Chapter Thirty-Nine
(Song in this chapter is "Fearless" by Olivia Holt.)
Puss in Boots and Donkey had been travelling towards Nesidy and were in the Tung Show pass about an hour after the battle with the Huns. The shadow of Shan Yu's hawk flew overheard, and around a bend. Curious, they watched it from up on a cliff and watched a horrifying event. Shan Yu himself climbed out of the snow and looked around. He let out a roar. Soon he was joined by five of his soldiers. Together, they start down the path toward Nesidy. Puss watched them, grabbed his sword, mounted Donkey and turned after the Huns.
"What do you think you're doing?" Donkey demanded, not taking one step forward.
"We have to do something," said Puss angrily, then nudged Donkey with his heels.
"Did you see those Huns? They popped out of the snow! LIKE DAISIES!" the ass yelled out dramatically.
"Do you want them to kill the señorita Aralyne?" growled out the cat.
Donkey looked guilty for a second then smiled and said, "Let's go kick some Honey Buns!" He then galloped down the mountain, whooping.
Once Tulio was able to get up again, we headed straight back towards Nesidy, riding on our horses so it took us a lot less time to return. We had sent Merida ahead to tell everyone that we had defeated the Huns, so by the time we got to town, the citizens watched happily Nesidy celebrated the victory with a parade.
The Parade Leader shouted out, "Make way for the heroes of Nesidy!" We all followed him, and behind us was a large Chinese dragon.
Puss suddenly came riding up beside Shang on Donkey.
"Shang!" Puss said, jumping off his companion and onto the general's horse. When he spoke, it was only loud enough for us soldiers to hear. "The Huns are alive! They're in the city! Keep your eyes open. I know they're here." We exchanged worried glances, and I felt Tulio's hold on me tighten (we were riding a horse together). Puss then left to go seek out the Huns.
We stopped by city hall keeping a wary eye out, followed by the Chinese Dragon. Grandpa met us at the steps of the building.
"My children!" he said for the whole town to hear, "Heaven smiles down upon Nesidy! All will sleep safely tonight, thanks to our brave warriors!"
"Grandpa, I present to you the sword of Shan Yu," said Shang kneeling before Grandpa and handing him the weapon.
Shan Yu's hawk appeared out of nowhere, swooping down and grabbing the sword. We all gasped as we watched it flap up to the roof, where a line of stone gargoyles were resting. One of the gargoyles moved and took the sword. Huns jumped out of the Chinese Dragon, one of them grasping Grandpa and taking him into the building.
"No!" Mulan yelled running after them, but it was too late. The door was shut, and she couldn't open it.
While the other soldiers ran to help get the doors open, my gaze drifted back up to the roof. The gargoyle stood up and we could see it was Shan Yu. He laughed maniacally.
This couldn't be happening! The Huns were alive and here!
I looked back down to see my fellow soldiers using a statue to try to break into City Hall.
"They'll never get inside in time," I muttered looking around, then at the tall pillars by the side of the building. An idea popped into my head, and I jumped off the horse.
"Aralyne, wait!" Tulio said sliding off behind me.
I whistled to get the other soldiers attention. "Hey guys! I've got an idea!" They looked at each other and then followed me, dropping the statue. Taking Tulio's hand, I pulled him along and ran straight for some of my friends in the crowd. "Jasmine, Esmeralda, Ella, Giselle we need your help!"
"Anything! What do you need?" asked Giselle.
I grinned sneakily as I spoke the answer, "Dresses."
In about ten minutes, the girls and I had managed to strip Yao, Chein Po, Ling, and Mulan of their armor, and put on dresses with makeup. Even I dressed up for this plan. When that was complete, we left the girls and returned to City Hall. With our silk belts around our waists, we climbed up the pillars.
Inside city hall, on a balcony, the Huns held Lao Shi. Shan Yu stuck his head in their faces, dangling upside down from the ceiling.
"Boo," said the leader of the Huns, but Grandpa did not flinch. He then said to his followers, "Guard the door!" When they left, he continued speaking to Lao Shi, "Your walls and armies have fallen. And now it's your turn. Bow to me." Grandpa said nothing, and stared at him unmoving. If he wanted to, he could have beaten Shan Yu by now, but he wanted to have a bit of fun first. "I tire of your arrogance, old man. Bow to me!"
With a smirk, Grandpa simply replied, "No matter how the wind howls, the mountain cannot bow to it."
Now furious, Shan Yu raised his sword. "Then you will kneel ... in pieces!"
We were in the hall outside from where Grandpa was being held captive. Peeking around the corner, I could see the Huns guarding the door. Turning back to my companions, I asked them, "Okay. Any questions?"
"Does this dress make me look fat?" Yao asked, then was slapped by Ling, "Ow!"
Mulan, Merida, Yao, Chein Po, Ling, and I walked around the corner strolling right up to the guards while Shang and Tulio stayed behind.
"Who's there?" asked the first guard glaring at us.
"Concubines," said the second with a flirtatious smile and I winked at him.
"Ugly concubines," said the first, his scowl deepening. Okay, um, ouch! I know we're not the "fairest in the land" but come on! We're not that bad looking! Well, at least we girls aren't….
An apple suddenly rolled out of Ling's dress. One of the guards picked it up in curiosity. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw something move, and glanced up to see the hawk. Its gaze was focused around the corner where Shang and Tulio were hiding. I panicked for a moment when it opened its beak to call out, but Mushu torched him.
"Now that's what I call Mongolian barbeque."
I quickly returned my attention to the guard handing the apple to Ling, my companions and I all pulled fruit out of our dresses and attacked the guards.
