Paper Dragons II
anonymous
April 20 2011, 06:53:58 UTC
She didn’t realize how far she’d gone, until one day her friends from the army came to visit. Yao and Mushu almost got into a brawl but overall the three seemed to like Mushu. That was, until at the end of the day when Ling pulled her aside and blurted out, “I thought you and the captain were together!”
Mulan had pointed out that Shang hadn’t proposed or even made any sort of promise, Ling had responded, “So you’re starting to look elsewhere? Because you think the captain doesn’t like you enough and Mushu does?”
It had startled her, she never really noticed how the time she spent with Mushu could be interpreted as another courtship. Perhaps she was having too much fun with Mushu to notice the image she must be presenting, and Ling must have seen that, because he continues. “You laugh a lot with him, you’re happy with him, I know I’ve mostly only seen you when you were in the army but you smile so much when you’re with him; I’ve never seen you so…spirited. Are you planning to leave the captain for him?”
“Listen,” Mulan says recklessly, “I’m not leaving or going anywhere, that’s precisely the problem.” She didn’t say anything more, but Ling had interpreted her words to mean Shang doesn’t seem to be going anywhere with this relationship.
So of course, when the loyal subordinate leaves he rushes to Shang’s home and belittles him for making Mulan feel unloved. Mulan meanwhile finds Mushu flying a kite he had made and joins him, laughing and forgetting her problems again, as was usual when she was with her old friend.
But Ling isn’t the only one who had noticed her behavior, and one night Mulan’s mother calls her to her room. Her parents are sober, asking her if she plans to choose Mushu over Shang. “Don’t misunderstand us, Mulan, Mushu is a kind man indeed and we are glad to see that you have a friend who can make you so happy; but is he also husband material? He has no background or status, you may not need to worry about him being able to take care of you but you certainly should worry about whether your husband can take care of your children.”
Unbeknownst to the family, Mushu had heard the whole thing. The fun-loving former dragon was used to dropping by the parents’ room to talk or to present them little gifts and trinkets, something that always made the elderly couple smile. Mushu had planned on doing something similar when he heard the conversation and the ‘advice’ Mulan’s parents were giving her. Silently he left, not saying anything until he met up with the Cricket snoozing in the garden.
Mushu plopped down beside him dejectedly, “They’re right you know, Mulan needs someone that can really provide a future for her. Me? Just your average John Doe; him, a general! And she saved his life twice before so he’ll treat her well, he better treat her well!” The young man slumped his shoulders, “When did all this happen…? She was just supposed to be my charge! I was her guardian and friend! Of course I’ll care for her but not…this…way…”
Cricket chirped, Mushu looked up, “Hey, weren’t you supposed to be asleep?”
The ensuring chase, while enough to give him a brief chuckle, was not able to make him completely forget what he had just realized about his new feelings. He avoided Mulan the next day - or was it she avoiding him? - trying to think it through, but in the end realized that the denial was not helping him. He had not just physically changed into a human, his thoughts and emotions had too.
And he sensed that Mulan was happy, did love him in her own way. He’d seen her through her ups and downs, he’d supported her all the way, surely that meant something.
“I’ll talk to her,” he announced to Cricket. “It might damage our friendship, but it may also be so much more. I’m not shy and awkward like that captain…general…whatever, I’ll prove it to her, I’m a real human man!”
Cricket chirped loudly in support, and Mushu had bounded off, seeking the girl he realized he loved.
Only to see her at the gateway, greeting Shang, who was smiling with a new confidence and determination. Mulan’s other three army friends were there too, standing behind Shang in a show of united support. Mulan invited them into the garden where her parents were seated, and Shang approached them.
Paper Dragons III
anonymous
April 20 2011, 06:55:14 UTC
“Fa Zhou, Fa Li, I have an announcement to make.”
No, no, he couldn’t be… Mushu watched with wild eyes as Shang gently took Mulan’s hand, smiling at her before turning back to her parents.
