Chapter the eleventh
So sorry it took so long to update. I was really busy. I'm starting to wrap up this story, so only a few more chapters will probably be posted. I'm using a song here and it is not mine either. It is also property of disney.
Shang stared at the smoldering crater.
"Mulan…" It couldn't be. After all of this, she couldn't be dead. Shang began to get dizzy.
"What are you talking about?" asked Ling. "Shan Yu is dead. China is safe."
"Mulan. In. tower. Explode." Shang wasn't making sense to them. At their puzzled looks after listening to his babbling, he gave up and ran to the crater and petrified remains of the tower.
"Mulan!" he screamed. He started to dig wildly at the remains, hoping to find her safe. The gang of three still had no idea what he was doing, but knew something wasn't right because their usually serious friend was now rooting around like a wild animal. Just then, the princesses ran around the corner.
"Did you explode the tower?" asked Mei in a hurry. Yao failed to see a problem.
"Yes, isn't that what we were supposed to do?" he said.
"You fool!" said Ting Ting. " Fa Mulan was in it!" The gang was startled.
"No. that can't be." Said Ling. As they started to feel nauseated from what seemed like they had done, cries were heard from far away.
"Over there!" It was a few of Chi Fu's soldiers contented on finding Shang. Shang just looked at them.
"What are you doing?" said Su. "Run!" Shang looked down. The only reason he had ran in the first place was for Mulan. He shook his head.
"It doesn't matter now." He said. The other six could do nothing to persuade Shang to try to save his skin. Suddenly, from a door in the hall from the direction where the soldiers were coming from, an arrow whizzed by the soldiers.
"Huns!" they cried, not knowing that the huns were dead. "Run." And they ran back the way they came to report it to Chi Fu. The seven stunned people's eyes widened as Mulan stepped out of the door.
"You're okay!" Ling cried. "How did you do that?" Mulan smiled and walked up to Shang who was still too relieved to speak.
"The training I got turned out to be very useful." She said. "One thing I was taught to recognize was the sound of firecrackers. When I heard the wicks of the firecrackers starting to burn, I tripped Shan Yu, took his sword and used it to pin his cloak to the ground. Than I noticed a hall that led to the attic part of this room, and I ran like the wind." Of course, no one cared very much about how she did it, they were just too ecstatic that she was all right. Shang threw his arms around Mulan.
"Don't you ever, ever, ever do that again." He said. "I was so worried for you, Mulan." Mulan hugged him back.
"I promise." She said with a smile. Yao was impatient.
"Cute." He said. "but let's not forget that Chi Fu is still hunting Shang down like a rat and his intentions for when he's caught are not likely going to be pleasant. So let's move, huh?" They nodded, but before they could do anything a voice rang out,
"Stop In the name of the imperial council!" Suddenly, dozens of Chi Fu's soldiers jumped in and cornered all of them with arrows pointed at them, ready to fire if they made a false move. Fi Wan was at his side with a sinister sneer. Ling looked over his shoulder at the princesses who looked utterly terrified. He and the other two crept up to them. Behind Mei was a small door that they could sneak the princesses through.
"This way" he whispered to Ting Ting. He showed them through and Ting Ting sent Ling a last glance.
"I thank you, my brave soldier." She said before reaching out and kissing his cheek. With that, she turned and ran off with her sisters. Ling staggered back, spellbound. He was so happy he nearly forgot about the seriousness of the situation. Chi Fu and Fi Wan stepped toward Mulan and Shang.
"You didn't think you could get away that easily, did you?" he hissed. "You, men. Escort our friends here outside." He gestured to the gang of three. They were instantly removed from the scene.
"And you take him back to the dungeon before the beheading tomorrow morning." Some more men dragged Shang off. Mulan watched him go and stood there, powerless to help him. Her eyes stung and sorrow crashed inside of her. The emperor had been sent to the other palace after Mulan's plan was formed, so he was unable to do anything either. Shang was gone and Chi Fu was just deciding what he would do with Mulan so he wouldn't be in her way.
"Just throw her out with the others." He ordered. "She's too weak to do anything now." He came up to her and she raised her head to look him in the eye.
"Now do you see, snake?" he said. "You're a worthless woman. You are powerless against me. You are nothing. Take her away!"
He's right Mulan thought. Then she thought again of Shang.
