~ Sorry I made you all mad, Well hope you like this chapter, please be sure to review and tell me what you think! ~
Chapter 8: The Beginning
Shan Tao dismounted off his horse and walked up to Mulan. Mulan gave him a stern look. "Are you ready my dear?" He asked with a nasty grin on his face. He reached out his hand to touch her hair but it was easily blocked by Mulan's arm.
"Don't touch me and don't call me that" She stated. Shan Tao laughed and his men laughed with him.
Shang hated him; he wanted to hurt him so bad right now for his actions that he was taking. Shan Tao stopped and looked at her straight in the eye, "No one orders me around missy." He then took her by the arm and was about to drag her when he felt Shang's hand on his arm. He looked at Shan Tao with anger in his eyes. "What do you think your doing there...Captain?"
Shang wanted to say it but he couldn't, he sighed heavily. "Nothing" Mulan was surprised by his answer, she thought he was actually going to stop him right there and then but he didn't.
"Then what were you doing?"
"I told you nothing" Shang snapped at him. Shan Tao got closer to him and looked into his eyes, making Shang feel uncomfortable. Just by the way he looked at Shang made him get the shivers.
"You love her don't you?"
Shang didn't answer. Shan Tao began to chuckle, "Aw.... Am I taking your flower, your prize, your....." Shang couldn't take it, he stopped him by taking out his blade and placing it on Shan Tao's neck. Shan Tao stopped and smiled at him. "I wouldn't do that if I were you, Captain. My men have their aim right at you, and they will shot if they have too."
Shang was breathing hard through his nose; he looked around to see that all of Shan Tao's men were surrounding him with their arrows aimed right at him. He then looked at Mulan who was scared more then ever. She looked at him with fear. His eyes softened and his heart sank.
Shang lowed his sword and placed it back to his side. Shan Tao was still grinning at Shang. "Good, now, we'll be on our way....."
"Wait, she wants to take her horse with her." Interrupted Shang once more.
"Why should I?"
"Because it's all she has"
"Oh...Bu-Ho, ya think I care? We're leaving now." As he walked away towards his horse and men, but then stopped and turned around and faced Shang again. "Oh and sorry about taking her, I hope you can forgive me?" Shan Tao said sarcastically. Shang gritted his teeth and Shan Tao just laughed and got on his horse putting Mulan in front of him.
Mulan looked at Shang almost pleading him to do something. He couldn't bare the pain it was all to much. Mulan now knowing that he wasn't going to do or say anything else began to frown at him then lowered her head so he would not see her face as her eyes welled up with tears. She was heartbroken and it seemed as if it were getting deeper and deeper every second.
"So long!" Called out Shan Tao. Then just like that he and his men were off, yelling and cheering with joy of victory.
It began to rain and Shang just stood there defeated, letting the rain soak through him for he didn't fell anything anymore, he was heartbroken. The rain pored on him and his solders. He watched until he could not see the dust of the last person's horse anymore.
"Sir, We should head back" Said one of the solders placing his hand on Shang's shoulder for comfort.
Shang closed his eyes and nodded, "Yeah" he whispered. He looked down at the ground then headed back to his horse.
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Mulan was uncomfortable about the whole thing. It was cold, wet rainy and most of all she felt her heart sank and break down. She was scared with what they would do with her and what kind of tortures they would give her.
She wanted to be in Shang's safe arms right now, she wanted to get away from Shan Tao and everything else. She wanted to be home with her family and friends. She rather die then be taken captive.
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Back at camp it was quiet and rainy. The gang were mopping about their loss of a good friend. They sat in by the tent only having a flap of the tent cover them from not getting wet. The head cook was there cleaning the glasses, watching as they mopped with sadness on their faces.
"Uh...do you guys want anything?" Asked the elderly man.
"No" Said Chien Po answering for all of them.
"I'm sorry for your loss; she was nice young lady"
They said nothing but shook their heads. Then all their heads turned towards were they heard horses and a carriage. They saw the solders in front then Shang who didn't look so good. He had his head down and he just looked so defeated. They also noticed that Khan was with him. They watched as he got off his horse and untied Khan and began walking with both horses.
"Poor Shang, he loved her didn't he?" Asked the old man. They didn't answer they just kept watching him until they lost sight of him. They didn't have to answer his question, he could just tell that he was right.
