Chapter 8
I found myself in the setting of Mulan. I looked around, and saw the rain. This must be the night she ran away to join the army. Maybe I can stop her before she gets too far. I can only hope.
I was walking in the direction of the gate when I heard the horse whinny. I
immediately followed the sound, and found myself staring at Mulan, all dressed up in her father's armor. She had hacked off her hair, too cleanly cut to be real, but then again, this was a movie. I mean, for God's sake... can anyone honestly tell me they believe a girl could cut her hair that straight with a friggen sword?
Anyway, she was saddling her horse when I walked into the barn. She looked at me warily, and I realized then that I was Asian, like her. Her almond-shaped eyes widened in surprise. Here I was, a perfect stranger, walking in on her while she's impersonating a man.
"Hello Mulan."
"How... how do you know my name?"
"I know a lot. I know your father was called to fight, but he was injured last time, now, you're going to take his place. I also know that when you went to see the match-maker, she said you would never bring your family honor, and now you believe you will bring them honor this way."
"How do you know all this?"
"I've been sent by your ancestors. Well, they'll also send Mushu. He's going to help as well...sort of..."
"My ancestors sent you?"
"Well, not exactly. See, I'm not from around here."
"But you..."
"I'm from a far away place. I guess you could say my ancestors are the ones who sent me, but anyway, I'm here to help. That's really all that matters, isn't it?"
"I guess."
"Well, let's get going. We've got a long ride ahead of us."
"Okay."
I found it difficult to ride with Mulan on the horse, especially with all that armor on. I was constantly being poked, or stabbed, or just jostled. It was not a comfortable ride.
When we got to where the men were reporting for duty, I told Mulan I'd hide. I waited until after Mushu showed up. It wasn't long after we had arrived. Cri-Kee was with him, and they convinced Mulan that she should go on with her charade. I watched in amusement from within a puddle. I was glad it had rained the night before. It provided me with a place to hide.
"The guardian of lost souls indeed." I muttered.
They watched as Mulan made a big mess of the new recruits. Mushu even gave Mulan the new name of Ping. When she tried to spit, it dangled from her face. I laughed so hard I thought everyone could hear me, but they were too busy listening to their commanding officer. If he wasn't destined to be with Mulan, I'd take him in an instant. He was sooooo cute!
Over the course of the next week, Mulan or 'Ping' got really good at the whole 'battle' thing. She was at the top of the troop within a few days. I knew that she was so totally going to kick major butt when it got time for them to fight. For a girl, she really was a talented fighter.
When Mushu and Cri-Kee wrote the letter requesting their help at the last battle, I followed, in Mulan's wagon. Mushu and I plotted on ways to make Mulan the hero. I knew that somehow, he would.
It's amazing. Only in the movies can someone randomly break into song, and everyone around knows the words.
I was amazed by the destruction when we arrived at the battle. When we found the general's helmet, I almost believed the war was lost. I had forgotten how the movie went. Mulan and I watched in absolute horror as Shang placed his father's helmet on his sword. Mulan placed a doll alongside the sword, and we moved on.
When Mushu and Cri-Kee accidentally gave away our position, we knew we were in big trouble.
"Save the cannons!" Shang cried as the wagon caught fire. Mulan cut the horse free of the wagon, and we ran for dear life. I was so glad that no one noticed me running. Or maybe they did, but they didn't have time to say anything about a girl being in their midst. We were too bust running from arrows.
In the avalanche, Mulan saved Shang's life, and had saved many others, just by starting it. She knew it was dangerous, but also that it was their only hope. She was already considered a hero. Mushu was so proud of her, he knew she could do it. Everyone believed the Huns were dead, but I knew better. I suddenly remembered what was going to happen later in the movie.
'Ping' was wounded. When they found out, they immediately went for help. In doing so, they found out she was a girl. Mulan was found out! "Move out!" Shang
bellowed, telling Mulan "A life for a life."
Mulan and I huddled in the cold, trying to make a fire. We managed a tiny one, with bits of broken arrows. Mushu tried to cheer us up. It wasn't really working. Oh well, we started to head home.
Shan-Yu had dug himself out of the snow, and so did a lot of his men. Mulan and I knew instantly that something was wrong. We heard his shout, and went to warn the others. Shan-Yu was not defeated!
We caught up with them at a parade being held in their honor.
"Make way for the hero's of China!" a man proclaimed.
We tried to warn him that the Huns were alive, and in the city. He wouldn't
believe us.
"You said you'd trust Ping, why is Mulan any different?" she asked angrily. He ignored her.
Mulan went to find someone who would believe her, and Mushu, Cri-Kee and I formed a plan. It was just crazy enough to work.
When they dressed up as women and rescued the Emperor, I watched and hoped to God everything would go alright. There wasn't much I could do to help, so I left and went back to where I came from. As I sank into the puddle, I hoped Mulan and Shang would be happy together.
I followed the tunnel, hoping not to get side-tracked, but knowing that it would happen anyway. I was just too curious.
