Reflection (Disney Twisted Tales) - Elizabeth Lim Page 0,99
I must assume my duties as Li Shang’s guardian.”
Mulan had become so fond of Shang’s guardian. It had never occurred to her that the lion wouldn’t continue to be part of her life after their journey to Diyu together. Now that ShiShi said he had to go, emotion flared in her chest. Her shoulders sank. “So I’ll never see you again?”
“Not in this lifetime,” ShiShi said sadly. Then he tilted his head, his nose twitching thoughtfully. “That is, unless you somehow become part of the Li fam—”
“Unless you see him,” Shang hastily cut in, “through me. ShiShi will always be with me, and you will always be my friend, Mulan.”
Mulan did not know why a knowing smile touched ShiShi’s mouth, but she ignored it and embraced the lion instead. The gesture took the guardian by surprise, for he let out a small, strangled cry. Then he relaxed and patted Mulan’s back with a paw.
“You’re stronger than you look, little soldier. I will miss you.”
“Thank you for everything,” she whispered in ShiShi’s ear.
She let him go, and somewhat bashfully, ShiShi shook his mane, seeing that his hairs stood tall and bristly. “I wish you well, Fa Mulan.” He nodded at Shang, too. “I wish you both well.”
The lion stepped into the light shining from outside the gates. Little by little, his golden coat grayed, his fur smoothed into stone, and his round persimmon eyes hardened.
As the gates finished opening, the light swelled and washed over ShiShi’s statue until—in a flash—he was gone.
Mulan swallowed hard. She turned to Shang. “Ready?”
“Wait.”
She looked up at him, curious what he had to say. “Yes?”
“When we go back, you’ll be Ping again.” Looking flustered, he stared at his hands. “I was just…I was just getting used to calling you Mulan.” Shang hesitated. Color deepened his face. “I also realized I never thanked you for saving me.”
“You did.”
“I thanked Ping.” A lift in his brows framed the gentleness in his eyes. “Not Mulan.”
There it was again. That warm buzzing in her heart.
Her pulse sped up. She didn’t dare breathe or blink, afraid she might give away all the emotions bursting inside her now. She became suddenly aware of everything—the slip of hair tickling her shoulder, the heaviness of her lashes when she blinked, the tingle in her veins as blood rushed to her head. The hammering of her heart against the counterpoint of her unsteady breaths.
“So.” Shang cleared his throat. He took a step closer to her, his hand outstretched. For a moment, she thought—no, she hoped he might reach for her hand. If he had, he took it back at the last moment. He wasn’t human again yet, so it would have passed through her anyway. “Thank you, Mulan.”
Warmth radiated inside Mulan. “I should thank you, too,” she said softly. “Saving you helped me find out who I really am.”
Shang looked confused, but she simply smiled.
“Will you two hurry up?” King Yama’s voice bellowed from above. The cavern walls boomed. “I’m not going to keep the gates open forever.”
They were standing in the gates’ shadow when it struck Mulan that Shang had finally stopped glowing. The closer they approached to the gates, the more color returned to his face.
“What is it?” Shang asked, catching her watching him.
Little by little, his eyes warmed into that dusky shade of brown she’d come to miss. A shadow traced the outline of his body, from the curve in his neck to the powerful slope of his shoulders. As his glimmering blue aura faded, his hair blackened, and his skin, bronzed from years of training under the sun, glowed with life.
She had no idea what came over her—impulse or instinct—but she reached for Shang’s hand.
He looked surprised, and for an instant she wondered whether it was because he could feel her touch, or because she had reached for him. Maybe both.
Shang’s stance loosened, and he drew her close, not letting go of her hand. “I told you once you were the craziest man I’d ever met. I guess I have to change that to the craziest woman.”
Mulan laughed. “You’re delaying us from leaving Diyu to tell me that?”
“And that Ping was right about his sister.”
Now Mulan lifted her chin, curious. “Why is that?”
“She’s strong and kind and beautiful and brave.…”
“And also speaks her mind,” Mulan reminded him.
“…Honest, in the way that counts most.”
“And she occasionally disobeys orders,” Mulan warned him, “even from her commanding officer.”