About 50 miles away, in a large clearing surrounded by small gardens, sat a small encampment, with larger tents for cooking and hanging out. This has been the designated training grounds for new recruits for as long as anyone could remember, this dynasty or the last, for the lands were directly in the center of all the surrounding villages, so it was easy to get to and discreet enough, because only villagers from the surrounding villages used the shortcut that took you past the training grounds, and even so, people rarely ever used the shortcut, to avoid any training, or seeing someone practice who shouldn't. This was also where the real boss-man was, Shang. As he finished his morning practices, he heard a singular horse's hooves. It was Kuan, the messenger/scout for the imperial army, on his faithful steed. He rode close to where Shang was now standing, and ascended from his horse. "News from the front. Your father is proud and prays upon your ancestors for your success. But he also has no doubt in you for a minute." He said. Upon finishing, he gave Shang the letter stating everything he just said, written in the general's handwriting. "I will continue to make you proud, General." And with that, Kuan got on his horse, Min, and rode off.
Back at the villages, everyone was saying their goodbyes and praying and eating. Mau and Mulan hung out in Mulan's room, where Little Brother was sleeping on the foot of her bed, talking about the events of the day as well. "That was really brave of you. Standing up for me and volunteering." Mulan said, sitting on the edge of the foot of the bed, absentmindedly stroking Little Brother's shoulder blades to lower spine and hearing him whimper, pleased, in his sleep. "In all honesty, I think I was just really really angry at that man." Mau said, sitting cross legged on the floor, with his chin resting on his arms that were resting on the long side of the bed. "To be honest, I'm scared. I'm scared to leave. I'm scared to leave you guys at home with just papa to protect you all. I'm scared of…" *Gulp* "Not… not making it back from the war." He stammered out. "Don't you remember Ama's predictions this afternoon?" "Of course I do. I'd take that with a grain of salt though. You heard her. I'm going to be a little housewife. And right about now, especially after the way that man treated me, I think I'd rather die than be forced to wed and have a man like that control me or my family." She said, pausing petting Little Brother for a second. He stirred in his sleep, and Mau took over absentmindedly, petting him by scratching behind his ears with his first two fingers and thumb. Little Brother stretched out and moments later, started drooling. "I guess the only one with a happy life is drooly over here…" Mau sighed. "Maybe." Mulan agreed. Then they sat in contemplative silence for the next 20 minutes or so, until they were called for dinner.
Fa Li retold the day's accounts, with the help of Grandma Fa, both telling the story and helping cook dinner. Fa Zhou was drinking tea, for it was time for his three cups, and almost spit out his entire cup of tea when Fa Li told him of Mau standing up for Mulan when 'that cursed man' started berating her. "And he walked up, like 'No ma'am, who do you think you're talking to?' Oh, son. You should've been there. You should have seen this man's jaw drop. I wish someone would spit in his bean curd." "We have raised mighty fine children. Very honorable indeed. And with spirits such as these, they will bring great honor. I feel our family has nothing to fear, except maybe my mother. Everyone should fear her." He ended, putting his tea down in fear of choking on it, both out of shock and from laughter. Everyone in the kitchen/dining table had a good laugh and moments later, it was time to call the children to dinner.
As everyone sat down to dinner, Fa Zhou was complimenting Mau, and making sure that he had extra servings, 'the size a growing army-man should eat,' not just a 'growing boy' portion, and regaled stories of when he was in the army, and how he broke his leg in the war, and the way it was reset so they could get back to a village where he could get medical help, and how it reset in a messed up way and that's why he uses a walking stick.
By the end of dinner, everyone was thoroughly entertained by a slew of stories. Everyone that is, except for Mau, who was sitting at the spot he normally occupied, but now felt like an estranged outsider on the verge of death. Eating was hard for him, but he managed to eat all of the dumplings that his father kept pushing his way, about a dozen and a half in total. As dinner continued, he felt more and more on the brink of tears, and excused himself to go pray before packing. He got up and headed for the temple. Mulan excused herself to go and start a pot of tea. She got up, and headed towards the great stone dragon, close by the temple, and overheard Mau ask for a miracle, "There just needs to be some kind of way that I don't have to go die in the war like Ama said."
