Mulan - Shan Yu Returns

Chapter 14: Cure

At the bottom of the cliff, where Shan Yu fell, the ground was covered with leaves due to bushels of trees standing tall and proud. The breeze that blew through the woods whistled tunefully as it caressed the branches, and led the leaves towards the oath that it was traveling to. After it caressed everything it can touch in the woods, it caressed unconscious Shan Yu as it played joyfully with his hair, which was buried under the piles of leaves that gently landed on him while Shan Yu was unconscious.

Thankfully, Shan Yu wasn't dead, but his sound of breathing was so silent that it was lost in the whistling breeze. He even survived from the raging fireworks and falling from the building that was nearly the tallest part of the palace. There was no way he would die just by falling off the cliff. In fact, the leaves that were piled on the bottom of the cliff eased the impact. After falling from the cliff, it was still a miracle that he survived, but he was not able to wake up for such a long time. 

However, unfortunately, there was a problem... a big... no, huge... no, humongous... no, enormous... very problematic... it was so problematic that it was probably not reversible. In fact, it would put someone in danger, or some village, or the whole country.

Shan Yu woke up as his eyes flashed open. He started to breathe hard and slightly groan as he raised the first half of his body as his hands and arms supported his upper body, and looked around. He groaned as he placed his hand on his head. "Ooh... pain..." Shan Yu said to himself. Shan Yu slowly stood up, looked around. This does not seem like the palace... I'm pretty sure the soldier from the mountain blew me off with the fireworks, he thought to himself as he analyzed his surroundings. If my memory serves me right, I should be in the palace. Did something happen while I was out...? Shan Yu has gained his memory but lost all the memories that he had from the time he woke up in a destroyed part of the palace and until the time he was pushed off the cliff. Shan Yu climbed up the tree to get a better view. "Hmm..." Shan Yu said as he analyzed as his eyes scanned the land soil by soil, dirt by dirt. "I guess the Imperial city would be towards that way..." He said to himself. "This time, I will do a surprise attack," Shan Yu said as he gritted his teeth. "It's me versus the whole of China. I'll get that throne by myself after using that old man as bait. If the soldier from the mountain comes along, then it will be time for me to return the favor to her. When she comes around, I'll make sure I give her a... proper greeting. China will be mine..." He hopped down the tree and landed on his feet.

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Mulan massaged the dough and mixed the stuffing. She imagined Shan Yu making the dumplings with her. Those were the days... but it's time to let Shan Yu go... "Oh, Mulan, stop feeling so sad! You knew this day was gonna come!"

"You miss him?" Shang asked as he entered the kitchen.

"Oh, good morning, Shang," Mulan greeted.

"He's still in this village, you know," Shang said as he walked over to her and gently placed his arms on her shoulders. 

"Yeah, but..." Mulan sighed. "It's just... I don't think I had a friend like him before..."

"What?! I thought I was your best friend!" Mushu shouted as he overheard the conversation from Shang's pockets.

"I meant human friends, Mushu," Mulan said as she let out a breath of snicker.

"Oh okay," Mushu said, a little relieved.

"You see before I joined the army," Mulan said. Shang and Mushu paid attention to what she said. "I never really had friends. I didn't talk to anyone that much. I became popular AFTER becoming a hero of China. Shan Yu was probably the first one who approached me without knowing anything about me. He didn't even know that I was the 'hero of China who saved the country'... no one else wanted to get to know me, but only after I saved them..."