The Land of Dragons - Part 1

A village was engulfed in flames. Fire danced and crackled through the wooden structures, consuming everything in its path. Thick smoke billowed into the sky, twisting and curling like malevolent spirits. An oppressive heat smothered the air, and the landscape was painted in shades of fiery red and deep shadow. There were no villagers in sight—no sign of life. Had they fled to safety, or had something far worse befallen them? The ominous silence provided no answers, only unsettling dread.

High above the burning chaos, a hawk sliced through the smoky sky, its fierce cry echoing over the carnage below. The bird descended swiftly, wings folding as it landed gracefully on the broad shoulder of its master.

Shan-Yu, leader of the Hun army, stood in the center of the destruction, a satisfied smile playing at his lips. His imposing figure was cloaked in a tattered coat, split between pale yellow and shadowy black, fur-lined and fastened with a heavy belt. His bald head gleamed in the firelight, and his piercing, otherworldly orange eyes glinted with a hunger for conquest. He seemed pleased by the chaos around him, as if it were a scene painted just for him.

The Hun's smile widened, a grim and unsettling sight, as the flames continued to roar.

Meanwhile, high above in the shadows of a dense bamboo grove, a lone soldier crouched low, hidden among the swaying stalks. The soldier wore black and green armour over a long, grey martial arts tunic, and darker pants that blended seamlessly into the dimness of the forest. Their black hair was tied back neatly, and though their face remained calm and composed, their dark eyes betrayed a mixture of fear and determination as they watched the scene unfolding below.

The tense silence was suddenly broken by a voice, one full of exaggerated excitement and barely contained enthusiasm.

"See that, Mulan?" The voice came from a dragon-shaped shadow that twisted and loomed on the rocks nearby, surrounded by swirling red smoke. The imposing shadow gave the impression of a mighty dragon, speaking from the darkness with authority. "It's Shan-Yu, leader of the Hun army! C'mon, this is your big chance!"

The soldier's eyes shifted toward the shadow, wide with uncertainty.

"Mushu," Mulan replied, her voice low and wavering. "I'm not sure… I haven't even joined the army yet. I'm here to take my father's place and bring honour to my family, but… what if they find out the truth?"

"Whatever," Mushu retorted, his voice brimming with false bravado. "You're just scared—admit it."

Mulan's gaze flickered back to the scene below, their heart pounding in her chest. Though they wore the armour of a warrior, the burden of fear and doubt gnawed relentlessly at their resolve. Still, the fire burning in their heart refused to be extinguished, even if it wavered.

"Aren't you?" Mulan challenged, their voice quieter, almost teasing but undeniably vulnerable.

Mushu froze, his confident façade slipping for the briefest moment. He folded his arms with a huff, trying to regain his composure.

"Who, me? Nah!" he blustered, leaning into his bravado. "I'm just… uh… concerned for you. Yeah, that's it. Concerned."

The dragon-shaped shadow loomed even larger, the firelight enhancing the illusion of might and power. But Mulan didn't notice the trickery. Their focus remained on the village below, on Shan-Yu, and on the uncertainty of what lay ahead.

Close By - Bamboo Grove

Sora, Sonic, Donald, and Goofy made their way through the serene bamboo grove, the towering stalks swaying gently in the breeze. Light filtered through, casting dappled patterns on the path below. Despite the calming scenery, Sora couldn't help but feel uneasy.

"For a world at war," he said, looking around, "it sure feels… peaceful."

"Yeah, it's almost too quiet," Goofy added, scratching his head.

"Keep your guard up," Donald cautioned.

Suddenly, as if on cue, several Shadow Heartless materialised from the ground, their yellow eyes glowing ominously. They moved forward, ready to attack.

"Here we go!" Sora said, summoning his Keyblade. Donald conjured his staff, and Goofy braced his shield.

But before they could charge, Sonic stepped in front of them, a confident grin spreading across his face.

"Sonic?" Sora called out, confused.

