Author's Note: I know that this is usually at the bottom of the story, but I had to make an exception. This is actually one of my favorite chapters that I've written so far. I highly suggest listening to the song while reading this. (Well actually listening to the song during the last sub-part of this chapter, which is right before Shang's nightmare). Try and go with the lyrics. I feel that stories are better told with music.

Anyways, Read & Review! I really want to know what you think of the story. As for grammatical errors, I apologize, it is late and spell check never works.


Chapter 9 – Say (By John Mayer)

Mulan sat under the cherry blossom tree, nervously wondering what Shang was going to do next. He smiled at her nervously and knelt down on one knee in front of her. Mulan could barely contain her excitement in as she watched him.

"Mulan," Shang chuckled nervously. "I haven't known you for very long, but I feel that doesn't seem to matter when a man is in love." She smirked at the words he was trying to spit out earlier. "I love you. And I have ever since I met you. Will you do me the honors of…I mean…I ask you…" Shang sighed and looked down embarrassed by his lack of courage, but Mulan patiently waited for him to spit it out. He then looked her in the eyes and asked, "Will you marry me?"

Mulan's eyes widened and she screamed at the top of her lungs, "Yes!" She then tackled Shang to the ground and kissed him.

"Mulan," Shang's voice brought her out of her flashback, "Are you okay?"

"Yeah," Mulan leaned into him for a hug, "I'm fine." And as she stood there hugging him, she wondered what really happened in her past with Shang, if he was lying to her, and where his wife really was.


Later that night…

Mulan drew herself back from another one of Shang's kisses. She smiled and blushed as she realized that she was leaning against him while in his arms and their comfortable proximity. They looked at each other, with their faces just a few inches apart. Shang then closed his eyes and leaned in for another kiss but Mulan drew herself back, much to Shang's dismay and shock. "What? What is it?" he whispered.

"I…it's getting late Shang," Mulan told him lamely. "I think we should go inside."

"So you would rather do this in our room?" Shang asked slyly.

Mulan laughed, "No, it's just that it is getting late and we do need to be up in the morning."

"There are times where I've stayed up an entire night and gone for training the next morning with my father," Shang answered her. "It wasn't the best, but I did survive. I mean it's nothing a little green tea can't solve. But if you do want to go inside and sleep we can. And I mean sleep, and nothing else," Shang continued, reassuring her that his honor and dignity and respect for her were in the right places, no matter how loudly his heart argued against it.

"And what were you doing that entire night?" Mulan asked slyly. "I certainly hope it wasn't spent passionately kissing a girl as you are doing now."

Shang shook his head. "No, I was not actually," he chuckled. "But I did spend that night drinking and playing games with my fellow classmates or other soldiers. And apparently my father actually knew about it and decided to punish us by making training even harder on us." Mulan smirked, as if suggesting that Shang did the same with her. Shang smiled, "Besides, you are honestly the only girl I've done this with, or actually even considered doing this with." He then leaned in for another kiss and pulled her in closer.

Mulan reluctantly pulled away, but she had a question for Shang, "Wait, considered secretly kissing in a garden very late at night, or the mere idea of kissing a girl the way you are with me?"

Shang smirked, "Both." He then leaned in again, but Mulan put her finger to his mouth to stop him.

"Just me?" Mulan asked suspiciously to which Shang nodded. "Not even your wife Shang? Did you even love her?"

Shang sighed. He was caught in a big lie that was going around in circles and never ending and the only way to end it was by telling the truth. Even though he was technically lying, guilt still ate up at him and he couldn't fully lie to her, at least not without any reasoning behind it. But he couldn't tell her the truth just yet. And Mulan was waiting for him to answer her. "I did love her," Shang answered her. "But not nearly as much as I love you now." He sighed in relief. There, it was the truth. He did love Mulan, but not as much as he loved her now, and especially now, now that she was carrying his child and now that he saw her like he did 5 years ago.

Mulan sighed and smiled. She then did what Shang wanted to do for a while now: Mulan pulled him in closer for a kiss.


