Basil Volunteers to go to War/Minnie Takes Basil's Place

(Out in the streets just nearby the Gibson residence, Moe came riding into the town with two imperial soldiers on horseback of their own horses. Near the exit and the horse stable, the Gibson Family and Minnie's group arrived and when they spot Moe and the imperial soldiers arriving and stopping, still sitting on their own horses' backs, Basil immediately and calmly realized silently that something bad must've happened. As he headed out, Elizabeth turned to Minnie, Mowgli,and Pudge)

Elizabeth: Minnie, you and your brothers stay inside while we see what's up.

Minnie: (Trying to object) But...!

(But Elizabeth, Mama Mousekwitz, and the rest of Minnie's group left with Basil, with Minnie's group and even Mama Mousekwitz silently gesturing to Minnie, Mowgli, and Pudge to take a peek at their rooftop's balcony. Getting it, Minnie, Mowgli, and Pudge climbed up to the balcony while Elizabeth, Mama Mousekwitz, and Minnie's group joined Basil with the rest of the townspeople to see what Moe has come to announce while Moe pulls a news scroll out to make that announcement)

Moe: Citizens! I bring a proclamation from the Imperial City! The Weasel Huns and Tempest Shadow have invaded China! By order of Emperor Nestor, one man from every family must serve in the Imperial Army, and have some medical army nurses accompany that chosen man of the same family, whether they're relatives and/or friends.

(Then he read out the family names, and as he read one family name at a time, a man from that family came up to him and the imperial soldiers and accepted a prescription scroll of his own. And in some men's case, some women who have medical experiences accompanied that man to stand by him)

Moe: (Reading) The Hsiao Family! The Yi Family!

(A young man from the Yi Family is silently and calmly encouraged by his father, who is an old war veteran, to take his place. Even the young man's wife walked up with her husband as he accepted his prescription scroll)

Young Yi Family soldier: I will serve Emperor Nestor in my father's place.

Young Yi Family soldier's wife: And I shall assist as a medical army nurse.

Moe: (Continuing reading) The Gibson Family!

(Minnie's group, Elizabeth, and Mama Mousekewitz became calmly shocked and concerned upon hearing that. Even Minnie, Mowgli, and Pudge are shocked)

Minnie, Mowgli, and Pudge: What?!

(Then, having no other choice, despite his walking stick showing his condition, Basil solemnly hands his walking stick to Elizabeth, who calmly and reluctantly accepted the walking stick, and Basil walked up to Moe and the imperial soldiers, despite limping a bit without his walking stick. Even Minnie's group walked with Basil to join in the medical army nurse group, and during the walk, Fluttershy and Cosmo silently offered Basil to assist him, but Basil solemnly and silently gestured them a polite decline on their offer, to which they silently and reluctantly gave in. Seeing this in concern like Elizabeth, Mama Mousekewitz, and her group are, Minnie, along with Mowgli and Pudge, immediately climbed down the balcony and ran to the exit's doors)

Basil: (Bows to Moe and the imperial soldiers) I am ready to serve Emperor Nestor.

Minnie's group except Minnie, Mowgli, and Pudge: (Reluctantly bows to Moe and the imperial soldiers) And we shall also assist as medical army nurses.

(Just when Moe handed over the Gibson Family prescription scroll to Basil, Minnie, Mowgli, and Pudge ran out to their father and group in concern)

Minnie: Father, you can't go!

Mowgli: Wait! Please!

Pudge: Don't leave us!

Basil: (Surprised) Minnie? Mowgli? Pudge?

(Seeing this, Minnie's group and even Mowgli and Pudge silently watched in calm concern, feeling sorry for Minnie and knowing how concerned she is for Basil's health and condition)

Minnie: (Pleading to the first imperial soldier) Please, sir, my father is too old and crip....

(But Moe rudely cuts her off)

Moe: (To Minnie) Silence! (To Basil) You will do well to teach your daughter to hold her tongue in a man's presence.

