Disclaimer: I own the usual people like Ming Hua, Tiao Zao and some new people who are going to turn up soon.
CHAPTER NINE – Executions, Advice and News
A/N: Big thank you to jla2snoopy and alibi girl for their reviews!
I'm trying to fade Tao out of it for a while and bring Shang into it more now because Tao's had a lot of the limelight lately and I want Shang to have a bit as well. Heh heh. So thank you to Angel452 for her suggestion!
A Cute But Psycho Bunny....you left a fairly long review! Yeah, I'm trying to make Tiao Zao into a little cute boy that everybody loves and I really think 'flea' is a good name for him! I'm definitely going to have Shang tell Mulan soon but the pendant is sort of centre to the whole story so I can't really get rid of it, but it's fading out of the 'limelight' with Tao. Thank you for your review anyway!!
Also, a big thank you to lobs-stacey-ters for her review! I changed that end bit when Shang was thinking. Basically he meant that he didn't want anyone else but Mulan to be his wife and mother to their kids...blah blah. I think you get that anyway, but I'll write anyhow. I'm also going to include a detailed part of the executions because I like the whole blood bit...heh heh.
So please leave a review at the end and now I have to stop rambling and actually get typing the story...:D
"Shui Jing? Are you awake?" A voice called out to her. The girl turned around, her black hair shining in the bright morning light. Her dark eyes shone out and her pink lips were curved into a graceful smile. Her white complexion made her look living a living corpse, according to her mother.
"Yes, Mama! What do you need?" Shui Jing left the sanctuary of her room and looked out into the hallway.
"Can you go and pick up Ju Hua? She spent the night at Yong Yuan's house and I need you to pick her up while I start breakfast," Her mother called back.
"Okay, sure. When's Baba getting back?" Shui Jing called back, pulling a warmer coat over her dress.
"Tomorrow!" Her mother replied. "Can you go and get Ju Hua now? You know how she worries when people are late,"
Shui Jing left her room and padded down the corridor, pausing briefly to sniff the smell of cooking rice. She loved her house, her family, her friends and her life. She had spent all of her eighteen years in the Cun Zhuang Village (A/N: I know 'Cun Zhuang' means village in Chinese, but I couldn't think of anything else!) as the daughter of a wealthy man who had a high position in the Emperor's court. Shui Jing's father was part of the Emperor's council but had to deal with the less important problems in China. This job meant that her father was away for most of the year and was only able to come back home to visit on certain weekends and holidays. They had considered moving to another house nearer the Imperial City, but Shui Jing and her sister, Ju Hua (A/N: 'Ju Hua means chrysanthemum), refused, claiming that they had no wish to leave the house that they were born and brought up in.
Shui Jing left the house and plodded up the path to the snow-covered lane that led to the town. The Cun Zhuang Village was near the Burned Village, as the Burned Village was in the Tung Shao Pass and Cun Zhuang was on the outskirts of the Imperial City end. The Burned Out Village was much larger than Cun Zhuang, nearly two times bigger. Only a few families lived in Cun Zhuang compared to around fifty or so that were living in the Burned Out Village. Most of the burnt wood had cleared up by villagers from Cun Zhuang or volunteers from Chang'an (A/N: That's how you spell it right? And that's the right word, yeah?).
Shui Jing continued down the lane, pausing now and again to wave to people she knew from different houses. It took her ten minutes to get out of the town then she had to walk to a remote house that was far away from the rest of the town.
"Trust Yong Yuan to live out here. Well, her and her silly family," Shui Jing cursed under her breath. She trudged along, her feet starting to go cold. "I wish I had put on my boots instead of these shoes," Shui Jing scowled again, kicking the snow out of her path.
As she walked, the smell of fire began to waft over to her. Puzzled, Shui Jing paused and looked around. She could not see anything except the faint silhouettes of her village behind her, a load of white and the weak outline of Yong Yuan's house in front of her, an orange flag waving in the wind.
"That's weird. Why does she have a flag on her roof?" Shui Jing thought. As she came closer, the smell of burning became more intense and as she rounded a snow mound, she was greeted with the sight of a house covered in flames. They shot up two or three metres into the sky and the crackling of the flames was so loud, Shui Jing couldn't think of how she hadn't noticed it before. Smoke billowed out of the broken windows, broken doors and the partially-fallen-off roof.
"Ju Hua!!" Shui Jing yelled, running forward, snow flying from out under her feet. She couldn't go in because of the flames, but she kept yelling. "Ju Hua! Yong Yuan! JU HUA!!" Her yells became frantic and tears were now starting to pour down her face. "MEI MEI!!" She called out again. When no one answered her, she ran around the back, pushed the ash-covered back door open and ran inside.
