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Chapter 3 - Death

They were quiet as they rode through the mountainous path. Mei had tried to talk to Ping earlier, but the boy only smiled with sad kindness and she stopped trying. Yao, Ling, and Chien Po walked near by but said nothing, unable to do so until Ping and Shang both fell back or forward to scout, leaving the six alone. They managed to communicate and it comforted them all, even Shang, who caught the end of it.

Shang was feeling conflicted. He felt guilt for having to separate the budding lovers, but he knew his duty and had to follow it. His thoughts fell to Ping, who hadn’t spoken to him since the night. He’d had to be harsh, he knew that, but he hated the rift that had formed between them. Ping would likely never be as close to him again. A looming marriage was enough to scare any young man, Shang knew. He’d been spared it himself when his father decided that since his older brother was already married that it wouldn’t be forced upon himself. Now, it was up to Shang if he ever wanted to marry. He doubted it. If Ping’s arrangement caused him so much pain, Shang never wanted it. He hoped that some day, Ping might come to think of them as friends again.

The path was cut in half. They split up, the soldiers behind him and the princesses with Ping.

On her side, Mulan was as conflicted as Shang. The night had brought her thoughts back to worrying more about her marriage than anything else. She wanted to just run away, forget it all and simply go to a place where no one had heard of Fa Ping or Fa Mulan and no one expected her to give up her life for the sake of having children with a man not of her choosing. More than anything, she wanted to admit everything to the man she’d fallen in love with before it was too late.

She couldn’t, she knew. Even with the law being lifted, Shang would never speak to her again even if he spared her.

The group moved on for most of the day. As evening came, there was a certain nervous stillness to the world. The high rock walls kept them in close quarters, as the paths through them were relatively thin. Shang was tensed, as were the soldiers he commanded. Even the princesses could sense some of the rising feelings…

And then it all went to hell as an arrow split the rock just past Shang’s head.

“Ambush!” he heard shouted but didn’t respond as he jumped off his horse and drew his sword. The bandits were on them immediately. He fought hard, dodging strikes of the few who got near him and trying to work his way back. Ping appeared near him with a well aimed kick that knocked back an attacker Shang hadn’t seen. They didn’t speak, simply doing what they had been trained to do.

One of the princesses screamed.

“Go on! I’ll take care of these guys!” Shang heard himself say. Ping nodded and broke into a run. He zigzagged through the bandits and raced towards the one with Princess Mei over his shoulder. As Ping darted away, Shang realized that the bandits were going after him, as if they’d had enough and found a bounty worth running off with. He cursed and threw an order back to his remaining soldiers to take care of the ones left behind before he went on.

The rocks abruptly cut off and he saw the bandits and their prisoner start across an unsteady bridge. With no dear on his face, Ping was after them without his sword. Shang followed. Between the two of them, they managed to free Princess Mei, sending her back to the rocks. Yao, Ling, and Chien Po were there to meet her.

Seeing that their quarry was too big, the bandits pulled away from the narrow battle and raced off the bridge. One stopped at the edge and jerked his sword across one of the ropes supporting the bridge. Both Ping and Shang grabbed on, trying to steady themselves as it swung under their feet. Another swipe and the bridge fell.

Shang reached out for a rope but missed it by inches. Just as he thought he would die, a warm hand wrapped around his and he clutched it tightly with his own. His body jerked as the rope reached it’s end and he looked up to meet Ping’s pale, terrified face. They swing in the fading light, hearing nothing through the blood pounding in their ears.

The rope gave a jerk as a support broke under their combined weight. Ping held fast, even as he bit into his lip as his body was jarred. Shang looked up at him and a calm resignation settled over him. Within seconds, the rope would break. He could see a weak section already beginning to. Shang had no want to die, but he couldn’t live with himself if he pulled Ping down with him.

“Ping, it won’t hold us both,” he said. The boy’s eyes went wide as moisture began to gather.

“Yes it will!” he insisted, “It will, Shang, just hold on!”

“Ping…” Shang hated the pain filling Ping’s face, the tears streaming down his cheeks. He unwrapped his fingers.

“No!” the boy screamed out as he tightened his grip, but it wasn’t enough. Shang was slipping through his hold.

“I’m sorry,” were the general’s last words. Ping screamed his name as he fell into the ravine.

Rain had soaked through her clothes hours ago. Mulan didn’t care. She was knelt at the edge of the cliff, between the two posts that had begun the bridge. Silent as a stone, her hands wrapped around Shang’s sword, she almost though of executing herself for failing him, but she knew he would never forgive her. That was the only thing that kept her alive.

The princesses and soldiers sat under a rock ledge as they watched their still companion. Only Mei understood the fullness of what had happened. She shushed the others, not allowing them to break Mulan’s mourning. She deserved it.

When Mulan finally stirred, it was well into night. She stood and reached up, letting down her hair. As the silken strands fell to stick to her cheeks and neck, she turned and looked at the six with determination on her face.