(Basil sighed in disappointment and then turned to Minnie sadly)

Basil: (Grimly) Minnie, you just dishonored me by embarrassing me like that. And I'm sorry. I have no choice.

(Then Moe holds out Basil's prescription scroll to him)

Moe: Report tomorrow at the Wu Zhong Camp with your nurse volunteers.

Basil and Minnie's group except Minnie, Mowgli, and Pudge: (With Basil accepting his prescription scroll and Minnie's group feeling secretly concerned) Yes, sir.

(Then Basil walked by himself back into his house without his walking stick, carrying his prescription scroll and Minnie's group accompanied him in calm silent concern. Even Minnie, Mowgli, Pudge, Elizabeth, and Mama Mousekewitz are concerned for Basil as Moe continued reading the family name list)

Moe: (Reading) The Chu Family! The Chang Family! The Yong Family!

''(Later at night after Moe and the imperial soldiers have already left, Basil went into his armor room with Minnie's group, except Minnie, Mowgli, and Pudge, in there, watching him open his closet to reveal his armor set, colored black with bluish green rims, complete with a sword. Nearby the room's doorway, Minnie, back in her attire she wore before she got ready to go see Momma Robotnik earlier, secretly peeked and watched Basil unsheathe his sword and then holds the sword blade up in front of him like a soldier, calmly amazing her and her group. Then as Basil practiced his sword fighting skills for a bit, the pain in his left leg gives out, making him yelp in pain as he dropped his sword on the floor. Minnie and her group looked at Basil's sword in concern and on the blade are three written Chinese writings, meaning in the following order; "Loyal," "Brave," and "True." Then they looked up at Basil in concern to see him panting in pain a bit as he clutched his one hand to a nearby column for support and grabbing his prescription scroll in the other. Concerned with Minnie's group, Abigail asked away in concern)''

Abigail: Are you sure you want to do this?

Basil: (Calmly panting in pain a bit) I'm sure. I can endure, for you and my family, especially Minnie.

(He groans in pain a bit as he clutched his leg. Despite still showing concern, Minnie's group, except the hidden Minnie, gave in reluctantly)

Minnie's group except Minnie: Okay.

(Then with that, Minnie's group left the room, leaving Volteer alone. Noticing Serena looking sad and concerned for her father's condition, they calmly and silently tear up a bit and they group hugged in comfort)

Mowgli: (Whispering to Minnie, voice breaking) We all know how you feel.

Pudge: (Whispering to Minnie in agreement, voice breaking) He might never come home after that.

(Then they silently resumed their sad group hug. Later at dinner in the kitchen, everyone is seated at the table, eating silently in calm concern and sadness, or in Basil's case, calm hesitance only, despite being a little determined to fight for his family and country, not saying a word as Minnie poured some tea for everyone in their own teacups. Then after putting the teapot down, Minnie was about to take a sip from her teacup when she saw Basil make a silent bit of a painful groan on his leg as he ate a small scoop of white rice from his white porcelain bowl. Having enough finally upon noticing this, Minnie slams her teacup on the table in frustration, finally breaking the grim silence)

Minnie: You shouldn't go like this, Father!

Elizabeth: (Surprised and concerned) Minnie!

Mowgli: (Trying to speak up in sadness and concern) Please calm down...!

Minnie: (Ignoring Elizabeth and Mowgli) There are plenty of young men who will fight for China! So why would you risk your health for this?!

Basil: Because it is an honor to protect my country and my family.

Minnie: So, you'll die fighting for honor instead of being concerned for your condition?

Pudge: (Starting to calmly cry in concern) Minnie, stop it!

Basil: (Starting to lose his temper, ignoring Pudge) Minnie, I will die doing what's right.

Minnie: But what if you...?!

Basil: (Snapping, cutting her off) I know my place! It is time you learned yours.

(Staring in disbelief hearing him say that, Minnie got calmly sad. Seeing this, Basil realized his temper and calmed himself silently)

Basil: (Feeling guilty and apologetic) Minnie, I'm sorry. I didn't....