"MEI MEI!!" She carried on yelling. Shui Jing looked around and then screamed when a burning rafter fell in front of her, creating a wall of flames around her. She shrieked again as she saw she was trapped. Acting on impulse, she dived over the flames in front of her, batting at her dress to put it out. As more rafters, lamps and furniture fell or caught fire, Shui Jing ran through the burning house, marvelling at her stupidity. "Why the hell did I come in here? I must be bloody stupid, going into a burning building!" She cursed inside. Seeing a door leading to the outside, Shui Jing threw it open and pelted out of it, ignoring what was under her feet.
When she finally got out, her throat was hoarse from calling for Ju Hua and her dress was blackened at the end. Her hair was sticking up and out, her hands were black and her cheeks were moist from tears. As she watched the flames rise higher, she noticed a heap of something at the foot of the door she had just ran out of. She walked cautiously closer, the heat from the flames burning her cheeks.
Two bodies lay there, on top of each other. Both were of young girls, one smaller than the other. Their faces were distorted, their mouths open in terror. Their hair was burnt off, their faces and exposed bodies covered in ash. Their clothes were partially burnt, burns on the arms, legs and faces.
Shui Jing's mouth fell open and her eyes began to water furiously. Ignoring the fire, she bent down and looked at the remains of her sister.
"Oh my god...Ju Hua! Why did this happen to you?" She stroked whatever was left of her five-year-old sister's hair. "You don't deserve to die. No one should die at such a young age," Shui Jing paused and wiped the tears that were falling rapidly down her cheeks and nose. "You were so full of life...how could it all be taken away so quickly?" She gathered the body of her sister and held it close to her, not caring that her sister's right arm and left leg were lying on the ground where she had picked her up from. She rubbed her sister's back and then laid her back on the ground.
"Goodbye..." She whispered then stood up and ran like hell away from the house, not looking back once. As she sped along the snow, she was blinded by tears that were continuously falling. Her sleeves and hands were sopping wet as well.
Just as she got to her village, she heard screams and a familiar sound of flicking flames. The whole village was on fire and she could hear swords, arrows and screams. Black forms were attacking the village, killing whoever was in their way. Men, women, children...none were spared. Shui Jing stared as the destruction of her village...her life took place, her whole world fell down, burying her deep in the ground.
Absolutely terrified, Shui Jing turned and fled. She didn't care where she was running...all she wanted to get away from everything, run away from everything, to run away from herself. Tears and screams came out of her, anything to let the anger, sadness and frustration out. Then, she tripped, fell and blacked out.
::::
"ARRRRGH!" Mulan woke up, sweating and crying.
BANG. BANG. BANG. BANG. BANG. Five sets of doors flew open, exposing their sleepy owners: Yao, Ling, Chien-Po, Fung and Shang. They woke up as soon as they heard Mulan scream.
They all ran to Mulan's door, pushed it open and found Mulan sitting up in her bed, drenched in sweat. Mushu was standing on her beside table looking freaked out. Cri-Kee sat next to him, his expression exactly the same as Mushu's.
As the Gang and Shang burst into her room, Mulan looked up at them. They were in their nightclothes, which, had it been a different situation, would have been quite funny. Yao, Ling, Chien-Po and Fung were in a grey outfit similar to the training tunic. Shang was wearing just a pair of baggy trousers, he did not seem to care that he was shirt-less. (A/N: Yeah, I stole that outfit from the film, but it seemed like a good pyjama outfit!).
"Are you all right?" Five voices asked simultaneously.
Frozen, Mulan could only nod. "That was one scary nightmare...dreaming of Huns...corpses of my parents...my friends..." Mulan thought, shuddering at the mental image.
Yao disappeared into the bathroom to get a sponge or towel for her while the rest of the Gang clustered around her bed on chairs and couches. None of them found it inappropriate to be in a woman's room after lights out, unless they were married.
"Mulan? Did you have a nightmare?" Fung asked her softly.
"Yeah..." Mulan's voice came out croaky. She coughed. "Urgh...I don't feel great. Could someone get me some water?" She wiped her face on the towel Yao gave her and coughed again.
"Sure," Ling said, getting up. He took the glass pitcher from Mulan's table and poured some into a glass for her. Smiling, she took it and sipped it gently, the glass knocking on her front teeth. The coldness gave her a bit more strength and helped to clear her mind.
"What was it about?" Shang asked her, his voice sympathetic. Mulan turned to look at him and couldn't help giggling at his bare chest. "What?" He asked again, his sympathetic tone gone, now replaced with a confused one.
Fung instantly realised what she was laughing at. "Uh...Shang?" He coughed and gestured to his bare torso.
"Huh?" Shang said, still not getting it. "Oh..." He turned bright red. Mulan turned away, giggles escaping from her lips. Ling chucked Shang a dark blue robe (A/N: Kind of like a dressing gown but made of a silky, floaty material) of Mulan's, which Shang hurriedly put on.
"Yeah...so Mulan? What was your nightmare about?" Fung asked. Mulan looked up from her glass, her eyes going sombre again.
