The Power of Love: Chapter Nine

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. ;)

xxx

Yi-Pek awoke later than Shang that same morning, but still early. He was ready for his trip to Mulan's town, to see if the emperor was still there or if he had gone to the Imperial City. His free pass to society- to show how much he loved China, by marrying the symbol of it. He still couldn't believe Ta-Ni was helping the girl, when she wanted a husband and a family so badly. They had no place in northern Asia- where the rest of the Huns still lived. They had no place anywhere. China might be harder to stay in because of Shan Yu, and because of the different looks of the Chinese and Northern Asian blood, but marrying in could offer him everything. He needed a reason to live. A promising business, a lineage.

He walked to Mulan's room, and opened the door to tell her to get ready to leave for town. He needed the emperor to give him the respect he needed, so others would respect him as well. An empty bed greeted him. He felt his temper rising. Had she escaped?

"WHERE IS SHE?!?!?!?!?!?" he snarled, running to the window. She could have climbed down the wall without anything to help her. He slammed the door as he started to the hallway. He ran down to the dining room and kitchen. Mulan was not in sight. He was unbelievably angry, and ran next to Ta-Ni, who led him to Shang's room. Mulan was there, asleep on the bed, curled up under the covers.

"SHE SLEPT WITH HIM LAST NIGHT?" He roared, "A TAINTED WOMAN!!! THIS IS HOW SHE TRIES TO GET BACK AT ME!?! TO MAKE HERSELF UNMARRIABLE??" He was screaming now, and Mulan was awake.

"I didn't…I didn't SLEEP with him," Mulan said softly. "I just slept with him! We didn't DO anything!!"

"Will you still marry her?" Ta-Ni asked. Yi-Pek glowered at Mulan.

"I shall, and it will make me look even better. The brother of Shan-Yu marries the tainted Fa Mulan. Of course, I will tell everyone about their little secret."

"There's no secret. Shang and I, we didn't do anything. I had a dream and it frightened me, and I had to see him. I ended up falling asleep-"

"Tainted, you are, sharing a bed with him before marriage. I shall tell all and-"

"You won't tell anyone," Shang said, walking into the room behind him. "And if you do- I will- I'll reveal some secrets about you I've learned."

"I would kill you in an instant."

"Ma Ti then. I'm sure there are some secrets about her yet to be discovered." Yi-Pek's eyes widened.

"You wouldn't dare."

"I would. Unless.Mulan was permitted to accompany me on the ride to town. And you would speak nothing of our night together." Yi-Pek stared at him.

"Given. Say nothing about Ma Ti. And you," he gestured towards Mulan, "You'll marry me, or I'll kill Shang."

Mulan stared at him angrily. "I WON'T!" Yi-Pek glared at her and was about to speak, but Shang interrupted.

"She will," Mulan looked shocked.

"Shang?" He looked at her, his eyes wide, telling her to listen.

"I will," Mulan whispered, hanging her head.

"I'll leave then. Mulan, be ready in a half an hour." Yi-Pek backed out of the room. Ta-Ni hurried over.

"What in the world do you know about my brother and his love?" She asked incredulously. Shang answered her with a lopsided smile.

"Absolutely nothing about either of them. Although, he assumes I do because I'm the General's son, and I am acquainted with figures of authority." He gave Mulan a hug.

"I don't mean to be rude- but was what you said about the dream true. Or…I mean- It was your last night together, unless you turn things around…It doesn't seem to be able to happen though- you admitted you would marry him." Mulan smiled at her.

"I know, I had a bad dream, and I needed him, that's all."

"I'm so sorry about all of this. I hope things will work out somehow. Be ready soon, or Yi-Pek will have another fit." She handed Mulan a dress, left, and closed the door behind her.

"I hope you have a plan, Shang."

"I do, but I don't want you to get your hopes up. I'll still come see you, and…I'll always love you. You know that."

"Oh, Shang." He tilted her head towards him and planted a loving kiss on her beautiful lips. "Thank you, Shang," Mulan said softly. "For saying what you said. With all the rumors floating around about me and the men in camp- I'm sure many people would have listened to what Yi-Pek had to say about us."

"I wouldn't have."

"That's because you're the man I didn't sleep with."

"Change into that. I'll wait outside for you." She appeared outside a moment later, wearing a simple red dress.

"It's your wedding day," Shang said to her. "And I never in my life would have thought that you'd be marrying someone else."

"Well, I hope I won't be. You said you had a plan."

"I'll try my hardest, but if it doesn't work, don't refuse to marry him. He'll kill your parents, your grandmother- even Chien Po, Yao, and Ling. And of course, me. He will. I can feel it."

"I know. I want my family to live, even if it means not seeing you again."

"You'll see me again. Every day for the rest of our lives if the plan works."

"But I won't. Even if we do marry, you and I, you're still General. The morning after our wedding, you'll be off again training troops, fighting for your life."