Sonic turned his head and smirked.

"You guys wanted to see how the Wisp energy works, right? Let me show you!" he remarked with confidence.

Before Sora, Donald, or Goofy could say anything, Sonic tuned to the Heartless and raised his arm, the Wisp Bangle glowing brilliantly. Suddenly, the Orange Wisp materialised in front of him, its tiny form buzzing with excited energy. With a flash, it zipped into Sonic, and suddenly, his entire form was enveloped in a blazing orange aura.

"ROCKET!" a bodiless, booming voice echoed around them, making Sora, Donald, and Goofy jump in surprise.

"Huh?!" Sora blurted out.

"W-What was that?!" Donald squawked, his feathers ruffling.

"Gawrsh, did you guys hear that too?" Goofy exclaimed, eyes wide.

Sonic, now in his Rocket Form, shot straight up into the sky like a fiery missile. The energy from his transformation created a powerful gust of wind that swept through the bamboo grove, rustling the leaves and making the Heartless scatter.

Then, with an explosive burst of speed, Sonic rocketed down from above, slamming into the Shadow Heartless and obliterating them all in a dazzling display of orange energy. The ground shook slightly from the impact, and when the dust settled, there was nothing left of the Heartless but wisps of dissipating darkness. Emerging from his Rocket form, Sonic landed gracefully on the other side of the path, with the Rocket's energy fading. The Orange Wisp emerged from him, floating happily for a moment before zipping back into the Bangle.

Sora, Donald, and Goofy stood there doe a moment, jaws dropped in utter awe.

"Whoa!" Sora finally exclaimed, finally running forward to meet Sonic. "That was incredible! You just—BOOM—wiped them out!"

"That kind of power… It's like nothing I've ever seen!" Donald remarked in amazement, making his way to the hedgehog.

Goofy who was equally impressed, rubbed his chin thoughtfully as he walked to his friends.

"Gawrsh, that was somethin' else, Sonic! That Wisp energy sure packs a punch!" he admitted.

Sonic chuckled, looking pleased with himself.

"Pretty neat, huh? The Rocket Wisp gives me insane speed and power. Comes in handy when you need to clear out a bunch of bad guys fast."

Sora grinned, his excitement contagious.

"Man, I can't wait to see what other tricks you have up your sleeve with that Bangle!"

"Me too, but I have to save more Wisps first, pal," Sonic replied. "Then you can see my other power ups in action."

"You're full of surprises, Sonic," Donald admitted, still slightly in awe.

Sonic shrugged, his smirk playful.

"What can I say? Saving the world with style is kind of my thing," he said confidently.

Before the group could continue their journey, Goofy's ears perked up, and he turned his head toward a rustling sound nearby. His eyes widened as he spotted something moving by a large rock.

"Gawrsh, fellas, I hear somethin' over there," he said, pointing with his shield.

The others followed his gaze and noticed the shadow of a creature cast on the rock, its movements suspicious and furtive.

"A Heartless?" Donald guessed, readying his staff with caution.

Sora grinned, determination lighting up his face.

"Let's get the jump on 'im!" he declared.

"I'm right behind ya, Sora!" Sonic affirmed with excitement.

The trio rushed forward eagerly, while Goofy, lagging a bit behind, waved his arms in concern as he watched his friends charging headfirst toward potential danger.

"Gawrsh, maybe we better look before we leap," he called out, his voice full of caution.

But it was too late—Sora, Donald, and Sonic were already in motion, too caught up in the excitement to heed his warning.

The trio burst onto the scene, startling what looked like a soldier dressed in black and green armour. The soldier gasped, stumbling backward as they appeared. Suddenly, from the large rock, a small red creature leapt into the soldier's arms, eyes wide with surprise.

The three heroes came to a stop, with Sonic's features furrowing as he looked at the creature.

"Hey, what is that? Some kind of lizard?" the hedgehog mused.

The creature, who had bright red scales, popped out from the soldier's embrace and scowled at Sonic.

