Disclaimer: Mulan and everybody are Disney's people. I only own Fung, Tao, Lao Ren, Kai Bo and some other people. Thanks!

CHAPTER FIVE – Truth

A/N: Quite a few reviews for Chapter Four, which made me happy because I wrote Chapter Four in one day, because I had nothing else to do. Thank you to choc-cookie, Lynn12, Lobs-StAcEy-Ters, JoEbLoG and radio.rosie who wrote their reviews before I started Chapter Five. Special BIG BIG thanks to my very loyal reviewers: Dragon Spirit Fighter, pepe ok and Angel452. You guys are the best!!!

I might make Mulan fall in love with Tao...or I might not. You'll just have to wait and see! ; )

"How long till we get there Shang?" A sleepy Mushu asked Shang. Shang was wide-awake because of his anxiety for Mulan and exasperation of the trip to the Imperial City.

"About two hours," Shang replied, agitated. Mushu nodded and looked around at everybody. Cri-Kee was asleep, Shang was fully awake, Fung was mostly awake, Yao's eyes were drooping and Ling was practically asleep, waking up just in time to avoid the cliff or the lake he would have gone into or over.

"Thank God. Your horse isn't too comfy you know, dude," Mushu yawned.

"Mushu, if you don't have anything useful to say, don't say it then!" Shang snapped, losing his temper. Mushu scowled at his back.

"Prat. God knows what Mulan sees in him," Mushu muttered under his breath. Shang, however, caught every word and grinned widely.

"Mulan sees something in me? Wow...that feels good...heh heh heh. Mulan feels stuff for me! Yahoo!" Shang smiled. "Or is that just Mushu? Screw it, I'll find out whether she does when I next see her," With that happy thought Shang squeezed his legs to get the horse to move faster.

×××

The Huns were roughly two hours away from the Imperial City, like Shang and his riders. Their mountain ponies were just as fast as the Imperial stallions but were better at plunging through undergrowth, while the stallions would stop and fuss. The mountain ponies were used to being treated this way, they had been beaten and had been forced to bear a rider as soon as they could canter properly.

Mulan's head lolled from side to side. She had fallen asleep against Tao's back, making Tao feel reassured but very uncomfortable at the same time. He hadn't the heart to shake her and wake her up, so he let her sleep.

The journey continued like this until Mulan woke up.

"Tao?" She whispered.

"You're up!" Tao greeted her. Mulan yawned and sat up. Tao felt the warm weight of her head leave his back and couldn't help feeling a bit sad about that.

"Yeah...where are we?"

"An hour or so till we reach the Imperial City. God knows what's going to happen when we're going to get there,"

"You're a Hun, you ought to know," Mulan remarked.

"Not really. I'm just your guard, Lao Ren doesn't tell me anything," Tao said. "Are you all right? Do you need anything?"

"Yeah, I need to pee," Mulan said. Tao began to laugh.

"Well, please hold it in," He sniggered. Mulan elbowed him in the back. "Sorry,"

"What time is it?" Mulan asked him.

"No idea. It's probably six in the morning. Or seven," Tao shifted slightly on his saddle. "My butt hurts," He complained.

"Charming..."Mulan muttered.

"I'm really thirsty. I could use some water," He went on.

"Will you shut up about water? I'm bursting here!" Mulan snapped. Tao burst out laughing. Lao Ren and Kai Bo were ahead of them so they couldn't hear Tao. "It's not funny," Mulan continued.

"I know, I know," Tao answered, smiling to himself. The journey had been incredibly dull while Mulan was asleep and now she was awake, the whole thing seemed so much brighter, despite the fact she had only been awake for a few minutes.

×××

"Check it out guys!" Fung called. The Gang and Shang had stopped for a brief minute because Ling was complaining again. Both Wong and Yao needed to relieve themselves and Shang admitted that his legs were hurting too.

"What?" Yao yelled back from behind the bushes.

"It's the Imperial City!" Fung shouted. Fung had ridden forward and came to a gap in the forest that they had been riding in. The parting in the trees showed a noughts-and-crosses board of small, square, red houses. In the center, stood the Emperor's palace. It was shining brightly in the morning light.

"Big deal..." Wong said. He came out from behind the bushes and washed his hands in a nearby brook. "About half an hour till we get there?" He asked, to no one in particular.

"Yup," answered Fung, coming back from the clearing with his horse.

