The Power of Love: Chapter One
Disclaimer: I don't own Disney's Mulan. I'm not making any profit by writing this story. I do own Ta-Ni, Yi-Pek, and Ma Ti.
By: Susan
Summary: Mulan is kidnapped from her wedding in order to save the honor in Shan Yu's family. Can she show Shan Yu's brother what true love is? Will she still marry Shang?
A/N: This is a sequel to my story, After Dinner, although you don't really need to read it in order to grasp the concept of the story ;) Enjoy. ;)
xxx
The
wedding day kept coming closer and closer, though no one in the Fa family had expected it to be so soon. When Mulan had awoken that lovely, summer morning, she knew it
would be the best of her life. Mulan was to be a
summer bride. She would marry her handsome captain in town, and she would be
happier than ever before.
Mulan arose from her pillow to the rooster's steady
crow. She yawned and rubbed her eyes, realizing that she must be ready by that
afternoon. Her mother and grandmother clambered into her room eager for the day
to come. Mulan sat up, smiling at their excited
faces.
"Oh, Mulan, I'm so excited, I haven't been to a
wedding since my youngest sister was married!"
"I haven't been to a wedding since my own," Grandmother Fa
said, reaching to give Mulan a hug.
"Nonsense, Grandma, you were at Fa Zhou's and my
wedding. Your son obviously married after you did."
"Oh yeah," Their grandmother said, "Forgot about that. Though it wasn't exactly
the highlight of my life, you marrying into the family."
"Grandmother!" Fa Li said,
shocked.
"Oh, take a joke, dear. Of course I was at your wedding, and you looked
wonderful, and it was a very special day of my life." She turned towards Mulan and smiled happily. "This will be a special day of my
life as well." Mulan smiled back at her grandmother.
"Mulan, dear, I have something for you to wear later
today." Mulan's mother said, reaching into her dress
and pulling out a small wooden box. My mother gave it to me on my wedding, and
I'd like you to have it." Mulan opened the box,
slipping the red beaded bracelet onto her wrist.
"Mama, it's beautiful," Mulan said happily, hugging
her.
"Here you are dear, I have something for my favorite granddaughter as well."
"Grandmother, I'm your only granddaughter." Mulan
told her.
"Oh, right." Her grandmother said sheepishly, slipping two white pebbles into
her hands. They were the smoothest pebbles Mulan had
ever felt, and she looked down at them, confused. "They're wishing stones." Her
grandmother said, as though that explained it all.
"Wishing stones?" Mulan asked.
"Yes dear, one for you, one for your captain. Make a wish on yours every night
after your marriage. It brings you good luck and happiness in the future, and
your wishes come true." Mulan slid the pebbles around
in her hand gingerly.
"Thank you, grandma." She hugged her, then said,
"Grandma, wouldn't you like to give the matching stone to Shang
yourself? After all, I won't see him today, at least until after the wedding."
"Good idea." Grandmother Fa said, taking the stone
back and slipping it into her apron. "I wouldn't want you to forget to give it
to him, with all the excitement that'll come after the wedding." She gave Mulan a knowing look, and she blushed in embarrassment.
"Mulan, shall we bathe you now?" Her mother asked. Mulan nodded and her grandmother filled the bath with warm
water. They cleaned her hair and body with special soaps, dried her, then rubbed oil on her face and skin. Her mother brushed her
hair out four times, the first time symbolizing from beginning until the end,
the second, harmony, from now until old age, the third, many children, and the
fourth, wealth and a long lasting marriage. Mulan
smiled as the brush slid through her soft hair. Her mother arranged it in a
formal hairstyle, lifting it to the top of her head. She changed into clean
underclothes, then her mother handed her a newly sewn beaded red dress. It was
fancy and beautiful, and Mulan slipped it on and
twirled around in it. Her mother and grandmother smiled approvingly. Fa Li had taken her daughter's measurements the day after Shang had proposed, and though that was weeks ago, the
dress fit her daughter well. Red was the color of joy, and Fa
Li certainly felt it as she saw Mulan twirling around
happily.
"Oh, Mama, it's wonderful, thank you so much!"
"Mulan, darling, it's nothing, I'm just happy because
you are happy." She smiled at her daughter's excited face.
"Oh, thank you, Mama." She gave her mother a loving hug and kissed her cheek,
while her grandmother began to apply her makeup. A white
face, red lips, dark eyes, blush. When Grandmother Fa
was finished, Mulan looked more beautiful than ever
before. Mulan's mother pulled out the clip Mulan had left on their bedside table the night she had gone
to war, and slipped it into her hair. She smiled at her reflection in her
mirror, eager for the rest of the day to come.
xxx