This is a fictional version of the Mulan story. The Disney characters and names do not belong to the author. This story is merely for the amusement of the readers and not in any way intended as disrespect or for commercial purposes. It was written by a young author who dearly loved the original film Mulan and was disappointed by the sequential film, Mulan 2. This is the author's idea of what the story should've been like.

Mulan 2

Chapter One

A Girl Worth Fighting For

Once upon a time, a very long time ago...

Somewhere in the heart of China lived a beautiful, spirited girl named Fa Mulan. She was not your typical Chinese girl. Her hobbies included singing, riding her horse Khan, joining the Imperial Army, and saving her country from the evil Huns. She lived with her parents and grandmother in a lovely valley nestled next to a mountain.

Before this story takes place, the Emperor had called for one man from each family to join the fight against the Huns. Mulan's father, Fa Zhou had been wounded in another battle and walked with a cane. Mulan knew that if her father went to battle now, he wouldn't come back. So Mulan stole her father's armor and ran away from home to illegally join the army. She was discovered, but not before she had helped to destroy most of the Hun army. At the victory celebration, she uncovered a Hun plot to overthrow the Emperor. Mulan, with the help of her dragon friend, Mushu, rescued the Emperor and saved China. She became a hero!

But that's not this story.

This story began where the last story left off. The Fa family had invited Mulan's commanding officer to dinner. Captain Li Shang was not only Mulan's commanding officer, but Mulan had the feeling that he liked her romantically. She also had the feeling that she felt the same way about him.

They all sat on red cushions around the low table, eating dinner. Grandma Fa kept glancing from Mulan to Shang and back again. Mulan silently ate her bowl of rice, trying to ignore Grandma's meaningful glances. Shang didn't seem to notice.

This continued until everyone was finished eating. Then Mulan finally broke the uncomfortable silence.

"I...I uh...have something to ask."

Fa Zhou smiled at his lovely daughter, "Yes, Mulan?"

Mulan took a deep breath, "Shang and I have been talking, and we'd like...we'd like to go camping!"

Grandma Fa grinned broadly, "Ohh, what a great idea! Now that the summer season is here, it will be lovely in the foothills!"

Fa Zhou solemnly watched the exchange. He had reservations about letting his daughter run off again. And alone in the mountains with this man whom he had hardly met! But he saw the looks on his mother and daughters' faces. This Captain Shang seemed an honorable fellow, and a camping trip had to be less dangerous than going off to war!

"I can see I'm outnumbered here," Fa Zhou said to his wife, "Mulan, you may go, but only to the foothills, and you must take one of the family guardians with you."

Mulan's grin quickly turned to a look of annoyance. She looked at Shang. Shang was looking at Mulan's father.

"Of course, Honorable Fa Zhou, if those are your terms, we will abide by them." Shang bowed and headed for the door. Mulan followed him.

"Shang," Mulan whispered to him, "do we really want to be dragging a stone animal through the wilderness with us?"

Shang whispered back, "At least your father allowed us to go. It won't be so bad. We'll finally get some time together! I have something I need to discuss with you...in private."

Mulan sighed. "You're right. Well, I guess I should go get the guardian. Let's meet tomorrow morning...how about under the tree in the garden?"

"Sounds perfect. I have something I need to take care of, so I'll see you tomorrow, soldier." Shang smiled and saluted Mulan.

Mulan laughed," I'll see you tomorrow, Captain!" She headed to the family shrine.

She struck a match as she entered the shrine. Mulan held the match up so that she could see the family guardians on the top shelves of the shrine. She saw the swiftest guardian, most cunning guardian, wisest guardian, and...a little red dragon?

The dragon appeared to be playing a board game with a cricket. He stroked his chin thoughtfully, and then grinned as he moved his piece.

"Your move, Cri-Kee!" the small dragon said. The cricket hopped up and down in a rather upset way.

"What'chu talkin' about? That move was perfectly legal! See..." the dragon was interrupted.

"Mushu? What are you doing on a guardian shelf?" Mulan looked up at him.

Mushu looked down over the edge of his shelf.

"Hi, Mulan! I been promoted! You are now lookin' at your very own, personal guardian dragon!" Mushu drew himself up proudly. Even standing up as tall as he could, Mushu was only the size of a large lizard.

Mulan laughed lightly, " Well, how would my guardian dragon like to go camping with me?"

" Would I? You say the word, girl, I'm there!" Mushu excitedly addressed the cricket, "Pack the bags, Cri-Kee, we are goin' campin'!" Mushu turned back toward Mulan, "Uh, when are we leavin'?"

"We'll be leaving tomorrow. I'll see you then! Good night, Mushu." Mulan smiled, then she ran off toward the stables.