Mulan and Shang looked down and away from the guards as they entered the palace from the gardens. It was really late and no one was awake, not even the servants. Shang looked at Mulan and smiled. She returned the look, but added a smirk. Shang sighed internally knowing that she had something up her sleeve, yet he wasn't yet sure what it was. "I know that look," Shang warned her. "Before you even tell me what it is, I just want to remind you that there are people sleeping upstairs and that we need to be quiet. Okay, now what is it that you want to tell me?"

Mulan laughed quietly and then crossed her arms, "I was just going to say," she then looked around and said as loudly as she deemed appropriate, "Race you to the room."

Mulan then bolted away from him and towards the room. Shang chuckled and grabbed a hold of her arm. Mulan, who was trying to get away, ended up dragging Shang halfway up the stairs. Then Shang decided to leave her and race up the stairs leaving her in the dust. He smiled as he raced to the room. Shang constantly looked behind him to see if Mulan would eventually make it up to the stairs, and as he turned the corner he found himself running into Mulan, who was waiting patiently at the door. Shang looked at her in awe, wondering how in the world she beat him up there. He turned to look at the stairs and then back at her. Mulan laughed as she watched the confusion grow in his head.

She smirked as she answered, "Always expect the unexpected with me Shang."

"I know that," Shang responded and then lifted her up in his arms. Mulan giggled as he carried her into the bedroom. He then shut the door and leaned her against it. Shang then slowly dropped her to the ground and slid his arms around as he leaned in for a kiss. Mulan slid her arms around his neck and played with his hair, eventually taking the tie from his hair. As they pulled each other in closer, the kiss became deeper and deeper. Shang then slid his hands further down, but then reluctantly pulled away. "I'm sorry," he told her. "That was a bit too far."

Mulan straightened up and smiled, "It's fine." She then walked to the closet, "I'm going to change into something to sleep in, while you can use this room to change."

Shang nodded and reached into his bag for his clothes, but instead started digging absentmindedly. He just scoured through his bag as he thought. "I need to know my limits," Shang told himself. "She isn't married to you…or actually she doesn't know that yet," he thought sourly. Shang took off his clothes and changed into a pair of sleeping pants. He then realized that Mulan would be sharing a bed with him and he couldn't be shirtless. Shang then dug through his bag searching for a shirt, but couldn't find one. At that moment the door burst open and Mulan walked in and Shang couldn't help but stare at her. Baby or not, Shang couldn't even tell. She wore some small dark blue shorts and a light blue top.

Mulan smirked when she realized that Shang was staring. "So Shang," she asked, bringing him out of his reverie. "How are we going to divide this bed?"

"I…Uh…" Shang didn't exactly think that part through. "Well we're both honorable people, I think we know our limits, yes?" He then slid into the bed under the blanket and Mulan followed. "Besides, you're already pregnant anyway…"

"But not with your baby…" Mulan continued, finishing the rest of the sentence Shang's mind would have finished. Mulan groaned, what am I saying? She thought. Know your limits, her mind warned her.

"I love you, my baby or not," Shang smiled and gave her one last kiss on the lips. He then smiled at her when they pulled away. Shang gave her hand a small squeeze and said to her, "Good night." He then turned away and reluctantly slept facing the other way.

Mulan smiled and whispered, "Good night Shang," and then turned away from him.


"It's not polite to keep a man waiting General Li," Lord Wang boomed when Shang and Mulan hurriedly entered the room.

"My deepest apologies sir," Shang said before he bowed and concealed his yawn with a bow. "I was just gathering up all paperwork and the things I wished to speak to you about so that way I would be prepared for the meeting and not waste your time. It will not happen again sir, I assure you."

"Very well," Lord Wang answered impatiently. "How about you, Consul Fa? I trust you were satisfied with your room and my servants at your disposal?"

"Yes sir," Mulan answered him politely and tiredly. She bowed and also concealed her yawn with the bow. "I made sure I got a long night sleep in preparation for our meeting today."

