Thank you Lynn for the nice review.
Chapter 9 The Burned Out Camp
Mushu prepared a little tent by the lake to spend the night in while Mulan was angry at him. Cri-kee blew off the little fire and hopped inside. Just when Mushu was about to enter he heard the wild screams coming not so far away.
"My baby!" the dragon exclaimed pulling C ri-kee's antennae. "Come on."
Mushu slithered on the grass as if he were some kind of snake. As they moved on, he spotted two men hiding behind some bushes.
"This one will help us finish them all," one of them whispered aiming a cannon.
"Aim it to the General or perhaps Fa Mulan," said the other one.
"I can't, Lao Tsung is really close to the General and the girl is nowhere to be seen."
"I knew it!" exclaimed Mushu calling both men's attention.
"What was that?" asked one of them.
Mushu slithered toward them narrowing his eyes and sticking his tongue out.
"It's a snake!" cried the other man aiming the cannon straight to Mushu,
"Don't waste the cannon idiot! It's the only one we have!"
"But it's gonna poison us to death," complained the man.
The empty handed man slapped his companion making him drop the cannon. "I don't think he's even a snake it has four legs! It's only a lizard."
"I'm not a lizard!" replied Mushu getting on his two feet, "I'm a dragon." He inhaled to pretend he was going to exhale fire.
Both men screamed and ran away leaving the cannon behind.
"Chickens," said Mushu proudly, "Perhaps I haven't lost my touch."
Cri-kee burst into giggles.
*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*
There were about five hundred men against the Imperial soldiers. A lot of soldiers were caught by surprise inside their tents as they prepared for battle having no other choice but defeat, few of them escaped.
Lao Tsung got a sword and lunged for Shang.
The young General was already fighting with two men that surrounded him. An expectator would say it was an easy task for him to slay those men, though the truth was very different. Using his martial arts he disarmed both men and then he thrust his sword into their stomachs. He pitied them when he saw them lying on the ground bleeding; he wished he could give them a second chance but he was a General bound to save his country from the threat of danger and that included slaying disturbers of peace. Shang wiped the sweat from his forehead and prepared himself for his next attacker.
"This will be easy," Shang told himself, "You have defeated him before."
Lao Tsung got closer to Li Shang, wielding a sword his followers gave him.
Swords clattered at once and sparks were released.
"We meet again Li Shang," said Lao Tsung, "I wonder what fate holds for us both."
Shang grunted and tried to slash Lao's neck but he blocked him with his own sword. "The only thing I know is that one of us won't live too long," replied Shang.
"And that would be." he aimed to wound his opponent.
Li Shang stepped back and kicked Lao's hand making him drop the sword. "You," put in Shang approaching him one more time.
Lao groaned trying to decide whether to pick the sword up or not. Instead, he chose to run away from Shang like the coward chicken he truly was.
+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+
Mulan lead a group of soldiers into the barn, place where they stored the cannons and gun powder. Basically the new recruits whose martial arts skills were not very successful joined Mulan, besides Yao, Ling and Chien Po. Since she was the one who had more experience, not to mention her plans were brilliant, they all obeyed her orders.
Inside they waited quietly for the rebels to approach but all of them were engaged in body to body fights with the Imperial soldiers.
"Can we fire one cannon to frighten them?" asked one of the soldiers rubbing his hands enthusiastically.
"No," Mulan replied, "If we shoot them we could kill someone from our side."
"But lots of men have fallen already," dove in the soldier.
Mulan closed her eyes for a brief ignoring the soldier and prayed Shang and Mushu would be ok. She owed them both an apology. They had to be alive so she could speak to them. "Listen," she finally spoke up, "I will go outside and try to lead as much rebels as I can here." She turned to her three friends, "Yao, Ling and Chien Po, you guys will take care of firing the cannons."
"Hang on a second," Ling began, "You are gonna tease them, then run as fast as you can so they don't catch you. There's no way I'm letting you go all alone. Allow me to accompany you."
"Me too," said Yao.
Chien Po was about to say something, but Mulan interrupted him, "Chien Po, someone needs to give orders in here."
Suddenly, Mulan felt something crawling up her back. "Sounds to me like a great plan babe," whispered Mushu popping out of Mulan's handkerchief, "Count me in."
