Author's Note: All I can say is that, this truly is a walk to remember.

"Um… you…You fight good."

Mulan giggled as she remembered this thought.

"Would you like to stay for dinner?"

Things were so much easier then.

"Ping, you are the craziest man I've ever met. And for that I owe you my life."

Mulan agreed she was pretty crazy. She remembered the kindness she saw in his eyes up on the mountains. Why hadn't she seen that in a while? Or was it because she hadn't been paying attention?

"So you want a girl based only on physical features, like hair, eyes, and body shape?Well if you ask me, the type of girl I want is 'a girl who's got a brain, who always speaks her mind."

Mulan sighed. Why couldn't she see that this was how Shang said 'I love you'?

"There is nothing worse than not being able to see or talk to you."

Mulan wondered, "Than why aren't you with me now?" But she knew why, it was because she had pushed him away.

Mulan slowed Khan to a walking pace as she got towards the palace, which gave her plenty of time to think. All these memories kept coming to her mind. She knew she didn't mean everything she yelled at Shang, but she was just so angry. She didn't love Shan nearly as much as Shang. But what would she do?

Mulan had finished the path and saw the palace and everything. Yet there was no sign of Xiaohua. So she had decided to go down the path she originally wanted to go down. But it was taking so long and the sun was quickly setting, yet there was still light all around. However, the shadows were growing upon the path and Mulan had to quickly get to the palace before dark fall. But, then again, she was the Heroine of China. She could defend herself even without Shang. She didn't need Shang. She was happier without him. Oh who was Mulan kidding? It was already a few minutes and she was already thinking of him.

In the far distance Mulan found what she was looking for, Xiaohua. Immediately she forgot everything and rode off to get her. As she neared her, she saw two men attacking her. Mulan had to do something. "Xiaohua!" she yelled, "Duck now!"

Immediately Xiaohua heard Mulan's command and fell straight to the ground. And at that moment, Mulan reached into her bag and threw two spears into the men's' chests. The men then fell down the ground dead, bleeding all over. Xiaohua watched in the center as the men around her died on the ground. She stood up and was shivering, cold from the wind, and scared to death. Mulan got down from Khan and handed Xiaohua a shield, which she took slowly. Mulan also handed her a bag, filled with spears and arrows and a sword.

"Did those men hurt you?" Mulan asked and Xiaohua shook her head, "Good. Well I am your bodyguard, in case you forgot. I am to guard you with my life. You must remember your mission. But in order to complete the mission, you have to tell me what it is you are doing so I can help you accomplish it."

But before Xiaohua could speak, Mulan held out her shield to block her from the oncoming arrow. She then grabbed Xiaohua and they ran to Khan. Together they rode on Khan. Mulan put in the front to protect her. "Steer Khan now! Get us out of here!" She commanded Xiaohua. From the sides, Mulan protected her with shields, and would occasionally throw spears at them.

Finally, when Mulan either killed them all off or got far enough away. They rode into the palace where Mulan and Xiaohua stayed. Mulan warned them of the outside danger and their possible threat and attack on the palace and Xiaohua. Mulan called for extra surveillance around Mulan and Xiaohua's room. Xiaohua asked for Mulan to share a room with her, for protection and two, for planning.

…

When Mulan and Xiaohua were finally alone in the room, and Mulan made sure no one was listening, they sat down on their beds and got ready for bed. It was already late at night so no one would be awake, except for the palace guards.

"What is your mission?" Mulan asked. "Do you know why those men were attacking you? And what happened to your other bodyguard?"

"I am to keep peace between us and the Middle Kingdom and hopefully the Mongol tribes that in any way possible does not harm China." Xiaohua responded. "My bodyguard was killed defending me from the men who are against my campaign. Luckily the men who attacked me where just thieves, who were unaware of what I was doing, but who just wanted my jewelry."

"That is why you should travel lightly next time," Mulan responded, "You cannot dress like a palace official until you actually meet the people you are bargaining with. In order to survive in the wild, you must blend in with the wild. Next time we travel, you will wear nothing but a simple dress."

Xiaohua nodded, agreeing with her bodyguard's plans, "I must accomplish this before the Huns reach our border, which is possibly by the next moon."

"Why that is just a week or a few days from now! How do you plan to do that?" Mulan asked astoundedly. She knew that mission was probably not going to succeed or even kill her in the process.

"I'll do whatever it takes Fa Mulan," Xiaohua said sternly, "even if it means marrying off a Hun or a prince of this kingdom. We need Qui Gong's help badly, or if that does not work, peace with our attackers. You yourself must understand this."

"Not the marriage part," Mulan shook her head in disbelief, "You are to give up many things for China, whether it is your life or your values, but not your happiness. What we, I mean, Shang and me, all the Counsel men, the warriors, the Emperor are all fighting for is for China's happiness, including yours, even if you weren't born here. You are now a citizen of China. And if you spend your whole life unhappy with your decision, who are you really helping?"

"I am helping China! That's what!" Xiaohua answered her, "I know you don't really like me Fa Mulan, which is something I will always understand. But even you must understand what I have to accomplish!"

"I do," Mulan told her sympathetically, "but not the part that calls for your unhappiness. You don't love this man. Sure you'll live in royalty and be able to keep your job, coming to and from China, but you won't be happy. There has to be other ways."

"Speaking of happiness, where is Shang?" Xiaohua asked as she slowly fell on the bed.

"He's," Mulan didn't know exactly how to answer, "not helping me out with this."

"You don't trust him Mulan?" Xiaohua asked angrily, "You don't trust me?"

"Xiaohua!" Mulan barked back, "What goes on is none of your business! I needed his help! I never asked him to go. If anything, I need him now more than ever. Besides I left him."

"And he didn't follow you?" Xiaohua asked.

Mulan shook her head no, "I can't believe I'm telling you this story, but what happened is a long story. Would you like to hear it?"

Xiaohua nodded.

Mulan started her story, "I was sent on a mission to go retrieve you since you had gone missing. I was thinking that Yao, Chien-Po, and Ling would be assigned to us. Instead we were given a stealth palace guard named Shan. He was funny and fun to be around, but he was crazy and wild and I couldn't see myself being married to him. But Shang, the whole time he was angry and mean, and I understand why. But at the same time it drove us apart…"

Xiaohua remained quiet the whole time and listened intently. Once Mulan finished she answered, "So who did you end up choosing?"

"No one," Xiaohua gasped, but Mulan replied, "Don't worry about it Xiaohua," Mulan turned around on her bed, "Just go to bed. We have a long way to go."

Xiaohua nodded and pulled up the covers. She turned and faced the door. Mulan, on the other hand, got up and watched Xiaohua fall asleep. She sighed. Today did not go well and she hoped that tomorrow would be a little better. And as she looked out the window, she wondered exactly where Shang was and what he was doing, hoping and praying that maybe, he heard her thoughts and pleas in his mind.

…

As Shang sat looking at the stars he wondered where Mulan was. Was she at home? Shang didn't think so. Mulan was honorable and knew what her goal was: to find Xiaohua. No doubtedly, she was already at the palace with Xiaohua. And then again, Shang found himself thinking of her again.

"Where did I go wrong?" Shang wondered. "It was when she went away with that sly, despicable, no good, lying Shan!" Shang shook his head. It wasn't right to exactly blame Shan. This was partly his fault. "I should have…" He sighed. There was nothing he could have done. Mulan was clearly falling for Shan, and why, because he wasn't as exciting as Shan? Well Shang couldn't be as exciting without looking like a fool. He also couldn't be sweet to her without acting like a wuss. He was a man. He had to act like one. But then again what kind of man lets the woman he loves go?