Mulan is probs my favorite Disney movie of all times!!!! 😀

The art above is mine.

I present to you a Mulan AU!

Title taken from "Loyal, Brave and True" by Christina Aguilera.

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◾~Nya's POV~◾

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I quickly straightened out the creases in my long sleeved red and teal kimono as I hurried through the yard towards the gate of the house. By how the person on the other side was knocking, I could tell who it was. I was very familiar with the rhythmic tapping which had been adopted as a signature to indicate this person's arrival a long time ago.

Smiling, I undid the lock on the gate and pulled it open. As expected, a boy with auburn hair and blue eyes greeted me, raising a cloth-covered tray to my face.

"Hi, Jay," I chuckled, stepping back to let the boy in.

"Hey, Nya!" he cried, uplifting my entire mood which had been sour a few moments ago. He was a year older than me but he still acted way younger, making me look like a grandmother in front of him. But I didn't mind. I liked people who were young at heart no matter how old they got.

"Look what I made this morning!" Jay announced, excitedly gesturing at the tray in his hands. After I gave him a confused look, he dramatically removed the cloth and displayed his creation. "Ta-da! Red bean cakes!"

"Aww!" I couldn't help but giggle at the cute, bun-shaped cakes on which were dabbed streaks and beads of icing to make them look like little kittens.

When presented with such creativity as this, I did not care if it was a woman's place to cook or bake or a man's place. Many of my friends had told me to show interest in a guy that had a more rough and tough personality. But I had been always attracted to the gentler ones.

I was about to take a bite from one of the cakes when I was interrupted.

"Nice going, Walker."

Me and Jay looked around to see Skylor, my sister-in-law, stepping down into the yard with a smirk on her bright face. Her red hair and orange garments flowed behind her as she approached near, making me wish I was as graceful as her. I had always been more of a messy, jumpy type.

"You better make a move soon before you start running out of recipies as an excuse to meet Nya," Skylor said, causing me to go red and pout in her direction.

Jay made a face that confirmed is indignance. However, when he replied in a fidgety way, it didn't seem too convincing.

"Whaaaaat? Pshhhtt, no way! That was never my intention."

This ended in an awkward silence in which me and Jay looked everywhere but at each other while Skylor smiled teasingly at us. This was probably the most annoying thing about her but it was also one of the things that made her the most fun person to hang out with. If I'm being honest, she's the sister I never had.

She was married to my older brother, Kai, and was two years older than me. It had been a year since their marriage and Skylor hadn't lost a single touch of her playfulness. I, on the other hand, felt like I had lost all my high spiritedness in a day and I hadn't even been assigned a match yet.

By sheer coincidence, the talk turned to that.

Jay looked very serious and glum when he asked the dreaded question. "So, how did it go with the matchmaker?"

I sighed, trying to find a way out of answering him but failing. "It went horrible!" I finally blurted out. "I set the matchmaker's butt on fire and threw hot tea all over her to put it out."

Skylor giggled. "You could say the matchmaker looked like a 'hot mess'."

Jay winced, eyes bearing sympathy for no other than the poor matchmaker of course. He and the entire village knew: me and Kai were the most troublesome, clumsy and unpredictable children ever. At this point, whenever something went unusually wrong, everyone would say it's the Smith siblings. Mom and Dad are not too happy with it but they know we can't help it.

Skylor grabbed my shoulders from behind and gave them a friendly squeeze. She glanced at Jay. "Of course, Waterlily ruined it all. She'd rather marry you than any other doofus that matchmaker lady hooks her up with. I mean, that's what I did."

I rolled my eyes, grinning. If there was ever someone who was next in line to break the Smith record, it was Skylor. Despite her grace and sophistication, she's a wild one.

"Anyway, I'd better get going," Jay spoke, a pink shade tinting his cheeks. He handed me the tray which I took. "Give some to Kai for me. Something as a 'get well soon' gesture."

I nodded. "Yep, I'm sure he would feel better biting off the heads of these poor kittens."

Jay laughed at that, a sound that warmed me to the core. Soon after, he said goodbye to us and skipped out the gate. I was probably grinning and waving like a simpering idiot because Skylor kept making hearts with her hands and bumping them into my face.

"Come on, lovebird. I think Kai's ringing his bell."

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◽~Skylor's POV~◽

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"Forget that matchmaker," Kai huffed, mouth full of bean cake. "Go get Jay. The guy makes way better stuff than Skylor."

Nya silently "ooohh-ed" at me from where she was busy setting the cast around Kai's left arm. I raised my challenging eyes at my husband, daring him to repeat what he had said. Kai faltered under my dangerous gaze and attempted to right his words.

"I mean, he makes stuff almost as good as Skylor. Th-That's what I meant."