Yao, Ling, and Chien-Po looked at the two wondering why in the world they were so tired. They all then smirked knowing exactly why the two were both tired and believed they knew why they had a long night. Mulan and Shang looked at the three oddly when they noticed them staring and smirking at them. They then looked at each other and shrugged, yet knowing they would have to ask them why they kept smirking.

"Well today it will have to be a short one," Lord Wang informed them. "I'm afraid I have another meeting with a few other people discussing some matters concerning my people's safety. But feel free to stay as long as you like; you are always welcome at my palace. However, I don't want to waste time with formalities. What led you to my palace?"

"I'm afraid the growing threat of invasion sir," Shang answered him, and swallowed his yawn. "We are in dire need of more troops, sir to help aid our national cause against these invaders." Shang then yawned and quickly concealed it with his mouth hoping Lord Wang did not see it.

"I hope I am not wasting your time General Li," Lord Wang interrupted him angrily.

"You are not sir, and I apologize if you think I am wasting yours. I assure you I am trying to do none of the sort," Shang answered him diplomatically.

"So you think you can come in here and asking me for my men to fight, while yawning to me?" Lord Wang asked him furiously. "Who do you think I am that you can show me little honor and respect?"

"Li Shang is a man of high respect and honor sir," Mulan boldly erupted out. "He is the commander of China's troops and has killed hundreds if not thousands of Huns. Li Shang was the highest in his class at the Military Academy and soared to the position of General at a young age. If anything, that is honorable and remarkable. General Li means no disrespect and certainly is not wasting your time. He traveled many miles to your palace to simply ask you if you would send us your men for him to train. General Li could have simply sent a mere soldier with a letter or even me, an Army Consul to await your news and persuade you, yet he comes here with his best soldiers and the Heroine of China to humbly ask you for your support. Is this the behavior of a dishonorable man? I highly doubt it."

For a moment everyone in the room, including Shang himself, stared at Mulan in awe and marveled at her. Her words and arguments were not only sound and persuasive, but diplomatic. Even Lord Wang himself was taken aback. For a while no one said anything. Ling, Chien-Po, and Yao stared nervously at Lord Wang wondering how he was going to respond to this. Shang on the other hand wondered if Lord Wang was going to hurt Mulan for answering him so boldly. Finally Lord Wang stood up from his chair and walked down the steps from his throne towards Mulan, who stood there firm and unwavering ready for her punishment.

Lord Wang clapped slowly and respectfully for the behavior Mulan displayed in front of him and for all his advisors. "Such bold words for a woman," Lord Wang answered him.

"But not just any woman," Ling pointed out. "The Heroine of China."

"Silence," Lord Wang boomed. "You," He then looked to Shang. "You trained this woman, did you not?" Shang nodded modestly. "And you said she is your best soldier?" He asked again, to which Shang nodded confidently. Even Ling, Yao and Chien-Po smiled and nodded without arguing against it. "Well then," he sighed. "I expect to see her bright and early next morning," he continued, to which Ling, Yao, and Chien-Po sighed relieved, but Shang looked in horror.

"Why?" Shang asked immediately.

"I wish to see if sending my men to you is worth it after all. Based on the looks of your other soldiers, I am not entirely satisfied. Maybe they are better off here than training with you," Lord Wang answered him. "However, I give you a chance to prove me wrong by sending your best soldier to fight off my men. If she is indeed victorious than I will send off my men to train with you and fight when the time comes, yet if she loses, then I will not send my men. I wish to test Fa Mulan's strength and mind against my men."

"But sir–", Shang started, to which Lord Wang waved a hand over it, stopping him.

"You said she is your best soldier," Lord Wang responded to him. "You should accept this challenge confidently as you did when I asked if she was your best soldier. If she is indeed your best soldier, then this contest should not be difficult for her."

"But do you promise it will be fair?" Shang asked.