"You scared the heck out of me," replied Mulan softly, "Can you forgive me? You were right."
"Not time for apologies babe," Mushu whispered back, "Leave it behind and let's kick some butts."
"Ready guys?" Mulan addressed Yao and Ling.
"Whenever you say so," replied both men at the same time.
Mulan turned to the rest of the men and said, "If we don't come back alive the plan stays the same."
They all nodded, although they didn't fully trust Mulan's plan could work, but that was their only choice if they wanted to get over with the battle soon.
"Let's go guys."
Yao and Ling followed after Mulan.
Outside the barn the landscape was very much different. Lots of men were already dead. She told Ling and Yao to wait while she got Khan from the stable nearby.
A minute later, Mulan appeared on her horse's back yelling "Charge!" at the top of her lungs.
The three of them ran to attack the enemy.
+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+ Shang caught up with Lao Tsun. He carried his sword and the one that once belonged to Lao, just in case.
Shang grabbed Lao Tsung by his collar and unsheathed his sword pointing it straight to Lao's neck with the intention of cutting it off.
"I beg your mercy, my General," pleaded Lao Tsung, "I had no choice but to obey these men."
"Shut up, you traitor!" yelled Shang pressing a bit the blade of his sword on the man's neck making a scratch on him.
Lao gulped as he felt blood dripping out of him. Despite his physical strength, Lao Tsung was weary from the previous quarrels he had with Shang who still remained strong.
"I'll show no mercy to you," announced Shang.
Just then two of Lao's followers appeared behind Shang. He dropped Lao Tsung and fought his attackers. One of them managed to cut him in the arm, but he was slightly wounded. With a few kicks and by hitting with the grip of his sword the man's head, Shang knocked down one of his attackers. The other man jumped to Shang's back but as he prepared his sword, Shang was faster to think and he hit the man's ribs really hard sending him to crouch in pain.
Now there was only Lao Tsung to get rid of.
The man got a sword from his unconscious follower and stood up limply.
Shang faced his rival gritting his teeth fiercely. When would this man leave him? Shang was getting tired for hours hand passed them by and yet the battle was not over. The sun was already coming out.
Lao pointed his sword and walked toward Shang. The young General did a spectacular summersault to keep Lao Tsung from hurting him. The swords clattered on and on until Shang made a deep cut on Lao's hand making him drop the sword.
Grunting, Shang aimed the tip of his sword to Lao's heart.
"I beg you, let me live," said Lao getting on his knees.
Shang had promised himself he wouldn't be merciful to this man. After all, Lao Tsung was the biggest traitor he had met, besides he had always been over him claiming he was not good enough to be a General, and of course, this man had been harassing Mulan, his girl. Despite everything, pity touched his heart at the sight of Lao Tsung kneeling before him as if he were a king. Lao Tsung was a wretch and maybe it would be worse for him to live in misery for the rest of his life. Letting him live would be a fair punishment, yet he wondered if this man would take revenge. Lao Tsung belonged to the wealthy families in the Imperial City and his treachery would mess their name.
"Run as fast as you can," Shang commanded, "You are banished from China forever." He glowered at Lao Tsung. "If ever you return, I will make sure you get killed right away."
Lao Tsung kissed Shang's feet. The young General stepped back right away. Looking up at Shang, Lao said, "Thank you so much."
"Don't thank me," yelled Shang, "I'm not doing this for pity."
Hearing those bitter words coming from Shang, Lao Tsung turned and ran away limping.
*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*
As Mulan had expected, lots of men rushed to attack her. She was what they searched for. Like in a competition, the one who'd kill her would win first prize. Naturally, everyone wanted her.
Thankfully, Mulan had an advantage over these men, for she was riding on Khan's back. She encouraged her steed to gallop faster as the men ran after her.
Yao and Ling stayed behind trying to get rid of the rebels left.
Mulan went past the barn and the cannons began to be fired against the rebels. Soon, Camp Wu Zhong was filled with the strong essence of gun powder and the smoke.
With all the noise, the cannons made Khan got freaked out and nervous. Unintentionally he neighed and stood on his back legs causing Mulan to fall off him.
AN: Where's everyone? What do you think? The end is near.
