Hey! Thank you guys so much for being patient with me! School is just a lot of work, and I can't update as often as I could over the summer.

57 Reviews! Thank you guys so much for reviewing (and even if you prefer to be quiet I thank you as well!) and giving me feedback on the story, I really love hearing all about whether you like or dislike my story so far!

I'm going to try and make this a long chapter, but I honestly don't know how well that's going to work out... However, if I feel that it's shorter than the others, the next update will come quickly, I promise. Also, this chapter may get slightly dark- which, other than the swearing, is why this is rated T. This chapter is also going to begin a story arc based (VERY) loosely on history. I'm going to include a paragraph here, and a more in-depth paragraph at the end of the story explaining said history.

Brief Background: I'm not exactly sure when Mulan takes place; the movie is very vague, stating that the Great Wall had just been built. However, the Great Wall was built during the Qin dynasty; a point in time when China was ruled by Emperor Qin Shi Huangdi. Emperor Qin, however, followed the legalist philosophy and ruled China as an autocratic empire (think of him as a modern-day dictator, almost). That being said, I highly doubt that the emperor in the Mulan movie is supposed to be Emperor Qin. That rules out the fact that the movie takes place in the Qin dynasty, so I'm going to make the story take place during the Han dynasty, even though there are other parts of the movie which contradict this time period as well. Honestly, the movie contradicts itself, saying that the wall had just been built, and then using fireworks (a Tang dynasty invention) later in the movie.

So please, bear with me, and just imagine that this story takes place towards the end of the Han dynasty.

As always, thanks for reading! Here's the next chapter!

**Disclaimer: I don't own Mulan.


Chapter 10: Yellow Turbans


Wen Fan was a good man. Even as he walked outside of his tent and saw Mulan and Shang leaving the camp hand-in-hand, he had kept quiet. Of course he was jealous - who wouldn't be? The girl he'd been friends with since he could hardly walk had grown up into a beautiful young lady, and now she was falling in love and running off with strange men. Fan had admitted to himself that he'd always had a fondness for Mulan that was more than friendship. As a child, it had never occurred to him. The idea of romance didn't concern him, then. However, through adolescence he began to notice the way she would nonchalantly tuck strands of hair behind her ears, or the way she'd purse her lips while thinking.

He had never thought that he "liked" Mulan. It didn't sound nor feel right to him. His affection towards her was deeper, but he didn't know if it was "love." Of course he loved her in a familial sense. He had since he was six years old and she had helped him cope with his mother's sudden death. However, he couldn't decide if what he felt for her was truly romantic love. Many sleepless nights had taken their toll on him but he didn't care. He preferred to spend his nights with the thoughts rather than being inattentive during the day. There were times, though, when the night had brought dreams of her to his head. Nothing explicit, but rather intimate moments with her. Many times during his nights, his head had replayed scenes of his life which involved her. He remembered how she held him in the rain on the last day he'd ever see his mother, or the time the other village children had dared them to kiss each other. At the time, Fan nor Mulan thought anything of it. Fan guessed that Mulan can't even remember that day.

He'd always loved her in a sense that what she wanted came before his needs. That's why he was afraid to say he loved her; he was scared that what she'd want wouldn't be him. After staying at Wu Zhong and being able to observe her behavior around the general, he'd realized that she'd definitely want something different, and that he would have to learn to be okay with that. However, he wasn't sure what he felt about Li Shang. He was handsome, tall, and muscular. But he didn't know if he truly loved Mulan or not. However, Fan wasn't an idiot, and was able to tell that Shang was being particularly hostile towards him. If that was the case, Fan realized that he must love Mulan if he's jealous.

Much like Shang, Fan's honor was important to him. He wouldn't allow himself to force anyone to do something he wanted, much less Mulan. Ever since he was a child he'd been aware that she was stubborn, and even an enigma. He knew that she wouldn't be afraid to speak her mind if she didn't want the same things he wanted. He didn't want to risk losing her friendship- It was the most important relationship he's ever had with anyone in his life, possibly even above the relationship he had with his father, and that he had had with his mother in his early years.

