If we were Together: A year has passed since their separation, and Riku and Sora have grown both in size and in mentality. Sora slept in her chamber regaining her memories while Riku watched over her clouded in the gray spaces between light and darkness.
Chapter 6: Dishonor, and Discomfort
They'd messed up, it was a bit obvious to Sora that going off on their own without the captain's permission was a bad idea. The missions they'd gone on before had proved to the Captain that Ping could fight and take orders well, and he had accepted her potential. However Mushu was determined to show off what Ping was really capable of. He had spotted a shady figure heading into the caves just outside the town the troops had camped in. So as a group decision they went to investigate, hoping to bump into Shan Yu and come out of this as heros.
Still all it really had been was a trap, and though Ping showed off his stuff with true gusto that made Sora proud, it still distracted them from the problem at hand. As they exited the caves, the town was smoking and abandoned by all the people. "Awww… man!"
Sora walked in, her heart lurching in her chest as a solid rock of guilt fell on her shoulders. Ping walked beside her, eyes glancing around searching for movement. She spotted the captain on the ground, doing his best to get up using the side of a building. "Captain!"
The group rushed over, Li Shang scowled at them, grunting in pain. "Don't overdo it captain!" Sora suggested.
"It's just a scratch!" He insisted trying to get to his feet but failing.
"Captain, the enemy, where did they go?" Ping asked concentrating on the root of the problem.
"They went towards the summit."
"We'll stop them!" Ping clenched her fists now filled with determination. She wouldn't hide anymore, she wouldn't show fear. She could do this, she'd handled those heartless in the caves without fear, without trembling, and she would do the same against Shan Yu.
The road to the summit was snowy and hard on the legs. Sora felt the cold hit her fast, but the magic of her garments kept her warm. She adjusted the bandana atop her head tucking it tightly in frowning a little. "So, why are women not allowed into the army? I don't understand the logic in that."
"It's been that way for centuries, Sora. The men who are considered stronger and more capable went off to war, and the women stayed home to care for their husband and give him children." And it was always preferred, she thought to herself with a frown, that the woman bore sons.
"No offense to your culture, Ping, but that sucks!" She jolted a little as heartless popped up. It always gave her a little tingle when they would pop up from nowhere. She wondered if she would ever get used to it. She released her keyblade slicing through them one right after the other strong and true. Her breath heaved out smoke like in the cold and she stabbed the blade in the snow to look around.
"That's strange."
"What's strange, Sora?" Goofy asked dusting snow off his shield.
"Well doesn't it seem kinda weird that there's no footprints? I mean even heartless leave tracks."
"Unless they're the flying type." Donald pointed out. "Still wouldn't this Shan Yu leave tracks?"
Maybe it was something, maybe it was nothing… but Sora couldn't shake the feeling that they were being lured into another trap. They would have to approach cautiously. As they reached the top of the summit they found themselves staring up a long slide of white snow that lead further up the peak. At the top of the slant was Shan Yu, standing alone with his twisted blade gripped firmly in his hands and his trusted falcon perched on his shoulder.
He was stoic, staring at the small group with little more than a sneer in their direction. Heartless, bug like flying specimens, surrounded him in hordes. So, this was the heartless army. "Looks like we've got our work cut out for us."
Spreading out the group took their own individual cluster of heartless. Sora used the winds and the powers of her clothes and keyblade to launch herself up high and take on the hordes that lingered in the air. Her blade led her through the bulk of them, giving her hidden wisdom of their weak points and showing her special ways to eliminating them faster.
Once her cluster was gone she moved on to help Ping and the others. The skies became clear, but at the top of the pique Shan yu continued to call more to his aid. The man rose his sword running down the mountain to join the battle.
"He's coming!" Ping shouted.
"Stand back!" A familiar voice called forth. The three warriors from the foodline, Yao, Ling, and Chien Po, came up carrying a single canon. Ping smiled a bit and turned her eyes to Shan Yu. The canon would handle the man… but she wondered about the heartless. Would they still attack without their leader? If only there was a way to eliminate them all with one shot.
Her eyes continued up and she looked to the side of a peak, snow precariously clinging, a sudden shock would have it coming down in a thunderous avalanche. "That's it!" Shoving Yao aside Ping grabbed up the cannon and rushed closer. Mushu poked his head out from the back of her armor. "What are you doing?"
"Improvising!" She stabbed the canon into the snow aiming carefully. She searched for some flint… but instead found a mighty dragon. Using him, much to his dislike, she lit the canon in a quick fiery spark.
Mushu coughed clinging to the top of the cannon.. he gasped as it launched completely off course from its original target Shan Yu. "You're going the wrong way!" The canon burst against the side of the mountain just as Ping had planned out.
