The Power of Love: Chapter Five

Disclaimer: I don't own Disney's Mulan.  I'm not making any profit by writing this story.  I do own Ta-Ni, Yi-Pek, and Ma Ti.

By: Susan

Summary: Mulan is kidnapped from her wedding in order to save the honor in Shan Yu's family. Can she show Shan Yu's brother what true love is? Will she still marry Shang?

A/N: This is a sequel to my story, After Dinner, although you don't really need to read it in order to grasp the concept of the story ;)  Enjoy. ;)

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Shang immediately went to follow the horse tracks. The sky had turned grey, and he wanted to follow them to wherever they led before the rain hit. Chien Po, Ling, and Yao promised Shang they'd come along, and to Fa Li's reluctance, Fa Zhou decided to come as well. Before they left, however, Grandmother Fa thrust a smooth, white pebble into Shang's hand.

"What is this for?"

"A wishing stone," Mulan's grandmother said. "Make a wish on it every night, and your wishes will come true. I was going to give you yours after your wedding, but you need it now, dear. Go find her," she told him. Shang bent low and kissed her wrinkled cheek. What a sweet old lady, he thought.

Almost an hour after the kidnapping, they set off. Mushu and Cri-Kee hid in Shang's pack, and during the trip, when he reached in, he felt them creep on his hand.

"Ahh!" Shang yelled, pulling his hand out.

"What, what, whaaaa?" Mushu shouted, noticing far too late that there were people there that didn't know him.

"What is that?" Yao growled.

"A snake!" Ling said, jumping from his horse. Mushu began to laugh.

"What's so funny?" Shang asked.

"What is that?" Yao asked once more.

"It's Mushu," Shang replied, "He's sort of a mentor, I guess. He's one of the Fa ancestors."

"It looks like a dragon to me, Ling," Chien Po said, pulling him back upon his horse. "Why did you call it a snake?" Mushu began to laugh again. Fa Zhou stayed silent, not knowing what to say.

"What's so funny?" Shang asked again.

"It's just, that night, when Mulan was taking a bath," he gasped between hysterical laughter. Chien Po began to giggle, and Yao began to laugh uproariously.

"What's so funny?" Shang demanded. Ling looked at Mushu.

"You were the snake?"

"Sure was."

"But.how?"

"Hey, Mulan saw Yao as king of the rock, but she didn't want you guys to see her as the queen. I had to help her, she's my friend." Yao blushed deeply, and Chien Po began to laugh again.

"What are you talking about?" Shang asked.

"You know, Yao, she wished to never see a naked man again after that?"

"Why would she have seen a naked man in the fir.. Oh," Shang said, stopping. "I think I get it."

"You know what's funny, Yao?" Ling asked.

"What?" Yao grumbled, embarrassed.

"Mulan saw you naked before she saw Shang naked."

"She's never seen me naked, so why don't we just stop this conversation?" Shang asked, blushing slightly.

"She's never seen you naked?" Ling asked.

"Can we please stop this conversation?" Shang asked, his face reddening even more so.

"She wouldn't have," Fa Zhou butted in, "considering that is against customs." Everyone fell silent, remembering that Fa Zhou was there. Their silly conversation stopped, and everyone felt embarrassed. They all looked at they ground until Mushu spoke up.

"Actually, she wouldn't have because she never wants to see a naked man again," Mushu announced.

"She'd probably make an exception for Shang, considering the fact that she's marrying him," Ling said to Yao.

"Can we please stop this conversation? Let's be serious, we need to find Mulan." Shang, now a distinct shade of maroon, asked them once more. Everyone looked at him.

"I bet you want to see Mulan naked, don't you?" Yao teased him.

"I think not one of us here wants to see you naked," Fa Zhou said, "and neither did Mulan."

"Go be king of the rock somewhere else," Ling said softly, grinning. Mushu began to laugh, then introduced himself to Fa Zhou and told them the story of how he met Shang and Mulan.

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After another hour of traveling, they came to a huge, stone home on a path in the forest. It was giant, with many rooms, and many floors. Shang had a bad feeling about the home, and he knew he had to check it out. He had to find Mulan.

"Yao, you're with me. We're going inside. Ling, Chien Po, Fa Zhou, stay out here, inspect the grounds."

"Aye, aye General," Yao said.

"Where do I go?" Mushu asked.

"Stay with me," Shang replied.

"Okey-dokey artichokey," Shang looked at him oddly, but didn't respond. "If you find anything, try to reach us. When the sun goes down, we're to meet back there, where we'll halter our horses."

He pointed to a dark section of the surrounding woods, stepped down from his horse, and tied it to a tree." Yao, Shang and Mushu crept around the house, noticing a door that led to a basement. "We'll go in here," he commanded, opening the cellar door and climbing down into the darkness.