"I am a man of honor Li Shang," Lord Wang retorted. "Not a slimy cheat. If she is indeed the best then she will be able to defeat all of my men. After all I do expect the best from the Heroine of China." He then walked towards the door, but before he left, Lord Wang left them with these parting words, "Your best soldier is a woman?" he laughed haughtily. "This is must see. It says a lot about China's weakness however." Mulan growled and clenched her fist in anger. "Besides, I doubt the contest will be soon over before long." Mulan then started to charge at him, before Shang held her back. "I hope I am not wasting your time General," Lord Wang said to him before he departed. Shang angrily looked at him and squeezed Mulan's hand in his fist. She squirmed to release herself from his clench.

"So what do we do now Shang?" Mulan asked him.

"Train you," he replied as if he had plan going on in his head already.


Shang and Mulan entered their room and Shang shut the door close after a long afternoon of training. Mulan grumbled as they entered in and Shang sighed knowing she was angry. They walked around the room in silence. Mulan walked to her closet getting the clothes from her wardrobe while Shang moved to his to do the same. They both sighed, hating the silence between them. Suddenly the both of them turned around wanting to say something to the other, but stopped and couldn't find the words once they made eye contact.

"Mulan, I –", Shang started, looking down and away from her.

"Why, Shang?" Mulan angrily asked. "Why did you take it easy on me? I knew you were the entire time. I can handle it Shang, how many times do I have to prove it to you? Do you want me to kill the Hun leader again? Would you like me to save the Emperor? Or do you want me to pretend I'm a boy once again so you can treat me as your equal instead of your inferior?"

"That's not fair Mulan," Shang answered her. "You're being narrow-minded."

"Oh like you?" Mulan retorted. "While Lord Wang was talking about me as your best soldier you were arguing with him and being completely scared of me fighting against his men! I've been trained Shang, and by you! Have you no confidence in me or yourself? I'm good, really good, and I can beat those men! You know that."

Shang charged up to her, "You are pregnant in case you have forgotten! I don't want injury to come to you and the baby while you have him or her in you. If you fall, if you get a blow to the stomach, it'll all be my fault." Mulan looked away, and Shang reached to hold her hands. "I'm just caring for you. I know you can beat those men, after all you did beat me and save my life." They both laughed. "I trained you soldier, I know what you're capable of and what you aren't capable of."

"And what would that be?" Mulan asked with a smirk.

"You just don't know when to give up. You're stubborn and you are incapable of following orders," Shang answered her. "Just…don't get hurt."

"I'm in my early stages Shang," Mulan answered him. "I'm barely showing. My stomach will provide protection for the baby. I will be fine. Just trust me."

"Well don't be angry if my human nature to help you takes over okay?" Shang told her. "I would rather put China in danger than see you get hurt on that battlefield tomorrow. I will rush out onto the field and help you even if it means disqualification."

Mulan sighed, "Promise me you won't, unless I'm that badly injured." She answered and smiled.

"We'll see," Shang smiled and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek, "C'mon soldier. You need your rest for tomorrow." He led her to the bed. "I'm not going to let you be yawning like you were this morning."

"I could say the same for you," Mulan laughed. "By the way, did you see the way those three were smiling at us as if they were suggesting something?"

"Yes I know what they were smirking about," Shang sighed. "They think that the reason we were sharing a room is the reason why we were so tired."

"Well," Mulan smirked and got onto the bed after quickly changing into her night clothes. "I did wake up with your arms around me this morning and you did go past the border line we agreed upon."

"Yes," Shang answered, "But in my defense you did turn around to face me and put your arms around me as well. And we did intertwine legs, and we did kiss for a while."

"Oh but you kissed me first," Mulan retorted. "Plus you were shirtless!"

Shang laughed and also got on the bed, "Oh and as if your attire was any more modest."

Mulan rolled her eyes and kissed Shang. "Good night General. As much as I love arguing with you, I need to go to sleep." She then lay her head down on the pillow and closed her eyes. Suddenly Mulan felt Shang's arms around her and she smiled. She then turned around to face him and put her head on his chest and her arms around him as well.


"Mulan!" Fa Li screamed as she saw her daughter lying limp in Shang's arms. She looked in horror at her daughter and then at Shang. "What happened?"

Shang looked away from her in shame. He couldn't bear look her in the face and tell her the bad news. Shang felt ashamed for what happened to Mulan.

