Mulan had honored her family by saving China from the Huns. Many people thought that what she did was not proper for a woman to do. At least, it was better than going to beg or please the matchmaker. Well, the truth was that she risked everything and didnt care what people thought and joined the army. At the end of a hard month of training with the strict captain of the imperial army, and after all the battles, she became a heroin and honored her family. And, besides, she seemed to cast a spell on her commanding officer: Captain Li Shang.
Unfortunately, he was not very good at expressing his feelings , we donīt know if itīs because heīs shy, or maybe because heīs just waiting for the right moment to tell her , or heīs affraid of the subject.
It was a beautiful morning, everything was so peaceful, the birds flying in the sky, the fish swimming in the lakes, rivers, and oceans; flowers blooming on the magnolia trees; the chicken eating corn, until, Little Brother wakes up and starts to chase them, they get all freaked out, and Mulan, like always taking a long sleep until a couple of hours before noon. You can blame Little Brother for waking her up.
Mulan didnīt change during the time that had gone by, she was still the same . She loved her family as much as she had always loved them, she was still lazy but managed to do her chores in the easy way.
That morning, she decided it was time for Khan to take a bath. She got all the tools she needed to clean her loyal horse, and headed towards the stable, which was Khanīs little shelter.
When Mulan finished bathing Khan, her mother asked her to take the tea to her father, who was praying to their ancestors at the shrine. She waited patiently for her father to finish his prayers."Good day, father," she said smiling as she handed a cup of tea to her father.
"Good day, Mulan," he replied.
After that, Mulan sat under the magnolia tree and remembered Shang. She really missed him, it had been a while since the last time she saw him. Mulan wanted to see him again; she wondered what was he doing in that moment "probably training martial arts or guarding the emperorīs palace, " she answered her own question. Mulan sighed and watched a little blossom falling off the tree above her. Did she had hope to win his love?
Suddenly, Mushu appeared. Mulan was happy to see him."Hello there, babe!" he screamed.
Mulan smiled and replied," Hi Mushu! What are you doing here?"
"Well, I have this warning for you ībout some huns that survived and theyīre probably advancing to the Imperial City, seeking for revenge." Mushu explained," And on their way, they will start burning houses and killing people everywhere."
"That must mean I must join the Imperial Army?" Mulan asked, Mushu could hear a little excitement in her voice.Not because of having to go to battle again, it was because she was meeting Shang again.
"Not yet, your ancestors are not quite sure about that," Mushu said," But still, you can see Mr. Big Muscles somewhere else."
Mulan crossed her eyes and raised her eyebrow," And whoīs Mr. Big Muscles?" Obviously, she knew who did the little red dragon meant, but she tried to act a little distracted so he wouldnīt suspect she liked him so much.
"Oh, donīt tell me you donīt know baby," Mushu replied," The guy with very little sense of humor, who was your captain, that would be Shhhhhhang." Mushu started to blink hie eyes as if he were flirting to someone. Mulan shook her head but laughed.
Mulan and Mushu spent a couple of hours joking and talking. They stopped when they heard someone knocking on the door.Who could it be? Maybe it was Shang, and Mulanīs face brightened when she thought that, but the brightness faded as soon as she thought it was about someone else. It could be Chi Fu for example, a disgusting fave she would pay for avoiding itīs sight again.
Mulan went to open the door. No, it was not the charming red caped captain, with perfectly tied hair. It was only Jen Wu, her husband Tang Kuo, and their little son.
Jen Wu was one of the girls who visited the matchmaker the same day Mulan did. Jen Wuīs parents were old friends from Mulanīs parents. A long time had gone by since the last time they saw each other; it was on Jen Wuīs and Tang Kuoīs wedding.
Tan Kuo had met Ping at Camp Wu Zhong, of course he never knew it was only Fa Mulan, until the day she got wounded.
When Jen Wu saw Mulan, she screamed joyfully and hugged her, Mulan hugged her back but she wasnīt excited to see her because she knes deep inside of her lived a two-faced brat, that only wanted to see her to brag and to criticize her, after all she had done for China.
"What brings you here?" asked Mulan, trying not to be rude. The thing was she couldnīt stand that kind of people.
"Well, we came to visit you," answered Jen Wu matter o factly. Mulan knew that wasnīt the only purpose of their unexpected visit to the Fa house.
Tang Kuo spoke up, "I guess you havenīt met our son, Kin Shui."
A little two-year old boy walked in front of his father, he was hiding behind him before. Kim Shui looked alot like his mother, even if he was a boy, but itīs not his fault anyway. " Heīs so cute," said Mulan.
Mulanīs parents were delighted to see Jen Wu, and her new family. They stayed for dinner at the Fa house, even if Mulan didnīt agree about it. Her parents only asked her to be nice with the guests and that there was no reason to be mean to them.
Mulan helped Granny and her mother with the cooking, she really wasnīt enjoying Jen Wuīs visit.
" How old is your son?" asked Fa Li
" Heīs two years old," Jen Wu answered proudly looking at her son. The little boy was blushing.
