Hi guys. I don't own anything except for any OC's I just happen to slip in. Ok, so I thought that I wouldn't really be able to post anything for this story because the Disney version of Mulan was so off. But, turns out, I have recently gotten some new ideas for how I can mix things up a little. So see how how you like this story.
An eerie blue glow lit up the temple while thunder cracked overhead like a whip. Even as Mulan was steadily thundering away astride Khan, the ancestors felt the absence of her presence. Slowly, the ancestors stirred from their slumber and slipped out into the pouring rain. Into Gramma's wakeful dream they slipped very easily and began to paint a scene.
Battle cries sounded out across the landscape as waves of soldiers threw themselves into battle. Steel smote steel, yellow sparks dancing between the blades. Thick smoke blanketed the air as the sound of cannon fire rippled through the air. The silence that followed was deafening as the smoky veil cleared away, revealing a young warrior bathed in a white light. In a flash that rivaled the speed of lightening, the warrior drew out a sword and launched out into the fray. A golden eyed man sprung forward from the line to meet the warrior and was struck down. When the warrior tilted their head, Gramma gasped.
Gramma shot up from her bad, her hair matted with sweat. Her breath came out ragged as she leapt from her bed, grabbing a lantern on the way out. She sprinted down the hallway quickly, her feet barely hitting the floor in her haste. She threw herself through the open doorway panting.
"Mulan is gone!" Her voice reverberated off the walls, ripping the couple out of their slumber. Zhou turned to his bedside and noticed the small pendant, Mulan's pendant.
"It can't be," he whispered softly, his heart leaping up into his throat. He staggered out of bed and over to the wall, and snatching his cane up, he hobbled down the dark corridor.
"Gramma, are you sure?" Li hurried down the hall to Mulan's room and found that Mulan hadn't even touched her room. She glanced around. Everything was neat, exactly where it should be, but not at all in state that Mulan would have it in. A dull thud echoed down the hall, causing both Gramma and Li to jump.
As they walked down the dark corridor, they saw Zhou leaning heavily against the doorframe, his face etched with a dark fear. They knelt at his side and tried to soothe him, but he brushed them off as he stumbled out into the heavy downpour.
"Mulan, " he cried out in despair, falling hard against the rain soaked earth. The gates creaked and groaned as they swung in the howling wind. "No." He heard Li drop down at his side, her hands steadying him.
"You must go after her. She could be killed!" She looked off into the darkness that her daughter had run towards.
Zhou followed her gaze, his throat beginning to close up. "If I reveal her, she will be." He looked down as the tears came and let them consume him, his fingers still clasped tightly around the pendant.
Gramma watched over them both, holding the lantern up high as though to ward off the darkness that plagued their heart. Her eyes glistened with sadness as she tilted her head up. "Ancestors, hear our prayer. Watch over Mulan."
In the family temple, a hushed breath of wind quickly snuffed out the burning incense, the last traces of the smoke curling up gently in the midst of the large headstones. The eerily still air within the temple was broken suddenly by a sudden puff of the stormy breeze that ended the life of the incense. A cold blue glow lit up the center stone, starting from its base. The brilliance of the headstone filled the entirety of the temple and even extended beyond the threshold into the stormy darkness of the world outside. The light only grew brighter and brighter still when all of the spectral beings had emerged from their stones. In the center of their clustered forms was the minute form of a dragon whose many scales shimmered crimson like the color of blood.
Leaning back against the pillars on the front steps of the porch, Gramma caught a glimpse of the blueish glow and almost heard the multitude of voices that was nearly silenced by the raging storm above. She smiled, feeling instantly satisfied, and turned to retreat back into the house. Her work here was done.
