Written by: Lynn and Becky

Disclaimer: Ok, this is our story. We do not own Mulan but we do own the weird characters that didn't appear in the movie like Shang's little sister...Oh yeah and we also own the dialogues and the story...we're making good use of the characters so don't sue.

We promise to make a good story...original and with an interesting plot. We hope you like it and please tell us what you think of it.

Chapter 1 Life Must Go On

Fa Li and Granny Fa did their best with the cooking to impress the young Captain. They usually didn't prepare much food, but that day, they made enough food to feed the hungry guests at a banquet. They prepared Cantonese rice with vegetables, spiced chicken and shrimp, egg rolls of course couldn't be missing, and some pork to complete the meal. If it wasn't for the fact that Mulan had just arrived home, her mother would've asked her to help her with the cooking instead, she was allowed to walk around with Shang so they would talk.

At first, both of them were so quiet, they seemed complete strangers, and probably they were, for Mulan had been hidden in a disguise all this time until her secret was revealed. With the Huns' attack at the Imperial Palace, they had no chance to introduce themselves properly. Although Shang was aware that he barely knew Mulan's name, her parents and where she lived, he could tell she was a wonderful woman full of surprises, and she looked so beautiful it made him nervous to be around her.

Mulan didn't know how to act around him. All this time, she had been another person to him and all she wanted was to make a good impression on him.

"How does it feel to be a national heroin?" he began breaking the icy silence that froze their tongues from saying everything they wanted to say.

She turned her eyes to him and answered, "Heroin me? I'm simply Fa Mulan, daughter of Fa Zhou...just another village girl."

Shang smiled at her. Modesty was something he could rarely perceive in a woman. "You saved China and the emperor acknowledges your deeds," he said, "you don't see his highness bowing at a soldier everyday."

'Least of all a woman, and a woman who had played to be a soldier,' she reminded herself inside her mind. Her cheeks burned crimson red, she didn't like flattery but she knew Shang had the best of intentions with his words. "I must thank you then," she said softly, "if it weren't for you, I wouldn't learn what I know."

Shang rubbed his head nervously, what could he say? "You are a wonderful..." he hesitated and concluded, "Soldier."

Mulan had tried not to show excitement before he mentioned the word soldier; still she nodded accepting the compliment; though she expected something more. It had been just like at the steps before she left the Imperial Palace.

"Dinner is ready!" Granny Fa announced.

Mulan sighed...the last thing she needed was that, just when Shang and she started a conversation dinner had to be ready. Her greatest desire had been a moment in private with the young Captain to get to know him well, to be more than just soldier and commanding officer.

The food served on the table looked delicious. Meals at Camp Wu Zhong couldn't be compared to this; sometimes, they would just eat the same old rice the whole week and it lacked good taste.

"The rice is exquisite," Shang complimented, "and so is everything served here."

"Well, thank you, Captain," Granny Fa said flirtatiously.

"It is an honor to dine with such and honorable man like yourself," Fa Zhou said, "our family is very grateful with you for taking care of Mulan."

"I am most honored to be invited," Shang replied, "and grateful to your daughter who saved my life in three occasions, she must be very precious to you."

Mulan who sat next to him, blushed wishing she had a fan to hide her face, sometimes all those silly artifacts could be useful. He had called her precious.

"Tell us about the training," Granny Fa inquired with intrigue, "How did Mulan behave?"

"Well, first the recruits were really a pain in the neck, but then they became really good soldiers...your daughter turned out to be the most loyal and skilled of them."

"She must've been trained by a very courageous Captain," the elder woman remarked.

Shang smiled, noticing Mulan was grinning at him.

"Indeed," Fa Zhou added, "Your father must be very proud of you." Shang's smile faded as soon as the work father reached his ears. The last days he had been so busy with the war to remember his father was dead.

Mulan didn't want him to leave. Time had gone by so soon and he had to go back home to attend his business. There were so many things about his life she wanted to discover, her last chance was to escort him to the door. Inside her head, a battle of traditions against her own ideals took place because a woman was not allowed to address a man unless requested, then again she had done it before and nothing had happened. "It was nice to have you here," she started, "Thanks for returning my father's helmet."

