Chapter 2: Chen

A week later, Mulan trotted on Khan along side Shang. She was anxious to meet his grandfather and eight-year-old brother. She had been a little nervous, but Shang told her how delighted Chen was that he was marrying the woman warrior and how excited he was to meet her.

They cut through a forest at one point, with a very narrow path, and Mulan had to ride behind Shang. It was at that moment that Mushu popped out of the bag she had saddled on Khan.

"Hey, baby."

She started. "Mushu!" she muttered. "I told you I hate it when you do that. What are you doing here, anyway?"

"I'm your guardian. I'm here to check out your new family and make sure you're going to be alright after you marry this guy. And look. I brought Cri-Kee, too." That same lucky cricket suddenly jumped into view, chirping.

Mulan grinned.

Shang turned around and gazed at her, his eyebrow raised. "Did you say something?"

"No," she answered.

They came out into a clearing and she pulled Khan up beside him. He smiled at her.

"We're nearly there."

As they approached Shang's house, Mulan saw that it was very similar to her own, but larger. They rode up to the gate and a cute little boy with a topknot like Shang's came running out of the garden. He jumped up and down as they dismounted. Mulan laughed, delighted with him.

"You must be Li Chen."

"Yep." He ran around them in a circle until Shang reached out and stopped him with his arm.

"Okay, Chen, calm down. Fa Mulan is a visitor. You know you should act politely, not run around her like a wild thing. Now greet Mulan properly, Chen."

Chen bowed to her.

Mulan didn't really care if Chen ran around; in fact, she was ready to join him. But she knew that Shang had different values and was trying to teach his brother to act more dignified, honorable and serious, like him. She almost burst into hysterical laughter as Chen suddenly forced his face into a grimace, trying to imitate Shang's stern and serious expression.

Mulan saw that Chen was holding a stuffed dragon. "And who is that?" she asked, pointing.

"This is Lung."

"Oh, he's very cute."

"Want to see our pond, Fa Mulan?"

Mulan looked at Shang. "Sure."

Chen pulled out of Shang's grip and darted away. Shang sighed and motioned for her to go ahead, that he would take care of Khan and his own stallion and join them there. Mulan ran after Chen, laughing.

Chen was at the pond already. He turned back to see where she was and smiled as he saw her approaching. She sat beside him.

"This is our pond. There are frogs in it, and fish. See?" he pointed into the water.

"It's a lovely pond, Chen. You live in a very beautiful home."

"And I have a pony, too. He's in the stable. Shang said that you're the woman warrior. So, can you do Kung-Fu?"

"Yes, your big brother trained me at Kung-Fu, sword-fighting, everything."

"Will you teach me when you come to live here?"

"Sure. But isn't Shang going to teach you?"

"Yes," he said, sheepishly, "but you could teach me, too. When he is away."

Mulan looked at him. "Or when he isn't teaching you because you're not doing your school work?"

"Oops."

Mulan laughed. "He told me about it. I'll tell you what - if you aren't doing well in school, I will do both. I will help you with your school work and then, after, when I see that you're doing better, I'll teach you Kung-Fu too."

Chen's eyes lit up. "Okay!"

"You are a mischievous little imp, Chen, aren't you?"

Chen laughed.

"Just like me," she said, winking at him.

Shang approached the pond at that moment and sat down with them.

"Shang."

"What, Chen?"

"I like her, Shang."

"Good. I like her too, Chen," Shang replied, chuckling.

xxxxxx

"Well, this is a very nice house," Mushu commented as he watched Mulan unpack her stuff in the guest room. "I approve of this for you."

"Oh, thanks, Mushu."

"That grandfather of his is a little bit of a hard head, though."

"Well, I'm not exactly a traditional wife-to-be. Everyone knows about me now. I think it bothers him. But he was very polite to me, at least so far."

"There are all kinds of poems and songs about you now."

Mulan sighed. She wasn't sure if she was so comfortable with that.

"The little kid is cute. Very spirited and mischievous. It's good to see that someone in this house is like that. Your captain Li Shang is so serious. He really needs to lighten up."

"He's had a lot of responsibility since he was young. He was thirteen when he started taking care of Chen because their mother died and his father was away a lot; and Chen is not an easy little boy to take care of, from what he told me. He had to start acting like a father when he was still a kid. And of course now he lost his father. Shang has a lot to be serious about, Mushu."

"He's not serious and somber around you, though," Mushu quipped, nudging her. "I think the only times I've ever seen him smile or laugh are when he's around you."

Mulan smiled, feeling warm inside. She liked the fact that she could have that effect on Shang when very few people could. Chen was the only other person.

"Mulan?"

Mushu jumped onto Mulan's shoulder and disappeared under her collar.

"Hi, Chen, come on in," she said, warmly.

Chen crept forward into the room.

"Mulan?" Chen began, a puzzled look on his face.

"What's the matter, Chen?"

"Who is Mushu?"

Mulan was taken aback. "Did you hear me talking, Chen?"

"Yes," Chen answered, bowing his head. "I'm sorry."

"It's okay. There's nothing to be sorry about."

"Who is he?"

"Who is who?" Shang was in the doorway.

"Mushu," Chen answered before Mulan could.

"Mushu? That's that little stuffed red lizard that you had at camp with you, isn't it, Mulan?" Shang had an amused look on his face.

"No, he's not a lizard, Shang," Chen corrected him, "he's a dragon."

"I like this kid," Mushu remarked in her ear.

"A dragon," Shang repeated, raising his eyebrow and fixing Mulan with one of his sternly inquisitive looks.

Mulan just shrugged, at a loss.

"And he's not stuffed," Chen continued. "He's alive and he talks."

Mulan froze. Had Chen been able to see and hear Mushu?

"Chen," Shang reprimanded him. "You shouldn't make things up."

"I'm not making things up. Mulan talks to him. And he answers."

Mulan wanted the floor to open up and swallow her. She cast her eyes downward when Shang looked at her.

"It's time for dinner, Chen," Shang told him, "Get washed up and come to the table."

"Okay."

Chen scooted out of the room. Shang came into the room and took her hands in his.

"Mulan, what's going on?"

She shrugged. She made a mental note to have a private talk with Chen as soon as there was an opportunity.

"I know you talk to that stuffed lizard…uh, dragon…I heard you talking to it several times in camp."

"You did?"

"Yes. Is it a good luck charm?"

"Yes," she answered, quickly. "I bring it with me wherever I go now."

Shang smiled at her warmly. "I think Chen has an over-active imagination."

Mulan relaxed and smiled back. Shang reached out and stroked her cheek gently.

"Dinner is ready. Are you hungry?"

"Yes."

They embraced for a few minutes and kissed. Then he linked his arm in hers and led her to the dining room.