The end is near. I'd like to thank my wonderful reviewers: YunCyn, KhmerGirl, ToughSpirit, AD, Echidne and Jysthea, Angie, Anonymous reviewer, and Jeanine. (

Chapter 12: Defeated

Once she was inside the palace, Mulan took a few seconds to catch her breath. The lights were already dim in there; she guessed the servants were asleep.at least she hoped they were. Up until then, her plan was working out as she had expected it to.

The halls were empty and filled with silence. A dangerous and suspicious silence, the one that can be sensed before something unexpected will happen.

Mulan continued through the halls searching in every room of the palace. She reached the third floor and finally heard a voice.

Walking cautiously, she got to the room where the voice came from. She looked at her surroundings to make sure she was alone. There was no one in sight, yet she remained alert just in case. Mulan placed her ear on the door to listen to the conversation. For the man's accent and the curses he spat for the Chinese, she deduced the voice could only belong to a Hun. He was threatening the emperor and told him that the day of the Mongolian victory over China had finally come.

The door was locked. Mulan sighed and took a look around, and she spotted a large porcelain vase with beautiful exotic violet flowers over a wooden pedestal. A grin spread across her face.another clever idea had brightened her day.

Mulan took the vase in her hands and examined it; she guessed it must've cost a lot. "I'm sorry your majesty," she muttered, "but this is for your own good." She threw the vase at the door.

As it broke into pieces, it made a hard sound that naturally reached the barbarian's ears. Wuzhumuxin opened the door and saw the broken vase. "Who's there?" he demanded.

A shadow approached to him wielding a sword. It was Fa Mulan.

"My, my," the Hun began, "I was expecting this moment to come."

Mulan narrowed her eyes at him, revealing all the loathing she carried inside her heart towards him. This man was responsible for the deaths of innocent people and Chinese soldiers whose' only goal was to protect their country and honor their families.

"Why are you so mad at me?" Wuzhumuxin inquired in a sweetened voice filled with sarcasm, "I should be the one angry since you killed my brother a year ago."

She knitted her eyebrows, this man was so annoying. "Do you think it's fair to invade a country and disturb the peace?" Mulan replied, "You slaughter the lives of women and children yet you feel no shame or regrets for your actions."

Wuzhumuxin groaned fiercely, the way a tiger would do, showing his long and sharp teeth. She was no one to tell him what to do. Blinded by anger he stepped forward and aimed his sword towards Mulan.

Luckily, she managed to back away before it touched her.

They tried to disarm one another, but both were very skilled with their swords, and Mulan was very fast.

The swords clattered and Wuzhumuxin pushed Mulan out of balance obliging her to fall dropping her sword.

"Well, well, well," Wuzhumuxin didn't waste the chance to mock her, "Despite all, you are just as every woman in this world." He burst into laughter, "Just as fragile and withering like any other woman would be."

Mulan clenched her fists in anger, she wasn't going to let him win and enjoy seeing her defeated. He was very wrong about her; she wasn't fragile because she was a warrior. She was determined to prove him wrong just like she had proven so many times that out of disaster something wonderful could bloom.

She got to her feet and used her martial arts lessons to disarm him, although she got a few scratches. Being small gave her the advantage from getting wounded, since it was easy for her to dodge the attacks.

She kicked him right on the stomach, which made him stumble and fall. Her kick had sent him out of breath and he was panting for a few seconds.

When he managed to stand straight once again, he looked even fiercer. Wuzhumuxin kept his fierce eyes on Mulan, like a wild predator to its prey. Then, he moved forward and tried to shop her head off; but Mulan was too quick thinking to give in. He despised her for being so skilled and most of all for being a woman. A woman who played with his reputation as an all mighty Hun, her tricks and ideas were messing up his plans, his ambitions of ruling China. Wuzhumuxin let out all his fury with a roar. Mulan backed away a few steps. All this time she had concealed her fear and she was good at it. If he knew she was scared it would only give him more advantage over her. This man was like a beast than a human being, and she feared that all of his rage would get stronger than her courage.

The quarrel went on with the swords and punches. It seemed never-ending and both of them were starting to get exhausted.

Wuzhumuxin distracted himself for a few seconds and turned his gaze on the emperor's room to check if he was still there. As a matter of fact, his highness was still there, bound to the ropes he was tied, watching the fight.

Mulan took advantage of the occasion and forced in her sword through Wuzhumuxin's flesh. Blood started to spill out of the Hun's chest. The thick red blood came out like water from a fountain. She was even more shocked when she noticed the tip of her sword had gone all the way through his skin and muscles. The beast was not invincible after all.

Unconsciously, Mulan put her hand and watched as Wuzhumuxin glared at her with those fierce eyes. His eyes reminded her of his brother. Eyes that intimidated her, but she tried to remain brave. The beast was still a human and she pitied him. She backed away as far as she could.

Wuzhumuxin pulled the sword out of him letting a scream escape from him. He breathed in and approached towards the impacted Mulan with both swords.

Mulan ran away through the hall. Bleeding, Wuzhumuxin recovered his pace and he managed to catch up with Mulan.

