A/N – Hey, This story was a joint effort, We hope that you have fun reading it as much as we did writing it… we plan to keep it going for awhile! =) – Enjoy!

Disclaimer – We do not own this story – it belongs to Disney, and the Legend of Hua MuLan (isn't that right?)

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Chapter 1

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It has been four months since Mulan returned home as a heroine. Her life has change drastically since she saved China. She was now married to the handsome Li Shang and they are celebrating their one-month anniversary.

Mulan was sitting on the rim of the bridge in the garden looking at her reflection in the water when a familiar Captain came up behind her holding a small box.

"What's that?" She inquired.

"Something for you." he responded with his famous lopsided grin and handed her the small parcel while kissing her briefly.

Mulan smiled at him and then carefully opened the tiny box to reveal a gold locket on a thin chain. Mulan covered her mouth in a gasp a second before jumping on Shang to give him a hug. Her forwardness made him stumble backwards a little, but he returned the embrace.

"Well, Aren't you going to open it?" He asked after she released her hold on him.

Mulan looked at him curiously and opened the small locket, to see that it read Shang and Mulan. She then smiled at Shang, but her smile quickly turned into a frown.

"What? Don't you like it?" Shang asked noticing the change in her reaction.

"Of course I do, its just that... well... I feel bad because I don't have anything to give you" she explained solemnly.

Shang smiled at her kindly, then took her in his arms again.

"I don't need anything else, when I have you."

Mulan's cheeks blushed slightly at the comment and she kissed him lightly. Shang then took the locket and placed it around her neck.

"So how does it look?" she asked smiling at him.

"Great!" he answered with a slight smile, "You look beautiful."

Before she could respond a familiar beating of drums filled the air.

"Stay here, I'll be back." Shang told her before joining the small group of people encircling a man. Never being good at following orders, Mulan followed him outside of the gates.

"I have a message for Captain Li Shang" he called out to the crowd. Shang stepped forward, and the messenger handed Shang a note and then left on the horse he came on. Shang looked at Mulan confused, then opened the scroll and began reading it silently to himself. Mulan attempted to read over his shoulder, but to no avail, he was holding it out of her sight.

"The emperor wants to see me" he whispered quietly.

Mulan was scared, "Why does he want to see you?"

"It doesn't say" he informed her.

"Is there going to be another war?" she asked, blurting out the one reason she could think of. Shang could hear the nervousness in her voice.

"I hope not"

"Me too" Mulan agreed quietly, thinking that Shang couldn't hear her.

"Everything's gonna be ok, Mulan, I promise" he said reassuring both her and himself, while giving her a quick hug. They then went silently inside to get prepare for the small journey to the Emperor.

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Mulan was in their room packing some things and putting them in her bag when Shang came in.

"And what makes you think your going?" he asked laughing.

Mulan started to laugh too, "Well what makes you think I'm not? Someone needs to keep you out of trouble."

Shang just shook his head "I think it's the other way around."

"Ok then well someone needs to keep me out of trouble."

Shang smiled at her as she begged him to let her come along.

"Ok, ok you can come." He said finally giving in.

Finishing their packing quickly, Shang and Mulan began their trip to the Emperor's palace.

Not even half an hour later, Mulan grew bored and called out "Race Ya" to Shang and took off before he could say anything. He tried to catch up with her, but her head start made her way ahead of him. Khan was darting through the trees, until Mulan thought she heard something, and they stopped dead in their tracks.

Shang finally caught up not long after, and saw Mulan just sitting there.

"I'm going to beat you Mulan!" he told her, his horse slowing down to a trot. WHen she didn't respond in any way, he grew worried.

"Mulan? Is everything ok?"

She shook her head, "I thought I heard something..."

They both stood there for a moment listening carefully to their surroundings.