Chapter 2

The next morning, we rode west until stopping in woods close to the huge Chinese training camp.

Neither of us mentioned our dreams the night before, since both involved the other in compromising positions. And they both enjoyed their dreams while it lasted.

"It is a sizeable camp, but where there is such a camp, there are lazy guards." I noted dryly.

Mulan giggled, despite her disquiet. She decided to start acting like a male, since it would be needed very soon. The horses watched as she began, both looking resolutely bored.

"Okay! How about this?" I turned to her, waiting with a raised eyebrow as she cleared her throat and spoke in what she assumed was a masculine voice, which was admittedly passable. "Excuse me! Where do I sign in? Ah, I see you have a sword! I have one too! They are very manly and tough!"

She finished by drawing her sword, but dropping it in her nervousness.

Kahn, Mulan's black horse, began to neigh with laughter, and I sighed as she glared at her horse. "I'm working on it!" She snapped at both of us.

"You have a passable voice for a man, but you have to rid yourself of the fear in your heart." I said, and she groaned. "Who am I fooling? It's going to take a miracle to get me into the army!"

I was saved from replying by a booming voice behind us. "Did I hear someone ask for a miracle? Let me hear you say 'AH!'"

I whirled, sword drawn, pushing Mulan behind me. A silhouette of a large-looking dragon rose from a huge boulder behind us, surrounded by real flames.

"AH!" Mulan did as bidden, hiding behind me.

"That's close enough!" The dragon said cheerfully.

"A ghost?" Mulan asked, intimidated by the apparition. I was not, having seen enough events that were loads more intimidating.

"Get ready, Mulan! Your salvation is at hand! For I have been sent by your ancestors..."

I noticed that a small cricket was mocking his movements from the bottom left corner of the apparition, and that was when I started to sidle my way around the boulder, after motioning at Mulan to wait.

"...To guide you through your masquerade!" The dragon said, kicking the cricket away.

He disappeared momentarily, and I could hear him say to the cricket: "Come on! You're gonna stay, you gonna work!"

A second afterward, the flames billowed upwards, their appearance a sham.

I sneaked closer as the dragon figure returned to its stance. "So heed my word, 'cause if the Army finds out what you are, the penalty is death!"

Mulan, watching Alaric proceed towards the apparition, decided to act scared. "Who are you?"

The dragon snorted. "Who am I? Who am I? I am the guardian of lost souls! I am the powerful, the pleasurable, the indestructible Mushu-"

I pounced, seizing the creature, who yelped.

"I have you now, miscreant!" I growled, lifting it into the air, and depositing it in plain sight.

It was a small red dragon with no wings, approximately knee-height, with dark red scales and claws, a yellow belly, and a thin yellow mustache.

"I am pretty hot, huh?" Mushu asked us, and Mulan looked as disappointed as I felt.

Before he could say another word, both of our horses stepped on him, kicking up a cloud of dust.

Coughing, the creature sat back up.

I bent down, and picked him up again. "You cannot be serious!" I growled, frowning down at the puny creature.

"The ancestors sent a lizard to help me?" Mulan asked.

The lizard growled at us, folding his arms. "Hey! Dragon, DRA-GON, not lizard! I don't do that tongue thing! Thsss!" The dragon said, sticking out his tongue.

My cozy feelings with Mulan's ancestors were wearing off pretty damn quick.

"Oh, my mistake. Forgive me for my impudence, O powerful dragon!" I said sarcastically, dropping him again, non too gently.

"You're um..." Mulan started at Mushu, looking sheepish, as the dragon climed a bamboo tree to talk to us at head-height. "Imtimdatin'? Awe-inspiring?"

I finished Mulan's train of thought, loving Mulan's sympathy for Mushu. "Tiny!"

Mushu shrugged. "Of course! I'm travel-sized for your convenience! If I was my real-size, your cows here would die of fright! Down, Bessies!" He added sternly, as both chomped at him in anger.

"My powers are beyond your mortal imagination!" He said, hopping onto Mulan's shoulder. "For instance, my eyes can see straight through your armor!"

I winced. Bad idea!

SLAP! Mulan's answer sent him head over heels into the dust. "OW! That's it! Dishonor! Dishonor on your whole family! Dishonor on you! Dishonor on your cows-"

My throwing knife buried itself inches from the dragon's foot. "You talk too much." I growled.

