Ch. 10
Mulan stooped down to the surface of the stream.
For a moment, she stared intently at her reflection, piercing her eyes with her own gaze.
Has she changed? Has her reflection changed?
"You will NEVER bring honor to your family!"
A shiver ran up her spine as Mulan recollected the Matchmaker's words.
Her promise to the ancestors...that she would change...that she would bring them honor by learning to become a good bride... What became of it all? Why was she preparing to rush into battle again...
Mulan was jolted out of her trance like state when she suddenly felt cool droplets of water spray out and hit her face.
She gasped before she turned to her side and saw a grinning Ryo.
"Gotcha!"
"Ryo!"
The Ronin leader simply dipped his hands into the calm surface of the small river once more. He gave another roguish grin before he rapidly drew his hands forward, sending with them a small flurry of water droplets which splashed out at Mulan.
"Ryo!" Mulan giggled despite herself, "Alright, you asked for it!"
She followed his example, and thus broke through the stream's tranquil waters to return Ryo's gestures with eager splashes.
Completely engaged in their little water war, they didn't notice Sage looking on with mock disapproval as he shook his head, smiling all the while. Nor did they notice Shang's hostile glare from a distance.
~~~~~~
"You know what's going on?"
Anubis looked at the anxious faces that had settle around him and nodded with an acknowledged demeanor.
"I do not yet have all the answers, but I believe I will be able to shed some amount of light on our situation."
"It's Talpa isn't it? He's responsible for the shockwave attack right?" Sekhmet stepped up closer.
"No," Dais interjected, "Talpa's powers are dark powers. Light is not characteristic of him."
"You're both right," Anubis calmly answered.
"Huh?" Stunned and confused, the group could only gape for a moment.
"Think," Anubis continued, "When do you last remember seeing a light so brilliant, or felt a shockwave so intense? What is the only power strong enough to bring about such energy?"
"That would be..." Kayura pondered pensively, "when..." her eyes lit up, "when we last combined the nine attacks to defeat Talpa!"
"Yes," Anubis answered, "That attack at the park was not an attack at all. A year ago, the clash of such an intensity of virtue against evil and light versus darkness must have caused a temperal rift. And in one year's time, that shockwave has reached its outer bounds, completed a cycle and rebounded back."
The warlords nodded knowingly. For the first time in a long while, things were making sense again.
"That ring of light was nothing more than the shockwave of our combined attacks reeling backwards to its point of origin."
"What of the Ronins?"
"The temperal rift displaced Talpa and carried him to the past, so in order to retain the balance of good and evil, the Ronins were taken as well." Anubis lowered his head momentarily, "Unfortunately, that is all the information I have as of now."
The eyes of the warlords followed him as he prepared to leave. "Now, I must contact the Ronins. I'm sure they can use this information..."
"Anubis! Anubis! Wait," Mia's cry stunned them all as she careened into the living room and skidded to a halt.
"I have the information! I've translated the file!"
~~~~~~
The guards saluted respectfully as they opened the city gates of Xi An. Confidently striding forth, bearing the emperor's crest, Mulan entered the imperial city, followed closely by her three other travelling companions.
With grave urgency, they proceeded towards the imperial palace of the Forbidden City. They by passed the residential areas and hastened through the city market.
Little did they know that had they slowed their pace but slightly, they might have heard a familiar roar in the chattering background of the large market place.
~~~~~~
"Hold there."
The imperial guards halted the group as they approached the entrance of palace.
Mulan confidently pulled out the crest of the emperor. "Officers, I must insist that we see his majesty. We have a matter to speak of which is most urgent."
Skeptical, and faltering, one of the guards spoke up, "I'm sorry Miss, but the emperor is never to be interrupted in midst of a meeting with his advisors. He is attending to very important matters at the moment, we cannot allow..."
"What!" Ryo exclaimed.
"But it is imperative that we see him..."
"Don't you know who she is??" Shang pointed to Mulan with in disbelief.
"I know exactly who SHE is," came the whinny pitched voice from behind the guards. And when they finally stepped aside, both Shang and Mulan recognized the skinny, arrogant, thorn-in-the-side man which stood haughtily before them. It was Chi Fu, the emperor's aid. No mistaking him for anyone else, nor vice versa.
"Chi Fu, thank goodness," Shang pleaded to the him. "Let us in. We need to discuss an pressing situation with the emperor."
"Yes," Mulan nodded, "It regards Ni Yang..."
"If you're here to warn his Highness of the Hun attack," Chi Fu turned his nose up, "I must inform you you that you're too late."
"What?"
"You heard me," Chi Fu replied, "The town messengers had long delivered word of the invasion. You are simply too late."
"Please let me see the emperor," Mulan pleaded as she held up the crest once more, "His majesty said I would always be welcomed here..."
"You don't seem to understand Miss Fa Mulan," Chi Fu uttered the name like it was a curse. "No one, but NO ONE, is to interrupt the emperor. That includes you. Now do not anger me!"
"But..."
"I said do not anger me! Miss Fa, have you forgotten who the bearer of authority is here?" Chi Fu was fuming now. "I have said this before and I will say it again. You must learn your proper place. Yes, you saved the emperor, but one act cannot salvage your honor for life. You are still a disgrace Fa Mulan!"
Mulan felt her lip quiver, and tears welled up in her eyes, but no, she will not let Chi Fu have the satisfaction of seeing her cry.
"But we bring something more to the emperor," Mulan took a firm stand.
"What might you possibly have to tell?"
"It's not what we have," Mulan said as she suddenly pulled up the hooded young man at her side. "It's who we have."
At that last word, she abruptly pulled back the cloak hood of the young man to reveal a shocking mass of golden hair. Everyone was too stunned to react. Gawking at Sage's blond hair, Chi Fu cowered as though he was about to scream.
"We have the Ronin Warriors."
~~~~~~