Thanks for the reviews again! alibi girl: Mulan put pressure on the leg, hoping it wasn't that bad. She also wasn't really thinking about anything about being angry with Shang. shrug I think it makes sense. :)

Disclaimer: nope.

Last time:

"Is that all you care about? Saving your own hide?" She stood up to go over to Khan but found that she couldn't walk. When she would step with her right foot, she would fall back to the ground. The last time she tried, she found herself feeling lightheaded and passed out.

Shang sighed and turned her over so that she was lying on her back and pulled the sword away from her. He felt bad for yelling at her, but that was a weakness and she wasn't going to see that. Besides, if she knew he felt bad, then that would be letting her win.

"Get up." Shang snapped at the messenger who was still frozen in the same spot as before. "I said, GET UP!" The messenger responded this time and jumped to his feet. "Next time, I expect some help from you." The messenger said nothing; he just mounted his horse and waited to leave.

"What's wrong with her?" The messenger asked, seeming disgusted that they were going to be slowed down.

"She was wounded. If you had not been frozen in fear, she would probably be fine." Shang answered, wondering why he was defending her. After all, he wasn't supposed to care... but did he?

"How are we going to move her?"

"I don't know."

Mulan woke a little while later. Her whole body ached, especially her injured leg and shoulder. It took her a minute to get her bearings, but when she did, she realized that she was lying on Khan's back on her stomach. Her arms were on either side of him and so were her legs. Shang and the messenger were in front of her, Shang leading Khan.

She tried to sit up, but found herself unable. She didn't want to stay lying like that, though. She also didn't want to ask for help, remembering her previous outburst. She didn't have to ask for help, though; Khan neighed and caught Shang's attention. Shang told the messenger to stop and he doubled back and moved her into a sitting position.

"I'm sorry, Shang." Mulan apologized for her outburst. Shang merely nodded and checked her bandages that he had applied after the bleeding stopped. Finding them satisfactory, he moved ahead of her and they continued.

"Ten more minutes until we reach the imperial city." Mulan heard the messenger say to Shang. To Mulan, they couldn't get there soon enough. She needed to get off Khan; the position her legs needed to be in to ride was very uncomfortable.

Just as the messenger said, about ten minutes later, they reached the gates of the imperial city. The palace was located at the center. It was about ten more minutes until they reached the gates of the palace. Here, they were met by two stable hands that took the three horses and put them up in the stable.

Mulan had to balance on one leg when she was waiting to be told where to go. She began to feel a little lightheaded again, but forced it away. When she was barely able to walk to the bottom of the steps, she knew that she wasn't going to be able to make it up the stairs. She clutched the railing and tried anyway, each time she had to step on her right foot, she leaned on the rail instead, however this didn't work out quite as well as planned because of her injured shoulder. She whimpered in pain and stopped walking.

Shang sighed, knowing that if he didn't help her, no one would. He took her around the waist and moved her away from the railing. He was on her left side and she leaned on him to lift her left foot. They slowly made it up the long stairway into the palace doors. The first room they encountered was a long hallway leading to the throne room where the Emperor was waiting for them.

The messenger went on ahead of them to inform the Emperor of their arrival. Mulan was able to walk down the hallway much faster than up the stairs. They arrived only a minute after the messenger.

Mulan was a little embarrassed at her torn clothing but she hoped the Emperor would understand. In fact, the first thing he did was order a medic to come to the throne room. Mulan was taken on a stretcher to the infirmary.

Her wounds were treated with an antiseptic, also known as alcohol, and bandaged again. They now hurt worse than before and the bleeding had started again because they had to be cleaned, which damaged the clots.

Mulan was taken back to the throne room where the Emperor and Shang were waiting. Concern flashed in Shang's eyes when he saw the blood seeping through the new bandages but the look disappeared quickly.

"Shang, I would like to speak to Mulan alone." The Emperor told him. "You will be shown to your room and I will summon you when I am ready for you to return." Shang rose and bowed then followed a servant to his room.

"Now," The Emperor turned to Mulan. "I'm sure you want to know why you're here." Mulan nodded slightly. "Of course. Well, as I'm sure you've noticed, Shang has changed. I believe that it is my fault, too. I promoted him to general, which I believe put more strain on him than he feels he can handle. However, because of his pride and honor, he will not speak of it."