"Shang," Fa Zhou answered him. "You better tell me now what happened to my daughter."

"I'm afraid her baby is dead," Shang answered him, trying to calm himself down. Fa Li and Fa Zhou looked at him sadly. "And," Shang continued, "she died in the process, she died in childbirth." Shang's tears fell down from his face, "All because of me."

Shang awoke from his nightmare with a jolt. He breathed heavily as he sat up in bed, trying to calm himself down from his nightmare. Shang immediately turned around to reassure himself that Mulan was there alive and well. He smiled a bit as he watched her still sleeping soundly. Shang gently stroked her hair to reveal her face. He sighed and sat on the side of the bed, still not happy. Mulan was going to fight and it was his entire fault. Before he got up to get ready, Shang took one last look at Mulan. He was completely nervous and what he needed to do was relax.

Shang sighed and got up from the bed. Mulan, who felt that Shang was gone, immediately sat up in bed and watched as he left. She sighed knowing that he was troubled as well.

Take out all your wasted honor

On his way to the bathing room he passed by a large cabinet. He opened it up and saw an old but surely famous General's attire and weapon. Next to it he saw pictures of all the great Generals of China, and a picture of his father, and…Shang himself. He sighed as he thought about all the training he had to endure, all the pain and suffering he felt, and all the horrors he saw of his own men and friends dying out on the battlefield. Shang wondered, is that all you wanted? Was that worth all the honor you have now? Or would you trade it all in an instant to have lived a happy peaceful life on the countryside, but still have no honor? His stubborn, and prideful mind told him no, but his heart told him yes, when Shang realized that his father might still have been alive today to see him get married, and his father could have died happily with grandchildren by his side. Shang's honor was great, but it was wasted.

Every little past frustration

Shang then made his way to the bathing room where he washed his face with the bowl of water the servants brought for him. He doused himself with water hoping the cool water would relax him, but it was to no avail. Shang was nervous and frustrated with the situation today. He wanted to stop it, but Shang knew he needed more troops and if he didn't get it there was a possibility both him and Mulan and their families would die, not to mention most of China would be taken over by savages. Shang took a towel to dry his face. He was still not relaxed. Shang sighed and looked down at his reflection, feeling a bit reminiscent of Mulan as he did so.

Shang sighed and threw down his towel in anger. He couldn't relax; he just couldn't, at least not with so much on the line. As he paced around angrily, trying to calm himself down, he thought about advice his father told him: Take all of your so called problems and better put them in quotations. Shang smiled. What his father meant was to just say what's bothering you, talk to yourself, talk to him, and vent out all your issues and just let it go.

Shang sighed and sat down with his arms on his knees while on the ground in the middle of room and looked up to the sky, as if he was talking to his father. "Okay, here it goes," Shang sighed. "You were rarely around to listen to my problems, so now you're going to have to, even if you think it's a waste of time, even if you don't care. Mulan is pregnant with my child, but she doesn't know it and now she's going to fight against who knows how many men and I can't stop her from fighting because if I do then we can't get troops for the Imperial Army. And by my ancestors, we all know that we need more." Once he finished, the sun drifted across the room and hit Shang on the face. Shang sighed, as if a heavy burden had been relieved off of him. He smiled as if he knew the answer to all his problems. Shang stood up from the floor keeping the words inside his head and ran to the room for Mulan.

Say what you need to say

Shang immediately ran out of the bathing room where he found Mulan standing in front of the window looking out the balcony. She was slowly changing into her warrior uniform and Shang watched in awe. Suddenly she turned around to face him, as if she knew he was there the entire time. Mulan sighed and slowly made her way to Shang, who was near the door. She stiffened up a bit and looked him in the eyes. "So," she told him. "If there is anything you need to say, say it now. Say what you need to say." Mulan then sighed and waited for Shang to try and convince her to back out of it and to stop her.

Shang smiled and grabbed her hand, "Have faith. All your problems can be solved. You can do this." Mulan looked at him in awe and smiled as she took in the only inspirational words he ever said to her. Shang opened the door for her and gestured for her to go. "Go on soldier. I'll be right behind you, I promise."

