Chapter 7

Disclaimer: nothing is owned by me

Authors note: hi. Thanks for the reviews. This chapter is held back at the emporers palace, still told by Shang. This will probably be the second last chapter.

After our pleasant stay at the inn in Qui-Gong, we needed a way to get back to the palace. Realizing we still needed to find something to get us home, we walked down to the marketplace in Qui-Gong. We found a retailer who sold horses, but nothing we could afford. Defeated, we sat down at the side of the dirt road.

"How can we get home without a horse or carriage?" pondered Su. "And, where are Mei and Yao?" No one had noticed until Su said it that they were no longer sitting with us. My heart leapt. Even though we were no longer going to Qui-Gong, I was still in charge of the princesses safety. Suddenly, we heard a voice behind us.

"We're right here!" It was Mei. With her was Yao and a beautiful gray horse.

"Isn't it great?" said Yao. "We got her for cheap." We were all confused. None of us had any money on hand, yet they managed to buy a mare.

"How did you possibly afford it?" Ling asked.

"We told the retailer we needed a horse that was good for distance, so he gave us this one in exchange for my jade bracelet." (think of the one you see her wearing in the bandit scene) Ting Ting had a look of shock on her face.

"Mei, you've had that bracelet since you were two! It was a gift from our grandfather!" she said.

"We need this horse to get home! If you can think of a better way, I'd like to hear it." Replied Mei defensively. Ting Ting kept her mouth shut.

"We can take turns on Khan, Chir and this horse. What's her name?" Mulan asked. We all thought. After a lengthy discussion, we decided to name her Chin Tu.

Ling and Ting Ting took the first shift on Chin Tu, Yao and Mei on Khan and Mulan and Su on Chir. Chien Po and I were walking for the first mile. After many shifts and a long time, we arrived back at the imperial city where the emperor was waiting for us. As soon as word traveled that we had arrived, he asked to see all of us at once. We gathered in his courtroom after I we had all been given some fresh clothes. My generals armour had been savored, yet the silk had been soiled so an order for a new one had been sent. Mulan and the princesses soon reappeared in new dresses made of fine fabrics. We waited outside until a councilman came out and showed us in. We all took our normal places bowing in front of the emperor.

"My daughters" he said to the princesses, "Come here." The princesses ran up to their father who embraced each one of them. It was unusual for someone of that much dignity and honour to show affection in public, but no one bothered to point it out.

"It's good to be home." Said Ting Ting, after her father had placed himself once more on his throne.

The emperor folded his hands and began to speak. " It came as a shock to me when I heard about all that has taken place over the past month in which you took on this mission." I couldn't tell from his voice what emotion he was trying to convey.

"I must know all of what happened. But first, I must hear all of the details of how the imminent wedding between Fa Mulan and the prince of Qui-Gong. Mulan stepped forward.

"Well, I was prepared to marry the prince, believing Shang was dead," she started. "But as the ceremony begun, Shang came, giving a shock to almost everyone who had heard of his "death". Lord Chin and him had a discussion, and the story tells itself from there." She gave me a knowing look. She didn't mention the fact that I had almost been dragged away by soldiers or that it was a guardian from her family who had put a halt to the wedding. The emperor stroked his beard.

"That's wonderful, seeing two honourable people such as yourselves happy together." He said. Mulan and I both blushed. "however," he continued, "the question still lies where the alliance is concerned." We all exchanged glances. We couldn't just say "your majesty, a guardian dragon disguised himself as their god and the alliance was upheld because Mulan and the princesses were married at all.?" No way. It was then that Ting Ting stepped forward with a believable lie.

"You see father, under the golden dragon of unity's eye, Su, Mei and I fell in love with married our noble escorts." (ok, that didn't really happen in the movie, but work with me here!)

"My daughters." The emperor said with a happy smile, "I am overjoyed to see that you all have found love, but what does that have to do with the alliance?"

"Yao, Ling and Chien Po are descendants of Qui-Gong" Ting Ting said. We all knew that wasn't true, but we all played along.

"And in the situation we were in, Lord Chin agreed in his, Uh, "discussion" with Shang that he would sanction the alliance if we were married to descendants of Qui-Gong."

"I am content with that." The emperor said. "Mulan, I'm sure you and general Shang will be anxious to get home. You have both once again brought honour to me and to china. Mulan and I beamed.

"Thank you, your excellency." Mulan said, before we bowed again and started for the door.

"Sir, may we um, escort our friends to the door?" asked Ling. The emperor nodded and they came after us out to the stables.

That's chapter 7! Please review and tell me what you think. The next one may be the last chapter and it will be up soon. Thanks.