"Can we get some drinks?" Asked Yao.
"Sure" He said filling the drinks then giving them to Yao and the others.
Yao raised his glass up high and said, "To our brave friend, my she be safe, To Mulan" They cheered and drank. Shang came not to long after that and asked for a straight up alcohol drink. "How hard was it?" Asked Ling.
Shang turned to him then just sank back down on the table. "Ling, I wanted to hurt him so bad. I couldn't let her go not after......" He stopped leaving his words to trail off.
"After what?" Asked Yao.
Shang sighed, "After I told her that I couldn't lose her." He turned towards them looking so defeated and depressed. They could have sworn that he would have shed a tear right that second but he didn't. Shang looked away then to his glass and gulped it down hard.
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The storm was getting worse; Mulan could hear it from inside the tent. She was tied up both her arms and legs. They had reached back to their camp and were making plans that Mulan knew nothing of. She just sat their facing the fact that no one was going to come for her, not even Shang who told her that he cared, but did he?
She looked at the tent walls; streams of water were flowing down it from outside the tent. Thunder and lighting filled the sky. Her heart felt like a knife was going through it. As she thought more about home, friends and family she broke down and tears would fall from hers eyes.
"What do you mean you couldn't find them?" Yelled Shan Tao from outside.
"We looked and we couldn't find Lung and the Mongols." Explained Hang Lu. Shan Tao was now walking back and forth in anger.
"We need them here, if we are going to attack the palace we need them." Said Shan Tao.
Mulan could hear them from inside the tent, 'This was a trap, they only wanted me for a diversion they're going to kill everyone.' Said Mulan to herself.
Shan Tao walked in and kneeled in front of her. "I thought you said that you weren't going to destroy China?"
Shan Tao laughed, "Well I lied, and once the Mongols come we will go to the palace and kill the Emperor then all of China."
Mulan gritted her teeth, "You can't do that, you told the Emperor that you wanted me and that was it."
"But I do want you, but I also want the Emperor's head and for China to fall." He declared. Then he brushed his hand on Mulan's cheek to fell the softness of it. Mulan got shivers up her spine; his tough just made her so uncomfortable.
"Shan Tao" Said a man who was now inside the tent. Shan Tao turned around and faced the man, it was Lung.
Shan Tao got up quickly and took Lung from the collar of his shirt and lifted him up. "Where the hell have you been? I swear if you are up to something you will regret it."
Lung shook his head, "I promise I don't plan a thing"
Shan Tao dropped him. Lung coughed and rubbed his neck. Then he noticed that Mulan was in the room. Slowly getting up he walked towards her and stared at her. "You got her" Said Lung, 'perfect; she'll die in my hands' he thought.
"Of course we got her, now since we got her, we will get ready and we will make our way to the palace and destroy it." Announced Shan Tao.
"Of course, I'll go tell my men" Said Lung. He smiled at Mulan then left the room with Shan Tao. Mulan stared as the opening of the tent flapped back down. She couldn't believe it, China would fall and no one knew about it.
"Help" she whispered, lowing her head down and began to sob. Then all of a sudden a rustle of the tent walls. She looked over to where it was coming from, she then saw a that it was small and red. "Mushu?" She whispered.
"Mulan!" He said getting onto top of Mulan's lap and looked at her. "Are you ok" He asked in hesitation.
"Oh...I'm I so glad to see you"
"Ok I heard everything; we have to get you out of here." Mushu was about to get down and untie the ropes but Mulan stopped him.
"Mushu go tell Shang that it was all a trap"
"But what about you?"
"Mushu, you have to go tell him ok." Mushu nodded and began to leave, he then looked back at her and said, "Be careful"
"I will"
With that Mushu vanished. "Be quick Mushu" She whispered softly.
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Shang was in his tent now pacing back and forth, "Where's Wang" He asked himself. Then all of a sudden the tent flap flew open; Shang turned around to see an exhausted Wang. "Wang, where have you been?"
Wang sat down and took many deep breaths. "I was following that guys and it was the head leader of the.....Mongols...he wants Mulan dead."
"But they wanted her?"
"Only Shan Tao, they were planning all along to destroy China even if they had her." Wang paused and took a deep breath. "The Mongols are going to attack the Hun's then kill Mulan.....Then they will go to the Palace and kill the Emperor."