With that, Mulan grabbed the jasmine that grew next to the great stone dragon and went back to the kitchen. Adding the herbs to the pot, she thought about what she could do to help Mau.
After tea, she realized what her plan was.
After everyone said their goodnights, and their goodbyes, and was weeping in their nightgowns, Mulan snuck into the armory. When Mulan got to the armory, she realized that no one besides her knew the plan, so she wrote out a quick note. "Hmm… Dearest twin. I'm sorry I didn't say anything sooner. I was afraid of anyone stopping me. I am going to go to war for you. The thought of being home just waiting for the day a stranger picks a stranger to take over my life is more terrifying than the aspects of war. Ama said that you die as a result of the war, and I'm more scared of losing you than of getting found out as a woman, Ama says I have three daughters, so I'm bound to live through this, right? I trust you, and believe in you. What I need from you is to pretend to be me. Continue on in my place, where it's safe. I love you. I love Ma, Baba, Ama, Little Brother, and you. Thank you. I know you can do this. Hopefully, I'll see you in this life. Wish me luck. Love, Mu."
She ended her note, applied wax, and used her flower comb from her Matchmaking outfit as a seal. After taking care of her note, she then caught a glimpse of herself in a mirror. Her hair and nails are entirely too long. She takes a minute to file down her nails as well as take the polish off of them. Then, she opens the armory cabinet that houses her dads old, but very well kept, uniform. Seeing the sword on a display slightly above the actual armor, she took it off the wall, unsheathed it, and cut her hair. After it was cut, she put it into a top-bun and started getting dressed in the armor. It was a dark emerald green and the color made her feel good. After she was dressed, she went to her room and grabbed the bags that she already packed, filled with her more manly clothes, hygiene products, a tent, a cot, some blankets, and a few seed pouches for growing her own food once she gets to the training camp. After grabbing her bag, she was ready. She barely opened Mau's door and just slipped her note onto his dresser, closed the door behind herself, and then headed to the stables. At the stables, Khan was surprised as Mulan entered. He kicked and neighed until Mulan spoke. A simple, "Now, now Boy. Is that how we behave?" was enough for him to realize that it was her voice and therefore her. He stopped freaking out and nuzzled against Mulan's face. She nuzzled back for a moment, then said, "Come on. We gotta go before anyone wakes up." And Khan understood. He stood completely still as Mulan saddled him and loaded him up with her bags and a travel satchel full of water and snacks. Before long, the two of them were off to the training camp in the dead of night.
Shortly after Mulan left to find the training camp, a faint astral blue glow emits from the temple, and the shapes of Fa family from generations past are slowly taking form. The head of the family, the first to die, the eldest, and also Ama's husband before death, is a round and stout ghost with a long beard, reminiscent of Buddah, named Fa Sho. He stretches first, and next the room is filled with spirits. Some were tall and skinny, some looked like they've been to war, one was holding his head underneath his right arm, but he didn't look out of place with this bunch. After the spirits woke up, Fa Sho looked around at the guardian pedestals, realizing something was missing. He looked at a small dragon statue on top of an offering tray made from scratch by Ama and him together. He spoke so softly at first it was like a purring, "Wakey, wakey. We've been summoned." There was no response from the statue, and after a moment, Fa Sho shouted, "I said WAKE UP!" and the statue started smoking. Out of the smoke, a small red dragon emerges. "I LIVE! Now tell me what mortal needs my protecting?" "None as of yet." Fa Sho said. "But I will need you to keep an eye on our family's "great dragon" and she left." "Maybe about an hour ago." The spirit of a woman with eyes so squinty they were shut. "She? Left? For what?" "For war." the soldier with his head in his hands, named Fa Dheng, said. "And make sure you watch over her better than you did Fa Dheng." a woman spirit with a missing eye said, squinting her good eye at Mushu. "Will do, will do. Gosh, make one teeny tiny mistake and you're labeled for life." "Especially when that mistake costs someone their life…" Fa Dheng added a little bitterly.
