The Gospel Truth (A Disney Fanfic)

Chapter 4. Mulan

Chapter 4. Mulan

A week after Mulan had secretly turned in the forms to Coach Phil, football tryouts started. She was worried from the moment the sun rose. How would she walk out the front door carrying a whole bag filled with football equipment and not have her family notice? It was easier said than done, and after thrashing in bed because she couldn't fall back asleep, Mulan decided to put her restlessness to good use. Quietly tip-toeing around the house, she hid the big bag in one of the bushes outside in the front yard. When she entered the house again, her grandmother was sitting down at the table, casually sipping some jasmine tea. Mulan tried to hide in the shadows of the early morning but it was no use as she was called out.

"Good morning," Mulan said.

"I might not be as young as I used to be, but I do know a thing or two. What where you doing out there?"

Mulan winced, but trying to spin herself out of it, she came up with an excuse. "I was just praying to the ancestors for luck."

Her grandmother nodded but the look on her face said she didn't believe it. "How lucky can they be? They're dead." She got up from her seat and was about to make her way back to her room when she stopped and turned around to face Mulan.

"Don't worry much about the honor-to-us-all thing. Everything will work out."

And with that the old woman left.

***

"You ready for football tryouts today Mulan?" Mushu asked on the bus that morning. She had successfully been able to sneak the bag on to the bus without her parents noticing, the only blimp being when her grandmother caught her in the kitchen.

"I think so, or at least I hope I am."

"Have you practiced at all?"

"Well I've conditioned and practiced catching footballs when-"

"I didn't mean practice football. I meant practice being a guy."

"Uh, truthfully, no."

Mushu let out an exasperated sigh. "I always gotta remind you of everything don't I?" he muttered. "First of all, don't talk much, and if you do, don't talk in that shrilly girl voice."

"Hey-"

"Don't interrupt. Now show me your angry man face!"

Mulan was confused.

"I think my bunny slippers just ran for cover. Come on, scare me girl!"

"Rawwwrr!" she growled and scrunched up her face, hoping that she looked somewhat intimidating.

"What are you a dinosaur? Nevermind, that'll do. Later we'll work on your man walk."

It was going to be a long bus ride.

***

Mulan hurried off the bus to escape Mushu's lessons, making up an excuse that she had to get to science class earlier that day to help Professor Ursula set up the chemistry lab. Honestly though, she had forgotten to do her science homework and would be in trouble with her parents if it showed up as a zero in the gradebook. Mulan finished the last few problems before stepping into the classroom knowing that if Ursula caught her doing homework in class, bad things would happen. She wasn't called the Sea Witch behind everyone's back for nothing. Mulan's point was proven later on in class when Peter had been trying to complete his math homework instead of the assignment. Ursula grabbed the paper from his hand and tore it in two before throwing them back on his desk.

"That's not fair!" Peter remarked.

"I guess not, oh well."

Peter complained some more under his breath, while Ursula laughed and called him something along the lines of a "poor unfortunate soul". Nevertheless, class continued like it always did. For Mulan it passed by extremely quickly, presumably because all her thoughts revolved around the upcoming football tryouts at the end of the day. Mushu taught her some more man lessons during lunch, she was bored in Social Studies with Professor Merlin, Edna confused more students, so overall it was a somewhat normal school day for Mulan. Though she wasn't prepared when the last bell rung, especially when Mushu pulled her out of the hallway and into a back corner where neither of them could be seen. He shoved an earpiece into her hand before quickly explaining its purpose.