As he tossed and turn in bed that night, thinking over things that he had relayed to himself countless times, he had assumed that Mulan would be back at the camp in the morning.


As Fan got out of his tent the next morning, after about forty minutes of sleep the previous night, he searched for Mulan. He was thankful that she was at least there at the camp with him. They had agreed to have a morning rendez-vous each morning, just to catch up and have general conversation with one another. Fan wasn't hesitant to admit that it was his favorite part of being at Wu Zhong.

As he looked for her in their usual meeting spot, he wasn't worried at the fact that she wasn't there yet. She was probably sleeping in for a few minutes, since she had probably gotten back late last night. However, after waiting for thirty minutes, he was starting to get worried. Training would start soon, and she'd have to be up even if they weren't going to meet up that morning. He walked over to her tent and called her name a few times, not receiving any reply. He gently opened her tent flap, only to discover that she wasn't there. Had she slept with the general?

He marched over to Shang's tent, anger evident in his eyes. He would have barged in there if he could, however he didn't want to walk in on an awkward situation, nor get a reprimanding from the general. He called his title, however he also didn't receive a response. As he opened the tent flap and discovered that Shang was nowhere to be found, he noticed a yellow band of cloth on the ground. Finding it rather odd, he picked it up and brought it with him around the camp to search for the pair. The rest of the officers had gotten up already, so Fan decided to ask them if they knew anything.

As he approached the trio, he saluted. Unlike Shang, the officers were very fair and even friendly towards him.

"Officers, have you seen the general?"

The largest of the three shook his head. "He usually calls us into his tent in the morning. I haven't seen him, Chi Fu, nor Mulan."

Fan hesitated for a moment. "I have to talk to you guys."


Mushu awoke from his sleep in Mulan's tent. He rubbed his eyes, surprised that Mulan was already out. He and Cri-kee left the tent to find her. After searching for half an hour, they couldn't find her anywhere.

"Where's that girl run off too?" Mushu asked the cricket, who just shrugged.

Mushu decided to look around for her, following a very similar path that Fan had when he was looking for her. The small dragon couldn't find anyone close to Mulan except for the gang of three and Wen Fan. He decided to follow them away from the other recruits.

"I've been checking everywhere for her all morning." He heard Wen Fan explain, "I checked her tent, General Li's tent, and then I found you three." Fan sat down on a rock, followed by Yao, Ling, and Chien Po.

"But..." He continued, "Last night I saw Mulan and General Li run off somewhere outside of camp." He admitted. The three gasped, awfully surprised that General Li would ever leave the camp without telling anyone. They figured that it was probably Mulan's influence.

Fan pulled out the yellow cloth, which he had been keeping in his sash. "I found this in General Li's tent."

Yao took the cloth from him, studying it with his good eye. "What is it?"

"I don't know." Answered Fan. They looked at it more and more, Mushu watching intently. He'd seen the thing before- It belonged to Chi Fu. He had kept it with him in his saddlebags.

Mushu desperately wanted to tell them that he knew what the strange object was, but didn't know how to reveal himself. He watched them a little while longer and realized that the four would never figure out the mystery on their own. Reluctantly, Mushu took a step closer to them, crawling in front of them but not yet saying a word. Immediately, Ling's eyes grew large as he saw Mushu.

"The snake is back!" He yelled, clinging to Yao. Yao merely hit him, causing Ling to faceplant onto the ground. Mushu sighed and looked towards Ling.

"I'm not a snake." Mushu said. The men looked surprised at the fact that he could even communicate, but let him continue.

"I'm a dragon." He stated. "I'm Mulan's guardian."

Wen Fan immediately moved closer to Mushu. "Do you know where she is?!" He asked frantically, causing the gang of three to glance at each other quizzically.

"I don't, but I know that that yellow cloth belongs to that nasty Chi Fu."