When trying to decide on a guardian to accompany Mau in the less dangerous tasks of keeping up appearances and making sure he and his twin sister don't get caught. "Send the swiftest!" One of the woman spirits says, holding Mushu up to a stone rabbit. "No. The wisest!" A man spirit says grabbing him and holding him up to a monkey statue. "Or…" Starts another spirit, grabbing for Mushu, when suddenly the offering tray sometimes used as a gong to wake up the spirits and guardians starts to glow a soft but warm purple color. Out shoots a bolt of purple, now crumpled into a pile on the floor. "CRAAAAWWWWWW!" The mass screeches. And then, somehow, the mass isn't a mass anymore, it's a small beautiful phoenix with feathers of red and purple and a long tail with what looks like gold sparkles as well. "Whoo. What a WAY to wake up." The phoenix says, stretching her wings. "I heard someone call for me." "But none of us have. We have no need for you." Fa Sho, Mulan and Mau's grandfather, said patiently. "We were deciding…" "Nothing! The boy's soul speaks to me. You may not decide his guardian nor his fate. This one's special." The phoenix said, looking out into the garden in complete darkness as everyone slept. "Xifeng…" Fa Sho started, then looked down at the little phoenix, "There's no talking you out of this. Is there?" "Not a flippin' chance." "Ok. So the stubborn grandchild gets the great stone dragon to aid her on her quest, and my soft demeanor grandchild gets the stubborn guardian." Fa Sho said, chuckling softly, slightly nervously..
"After all these years… I never thought we'd see the great stone dragon broken again." Fa Sho said softly to Xia, who was flittering around panicked, hoping to be let out to find Mau soon. "Aaahhh…" One of the female spirits sighed. "I heard stories of it before I passed, but have never actually seen it." "Well. The proof is out there as plain as an Amish man's wife." One of the male spirits said. He was met with three small giggles, five boos, and one Fa Sho looming over him darkly. "Don't start demeaning other people. Isn't that how you died in the first place, Qua?" "Actually, I died traveling someplace I wasn't supposed to." Qua said. "And now we know that volcanoes are not to be trifled with." Fa Dheng said, chuckling over the thought that he was the only one to suffer a worse fate than him. "I used to travel the world and see people of all cultures. I'm not demeaning anyone, just stating a fact." Qua said, defending himself. Most of the other spirits rolled their eyes, a couple spirits laughed, and Fa Sho settled back in his spot against his own gravestone, still giving Qua the stink-eye. His twin, QuaLa, looked almost ashamed and said in a small timid voice, "Maybe if you stuck to traditions and what was expected of you, you.." "Would have never traveled? Would have never seen thousands of other people, tried hundreds of different foods, seen dozens of other cultures?" Qua finished for her. "Obviously, whatever weird thing this is, runs in the family." One of the other female spirits said while waving her hand semi-dismissively at Qua and QuaLa, "because your granddaughter IS A CROSSDRESSER!" "If there was any merit to your accusations," Fa Sho started, "Then Xia would be here for her. Yet she is not. Mulan is favored by the Great Stone Dragon and he is with her now. You see the broken statue. Yes?"
Legend has it that the great stone dragon was created when a Fa fought a god. "It was a crazy old man who called himself a god" QuaLa said, correcting Fa Sho. the man was virtually indestructible, I'd consider that a god. Whatever. Legend states that this god terrorized multiple villages in their travels. No one was able to stop him, and anyone who tried got smited. He had a sword of many legends, Excalibur. This god had no one to show him the error of his way or stop him. One day, Fa Lou, this was before standardized religion or we'd probably see him here in our temple, Fa Lou stood up to him. A very one sided fight raged on, where the god basically whalloped Fa Lou, but Fa Lou, either being very smart or very dumb, led him to a lake. As he bled, he called out to anyone willing to help, even the sirens of the lake. He grabbed for his sword, and in the tussle back and forth, the sirens surfaced and started singing. The god got so mad that he placed a curse on the waters Fa Lou stood in, causing him to be a living dead, as well as turning the sirens into regular humans. He had his soul, his spirit, but nothing more. And the sirens had human bodies, but nothing more that was human about them. He was destined to walk the earth as a ghost. At first, he tried training new humans, even the newly human sirens, to fight with him. But after a few tries, word got around that it was a complete loss. So he wandered the world in search of someone strong enough to kill a god. Eventually, he came across such a thing, but it was nothing human. He met a dragon. At first, the dragon wanted nothing to do with him and his problems, but he was persistent. After a while, the two became friends and Fa Lou asked the dragon to take a trip with him. He showed him, with his own two eyes, what the god was doing, pillaging villages, raping women, killing anyone who went up against him, and kidnapping children. The dragon was outraged and blew his firebreath at the god. It made him break a sweat, but that was it. Both Fa Lou and the dragon were seething with righteous fury and made a deal that they would combine spirits to become stronger, holding that righteous fury in their hearts. They started building a stone dragon that same day. Immediately after its completion, the two did a ritual to bind their spirits to the stone. Once this was completed, the stone dragon started to fight. The great stone dragon could land blows on the god finally, and its firebreath made contact with and burned him. After the god was dead, they took his sword and implanted it into a stone for those of righteous fury, sound mind, and morals of a saint, who wanted to use the sword to protect. Then there was this guy, Arthur or something, but that's another story.
