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Fa Zhou couldnīt sleep, knowing that his only daughter was about to leave her home again to protect her country from the barbarians.
Mulan had left early to the Bai Tao Base without saying goodbye to her family, just like the first time she had ran away from home to take her dear fatherīs place in the Imperial Army.
It hurt her parents so much inside, when they realized she was gone now, fighting in battles. What if she never came back?
The house was so lonely without her, no one laughed because there were no funny things said or done by Mulan, no one had reasons to smile because Mulan was in war, probably suffering with the cold weather, or even wounded. Only worries and worries all day long, and they could hardly wait for the war to be over to see Mulan once again at home peacefully settled down.
Even Little Brother missed Mulan with everything in him. If only she would be home, he would do all of his mischief just to make her laugh, but now-a-days he wasnīt in a mood to chase the chickens, he even got thinner because he wasnīt eating properly.
One day, they recieved a letter from Mulan that said,
"Dear Mother, Father, and Granny,
Today, Iīm leaving to battle, please pray so everything turns out ok. I wish I were home, I miss you all so much. I hope everythingīs fine at home. I donīt want to go to war but this is no time for regrets. If I never return back home please remember me , every single moment weīve shared together, our happy memories. I know I never said goodbye to you but I think thereīs no need to say goodbye, maybe I return home after all. The training has been really hard, but Shang has been really kind to me, so donīt worry about that. Well I must go.
Love,
Fa Mulan."
Mulan was sent to battle with the rest of the other recruits. She fought with honor, dignity, and courage and now the huns were defeated.
A few days later, Shang went to Mulanīs house all by himself. Fa Zhou wondered as Shang walked in, why wasnīt Mulan by his side when he was at her house. "Maybe sheīll catch up with him later," the elder man thought.
Fa Zhou noticed that Shang wasnīt happy at all, he could tell he was depressed . He even saw that his eyes were all moist and his voice was so shaky. Shang tried hard to keep the tears from falling through his cheeks.
Shang bowed at Fa Zhou and said," Honorable Fa Zhou I came to...," he hesitated nervously,"Your daughter is the best soldier that has ever existed on Earth, but she has passed away fighting for the freedom of her country." Tears fell from his dark eyes, he just couldnīt take it anymore, it didnīt matter if men are not supposed to cry, Shang had lost everything when Mulan died, and he felt so lonely.
Fa Zhou couldnīt believe it, it could not be; he started to cry too.
"Where is her body?" demmanded Fa Zhou.
"She is , she died on our way here," Shang sounded more serious than ever.
"Let me see her!" cried Fa Zhou.
Shang went outside the house, and a couple of minutes later he went inside carrying Mulanīs limp body in his arms. She was covered with a silk blanket; but her father removed it to look at her. She was so pale and her eyes were closed tightly, no one will ever see those beautiful young eyes she had.
Mulan had passed away, and there will be no joy for the ones who loved her thoughout her life, including Shang. It was so terrible to lose her.
When Fa Li and Granny were told agout what happened to Mulan they broke into tears.
Fa Zhou felt this pain in his heart, he thought that he was guilty for his daughterīs death because he had let her go to war again....
Fa Zhou woke up, everything had been a nightmare. He was sweating. Mulanīs father sighed and thanked their ancestors that it was only a nightmare. Then, he went to Mulanīs bedroom to check on her. There, she slept peacefully.
Fa Zhou saw the armor and all the war stuff, and he made a decision: he would leave so his nightmare wouldnīt come true.
Fa Zhou carefully took out the armor, and the sword out of Mulanīs room.
Fa Li woke up and asked rubbing her eyes," What are you doing?"
"I canīt let Mulan to go and just die," he answered,"Sheīs too young and thereīs so many things ahead for her."
Fa Li nodded and went to cry to her room.
Fa Zhou entered again inside Mulanīs room and kissed her forehead.
Fa Li went out to say goodbye to her husband.
Fa Zhou left, and headed to the Bai Tao Base riding Khan.
Mulan was so asleep that she didnīt notice her father had left, until she heard Granny screaming, "What was all that noise?"
Mulan pushed the blankets off and sat down on her bed. "Mushu, what happened?" she whispered.
Mushu was still asleep so she had to shake him, to wake him up."Is it time to leave?" he asked.