The dragon shook his finger at me, only adding to my bad temper. "Don't make me roast you, Mr. Sleeps-with-swords!"

"Keep your forked tongue between your teeth, you miserable little-"

Mulan imposed herself between us before things got out of hand. "Shut up! I'm sorry! I'm just nervous. I've never done this before." She said to the dragon.

I laid my hand on her shoulder as the dragon answered. "Then you're going to have to trust me. And don't you slap me no more. Are we clear?" She nodded, and I cleared my throat, and looked down at the cricket.

"You look familiar. Grandma Fa's lucky cricket?" The cricket cheeped an affirmative, and I nodded, amused. "We welcome your help, Mushu. If I have need of you, I will let you know, but do not speak until I ask you to. Right now, it is time we entered the camp."


We did so with relative ease, and viewed the potential soldiers with disgust as they cavorted, gambled, fought, and various other unsavory things.

"Are they all like that?" Mulan asked Mushu, then reddened as I looked at her with mock hurt.

"Not you, of course." She said, and I turned back to look at the men, shaking my head. "Not one of these vagabonds and fools could even hope to cross swords with the enemy, and survive to speak of such a thing."

I wanted to continue walking, but a guard stopped me. "Assassin Rose? Follow me." He finished, after I nodded.

Mulan and our new friends looked at me. "Stay here, and keep out of trouble." I said, and followed the guard as he entered the largest tent of the camp, the size of which could easily shelter five warhorses.


A moment later, I was were escorted up to a man dressed in ornate armor, and a young man dressed in similar armor. The first man was huge, built like a war horse, had black hair with a salt and pepper beard, and dark eyes that spoke of leadership and wisdom.

"So here you are, Assassin!" He said, and I bowed.

"I am Alaric, Assassin from Britannia." I said.

He rose, and grasped my hand in his. "I am General Shang. Forgive me calling you just as you arrived, but I received orders from the Emperor concerning you. The Emperor received a message from the Mentor of England, your uncle. In it, he gave a glowing recommendation of your attributes, which were sufficient enough to interest the Emperor."

I suddenly had a very bad feeling about this, and hoped I was wrong.

The elder man continued. "The Emperor, not to mention myself, are in desperate need of leaders. I leave for the Tung Shao Mountain Pass with my troops in an hour, so I cannot train the men in the camp into soldiers. That will be Shang, my son's job. You will serve as an instructor under him, until you await further orders."

The General watched the Assassin for a reaction, and was impressed at the calmness on the young man's face, but that was only a well-practiced mask, hiding the anger that begged to be unleashed. "If that is what the Emperor requires of me, then it shall be so, General."

The General showed us where the Huns had attacked, and where the Tung Shao Pass was on his map. "Shang, you will stay here and train the new recruits. When Chi Fu, the Emperor's Scribe, believes you ready, you will join us...Captain." The General finished, placing a sword in his son's hands, who had been standing behind his father.

He was a tall, broad-shouldered young man of perhaps sixteen who stood beside the General. He had black hair, a strong jaw, and a firm visage. His resemblance to the General was quite obvious, and he stammered slightly before accepting the sword.

I could barely contain my disgust. This boy had probably never seen combat!

Turning to me, the General continued. "Captain Shang, my son, will be your senior officer."

I nodded, and bowed to Shang, who nodded back, seeming wary of me.

Good, he'd better be. I was incensed that this boy that was at least five years younger than me held higher authority over me!

Wet-eared whelp!

But he was obviously up for the job, as the General made it clear through several statistics that Shang was the man for the job.

The youth nodded. "I live to serve the Emperor, Assassin. I will be expecting much the same from you."

A sniff interrupted us, and a skinny man with a thin mustache in blue robes emerged in the doorway. "A foreigner made an officer in the Chinese army! Desperate times indeed! I am Chi-Fu, the Emperor's Ambassador." He finished, giving me a look full of disgust and Shang a look of mistrust.

"He will be reporting on your progress, and receiving orders from the Emperor. I believe you will do an excellent job." The General said to Shang, who nodded.

I gave the General a nod, and gave Chi-Fu a sneer. I could smell a slimy ball-scratching sycophant a mile away, and this man was an obvious one.