"I asked him what was wrong, but he told me that it wasn't any of my business." Mulan confirmed. The Emperor saw the hurt flash through her eyes.

"Yes." He agreed. "I have tried to get him to take a break, but he refuses. I do not want to hurt him by ordering him to take a break; it may make him feel as though he is not good enough.

"But it is not just him I'm worried about. You see, since his change, the training of our troops has suffered. The men are no longer happy. While I believe that everyone has to do things they don't want to, he makes life miserable at the camp.

"I was forced to execute some very young men for deserting just last month. Right now, Shang is between camps. He gets a few days off and then he will return to duty. In fact, his next camp starts in two days.

"This is why you are here. Mulan, I want you to go to the camp. If anyone can get through to him, I know it will be you. He needs someone he can trust to be with him there. However, this is not something you have to do, so if you don't want to, I fully understand."

"Of course I will!" Mulan said immediately. Her response startled the Emperor.

"Are you sure?" The Emperor asked. "I think you should continue to think about it over night. It will take a day to get to the next camp, so if you choose to go, you will leave tomorrow afternoon."

"I am sure." Mulan answered. "But I will take your suggestion and think about it some more."

"Good." The Emperor said in approval. "We will now eat dinner and then I want you to go straight to bed. You need your rest to heal those wounds."

"Yes, your majesty." Mulan bowed.

"Go get Shang." The Emperor told one of the servants standing at the door. The man turned immediately and went to get Shang. Shang appeared in the room a few minutes later.

"We are going to eat dinner." The Emperor told him. Shang bowed and helped Mulan to her feet without thinking. He realized what he was doing and immediately let go of her. She was standing, but she was using him for balance and swayed a little before regaining her balance. The Emperor gave Shang a dissatisfied look.

Shang sighed slightly and allowed Mulan to take his arm for balance. They walked to the dining room, which contained a long, low table. They sat on cushions near the head of the table and their dinner was served to them. After dinner was over, tea was brought to them and they drank in silence.

"Shang," The Emperor said. "I would appreciate it if you would escort Mulan to her room. It is the one to the right of yours."

"Yes, sir." Shang stood and helped Mulan to her feet again. Both of them bowed and then they walked to Mulan's room, Shang supporting her again. Shang opened the door to Mulan's room and helped her inside.

"Here." Shang let go of her as she sat down on her bed.

"Thanks, Shang." Mulan said.

"Yeah, you're welcome." He answered.

"Good night." Mulan called to him as he left the room. He just nodded and closed the door. Mulan looked around and found that her bag of belongings was laying on her bed. This room was much nicer than the room at the inn. The floor was a rich wood and the bed was more than just a mat on the floor. It was still low, but it was very soft and had many pillows.

She also found a bathroom attached. It had a pitcher of water and a large dish under it. There was also a large tub for bathing and a toilet. Both rooms (the bathroom and bedroom) had lamps for light. Also, in her bedroom were several shelves of books. There was a small table and comfortable chair near a window. Next to the window was a door that led out to a balcony. Mulan hobbled into the bathroom to get ready for bed, leaning on the wall for support.

It took her a long time to fall asleep that night. She couldn't stop thinking about whether or not she wanted to go to the camp for sure. She would miss a long time with her family again and she had gotten back only about six months before. She decided that she had to help Shang, though. And soon after she made her decision, she fell asleep.

Mulan woke to a servant shaking her. She winced and smacked the servant's hand away from her right shoulder. Her wounds still ached, but it wasn't any worse than the day before.

"I'm awake! I'm awake!" Mulan sat up, yawning.

"Here, you can wear this." The servant laid out a dress for Mulan.

"Um... thanks, but I'm going to be riding all day." Mulan replied. "I'll just wear something I have."

"Okay." The servant walked out of the room. Mulan got up from her bed and found that it was easier to walk than yesterday. She got dressed and went into her bathroom to wash her face. After she was ready, she went back and sat in the chair next to the window.

She could see the white horses in the pasture and with them was Khan. He was grazing happily. Mulan smiled seeing him. She couldn't imagine not having Khan with her. She started daydreaming about home and how she would sneak out when she was younger to ride Khan in a pasture. It wasn't something girls were supposed to do, so she always made sure she didn't get caught.