Speaking of, the next time that the great stone dragon awoke, the stone broke and the combined spirit of Fa Lou and the dragon was released. What used to be two was now one. The spirit looked like a man, yet had strength beyond that of a human and could breathe fire. The great stone dragon hasn't awoken since. And it is said that only those with righteous fury, amazing willpower and/or who are pure in heart might bring the great stone dragon back to life.
As Fa Sho finished, almost all of the spirits agreed in small murmurs. "Yes little Xia?" Fa Sho asked, noticing the small birds restlessness. "Can I go to Mau yet? You guys are talking about Mulan and HE needs me." "Wait till the 'morn, little one. You will be by his side soon enough. Let him find his sister gone, and you be his comfort and aid."
In the middle of the night, Mulan and Khan get to the campgrounds and find a spot on the outskirts. Khan is tired, but looks over to Mulan and she pets his snout, so he's happy. He laid down in the grass and started panting. Mulan grabbed a couple carrots out of the riding satchel she packed for Khan. "I guess this is as good a spot as any. Let's start making camp." Mulan said, surveying the area while absentmindedly stroking Khan's mane. She kissed behind his ear and set to it. She first unloaded everything off of Khan and then inspected how much she brought with her. "Well, I have no idea how men pack, but I feel pretty proud that I packed up all my things in one big bag and one small bag." To that, Khan snorted a soft snort of approval. Mulan took out and set up the tent that she brought. It was pretty big, about the size of one of the smaller "mess hall" tents set up in the camp already. There was an entrance big enough, and the tent was big enough, that Khan could come and go as he pleased. Seeing the tent set up, Khan took the now empty "small" bag in his teeth, and walked into the tent, setting it down on the side of him, as if to say "This part's done." Nodding and giving Khan a small smile, Mulan started opening and unpacking the larger of the two bags. This is the one that contained clothes, hygiene products, some blankets, and a few seed pouches. "Well. In this moonlight I was able to see well enough to set up the tent. Tomorrow I'll start planting. And tonight, I think we'll just leave the clothes and hygiene stuff in the bag, and just set up a little bed." Khan neighed softly in agreement, and took off his riding blanket, laying it on the ground. Mulan smiled. "Is that the spot you claim?" She asked. Khan merely nuzzled his face against Mulan's arm. "Me? For me?" Khan snorted softly while continuing to nuzzle Mulan's arm. She moved her arm just enough to be able to pet him in return. "How about this? Scootch over some, and we can share. It's plenty big." With this, Khan cocked his head like he was thinking something over. After a moment, he got up, and exited the tent, neighing softly to Mulan, as if to say, "I'll keep watch while you build a bed." And she set to work. First she layed out Khan's riding blanket. It was very thick, warm, and surprisingly soft. It was also quite large. Mulan wasn't lying when she said it was plenty big enough. Unfolded, it lay across almost the entirety of the tent floor. Next, on one side of the tent, she put her cot and started adding blankets. As she put the last blanket on the cot she inspected their small home. "Well, Khan. This is as 'at home' as we can make it here. Let's get some sleep. Huh boy?" And Khan came into the tent, laid across his riding blanket, and kept an ear out for any strange noises. Mulan lay down, tired from building. "Tomorrow…" She yawned out. "We'll make the garden tomo…" She trailed off, finding a comfy spot in her cot, and was instantly in a deep sleep.