"Don't think about that." He placed his finger on her lips. She pulled away from his touch.

"I have to find my wedding dress. Get your horse ready, I assume we'll ride there. I'd like to see my family one last time."

xxx

Angrily, Mulan went to get her wedding dress from Ta-Ni. It just wasn't fair. Why was it that she had to make a choice between living with her family and Shang, or their death. She wasn't a selfish person, and given the same choice before she'd left for war, she would have chosen to save her family. That was what she had done, taking her father's place in the war. She was ready to give herself up for her father. She had hated that day with the matchmaker. She never told Shang the details, only it hadn't gone well. She had felt so horrible for dishonoring her family, she was contemplating whether or not to leave the town herself. The war had been an easy option for her to choose. Now she had someone she really wanted to live for. Someone she wanted a life with. It just wasn't fair. Perhaps she could plead with the emperor…She couldn't even believe that she was doing this to herself. Since when had she become so selfish? Since she fell in love with Shang.

She walked outside, Shang had his white stallion all saddled up with bags hanging from everywhere. She slipped her wedding dress into one of them, and climbed on the horse. She patted the bag and felt something hard in it. Opening it up again, she found a small white stone. She held it in her hand, loving the feel of it. She wondered if her Grandmother had given Shang his.

She felt sorry for pulling away from Shang. She knew he was hurting as much as her, but she couldn't believe that he didn't care that he'd have to leave her after their marriage for his duties as general.

"Mulan?" Shang asked softly. "Yi-Pek and Ta-Ni have their horses ready, I'm going to climb up there with you." When he was seated beside her, she put her head on his shoulder.

"I'm sorry I'm being so selfish. If it's a choice between your death and my own, you know what I'd choose. I knew that a year ago.  But now I love you so much that I want to choose for us both to live together."

"Oh Mulan. I love you so much." He took her hand in his own and noticed the pebble in it.

"You have one too? From your grandmother?"

"Yes. Have you wished on it yet?"

"For you and your father. He was sick the day we came to find you. I sent him back with Yao, Ling, and Chien Po."

"Is he all right?"

"He was just coughing a lot. It was cold."

"Oh, now I want to see him even more."

"Can we make a wish?" Shang asked her quietly.

"I'd like that."

"I wish that this works and we can get married and live together forever."

"And I wish that you wouldn't sound so lovesick. You're making me want to kiss you!" Mulan said, touching his lips fondly.

"I don't see why that's such a problem," Shang said, grinning, as Mulan planted a kiss on his lips.

xxx

Ta-Ni and Yi-Pek watched from a distance on their horses.

"Brother, it's your last chance to stop this. Look how happy they are."

"Ta-Ni, we're too far into this to stop it. Don't you want to be accepted in society? Don't you want a life? Don't whine any longer, just know that once this is over, our life can start." He led his horse over to Shang and Mulan.

"We're leaving," He told them gruffly, "You two will take us back and tell everyone that Mulan has chosen to marry me, and not Shang. Shang, you will tell the emperor that fact, then stand by and watch. If Mulan does not comply, I will personally kill you, as well as her family."

Ta-Ni sent the two a helpless look. "All right," Mulan said.

"Then let's leave."

It was early in the afternoon, probably about two, many hours since Mushu had left. If it took a hour and a half to two hours on fast horseback to get back to Mulan's town, would Mushu be able to get back and finish the plan in time? It all depended on him. Shang was trying to figure out if there was any chance his plan would work. He couldn't bear to lose Mulan, she was all that was keeping him together. Maybe he could stall for time, or take a different trail through the woods.

"Who's leading?" Shang asked Yi-Pek.

"I am."

Shang could only hope that Yi-Pek had a horrible sense of direction. Mushu was fast, and now that he was the guardian of the Fa family, he had some magic up his sleeve. Trying not to think about it, he started up his horse, and Mulan, who was sitting behind him, slid her arms around his waist.

"Care to tell me what your plan is?" She asked him.

"Not really. You won't want to hear it, because the odds aren't so great."

"So then this is the last time I'll see you."

"I guess so," Shang responded, turning to meet her eyes. His horse was trotting slowly behind Yi-Pek's horse, and Ta-Ni's took up the rear. "Mulan, I'm not going to get married to anyone but you."

"Really?" Mulan said sarcastically, "And you'll be an eligible bachelor too. The unmarried General of the Imperial Army. Shang, you'll have hundreds of marriage proposals in the first week after I'm gone. Give it up." They were silent as Yi-Pek traipsed through the woods, leading them on.

"Shang, let's think positive. Maybe we could…ride away, and get my family, and we could hide out."

"How long would it be before he found us?" Mulan fingered the pebble in her hand, and tightened her grip around Shang's waist.

"I'm sorry. I'm just being selfish. I want you and my family to live. I do."

