Disclaimer: I don't own Mulan or the other characters, Disney does.

Chapter 4

Fa Zhou knocked quietly on Mulan's door, and waited until Mulan opened her door to go in. "Can I talk to you about last night," Fa Zhou asked quietly. Mulan looked confused for a second, and then nodded yes.

"I want to apologize for what you had heard me telling you mother. It wasn't intended for your ears and I shouldn't have even said it especially when a few hours before that I had said that the greatest gift and honor is having you for a daughter. I meant what I said, but after all the worrying and waiting, never knowing whether you were or not, and then finally realizing last night that you're not my little girl anymore. Instead you're a beautiful woman, who is wise for her age, and who's in love. I guess that I can't call you my little flower anymore…" Fa Zhou trailed off, for he had said everything, and more, that he intended to say.

"Baba, no matter how old I'll get, I will always be your little flower. And I'll forgive you, if you forgive me for not handling it better and for not telling you that I got wounded. Deal?" Mulan tried smiling but it was a failed attempt.

"Deal." Fa Zhou and Mulan laughed at how silly they could be even after they've been fighting. "So you and Shang, huh?"

"Baba! There is nothing going on between Shang and I," Mulan exclaimed, this time she was able to hide her blushing. Fa Zhou just gave a knowing smile and they got up together and went to breakfast. When they got there, Fa Zhou noticed Mulan's confusion at someone else sitting in Shang's spot. "Baba…who is this," she asked with a strange note in her voice. Fa Zhou knew what she was thinking of…

Mulan was sitting on the Great Stone dragon, day dreaming about what it would be like to be a princess. She was interrupted when a stranger came up to her, and prodded her on her shoulder.

"Excuse me, little girl, I am Captain Yang. Do you know where I can find General Fa?" Mulan could tell that he wasn't from around here by how heavy is accent was, but she didn't find it too unusual.

"For you information, I am not a little girl, I'm ten. My baba is in the gardens, would you like me to show you exactly where he is?" Captain Yang nodded and smiled, as Mulan grabbed his hand and half-dragged, half-pulled him toward the gardens. Captain Yang saw General Fa, he tightened his gripped on her hand, Mulan started to protest, but he hushed her.

"General Fa, pay close attention or else she will suffer the consequences." Mulan didn't pay attention to the argument between her baba and Captain Yang. She knew that Captain Yang wasn't who he said he was, and so, she tried to figure out a way to escape. When Mulan thought she had the perfect plan, Captain Yang pushed her to the ground and held a knife to her back.

"Now are you going to do what I say, Fa Zhou, or are you going to let her die." Mulan could see her father getting ready to submit himself to Captain Yang.

"Baba, don't give in. Never show your weaknesses remember?" Mulan could see hope in her dad's eyes as he began to advance toward them.

What happened next was a blur to Mulan, all she remembered was how pretty silver looked against the blue sky, how cold the knife felt as it cut deep into her skin, and how her father managed to get the man to retreat, but not before the man drove the very same knife he used on Mulan, into her father's side. After Fa Zhou and Mulan were bandaged, Mulan finally asked who that was.

Fa Zhou looked at her and said one word that everybody feared, "a Hun."

"Are you sure that that man isn't a Hun in disguised? You know, as well as I do, that they are capable of doing that." Mulan whispered sharply to Fa Zhou.

"I'm sure he's not a Hun, Mulan," Fa Zhou whispered back. He saw that Mulan didn't believe him one bit. Fa Zhou sighed, "This is going to be a long breakfast."

"Fa Zhou, is it alright if I take Mulan away for now?" Mulan looked up at Shang, who was standing nervously in the doorway, making her forget her suspensions about the stranger. Instead, she focused on why Shang was acting nervous.

"I guess it would be alright, but she hasn't eaten breakfast yet." Mulan could tell that Fa Zhou was going to let her go anyway because he trusted Shang.

"That's okay, we won't be going far, and I got some food with me." Shang looked eager to go and Mulan was too. She hasn't had a day alone with Shang since they've gotten back, and she's been too busy fighting with her father to pay any attention to him.

"Then what are you waiting for, go." Mulan quickly stood up and would have fallen to the ground if not for Shang, who caught her at the last minute. He pulled her upright, and kept his arm around her. Mulan couldn't help smiling at the gesture as they walked out the dining room like that.

When Mulan couldn't stand the suspense anymore, she blurted out, "You're going to tell me where we are going, right?"

Shang laughed, "Did you know that it took three whole minutes until you asked that?" Mulan made a face and Shang couldn't help but laugh at that. "Okay, stop here and put this on." Shang handed her a blindfold.

"Do I- "

"Yes, you have to. As your Captain, I command you to do it." Mulan could tell that he was trying to be serious but she detected a hint of laughter in his voice.

Mulan saluted him and said, "Yes, sir." She let him lead her to wherever he was leading her too. When they finally got there, Mulan could hear water rushing past her. Shang took the blindfold off, and Mulan was speechless. She was at her favorite place, but it changed somehow. Shang managed to flower petals in the stream, and they kept swimming around like schools of fish. He laid out a blanket, with Mulan favorite foods on it. There were candles that smelled like an ocean breeze was passing over them, and last but not least, he had a bouquet of orchids that he handed to her after she looked around. Mulan was shocked that Shang had done all this for her.

"Well, um, do you like it," Shang asked since Mulan wasn't saying anything.

"No, I don't like it, I love it. Thank you, Shang." Mulan hugged him; Shang smiled and hugged her back. Shang then pulled her to the ground, and together, they spent the day enjoying each other company, sharing memories, no matter how bad or embarrassing they were, and learning new things about each other that they didn't know before. Mulan feel asleep that night, still thinking about her day with Shang, and knowing the he would be in her dreams that night.

Shang looked at the closed door, across the hall from his. He knew that he should have told Mulan that he might have to leave soon, but he couldn't. Shang sighed, and opened the letter that he had received that morning.

General Li,

I am sorry to inform you but your presence is

required immediately. There have been stories

about the Huns causing attacks in remote areas.

I am not worried but my advisors feel that we

should have a plan just in case. Fa Mulan presence

is not needed at this moment. Leave the day that

you receive this.

EmperorBao-Zhi

Shang couldn't believe his eyes. "Leave? Now? Without saying goodbye….no I don't think so. I'll leave in the morning….but the emperor said to leave when he got this." Shang couldn't think straight, and he couldn't make his mind up. Shang finally decides to pack his bags now, and leave in the morning. He would leave after he said goodbye.

Shan Yu couldn't believe his eyes when the girl he was after suddenly walked in the room, and sat down next to him. He thought his mind was just playing tricks on him until a certain general asked the old man, who turned out to be Fa Zhou, if he could take the brat away for awhile. Shan Yu couldn't believe his luck. He made up his mind not to leave this house until step one of his plan is complete. "They are in for a big surprise," Shan Yu thought grinning to himself.