“Ping?” Yao asked cautiously. She walked towards them and stopped just outside the ledge.

“Princess Mei, my hair is short,” she said without preamble. “Is there anything you can do with it?”

“I-I’ll try.” She looked confused, but Mulan’s quiet, deadened voice gave her no will to question.

“Princess Su, please allow me to borrow a set of your clothing, the least rich of it.”

“Okay,” murmured the girl with a worried frown.

“Princess Ting-Ting, will you please make up my face so that I will be presentable?”

“I will,” she replied. The men looked even more confused.

“Who do you need to trick this time? What’s the plan?” Ling asked hesitantly. Mulan looked at him, her gaze dull.

“Put up a tent,” she said simply. The three went on to do so without another word, leaving the women alone.

“Mulan-” Mei started but when the other looked at her again, she cut herself off. There was an emptiness in those eyes and it cut Mei deeply.

“I’m going to finish this mission,” Mulan said quietly.

“We…We’re ready to go,” murmured Su quietly but Mulan gave a dismissive wave of her hand.

“No,” she said. “You three, stay with Yao, Ling, and Chien Po. Be happy. That is your mission now.”

They couldn’t ask anything more. The men finished putting up the tent and the princesses filed in with Mulan. The rain lessened and finally stopped completely before they came out again. The three princesses gave the soldiers weak, semi-reassuring smiles. After them walked out a woman they had never seen before.

Her hair, Mei had had little choice with. A simple updo was accented by one elegant, but not too expensive comb. Her face had been barely accented by make up, just enough that it was impossible to think of her as anything but a lady. Su’s clothing was rich, but the pieces chosen for Mulan now were arranged to make her look not like a princess, but a hand maiden.

“Ping,” murmured Yao uncertainly. She looked at him and gracefully bowed.

“My name is Fa Mulan,” she said in a soft, pleasant sounding voice, even if it was sad. He stared at her.

“What..?”

“Fa Mulan stole her father’s armor and enlisted as a man to save his life,” said Mei quietly. The three just stared. “My father was close to hers and knew of the deception, but she showed herself worthy. Fa Mulan is a hero.”

“The law of executing women for enlisting as men has been lifted,” continued Ting-Ting. At once, the three men’s shock was accented by relief.

Mulan left them, going to Khan. The dark horse gave a worried little mutter but she soothed him and carefully climbed onto him, sitting primly. She looked at the others and offered a small, sad smile, and then she was gone, heading for Qui Gong.

After day break, the six found themselves still there, within the tent. They were confused, even scared about what the future would hold, but were sure that as long as they were together, that was all that mattered. They didn’t understand how Mulan intended to save them, but trusted her.

How he was alive, he didn’t know. At first, he could barely move from the patch of land his horse had pulled him to. The animal’s intelligence had never been in question, but he hadn’t thought she would try to find him after the fall. He decided he would definitely make it up to her later.

When he felt he could move again, he got up and took stock of his body. No broken bones, miraculously. Somehow, the river must have cushioned his landing, but he didn’t know how. His ribs were definitely bruised and there were dozens more hurt spots, but only a few breaks in his skin. He was thankful for it. Using his torn shirt, he fashioned makeshift bandages around the few cuts, then climbed onto his horse.

He didn’t tell her where to go. A bone deep wariness had settled into him and he could barely stay on her, much less lead her. She didn’t mind. She already knew where he was needed, as she often did. He trusted her judgement.

As the morning drifted into afternoon, he realized that he recognized the area they were in. The rocks were a painful reminder but also made him manage to sit up and take hold of her reigns. She didn’t fight him, of course; she was trained well. They went to the lonely pitched tent but before he could even call out, three familiar men appeared, ready to fight.

Three seconds was what it took before they shouted out, “General Shang!”

“Seem’s I’ve survived,” he said with a little smirk. “Why are you still here? You should be moving towards Qui Gong. As it is, you’ll barely make it before sundown.”

The three soldiers’ faces fell and Shang felt his stomach turn.

“Where is Ping?”

They looked at one another, but it was Princess Mei who stepped out to hesitantly lift her voice in explanation.

“She went to Qui Gong,” Mei said, watching him, “in our place.”

He stared at her and then really thought about what he’d heard. “…She?”

“Ping’s a girl,” Yao exploded out. “He’s been a girl this whole time!”

Shang… was not at all sure how to deal with that. In his mind, he remembered the bumbling teenage boy who nearly failed getting anything out of training but then made an amazing turn around. He saw the intelligent eyes light up as a last ditch plan blossomed in his mind. And lastly, he saw the pretty smile Ping had granted him as they fished in the river.

“Her name is Fa Mulan, only child of Fa Zhou,” said Mei and there was a strength bubbling up inside her. “She is just as much a hero, male or female, and my father has recognized that.”

He looked at her, saw the hesitant fear behind her determination, and then nodded.

“I’m going after her.”

