had gone to find something to help them.
ShiShi harrumphed. Mulan couldn’t help but share his discontent. Mere moments after finding Shang, they’d been separated.
She leaned against the wall, trying to think of another way out.
“Well, little soldier,” ShiShi said, “do you have anything up your sleeve this time?”
“I’m working on it,” Mulan said. She wondered what purpose this empty well served. Was it an obstacle specifically placed to slow them down? How much time had passed since they’d left King Yama’s throne?
ShiShi harrumphed again. “What a way for me to introduce myself to Li Shang—by getting stuck in a well.”
Something in his tone broke Mulan out of her reverie. “Is that why you wouldn’t come with me to the tower earlier?” she asked the lion after a moment. She lowered her voice. “Because you were worried you’d disappoint Shang somehow?”
ShiShi lowered his head, trying to hide a grimace, his body shifting uncomfortably. Mulan didn’t expect a reply from Shang’s surly guardian, so it surprised her when he started to speak. “I was General Li’s guardian since he was Shang’s age. He became more than my charge; he became my friend. And when he died, I promised I’d watch over his son. I swore an oath.
“But now? Now that General Li has passed, and his son is in Diyu…” ShiShi heaved a sigh, his whiskers drooping. “I would not be surprised if my tenure as a guardian will also pass.”
“Shang is lucky to have you,” Mulan said, touching the lion’s head. “You’re brave and…confident. You remind me of Mushu sometimes, except you’re a lot bigger.”
ShiShi shook her hand off him. “I’m nothing like your house lizard.”
Mulan bristled at ShiShi’s tone. In spite of Mushu’s shortcomings and tendency to get her into trouble, she did appreciate him. If she never made it out of Diyu, would Mushu be punished—demoted from guardian?
No, because I am going to get us out of here. “ShiShi,” she said, “we’re going to get Shang out of here. You’ll still be a guardian. I promise.”
“It isn’t only that.” ShiShi grimaced again, then let out a sigh. “You aren’t the only one who carries the burden of guilt.”
Ah. Now Mulan understood. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t stop blaming herself for what had happened to Shang. It had not occurred to her that ShiShi might feel the same way about General Li. She’d mistaken the guardian’s guilt for pride and disappointment.
“Shang would never blame you for what happened to his father,” she said gently. “It wasn’t your fault.”
“Says the soldier who blames himself for Li Shang’s death,” grumbled ShiShi.
“I feel terrible for my part in what happened to Shang, but I’m not here simply out of guilt,” Mulan reminded the lion. “Saving Shang is the right thing to do. I’d do it even if he hadn’t been hurt saving me. I’d want to help.”
ShiShi raised his head. “I suppose if General Li has faith in you, then I do too, Ping.” The lion ground his large, broad teeth, as if he hated how emotional he was being. “Now where is Li Shang? He’s taking his time.”
Mulan looked up, then eyed the walls of the well curiously. There was a rusted pulley on top, but the rope was no longer there.
“What we could really use is some rope,” she said.
“Rope?”
ShiShi shuffled, kicking the old bucket again. This time, Mulan leapt up, peering over at the thin and snakelike object behind him. “Aha!” she cried.
ShiShi craned his neck to look behind him. “Ah, I was wondering why my tail felt so coarse. Is it enough?”
The long rope, tied to the broken wooden bucket, rolled toward Mulan. “It just might work.”
She jumped, throwing the bucket as high as she could. It took a few tries, but on the third one, the bucket made it over the well and disappeared. She tugged on the rope, testing its strength. “I’m going to try climbing out.”
“What about me?” ShiShi said.
“Hold on.” Mulan wrapped the rope around ShiShi’s body and tied a tight knot. Then she climbed on top of him and began scaling the well.
“What are you doing?” ShiShi said, his voice bouncing across the walls. “Are you just leaving me behind?”
“Stay there. I’ll pull you up once I’m at the top.”
She landed on a soft, yielding bed of—flowers? Startled, she sat up and gave a quick stretch before leaping to her feet. An overwhelming aroma of peonies and tangerines and lotus blossoms surrounded her.
“Not what I expected,” she murmured to herself, overcome