"Father, I canīt go home," Mulan said firmly, trying to show some courage in front of her father so he could go home knowing that she could handle this, instead of worring for her. Deep inside, Mulan knew that it wouldnīt work at all.
"Mulan, donīt you dare argue with me that way," Fa Zhou scolded Mulan,"I know whatīs best for you, and for the honor of our family!" He was speaking loud, but he never meant to act like that.
"Donīt yell at me!" Mulan replied.
"What else can I do when you wonīt listen?" demmanded Fa Zhou,"You are not supposed to be this stubborn and scream and argue with me , Iīm your father young lady!"
"I never yelled at you father," said Mulan, almost whispering. Tears started to make her vision unclear.
A few seconds later, Mulan left her father and walked with no direccion in mind. It was so unfair, if she didnīt do something his father would die in battle just because of his honor. Mulan felt like the night at her house when she cried because she was known as a dishonored daughter just because of the matchmaker, she had discussed with her father about her place in life, and then she made a decision.
Mulan sat under a tree, that was faraway from everyone. No one could see her there. All she wanted in that moment, was to be alone and cry. Of course, she wanted no one to see her crying. When she was younger, she had learned to keep tears to herself. Mulan used to cry in front of everyone when she felt like it, but when she grew older she got a little stronger, and forced herself to cry when she was alone, so no one would laugh at her.
Mushu and Cri-Kee went to comfort her. "Donīt cry baby," said Mushu.
"Baba is angry at me," replied Mulan wiping her tears, which was useless, because new tears rolled down her cheeks.
"Heīs not mad at you," Mushu said, " Heīs just trying to protect you."
"I know, but I yelled at him," weeped Mulan.
"Baby, we all raise our voices at times with the no intentions of hurting other peopleīs feelings," explained Mushu.
"How could I?"asked Mulan sobbing.
"Mulan , look, we all make mistakes," Mushu said," Lying is bad, like Cri-kee for instance, he made the mistake of saying he was a good luck bug, see we all do stupid things."
Cri-kee glared at Mushu and chirped something that meant," You said you were a guardian of the Fa family when you were just the gongringer!"
Mushu replied, "Thatīs history pal, now, Iīm a real guardian and you are just the gongringer!"
Mulan made a weak smile, and tried to keep herself from giggling, which didnīt result like she expected.
Just then, Mulan could see Shang walking towards her. She immediately wiped the tears from her face, and stood up. Goodness knows if he had come to scold her for being outside of the camp.
Mushu looked at her and turned to Cri-kee grinning at him. Cri-kee crossed his tiny arms and chirped in his language," Leave her alone.
" Mushu just stuck his tongue at him and whispered," I wonīt."
"What are you doing over here?"asked Shang.
" I was... I wanted to be alone for some minutes," responded Mulan covering her face so Shang wouldnīt notice her moist eyes with tears just about to roll all the way down her cheeks.
There were a couple of seconds in which non of them said a word, because Mulan didnīt want to talk to him, well, part of her but the other part wanted him to wrap his stong arms around her and say that everything was going to be allright.
Shang noticed she was crying, but he didnīt know what to say, he didnīt want her to think he was an idiot. He finally asked," Did you talk to your father?"
Mulan uncovered her eyes and right away, Shang saw her tears," I did," she answered softly.
"And... did he get mad at you or something?" asked Shang hesitating, the last thing he wanted was to make her fell uncomfortable with his questions instead of comforting her.
Actually, he wanted to slap himself, he knew he had screwed up, he sounded really stupid by asking that.
"Sort of," replied Mulan. She had her head down, and didnīt look into Shangīs eyes.
She hated herself for that, what was Shang going to think of her? Maybe he would think she was just a fragile girl that cried for everything sometimes to catch otherīs attention. All these years of trying to prove she could be strong and face her problems were turning out to be a waste just because she couldnīt control her tears, and in front of the guy she had a secret crush on.
"A man will give his life if he has to, to protect the lives of his loved ones," said Shang.
