Mulan – Ping, rather – lifted the curtain and glanced out the window. A few stories below her, people in the Imperial City were going about their daily lives. Relief hung in the air. The Huns had been defeated, and everyone's life had returned to normal.

Everyone's life – except Mulan's.

It could have been different. She could have been home right now if she had acted like nearly all the other soldiers and dashed home the moment China's victory was announced and the drafted army disbanded. Why hadn't she?

Because she had fallen in love with Captain Li Shang. And she could not go home until she was certain that he would fully recover.

….

Her man-made avalanche in the mountains had effectively defeated the entire Hun army. Thanks to their comrades, she and Shang had managed to escape near-certain death. When they had been pulled to safety and once again rested on the edge of the cliff, her Captain had looked over at her and uttered words that she knew she would treasure for the rest of her life:

"Ping, you are the craziest man I've ever met, and for that I owe you my life. From now on, you have my trust."

Instantaneously, the other men had burst out into cheers, calling her "King of the Mountain" and singing Ping's praises. Mulan's heart had swelled with pride and joy.

Their happiness was short-lived, however. Shang got to his feet, and immediately let out a cry of pain and fell to his knees again.

"Shang!" Mulan had cried out, forgetting to deepen her voice, but no one had noticed. As they crowded around their leader, they saw the arrow piercing his side, and the blood seeping out from the wound.

Despite their pleas, Shang had slipped into unconsciousness. Yao had ridden like mad into the nearest village and found a doctor. The good old man had come with him at once, and had stayed with Shang for what seemed like hours. At last, he emerged from the tent, and informed an anxious company that their Captain had a chance of survival, but would need rest and care. They had carefully carried the unconscious man into the Imperial City, found an inn, and put him to bed. Most of the company had then departed for the celebrations at the palace, while Ping, Yao, Ling and Chien Po remained at his bedside.

Mulan felt wild. What if he never woke up? She began to realize just how much her heart had come to belong to this brave, confident, principled man.

The next few days were agony. Shang became feverish, and spent his days in a restless sleep. Outside, the world rejoiced. Inside the sickroom, fear and pain reigned. Despite their loyal hearts, Yao, Ling and Chien Po were not the best of nurses, so Mulan gladly sponged the Captain's forehead with water, spooned medicine into his lips, and prayed that her ministrations would do him some good. But Shang simply lay there, occasionally groaning, completely unaware of the world.

After nearly a week, when their hopes were almost gone, the fever broke. Yao, Ling and Chien Po cheered and embraced and clapped Ping on the back. Then, they dashed outside, hungry for sunshine and fresh air and a break from the sickroom. Ping steadfastly refused to join them. Mulan would go nowhere until Shang awoke.

The soldiers did not return that night, nor did Mulan expect them to. Doubtlessly, they were busy causing havoc in the local tavern and turning all the ladies' heads. She pulled up a chair to her love's bedside, watching for any signs of further improvement. Before she knew it, her head was resting against the chair, and she herself fell into a deep sleep.

…

Shang felt warmth upon his face. His eyelids were heavy, but he finally managed to pull them open. He realized that bright sunlight had woken him up. His head was pounding, his side was throbbing, and his whole body ached. Realizing that he was in an unfamiliar room, he tried to remember how he could have possibly gotten there. He recalled the avalanche…gasping for breath on the edge of the cliff and realizing that Ping had saved him…and then pain, dizziness, confusion. Ping seemed to have been a constant in his – were they nightmares? - , holding up cold water to his lips when the heat became too much to bear, gruffly telling him that he needed to get better. He certainly was a loyal soldier, and now that the war was over, perhaps Ping would make a good friend.

Shang glanced to his right and noticed something green – like Ping's uniform. It was Ping, slumbering in a chair by his bedside. But –

Shang stared. He raised his hand and rubbed his eyes. Was he still feverish? Or was the vision before his eyes real?