"Hey, hey! Dragon! Dragon, not lizard! I don't do that tongue thing," it said indignantly, sticking its tongue out in a comically un-dragonly manner before retracting it.

Sonic crossed his arms, unimpressed.

"Well, you're the smallest dragon I've ever seen," he stated, a teasing grin on his face.

The red dragon's eyes narrowed, glaring at the Blue Blur.

"And what are you, some blue porcupine?" it shot back, folding his little arms.

Sonic put a hand to his chest, mock-offended.

"I'm a hedgehog, thank you very much," he said with a smirk.

Sora, Donald, and Goofy couldn't help but snicker at the banter, but the dragon's annoyance only grew. The soldier, still recovering from the shock of their sudden appearance, looked slightly confused and wary.

"Who are you four?" the soldier demanded, their voice steady but with a hint of nervousness.

Sora straightened up, offering a friendly smile.

"Sorry about that! I'm Sora, and these are my friends—Donald, Goofy, and Sonic," he introduced.

"Oh, hello..." The Solider replied softly, still trying to shake off the initial suprise.

"Nice to meet ya!" Goofy said. "And what's your names?"

The small red dragon jumped to the ground, puffing out his chest.

"Name's Mushu. The Mighty Dragon!" he proclaimed, striking a proud pose.

"Right…" Sonic said, dragging out the word with obvious skepticism.

Donald turned to the soldier, who was fidgeting nervously.

"And your name?" he asked.

The soldier hesitated, looking a bit flustered as they replied.

"I'm Mulan. Um, no, I-I mean…" The soldier quickly lowered their voice, trying to sound more authoritative.

Mushu facepalmed and intervened quickly.

"Ping!" he corrected hastily, glaring up at the soldier.

"Mulan Ping?" Donald echoed in confusion.

The soldier cleared their throat, trying to sound more confident.

"Just… Ping," they corrected, standing a bit straighter. "I am Ping, son of Fa Zhou."

Sora, Donald, Goofy, and Sonic exchanged glances, sensing there was more to the story but choosing not to press. Instead, Sonic flashed a grin, his eyes sparkling with curiosity.

"Well, Ping, son of Fa Zhou... How do you know old scaly here?" Sonic asked, gesturing to Mushu, who was now leaning on Ping's leg.

Mushu's frown deepened, as he straightened up and crossed his tiny arms.

"Hey, hey! Don't push it, hedgehog," the dragon muttered, clearly miffed.

Ping gave a small, somewhat sheepish smile before turning fully to the group.

"Mushu's one of my family's guardians," they explained.

"Sounds like an important role," Goofy remarked, genuinely impressed.

Mushu puffed out his chest, standing as tall as his diminutive form would allow.

"Yeah, that's right! Guardian of the Fa family! Keeper of ancient secrets! Protector of the family honour!" he boasted, now scrambling up onto Ping's shoulders for added height.

"Wow, that's impressive," Sora admitted.

"Yeah," Donald added.

Everyone seemed impressed, apart from Sonic. The blue hedgehog smirked, but he was clearly not buying into all the hype.

"So, Ping," Sonic replied, "what are you two doing out here? Chasing fireflies or something?"

"Oh, you think you're funny, huh, spiky?" Mushu snapped before answering. "Ping here was just on his way to join the Imperial army!" Mushu switched to Ping's other shoulder with a huff. "We gotta meet up with the other recruits over at the training camp."

"Would you join us?" Ping asked, their face lighting up with the idea. "It'll be easier for me to, you know… fit in if I'm with guys like you."

Sora tilted his head, confused.

"What do you mean, 'fit in'?" he asked.

"Uh, well, um, don't—don't worry about that," Mushu stammered, trying to cover up something.

Goofy, ever perceptive, scratched his chin in thought.

"Hold on a minute... You're pretendin' to be a boy, aren't ya?" he mused.

Sora, Sonic, and Donald jumped in surprise, their eyes wide.