Walking like a one man army

Mulan sighed as she walked out the door, but before she did, she gave Shang a hug. Mulan then stiffened up and marched down the corridor. She walked until she reached the back palace grounds where she met up with Lord Wang. Even though she was alone, she felt the security of an army. But Mulan herself was the army.

Fighting with the shadows in your head

She stood there for a moment and closed her eyes to compose herself. Mulan then mentally removed all her problems and all the doubt she had within herself. She erased all the words people have said about her over the years that doubted her strength, her honor, and capability. "They're just shadows," Mulan told herself as she breathed in. Mulan then took a few more minutes to compose herself, before she opened her eyes and told Lord Wang that she was ready to take on whatever challenge. As they readied the field for her challenge, Mulan looked around for a familiar and comforting face. Her heart sank as she saw no one, but when a throat cleared from behind her, Mulan immediately turned around and smiled when she saw Yao, Ling, Chien-Po, and Shang standing behind her with proud expressions on their faces.

Living on the same old moment

Mulan watched as they set up new training equipment, which Mulan realized called for inferior training techniques. She smirked knowing she could go past this faster than she went through Shang's training and without even breaking a sweat. Even Shang grinned as he looked at the set up on the field.

Knowing you'll be better off instead if you could only say what you need to say

Mulan turned around to face Shang, who smiled and told her reassuringly, "Be a man."

Mulan smiled and nodded. She then backed off, much to the surprise of everyone around her, who was wondering what she was doing. Mulan then charged towards the field and flipped onto the tall pillars with her hands on the first pillar and her feet in the air. She did a few flips across the pillars, stunning everyone.

Mulan then jumped onto the bars and swung from bar to bar until she reached the circular stones below her. She then quickly hopped in and out of each of the holes of the circular stones, showing her good footwork.

Mulan then found herself standing in front of a large pole and smirked at Shang, who laughed knowing what she was thinking. Mulan then grabbed a sash within her uniform and quickly scaled the pole. She then grabbed her bow and an arrow and shot the arrow to the tree across from her. On the string, she slid down and found herself standing in front of hot coals and stones for her to stand upon to get across the molten area. Instead however, Mulan removed her shoes and skipped the stones and stepped on the hot coals without wincing or showing any sign of weakness or pain, much to the surprise of everyone watching. She then smiled and asked Lord Wang, "Am I strong enough for you now? Or would you like me to go through this again? I think I even did it record time," Mulan turned to Shang, "Would you agree General?" Shang then laughed and nodded. She then looked at Lord Wang and boldly said to him, "I am much more than you think, and even better."

Lord Wang seethed and responded, "You may have passed the training section, but there is still the combat part."

"That was the training section?" Ling asked loudly. "That looked like a warm up section to me," he laughed, along with Yao, Chien-Po, and even Shang, who tried to hide his amusement to prevent from further insulting Lord Wang.

Mulan made her way to the stone cobble and stood in the center of it waiting for her opponent. From the shadows six large men appeared and entered the rectangular fighting area to fight Mulan.

"Six men?" Shang yelled angrily at Lord Wang. "You are sending your best men, big buff men to fight her?"

"Shut up Shang!" Mulan growled. "I can handle it."

Mulan then immediately got into fighting stance and looked at the position of each of the men around her. Each one filled up the edges of the area, thus preventing her from escaping. However, Mulan couldn't help but smile.

Suddenly, and without warning all six men started to charge at her. Mulan then quickly flipped over them to avoid being surrounded. They then turned around and two men reached her before anyone else. Mulan immediately kicked one of them in the chest, which sent him knocking down two other men. As for the other three, Mulan slid down and swung her legs around to knock down one man, as she did with Shan Yu. She then punched him in the face and gut while she was down there. Mulan then stood up and uppercut the two other men from behind. She then sighed and breathed in and out slowly as she watched the men groan in pain. They were then taken away by servants.

"Are we done here?" Mulan asked Lord Wang. "I'd love to finish these treaty arrangements."

