Thank you, Amb3r and Tough Spirit for reviewing. You encourage me to keep
writing. ( Sorry I couldn't update sooner but I wanted this chapter to be a
good one, so it took me long to write exactly what I wanted to write.
Anyway, I hope you enjoy it.
Chapter 9:
Hard to set free.
"What are you doing here?" Shang demanded. His voice was stern and confident, he was angrier than the time when he found out that Ping was really a woman.
Lynn hesitated, thinking of a good reason to runaway from home and suffer. "I came to protect my country," she replied in a shaky voice.
Shang crossed his arms and narrowed his brow. "This is not a place for women, least of all for the emperor's daughter." Mulan narrowed her eyes at him in return; he was starting to sound like Chi Fu.
"I'm really sorry," Lynn cried, "I deserve to be executed." The princess kneeled in front of the young General.
"Lynn, you don't know what you're saying," Mulan spoke up, persuading her to get up and show some dignity.
"You knew about this Mulan, did you?" Shang yelled. His eyes became somber and his voice sounded hurt. Shang's heart was broken because of Mulan's lie. He had given her all of his trust and she had betrayed him to save Lynn's neck. Mulan pursed her lips and nodded.
"Why Mulan?" Shang repeated bitterly, "Why?" He felt so disappointed with her.
"Shang, I'm really sorry," Mulan went on talking as tears fell from her sad eyes, "It's just that I promised Lynn."
Shang cut her off, "I understand your place Mulan, after all you were the one who started all this." Now he was blaming her.
Mulan lowered her head and asked through her gritted teeth, "What do you mean?"
"If you hadn't dressed yourself like a man none of this would've happened," Shang said, "Now every woman will want to do the same because you were never really punished."
He turned his back on the two ladies and started to walk away from them.
"Go on and kill me now then!" Mulan yelled, "I'm sorry for ruining your plans when I saved your life."
Shang ignored her and got inside his tent. Her words had pierced his heart.
Mulan watched him leave, she loved him so much truly and it was so hard to realize she had betrayed him twice; she never did it on purpose. "The answer is clear now," she muttered bitterly, "You were going to kill me for your damn honor."
*************************************************************************
The next day, Mulan woke up earlier than usual and started packing her belongings to leave camp. Last night, she hadn't been able to sleep at all. She just kept thinking about Shang; she felt like a real traitor. Mulan decided to go home so she wouldn't have to hurt the man she loved again. Deep in her heart she wanted to stay and try to fix her mistakes but she thought it was for the best. "Shang deserves something better," she kept on saying; though she wanted him back to love her. They had been through so many things together and they had shared so many beautiful moments. A tear slipped from her eye; she was really going to miss him.
Shang was outside just sitting there. He had been there the whole night, and did not sleep also.
Both of them avoided to look into each other's eyes acting as if they were busy. Mulan put the saddle on Khan's back while Shang pretended to be sharpening his sword. Mulan held the tears that were about to roll down her cheeks. With a final glance at Shang, Mulan mounted her horse. "Have a nice life," she whispered and pursed her lips. Khan slowly started to walk away
Shang dropped his sword. He wondered what Mulan was up to now. He reached her and asked, "Where do you think you're going?"
"I'm leaving this place," Mulan replied.
"You cannot leave now," Shang repeated, "You know it's dangerous." Still he acted cold and distant.
Mulan raised her eyebrows and said, "You don't seem to know me." She pressed her heels on Khan so he would run off.
Shang ran after her and shouted. "Get down of that horse at once!"
"You are no longer my commanding officer!" He heard her reply. Shang stayed thoughtful for a moment as he saw her take off. She was free to leave whenever she wished to indeed, but she couldn't go away when they had to talk. Shang loved her as much as he loved her before, it didn't matter she had betrayed his trust, although he acted cold. He ran for his horse and followed Mulan.
When he reached her he yelled, "I demand you to stop!" Mulan made Khan go faster on purpose.
Shang started to think all she wanted was to get away from him, but he had to stop her one way or another. He came up with an idea. "Damn it, Mulan!" He called, "You are not the kind of person who gives up for bullshit!"
Mulan pulled the reins from her horse forcing him to stop. She dismounted Khan and Shang did the same thing.
"Leave me alone Shang," Mulan said "It's none of business."