"You're a… girl?" Sora said, astonished.

Sonic did a double take before he spoke.

"Seriously? You had us fooled!" the hedgehog admitted.

Ping—now clearly flustered—shifted their weight nervously.

"You… didn't notice?" she asked, her voice a bit sheepish.

"Uh-uh," Donald admitted, scratching his head.

Sora shook his head.

"Not me," he echoed.

"You got me there," Sonic said, his grin returning. "Guess I should've paid more attention, huh?"

"So, is your name Mulan or Ping?" Donald questioned.

"Yeah, which one should we call you?" Sora added with a smile.

"My real name is Mulan, but if you can, please just call me Ping. Just for now," they affirmed.

"Ok, Ping it is!" Goofy replied.

"Welcome to the team, Ping," Sonic said, giving her a thumbs up.

"But still... I can't believe you fooled us," Sora admitted.

"You said it," Donald added, still in disbelief.

Mulan looked to Mushu on her shoulder, hopeful.

"It's working," she whispered with a smile.

Mushu rubbed his chin, clearly skeptical.

"Eh, maybe. But I dunno—those two?" He gestured to Sora and Donald. "They'd fall for anything! And that hedgehog?" Mushu narrowed his eyes at Sonic. "Well, let's just say he'd fall for a bucket of chili dogs if you waved it in front of him, or something..."

Sora crossed his arms, indignant.

"Hey! I'm standing right here!" he protested.

"Yeah! We're not that clueless!" Donald quacked in annoyance.

Sonic rolled his eyes, smirking at Mushu.

"Keep talking, firecracker. We'll see who's really clueless," the hedgehog bantered.

Before Mushu could retort, Goofy stepped forward, waving his arms to keep the peace.

"Let's get movin', fellas," he said. "We gotta get Ping to that camp!"

Sonic threw his hands up in mock defeat.

"Fine by me, Goofy" he replied, still eyeing Mushu on Ping's shoulder. "But don't think this is over, tiny dragon."

"Oh, it's on, hedgehog!" Mushu shouted, shaking his fist.

Mulan, or rather Ping, couldn't help but laugh, the tension in her shoulders easing as she watched the playful banter. With a smile, she began walking ahead, Mushu still grumbling on her shoulder. The group followed behind, heading deeper into the Bamboo Grove.

The group ventured forward through the depths of the grove, finding a winding path. Despite the peace around them, tension hung thick in the air, every rustle of leaves or snap of a twig putting them on edge.

As they walked, Sonic gave Mushu a sideways look to Mushu, who was perched on Mulan's shoulder.

"So, what's with the whole 'guardian dragon' thing?" Sonic questioned with a teasing tone. "I didn't know dragons came travel-sized."

Mushu bristled, his tiny face puffing with indignation.

"Oh, you think you're funny, huh? Mighty things come in small packages! Just wait 'til I save all of China and you'll be singin' a different tune, hedgehog."

Before Sonic could reply, Mulan interjected, her voice low and cautious.

"Mushu, please, not so loud. We don't want to give ourselves away."

Mushu rolled his eyes but nodded, the gravity of their mission clearly tugging at his sense of bravado.

"Yeah, yeah, keeping it low-key. But we're supposed to be heroes, right? Sometimes heroes need a little... pizzazz."

A soft chuckle came from Sora, Donald and Goofy.

"Gawrsh, reckon we all got our own kinda pizzazz, Mushu!" Goofy remarked.

"Yeah, I get it, Mushu. You want to leave a mark, right?" Sora said. "I mean, what's the point of being a hero if nobody remembers it?"

"Exactly! Heroes deserve the spotlight… just like me when I cast Thunder spells!" Donald added confidently.

Sonic just shook his head, smirking.

"Well, maybe in your case, Mushu, a little 'pizzazz' goes a long way." The hedgehog glanced up at the tiny dragon with an amused expression. "I'll admit, you pack quite a personality for your size."