Mulan raised her wattery eyes to look at her commanding officer. Their eyes met for a wonderful second; Shang saw the fear in Mulanīs eyes, she looked so inocent. He loved her inocence. They looked away immediately.
"You and my father are right," Mulan said,"but I canīt just let him die for no reason."
"Mulan, you are doing the right thing," assured Shang.
"Thank you," she muttered.
Shang smiled at her and patted Mulanīs shoulder gently, Mulan couldnīt help but smile back at him. Sometimes, just looking at Shang could cheer Mulan up. He could make her feel a little more calmed down, just like that time at the emperorīs palace when he poked her shoulder, smiled at her and join her to help her with her plan to save the emperor.
"I donīt want you to risk your life too much, this time," said Shang.
Mulan nodded quietly, and smiling through her tears.
"Whatīs going on with you?" asked Shang.
"Itīs my father... I know he has all the right to be mad at me," Mulan confessed,"I...I raised my voice a little."
Shang was speechless, if he just thought about yelling at his father he wouldīve gotten his good punishment, probably something like picking every single grain of rice, if he were lucky. Actually, he never did, but he tried to understand his friend. At least she regretted about her own actions. The truth was she didnīt notice she was raising her voice, Mulan just wanted her father to go back home.
"Just tell him youīre sorry," adviced Shang.
"I will," Mulan said, " but I feel so bad, I didnīt mean to...I have no honor." Mulan wanted to disappear for what she had just said, she knew Shang was feeling sorry for her, but, was it just for pity?, or was there just this little tiny drop of interest for her, at least as a friend?
"Of course you have honor young lady," Shang said, he sounded a little strict," You did alot for us, but for the next time you must be careful with the volume of your voice."
Mulan nodded and sighed.
"When my father went to his last battle... I remember very well,... I didnīt want him to go because I sensed something bad was going to happen," Shang started," I remember he left me in charge of training all of you so I wouldnīt have to go to battle and die. He thought he could defeat the huns with his troops, but you know what happened. I am his only son, and I wish I did something to avoid his death. I would give my own life for his, so I kinda understand you."
Mulan nodded one more time.
"He died with honor," said Mulan.
This time she was the one who was comforting Shang. He looked sad as he remembered that last time he saw his father alive, the day he left him in charge of the new recruits. He was so proud of himself that day, Shang had worked hard throughout his life to become a Captain, that was all he ever wanted, and when his father told him the good news, he wanted to jump of joy.
"Itīs ok, Mulan," said Shang. He wished he had the gutts to embrace her so she wouldnīt feel so bad and to let her know, that no matter what he would always be there with her; but, he stopped himself because has so darn affraid. Shang feared that Mulan would reject him. So he just sat there next to Mulan, who was still weeping.
"Donīt cry, Mulan. Iīm sure your father will forget about all this," assured Shang.
*************************************************************************************
In the cold mountains nearby Camp Wu Zhong, the enemies were hiding. They had a new leader, he was Shan Yuīs nephew who followed his uncleīs steps with this absolute devotion. He was cruel and had not even the smallest tiny bit of mercy. His name was Kin-Wen. He was a vicious man who would kill thousands of inocent people just for power or to show off his authority over the weak.
"Are we close to the Imperial City?" asked one of the huns impatient.
"Patience, we will find a shortcut," said the young hun leader.
The rest of the huns laughed maliciously at Kin Wenīs bad joke.
"I promise we will have fun and action on our way to the emperor, I bet there are lots of villages in the path we could burn out," declared the hun that was in second command. He was a survivor from the avalanche and he was thirsty for revenge. His name was Fon Shui.
"Sure they are," said Kin Wen lifting his sword and examining it carefully; then he let out a cruel laughter.
All of the huns were eating and grinding their swords. It is really sad to know which will be the use of the swords: to koll inocent people.
"It seems we lost the track of the chinese sodiers since we burned out their trainning camp," Kin Wen started," Donīt worry, as soon as we burn the first village the Imperial nosies will go and tell them, and weīll defeat them all in the first battle."
This mang was very confident; he could feel victory over the chinese in his veins; but of course some people are stronger not because of their brute strength; itīs because of their courage and intelligence.
