Reflection in the sword by Ikuko

Tank's ending

So you all guessed, right? You know who the groom is? Now you've asked for it! The wrath of Ikuko is upon you!
This is not a flame bait. This is a Tank's ending*. Technically, it's not even a part of the story

"Tank's ending" is a tradition of a different fandom. It was named after the pioneer of the genre, Wilson Tank , a distinguished member of the "Lois and Clark" fanfiction community. Tank endings are very short fics, episode finales, or endings of author's or someone else's fanfics. They tend to contain as much death, destruction or mayhem as possible, but are most definitely not intended to be taken seriously. Traditionally they are placed in the reality of the original fic, but turn the events in the worst possible way.
Don't tell me I did not warn you. And now, if you are brave enough, proceed.



Shang was riding down the country road, deep in contemplation. Fa Zhou was polite but evasive, and did not give him a clear answer. Did he still have a chance? Why was there so much secrecy about Mulan's future? She told him that she actually loved him. He knew that he loved her. Why was it so complicated? There was no one who'd give him the answers… Shang was so deep in thought, he never heard the singing of the arrow in the air.

Mulan was trembling on the large ceremonial bed. In a second, she will gather her strength, and look in the face of her destiny. She could do it. Just one more second…
"Why, don't you want to see your new husband?" said a deep, disturbingly familiar voice. It could not be! Slowly, Mulan opened her eyes. The powerful chest wide shoulders of her husband were the first things she saw. He was so much taller than Mulan! She lifted her face to finally meet his eyes. The unforgettable face in front of her smiled in grim amusement. How was it possible! The shock was too much for the worn out girl. She swooned in the dead faint.
He looked down on her sadly. She was so small, so young! So this was his prize! After years of preparation, rigorous training, months of exhausting military campaign, loss of his friends and nearly his own life, that was what General Shan-Yu was taking home with him. But it was worth everything, even the promise to the Emperor never to cross the Great Wall again. The old fool! He refused to bow to him in the palace, but was forced to surrender a more precious treasure. Who cared about China now! This girl was the greatest warrior that ever lived, equal to himself. The children born to him by this small woman will concur the empire greater than Roman, it will stretch from Yellow Sea to Mediterranean, and will last for a thousand years. Yes, the victory was his, even if Chinese did not know it.
He was right not to succumb to the rage and desire of revenge when he found himself under the rumble of the palace tower. To engage the diplomatic means of persuading was much wiser. Chinese were too scared of the Huns to present much of the opposition to the offer he made: truce in exchange for the girl. Idiots! They never knew the true value of this woman. But he recognized it from the start: this was the only woman worthy to be a matriarch of the future conquerors of the world. The only real obstacle he had was that annoying captain; the fellow was clearly in love with the girl-soldier… It would be too cruel to make him suffer through her wedding. On the other hand, he did not deserve the honor of dying in the combat with Shan-Yu either. Yes, sending an archer was the best way to tie the loose end.
The girl had the most admirable spirit. He'd enjoy breaking her. But he will be careful - she was to live and bring him many sons. The sooner she'd get used to it, the better. He glanced over her prone body again. It was not fitting for his wife to keel over. It was time to wake her up. He reached his dark hand with long claw-like nails to grasp the silk of the front of her dress and tear it off.


So, there you have it. I will post the REAL finale as soon as I am done sulking in the corner. But you can try to coax me out of it with lots of nice reviews.
By the way, the dreams of Shan-Yu came to be a historical fact. But it's beside the matter.