Mushu puffed out his chest, clearly delighted by the attention.

"That's right! You don't need to be some big, scaly monster to be a dragon. You just need heart, guts, and…" he paused, giving Mulan a glance, "a little dramatic flair. That's where I come in."

Mulan sighed with a small smile, the playful exchange between her new friends easing some of the tension she felt.

"Well, let's keep moving. We can't be far from the camp now," Mulan remarked, determination lacing her voice as she glanced ahead.

The team pressed forward, winding through the thinning bamboo grove until it opened into a wide clearing. The bamboo tapered off, revealing patches of trampled earth and jagged rocks scattered about. In the distance, the Imperial Army camp stretched across a field.

Mulan's gaze lingered on the camp, a mix of anticipation and trepidation flashing in her eyes. This was it. She was finally within reach of her goal.

But before they could fully take in the sight, a sinister chill settled over the grove. Dark pools of shadow began seeping up from the ground, coiling and twisting into familiar, unsettling shapes. The forms grew, stretching upwards like smoke as they condensed into black figures with gleaming, predatory eyes. Shadow Heartless emerged in droves, their sleek, inky bodies rippling with dark energy. Among them, the ghostly forms of Nightwalkers took shape, their spectral, robed forms hovering ominously, yellow eyes glaring with unearthly malice.

"Looks like we have company!" Sonic remarked, his grin unwavering as he dropped into a defensive stance, his legs coiling with tension.

Goofy, unfazed by the Heartless, positioned his shield, his eyes narrowing.

"Better be prepared, Mul... I mean Ping!" he said with a nod.

Sora's Keyblade materialised with a flash of light, and Donald spun his staff, ready to cast spells at a moment's notice. Mulan drew her sword, gripping the hilt tightly, as she sized up the swarm of Heartless. Mushu, on the other hand, took one look at the dark creatures and dove for cover, scrambling under Mulan's armor.

"Give 'em hell!" he muttered from within the armour, his voice muffled but encouraging.

Mulan took a steadying breath, her eyes fixed on the advancing Heartless. She couldn't back down now—not with the others fighting by her side. This was her chance to prove herself, and she intended to make the most of it.

In front of them, the Heartless made their first move. The Shadows slunk low, inching forward, their antennae twitching as they stalked, while the Nightwalkers hovered behind, their ghostly forms flickering in the faint torchlight from the camp.

"Stay sharp!" Sora shouted, gripping his Keyblade tighter as the first Heartless lunged forward.

Shadows and Nightwalker Heartless

Battle Music: Fields of Honor - Kingdom Hearts HD II.5 ReMIX

The Shadow Heartless darted in, their claws outstretched. Sora sidestepped the first attack, bringing his Keyblade down with a quick, clean swipe, dissipating the creature in a wisp of darkness. His movements were steady and deliberate, as though his muscle memory was kicking back in. To his right, Goofy held his shield firmly, knocking back a pair of Shadows with a strong bash.

Donald raised his staff, his beak curled in concentration.

"Thunder!" he called out, and a crackling bolt shot out, striking a nearby Nightwalker. The Heartless let out a distorted hiss before dissolving into shadow.

"Keep 'em coming!" Sonic called, already a blur as he zipped through a line of Heartless with his Spin Dash, scattering them. He sprang out of the attack, flipping mid-air with a smirk. "I thought the Heartless were tougher than this!"

Mulan stayed close to the group, gripping her sword as her eyes darted from one Heartless to another. Two Shadows attempted to flank her, but she pivoted, sidestepping one and sweeping her sword in a wide arc to knock the other back. With quick, practiced strikes, she dispatched them, and a surge of confidence welled up in her chest.

"Nice moves, Ping!" Sora called out, flashing her an encouraging grin as he swung his Keyblade against another Shadow, slicing it in half.

From under Mulan's armor, Mushu's muffled voice piped up.

