Chapter the sixth

Hi folks! Here is chapter six. Thank you very much to those who reviewed. I always appreciate feedback. I've kinda dug myself into a writer's hole with Mulan and Shang starving and that. It will be solved in this chapter, but it's kind of out there, so just go with it.

"No," said Chi Fu. "I have a better idea." His face turned into an evil grin.

"What do you have in mind, sir?" asked Fi Wan.

"Come here and I'll tell you." Chi Fu answered and whispered his scheme in Chi Fu's ear. As Fi Wan heard it, he too began to break into a grin.

MEANWHILE

The gang had just turned a corner and headed immediately west. Their bodies were still bound to their disadvantage.

"Guys, we gotta get out of these. They're chafing my delicate and sensitive skin." Said Yao. Ling and Yao couldn't help but snicker at the thought of Yao having delicate and sensitive skin.

"I can fix that." Said Chien Po. He walked forward, picked up Yao and walked toward a tree with a pointy piece of wood sticking out of it. He lifted him up and brang him down with so much force that the ropes snapped. He did the same with Ling and himself until they were all free. (Credit goes to KingOfTheRock fo the suggestion)

"And that is that." Said Chien Po.

"Let's get down to business." Said Ling. "Judging by my intellect I say west is that way." He said, pointing.

"No it's not, you idiot." Said Yao. "It's that way." He pointed in the opposite direction.

"Guys, please." Interrupted Chien Po. "Look. The sun is rising in the east, so we have to go that way." He pointed west.

"Right." said Ling.

"We knew that." Said Yao. The three started off west in high hopes of finding their friends. Little did they know, they were not alone.

MEANWHILE

Mulan and Shang couldn't believe their luck. They had been out in the woods, food hunting as always, when they found exactly what they needed. A good source of food! Mulan had been out in the woods when right in front of her was a dead pheasant. (A type of bird. I don't know if they're found in China, but I need out of this hole.) Not only that, but a spot of hay. Shang was in their little cave making a fire when Mulan walked in.

"Shang, you won't believe it. Look what I found." She took him out and he was equally enthused.

"Mulan, this is great." He said. "There's enough here for us and the horses." They carried it back and Shang began to clean the feathers off the bird. This was a bit much for Mulan to watch, so she took out the hay to the horses who ate without hesitation and soon were back full of energy. The bird was roasted over the fire and eaten by the two. Neither of them felt any guilt because the animal was already dead.

"Shang, there's still the issue of the huns." Mulan brought up. " We have to do something."

"We have to get to the palace before Chi Fu." Shang said. Mulan suddenly thought of something she hadn't before.

"Shang, Yao, Ling and Chien Po are going to be in trouble for letting us escape. What about them?" asked Mulan "We have to get there before anything happens to them. Unless, something already has…" She trailed off there. The worst was beginning to form in her mind.

"Oh no. No. No. No." Mulan's eyes clouded over and her head was hung so Shang would not know how upset she was. He already had.

"I'm sure they're fine. They know what they're doing." He said, trying to be comforting, but he really didn't believe a word he had said. He reached an arm out and put it around her shoulder. Sensing his presence, she leaned against him. Considering how they were feeling, it was a rather awkward situation. Mulan was aware of it too, but right then she didn't care very much. She knew Shang was just trying to cheer her up, but she knew that the chances of the gang being alright were slim. Her guit was half the reason she was crying.

"It's my fault." Mulan whimpered.

"Whatdo you mean?" Shang asked her.

"Why did they have to be good friends? Heck, you're In trouble too, Shang." She said. Shang thought about what to say.

"Mulan, do you know why I didn't hurt you in the pass?" he asked. Mulan shook her head. "Because you are the best soldier I've ever had and you are right and Chi Fu is wrong. " Mulan looked up into his eyes. They were as sincere as they could possibly get. They were lost in a trance until a voice broke it.

"Is anyone here?" Mulan and Shang whipped around to see something they couldn't believe.

"Hello?" In walked the gang of three. They were equally startled.

"How, what?" Mulan was stuttering. "This is impossible. Thank the ancestors!" Her friends ran up to her. They had no harsh feelings about her being a woman.

"How did you escape?" asked Shang after greeting his three friends.

"It was our second attempt that got us out." Answered Ling. Then came the story. Thay talked for many minutes also getting a bit of information about Mulan.

"And that's how we found our way here." Finished Yao.

"That speaks for us as well." Interrupted a new voice. The five turned and saw something that made them want to scream. In the doorway of the cave stood Chi Fu and Fi Wan. He snapped his fingers and thirty armed soldiers ran up to Mulan and Shang, holding their hands behind their backs with a knife to their throats. The rage showed in their eyes.

"Well, we seem to have caught ourselves a few traitors, wouldn't you say, men?" Chi Fu said with a twisted sneer. Yao, Ling and Chien Po watched in horror as their friends were being taken over. Chi Fu turned to them.

"Ah, dear soldiers." He said walking over to them. "I knew you'd come around to help me."

"No. It can't be." Whispered Ling.

"What are you talking about?" demanded Shang, his face practically burning with anger. Chi Fu walked up to him.

"How could I have found two traitors without the help of their friends?" he said. Mulan was more confused than she'd ever been in her life. Her friends wouldn't do that, would they? She looked up at them as if to ask them if what Chi Fu said was true. As she glanced, they raised their heads and dropped them again in shame. Her head dropped down in defeat.

"Let us take these unholy heathens back to the imperial city, shall we?" Chi Fu said before ordering his soldiers to drag Mulan and Shang away. As Mulan passed her "friends" she looked at them with her eyes full of fear, anger, betrayel and defeat. Ling couldn't bear it. Chi Fu had followed them and now there was no doubt that Mulan and Shang would be executed. He sank to his knees, devastated. Suddenly, Chien Po spoke.

"Chi Fu, a deal is a deal. We helped you find them. Let us go." He said. Ling and Yao couldn't beilive what they were hearing. Neither could Mulan or Shang. Now they were going to think that the gang had done it purposely. Chi Fu thought before deciding what to do.

"Very well." He said. "You've served your purpose. Let's go, men!" As Mulan and Shang were dragged away, Mulan shot them one last glare. This time, it was in anger. What was I thinking? Why did I trust them at all? I was such a fool to think they were my friends. She thought as she was pulled away and shoved into a carriage with guards beside Shang and herself. This time there was no brave captain here to protect them from Chi Fu's wrath. As soon as Chi Fu was out of sight, Yao burst out.

"Chien Po, what were you thinking? That wasn't even true! They're going to hate us for life! Not that it will matter because of us."

"Please, you guys." Said Chien Po in his usual serene voice. "I have a plan. I knew that they won't be able to escape. The only hope is that we get to the emperor first." Ling and Yao didn't know what to do.

"Please." Chien Po begged. "Unless we want our friends to die and live with guilt forever more, we have to try." With that, he stood and began to walk to the opening. Ling and Yao took his words in and followed. This was the beginning of a race against time.

Please, please review this chapter! Any suggestions are always good. 