"Thank god," Wong replied. He lay down on the grass and shut his eyes. Shang looked over.

"Guys! Guys! Get up! We have to hurry! Come on, it's only about half an hour till we get there!" Shang cried. He went over and hauled Wong up.

"Get off," Wong said, pulling himself out of Shang's grip.

"Gentlemen, you won't refuse a direct order from your General!" Shang thundered. "Get back on your horses and we're going to hurry to the City, get Wong's rank and then go find Mulan! Does nobody care about this whole thing apart from me?" Shang said cunningly, knowing that everyone would yell at this outburst.

"What?!" Ling yelled. "What the hell are you on about?" He strode over to his horse. "Everyone, get your butts moving!" Ling vaulted on to his horse and looked down. "Come on!"

Yao scrambled onto his horse, Wong leapt onto his stallion and Fung clambered smoothly onto his steed.

As the group drew nearer and nearer the Imperial City, every single one of them was beginning to feel slightly excited. The thick wall that surrounded the Palace had stall upon stall leaning against it. The midday market that attracted thousands of people every day was in full swing. You could buy anything from buttons to beans at the market and it was rumoured to be a great place to meet members of the opposite sex. The air stank of fish and sweet-smelling perfume; arguments between vendors and customers stung their ears; courting couples were on every corner; children ran barefoot in and out the stalls and litter and broken goods were scattered on the ground.

"What is the deal with this place?" Yao asked him. Ling grinned.

"Stuff the place, look at all the women!" Ling said, excitedly. Wong and Fung started to laugh.

"You guys have one track minds," Fung commented.

"Yeah, but seriously, look at that girl!" Yao said, pointing to a thin, slender girl who was standing behind a stall. An old man was talking to her, probably her father.

"Dude, you're betrothed," Mushu said.

"Damn," Yao muttered.

Shang shook his head. Fung noticed this and rode up next to him.

"What?" He asked.

"Do they always think about women? Can't they think of anything else?" Shang snapped.

"Shang, you think of Mulan all the time. She's a woman," Fung pointed out. Shang blushed and shrugged.

"So? She's different,"

"And? She's still a woman," Fung went on. Shang sighed again.

"It's different, Fung. I don't know why, but thinking about her isn't the same as thinking about other women. Normal women make me feel kind of sick but Mulan makes me feel...nervous and really excited at the same time," Shang said. Fung nodded.

"We better hurry through this market; otherwise we're never going to get to the Palace," Wong said, trotting up to them. Shang agreed. He pushed his heels into his horse and the Gang tried to push their way through the market. This proved to be no easy task. Finally, Ling lost it.

"OI!" Ling bellowed. Everyone looked up at him. "We are part of the Imperial Army! We're General Li, Commander Loon, Captain Yao and Ling and Captain-To-Be Wong!" Ling paused to take a breath. Everyone was still staring at him. "So basically, what I'm trying to say is: MOVE YOUR BUTTS OUT MY GODDAMN WAY!!"

The whole market was silent before they parted like the waves, leaving a clear space down the centre. Shang, not wasting any time, galloped straight down the middle of them, the rest of the Gang and Wong close behind them.

After leaving the market, Ling and Yao burst into laughter. Between the market was the 'Palace Plaza' (A/N: Where the people were standing when the Mulan saves the Emperor) was a long street. The last time Shang had ridden up this street was when he had returned from the Tung Shao Pass, mourning for his father and Mulan, who he thought was still in the mountains. He could still hear her horse's hooves trotting up to him, her beautiful voice talking to him, pleading for him to listen. Her beauty was so obvious now that he thought about it; he couldn't help but wonder how he didn't notice it before. Shang's heart began to ache; he was missing Mulan so badly.

"Dude! What's up with you?" Mushu asked, clambering onto the horse's head.

"Mulan," Shang answered quietly. The single word seemed to do the trick; Mushu instantly realized what he was thinking.

"Cheer up Shang. Mulan's strong, she'll be all right," Mushu consoled him.

"I know. I'm so worried about her. I keep seeing all these images of her being tortured and of her crying. It really makes me feel sick and I just want to pick her up and hold her. Then when I realize I can't, I drive myself crazy just thinking about it and how I can't!" Shang said, getting frustrated at the end.

Mushu just nodded, the words '"Mushu, if you don't have anything useful to say, don't say it then!"' springing to mind.

They continued down the street in total silence. Fung and Mushu knew what Shang was thinking so they kept quiet because they knew Shang could easily lose his temper. Ling, Yao and Wong were thinking about the women back in the market.