"Yeah, girl! Show these freaks who's boss!" The dragon pauses, and then came a worried mutter: "But uh, maybe don't get too close to those floaty ones—creepy eyes…"

Mulan couldn't help but crack a smile, even as she focused on her next target.

"Thanks for the vote of confidence, Mushu," she remarked.

As more Heartless swarmed, the group moved fluidly together, their attacks complementing each other. Goofy took a protective stance near Mulan, blocking an oncoming Nightwalker that reached for her with ghostly claws. With a grunt, he pushed the Heartless back, giving Mulan an opening to strike. The sword slashed through the Heartless and it burst into a dark mist.

"Blizzard!" Sora shouted, aiming his Keyblade at a small cluster of Shadows.

Frost erupted from the tip of his weapon, encasing the Heartless in ice before they shattered into shards of darkness.

"Impressive," Mulan said, watching the icy mist fade. She was still getting used to the magic and abilities these travellers wielded, but it only fuelled her resolve to keep up.

Suddenly, a Nightwalker hovered dangerously close to Donald, its claws outstretched. Sonic reacted instantly, launching forward with a Homing Attack that sent the Heartless spiraling back.

"Careful there, featherbrain," the hedgehog teased.

"Hey!" Donald shot back, feathers ruffling. But before he could add a snarky retort, he aimed his staff again. "Fire!" A burst of flames shot out, catching the Nightwalker midair.

Sonic, back on the ground, rolled his shoulders with a smirk.

"Let's see what my Phantom Rush can do."

He focused his energy, a soft glow surrounding him as he moved, each attack flowing into the next in a rapid barrage against a group of Heartless. He struck with such speed that it seemed like multiple Sonics were fighting in unison, decimating the Heartless before they had time to react.

"Whoa, Sonic! That was amazing!" Sora said, admiration lighting up his face as he knocked back a Nightwalker with his Keyblade.

Mulan continued fighting with renewed vigor. She sidestepped and countered the Heartless' moves. She flowed between attacks, her sword flashing as she parried and struck down one creature after another. Even Mushu, despite his hiding spot, couldn't contain his excitement.

"Yeah! That's my girl!" he shouted from under her armour.

A Shadow attempted to claw at Mulan's back, but Goofy intercepted it with a swift shield bash, grinning as it disintegrated.

"Don't worry, Ping. We've got your back!" Goofy declared proudly.

More Heartless rose from the ground in one final wave, their dark forms writhing as they closed in.

Seeing this, Sonic grinned as he raised his arm.

"I think it's time to kick this up a notch," he said with confidence.

The Wisp Bangle on his wrist glowed as he summoned the Orange Wisp. It appeared, buzzing excitedly before merging with him.

"ROCKET!" the bodiless announcer's voice boomed out.

Everyone jumped, including Mulan, who took a step back. Even Mushu yelped, scrambling to peer out from under her armor.

"Did that thing just talk?!" Mushu sputtered. "And why is it shouting?!"

But before Mulan could fully process what she was seeing, Sonic transformed, his entire form surrounded by a blazing orange aura. With a flash, he shot straight up into the air, becoming a fiery missile. The Heartless scattered as he arced above them, then rocketed down, slamming into the ground in an explosive burst that obliterated the remaining Heartless in a flash of orange energy.

When the dust settled, Sonic stood at the center, the orange aura fading as the Wisp zipped back into the Bangle, happily floating for a moment before disappearing.

Mulan's mouth was slightly agape, awe and disbelief mixed on her face.

"What… was that?" she asked in awe.

"Yeah, what kinda crazy power-up was that?" Mushu demanded, still peering out cautiously.

"Just a little help from a friend. Let's just say it's... explosive," Sonic explained with a cocky smirk.

"That was… incredible," Mulan murmured, shaking her head in wonder. She glanced at Sora, Donald, and Goofy, who were nodding in agreement.

"Those Heartless didn't stand a chance," Sora said, giving Sonic a fist bump.

"Well, it's all in a day's work when you're the fastest hedgehog around," Sonic replied, returning the gesture.

