The Revenant
Author's Note: Thanks for still reading!
Chapter summary: Two people emerge from the dead in the destroyed village. But only one of them is out for revenge.
Shang should've anticipated that Gong would attack him, especially the moment he had his back turned. But he couldn't think about what he could've done; she was on top of him trying to hold him firmly to the ground so that he would perish in the flames.
Well, Li Shang was not a man who gave up easily.
Most important, he needed to get Mulan away from the fire that just seemed to grow bigger and bigger.
"Yao, get Mulan out of here!" Shang had yelled back to his friend whilst wrestling Gong. He could hear Mulan protesting as Yao carried her away.
Shang diverted his attention back to Gong, not oblivious to the fact that the fire around them was growing with rapid speed. Gong went for his jugular, strangling Shang. She bared her teeth.
"She. Was. Mine!" Gong seethed, tightening her hold on Shang's neck with each word.
Instinctively, Shang raised a swift hand and punched Gong in the face with enough force that it knocked her off of Shang. This was Shang's chance to escape.
When Shang got up off the ground, the fire was rampant. He wouldn't make it if he ran towards where the others were. Shang looked around desperately, to see where he could escape.
He saw a small opening to the left of him, leading to one of the paths to the mountain pass. With all of the speed he could conjure up, Shang ran, praying to his father that he would make it.
Just as Shang was about to exit the fiery village, the explosion sent him flying towards the road, where he hit his head on a nearby rock.
And then Shang blacked out, his wife and daughter's names on his lips.
Three days ago, Mulan was humbled and excited about being honoured by the Emperor for saving China a year ago. Now, she didn't feel like celebrating.
Meili was bundled up in her mother's arms, where she should always be. Since reuniting, Mulan did not put the little girl down once, event sleeping with the baby tucked in her arms. She was never going to let her out of her sight. But Mulan just kept thinking that Shang should've also been there. The thought of her deceased husband reduced Mulan to tears.
"Mulan, we've arrived to the palace," Yao said, opening up the carriage door. The mourning woman simply nodded, holding Meili closer to her chest as she walked out to greet the Emperor and his daughters.
The palace had been renovated since the battle with Shan Yu destroyed it. If circumstances were different, Mulan would've marvelled at how much better the palace looked now than it did before. When she saw the Emperor approaching with the princesses, Mulan bowed her head.
"Your highness, it is an honour to have been invited back to the palace," Mulan said, her voice dull. The Emperor smiled.
"The honour is mine, Mulan. China continues to live in peace thanks to you. This celebration is the least I can do to express my gratitude," the Emperor said, bowing his head to Mulan. He smiled when he saw Meili in her arms, cooing.
"And it is an even greater honour to finally meet Li Meili. A child is gift that never stops gifting. I hope my sons-in-law will be giving my daughters children soon," The Emperor cheekily said, his daughters giggling while Yao and Ling groaned.
The Emperor looked around, hoping to speak with Shang. But he was noticeably absent. Concerned, the elderly man raised an eyebrow.
"Where is General Li? Is he not joining us for the celebrations?" The Emperor asked. Mulan bit her lip, to keep herself from crying. When the Emperor saw the young woman's lip quiver, he knew something was very wrong. Yao stepped forward, to keep Mulan from speaking.
"Sir, I think Ling and I should speak to you privately about what happened," Yao said, his voice uncharacteristically soft. The Emperor felt his heart sink, anticipating the worst. With a nod, the ruler of China turned to his daughters and gave them a small nod.
"Ting-Ting, Mei, Su, please take Mulan and Meili to the chambers. They will need to get ready for the celebrations tonight," The Emperor said.
The three princesses nodded and they rushed over to Mulan and Meili, guiding them up the stairs towards the palace, where they would hear from Mulan about the events of the last three days, and the devastating loss of Shang.
Shang was awakened to the sound of a distantly familiar voice saying his name over and over again. He knew he had heard that voice somewhere before, but where? Shang's head ached, but he willed his eyes to open, just hoping that he wouldn't come face to face with a foe.
It was Chien-Po.
"Oh Shang, you're alive! I found the village destroyed and was worried there were no survivors," Chien-Po said, helping Shang stand up. He groaned in pain.
"The Huns attacked, but I managed to get everyone to safety. Including Meili," Shang said, thankful that none of his bones were broken. Chien-Po helped Shang walk over to his horse.
"Mulan killed Shan Shin?" Chien-Po asked, seeing a body in the distance that looked like the Hun leader. Shang nodded and smiled, despite himself.
"She wasn't going to stop until he was dead," Shang noted.
"Who was the Hun woman who survived?" Chien-Po asked. Shang's heart skipped a beat. He looked over at his friend.
"What do you mean she survived?" Shang asked, incredulous. Chien-Po shrugged as he helped Shang get up on his white horse.
"When I was coming down from the mountain pass after that villager passed, I saw the woman get up, scream at Shan Shin's body, grab her sword and follow the track marks from the carriage towards the palace," Chien-Po explained as he got up on his own horse.
Shang let this sink for a moment. Gong was alive, and very obviously out for blood. But for what cause? Shan Shin was the one with the vendetta against Mulan, and it died along with him. Shan Yu's death didn't impact Gong. Why would Gong want to still seek revenge.
Shang gasped when it dawned on him what she wanted.
"Meili," Shang choked.
Chien-Po didn't wait to be told; the two men galloped towards the palace.
Gong had emerged from the ashes, her teeth bared like an animal as she heaved from rage. She wasn't entirely sure how she survived the blast, but she wasn't going to question it. And maybe all of these burns would make her look tough.
Even though everything hurt and burned, Gong willed herself to stand up and look at the carnage surrounding her. She didn't see any survivors. Gong's eyes moved directly to Shan Shin's body splayed on the ground, burned and dead. She ran over to him and dropped down beside him.
Gong had always been a loner, had never wanted to depend on anyone. She had only joined Shan Shin's army so she had an outlet to unleash her violent streak. She never built attachments to Shan Shin or any of the other soldiers.
But then Gong cared for Meili.
For the first time, Gong wanted someone around, wanted to take care of someone. And now Meili was gone, and Shan Shin and the rest of the army were all dead. Gong was fine being alone, and then Shan Shin brought her to his army and she crossed paths with Meili. And now, Gong didn't know if she could go on alone anymore.
Angry and grieving, Gong unleashed a feral scream into the air.
Grabbing Shan Shin's sword, Gong stomped in the direction of the palace.
She would not rest until Meili belonged to her again.
To be continued…
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