Chapter the eighth

Thank you to all my reviewers! I got more reviews this time, which is good. Please review this chapter too.

Finding the emperor turned out to be quite a task for the gang of three. They got into the palace, only to see a million or so rooms leading out from the hall.

"We'll never find him in time." Said Chien Po. It was late in the night and the palace was dark.

"Listen, we have no hope of finding them tonight. Let's take shifts scoping out the palace so we can get some rest each." Ling suggested.

"Okay." Said Yao. "I'll go first." The other two nodded and Yao set off. Chien Po and Ling tried to relax and sat down by a wooden pillar and soon they were asleep. In the next few minutes, Yao was just too tired to continue. He made his way back to Ling and Chien Po to find them sound asleep.

"The world wouldn't end if I lay down for awhile." Said Yao in a whisper to himself. "I'll just rest my eyes, but I won't actually sleep." He lay down and the next thing he knew, he was out like a light.

Meanwhile, Mulan and Shang had also fallen into an uneasy sleep in each other's arms. In the middle of the night, Mulan awoke. She looked at her surroundings then over at Shang. She smiled when he glanced at him. At least I can be with the one I love for the last hours of my life. She thought before lying back down and drifting off again.

In the early hours of the morning, Ling awoke. He noticed the rays of sun coming through the windows and realized that they had all fallen asleep with still no news about where Mulan and Shang were.

"Guys, wake up!" he said as he shook his friends. "Let's go! We have to go! Come on! Come on!" Yao opened his eyes and stretched.

"Yo, slow down." He said. "I want to be able to move before I have to run around." Chien Po was sound asleep with half his body lying on Yao, making it impossible for Yao to get up. Ling poked Chien Po's behind with the tip of his dagger,

"Yowch!" Chien Po yelped before hopping to his feet. Yao got up too.

"You know, You could have just shook me." Chien Po said with annoyance.

"Enough of this." Said Ling. "Let's go find the emperor." The three ran off hoping to find someone before time ran out.

MEANWHILE

The tiny window in the dungeon had early morning light flooding through it as daylight rolled around. Mulan and Shang woke up together. Mulan was about to open her mouth to speak when they heard footsteps enter the chamber. It was a few of the imperial guards. They approached Mulan and Shang's dank cell.

"Well, what are Chi Fu's direct orders?" one asked.

"Bring them to the room where Chi Fu can sentence them." The other answered. They came into the cell and grabbed Mulan and Shang and yanked them to their feet. They were then led out into the grand room where Chi Fu sat on a large chair at the front. Other council members were sitting to the side to watch. The soldiers stood behind them and Mulan and Shang exchanged worried glances before a gong sounded and Chi Fu began.

"Li Shang, Fa Mulan." He said. "You have been brought here for treason against the emperor…"

The gang rushed about anxiously dodging guards and pillars. They veered left and right. Suddenly, They came across a guard standing by a door.

"Excuse me." Panted Ling. "We need to see the emperor. Do you know where he is? It's an emergency."

"He's not in the palace right now." The guard said. "he's gone to the guest building about half a mile south of here."

"Oh man!" groaned Yao. "But we need to see him!"

"I'm sorry." The guard said. "I can do nothing more to help you. If you need him that bad, you can talk to Chi Fu, his head council. I think he's in with a few prisoners now."

"Prisoners?"

"Yes. Haven't you heard? He's in a hearing with Former captain Li Shang and a girl named Fa Mulan for treason. Filthy heathens." He scoffed.

"Hey, watch it pal." Yao said, waving a finger at the guard. " They're our friends and we don't intend to let them fall without a fight." He glared at the guard one last time before running off with Ling and Chien Po., leaving the guard looking after them, completely confused. Once they were outside the palace walls, the gang paused.

"We don't have much time." Breathed Chien Po. "Let's go!" They raced off toward the other building, praying that they would find the emperor in time.

MEANWHILE

The huns, concealed in robes that hid their faces had made far tracks in all this time. They had been planning their attack. Shan yu was in the lead, Using his signals to tell his four followers what direction to go. They did not speak for fear of being detected by the citizens. They had been wandering the streets, also looking for the emperor. That and the soldiers that had destroys his armys.

It happened to be the same time the gang passed the street leading to the palace branch. They were climbing the steps at full speed when Chien Po stopped them.

"Guys, those concealed figures look familiar." He said. Ling and Yao looked at them, too.

"Chien Po, our friends lives are on the line and you want to stop and look at people in cloaks? Let's go!" urged Ling.