"Ohh, this is so excitin'! My first job as Mulan's personal guardian!" Mushu sighed happily. He had worked for 500 years to get his shelf back, and he wasn't going to lose it again! Mushu was determined to be the best guardian the Fa family had ever had!

"Yep, with me as her guardian, Mulan'll be the safest girl in China!" Mushu decided. Cri-Kee remained uncertain.

Mulan entered the stables. She noticed that Shang's horse was already gone. A nicker came from one of the stalls.

"Hi, Khan!" Mulan smiled as she entered the stall of her beautiful black stallion. Khan turned his white-striped face towards her and whinnied happily. He nudged her hands as she fondly caressed his mane.

"We're going camping with Shang tomorrow, Boy." Mulan said to her horse, "I hope everything goes as planned." Khan nudged her again.

Mulan grinned, "Ok, ok, I know what you're after!" She reached into a small pouch she carried and produced a big red apple. Khan took it from her and bit into the crunchy fruit. Mulan stroked her horse again.

"I have to go to bed, now. Get a good night's sleep. We have a fun day planned tomorrow!" Mulan left the stables and went inside her house.

--- --- --- --- --- --- ---

The next morning, the sun came up as it normally did. The rooster crowed as he normally did. And Mulan woke up as she normally did, well, almost.

"Rise and shine, sleepyhead! It's campin' time!" Mushu jumped up and down on Mulan's bed, attempting to wake her up.

"Mushu! Go away! The sun's barely up!" Mulan mumbled into her blankets. Then her blankets deserted her as Mushu whisked them away.

"Yeah, but the sun doesn't have to pack for a campin' trip! C'mon, get up up up!" Mushu bounced over to an open bag near Mulan's bed. Mulan sat up and rubbed her eyes.

"Mushu, why do you have to be so...awake?" Mulan moaned. She'd had a hard time getting to sleep that night. There had been so much to think about! She looked down at the activity on the floor.

Mushu and Cri-Kee were busily sorting through camping gear. " What'cha mean? Didn't ya know all dragons are morning people? Besides, you said we'd be leavin' tomorrow, but you didn't say when! I just want you to be prepared. Let's see, tent?" Mushu pulled out a list.

Cri-Kee chirped an affirmative.

"Canteen?" Mushu asked.

"Chirp" said Cri-Kee.

"Extra matches?"

"Chirp"

"Long underwear?"

"MUSHU!" Mulan exclaimed.

"What? It could get cold up there! You wanna be a girlsicle?" Mushu said.

"Um, thanks for your help, but I can pack my own bags." Mulan told Mushu.

Mushu shrugged, "Ok, suit yourself, but I'll be outside if you need me. C'mon Cri-Kee! Let's let the princess here get dressed." Mushu and Cri-Kee left the room.

Mulan sighed and shook her head with a smile. Sometimes life would be easier if Mushu helped a little less! She glanced outside at the sunrise and smiled. Soon she'd be on the trails with Shang! She wondered what he wanted to talk to her about. Still smiling happily, Mulan began to pack.

Music starts coming from nowhere.

Mulan: Look at me,

I will never pass for a perfect bride,

Or a perfect soldier

Can it be,

Possible to play both parts?

Now I see

That the world is truly a wondrous place

Run by love between two hearts

Who is this girl I see

Staring straight

Back at me?

Seems like my reflection's someone I know well

Now I will never hide

Who I am

Though I've tried

Now that my reflection shows

Who I am inside!

I can be the girl I know

That I am inside

--- --- --- --- --- --- ---

Shang stood under the flowering tree in the Fa family's garden, waiting for Mulan. He sighed and watched in the direction of the house. Where was she? He had something very important to tell her. Shang was going to tell her on the trip, but he felt that he couldn't wait any longer!

Then he saw Mulan coming down the hill towards him. She smiled when she saw him watching her. He returned her smile as she approached.

"Hi, Shang! Khan's all packed and ready to go, so whenever you're ready..."

"Mulan, I have something important to ask you." Shang interrupted.

The pair was unaware that they were being watched from the house. Grandma Fa and Fa Zhou had a view of the garden from the front window. They watched as Shang got onto his knee and said something to Mulan. Mulan shrieked and hugged Shang excitedly.

"Ohhw, what did I tell you? There's going to be a marriage in this family!" Grandma Fa exclaimed. Fa Zhou already knew that. Shang had asked him for Mulan's hand in marriage the previous night. Fa Zhou sighed.

Grandma Fa didn't seem to notice her son's silence.

"I'm going to tell the mother of the bride, she deserves to know the good news!" Grandma Fa scuttled to the kitchen. Fa Zhou watched his daughter and Shang leave the garden together, hand in hand.

"Ancestors..." he prayed, " Please don't let Mulan do anything foolish."