Soooooo sorry for the long wait.....I had a lot going on and never really found the time to update and not only that I had to figure out what I wanted for this chapter and the other ones as well. Well hope you guys like this one and thanks so much to those who reviewed my other chapters! Enjoy!

CHAPTER 3: Goodbye forever?

Mulan sat on her bed, her eyes drained and out of tears. She felt her heart go out, she wanted to help. Though now she had to go back to the matchmaker and go through her pressuring and her teachings to become a proper lady once again. Though she felt her parents were forcing her to be something she wasn't. She couldn't believe what her father did; ordering Chi Fu to tell the Emperor that she was not allowed to go. But then again the Emperor even though wished knew that it was up to her and her parents to figure out weather she was allowed to go or not. Even though it was really mainly her fathers doing and orders that she was now stuck at home to become a slave for a future man, that's if the matchmaker approves of her and passes her.

Her thought were out to her friends who were going back into the war and to Shang...Would she see all them again? This was not who she was...staying out home with no adventure, no excitement. She was a warrior...

A knock at the door stopped her thinking. She got up and looked out her door to see her father open the door to Shang. "How are you Sir?" Shang asked politely.

"Well captain..."

"General now.... I'm here to speak to Mulan."

"I know why your here General.... And I know what the Emperor wants her for and the answer is that my daughter will be staying here with us. She is needed here, you don't need her to go back and battle off with all those men. Something could happen to her."

"Sir...I can assure you that nothing will happen to her, she will be protected. And She has saved China once, The Emperor and China need her back on our side."

"Maybe so, but she will not always be protected I know that. She is needed here to for fill her duty as my daughter and be trained as a lady once more. Soon after that she will marry and become wife to some lucky man." Fa Zhou explained, getting a little irritated with everyone asking for his daughter to go back to war. He could see in Shang's eyes that he was disappointed. "Please understand...We lost her once and she lucky has come back to us.... We do not wish to lose her again...."

Shang even though knew the law, and her father's wishes was hoping to have her back on his side once more. "General Fa.... I would wish you to think this over once more."

"There is no need to think things over, my answer is No." Mulan listened in closely and stayed out of eyesight.

Shang nodded and apologized, and bowed down before he left the house. Mulan quickly closed her door and got to her window, she watched as Shang left the house and marched his way to his horse. She bit her lip; everything seemed to be moving so quickly. Emotions and feelings, what would happen if she didn't say anything to him now? She knew that her decision might not be approved of but she didn't care. Carefully and oh so quietly she got her leg over the window and hoped on down and out of the window. Landing on her feet she quickly ran over to Shang but made sure that her parents could not see her. As she made her way closer, she whistled getting Shang's attention. She motioned for him to come over, he looked towards the doorway to check to see if her parents were looking, when he saw nothing he made his way to Mulan, where she hid in the darkness.

"Shang what's going on?"

"We have been invaded again by the Mongols."

"I tried to talk to my father about it, hoping that he will let me go...I don't want anything bad to happen to you guys, and staying here knowing that you guys are out there doesn't make me feel any better. I'm not meant to be here...."

"I know.... The Emperor wasn't the only one that wanted you to be out there with us. But I can understand why your father wants you here."

"But he didn't even ask me...." Mulan argued.

"Yes, I know. But then again maybe he's right? What if something did happen to you?"

"Shang it's me we're talking about here."

Shang smiled, "Still.... I don't know what I would do if something happened to you." He said bring his hand to touch her face. Mulan grew red in the face, yet smiled with shy thoughts.

"I don't want to stay here and have to deal with the matchmaker."

"You're not the only one that has to deal with the matchmaker.... My mother is already looking for a 'perfect' match for me. I tried telling her not to, but it didn't work."

Mulan looked down at the ground, she felt like everything and everyone were against what she wanted. "So.... Does this mean that we won't see each other again?"

"I'm not sure..." Shang paused in thoughts, "But I will write to you and tell you everything that goes on at camp, so you know that everyone, including me are alright."

"Thanks.... And I'll be sure to write to you entertaining you with all the hilarious stuff that goes on with me and the matchmaker." Shang laughed softly.

"I'm sure you'll do fine...." Shang assured.

Mulan sighed, knowing that if she did good or even fine that she would be forced to marry someone that she didn't know when she dreamed of getting married to someone that she loved even someone that was out of her league. She looked up at Shang, "But I don't want to do fine.... I don't want to do it at all. It will change everything, everything that I want."

Shang frowned now knowing what she was talking about. He himself did not want to be matched up with him. It all seemed so wrong, even though it was the law and it had been going on for many a year now. "I know...." He whispered. His horse in the background neighed for him. He looked back then back to Mulan. He now wondered to what would happen to him, to her.... To the both of them and their relationship, he for sure wanted to continue to see her and to keep in touch. Even if they were now going to be separated through war.

"You better get going then.... General...." She smiled with tearful eyes. Shang quickly wiped them away from her face.

"Don't cry.... There's no need to."

Mulan wrapped her arms around his neck and whispered into his ear soft words, "Yes there is..." He leaned his head against hers and wrapped his arms around her waist and held her tight.

As he leaned his head against hers, he too whispered into her ears, "I'll be back...that's a promise." He let her go slowly and stared into her eyes it even pained him deep inside right then just letting her go. He felt his heart go out, almost as if he knew that he was going to lose her forever, even though she was standing right in front of him. But war always has its consequences and its losses. It was going to be hard, but he hoped and prayed that he would make it out ok, and he would return and marry his Mulan even if it meant for his mother to be against the whole thing, he loved her way too much!

Mulan watched as Shang turned around and left, it seemed like it was the beginning of the end for her. Almost like she was never going to see him again. But she tried to hide all that, the possibility of losing him for good were great, but in her heart, his promise meant more then anything and she would have his promise with her forever.

Was the war going to be this hard? Were the Mongols going to be as hard as the Huns? It seemed all too soon and all too fake for this all to be going on. But maybe there was more then she thought to all this. Maybe there was a reason for all this commotion now? What if there were greater risks to come and no one knew about it? What if all turned out for the worst and she didn't have a choice anymore and she was then forced to fight for her people? Nothing was certain for now, all she knew was that Shang and her friends were leaving her to go fight for their country, and she would have to stay home and hope and pray for all of them. Tears shed from her watery eyes, as she could no longer see her Shang with her.

I don't know. I think maybe I made this chapter go too quick? What you think? The next one will be better I assure you! Thanks again too all of you for your help!