulder.

"I know Mulan," Shang sighed, pulling her into a warm hug.. Mei felt strange watching their interaction like they were shadow puppets, but Mulan had said to wait for her outside Shang's tent so that they could begin their training. She saw Mulan's hands respond, wrapping tightly around his waist and burying her face into his neck.

"I need to go Shang," Mulan said suddenly, pulling away slightly before continuing with a smile in her voice, "We don't want the troops thinking I'm spending too much time in your tent."

Mei almost laughed as Shang's body stiffened. Ever the professional soldier, Mulan simply loved riling him up, chuckling as she said goodnight.

"You and Shang?" Mei enquired softly, falling into step beside Mulan, who simply eyes her with a small smile.

"That's never going to happen," she scoffed finally, drawing her sword as they walked into a side clearing. She motioned towards a pile of bamboo sticks and Mei hesitantly picked one up. She wasn't going to lie; she'd been expecting something a little sharper.

"We'll start with basic movement," Mulan ordered Mei as though she was one of her soldiers. But watching her struggle with even the most basic of steps, Mulan shook her head silently, knowing in her heart that her best friend would never be the warrior she wanted to be.

Present Day

Ella sprang lightly across the rocks above the echo caves until she found the crevice she was looking for. Slipping through the sharp rocks, she found herself falling in a straight line downwards towards a small hanging rock that served as her outpost.

Hook had already gotten past one checkpoint, but it wasn't like Pan didn't already know the simplest of his inmost secrets – he was still reeling from the death of his brother. From there, they only got darker and closer to his heart.

Settling herself down on her stomach, she placed her head in her hands and watched Hook climb down each rock face nimbly. Ella couldn't help but appreciate his dexterity despite only having one hand and a pointed silver hook. But as he met another roadblock, she stopped appreciating him and instead zoned her hearing in upon what he was saying.

He wasn't exactly shouting the words at the top of his voice but Ella picked most of it up all the same.

"…and I still love her."

As the rocks moved out of the way with loud crushing sounds, Ella found herself following the pirate knowing that if she didn't then she would no longer be able to hear him. The next time she stopped it was mere metres behind him as he state unfeelingly, "I killed my father."

Ella's eyes widened. She was fairly certain Pan hadn't known that because surely he would have broken the man by now if he had. As a bridge formed of rocks, Ella saw the three boxes that Hook was supposed to bring back to Pan. They were each small, little larger than dice, and slipped easily into his pocket.

He made to get out of there fast, Ella shrinking into the shadows as he passed her. For a moment, he paused, but assuming it was merely a flicker of light continued quickly – eager to get out of the caves.

Ella however, took her time. It was valuable information that she held. Hook was still in love with someone, always a powerful motivator, and he had killed someone, a powerful way to guilt-trip him. Although, Ella frowned, he hadn't exactly seemed remorseful. She wondered what Pan would do with that information.

Well, she thought as she dusted herself off and began the climb back out of the cave, I'll learn soon enough.