"You know, I don't like this at all," Yao complained, jumping down after Shang.

"You know, I don't care," Shang replied bitterly. They had lost much time waiting at the stage in town and traveling through the woods. He was afraid whoever had taken her had left here already. He felt around in the darkness, tripping over something on the floor. "Ouch,"

"Nice one, General. You okay?"

"Fine. General?"

"Hey, would you rather Pretty-Boy?"

"No, that's why I was questioning you." Shang slipped his hand in his pocket to feel the pebble Grandmother Fa had given him. He hoped it would bring him good luck. He turned toward Yao. "It looks like there's a door over there, let's try to open it." Both Yao and Shang pushed at the door with all their might, but it didn't budge.

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Mulan bathed herself again while Ta-Ni fixed her gown. Yi-Pek wanted it ready for their wedding, though Mulan knew she had to find a way out. The wedding was planned for tomorrow, and Yi-Pek barely even knew Mulan at all. After climbing from the bath, she covered herself with a towel and walked over to Ta-Ni.

"Here, wear this to dinner, Mulan," She handed her a soft pink dress.

"Thank you," Mulan said, changing into it.

"Your room is down there," Ta-Ni told her, "You have an hour until dinner, and Yi-Pek told me to put you in your room until then."

"All right," Mulan said innocently.

"The room two doors down on the left side of the hallway," Ta-Ni told her. Mulan walked out to the room. It had a window, and Mulan ran to it as fast as she could, and looked down at the ground. Being as she was on the second floor of the house, she could just barely make out her father standing next to a bunch of horses haltered in the far woods.

Mulan sunk down to the floor below the window. She shouldn't call down to her father, Yi-Pek and Ta-Ni might hear. Should she climb down to them? Not in the dress she was wearing. She'd never make it. Maybe she should just wait. If Yi-Pek or Ta-Ni caught her escaping, she'd be killed, she knew it. Maybe she could escape at night. But Yi-Pek knew where she lived. He'd hunt her down. Mulan sighed, and collapsed on the bed.

"General, my daughter is up in the window." Fa Zhou said, pointing at it.

"How do you-"

"I've been watching the house," Fa Zhou said, coughing loudly.

I believe she saw me, but I am unsure." He let out another long cough, as if he was choking. "I presume she is at dinner, and we should wait it out then climb up together." He began to choke again, and Shang looked at Chien Po.

"I'll climb up to get her later. You should start back now." He looked at Fa Zhou's sickly, pale body. Though summer, the forest was very cold. Fa Zhou was not well to begin with, and Shang knew he'd have to send him back. He turned to Ling, Yao, and Chien Po.

"We must take him back, General Shang," Chien Po said softly.

"Of course we have to, look at how sick he is," Yao said.

"He won't leave without Mulan," Ling told them.

"But look at him. I'll bet his leg is hurting him badly. He's already told me where Mulan is. I can get her tonight and meet you back tomorrow."

"But, General, he won't leave until he knows his daughter is all right," Chien Po said. But Shang was already walking away.

"You must leave here at once." Shang told him, "You're sick and being in this forest won't make it any better."

"I won't leave without-"

"Honorable Fa Zhou, you must trust my judgment. Leave me here; I will get your daughter. You must go so you will be healthy for our wedding." Fa Zhou looked at Shang.

"I am fine. I will stay here with you."

Shang gathered up all his strength.  "Fa Zhou, I have always been told to respect my elders. I respect you more than anyone I know.  I respect those who fight bravely, but also those who know when they should retreat. It is those who do not think about where their actions lead that I cannot respect. My father told me that once, and only now have I learned what it means." He looked into Fa Zhou's dark eyes. "Mulan would want you to go home."

"I know she would, Shang. But I cannot leave her. She's all I have left."

"I'll make sure she returns home safely." Shang told him, "But please, don't risk your health for an action I can do alone." Fa Zhou nodded. "They will accompany you home, and Mushu will stay with me." Fa Zhou bowed to Shang. Shang tried to block out the sickly coughing that filled his ears as the four men retreated. He felt his wishing stone in his pocket as he set up a tent and haltered his horse further back in the woods. I wish for both Fa Zhou and Mulan to be safe. He sat back against a tree until dark, when he could climb to Mulan's window. Shang hoped that it wasn't too late.

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Yi-Pek was waiting as Mulan sat down at the small table downstairs. Ta-Ni began to bring out hot food. Mulan was afraid to eat anything however. She thought that perhaps it was a trick to poison her. As soon as Yi-Pek dug in, Mulan began to eat. She was extremely hungry, and the rice and chicken was very tasty. She knew better than to disturb a man while he was eating, so when Ta-Ni cleared the dishes, she cleared her throat and began to speak.