Mulan was wrapped in darkness. Slowly, a light above her head started to form. When the light showed that the opening was enough for her to slip through, she climbed up. She was in a flower. She gasped, and fell back into the bloom. She swore but no words escaped her. The flower then unfurled around her and blossomed with her trying to stay upright in the middle of the stamen. While she was wiggling around trying to stay balanced, two dice fell out of her pocket. One landed in the flower petals around her and one fell onto the grass next to her. The one that fell onto the grass was quickly doubling in size… repeatedly. It kept growing until it was taller than Mulan. Once it got to its enormous size, it started rolling on its own, in Mulan's direction. Mulan turned to run and the die somehow kept following her. No matter where she ran, the die kept following. She tried to evade it through hallways, but it wouldn't stop. She finally ran enough that she came back to the flower that bloomed her and she dove onto it, making it close up with her inside. This time it wasn't so dark. There was a faint glow to each of the petals. The only thing not glowing was the small die that had dropped earlier. Mulan picked it up and read the number it was on. Three. She held the die in her hands, unsure of what that meant. While she held the die, it started to burn away. It wasn't hot, so Mulan kept a hold of it. But after the flames died out, the number was blurry. Mulan rubbed the number to make it less blurry and all light left them in the flower. She was once again engulfed in darkness.
As the rooster crowed and everyone started to stir and prepare themselves for the day, Mau silently screamed in horror from his room and then ran down the hall to Mulan's. Finding her things left a mess, he got worried and ran to the armory. Finding things left there a mess, he assumed that what she wrote was the truth, she had left to go to war in his place. He sank down on his knees, sobbing.
Moments later, he heard a noise coming down the hall. He got scared, and hid in the armory closet. A moment later, Ama came in, smiling and calling for Mau. "It's just me, dear. Nobody else is this close to the veil, therefore, they only know what they can see. Not what they can feel." "Ama, you're not THAT old." "Old enough to know what's going on right in front of my face. Mulan left in your place?" "Yes. She left me a note and everything." "We must burn it. If there's any evidence that can expose her as being a girl, she'll be killed. What did it say?" "For lack of a better term… To twin it up. Throw suspicions off by not creating any to begin with." "So she's taking your spot in the war, and you need to pretend to be her so no one finds out?" "YES!" Mau excitedly shouted, glad that someone understood. "Alright then. Let's go to Mulan's room and get you situated.
Once in Mulan's room, Mau and Grandma Fa are berated by an angry Little Brother. Mau gently sings the song that he and Mulan have sung together since a young age, and that seemed to calm him down immensely. Ama talked to Little Brother to inform him of the ruse as she got a kimono, chest bindings (bra), and stuffing for Mau to appear to have a chest like his sister. After Ama showed him how to assemble and stuff the chest bindings, Mau was putting on the kimono while Grandma Fa walked around, picking up some of the things that got thrown around the room in Mulan's search for 'manly clothes.'
"Thank you, Ama." "No thanks yet!" "What?" "One more thing. You need to soften your voice." "But… Imean, I can try… But…" Mau started stammering, in a softer voice than his own, and his voice cracked. He stood in the middle of the room, arms slumped, saddened. "I don't think I can sound like her." As he stated this, tears started to fall, cheeks moist from the falling tears, he heard a small thwump… and looked up to see a small red and purple bird with a tail of golden sparkles. "That's the most beautiful bird I've ever seen." Mau says aloud. Even though Grandma Fa cannot see the bird, she quickly assesses the situation. "Hello Xia." She says calmly and warmly, smiling just as warmly. "Who?" Mau asks, turning to Ama. "Xia. I'll let her explain." "But birds can't talk." "Speak for yourself, human." Xia piped in. "AaaAaaHhhHhh!" Mau screamed, backing away from the now talking bird. "If memory serves…" Grandma Fa started calmly, "Then she's red and purple. Yes?" "Why do you ask, Ama? Can't you see her? She's right here!" He said, pointing to what looked like an empty space to Ama. "No. I'm sorry. Those days are far behind me. I can only reminisce of her beauty. She's not here to help me. She's here to help you." Mau's eyes got really big at Grandma Fa's words. "She's here… to help… Me? With what Mulan left for me. Yes?" "In general, but yes." Xia answered. Mau shuddered, still in shock at a talking bird. "Umm… May I… May I pet you Ms. Bird?" He asked, crouched into a squat, wringing his hands together shyly. "It's Xia. Your grandmother was right. And I… What? Well… Fine, fine. But don't get handsy, human."