"I saw...a lot of corpses on the ground. I was walking through them, recognizing everybody...they were all my relatives or my friends. Then, a big figure came out from behind me and drove his sword into my heart...and then I woke up," Mulan looked into her glass again, at her reflection. Her face was slowly turning from white to pale peach. "It scared the crap out of me...though it doesn't seem very bad now," She looked at the Gang and Shang.
"No...we understand if it creeped you out," Yao said.
"It all seemed so real," Mulan said, taking another sip of water. It was starting to get cold again.
"Are you going to be all right?" Shang asked her. She didn't look at him; she knew all too well that if she did, she would collapse into giggles again.
"I'll be fine," She swirled the contents of the glass, watching the reflection distort and rock.
"You sure?" Ling went on.
Mulan looked up and smiled. "I'll be fine,"
"Just don't scare us again like that, babe," Mushu put in.
"I won't,"
Yao stood up. "Well, as long as you're okay," He yawned and stretched. "Well, I'm off. Just yell if you need anything Mulan,"
Mulan grinned. She watched as the others bid her goodnight and left the room. Shang went last, pulling off the robe, folding it neatly and then laying it on the table. He looked over at her and blushed when she gave him a smile.
"You're not laughing," He remarked.
"It's not funny anymore," She said, her face serious. Then, she began to laugh again. "I'm sorry, I couldn't pull that off," She grinned.
Shang smiled back. "Are you sure you're going to be okay?"
"I'll be fine. Stop worrying about me, I am strong you know," Mulan answered.
"I know you are...but it's not really my fault if I do, do I?" Shang replied, his eyes solemn. Mulan grinned, her pearly teeth shining.
"That's sweet. Well, you better go back to bed now; otherwise some people are going to get the wrong idea of us in the same room together,"
Shang nodded. "I guess...well...good night," He gave her a charming smile and Mulan replied with one of her own. Shang left the room, shutting the door quietly behind him. He strolled back down to his room, opened the door and found the Gang waiting there.
"Argh!!" Shang cried, his hand over his heart. "What the hell are you doing here? Cor, you scared the living daylights out of me!"
"We just wanted to see how you and Mulan were doing," Yao asked, sitting down on Shang's chair. Ling followed suit, flopping onto the couch next to Fung. Chien-Po was sitting cross-legged on the bed.
"What do you mean?" Shang replied, walking over and sitting on the bed. "Nothing happened. I just asked to see if she was going to be all right," He smoothed his covers absentmindedly.
"That all?" Ling asked, his eyebrows raised and he spoke in a bored tone. "No, dumbass. How are you and Mulan doing, you know at the whole luuuurve thing,"
"Nothing. I mean...yeah nothing,"
"Huh?"
"Come on, you heard that Tao loves her. She probably doesn't like me...you know in that way,"
"Stop being so negative," Ling said scornfully. "How are you going to know something like that? You don't know how a woman's mind works,"
"And you do?" Shang sniggered. Ling scowled at him. Chien-Po sighed.
"Shang, maybe you should just talk to her," Chien-Po suggested. Fung threw his hands up.
"Isn't that just what I said earlier?" He snapped.
"I know! I know!" Shang snapped back. "I'm going to do it tomorrow, at the big banquet thing. I figured it would be more..." He paused.
"Romantic?" Fung suggested.
"Appropriate?" Chien-Po added.
"Give you time to figure out what to wear?" Ling sniggered.
"Give you time to figure out what to say?" Yao chortled.
"Yeah..." Shang frowned. "What am I going to say?"
"Okay, let's start with something simple. Okay, how about, 'Mulan, I love you,'" Ling suggested. Shang started blankly at him.
"....What?"
"Say, 'Mulan, I love you',"
"...I don't believe you! She's either going to think I'm joking or I'm taking the piss!" Shang snapped. "Why did I ask you guys for help?"
"Hey!" Fung protested. "We can give you advice!" He paused and looked around. "Well, Chien-Po and I can anyway,"
"Shang, maybe you should start with a compliment," Chien-Po put forward.
"Yeah, that's a good idea!" Shang grinned. "But...wouldn't I sound a bit conceited if I start by saying, 'I look good,'?"
"Bloody hell..." Fung sighed. His head collapsed forward and the new respect for Shang that had been building in Chien-Po, died down instantly. Ling's eyes widened and Yao burst out laughing.
"Not about you!" Fung cried. "Oh my god...you're ever worse at romantic stuff than Ling!"
"Hey!" Ling snapped, insulted. Ignoring Ling, Fung got up and starting pacing around the room, letting his anger out on the floor.
"Shang, listen!" Chien-Po said, with a patient air. "You're trying to tell Mulan how you're feeling. So, you compliment her,"
"Yeah, don't compliment yourself!" Fung said, stopping his pacing and grinning at Shang, his anger gone.
"Okay, so...shall I say, 'You look beautiful tonight.'?" Shang asked. Chien-Po nodded.
