Reflection (Disney Twisted Tales) - Elizabeth Lim Page 0,11

most trusted general. She didn’t know anything about his life growing up, either; what he liked to eat or read, even where he was from.

As their leader, Shang had avoided socializing with the troops. He’d never joined in drinking games or jokes. After meals, he had always retreated to his tent to study battle plans and maps.

Then again, no one had ever sought him out. Now Mulan wished she’d gotten to know him better. She hadn’t realized until now how dedicated Shang had been to ensuring the regiment became a team. Most other captains probably wouldn’t even have known her name. But Shang would run alongside her and the other recruits to make sure no man was left behind, he sculpted each soldier’s individual weaknesses into strengths, and he had even risked his life—for her.

Stop thinking like that, she thought miserably. You sound like he’s going to die.

She watched his chest rise and fall, the movement so imperceptible she wondered if she imagined it. She couldn’t even hear him breathe. Reaching for his wrist, she kept her hand over his, feeling for his pulse.

Still there. Still faint.

“Shang is not going to die,” Mulan whispered aloud. She choked back a sob. “He’s not.”

But even she couldn’t persuade herself. Moisture tingled in her eyes, and the swell in her throat hurt more and more as she tried to hold in her emotions. He’s not.

Hot tears trickled down her cheeks as she unfolded her arms and sat up. She wiped her face, tasting the salt in her tears as they slipped into the corner of her mouth.

Her hands trembled at her side, and her head felt light. Fatigue was catching up with her, and she blamed it for her doubts.

Need to sleep, her body begged. Just a little. Just for a few minutes.

No. The world swayed. Her eyelids half closed. Must watch Shang. Must. Watch.

You can’t take care of him if you don’t take care of yourself. Sleep. Just a little.

Just a little. Finally, Mulan crawled away from Shang’s side and retreated to the back corner of the tent, leaning against a pole. She hugged her arms against her chest and stretched out her legs over the frosted grass. Her breathing slowed.

She didn’t know how long she slept—minutes or hours—before a burst of wind brushed her cheek and woke her.

Moonlight seeped into her eyes. Had the tent’s flap come loose? Mulan jerked upright with worry and started to get up to close the flap against the chill breeze.

But then she froze.

It wasn’t moonlight at all, or a loose tent flap.

It was a man, leaning over next to Shang. He was dressed in a military uniform, but he wasn’t one of Shang’s soldiers, and they had to be days from the closest village. That was odd.

But even odder—he glowed. Was she dreaming? Mulan rubbed her eyes. He still glowed.

From his hair to his boots, he radiated a soft greenish blue, as if someone had put a lantern in the deepest part of the ocean. His ghostly face shone so brightly Mulan couldn’t make out his features. His voice was low and soft. “Please don’t die,” he said to Shang. “It is not yet your time.”

Careful to stay shrouded in the shadows, Mulan rose. She didn’t recognize the stranger, and his uniform was blue like the rest of him, so she couldn’t identify his rank. But she could tell his armor’s quality was better than Shang’s. A clue that he was an officer of high rank.

A general!

“My son,” the general said, “can you hear me?”

Mulan held her breath. My son? If the man was Shang’s father, then he was…General Li.

No, that’s impossible. General Li is dead. I must be dreaming. I must be so tired I even know I’m dreaming. She shrank back in her corner. General Li’s body shimmered with watery blue light—and his boots, Mulan saw, barely touched the ground.

Definitely can’t be real. I should go back to sleep.

But she couldn’t. Not while General Li wept over his son’s body. She watched his shoulders shake as he exhaled. It was a ragged, sorrow-ridden breath, one that touched Mulan to the core. If this ghost, this spirit truly was Shang’s father, she had to do whatever she could to ease both their suffering.

She took a step toward him. If General Li saw her, he didn’t acknowledge it. His attention was on his son.

“Do you remember, Shang, when you were a child?” he said. “Even then you were already my best student. Do you remember