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Chapter 2 - Broken

The group traveled through the night and stopped mid morning. Immediately, Shang ordered the men to make camp and helped them. It was a speedy process and done without mistake, just as they’d been trained. It warmed Shang that the lesson had not been lost. Soon, Yao went off to chop wood for a fire and Chien Po was unpacking a few supplies to make a meal. Ling left to scout around.

“We’re stopping for a few hours, if you want to stretch your legs, your Highnesses,” murmured the soft voice of Ping. Shang watched the interactions carefully, but Ping handled the three perfectly with a mix of dignity and subservience. The three seemed to respond warmly to him. Soon, they had all filed out of the wagon to get some fresh air. Ping stayed near them, ready to wait on any of their orders if he could manage. Shang noted how he kept his eyes peeled for anything he could do around the camp, finding little things that required attention without a word.

Ling came back soon enough and reported that there was a river near enough to fish from. Shang nodded and put him on guard duty before going to find Ping. The kid had spent a while with the princesses and probably wanted a break.

“Lieutenant Fa!”

The boy turned, snapping to attention. “General?”

“At ease,” responded Shang, arms folded. “Lieutenant Xian reported a river just past those trees over there. I want the two of us to get fish for lunch.”

Ping blinked a bit, then grinned as he realized the formality between them was for the princess’s benefit. “Yes, sir.”

Shang yelled over to the misfits that they were leaving before the two went off to the river. The water was calm and just deep enough, fat fish swimming through. There was a companionable silence between them as they fished. No need to worry over following or giving an order, no need to pose for the troops or princesses, just quiet and fish.

“How are you doing?” Shang asked suddenly. “With the arranged marriages thing?”

Ping was quiet a moment then sighed a bit. “It still bothers me, but I know it is their duty to do so, as it is my sister’s duty to marry as well.”

“You’re close to her, I take it?”

“Very. She and I are inseparable…She actually wanted to join the army with me.”

“What?” Shang blinked with surprise. “But that’s treason! If she had and then been discovered, she would have been killed!”

“That’s why she didn’t go. I convinced her not to.” He sighed again and threw out his line once more. “Mulan is a very headstrong woman. If I hadn’t made her promise, I’m sure she would have been at the camp with me.”

“I’m glad she wasn’t.” Ping glanced up at Shang but said nothing so the general went on. “I would have had to execute her and that would have destroyed my friendship with you.”

“..Friendship?” asked the boy as his eyes went a little wider. It made his entire face look even younger than before.

“I consider you one of my best friends,” Shang replied, glancing off. He felt his cheeks were a little warm from awkwardness but it got so much worse when he looked back and saw the huge grin that had broken Ping’s face. The kid was…pretty.

“I consider you my friend too,” Ping said with a pink face and that goofy, oh-so-sweet grin. Shang looked away and cleared his throat.

“Good. Now lets fish.”

“Yes, sir.”

The awkwardness soon fell away.

Shang and Ping got back just in time to see the wagon crash into the group of misfits and barrel towards the cliff. Immediately, they jumped on their horses and sped after it.

“Get the princesses out!” Ping yelled over the screaming girls. Ling and Yao quickly wrenched the younger two out, tossing the girls to Ping and Shang, who deftly caught them. When Ling tried to rescue the eldest, her foot fell through a weak board and held fast.

“The cliff!” Shang called. Ping grabbed a rope from his side and threw it around, hopping Shang caught on. He did so and the two tried valiantly to stop the wagon between them. It was too little too late and screaming, the whole group went over the edge.

It happened almost too fast to do anything, but Ling managed to jerk Princess Ting-Ting clear of the wagon as Shang and Ping shoved their respective princesses away from the rock they were heading for. The empty wagon smashed into nothing.

Shang came up gasping for air, quickly looking around. “Is everyone okay?!”

Ling popped up with Princess Ting-Ting, signaling his okay as he started for shore with her. Yao and Princess Mei held fast to an unbroken barrel of supplies. Chien Po nabbed Princess Su and the two started gathering up fruit they had found before from the water. The horses went to land and seemed fine. There was one conspicuous absence.

“Lieutenant Fa!” Shang called, but there was no answer. The others made it to shore but the boy was no where to be seen. “PING!”

Fearing the worse, Shang went under and tried to find the missing soldier. The river was murky with mud, but after a second dive, Shang noticed a dark shape lingering near the rock and wreckage from the wagon. He grabbed it, noting the familiar feel of army issued cloth, and dragged the body to the surface. Ping didn’t respond. Once Shang got him to shore, he noted the bleeding head wound and the fact that the boy wasn’t breathing.

“Oh no,” one of the princesses whispered.

The wound would have to wait. Shang jerked his head up. “Ling, get down here.”

The instructions were quick, but Ling caught on quickly. He folded his hands and set them on Ping’s chest, beginning compressions. After five, Shang bent and held Ping’s nose closed and breathed into him. They repeated, desperate to save their friend. Finally, when it seemed too late, Ping began to suck in air on his own and cough. Shang rolled him onto his side as the whole ground breathed a sigh of relief.