" He will honor our family someday, it is the greatest honor to have a son," added Tang Kuo.
Mulan didnīt agree with his comment and said," If I am a mother someday, I would rather have a daughter. Whatīs the big difference?"
Everyone at the table stopped making noise with the chopsticks and stared at Mulan for a couple of seconds that seemed for ever for Mulan. Even little Kim Shui dropped his bowl of rice and it crashed so hard that it turned into pieces. Mulan bent down to pick the broken pieces and the rice to put them away. She walked out of the dinning room to throw the trash away. Then, everyone quietly continued eating their dinner.
When they finished eating dinner, Jen Wu and Mulan went to talk(not a very interesting talk, indeed.) Mulan felt clumpsy every time she was around girls like Jen Wu, who always bragged that they were married and honored their families and lived happily ever after with their stupid husbands who didnīt even cared for them. Those girls would just make them happy by feeding them with delicious food, and filling their personal needs.
" Are you betrothed yet?" Jen Wu asked.
Mulan was so ashamed to say the truth, that her cheeks turned pink before she could answer the question," Not yet."
Jen Wu nodded silently and raised her eyebrows. Yes it was getting late for Mulan to go find some man to marry her, but it usually never bugged her, only when she was with the girls her age who were married or betrothed, Perfect little maidens.
"Well, Iīm happy with the life I live, with my husband and mu son.Thank heavens he was a boy īcause you know itīs better to give your husband a son," bragged Jen Wu.
Mulan narrowed her eyes for a moment. Thenm she replied a little irritated," What makes a man worth more than a woman?"
Jen Wu didnīt answer but she thought carefully about the question. Mulan was right, men and women are the same, although people donīt like the idea. She had proved women could succeed at battles. "Why since the beggining of history men had been the ones who had been considered superior creatures? Which is the reason?" demmanded Mulan. Jen Wu never answered, instead, she just said nothing and went to say goodbye to Mulanīs parents.
So Jen Wu, Kim Shui, and Tang Kuo left. It was because Mulan had tried to put in some reason in Jen Wuīs empty head.
When Mulan was falling asleep, Mushu appeared saying," Boy you did taught a good lesson to that girl."
Mulan just smiled and told Mushu she was tired."OK , sweet dreams,babe.Iīll be seeing you soon," said Mushu and Mulan replied," See you soon, Goodnight, my favorite guardian."
Mulan and her family sleeped peacefully, they had slept like that since Mulan had returned from the Imperial Army.
Peace wasnīt around everywhere; meanwhile, as Mulan was sleeping so sound, Shang was in a battle against some barbarians
Some huns that survived the avalanche had reached Camp Wu Zhong that night. Shang was in charge of training men some martial arts and stuff like that right there at Camp Wu Zhong. Everything was going on fine until that night.
All the soldiers had finished their training and they were going to have some sleep. Shang got a migrain so he went to bed early that night. Suddenly, some tents had been fired, including Shangīs.
No one else, but the huns did that: shooting arrows with fire, that was their own technique to kill, those were their weapons.
After burning a couple of tents, the huns charged against the unaware chinese soldiers. They gathered the cannons to finish them off, and soon, Camp Wu Zhong had turned into cinder and ashes. No one got killed that night, but many people had really serious burns and injuries.Yao, Ling, and Chien Po, as well as Shang, did not get harmed, but other soldiers did.
After hours of fighting, the huns disappeared, leaving no trace. Probably, there were more huns attacking villages to gain more power. Their new leader was Meng Tsu. He was strong, like their now dead leader, Shan Yu, maybe it was because he was the one who trained him before he died to take his place leading the troops of cruel barbarians, with no heart at all.
Shang informed the emperor about last nightīs battle. The emperor got kinda mad when he heard the bad new." Chi Fu, you must tell the villagers to join the Imperial Army to protect their country,and the lives of innocent woman and children," the emperor commanded," See if Fa Mulan can join the army too."
Shang found himself smiling when he just heard the name Mulan. Even if there was too many pressure aheadn the thought of Mulan brought some peace into Shangīs troubled being.
The emperor decided to give them a new place to train the warriors. It was much closer to Mulanīs "village than Camp Wu Zhong; itīs name was Bai Tao Base. Besides, a new place for the training, the emperor gave them more cannons just in case.
When Mulan gave her father the morning tea, she asked him," Father, dId I dishonored you yesterday?"
Fa Zhou was kinda puzzled by his daughterīs question, but he guessed she meant about saying she would rather have a daughter when she becomes a mother. He told her," No, I know lots people feel more joy when they have a son, but I think daughters are even more wonderful, and I am lucky to have the best daughter in the whole world. You honored me so much when you took my place in the army and saved China. What else could I ask for? I donīt think I deserve to have you as a daughter."
Mulan smiled at her father, he always had comforting words to say every time she was feeling down.
" Daughters are the most precious creatures that could ever exist" Fa Zhou added.
Just then, the warning drums were heard and, Chi Fu was riding to Mulanīs neighborhood. He started to call the families to attend the Bai Tao Base.