"Shang! Tulio! Go!" Mulan shouted out as they held down the Huns. Tulio, Shang, and I ran into the room where Shan Yu and Grandpa were.
We were just in time to see the villain swing his sword. At the last second, Shang rushed in and blocked it. He was swung around a pillar, then kicked Shan Yu in the face, knocking him over.
"Shang, get Grandpa out of here," I said.
Grandpa then turned into a fierce looking blue Chinese dragon, and winked at Shang. "Would you like a lift down?" Before the general could answer, Grandpa grabbed him and flew off the balcony, landing amongst the crowd.
"No!" Shan Yu shouted, punching Tulio in anger. I winced when the villain's fist connected with Tulio's side – the exact same place he had been stabbed – and he fell to the ground in pain.
Over the edge of the balcony, I could see Yao, Ling, Chein Po, Mulan, and Merida down in the crowd. The Huns they had captured were being led away to the jail. "Come on!" Yao shouted out to me.
I looked back at Tulio, and at Shan Yu who was approaching him. "No!" the villain yelled, "You! You took away my victory!" Before he could harm Tulio, I took off my shoe and threw it at him, smacking him right in the face. He swiveled around to face me.
"No! I did," I said glaring at him.
Shan Yu's eyes widened slightly as he said, "The girl!" Abandoning Tulio, he chased after me, while I was putting my shoe back on. Leading him away from Tulio, I slammed the door shut, and I heard him ram his fist through the wood. While sprinting down the hall, and listening to Shan Yu chase me, I was soon joined by Mushu , who scurried up my leg and sat on my shoulder.
"So what's the plan?" the tiny dragon inquired.
"Ummmmm ..."
"YOU DON'T HAVE A PLAN?!"
"Hey, I'm making this up as I ..." I skidded to a halt beside a window and noticed a tower close by with a pile of fireworks being supervised by two men, "go…. Mushu –"
"Way ahead of you, sister!" He jumped off my shoulder and onto a paper kite decoration before floating across to the tower. Since I had momentarily forgotten Shan Yu, I practically had a heart attack when he appeared and swung his sword at me. I jumped just in time and shinnied up a wooden pole. Shan Yu sliced the pole, and it toppled, crashing right through the wall. Without really thinking, I jumped up and grabbed onto the roof and pulled myself up. From where I stood, I could see across to where Mushu was gathering ammunition.
"Look! On the roof!" I heard Fa Zhou shout. After a quick glance downward I could see all of Nesidy watching me.
Pushing them out of my mind, I began to focus, backing along the roof and measuring the distance with my hands between where I stood and the tower. Behind me, I there was a crash and I spun on my heel to see Shan Yu coming through the roof and raising his sword. I quickly searched my pockets for any kind of weapon and pulled out the paper fan I used earlier when "flirting" with the Hun guards.
With an evil sneer, Shan Yu said, "Guess you're out of ideas." He stabbed the sword through the fan the point just inches from my face, then I twisted it around. The sword flew out of his hands and I caught it in the air, pointing it right at him.
"Not quite," I said with a smirk before calling out, "Ready, Mushu?"
Behind me, Mushu shouted, "I am ready, baby!" Doing some awesome moves Mulan showed me, I kicked Shan Yu in the face, then tripped him and pinned his shirt to the roof with his sword. A rocket then soared by, hitting Shan Yu, and throwing him into the firework tower.
Running across the roof, I scooped up Mushu who had jumped off the rocket, and muttered, "Get off the roof, get off the roof!" As the fireworks exploded, I jumped from the building, catching a lantern and swinging down the cord, then dropped down straight onto Tulio, who was running down the stairs. We rolled for a bit then came to a halt and grinned at each other. Shan Yu's sword and Mushu landed nearby. Tulio and I climbed to our feet and embraced as everyone cheered for our victory.
"You really are crazy," he said with a laugh as we walked towards the crowd.
Grandpa, now human again, walked up to us smiling and said, "Great job, young one. You have become a fine warrior."
"Thanks, Grandpa," I said, then saw something moving in the sky out of the corner of my eye. Perfect. I continued on, "And if there are any villainous henchmen lurking around, I would like to send a message to the Horned King." To everyone's surprise, I started singing:
"You used to make my heart pound
Just the thought of you
You used to be a cold wind
Always blowing through
But I won't take it anymore
That's not what I came here for
I'm stuck in your head
I'm back from the dead
Got you runnin' scared
I'm fearless
I'm callin' you out
I'm takin' you down
Don't you come around
I'm fearless I'm fearless
I'm fearless
I got the upper hand now
And you're losin' ground now
You never had to fight back
Never lost a round
You see the gloves are coming off
Tell me when you've had enough, yeah
Ready for a showdown
And we're face to face
I think I'll rearrange it
Put you in your place
You don't get the best of me
Check it, you're afraid of me
I'm stuck in your head
I'm back, back from the dead
Got you runnin' scared
I'm fearless
I'm callin' you out
I'm takin' you down
Don't you come around
I'm fearless, I'm fearless
I'm fearless
You used to make my heart pound
Just the thought of you
But now you're in the background
What you gonna do?
Sound off if you hear this
We're feelin' fearless!
We're feelin' fearless!
I'm stuck in your head
I'm back, back from the dead
Got you runnin' scared
I'm fearless
I'm callin you out
I'm takin' you down
Don't you come around
I'm fearless
I'm stuck in your head
I'm back, back from the dead
(I'm fearless)
Got you runnin' scared
I'm fearless
I'm callin' you out
I'm takin' you down
Don't you come around
I'm fearless, I'm fearless"
When I had finished, my gaze wandered up to a building where I saw Bartok watching and smirked at him. He looked terrified before flying off to tell his master that I was ready and waiting for him.