Xia was in the temple with a lot of blue spirits, some even looked like Mau. 'Those must be our ancestors.' Mau thought. Once the spirits dissipated, that left only Xia in the temple. Until Jade walked up, covered in dirt, and carrying candles. 'Is this the girl that they want me to mentor?' Xia thought. 'I can hear Xia's thoughts right now? Too cool.' Mau thought. "You don't seem like you're a social outcast due to how you present yourself." Xia said, thinking in terms of sexuality. "I'M A WITCH AND WILL RID THE WORLD OF EVILS! Starting with the people who bully me." "And who's that?"Xia asked cautiously approaching. "More or less everyone." Jade said nonchalantly. She saw Xia, while she started lighting her candles. Jade held up the match she was using to light the first candle to see her better. "Are you a chimera? I've read about those." Jade asked with a shine to her eyes. "Did… Did I create you with magic? I haven't even started my rituals yet. And I thought you'd be bigger to burn down my enemies." "Silly girl. You did not create me. I have been around since the beginning of time and come to those most in need of me. It is not your sexuality that brings me to you. Is it?" "No ma'am. I'm interested in this one guy. He's pretty smart and crafty, he makes things. But I'm afraid that he'll never give me the time of day. Everyone else bullies me because I am what I am. And he doesn't bully me, I don't even think he sees me. But… What was the question? Oh. My sexuality isn't an issue. Mother said that if I could find someone before my matchmaking day, I can wed whomever I love." "So it is because you practice magics that you are rendered an outcast?" "Pretty sure. Yupp." Jade said as she drew a star inside of a circle with chalk. "That's dumb." Xia said. "Tell me about it." Jade agreed, putting the chalk down as she was done with her drawing. "You said you were here to help me. Help with what? Learning more magic?" She asked as she clapped chalk dust off her hands. "If that will help you learn to be yourself with love and acceptance then yes." Xia said. Jade smiled. "You're pretty. But your soul is prettier. I like you. We're gonna be great friends." Xia ruffled her feathers looking proud. "I think we will be." She cood in agreement.
"I'm sorry. I should've told you. I honestly kinda forgot. It's been a while since I've been called to help. I can share thoughts and memories through the touch of, specifically, my forehead."
She flutters the two feet over to Ama's lap, where even though she can't see her, Ama feels the weight of the small bird and reaches a hand out to see if she can pet her too. Her hand felt like it touched something for a half a second, and then continued to move, as if nothing obstructed its path. "Oh. I forgot. Anyone can feel her weight, and the more attuned MIGHT be able to feel her presence, but only the one who can actively see her can interact with her. Like I said, Mau, she's here to help YOU." Ama said, as Xia touched her cheek, wet with small tears running down her face. She could feel the warmth, and smile again. "Well… I've done what I can, and all I can do, I guess, Is… uhh… Leave you two to it." she said, shrugging slightly as she started walking to the door with Mau's old clothes so she could drop them off in his room. As she stood in the doorway, she turned around and called for a 'sleeping' Little Brother. "Oh. Come off it. We know you haven't been asleep ever since we mentioned a bird." At the word 'bird' Little Brother's head perked up and he looked around the room, sniffing suspiciously. "Uh Huh. Just what I thought. Now let's go and give them some time to formally meet." Ama said with slight laughter to her voice. Little Brother bounced off the bed, licked a still crouching Mau's face, barked softly, and left with Ama.