“You crazy idiot,” Shang murmured softly. Ping was barely conscious, eyes not quite focusing on anything. Shang stayed with him while the others pulled what supplies were good from the river, set up camp, and scouted the area. The medkit was brought quickly and Shang cleaned Ping’s head wound. It wasn’t deep, but the force of impact had definitely done something. Shang wrapped it and then carried Ping into his tent. The boy managed to stay awake but Shang saw the effort it took.

“Stay with me, Ping,” Shang told him and Ping struggled to keep his gaze locked on the other’s face. The general had seen wounds like that kill a man if he went to sleep, so he began to talk about anything he could think of. Ping made quiet, nonsensical responses, but he did stay awake. Shang had to consciously fight off the hysteria rising just below the surface and concentrate on trying to save his friend. This went on for most of the night and then Ping fell asleep at dawn and Shang couldn’t wake him.

Yao looked towards Ping’s tent silently, his face showing just how worried he really was. Despite his temper and general gruffness, he knew himself to be rather soft when it came to friends. Shang had told them all that Ping wasn’t waking. It was now time to wait to see if he did, or if he stopped breathing first.

Glancing towards the others for support, Yao slowly went inside with breakfast for the general. Shang was still sitting at Ping’s bedside. Ling had come back earlier to give the scout report and Shang was unmoved since then. He barely acknowledged Yao’s presence as the soldier set the bowl next to him and looked towards their fallen comrade. Ping looked so very young and vulnerable with his hair down and the white bandages around his head. His face was too pale…

“Thank you,” murmured Shang suddenly, but he didn’t move to eat. Yao bowed his head and left. Ling and Chien Po were there immediately to see if there was any change, but said nothing at their friend’s expression.

Just after midday, Shang left the tent and called the three to him.

“We can’t wait any longer,” he said solemnly. “The princesses have to be in Qui Gong in a day and a half.”

“But Ping-”

“His sacrifice will not be in vain,” Shang said sharply and Chien Po went silent. “Break camp. We leave as soon as…”

He trailed off when he noticed the three weren’t looking at him anymore. Slowly, Shang turned his head and felt everything inside him break. There, standing wobbly at the opening of the tent, was a sleepy eyed Ping. Shang had never felt so relieved in his life.

“General,” Ping murmured quietly as he took a step. It threw off what little balance he retained but Shang was there to catch him. The other three hurried to his side.

“We’re breaking camp soon. Do you think you can ride?” Shang asked softly. Ping lifted his head, looking at him for a few moments, then nodded. “Good. Rest until we leave.”

They got Ping back on his bedroll and got to breaking camp. Yao told the princesses that Ping was recovering and grinned at their relief. It seemed that they had bonded with the young lieutenant, but Yao understood that completely. Ping was easy to be one’s self around.

Once the camp was packed up, the group set off. Ping rode Khan and stayed with the princesses on their ride. He was still wobbly but managed to stay alert. With Shang riding in front, the three misfits felt it was their duty to make sure Ping didn’t fall, as much as it was to protect the three women.

The group was nearing the village Ling had found and stopped a little ways past it in the early evening. They were close enough that another day would bring them to Qui Gong, but would have to pass through bandit country to get there. Shang wanted his soldiers well rested and especially hoped Ping was back to near perfect condition.

That night, he put the men on guard when he went to rest, planning to take the last shift. Ping was exempt from watch for the night and was resting in his tent.

Yao, Ling, and Chien Po watched the three princesses from behind some higher bushes. Though the time they’d all known each other, each had felt that spark of romance. They all knew their duty, but when love seemed to be staring them in the face, it seemed…

Ping stepped out of his tent and went to sit by the fire with the princesses, after asking permission that was granted. Sighing a bit, the three went back to their watch.

“I think you’re very brave,” said Princess Mei suddenly. Mulan glanced at her with a blink.

“I’m simply doing my duty to the Emperor,” she replied quietly. There was something in Mei’s eyes that made Mulan almost afraid.

“Yes, Mei,” Ting-Ting said rather forcefully. “It is nothing strange for a man go join the army.”

Mei shot her a sharp look, then turned back to Mulan. “Your father is well known to mine-”

“Mei!” Ting-Ting hissed. Su glanced between the two of them, but Mulan stared squarely at Mei. It was with a horrible sinking feeling that she realized they knew. They had to know. And if they did, the Emperor knew and had told them. Mulan didn’t realize she was swooning until Su’s hands snapped out to steady her.

“I-I’m going back to my tent,” Mulan murmured, gently pushing Su away as she got up. “Have a good evening, Highnesses.”

As she headed back for her tent, she could hear the three talking in angry, hushed tones, and nearly groaned when foot steps sounded behind her. Mulan sat on her bedroll and waited. Mei stepped into the tent and sat down beside her.

“You’ve known this whole time, haven’t you?” Mulan asked her immediately.

“My father knew you would protect us,” Mei replied quietly. “He knows about you because your father is a very old friend. He knew Fa Zhou had only one child, a daughter.”

Mulan stared down at her hands, rough from fighting and work.

