"I see.", Mulan chuckled. "Must be quite interesting to experience.".
"More than you would believe... but... I also met someone else... someone... well...", Jason sighed before he pulled out what he brought back with him from the spiritual journey. Mulan's eyes widened at the sight of what she thought she would never see again.
Mulan covered her mouth with her hand as tears sprung to her eyes as Jason placed the pendants in her other hand, speaking softly, "He told me to say this: Captain Li Shang formally breaks the betrothal contract, freeing Fa Mulan to seek new love and court whoever she wants to.".
"Shang...", Mulan started to sob as she dropped to the ground; tightly gripping the pendants in her hand. "I'm sorry...", Jason apologized. "I know this much for you... he told me as such; but he wanted you to know that all he wants of you now is to be happy.".
Mulan shakily sobbed, "He said that?", and Jason nodded, "Apparently, to quote him, 'You don't really need permission from the dead when especially whether or not you wish to pursue a relationship with her. I only want her to be happy; the loss and with the war added to it, has really affected her more than she gives away.', saying it in my face.".
Mulan blushed hard hearing that before Jason realized what he said for a moment and blushed hard while mentally cursing himself, "I'm sorry, I... I didn't mean...". Great, she's gonna hate me for apparently asking to try to date her, he thought.
Mulan exhaled, looking at the pendants, smiling at what Shang did for her before frowning, and looked up at Jason, "Why did you pick me out of all the women out there when there are better ones, more attractive ones...?", feeling self-conscious as she looked at the fire. She still didn't forget how the matchmaker treated her even after her father worked hard on finding a man for her, and it was a miracle that he was friends with General Li, the father of Shang...
"I... I don't know...", Jason admitted. "Something about you... the moment I locked eyes with you when I ran into you... my soul just felt like I was looking at my future, almost.".
Mulan blinked, looking at Jason in surprise, "You have feelings for me from that first moment?", and Jason smiled, "Y-yes, I do. I never had relations with any woman back on Earth, I never felt like I fit with them, but with you, I feel like I belong at last. When you laugh, I feel happy. When you cry, I feel pained. When you fight, I feel proud. When you touch me, I feel both good and anxious. Fa Mulan, I am falling in love with you.".
Time seemed to stop for the both of them as they both didn't fully know how to respond next with what had been said before Mulan cracked a small smile. "Well... I appreciate you being so forward about things, Jason.".
Is that good or bad? Jason worried, thinking that she was gonna drop the whole 'just friends' line on his head.
Mulan put the pendants on the side of her log seat, and exhaled softly, "It's time to put the past behind me, and move on. I have forgotten how it felt to be truly happy, and those days, I am a woman of action.", moving fast like a snake, and before Jason realized it, Mulan is kissing him with inexperience and hesitation.
Shang was more traditionalist, and Mulan was fine with it, but she hadn't been kissed for a long time, 7 years, to be exact, since Shang was the one who instituted the very rare kisses between her and him, perhaps two times a week in their 6 months together.
Jason was shocked at just how forward she was at that moment, but it only took a few seconds before he wrapped his arms around her and went straight into the passion with the kiss as they held each other for quite a few minutes.
Mulan was amazed at how Jason was gentle yet passionate with her as she relearned once more to kiss properly, and after those amazing few minutes, they broke away for fresh air. Mulan looked at Jason, "Can you be patient with me as I learn how to love again?", with a blush...
"I can take all the time in the world if need be.", Jason chuckled as he was feeling his heart soar. She was actually giving him a chance and all. Of course, it still could end badly or not the way he would want it, but at least it was happening.
Mulan smiled softly before widening her eyes as she realized that she was holding him too long, and moved away as Jason grabbed her hand, "Hey, what's wrong?", with a gentle smile.
"I was invading your personal space a tad too long.", Mulan replied, and Jason gently tilted her cheek to face him, "I am not mad or annoyed with you, Mulan, and besides, I am not a traditionalist. I want you to be comfortable with me as long as you want. You can speak whatever's on your mind.".
Mulan blinked in surprise, "Really?", and Jason smiled tenderly, "Really, really.". He and Logan has watched the Shrek movies so many times. They couldn't help using some favorite quotes and stuff when they feel like it.
"Well, this is going to take me quite a bit to get used to and all." Mulan gave a small chuckle. "But, like you said, you'll wait on me, but I'll try not to make you wait too long."
Jason nodded, and lifted her hand, kissing it gently, "That's all what I want, Mulan.", and Mulan blushed, smiling before glancing up at the sky, "We better make the most of our sleep as it's less than three hours before sunrise.".
"Sounds good to me.", Jason replied, getting up as he let go of Mulan's hand, using the magic ring to conjure up a shield over the campsite, "I know we're pretty much safe since we are in the south of Narnia, but it's better to mask ourselves from any bandits or anyone else.".