When they finally reached the Plaza Gates, two guards stepped forward.

"State your name and business," One guard said.

"I am General Li. I have to speak to the Emperor, at once, it's urgent!" Shang snapped.

"Who is the rest of your party?" The same guard answered.

"This is Commander Loon, Captain Yao, Ling and Captain-To-Be Wong," Shang snapped again, even more irritable. The guards nodded to each other and pushed the gates open. After bowing the Gang in, they returned to their places on either side of the gate.

The Plaza looked even bigger than it had been when Shang had last been there, it was now empty and bare. The Palace stood in front of them, it's dominating figure towering over them.

Shang rode his horse up to the steps and dismounted. The Emperor, who had somehow been informed of Shang's arrival, came down the steps, calmly and composed. The rest of the Gang dismounted and followed Shang up the steps. They were all rather surprised that the Emperor had left his Palace to come and meet them, they had thought they'd have to go in the actual place itself.

They all dropped to their knees in front of him.

"Please, there is no need for formalities when you're among friends," The Emperor smiled at them as they rose up. "What is it that you require?"

Shang was about to say something about Wong's rank and Mulan's kidnap when a flaming arrow shot through the air, piercing the air in front of Shang's face. Whipping around, a hailstorm of flaming arrows came flying through the air from balconies and from across the Plaza Wall.

Shang threw himself down onto the ground, as the rest of the Gang pushed each other down. A howl from Wong said that he had been hit and another wail from Yao showed that he had been hit too.

A million thoughts flew through Shang's mind as fast as the arrows. "Huns! Goddamn Huns! Only the Huns use flaming arrows. Shame we don't, they're a bloody good invention. Wait, focus Shang! What are they doing here? Is Mulan with them? Mulan! Oh my god, is she all right?"

Suddenly, the sound of splintering wood filled the air. Looking up, the Gang and Shang saw the Plaza Gate shudder under the weight of people ramming themselves against it. One final push and the Gate broke; wood flying and wave upon wave of black sea came pouring through the ruined Gate.

Shang got up, dodging arrows, and hurriedly pushed the Emperor back up the steps.

"Give me a hand for God's sake!" Shang yelled. He ducked as more arrows flew his way. Fung scrambled up and helped Shang shove the Emperor up the steps before an arrow shot through the Emperor's hat, a dark green ribbon tied to it. Shang snatched the Emperor's hat from his head.

"Excuse me!" The Emperor began to protest as an arrow hit his robe, setting him on fire. "Goddamnit!" He swore. Fung pushed the Emperor to the ground and then sent him rolling down the steps, putting out the fire.

"What the hell was that?" Ling bellowed up to Fung.

"To put out fire! You have to Stop, Drop and Roll!" He yelled.

"Fung, you pushed the Emperor down the friggin' stairs!" Ling yelled back. "He'll kill you if these arrows don't!"

"No time!" Yao said, pulling the wounded Wong up the stairs. Ducking a few more arrows, they approached Shang, who was still holding the Emperor's hat.

"What is it?" He yelled.

"It's Mulan's ribbon," Shang whispered.

"Dude! Speak up!" Mushu yelled, from his resting place on Yao's shoulder. "What?"

"It's Mulan's hair ribbon!" Shang bellowed, shoving the hat into Yao's hands. Yao took the hat, releasing his grip on Wong, so he fell to the floor.

Suddenly, the arrows stopped firing. Shang looked around. Ling and the Emperor were on the second landing of steps and Fung, Wong, Yao and himself were on the third. The black sea was standing at the foot of the steps, filling up a third of the Plaza. Archers were on top of the Plaza Walls and, when Shang looked up; many more archers were on the roof of the Palace and on balconies.

A large black horse, followed by six more, came up the first set of stairs. Shang and Yao ran down the steps, leaving Fung to carry Wong down.

When they arrived at the first landing, the Emperor was standing in front of Ling, facing the rider who was approaching the landing. Yao leaned forward and gave the Emperor his hat, without the arrow in it. The Emperor took it, smiled and motioned for them to stay behind him. Beyond the ruined gate, Shang could see the frightened villagers watching, being guarded by black warriors and behind him, he could see the Palace guards standing at the open door of the Palace, being held by more black warriors.

