A/N – Hey, we are finally back – Sorry for the long wait =( -- we were both really busy. This chapter is quite a bit longer than the last, and the plot is picking up… hope that this makes up for the wait! =) – The next chapter should be up quicker we hope…

Disclaimer – We still don't own this story =) – it belongs to Disney, and the Legend of Hua MuLan

Thank you to ALL who reviewed! =) – Callie/Mikey, Lira, Sue, Baby le, Tritogeneia, kittyluver87, Julia, Topaz, and ToughSpirit

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Chapter 2

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Mulan and Shang reached the Palace before nightfall, like they had hoped. When they walked in, a short Imperial Guard greeted them.

"Good evening Captain Li, we've been expecting you. The Emperor will see you now, come with me" he said leading them inside the palace. He took them into a large room where the Emperor was smiling at them when they entered.

"Captain Li Shang, it's so good to see you again" The Emperor said, then noticed Mulan standing behind Shang, "and how is China's Heroine this evening" he asked smiling.

"I'm fine, thank you." she said smiling back at him.

"I guess you both are wondering why I called you down here." He said looking at them, "well the reason is that you are here for a special banquet".

"Banquet? What kind of banquet?" Mulan asked curious, receiving a smile from the Emperor.

"It is a banquet for the Heroes and Heroines of China."

Shang was surprised, "Wow this is such an honor, thank you very much!"

"Come with me all your family and friends are waiting for you…" He told Mulan and Shang, leading them down a long hallway and into a rather large room where their friends, Yao, Ling, and Chien-po, greeted them.

"Captain, Ping! I'm so glad to see you" Ling called over to them, not realizing that he just called Mulan 'Ping', but Shang did, and he didn't look to happy about it.

"Oh sorry Mulan, I guess it's gonna take me sometime to get used to calling you that" He apologized sheepishly after noticing Shang's expression. Mulan started to laugh; it was good to be with her friends again. Just then she noticed her parents walk in the door. Running over to where they stood, she gave each of them a big hug.

"What are you doing here?" she asked her father Fa Zhou excitingly after pulling out of their hug.

"Do you think we would miss this special occasion?" He responded making Mulan smiled at him.

"I'm glad you're here… where is Grandma?"

"Oh, she was not feeling well, and we thought it was best to let her rest, though she wanted to see you." Fa Li explained. Mulan nodded, acknowledging what she said, but it was hard to believe; Grandma Fa hardly ever got sick….

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Looking around, she noticed that almost everyone in China was at this special banquet. Everyone was talking with each other, talking to the veteran's, especially their heroine Mulan, and basically just having a great time. Suddenly the Emperor stood up and everyone got quiet. He then proclaimed that he had a very important announcement to make.

"I have finally found a new general for the Imperial Army" he declared, looking over at Shang and smiled, "I have decided to make Captain Li Shang our new General in place of his father."

Everyone in the room began to cheer and give their approval in other ways. Mulan embraced him in a big hug "Congratulations General Li"

Shang smiled at her and returned her hug, "Thanks"

The rest of the banquet went a long smoothly, with everyone congratulating Shang. Since it was beginning to get late, everyone was starting to leave. Mulan and Shang were the only people staying behind, because the Emperor invited them to earlier.

"I guess we'll be seeing you later General Pretty boy" Yao remarked, not able to resist. Mulan started to laugh at the look on Shang's face.

"Bye guys" Mulan said, giving them each a hug.

"Good bye Ping!" They called out to mock her. She just smiled and went back inside after giving them one last wave. When she walked in and found Shang, Fa Zhou came over to them

"Congratulations Li Shang, I know you will make a great General, like your father."

Shang smiled at the older man, "Thank you,"

"Though we hate to leave, It is getting late and we better be going, we will see you two later." Fa Li told them, giving both Mulan and Shang an affectionate hug.

"Good night" Mulan said returning her mother's hug, then giving one to her father. After they gave Shang another congratulation, Mulan's parents left the palace and started to head home.

After settling down in the elaborately decorated room they were taken to, Shang was still shocked about all that had happened.

"I can not believe that I am a General. I don't know if I can handle it." Mulan came and sat down next to him on the bed.

"You're going to be the best General ever! And I know you can do it and so does the Emperor, why else would he choose you?"

"Yea I guess you're right, but what if he just picked me because of my father?" Shang asked, but before Mulan could answer him, he spoke again, "I'm tired let's get some sleep."

Mulan sighed knowing that he would probably have trouble going to sleep that night. Shang gently wrapped his arms around Mulan when she climbed under the covers of their bed; He was hoping to forget his troubles.