"yes!"
"Captain?" Sora had spotted Li shang walking up the snow with two soldiers flanking him. Ping gasped looking from the collapsing snow to Shang, worry he would get caught up in it.
"Look out!" She rushed forward grabbing hold of his hand. The ground shook under their feet and she yanked him in a sprinting run. Shan Yu's cry as he became swallowed up by the snow was full of fury, his army of heartless buried deep underneath the white blanket. Sora made a spring behind the warriors yelping as she barely jumped into the safety zone, snow spilling off the side of the mountain before coming at a rest.
"Whoa… what a ride!" She sat up adjusting her bandana happy that it'd managed to stay on.
Li Shang and Ping sat side by side panting from their heavy sprinting. The captain smiled warmly and whole heartedly. "Thanks Ping."
"It... was nothing." Ping laughed it off a little getting to his feet, Li Shang following suit.
"I should never had doubted you. From now on you have my trust."
Sora heard this and inside she did a little victory dance aiming a thumbs up at Goofy and Donald who returned it. "Hey, wait a minute." She dropped her victory pose to look around.. "Where's Mushu?"
As if on cue Mushu popped up shaking snow off himself. "First she uses me as a lighter, and then she turns me into a cannon ball! The head Ancestors are gonna hear about this."
Li shang spotted the little dragon cocking an eyebrow as it walked forward complaining about she this, she that. "What?" He watched it approach Ping and his blood ran cold.
"That's it I can't take it anymore, come on Mulan let's give up the charade and go home girl!"
"Mushu!" Ping seethed under his teeth but it was too late, Li shang had heard and now he knew the truth.
"Mulan… a woman. It can't be!"
"Captain," Sora approached coming in between him and Mulan. "We can explain."
"You knew? All of you that, Ping was a woman?" Giving up, Sora sighed and pulled off her bandana letting her braid fall out and down the twin stars glittering. Li Shang's eyes widening further. "Both of you?"
"Listen, Captain, Mulan had her reasons as did I."
"I don't care, I can't believe both of you lied to me. I trusted you!" He walked past them fury boiling inside, and he knew what he had to do. "The punishment for high treason and dishonoring the army… is death."
Mulan's eyes went wide and she turned to face Li Shang. Sora gasped in turn stepping toward him again. "Now just a min-"
"Get out of my sight!" Not bothering to turn his back he ordered them away. "You're dismissed."
"Captain…" Sora's short fuse went out her fight gone as she heard the hurt and pain of his words. He had taken the lie personally she realized.
"My debt is repaid." Shang murmured and ordered his remaining troops to head for the city where the emperor would be waiting to hear from him.
Mushu felt terrible, he'd blown Mulan's cover and killed any chance they had of honoring the Fa family. His hard work, and Mulan's bravery were all wasted. "I blew it, I'm sorry Mulan."
"It's okay, Mushu. It's not like I expected to come out of this without punishment. At least… at least he spared our lives, and we were able to defeat the enemy." She untied her hair letting the short black locks fall. Removing her armor Mulan the woman slowly appeared before Sora and the others.
Their cover may have been blown, but Sora couldn't help but offer up a smile. She finally got a chance to see the woman behind the armor, and she couldn't be happier to see her stand, head raised high and proud.
"Thank you, everyone," Mulan addressed them sweetly the forced gruff of her voice gone and replace with a voice as gentle as a flower. "I'm sorry I got you all into trouble."
"Don't worry about it, Mulan. We're just as much to blame." Sora, her own clothes back to normal, chest unbound, skirt flowing over the black legging. She felt comfortable and herself once again.
"So Mulan, what are you gonna do now?"
"Go back home." She said it almost as if she was relieved.
"You know your daddy is gonna be more steamed than a chicken dumpling." Mushu pointed out, causing Mulan's smile to fade and a deep sigh to escape her lips.
"Relax!" Sora pulled Goofy and Donald into her making sure they wouldn't escape from this. "We'll take our share of the blame!"
Mulan turned to face her and she cupped her hands together holding him to her chest. "Thanks, you're all wonderful friends."
Gathered together in a close knit group they started their hike down the mountain. The cry of a falcon sounded overhead, and was followed by the angry shout of a man that echoed in the hills. Sora and Mulan halted looking around and over the side of the clifts spotting Shan Yu, alive… and heartless popping up out of the snow like daisies. (A/N:Sorry but I had to! I love that part of the movie!)
"He's headed for the imperial city! We have to warn Shang!" Mulan got back to her feet rushing across the snow with Sora and the others behind her. Heartless now littered the path down the mountain, popping up everywhere causing their descent to slow.