"That's the sort of thing. Then, ask her how she's feeling," Ling suggested.
"Huh?" Shang's eyebrows cocked. "Huh?" He repeated.
"I'll demonstrate," Ling got up. "I'll be Mulan and...Fung, you be Shang," Fung nodded and stood opposite Ling. "Let's say...Mulan's standing alone on a...balcony or somewhere. Shang, you'll watch her from behind and decide to go talk to her. Okay?" Shang nodded.
"Okay, here goes..." Fung coughed and cleared his throat. "Do you mind if I join you?"
"Sure," Ling answered. He fluttered his eyelashes at Fung, who looked stricken.
"You look beautiful tonight, Mulan," Fung said, grinning at Ling.
"Oh...thank you," Ling squirmed and smiled sweetly at Fung. Fung pulled a face.
"So...how are you?"
"I'm all right. Just a bit full after dinner," Ling said.
"What?" Shang interrupted. "Why would she say that?"
"Come on Shang! I'm not saying she's going to say that, but you know her! When she gets uncomfortable, she'll say anything that pops into her head!" Yao said. "Okay, we done with that now? Come on Fung!" He turned his attention back to Fung and Ling.
"Okay..." Fung paused. "Uh...Mulan?"
"Yes?"
"I need to talk to you about something,"
"Okay, sure,"
"Um...well...recently...I've started...um..."
"What's with all the 'um's?" Shang butted in.
"Shang, have you heard yourself talk about this sort of stuff? You'll be like 'um...er...I mean...yeah...'. It drives me crazy sometimes, having to listen to it. Everyone's like 'Spit it out Shang!'" Yao protested again. "I think Fung's doing a very good impression of you,"
Shang glared at him.
"To be honest, Shang, you're a good General and you can address troops, enemies and the Emperor, but when it comes to talking to someone you feel a lot for, you're an absolute wuss!" Chien-Po carried on.
"I hope you have a point to all this," Shang scowled.
"Carry on Fung," Chien-Po instantly said, turning his concentration back to Fung and Ling.
"Okay..." Fung cleared his throat again. "Mulan...recently...I've had these weird feelings...like in my heart,"
"Heartburn?" Ling suggested. Yao cracked up laughing. Even Chien-Po had to splutter. Shang was not amused.
"What?"
"Just trying to lighten the mood. Okay, let's go again Fung," Ling said.
"No...I mean...I wasn't sure whether it was just friendliness that I was feeling but..."
"What? Shang, what is it?" Ling said, in a high-pitched voice.
"Mulan, I'm falling in love with you," Fung said. He turned to Shang. "Ta-da! Just say all that and you can't go wrong mate," Fung sat down next to Shang and clapped him on the back.
"I'm going to forget it all," Shang nervously bit his fingernails.
"You know the gist of it, just say whatever comes into your mind. Just not 'I look good,' because then she'll think you're vain," Chien-Po advised him.
"I can't do this. I'll freak or chicken out," Shang carried on chewing his nails.
"No you won't. Trust me, after you've told her, you'll feel a lot better. Then, it's out in the open air," Ling said.
"I will?" Shang looked around nervously.
"Well, sleep on it. You've got all day to think of something to say," Fung yawned and stood up, his legs wavering. "Well, this has been good, but I'm tired. Night all," Fung tottered out the room, followed by the rest of the Gang. Shang watched them anxiously.
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"Do you have any last words?" The Emperor's clear voice ran out amongst the citizens of Chang'an. The Huns shook their heads.
"I didn't know the Emperor offered last words to people who are about to be executed," Mulan hissed to Ling. Ling shrugged.
"I didn't either. But then, I haven't been to an execution before,"
Mulan nodded.
It was five past ten the following morning. Mulan had fully recovered from her nightmare and was her usual bubbly self. Shang was still nervous inside, but outside he was in 'General Mode'. Straight back, armour on and helmet on, he looked ready to attend some sort of ceremony. The Gang, except Fung, were in their casual wear, which looked like their training outfits, except they were different colours. Ling was in dark blue, Yao in green and Chien-Po was in black. He said it was out of respect for the Huns who were about to be executed. Fung had to be in his armour and Mulan was wearing a simple pale green dress. She wasn't wearing any make-up and the usual red blush on her cheeks had faded.
The executions were to be performed on a large platform in the middle of the Plaza. (A/N: Think of the scene in Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, when Jack's about to be hanged) The Emperor was in black and, like Chien-Po; he said it was out of respect for the Huns. The whole of Chang'an was clustered into the Plaza, every bit of space filled by a man, woman or child. Mulan was surprised that children were here, but decided not to say anything.
The Gang, Shang, Mulan, the Emperor, Ming Hua, Tiao Zao and all the other guards and officials in the Palace were standing on the other side of guillotine. Mulan wished she wasn't so near the actual killing, but she could do nothing about that.