“I love your daughter, Mulan, and intend to take her as my wife. After we marry, I promise you, I will take care of her for the rest of my life. I will love her forever, unchangingly, assuredly. I will give her all the happiness I can, and I’ll willingly sacrifice anything to keep a smile on her face. I tell you this, in front of my subordinates, with the heavens as my witness, and hope you will entrust your daughter to me.”
The looks on the Fa parents’ faces were of complete joy, and they were up instantly saying yes. The soldiers high fived each other as they joined in the congratulations to the new couple.
“Great job captain, didn’t think you could be that smooth!”
“Congratulations! Now this is going to be a real party!”
“You two are a match in heaven, this will be the happiest marriage there ever was!”
And Mushu could only watch in stunned silence as the group gathered around the couple, blocking his view of them, blocking them from seeing Mulan. They were chattering so happily and with full support for the marriage, how was he to say anything now? He couldn’t destroy that happy atmosphere.
“What happened here?” Grandmother Fa was suddenly beside Mushu, staring at the celebrating group in confusion. “Why are they congratulating them as the couple? I thought the two of you were the ones getting together.”
“Shhhhh,” Mushu shushed her even though she was speaking quietly. His heart twisted, ached, but he couldn’t say anything. He watched the group move about, congratulating the couple, and then Chien-Po stepped to the right and Mushu saw Mulan. She was smiling, but her eyes were empty and staring into his.
The twist in Mushu’s heart grew even stronger. Grandmother Fa looked between the two and shook her head sadly.
Later, when the group dispersed, Mushu found Mulan seated at the feet of a dragon statue. It was where she went to when she wanted out of the house but not out to the village. At his footsteps she looked up, and when Mushu held out his hands she grasped them tightly, as if frightened that he would vanish.
He probably would soon, vanish from her life once she married away. The wife always went to live with the husband. Mushu swallowed, staring at the face that while not tear-stained showed grief.
“Mulan…why don’t we leave this place? Find a place where no one knows us, settle down there and start a new life with new identities?”
“You and I both know we can’t,” Mulan answered. “I can’t disgrace my family by running away, and I can’t just leave Shang and all my friends.”
They did love each other that way, no one had said it out loud but both could sense the other’s agony over their situation. Mushu shook his head, “We can’t stay and have you marry someone you don’t love, but we can’t leave because it will be disgraceful and completely irresponsible. Why are the fates so cruel? Are our ancestors playing a cruel joke on us or something?” He directed that last sentence loudly to the shrine, and Mulan had to shush him so that no one could hear.
But it was a cruel fate, this trap was not one Mulan could escape from by breaking chains and fighting soldiers; this was a trap set not just by society but by those who loved her and thought they were helping her. And wasn’t this what she had wanted in the first place? To marry a man like Shang, strong and brave and kind, and who knew her little episode as Ping and still accepted it?
Shang never made her laugh as much as Mushu did.
That night, she pulled out a red paper cutting of a dragon. It was another one of those little gestures on Mushu’s part, he would give her those little gifts to show her how much he appreciate her friendship and now, something else. She cried quietly over it, feeling loved but so alone, not knowing that Mushu stood on the other side of the wall listening; feeling just as helpless.
Paper Dragons IV
anonymous
April 20 2011, 07:02:36 UTC
Morning saw Shang again visiting, bringing gifts of good will. His three most loyal subordinates helped carry them into the house while Shang exchanged pleasantries with his future in-laws. Mushu claimed he didn’t sleep well and stayed in his room, but Mulan didn’t want to disappoint her happy parents and so played host to her friends and future husband.
She almost slipped from her posture when Shang found the paper cutting of the dragon and asked about its origins. For one brief second she considered telling him the truth, but Grandmother Fa appeared in time to claim it as one of hers. Shang gave it to the old lady gracefully, and she left after retrieving it; but not before giving her granddaughter a meaningful look.
“Your grandmother still seems to treat me like a friend instead of family, am I lacking something to get her approval?”
“Of course not,” Mulan assured him. “She’s probably just…unsure of the whole thing. Maybe because I didn’t exactly go through with the matchmaker, she still sees me as a child; perhaps she’s just worried about me.”