Thunder roared overhead, lightning dancing amongst the clouds, and she heard faint whinnies off in the distance. Mulan's fingers tightened on the reins as the soft glow of torches came into view. Her heart seemed to sink into the dirt and rise up into her throat in dread. She swiftly jerked at Khan's reins, leaping deftly from his back. Her breath came in short ragged bursts as she stared down at the loose dirt beneath her feet. What have I done? Falling to her knees, she tasted bile in the backside of her throat and felt the sweat beading up on her brow. Did I really just do this? Khan whinnied softly, pressing his face into her back. She didn't even respond, instead digging her hands in the rain moistened soil.
"I don't know if I can do this Khan." Glancing back at the horse, she continued, "How am I supposed to convince a whole army that I am one of them?"
"Well you could start by not moping in the mud and start acting like a soldier."
Khan dark eyes widened and he leapt up into the air. Mulan turned around slowly, her heart racing. A large, black dragon silhouette hovered over her, stretching across the base of an enormous boulder. Mulan screamed and hid behind Khan.
"What? Are you serious," the shadow stated. "Since when do soldiers scream? Soldiers don't scream!"
Peeking out from behind the horse's back, Mulan stared up at shadow. "It's a ghost," she whispered.
"A ghost? I am no ghost. I am a Guardian, sent down by your ancestors to guide you." The flames around the specter rose up; lightning flashed in the sky. "Heed my word, child. If the army finds out that you're a woman, the penalty will be death."
"Just who are you?"
"Who am I? I, granted with the power behind your mortal comprehension, am your Guardian. I am Mushu." Stepping out from his hiding place, Mulan could see his real size.
Standing only about a foot off the ground, he grinned up at her. Her face fell. This was her Guardian? Oh how her ancestors must really hate her. Kneeling down, she held her hand above his head.
"My ancestors sent a lizard to help me?" Measuring how tall he was, she grimaced. "You're really tiny."
"Hey, I'm travel-sized, and I am a Dragon, Dragon, not lizard. I don't do that tongue thing," he said, sticking his tongue out for emphasis.
"I still think you're a lizard."
"A lizard?! I am no lizard." Scrambling up to the top of a boulder, he sat down and glared at her. "I have powers that extend beyond you're mortal imagination. For instance, my eyes can see straight through your armor."
Bringing her arm up around her chest, Mulan made a face and smacked Mushu. The force from the blow sent him flying through the air and sprawling onto the ground. Sitting up, he whipped his head around and screamed.
"Cric-Kee," he shrieked at a small cricket. "Make a note of this. Dishonor, dishonor on your whole family. Dishonor on you, dishonor on your cow, dis-" His furious suddenly became little than muffled shrieks as Mulan's hand clamped down tightly on his mouth.
"Shut up," she hissed, ducking behind a boulder.
Suddenly the shadows disappeared, giving way to a warm golden light. Mulan peeked around and noticed Khan. The horse was huddled in the distant shadows, his whole body shaking as the person moved closer. Mulan swallowed hard and, seizing up a good sized stone, she threw it. It thudded against the earth, drawing the attention of whoever was holding the torch. Mulan lifted herself up and looked around. It was a soldier! She waited for a moment, until his light had long since faded in the midst of the drizzling rain, and darted over to Khan. Khan immediately lowered himself down, letting Mulan slide onto his back.
"We need to move now." Mulan's eyes darted back to the direction the soldier went. "Mushu!"
"Come on, Cri-Kee." The cricket chirped indignantly. "I don't care about that! Just leave it. Leave the notes ,Cri-Kee," he ordered.
"Mushu," Mulan whispered, her voice taking on a panicked note.
Mushu turned and upon seeing the light getting that much closer, he snatched up Cri-Kee. Cri-Kee chirped angrily as Mushu scrambled into Khan's saddle bags. Khan rolled his eyes at the pair and surged forward, racing off into the storm again.
Alright, so I hope you enjoyed this chapter, and check out "A Warrior's Heart." I have recently updated that one too, and there are definite differences in how they're developing. So check it out, and review, tell me what you think. I'd really like some feedback on this one.
-Inirtia