They rode over without the men noticing. After they had finished dusting themselves off and cursing the man that had kicked them out, they turned and saw the couple.
"General Shang! Mulan!" they yelled, forgetting about their anger.
"It looks like you three still have an affinity for finding trouble," Shang joked, "I'm surprised Ping isn't involved this time."
Shang looked at Mulan, who gave him a sheepish grin before dismounting her horse. When she was on the ground, the three men engulfed her in a group hug, causing her to burst into laughter. She had missed her friends.
"So what's new with you two?" Ling asked.
Shang, who had also dismounted, walked up to the group. He took Mulan's hand in his own and they shared a smile.
"Mulan and I are engaged to be married," Shang said proudly, still looking at his future bride.
The gang of three started cheering. They all knew after the incident at the palace that Mulan and Shang would end up together. Mulan and Shang laughed as Chien-Po picked them both up in a big hug. He set them down and Shang put his arm around Mulan's waist.
"Where are you headed?" Yao asked when the celebrating had calmed.
"We're going camping," Mulan told him, then looked at Shang.
He nodded, knowing what she was asking.
"Would you three like to join us?" she asked the group, "it would be nice to catch up."
The gang all nodded, accepting the invitation graciously.
"Go get your things," Shang said, "we'll wait here."
The men ran off to pack their things. Mulan and Shang led their horses to a trough filled with water so they could drink. Mulan leaned her head on Shang's shoulder as she watched the ripples in the water. She saw her reflection and, at last, she recognized the person smiling back at her. A second smile joined her reflection and she looked up at Shang.
"I don't know that I've ever seen you smile this much, Fa Mulan," he told her, half joking.
"I've always felt out of place, like I didn't belong. I didn't recognize my own reflection. But now, I know who I am."
Shang smiled down at her, then kissed her forehead. After a moment, they heard the usual bickering of their friends as they made their way back toward Shang and Mulan. Unexpectedly, Shang lifted Mulan off her feet, setting her on Khan's back with ease. She blushed and smiled at him as he pulled himself onto his own horse. The group set off down the road, soon leaving the village and its gossip behind them.
They walked down the road for a few hours, stopping every now and then so the men could rest their feet. It had been several months since they'd had to do any marching. They were out of shape.
When they finally found the perfect place to set up camp, Mulan and Shang got down from their horses. Shang removed his armor and they began to set up their tents. Yao, Ling, and Chien-Po had each brought their own tents as well. After the tents were all set up, they decided to split up and look for firewood. The gang of three went in one direction, Mulan another, and Shang went his own way.
"Don't go too far, we don't want anyone getting lost," Shang called out as they all went their separate ways.