Minnie: (Starting to cry calmly) But do you really know what my place should be, for our family and country's sake?

(No answer, as Basil, still feeling calmly guilty for snapping as well as speechless on that question, sat down to resume his dinner with the family. Then Minnie ran out of the kitchen into the backyard near the garden entrance. Elizabeth, Mama Mousekwitz, Mowgli, Pudge, who eased his crying down calmly, and Minnie's group, except Minnie, turned to Basil in concern)

Basil: Was I too hard on her?

Mowgli: (Trying to be positive) A little. (Then he got honest calmly) Okay, very hard.

Elizabeth: (Agreeing in calm concern) Very.

Pudge: (In calm concern) It's just that we're worried about you, Daddy.

(Hearing Pudge say that, Basil looked at the kitchen exit Minnie ran out of in calm guilt and knew what he must do now. Out near the garden entrance, Minnie sat by the archway entrance and buried her face in her arms above her knees and cried softly a a soft wind blew around the area. Then someone gently approached her and touched her shoulder, calmly getting her attention. It was Basil and the rest of Minnie's group)

Minnie: (Sniffles, sobs a bit) I'm sorry I snapped at....

Basil: (Nods in forgiveness) Apology accepted. (He and Minnie's group sit beside her in comfort) In fact, I'm the one who shouldn't have snapped. It was not honorable of me to do that.

(Then he asked away, changing the subject)

Basil: Do you remember when you were children, when the younger ones were not born yet, you leapt high into the air back to our house, unharmed?

(Remembering that moment, Minnie's group smiled calmly a bit, giving a nod as Minnie composed herself and wiped her tears away)

Rainbow Dash: Who could forget that?

Minnie: Why do you ask us that?

Basil: The reason I asked is because recent studies have confirmed that it is what represents the power of the chi, a type of spiritual magic used by warriors by their willpower, for some consider it a great power that gives the warrior to fight skillfully, whether it's physical or psychological. Others, however, consider the chi as witchcraft and not to be used by women.

Bianca: Well, lucky for us, none of the townspeople here believe the chi is witchcraft.

Basil: (Nods in agreement) That is, fortunately, true, Bianca.

Minnie: (Confused) But why do some people consider the chi witchcraft and that it shouldn't be used by women?

Basil: Because....

(He tried to think up a proper way to explain intelligibly to Minnie what they meant by that. Then he found it)

Basil: Do you recall a long time ago when Emperor Nestor's young chi warrior apprentice was cursed by a scar inflicted on her by a mysterious monster made of black substance?

(Realizing, Minnie's group nods)

Minnie's group: We remember that story.

Sandy: She was then banished because her chi was cursed by the scar the mystery monster inflicted on her.

Abigail: And then she was never seen again after that.

Teresa: And because of that experience, it was forbidden by Emperor Nestor himself to ever mention the banished apprentice's name.

Sunset Shimmer: And then as the Huns began to grow over the years beyond China, invading us all, our country eventually made enemies with a mysterious female witch with a very powerful chi and shapeshifting abilities.

Applejack: By the name of Tempest Shadow, who, according to the surviving soldiers, somewhat resembles that of the banished cursed apprentice.

Rainbow Dash: Then later on that time, the imperial army found the apprentice's remains in the Mongolian Desert.

Rarity: And nobody knows where Tempest came from exactly ever since.

Pinkie Pie: Which is somewhat sad, compared to the now deceased banished apprentice.

Fluttershy: Very sad.

Twilight Sparkle: And the people of China actually believe that Emperor Nestor might know something about Tempest, but he declined to speak of it because of his fear of her chi placing the similar curse to the apprentice's if he mentioned it.

Minnie: And to this day, answers for it were never brought up to Emperor Nestor ever since.

Basil: (Nods in agreement) That's right. And you, girls, are definitely smart to know this kind of history.

(Then he changed the subject again)

Basil: Anyway, have a look at this.