A knock on her door snapped her out of her thoughts. She looked to see Shang opening the door and peeking inside and turned back towards the window. Seeing she was dressed, he opened the door fully and crossed the room to where she was sitting. He followed her gaze out the window and also saw the horses.

Now, there was a young man trying to catch Khan to get him ready to go. Khan was putting up quite a fight, running around and stopping just long enough that the boy thought he had given in. Just as he went to put a halter over Khan's head, Khan would take off again. He pranced around, obviously amused.

Mulan giggle at the sight. That was her horse alright. Even Shang had to chuckle. After a little while longer of watching Khan make a fool out of the poor young man, Mulan decided that enough was enough. She got up from her chair and gingerly walked out to the balcony. She cupped her hands around her mouth and yelled, causing several servants to stop and stare at her in shock.

"HEY! KHAN!" His ears pricked up. "BEHAVE!" His head drooped and he seemed to sigh, his fun ruined. He obeyed, though, and turned to face the boy to allow himself to be 'captured'. Shang chuckled again but tried (and failed) to hide it.

Mulan turned and walked slowly back into her room. Shang was standing at the door. When their eyes met, the happiness left his and they were blank. Mulan averted her gaze to the floor.

"Why did you come here?" Mulan asked him.

"It is time for breakfast." Shang answered. "I was sent to escort you." Mulan nodded and they made their way to the same dining room as the night before. They were served breakfast.

"Have you made your decision?" The Emperor addressed Mulan.

"It is the same as last night." Mulan replied.

"Very good." The Emperor was pleased. "Before you go, I want your wounds looked at again. If they can be stitched, I want them stitched."

"Yes, sir." Mulan agreed.

"I also want you to take it easy." This time, his statement was directed at both of them.

"Yes, sir." They both answered. After they finished eating, Mulan and Shang went back to the infirmary so Mulan's wounds could be checked. Shang was asked to wait outside and Mulan's bandages were removed.

"Well, Mulan, they are looking good. There isn't much swelling so I will be able to stitch them up." The doctor said.

"Okay..." Mulan looked at him nervously; she wasn't awake to feel the stitches put in the last time, but she knew it would hurt. The doctor sterilized a needle over a flame and began stitching her leg first. Did it ever hurt! She gripped the sheets with her left hand and squeezed them as hard as she could to keep from screaming. Because the wounds were fairly small, it only took about seven stitches and he was finished with her leg.

"Are you okay?" The Doctor asked. Mulan could only nod; her jaw was clenches so tight that she wasn't able to speak. "Okay, I'm going to do your shoulder now." He stitched her shoulder and she was done. "Don't do anything strenuous." He told her. "If you do, those stitches could be pulled out and you'd have to have them stitched again."

"Okay," Mulan managed to get out. She put her clothes back on; they had to be removed so that the doctor could see her shoulder.

"Shang," the doctor went and opened the door. "You can come in now." Shang walked back into the room as Mulan stood up from the table she was on. He looked at her and she saw concern that he was trying to hide.

"We better get going." Shang said to Mulan. "The Emperor is waiting for us." Mulan limped out he door. Shang walked close to her in case she needed help.

The Emperor was waiting in the palace gardens. Their horses were ready to leave. There were several people standing with the Emperor. Some were his usual guards but two of them were not. Mulan and Shang approached the emperor and bowed.

"Shang, I want you to make sure that she is taken care of." The Emperor told him sternly. "And Mulan, before you go, I have a gift for you." The two other people who were with him stepped forward, carrying a large box. They held it out and the Emperor lifted the top. Inside, was a set of armor. It was similar to the one her father had, only this set was shaped for a woman.

"Wow! I don't know what to say!" Mulan seemed to glow. "I-well-" She took a deep breath, calming herself. "Thank you, your Excellency." She reached into the box and retrieved the armor and slipped it on; she was wearing the clothes she had worn during the first training camp.

"Good, it fits." The Emperor said, pleased. "Now, you two should be off." Shang and Mulan bowed once more to the Emperor and mounted their horses, Mulan with a little help from on of the servants. Shang took the lead and they galloped out of the palace grounds and out of the imperial city.

Is that long enough for you?! I sure hope so! Jeez!! Don't forget to review and tell me what you think!