I found myself in the setting of Mulan. I looked around, and saw the rain. This must be the night she ran away to join the army. Maybe I can stop her before she gets too far. I can only hope.
I was walking in the direction of the gate when I heard the horse whinny. I
immediately followed the sound, and found myself staring at Mulan, all dressed up in her father's armor. She had hacked off her hair, too cleanly cut to be real, but then again, this was a movie. I mean, for God's sake... can anyone honestly tell me they believe a girl could cut her hair that straight with a friggen sword?
Anyway, she was saddling her horse when I walked into the barn. She looked at me warily, and I realized then that I was Asian, like her. Her almond-shaped eyes widened in surprise. Here I was, a perfect stranger, walking in on her while she's impersonating a man.
"Hello Mulan."
"How... how do you know my name?"
"I know a lot. I know your father was called to fight, but he was injured last time, now, you're going to take his place. I also know that when you went to see the match-maker, she said you would never bring your family honor, and now you believe you will bring them honor this way."
"How do you know all this?"
"I've been sent by your ancestors. Well, they'll also send Mushu. He's going to help as well...sort of..."
"My ancestors sent you?"
"Well, not exactly. See, I'm not from around here."
"But you..."
"I'm from a far away place. I guess you could say my ancestors are the ones who sent me, but anyway, I'm here to help. That's really all that matters, isn't it?"
"I guess."
"Well, let's get going. We've got a long ride ahead of us."
"Okay."
I found it difficult to ride with Mulan on the horse, especially with all that armor on. I was constantly being poked, or stabbed, or just jostled. It was not a comfortable ride.
When we got to where the men were reporting for duty, I told Mulan I'd hide. I waited until after Mushu showed up. It wasn't long after we had arrived. Cri-Kee was with him, and they convinced Mulan that she should go on with her charade. I watched in amusement from within a puddle. I was glad it had rained the night before. It provided me with a place to hide.
"The guardian of lost souls indeed." I muttered.
They watched as Mulan made a big mess of the new recruits. Mushu even gave Mulan the new name of Ping. When she tried to spit, it dangled from her face. I laughed so hard I thought everyone could hear me, but they were too busy listening to their commanding officer. If he wasn't destined to be with Mulan, I'd take him in an instant. He was sooooo cute!
Over the course of the next week, Mulan or 'Ping' got really good at the whole 'battle' thing. She was at the top of the troop within a few days. I knew that she was so totally going to kick major butt when it got time for them to fight. For a girl, she really was a talented fighter.
When Mushu and Cri-Kee wrote the letter requesting their help at the last battle, I followed, in Mulan's wagon. Mushu and I plotted on ways to make Mulan the hero. I knew that somehow, he would.
It's amazing. Only in the movies can someone randomly break into song, and everyone around knows the words.
I was amazed by the destruction when we arrived at the battle. When we found the general's helmet, I almost believed the war was lost. I had forgotten how the movie went. Mulan and I watched in absolute horror as Shang placed his father's helmet on his sword. Mulan placed a doll alongside the sword, and we moved on.
When Mushu and Cri-Kee accidentally gave away our position, we knew we were in big trouble.
"Save the cannons!" Shang cried as the wagon caught fire. Mulan cut the horse free of the wagon, and we ran for dear life. I was so glad that no one noticed me running. Or maybe they did, but they didn't have time to say anything about a girl being in their midst. We were too bust running from arrows.
In the avalanche, Mulan saved Shang's life, and had saved many others, just by starting it. She knew it was dangerous, but also that it was their only hope. She was already considered a hero. Mushu was so proud of her, he knew she could do it. Everyone believed the Huns were dead, but I knew better. I suddenly remembered what was going to happen later in the movie.
'Ping' was wounded. When they found out, they immediately went for help. In doing so, they found out she was a girl. Mulan was found out! "Move out!" Shang
bellowed, telling Mulan "A life for a life."
Mulan and I huddled in the cold, trying to make a fire. We managed a tiny one, with bits of broken arrows. Mushu tried to cheer us up. It wasn't really working. Oh well, we started to head home.
Shan-Yu had dug himself out of the snow, and so did a lot of his men. Mulan and I knew instantly that something was wrong. We heard his shout, and went to warn the others. Shan-Yu was not defeated!
We caught up with them at a parade being held in their honor.
"Make way for the hero's of China!" a man proclaimed.
We tried to warn him that the Huns were alive, and in the city. He wouldn't
believe us.
"You said you'd trust Ping, why is Mulan any different?" she asked angrily. He ignored her.
Mulan went to find someone who would believe her, and Mushu, Cri-Kee and I formed a plan. It was just crazy enough to work.
When they dressed up as women and rescued the Emperor, I watched and hoped to God everything would go alright. There wasn't much I could do to help, so I left and went back to where I came from. As I sank into the puddle, I hoped Mulan and Shang would be happy together.
I followed the tunnel, hoping not to get side-tracked, but knowing that it would happen anyway. I was just too curious.