"It was the least I could do for you," he replied, "After all you've done for me. You're entirely welcome."

"You can come back here whenever you please," she offered.

Shang bowed his head respectfully, "Thank you."

There was a moment of silence between them, until Shang said, "Mulan." She loved it when he called her by her name, she had been called Ping but there was a big difference between the ways he said the names. "I want to apologize for what happened in the mountains when I found out you were a woman." Mulan pursed her lips, the memory of his eyes filled with deception and anger mixed up, she thought he hated her. "I spilled my anger on you foolishly. With my father's death and defeat, it was too much for me to bear."

"It's ok," Mulan replied, "I understand. I broke the law."

"It's not about the law, but I swear I never meant to scare you with the sword," he stuttered, "I missed you on purpose."

Mulan looked up at him, her eyes reflecting honesty, "Let's just pretend it never happened and start all over again."

Shang knew he could never forget what happened and least of all forgive himself for being to hard on her but maybe he could live with the fact she had fully forgiven him sincerely.

Mulan stepped forward and put her arms around him. He was stunned, but immediately hugged her back. He thought this would never happen for he had tried to do the same previously on the steps of the Imperial Palace and all he could manage to say was, "You fight good." This was the embrace he had longed for. "Mulan," Shang whispered still holding on to her waist, "If there's anything you need sometime, and don't think twice about asking me for help. I'll do anything you wish to. I owe you so much."

They separated from the warm embrace and Mulan agreed, "Ok." If she could she would've ask him to marry her as a favor...but certainly she had to really be out of her mind and besides he wasn't talking about that kind of favors.

Shang mounted on his white horse and reminded Mulan, "When I say anything I MEAN anything."

"Thanks," she said.

He didn't want to leave this place that made him forget for a moment he had a troublesome life, but he couldn't stay forever because he had business to attend at home. "Goodbye Mulan."

"I'll miss your chiding," she joked.

Shang let out a laugh, an honest laugh. She had never seen this side of him before that proved he had a good sense of humor after all.

"You'll be the only one, Ping," he replied.

It didn't bother her he had called her Ping, for he had added a special caress to the name as if he were fond of the clumsy soldier who served under his command.

"Goodbye, Sir." He disappeared into the village riding his horse confidently and poised like the young and handsome Captain he was.

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Clenching his fists he moved forward, a knot in his stomach, he closed his eyes and opened them bravely.

He couldn't change the dreadful past but he had to make sure it had happened once and for all.

The bodies before him were starting to decay, and the smell wasn't pleasant.

All this time he had hoped for this to be just a nightmare to wake up sooner or later drenched with sweat and eyes moist with the tears.

He searched through the corpses for his face. There he found him lying on the now red snow, with eyes wide open holding onto his sword. The blood was all dry stained to his once elegant uniform. Shang let himself fall on his knees and broke into tears like a fearful child. The moon was his only company, and she glowed dim that night to join his grief. He had always thought his father was an invincible warrior that would always return home with medals and new tales to tell by the fire; so joyous, triumphant and proud.

Shang refused to believe it had occurred, after all the battles the General survived, this one had been the last. He died an honorable death, no one could deny, a death of a soldier.

"Honorable father," Shang addressed the lifeless body with tears on his eyes, "I'm back. We defeated the Huns." A moment of madness, he was expecting for the corpse to reply. "Father!" he yelled, "Please. Tell me I did a good job. Please tell me that you're proud of me." There was no answer but the echo of his voice. He screamed with anger, fear and sorrow, there was a cry for help, a cry to be understood with ache in his heart so strong it wouldn't stop and let him breathe.

Captain Li stayed there just staring at his father's body, speaking to him as if he were alive listening. "I trained those recruits you left me in charge of," he whispered through sobs, "they are great soldiers now, especially Fa Mulan."

The wind carried a voice with no body or flesh, just the sound saying, "Go back to your sister, she's waiting for you." That moment, Shang returned to his senses...his sister was alone at home expecting them to return, he couldn't live her alone forever. "She needs you more than I do."

He got on his feet and turned back to his father. "I will never be as good as you." He took the sword from his cold stiff hands and bowed respectfully. His sword was all he had left from him, and the wisdom he had bestowed upon him during those lessons...such good memories back then.