The first horse came up. A large man with terrifying black and grey eyes with a savage smile got off, a sword swinging at his side. Then the rest of the horses came up, four of them holding a lone rider, the last holding two. The last horse stayed hidden behind the rest of them.

"Hold them," The large man said, gesturing to the Gang and Shang. The four riders got off and gripped the Gang with an iron strong grip. Both Shang and Fung weren't hurt by this, but Ling and Yao were visibly in pain. Wong lay on the ground next to them, wounded and not stirring. They obviously thought he wasn't much of a threat.

"My name is Lao Ren," He said.

"Old man?" Fung said, starting to snigger. Shang glared at him, but Yao and Ling started to smile too, despite the circumstances. Lao Ren ignored them.

"I trust you know who I am," He continued. The urge to walk around the Emperor was killing Lao Ren, but he knew if he did that then he'd look stupid. "Shan-Yu was kind of stupid," He thought to himself. "Wait, concentrate. Concentrate on the Emperor. Man, he's ugly. Heh heh heh,"

"I do," The Emperor said. He watched Lao Ren out of wary eyes.

"I don't know how Shan-Yu managed to be defeated by you. You're armies are pitiful, your defences are crumbling and-," Lao Ren paused and cocked his head forward. One of the people on the two-rider horse pushed the other off. The person walked forward slowly. "And I have China's greatest warrior at my feet," Lao Ren pulled the person forward to reveal Mulan. Her face was pale and her arms were tied together.

"Mulan!" Shang cried, starting forward to be pulled back by his guard. The guard drew a sword to Shang's throat.

"Don't move," He hissed. Mulan looked at Shang worriedly. Shang quickly scanned her up and down. She didn't seem to be in any pain or have any marks on her. She looked...fine.

"What the hell? She's fine? They didn't hurt her...at all? Yeah, I'm grateful they didn't hurt her, but...what the hell?! Why doesn't she look at me?" Shang thought anxiously.

"I kidnapped Mulan about two days ago. She didn't put up any struggle while she was at the camp, I suppose she was waiting for her rescuers," Lao Ren turned to Shang and motioned for the guard to take the sword away from Shang's throat. "Tell me, General, where were you?" He said, mockingly. Shang noted the sarcasm when he said 'General'.

"We had problems," He said lamely. Mulan's eyebrows rose and so did the Emperor's. Even Lao Ren looked surprised.

"Why are you here?" The Emperor asked Lao Ren.

"It's called revenge, my dear Emperor,"

"Why should you want revenge on me?" The Emperor asked, very polite. Fung rolled his eyes.

"I don't," Lao Ren. "But I think he would,"

"Who?"

Tao stepped out from behind his horse. He walked in front of Lao Ren, ignoring Mulan. "I do," He said, staring at the Emperor. The Emperor caught his breath.

"Tao?" He whispered. Tears were glistening in the old man's eyes. Shang was amazed to see them. "Why the hell would the Emperor cry over some Hun? Dear God!" He thought.

"Father," Tao bowed to the Emperor. Mulan froze.

"Father?!" She burst out. Tao turned to her and then smiled.

"I'm sorry Mulan," Tao left the Emperor and stood in front of her.

"For what?" She sounded sad and angry at the same time.

"For not telling you. To be honest, I didn't want to tell myself. I knew I'd have to meet my father in the end. I didn't want you to find out this way," Tao smiled sadly at her.

"Did you want me to find out at all?" She asked him. Tao shook his head. "Are you the leader then?"

"Yes,"

"Some guard," She muttered. Tao smiled.

"In many ways Mulan, you helped me find myself again. You told me everything about yourself and it awakened the sense of family that had long since left me,"

Mulan hung her head. Tao lifted her chin with his fingers. Shang had to restrain himself from rushing forward and beating the crap out of Tao. The number of times Shang had wanted to lift Mulan's face with his fingers when she looked sad was un-countable. Now, here was a Hun, doing the exact same thing! Shang fumed silently.

"Why do you look upset?" He asked her gently. She pulled out of his grip, leaving him looking wounded.

"Is everything you told me a lie?"

"Most of it," Tao shrugged. He turned away from Mulan; she was glaring daggers at him.

"I'm not very comfortable talking here. Go inside," Tao drew his sword and pointed it to the Emperor. "After you...Father,"

A/N: I'm sorry if this chapter isn't very well written, I really wanted to get it up and out the way. Please don't get mad if this chapter wasn't good, I really tried to make it better, but I didn't do very well. Thank you!!