With Mulan free of armor and free of the burden of her identity, she came alive on the playing field. She used her free movements to glide across the field, her sword both strong and graceful. It was here where Mulan truly shined, here without the armor and smoke of a male persona that Mulan would show her true worth.
With a fire lit under her own butt Sora fought harder as well. She led the way into the city, Shang and is warriors slowly crossing the courtyard.
"Shang!" Mulan shouted and rushed pass Sora and approached him. "Shan Yu is alive! He's headed this way!"
Li Shang frowned at her, a mix of emotion rolling over him as he saw the mask had come off and the woman revealed. "Why should I believe you this time?"
"She's telling you the truth!" Sora pleaded with him wanting Shang to see their were being honest. Donald squawked behind her pointing at the sky where the falcon circled overhead. Shang spotted it, his guard up again his eyes scanned the area. He spotted him, Shan Yu standing atop the roof alive and strong.
"Guard the palace!" He shouted to his warriors… Yao, Ling, Chien Po rushing forward. "Do not let Shan Yu get anywhere near the emperor!" He turned to see the other soldiers still stumbling behind. "That's an order… what?"
The facade of the warriors faded into darkness, their true heartless form appearing. Shang backed away shocked. Mulan and Sora pushed in front of him their blades out and at the ready. "Captain we'll secure the courtyard, you go save the emperor!"
"That's an order!" Donald added his two cents in and had Shang laughing, and turning on his heels to join the others in helping the emperor.
Securing the courtyard was the easy part. There may have been a swarm of heartless, but between the four warriors and Mushu's fire power it was easy pickings. It was when they raced up the steps to the palace that the true test began. The only enemy left was Shan Yu himself, and he wasn't about to go down without a fight.
Shang and the others had secured the emperor in the palace behind thick closed doors. The group stood in front of the doors becoming one more wall for Shan Yu to climb.
"This ends now!" Mulan declared her blade out in front, and her head high and confident. Sora stood beside her, the two women sharing looks of determination and drive. Sora struck first, testing out her Valor form she released the strong radiant power, grasping hold of the second glade with glaring confidence. She zipped forward beating her blades into him in a rapid succession.
Donald backed her up, sending forth flames from his wand burning away Shan Yu's defenses. Goofy and Mulan hung back, heartless popping up to try and attempt to open the doors of the palace, but were warded off.
Sora met blades with Shan Yu pushing against him matching strength for strength. She pushed his blade up and kicked him back but atthat moment Valor Form faded and he launched at her sending her crashing up against the doors of the Palace.
"Sora!" Mulan gasped and turned angry to Shan Yu. "Mushu!" She launched forward Mushu's fire adding a sort of boost to her sprint and she let her blade swing forth. She took over the battle as Sora collected herself, shaking off the knock back and treating her wounds with a potion.
"Man he's tough!" She pushed back heartless that popped up taking her turn on defense. "We need to drop him!" Mulan skidded back towards her Donald completing the line… Smoky darkness leaked from Shan Yu, the man was wavering. "He's weakened… let's attack him all together!"
"I'm with you Sora!" Mulan pressed in close, and the two of them attacked together beating against Shan Yu, their powers melding and overwhelming all of Shan Yu's defenses. Fire blazed, blades lashed out, and determined eyes pierced through. Sora watched as Shan Yu's eyes went wide and frightened as the final blow knocked him back and over. He stumbled and gasped his eyes closed tightly as he tried to breathe… but found himself on the floor… and fading away.
The only thing left of the mighty Shan Yu, was his twisted sword.
The emperor and Shang came out of the barrier, and they watched Mulan and Sora celebrate close knit sharing hugs and bouncing up and down giddily. Mushu skipped around praising Mulan, and himself in his flamboyant and loud personality. Their celebrating halted when they caught them watching, and the girls morphed back into soldiers standing tall in salute to the captain and emperor.
By now the courtyard was crowded with people, eager to find out the results of the war against Shan Yu and the mysterious creatures. It made Sora a little nervous, having an audience to determine their fate. She knew now this culture didn't care for female's fighting and though they beat Shan Yu, rules were rules, and they'd broken a BIG one.
Shang hung back and let the emperor approach the young warriors. The first time the man spoke, Sora felt dread pool in her stomach. "I've heard a great deal about you, Fa Mulan."
Sora put a comforting hand on her shoulder. Mulan stepped forward and out of reach, tucking her hair back in traditional prose she bowed her head to the ruler of her people.
"You stole your father's, ran away from home… impersonated an imperial soldier." He watched Mulan as he spoke, she stayed bowed but he could see the little fidgets in her body showing her nervousness and discomfort. "You deceived your commanding officer, shamed the entire Chinese army, and dishonored your family name."
"We get the picture…" Sora muttered fisting her hands at her sides and her feet rolling back and forth from toe to heel.
