Chapter 7-The Village & An Old Friend
Disclaimer: I can see the angry mob of lawyers coming up so I'll make this quick. I don't own Mulan and all of its characters! Now go away, you mean suit-wearing law people!
A/N: Sorry about the long delay, guys! My computers out sick so it's gonna take awhile before I update daily. Thank you to all my reviewers and I hope this chapter doesn't disappoint you.
Three days passed. Mulan and Shang had managed not to meet anyone from the palace by riding through long small country roads rarely used by messengers and noblemen. They reached a small village off the main road by a few miles.
The people in the village didn't exactly go out to the Imperial City often. They did know however that a woman named Fa Mulan had saved them from the Hun invasion. So, the two travelers went under different names: Ling and Ping. Shang could barely keep his face straight whenever someone asked his or her names.
The village was a quiet peaceful one. Trees and flowers grew everywhere making the place look like a huge garden. A river ran by the side making it look very picturesque. Mountains loomed up in the background. The scenery comforted Mulan whenever she missed home. She couldn't send any letters to anyone for fear they might be intercepted by messengers or basically anyone who worked for the Emperor in the palace.
They stayed at a small inn that also served as the tavern. It hadn't been used for quite some time so the innkeeper was very happy to let them stay as long as they wanted. Mulan and Shang often strolled through the streets talking. Nobody pestered them and the villagers were friendly.
One night as they were eating dinner, Mulan suddenly realized that Mushu and Cri-Kee was nowhere to be seen. They had gone missing since the first day they reached the village. She hoped they were alright. Then again, Mushu was a guardian, she reminded herself. A loud mouthed one but nevertheless a guardian. They were probably fine.
Suddenly, a big group of the village men burst into the inn. Seeing 'Ling', they invited him to join them in a drinking fest. Women, they said were not allowed. Mulan was indignant but left for her room. (Grumbling all the way at the unfairness of it all)
Some hours passed. Then, a small cheer from the villagers rose up as a figure approached the doors. Shang turned to see a man about as tall as him stride in, bowing. Shang arched an eyebrow. He hadn't seen this man before all the time he'd been in the village. The stranger was handsome in a boyish kind of way. His body was much too muscular to obtain by farming work. Shang had no doubt this was someone with military training.
Shang whispered a question to a man beside him. "Who is that?" The man chuckled. "Loong Fai, strongest man in the village. You'd think with him from the city and all, he'd work harder to make more money. But he'd much rather go around playing pranks on everyone." Shang nearly fell off his chair. Loong Fai, his best friend!
Fai had disappeared when he was 18. General Loong had decided that his son was to marry a rich maiden from another village. Fai refused to do it. He didn't want to marry some stuck up girl. General Loong of course ignored his son and continued preparing for the wedding. Fai never showed up and he was never seen again from that moment on.
Shang had missed him but the war and military affairs had driven Fai to the back of his mind. The man whispered again. "But don't misunderstand. Fai will work his hardest when he needs to. And he's always shared his harvest with some starving family." The villagers had crowded around Fai, asking numerous questions. Shang smiled. Fai had always been popular with many people. Women especially. He wondered if Fai would be able to recognize him. Shang after all was wearing commoner clothes.
As he turned his back to Fai, Shang noticed some men pointing in his direction. It wasn't long before Fai put a hand on Shang's shoulder. "So, you are the stranger by the name of Ling?" Shang nodded without turning his back. "Well, let's see your face then! Or are you a woman in disguise?" A wave of laughter came up. Shang smirked but turned slowly to face his best friend.
Fai froze for a moment as he recognized Shang. Then, he cleared his throat. "Welcome Ling! I am the infamous Loong Fai, the ever popular village clown!" Fai bowed. Shang laughed and bowed as well. While their heads were bowed, Fai hurriedly whispered, "Meet me outside when I go out." After an hour, Fai announced he was going for a walk to clear his head. Shang joined him a few minutes later.
Outside, the two friends hugged for a minute. "I never thought I'd see that face again! Although, you look sterner than last time." Shang grinned. "Where have you been, Fai? And how did you end up HERE of all places?" Fai smiled as they sat on the ground. After he'd run away, Fai had spent a year wandering, doing odd jobs to survive. Then, he stumbled on this village and decided he'd stay here. By the time he was twenty, Fai was a merchant/farmer.
Shang shook his head and smiled. "You've changed. The old Fai would always find some way to escape manual labour." Fai just grinned. "Now, your turn. Why are you here when you're supposed to be in the city? I heard you became General." Shang told Fai about the war, how he had met Mulan and finally why he was here. Fai laughed heartily. "And you tell me I've changed! The Shang I knew would never do this!" "Some things will change in nine years." "Hmmm, and a certain girl as well, I presume."
Fai started to laugh helplessly at Shang's face. He had told Fai about him and Mulan. Shang was starting to regret telling him. After a while, Fai got a faraway look on his face. "You know, I'm starting to miss the city. Beautiful as this village is, it isn't my real home." He looked at Shang. "Is my father alive?" "Very much alive. But he isn't getting any younger. Before the war, he wished you were with him. He's forgiven you, Fai."
Shang's old friend smiled. "Then, it's about time I returned. Could I travel with you? I'd hate to miss seeing you again after this." Shang grinned. "I don't think Mulan would mind. But could you do me a favour if and when we reach the city?" "Anything, Shang. What is it?" "Help me to deal with Ming Kei. I doubt if I can handle him alone." Fai grinned. "Old Sour Plum? It would be a pleasure!"