"Why would he be in Sha- General Li's tent?" Asked Ling, clearing his throat. "He and the general only ever meet in Chi Fu's tent. He'd have no reason to be in there."

"Then why don't we investigate a bit," asked Mushu. "With the five of us helping, we're bound to find her.

The rest of them agreed to begin searching that afternoon, and started training the recruits for the day.


When Mulan and Shang awoke after they'd been knocked out, they were more surprised than they could comprehend.

Standing before them was the late General Li, wearing a strange yellow cloth around his head. Chi Fu stood behind him, however he had no yellow scarf.

"Father?" Asked Shang, not even knowing how he was feeling at the moment. "What is this? How are you alive?"

"Do you take me for an idiot, son?" He asked. "There was no way my troops would have been able to stop the Huns at the pass. I wasn't there for the battle."

"Then who was leading your troops?" Asked the younger General Li. "What is this?" He demanded once again.

"I had an officer carry out the orders. He wasn't that important." In all of his twenty years, Shang had never seen his father act so cruel.

"What is this?" This time, Mulan asked the question. Shang's father eyed her suspiciously.

"Fa Mulan, I remember meeting you as a girl." He chuckled to himself, moving closer to her.

"You've grown up into such an exquisite young lady." He put a finger under her chin, making her spine tingle.

"Father, don't touch her." Shang said, using the largest amount of hostility he ever had towards his father.

"Why not?" He asked, turning to his son. "It's not like you haven't, after all." Shang's eyes burned with rage.

"What are you doing? Why have you captured us?" Shang asked him.

"Well you would never come to us on your own." He said, turning back to face both of them.

"Us?" Asked Mulan.

He nodded at her. "We are an... Organization, if you will, which wants to take control of the throne, and of China."

"So, rebels?" Asked Mulan.

"She's a smart one." General Li said, rather sarcastically. Shang glared at him.

"Anyways, who better than China's two greatest heroes could help us?"

"Are you trying to force us?" Shang asked, his expression an incredulous one.

"Of course. Wouldn't you help your dear father, my son?"

Shang immediately realized what his father was trying to do, if he could even call him that anymore. He just wanted to guilt trip the two of them. Shang wasn't stupid- He wouldn't fall for that.

"How does a military officer of over twenty-five years suddenly convert to a rebel?" Shang asked, not bothering to answer his father's request.

"Shang, you naive man. I've always had my doubts about the Han emperors. Twenty-five years is just the amount of time it took me to realize that I couldn't do it any longer.

"You've both been to war - You've seen the casualties of many men and women, I'm sure. Many of whom weren't even supposed to be involved in the war." They couldn't disagree. Seeing the burned village had left an imprint on both of their minds.

"And I'm sure you're aware that many of the soldiers who do receive casualties are too poor to even pay for medical assistance. It's truly ruthless."

Mulan and Shang had no response to this. They knew of such issues occurring plenty of times. There was a pause before Shang, who wanted to change the subjext, spoke up once again.

"What about the Huns? Are they aware of a rebellion stirring?"

"Huns?" His father asked. "There are no Huns."

Shang and Mulan looked at him quizzically. They'd been training for the last few months for Hun spies.

"It's not like it was hard creating the ruse. I still know very much about how the Chinese government and military work, Li Shang. Not to mention, we have Chi Fu on our side. He's Emperor Ling's most trusted adviser, after all."

"It was fake," Mulan whispered to herself. All of the fear they'd been feeling wasn't even real.

"What do you want from us?" Asked Shang. "We're not joining you."

"How could you not, son? I even extended the invitation to- forgive me if I am mistaken- my future daughter-in-law." Shang rolled his eyes as the older man smirked at him.

"What if we don't join you?" Asked Shang, after a short period of silence.

"Then we'll let you go back to Wu Zhong, along with Chi Fu."

"You'll just allow us to go back?" Mulan asked him, dumbfounded.

"It would be suspicious, if not." He said, nonchalantly.