“I won’t ever hurt you,” Shang promised. “Do I need to first prove that her? I promise to treat you well but it doesn’t seem enough…”
“It is, Shang, don’t worry.” Mulan did not want to make the man worry more then he needed to, he didn’t deserve all the stress. “Everything you’ve done is enough, you don’t need to do more.”
Meanwhile, Grandmother Fa was continuing her walk down the hall when she passed by Mushu’s room. The door was ajar and he was seated by the table, a dejected expression on his face. The woman frowned before approaching him, “You’re still thinking about what to do?” Mushu remained motionless, and she continued. “Marriage is once in a lifetime, once it’s done there is no turning back. Have you heard the dates they’re considering? They’re talking about the eighth.”
That got his attention, “the eighth? That’s less than a week away! Why are they in such a hurry?”
“Because according to the monks and priests that’s the luckiest day of the year, and everyone thinks the couple can’t wait to be married.”
If it was possible for Mushu to look even more downtrodden then he already was, he managed it. Knowing that Grandmother Fa already knew about what he might have with Mulan, Mushu didn’t bother hiding what he was holding in his hands the whole time. Lifting it up, Grandmother Fa saw a replica of the red paper cutting of a dragon, the same one as Mulan’s.
“I knew it, you made one for her didn’t you? One for her, one for you, did you first intend for it to be a token of friendship or did you already know by then it was practically a love token?”
“What love token?” It was Shang, the man was approaching them. Acting quickly, Mushu quickly dropped the paper cutting behind the desk before standing up to intercept the general from getting any closer.
“Nothing, just talking about the concept with Grandmother Fa here, that’s all.”
“Oh yes, we were discussing what’s considered a more lucky love token and what makes a more aesthetic one.”
“Yes, yes, so general, what brings you here?”
“We’ve decided on the date of our marriage,” Shang answered. “Mulan’s parents were right, the eighth will be the best date. Mushu, we know you’re not related to Mulan by blood, but we were considering letting you take part in the role of the maiden’s family instead of just being a regular guest.”
That stung, he was special but only in the familial way and nothing more, was that the intentional? Mushu nodded stiffly, if only to appease Shang and get him to leave so he could break down or start snarling in rage. Shang smiled, but when Mushu made no move to talk, retreated back to where the others were. Grandmother Fa sighed.
“The people who love each other watch as people who don’t love each other get married, ah, cruel world…”
Mulan had pointed out that Shang hadn’t proposed or even made any sort of promise, Ling had responded, “So you’re starting to look elsewhere? Because you think the captain doesn’t like you enough and Mushu does?”
It had startled her, she never really noticed how the time she spent with Mushu could be interpreted as another courtship. Perhaps she was having too much fun with Mushu to notice the image she must be presenting, and Ling must have seen that, because he continues. “You laugh a lot with him, you’re happy with him, I know I’ve mostly only seen you when you were in the army but you smile so much when you’re with him; I’ve never seen you so…spirited. Are you planning to leave the captain for him?”
“Listen,” Mulan says recklessly, “I’m not leaving or going anywhere, that’s precisely the problem.” She didn’t say anything more, but Ling had interpreted her words to mean Shang doesn’t seem to be going anywhere with this relationship.
So of course, when the loyal subordinate leaves he rushes to Shang’s home and belittles him for making Mulan feel unloved. Mulan meanwhile finds Mushu flying a kite he had made and joins him, laughing and forgetting her problems again, as was usual when she was with her old friend.
But Ling isn’t the only one who had noticed her behavior, and one night Mulan’s mother calls her to her room. Her parents are sober, asking her if she plans to choose Mushu over Shang. “Don’t misunderstand us, Mulan, Mushu is a kind man indeed and we are glad to see that you have a friend who can make you so happy; but is he also husband material? He has no background or status, you may not need to worry about him being able to take care of you but you certainly should worry about whether your husband can take care of your children.”