Mulan chuckled, getting up, grabbing the pendants, and putting them in her pack, "Indeed.", walking besides Jason to their tents, and Jason exhaled softly, "I must confess that I was there last night. I heard you, and I wanted to comfort you, and I touched you intimately, but only for a moment..".
"I know.", Mulan told him. "I was awake there when you kissed me. I didn't say anything since you didn't do anything else. I would've...".
"I know, I know, probably tear my guts out through my mouth if I tried anything else.", Jason finished for her.
Mulan giggled, "I would do that one to Scar or something, but you, I would have kneed you in the stomach if I was on my guard.", and Jason nodded, "That's fair. And now?", looking at her with a small smile.
Mulan smiled softly, "I couldn't mind a good-night kiss on the lips, Jason.", and Jason's smile got bigger as he walked forward, reaching up to hold Mulan's cheek in his hand as he leaned down to kiss her tenderly, and Mulan sighed happily as Jason broke away, "Sleep well, Mulan.".
"Jason, it's early in the morning.", Mulan reminded him as he mentally hit himself. "Right, sorry, whole mental journey screwed up my internal clock and all.", Jason apologized.
Mulan giggled softly, "True, but luckily, we're adults, we don't need as much sleep as kids or teenagers do, yet it's still nice.", and smiled, kissing him on the cheek, "See you at sunrise, okay?", before slipping into her tent.
Jason can see faint shadows, but he shook his head, whispering to himself, "You're dating her for 30 minutes so far, don't push it, Jason.", slipping into his tent to reclaim his sleep.
Mulan, on the other hand, when she was in her tent, chuckled, "Keeping sure to not ruin things already? By the ancestors... I may have just walked into quite the perfect guy... well, at least when you're not around, Shang...". She sighed as she asked for a silent forgiveness prayer to him for keeping onto him for far too long. As he told Jason, he wanted her to be happy...
Mulan saw a glow in her pack and saw the pendants glowing, hearing Shang's faint voice, "You're already forgiven. Be happy, Mulan. Goodbye.", before the pendants suddenly stopped glowing.
Mulan smiled tearfully, and nodded, "I will, Shang...Goodbye.", closing the pack, figuring that she'd sell the pendants to a shopkeeper, knowing that there's a couple out there who would want those pendants better than she did, and besides, it's weirdly wrong to wear a pendant pair when Shang bought them in Sarip before the whole illness thing happened, as an anniversary gift.
Mulan knew Jason would understand, and she hummed, slipping off her boots and outer garments, and went to reclaim her sleep.
The sun was shining high in the sky, a clear sign that it was getting close to noon by the time both Mulan and Jason finally felt fairly rested. Jason was the first to get out of his tent since he didn't need to throw things back on; he slept in what he was wearing before entering his tent but could see Mulan trying to get her things together before finally coming back out of the tent.
Mulan exited her tent with a smile directed at Jason, "Well, I was wrong about seeing you at sunrise. Apparently, you were right about last night throwing off our internal clocks.".
"I'm sorry for that.", Jason chuckled as he rubbed his neck. "But at least things will be fine tonight; so long as I don't have to run off again.".
"I hope not. I also just remembered... you did the journey and all to become a dragon, correct?", Mulan asked curiously.
Jason nodded, "Yes, precisely, but like everybody else, I have to get used to feeling the magic first and of course, grow the bond between Natasha and myself before I can become a dragon by either being in danger myself or saving someone from danger as the dragon seems to come at instinct on my will first upon high-adrenaline situations before I can do it naturally.".
"I see. And here I thought you'd be able to pull it off immediately. So, having to wait and see it all, huh?", Mulan sighed as Jason nodded, "Yeah, I wish I could do it now, but it'll eventually come.".
Mulan smiled, "You will succeed, Jason, I believe in you.", and Jason smiled appreciatively, "Thank you, Mulan. So, shall we pull down camp and ready the horses?". Mulan nodded, "Let's do it.".
The two of them quickly got everything packed and were back on the ride; slowly moving while keeping their eyes peeled. The lands may be safe for the time being but one could never be too careful as some dark stragglers might be still lurking around. While unorganized forces could easily be dealt with by the armies; small groups could easily still cause trouble. Especially if they rally near the Congo.
Luckily, they are in the south of Narnia while Congo borders the mountains with the north of Narnia on the south side of the mountains, but still, it's true that there can be small groups of evil doers, not as powerful as Frollo or anyone else in the ranks of General Scar, but like normal dangerous, with knives and battle axes as weapons while robbing riders or supply train wagons.
