Chapter 1 – Looking for Ming's Palace
"Ugh, Mushu, please! Are you capable of being quiet for five minutes?" Mulan pleaded.
"Sorry, Ms. High-and-Mighty," said Mushu, rolling his eyes. "I'm starving! We've been walking for days. You don't even know where you're going!" Mushu complained, adding an exasperated snort.
"Oh, please!" said Mulan. "I'm the one walking. You've just been sitting on my shoulder and whining."
As annoyed as she was, she knew Mushu was right. She sighed deeply and drooped her shoulders. She had no idea where she was headed. All she knew was that Ming lived in a well-hidden palace somewhere in the vast mountains of China.
As she spotted a small gazebo-like structure, she regained her composure and said, "Alright. Let's eat dinner and get some rest. This should be a decent place to sleep tonight."
"Finally," Mushu grumbled ungratefully, swiftly jumping off Mulan's shoulder and landing on the ground with a light thud.
Mulan unpacked the fish she had caught and prepared the day before. Giving half of the bland, tasteless fish to Mushu, she had a bite of the other half and closed her eyes, thinking about plans for the next day. She had already searched the Kai's Mountain, the Mountain of Tears, and the Ripe Mountain. Tomorrow, she decided, we will go to the Green Mountain.
Trying not to fall into despair, she thought about what would happen if she found Ming. She would find all the answers to her questions. A heavy weight of guilt would be lifted off of her chest. She could go back to serving the emperor. Only this thought motivated her to keep going. A great warrior, she was determined.
Suddenly, she heard Mushu crying, "AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
"Mushu? Mushu! Where are you?" she shouted, running around frantically and bulldozing bushes. Then, "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" she screamed in sudden surprise and fear. She had fallen into a hole, deeper than can be imagined, that twisted and turned like a roller coaster. Down she went, rolling through the hole.
"Oof! Umph! Ah! Ow! Ugh!" Mulan grunted out every time she hit a bump. Finally, she hit the ground and landed in front of Mushu.
"Ugh! Thanks a lot, Mushu. Look what you got us into!" Mulan threw her hands up in the air in frustration. Mushu wasn't listening. He was looking past her with his mouth dropped to the floor in astonishment and his eyes wide open with fascination.
"Mushu? Mushu, what are you…." As she turned her face to look back and follow his gaze, "Huh!" Mulan gasped. "Ming's palace!"