Down the hall, Mau could hear his door creaking open. "They're in my room now. So… uhh… What am I supposed to do? How are you supposed to help me?" Mau asked, rubbing the back of his head and starting to straighten up. "You'll find out. Now come with me." Xia said, pretty nonchalantly as she fluttered to the door that Grandma Fa left ajar and waited for Mau. Mau got to the door, opened it more so he could pass through, and Xia flew past him and down the hallway.
Grandma Fa paced around Mau's room, cleaning up and singing softly, while Mau and Xia flew past his room and out into the garden.
"Why are we out here?" Mau asks. "You said you were going to help me. And I don't see any way to be more girly out here. What do you want from me? A flower crown?" He demands while plucking three cherry blossoms off the tree. Squeezing them, a little harder than he expected or meant to, he sat down sadly, "I guess everything is hopeless." He started, a single tear running down his cheek.
PECK* "OW!" He said, now rubbing his head. Xia looked sternly at him, as if daring him to question her. "I DID say I'd help. But I need you to help me help you." "How am I supposed to do that?" Mau asked, drying his face. "By helping… Duh." Xia said without a second thought. "You're kind of dim. Are you sure you're related to that amazing woman in there?" "HEY! I'm not dim." "No. Your sister isn't. So you need to act like you aren't." Xia said as she fluttered from bush to bush, absentmindedly looking for something. Mau is visibly stewing at this comment, but he takes a deep breath and instead asks, "What are we actually out here to do?" "Oh. Are all humans this impatient nowadays?" Xia answered, clicking her tongue. "Not all the time. But we are when we aren't getting any answers." Mau answered back, crossing his arms. "AHA! Found it!" Xia exclaimed. "Now, before we start…" She started, turning to face Mau, "I need you to trust me." "And how do you expect that when you act like you don't trust me. Trust is a two-way street, ya know." "That IS true. Now are you ready?" "Ready for what?" "Everything." Xia answers, moving the bush she was just checking to show Mau the remains of the Great Stone Dragon. "It's busted." "Nothing gets past you, huh?" Xia answered. "I'm sorry. That came out meaner than I intended." She said, shaking her head. "What we need to do is fix the statue." "That'll fix the statue, but how will that help with my problem?" SIGH* "Is Jade the only one here that pays attention to anything past her own nose?" "Jade? Do we need Jade?" "No. We need melted silver, preferably something of sentimentality for either you or your sister." "Then what Jade are you talking about?" Mau asked, confused, heading to his room to grab his baby bracelet. "Umm… I recall you called her… Ama?" "Ama's name is Jade?" Mau asked, stopping in his tracks. Xia stopped and looked over at him, deadpanned, and said, "Yupp. As dim as I thought." Mau stuck his tongue out at Xia and then they continued to Mau's room.
"Hey JADE!" Mau all but screams when he walks into his room, seeing as Grandma Fa is still in his room, and it's really organized. "Did… Did Xia tell you?" Ama asks. "Not really. But yes." "Oh. My dear sweet friend, Xifeng!" She says with a small smile, as she sits on Mau's bed. He continues to dart around the room looking for his bracelet. "What? Her name is Xia." "That's her common name. Her proper name is Xifeng. Just like I'm commonly known around here as Ama, but yes, dear child, my name is Jade." Ama said softly with a chuckle. "Alrighty. Have you seen my baby bracelet?" Mau asked almost impatiently. "You mean the keepsake from yours and your sister's birth that we have framed and hung in the den?" "Oh crap. Umm… Yes." "I figured you'd need it. So I went to grab yours and saw that Mulan's is gone too." "So there's an empty frame in the den now?" "Not at all. These bad boys have been temporarily replaced by my 'seeing bracelets.' You know, the ones I always wear when using a crystal ball." "Do you have to?" Mau asked. Xia cocked her head at him confused. "Wear them, I mean. Can you still see into your crystal ball without them?" "Yes. They were there to use as a conduit at first, then for comfort as I've gotten older. I can still manage." Ama Jade said with a huge grin. "Now take yours. I might be able to find Mulan's. Save us from some weird wrath when your parents notice your bracelets gone." And with that, she headed back to Mulan's room, cracking the door just enough for Little Brother to enter, singing. "She must also be picking up again." "Yes, Mau, I'd know that song anywhere."