"Something wrong?", Mulan asked Jason as he had a look on his face. "A bit... here we are, having to ride around to see if everything's alright, putting ourselves at some risks... Meanwhile, Logan and Emma get to relax and have fun with almost not a care in the world.", Jason chuckled.
"Well, at least you're not stuck babysitting Emma's children.", Mulan teased. "That's true.", Jason gave a small laugh.
Mulan glanced at Jason, "Am I your first girl?", and Jason blushed lightly, "Romantically, yes. There were other girls, like I said, tried to connect with. Turns out they were better off friends with me, or at least acquaintances I happened to see every other week or month at the bar back on Earth...".
Mulan nodded, "I see...Does that mean this 'bar' is a brothel?", and Jason stopped his horse, his eyes widening before exhaling as his confusion changed to understanding, "You were asking if I was intimate, not romantically, weren't you?...", and Mulan blushed, nodding.
"Well, more than often, bars are just places folks drink to get drunk or socialize. There are other places like that, brothels for sure, but I never went to them.", Jason explained.
"I see. But, as you said, you've never been intimate with other women before?", Mulan asked as Jason shook his head, "No; maybe a kiss or two, but certainly nothing ever close to... passion.".
Mulan looked at him, "We're in the same situation, then...Do you want to take things slow in the sense of romance?", and Jason reached out to hold her hand, "Mulan, I told you last night that I want you to be comfortable with me as long as you want, and besides, I like how you speak of what's on your mind. It's weird without that and speaking what's on your mind is part of communication in relationships. How else can I know how to make you feel better when you don't communicate, hmm?", with a gentle, tender smile.
"True. Sometimes you just deal with folks that want to rush things faster at times, you know?", Mulan said.
"Oh, completely.", Jason says. "Back where I'm from, sometimes you have people marrying each other after knowing each other for only a few hours. It's rare, but sometimes, people rush faster into a relationship back home too. They... odds are it doesn't work out. They tend to separate.".
Mulan nodded, "Makes sense. It depends on the couple, doesn't it? I mean, different situations here definitely got your brother together with Jasmine, and Emma with Silver as well.".
Jason chuckled, "My brother had a different case in matters of his past, and as for Emma, I couldn't have blamed her after the near-death experience of Silver and her kids being conceived of a love potion.".
"What about Adam and Pippa?", Mulan asked curiously, and Jason sighed heavily, "Adam is still learning how to love after all these years as a beast and spoiled child, and Pippa, she's still tense about the intimate parts after she almost got raped by Creeper. Oh, don't get me wrong, they are totally in love with each other, but I think, for them, it's a matter of trust and time.".
"Seems like your whole team is slowly finding love.", Mulan said. "Yeah... it does, doesn't it?" Jason chuckled. "I mean, I've found you... if things work out.", he blushed.
"So far... I'd say you've been doing well in terms of being a true gentleman.", Mulan smiled warmly with a chuckle.
Jason smiled widely, "I'm glad to hear that.", squeezing her hand softly, "Do I need permission to kiss you, Fa Mulan?", and Mulan giggled softly, "You don't need permission, but thank you for asking, and yes, you can kiss me.".
Jason leaned over to kiss Mulan ever so gently on the lips, and Mulan closed her eyes happily as she kissed him back, and Jason pulled back with a smile, "You're truly beautiful like a blossom flower, Mulan.", tenderly brushing some of her hair back over her ear.
"Stop it, Jason... you're making me blush.", Mulan gave a small laugh as he flashed a grin. "That's the plan.", Jason told her as he gave her another gentle kiss.
Mulan has never imagined that she would be so happy like this ever again, yet with Jason there at her side, it's like her heart had brought out love from its hiding place. Mulan relished into the gentle kiss, and then coyly grinned, "See if you can beat me!", before urging her beloved horse, Khan into full gallop, laughter in the air.
"No fair! You know how to properly ride a horse!", Jason shouted as he got his horse to try and follow hers. Of course, it would be difficult since she was a natural rider while Jason felt he was still amateurish in terms of riding.
Mulan only laughed, "Trust your horse to run, Jason!", and Jason glanced at his horse, a new one he had acquired since his first horse couldn't leave his mate, and he was surprised to find him in the first port town he went through with Mulan after the Martag dropped them off. It's Buck from the movie, 'Home on the Range'.
Jason grinned, "You like to go fast, eh, Buck?", and Buck whinnied with a shake of his head, and he relaxed the reins, "Give all you got, boy.". Buck half-reared, and went into full gallop, heading to catch up to Mulan and Khan, neighing happily.
It almost felt like a blur to Jason, but eventually, he and Buck did catch up, only for Mulan and Khan to leave them in the dust once more. Clearly, Khan was saving energy and then when they caught up; Buck had exhausted himself while Khan took advantage.