Disclaimer: The characters in this story are (c) Disney.
Chapter Three
"Mulan! It's so good to see you!" Ting-Ting beamed when she saw the familiar face.
"Princess Ting-Ting! I've missed you!" Mulan said, trapping the tall, slender princess in a one-armed hug.
"We have so much to discuss," Ting-Ting said, "But come. Let me show you to your room."
Mulan followed obediently. As she strode through the vast, high-ceilinged corridors, she met the palace interior with more familiarity than she cared to admit. As she recognized the doors which led to the rooms where her friends donned women's clothes, she suppressed a chuckle. Mulan was sure Ting-Ting had heard the story of that fateful night when she saved China, but she doubted the young princess knew the story of her dearest Ling wearing a dress and make-up. Ting-Ting was right. They did have much to discuss.
Finally, Ting-Ting pushed open the door to a plush bedchamber. The room was decorated with red paint and gilded laquer. It was lit by a bevy of pillar candles on an ornate night stand. The bed was tall and dressed with the finest red silks.
"This is where I'm staying?" Mulan asked with awe. "It's so much more elaborate than what I'm used to."
"Well, odds are you won't be in this room for very long," Ting-Ting reminded her, "Remember, your first duty is to my father, and it's your job to protect him."
"Even still..." Mulan said, walking into the room and admiring the decoration.
"Personally, I think those five cads are long gone. If they were still in the palace, they would have killed my father by now."
"Princess!" Mulan gasped, taken aback by the girl's effrontery.
"You know it's true," Ting-Ting pointed out.
"Then we're wasting our time here," Mulan said, "They're probably half way to the Onon river by now."
"I just wish I knew what to do," Ting-Ting sighed. After a brief pause, she continued, "Fa Mulan...excuse me, It's Li Mulan now, isn't it? When did you first know you were in love with Shang?"
Mulan thought for a moment, and answered, "Well, from the moment I saw him, the attraction was instant. I didn't really start developing feelings for him until several weeks later, after I knew him a little bit better. Then one thing led to another, I saved his life twice, and he and I realized we had formed a strong connection."
Ting-Ting sighed again, and crossed the room to take a seat on the bed. "Courtship doesn't have to be as adventurous as saving a man's life twice, does it?"
Mulan laughed. "No, not always. That's just the way it worked for Shang and me."
"How many men did you love before Shang?"
"None," Mulan said. She didn't think it was wise to tell the girl that her interest in Ling had been drug-induced, "But if I had, that wouldn't make Shang any less right for me."
"I thought I loved Ling, but now I am beginning to see that when I met him I wasn't thinking clearly, and I was just looking for any excuse to get out of a political marriage."
Mulan sat next to Ting-Ting and took her slender hands in her own. "That kind of responsibility can be frightening. I think you should continue to be friends with Ling, but if you don't feel like you love him, you shouldn't force yourself to. It wouldn't be fair to either of you if you did."
"I just don't want to break his heart," Ting-Ting said.
Mulan recalled what Shang told her Ling said the night before. "I'm sure he'll understand," was her only response.
Meanwhile, in their make-shift camp outside the city gates, the four men discussed a slightly different topic.
"So, Shang, you're a married man now!" Ling said, nudging the general's arm with his elbow. "Let us in on all the details!"
"Details?" Shang asked, pretending for Mulan's sake to be confused.
"You know what we want to know," Yao said suggestively.
"Sorry, boys. I don't think Mulan would appreciate it if I talked about what goes on in our bed," Shang said, trying to stay calm.
"But you admit things do go on," Chien Po said.
"Of course they do..." Shang said. This conversation was getting more awkward by the sentence.
"So spill!" Ling insisted.
"Not until all of you explain what's going on between you and the princesses," Shang said, cleverly changing the subject.
"Nothing," Ling said, almost embarrassed.
"I love Su, and I hope to remain friends with her for a long time, but I'm not ready for a romance at this juncture. I don't know what I was thinking when we met," Chien Po admitted. Ling and Yao nodded in agreement.
"So how did you decide that Mulan was the gal for you?" Yao asked.
"I've always loved her, even before I knew she was a woman...but back then it was a very different kind of love. It was almost like a love between brothers...I wanted so much for Ping, or rather Mulan, to succeed. Then when I found out she was a woman, I felt betrayed that she had lied to me. I trusted him...her," he corrected himself, "and I wanted her to trust me. Then I realized that even though I was cross with her, I still wanted to be with her...she's remarkable."