"Fa Mulan!" he screamed in his squeaky little voice,"the emperor wants you to serve your country, but he doesnīt expect you to destroy his palace once again. Mulan narrowed her eyes at the emperorīs messenger. She walked towards him silently, then, she frowned and snatched off the scroll he was handing to her.
" How dare you!" Chi Fu exclaimed, but Mulan ignored him and went inside to her house. She couldnīt stand another word coming out of Chi Fuīs mouth, specially if he was to say another of his rude comments. He hated Mulan and her feelings for him were quite the same. Chi Fu thought that girls were worth anything, I guess thatīs why he never got married. Besides, he was ugly and kinda femenine,(maybe thatīs why he had so much against women, because they never thought he was handsome).
Fa Zhou knew what was his daughter going to do, and he was worried about it.
" I must uphold the honor of our family," Mulan said,"Itīll be ok"
Fa Zho nodded and smiled lopsidedly at his daughter. He couldnīt stay calmed when his precious child was going to go to war, what it she never returned home? It would be torture for him, torture for the rest of his days, just missing Mulan.
Mulan went to pray to the shrine so her ancestors would protect her from any danger at war, and at her training. When, she finished her prayer, Mushu and Cri-kee appeared." See I told īya" said Mushu.
Mulan shook her head, there was no time to be wasted in discussions of I told you so. "We must leave by tomorrow," she announced.
Mushu never missed the chance to tease her,"Canīt wait to see your captain?" Mulanīs cheeks turned bright pink, everytime she heard something about him, she felt her emotions all mixed up inside, joy, nerves, happiness, etc." No," she answered," I am serious."
"Bla, bla, bla," said Mushu, nonchalantly. He wasnīt very worried about the war thing, indeed. He only cared if Mulan war flirting to Shang. Mulan ignored the little dragon.
Mulan entered the room in which her family placed her fatherīs armor, Shan Yuīs sword, and the crest that the emperor gave to Mulan just right after her heroic deed. She remembered that stormy night she left her house to join the Imperial Army, she was so afraid,but yet she managed to get some courage to face all the things she had to get through to become a heroin.
"What are you thinking babe?" Mushu interrupted her thoughts.
"I was just wondering what awaits for me..." Mulan couldnīt finish because her father got inside the room.
"Who are you talking to?" Mushu went to hide behind the armor.
"I was just thinking out loud, thatīs all baba." Mulan answered as she stood up.
Fa Zhou noticed she was kinda nostalgic to leave her home once again to honor her family fighting for her country with honor." You know you can stay if you donīt wish to go," said Fa Zhou.
Mulan smiled at her father and assured," Everythingīs gonna be ok, daddy."
Fa Zhou smiled back at his daughter and said,"Ok, but you must go to sleep now, youīll leave early tomorrow."
Mulan nodded and started to prapare her stuff, she packed the armor, the sword, her robe, her shoes, a dress, etc. She took everything with her to her room, so it wouldnīt take her so long to get ready to leave in the morning. Her mother, Fa Li, followed her and asked her," Do you want me to wake you up?" Mulan stayed thoughtful for a moment, she really needed someone to wake her up so she wouldīt leave at noon, but she didnīt want her mother to bother. She decided it would be fine if her mother helped her a bit," If you donīt wake me up, you can count that I will not leave very early,"Mulan joked. Fa Li shook her head and smiled at Mulan; she was very worried, her daughter was risking her dear life again, she was going to miss her around just laughing around the house.
Mulan was a very happy person, it was really hard to make her mad, once you were close to her.
Mulan lied on her bed and looked around her room to see if Mushu was there; she saw Cri-Kee next to her pillow chirping. She smiled at the cute little cricket. Where was Mushu right now?
A few minutes later, he climbed up to Mulanīs bed carrying a bowl filled with rice. Mulan looked at him as if he was the strangest thing on earth and asked," Where did you get that?"
Mushu answered," Just leftovers, babe. You didnīt save dinner for Mushu."
The dragon made a sad face trying to make Mulan to feel sorry for him, but it didnīt work out because instead, Mulan just laughed out of breath and said," Sorry, Mushu, but you were the one who disappeared."
Mushu crossed his arms and said,"Ok, Iīll forgive you this time, baby."
Mulan was tired and it wasnīt hard for her to fall asleep a few moments later after she closed her beautiful dark eyes. Little Brother cradled right next to Mulanīs feet.
A peaceful sleep was all she needed in that moment. Mulan didnīt know what waited for her in war. She was quite certain that she was meeting Shang, but she didnīt know if she would sleep again in her , or if she would ever return home to her dear family.
Mulanīs family was worried , they wanted her to stay instead of risking her precious life once again, but Mulan was a stubborn daughter, and she wanted to honor them all.
Granny prayed to their ancestors for the safety of her grandaughter, besides, she said a little prayer so she would return from war betrothed to Shang. Granny Fa thought he was perfect for Mulan, he was strong, handsome, intelligent, comprehensive, etc... just what she was looking for her grandchild.
