Hi! I am so sorry that it has been so long since I updated, but I've done alot lately. I took the SAT's and had to go to a essay competition, about ten hundred baseball games for my Bro, uh, I can still smell that awful dasterdly evil smell of cheap nachos...Ewww...Thanks for the um, review. I haven't been myself lately and I was too depressed to write. I have been thinking though and I have some great ideas for this story and my other one. Thanks to HayLin14 for giving me credit. I really apreciate it. I love Aquamarine, it's like the fantasy ocean princess that's always been singing in my head! Keep going! Please! I promise to update more but it's not like anyone really cares about my stories.

Shan Yu sat calmly in his chambers.His plan was working. He stood up and walked over to a small window. Yes, everything was perfect. He smiled, and when he did his scarred face twisted frighteningly(spelling, ; ). He gazed out at the landscape of the mountains. He had found this amazing place years before but had finally been able to make it home.

Home, it wasn't a word he enjoyed. He had been banished from his. He had dishonored his whole country and wasn't allowed to come home. He thought about why. It was all that girl's fault. How could his plan fail? How could a worthless girl stop him? He thought about that night.

It had been the night that had changed him. He remembered being stuck to the roof, not able to escape. The rocket coming towards him. He had hardly enough time as to realize what was happening.t like that, he was sent plummeting off the roof. He remembered how just before the rocket blew up he had managed to jump into a window right after going over. He hid there, realizing what had happened. He had chance now, he waited unti everything quieted down, he snuck out, heading back towards the mountains.

It was all becuase of that girl. How had he been outsmarted? After years of work and training? But now it was all going to change. He had a new plan. After the accident he had found the rest of his troops. Not all of them had attacked Shang's troops. He still had a strong army. He quickly rounded up new recruits. In about three months his army had doubled in size. Some men came on their own will, others were forced and threatened.

He began collecting information. Word of China's great Heroine spread throughout the middle kingdom. He soon knew her name, listening to the rumors of Village people. He soon found out where she lived. Another month passed and news came of her engagement to Captain Li Shang. Upon hearing this a plan formed. He could conquer China, make them both suffer and have his revenge all in one idea. It was perfect.

If he invaded with a small group of troops, the empereor would send reinforcements. He knew that the men would be led by captain Li. One night, he sent a scout to their camp and forced the information out of a young soldier. So theywere trying to suprise them eh? Two could play at that game. He told his men to attack, but to leave the captain for him. He remembered looking into the familiar face of the man who had helped in his downfall.How he wanted to kill him then, but he wanted him to suffer. A slow, painfull death was much more satisfying then killing him right then anyways. Surely he would bleed to death.

He was a step closer to the goal. He sent his men to Mulan's village and rounded up all the women who could possibly be her. But he had made a mistake. Someone had tricked him and escaped with the girl. He was so angry. He sent out scouts to look for them, they couldn't of gotten too far. Any moment now Mulan would be back in his power.

He liked the sound of that. He thought about it, she still facinated him. He wanted her to suffer more than anything, yet, he had to meet her first. To meet the woman who was his equal. Then he would crush her. Just then a guard rushed into his chambers, panting.

"You! How dare you! What is so important that you have disturbed me in my private chambers!" Shan Yu called out to him.

"Sir," The man said breathing hard. " They, escaped. They were found, in, a gorge on, the, mountain side. They escaped into the forests. We, lost one man." The man said.

Shan Yu stood up, he walked up to the man and grabbed him by his shirt collar, holding him inches above the stone floor.

"What! How many were there!" He said, still dangling the man.

" It was, just two. A man, and a woman on horseback. They were spotted coming back towards the base." The man said, breathing hard.

Shan Yu threw him to the ground.

"Should we send out more scouts sir?" The man said pulling himself up.

"No,"

"What?"

"I said no, fool. They are heading right towards us. Let them come, I will be ready. Put guards at every door. If they are seen anywhere around here, kill her companion and bring her to me!"

"Right away sir." The man said , turning and running out the door.

"Perfect," Shan Yu whispered.

Mulan looked up at Shang. They had been riding for about an hour. He looked back at her. She tried to smile, but it turned out more like a lopsided grin. He gave her a reasuring look. They were getting close. They had decided to come in through the side. The eastern wall of the base was ungaurded and they would sneak in through a tunnel.

"Shang,"

"Yes Mulan?"

"What if this doesn't work, what if it was all for nothing?" She asked, resting her head on his shoulder.

"We can't worry about that girl! We got butts to kick!" Mushu exclaimed, jumping up from his place on the white horses head.

"Right, what he said." Shang said stopping to turn his head and smile at her.

Her face was still unsure, but he didn't think it was the mission that was making her nervous. They finally could see the great stone base in the side of the mountain. Guards were everywhere, perhaps they were expacted? It didn't matter, they would have to think of a new plan to get in. Shang stopped and jumped off the horse. They would have to go in on foot. Mushu insisted on coming with them. finally they headed off.

Shang crept along the great stone wall that was the wall of the great base. Mulan tarried behind. The guards were walking along only feet above them. Breathing to loudly would give them away. Mushu scurried up ahead of them, giving them a signal to say that it was clear. Suddenly, a rock Mulan had stepped on crumbled beneath her and she staggered off and over! Shang quickly reached over and grabbed her hand, just as the stone fell over the steep wall of rock. He pulled her to feet. Panting, she balanced herself and kept going.