The executions were to be in the form of a blade suspended in mid air above the victim's neck. As soon as the executioners released the rope holding the blade, it plummeted down onto the victims, parting the body and the head. (A/N: This is just like a guillotine, but they did actually behead people in China. I think it was just with an axe, but I changed it because this way sounds much cooler)
The breeze swept through the Plaza, making everyone shudder. Lao Ren, Kai Bo and about ten other Huns were lined up at one end of the guillotine, their faces pale, except Lao Ren's. Even Kai Bo looked freaked out. Mulan couldn't help but feel sorry for them.
The ten Huns were to be killed normally, without the guillotine. This just meant that they were blindfolded then a Hun that was selected randomly from the line was to swing an axe into his back, breaking his spine and killing him. (A/N: This is not a real Chinese way of execution, I just thought of it)
The first Hun came forward, his wrists and arms bounded by ropes. Mulan felt sick as she watched him walk bravely forward. She wanted to hate them, to laugh at them when they died for all the cruel things that they had done, but she couldn't find it in her heart to jeer at them. She could feel the worry rising inside her. It made her hands tingle and her head and heart started to pound.
"God knows what they're feeling, if I'm freaking out and I'm not even going to be executed," Mulan though to herself. She began twisting her hair with her fingers to keep her occupied. She stared at the ground and squeezed her eyes shut as she heard the quiet swish of the axe, the thud, the scream of pain and the cheer from the crowd. Mulan could feel her heart hammering, she wished it could all be over.
This was repeated another nine times, each time Mulan felt more and more sick. When she finally looked up, she could see nine bodies heaped on top of each other. They were oozing blood out of them, litres and litres of the blood was sliding across the platform, dripping off the sides and onto the Plaza floor. Mulan turned away from the sight and looked at her friends.
The Emperor was watching the executions, his face expressionless. The Gang, except Fung, were staring at the ground. Mulan could see Ling's pale face while Yao and Chien-Po were clasping their lips together, both of them wringing their hands. Shang and Fung were watching the executions, their heads held high, but Mulan knew it was only to save their appearance. Shang looked sad and tired while Fung was disgusted. Tiao Zao was clinging to Ming Hua's leg, sobbing his little heart out. Ming Hua looked exactly like the Emperor. The rest of the guards and officials were blank as well.
Feeling her heart go out to the little boy, Mulan left her place between Ling and Fung and went to Tiao Zao's side, feeling everyone's eyes on her. She bent her back till she was eye-level with him.
"Little Flea? Are you okay?" Mulan asked. Sobbing, Tiao Zao let go of Ming Hua and threw his arms around Mulan. She bent to her knees and hugged the little boy, her face white and her eyes full of unshed tears, all the time keeping a flow of comforting words in the little boy's ear. His sobbing still carried on, but it was growing quieter and quieter all the time.
"Little Flea, when you become Emperor, you're going to have to watch all of the executions and you'll have to be strong. Can you do that? Can you be strong for me? Can you be strong for your dad and for your grandfather?"
Tiao Zao nodded, wiping his streaming eyes. Mulan kissed him on the head and staggered back to her place. Shang watched her as she walked back and moved past Ling till he was standing next to her. She did not seem to notice.
Kai Bo was dragged forward first. He was forced onto his knees, his neck placed on a blood-stained block. The executioner laid a finger on his neck, measuring the distance and place of where the blade was to hit.
"What's he doing?" Mulan hissed to Fung.
"The executioner has to know where the weak spot is in the neck. You know, the one place where you cut, it'll kill you. It's different on everyone, so he has to rearrange the blade so it's in the right position," Fung whispered back. His eyes were averted to the floor as the executioner began lining up the blade.
Mulan suddenly felt a hand curl around her own. Looking up, she saw Shang standing next to her, staring straight ahead. She gripped his hand with her own, her fingers entwining in his.
The executioner slowly released the rope and the blade fell. It barely took a second to fall, but it seemed like en eternity to Mulan. She watched as the silver blade shone in the morning light and as it dropped to its victim. The blade finally met the victim's neck and went straight through it. Blood spurted out, in all directions. Horrified, Mulan whipped her head away from the sight, squeezing Shang's hand so hard her fingertips went white. Shang hardly noticed it, his own head spinning. The blood continued to pour out of Kai Bo's neck, his head lolling off. His whole body slumped forward, the life gone. His head rolled onto the platform, the eyes open and staring.
Mulan could feel tears brimming in her eyes and she hurriedly brushed them away with her free hand. The other was still being gripped by Shang. Looking up, Ling was completely white, Chien-Po's arm around his shoulders. Yao's head was bent forward so she couldn't see his reaction. Chien-Po looked like he had just been sick; his face had a green tinge to it. Fung was a normal color but his eyes were glassy and wide. His cheeks looked flushed as well. Ming Hua had a faint white tinge to his cheeks and Tiao Zao was clasping his dad's leg again, his sobs echoing around the Plaza. The Emperor hadn't moved or changed his expression. He looked just as blank as he had done a minute ago.
