Old Author Notes:
I'm not too good with the spellings of the Chinese names, so please don't get too upset about that, okay. I am so tired, I have been watching my video of Mulan almost non-stop trying to get everything in order and stuff and my head is full of all the music (which is actually a good thing really...) Anyway, hope you like the chapter, I tried to make it a bit longer, sorry I almost didn't get this up in time. Now I must go sleep...
Disclaimer:
By the way, as you already know I DO NOT OWN Mulan, DISNEY DOES!
Chapter 5: A Girl Worth Fighting For
I was called into Chi Fu's tent to discuss his report. The three weeks were up and the report due. Things weren't going as I had hoped.
"I know that they don't seem like much, but in the past few weeks they have improved greatly and are quality warriors. They are ready to join the imperial army." I explained, hoping that all that vicious scribbling Chi Fu had done whilst observing the training was not full of how badly Ping and the others had done on there first week's training.
"You think your troops are ready to fight?" Chi Fu laughed as he paced around where I sat, "They would not last a minute against the Huns!"
His words angered me. Of course my troops were ready! Well, sort of. He did have a point in a way. But with such a short time to train them, it is impossible for them to be at the same standard as my father's troops.
"They completed their training." I argued.
"Those boys are no more fit to be soldiers than you are to be captain. Once the General sees my report, your troops will never see battle!" He mocked. That man was so infuriating.
"We're not finished." I defended, pushing down his notepad which contained his report. Chi Fu knocked my hand away.
"Be careful, Captain- the General may be your father, but I am the Emperor's counsel."
I glared at the weedy man. My anger growing.
"Oh, and by the way, I got that job on my own. You are dismissed."
I would have hit him there and then, but his words made me think again. They were his only weapon. He had no fighting skills. And besides, my father would not be too pleased if I had hit him. And his opinion was the most important thing to me.
I stormed out of the tent, pushing my anger deep down inside of me. I could release it later while training.
In my haste, however, I hadn't noticed the small figure standing to the side. Ping.
"Hey, I'll hold him and you punch." He joked. I was not in the mood for jokes though.
"Or not." I heard him say as walked past, trying to ignore him. "For what it's worth, I think you're a great captain." He said, his voice sounding softer and feminine. I stopped. He thought I was a great captain. A compliment. I looked at him from the corner of my eye. His hair tied up in a bun on his head, shiny-looking and probably wet. He nervously looked at me. I stopped looking at him, and continued to walk.
Why did he do this to me? Why is it that my brain freezes whenever he is nice to me? When ever he talks to me, or looks at me? For a moment there, my anger had melted away to nothing. I felt warm inside and wanted nothing more than to go over and hold him. I wanted to thank him for his support.
I reached my tent and had almost forgotten about the conversation with Chi Fu. The only thing that filled my mind was the image of Ping, smiling and joking, and complimenting me. His petit frame edged in silver moonlight. And eyes looking right at me with respect, admiration and possibly even … love.
Time passed by without me noticing.
"Captain! Urgent news from the general. We're needed at the front!" Chi Fu yelled, bursting through the orange-yellow tent, wearing only a towel. Not what I wanted to see after my thoughts of Ping.
I read the message. My father needed back up. They had gotten word that the Huns were nearby and ready to attack.
I ordered that all the men pack up. We were heading for battle.
The men trudged along tiredly. I felt almost guilty riding a horse. Ping was back there walking along with the others, probably exhausted. I shook my head, trying to rid my thoughts of the boy. The men were singing to cheer themselves up.
"Think of instead, a girl worth fighting for"…
I couldn't think of a girl worth fighting for. Only Ping. Maybe a girl like Ping. With Ping's delicateness but emotional strength. A girl who was intelligent like Ping and sympathetic. A girl who supported me and cheered me up. A girl who made my stomach do back flips the way Ping does.
Ping seemed out of place. The men all had their views. Women with moon-like pale faces, women who admired soldiers, women who could cook. Ping's turn.
I was curious as to what kind of woman Ping would like.
"How about a girl whose got a brain, who always.. speaks her ..mind?"
Interesting. His peers laughed and jeered. But I was intrigued. He certainly was not like any other man I knew.
The ground was covered in soft white snow. Breath became visible white mist in front of our faces. The men threw snowballs and played about in the snow. We were getting closer to where my father said he would be. That meant that the Huns could be nearby.
A faint outline could be determined from the top of the snow covered hill. We drew closer to it. I could hardly believe my eyes at the sight. The village was burned down, not a trace of life could be seen anywhere. I felt a lump appear in my throat. This was where my father was supposed to be. This is the village the army was stationed in.
The men were all shocked, not a word was whispered. We were too late. The Huns had been and gone. And the Imperial Army was not here to save the village.
"Search for Survivors!" I ordered, my voice the only thing heard other that the crispy footsteps in the snow.
Ping came up behind me. I don't know what it was that made me open up like I did then, but I did.
"I don't understand. My father should have been here." I told Ping, whose young eyes surveyed the scene with silently and mournfully. He didn't reply. Because at that moment, Chi Fu shouted over for me. I went over.
The other side of the bank was a nightmare. It seemed like miles and miles of death and destruction. A sight I will never ever forget. The Imperial Army, obliterated. Many brave men lying cold and still, after what appeared to have been a very bloody and ruthless battle. The Huns must have surprised them.
Chien Po was scouting out the miserable scene. He came over, his eyes unable to look at my face. He bowed his hairless head, as he handed me the decorative helmet that had once belonged to my father. Somewhere out there, my father lay dead. The man who I respected and admired. The man who I wanted to be like. The man who gave me this opportunity and who had raised me in the ways of a warrior. He was gone.
As Captain, it was my duty to show strength, even at times like this. I walked over to a clear patch of snow, untouched for what must have been days. I dug the sword into the ground and placed the helmet on top. I bowed down, determined to be a man, and not get too upset. I would never forgive myself for not being here for my father. I heard the crunch of feet on snow.
"I'm sorry." I heard Ping say. I got up and walked past stopping and putting my hand on his shoulder. He was the only one who came to comfort me, and though he didn't do much, he did enough to make me feel better. At least I had someone who cared. My father was all I had left and now that he was gone, it felt better knowing that someone cared about me, even if it was just a boy who I hardly knew.
I knew the men would be feeling rather downhearted, after all, the well-trained Imperial Army had been defeated by the Huns so what chance did they, a group of normal peasants with only three weeks training, stand against the ferocity of the Huns?
Although I didn't feel like it, it was time for a motivational speech.
"The Huns are moving quickly." I began, "We'll make better time to the Imperial City through the Tung Shao Pass." Not much motivation there… "We're the only hope for the emperor now. Move out." I ordered. It was slightly inspiring, well, the part about being the only hope was. But, really though, what else could I say? It seemed obvious that if we were to meet with the Huns, we would all be dead. Everyone knew it, but no one said it. They had been lucky so far, maybe luck would hold out?
But, to be frank, I wasn't in the mood. I had lost everything so why not lose my life too? My father would never think like that though, and for his sake I will carry on leading my troops even into death, all for the honour of our country. And with Ping there to support me, I was reassured.