"How on Earth do you choose between your heart and your duty, Fa Mulan?" Su asked. "My heart is my duty. I just know how to prioritise its desires," Mulan answered. "Like the General?" Mei teased.

*Set during the transport of the princesses in Mulan II. Mulan damaged her ankle in an ambush and was told to sit inside the Princess's carriage. Also, they're not quite dating yet, not too far off tho*

"AH!" Mulan shouted in pain. "Mulan!" Shang yelled. She swung her sword at her attacker, killing him instantly. She dropped to the ground, wincing in pain, tears staining her cheeks. Damn it! She was a soldier! She shouldn't be crying over an ankle injury! "Mulan, what happened? Are you ok?" She lifted her head up and saw Shang crouching, staring at her nervously. She winced and pressed a hand to the throbbing area. "I think I've broken my ankle," She answered, blinking harshly. As if that would ward off the pain. "Oh... let me see," He said, his hands hovering above the damaged appendage. She nodded but winced and gasped as he touched it. "I know, I'm sorry," He muttered.

"The guy sprung on me from behind... we both tumbled, but I must've landed odd," She explained. Shang winced. "Yeah, you've definitely damaged it. If it's not broken, then it's fractured... you can't ride or fight anymore," Shang said, lowering her foot back to the ground. "What!? No!" She cried. "Is everything ok?" One of the princesses asked, stepping out of the carriage. "Yeah, she's broken her ankle. But you're safe, I promise." Shang answered. "Oh no! Oh, I'm deeply sorry, Fa Mulan," Finally looking up, ignoring the way the edge of her vision was blurring due to pain, she met the worried gaze of Princess Ting-Ting. "You can stay in our carriage if you wish. It's the least we can do," Ting-Ting offered. Mulan was about to decline, but Shang spoke. "If you wouldn't mind, your highness." Ting-Ting waved her hand with a shake of her head, "No, in fact, I insist. Come, I will hold the door open,"

The next thing Mulan knew, she was being picked up from the ground in Shang's arms. She squeaked in surprise and threw her arms around his neck. Then blushed heavily. His chest rumbled with his deep laughter. "That's a sound I've never heard from you before," He teased. Mulan made a face. "Just put my useless body in the carriage before I kill you," She grumbled. "Kill me... likely. Useless body? Wrong," Shang said, leaning in through the door and lowering her to the floor. "You're one of our most able-bodied people, even with a broken ankle. Don't ever say that again," He scolded. Mulan didn't miss the slight blush on his cheeks as he shut the carriage door.

~

Mulan soon got to chatting with the 3 princesses about everything and anything. Ting-Ting was interested in Mulan's work within the army, Su wanted to know how she caused the avalanche, and how she saved her dad, while Mei was interested in one thing: Mulan's relationship with Shang. Truth be told, Mulan most enjoyed talking to Ting-Ting, as she was the eldest and most level-headed. "Mei, you can't abandon this task, you know this," She scolded. Mulan sat rather awkwardly, with her ankle propped up on the wooden seat. "But Ting, why do we all have to marry the princes? Surely only one of us has to!" Mei exclaimed. Ting-Ting frowned. "So, you'd rather just I be unhappy than us all together?" Mei sputtered, "You know full well that's not what I mean!"

The two sisters began to argue, as they had done constantly throughout. Mulan sighed quietly and tried to listen to the horse's hooves on the ground. "Tired?" A new voice sounded. Mulan opened her eyes and peeked through the little slit at the front of the carriage. She smirked, "Better than being outside in the heat," She teased. Shang rolled his eyes. "Yeah yeah, at least I'm not dealing with princesses," Mulan made a face and shut the slit when somebody tapped her shoulder. "I'm sorry?" She asked, blushing.

"How on Earth do you choose between your heart and your duty, Fa Mulan?" Su asked. "My heart is my duty. I just know how to prioritise its desires," Mulan answered. "Like the General?" Mei teased. Mulan blushed a little. Mei shrieked quietly. "You love the general!" She sang. Mulan waved her hand, "I do not! I just... think he's a great soldier and a good person," Mulan hissed. "Mulan loves Shang," Mei sang. "Mei!" Ting-Ting scolded, though Mulan felt no real heat behind it. Su giggled loudly as Mei continued to sing. Mulan hid her face in her sleeves. "If I wanted to be teased about something, I'd've gone into my town!" Mei grinned and continued singing.

"Who loves me?"

Mulan just about died. Shang opened the carriage door with a deep frown. Mei rolled off the seat cackling, Su following suit. The only one who seemed in control was Ting-Ting, and for that, Mulan felt grateful. "Nobody, just Mei teasing someone," Mulan grimaced. Like that wasn't obvious. She peaked in-between her sleeves and looked at her commanding officer, who was frowning dubiously. "Right," He said slowly. He shook his head, "We've stopped to water the horses, and scouted the area. You're more than welcome to step out and stretch your legs, if you so wish your highnesses," He bowed. "Does that offer extend to me, General?" She grinned. Shang put a finger to his lips in thought, then smirked. "No, you're incapacitated."

Mulan glared, "I've hurt my foot, not taken it off, I'm fine," She grumbled and crawled out of the carriage. She slipped just on the edge with a small shout. Someone grabbed the back of her dress, but the ribbon just came undone. She landed on something firm and warm. She heard Ting-Ting gasp and apologise for taking her ribbon off, but Mulan waved it off awkwardly, "It's fine, Ting-Ting. Thanks for trying though,"

"I still think you need to get it checked when we get to Qui-Gong," Shang grumbled. Mulan hopped to the bench set they'd set. She lowered herself down with a sigh. "Probably... and I will, but we're still at least a day out, if not more," She closed her eyes and let the soft wind blow through her hair.

~

"I still don't know why you haven't snatched her up yet, General. Chicks like her move on very quickly," Ling said. Shang crossed his arms with a frown, "I will not court my soldiers," He said shortly. "Yeah... but when we've done this mission... then what?" Ling continued. Shang's frown deepened. He hadn't thought about that bit... "She'll be married off and start a family, I expect," Ling snorted. "Speaking as a friend, and not a solider, Shang, I can tell you love her," Shang sighed. "Even if I did, she doesn't me. She's made it very clear she's not interested in marriage or kids... at least not yet,"

"Who said anything about marriage? You could just be partners until you were both ready," Ling offered. Shang found his gaze on Mulan, who, despite having a broken ankle (most likely) insisted on helping out the watch for the night. She was sitting (unable to do anything else) on the bench set they'd got out earlier. The moon glowed on her face, illuminating her beauty. He sighed quietly. Ling elbowed him in the gut, "You'll only get the chance once," He warned. Shang sighed loudly. "Maybe after Qui-Gong... when there's finally nothing to worry about,"

As if she'd heard them talking about her, Mulan turned around with a blinding smile. "Everything good over there?" She called. Ling snickered softly. Shang huffed a laugh of his own, "Yep... everything's just dandy,"