“We’re coming-” started Ling, but Shang cut him off.

“No. Stay here.”

Shang turned his horse and started towards Qui Gong, hoping he wasn’t too late but not knowing exactly what he would do when he got there. The others glanced at one another before one of the men cracked a grin.

“Do you think that was an order?”

Chien Po caught on immediately. “I think it was a ‘friendly suggestion.’”

All six were in full agreement.

Mulan wasn’t sure she could do it. She’d managed to get in to an audience with the king of Qui Gong but now, she didn’t know what to do. Her mouth was moving without thought.

“There was an accident,” she said clearly, her eyes on the floor as was customary for a woman. “I was the only survivor.”

“A grave event,” murmured the king as he stroked his beard. After a quick glance towards his advisers, he continued, “But I was promised a marriage!”

And then she found herself on her knees, her head pressed to her folded hands on the floor.

“I present myself in their stead, as lowly as that may be.”

He seemed shocked by her.

“My name is Fa Mulan. I am sister to the war hero Fa Ping. Through me, I offer his aid to Qui Gong.”

She still didn’t know what she was doing. Her mind reeled in shock of everything she did but she trusted her heart to get her through it. If she had to become a lap dog of Qui Gong to keep her home safe, she would.

“This is not what we agreed,” the king said finally, but it sounded as if he were considering. Before he could, another voice came.

“I will make use of her,” said a quiet but rumbling voice near. Mulan hesitantly turned her head and looked at the tall man standing next to her. He was broadly built and very strong, though his clothing seemed to try to hide this fact. His pants were white and simple, gathered at his ankles. The buttoned down jacket was a deep blue and not the smoothest of materials, as if he had tried not to be extravagant. When her eyes reached his face, she felt a prickling of fear. He might have looked attractive, but battle had obviously damaged him. One eye was covered with a patch and a large, ugly scar peeked out from the top over his eyebrow, and then streaked down his cheek below. The other cheek was marked by another two cuts, but this eye had been missed. She could see one of the cuts continued down his neck. Any other marks were hidden. His ebony hair was pulled up as was customary and he stood with a rigid grace, his face showing nothing.

“Lin Wei,” murmured the king uncertainly.

“If I were to wed this woman, we would have the support of a great hero,” said the man in his steady voice. “This would be beneficial, almost more so than the wedding of three princesses to your sons. It would free them for alliances with other nations.”

The king thought about it, glancing to his advisers, but he already looked to be leaning towards agreement.

“You have never seemed interested in marriage before, Wei,” he said with slight suspicion.

“It has never seemed necessary, Jin,” Lin Wei replied. Mulan felt a sinking sensation as she realized how familiar the two men were with one another. “Perhaps it is time for me to do my duty.”

The king was quiet for a long time, looking between his advisers and Lin Wei, then seemed to almost crumble in on himself with a sigh.

“Very well. We will accept the proposal of Fa Mulan.”

Slowly, Mulan rose to her feet, her head still bowed. She could feel Lin Wei’s eyes burning into her and wanted to shiver, but kept the urge down.

“Follow me,” Lin Wei ordered and Mulan obeyed. This was her duty now. She would have to somehow send word to her father, to tell him of the news, but for now, it was better to make her new fiancé happy, or at least happier than he was. Lin Wei seemed the kind of man who never smiled.

Once they had gotten a fair distance from the court, Lin Wei folded his arms behind his back and slowed his step until he walked at her side. She didn’t notice at first, but then realized and immediately slowed only to find that he matched her steps. Confused, she lifted her gaze to look at him and found the man staring right back with an unreadable expression.

“You don’t notice it anymore, do you?” he asked. She didn’t know how to respond. Ignoring that, he looked off to their destination, a large but quiet garden, and continued, “I am the supreme commander of Qui Gong’s army.”

It suddenly made sense why he had stepped up to marry her.

“As a soldier myself, I have been taught to notice things,” he said. He paused after and sat down on a bench, glancing at her to follow suit. She did so.

“When you walk, you walk like a soldier. Your weight shift is kept smooth, balanced, not like a woman who is seeking to woo men by her very movements.”

She barely kept herself from jerking her head up like a guilty idiot.

“I’m sorry if this displeases you,” she said quickly. “I…I convinced my brother to teach me a little, so that if I was alone, I could protect myself…”

He nodded a little, as if he accepted what she said.

“It’s fine,” he said. “I would expect him to do something like that.”

“Do you know much of my brother?” she found herself asking.

“Only what has filtered in through delegates and wanderers,” he murmured. He looked at her, that same unreadable expression on his face. “Are you proud of him?”

She blinked. “He showed himself to be a great warrior for China.”

He stared at her another few seconds, then nodded and got up. She did as well, a little confused by the abrupt change. She wondered if he was simply always like that.

Lin Wei stood silently for a long few moments and Mulan felt as if he would never move. Then he spoke and her blood chilled.

“That Fa Ping is a woman is a very fascinating concept.”

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