New chapter finally! And its longer, as requested. I did some brief research on geographical locations in China; the gorge mentioned is a real place, as well as the legend. I am making a lot of the details up though ^_^

Anyway, hope you enjoy!

The pain was growing less and less each day.

She could feel her muscles firming, her skin growing tougher. She was beginning to enjoy the intensity of the training and drills- the feeling that she was giving her all, devoting the strain of every muscle and ounce of her concentration to the task. She had learnt to deal with pain and injury- it gave her comfort to know that for each blow she received, it was one less for her father.

Dawn broke over the camp- the first rays of sunlight poking up from behind the mountains. Mulan joined the throng of recruits making their way sleepily over to the centre of the camp. She joined Yao, Ling and Chien Po, who were sat on the ground, talking quietly. "Morning, guys," Over the weeks, Mulan had become friends of sorts with the three recruits. She was careful not to get too comfortable with them- she was convinced that she would say something to reveal herself, or that they would think her foolish. Still, she enjoyed her company- and was secretly relieved to find that they considered themselves to be outcasts, and didn't quite gel with army life. It was good for a change to not attract laughter and whispers wherever she went.

"Hey Ping". Ling rubbed his eyes and stretched. "Does it seem like these mornings get earlier to you?"

Yao yawned. "Tell me about it." He turned to Mulan. "You missed out last night. Turns out playing pranks on Chi Fu never gets old". He sniggered. "Where were you, anyway?"

"Yeah!" Ling was suddenly awake. Where do you go in the evenings? We hardly ever see you around."

Mulan had developed a routine of avoiding the soldiers after dinner- that was when they usually headed out to the lake. She had to wait until they had returned before she could slip away to take a swim and wash her robes. It seemed to work, no one went to the lake late at night for fear of water snakes. Mulan had weighed up the pros and cons and had decided that she'd risk the snakes. It was sure as hell better than getting caught.

"Oh you know...just around...I-"

Fortunately at this moment Shang appeared, and she was spared an awkward excuse.

"Silence and get in line, soldiers!" he barked, stalking down the group of recruits, as they scrambled to their feet and took their places. His strong, angular jaw was set, and he did not look at any of them, but glared at the ground in front of him, fists curled and his knuckles white. "How can you expect to face your enemy and live if you cannot master the ability to obey simple orders?" He paused at the end of the line and began to march back down. "The army has no place for laughing and joking. If you would prefer to have fun then you can go right back home now. If by some chance you make it to see battle, I can assure you it will be years before you find something to laugh about again. Are you even prepared for what lies ahead?" The recruits stood stock-still, eyes fixed on the floor, not daring to lift their eyes to witness the rage of their commander. "Death and war, gentlemen, are serious matters, and you will find they go hand in hand in the battlefield. You will see horrors that you could not imagine. You need to be real men to conquer them."

Perhaps she was imagining it, but Mulan could feel his gaze on her as though it were a hand- it felt as though his stare was turning her inside out. She drew in a breath, heart pounding so fast that she could swear the whole camp could hear it. She dared to snatch a glance up, but he was striding back down the line, no suggestion he had been addressing her in particular.

Yao gave a low whistle. "What's up with him today?"

"I don't know, but something tells me he didn't have any sleep either", Ling muttered under his breath.

Other than Shang's unexpected outburst, training went on without incident. They practiced armed and unarmed combat-learning the parts on the body that would be vulnerable during battle; where to strike and how to deliver a fatal blow without leaving yourself open to attack; various parries and the finer details of swordplay, as well as long distance target practice with a bow and arrow- "The Huns have some of the finest archers around for many ri" Shanghad instructed them. "They could fire with their eyes closed and you would be dead before you heard the arrow leave their quiver".

Mulan faced the tasks with confidence and competence. She knew her own abilities and felt sure that she did no worse than any of the others. She could even on occasion beat Yao in a spar. Yet she constantly felt the Captain's eyes on her, scrutinizing her every move. When she turned, he always looked away, but once she looked up and caught his black eyes narrowed at her in concentration, his thumb pressed to his chin-the same way you would deliberate a crucial move in Mah-jong. His face wore an expression that was quite unreadable, yet it filled her with unease. His eyes bored into hers for a fraction of a second, and then he looked away- shouting another command to the troop as if he had never really noticed her at all.