Shang clutched his fists and gritted his teeth. They were tricked. "Wang I want you to get back up, all the solders from all the camps near here."
"What about you?"
"I'm going to have our troops here, to go get Mulan"
"I wouldn't just barge in like that, if I were you." Said an unfamiliar voice. Both Shang and Wang stopped and looked around.
"Who said that?" Asked Wang.
"Um down here boys" They looked down and and what they thought they saw was a red lizard. It was Mushu.
"Who are you?" Asked Wang. Both Shang and Wang bent down and stared at him.
"I'm Mulan's guardian" Mushu bowed down then stood back up.
"You can talk?" Said bewildered Shang.
"Yes, but you have we have to hurry Lung is already back at the camp and their getting ready to leave." Said Mushu.
"Who's Lung?" Asked Shang.
"Lung is the head of the Mongols." Replied Wang.
"Yeah, Yeah, Yeah now we have to think a plan to get Mulan out and......." Mushu stopped when the tent flap opened up to reveal the gang of three. Immediately both Wang and Shang turned around covering Mushu so the gang could not see him.
"Hey guys what are you doing here?" Asked Wang.
"We were looking for you guys." Replied Ling placing his hands on his hips.
"Well...ah...we're here." Mumbled Shang. The gang raised their eyebrows.
"You guys don't look so good." Said Chien Po.
"Ok guys spit it out what are you hiding" Demanded Yao.
"Don't you mean whom are you hiding?" Corrected Mushu. Shang and Wang rolled their eyes and looked over their shoulders to where Mushu was sitting giving him a stern look.
"Who said that?" Asked Ling.
Shang sighed and moved aside. Once Ling saw him he jumped right into Chien Po's arms. "Ahhh...It's a snake!" He screamed out.
"Excuse me but I am not a snake it's more like, Mulan's guardian." Said Mushu.
"It talks?" Asked Yao bending down to take a better look at him.
"Yes, Yes, Yes now can you please cooperate and plan out what we're going to do?" Ordered Mushu. They all shut up and stood their quietly waiting for what he had to say. "Good that's better. Now Mulan needs our help, Lung is going to kill her....."
"Who's Lung?" Asked Ling. Mushu sighed and looked at Ling to tell him to shut up.
"We'll explain the details later." Said Shang. "All right since we can't just barge in, my troops and me will watch from the woods to make sure none of them hurt Mulan"
"Good idea, I'll get the back up." Said Wang.
"Ok, sounds like a plan" Declared Mushu.
Shang, Wang and the gang walked outside and got the solders attention so they could explain what was happening. "Men! Gather." Called out Shang.
The men gathered around and waited for what Shang had to say. "Guys there's been a change of plan, Shan Tao has lied to us telling us that he would not destroy China and that he would leave once he had Mulan." He paused. "He has Mulan, and plans to kill the Emperor and all of China, but the Mongols want Mulan dead. The Mongols are planning on attacking the Huns and killing Mulan and destroying China on their own." "Get ready, for we venture through the woods and watch their every move. Lets go" Ordered Shang. The men cheered and ran every which way getting what they needed for the trip and battle.
"I'll meet you there." Said Wang patting his hand on Shang's shoulder.
"Good luck" Replied Shang. Wang nodded and mounted up on his horse and galloped away as fast as he could. Shang watched as his friend left, then ran back to his tent to put on his armor. Once he got back out all the solders were lined up all ready to go. Yao held onto his horse. Shang took the reins and mounted up. "All right men, lets go save China's heroine!" Yelled out Shang.
The gang and all the others raised their swords and cheered. With that they all got on their horses and followed Shang as they galloped away, all their horses moved swiftly breathing hard through their noses like a bull ready to hit it's target.
Khan neighed; he too wanted to go. Mushu got on his back, "Ya think I'd leave without ya?" Khan neighed and Mushu untied the ropes. Once they were untied Khan, he got on his hinge legs and galloped off following the others.
"Wow.....Doesn't this thing have any seatbelts?" Cried out Mushu as he held on for dear life.
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So....what do you think about this one, was it ok, I decided to put a little bit of humor in it. Well please review! Thanks for all the great reviews. And sorry I got you mad in the last chapter, lol.