Beyond the End: Chapter 2

Author’s Note: Nope, not panda here….but there is a Les Miz/Lea joke!

Shang grunted as he hit the grass. It had been the third time to today; he really needed to start blocking faster after he attacked. By some magical or unknown means, Mulan’s foot always made contact with the side of his face before he could manage to raise his arm. Looking up, he saw Mulan standing over him with a tiny satisfied smile.

“I let you have that one.”

Mulan raised an eyebrow. “Sure you did.” She smiled and reached out a hand to help him up.

While Shang got up, he noted out of the corner of his eye that Grandmother Fa was passing through the garden. Again. He sighed. Maybe it would be a better idea to wear a shirt while practicing.

“Okay, ready? Hiyah!” Shang concentrated and focused on Mulan’s movements…as he prepared to throw a straight punch, he readied himself for that kick…just as he punched, he heard a strange voice:

“Captain Li Shang!”

“Huh?” Too late Shang realized that he had lost his focus. No, not again! “Umph!” Whoever had spoken was going to get it. Muttering a few choice words under his breath, he sat up and glared murderously at….a very shocked-looking king’s messenger. Oops. Shang attempted to regain his composure while he got up and approached the messenger, and then bowed. “Yes?”

The messenger swallowed a few times before unraveling a scroll with trembling fingers for Shang had not managed to keep a glint out of his eyes. The messenger took a deep breath. “Our spies in the north have detected an increase of hostile activity from the Huns. The Emperor requests that you report to the Mu Shong training camp and begin the training of new troops. He also requests that you command the army and deploy your troops whenever necessary……General.” He then handed Shang a sword and a helmet with the plume signifying his rank.

“General?……..this is…..wow!….I mean…uh….yes,sir.”

The messenger relaxed and smiled. “And how is your wife? Well, I hope?”

Shang’s smile was one-sided as he put his arm around Mulan’s shoulders while she let her hair down. She was understandably attired in the clothing she had worn during camp. “I’m not sure. Let me check,” Shang told the messenger. He then looked down at his wife. “How are you doing today?”

Mulan smiled, her eyes sparkling with laughter. “I’m fine. And how are you, sir?” she asked the messenger.

The man’s eyes widened with realization. “I’m doing okay…..I didn’t know that you could…….I mean, I’m sorry, I thought you were….uh…sorry to disturb you two. I’ll be on my way now.” He bowed to each in turn, “General, Fa Mulan, good day.” He then hurried off, afraid that another word out of his mouth might have offensive meaning and that the General would use him for target practice.

Mulan shook her head, watching the departing figure. “I don’t think this has been his day.” She then turned to Shang. “Though I think it is yours, General. This calls for something special….I’ll let you win this time around.” Shang scowled. Mulan grinned and lightly punched his side. “Just kidding. Come on, let’s go tell the family. It’s about time for lunch anyways.” As she started towards the house, Shang caught a hold of her hand.

“Wait.”

She turned back towards him. “Yes, Shang?”

“Mulan, will you be going to the training camp?”

“Of course. Why not? Now come on.” She turned towards the house again, but Shang did not let go.

“Mulan….I’d rather you not go. You could get hurt.”

“So could you. Shang, you know perfectly well that I can defend myself if necessary…..”

“Mulan, if you went and got yourself killed, and under my command, I wouldn’t be able to live with myself.”

She opened her mouth to protest but Shang continued, “Mulan, please don’t argue with me.”

Her eyes narrow for a moment before her face cleared. She looked up and smiled sweetly at him. Maybe a bit too sweetly. In a deceptively mild tone, she answered, “Of course. How could I not obey my husband?” She then fluttered her eyelashes at him.

Shang groaned. “Mulan, stop that nonsense.”

If possible, Mulan smiled even more sweetly and replied in an insipid tone, “As my husband commands.” Giving him the most vapid expression possible, she docilely led him back to the house. Shang winced. Perhaps it would have been a better idea to let her come after all.

*****

Turns out he should have. After lunch, Mulan declined in continuing practice of Kung Fu. “It is not appropriate for ladies to do so, “ she told him demurely. "Besides, I must wash my husband’s uniform so that it will be clean when he trains the troops. Appearance is very important.” With that she gathered all his clothes in the washing bucket and all but snatched his pants off of him. She did manage to get his stockings, though. Muttering to himself, Shang picked up his stick and went to go practice forms by himself.

As evening approached, Shang tried to speak to Mulan again, but she simply nodded and answered, “As my husband says.” And continued to wash his clothes. When he had finally stormed off in frustrastion, Mushu jumped onto Mulan’s shoulder.

“What’s bothering him?” Then Mushu paused and looked at the shirt in Mulan’s hands. “Hey…..wait a minute! Isn’t that YOUR shirt?”

Smiling to herself, Mulan sang quiety, “Little he knows, little he sees.”

Mushu crossed his arms, “Now lookee here! I’m not going to risk my hide again cuz you got another urge to be all manlike!”

“Mushu-“

“I ain’t listening! Once was enough! I’m going to tell that captain of yours what you’re thinking…“

“Mushu-“

“No, not one word!”

“If I become a war hero again you could be promoted…”

“Nope, nothing’s going to convince me to…..what did you say?”

“Oh, just that you might be promoted into the ultimate family guardian…”

“Say no more! Let’s get moving!”

“Wait. I’ll let Shang leave first and wait a few days before leaving. That way, I can sneak into the camp later on when they’ve already begun training.”

*****

The evening was not much better for Shang. Rice wine was available in celebration of his promotion but after only two servings, Mulan took the cup from his hands.

“What the-?”

“My husband has had enough wine for tonight. He would not want to leave tomorrow morning and ride all day with a headache, yes?"

Fa Zhou and Fa Li exchanged amused glances while Shang tried to protest, but to no avail.

“I’m perfectly fine; I can stand another –“

“And it is getting late!” Mulan turned to her parents. “Please excuse us. My husband must get a good night’s sleep for tomorrow’s strenuous journey. Good night.” Winking at her grandmother and getting one in return, Mulan dragged Shang out of the room.

Fa Zhou turned to his wife. “Have you any inkling what is going on between those two?”

“I have no idea, but I am sure Mulan can handle it.”

“Oh, it’s not Mulan I’m worried about.” Fa Zhou took another sip of the wine. “It’s the General I’m a bit afraid for.”

*****

The next morning, the whole family came out to see Shang off. Fa Zhou shook hands with him while Fa Li stuffed a bit more food items into his knapsack.

“Good luck, General.”

“Thank you, sir.”

Fa Li fretted and gripped tightly on his hands while extracting a promise from him. “You’ll take care of yourself?”

“Of course.”

Grandmother Fa cackled and pinched his cheek. Shang winced.

Mulan stood passively to one side. When Shang tried to give her a kiss, she bowed and said, “I hope that my husband will be careful. I will be here waiting for him when he returns.” She stepped back. Seeing that she would not do otherwise, Shang sighed and mounted his horse and began his journey to the training camp.

| Previous Chapter | Next Chapter |

Map - explore this temple

Return to the Temple