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Shang awoke quickly after hearing a loud noise that sounded like the breaking of glass outside their doors. After checking that Mulan was still there he ran out to see what it was. Mulan woke up shortly after and noticed that Shang was gone. She hurried out of their room, spotted Shang and went over to him.

"What's going on?" she asked in a hushed voice.

"I am not sure, but I don't think it is anything good."

"Hey Shang…what happened here?" she asked looking down at the ground to see small pieces of glass.

"Don't know, but the whole window was shattered."

Just then, a quite angry Chi Fu stormed into where Mulan and Shang were standing. Seeing the broken glass he turned and glared at Mulan.

"What did you do this time? Destroying the Palace again? Wait till the Emperor finds out about this."

"What?" Mulan asked, "I didn't do this!"

Chi Fu gave her the cold shoulder, and started telling Shang all the reasons he should not have married her, how he could find someone better. Shang got angry fast, and began yelling at the Emperor's scrawny sidekick.

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Meanwhile, Mulan noticed something that was in the middle of the debris and walked over to it. The Emperor woke up after hearing all the commotion going on outside his room.

"What's going on here?" he asked looking at the broken glass.

"We don't know Sir" Shang told the Emperor, then noticed that Mulan was holding something and walked over to her.

"What's that Mulan?"

"I don't know, it was on the floor. It must be what was thrown to break the window."

"But who?"

"There's a note attached..." She said untying the folded parchment tied to the stone.

Mulan quietly read it to herself then she handed it Shang, shaking her head in disbelief.

"I don't believe this, what if it's a trick?"

Shang read the letter and then handed to the Emperor.

"Well maybe so, but I think it would be best to prepare just incase." The Emperor stated.

She smiled at him, "I guess your right"

"Good, now General Li, I expect for you to round up new recruits and train them, with whichever aids you need."

"Yes sir."

"Now I must go and see if there were any other suspicions from our lookout posts." The Emperor said then left, with Chi Fu on his heels.

"Mulan go pack up your stuff I'll take you home before I leave" Shang told her once the Emperor had left.

"No. I'm going with you"

"Mulan please I don't want to argue with you"

"Well then just let me go with you" she said grinning at him.

"No. what if you get injured or die? I wouldn't be able to live with myself for letting that happen to you!"

"Shang you know that I can defend myself, I mean, you said so yourself, you said I fight good remember?" She reminded him.

Shang groaned from the memory, 'did she HAVE to bring that up?'

"If I can defeat Shan Yu, I can surely defeat the rest of the Huns, or what's left of them" Mulan pressed on.

Shang was clearly starting to get frustrated and Mulan knew that she had pushed him too far.

"Mulan..." he began, but was cut by Mulan.

"Ok, ok, ok! I'll stay home, but that doesn't mean I'm gonna like it."

Shang smiled and kissed her.

"Thank-you! Now I won't have to worry about you as much."

He then helped Mulan pack her bags and they were soon on their way back home. For most of the way, they were quiet, sharing bits and pieces of conversation. When they finally got home, Shang and Mulan bring in her bags and then he went to pack more things his trip.

"Well, I better be going" he said with a sigh, placing the last of his bags on his horse.

Mulan looked upset, and Shang tried to comfort her.

"Everything is going to be fine" He reassured her.

"Promise you'll come home safely."

"Of course" he promised. Then she wrapped her arms around his neck, and he kissed her goodbye. When they broke apart, he jumped on his horse and left while Mulan stood there silently, watching him leave.

She wanted to go with him badly, but she didn't want to upset him, he meant too much to her to have him be mad with her. All of a sudden Mulan got an idea and a mischievous grin appeared on her once saddened face.

She quickly ran inside and started throwing stuff into a bag. Mushu, who was watching from the Fa's Shrine, came to see what was going on.

"Hey Mulan!"

"Mushu! I'm so glad to see you! What are you doing here?" she asked her favorite little guardian.

"Well, I came to make sure that you don't do anything dumb."

Mulan frowned, "Mushu"

Looking to see what she was doing, he noticed that she was packing again. Realization struck the tiny dragon.

"Oh no! Don't tell me your running after Shang and joining the army again!"

"Ok then, I won't tell you." Mulan answered laughing.

"What?? Are you crazy!?"

"Umm... maybe but I have to do something"

"But I thought Shang made you promise to stay here?"

"He did, but what he doesn't know can't hurt him...right?"

Mushu was shocked, "I can't believe I'm hearing this but if your really going though with this I'm going with you."

"Thanks Mushu, don't worry it should be a lot easier the second time...right?" Mulan asked, smiling at the small guardian,

'At least I hope so' she added to herself.