When training ended for the day, Mulan could not wait to get back to her tent and get away from the other soldiers, and in particular, Shang. She felt stifled, and more conscious than ever of her identity. After the Captain dismissed them, she immediately turned to run back towards the main camp, without stopping to wait for Chien Po, Ling and Yao.

"Soldier!"

Her heart sank. Slowly she turned, biting her lip nervously. Shang pulled on his training jacket and gathering up the staffs used for training. "A word if you please, Ping." Mulan glanced over to Yao and the others, widening her eyes in a silent plea for help. Chien-Po shrugged sympathetically, and Ling drew his finger across his neck.

Mulan followed Shang in silence back to the camp, panic rising inside her. What had she done? Did he know? Usually Shang did not hesitate to reprimand her in front of the other recruits. This could only mean something dreadful. Once back at the camp, Shang held open the entrance to his tent and motioned for her to go inside. She was surprised by its simple interior- there was just a bed and a desk with a chair, laden with maps, scrolls and battle plans. In one corner his armour was displayed. In the midst of her fear, she thought wildly that it suited him, however- empty, rigid with no colour or emotion; it gave nothing away about the man who lived there. Snapping her eyes back to the floor, she stood stiffly to attention and waited for the worst.

"At ease, soldier". Mulan lifted her eyes. Shang was knelt on the floor, and gestured for her to do the same. He did not look angry-, just...tired. She knelt, and noticing her hands were shaking, folded them in her lap.

The captain sat resting his chin on his hand, staring at the wall of the tent as if in deep thought. At length he looked at her levelly and sighed.

"How old are you, Ping?"

Mulan was taken aback by his question and faltered in her answer. "Uh, nineteen, in the next...in the next month, sir". She looked at him quizzically. Silently she added in her head- why?

"Eighteen." Shang looked her straight in the eye and she instinctively flinched. "That's very young for a first time in the army. Most recruits join from the age of twenty three- when it is compulsory to serve. Not one of the other recruits is below that age".

Relief flooded through her. So this wasn't about her gender. She opened her mouth to speak, but Shang held up his hand. "Tell me, why would your father send you out to war so early with no experience? He is one of China's best soldiers."

Swallowing, Mulan looked at the floor. "My father...is old, sir", she said carefully. "I would fear for his health on the battlefield. He has done more than enough for China".

"I see". Shang stood, and began to pace around the tent, his hands folded behind his back. "Do you have no brothers?"

"No sir. I have only my parents and grandmother." Mulan hesitated. "I help them run the house".

The captain stopped. "I would not want to deprive your family of you". His voice grew thicker, Mulan thought she could detect a level of anguish. "They should not lose a child... unnecessarily". He sat down heavily.

"Let me be frank with you. You are a good soldier. But you're very...young. And this is just training. I am not convinced you would be best suited for warfare. According to the law, you are not even required to be here. I can't take responsibility for your safety out there. That's why I think it would be best if you returned to your family. You may not have another chance to see them again".

Mulan's mind raced, a flood of emotions fighting for prominence. Relief- at not having been discovered. Hope- the prospect of seeing her family again. Hurt and indignation- did he once again think she was not good enough? What surprised her was that dread was what she most felt. Returning home to her family, to the village with nothing but more dishonour. She had accomplished nothing. What would they say? She could never restore her family's honour back home. The Matchmaker had declared her a disgrace. There was no way she could ever marry- not without her approval. Who would have her, anyway? A life of cooking, being dainty and holding her tongue filled her with more horror than the battlefield. She was no man's idea of a good wife. As much as life was difficult here at Wu Zhong, she felt a freedom she had not known before. She could run, she could ride, no one reprimanded her for having knots in her hair or mud on her clothes- there was no one looking on disapprovingly or judging her. She even had friends. It was clear that by going back now, she could be nothing more than an object of shame.

