Chapter Five:
Shang woke up with a start, confused on why he felt as if something were wrong... it took him exactly two minutes before he realized that his wife wasn't in bed. "Where is she?" Shang rolled over, allowing himself to fall off of the bedroll. Scrambling to get ready, he continuously scanned the area in hopes that he was just being paranoid and she was still in the tent. No such luck. Pulling his hair back in its signature bun, he pulled aside the tent flap to find that the sun was fairly high in the morning sky...and all of his men for once were gathered together waiting for him without fighting.
"And what do I owe this wonderful..." The arrow that had been sitting at the top of the pole for the past several weeks suddenly slammed into the ground at his feet, barely missing him. Swallowing hard, he finished the sentence. "Surprise." Snapping his head upwards, he scanned the pole to see which one of his men had made it all the way up to the top, finally. And while he was asleep too! Shock settled deep inside of him as he stared at the last person that he expected to be on top of the pole. "Well...I'm dead..."
...
Mulan wiped her hands on a clean cloth, smiling as she listened to Ling, Chien-Po, and Yao chat amongst each other about their upcoming archery practice...one that they had invited her of all people to join. "When I was giving you self-defense lessons... this morning was not what I had in mind." Shang materialized right behind her, one eyebrow arching upwards.
"I know... but in my opinion you need to treat me the same as your men. Besides that, it's not like I'm gonna do that again. My hair keeps getting in the way." Mulan shrugged him off, picking a bowl up to fill it with food.
Shang opened and closed his mouth multiple times, before glancing over at his three men, who happened to be his worst ones, feeling as if he were at a complete lost. "You three have worked in some extra time over at the archery ring, right?"
"Oh yeah..." Ling nodded enthusiastically. Yao rolled merely grunted, while Chien-Po gave a small nod.
Shang sighed, before turning to face Mulan. "Will I be seeing you later?"
Mulan glanced over at him, confusion briefly flashing across her features. "I don't see why not..?"
Shang picked his bowl of food up, vaguely wondering if he would ever understand her...
...
Arrows flew through the air as they speared tomatoes to the trees that were lined up near the camp. Mulan pulled back the bow in her hand again, another arrow notched into place. Chien-Po, Yoa, and Ling were standing with her as they pulled their bowstrings back as well, just as Shang approached them. Pausing, he observed what was going on, even as they stepped on the piece of wood to send the tomatoes flying into the air. Instantly, they realized the arrows in unison, piercing the tomatoes as they hit the targets on the trees.
"I don't believe it..." Shang gasped, stunned that his men could actually hit the targets.
...
Mulan ran up ahead of Shang, leading the march while carrying the weights, Ling Chien-Po, and Yao right behind him. Shang shook his head, a single thought crossing his mind. Maybe they could get ready for the war in time to be of assistance to his father...
...
Shang crashed into the ground as Mulan suddenly did a quick kick into his side. Shang lifted a hand up, rubbing his chin in astonishment. No one has ever beaten him before since he was very small...
...
Chien-Po led the way across the river, tossing in a few flips as he crossed the river over the poles that they were using as a bridge. Shang allowed a wry smile, glad that he no longer had to hold the rest of the men while waiting for Chien-Po to cross safely.
...
Staff practice had never, in all of Shang's memories, gone so smoothly. Everyone, including he had to admit his wife and the worst of his men, were in perfect sync. Actually, thinking things over, the three that had been his worst recruits were now far better than any of the others. A thought that niggled at the back of his mind...
...
Shang oversaw the training on how to run through a field that had flaming arrows being fired upon it, smiling as he watched as Yao led the way, somehow making it look like a calm jog through a park.
...
Ling karate chopped the cement bricks... with his face. Shang, glanced over at the others, all of whom appeared to be doing just as well as him...almost. Yao and Chien-Po were the only ones that were at the same level as him.
...
Mulan joined them for their fishing. And quickly outdid the men by grabbing about five fish per hand. A total of ten fishes. Yao snagged another twenty, with Ling right behind him at nineteen and Chien-Po at fifteen. Shang lifted a large basket up, taking it over to them for them to place their catch in it. Next up on the schedule was target practice with the cannons.
...
Shang fought the urge to punch the air as every single target was hit with perfect precision. Mulan clapped her hands as she looked at out at the men, excitement dancing in her eyes. No maybe about it... he was positive that they could make it...
...
Shang folded his spare shirt, even as a brisk knocked reached his ears right before the ruffling sound of the tent flap being pushed to the side. "Those boys are unsuited for war!"
"What!?" Shang dropped his clean shirt, turning to face Chi-Fu.
Chi-Fu huffed as he waved his clipboard into his face. "When the general reads my report, he will never call you and your men out to the front lines!" Chi-Fu spat out the word men as if it were a joke.
Shang narrowed his eyes, curling his fingers into a fist. "They are ready! More than ready!"
"Ha! That's a laugh." Chi-Fu snorted, already looking over his clipboard. "They are just a bunch of boys that are playing soldier. Until they become men, they will never see battle." With that, Chi-Fu whirled around, sweeping the tent flap to the side to exit the tent. Mulan, who was carrying a tray set for two, stepped to the side, her eyes narrowing as she watched Chi-Fu leave the tent.
Walking over to where Shang was standing, she sat the tray down, before carefully picking up his shirt that was now crumpled on the floor. "Mushu, Cri-Kee... I believe we are in need of your services."
Before Shang could ask her who she was talking to, Mushu and Cri-Kee popped out of their hiding places. Mushu rubbed his hands, claws?, together, excitement gleaming in his eyes. "Just tell me what you need me to do!"
Shang blinked, once, twice, lifting his eyes skyward, he spoke in a low voice. "Do I even want to know..?"
A/N: Done! Shang has now met Mushu and Cri-Kee... and before you ask, yeah Mulan heard that entire conversation and agrees with Shang about the men's readiness. But, hey! That's what stowaway dragons are for! Tricking Chi-Fu into believing that General Li needs their help! This time Shang is in on the trickery though... Mulan still hasn't cut her hair yet... oh well. Don't think that's ever going to happen.
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SkyTalon