In response, Shang let out a very sarcastic laugh and replied, "Don't you dare say that!"
Mulan pursed her lips and part of her thought that maybe Shang still loved her and he didn't want her to go and kill herself; on the other side maybe he didn't feel like ever forgiving her lie.
As soon as Mulan opened her mouth to say something Shang pushed her to the ground and his body fell over hers so close. Mulan wondered why did he do such thing and she was about to complain and to slap him, she saw two arrows landing right next to them. Shang didn't move nor say a word, and Mulan could feel his warm body on hers, if only he could forgive her….she sighed. A few seconds later Shang backed up and stood up. Mulan sat and stared at Shang quietly, she realized she didn't want be apart from him although it was not proper for things to be that way.
"A battle is about to start," Shang announced.
Mulan nodded silently in reply. She looked back and saw thousands of men on their horses ready to charge against them. Immediately, both mounted their horses and rushed to warn the other soldiers. Dodging the arrows they reached Camp and told the other soldiers to be alert.
Most of the soldiers were fast asleep, and as soon as they were told about the Turks, they frantically got dressed in their armor. The Turks had followed Mulan and Shang and they met the Chinese soldiers face to face. Lynn bravely stood next to her fiancé.
The Turkish leader commanded the rest of his men to charge. They raised their swords and advanced towards the Chinese soldiers.
"Fire the cannons!" Shang yelled.
The soldiers obeyed their General's command and the explosions began. They wasted cannons because they got all nervous and they shot them in wrong directions.
Many Turks were killed with the explosives, but others could dodge them and they reached the Chinese soldiers.
Both sides had to use their swords and blood started to get scattered all over the ground. Endless hours of wild screams, and people bleeding to death were traced in the memories of each of the persons fighting. Every single person fought to survive, but to do so they had to kill the opponents.
Lynn begged Mulan to take her somewhere else because she could stand no more the barbaric display. Mulan didn't reply; she wanted to go home too, but she couldn't just leave it would be considered cowardice from part of her, besides they could get hurt either way.
Mulan glanced at Shang, he was fighting with all the courage and honor he had; she shut her eyes for a moment when he inserted his sword through the man's stomach.
Right behind her stood a tall, strong, Turkish man; he placed his sword a few inches from Mulan's neck, threatening to take away her life. Mulan closed her eyes and silently prayed. Suddenly she saw the man's sword landing next to her foot. She turned around and saw Shang walking away holding his bloody sword and her attacker was bleeding to death. Shang was busy fighting; he didn't even let her thank him for saving her life.
Finally, the other troops arrived with more cannons, but they couldn't just shoot them because the Chinese and the Turks were all mixed up together. They charged against the enemy and annihilated them. The battle lasted until noon.
The following hours, the Chinese searched for wounded comrades and looked for a doctor. Many good men died in the battle, they died with all the honor a good warrior dies. After that, they rode to the Imperial City to inform the emperor that China was in peace once again thanks to the honorable men and women who fought against the barbarians.
On the way to the Imperial City, Shang led the way holding his head up high with dignity, while Mulan, Lynn, and Tung-Ma stayed behind riding their horses slowly.
Once at the Imperial Palace, the emperor offered a banquet in their honor. Mulan decided she didn't want to be there, for she couldn't stand looking at Shang without feeling love for him. Mulan said goodbye to her friends Yao, Ling, Chien Po and Lynn. The last one insisted her to stay but she refused.
"Are you coming to my wedding then?" Lynn asked.
"Yes, of course," Mulan answered, "Just make sure to tell me when it will be."
Both girls embraced; they surely were going to miss each other now that they were best friends.
"You are the best friend I've ever had," said Lynn as they pulled away from the hug.
"You too," Mulan replied, "See you soon."
Mulan looked for Shang and when she finally spotted him, she noticed he was busy surrounded by silly rich maidens asking him questions and flirting desperately as if he were the last man in the world. Mulan watched him from a distance, and admitted herself that she will never be half as sassy as those brats. Maybe that's what he wanted, what he deserved; a pretty woman who would please him in all the senses of the word. She decided not to interrupt him and muttered, "Goodbye Shang, I will never forget you, I hope you never forget me." Mulan got on her horse and made her way home. She could only think of nothing else but Shang and she also wondered if what she had just done was right.