"You are a young woman… and in the end," the sounds of nervousness and disappointment echoed from Mulan's friends, and he couldn't help but smile. "You have saved us all." He bowed to her, Mulan's head coming up in shock and she couldn't function. She stared at the emperor eyes wide and hands moving about not sure whether to touch or move him upward.
From behind them she heard the crowd make cheers and Mulan's heart and pride soared. She turned to Sora who couldn't help but continue her little victory dance. Mulan turned to her and the two girls hugged and laughed as Goofy and Donald circled about them cheering.
"As for you, Sora." Sora pulled from Mulan when the emperor addressed her and she did a small bow of her own.
"Yes, sir?"
"It is clear to me that you're not of this world, I know not why you are here but I would like to say that you fought for us, helped Mulan into discovering herself, and ensured the safety of my people. Despite the fact you too are a young woman you have proven yourself a true warrior. To you and your friends Donald and Goofy, I thank you."
"It is an honor to hear you say that, but I'm just happy that you and your world are safe." She pat Mulan on the shoulder. "It's Mulan I'm most proud of. I was happy and honored to fight alongside of her."
"Of that, we can both agree. Ahem, Captain Li Shang." He turned his head, and Shang nodded presenting Shan Yu's sword to Mulan. She took it the two of them sharing deep meaningful glances. Mulan felt her heart roll in her chest as their hands brushed and her cheeks flushed slightly.
Shan Yu stared at this woman, strong, elegant, and unique. He felt a discomforting flush creep up on his cheeks and he backed away.
"Take this, Fa Mulan, so the world will know what you have done for China." The emperor spoke proudly, his lips quirking a little when he noticed the slight attraction between the two warriors.
"Mulan," Shang addressed Mulan, watching her hold the sword preciously and smile in his direction. He paused and quickly turned his attention to the others. "Sora, Donald, Goofy." All three of them addressed him in return, and with the weight lifting from his shoulders he bowed in respect to them. "Thank You."
"Thank you?" This from the emperor who was obviously amused. "Is that all there is to say captain? If you want to win the heart of Fa Mulan, China's bravest woman, you'll have to be a bit more eloquent than that."
Shang fidgeted and stuttered making Mulan giggle in turn. Sora watched them smiling big and she absentmindedly fingered the charm in her hair Riku coming to mind. At that moment she wondered where he was, what he was doing, and hoped with every fiber of her being that he was safe.
~Hallow Bastion~
Mickey had managed to go through town without being spotted by Leon and the others. His goal was to make it to the Bailey where he knew Riku would be waiting for him for their briefing. The heartless had lessened, the few that popped up easily were taken care of by the defense system.
Riku glanced over at Mickey when he approached, his hood pulled up over his face, and his arms crossed over his chest. "I was beginning to think you'd gotten held up."
"I kinda was, I nearly blew my cover trying to follow them."
"What have you found out then?"
"They seem to be splitting up and spreading out through the different worlds. Each member has their own individual missions they're supposed to go on. I didn't get a chance to hear much, but I know now they have men in Beast's Castle, and the Coliseum." Mickey explained keeping his voice low as he took a seat beside the look out.
"Saix and their leader aren't gonna go anywhere, it seems those two are the ones who oversee everything. What about Axel? He wasn't present at the introduction, do you have any information on his whereabouts?"
"Actually that's what's bothering me. It would seem Axel has backed off from the original mission he was given and has gone rogue. I can't find him anywhere and they were talking about erasing him from the ranks."
"If Axel rally is rebelling he could have intel that could useful to us. Why does it worry you that he's rebelling?" Riku questioned.
"Because the last time I checked in he and Saix were having a heated discussion about Roxas… and Sora." Mickey confessed.
"What about Sora?" Interest turning to concern Riku fully faced him.
"I think he's planning to separate Roxas from Sora somehow, but without knowing what he's planning he's going to be hard to track down."
Riku pulled back from the lookout to pace. He fought with his feelings, his need to protect Sora, and his dedication to the mission. "One of us should trail Sora, make sure she doesn't get ambushed."
"Agreed… I'll stay with Sora then," he caught the wince in the gold eyes that peeked behind the hood. "I know you want to protect her Riku… and I know you don't want her to see you the way you are now. Just leave her to me, trust me to protect her."
"Okay," painfully Riku agreed flexing his hands at his sides. "Please… take care of her."
"Just leave it to me!"
This chapter was way longer than I'd expected. I think it may be a few days before I post the next chapter so I can figure out just how I want this story to flow. Obviously I'll be skipping some worlds to save the story from dragging on, so let me know now if there's any world specifically that you do or don't want left out.
Next Chapter: Charmed and Enchanted