Chapter One:

Mulan took a deep breath, careful to not let any of the candle's wax to drip to the floor. She was watching her father and the general spar with each other…and it wasn't going too good. Even as she watched, her father suddenly dropped sword, dropping to his knees as he pressed a hand to his side.

Turning, she walked back to her room, sliding the door open quietly. Moving swiftly, she opened up one of her drawers, pulling out the decorative comb that she had worn earlier…

"What are you doing?" Shang's voice spoke up from behind her suddenly.

Mulan jumped in surprise, whirling around to find him sitting on the edge of her bed. "I …uh… what are you doing here?"

A smile twitched at the corner of Shang's mouth as he looked at her. "We're married now. That means we share a room now."

"Oh…right." Mulan wrinkled her nose, having forgotten that little detail.

"Are you going to tell me what you're up to or not?" Shang glanced down at the comb in her hand.

Mulan rubbed her finger along the edge, worry creasing her brow. "I was going to…take Father's scroll and take his place in the army."

"Mulan! You can't do that!" Shang groaned as he ran his hand through his hair, staring at her as if she were crazy.

"Yes I can! I can disguise myself as a boy and…"

"No." Shang took a deep, trying to calm his temper as he stared her down. "Father will be there… he will know that you are not a boy."

Mulan fell silent, having forgotten about that little detail. With a shake of her head, she stubbornly looked him in the eye. "I will still find a way, if it meant that he doesn't have to go." Turning around, she slipped out of the room, dropping the comb down onto the low table that was near the door.

Shang watched her go, frustration flashing through him. Moving briskly, he yanked the door open. Nearly marching, he moved down the hall to where his father in law and father both were practicing their sword fighting skills. Pushing the door open, he watched with concern as they sparred, his father in law's old injury being very obvious as he heavily favored that side.

"Mulan is right in one aspect. You need to send someone in your place. You will not survive another war." Shang spoke softly, not really wanting to disturb the two older men.

General Li immediately turned to face him. "What was that Shang?"

Shang swallowed hard, before speaking up again. "I don't think you should participate in the war Fa Zhou sir."

Fa Zhou turned to face him, his gaze piercing into his own as if to read his very thoughts. "Very well then. Nothing says anything about sending a son in law in one's place. You may take my place Shang."

Shang started, surprise flashing cross his features. "What about Mulan sir?"

Fa Zhou paused, a frown crossing his features. "Right…Mulan…"

General Li smirked as he rubbed his beard, peering over at Shang. "I believe that I have an idea for what we can do with her…of course I get the feeling neither of you will like this very much."

"I am listening old friend." Fa Zhou gestured for his old friend to continue.

Mulan woke with a start, nearly sitting up in her bed. Shifting slightly, she rolled over…and found herself facing a completely out of it Shang. Mulan screamed loudly as she jumped out of her bed in surprise. With a yelp, Shang shot up out of the covers, reaching for a sword that wasn't there as he scanned the room. "Mulan! What's wrong!?"

"Why are you in my bed!?" Mulan took a few deep breaths to calm herself; sure that she had awakened her parents with that scream.

Shang froze, registering what it was that she was screaming about. With a soft groan, he ran his hand down his face. "Mulan… we're married now. I'm your husband. Can you please keep that in your mind for longer than five minutes?" It seemed to him at least that she forgot that detail every five minutes.

Mulan huffed, turning her face away from him. "Right. And the men are all leaving tomorrow… and I'm expected to stay behind with the other women and do what… stitch a fine stitch?" Sarcasm dripped from her voice as she scowled at the far wall.

Shang lay back down, pulling the covers back up. "About that… Father made arrangements for you so that I can go take your father's place in the war."

"Great." Mulan muttered under her breath as she slowly lay back down as well. "Am I right to presume that I'll be doing the washing and cooking for some family to keep me busy while you all are gone?"

"Well…you got the sewing and cooking right…" Shang mumbled as he shifted slightly, wanting to get back to sleep. "We have a long day ahead of us tomorrow. Let's get some sleep, alright?"

Silence filled the air as Mulan didn't respond, her eyes staring straight ahead at the ceiling above them. Shang sighed as he rolled over so that his back was to her. He really needed to get some much needed sleep in… especially since he wasn't so sure if this idea that the general had would really work. He could only imagine that it would backfire on him…big time backfire.

Mulan gathered Khan's reins into her right hand, twisting around in her saddle to look back at her village one last time. "So… exactly how much sewing and cooking am I doing again…just to be clear?" She wrinkled her nose, as if she wasn't impressed with this plan at all.

"A lot…can we just leave it at that?" Shang gritted his teeth together, barely able to keep himself from snapping at her from where he rode in front of her.

Mulan dropped her head down, allowing Khan to obediently follow the two white Warhorses that the Li men were riding. A covered supply wagon was attached to Khan, allowing the strong horse to pull it. It had several supplies in there; all of it for Shang and Mulan, General Li had his supplies in bulging saddle bags that hung from his own saddle.

Silence fell over the group as they made their way deep into the country, heading to the predestined spot for the training camp… and meeting place for the troops. Mulan stared down at her hands, wondering if this idea will even work. It sounded too… not by the book for the general to come up with it. And yet…it was just by the book enough to annoy her. Why couldn't she do something different? This was just plain crazy!

"Mulan? Are you ok?" Shang suddenly slowed his own horse down so that it matched Khan's steady steps.

Mulan lifted her head up, gazing blankly at him. "I'm fine. Just thinking is all."

"Thinking is a man's job. Your duty is to obey." General Li corrected her as he turned his horse around to see what was taking them so long.

Mulan frowned at that, but didn't say anything as she nodded her head in understanding. Not necessarily agreeing to do it… just confirming that she knew that was the way things were. Shang eyed her, noting that she didn't outright say that she would keep that in mind. She just nodded in understanding. Turning his head to the side, he fought the urge to smile. She was most definitely a smart one…that Mulan.

A/N: Done! Ok… Shang is on the way to fight in Fa Zhou's place…and um… anyone have any idea on where they are taking Mulan that will have a lot of cooking (and sewing) for her to do? I was going to reveal it in this chapter but decided that having you all guess will be for more entertaining.

Also… I'm not entirely sure if Shang is OOC or not…but basically I'm having him be the kind of guy that is completely stressed out because his father told him that he is to marry some girl that he never met and he wants to be a good husband to her but they don't know each other at all. And yeah… Mulan forgetting that their married will be a running gag in this story. Uh…still don't know how Mushu will show up in this story…I want him though… Cri-Kee snuck into Mulan's saddle bag and should be making another appearance soon.

Review!

SkyTalon