P.S. Obviously this can't end up like this. Epilogue coming up soon.
Chapter 9:
Hard to set free.
"What are you doing here?" Shang demanded. His voice was stern and confident, he was angrier than the time when he found out that Ping was really a woman.
Lynn hesitated, thinking of a good reason to runaway from home and suffer. "I came to protect my country," she replied in a shaky voice.
Shang crossed his arms and narrowed his brow. "This is not a place for women, least of all for the emperor's daughter." Mulan narrowed her eyes at him in return; he was starting to sound like Chi Fu.
"I'm really sorry," Lynn cried, "I deserve to be executed." The princess kneeled in front of the young General.
"Lynn, you don't know what you're saying," Mulan spoke up, persuading her to get up and show some dignity.
"You knew about this Mulan, did you?" Shang yelled. His eyes became somber and his voice sounded hurt. Shang's heart was broken because of Mulan's lie. He had given her all of his trust and she had betrayed him to save Lynn's neck. Mulan pursed her lips and nodded.
"Why Mulan?" Shang repeated bitterly, "Why?" He felt so disappointed with her.
"Shang, I'm really sorry," Mulan went on talking as tears fell from her sad eyes, "It's just that I promised Lynn."
Shang cut her off, "I understand your place Mulan, after all you were the one who started all this." Now he was blaming her.
Mulan lowered her head and asked through her gritted teeth, "What do you mean?"
"If you hadn't dressed yourself like a man none of this would've happened," Shang said, "Now every woman will want to do the same because you were never really punished."
He turned his back on the two ladies and started to walk away from them.
"Go on and kill me now then!" Mulan yelled, "I'm sorry for ruining your plans when I saved your life."
Shang ignored her and got inside his tent. Her words had pierced his heart.
Mulan watched him leave, she loved him so much truly and it was so hard to realize she had betrayed him twice; she never did it on purpose. "The answer is clear now," she muttered bitterly, "You were going to kill me for your damn honor."
*************************************************************************
The next day, Mulan woke up earlier than usual and started packing her belongings to leave camp. Last night, she hadn't been able to sleep at all. She just kept thinking about Shang; she felt like a real traitor. Mulan decided to go home so she wouldn't have to hurt the man she loved again. Deep in her heart she wanted to stay and try to fix her mistakes but she thought it was for the best. "Shang deserves something better," she kept on saying; though she wanted him back to love her. They had been through so many things together and they had shared so many beautiful moments. A tear slipped from her eye; she was really going to miss him.
Shang was outside just sitting there. He had been there the whole night, and did not sleep also.
Both of them avoided to look into each other's eyes acting as if they were busy. Mulan put the saddle on Khan's back while Shang pretended to be sharpening his sword. Mulan held the tears that were about to roll down her cheeks. With a final glance at Shang, Mulan mounted her horse. "Have a nice life," she whispered and pursed her lips. Khan slowly started to walk away
Shang dropped his sword. He wondered what Mulan was up to now. He reached her and asked, "Where do you think you're going?"
"I'm leaving this place," Mulan replied.
"You cannot leave now," Shang repeated, "You know it's dangerous." Still he acted cold and distant.
Mulan raised her eyebrows and said, "You don't seem to know me." She pressed her heels on Khan so he would run off.
Shang ran after her and shouted. "Get down of that horse at once!"
"You are no longer my commanding officer!" He heard her reply. Shang stayed thoughtful for a moment as he saw her take off. She was free to leave whenever she wished to indeed, but she couldn't go away when they had to talk. Shang loved her as much as he loved her before, it didn't matter she had betrayed his trust, although he acted cold. He ran for his horse and followed Mulan.
When he reached her he yelled, "I demand you to stop!" Mulan made Khan go faster on purpose.
Shang started to think all she wanted was to get away from him, but he had to stop her one way or another. He came up with an idea. "Damn it, Mulan!" He called, "You are not the kind of person who gives up for bullshit!"
Mulan pulled the reins from her horse forcing him to stop. She dismounted Khan and Shang did the same thing.
"Leave me alone Shang," Mulan said "It's none of business."
In response, Shang let out a very sarcastic laugh and replied, "Don't you dare say that!"