"No." continued Chien Po." I mean they look familiar. As in bad familiar."

"I don't know." Said Yao. "Think about it as we look for the emperor."

Ling grabbed his friend's hands and yanked them up the steps. With that, they ran straight ahead and burst into the first room they came to. Incidently, the emperor was in it having tea. He was shocked to see this ragtag bunch jump in and they were immediately smothered with guards that wrestled them to the ground. Before they could say a word, they were dragged away and thrown outside.

Back in with the emperor, he was not happy with them.

"Bunch of nutcases" he muttered. He turned to his assistant, but before he could speak again the three burst back into the room.

"Please!" Ling cried. "Just listen to us!" Once again, they were jumped by the guards.

"Let them up." The emperor ordered. The three stood up and lowered their heads in a bow.

"Your majesty. We have a tale to tell, but we must hurry or it will be too late…" Ling began to fill the emperor in on the details of their epic story.

MEANWHILE, BACK WITH MULAN AND SHANG…

"Fa Mulan, your treason against China is unforgivable. What's more, now you two say that the huns are in the city. Bunch of hooey from two lying villians." Chi Fu had started by labeling Mulan's so-called crime and the emperor was still in danger of attack from the remaining huns.

"You deceived your commanding officer who later turned to join your little sin against your country. Your family should be dishonored forever because of you!" Mulan cringed. How many times had she heard that she was either disgraceful or dishonourable? No one saw her for who she was and no one knew that she wanted her family to be happy more than anything. No one understood. Except Shang, who had put his family's honour at stake in order to help her.

"And you." Chi Fu sneered, turning to Shang, "you are just as bad as she is. Turning your back on all that we stand for. Your father must be rolling in his grave." He added that just so he could see Shang dealing with the pain of the idea that he had dishonoured his father, the only one who he ever cared about pleasing. Shang tried not to let Chi Fu have that satisfaction, even though his innards were burning in hatred.

As Chi Fu was still talking, Shang was making another tough decision. Mulan was selfless. She had saved his life. It was the least he could do to return the favour.

"Chi Fu." He interrupted. Chi Fu looked down at him. Shang looked over at Mulan and then back at Chi Fu.

"As I see it, Mulan is not the one at fault. I am. I spared her and broke the law, too. "

Mulan stared at him. What is he doing? She asked herself. Shang went on.

"The truth is I knew about Mulan's charade before we left for battle, but I let her stay. It was my fault she came into battle in the first place, so I think punishing her for my misjudgement would be a mistake."

Mulan couldn't believe what she was hearing. He didn't know anything about her charade. He's lying to save me. Her heart and stomach turned in and out of knots as she realized more of what he was doing.

"Therefore," Shang said, "If there shall be any punishment that is coming for her, I ask that it fall upon me instead."

He lowered his head, eyes shining with bravery and defeat. He stepped back and both he and Mulan waited for Chi Fu to think over what he had just been told. Chi Fu spoke.

"With that being true, I will have to alter my decision. If what he sayd is correct, then Mulan shall only receive shame to her name." Mulan lowered her head, but looked up again to see what would be pronounced on Shang. Chi Fu continued.

"Li Shang, for betrayel and deceipt not to mention treason, I have no choice but to sentence you to death!" A gong sounded and it was official. Shang's face dropped in utter helplessness. At least Mulan will be alright. He thought as he tried to keep from letting a tear slide down his cheek.

Mulan was standing there in shock trying to take it all in. They're going to kill him because of me! Her brain screamed. He stood up for me and I repay him by letting him face execution. It's all my fault.

"No" she whispered before letting her face drop into her hands.

"The execution shall take place in precisely two days!" called Chi Fu. "Take him away." The guards once again grabbed Shang and began to take him back to the cell. Mulan got to her feet and ran up after him. When she got as close as she could, she looked at him and mouthed the word: why He mouthed back: Because I love you.

That made tears explode from Mulan's eyes and her knees crumpled beneath her. Some guards approached her but Chi Fu motioned them away. Mulan had never been this angry and sad in all her life. Chi Fu she thought. It's all his fault that Shang is going to die! It's all because of him!

But just before the guards could drag Shang out of the room, a young messenger burst into the room and screamed at the top of his lungs:

"THE HUNS ARE IN THE CITY!"

Dun dun dun.. cliffhanger ending! I'll update as soon as I can. I know there's a lot going on, so try and follow the best you can. PLEASE review.