okay everyone. looong chapter. but i hope you like it <3
Chapter 5: The Land of the Dragons
Sora and the gang arrive in a new world called China. They end up in a bamboo forest not too far from the Imperial City. Upon their arrival, Goofy spots a creepy looking shadow on a giant rock, and standing next to it was a person.
Donald leaped ahead to shock this creature with Thunder, but all he shocked was a small creature, who jumped into the person’s arms.
Sora rolled his eyes and stepped out towards the person. “Sorry about that. He didn’t mean to scare—Mushu?”
The small creature looked up at Sora and his friend. “Sora! When did you guys get here?”
“Not too long ago. Who’s this?” Sora asked, pointing to the person.
“I’m Mula—I, I mean, Ping. My name is Ping,” the strange boy said.
Jess eyed Ping curiously, then gave a sly smile.
“So, Ping. What are you doing here?” Donald asked.
“Joining the Imperial Army. Well, I’m being drafted,” Ping answered.
“Why would you be drafted? I thought only men were forced into the army,” Jess answered.
“Hold up a second. Jess, you’re telling me that Ping is…a girl?” Sora asked.
“What’s wrong with being a girl?! And, yes, Ping is a girl. Sorry, but I could kinda tell. These three, on the other hand, didn’t notice. You’ll be safe as long as there’s no other women down at camp,” Jess said.
“There isn’t going to be any women. They can’t join the army at all. That’s why Ping, I mean Mulan, is dressed like a man,” Mushu explained. “Which means, if you guys want to join…” They all looked at Jess.
“Uh-oh. How am I gonna get in? Do we even have anything so I can disguise myself?” Jess asked.
“I have an extra pair of clothes you could use, I guess. They’re back in the ship,” Sora said.
Jess sighed as she walked back to the ship to change. When she was finished, she looked in the mirror to see that the sweatshirt was huge on here, and Sora’s shorts were almost capris; they ended just above her knees. But she was pleased with the fact that the clothes could make her pass as a boy. Then she realized her hair! It was too long to be a boy’s length. Jess realized that Sora used a hat once and went looking for it. She pulled most of her hair up into the hat, leaving parts of her hair in her face. Perfect.
When Jess came out of the ship, Sora, Donald, and Goofy all started laughing histerically at Jess and how much she looked like a boy. She just glared at them and started walking towards the camp while they continued to laugh.
At the camp grounds, the group met Captain Shang, who gave them orders to head out towards top of the Summit to prepare for their next mission. About a half an hour later, they were all at the top of the Summit.
“So far, you two are doing a good job hiding your real identities,” Goofy said.
“Let’s just keep it that way,” Mulan laughed.
Shang walked towards them, and their conversation ceased at that moment. “There were reports from the village that they saw Shan-Yu walking around the area. Men, watch yourselves,” he said.
But just then an arrow struck Shang’s shoulder, taking his breathe away. Sora looked up to the top of the mountain to see a large, shady figure standing there with a bunch of heartless!
“Shan-Yu!” Mulan cried. Thinking fast, Mulan grabbed a cannon and aimed it for the top of the mountain. Mushu lit the cannon on fire, but realizing at the last moment that it wasn’t aimed at Shan-Yu, jumped onto the cannon and got blasted with it. All of a sudden, all the snow from the top came down, causing an avalanche heading right towards them!
Sora grabbed Jess’s arm and they all ran to the side to avoid the avalanche. Mulan followed, but noticed that Shang was still in the way of the snow! She ran back to retrieve Shang and bring him to safety. Mulan was able to save Shang just before the oncoming snow came at them. Breathing heavily, Shang looked up at the man who he knew to be Ping.
“You saved me. Thank you,” he said. “I owe you my life.”
“No. All that matters is that my captain is safe,” Mulan said, smiling.
Sora and Jess started to get up off the ground, when Jess’s hat came off, revealing her long, brown hair. She freaked out, rushing to get the hat back on; but it was too late. Shang was watching the entire time.