As Ping had slept, the ribbon in his hair had become undone. Hair framed his face, which, in sleep, appeared so delicate – so feminine. Shang had noticed that Ping had always been deliberately clenching his jaws and wrinkling his forehead during his time in the army, and had always assumed that he was attempting to appear older and tougher than he really was. But was that all that Ping had been hiding?

Carefully, meticulously, Shang studied the figure before him. It had not the slightest trace of a beard, even though Ping had clearly slept all night and should have needed a shave. Those cheeks were too smooth, those hands were too slight to belong to a man.

Memories began to sweep over Shang. No one had known that Fa Zhou had a son – but Chi Fu had mentioned that the man had a daughter, a daughter who had the audacity to speak without permission and beg for a reprieve when her father was handed his conscription notice. When Ping was startled, his voice would become soft – like a woman's. And Ping's tent was always outside the main encampment, as if he wished to avoid his fellow soldiers.

Captain Li Shang shook his head. How could he have been such a fool? He had been training – scolding – punishing – trusting - a woman!

His fury getting the better of him, he started to sit up. A pain shot through his right side and forced him back down unto the mattress. As he gritted his teeth, the pain reminded him how close he had been to death – and how he had only escaped it because of Ping – or whatever-her-name-was.

Coming to his senses and taking a few deep breaths, he began to consider the case more rationally. This young girl had defied the law and propriety, but she likely did it to save her father – who would at this time of his life be an elderly gentleman and incapable of surviving a war. Basic training had nearly killed her, but she had worked even harder and become the best soldier in his company. And her bravery and ingenuity had saved China. And she had saved his life – twice. He owed her gratitude, and nothing more.

She began to stir. Shang nearly closed his eyes, pretending to sleep. Through slightly-opened eyelids, he saw her awaken, glance at him, and then touch her own hair. Discovering it to be brushing her shoulders, she tied it up in a panic, glancing at him all the while as if to make sure that he had not seen. Then she got up – that walk was not Ping's stomping walk, but the gentle walk of a woman. She moved around the room, boiling rice and making tea.

Shang slowly stirred, deliberately making the mattress creak to alert her to his awakening.

She glanced at him hopefully, and then, seeing his eyes widening, immediately stood up straight, clenched her jaw – and her face took on the mask that he had come to recognized as Ping. With heavy footsteps she came over to the bed, and said in her falsely-deep voice,

"Captain? Can you hear me?"

"Yes, yes I can," he answered.

"I'm glad you're alright. But I knew that the Huns could not kill you!" she barked. "The Emperor has already promoted you to General, and all of China is grateful to you."

"They should be grateful to you," Shang replied. He decided not to let her know that he had discovered her secret, at least not yet. He found his attention captured as it never had been by any other woman. This practical, devoted, intelligent maiden was certainly someone that he wished to know better.

"If I did anything right, it was because I had such good training."

Shang acknowledged this flattery with a nod. As the young lady, still acting and speaking like Ping, went to get a bit of tea for him, he suddenly realized something. If the war was over, why had she not gone home? It was a miracle that she had been undetected for so long; why should she decide to risk all and nurse him when the army could have provided a multitude of physicians to care for their new General?

The answer hit him like a tsunami wave. Her words of admiration at the training camp, her comforting presence when he had lost his father, her rescuing him – at great personal risk – during the avalanche…could it be that this blossom of spring had fallen in love with him?

…..

Shang spent the next several days pretending to sleep, while in reality he was lying on his bed, regaining his strength, and through barely-opened eyelids, watching the woman who had bested the entire Hun army. He began to cherish the moments when she assumed him in dreamland, and was herself.

She walked lightly and was generally graceful, but could have moments of unbelievably comical clumsiness. She cooked well – he could not remember the last time he had had such hearty, delicious meals. When she sat alone, in reverie, her eyes became very expressive and wistful. Once, she forgot herself completely and softly sang a sweet song under her breath as she stirred the pot. She caught herself after the first verse, and glanced towards him again to make sure she hadn't woken him up. He reveled in the sound of her voice, and it pained him that it was unlikely that he should ever hear it again. Although he was grateful that Yao, Chien Po and Ling often came to visit, he began to become impatient with them, for if they were in the vicinity the young girl played the part of Ping to perfection. He did not wish to see more of Ping – he wished to see her.