"Very good then. We'll toast China's victory in the Imperial City." He turned to Chi-Fu, and finished: "I will be expecting a report in three weeks."

With that, the General left the tent, and the rest of us followed...and walked into a huge free-for-all of recruits.

With an almost apologetic look on his face, the General rode off with his elite troops. I turned my head back to the delinquents, and I could hear the sycophant say to Shang behind me. "Day one."

I turned and gave him a look of black hate, while Shang ignored him.

I then focused on the crowd of misfits.

"Soldiers!" Shang yelled, and everybody stopped, except for one, who gave his victim another punch to the face.

"HE STARTED IT!" They all shouted as one, pointing to Mulan, who was at the bottom of a pile of fighters.

I winced ever so slightly, as Shang interrogated Mulan, who called herself 'Fa Ping,' in a moment of desperation. To her credit, she showed no fear.

Chi Fu cleared his throat. "This recruit, Captain, according to the guards, accompanied the Assassin into this camp."

I leveled a cold stare at him, really starting to detest this little tosser. I would enjoy make you eat your own heart, you spineless worm, I silently promised to myself.

"Is this true, Instructor? If that is so, then you are solely responsible for him, amidst your other duties."

I nodded. "Yes, Captain."

Shang turned back to Mulan, taking her conscription notice. "Fa Zhou? I didn't know he had a son."

Mulan shrugged. "He doesn't talk about me much."

Shang nodded, and turned to the rest of the recruits. "Okay, gentlemen, thanks to your new friend Ping, you'll spend tonight picking up every single grain of rice." He said, indicating an over-turned cauldron of rice, whose contents were strewn around the camp.

"Tomorrow, the real work begins." He finished, as the other recruits glared at Mulan.

What a brilliant start, I thought.


Hours later, I paced Mulan's tent, which was our tent. I was not in a pleasant mood, despite the fact that Mulan was here as well. At least Shang had put us together, as I felt responsible for her anyway.

"Damn it all! I am a Assassin, not a baby sitter!" I swore, and kicked a stool aside in a fit of anger.

Mulan winced, but knew she was the only one who could calm him down. She wasn't used to seeing her good friend in such a foul temper, but she could handle him...or so she hoped.

"I don't deny that this makes things complex, but you can do this. You were patient enough with me, so you'll be the same with them eventually."

I waved a hand in impatience. "You were different. I actually gave a damn, and you are my friend."

Mulan shrugged. "So give them a chance, as the situation calls for it. Wasn't it you who told me that a true warrior rises to any challenge, especially unexpected ones?"

I looked at her, smiling slightly. "Are you telling me to grow up?"

She nodded, and I laughed. "You are the only woman who has ever been this brutally honest with me, except for one other. Now, how have you been so far?"

Mulan shrugged. "I'm just trying to fit in, although I hate this masculine voice I have to put up."

I nodded. "At least they aren't pushing you around."

Mulan winced, and I rose, my hands reaching for my sword. "What are their names?"

Mulan grabbed me by the collar, and forced me back down. "I can handle it, Al!" She said in a voice that brooked no arguing.

I sighed, knowing that I couldn't do much about it. "Very well, but I will not allow any abuse of you in front of me."

She made for the tent flap, paused, then kissed me on the cheek. "I'll see you tomorrow morning, Instructor." With that, she was gone.

I pointed to Mushu. "And as for you, you keep an eye on her. You're the Guardian, after all."

Mushu saluted. "No sweat, man!"


The next morning, I stood in front of the men, who were lined up in parade fashion. After Shang said his bit, I introduced myself, explained my background, and why I was in China.

"We may be from different sides of the world, but you and I share a common enemy. This enemy relies heavily on the horse and the bow. According to Captain Shang, China relies upon hand-to hand combat and the Cannon."

The Cannon was a fiery projectile that had over ten times the range of the bow, and it left a small crater where it struck the ground. A most impressive weapon.

I continued after Shang nodded in agreement. "To be honest, I don't care what kind of weapon we rely on. In my experience, a weapon is only as deadly as the person that is using it, and since you bunch of ingrates are that said person, you are what I will concentrate on. And for the record, I couldn't care less how you think of me, as long as you give me one hundred percent effort every day, and I will know if you aren't giving me your best effort!"

Shang, who stood next to me, gave me a nod, and we both removed our shirts. We had rehearsed what we would do with the recruits late last night.