Lord Wang shook his head, and gestured for six other men to come in. By groups of six, they all came in and Mulan fought them off in the same way, using techniques Shang taught her and the fighting style her father showed her.

"How many men are you going to send at her?" Shang yelled at Lord Wang. "This isn't a fair contest anymore."

"I am simply testing her stamina and fighting ability. Each one of these men fights differently. Plus," Lord Wang replied slyly, "I want to see how long she will last in battle. She is after all your best soldier, so she must be able to fight off hundreds of men in battle!"

"Yes," Shang argued, "But she has comrades by her side! You are asking her to fight a hundred to one. This is no longer a fair fight."

Mulan coughed and took in a couple of deep breaths as she looked around at the men piled around her. She sighed as she stood there. Mulan was getting tired and everyone knew that she had proven herself more than worthy.

"Lord Wang," Mulan asked him tiredly, "I've fought at least a hundred men. Have I not proven myself?"

Suddenly one of the men high kicked Mulan in the head, swiftly knocking her down to the ground. For a moment Mulan stood there cold and knocked dead, numb by the hit and fall. Shang watched in horror as Mulan lay there still. The man who knocked her down immediately got his elbow ready to force into her stomach, and before he could fall down and do so, Shang immediately ran to tackle the man to the ground. In anger, Shang punched the man's face until blood covered half of Shang's fingers.

Shang then wiped his blood on the man's shirt and ran to Mulan. He turned her over and found her eyes still open. She slowly moved her gaze from the sky to Shang's eyes. She smiled faintly at him. "I thought I made you promise not to come out here and help me," she whispered weakly.

Shang sighed, "What can I say? Human nature overcame me."

Mulan smiled feebly, "I wasn't finished yet. I was ready to take on the rest of them, even if it meant the entire town. I'm sorry I failed you."

Shang shook his head stubbornly, "Have no fear for giving in. Have no fear for giving all of it. Plus, you did well and if Lord Wang doesn't agree to it, I will send our armies down here to fight him, because they are after all, better trained and well suited for the job. And you have proven that you fight better than a hundred men."

Mulan laughed weakly and started to close her eyes.

"No," Shang yelled, causing Mulan to open her eyes again, "Don't do this to me!"

Mulan chuckled, "Shang, I'm fine, I promise. Just…"

"Just what Mulan?" Shang asked her.

You better know that in the end, it's better to say too much than never to say what you need to say again.

Mulan kept coming in and out. She fought her hardest to stay awake. Mulan tried focusing on the area around her, on her parents, on her baby, and on Shang, but it was getting hard to do so. "Shang," Mulan said weakly. She sighed, not knowing if these would be her last words. "I…I love you."

Even if your hands are shaking and your faith is broken

Shang held Mulan in his arms. His hands shook with fear, with anger, with pain as he watched her. "No," he whispered to her. "Wake up! Don't close your eyes on me."

"I'll be fine," she reassured him. Mulan smiled faintly at Shang and gently caressed his face. Then she closed her eyes and fell limp in his arms.

Even as the eyes are closing, do with it with a heart wide open.

Shang grimaced and shed a few tears as he held Mulan in his arms. He was certain that she would eventually wake up, but after suffering two head injuries, Shang wasn't sure if she would be okay. Plus, their baby would be suffering the consequences and had a chance of not surviving now.

"Well General Li," Lord Wang said to him, from behind. "Fa Mulan has proven to be exceptional. I will agree to send my men as promised. I am especially impressed with her fighting and strength. I hope to see the same progress in my men. When would you like me to send them? Actually why don't we talk about this in our meeting room?"

Shang gently put Mulan back down on the ground. As he stood up, anger and hate raged inside him. He then turned around to look Lord Wang in the eyes. Anger filled Shang's eyes and Lord Wang looked nervously at Shang and cowered a bit when he turned around.

"General Li," Lord Wang responded, "Do not be angry with me. I can get Fa Mulan to the finest doctors and get her…"

Shang then punched Lord Wang in the face, knocking him to the ground. He then picked up Mulan and walked away.

Say what you need to say