I tried to hide my smile behind an approving facade but it was next to impossible. It was always fun to mess with Kai. I couldn't wait for him to get better so that the two of us and Nya could finally go to the hillside for a hike and a picnic. It'd been ages since we last went roaming the countryside.

Kai's condition was not that deadly but he had been strictly ordered to rest his broken arm and sprained leg for more than two weeks at the most. A few days earlier, he had insisted on helping Ray with the roof. Unfortunately, he lost his balance while going farther up and slipped.

You can imagine where that led.

Kai gulped down the previous piece of cake before opening his mouth and giving me permission to feed him more. I scoffed, tired from the day's fiasco and just wanting to rest a little. But being fed and waited upon were a few necessities Kai had acquired on behalf of his injury. And me, being his "obedient" and "respectful" wife had to do what he asked of me.

I loved Kai and I wholeheartedly respected my in-laws but sometimes I couldn't help but think that maybe women were made for more than being picture-perfect wives, ready to bear sons when needed. But that was our culture and our people thought it was absolutely flawless in every way. I thought so otherwise.

Kai hissed in pain as Nya removed his arm from her lap and gently set it back down next to him. I shook my head at his whiny attitude before stuffing the last piece of cake into his mouth and putting the plate aside.

Kai frowned at my hastiness but soon turned to his sister. "Is Dad mad at you about what happened or . . .?"

Nya fell back against the cushion she had been sitting on. "Nope. He was surprisingly very calm about it. In fact, he seemed very supportive. Kept going on about a flower that grows in adversity is the most beautiful kind of all or something like that."

"Huh, weird," Kai, muttered. "I guess he's softening up with age or something."

Nya shrugged, stretching her arms over her head and yawning. She was still wearing her bride kimono and her hair was overflowing with fancy ornaments. Thankfully, she had removed the heavy paint make-up the moment she got home. She didn't look like herself with that mess coating her face.

"Nya, would you like me to brush out your hair?" I asked when I saw her grumpily pulling out the pins and clips from her long, dark tresses.

"Yes, please," she announced, looking grateful at the opportunity of ridding her hair from the traditional junk.

I moved to pick up the brush from my dresser when noises from outside stopped me. They sounded like drums. I felt my forehead crease. The village only beat the drums when officials from the Jade Palace were due to come. It seemed like Kai and Nya had read my mind for the latter immediately dashed out the door while the former tried to get out of bed.

"Woah there, tiger," I said, rushing forward to grab my husband when it looked like he would stumble. "You've got a broken arm. You're not going anywhere."

Kai's nose wrinkled. "Last time I checked, I used my legs to walk, not my arms."

"But you have a sprain too."

"It's just a twisted ankle. It isn't that severe. I'm sure I can walk on it."

The commotion outside was increasing, aggravating Kai's desire to leave even further. When it seemed like he wouldn't stop resisting, I gave up. However, I partially had my way and got to support him on the way to the gate.

I let him lean against the boundary wall as soon as we arrived. Ray and Maya had already stepped out into the street as a trio of white horses appeared, all bearing the royal Jade House crest. I recognized the one in the middle as Hutchins, the Emperor's advisor.

People had gathered up and down the street to watch. Nya tried to squeeze through her parents but was pushed back in by her mother.

"Stay inside," Maya ordered before moving to stand next to her husband. I stood next to mine, glancing back at the pouting ravenette and feeling sorry.

Apparently, it was not considered good for unmarried young women to stand openly in a crowd. Especially, if it majorly consisted of men. Those who were married had to wear their wedding bands at all times in order to be recognized as "someone's pride so don't think of getting any ideas."

I made sure my band was on my finger before hissing back at Nya and nodding at the far end of the wall. She got the hint and sneakily crept towards the end where the stable fence stood. She climbed up and balanced herself on a rail, peeking out from over the wall and shooting me a thumbs-up. Smiling, I turned my attention back to the palace officials.

"Citizens of Ignacia!" Hutchins announced. "I bring a proclamation from the imperial city of Ninjago." He paused and ran his eyes over the crowd before continuing. "The Stone Army has invaded our land."

Many people gasped and cried out at this. I glanced worriedly at Kai who simply shrugged in return.

Hutchins waved about a roll of parchment, trying to catch everyone's attention since people had broken into discussions among themselves. "By order of the Emperor, one man from every family must serve in the imperial army."

He then pulled open the roll and began calling out the names of various families. Men of all ages stepped forth and accepted the invitation to the army. I looked up at Nya. Her features bore a worried countenance. I turned to where she was looking and saw Jay reaching up to take a parchment roll from the guard.

Eventually, the advisor called out our family name and I felt Kai tense up beside me. I wrapped my hand around his to prevent him from doing anything. I saw Maya whisper something to Ray but he ignored it and walked out to the horses. He had been badly hurt during his last battle and wasn't as robust as he used to be. He looked frail and weak as he gazed up at the riders.