As the two men sparred briefly, showing how experienced warriors fought, Mulan admired Alaric's physique.

The hair on his chest was as red as his head, and to look at such a glorious physic was truly a pleasure. And since when were scars so desirable?

When we were finished, Shang spoke: "You will assemble swiftly and silently, and any who acts otherwise will answer to the either of us."

Yao, a short, pugnacious man with two seemingly permanent black eyes and a bushy beard, whistled insolently. "Ooooh! Tough guy!"

Titch! We shall see how confident you are shortly!

Gritting my teeth, I approached a huge pole of wood, perhaps twenty stories high. Pulling out a bow and arrow, I fired with barely a glance at the target: the top of the pole. Bull's-eye!

"Thank you for volunteering, Yao! Retreive the arrow!" Shang said, pointing to him.

"I'll get that arrow, pretty boy, and I'll do it with my shirt on." Yao growled under his breath, approaching the pole.

Before he could start climbing, Shang stopped him.

At Shang's order, I brought out two large weights, and attached them to Yao's hands, dropping his arms so that he thudded to the ground.

"Now you can try." I said, with a nasty grin.

He did so, and got a few feet before starting to slide down. He sank his teeth into the wood to stop his descent, but only prolonged it.

I would have felt sorry for the poor bastard if he wasn't such an arse.

Every single man failed after him, including Mulan.

Shang sighed. "We've got a long way to go." He muttered to me, and I didn't argue.


Over the next two weeks, Shang and I began to train the men through drills and exercises, and slowly, the men became soldiers.

The positive progression started at the end of the first week, when Mulan climbed the pole in the early morning, earning the respect of many, including Yao. I could have kissed her then, but that would have been suicidal, so I settled with giving her a small smile.

She, or Ping, became somewhat of a leader and an inspiration to the men. She had the respect of all the men, especially with Yao and two other men, Shien-Po and Ling.

Chien-Po, despite his gargantuan height and size, Chien Po a quiet, soft-spoken man, making me wonder why he had joined the army.

Ling was a long-haired, skinny trouble-maker with a penchant for pranks and humor, but he was also as friendly and loyal as a hound.

Yao, a boxer and brawler, had a tendency to fight anyone at the drop of a hat. However, I came to know him as a hard-working individual who was as devoted to his friends as he was to fighting. I made these three men and Mulan my junior officers under myself and Shang, with his permission.

I should have known Mulan would be the one to do something special. Even though she had almost failed out-right, she persevered through grit and hard work, which was rare for anyone that age, especially a woman.

I kept my feelings for her at bay, though. Although they were growing, I couldn't let her in, like I had my parents, not yet.


The General's son, although stern and stubborn, was a highly effective commander whose loyalty to the Emperor was unquestionable. Although I had many sincere doubts about a boy being a senior officer over me, my doubts about him were erased as the time went on, and he was one of the very few men that I have ever trusted completely.

Mulan's peerless beauty was so obvious now that I thought she couldn't get anymore beautiful, but I was dead wrong, as I found out by accidentally seeing her bathe one evening. Needless to say, I needed a long swim in cold water afterwards!

All in all, I thought the men were making fine progress, but the ever-infuriating sycophant didn't agree.


One evening, he entered Shang's tent, and began to berate us both. "You think your troops are ready to fight? They would not last a minute against the Huns!"

I glared at him. "Have you ever actually held a sword before, you smug little shi-" Shang sent me a warning glare, cutting me off.

"They have completed their training." He said, and the slime-ball sniffed in what I took to be an effeminate manner.

"Those boys are no more fit to be soldiers than you are to be commander! Once the general reads my report-" He did not finish the sentence, as I had unleashed my Hidden Blade, cold fury taking away any common sense. It was only the firm hand of Shang that kept me from gutting him. "You shall never have the chance to write it! You have been nothing but a thorn in our side, and I will not stomach another word from you! If you do not leave this tent this instant, I will gut you like a fish. Get out of my sight!"

The man quailed, and turned for the door. "You and your men will never see combat! I have the ear of the Emperor himself!" He hissed before he left.

I smiled despite my rage.

Mushu would take care of your letters, you little bastard!