His heart began to race whenever she approached him. He began to offer up silent prayers of gratitude that he had not discovered her secret in the field, with others about. It would have been his duty to execute this beautiful creature.

….

His strength began to return, and he made a resolution. One morning, while the woman of his dreams was still slumbering in the next room, he got up out of the bed for the first time in a fortnight. He pulled his hair back, put on a clean shirt, and with shaking legs, walked over to the table.

He sat down and waited. She would not have an excuse to stay much longer, now that he was out of bed and about. He had to speak now.

After about ten minutes, he heard sounds coming from the other bedroom. Before long, 'Ping' came to the door and cautiously peered inside.

"Captain Li Shang!" she exclaimed, her voice deepening with every syllable. "You are up!"

"Yes, I am." He gestured to a chair beside him. "Come and sit down."

She seemed confused, but stomped to the offered seat. She bowed out of respect to him, and sat.

"I would like to tell you that I am grateful for your excellent care. You saved my life twice – once on the mountain, and then during the fever."

"Uhh…you're welcome, Captain." She seemed at a loss for words.

"I dislike asking you for a favor after owing you so much, but there is one thing I would very much like to ask you."

"Of course, Captain," she muttered in her deep voice.

He looked straight into her face.

"What is your real name?"

The question, predictably, threw her into confusion, and she began to stutter.

"What…my name is Ping…it has always -"

"No". Shang cut in. "I refuse to believe that any parent would name their daughter 'Ping'."

She became as white as snow, and began to tremble. Her commanding officer reached over and grasped her hand.

"You need not fear," Shang hastened to reassure her. "I have told no one my suspicions, and I never will. I was shocked and angry at first, when I realized who you were, but I soon came to my senses. Woman or not, you saved the entire nation. You are the bravest person I have ever known. But I am curious, and would like to hear, in your own words, how you came to join my recruits."

She hung her head, and in her own, sweet voice, responded,

"My name is Mulan." There was a pause, and then she added, "I did it to save my father."

Just as he had suspected. She went on to tell him everything – leaving home, arriving at the camp, blundering through her first days as a soldier. The longer she spoke, the more he respected her.

At last, she finished, still hanging her head, still believing that it was impossible that she would escape unpunished.

"Mulan", Shang said softly, caressing her name. "Please look at me."

She glanced up, fearfully.

"You are the most amazing woman I know."

She blushed. What was he saying?

"When did you find out?" she murmured, curiosity getting the better of her.

"The morning I awoke from the fever. Your hair was unbound." Shang took a deep breath, and changed the subject. "What are you planning to do, now that the war is over?"

"Go back home, of course. Let my parents know that I am still alive."

"And after that?" Shang pressed.

Mulan shrugged, as if she were loathe to consider it.

"I…I suppose I shall have to go to the matchmaker again, and attempt to do my duty by striking a good match."

The idea of marriage did not seem to be a particularly pleasant one to her. Shang began to panic.

"You…you do not wish to get married?"

"For the sake of my family, I do." Mulan quickly replied.

"And for your own?"

"I…I will never pass for a perfect wife. I speak my mind, I am clumsy, I use strange methods to accomplish household tasks – such as using a bone to trick my dog into dragging a ripped feed bag around the yard in order to nourish the chickens."

Shang threw his head back and laughed, to the young maiden's great surprise.

"That sounds very efficient. And very much like you."

"Few people would think so. My parents are in despair over my behavior."

"Well, I think that your methods are brilliant." Growing serious, the Captain suddenly leaned towards her. "And I think that you would make a perfect wife – for me."

Mulan's face became red. Was he – had he – just proposed to her? Was he in his right mind?

