Rapunzel leaned over the great oak table and used the sharpened metal tip attached to the end of one length of her hair to indicate several points on the regional map. "As we discussed, the Huissoturi troops are here, here and here along with the archers." She dropped the tip which clinked against the other eight that formed a cat-o'-nine tails at the end of her hair.

"The birds have brought back reports that my troops are in position in these places." Aurora's leather war armour creaked when she reached over to show her own troop movements.

The Strategy Room's wooden door slammed against the wall, startling the twelve women dressed in an assortment of leather and mail armour.

A soldier entered and saluted smartly. "Captains Li Shang and John Smith have returned with news from the Western Range."

Pocahontas gave a quiet sigh of relief, donned her quiver of arrows and picked up her bow.

"Report," Mulan ordered.

Although his shoulders remained erect, the soldier's eyes filled with fear. "They brought back... something. Along with Princes Charming, Aladdin, and Florian, they have it sequestered in the lower dungeon, so as not to frighten the townspeople."

"Lead on," Mulan said.

The Princesses picked up their weapons and helmets as they fell in line behind her.

Listening to the clomp of their boots on the stone, so far from the whisper of silk or glass slippers, made Mulan's heart swell with pride. Over the years, each Princess had come to ask for battle training so she could be prepared to protect and lead her citizens.

This time, each Princess wanted to be as ready as possible, since, despite all the good and beauty they represented, there was always a doer of evil intent on their destruction.

As they descended through the castle, Mulan gave commentary and instructions to the inhabitants preparing for the coming siege. She sent up thanks again that the lone bluebird had made it to the castle to report the congregation of magicians before it had died of exhaustion. It's sacrifice had given them the time advantage to check the defenses and gather as many citizens as possible.

Mulan frowned when the sound of an angry dog's snapping and snarling floated up the stairs from the dungeons. She didn't hold with cruelty.

"Whoa, there! Don't get too close!" Aladdin yelled. "This is not a beast to toy with."

Mulan tightened her shoulders and increased her pace, but even a great warrior like her faltered slightly at the sight she beheld.

A person was pressing their face between the cell's iron bars so hard that the skin was beginning to tear and the clouded white eyes bulged out. Snarls emitted from the open mouth that closed with a loud snap! Dried blood formed a macabre beard on their chin, and had dried in a large brown stain along the top of the light brown tunic. Three arrows protruded from the chest below the stain, yet the wounds showed no evidence of having bled. The person's hands, curled into claws, desperately reached for a soldier being pulled back by Aladdin.

"Report." Mulan said, heading for the cell.

The Princesses followed. Pocahontas rushed to embrace John Smith then joined the others in front of the cell.

Aladdin dropped into a bow, causing his cape to flare out.

The edge of the cape fell into the hands of the person-creature behind bars who pulled on it, hard. With a surprised cry, Aladdin toppled sideways.

Mulan began to draw her sword as the soldier Aladdin had just been pulling back called "My lord!" and sprang forward. He grabbed at the hand reaching for Aladdin's hair.

The person-creature dropped the cape and grabbed the soldier's hand. Released, Aladdin's armour clanged on the ground when he fell, drowning out the soldier's cry as the creature bit into his hand.

Before Mulan could smash her sword through the person-creature's head or arms to release the soldier, Rapunzel's hair spike pierced its skull with a squelch.

After a long moment of dead silence, the creature fell backwards, releasing Rapunzel's hair spike with a sickening suction sound.

She pulled it back and grimaced at the gore coating it before taking out a cloth to clean it.

Princess Jasmine rushed forward. "Aladdin!"

"I'm fine!" Aladdin called as he rose, throwing back the cape that had covered him.

The soldier held up his bleeding hand. The horrified eyes of the assembly watched the trickles of blood drip down from the wound.

The soldier began twitching, then threw back his head and released a long anguished groan. His head rolled forward and lifted, revealing clouded white eyes.

Before he could lunge, Mulan's sword sang and sent his head flying.

It rolled to a stop at Snow White's feet and proceeded to snap at her boot. Snow raised her staff and sent it crashing down through with a dull thunk when it met the floor. "At least now we know for certain how to kill them."

Mulan nodded. "And how long before they turn if bitten."

A cacophony of twittering echoed down the stairwell before a dozen birds of various sizes swooped in. Everyone ducked except the Princesses. The birds flew into the cell and flew in a frenzied circle over the dead person-creature.

Several pained cries of "Ahh!" went up when a shrill whistle sounded, stilling the jumbled calls of the birds.

Aurora lowered her fingers from her mouth and stepped carefully around the bloody pool from the decapitated soldier. Her soft voice held a hint of disapproval. "We can't understand you if you all speak at once. One at a time please."

A tiny robin landed on one of the arrows protruding from the person-creature and began to tweet. As one the Princesses gave a horrified gasp.

"What is it?" asked Li Shang, stepping closer to Mulan, hand gripping the pommel of his sword.

"There are hordes coming from multiple directions," she responded. "Hordes of these creatures, created by the magicians."

Turning so fast her cape swirled, Mulan quickly met the eyes of the Princesses. "Go to the tallest towers and call the birds! We need every single one we can gather to carry as many messages as far as possible. Go!" The women turned and ran out, weapons clinking and braids flying.

Mulan then turned to the men. "Every single one of you gather anyone who can write and go to the scribes tower. We need to send out a warning of how to kill these creatures and to avoid bites. I'll meet you there momentarily."

"Captain Li Shang, a word." Mulan waited while the soldiers and Princes ran up the stairs to carry out their orders.

Once alone, Li Shang stroked Mulan's cheek.

She leaned into the gesture and took a deep shaky breath. "This will be the worst battle ever. This enemy will not retreat under any circumstances. Show no clemency for the old and young."

Her shoulders sagged slightly with the possible death toll.

Li Shang wrapped an arm around Mulan who filled with gratitude for a partner who knew the balm she wouldn't ask for.

He said, "We've advanced warning. You've trained the Princesses well, who have prepared their citizens. This new information gives us further advantage."

Mulan knew the truth in his words. There was nothing else now except to warn the people of what was coming.

Just before ascending the stairs, she turned back and nodded at the two corpses. "Burn them under cover of dark. There will be enough bodies to burn openly later on when secrecy is not necessary."

Li Shang nodded and bowed. "Your orders will be fulfilled, Commander of my person...and my heart."

Mulan smiled.

She took a long look at him. If need be, she'd dispatch him were he bitten. Just as so many family and friends would have to do for their loved ones in such a war. "I'll go get the scribes started. We'll save as many as we can."

Her cape swirled as she turned to ascend from the dungeon up into the light.

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