The threesome gave the general confused looks.
"But how do we know if we really love the princesses?" Ling asked.
"Give yourselves some time to think about it," Shang said, avoiding telling them about the drugs, "and if you're still unsure, tell them gently that you don't think it's meant to be."
After a brief pause, Yao said, "Tell us what we want to hear! C'mon, quit avoiding it!"
"No!" Shang protested, blushing. Suddenly, he got an idea, "Hey! Did you hear that?"
"Hear what?" Chien Po asked.
"I think I heard something outside! I'll go check it out. You three stay here!" Shang exclaimed. He threw back the flap covering the entrance to the tent, and stepped outside, leaving the three guards in fear.
Glad to be away from them for a while, Shang sighed. He already missed his wife. He looked with disdain at the wall surrounding the city. He had half a mind to try to climb it, but such indecorousness was beyond his character. Instead, we walked to the gate and gazed at it. If only he could walk through it and be with his bride. He leaned against the cold bars and gingerly wrapped his hands around them.
"What are you doing?" a familiar voice chuckled.
"Mulan! What are you doing out here?" Shang asked, startled.
"Patrolling the grounds. I'm to report any unusual activity, and that looks pretty unusual to me," she said teasingly. She walked up to the gate, stuck a hand through the bars, and placed it on Shang's shoulder. "What a way to start our marriage, huh?" she said, putting the other hand on the side of his face.
"I don't mind," Shang sighed.
Mulan stepped back. "You know, this gate only locks from the outside. If you feel like breaking a few rules, I could let you in."
"No, I don't think it's a good idea," Shang protested. Before he was even finished speaking, Mulan had open the gate, and the door stood open.
"You might as well," Mulan pointed out.
"Okay," Shang said, entering the city. Mulan closed the gate behind him.
They embraced. "We're wasting time here," Mulan said, "the Huns are probably long gone by now."
"I know," Shang replied, "but we have to do as the emperor tells us."
Mulan kissed him. "Haven't you learned by now that doing what your told isn't always a good thing?"
"I wish Chi Fu could hear you say that," Shang said, nearly shocked.
"Believe me, I did," said a voice that made both Shang and Mulan abruptly turn their heads. There stood Chi Fu, as if he was waiting for something like this to happen. "I knew you couldn't be trusted! I'm taking you to the emperor tomorrow. I'll make sure you are fired from this mission, along with those buffoon friends of yours!"
---------------------------------------------------
True to his word, Chi Fu did take Shang and Mulan before the emperor.
"Your Excellency, the woman opened the gate to the city and allowed her husband into its borders after dark. She has proven many times before that she thinks she is above the law, but this is a new low! You know as well as I the punishment for entering the city uninvited," he said bitterly.
"A breach of protocol has indeed been committed. Li Mulan, please explain yourself," the emperor requested.
Before Mulan could speak, Shang spoke up, "Your Majesty, this is my fault. I take full responsibility for my actions."
"Whatever do you mean, General Li Shang?" the emperor asked, curious. Mulan gave her husband an apprehensive look.
Shang nodded in reassurance and continued, "Last night, I thought I heard something outside my tent, so I went to investigate. I saw Mulan patrolling the grounds, and she said she had seen some unusual activity. Instinct got the better of me, and I persuaded her to let me into the city. I felt it necessary to protect you and her. I assure you, Your Highness, that I never meant to place myself above the law."
The emperor stroked his beard and said, "It was a foolish thing you did, General Li, but I see you only had my well being, and therefore the well being of China, in mind. Ergo, I will not punish you or your wife."
"Thank you, sir," said Shang, bowing deeply. He and Mulan left the chamber.
Once they were out of the emperor's sight, Chi Fu grabbed Mulan's arm and twisted it behind her back. "Listen, you little bitch," he hissed. "It's a thick veil you've pulled over His Majesty's eyes, but I am making it my personal mission to expose you for the conniving witch you really are." He punctuated his warning by dramatically throwing her forearm back to her side and stomping away. Mulan tentatively took the arm in her other hand and rubbed it gently, still in shock about what had just happened.
A/N: Chapter Four coming soon!