“A woman! I cannot believe this. You all lied to me! To China! Have you no shame?” Shang yelled. He walked towards Jess when Mulan jumped in front of him with her arms blocking him.
“Ping! What are you doing? Do you not see that this imposture has broken the law of China?”
“Yes. And—I have as well,” Mulan said, slowly taking her helmet off to reveal her hair as well. Shang was shocked even more. Two women in his troops?
“I would assume, Ping if that’s your name, that you know the consequences more than this one over here,” Shang said, pointing at Jess.
“Yes, sir,” Mulan said with her voice shaking.
Sora continued to stare at Mulan. He was scared for her; he was scared for Jess.
“The punishment for a woman joining the army…is death,” Shang said sternly.
Sora and Jess looked at each other in shock. Donald gasped and Goofy shrieked.
“Leave now! My debt is repaid,” Shang ordered. And he was gone.
Mulan turned to the others. “I am so sorry, everyone. Especially you, Jess. I should have told you what could have happened. Please, forgive me.”
“Of course I will, Mulan. It isn’t your fault. You did this for your family, for your world. I would have done the same,” Jess said.
“Thank you,” Mulan said, whipping the tears away from her eyes. “It’s nice to have such wonderful friends like you guys.”
Suddenly, a noise interrupted their conversation. Shan-Yu popped out of the snow on the cliff below them, and started to run towards the Imperial City.
“We have to warn Shang!” Goofy exclaimed. “Let’s go!”
They ran as fast as they could to get to the Imperial City, slashing heartless along the way. Not long after, Shang appeared a few yards away from them. Mulan tried calling out to him, but he simply ignored her.
“Please, stop! Shan-Yu is alive and heading this way!” she yelled.
“That is enough! Your lies are not welcome here. Return to your home, now!” Shang said.
Then Shan-Yu appeared out of no where in front of them. He was yards away from the front doors of the Emperor’s home. Shang turned to Mulan, then back to the man. He then started running after them, with Sora and company following.
They reached the front steps, but it was too late. Shan-Yu had the Emperor at his mercy. But Sora was holding his Keyblade, ready to attack. Mushu jumped off of Mulan’s shoulder and started to distract Shan-Yu while Shang got the Emperor safely away from harm. Sora and Mulan headed in for the attack, slashing their weapons at Shan-Yu. Jess joined a second later, dodging Shan-Yu’s eagle by flipping into the air. The fight lasted a while, but soon enough Sora and Mulan defeated Shan-Yu together. The darkness in Shan-Yu’s heart caused him to fade away, permanently ceasing him to exist. The kingdom was saved.
The Emperor approached Mulan. “Fa Mulan, I have heard so much of you. You ran away from home to replace your father in the army, disguised yourself as a man, and put my kingdom in danger. For that…I thank you,” he said.
Mulan stared at him in shock. “Your…welcome, your grace,” she stuttered. From behind the Emperor, she could see Shang smiling at her.
“Mulan…” he muttered to himself.
Mulan then turned to Sora. “Thank you everyone. I couldn’t have done this without you guys.”
“It’s no problem,” Sora said. Jess smiled at Mulan, who gave her a big hug and a thanks as well.
“Hey, hey, hey! What about me? Don’t I get any thanks? I’m your guardian, Mulan! I’m the one that prepared you for this!” Mushu yelled.
“Of course, Mushu. You deserve the biggest thanks of all,” Mulan said.
Mulan and Shang went with Sora and the gang back to the ship to say good-bye. They told them that they were welcome to come back at any time. With that, the four friends boarded their gummi ship and were headed off to a new world.
What’s coming up in Chapter 6: Sora and co. arrive at Disney Castle to find that the Cornerstone of Light has suddenly disappeared. With that, they must travel back to the past to retrieve it. But how far back are they willing to go?