After Dinner: Chapter Seven

Disclaimer: I don't own Disney's Mulan.  I'm not making any profit by writing this story.

By: Susan

Summary: "Would you like to stay for dinner?" "Would you like to stay forever?" Whatever happened during Shang's dinner with the Fa family? Was it a quick meal or something a bit more drawn out?

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Mulan sat on the rocks beside the stream in her garden. She wiped a tear from her eye, still thinking about what had previously happened. A tiny part of her was pleased; she didn't think Shang cared about her in that way, but another part of her was upset and scared. She picked up a pebble from the ground and threw it into the stream bitterly, hearing the satisfying splash as it hit. She stood up and walked towards the small bridge, then leaned against it.

"Shang shouldn't want me," she said aloud to the garden. A corner of her mind surveyed the previous conversation, knowing Shang did care about her. But why? she asked herself. "Why?" This time she shouted it aloud.

"I'll tell you why," Mushu said, scampering through the grass, and up to her arm. "Shang thinks you're pretty, brave and smart. He didn't tell me this, but since you went to the army for your father, and he lost his, he knows how much you love your father, and how much he loved his. He would have done anything for his dad, even face death, and you did just that. Now would you please just marry him?"

"Wait, wait- Mushu?" she looked at him confusedly. "Have I missed something?"

"I don't think so," Mushu said calmly.

"What are you doing here? Weren't you turned into stone?"

"Yeah, for one night, then your annoying ancestor dude had to wake me up and send me to your boyfriend."

"Mushu, he's not my-"

"Well, anyway, I'm here to get you married and help you out with the big C," She looked at him oddly.  "Commitment!" Mushu said loudly, sighing.

"Oh..."

"Don't worry, your boyfriend wouldn't have known it either."

"I told you, Mushu, he's not-"

"Why isn't he your boyfriend? Shouldn't he be your fiancé, or something? Why'd you have to say no…in fact, you didn't even say no, you ran off in tears."

"Mushu," Mulan said, giving him a dirty look.

"Well, why did you run off?"

"Because…oh…just because." Mulan said, turning away from him. He crawled around her back to her other shoulder.

"You have no reason, go tell him yes." Mushu ordered.

"Why do you want me to say yes so much?"

"Because, your ancestor guy won't let me back into the temple if you don't."

"Are you serious?"

"Well..." Mushu looked at the ground, "Maybe..." He sighed, "Mulan, you're my friend, and I want what's best for you. You love him, and he loves you, just go get married. You have no reason to say no."

"Mushu, it isn't that easy. Besides, I do have a reason; in fact, I have plenty of reasons."

"So, give me a reason."

"It's just..." Mulan took a step closer to the stream and looked at her reflection. "After the war, after I received the respect of everyone in China including the emperor, I really felt like I was something. I felt like others cared about me as a person, not whether or not I would make a good wife. People respected me, people adored me, people cared, and I'd never felt anything like that before. When I came home, everyone treated me the same, except for all this. But when I came home, I received something that I hadn't been aware of. There were all these complications in my life, Mushu. My father is treating me as a person, and Shang is here, on this property. That could have been amazing, and wonderful, but Mushu, when Shang is here, I find myself wishing I was somebody else." She closed her eyes sadly, then opened them up again. "I wish I was good enough for him, Mushu. I wish I was delicate, and dainty and beautiful, I wish I was somebody who could cook and sew and clean, who would never make a mistake, and be a perfect wife." She stared down into the water, the black eyes of her reflection boring into her. "But Mushu, that somebody else isn't here. I am. And, I thought Shang didn't care for me, because I wasn't that person. I'm just so confused." She turned her head to face the afternoon sun, and Mushu began to speak.

"Mulan, did it ever occur to you that maybe Shang likes you just because you are yourself." She looked at him sadly.

"He must, otherwise none of this would have happened. But I just can't believe it."

"Maybe you should," Mushu said gently.

"But Mushu, I'm so scared."

"Of what?"

"Your big C. I don't think Shang really knows who I am. Maybe he thinks I'm that other person, but I'm not. I'm afraid that if Shang finds out that I'm not that person, he'll leave me. What am I really? What could he possibly like about me?" Another tear trickled down her rosy cheek.

"You're a strong, loyal, brave, patient young woman who sparkles with beauty and intellect, speaks her mind, and cares for her family and friends." Mulan turned her head abruptly to the voice, her eyes wide. "I'm sure that is what Captain Shang likes about you." Mushu jumped off her arm, running off to speak with Shang.

"Father-" Mulan started, but Fa Zhou jumped in with words.

"Mulan, I wanted you to make this decision on your own, it isn't my choice, it's yours," he said softly.

"Oh, father, I don't know what to do."

"My daughter, I know Captain Shang cares about you for those reasons and more, and I want you to follow your heart, and listen to yourself." He took her hand in his own, "Dear, what do you want for yourself?"

"I want... I want to be able to understand myself before Shang even tries to understand me." She looked into her father's understanding eyes. "I hadn't planned on becoming a big war hero."

"I know." They sat in silence for a moment.

"I did it for you, father."

"I know." He looked at her again. "I prayed to the ancestors every day, a prayer for your safety and a prayer of thanks, that I had been delivered such an outstanding young woman, one who was willing to sacrifice her life for an old man."

"You are no old man. You are my father."

"It still troubles me, some nights. I still wonder why you did it. The last words I said were-"

"I know father, and the first words you said when I came home made it all worthwhile." Another silence followed.

"I love you, Mulan."

"I love you too, father." He pulled her into a warm embrace, and tears ran down her face.

"Mulan, if it helps, I see all of what I said before in you as well. I saw it before you went away." She let go, and looked at him in surprise.

"You did?"

"I saw it all in you, but I didn't respect it until you came home." He sighed. "Captain Shang," He paused, "Well, he saw it all right away."

"He did." Mulan agreed softly.

"It brings our family great happiness to have him here. Do you like it when he is here?"

"I...Well...It used to make me feel like I wasn't good enough for somebody like him." Her eyes filled up with tears, and they overflowed onto her cheeks. "But, father, I felt that way about you too, before I left, and now I realize you understood me long before I left. But...Shang...Since the moment he found out who I really was, since the moment he found out I would've sacrificed my life for you, he understood me too, father."

"He understands you now, Mulan. But the real question is whether or not you understand yourself, and whether or not you like who you are." She stepped away from her father, and towards the stream once more. She looked at her reflection...Her tear-stricken face, red eyes...But no...Appearances weren't important...It is what is inside that counts. Her hand over her heart, she looked once more...and she saw the beauty, loyalty, and integrity that her father, and Captain Li Shang saw.

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