Chapter 4-Goodbyes
Disclaimer: Like I said before, Mulan and its characters do not belong to me. So, if any Disney representatives are thinking about sending me a lawsuit, please don't.
A/N: Thank you for the reviews, Anna and ToughSpirit! It's great to know you guys like the story!
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Mulan finished packing. All she had were her clothes; the magnolia hair comb and the flower Shang had given her. She had no doubt that there were more finery waiting for her in the palace. Mulan looked around her room sadly. It would be a very long time, most likely forever before she would see her bedroom again. Suddenly, a voice rang out behind her. "And you were thinking about leaving without me? For shame!"
She whirled around. There, on the ground, stood her guardian. Mushu and Cri- Kee grinned back at her. Mulan fell to her knees and hugged him. Cri-Kee smiled. She laughed for the first time that day when Mushu complained that he couldn't breathe. It was the same old Mushu alright. "What're you doing here?" she asked as she let him go.
Mushu looked appalled. "What do you mean, what am I doing here?! I'm here to protect you, of course! Your ancestors appointed me your personal guardian! And Cri-Kee goes everywhere with me, so here we are! Ready to go!" His appalled look turned into a concerned one. "About the reason I'm here...you okay?"
"No. But if Shang can hide his feelings, then, well so can I." Mushu looked surprised. "What's this about Shang?" She sighed. "He hasn't said anything at all. It's amazing after all we've been through, he can just stand there and watch me get married to another man." Mushu looked rather annoyed. "Hey, I may not know much about this guy, BUT I do know he can't exactly play hero in this story. This is the emperor's nephew we're talking about here. Ming Kei's got a pretty big influence since he's Lady Mai Lin's favourite son."
Mulan raised her eyebrows. "Why do you know everything all of a sudden?" Mushu just shrugged. "Hey, I'm a guardian! I know all and see all! Anyway, you better be more worried about yourself than about Shang. This Ming Kei seems real nasty."
Mulan looked at him pointedly. "If I can defeat Shan-Yu and the entire Hun army, I can handle a man who only wants me for my name and body." Mushu smiled and jumped onto her shoulder. "That's my girl! Remember though, me and Cri-Kee will be with you all the way." Cri-Kee chirped in agreement. Just then, Fa Li and Granny Fa came in. The two scurried off to hide.
Fa Li smiled sadly at her daughter. "You may not be used to palace life but just remember we're here. This is to remind you of that." She put a jade circle with the word 'Fa' engraved on it into Mulan's hand. Mulan hugged her mother, tears in her eyes. It was a long time before Fa Li let her go. Granny Fa had something for her grand daughter as well.
She slipped a gold necklace onto Mulan's neck. "It was your great grandmother's. It'll bring you protection. And if that Ming whatsisname treats you badly, you just give him a good kick in the you-know-what. No matter if he IS the emperor's nephew!" Mulan smiled and hugged the old woman. It'd be a long time before she would hear her grandmother's anecdotes again.
With feelings of apprehension, she walked slowly into the living room where her father waited. Along the way, she hugged Little Brother goodbye. Fa Zhou hugged his daughter tightly, not wanting to let her go. But the emperor had given an order and like the soldier she was, Mulan had to do her 'duty'. Fa Zhou gave her some last minute advice.
"Don't just follow anything blindly. Keep your wits about you, use your mind and take care of yourself. We love you."
Mulan hugged her father. "I'll miss you, Papa." Then, she walked outside where Shang awaited her on his horse. Mulan led Khan out of the stables and mounted him. Shang nodded his goodbye rode off with Mulan, glancing back behind her. The sight of leaving her family brought tears to her eyes as she turned away.
Shang glanced sideways at her. She'd closed her eyes. He noticed a tear running down her cheek. Shang tried to say something comforting but nothing came so he kept silent. It would take two days to get to the Imperial City but Shang decided they would get 'lost' for a few days. He would stall it even now, trying to keep Mulan from a man who would never love her as much as he did.