“Why am I alive?”

“The law of execution had been raised,” said Mei. “After your demonstration, my father realized that other women might become exemplary soldiers, if they ever decided to. You’re special and you may be the beginning of something amazing.”

Mulan didn’t know how to take it so she said nothing.

“I think you’re brave,” Mei said softly, folding her hands in her lap. “Running away to save your father’s life..”

“I had to do it. He would never have survived.”

“But you knew you would be killed if you were known!” Mei’s gaze was determined to convince her of her own bravery. “How did you know you could do it?”

Mulan was quiet as she watched the princess, who would soon be a queen of Qui Gong.

“I followed my heart,” she said at last. “I couldn’t stand by and watch my father die so I took his place. And now, because of that, I am here again, leaving behind my future.”

“You have a fiancé waiting.”

Mulan closed her eyes. “Yes.”

“You don’t want to marry him.” Mei frowned a little. “I can see it in your eyes. You’re in love with someone.”

Slowly, the soldier lifted her head and stared at her with a sad sort of smile. “I listen to my heart, Highness, but I also understand when I cannot follow it. I know that I love him but nothing can ever be said. To him, I am simply a boy named Ping.”

Mei’s eyes went wide as she realized who that depth of feeling was for. Mulan’s sad smile remained.

“When I get home, if my fiancé is still waiting, I will marry him and bring honor to my family and his.”

They said nothing more and Mei quickly went back to join her sisters. As she thought quietly, she hated the thought of resigning herself to her fate the way Mulan had. She thought of Yao’s earnest eyes and his bumbling kindness and felt a deep emptiness at the thought of living without him. She’d seen her sisters react to the other two in a similar way, though Ting-Ting stubbornly refused to admit it. They had fought a little while before, when she thought about running away, but it was resolved soon after. Well, resolved enough not to quarrel over, anyway.

The three were surprised when Yao suddenly fell through the bushes. He got up and looked almost ready to attack when Mei thought to call out to him.

“Yao! Is everything all right?”

“Oh- Ah-” and then he proceeded on a long spiel on Chien Po having a dream and how, if they came along, they’d still be guarded while he could have said dream. The large man sighed longingly behind him and it sounded like too much fun for the princesses to resist. Happily, the six made their way to the village for a night of fun, hoping not to be found out.

Mulan knew quickly that they were gone. She hesitated at going after them for she hated the thought that Shang might be attacked in his sleep, but she knew she had to carry out the mission and protect them. With a sigh, she left the camp.

They were actually easy to find. She came upon them standing on a bridge, staring up at the moon. She felt a deep hurt, looking at them. They were paired off and love shown in their eyes. She hated the thought of ripping them apart from one another, but it had to be done. China called for it.

“There you are.”

The six of them jerked their heads around and stared at her in a mix of guilt and determination. They fell over one another to explain and she listened quietly before smiling a bit.

“I..” Mei caught her eye and she closed her own. “I’m happy for you all.”

They grinned at her, ran down from the bridge to hug her and pull her into the thong of good feelings and love. Even in the middle of it, she felt hopelessly alone. She pulled back from them but at just that moment, she heard a voice that made her blood run cold.

“Well isn’t this nice.”

Shang stood with his arms crossed, his face hardened with anger. Immediately, the four soldiers moved to form a line.

“General, we can explain-” started one of the princesses, but Shang cut her off as he pulled out a scroll and opened it.

“’I’m sorry, Father, but I cannot complete this mission. My duty is to my heart’,” he read off, then glared mercilessly at them. Mei gasped.

“That-that’s mine, but it wasn’t suppose to, I mean-”

“What would your father think if he could see you right now?!” Shang exploded, throwing out his hands. “You have a duty to him and to China to carry out!”

They shrank back and Shang rounded onto his soldiers.

“And you,” he growled out. “Get back to the camp! You will escort the Princesses back. You will not to speak to them, you will not to go near their tents. Am I understood?!”

“Yes, General!”

“Go!”

Yao, Ling, and Chien Po quickly did as he said, leading the three girls away. Mulan started after them, but then paused part way and looked back. Shang glared at her.

“Sir, I-”

“Save it, Lieutenant. I told you not to let your dislike of arranged marriage get in the way of your duty,” Shang said coldly. “Your love of your sister-”

“It’s not my sister getting married!” Mulan yelled out suddenly, unable to keep back her anger any longer. “It’s me! I’m the one being married off!”

Shang stared at her but she was too far gone to stop now.

“Because of tradition, I can’t be with the one I love! I can’t even tell them!” She felt like crying. “I won’t even be able to be near them anymore…”

“Ping…” His face held sympathy but soon enough, he pushed it aside. “That doesn’t excuse you from letting this happen.”

“Letting it happen?” She let out a bark of laughter. “You can’t stop love from happening anymore than you can stop death. You’re a great soldier, Shang, but you don’t trust your feelings. Your heart. I wonder if you even have one sometimes.”

Shang’s gaze hardened. “Do not address me so familiarly.”

Her eyes widened as she realized what she’d done. Without another word, she turned and went back to camp.

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