Unbeknownst to the family, Mushu had heard the whole thing. The fun-loving former dragon was used to dropping by the parents’ room to talk or to present them little gifts and trinkets, something that always made the elderly couple smile. Mushu had planned on doing something similar when he heard the conversation and the ‘advice’ Mulan’s parents were giving her. Silently he left, not saying anything until he met up with the Cricket snoozing in the garden.
Mushu plopped down beside him dejectedly, “They’re right you know, Mulan needs someone that can really provide a future for her. Me? Just your average John Doe; him, a general! And she saved his life twice before so he’ll treat her well, he better treat her well!” The young man slumped his shoulders, “When did all this happen…? She was just supposed to be my charge! I was her guardian and friend! Of course I’ll care for her but not…this…way…”
Cricket chirped, Mushu looked up, “Hey, weren’t you supposed to be asleep?”
The ensuring chase, while enough to give him a brief chuckle, was not able to make him completely forget what he had just realized about his new feelings. He avoided Mulan the next day - or was it she avoiding him? - trying to think it through, but in the end realized that the denial was not helping him. He had not just physically changed into a human, his thoughts and emotions had too.
And he sensed that Mulan was happy, did love him in her own way. He’d seen her through her ups and downs, he’d supported her all the way, surely that meant something.
“I’ll talk to her,” he announced to Cricket. “It might damage our friendship, but it may also be so much more. I’m not shy and awkward like that captain…general…whatever, I’ll prove it to her, I’m a real human man!”
Cricket chirped loudly in support, and Mushu had bounded off, seeking the girl he realized he loved.
Only to see her at the gateway, greeting Shang, who was smiling with a new confidence and determination. Mulan’s other three army friends were there too, standing behind Shang in a show of united support. Mulan invited them into the garden where her parents were seated, and Shang approached them.
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No, no, he couldn’t be… Mushu watched with wild eyes as Shang gently took Mulan’s hand, smiling at her before turning back to her parents.
“I love your daughter, Mulan, and intend to take her as my wife. After we marry, I promise you, I will take care of her for the rest of my life. I will love her forever, unchangingly, assuredly. I will give her all the happiness I can, and I’ll willingly sacrifice anything to keep a smile on her face. I tell you this, in front of my subordinates, with the heavens as my witness, and hope you will entrust your daughter to me.”
The looks on the Fa parents’ faces were of complete joy, and they were up instantly saying yes. The soldiers high fived each other as they joined in the congratulations to the new couple.
“Great job captain, didn’t think you could be that smooth!”
“Congratulations! Now this is going to be a real party!”
“You two are a match in heaven, this will be the happiest marriage there ever was!”
And Mushu could only watch in stunned silence as the group gathered around the couple, blocking his view of them, blocking them from seeing Mulan. They were chattering so happily and with full support for the marriage, how was he to say anything now? He couldn’t destroy that happy atmosphere.
“What happened here?” Grandmother Fa was suddenly beside Mushu, staring at the celebrating group in confusion. “Why are they congratulating them as the couple? I thought the two of you were the ones getting together.”
“Shhhhh,” Mushu shushed her even though she was speaking quietly. His heart twisted, ached, but he couldn’t say anything. He watched the group move about, congratulating the couple, and then Chien-Po stepped to the right and Mushu saw Mulan. She was smiling, but her eyes were empty and staring into his.
The twist in Mushu’s heart grew even stronger. Grandmother Fa looked between the two and shook her head sadly.
Later, when the group dispersed, Mushu found Mulan seated at the feet of a dragon statue. It was where she went to when she wanted out of the house but not out to the village. At his footsteps she looked up, and when Mushu held out his hands she grasped them tightly, as if frightened that he would vanish.
He probably would soon, vanish from her life once she married away. The wife always went to live with the husband. Mushu swallowed, staring at the face that while not tear-stained showed grief.
“Mulan…why don’t we leave this place? Find a place where no one knows us, settle down there and start a new life with new identities?”
“You and I both know we can’t,” Mulan answered. “I can’t disgrace my family by running away, and I can’t just leave Shang and all my friends.”
