Prison Break
Disclaimer: I do not own Mulan. The characters in this story are © Disney.
Summary: Shan Yu is dead, and five of his finest warriors await their execution in the imperial city. Meanwhile, a new mission from the Emperor interrupts Mulan's honeymoon...
A/N: In the first movie, the fate of the remaining five Huns is never really disclosed. One can only assume they were arrested and executed, but this is never fully established, thus leaving a very amusing loophole. Furthermore, the alliance with Qui Gong was never made, and the threat of impending doom courtesy of Mongolia was never resolved. This story takes place after the second movie, even though I'd like to pretend the sequel was never made (and I barely consider it canon).
Chapter One: Prologue
Shang smiled when he walked through the gate to the familiar Fa household. He saw Fa Zhou sitting on the stone bench beneath the peach tree, deep in thought. Just to be spiteful, Shang snuck up behind him and said abruptly, "Hello, father!"
Fa Zhou sat up with a jolt. "Li Shang, you know you are always welcome at my home, but please never do that again!" He paused for a moment and said, "And why would you call me 'father'?"
Shang could not repress his grin. "I've come to ask for Mulan's hand in marriage."
The elder stood up and looked the young man in the eye. "Your father was a great friend of mine, and you are just as noble. It would be a tremendous honor to my family if you would wed my daughter."
Shang laughed a bit. "Honestly, I think it would be a greater honor to my family!" He looked around. "Where is Mulan, anyway?"
"I believe she is working in the garden. She would be very happy to see you," Fa Zhou replied.
"Thank you," Shang said before making his way to the garden.
Sure enough, Mulan was pulling weeds. She was covered from head to toe in dirt, but somehow she still looked beautiful. Every time she uprooted a handful of the unwanted plants, she would curse under her breath about how she had better things to do. Realizing she was oblivious to his presence, Shang cleared his throat.
Mulan quickly turned her head, and a relaxed smile crossed her face when she saw him.
"Captain Li Shang, what brings you here?" she inquired.
Shang had half a mind to propose to her right then and there, but he decided to wait. "Actually, Mulan, it's General Li Shang...as of this evening, anyway. My promotion ceremony is tonight in the Imperial City. It would mean a lot to me if you'd come."
"Of course I will, my friend," she said. "Is there anything else you want to say?"
Should I? Shang wondered. No, he'd made up his mind. He would wait until after his promotion to ask her. "Yes. You look really pretty today."
The Next Day
"I'm sorry about my...disciples," Mulan said once the young village girls were out of earshot. "Now, what is it you wanted to tell me?"
"Well, it's a difficult matter to address," Shang said. "Let's walk for a minute."
Mulan followed Shang to the marble bench under the blossoming peach tree. He sat down, and she sat beside him. "Okay Shang," she chuckled, "What's all this really about?"
The general was tired of playing games. He felt that he needed to come right out and say it. "Fa Mulan, will you marry me?"
"Yes!" she exclaimed. She leapt at him and trapped him in an excited embrace, which knocked him to the ground. They both laughed heartily.
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Mulan sat on her bed–the one she now shared with Shang–and began to brush her hair. It was her first night as a married woman, and she was beside herself with joy. Shang had just gone outside to talk to Ling, and he promised to be back as soon as possible.
"Ah, Mulan, this might not be the best time to tell you this," a familiar voice whispered from under the pillow.
"Mushu!" she hissed, "It's my wedding night! This is definitely not the best time to tell me anything. I hope you don't think you're going to stick around and watch!"
"No!" Mushu protested, though he would if he could. "I have another confession to make...about the mission."
"What is it this time?" she asked, not even trying to hide how annoyed she was.
"Well, when I was trying to turn you and Shang against each other...I might have...maybe...possibly...drugged him."
"What?" Mulan demanded.
"That's why he got angry so easily," Mushu said. "I drugged the guards and the princesses too, but that was an accident! I swear!" the little dragon insisted, holding up his hands in defense.
Mulan picked up her guardian in a grip that threatened to strangle him. "One of these days you're going to make me so mad..." she stopped herself from saying something she'd regret. "Get out of here. I'll talk to you tomorrow." She set him down, and he scampered away.
"Who were you talking to?" Shang asked, stepping over the threshold.
"Mushu..." Mulan admitted. Shang gave her a disapproving look. "But he's gone now! I promise!"
Shang sat down next to his wife and kissed her. "Good," he said, glad to know they were alone.
Mulan kissed him the moment his lips left hers. "So, General Li Shang, are you glad to be home?" she said teasingly.
He didn't answer, but instead left several soft kisses on her neck. She sighed heavily. Suddenly, she began to wonder. "So what did Ling want?"
"He said that he, Yao, and Chien Po are starting to wonder if they really love the princesses, or if it was just a passing infatuation. He wanted advice," Shang said, though it was obvious his mind wasn't on giving Ling love advice.
Mulan didn't want to ruin the moment, but she felt guilty not telling her husband what she knew. "Mushu told me he drugged all of us during the mission. That might be the cause of the 'passing infatuations', as Ling calls them."
Shang rolled his eyes. "No wonder your ancestors hate him."
Mulan laughed and kissed him again.
A/N: I'm sorry! Everyone was so out of character in Mulan II that drugs were the only logical explanation!