"Why did you do this? I cannot marry you, I'm going to marry Li Shang. I'm in love with him, and he feels the same for me. You kidnapped me from my own wedding!" Mulan was angry, but she struggled to calm down, so her words would have an effect on Yi-Pek. From the kitchen, Ta-Ni's heart went out to Mulan.

The poor girl. I wish this had never happened. Ta-Ni couldn't believe what she heard next.

"Haven't you ever been in love? Don't you know what it feels like?"

Ta-Ni was afraid he would strike her. No one talked about Ma Ti in front of Yi-Pek since Shan-Yu had stolen her from him. He was so withdrawn for months after that, and mother and father did not know why. As Shan-Yu's younger brother, Yi-Pek could not make Shan-Yu give Ma Ti back to him. The honor in their family was more important.

"I have been in love before." Yi-Pek hadn't spoken of Ma Ti in years.

"You know what I feel then, don't you?" Mulan's tone was almost kind.

"Yes, I do."

"So why can't you let me go back to Shang, for the sake of love." He looked at her sad face, a gruff expression upon his own. He was angry. He had never been spoken to like that before. Especially not by a woman.

"Because that was a long time ago. Because Ma Ti broke my heart. Because honor is more important than love," He yelled at Mulan, who shrank back. He rose from the table, eyes flashing. Though Mulan's life was still in danger, she couldn't help feeling like she had won a small battle.

Mulan left the table and went upstairs to her room, again thinking about escape. There was no doubt Yi-Pek was dangerous. He knew where she lived, and even if she left that place for her own safety, she was endangering the safety of her family and friends. She couldn't have that. She would rather die then hurt them. Yi-Pek could come after her at any time if she escaped. It was useless.

A pale yellow, sleeveless nightgown had been left on the covers of her canopy bed. She had just begun to slip it on, when there was a crash, and suddenly a dark figure was in her room. She leapt behind the bed.

"Mulan?"

"Shang? Oh, Shang," she said, leaping out and hugging him. He pressed his lips upon hers, knocking her to the bed below him. They parted, and he sat down with his arm around her on the bed. He blushed furiously.

"Are you alright Mulan? Sorry about that, I-"

"Don't apologize, I'm fine. How did you find me?"

"Your father saw you from the ground."

"I saw him too, with the horses in the woods. Where is he?"

"I sent him back home with Ling, Yao and Chien Po."

"They were here?"

"Of course, Mulan. They're our friends." He hugged her close to him, rubbing her back. "Oh, Mulan, I thought I lost you. Thank goodness you're all right. I've been so worried."

"I'm fine, I-"

"Mulan," Shang said, "We have to get you out of here."

"Shang, you can't. The man who kidnapped me is Shan-Yu's brother. He arranged a marriage between us to save the honor in his family. I can't escape, because he knows everything about me. He's dangerous, Shang, I can feel it. I'm afraid he'll come after me, or my family. I can't let that happen."

"So, you're going to marry him?"

"No, of course not." She nudged his troubled face, "You're the only man I'd ever marry, and you know that." He kissed her forehead.

"I know, continue."

"His sister is here too, and she arranged dinner between us for tonight. I found out something about him. He was in love with Ma Ti, whoever that is and-"

"Ma Ti? You said he was Shan-Yu's brother, right Mulan?"

"Yes, but what does that have to-"

"Ma Ti, as in, Shan-Yu's lover?"

"She's what? Who?"

"Ma Ti was Shan-Yu's girlfriend, until she mysteriously disappeared. My father tried to interrogate her for information about the Hun's whereabouts, but-"

"That explains it then! He must've had his heart broken, because his brother stole his girlfriend." Shang looked at Mulan. "He told me he was once in love, but his heart was broken. He thinks honor is more important than love now." Shang looked confused.

"Mulan, I don't know about you, but I need to think this through overnight. I understand what you mean, that you can't escape, but Mulan, from what you say, I don't trust him. I don't want you in here-"

"But Shang, I can't just leave! He'll come after me! He'll come after you! He'll come after my parents, my grandmother, my friends. Shang, I can't let that happen. Now that I think about it. I'll marry him to keep him away from everyone I love." She kissed him softly. "I'm scared, Shang, I am. I've never admitted that before. I'm scared. I don't want to die. But, I don't want the people I love to die either. And, Shang, if it's a choice, you know what I'd choose."

"It's because you're a warrior, Mulan," Shang told her softly. He kissed her cheek and began to climb out the window. "But Mulan, warriors need to know when to retreat."

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