*Lets start with the basics*-I do not own any of the rights to this movie.-Is this historically correct or follow the strict guidelines of the movie? Nah.-Why is it rated M? Mature content including rape and violence. Turn back now if that's too much for you. And I respect that.
*Moving On*This is my first time actually publishing some of my writing. So be gentle with my delicate self-esteem! Kidding. Throw whatcha got.I didn't do any research anything for this story. I just let the inspiration flow. I hope you guys like it.
††Stop Fighting Fate††
The whole family sat around the small table. It was annoyingly quiet. Some things had not changed since I returned. My mother was pouring the tea while my father sat silently, as stoic as ever. But grandma gazed at me steadily, her wrinkled face looking so severe. I shifted on my knees, the discomfort from her stare worse than my legs that were quickly going numb. A loud clang sounded from the kitchens, drawing everyone's attention. My mother rose and went to find out what was wrong. My father lifted his eyes and flicked between my grandma and me.
"I have had a vision." Her scratchy voice seemed to reverberate through the whole room. I saw my father visibly tense up before setting down his cup of tea and grabbing his cane.
"I think I will go pray."
Yup. Some things will never change. If anything, he had been praying more since my return. My grandma and I were left alone. I clasped and unclasped my hands nervously as we sat in silence.
"Your world is going to drastically change." My grandma had always been an odd woman. She often spoke to the ancestors as if they were there and she declared to have visions into the future on a regular basis. While I was skeptical of most of her crazy rants, there were times where she had been right.
"Shang is going to propose?" I asked in excitement, hoping that was what she had seen.
"No." her face scrunched up. "You are not meant to be with him." I gaped at her, shocked by her words. Shang and I had been courting for over six months now and we had talked about marriage. He had been bringing it up a lot more lately and I had begun to suspect that her was going to ask for my hand in marriage soon. I loved Shang. Of course we were meant to be together.
"Grandmother-…" I leaned forward. But her bony hand jerked towards me, grasping my wrist so tight I flinched from the pain.
"Listen now Mulan!" her tone sounded so eerie, making me freeze. "When this change happens, great prosperity will come from it. Peace and love. Warmth and happiness will fill you and you will be safe in the arms of-…" grandma trailed off, her eyes wide. She thrust my hand away as fear spread across her face.
"Who?" I was having difficulty breathing.
"A great warrior." She mumbled into her tea.
And that was it. Mother soon returned from the kitchens and dinner was served shortly after that. Father staggered in when we had all finished, dismissing us for the evening. My grandmothers words haunted me. A quick training exercise would help clear her lingering words from my mind.
"I'll see you tomorrow morning." I whispered against Shang's lips. He kissed me harder, wrapping his arms around my waist. I could not help but sigh, enjoying the taste of him. I slowly pushed him away despite my desire not to. It was already bad enough that he had snuck over the wall to meet me at the cherry blossom tree. If we lost control… Shang gave a slight groan and a roll of his eyes.
"Bright and early. I promise." I gave a small push against his chest, making him take a step back. He gave me one more peck before leaving silently the exact way he had come. I wasted no time returning to my room in a similar fashion: silent and swift, like a shadow.
Shang and I always gathered the regiment and did intense training, every morning. Since our engagement was announced, we had been rather busy. And Shang had been assigned General over the whole Imperial army. So when we did have time together, it was usually, under the moon.
I quickly changed from my training clothes and into my chemise for the night. It was a warm summer night, no need for thick sleeping clothes. I hummed a soft tune as I braided my hair, which had grown quite fast after I'd returned home. I blew out the lanterns and slipped into bed, still feeling abuzz and the warmth of Shang's lips on mine. I could hear the sound of the small creek flowing, the wind rustling the leaves of the trees, and-…
A hand clamped over my mouth and gripped my arm, yanking me to the floor. I was able to grab my dagger beneath my pillow and swipe into the air. A quiet sound of the dagger meeting skin and a hiss from my assailant. I ripped my arms free and swooped around, holding out the dagger and moving into a crouch, ready to attack. But I froze, shock and terror seizing me. This was nothing like the adrenaline that you feel before a battle. This was sheer horror, the kind that does not go away easily. Before me was Shan-Yu. The villain who had threatened our Empire. The man whom I had killed.
Or so I thought.
"You look like you've seen a ghost." His gravelly whisper sounded like nails on stone. He lunged forward, grabbing my wrist holding the dagger and squeezing so hard that I dropped the blade.
"You are supposed to be dead!" I was trying to keep the panic from showing. I yanked on my arm, but he twisted it behind my back painfully.
"It will take a lot more than fireworks to kill me woman." He hissed in my ear.
"What do you want?" I was still having trouble believing this was real.
"Revenge." He squeezed tighter, making me wince. "You will be coming with me. And you will do so quietly." He waited for my response. "This estate is surrounded. One sound from you and I will slice your family's throats and make you drink their blood. Your home will be burned to the ground with their corpses inside." I had never known such fear as I did in that moment. Not my family… "Understand?" another tug on my arm. I gave a slight nod, admitting defeat.
Thick rope was wrapped around my wrists and ankles before Shan-Yu threw me over his shoulder like a sack of flour. He made his way through my darkened home, walking the halls as if he had been here before. And perhaps he had. How was he still alive? What did he have in store for me? It could not be good. My greatest fear was for my family. He knew them, he knew this house, he knew far more than he should. What's to say he would not have his men attack even though I was complying? Shan-Yu was obviously not a man of his word. I could tell by the way he trapesed about in my home that he was enjoying himself. He was in complete control.
In the courtyard, a single black stallion waited with provisions saddled for what looked to be a long trip. I bit my lip, holding back the urge to fight. I had to wait. The time would come when I could escape. I had to bide my time. Shan-Yu slammed me on the saddle and swung up behind me, wrapping his arm around my waist and crushing me to him. A terrifying feeling settled in the pit of my stomach.
We were soon outside the gates and several miles down the dirt road, making our way through the small village. It finally struck me.
"Where are your men?" I snapped, no longer willing to stay silent. He did not respond. I jabbed my elbow into his ribs. He did not seem to notice. "Answer me!"
"You are in no position to be making demands, wench." He sounded amused. His piercing black eyes met mine. "But if you must know, my men are on the other side of the wall, waiting for us."
"You lied!" I clenched my teeth to keep myself from screaming. He grunted, a smirk on his face.
"Are you surprised?"
My body tensed, thinking I could make my escape now. He jolted the horse to a halt and looked down at me, grabbing my chin and forcing me to look up at him. "That does not mean I won't follow through on my threat." He clicked his tongue and jabbed his heels into the horse's sides, making the animal break into a fierce gallop. It did not matter. Shang and the entire Imperial army would come for me. There was plenty of time for them to attack. We had two days' worth of riding before we reached the Great Wall. And even then, it would be incredibly difficult to cross. How he had gotten over was rare. But getting back? Impossible.