Mulan didnīt answer and looked for her robes; they were not where she had left them the last night. " Thieves!" she exclaimed," Thatīs why granny was screaming."
Mulan ran outside and saw her mother crying desperately, as if there was no hope for her husband at all.
"What happened?" Mulan asked worried.
"Your father has gone to war," replied Fa Li, weeping.
"What? It canīt be!" Mulan exclaimed," Then I must go after him."
Fa Li grabbed her arm and whispered," Your father wants your safety, you are too young to die. He decided he was going to protect your life."
Mulan pulled away slowly and replied as tears started to roll down her cheeks," I... I can do this, just let me bring dad home, Itīll be alright."
Mulan ran to get dressed to leave; she didnīt have her training clothes so she had to wear a dress. Fa Li followed her.
"I donīt wanna lose you too," cried Fa Li.
Mulan embraced her mother and said through her tears," Iīll come home safely with baba."
When Mulan was ready to leave, she said goodbye to granny and her mother. She knew it killed them inside to see her leave to go to war, but she promised she was coming safely.
Mulan had to mount an old horse they had in the stable. He was very slow, and his name was Tan.
Tan was a white horse with gray spots, he had gone to war with Fa Zhou when he was younger. Mulan knew it would take her longer to get to the Bai Tao Base riding Tan. When she was out of her house, she took a deep breath to stop crying.
During her way to the Bai Tao Base, she had to stop every so on, because Tan got tired very easily.
"Are we in a hurry to see Mr. Big Muscles?" Mushu teased.
Mulan frowned because she was not in a mood for listening to Mushuīs jokes, she wasnīt even thinking about Shang. She had to worry for her father, not for Shang . In that moment, Mulan didnīt care if he saw Shang or not, her father was the only thing that mattered.
"Mushu, knock it off please, Iīm worried."
Mushu kicked the horse as hard as he could so he would start moving a little faster, but it was useless. The poor horse was too old to run. Mulan just hoped they could arrive before they sent her father to battle, anyway, she had the hope that Shang would understand, and he wouldnīt dare to make Fa Zhou risk his life and cause a lot of pain to Mulan.
Fa Zhou arrived to the Bai Tao Base. The first person he saw was the young man who went to his house just after Mulan had arrived to return her helmet.
"Good day, Honorable Fa Zhou," Shang said impressed. He was actually especting that Mulan would join the army again, " Are you looking for Mulan? because she..."
Fa Zhou cut him off and said," No, sheīs at home. I came to protect her life, I wonīt allow her to face danger again."
Shang nodded as serious as always. He wondered what did Fa Zhou meant when he said he was not going to allow Mulan to face danger again, "Maybe he knows I left her all alone in the mountains." Of course those were not Shangīs intentions in the start, he had left her there so she would go home, he never meant to leave her alone. Shang was so regretted about that day.
Shang really wanted to see Mulan again, he had so many things to tell her. Maybe he could see her some other day, and maybe he could have the gutts to tell her about his feelings for her.
On the way to the Bai Tao Base, Mulan saw her friends Yao, Ling, and Chien Po. They were as happy as she was to see them.
"Hey, look whoīs there!" screamed Ling excited.
"Itīs our old friend... Ping." Yao teased.
"Thatīs not very nice, Yao," said Chien Po.
Mulan dismounted her horse and said," Good to see you guys." She gave each of them a kiss on their cheeks.
"So youīre going to battle again?" asked Ling.
" Duh!" said Yao, slapping his friend.
" Yeah, why not?" replied Mulan.
"Well, we thought you were tired of battles," Yao said," Oh, it must be because youīre sweet on that pretty boy huh?"
Mulan blushed and said," Of course Iīm not sweet on him, I have more important things to focus on, so knock it off you guys."
"Sheīs definately right," declared Chien Po.
Mulan jumped to sit on her horse. "Well we should get going, before itīs too late," said Mulan in a worried tone.
" What do you mean with late?" asked Ling.
Mulan answered," My father left home to fight in war instead of me, but heīs not fit for it."
Chien Po assured her," Youīll find him when we get there."
"And pretty boy is waiting for you too," added Yao.
Mulan glared at him and he muttered," Just joking Ping... I mean Mulan."
Mushu whispered," That jerk thinks heīs so funny."
Mulan giggled.
The four friends went together to the Bai Tao Base.
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