Chapter 9 The Burned Out Camp
Mushu prepared a little tent by the lake to spend the night in while Mulan was angry at him. Cri-kee blew off the little fire and hopped inside. Just when Mushu was about to enter he heard the wild screams coming not so far away.
"My baby!" the dragon exclaimed pulling C ri-kee's antennae. "Come on."
Mushu slithered on the grass as if he were some kind of snake. As they moved on, he spotted two men hiding behind some bushes.
"This one will help us finish them all," one of them whispered aiming a cannon.
"Aim it to the General or perhaps Fa Mulan," said the other one.
"I can't, Lao Tsung is really close to the General and the girl is nowhere to be seen."
"I knew it!" exclaimed Mushu calling both men's attention.
"What was that?" asked one of them.
Mushu slithered toward them narrowing his eyes and sticking his tongue out.
"It's a snake!" cried the other man aiming the cannon straight to Mushu,
"Don't waste the cannon idiot! It's the only one we have!"
"But it's gonna poison us to death," complained the man.
The empty handed man slapped his companion making him drop the cannon. "I don't think he's even a snake it has four legs! It's only a lizard."
"I'm not a lizard!" replied Mushu getting on his two feet, "I'm a dragon." He inhaled to pretend he was going to exhale fire.
Both men screamed and ran away leaving the cannon behind.
"Chickens," said Mushu proudly, "Perhaps I haven't lost my touch."
Cri-kee burst into giggles.
*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*
There were about five hundred men against the Imperial soldiers. A lot of soldiers were caught by surprise inside their tents as they prepared for battle having no other choice but defeat, few of them escaped.
Lao Tsung got a sword and lunged for Shang.
The young General was already fighting with two men that surrounded him. An expectator would say it was an easy task for him to slay those men, though the truth was very different. Using his martial arts he disarmed both men and then he thrust his sword into their stomachs. He pitied them when he saw them lying on the ground bleeding; he wished he could give them a second chance but he was a General bound to save his country from the threat of danger and that included slaying disturbers of peace. Shang wiped the sweat from his forehead and prepared himself for his next attacker.
"This will be easy," Shang told himself, "You have defeated him before."
Lao Tsung got closer to Li Shang, wielding a sword his followers gave him.
Swords clattered at once and sparks were released.
"We meet again Li Shang," said Lao Tsung, "I wonder what fate holds for us both."
Shang grunted and tried to slash Lao's neck but he blocked him with his own sword. "The only thing I know is that one of us won't live too long," replied Shang.
"And that would be." he aimed to wound his opponent.
Li Shang stepped back and kicked Lao's hand making him drop the sword. "You," put in Shang approaching him one more time.
Lao groaned trying to decide whether to pick the sword up or not. Instead, he chose to run away from Shang like the coward chicken he truly was.
+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+
Mulan lead a group of soldiers into the barn, place where they stored the cannons and gun powder. Basically the new recruits whose martial arts skills were not very successful joined Mulan, besides Yao, Ling and Chien Po. Since she was the one who had more experience, not to mention her plans were brilliant, they all obeyed her orders.
Inside they waited quietly for the rebels to approach but all of them were engaged in body to body fights with the Imperial soldiers.
"Can we fire one cannon to frighten them?" asked one of the soldiers rubbing his hands enthusiastically.
"No," Mulan replied, "If we shoot them we could kill someone from our side."
"But lots of men have fallen already," dove in the soldier.
Mulan closed her eyes for a brief ignoring the soldier and prayed Shang and Mushu would be ok. She owed them both an apology. They had to be alive so she could speak to them. "Listen," she finally spoke up, "I will go outside and try to lead as much rebels as I can here." She turned to her three friends, "Yao, Ling and Chien Po, you guys will take care of firing the cannons."
"Hang on a second," Ling began, "You are gonna tease them, then run as fast as you can so they don't catch you. There's no way I'm letting you go all alone. Allow me to accompany you."
"Me too," said Yao.
Chien Po was about to say something, but Mulan interrupted him, "Chien Po, someone needs to give orders in here."
Suddenly, Mulan felt something crawling up her back. "Sounds to me like a great plan babe," whispered Mushu popping out of Mulan's handkerchief, "Count me in."