Shang turned to Alaric. The Assassin was an icy, ill-tempered, cynical, and often insubordinate man, but Shang had learned to deal with him! "Your sharp tongue will be the death of both of us, Instructor! You are dismissed until you can keep a better hold on your temper."

I glared at my commanding officer. "As long as he's around, Captain, we will never get to the Tung Shao Pass! Why don't you just let me slit his throat?

Shang responded by pointing to the entrance of the tent. "I gave you an order: get out!"

One of these days, boy, I shall have my vengeance for your arrogance.


Breathing heavily, I left the tent, and found Mulan waiting for me outside. "I'll hold, and you punch!"

I smiled. "Someday, Mulan, that will come into play!"

Mulan smiled, and laid a hand on my shoulder.


It had been he who had helped her keep up with the men, offering words of advice and encouragement that stopped her from returning home in despair.

Now, Fa Mulan realized that she had fallen in love with Alaric, the cold killer whom she had feared like death itself. Although she hated him for driving her relentlessly during training, she knew that he cared about her welfare.

Underneath all the anger, the coldness, and the arrogance that the Assassin displayed, Mulan found that she couldn't hate him.

"For what it's worth, you are a great Instructor." With that, she returned to her tent.


I stared after her, and smiled slightly before kissing her brow. "You have my thanks. Now, get some sleep."

She blushed at his gesture, and nodded before walking back to her tent

What an amazing, strong, and courageous woman! I knew I loved her, loved all that she was now, and would become later, but I just couldn't...do it.

What woman would want a murdering bastard like me, and what if Mulan died like my parents?

I sighed, knowing I was at a crossroads. The paths in front of me led in very different directions, and for the first time in my life, I had no easy, simple answer. Which path am I going to choose?


Mulan's heart pounded, and her knees weakened as she entered her tent.

"I saw that." Mushu's voice interrupted her, the dragon stroking his mustache thoughtfully.

"What?" Mulan asked innocently.

"You like him, don't you?"

Mulan blushed. "I don't know."

"Yeah, you do." Before she could answer, he disappeared, leaving her standing in her tent.


Mushu reappeared next to Shang's tent, and listened in on the continuing argument between Shang and Chi Fu.

"This isn't finished. My men are ready, and you know it!" Shang was saying, but Chi Fu snorted. "Be careful, Captain. The General may be your father, but I am the Emperor's council. And, oh, by the way, I got that job on my own. You are dismissed."

A few seconds later, Shang stormed from the tent.

Mushu growled to himself. "Oh no, you don't! I've worked too hard to get those two lovebirds into this war. This guy's messing with my plan!"

He needed to take care of a certain greasy individual, and Mushu had worked too hard to have Mr. Slimy spoil it all! He had an idea of how to fix this bozo!

All he needed was a few choice resources and the cricket's assistance.

The cricket happily used his little feet to create a letter from General Shang to his son, and then Mushu tried to persuade Kahn and Ghost, Alaric's dun stallion to help, but failed miserably.

He would have to try something creative!


A short time later, Chi-Fu emerged from the water, wrapping a towel around himself. "Insubordinate ruffians! You men owe me a new pair of slippers!" He shouted back, then turned back.

"And I do not squeal like a girl-" His argument ended in a very unmanly squeal as a panda carrying a rider snatched his remaining slipper from his grasp, and promptly ate it.

The supposed rider, controlled and voiced by Mushu, shook the forged letter in Chi-Fu's face. "Urgent news from the General!" Mushu said, disguising his voice.

Chi-Fu looked down at the panda suspiciously. "What's the matter? Never seen a black-and-white before?"

The skinny man took the letter, then a closer look at the supposed messenger, who's long mustache was Crick-ee's feelers. "Who are you?"

The messenger, made of straw and a stolen man's armor, straightened indignantly. "Excuse me? I think the real question is, who are you?"

He asked, poking then slapping the greasy man. "We're in a war! There's no time for stupid questions! I should have your hat for that, snatch it right off your head! But I'm feeling gracious today, so carry on before I report you!" He finished, as he and the panda disappeared up a tree, but the man was too busy reading the note.


"Instructor!" I groaned, poking my head out of the tent, and saw Chi Fu and Shang standing there. "What is it now? I'm trying to sleep here!"

Shang's next words woke me up fast. "Urgent news from the general. We are needed at the front!"


REWRITE!