Author's Note: Everyone's questions will be answered in this chapter, which I couldn't wait to release. I started working on it as soon as I submitted these chapters today, but Chapter eight will come some day. And sorry I kinda went all High School Musical in Chapter 5, I was watching it and I thought it was kinda cute:) And as for the village, I sorta came to the idea where it was an independent village that only relies on help from their own village and does not want to help those who only cause trouble (I kinda got it from the Star Wars shows...yeah I know I watch a lot of weird shows.) And in this story, I want to show Mulan's intelligence and strong way of doing things...After all she is the Heroine of China:D

Special Thanks to: (for reviewing my chapters! You guys are the best!)

Trackrat - hahaha LMAO it's okay I would have probably died too. Mulan would have been my inspiration!

Koolbroadwayreader - I just noticed what your sn was (i'm kinda slow) what's your favorite broadway musical? And in the reviews...like I said, you seem to know what I'm thinking most of the time! haha especially with the old lady part...I tried to make her likeable but I still didn't really like her

Mulan groaned. The sunshine crept up slowly across her face and she turned around to face in the opposite direction, but it didn't help. She put the blanket over her face, but that didn't help much either. She put her head face down on the pillow. Sure it was still a little uncomfortable, but at least she could sleep in peace.

"Mulan!" her mother called from the house's front door. "It's time for you to get up!"

"Speak of the devil," Mulan muttered.

She had finally gotten some peace and her mother calls her to get up. Her mother, on the other hand, had no patience for this. She ran into Mulan's room and pulled off the covers. Mulan groaned. Her mother tried to pull her off using her arms, but Mulan, the good warrior, managed to get away from her mother's grasp.

Mulan's mother sighed and gave up. She threw the blanket back on Mulan. "I'm sorry Shang; I thought she'd be happy to see you, after waiting another two weeks for your recovery."

"Shang?" Mulan immediately sat up in bed. She, however, couldn't see anything because all her hair had fallen in front of her face. Overall, Mulan's hair looked like one big glob.

Shang quietly chuckled to see Mulan distraught that he was in the house. He could tell she wanted to look better than how she looked now, but he could care less. Mulan, who was completely unaware that Shang was in the room, ran to her mirror to fix her hair. Once she got it a little under control and was able to see, she saw that Shang was standing at her door.

"How long have you been standing there?" Mulan asked in horror. She didn't want to turn around, but was frozen at the mirror, looking at him only through the mirror's reflection.

Shang returned the look and laughed, "Long enough to see you distraught that I was in the same house, and long enough to see you anxious to look better for my presence. Mulan I have seen you look worse than that, and I'll have to someday." He walked over to her and smiled.

"Thanks?" she asked, unsure about whether it was a compliment or just a shot at her.

He slipped his arms around her waist as she continued to fix her hair. She smiled and happily sighed to be in Shang's arms again. He bent down to rest his head on her shoulder. "I've missed you Mulan," he whispered in her ear and kissed her cheek.

"Me too Shang," she turned and faced him and then gave him a slap on the face, "You don't know how much you scared me by disappearing like that!"

"Well I finally got all your letters," he laughed, "Seems like your mother placed them in my bag before I left. I wonder why I didn't get them."

"Never mind that," Mulan smiled, "I got your treasure." She lifted her hair to show the necklace. Mulan also led him to the window to show him how fast the magnolia tree was growing. She then kissed him on the lips. "I love you Shang."

Shang returned the kiss and held Mulan in his arms. However he decided to move his arms farther down her waist. Mulan giggled but then removed his hands.

"I don't think so Shang," she laughed. "You must be pretty crazy to think that."

"I'm crazy about you," he teased. "Besides we're getting married so soon. Why wait?"

"Because true love waits," Mulan smirked, "I think we should wait till we get married."

"Well that didn't stop us the first time," he grinned.

Mulan laughed, "I don't care. I think we can manage a week."

"Speaking about getting married," Shang started.

"Don't tell me you're having second thoughts," Mulan warned him.

"No, no," Shang reassured her, "Not at all. I'm afraid I couldn't come here just for pleasure and to visit. I come here with a message from the Emperor. He wants to see both of us and be prepared for a mission."

Mulan sighed. "Again? Can't he wait until after we get married?"

"I'm afraid not," Shang replied, "He says this mission is very important."

Mulan grunted. "Well then, what are we waiting for?"

…

Once they reached the palace steps, a man guided them into the palace. Some servants took away Shang's horse and Khan. Mulan and Shang walked hand-in-hand to the Emperor's meeting room, where they found him sitting at his table along with other members of the Counsel. Mulan spotted Shang's father who sat alongside his son, Shang's older brother. He had all his father's features, while Shang had a mix of both his parents. Without a doubt, Mulan agreed that Shang was more attractive than his brother. Shang opened a seat across from his father for Mulan. He, on the other hand, sat in front of his brother, who just looked up briefly and then back down at the map.

Mulan whispered to Shang, "Is that your brother Cheng?" Shang, for some reason, refused to look at him, but nodded yes to Mulan.

"Ah Fa Mulan, I mean Counsel Fa," the Emperor greeted her, "How wonderful it is for you to join us here."

"I'm afraid that this meeting is not going to be pleasant now is it?" she asked.

The Emperor shook his head, "Unfortunately, one of our missions has failed and we need you to go and see that it succeeds."

"What mission?" Mulan asked.