"Apologies, sir," he began, standing straight with his arms stuck to his sides. "I only have one son who is currently injured. With all due respect, I would like to present myself to the imperial army in his place."

"Dad-" Kai started but I held him back, glaring at him warningly.

Hutchins looked up and held us in his gaze for a few seconds before nodding. "Very well." The guard pulled out Ray's induction scroll from the satchel. My father-in-law proceeded to take it but paused at the frantic yell.

That's when Nya ran past us and into the crowd.

"Dad, you can't go!" she cried out as she pushed through all the people to reach her father.

Ray scowled at her interruption but the girl had already planted herself between him and the guard. "Please, sir," Nya implored, attempting to push Ray farther away from the advisor. "My father has already fought in many–"

"Silence!" Hutchins hollered, bringing his horse right up to the girl. His cold eyes shifted to her father. "You would do well to teach your daughter to hold her tongue in a man's presence."

On a nod from Maya, I immediately advanced over the gate threshold and into the street to retrieve the ravenette. I saw Ray look away from his daughter, face darkening.

"Nya, you dishonor me."

The girl's head dropped. I quickly took a hold of her and moved her a few steps back. I rubbed her arm, aiming to comfort her.

Hutchins tutted at the sight. "Not a single man of the family fit. Daughters with no manners." He turned his face away as if disgusted. "Such a disgrace!"

My blood boiled and I couldn't stop myself. I took a step closer. "Now, listen-"

For the first time, I was thankful Kai had interrupted me at that moment otherwise I would've said something that would've compelled my father-in-law to hide his face in shame. Despite his mother's constant commands to stay put, Kai still limped forward till he was shoulder to shoulder with his father.

"I may be injured but I've trained well under my father's guidance. I know how to fight and I will try my best to put in my full effort." He looked at his sister and I hugged her close to me. He frowned before turning back to Hutchins. "If we are given the chance to compensate for my sister's insubordination, then you will have two men from our family."

"What?" I whispered in disbelief while Nya stiffened in my grasp.

Both father and son looked resolutely up at the advisor who seemed to be in thought. I could see him eyeing Kai's cast and for a moment, I thought he would reject them both. But, he didn't. He sniffed haughtily and thrusted the conscription notice into Ray's hands.

"Report tommorow at camp. I'll have two slots reserved under your family's name."

"Yes, sir," Kai and Ray replied in unison.

Then without saying anything else, they made their way back to the gate. I quietly pulled Nya along with me as I hurried after them. Maya met us at the entrance. She pecked her son on the forehead before taking Nya from me and leading her to the house. I seized the opportunity to stomp up to my husband and block his path.

"What have you done?" I snapped at him. "Look at yourself! You can't go to war!"

"I can't sit here useless and let my father go in my place either," he argued, moving around me. "I have to go."

I opened my mouth to say something but chose not to. When Kai was firm on a decision, there was no changing his mind. All the efforts would be futile. I sighed before looking around, half hoping for a solution to pop out of thin air. I caught sight of Nya on the verandah, looking at me with a crushed expression.

'Are you okay?' I mouthed at her.

She didn't reply. She only shook her head and trudged back into the house.

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◾~Nya's POV~◾

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"Dad, I did it for a reason. You saw the way he was talking about our family!"

"Yes, son, I know. But I cannot allow you to be a part of the war. You're not well."

"And neither are you."

I stood outside the armory, shielding the candle's flame with my hand so that its light wouldn't give away my position. I crept up to the door and pressed myself against the wall, listening in to the conversation between my brother and father.

I dared to lean forward to get a view into the room and saw my father extract the sword from his old battle armor which hung in the closet.

"This blade has many memories of war stored in it," he murmured, looking proudly down at the weapon. "It has seen battle only in my grasp and it still gleams today, ready for another brave undertaking. I can't bear to see a war rage on without me. I must return to my glory on the battlefield."

I wanted to walk in, snatch the sword from him and tell him that he couldn't go on with his foolish desire of fighting in such a state. But after all the dishonor I had subjected my father to bear since dawn, I couldn't let him down anymore. And so, I stayed rooted on the spot.

There was a loud shing as my brother pulled out his own sword from its case. It was his most prized possession which Dad had given him as a present for his nineteenth birthday three years ago.

Kai tried to spin it around (one of his favorite tricks he learned from Dad) but ended up putting too much strain on his other arm. He winced, dropping the sword and cradling his aching appendage instead.

I almost ran into the room to help my brother but then I remembered that I was supposed to remain hidden. I could only watch hopelessly from around the corner as my father quickly came to Kai's aid. Dad held him up but he pulled away, mumbling that he was alright. The two gave each other glances that, to me, looked like they were comprised of forced comfort.

I knew they couldn't fight. They would be killed on their knees.

I held back my tears, taking in a shaky breath before silently walking away.

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