Most of the Chang'an citizens were cheering, some of them were crying and others were feeling sick.
Lao Ren was pulled forward. He went through the same procedure as Kai Bo, though he couldn't help but shudder when he was forced onto the block, which was covered in Kai Bo's blood. Mulan turned away as the executioner lined up his neck and moved the blade. The blade's edge was stained in red, some dripping while some had already dried. Mulan felt sick.
As the blade fell the second time, Lao Ren moved and the blade hit another part of his neck, not killing him but almost parting his head and neck. He let out a howl that was so loud everyone heard it, from the executioner who was standing next to him, to the furthest person at the Plaza Gates.
Mulan gave a horrified gasp as well; her hand gripped Shang's in an iron-strong grip. A few tears leaked out of her eyes and before she could wipe them away, Shang's free hand had done so. She looked up at him. His face was white and he was grimacing. He looked down at her and gave her a sad smile. Mulan couldn't smile back, her face spelled sadness.
Lao Ren was yelling, twisting and writhing in the pain, so much that the executioner couldn't get him to stay still to bring the blade down on his neck again. Knowing he had to kill him quickly, the executioner picked up an axe and swung it down on Lao Ren's partially-severed neck, putting an end to his pain and his life.
The whole crowd fell silent as his head rolled off, blood flowing steadily out of it. His body also slouched forward, blood pouring out of the two cuts in the neck.
The Emperor walked forward and began to say a speech to the crowd. Mulan couldn't hear him, the sound of the outside world had been blocked out and all she could hear was the fast beating of her own heart. She couldn't even feel Shang's hand around hers anymore. She closed her eyes and silently said a prayer for all of the Huns who had died. She knew that they were murderers themselves, but did that mean that they had to act the same way? She twisted her hair with her fingers, the harsh taste swirling around her mouth.
"I feel like a lemon," Mulan thought. "I feel yellow, squeezed and sour!"
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"I don't want to go to this banquet. I'm not in the mood," Mulan said to Mushu. Mushu and Cri-Kee were in Mulan's collar during the executions as Cri-Kee didn't want to see it and Mushu didn't either. From Mulan's descriptions, he was glad he had chosen to hide.
"Babes, you have to. It's the Emperor's orders," Mushu reasoned with her. "You can't stay in here all day,"
Ever since the execution, Mulan had excused herself and had spent the rest of the day in her room. She felt too sick to come out but she knew that the sick feelings would pass in time.
"They didn't deserve to die," She repeated for the hundredth time.
"Come on babe. They killed many people and never felt a bit of guilt," Mushu said.
"I know," She sighed and lay back on her bed. "I feel sorry for them,"
"Don't worry about it for now. At the moment, we have more important matters. Now," Mushu hopped off her bedside table and flung the wardrobe doors open. "What are you going to wear for this banquet? It's got to be something pretty, because you're going to want to impress Shang and everybody else,"
"Mushu, knock it off," Mulan sat up, rubbing her eyes. "I'm tired,"
"Babes, you've slept for about four hours. How can you be tired?" Mushu asked. Without waiting for an answer, he went on. "I think you should wear this red one. It's more suitable for a celebration,"
"I don't feel like celebrating,"
"Babes, you're going to have to get over it. Otherwise, you're sad face is going to make everyone else sad. Now, smile and choose a dress," Mushu grinned.
Mulan smiled back. "You're right. I got to be happy," She giggled. "Okay, dress time," She walked over and looked at the dresses, her smile drooping. "I don't know,"
"Red? Blue? Pink?" Mushu suggested, pulling each dress out by their skirts.
"Purple?" Mulan pulled the dress out. It was pale purple with a pattern of pale pink on the collar, hem and around the sleeve-ends. Around the waist, was a line of pink jewels with a matching pair of little purple shoes.
"Purple?" Mushu pulled a face. "You'll look like a walking plum," Mushu cackled.
Mulan stomped on the little dragon again. "Pack it in!" She snapped, before disappearing into the bathroom to change.
::::
"You done?" Mushu said as Mulan left the bathroom. The dress clung to her slender figure, her little feet showing out the end of it. Mushu wolf-whistled. Mulan glared at him then began to laugh.
"Okay, your hair," Mushu looked at her. "Sit!" He pointed to the dressing table chair, where Mulan sat. "Brush!" Mushu commanded. Mulan gave him the brush. Mushu darted around her head, adding water to smooth it down.
"There! You like?" Mushu grinned. Mulan turned her head from left to right, admiring her hair. Mushu had left most of it down, but had tied some into a top-knot, which he then twisted into a bun and left a few ends sticking out.
"Wow! You're getting better!" Mulan grinned.
"Okay, let's see. Decoration?" Mushu went over to the chest-of-drawers and opened a smaller drawer with accessories in and then took out some purple jewels. He bounded back over to Mulan and added some jewels in the bun, then let some hang from the bun. "Better?"