"You cannot mean that, Captain!" she cried out.

"I do mean it. Any reason I should not?"

"You have just been promoted to General! You will be one of the most powerful men in the empire. Any woman in China would be proud to wed you. You can do much better."

"If by better you mean have a servant who pours tea to perfection, never speaks or has an opinion of her own, and bows whenever I come into the room, then I can certainly do better. But I never wished for another subordinate. I wanted a wife…a woman who would listen to my troubles, give advice, and allow me to do the same for her. A woman who would understand. And who could understand my life better than you – you who now know what struggles life in the army brings, and what war is? And you – you yourself said that you will have to marry someone. Why not marry me? I love you, and want you as you are. You will not have to pretend with me – I know why your hair is short, and where you have been for the last three months of your life."

The look in his eyes proved that he was serious. Mulan felt her heart fluttering. She had never dared even dream of him liking her, and now he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her!

She sat up straight and met his gaze. Almost despite herself, a broad smile of happiness began to spread across her lips.

"Shang", she said, using his name without the preface of 'Captain' for the first time, "I would be honored to marry you."

He began to beam. He reached again for her hand, and pressed it to his lips. Then, very slowly, he advanced his other hand and reached for the ribbon in her hair. He pulled it, and Mulan felt her hair fall around her shoulders and frame her face. Mulan thought of how many times she had feared that he would see her like this…and how she now reveled at the sight of his face when he looked at her and her unbound hair.

"You are beautiful," he murmured. "I will treasure you forever, Fa Mulan."

"Oh, Shang."

He stood up and gently pulled her to stand next to him. Mulan smiled as she recalled how many times they had stood this close during training, when Shang had scolded her and glared at her. This time, it was different. His touch on her arms was gentle. He looked at her with a soft smile, and then began to bend his head towards hers. Before she knew it, they were both experiencing their first kiss.

…

The next few days were filled with shared meals, wonderful conversations, and occasionally soft kisses. Mulan only reverted back to 'Ping' if someone was visiting.

A few days later, Shang was well enough to ride again, and he and Mulan had decided on a date to travel back to her village. That morning, Shang put on his armor for the first time in weeks. He would be meeting his in-laws for the first time later that day, and he wanted to impress them.

But it was Mulan who impressed him.

He heard her knock on his door, and asked her to enter. When she did, he caught his breath.

She had sneaked out to the marketplace the day before, and had purchased a dress and adornments for her hair. For the first time, he saw her dressed as a lady – a comb in her hair, long flowing skirts, a sash around her tiny waist, soft slippers on her feet.

"Mulan, you are so lovely!" he exclaimed, overcome by the sight of her.

"I hoped you would like it," she laughed. "I hope you are not disappointed that I did not powder my face until the makeup caked? The matchmaker in my village said that it was the only way to catch a man."

"Then she is very foolish," Shang told her, as he drew her close and kissed her.

…..

They mounted their horses and rode for hours. The sun was already preparing to set when they reached the outskirts of Mulan's village. Unwilling to parade her new fiancé through the main street and awaken the curiosity of all the gossips, Mulan expertly guided them through the fields. Before long, they were at the back gate of her family's garden.

"Mulan?" Shang was suddenly concerned when he saw that her eyes had become misty. "Are you alright?"

She faced him and quickly wiped away the tear that had escaped from under her eyelid.

"Yes, of course. I'm home!"

Dismounting from Khan, she undid the latch and ran into the garden, Shang following close behind her.

"Baba, Mama, Grandma!" she called out. "Everyone, I'm home!"

From the house came the sound of dishes breaking, as if in shock a stack of them had been dropped; this cacophony was followed by a shriek and the sound of someone running. Within seconds, the front door was thrown open, and a middle-aged woman appeared on the terrace.

She began to dash straight at Mulan.

"Mama!" the girl cried, and within seconds they collided in each other's arms.

