Mulan - Shan Yu Returns

Chapter 6: Grace

"Thank you for helping me out, Mushu," Shan Yu said. "I couldn't make the fire this big. We just need to wait until the pot hardens enough."

"If you need fire, I'm the dragon!" Mushu said with such pride.

"I wonder why Fa Mulan cried..." Shan Yu said, out of sudden concern.

"What?! Who made ma gurl cry?!" Mushu asked.

"I didn't! I really didn't!" Shan Yu said.

"Nah, I know it's not you! But I must find who! I will burn them into ashes!" Mushu said.

"Now, calm down, Mushu," Shan Yu said. "She started to cry when she went into my room and looked at the work in my room."

"Hm, did something happen in the market place?" Mushu asked.

"Well, I destroyed a shop by accident..." Shan Yu started. "And then people started to throw stuff at me... and Mulan saved me."

"I see, and what happened to your hands?" Mushu asked.

"As I cleaned up the mess, I was cut by shattered pots," Shan Yu said. "But I'm okay. For some reason. I just needed to stop myself from bleeding more."

"Sounds like Mulan felt your innocence when you were accused," Mushu said. "So that's why you're making all these pots?"

"That's right," Shan Yu said.

"Well, Shanny, I'm impressed!" Mushu said. "Now why don't you get some sleep?"

"Not until I'm done with these," Shan Yu said.

"All right, if you say so," Mushu said. Shan Yu watched over the pots, while Mushu started to nod. Shan Yu reached for one to see if it was hard enough. When it was, he grabbed a bucket of water and gently poured it on the fire. When the fire was out, the pot was also wet. He placed each of them upside down on the table that he made. He carried sleeping Mushu into his room, and put a fur coat over his body. Then he lied on the blanket and covered himself with the second blanket. 

Before the sun woke him up, Shan Yu' eyes flash opened. He organized his blankets and got dressed. With the rustling sound, Mushu woke up with a large yawn. "Did I wake you up?" Shan Yu asked.

"What're you doing early in the morning?" Mushu asked.

"To pay my debt," Shan Yu replied.

"Hey, why don't I go with you?" Mushu suggested. "I'm your mentor after all."

"That would be nice," Shan Yu said. 

After Shan Yu carried everything in the wagon, he headed out with Mushu on his shoulders. "Dang, Shanny, the sun isn't even up yet!" Mushu said. "You were up earlier than a dragon!"

"I got to stay diligent!" Shan Yu said with a shy giggle. "Also, Fa Zhou tells me new and helpful words of wisdom everyday. Because I don't know how to owe him, I got to follow his words. I figured that's the best thing I can do for him."

"Right, just don't overwork yo-self, Shanny," Mushu said. "Anything fun to talk about? I'm bored."

"I'm not sure if I have something fun, but I will talk about one thing," Shan Yu said. "Ever since I moved in to this village, there's just something hopeful, even when things are not going right."

"Mm-hmm," Mushu said.

"Fa Mulan and Fa Zhou have been supporting me a lot despite the fact that I was horrible in the past," Shan Yu continued.

"That's ma girl and her father," Mushu said.

"And you must know my past to, but still, you're mentoring me kindly," Shan Yu thanked.