"I'll join you guys."
As the men discussed and voiced their grievances to one another, Mulan and Li Shang walked forward to meet Aladdin.
"Thank you for the training again, Teacher Aladdin."
Li Shang bowed respectfully.
Mulan bowed as well.
"How are your gains?" Aladdin asked.
Li Shang rose and responded, "They are amazing. I don't think I've gained as much in all my years of training as I have in a single week of training under you.
I believe I could join Advisor Chi Fu and continue with the training until tomorrow." He gestured toward Chi Fu.
The old man was training shirtless by himself in the open. His arms were now as thick as a man's thigh, and his back was sturdy and sculpted like a mountain.
It was already too late before Aladdin realised that he had given the old man a slightly more potent elixir. Not only was the transformation far more pronounced than the others', but now, whenever he had the chance, Chi Fu kept bickering about establishing trade with China and presenting the elixir to the Emperor.
"It's hard to believe the transformation he has undergone in mere days. I think we have a chance of defeating the Huns, even with their numbers," Li Shang said. "I came to ask if there has been any response from the General."
"No, there hasn't. But I'm certain it will arrive soon. All we have to do is wait patiently and prepare for whatever might happen next," Aladdin replied. "If something had happened to the General's army, then Mirage would have returned with the letter, so it wouldn't fall into the wrong hands."
"That's good to know," Li Shang nodded, sighing in relief. "I would like to be informed immediately the moment the letter arrives."
"I will."
"I'll be taking my leave now, Instructor Aladdin. Please take care."
Li Shang bowed respectfully to Aladdin. Then he nodded at Mulan before leaving to rejoin the soldiers.
"Is there anything you want to talk about?" Aladdin asked, recognising the expression on Mulan's face.
Mulan nodded.
"How about we wait until everyone has left?" Aladdin said.
"Okay." Mulan walked over and stood beside him.
They watched as the soldiers supported one another and walked down the mountain in pairs and small groups, forming an orderly line.
Chien Po, Yao, and Ling spotted them and waved goodbye.
Aladdin and Mulan waved back with smiles.
Li Shang dragged Chi Fu out of the training ground. Despite his newfound strength, the old man still couldn't break free from Li Shang's grip. He could only helplessly relent until they were farther down the mountain.
As they disappeared down the mountainside, Aladdin turned to Mulan.
"What did you want to talk with me about?"
"I wanted to ask if you've finally decided to trade with China... or perhaps join us in the war," she replied.
"Did Li Shang put you up to this again?"
"Yes. But even if he didn't, I would continue asking to see if I could get a different response. You can't blame a girl for trying, can you?" Mulan glanced at him with a smile.
"It feels as though, as long as you participate, we will be able to resist Shan Yu and his men, and any enemy that dares wage war against China. So you can't really blame us for not trying."
"I can't," Aladdin nodded. "I would've done the same if I were in your shoes. However, you already know my answer, don't you?"
"I do."
Mulan sat on the ground and leaned back, gazing up at the night sky.
"Is there anything else you want to talk about?" Aladdin asked, looking at her.
"Nothing much. I was wondering if it would make a difference if I revealed the truth to Li Shang and the others now."
"Why are you thinking about that now?" he asked with a raised brow.
"I don't know. Maybe I feel that our relationship is fake because I'm not telling the truth about who I really am. If it were only about the war, then I wouldn't have bothered. But Li Shang has already invited me to speak with his father, General Li, after the war is over," she replied.
"Advisor Chi Fu has already told me several times that he'll ensure the Emperor sends me an imperial invitation to the Forbidden City, no matter how much I've tried to dissuade him from doing so.
With my promotion several days ago, I'll have to continue with this identity as Ping unless I choose to reveal the truth. But that would be taking another risk that I'm not sure I'm ready to face yet.
She rested both hands on her stomach, "Since you seem to... you know... always have everything under control, I thought I should seek your advice on what to do."
Mulan looked back at Aladdin.
"And what makes you think I always have everything under control?" Aladdin asked.
Mulan raised a brow before narrowing her gaze at him. "Is that meant to be a question? Do you not know how capable you are of handling every situation you find yourself in?"
"I don't. To me, it always feels as though I'm trying to keep things from falling apart." Aladdin shook his head.
"Then you are doing a good job," Mulan replied.
"Not quite."
"How? If you give me a better explanation, then I might understand," Mulan propped her head up with one hand and leaned against her side.
"I can't. It's something I have to handle because I'm the reason it's happening in the first place," Aladdin responded.
"Does it have something to do with magic?"
Aladdin hesitated before nodding, "Yes."
"Fine. I don't think I can help you even if you tell me. You seem to be handling whatever it is better than I could anyway." Mulan shook her head with a sigh. "But don't hesitate to tell me if you need help. I may not be as mystically powerful as you, but I'm certain there are things you can't handle where I can be of help."
Aladdin didn't respond. He refocused his gaze ahead.