"That's great," She smiled and turned to her little dragon guardian. "Thanks," She grinned.
"That's better! You're smiling! Okay, now your make-up," Mushu rubbed his chin. "You don't like that white paint, do you?"
Mulan rolled her eyes. "I can do my own make-up," She opened the dressing table drawer and took out all the make-up containers. She brushed blusher onto her cheeks, painted her lips with a pale reddy-pink that gave her a slightly healthier look.
"I thought you hated that cherry-red stuff," Mushu commented.
"That stuff is really thick because it's such a dark red. This isn't because not so much red paint is in it," Mulan said. "I can talk with this stuff on. You wouldn't believe how hard it is to push words out of your mouth with that paint on," Mulan shuddered.
"Yeah, yeah," Mushu's stomach rumbled. Mulan, who was applying some pale purple eye shadow to her eyelids, stopped and looked at the blushing Mushu.
"Was that your stomach?" She giggled.
"What do you expect? I haven't eaten since breakfast! It's all your fault, you know," Mushu prodded Mulan on the shoulder. "If you hadn't chosen to stay in here, moping and moaning for all those dead Huns, I would have eaten something at lunch!" Mushu glared at her, jokingly.
"Don't get me started over those Huns again!" Mulan threatened him.
"Mulan! They're dead now, so let them go! Ever since you got back from the army, you've become more and more girly!"
Mulan threw the brush at him. It hit him in the stomach and sent him toppling off the dressing table. "Don't be mean!" She snapped, though giggling at the same time.
"I twisted something again," Mushu muttered from below her. Scrambling up to her height again, Mushu folded his arms again. He watched Mulan finish her make-up, sniggering. Mulan saw him in the mirror.
"What's up?"
"Do you just want to look nice for the General?" Mushu smirked. Mulan glared at him.
"Hey! All the other girls there are going to be dressed like this. So, not to be out of place, I have to go like this," Mulan said, shoving the make-up containers back into the drawer from which they had come out of.
There was a knock at the door.
"Yeah?" Mulan called.
"You ready?" Fung's voice came through the door.
"Yeah!" She called back. "Are you coming?" She asked Mushu.
"Hello? I haven't eaten all day! Of course I'm coming!" He said, throwing his arms up.
"Okay, okay. Don't rub it in," She picked him up and placed him on his shoulder. Cri-Kee was sitting on the left. "I must look like a walking zoo," She said out loud.
"Don't let us bother you. As soon as you get into the big banquet place, I'm outta here!" Mushu laughed. Mulan couldn't help smiling either. "Just remember to be happy," He added as Mulan opened the bedroom door and found Fung waiting, a frown on his face.
"What?" She asked. Fung's frown disappeared as soon as she saw the bedroom door open.
"Nothing. You just took a long time," He smiled. "Nice dress,"
"Thanks," She smiled. Fung was wearing a new set of gold armor, with his usual red cape. "Don't you military people have any casual clothes?" She asked.
"Not really," Fung said, starting to walk down the corridor with her. "Most of my stuff looks like army clothes, like the training outfit. I have four different types of armor as well,"
"Four? What the hell for?" Mulan said, astonished.
"One for the army, one for celebrations, one for casual and one for funerals and sad occasions," Fung ticked them off his fingers. "Shang has five because he's the General,"
Mulan sniggered. "I can't see Shang washing all of his armor,"
"Yeah, that's the point. He doesn't. He gets other people to do it for him,"
"That's a bit lazy, isn't it?" Mulan pondered.
"Yeah, well. What do you expect? He was the General's son and now he's a General himself. He has plenty of servants running around for him. He was really spoilt as a child,"
"Oh yeah?" Mulan's interest was growing rapidly. Shang had never talked about his childhood, but hopefully, as Fung had known him for years, Mulan hoped to get some more information about him. "How?"
"His mother, Li Jia, would always buy him gifts and insist he had the best of everything. He was quite a chubby little boy when he was about five. His mother made him eat to become strong and to keep him well insulated,"
Mulan cracked up laughing. "'Well insulated'?"
"Yup," Fung started to laugh too. "As a young girl, his mother had always been terrified of the cold so she didn't want Shang to have that 'fear' either. Then, his father stepped in and made Shang do lots of army training and drills. Shang soon lost all of that puppy fat and soon stopped being a 'Mummy's Boy' and became much closer to his father than before. I think Shang's father didn't pay much attention to Shang until he was over five years old, because of Jun Dui,"
"Army? Huh?" Mulan stopped and looked at Fung.
"Jun Dui is Shang's brother, and yeah his name does mean 'Army'. He's about four years older than him and, because he was the eldest, Shang's father had always preferred him over Shang. Then, when Jun Dui got accepted into the Academy, Shang's father turned on to Shang and taught him all the army stuff for another five years, before he went to the academy as well,"
"I didn't know Shang had a brother," Mulan paused. "I don't know a lot about him,"
Fung grinned. "Well, you'll probably know more after you've met his family tonight,"
"Yeah I guess," Mulan started walking on, Fung following.