Mulan pursed her lips and part of her thought that maybe Shang still loved her and he didn't want her to go and kill herself; on the other side maybe he didn't feel like ever forgiving her lie.
As soon as Mulan opened her mouth to say something Shang pushed her to the ground and his body fell over hers so close. Mulan wondered why did he do such thing and she was about to complain and to slap him, she saw two arrows landing right next to them. Shang didn't move nor say a word, and Mulan could feel his warm body on hers, if only he could forgive her….she sighed. A few seconds later Shang backed up and stood up. Mulan sat and stared at Shang quietly, she realized she didn't want be apart from him although it was not proper for things to be that way.
"A battle is about to start," Shang announced.
Mulan nodded silently in reply. She looked back and saw thousands of men on their horses ready to charge against them. Immediately, both mounted their horses and rushed to warn the other soldiers. Dodging the arrows they reached Camp and told the other soldiers to be alert.
Most of the soldiers were fast asleep, and as soon as they were told about the Turks, they frantically got dressed in their armor. The Turks had followed Mulan and Shang and they met the Chinese soldiers face to face. Lynn bravely stood next to her fiancé.
The Turkish leader commanded the rest of his men to charge. They raised their swords and advanced towards the Chinese soldiers.
"Fire the cannons!" Shang yelled.
The soldiers obeyed their General's command and the explosions began. They wasted cannons because they got all nervous and they shot them in wrong directions.
Many Turks were killed with the explosives, but others could dodge them and they reached the Chinese soldiers.
Both sides had to use their swords and blood started to get scattered all over the ground. Endless hours of wild screams, and people bleeding to death were traced in the memories of each of the persons fighting. Every single person fought to survive, but to do so they had to kill the opponents.
Lynn begged Mulan to take her somewhere else because she could stand no more the barbaric display. Mulan didn't reply; she wanted to go home too, but she couldn't just leave it would be considered cowardice from part of her, besides they could get hurt either way.
Mulan glanced at Shang, he was fighting with all the courage and honor he had; she shut her eyes for a moment when he inserted his sword through the man's stomach.
Right behind her stood a tall, strong, Turkish man; he placed his sword a few inches from Mulan's neck, threatening to take away her life. Mulan closed her eyes and silently prayed. Suddenly she saw the man's sword landing next to her foot. She turned around and saw Shang walking away holding his bloody sword and her attacker was bleeding to death. Shang was busy fighting; he didn't even let her thank him for saving her life.
Finally, the other troops arrived with more cannons, but they couldn't just shoot them because the Chinese and the Turks were all mixed up together. They charged against the enemy and annihilated them. The battle lasted until noon.
The following hours, the Chinese searched for wounded comrades and looked for a doctor. Many good men died in the battle, they died with all the honor a good warrior dies. After that, they rode to the Imperial City to inform the emperor that China was in peace once again thanks to the honorable men and women who fought against the barbarians.
On the way to the Imperial City, Shang led the way holding his head up high with dignity, while Mulan, Lynn, and Tung-Ma stayed behind riding their horses slowly.
Once at the Imperial Palace, the emperor offered a banquet in their honor. Mulan decided she didn't want to be there, for she couldn't stand looking at Shang without feeling love for him. Mulan said goodbye to her friends Yao, Ling, Chien Po and Lynn. The last one insisted her to stay but she refused.
"Are you coming to my wedding then?" Lynn asked.
"Yes, of course," Mulan answered, "Just make sure to tell me when it will be."
Both girls embraced; they surely were going to miss each other now that they were best friends.
"You are the best friend I've ever had," said Lynn as they pulled away from the hug.
"You too," Mulan replied, "See you soon."
Mulan looked for Shang and when she finally spotted him, she noticed he was busy surrounded by silly rich maidens asking him questions and flirting desperately as if he were the last man in the world. Mulan watched him from a distance, and admitted herself that she will never be half as sassy as those brats. Maybe that's what he wanted, what he deserved; a pretty woman who would please him in all the senses of the word. She decided not to interrupt him and muttered, "Goodbye Shang, I will never forget you, I hope you never forget me." Mulan got on her horse and made her way home. She could only think of nothing else but Shang and she also wondered if what she had just done was right.
P.S. Obviously this can't end up like this. Epilogue coming up soon.