Disclaimer: Like I said before, Mulan and its characters do not belong to me. So, if any Disney representatives are thinking about sending me a lawsuit, please don't.
A/N: Thank you for the reviews, Anna and ToughSpirit! It's great to know you guys like the story!
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Mulan finished packing. All she had were her clothes; the magnolia hair comb and the flower Shang had given her. She had no doubt that there were more finery waiting for her in the palace. Mulan looked around her room sadly. It would be a very long time, most likely forever before she would see her bedroom again. Suddenly, a voice rang out behind her. "And you were thinking about leaving without me? For shame!"
She whirled around. There, on the ground, stood her guardian. Mushu and Cri- Kee grinned back at her. Mulan fell to her knees and hugged him. Cri-Kee smiled. She laughed for the first time that day when Mushu complained that he couldn't breathe. It was the same old Mushu alright. "What're you doing here?" she asked as she let him go.
Mushu looked appalled. "What do you mean, what am I doing here?! I'm here to protect you, of course! Your ancestors appointed me your personal guardian! And Cri-Kee goes everywhere with me, so here we are! Ready to go!" His appalled look turned into a concerned one. "About the reason I'm here...you okay?"
"No. But if Shang can hide his feelings, then, well so can I." Mushu looked surprised. "What's this about Shang?" She sighed. "He hasn't said anything at all. It's amazing after all we've been through, he can just stand there and watch me get married to another man." Mushu looked rather annoyed. "Hey, I may not know much about this guy, BUT I do know he can't exactly play hero in this story. This is the emperor's nephew we're talking about here. Ming Kei's got a pretty big influence since he's Lady Mai Lin's favourite son."
Mulan raised her eyebrows. "Why do you know everything all of a sudden?" Mushu just shrugged. "Hey, I'm a guardian! I know all and see all! Anyway, you better be more worried about yourself than about Shang. This Ming Kei seems real nasty."
Mulan looked at him pointedly. "If I can defeat Shan-Yu and the entire Hun army, I can handle a man who only wants me for my name and body." Mushu smiled and jumped onto her shoulder. "That's my girl! Remember though, me and Cri-Kee will be with you all the way." Cri-Kee chirped in agreement. Just then, Fa Li and Granny Fa came in. The two scurried off to hide.
Fa Li smiled sadly at her daughter. "You may not be used to palace life but just remember we're here. This is to remind you of that." She put a jade circle with the word 'Fa' engraved on it into Mulan's hand. Mulan hugged her mother, tears in her eyes. It was a long time before Fa Li let her go. Granny Fa had something for her grand daughter as well.
She slipped a gold necklace onto Mulan's neck. "It was your great grandmother's. It'll bring you protection. And if that Ming whatsisname treats you badly, you just give him a good kick in the you-know-what. No matter if he IS the emperor's nephew!" Mulan smiled and hugged the old woman. It'd be a long time before she would hear her grandmother's anecdotes again.
With feelings of apprehension, she walked slowly into the living room where her father waited. Along the way, she hugged Little Brother goodbye. Fa Zhou hugged his daughter tightly, not wanting to let her go. But the emperor had given an order and like the soldier she was, Mulan had to do her 'duty'. Fa Zhou gave her some last minute advice.
"Don't just follow anything blindly. Keep your wits about you, use your mind and take care of yourself. We love you."
Mulan hugged her father. "I'll miss you, Papa." Then, she walked outside where Shang awaited her on his horse. Mulan led Khan out of the stables and mounted him. Shang nodded his goodbye rode off with Mulan, glancing back behind her. The sight of leaving her family brought tears to her eyes as she turned away.
Shang glanced sideways at her. She'd closed her eyes. He noticed a tear running down her cheek. Shang tried to say something comforting but nothing came so he kept silent. It would take two days to get to the Imperial City but Shang decided they would get 'lost' for a few days. He would stall it even now, trying to keep Mulan from a man who would never love her as much as he did.