AVP5: I'm glad you liked it, as always! I'm sort of sad it's coming to an end, but it was fun while it lasted. I definitely added some LOTR into it, and I'm super thankful to viewers like you!

Cossacks250:Cheers, and thanks so much! Now the tricky bit is to provide a good ending to this fic!

Chapter 16

I paced nervously back and forth. Today was the big day, my...our wedding day!

Everything was ready, although it took some time to get everything ready. The effort our family had put into preparing the yard for our marriage ceremony was stunning, and stressful. Cleaning, repainting, flower gathering, every menial task you could think of, all for this.

I hadn't seen Mulan since yesterday, and it was evening now.

It was traditional to keep us apart, they said, and the Chinese had plenty of traditions!

For my part, I had made sure my armor was repaired and clean, I had cut my hair short, and had shaved my beard for the first time in many years.

It had been six months since the battle, and according to tradition, our birthdates had been matched to insure good luck, Arthur had paid for the wedding, paid the Fa family Mulan's dowry, as well as bringing gifts of fur clothing and other precious objects including gold, silver, wine, and food for the feast.

Usually, the bride's family would be waiting outside the groom's door, but since I didn't have a house, they decided to make me wait for the bride, which seemed more than fair to me.

I wore my padded leather armor, per the Fa's request, shined and clean until perfection. I also wore the Emperor's cape, designating my loyalty to him.

I looked at Arthur, who winked at me. "How will I ever repay-" I began, but Arthur interrupted. "For the last time, lad, don't worry about it!"

I started as Fa Zhou and Lady Fa exited their house, and bowed as they approached.

Fa Zhou nodded his head in return, pleased at my willingness to follow his traditions, which emphasized respect and thanksgiving to the bride's family.

Lady Fa gave me a beaming nod, a single tear trickling down each cheek.

Phaedra and Shang, who were watching with the rest of the village behind me, were also smiling. Both were dressed in their resplendant uniforms as I was.

Next came Grandma Fa, acknowledging my deep bow with a solemn nod.

And then came...I gasped, as did the crowd behind me. Mulan wore a stunning red dress that could not have been better fitted, her hair tied into a neat bun, her face painted white with red blush painted on each cheek. If a goddess existed, this was who she was.

My knees weakened, and Arthur's hand steadied me. "Good heavens, lad, but you are one lucky man!"

He had no idea.

Mulan approached Alaric, as shocked and awed at his transformation, as he was with hers. His armor was cleaned, his sword was sharpened, his long hair was much shorter than before, and his beard was gone. He had never looked younger, and never looked more appealing to her.

When she approached him, she held her hand out to him, and he took it. His grip was gentle but firm, and he seemed to glow with joy.

They were married in front of the family shrine, with the beaming Emperor officiating.

To them, the vows were a forgone conclusion, as both married as to their souls and bodies, but law was law.

After this was done, the Emperor announced: "Allow me the honor to introduce: Lady Fa Mulan Rose and Lord Fa Alaric Rose!" Our lips met, and the party began in earnest.

There were two huge feasts, one for Mulan's family, and one for Alaric's remaining family, both families traditionally honored and thanked for their role in the lives of the newly married couple.

Alaric and Mulan ate and celebrated as one, not wanting to be parted from the other.

All our friends: both from the village and from the army were there (Yao was bawling like a newborn, Li not far behind, while Chien-Po smiled contentedly), as was my parents and Mulan's ancestors, who were also beaming and tearful, with Mushu bawling loud enough to awaken the dead, and Crik-ee there to shout him up through the actual vows.

Everything went as smoothly as it could go. After the vows, we bestowed our thanks onto the Emperor, as he left to continue running his country.

Hours afterward, after we had been dined and watered, Fa Zhou approached me quietly.

I made to kneel, thanking him profusely, but he stopped me. "You honor me too much, my son. Although I would have liked it if you had waited until your actual wedding night to consumate your marriage, you have nonetheless given me a great joy by loving my daughter. Welcome to the Fa family." With that, we embraced, both fighting back our emotion.

Both Lady Fa and Grandma Fa also embraced me, and I saw Mulan giving Arthur a long hug, who was trying to hide his own emotion.

When our wedding gifts and heartfelt congratulations had been bestowed upon on us by each of our multitude of guests, and the noise had died down, I rose to thank our guests many times over, before each left to their respective houses, paying their last respects.

When they were gone, I turned to Phaedra. "Front and center, luv! Might as well make this official."

Phaedra raised her eyebrows, and obeyed.

"Mushu!" I called, and Mushu appeared. "What's up, Boss?"

I smiled warmly at Phaedra. "From now on, Phaedra is our daughter, and you will protect her as you do the family. Understood?"

Phaedra bit her lip, then walked foward to me, and hugged me tightly, Mulan joining in the hug. Fa Zhou and the extended family also welcomed her into the Fa family.

When we were finally alone, Mulan and I just laid together in the bed, basking in each other's presence.

After a moment, Mulan giggled. "What did you do with your hair and beard?"

I grinned. "I thought it would be a good symbol of beginning a new phase in my life, and our Mum did mention that you would enjoy kissing me without the beard.

She smiled back, and did so. "I agree with both." With that, we began our new life together, as husband and wife.

Epilogue

Alaric and Mulan, after two years of marriage, gave birth to a twin boy and girl, Fa Alan and Fa Maya.

Alan had his father's red hair, his mother's brown eyes and Asian features, and his mother's brave but loving character.

Maya was her mother's spitting image, although she shared her father's eyes and shy character.

Alan would grow into a tall, healthy youth that was very protective of his sister, and shared his father's love for the Brotherhood.

Maya was a delecate, but highly intelligent child with a fondness for writing and philosophy, becoming one of China's premier scholars.

Alaric was every bit the protective and doting father Mulan had guessed he would be, while Mulan maintained a passionate and attentive way of raising her children, making sure that they both were respectful of their elders and followed their hearts desires as well.

Phaedra and Shang, married shortly after the twin's birth, grew into a formidable team in China's army. Phaedra doted over her adopted siblings, and she, Alaric, and Arthur taught the two children everything they knew of self-defense and the Brotherhood.

Phaedra and Alan shared a cocky attitude, a somewhat volatile temper, and a fondness for battle.

Shang and Maya shared a quiet, noble character, and a passion for learning.

The two children were in their early teens when Phaedra gave birth to Shang Sun, a boy who had his father's Asian features, but Phaedra's blond hair and green eyes. Learning military strategy on his mother's knee, he would grow into one of China's greatest generals after his father.

Both families faced challenges and successes, but one can certainly say that they lived long and well as one family, whose bond never broke.

The Brotherhood, under Alaric's and Alan's leadership, would grow exponentially under the protective instruction of Arthur, and remained loyal to whatever Emperor sat on the Throne.

Alaric and Mulan lived to see their children achieve their dreams, and make families of their own, and lived a long and happy life.

The same can certainly be said of Phaedra and Shang, both journeying often to Scotland after the latter's retirement.

All in all, we can certainly say that all of our characters lived happily ever after!

And there you have it, the final chapter of the saga of this epic story! I hope you guys were satisfied with it, and I deeply thank and appreciate you all for reading and reviewing. Up next is Assassin's Creed Liberation, and I'll try and write it up soon. Until then, I wish you Happy Holidays, and God Bless you all!