(Then he showed Minnie his sword, confusing her and her group)

Minnie: Your sword?

Basil: Did you and your sisters notice the three symbols on its blade?

(Calmly realizing, Minnie's group nods)

Minnie's group: Yeah.

Basil: You remember the three virtues that represent the honor of a soldier fighting for his country?

(Remembering, Minnie immediately answered calmly)

Minnie: Loyal, brave, and true.

Basil: Yes. Although the soldier's code of honor has these virtues, everyone had also hoped that the chi would eventually become part of the code of honor with a fourth virtue word, but the tragic incident involving the apprentice's banishment and death destroyed that chance.

Minnie: And that's why the code of honor only has these three virtues.

Basil: (Nods) Precisely. And as long as I have all of these three virtues burning in me, alive and well, our ancestors and their spiritual guardians, especially the Statue of the Great Stone Dragon's spirit, (Gestures to a tall dragon statue in the garden) will always protect me and keep me, as well as my family and our country, strong. So, yes, I may be concerned about my condition as much as you, your brothers, and your sisters are, but like I said, I have no other choice. And even if I were to die for honor and country for our family, you must always be strong, no matter what.

(Smiling sadly and calmly, Minnie and her group then hugged Basil, who hugged in return. Then after that's over, Volteer headed back in)

Basil: Now, time to get some sleep. I am to be leaving for war tomorrow.

Minnie's group: Good night.

Basil: Good night.

''(Then with that, Minnie's group and Basil returned to inside the house as it slowly began to rain outside. Later that night, however, Minnie's group, now dressed in their pajamas, secretly and quietly snuck out of their rooms, walking out to the Great Stone Dragon Statue in the garden as it continued to rain. Then as they approached the statue, getting soaked from the pouring rain, Minnie's group looked at the statue silently, and then while her group prayed silently to the statue, Minnie then looked down at the rain's water puddle on the ground below her and looked at her reflection silently. Then she and her group, after they finished praying, began to silently think over their conversation with Basil earlier, and then they see from inside their master bedroom, the shadowy silhouettes of Basil and Elizabeth talking softly as they prepared for bed. Then as soon as they see Elizabeth's silhouette go to bed, they then see Basil's silhouette blow out a candle, extinguishing the light from the window, darkening the room. After contemplating silently as they saw this, Minnie's group then quietly said the three virtues, slowly and calmly becoming determined, having made a decision)''

Minnie's group: (Whispering) Loyal, brave, and true.

(Then, with that, Minnie's group immediately rushed into the ancestors' shrine and after Minnie lit a smoke stick and placed it into the little shrine with the two dragon statues, she and her group silently prayed. Then with that done, they hurried inside the house quietly. Watching all of this, Todd, and even Figaro, got calmly confused)

Todd: (Whispering in curiosity) What's going on?