"Sir..." she clasped her hands together and bowed her head. "With all due respect, my duty is to serve my family and the Emperor. I love my family very much. That is why I must stay. I cannot return until I have brought honour to the Fa family. Please", she whispered.

"Ping..I have come across the Huns before. They are cruel, and they know no mercy. Don't think that they will for a second think to spare your life. It does not matter to them who you are".

She suddenly felt strong hands gripping her shoulders. Shang was looking at her with a fierce intensity that made her suddenly want to look away.

"You do understand don't you? That if you stay, you will die!".

His words rang in her ears, suddenly reminding her of the last words she exchanged with her father, the night she left home.

"It is an honour to protect my country and my family".

She stared at her father in hurt disbelief. "So you'll die for honour?"

If Fa Zhou felt any pain at the knowledge of his fate, he did not show it. Staring hard at his daughter, his disappointment in her finally voiced itself.

"I will die doing what's right. I know my place. It is time you learnt yours".

She understood now. You could not fully understand how someone could give up their life so readily until you were in their place, facing an impossible decision. She understood the importance of honour, honour that she had thrown away before. She could be like her father now, and choose the right thing- it was not too late.

A tear threatened to escape her eye so she squeezed them shut. She nodded. "I do understand. But if I die, I will be doing the right thing. It would be cowardly to go back now. I will protect my family."

She looked up. Shang's expression was smooth and unreadable. But his eyes burned with something she had not seen before. He gave a curt nod, and turned away, striding over to his desk and laying his hands down on it, bowing his head as if in defeat. The contempt in his voice was clear when he dismissed her.

"Very well. Go back to your tent, Ping".

Mulan left, hurrying off through the fading light back to her tent. The Captain had not turned to acknowledge her parting utterances and bow of respect, but she thought she saw his shoulders tremble.

For days after their awkward encounter, Mulan felt she was watching her back where Shang was concerned. During training he made a point of highlighting her mistakes in front of the other recruits, even if she had done nothing obviously wrong. At sparring practice she was paired with the weaker of the recruits, ones whose skill she easily surpassed. In one exercise, Shang fought in unarmed combat with each recruit, as a test of strength. "Let's see how prepared you are for real combat" he had said. "There'll be no one going easy on you out on the battlefield". When it finally came to Mulan's turn she had faced him, fists up and met his eyes defiantly. But he dropped his fist and turned away. "That's enough for today" he called out. "Let's move on!" It was insulting and humiliating, and her initial respect and admiration for him was fading fast. She could prove her strength to him, if he were not too stubborn and arrogant to give her a chance! She had shaken off the contempt of her comrades- she was inches away from becoming an outcast once again. Despite Shang's aloof exterior, she could see right through what he was doing. He was trying to break her resolve, make her quit. "We'll see about that" she muttered to herself.

Despite Shang's efforts, Ling, Yao and Chien-Po took her side. This wasn't actually all that surprising, Yao made no secret of his dislike for Shang after he singled him out on that first morning of training.

"I don't get it", he growled, as they sat at dinner one evening. "You're as good as any of us. Better, in fact" he considered.

Mulan pushed her rice around in her bowl agitatedly. "I don't know how long it will be before he gives up and just sends me home".

"He can't do that" Ling objected, pointing his chopsticks at her "Without a good reason".

"Mhhm", She forced a grin onto her face, which promptly collapsed. She pushed her bowl away. She didn't want to know her Commander's or her friends' reaction when they discovered that very good reason. Shang's current treatment of her was bad enough.

"Don't worry" Chien-Po spoke up. "There's always tomorrow". He looked pointedly at Yao and Ling, who promptly broke out into huge grins.

"That's it, Ping!" Yao slapped Mulan on the back. "Kick ass tomorrow and show pretty boy how it's done".

Mulan winced. "How what's done?"

Ling cleared his throat. We heard him telling that old wind-bag Chi Fu earlier. Tomorrow we're doing a 10 mile hike. Cross country."

"So?" Mulan was unimpressed. We've done that before. That's no big deal".

"Yes". Chien Po said softly. "But not at Tiger Leaping Gorge."