"We sent a girl to go and marry one of the Qui Gong princes, from the Middle Kingdom." The Emperor started.

"Sir," Mulan replied, "I am sorry, but I am not up for marriage. I am already engaged to Li Shang."

"I refuse to let Mulan marry any man. We are to be married in a week." Shang answered.

"That's not the part that went wrong," The Emperor replied. "The prince is happy with his new bride. They have been married for two weeks already. Unfortunately, we sent a diplomat over there to discuss the army plans and our agreement. However she disappeared."

"She?" Mulan asked.

"That she happens to be Xiaohua," the Emperor answered her question, "The only source and link we had to the Mongol tribes."

"Sir I thought we had a deal! I am not to be Xiaohua's bodyguard. You yourself promised. I was not up for her joining our intelligence, but to accept it, you promised that neither I, nor Shang would act as her bodyguard."

"But we need her now. And if she is not alive, our hopes of dealing with the Mongol tribe are thrown out the window and into the river. Please do it Fa Mulan," The Emperor pleaded.

Mulan looked to Shang, "Should we do it?" she asked him in her mind.

"The Emperor is begging us. And he's right, we do need her. Let's just get it over with Mulan. They trusted us with this mission, and think we are the only ones capable of accomplishing it." Shang replied.

"Fine," Mulan replied reluctantly, "but we will need assistance."

"I have chosen the perfect man for the job," The Emperor replied.

"Sir, with all due respect, I was thinking that Fa Mulan and I should choose the man," Shang answered him.

"And who do you plan to choose?" Shang's brother asked. "Those three buffoons you call heroes?"

Mulan knew he was referring to Yao, Chien-Po, and Ling. She was going to respond back, but Shang beat her to it. "Those men are trained. They are highly skilled and helped get the Emperor to safety. If there is anyone that I trust, it is those three." Mulan was glad she was staying out of this fight, but it wasn't before long before she wished she could say something.

"What would you know about trust?" he retorted, "You're marrying the girl who deceived you and all of China!"

No one in the room laughed. In fact they just seemed to stare at him. Shang was about to jump up and attack him, but Mulan stopped him. She placed a reassuring hand on him and breathed in slowly. "He's not worth it Shang. He's not worth losing your control."

"Did you not hear him?" Shang was seething through his teeth. "How dare he insult you..."

Mulan smiled. "Don't worry, I'm fine. It's nothing I'm not use to." She however glared briefly at Shang's brother, before facing the Emperor again. "Who do you plan to give us?" she asked.

"His name is Shan," the Emperor proudly answered, "He was also trained in the Army Academy and was at the top of his class. He however chose to guard me here at the palace than join the army. Shan agreed that you, Li Shang, would make a better General than he. But he would like to work with you. Shan is trained in stealth. He is quick and knows how to stay hidden. He is good at aiming and quick thinking. However, he is not as clever as you are Fa Mulan, or as accurate as you are Shang, since he is a rookie and relies greatly on speed, resulting in carelessness. But with you and Shang combined, I think you'll do just fine."

The Emperor pointed at the door and cleared his throat. At that moment a man entered into the room. He was tall and built. You could tell he was strong. He had beautiful black hair and dark mysterious eyes. He was certainly handsome, but maybe not as much as Shang. Mulan smiled, which Shang noticed.

"Don't get any ideas Mulan," he warned her.

Mulan looked at Shan, who continued to smile at the people around them. He then caught Mulan's eyes and grinned. She then returned the look and pursed her lips.

…

Shang sighed as he and Mulan walked out of the room. "This is why I didn't want you to meet my family," Shang muttered, "My brother is on such a high horse because he is the oldest. He thinks he's too good because he's a Counsel and not a General. I do all the dirty work while he just relaxes. He doesn't even show up for family gatherings even though he used to live at my parents' house. He and Xianxi just escape and go somewhere else. Now he just stays at home and rarely even speaks to my parents. What a jerk face. Sometimes I wish…"

"That's enough Shang," Mulan told him, "Don't worry about him. He is nothing." She said that as they walked by him. She chose to ignore him as he stood alone at the door. His father had long gone and did not even say goodbye to him, but he did greet Shang and Mulan good luck on their mission.

As they got into the stable, they both got their own horse and placed their bag on the side of the horse. While Shang had one bag, Mulan had two. From behind, Shan joined them.

"Good morning Shan," Mulan greeted him kindly, "I am Fa Mulan. Most of the plans will be thought out by me, but the commands come from Shang. Do you understand this and our mission?"

"Ah!" Shang turned around and found Shan there, "I didn't see you. Looks like you're as good at stealth as the Emperor bragged."

"Yes Fa Mulan I understand," Shan replied, "And General Li, actually it seems to me like I need some work. Counsel Fa here heard me. What gave me away?"

"The rustling of the hay on the floor," Mulan answered him and threw his bag to him, "I have very keen ears. I can hear an arrow coming my direction from far away. But let's hurry and get going!"

Shan nodded and got on his horse.

"And by the way," Shang added, "You will not call me General Li or Li Shang in that matter. Nor will you call Mulan, Counsel or Fa Mulan. We must keep a low image in the wild, so that we are not discovered. My codename is Jhen, Mulan's is Jia, and your name will be Chen. Is that understood?"

Shan nodded in agreement.

"Well then," Mulan smiled, "Let's get moving!" And as they rode off, Mulan had a small smirk on her face. "Looks like this journey is going to be very interesting."