''(Then he and Figaro secretly followed to see what's up. Inside Basil and Elizabeth's room, while her group waited outside quietly, Minnie snuck in and after taking Basil's prescription scroll and gently placed her comb onto the nightstand in the prescription scroll's place. After giving a silent goodbye stare, Minnie then snuck out of the room back to her group with the prescription scroll in tow. Then in the armory room, Minnie's group packed up their supplies for the war and then Minnie went into the armory closet and found Basil's armor set and sword in there. Then after pulling Basil's sword out, Minnie then used the sword's blade to cut her hair off somewhat completely. Then after that's done, Minnie then let Rarity trim any remaining hair strands she forgot to cut with her scissors. Then with that done and her hair now perfectly cut off completely, Minnie then tied a green bandana on her head. Then she let Rarity carefully trim her eyelashes to make her look like a man and then after she and Minnie's group helped Minnie secure her covered cleavage in a comfortable corset to make her look like a man, Minnie then puts on Basil's armor set, and then she did the same sword pose as Basil did earlier in determination while nearby, her group watched proudly. Then with Minnie all dressed up like a man and her group all prepared like the medical army nurses they are, they went out to the stable and went up to Cyril. Noticing them, Cyril almost neighed in a panic a bit at first upon seeing Minnie in her man disguise, when Minnie eased him down calmly and reassured her horse that she's Minnie. Realizing calmly as he calmed down, Cyril then left the stable with Minnie's group. Nearby, Figaro and Todd watched in calm silent amazement to see Minnie going to war with her sisters, taking their father's place. Then after looking back at the house for a brief moment, Minnie's group then got determined and with that, Minnie climbed on Cyril's back while her group attached a roofed wagon to Cyril's saddle buttons, and then with that, Minnie's group rode off to the direction where the Wu Zhong Camp is located from far away, with Minnie riding on Cyril's back and her group riding in the wagon. Seeing this while hidden, Todd and Figaro became concerned calmly and then retreated into the garden. In the ancestors' shrine, it glowed a brief blue light and it briefly lit the Great Stone Dragon Statue's eyes, as if warning any of the Gibson Family members of what just happened. In her room, Mama Mousekwitz bolted awake in surprise, sensing the message. Then after grabbing a lantern and lighting it, she rushed over to Minnie's group's room and found it empty and Pluto in there, looking concerned, and even Cleo is in her fishbowl, concerned as well. She gasped. Then she rushed into Basil and Elizabeth's room in concern)''

Mama Mousekwitz: Minnie and her brothers and sisters are gone!

(Bolting awake upon hearing her, Basil and Elizabeth got confused)

Basil and Elizabeth: (Groggily and confused) What?

(Basil then noticed Minnie's comb on the nightstand and picked it up in confusion. Then realization slowly dawned onto him calmly as he slowly became concerned)

Basil: It can't be....

(Then he rushed into the armory room with his walking stick, with Elizabeth, Mama, and Pluto accompanying him. He ran up to the closet and found his armor set and sword, as well as Minnie's group's supplies, all gone. Realization and concern striking him like a freight train running him over, Basil immediately ran outside the house towards the stables' exit)

Basil: Minnie, children!

(But then he tripped and fell down, dropping Minnie's comb. He got up in recovery and saw the exit's doors opened, as well as the stables empty, with Cyril and the wagon missing, and realization dawned upon him on why Minnie's group did this; To take his place and help their family and country. Elizabeth and Pluto then ran up to him and kneeled beside him in concern)

Elizabeth: You must go after them! They could get killed, especially Minnie!

Basil: But if I reveal her, she will be, and her brothers and sisters will just be expelled and sent home if exposed on being associated with her.

(Pluto whined in concern a bit)

Elizabeth: Then what can we do to help them?

Basil: I guess.... The only way we can help them, is to pray for their safety.

(Giving in calmly and silently in agreement, Elizabeth and Pluto then hugged and nuzzled Basil, to which he returned the gentle hug in comfort, all of them hoping Minnie's group will be safe out there. Even Mama Mousekwitz, watching this at the doorway of the front door with her lantern, is concerned. Then she prayed softly)

Mama Mousekwitz: Ancestors, hear our prayer; Watch over Minnie and her brothers and sisters.

(Hearing her prayer, Basil, Elizabeth, and Pluto silently and calmly got up and went up to her, giving a look that means that they agree with her prayer. Then in calm silent sadness and concern, they went back inside, hoping Minnie's group will be safe and pull through out in war in Basil's place)

'Coming up: After accepting Basil, Elizabeth, and Mama Mousekwitz' prayers to watch over Minnie's group, the ancestors then decide to have a certain group of demoted guardian spirits led by two apprentice dragon guardian spirits to go awaken the Great Stone Dragon's spirit from the statue to go help Minnie's group. But when the statue breaks, that group then decides, under the two apprentice dragons and even Todd and Figaro's advice and suggestion, to go help Minnie's group, to help the group prove to the ancestors that they're worthy of being guardians again, as well as the two apprentice dragons passing their test to prove they are worthy guardian dragons.'