Mulan sucked in her breath. Tiger Leaping Gorge was an old canyon on the Yangtze River, a few miles from Wu Zhong. The gorge was where the river passed between the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and Haba Xueshan Mountain. With 2000m steep cliffs and rapids, it was not a journey for the faint of hearted.

"Do you know of the legend?" Ling asked, smiling mischievously. Mulan nodded. Legend had it that a tiger, trying to escape a hunter, jumped across the river at its narrowest point-hence the gorge's name. A popular game with travellers and people who went walking along the gorge was to try and jump across, mimicking the feat of the tiger. It was meant to be the ultimate test of agility, although she hadn't ever come across anyone who had succeeded.

"Well, I bet any man who can make the hike and jump that river can stay in the army", Ling said smoothly. "If you catch my drift".

The sun was already high in the sky by the time they reached Tiger Leaping Gorge. Their path through the canyon was the "high road", consisting of rocky, narrow, winding trails high up in the rock face. The lower road below them ran alongside the foaming rapids, waterfalls crossing the paths, making them slippery and dangerous underfoot. Their path back would be along this road once they had crossed the river, by some coincidence, near Tiger Leaping Stone. Lush green foliage covered the sides of the canyon, and spray from the water hung in the air like an ethereal mist. It really is a beautiful place, Mulan thought as they trudged carefully along the slippery paths. And deadly, she added to herself, as she lost her footing for a moment and a rock went skittering off the edge of the path, tumbling into the roaring whiteness below. Her stomach flipped as she thought about Ling's challenge. It was a reckless gamble, for sure. However, surely it would put to rest any doubts as to her capabilities.

After several hours trekking, the troop began their descent down onto the lower road, carefully meandering the rough, jutting maze of rocks. Chi Fu did not seem comfortable with the situation- he kept peering down into the canyon and gulping, muttering under his breath. His thin face had gone as white as the spray.

When they finally reached the bottom, they were at the water's level, and the river whirled and rushed past them, smashing into the boulders that lay scattered like giant, floating debris. Shang turned to the troop and lifted his voice to shout above the roar of the river. "I'm glad to see you're all still alive so far. We'll cross the river over there- and make our way back down to Wu Zhong. There's a bridge about half a mile down the river from here".

They continued along the lower path. Suddenly Ling nudged Mulan. "There, that's it". A large boulder rose out of the spray, like a giant tooth in a cavernous mouth. Shang, Chi Fu and the front end of the troop were several hundred yards ahead, already disappearing in the thick humid mist that hung in the canyon. Some of the other recruits clearly knew of the legend, for the hung back, and appraised the stone, muttering to each other. A large, brawny soldier known as Jin stepped forward. "If I make it then that's your dinner for a week gone" he reminded his friend. Stepping onto the stone he turned to the group and declared "Watch and learn". Breathing deeply, he ran forward and leapt. Mulan watched in shock as he cleared the impossible gap, landing on the ledge on the other side. There were low whistles of admiration from the group. "Check that out", Yao muttered.

"Well, Ping?" Ling said playfully into her ear. "It's your turn. If an idiot like Jin can do it, then it should be no problem for you". There were rumbles of agreement from the others. They had seen her excel at every other task- this would be quite something to watch. Mulan eyed the water uneasily. "I don't know guys...I-"

"Come on Ping, you have to do it!" Ling urged her. "Don't you want to stay in the army", he muttered.

"Yeah," Yao nodded in agreement. "Show Pretty Boy how it's done". Mulan looked back towards the rest of the troop. Shang had noticed the lag in the rear of the group, and was striding back towards them. She swallowed. This was her chance. She could prove she was good enough to stay. That she was not afraid of anything. She stepped onto the stone and looked ahead towards the other side. It seemed further away than it had done before.

"Go on!" Ling urged. The water below her churned and heaved. Mulan clenched her fists so hard she could no longer feel her fingers. Taking a deep breath, she ran forward.

Shang's voice came whipping through the air, cutting through the mist and roar of the river.

"Ping! Stop!"

But she had already jumped.

Update coming soon. let me know what you think :)