RANK: S

As the last wisps of darkness faded, the group took a collective breath, exchanging triumphant smiles. Even Mushu, though reluctant to show it, scrambled up to Mulan's shoulder, folding his arms with a look that was equal parts respect and disbelief.

"Not bad, not bad at all," he muttered, half-grudgingly. "Guess you guys have a little more fire in ya than I gave you credit for."

Sonic grinned, rubbing the back of his head, while Sora and Donald shared proud smiles at the remark.

Goofy turned to Mulan, his warm, encouraging smile lighting up his face.

"Well, Ping, ya did real good out there! If that's how ya handle those fellas, I bet you'll do just fine in the army!" he said with hearty confidence.

Mulan's eyes widened, a mixture of pride and wonder softening her features.

"Thank you… all of you," she replied earnestly, her voice filled with admiration. "I couldn't have done it without your help. You're all… incredible."

Her gaze lingered on each of them before it finally landed on Sonic, still awestruck by his last move.

"That… thing you did just now, Sonic—where you blasted off like a rocket! I've never seen anything like it," she admitted, shaking her head in disbelief.

Sonic chuckled, raising his arm to show her the glowing Wisp Bangle.

"It's all thanks to the Wisps. Whenever I find these little guys, they lend me their Hyper-go-on energy. The Orange Wisp—the one I just merged with—lets me go full rocket mode, and, well, the announcement kinda comes with the territory."

Sora nodded, grinning.

"Yeah, that loud 'ROCKET!'? We're still getting used to it ourselves," he said, chuckling. "It's not exactly the quietest ability out there."

"But it works!" Goofy added with a hearty laugh as he lowered his shield. "I think the announcer gives it a little extra flair!"

Donald quacked, looking less enthused.

"Extra flair? More like extra loud! It just about made my feathers jump off!"

Sonic laughed, shrugging nonchalantly.

"Oh, buckle up, Donald. Once I find more Wisps, the announcements only get louder." He grinned, clearly enjoying their reactions.

"Oh boy…" Donald muttered, rolling his eyes.

Mulan shook her head, a bemused smile spreading across her face. She'd never met anyone quite like this group. They were strange, sure, but also stronger and more capable than anyone she'd known. Even though they wielded bizarre magic, fought in ways she'd never seen, and somehow managed to pull through every time, they felt… like friends.

Mushu, looking mildly disgruntled but with a glimmer of admiration in his eye, finally piped up.

"Alright, alright," he grumbled. "Maybe I underestimated you guys. But don't think I'm about to get all mushy here! I still have a mighty reputation to uphold, y'know?"

Sonic smirked, hands on his hips.

"Wouldn't dream of stealing your thunder, mighty dragon."

Mushu's chest puffed up slightly, though he couldn't quite hide his grin.

"Good. Remember that, hedgehog."

Donald glanced toward the camp, his eyes narrowing in determination.

"Let's get over there and show these Heartless what we're made of!" the duck declared.

Mulan looked off toward the camp, where rows of tents stretched out against the rocky hills in the distance. A sense of purpose settled over her, mixed with a surge of excitement. She was close now. Enrolling in the army, taking her father's place—her mission was about to begin.

"Come on," she said, her voice filled with resolve. "Time to move. I can finally enroll and honour my father and my family's name."

Sora nodded, his own determination evident.

"Then let's go. We're right behind you."

With that, the team, united and energised, turned toward the distant camp. With every step, they felt a new resolve brewing within, ready to face whatever awaited them at the training camp.

Part 1 is done!

It was a blast writing this crossover of Mulan, Mushu, and the heroes, with all the fun interactions and banter. Sonic and Mushu's personalities were bound to clash, and I hope I did that justice in my writing!

Thank you again for all the reviews, support, favorites, and follows. And a special shoutout to everyone updating the TV Tropes page—I hope this chapter adds some fresh material to the site.

Now, onward to Part 2: The Training Camp!