One idea could be that Mulan meets a magical creature in the forest during her travels. This creature could give her a special power or task. For example, it could be a phoenix that asks her to protect a hidden village from an approaching evil force. Mulan would then have to use her skills and the new power to prepare the village for battle and lead them to victory.
Maybe in this fanfiction, Mulan time - travels to a different era. She could end up in a modern - day city and have to adapt to new technologies and ways of life. At the same time, she discovers that there are still battles to fight, like standing up against bullies or helping the poor. This would show how her values from her own time are still relevant today.
Another idea is that Mulan has a long - lost sister who is also a great warrior. They get reunited and together they face a powerful enemy. Their different fighting styles and personalities would create an interesting dynamic. They could combine their strengths to defeat the enemy and also learn more about their family history in the process.
One possible plot could be that Mulan, instead of joining the army as a man, is visited by a magical fairy who gives her the ability to transform into a man at will. This way, she can still protect her family and her village without having to completely hide her identity. She then uses this new power to outwit the invaders and becomes a hero not just for her physical strength but also for her unique magical gift.
To make Mulan's character more complex in a 'once upon a time' fanfiction, we could explore her fears more deeply. She is brave, but what if she has a deep - seated fear of failure? What if she is afraid that her actions won't be enough to save her family and her people? This fear could drive some of her decisions, like her decision to take on a more dangerous mission or to train harder. Also, we could show her dealing with the aftermath of war. How does she cope with the loss and destruction? Does she feel guilty for the lives lost? All these aspects would make her character more multifaceted.
One idea could be to explore Rumpelstiltskin's past. Maybe he wasn't always so obsessed with gold and deals. He could have had a family or a love once that was taken from him, which led him down this dark path. Another idea is to give him a chance at redemption. A young girl could come into his life who is kind and sees the good in him, and through their interactions, he starts to change.
One idea could be a story where in the Once Upon a Time universe, a character gets a magical haircut. Maybe the Evil Queen's hair is cut by a mysterious stranger, and with the loss of her long, flowing locks, she loses some of her power. Her vanity was tied to her hair, and now she has to adapt to a new look and a new level of strength.
To write a character - driven plot in Mulan fanfiction, explore her relationships. Her relationship with her father, for instance. What if her father had a secret past that Mulan discovers during her adventures? This would change her perception of him and also influence her actions. Also, her relationships with her comrades in the army can be developed further. Their mutual respect and growth together can be a major part of the plot.
A third idea is to create a fanfiction where Snow and Charming have to deal with an evil curse that affects only their relationship. They start to forget their love for each other, and the story could revolve around them trying to break the curse by going on a journey together, rediscovering the reasons they fell in love in the first place.
One idea could be exploring the backstories of the lost boys in more detail. Maybe one of them has a hidden connection to a character from the outside world. Another plot could involve a new villain coming to Neverland who has a different kind of magic that challenges Peter Pan. Also, a story about Wendy's granddaughter returning to Neverland to find a lost family heirloom could be interesting.
A plot could be that Aurora is in a deep sleep again due to a new curse. Mulan, who has heard tales of a sleeping princess, comes to the rescue. She battles the forces that guard Aurora's castle using her martial arts skills. Once she reaches Aurora, she discovers that the only way to break the curse is through a combination of Mulan's courage and Aurora's purity. So, Mulan has to go on a quest to find a magical item while protecting Aurora's sleeping form. In the end, they break the curse together and become friends who vow to protect each other's kingdoms.
One idea could be to have Peter Pan meet characters from other parts of the Once Upon a Time realm in a friendly competition. For instance, a race through the magical forests of Neverland against characters like Alice from Wonderland. This would be a fun and exciting story without any inappropriate content.
Family relationships are a big theme. Some fanfics focus on the family dynamics between characters like the Charmings and their descendants. There are also fanfictions that revolve around the theme of identity. Characters in 'Once upon a time' often have complex identities, and fan writers like to dig deeper into how these identities are formed and how they can change over time.