The wedding was planned within weeks but then, a call disrupted the peace. Within two weeks of the wedding, the emperor sent a notice to Li Shang. Enemy forces were invading through the western part of the middle kingdom. He had to come immediately prepared for battle.

Of course, Mulan wanted to go with him and fight. The night before Shang left, she told him that she was going with him to fight. Shang understood that she wanted to help. He knew that she had a strong will and that she was a quick thinker, but that might of gotten her in trouble.

"Shang, if we are to ever truly work together in marriage, then we have to trust each other!" Mulan yelled when he told her he wanted her to stay.

"Mulan! It will be much too dangerous! You can't go!" Shang answered., preparing his bag.

"Why Shang? Because I'm a woman! I thought you out of all people could understand! Yet you still judge me!" She screamed.

"Mulan," he began…

"No! If I could fight before then what is any different now that I am Mulan and not Ping!" She screamed.

"Mulan It's not that!" He bellowed out through his frustration. " Mulan! I almost lost you once! I truly believed that you would die fighting Shan- Yu! I knew I loved you then and I love you now! That's why you can't come! Mulan, I, I don't want to risk you being hurt…" He said.

"What if something happened to you?" He said.

"Shang, I, I'm sorry. But, what if something happens to you?" She said, taking his hand in hers.

"That's a chance I'll have to take" he said in his sternest voice, though she knew he wanted to cry. "Mulan, If something happened to me, it wouldn't matter because I have no family left, you have so much, you have people who care about you and love you. Your parents must have been so worried knowing where you were, not being able to do anything. Well I can, I can protect your life by risking my own." He said as he finished packing.

Mulan knew there would be no fighting with him. She was almost calmed by his words. He loved her so much that he wanted to die to protect her life. A tear swept down her face. Shang saw her pain and walked up her, putting one hand on her shoulder and the other on her cheek. He looked into her eyes and they saw each others pain. Mulan appreciated his love. He was not one to take risks.

"Mulan, I love you. I would do anything for you, and that is why I can't risk putting you in danger. I will be back for the wedding, I promise."

He stepped outside and mounted his horse, Before he rode away, he turned back to her.

"Shang, be careful, I love you," Mulan said softly.

"I love you too, I'll be back," He said. Then he turned and rode away into the rain.

It was a night much like the one on which Mulan had left home. It was a dark and rainy night. Only one thing was different. Mulan had come back. Shang wouldn't…

It has been one year since I have seen your beautiful face, four months since I last heard from you. I miss you everyday, and I will keep my promise. I will come back for you Mulan. I love you, I went on this mission for you.

We had a perfect plan, the enemy was moving quickly and we had to stop it, and a plan was put into place. It was a dangerous mission, but hopefully, it could succeed. We planned to strike close to home. Their home. Me and my troops silently rode into their territory. Our method was surprise. They would be unready for us, unprepared. It was perfect.

As we rode, all I could think of was you. The only thought in my mind was if I would ever see you again. Then, a call broke the silence. The air lifted. I looked up. We were riding through a canyon and I looked up at either side above us. Then one by one, dark figures appeared on the sides of the canyon. Snow was falling silently. They had surprised us. On either side, our enemy was ready for attack. They knew we were coming.

I stared at the soldiers in awe. We had marched into our own doom. I turned back at my men. I saw the fear and shock in their faces. These men had families, a wife and children. They were going to die. I just prayed that I would live to have what they did.

yon. At that moment, they started to charge down on us. I turned quicky again and cried out to my troops,

"Prepare to fight! If we die, we die with honor," I know I have said it before, but I couldn't think of anything else. The battle started. The clashing of swords was everywhere as men fell to ground. My horse took off out of fright and I fell to the ground. The snow felt cold against my face but I had to keep going. I got up and pulled out my sword. I fought with all my might. As I looked around, all I saw was death. These men fought without mercy and unfairly. They weren't fighters, they were killers.

Just then, I was surrounded. I turned every which way and fought. I lunged at one soldier. As I did, another slashed me in the side with his sword. I fell onto the blood stained snow, the battle raging on around me. I tried to get up, then someone punched me. I fell again to the ground. My body was limp from pain. While I was down, the man kicked me in the stomach. I turned over in pain as he kicked me again. Blood was dripping down my chin.

Then, he grabbed me by the throat and held me up. His strong grasp hard against my neck. My vision was blurred, but I knew who he was. His grasp tightened. I was desperate for air. He must have been holding me a foot off the ground. My hands ached as I tried to loosen his grip, he only held on tighter. I was dying I knew it. Then he spoke,

"Hello Captain. Did you think I would let you beat me again?" He threw me to the ground. I gasped, out of breath. Then he picked me up again by my neck and put his sword to my throat.

"I will not kill you today Captain, but that does not mean you will not die. I am sure you are exhausted. You need a nice long rest. Let's just hope you don't wake up." He said, throwing me again to the ground. He kicked my again and walked away.

I could hear the battle raging around me. I was slipping in and out of consciousness, I closed my eyes and a picture of you flashed into my mind. I opened my eyes again to see my sword beside me. I grabbed it, using all my strength to move. Then, everything went black.