Author's Note: Sorry this chapter is super short. Please forgive me. but it will be longer by the time the weekend comes I promise! I have a lot of writing to catch up on! My readers, thank you for your patience!
Special Thanks to: all my reviewers! Woo! I reached 60 reviews! I'm so happy! Everytime I get a little, (sn) has subscribed to your story alert/author alert/Favorite Stories or best of all…REVIEWED!I get a little giddy! Lol. All your questions that you have been wondering, including you Rachel, will be answered in this chapter! Thanks to my awesome readers/reviewers!
Trackrat - haha character changes! Major character changes! and don't we all love Mulan?
Koolbroadwayreader - that's why I love Mulan!
Diamondeyes3411 - you're right...just read the chapter below. Mulan wouldn't do that. And well, pretty much what happened was that, Shang was defending all the weak councilmen who wouldn't help against the thieves. But there were WAAY too many so he couldn't do it all and Lord Chin was too greedy to give out any money, so they took Shang and threatened to give him to the Huns. (and I don't know why it's not showing your review on my reviews for my story)
Rachel - thank you! I'm glad you think I portray the characters correctly! I always wonder if I do that, every time I write a chapter or story, because it's the biggest upset to me if I don't.
Chelle93 - me too! I'm trying to get Xiaohua to be a more likeable character...but maybe I spoke too soon.
PatTy - no no you didn't rush me. I want to finish this story as soon as I can!
"Xiaohua," Mulan said, slowing Khan down to a lesser pace because they were far enough away, "You cannot seriously do that. That is the man's daughter."
"But he took away your husband," Xiaohua retorted. "Why do you call Shang your husband by the way?"
"That doesn't mean we should go and steal what is his," Mulan shook her head ignoring Xiaohua's other question, "Just because one man did it, does not make it right for me to do it." She untied the rope around the girl's mouth. "What is your name Princess?" Mulan asked gently.
"Su," the girl quietly said, "My name is Su. And I actually would rather be married to man in the Emperor's council or even a Hun as you are suggesting."
Mulan coughed. "Excuse me?" She could not believe her ears. "I don't think you are thinking clearly. Dear, these men are savages and revenge thirsty. They might kill you on the spot for just being Chinese."
"They're not all like that Mulan," Xiaohua scoffed.
"I'm sure they're not," Mulan threw a look at Xiaohua and then turned back to the girl, "Why would you want to do that? Marrying a man who you don't even know?"
"First of all," the girl replied, "I'm not a princess. I was Lord Chin's concubine. That man is abusive towards me. I would rather be married to a common man in China than to him. I cannot go back. Please don't take me back." She begged.
Mulan and Xiaohua both felt sad for this poor girl. But they had no idea how to take her to the Emperor or from their mission for that matter. "I'll take her," someone shouted from behind them.
Aiguo walked towards Mulan. He was holding onto a horse. "I heard the whole story. I'll take her to the Emperor. She'll be properly taken care of then."
Mulan nodded. She reached for the girl's hand and together they walked over to Aiguo. "What are you doing here?" she asked and then ran to give him a hug. "I've missed you so much! You don't know how much help you can offer just by being here!"
"I can't stay for long Mulan," Aiguo told her, leaving her embrace. "For reasons I cannot tell you now, I am not allowed to stay and help you. It is your destiny. For it is told that you will find your true husband sooner than you will expect."
"Excuse me?" Mulan asked in awe. "My true husband?"
"I thought that was her husband," Su whispered to Xiaohua who nodded in agreement. After all, Mulan and Mushu were pretty close.
"I can't tell you Mulan," Aiguo said as he ran away, "but I will warn you, someone is watching you at this very moment."
He then disappeared into the forest. Mulan sighed. Su shrugged it off and Xiaohua growled. "Great, now we have to carry around this princess and find Shang and on top of all that, convince the Huns to be friendly with us." She sighed and hit her head against the horse. "This is not going to go well."
"Speak for yourself Xiaohua," Mulan replied. She pulled Xiaohua down to the ground and off the horse. "You were worse than this girl and you caused nothing but trouble, while this girl has done nothing at all. You kissed Shang, betrayed the Chinese army, and brought along this girl. Now I have to protect you, protect this girl, find out who this person is that is following us someone, find Shang, convince the Huns to not attack us anymore, return home safely, and somehow over all this, marry Shang and live happily ever after." She was panting after she said this. "So don't even talk about hard because you know what? I've got it hard!"
"Wow," was all Su could say, "You do have it hard Heroine of China." She bowed before her, "I am honored to be around you, though I must say that I have no need of protection. You must go along with your mission as if I am not around. And if it is between you and I dying, please do not stop me when I let myself go in order for you to live. China and my own home need you to be alive."
"But…" Mulan tried to protest.
"I am able to protect myself," Su replied. She grabbed a sword and tossed an apple in the air. In that time frame, she was able to cut the apple into several pieces.
"Amazing," Mulan replied, "you are trained in the art of swords! You must teach me how!"
"In due time Fa Mulan, in due time," she smiled, "but you must also teach me a few of your martial arts."
"Deal," Mulan smiled. She then turned to Xiaohua and frowned. "As for you," Mulan sighed, "I'm afraid I must make sure you are little more protected before." She grabbed a couple of shields from her horse and handed it to Xiaohua. Mulan then took off her body armor and put it on Xiaohua. For once in her life, Mulan felt very exposed and unprotected. Though she was able to move easier, she now faced the fate that she would die in battle. Even when she was wearing nothing at all, at least she knew that Shang would be around to protect her and watch over her. But that was a different kind of battle. "My job is to protect you now. My safety is no good to this mission."
"What about your husband Mulan? Since when have you been married to Shang?" Xiaohua asked suspiciously.
"You're married to the General Li? Li Chen's son? The handsome Li Shang?" Su asked with a smirk. "Well now I understand why you want to find him!"
Mulan laughed, "I lied to Lord Chin saying he was my husband because well, being caught with another man in your room who isn't your husband is well dishonorable. But Shang and I were ready. I love Shang more than anything else and I am engaged to be married to him in just a few days, that is if I can find him." She looked down. Mulan then sadly walked towards Khan and got on. "I believe," she softly told them, "it is time we go and face the Huns again."
Su got on the horse and Xiaohua did too. She rode in the front with her shield, while Su rode in the back armed with a sword. "So Shang is your true husband then? He has to be," Su told her reassuringly, "After all we will find him soon!"
"That's what you think," a man replied. He had been watching them since the moment they left the palace. He stepped in front the shadows and Mulan glared at him angrily.