As Esmeralda walked up to Mulan's house she noticed Mulan was pacing back and for on her porch, muttering in Chinese. Esmeralda slowly walked up the porch steps.

"Mulan?"

Mulan snapped her head towards Esmeralda as if she had been taken by surprise.

"Oh. Hi, Esmeralda," Mulan said.

"Is everything all right?" Esmeralda asked.

Mulan nodded. "Yeah. Are you ready to start your work-out?"

"Of course," Esmeralda said, motioning at her work-out shorts and sports bra.

"All right. Let's go around back."

Mulan started walking down the porch steps, but stopped suddenly. Esmeralda hadn't been paying attention and ran into her, causing them both to tumble down the steps. Mulan groaned as Esmeralda landed on top of her. Esmeralda quickly rolled off her and sat up.

"What happened?" Esmeralda asked. It was then that she noticed Mulan was staring straight forward. Esmeralda glanced toward where she was staring and saw Shang talking to another girl. The girl was flirting heavily with Shang. "Oh."

Mulan sighed and fell backwards. "He's probably going to take her to the banquet next weekend."

"What banquet?" Esmeralda asked.

"It's just a dinner for all the soldiers on the base," Mulan replied. "I had been hoping to go with Shang. I guess that's not going to happen."

Esmeralda thought for a moment, nibbling on her lip. She then got up and walked over to Shang. She rested her arm on his shoulder and popped out her hip. The girl stopped talking and looked Esmeralda up and down. Shang seemed a little uncomfortable, but didn't move.

"I need a moment alone with Shang," Esmeralda told the girl.

"We were in the middle of a conversation," the girl said.

"That conversation is over." Esmeralda noticed the girl staring at her body. Esmeralda put her hand on her hip. "That's right, honey, I win. Now, get lost."

The girl glared at Esmeralda, but walked away. Esmeralda turned so she was now standing in front of Shang.

Shang ran his hand through his hair. "Look, I'm not really interested-"

Esmeralda waved her hand dismissively. "I'm not interested in you, either. I have a boyfriend."

"Then what was that all about?" Shang asked.

"Have you asked anyone to the go to that banquet with you, yet?" Esmeralda asked.

Shang shook his head. "No. The girl I want to take doesn't really see me in that way."

"Anyone I know?" Esmeralda asked.

"Actually, yeah. It's Mulan."

Esmeralda smiled at him. "I can talk to her if you want."

"You don't have to-"

"Come back to Mulan's house in fifteen minutes." Before Shang could say anything, Esmeralda walked away.

When Esmeralda walked back to the house, she was greeted by a dirty look from Mulan.

"How could you do that to me?" Mualn demanded.

"Relax. Come on." Esmeralda took Mulan's hand and led her up to her room.

Esmeralda opened Mulan's closet and pulled out some clothes. "Put these on."

Mulan stared at the clothes for a minute, but took them and changed into them. Esmeralda then had Mulan sit on the bed as she fixed her hair and makeup. Just as she was finishing Mulan's quick makeover, the doorbell rang. Esmeralda winked at Mulan as she went to open the door. Shang was standing there looking slightly awkward. When he saw Mulan, he smiled.

"Shang? What are you doing here?" Mulan asked.

Shang glanced at Esmeralda and she nodded at him. Shang cleared his throat. "Mulan, would you do me the honor of going to the banquet...with me?"

Mulan smiled at him. "Yes."

XXX

Rapunzel had been lying in bed for almost two hours before her parents finally went to sleep. She sighed and rolled over so she was facing her window. The broken streetlight outside shone a flickering light into her window. Not being able to sleep, Rapunzel started counting how many times the streetlight went off and then cam back on. She was at seventeen when her window started opening. She slowly sat up and held her breath.

"Hey," Thomas whispered as he climbed inside her window.

Rapunzel sighed in relief. "Hi, Thomas."

"I guess you got yourself grounded, huh?"

Rapunzel nodded. "Yeah. My mom overreacted when she saw Flynn and me messing around."

"I see." Thomas lied across the foot of Rapunzel's bed and propped his head up on his hand. "How long are you grounded?"

Rapunzel shrugged. "Couple weeks, I think. I'm not allowed to leave the house, except to go to school."

"That sucks."

Rapunzel nodded. "It really does."

"Looks like we're gonna have to sneak around if we want to see each other," Thomas said.

Rapunzel laughed. "Yuppers."

"Rapunzel?" Thomas said after a few quiet moments passed.

"Yeah?"

"Can I be honest with you?" Thomas asked.

"Of course. What is it?"

"I miss Meg."

Rapunzel resisted the urge to roll her eyes. "Thomas, you gotta move on. She's not good for you."

Thomas rolled over onto his back. "I know. But, I can't."

"Why not?"

"I love her."

"I don't know if I believe that," Rapunzel said. She knew Thomas wouldn't want to hear her explanation, so she continued before he could interrupt. "If you really love her, why won't you talk to her? And why are you letting John make your relationship decisions?"

"John isn't..."

"Yes he is, Thomas. He's acting like your bodyguard and you're letting him," Rapunzel said. "Personally, I don't like Meg. Like I said, she's not good for you. I honestly think she did cheat on you. But, this is none of my business. I'm not going to tell you what to do. Do whatever you want, Thomas, and stop listening to everyone else."

"I still have my doubts about her, Rapunzel. But, that doesn't change how I feel about her," Thomas said. "I don't know what to do."

"Talk to her," Rapunzel said as if that was the most obvious response. "Get her side of the story. We all know Hercules is kind of a jerk. Maybe he did make the whole thing up."

Rapunzel didn't actually believe Hercules made it up, but she was desperately trying to push Thomas to make his own move.

"I heard her tell him she wants to be with him," Thomas said.

"Maybe she does."

Thomas looked at Rapunzel like she had slapped him. "Do you really think she does?"

Rapunzel groaned in frustration. "I don't know. Just talk to her, Thomas, and find out. This whole situation probably isn't near as complicated as you-and John- are making it out to be."

"You're right, Rapunzel."

"Of course I am."