"You scared the heck out of me," replied Mulan softly, "Can you forgive me? You were right."
"Not time for apologies babe," Mushu whispered back, "Leave it behind and let's kick some butts."
"Ready guys?" Mulan addressed Yao and Ling.
"Whenever you say so," replied both men at the same time.
Mulan turned to the rest of the men and said, "If we don't come back alive the plan stays the same."
They all nodded, although they didn't fully trust Mulan's plan could work, but that was their only choice if they wanted to get over with the battle soon.
"Let's go guys."
Yao and Ling followed after Mulan.
Outside the barn the landscape was very much different. Lots of men were already dead. She told Ling and Yao to wait while she got Khan from the stable nearby.
A minute later, Mulan appeared on her horse's back yelling "Charge!" at the top of her lungs.
The three of them ran to attack the enemy.
+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+ Shang caught up with Lao Tsun. He carried his sword and the one that once belonged to Lao, just in case.
Shang grabbed Lao Tsung by his collar and unsheathed his sword pointing it straight to Lao's neck with the intention of cutting it off.
"I beg your mercy, my General," pleaded Lao Tsung, "I had no choice but to obey these men."
"Shut up, you traitor!" yelled Shang pressing a bit the blade of his sword on the man's neck making a scratch on him.
Lao gulped as he felt blood dripping out of him. Despite his physical strength, Lao Tsung was weary from the previous quarrels he had with Shang who still remained strong.
"I'll show no mercy to you," announced Shang.
Just then two of Lao's followers appeared behind Shang. He dropped Lao Tsung and fought his attackers. One of them managed to cut him in the arm, but he was slightly wounded. With a few kicks and by hitting with the grip of his sword the man's head, Shang knocked down one of his attackers. The other man jumped to Shang's back but as he prepared his sword, Shang was faster to think and he hit the man's ribs really hard sending him to crouch in pain.
Now there was only Lao Tsung to get rid of.
The man got a sword from his unconscious follower and stood up limply.
Shang faced his rival gritting his teeth fiercely. When would this man leave him? Shang was getting tired for hours hand passed them by and yet the battle was not over. The sun was already coming out.
Lao pointed his sword and walked toward Shang. The young General did a spectacular summersault to keep Lao Tsung from hurting him. The swords clattered on and on until Shang made a deep cut on Lao's hand making him drop the sword.
Grunting, Shang aimed the tip of his sword to Lao's heart.
"I beg you, let me live," said Lao getting on his knees.
Shang had promised himself he wouldn't be merciful to this man. After all, Lao Tsung was the biggest traitor he had met, besides he had always been over him claiming he was not good enough to be a General, and of course, this man had been harassing Mulan, his girl. Despite everything, pity touched his heart at the sight of Lao Tsung kneeling before him as if he were a king. Lao Tsung was a wretch and maybe it would be worse for him to live in misery for the rest of his life. Letting him live would be a fair punishment, yet he wondered if this man would take revenge. Lao Tsung belonged to the wealthy families in the Imperial City and his treachery would mess their name.
"Run as fast as you can," Shang commanded, "You are banished from China forever." He glowered at Lao Tsung. "If ever you return, I will make sure you get killed right away."
Lao Tsung kissed Shang's feet. The young General stepped back right away. Looking up at Shang, Lao said, "Thank you so much."
"Don't thank me," yelled Shang, "I'm not doing this for pity."
Hearing those bitter words coming from Shang, Lao Tsung turned and ran away limping.
*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*
As Mulan had expected, lots of men rushed to attack her. She was what they searched for. Like in a competition, the one who'd kill her would win first prize. Naturally, everyone wanted her.
Thankfully, Mulan had an advantage over these men, for she was riding on Khan's back. She encouraged her steed to gallop faster as the men ran after her.
Yao and Ling stayed behind trying to get rid of the rebels left.
Mulan went past the barn and the cannons began to be fired against the rebels. Soon, Camp Wu Zhong was filled with the strong essence of gun powder and the smoke.
With all the noise, the cannons made Khan got freaked out and nervous. Unintentionally he neighed and stood on his back legs causing Mulan to fall off him.
AN: Where's everyone? What do you think? The end is near.