"Wait!" she cried. Chi Fu turned to her. "I want to see Shang one last time." Chi Fu pondered it.
"All right." He said. "But one of my soldiers will accompany you." Fi Wan loosened his grip on her arm and dragged her down to where Shang was. It was the same cell where she and him had been on the day of their trial. Fi wan waited outside the door so they were alone in the dungeon. There was nothing Mulan could do to save him herself, and she knew that. She walked in.
"Shang?" she called quietly.
"Mulan!" he cried back. She came over and kneeled beside the bars of his door. He took her hands. "How did you get down here?"
"Chi Fu let me come to say goodbye." She said. Her voice faded at the end, for the concept made her want to burst into hysterical tears.
"Mulan, remember what I told you before." He said. She looked into this eyes. "If you hadn't done what you did, I never would have been blessed with knowing you, even if it has to end here.
If I never knew you
If I never felt this love
I would have no inkling of
How precious life can be
If I never held you
I would never have a clue
How at last I find in you
The missing part of me
In this world so full of fear
Full of rage and lies
I can see the truth so clear
In your eyes
So dry your eyes
And I'm so grateful to you
I'd have lived my whole life through
Lost forever
If I never knew you
Mulan could sense that every word he said he meant. How could it end like this? They had been through so much together and now because of her and what she did all that she loved was going to be murdered.
I thought our love would be so beautiful
Somehow we'd make the whole world bright
I never knew that fear and hate could be so strong
All they'd leave us were
These whispers in the night
But still my heart is saying we were right
They remembered all that they had done together. Mulan getting into squabbles on the first day of camp, than them meeting as children and that kiss they shared when everything looked dim. Of course, as they now knew, life is never so bad that it can't get worse. And now, it was worse than any of them would have thought possible.
For if I never knew you
If I never knew this love
I would have no inkling of
How precious life can be
A door opening interrupted the two. It was Fi Wan.
"Fa Mulan, you must leave." He said. She looked back at Shang and whispered,
"No matter what, I'll love you." With that, she rose and walked out, once more leaving Shang alone. He sighed and looked up at the sky. He started this for Mulan, and he planned to finish it for her, even if it meant his life being cut short.
And I'm so grateful to you
I'd have lived my whole life through
Empty as the sky
Fi wan dragged a grieving Mulan to the door and threw her onto the steps before slamming the door. She didn't bother to resist. She mounted Khan from the stables and rode him out into the middle of the square.
Never knowing why
Mulan and Shang both thought of each other and the love they felt.
Lost forever
If I never knew you
XXXXXX
Meanwhile, the Princesses stood inside the room Ling had shoved them into. They all felt terrible for Shang, Mulan and themselves.
"There goes our chance for heroics." Muttered Su. Ting Ting was indignant.
"This is not about us, right now." She said. "We have to think of something for Mulan and that guy. Any ideas?"
"Fresh out." Said Mei.
"Wait, I have an idea." Said Ting Ting. "First, let's find those soldiers." They leapt up and ran into the town square where the gang was lying in a heap.
"Get up and listen in." said Mei. The gang obeyed and hopped up. Just to be respectful to royalty, Chien Po said,
"We are honoured by your presence" and bowed. Su giggled, but Ting Ting was not in the mood.
"Cut it and pay attention." She said. Su scowled at her.
"Now, we all know that that poor guy is going to get executed if nobody does anything." Said Ting Ting. "But even we might not have enough power to second guess his sentence. There is risk in getting the emperor here. He might command the sentence to be carried out, or he might lift it. It's a fifty-fifty chance."
"We shouldn't risk it. " said Mei. "He does pay close attention to the law."
"But what else can we do?" asked Su. "We've never interrupted a beheading before and if Chi Fu overpowers us anyway, there's no telling what he would do. He's a sick, twisted man."
"I'm going to put this into perspective for you." Said Ting Ting. "If we do nothing, Shang will die, his family's honour will never be restored, we will have to live forever with the question of what would have happened if we had tried to stop it, and worst, poor Brave Fa Mulan will be heartbroken." They all nodded.
"They're perfect for each other, don't you think?" said Mei. Everyone agreed.
"So, are we ready?" asked Yao. They all nodded and ran off to time their scheme. It needed to be performed perfectly for it to work, and they didn't intend to settle for anything less.
Like? Hate? Somewhere in between? Please review! The next chapter will be up soon!