Finally, they reached their destination. A hole in the great stone, a tunnel that probably led to the dungeons. They squeezed in through the bar, trying with all their might to keep quiet.

"Are you all right?" Shang asked in a whisper, when he was sure they were safe.

"I'm fine, thank you for catching me," Mulan answered.

"We are underneath the main floor, Shan-Yu will probably be at the top. We have to figure out a way to get there without being noticed."He said, grabbing a torch from the wall.

"Mushu, can you light this?" He asked.

Mushu replied with a deep breath and then a small flame.

They crept slowly down the tunnel, watching out for soldiers. Finally, they reached the end of the stone maze. A messy, roughly carved staircase could be seen, and beyond it, soldiers, who were waiting for them. Voices could be heard beyond the door at the top of the stairs. They couldn't get out unless they came up with a way to distract them.

Suddenly, Shang crouched down to Mushu and whispered something to him. Mulan looked at them curiously but before she could say a thing, Mushu scurried up the stairs, Cri-Kee hopping along after him.

Mushu scampered up the stairwell, and slithered under the door. He positioned himself on the ground and turned to see two soldiers guarding the door. He snaked his way up to one's boot and slithered up his back. Before the man could realize what was going on, Mushu slithered up his neck and jumped onto his head. The soldier suddenly jumped up and started jumping about screaming.

"Snake! Little demon! Get it off!" He shouted to the other man. The other soldier rushed up to see what all the commotion was. Then Mushu jumped off and snuck around the corner. All of a sudden, a peircing scream was heard. The shoulders rushed down the hall to see what had happened.

As soon as Shang heard Mushu's scream he and Mulan leapt up the stairs and rushed out the door. Mulan looked around and pointed towards another staircase. They ran towards it and scurried up the steps. As soon as they reached the top, another three men faced them. Shang and Mulan stood back to back. One lunged forward and Mulan flipped over Shang's shoulders and kicked him in the jaw. The other two attacked and were on the floor with nothing but a kick and a headbutt. Mulan stood up. Why didn't they draw weapons? she thought. It was true. Even though the men had both had swords they never pulled them out.

They started running again and turned another corner into another hallway. The huge stone walls seemed to get nearer and then another man appeared dressed in black and red. He pulled out a bow and arrow and aimed. They all stood perfectly still. Shang stared at the man and then glanced at Mulan. How could he get her out of this? As soon as Shang turned his head to look at her the man aiming at them moved his glance towards Shang and Mulan took the moment to attack. She kicked him in the side. He kicked at her but she blocked him and cuaght his leg, pulling his to the ground.

They started running again but before they were ten feet away, the man picked up his bow from the ground and shot. Mulan felt a sudden awful sting in her arm. She halted and saw the arrow in her arm. Without thinking, she pulled it out and continued running despite the small trickle of blood she falt dripping down her elbow. Finally they reached two huge stone doors. With a sudden stop, they walked up and put their hands on the doors. Glancing at each other they readied their minds and were about to push through when,

"TWACK!" they were both hit over the head and knocked to the cold floor.

Mulan felt once again that sudden awareness that comes from coming back to conciousness. She sat up and opened her eyes. They were back in one of the stone prison cells that she had been put in days before. She looked around and finally found a limp figure in the middle of the floor. Shang had a bruise on the side of his head and she frantically shook him awake. He came to and sat up. He looked around and then at Mulan.

He put his arms around her.

"They'll kill us now," She said, starting to cry.

"I won't let them," He said back, knowing there was nothing more they could do but wait.

For a few minutes, they just sat there in the small cell. Time seemed still. It was over now. They were the only ones who knew Shan-Yu was alive and they wouldn't be able to warn anyone. They couldn't even save each other. Darkness crept up on them like age. There was nothing they could do.

Finally, someone came. A handfull of guards came up to the cell door. They unlocked it and walked in. Shang stood up and motioned Mulan behind him.

" We will escort you there. If you don't fight, we will not hurt you." One said.

In silence, their hands were tied behind their backs and they started up the stairs.

The Great doors opened and revealed Shan-Yu's chambers. They were pushed in by the scraggly guards and then turned to see them shut the doors as they left. Shang met Mulan's eyes.

"Welcome," that cold, deep, voice sent a chill up their spines.

They looked up to see Shan-Yu. Mulan shrieked back in terror. His face was scarred along with his hands. His mouth turned up in a lopsided grin.

"I'm sure you're wondering why I haven't killed you already?" He said, walking up to them.

"I was too busy looking at yor pretty face," he replied casually, lifting up her chin with his blistered hand and looking longingly.

Shang watched with a glare.

"Get your filthy hands off her! Whatever you're going to do, just do it!" He yelled.

"Now, Captain, how are you doing? Last I heard you were dead." Shan-Yu said, turning away from Mulan.

Suddenly he pulled out a knife and pointed it at Shang's throat.

"I'd hold my tongue if I were you, boy.By the way, how is your father doing lately?" He asked.

He punched Shang in the jaw and knocked him over. Lying on the floor, he opened his eyes to see the knife flying at him. He rolled over on his side. Another blow hit him in his side and he felt the blade cut his skin. Shang groaned in pain as blood soaked through his shirt. Mulan shrieked and fell to her knees.

"I think you've learned you're lesson." Shan-Yu said calmly wiping his knife on his tunic. He turned to Mulan.

Shang watched as he took her face in his hands kissed her. She sucked in her lips trying to pull away as tears came to her eyes. Things were starting to fade as Shang slowly closed his eyes.