"However," he added, "Chi Fu will be there to make sure that you do not say a word about us, or what we plan to do."

The former General then pulled out a small knife, cutting their ropes free. Mulan and Shang both rubbed their wrists, which had felt raw under the ropes.

"What is it going to be, heroes of China?" He asked them, a malicious glint in his eyes.

"I believe I am speaking for both of us, sir, when I say that we will do whatever it takes to protect our country, even if it means going against your wishes."

Shang's father hesitated. "Then so it begins." He glared at each of them, his expression as cold as stone. "You have just made very powerful enemies. You have no idea how large our forces are already becoming. Beware." He said. He glanced at the two burly men who had captured them before.

"Do it once more, men."

With that final note, they were knocked out once again. Their unconscious bodies were loaded into the back of a cart, which Chi Fu drove back towards the camp.

On the bumpy trail, Mulan had awoken with a start. Shang still lay unconscious next to her. She sat up slowly; her head was pounding. As she realized that they were moving, Mulan looked around to see if there was a window of any sort. However, there was only a dying lantern where they were situated. She had no idea what time of day it even was.

Shang awoke soon after she did, immediately concerned for her. After making sure that she was okay, Shang lied back down and covered his face with his hands.

It was at that moment that Mulan realized how much this whole situation must have affected Shang's emotions. The man he'd admired most since he was a child had turned out to be the person they'd been training to assassinate for the last two months. After believing he was dead, he found out that his father was alive, but against him. His father had never died; Shang would have to carry out the deed himself.

Mulan decided to lay down next to him and sighed, gently leaning her head on his shoulder. Very lightly, she could feel him shaking. Was he crying?

She very gently touched one of his hands with her fingertips, moving it to the side. The lantern wasn't giving off much light, but she could still see the glint of teardrops falling from his eyes. She pouted and wrapped her arms around him, and he clung to her like he never had before.

It wasn't the time for words right then. They both knew that as he silently sobbed into her shoulder. They had a new battle for now; words could come later.


By the end of that day's training session, Mulan, Shang, and Chi Fu had already arrived at the camp. When they were asked where they'd been, Chi Fu eyed them suspiciously. Mulan and Shang quickly glanced at each other before Mulan said that they had urgent business to attend to at the Imperial City, and that they'd had to leave late last night. Luckily, everyone seemed to have bought their story. Thankfully, they weren't asked any more questions, and they had time to themselves. Mulan and Shang both needed some alone time, so they each went to their respective tents for the time being.


A/N: The Yellow Turban Rebellion: (I won't write a complete essay on the rebellion, though I will just give some background after each chapter).

The Yellow Turban Rebellion took place from 184-205 CE, during the Han Dynasty in China. It took place under the rule of Emperor Ling. The name comes from the yellow scarves and cloths that the rebels wore on their heads during said rebellion. The rebellion was started by three brothers, Zhang Jue (known by his followers as the General of Heaven), Zhang Bao, and Zhang Liang. The three were very generous Taoist medics, who accepted patients who could not afford to pay for their medical expenses. The brothers had realized that the government had made their patients underfunded due to large tax amounts placed on them.

The three had founded a Taoist sect known as the "Way of Supreme Peace." As medics, they were easily able to spread their beliefs through their patients.

The rebel forces were grouped in three main places: The group lead by the three Zhang brothers was heavily supported by the region north of the Huang He (Yellow) river. Another uprising took place in the You province, in what is now Beijing. Finally, yet another rising took place inside of the three regions known as Yingchuan, Runan, and Nanyang.

The reason the story arc is only loosely based on history is the fact that the actual Yellow Turban Rebellion was started by peasants, rather than a general and political adviser. Also, the rebellion lasted nearly thirty years, however this won't go on nearly as long. If you'd like, definitely read up on this! I completely apologize if there are any historical mistakes - I haven't learned about ancient China in two years.

Anyways, please tell me how you liked the chapter with some reviews! I'd highly appreciate it! :) As always, thank you so much for reading! Until next time!