Chapter Text
Mulan sobbed quietly as she lay in the snow. She'd just been exposed as a woman, and despite having taken out the huns, discarded like a piece of rubbish. If Chi-Fu hadn't been around, she probably would have been allowed to tag along until the following village... she saw in Shang's eyes that he pitied her.
And it hurt.
The eyes used to hold admiration and pride... for Ping. She told herself bitterly. For her: distrust and pity. Her wound had been treated and stitched roughly. Just enough to keep her from bleeding out. No doubt it was infected as well: if the throbbing and horrible burning was anything to go by, then it was quite a nasty one. She shivered painfully, the horse blanket she had on was only proving enough heat to keep her alive. Before he'd left, Chein-Po dropped the horse blanket on her, as a parting thanks. It was there she wished Shang had killed her there and then. It would have been a better ending: quick and painless. Not... shivering and dying of infection in the Tung Shao Pass. Her tears burnt as they raced down her face. She pressed her fist into the cold ground and screamed.
~
Shang felt horrible. He trotted on with the rest of the army, who stood as he felt. The only one who was smiling was Chi-Fu. Even Ling was despondent and not talking. They hadn't made it very far when he heard a shout. His horse stopped and his ears pricked. "What was that?" Chi-Fu asked, stopping his own horse. "I don't know. Keep the troops moving, I'll go and check it out," He said, already turning his horse towards the shout. "B-b-but-"
"It wasn't an ask, it was an order," Shang interrupted harshly. He galloped away, letting his horse lead the way. Shang realised his horse was leading him back towards where he'd left Mulan. A small spark of worry shot through his body, but he ignored it and focused on his rage for her instead. How dare she think she could infiltrate an army base?
but then the more rational side of him would say: but she saved your life... twice. And took out Shan-Yu.
His horse rode over a small snow hill back to where the medic had been set up. He slid off slowly, looking for danger. There was nothing. Not a single footprint, minus his own. It had obviously snowed briefly in the time he left and came back. The only thing that was visible was a blue horse blanket. Best take it for Qiang... He thought as he picked it up. Shang jumped back in shock when he saw a shivering body curled tightly under it. "She's dying," Someone spoke. Shang whipped around. "Who's there? Show yourself!" He commanded.
He expected a few things. A tiny red dragon was not one of them. He blinked. "Shang, right?" The dragon asked, sitting on top of Mulan's quivering form. Shang couldn't find words. The dragon spat some fire out of his mouth and onto a few sticks. He placed them in front of Mulan. "Mushu. I'm Mulan's guardian," He introduced himself. Shang continued to blink. "Ya know she ain't gonna last much longer out here," Mushu spoke. Shang's eyes fell to his saviour. Her face was as white as the snow, but the small blood stain by her ribs contrasted greatly. "I had no choice," Shang weakly argued. "If I kept her, she'd have been executed at the capital instead," Mushu blew more fire onto the pile of sticks. "Maybe... but she saved your life, twice, and I know because I was there, and took out the huns. Surely they'd give her a pass for that?" Mushu asked. Shang shrugged slightly. Thinking about it, the Emperor was a fair man. He had 3 daughters of his own... as well as listening to the acts she performed, he would no doubt spare her. Mulan's form suddenly shook violently as she cried out. Shang jumped back, unable to do anything but. "Could you not find it in your heart to at least drop her off at a local village?" Mushu implored. He shook his head. "The nearest place is the city... but, um- I do have," He reached for his saddle bag. "Enough supplies to get her home..." He offered, handing the bag to the tiny dragon. Mushu frowned at it. "I can't heal her! I got tiny claws!" He exclaimed. "Well, I can't! If I stay much longer, the others'll get worried and come back!" Shang exclaimed back. "Well pretty boy, you're gonna have to. Or certainly, get her up on her horse!" The dragon commanded.
Shang looked around and sighed deeply. "Fine," He hissed. The guilt raging through his heart was too hard to ignore: he should've fought harder against Chi-Fu... maybe then Mulan would be in better health. A life for a life... and yet, he was condemning her to freeze to death. He lifted her up by her armpits, rousing her enough to wake. "What's happening?" She mumbled with delirium. Shang pushed away the guilt. "You're going home." He spoke. "But you've left me... oh I'm dying... aren't I?" She mumbled again. Shang didn't speak again. He successfully helped her up onto Khan and passed the little dragon his satchel. "Here... there's some food and water and a few bandages to keep her alive..."
Making sure the dragon had a firm grip on the bag and an understanding of what was happening, Shang mounted Qiang and rode off to re-catch up with the army.
Somehow... the guilt raged even stronger.