Chapter 14

The cliffs were gray. The rocky path was gray. The sky was gray. It was gray, all gray - dull and devoid of any color.

The only colors to see were in the expanded team. Even that was starting to fragment. Mushu was acting less cheerful than usual. Mulan and Shang were clearly not a happy couple. The only ones who were staying together were Kim and Ron, trying to console each other that this was neither of their faults. But if it wasn't their fault… then whose was it?

"Keep your eyes open," ordered Shang, "this is bandit country."

At those words, Ron collapsed. "Ugh, not again!" Shang grumbled as he got down off his horse and tried to shake Ron awake. Suddenly, Ron's eyes snapped open! But they weren't the rich chocolate brown that Shang recognized - instead, they glowed bright purple without any white or pupil. A voice like thunder leapt from Ron's mouth.

"Swords of sorrow, blades of strife

Threaten the chance for love and life.

Unless you stop before peril starts

A broken rope will choke your hearts."

Shang suddenly regretted not believing Ron. "Ron, wake up!"

Ron's eyes blinked and returned to normal. "Wha…"

"Ron was right." explained Kim.

"It's too late to return to China." said Shang, almost resigned to what seemed like tragic fate.

"But it's not too late to return to the one you loved!"

Kim helped Ron up, and looked back to see Mulan, galloping up. She dismounted and embraced a very surprised Shang.

"Why… why did you…"

"Shang, I realized that my heart beats for you. If I were to lose you, I…"

Mulan's declaration of love was interrupted by an arrow barely missing her! "Bandits!" Kim hissed. "Prepare to fight!"

"Shang, I got your back!" Mulan and Shang may have had their differences, but when it came down to it, they fought as one.

Once again, the expanded team was united! Mulan, Shang, Kim, and Ron held off the bandits, successfully killing many. But it seemed every time one went down, another replaced him. They were so caught up in the fight, that they didn't realize one bandit had snatched Mei! The scream alerted Yao, who immediately gave chase. Mulan and Shang followed.

The bandit roughly dropped Mei on the bridge, but she ran into Yao's arms.

But the original couple - Mulan and Shang - weren't nearly as lucky. Kim and Ron could only watch in horror, as the bandits on the other side of the bridge cut the ropes and Mulan held on tightly - one hand on a weakening rope, the other hand gripping Shang's hand.

"It won't hold us both!" Shang panted. He realized that this was probably it for him.

Mulan, however, was in denial through her desperation. She couldn't, no wouldn't, lose Shang! "It will, Shang. Hang on. Hang on!"

Shang simply gazed up at Mulan one last time. "Mulan…" His voice was soft and his eyes were sad. "I love you… I'm sorry..." In one last moment, he let go of Mulan's hand. Mulan tried to grab his wrist and pull him back up, but to no avail - Shang fell into the canyon below. "Shang!" Mulan screamed, her hand still reaching out and tears streaming down her face. "Shang!"

Kim found a grappling hook the bandits had used and tossed it to Mulan. Mulan grabbed it and let Kim and Ron pull her to safety.

The cruel reality didn't take long to set in. Just as soon as the expanded team had gotten back together, it had been separated again.

It rained that night. The princesses and soldiers took shelter in a small cave, while Kim and Ron stayed on either side of their grieving friend Mulan.

Mulan was holding a sword by the flat of the blade and crying. For a while, all she saw was her tearful reflection staring back. But with a flash of lightning Shang's eyes met hers from beyond the grave. It tore her apart. Mulan stabbed the ground with her sword, clutching the hilt and sobbing. Kim was unable to provide comfort, for her tears were one with Mulan's.

Sunrise came as it did, but there was no beauty. The skies were the color of cold steel and fresh blood rather than roses and gold.

"Your orders are to take care of each other." said Mulan to the princesses and soldiers. "Losing Shang will not be meaningless." declared Mulan as she stood. "No matter what it takes… I'm finishing this mission."

Mulan mounted Khan and gestured for Kim and Ron to follow, as Héliú and Tian had run away in the attack. And so began their journey to Qui Gong...

TO BE CONTINUED...