::::
"I suck at meeting families. I always say something stupid to embarrass myself," Mulan said to Yao.
They were all waiting in the Hall, outside the Ballroom where the banquet was being prepared. All the families and friends of the Gang, Shang and Mulan were scheduled to arrive soon and all the Emperor's council, friends and relatives were coming too, as well as some retired army officers and their families.
The Gang, except Fung, and Mulan were loitering outside the doors of the Ballroom. Lots of couches and chairs had been set up for the visitors but the Gang and Mulan had had strict instructions that they were not to sit down until their relative or friend had. They all though this silly but none of them dared sit down.
The rest of the Gang were also in their 'ceremonial armour'. Unlike Shang and Fung's, theirs was silver and they also had capes. Yao's was too long for him and he was continuously tripping over it.
"I wouldn't let it bother you that much," Yao replied. "You haven't met my family,"
Mulan began to laugh when Chien-Po and Ling came over. "Can't we sit down yet? My legs are aching!" Ling whined.
"I thought you were a soldier," Mulan remarked. Ling stuck his tongue out at her.
"Leave me alone," He complained.
The doors of the Hall were flung open and a large group of people came in. The two guards, who were standing at either side of the door, cleared their throats.
"Introducing the Li family!" Their voices ran out through the hall.
"Mama!" Shang cried, leaving his spot next to Fung, to go and greet his family. Mulan watched as his mother pecked him on each cheek and he swept her into a bear-hug. It was very obvious that Shang and his mother were very close, despite what Fung had told her earlier.
"They seem close," Mulan said to Fung, who had just joined them.
"Yeah, I never said they weren't. Shang never lost that closeness with his mother, even when his father started training him," Both Mulan and Fung watched as Shang's mother took something from her bag and gave it to him. Shang's face lit up. Fung began to laugh.
"What's that?" Mulan asked him.
"It's a honey biscuit. Li Jia used to make loads of them for him when he was child. He was addicted to them, and they made him put on weight," Fung watched as Shang put the biscuit in his mouth and swallowed it whole. "They were really tasty though," He added wistfully. He watched as Shang left his mother's side and began greeting his brother, cousins and other relatives that had come.
Mulan began to giggle. "You sounded so dreamy then,"
"Don't knock them 'till you've tried them,"
"I'm not knocking anything," Mulan replied.
"Fung!" Li Jia came over, a grin lighting up her tired face. "How are you?"
"I'm very well, Madam Li. How about yourself?" Fung replied, bowing slightly. Mulan moved away and started to smile to herself.
"Please, no formalities," Li Jia went on.
"She sounds like the Emperor," Mulan thought but was distracted when a little hurricane came zooming out of a door and ploughed right into her. "Ooof!"
Looking down, she saw Tiao Zao hugging her. She dropped to her knees and gave the little boy a hug. "Hey, Little Flea. Are you doing better than this morning?"
Tiao Zao gave her a big sparkling grin. She could see Shang, Fung and Li Jia watching her from behind Tiao Zao. "Yeah, I'm better now. Grandpa talked to me and he made me feel a lot better,"
Mulan smiled but was, again, distracted when she heard the two guards announcing another family.
"The Fa family!"
Mulan jumped up and walked hurriedly over to the door, Tiao Zao trailing behind her.
"Grandma!" She cried, giving her a hug. Grandma Fa smoothed Mulan's hair and pinched her cheeks.
"You're looking good, honey. How are you and..." Grandma Fa lowered her voice and Mulan bent forward to hear her. "...Shang doing?"
"Nothing yet, Grandma," Mulan said, flushing.
"Nothing?" Grandma Fa repeated, in disbelief.
"All right, all right. Are Mama and Baba coming?" She asked, looking out the door.
Grandma Fa paused. "Uh...yes,"
Tiao Zao tugged on Mulan's skirt. "Mulan? Who is this lady?"
Mulan grinned. "Grandma, this is Tiao Zao. Tiao Zao, this is my grandmother. Tiao Zao is the Emperor's grandson,"
"Very nice," Grandma smiled at the little boy and ruffled his hair. Tiao Zao giggled. Mulan smiled, then looked up and saw her parents coming in.
"Mama!" She said, going forward and then she froze. "...what?" She stared at the faint bump of Fa Li's stomach.
Tiao Zao appeared at her elbow. "Your mother is a little bit plump," He said. Fung, who had come over, clamped a hand over Tiao Zao's mouth.
"She's not...fat, Tiao Zao. She's pregnant," Fung hissed.
A/N: I hope that chapter's okay. I really like the execution part and please tell me if you like the ending, what with Fa Li's pregnancy. It was a bit out of the blue, but it all links in. Just tell me if you think it's okay or too...big. Thanks!!