Disclaimer: I can see the angry mob of lawyers coming up so I'll make this quick. I don't own Mulan and all of its characters! Now go away, you mean suit-wearing law people!
A/N: Sorry about the long delay, guys! My computers out sick so it's gonna take awhile before I update daily. Thank you to all my reviewers and I hope this chapter doesn't disappoint you.
Three days passed. Mulan and Shang had managed not to meet anyone from the palace by riding through long small country roads rarely used by messengers and noblemen. They reached a small village off the main road by a few miles.
The people in the village didn't exactly go out to the Imperial City often. They did know however that a woman named Fa Mulan had saved them from the Hun invasion. So, the two travelers went under different names: Ling and Ping. Shang could barely keep his face straight whenever someone asked his or her names.
The village was a quiet peaceful one. Trees and flowers grew everywhere making the place look like a huge garden. A river ran by the side making it look very picturesque. Mountains loomed up in the background. The scenery comforted Mulan whenever she missed home. She couldn't send any letters to anyone for fear they might be intercepted by messengers or basically anyone who worked for the Emperor in the palace.
They stayed at a small inn that also served as the tavern. It hadn't been used for quite some time so the innkeeper was very happy to let them stay as long as they wanted. Mulan and Shang often strolled through the streets talking. Nobody pestered them and the villagers were friendly.
One night as they were eating dinner, Mulan suddenly realized that Mushu and Cri-Kee was nowhere to be seen. They had gone missing since the first day they reached the village. She hoped they were alright. Then again, Mushu was a guardian, she reminded herself. A loud mouthed one but nevertheless a guardian. They were probably fine.
Suddenly, a big group of the village men burst into the inn. Seeing 'Ling', they invited him to join them in a drinking fest. Women, they said were not allowed. Mulan was indignant but left for her room. (Grumbling all the way at the unfairness of it all)
Some hours passed. Then, a small cheer from the villagers rose up as a figure approached the doors. Shang turned to see a man about as tall as him stride in, bowing. Shang arched an eyebrow. He hadn't seen this man before all the time he'd been in the village. The stranger was handsome in a boyish kind of way. His body was much too muscular to obtain by farming work. Shang had no doubt this was someone with military training.
Shang whispered a question to a man beside him. "Who is that?" The man chuckled. "Loong Fai, strongest man in the village. You'd think with him from the city and all, he'd work harder to make more money. But he'd much rather go around playing pranks on everyone." Shang nearly fell off his chair. Loong Fai, his best friend!
Fai had disappeared when he was 18. General Loong had decided that his son was to marry a rich maiden from another village. Fai refused to do it. He didn't want to marry some stuck up girl. General Loong of course ignored his son and continued preparing for the wedding. Fai never showed up and he was never seen again from that moment on.
Shang had missed him but the war and military affairs had driven Fai to the back of his mind. The man whispered again. "But don't misunderstand. Fai will work his hardest when he needs to. And he's always shared his harvest with some starving family." The villagers had crowded around Fai, asking numerous questions. Shang smiled. Fai had always been popular with many people. Women especially. He wondered if Fai would be able to recognize him. Shang after all was wearing commoner clothes.
As he turned his back to Fai, Shang noticed some men pointing in his direction. It wasn't long before Fai put a hand on Shang's shoulder. "So, you are the stranger by the name of Ling?" Shang nodded without turning his back. "Well, let's see your face then! Or are you a woman in disguise?" A wave of laughter came up. Shang smirked but turned slowly to face his best friend.
Fai froze for a moment as he recognized Shang. Then, he cleared his throat. "Welcome Ling! I am the infamous Loong Fai, the ever popular village clown!" Fai bowed. Shang laughed and bowed as well. While their heads were bowed, Fai hurriedly whispered, "Meet me outside when I go out." After an hour, Fai announced he was going for a walk to clear his head. Shang joined him a few minutes later.
Outside, the two friends hugged for a minute. "I never thought I'd see that face again! Although, you look sterner than last time." Shang grinned. "Where have you been, Fai? And how did you end up HERE of all places?" Fai smiled as they sat on the ground. After he'd run away, Fai had spent a year wandering, doing odd jobs to survive. Then, he stumbled on this village and decided he'd stay here. By the time he was twenty, Fai was a merchant/farmer.
Shang shook his head and smiled. "You've changed. The old Fai would always find some way to escape manual labour." Fai just grinned. "Now, your turn. Why are you here when you're supposed to be in the city? I heard you became General." Shang told Fai about the war, how he had met Mulan and finally why he was here. Fai laughed heartily. "And you tell me I've changed! The Shang I knew would never do this!" "Some things will change in nine years." "Hmmm, and a certain girl as well, I presume."
Fai started to laugh helplessly at Shang's face. He had told Fai about him and Mulan. Shang was starting to regret telling him. After a while, Fai got a faraway look on his face. "You know, I'm starting to miss the city. Beautiful as this village is, it isn't my real home." He looked at Shang. "Is my father alive?" "Very much alive. But he isn't getting any younger. Before the war, he wished you were with him. He's forgiven you, Fai."
Shang's old friend smiled. "Then, it's about time I returned. Could I travel with you? I'd hate to miss seeing you again after this." Shang grinned. "I don't think Mulan would mind. But could you do me a favour if and when we reach the city?" "Anything, Shang. What is it?" "Help me to deal with Ming Kei. I doubt if I can handle him alone." Fai grinned. "Old Sour Plum? It would be a pleasure!"