Honour to us All: Chapter 1
"Shang! Shang!" Mulan called as she strolled through the garden. She sat underneath the cherry blossoms; she watched them as they elegantly glided to the ground.
"Mulan" Shang answered at last, his black hair and crimson cape waved in the wind. "What is it Mulan?"
"I have something to tell you…" Shang joined her on the bench, he wrapped his arm around her in support. Mulan looked at him, her eyes shimmered like sapphires. "You must promise me Shang, not to tell a soul."
"Of course, I would never do anything to hurt you." Shang smiled at her, and then gave her a gentle kiss on the forehead.
"Shang, I think I'm pregnant…" Mulan looked down, biting her lip. Waiting for Shang's response, all was quiet, and then there was a sigh of relief from Shang, then laughter.
"What's so funny? Shang? Tell me!"
"I thought that something terrible had happened. I thought that you were in danger! It's such a relief. It's such a gift!"
"You're not upset? Scared?"
"Are you?"
"I'm a little scared, I'm not sure if I can look after a child. Not on my own."
"Well you're not on your own. I'm here for you. So are Fa Zhou and Fa Li, and of course not forgetting Mushu." He smiled at her with a gentle smile; he pulled her gently towards him for support. "We can do this together."
"Maybe we can. I still don't anyone to know though, not until we're sure. Not until we both now that everyone can handle it."
"Of course"
The drums started beating, the Emperor's advisor Chi-Fu had arrived into the village. Shang and Mulan both left the comfort of their garden to greet him.
"Chi-Fu, what brings you to our village?" Shang asked inquisitively.
"Not good news, the Emperor wishes to see you." Mulan and Shang were just about to come forward, until Chi-Fu stopped him in his tracks. "Not you Shang, just Mulan. You are needed elsewhere." He handed him a scroll, a scroll with the details for his next mission; helping to guard the great wall.
"I'm sorry; but this is below my call of duty"
"Sorry Shang, the order was given by the Emperor himself. It is nothing against you Shang. The Emperor needs some able bodies at the wall; consider it an honour that he has chosen you himself."
Mulan hid away in the dark stables, readying her horse Khan. His proud head bowed down and nuzzled Mulan's sad face, then wrapped his neck around her shoulders. She gently touched his soft, dark hair.
"Thank you Khan."
"You're upset!" A small red dragon emerged from the shadows of the roof of the stable. It was Mushu, Mulan's favourite guardian and best friend.
"No, no I'm just a little nervous."
"Mulan, I have known you too long to be able to tell the difference between nerves and well, being upset. Now tell me what's eating you up."
"I'm going solo, on a special mission for the emperor."
"Yeah like you haven't done one of those before" Mushu climbed on Khan's back, until Khan turned his head and snorted in his face. Mushu nervously chuckled then jumped right back of his back.
"Good boy Khan."
"Oi! Watch it Mulan! I may be small, but I could still open up a can of…"
"Mulan!" A voice called out in the distance, Mushu dived for cover as Shang walked through the door. "It's ok Mushu, its only me."
"Yeah yeah, I knew it was you all along."
"Of course you did Mushu. Mulan, can I speak to you alone for a minute?"
"Yes of course you can." The couple both looked down at Mushu, he just sat there dumbly looking back up at them. He didn't understand the term 'alone'.
"Mushu, go!" They both yelled impatiently,
"Alright, alright I'm going. I can tell when my brilliance is not appreciated!"
Shang rested his hands upon Mulan's shoulders, he looked down at her, worryingly.
"Mulan, I cannot come with you on this mission you know that."
"Shang, I have been on lots of missions for the Emperor on my own before, and I still came back didn't I?"
"Yes, but now I'm worrying about the baby. I don't think you should go when you're pregnant. It just doesn't seem right."
"Shang, I know how you fell, I almost feel the same way. But I cannot let this baby control my life, especially when he or she hasn't even been born yet."
"I understand that, I just don't want to lose you, or our unborn child."
"I promise you Shang, I'm coming home." Shang kissed her on the lips, he smiled a fake smile. His eyes glistened as a tear was about to fall down his face. Mulan slowly moved away from him and mounted her valiant steed.
"I love you Shang. Don't ever forget it."
"I love you to. Don't you forget that." He yelled after her as she disappeared into the distant light.