Unfortunately, she got to the end of the hall, where there were no more doors or stairs to get away. She was grounded. Mulan pursed her lips and prayed her guardian would assist her soon. She swallowed hard when she found herself threatened to death by Wuzhumuxin. It wasn't fair, he had both swords and she was standing against the wall.

Mulan glanced down at her feet. Just when hope had seemed to be vanished away from her, she spotted Cri-kee.

Mushu had come to her aid.

"Get away from her!" A voice commanded. It certainly wasn't Mushu's voice. That distinguished and commanding voice could only belong to one General Li Shang.

Wuzhumuxin groaned and turned to Shang. He stood only a couple of feet away from the barbarian. Shang raised his sword bravely and said, "You'll have to kill me first."

Mulan watched in awe. So, he had come to rescue her, although he wasn't supposed to be there because he needed to.well, she was glad he was there with her. His words had made her heartbeat race, he was defending her with his own life and it was flattering.

"You were supposed to be dead!" yelled Wuzhumuxin with rage. Forgetting about Mulan, he lunge the sword on his right hand towards Shang. He missed him by an inch.

This time, Shang aimed his sword at the Hun and managed to make a scratch on his cheek. Wuzhumuxin was getting weaker by the loss of blood.

Meanwhile, Mulan ran to the emperor's room followed by her guardian and Cri- kee.

As they hurried to the room, Mushu asked, "Were you expecting Shang to come after you?"

"Well, I don't know," Mulan replied, "How about discussing it later?"

"Good point."

Before they got into the room, Mulan questioned, "Where are the other Huns."

Mushu stopped running and rubbed his chin pensively. "Oh," he answered, "Cri-kee, Shang and I took care of them. Don't worry. Everything is working according to the plan." He winked an eye at Mulan.

Once in the emperor's room, Mulan untied his highness.

"I am so glad to see you, Fa Mulan," said the old man.

"So am I to find you.I mean your majesty alive," Mulan replied.

The emperor smiled fondly at her.

"It is safer if you stay in here," Mulan instructed, "I must go and help Shang.I mean, General Li." She bowed at the emperor as a sign of respect and left the room closing the door.

Shang had forced Wuzhumuxin to drop one sword already. Mulan silently observed the quarrel and focused herself.

Suddenly, Shang's sword slipped from his hands.

Mulan rushed to pick it up before Wuzhumuxin would do.

The barbarian roared again. Frustrated, he decided to charge against Mulan.

Shang pulled him by his hairs and pushed him violently against the wall.

Recovering his strength, Wuzhumuxin hit the General on his ribs with his elbow. Li Shang fell back, but Mulan was there to help him up.

Shang punched him straight on the face making him get dizzy. Working together as a team, Mulan and Shang managed to set Wuzhumuxin on the floor. Defeated, the Hun just closed his eyes and waited for whatever they had prepared for him. He was too weak to fight.

Shang raised his sword and thrust it through Wuzhumuxin's heart. More blood came out of him and he screamed in pain. His last words were, "You won this time, but someday, my people will rule the world and all of you will have to bow and work as slaves." Wuzhumuxin's eyes opened wide and finally gave in to death. Everything was over now.

Shang backed away and stood next to Mulan, who kept her eyes on the corpse. She had watched the whole scene and she somehow felt sick. Wuzhumuxin had been a mean and cruel person, still he was a human. Because she wasn't like him she regretted about killing him. Maybe he deserved an opportunity to fix all the mistakes he had made throughout his life. Wuzhumuxin's death taught them both that they were no one to judge who deserves to live and who deserves to die. There was silence between them, both of them were shocked. Even Mushu, who would normally joke about any situation, was staring at the lifeless body with his mouth open.

"Are you ok?" Shang dove in.

Mulan faced him, and he could tell by the look in her eyes that she was uneasy for what happened. She was a strong woman with a heart so fragile that showed mercy towards everyone.

"I will be," she whispered.

Concerned about her, Shang inquired, "Is there anything I can do for you?"

"I just want to leave this place."

"Me too."

Mulan was probably as uneasy and scared as he was, with the corpse before their eyes. He wanted to comfort her and make her feel safe; he wanted to let her know he would always be around whenever she needed him. Slowly he put his arms around her, and Mulan welcomed his embrace.

They were interrupted when the emperor came out of his room and caught them hugging each other. Immediately they stepped away and bowed at the emperor.

"You two are probably the grandest heroes China has," The emperor said looking at the dead body.

But his flattery didn't make them feel better. They needed time.time away from war, time to think things, time to heal the wounds in their hearts caused by the war.

"China will celebrate the peace you have brought," His highness continued. "Thanks to you, everything is back to normal."

Certainly not for them both, the whole country could celebrate while their consciences tortured them.

They accepted the emperor's compliments silently and humbly.

Afterwards, his highness informed he would have a banquet and a parade in their honor as soon as the other troops would reach the Imperial City.

When Shang and Mulan were left alone, she said, "Shang, I promised Tsien I was bringing him to the Imperial City."

"We will grant his wish," Shang agreed.

The End..just kidding.we all know there are a few things to be fixed in here.