"You are a difficult person. I already pity any woman who decides to be with you," Mulan let out a long, drawn-out sigh.
"So, what do you think I should do?" She asked.
"If you're ready to listen, I might be able to tell you what I think is the best solution to your problem."
"You haven't said anything yet. I'll listen if it's something I can handle." Mulan brushed her hair strands aside as she sat upright.
Aladdin crouched before her.
"Tell them the truth. Do it like this."
He placed a hand on his chest and spoke dramatically.
"'I'm sorry I lied to you, but I didn't know how else to join the war without hiding my identity. The truth is my name isn't Ping. It is Fa Mulan, and I'm a woman. I hope you all can forgive me.'"
Mulan lightly punched his right shoulder with a chuckle. "Stop it. I'm serious."
"I didn't say I was joking," Aladdin replied.
Mulan snorted. She turned to face the plateau, her back now toward Aladdin.
"Do you truly mean it? Should I tell them the truth?"
"Yes," Aladdin replied.
"Laws don't change easily, even when you're doing the right thing," Mulan hugged her knees to her chest and replied. "What if they decide to kick me out of the military or punish me after this war is over? Even my family won't be spared... I would be bringing dishonour and shame upon them."
"I think you're forgetting something," Aladdin said.
"What?"
"I'm here."
Mulan didn't respond. She shook her head. "You said you wouldn't participate in the affairs of the Empire. Are you really going to involve yourself with the Empire just to help me reveal my identity?"
Mulan glanced at him.
"I give you my word," Aladdin nodded.
Mulan didn't reply. She smiled and refocused her gaze ahead. "And how are you going to do that?... By trading your elixirs with the Empire so the issue is resolved?
"If that's what you plan on doing, then you don't have to intervene. I'll find a way to handle this myself. I do not want to drag you into my problems."
Aladdin gently grabbed Mulan's shoulder.
"I rescued you from the burning camp and healed you so you could recover. I helped you rescue the rest of your comrades from the shackles of your enemies. I helped you warn the rest of your Empire, saving innocent lives and preventing its impending destruction. I shared my elixirs with you and your comrades, and I trained you so you could crush your enemies during your next clash."
Neither you, nor Li Shang, nor Advisor Chi Fu, made me do any of this. I did it all myself: because I could and because I can.
I have given you my word, and I will not take it back until it is fulfilled. It's up to you whether you choose to hold onto it and trust in my sincerity. I know you can't do it alone, so I'll give you the push you need and help you."
Mulan's eyes grew red and misty.
"I'm starting to doubt you're really an ordinary magical traveller," she said. "You don't have some secret identity that you are hiding, do you?"
"Who knows? I might be a prince… or a ruler. A warrior… or a villain. What matters is who I am now, and that applies to you as well," Aladdin touched his nose.
Mulan snorted. "If you don't want to tell me the truth, then don't say anything."
She flicked her hair to the side.
"I'm dangerous." Aladdin raised one hand beside his head, curled his fingers into a claw, and let out a light growl toward Mulan.
"Well, I have a dragon, and he'll swallow you in a single bite." Mulan immediately copied his gesture, raising her hands like claws above her head and growling back at him.
"I can turn him into a cricket."
"I don't think he would like that."
"He probably wouldn't. But at least he would be a proper cricket instead of whatever dragon he imagines himself to be."
"Hahaha…" Mulan laughed loudly as she lay back on the ground.
Aladdin laughed as well.
The calm breeze washed over them.
Soon, they both fell silent.
"So the best thing to do is reveal my identity?" Mulan asked.
"Yes."
"Fine. I'll reveal my identity after the war is over. But I'll do it with or without your support."
"I'm glad to be of help."
"Aladdin?"
"Yeah?"
"You'd better not be hiding a secret identity. I know it sounds a bit hypocritical, but if you are... I hope you reveal it to me someday," She sighed exasperatedly.
"I will," Aladdin replied with a nod.
"But can you tell me something now?" She asked.
"What is it that you want to know?" Aladdin asked curiously.
"How did you become skilled enough to create so many incredible magical items?" She studied his expression as though waiting to catch the slightest trace of deception.
"That's a secret I can't share." He met her gaze and winked at her.
"It's a pity. I was really curious," Mulan sighed in defeat.
"Can I ask you a question as well?" Aladdin asked.
"What do you want to know?" Mulan was surprised by his words, but she still responded.
"What would you be if you weren't a warrior?" Aladdin asked.
"What would I be if I wasn't a warrior?" Mulan repeated the question to herself. "No one has ever asked me such a question, or anything like it, before. I..."
Aladdin patiently waited for her answer.
He knew Mulan was born to be a warrior. She was fearless, brave, and diligent enough to see her path through to the end. It was like asking Einstein what he would have become if he hadn't been a scientist, or Genghis Khan what he would have been if he hadn't become a conqueror.
"I don't know. I haven't given it much thought."
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A/N:I hope you guys are enjoying the Mulan's arc!