"We're going very slow. There's still hope." Mushu could pull through for them. Silently, they followed Yi-Pek to Mulan's town.

xxx

The late afternoon welcomed the arrival of the four on horseback. The sun was setting, and Shang estimated it to be about five. Shang and Mulan led the way to Mulan's home through the marketplace, the bystanders shopping watched in awe. They could tell from their physical attributes that Yi-Pek and Ta-Ni were Huns, a disturbing fact to them. The horse's hooves created clouds of dirt on the road. They continued, through the wall that led onto the Fa property, and Mulan immediately knew by one look that the emperor had stayed in their home. There were four white stallions in the corral with Khan, and four elaborately dressed men standing by the fence. One of the men saw the four and headed into Mulan's home. Shang jumped down from his horse, Mulan following him. She opened the gate to let in Shang's horse, as well as Ta-Ni and Yi-Pek's horses.

"Why do you think the emperor stayed here?" Mulan asked Shang.

"Well, I think he took to your grandmother," Shang responded.

"Really?" Mulan said laughing, shutting the gate and moving towards her door.

"Well, she was looking his way during the wedding; I suppose things grew from there." Mulan opened the door to her home. The faces of her mother, father, the emperor, her grandmother, and one of the emperor's guards stared at her.

"Mulan?" Fa Li scuttled over, giving her daughter a great big hug. "Oh my dear, when the guard said that you were here I just couldn't believe it!"

"Oh Mama!" Mulan blushed as her mother fussed over her. Her grandmother came to hug her too, and her father pulled her close to his chest, then turned to Yi-Pek.

"I do not want you in my home. I am pleased you have retuned my daughter safely, but that happiness does not cover the anger I have because of her kidnapping."

"Actually," Yi-Pek said to Fa Zhou, "Mulan has something to tell you." He gestured towards Mulan who was silent.

"Mulan, just tell them." Shang said softly. Where was Mushu?

"I'm…I'm to marry Yi-Pek."

"What?" Her father asked. Her mother gasped, and her grandmother answered with a touch of sarcasm.

"Yeah right. Mulan, you've got someone handsome enough right here…And he likes you…Stick with him!"

For the first time in many years, Fa Li agreed with her mother-in-law. "Mulan, your grandmother is right- what in the world are you thinking?"

"May I talk to my family in private? Wait outside," Mulan commanded Yi-Pek, and Ta-Ni followed.

"What is the meaning of this, Fa Mulan?" The emperor asked her.

"Mother, father- he'll kill you if I don't marry him- just agree to it."

"What about me? What'll happen to me?" Her grandmother asked, still thinking Mulan was kidding.

"He'll kill you too!" Mulan said, wide-eyed.

"Oh…I thought it might have been something better."

"Grandmother Fa, Mulan is serious," Shang said softly.

"Oh."

"But, why?" Fa Zhou asked quietly.

"He wants…he wants a life- he wants people to think that if Mulan married him, he is a good man, because Mulan saved China by killing his brother. If Mulan could put aside her hatred for his brother to marry him, it proves he is a good person," Shang answered them all, and everyone was silent.

"Can't you make a law against that, dear?" Grandmother Fa asked the emperor.

"Dear? Well, I sure have missed a lot being kidnapped…Didn't know your relationship was on that level. I didn't know you had a relationship for that matter."

"Mulan, dear, acting like that will in no way solve this problem. Respect your elders!" Softening, Fa Li said, "I realize you're upset, I can't even believe this."

"Shan Yu must have ruined his chance at a real life," Fa Zhou said slowly.

"Why doesn't he marry that girl who's with him? She's plain, but she's not ugly," Mulan's grandmother said.

"Well, I'm not so sure that he would care to marry his sister," Mulan answered, a hint of a smile on her face.

"Has Mushu come back here?" Shang interrupted.

"Mushu?" Grandmother asked. "He hasn't."

"You know Mushu too?" Mulan asked her, suddenly confused.

"Of course, dear," her grandmother answered. "I know a lot…I have a mental connection with our ancestors."

"More and more secrets," Mulan muttered, and Shang slipped his arm around her waist.

"Shh," he said, hugging her close to his chest. "I have a plan, and it should be able to work, but I must speak with Mushu. If it all goes well, Yi-Pek will choose not to marry Mulan, and we'll all be okay."

"Care to explain, General?" Mulan had almost forgotten that the emperor was standing in her house.

"Actually," Shang said, bowing towards the emperor, "It is so risky, I don't want to. Also, I cannot risk Yi-Pek overhearing, or realizing what we are planning. Better to let him think we will marry Mulan to him."

"Shang…This better work," Mulan said softly. "I refuse to marry anyone but you, and you know that." He smoothed her hair, then kissed her forehead.

"I guess it would be best to tell Yi-Pek that you will marry him tomorrow." Fa Zhou said, taking his daughter's hand and hobbling outside. His wife and mother followed him.

"Noble Emperor," Shang started, "I changed my mind. I wish to let the plan be known to you, I believe that you and Grandmother Fa can help us."

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