They did love each other that way, no one had said it out loud but both could sense the other’s agony over their situation. Mushu shook his head, “We can’t stay and have you marry someone you don’t love, but we can’t leave because it will be disgraceful and completely irresponsible. Why are the fates so cruel? Are our ancestors playing a cruel joke on us or something?” He directed that last sentence loudly to the shrine, and Mulan had to shush him so that no one could hear.
But it was a cruel fate, this trap was not one Mulan could escape from by breaking chains and fighting soldiers; this was a trap set not just by society but by those who loved her and thought they were helping her. And wasn’t this what she had wanted in the first place? To marry a man like Shang, strong and brave and kind, and who knew her little episode as Ping and still accepted it?
Shang never made her laugh as much as Mushu did.
That night, she pulled out a red paper cutting of a dragon. It was another one of those little gestures on Mushu’s part, he would give her those little gifts to show her how much he appreciate her friendship and now, something else. She cried quietly over it, feeling loved but so alone, not knowing that Mushu stood on the other side of the wall listening; feeling just as helpless.
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She almost slipped from her posture when Shang found the paper cutting of the dragon and asked about its origins. For one brief second she considered telling him the truth, but Grandmother Fa appeared in time to claim it as one of hers. Shang gave it to the old lady gracefully, and she left after retrieving it; but not before giving her granddaughter a meaningful look.
“Your grandmother still seems to treat me like a friend instead of family, am I lacking something to get her approval?”
“Of course not,” Mulan assured him. “She’s probably just…unsure of the whole thing. Maybe because I didn’t exactly go through with the matchmaker, she still sees me as a child; perhaps she’s just worried about me.”
“I won’t ever hurt you,” Shang promised. “Do I need to first prove that her? I promise to treat you well but it doesn’t seem enough…”
“It is, Shang, don’t worry.” Mulan did not want to make the man worry more then he needed to, he didn’t deserve all the stress. “Everything you’ve done is enough, you don’t need to do more.”
Meanwhile, Grandmother Fa was continuing her walk down the hall when she passed by Mushu’s room. The door was ajar and he was seated by the table, a dejected expression on his face. The woman frowned before approaching him, “You’re still thinking about what to do?” Mushu remained motionless, and she continued. “Marriage is once in a lifetime, once it’s done there is no turning back. Have you heard the dates they’re considering? They’re talking about the eighth.”
That got his attention, “the eighth? That’s less than a week away! Why are they in such a hurry?”
“Because according to the monks and priests that’s the luckiest day of the year, and everyone thinks the couple can’t wait to be married.”
If it was possible for Mushu to look even more downtrodden then he already was, he managed it. Knowing that Grandmother Fa already knew about what he might have with Mulan, Mushu didn’t bother hiding what he was holding in his hands the whole time. Lifting it up, Grandmother Fa saw a replica of the red paper cutting of a dragon, the same one as Mulan’s.
“I knew it, you made one for her didn’t you? One for her, one for you, did you first intend for it to be a token of friendship or did you already know by then it was practically a love token?”
“What love token?” It was Shang, the man was approaching them. Acting quickly, Mushu quickly dropped the paper cutting behind the desk before standing up to intercept the general from getting any closer.
“Nothing, just talking about the concept with Grandmother Fa here, that’s all.”
“Oh yes, we were discussing what’s considered a more lucky love token and what makes a more aesthetic one.”
“Yes, yes, so general, what brings you here?”
“We’ve decided on the date of our marriage,” Shang answered. “Mulan’s parents were right, the eighth will be the best date. Mushu, we know you’re not related to Mulan by blood, but we were considering letting you take part in the role of the maiden’s family instead of just being a regular guest.”
That stung, he was special but only in the familial way and nothing more, was that the intentional? Mushu nodded stiffly, if only to appease Shang and get him to leave so he could break down or start snarling in rage. Shang smiled, but when Mushu made no move to talk, retreated back to where the others were. Grandmother Fa sighed.
“The people who love each other watch as people who don’t love each other get married, ah, cruel world…”
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