Disclaimer: I don't own characters, just the plot. I didn't like the sequel. I thought it did the characters no justice.
She expected anger and a fitful lecture upon returning home. She expected her mama to forbid her to leave without someone escorting her around and her father to disown her. The moment she walked through the gates of her home, her mother and grandma greeted her with teary eyes and smiles. They were happy she came back in one piece. She had to work her nerve up to walk to the garden where her father sat under the cherry blossom trees.
It wasn't as she believed. He was not mad, in fact it was quite the opposite. She presented the gifts to him hoping to return the honor of the Fa family. What she failed to understand all this time was that her family loved her regardless of everything that happened. It wasn't until that moment she finally understood.
Even more surprising was when Li Shang arrived with her father's helmet. He stuttered and tripped over his words. It was something she didn't notice before. He was always so certain and confident with his words and actions. Yet, he was unsure here. When she first met him, he acted arrogant. It wasn't until she really applied herself instead of listening to Mushu, that she saw he was just a strict leader with the determination to protect their country.
"Would you like to stay for dinner?" She asked watching the relief wash over him. He looked tense until she asked. They only addressed each other while she pretended to be Ping. When she became Mulan once again, he had been reluctant and dismissed her until it really counted. When he arrived to climb the columns, with that one look she knew he was putting his faith in her.
"Would you like to stay forever?!" Her grandma hollered. Flames rose to her cheeks and she wordlessly assured him this was just a dinner invite.
"Dinner would be great."
Her father walked on ahead, he trusted his only child and was given no reason not to trust the man who had rode all this way to 'return' his helmet. He took his wife and grandma with him.
Mulan smiled at Shang as they stood there.
He returned the gesture and stood there feeling awkward. The Emperor had given him his advice and the man hurried off to correct his silly word vomit. He knew something was different with Ping. The man was built differently than the rest. 'He' had an odd manner about him that came to the rest of the men naturally. He had asked himself many times what was wrong with him. Ping's facial features were feminine! Surely his genetics weren't that off. A feeling began bubbling. He played it off as new found respect for Ping. When Ping was injured in the mountains and revealed as female, it all made sense. Too much sense with some relief.
"Mulan," He began, her real name rolled off his tongue with much more ease and grace than Ping, "I need to apologize."
Her lips slightly parted with surprise and out of habit pushed some stray hair behind her ear. This was unexpected. She didn't hear men apologize to women often. Maybe due to the patriarchal makeup of their world. Her father apologized and that was the only experience she had with such things. He explained that he done it out of respect for women, especially her mother. Again, a foreign concept to her. Here was another man, about to apologize.
His brow furrowed and he became quite serious, "I shouldn't have left you in the mountains after the wounds you suffered." He looked downward and continued, "My father taught me to have more respect for women then that. I hope you find it your being to forgive me."
"Shang," She began not exactly sure where she wanted to go with that sentence. She realized the situation he was in. He was obligated to behead her due to the law forbidding women to serve in the Armies of China. A life for a life didn't have to mean anything. She remembered the look on his face. Shock and betrayal from finding out her secret. She knew she couldn't tell him or anyone else. She done it to save her father the agony of having to make an appearance. "You were in a position where you had to act."
He quickly looked up at her soft eyes and half smile. That just wasn't good enough. "You could have set up an infection."
"You allowed me to live when the law obligated you to kill me. I'm grateful you let me live." She assured him, a full smile gracing her features. "I'm sure dinner is almost ready, lets join my family." She motioned him to follow and walked toward the moon gate entry.
I don't deserve her. He told himself several times as they walked. He clenched his fists and unclenched them several times. He wondered if they would ask her if she received any wounds and how she was treated. Fa Zhou. A very honorable man who served with his own father. He was sure her father saw how women were treated when they weren't dismissed or killed for breaking the law. His throat went dry at the thought. He knew such an interrogation was coming.
He sat on one side of Zhou while Mulan occupied the seat across from him. Li, her mother served dumplings and a variety of other dishes. Once they were all seated and the tea was poured, they ate. The silence was deafening.
"Captain Li, what was my daughter like during training?" Zhou asked after swallowing a bit of tea. He looked expectantly at the young man.
He knew he couldn't speak too freely about Mulan. As hilarious it all seemed now, it wasn't at the time. They were under a serious threat. Mulan had looked down at her own food attempting to hide the blush rising on her face. "She called herself Ping. I thought something was off with the way 'Ping' carried himself about. She was severely behind the rest of the men during the first few weeks. I eventually told her to leave but she pulled through. Amazing honestly."
"When was it revealed she was a woman?" He further inquired, his eyes settling on his only child. He watched as she flinched a bit. Of course he meant the young man and his own daughter no harm. He just wanted to know. She left abruptly during a storm after an argument. He regretted it dearly. Seeing her now, it was like she aged years beyond her current age.
"In the Tung Shao Pass." Shang breathed deeply before continuing, "She took our last canon and ran forward meeting Shan Yu half way. She fired the canon at a slope causing an avalanche."
"Whoo!"
Eyes turned to grandma Fa who quickly quietened down once more. Mulan kept her eyes downcast and began chewing her lip.
"She buried the Huns under the avalanche and when Shan Yu realized what she done, he struck her with his blade. I arrived too late to prevent her injuries. We almost fell over the cliff but her comrades saved us." He kept his eyes on Zhou and tone in check. "I told her she was crazy but had earned my trust. When she was being treated for the deep cut, the medic came to me and pointed out Ping was no man. I realized by law I was obligated to kill her."
"You didn't."
"I couldn't. She saved us all but due to circumstances, I couldn't allow her to come with us to the Imperial city. It was a mistake I'm not proud of." He trailed off looking down at his plate of half eaten food.
Zhou glanced at his own child once more. "I'm glad you spared my daughter's life." There was a question burning in the back of his throat but he figured if something happened, it would reveal itself in due time. Mulan met his stern gaze and the corners of her lips turned upward slightly.
Dinner had resumed quietly. Li Shang praised the dinner and despite offers to stay the night, announced his departure. He didn't want to intrude. He realized it had been some time since Mulan had seen her family. He also realized that her father planned to interrogate her but was waiting until he left. Mulan had accompanied him outside to his horse.
"I appreciated dinner. Your mother is an excellent cook."
"She outdoes herself sometimes. Thank you."
"Ha! What will you do now that you're home?" He asked genuinely curious. She looked around at her home then outside the gates. What would she do? Word would spread to their village about her impersonating a soldier and defeating the Huns. She knew this partially meant she would be paying another visit to the matchmaker in town. Her heart dropped into the depths of her stomach. Her mother would want her to try again.
"I guess female things." She shrugged figuring that the matchmaker was the last topic Shang wanted to hear about and the fact she harbored a deep infatuation over him. Sometimes her mouth ran away. "Mother will want me to visit the matchmaker again."
"Again?"
"It's a long embarrassing story." She grinned sheepishly. He chuckled and shook his own head. He didn't doubt it and if this petite woman could cause an avalanche, he bet a pot of tea she done something equally outrageous. Something about her having another adventure with the matchmaker didn't set right with his stomach. He knew it wasn't the food.
"I hope to hear it when I visit again. I'll write before I arrive." He mounted his horse and looked at her one last time with a genuine look of happiness. "Have a good evening, Mulan.
"Goodbye, Captain." She watched as he rode off down the path. She couldn't wait until he returned. That was the honest truth. Now that she no longer had to hide herself, she could show him who she really is. Heh...or maybe not too much!