As they held each other, weeping, two other people appeared in the doorway of the house. First, an elderly woman crossed the threshold, exclaimed, and straightaway went to join the embrace between her granddaughter and daughter-in-law. Then, a slower step was heard, accompanied by the taps of a cane. Fa Zhou came to the door and then nearly collapsed with relief.

The women released Mulan. She caught sight of her father and whispered,

"Baba!"

"Mulan!"

Mulan approached him slowly, respectfully, but affectionately. She said,

"Father, the war is over, and the honor of the Fa family has been-"

Fa Zhou interrupted her.

"The greatest gift and honor is having you for a daughter." He reached for her and buried her in his embrace. "I've missed you so."

"I've missed you too, Baba," Mulan answered as she buried her face in his shoulder.

For a long moment they remained thus, until Fa Zhou raised his eyes and, to his shock and fear, saw a man standing in the courtyard. This man was dressed like a captain of the Chinese army, and was watching him and Mulan intently.

"Can I help you?" he asked, releasing his daughter and instinctively nudging her to stand behind him.

Mulan, however, refused to do so.

"Baba, there is someone I would like you to meet. This is Capt- I mean, General Li Shang. He was my commanding officer."

A shiver passed through Fa Zhou's form.

"Then you know," he said, regarding Shang with a piercing, defiant look.

"Honorable Fa Zhou," the young man said, bowing, "it is an honor to make your acquaintance." Seeing that he was still being eyed suspiciously, he continued, "Yes, I am aware – now – of Mulan's deception. However, I am the only one besides yourselves that knows it, and I swear that I will never reveal it to anyone. Your daughter is safe."

Relief seeped into the old man's face.

"Thank you," was all he said, but he spoke those two words so feelingly that they managed to express his heartfelt and undying gratitude to Shang.

"Please think nothing of it. Your daughter saved my life twice over." Glancing at Mulan, Li Shang continued, "May I have a word with you, sir?"

"Yes, of course," Fa Zhou answered. He came down off the porch and led Shang into the garden. The two of them walked until they had reached the blossoming cherry tree. Fa Zhou sat down on the bench beneath it, and gestured for Shang to do the same.

"Thank you," Shang said somewhat nervously. He took the offered seat. "I am hoping that what I am about to say will not be unwelcome. I know that you must have missed Mulan very much, and were hoping to have her home for a long while after her prolonged absence."

"Is there any reason that we should expect her to leave anytime soon?"

"Yes. The truth is, since I found out that Mulan was a woman I have been overwhelmed by her courage, kindness and beauty. I believe that if I were to search through China, I could not find a better wife for me. Would you bestow upon me her hand in marriage?"

Fa Zhou felt himself sway from shock. His Mulan, who a few months ago had been declared a hopeless case by the matchmaker, was being sought after by one of the most powerful men in China. And this after she had broken every rule of propriety!

"Have…have you spoken to Mulan?" he asked faintly.

"Yes, and I am delighted to say that her answer was a favorable one. We only await your approval before publicizing our engagement."

Still feeling as if he were dreaming, Fa Zhou answered,

"You appear to be a good and compassionate man, and I trust my daughter's judgment. You have my blessing."

Li Shang stood up and bowed to the older gentleman out of gratitude. Mulan's father nodded to him, and looked behind him, and began to laugh.

"I see that my daughter has not changed too much in the army. Patience was never her strong point. We have only been together two minutes, and already she is making her way across the grass to learn of the outcome of our interview."

Shang turned around. Mulan was indeed walking towards them, a strong expression of apprehension on her face. As soon as she was close enough, she gave Shang an inquiring look.

Her fiancé smiled at her. She understood. Running up to him, she threw her arms around his neck and pecked his cheek. He wrapped his arms around her and held her close.

"So Baba said yes!" she cried with happiness.

"I did," her father said, standing. He walked over, as Shang released her, and embraced her. As he held her, he whispered in her ear: "You have bloomed, and you are the most beautiful of all!"

THE END