Summary: This is a story I started - and left - about two years ago. I've decided to revisit it and repost it here, in hopes that I might be inspired to continue. Constructive feedback is always welcome. Alternate universte story nspired by the movie Seven Samurai. What if Mulan lived in a village between the northern border and the Tung Shao Pass and it was her village that the Imperial Army came to protect? In this fic, instead of Mulan going off to war in place of her father, the Imperial troop led by General Li comes to her village to defend it against incursions from over the northern border. This is a completely alternate storyline, despite some similarities in the beginning.

Disclaimer: Mulan, Shang and any other characters, scenes, dialogue, etc. from Mulan belong to Disney. Anything from or resembling the movie Seven Samurai belongs to the amazing Akira Kurosawa.

Title: Black Swan
Author: lightbird
Disclaimer: Everything belongs to me. Do not reprint without permission.

Title: Withered Blossom
Author: lightbird
Category: Mulan
Character: Fa Mulan
Rating/Warnings: MA, mature themes
Disclaimer: I don't own it.

Summary: Sequel to A Tale of the Woman. Mulan, now the Emperor’s concubine, has given birth to a son.

***Another challenge done!!! Cross-posted to 1theme

Theme: faithful heart
Category: Mulan
Title: Prey
Pairings/Characters: Fa Mulan/Li Shang
Disclaimer: I don't own it.
Summary: Seven-chapter fic written for the 1theme community. Alternate universe suspense story set in the 20th century, specifically the late 1970’s/early 1980’s. The memory sections take place in the 1960’s, during China’s Cultural Revolution.
Note: I will probably continue this story, as it ends on an indefinite note right now, but my due date arrived (!!!) so I posted it as is for now.

(Link here)

Cross-posted to 5trueloves and mulan_fanfic

Category: Mulan
Character: Fa Mulan
Themes: #3, Moving; #26, Gone; #25, Destruction; #28, Secret; #19, Fate; Destiny
Genre: Angst/Drama
Rating/Warning: MA, sex and mature themes
Disclaimer: I don't own it. Raise the Red Lantern is the property of Su Tong.
Status: Complete

Summary: 5-part crossover fic (sort of) inspired by Raise the Red Lantern and alternate storyline based on another outcome that could have occurred because Mulan failed the matchmaker’s test.

(A Tale of the Woman)

Title: Baby Proof
Author: lightbird
Prompt: 2/18/07, breakable
Category: Mulan
Disclaimer: I don't own it.

*******

They couldn't move things out of the way fast enough. The lovely china tea set that her mother had given them for their wedding. Li Shang's weaponry, so shiny and pretty, catching their son's eyes immediately. Knives or anything that was pointy.

Little Feng had begun walking earlier than most babies. Endowed with his father's physical strength and hardiness even at the ripe age of one, as well as his mother's quick and sharp intellect and curiosity, the irrepressible toddler explored the world around him like an intrepid adventurer.

Anything in a low drawer was unsafe. Feng loved to pull them open and look inside, pulling out whatever objects might be in there and throwing them on the floor. Shiny things attracted him in particular, like Baba's sword, mounted high on the wall, glinting in the sunlight that streamed in the window. The little boy's dark mischievous eyes darted around and his mother just knew the child was puzzling out the problem of those out of reach objects; she expected that any day she would find him climbing up something to get to those things.

And, of course, anything that was breakable was a coveted prize, especially if it was something that would shatter into sharp shards that could cut his soft skin. Mulan's reflexes had become as quick as a cat's. Too many times to count she'd become involved with a writing or drawing project, forgetting the drained cup that sat beside her hand, too close to the edge of the low table. On those occasions the tiny reaching hand entered the field of her peripheral vision at the last minute, capturing her full attention just in time. The cup was swiftly pushed toward the middle of the table, out of Feng's grasp.

After so many close calls, now on a Sunday during a relished time of peace, Li Shang and Fa Mulan spent the day 'baby proofing' their home, ensuring that every breakable object was out of reach. Fragile things were moved from lower level drawers to higher ones. They took turns watching the baby and searching every nook and cranny, attempting to second-guess anything that their headstrong baby boy might get a hold of - and put in his mouth.

Feng sat on the floor in the room while they worked, playing with a little wooden toy dragon that Shang had made for him in his spare time and babbling animatedly. Every once in awhile he quieted down and his eyes rested on his parents, watching their movements.

"He's probably marking where we've put everything," Shang remarked. He made a funny face at Feng, who laughed with delight and screwed up his face in imitation of his father. "Too smart for everyone's peace of mind."

Cross posted to 30_memories

Title: Anniversary
Author: lightbird
Prompt: 2/11/07, candle/candlelight
Category: Mulan
Pairing: Mulan/Shang
Rated: R (for safety)
Warning: Fluff and sex (not really explicit)
Disclaimer: I don't own it.

*******

The first time they made love was by candlelight, ten years ago this night, their wedding night. Mulan was nervous then, her head ringing with all of the words she’d heard from her mother about the first time hurting, that she could get pregnant, and myriad other negative things.

“This is why you should not be playing around with the boys in the village,” her mother had chided, referring to the friendship she had with a boy named Jun who was the same age as her. “If you were to be with child out of wedlock, you would dishonor yourself and the family.”

Their friendship had ended by the time Mulan was eleven.

With her head filled with thoughts of pain and pregnancy, she was tense even with Li Shang, the man that she loved and now her husband. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to have children with him; she just wasn’t ready yet.

If Shang was nervous that night he didn’t show it. At times he was tentative, not out of timidity but because he seemed to be gauging her reactions, checking that what he was doing was pleasurable for her and not painful.

“Don’t worry,” he murmured finally. He’d been exploring her bare shoulders and neck with his lips, drawing soft whimpers of pleasure and fear from her, and he stopped, raising his head to gaze at her, his face gentle. Perhaps he’d felt her racing pulse under the skin that he was kissing. “It’s only me. I promise I won’t hurt you.”

She nodded and raised her head to kiss him, then lay back, yielding to him, relaxing in the soft light of the candle that threw shadows on his face and his muscular body, giving him the striking appearance of a god. Sometimes he rolled them over, letting her straddle him and control everything, allowing her to explore his body and move things along at a pace that she was comfortable with.

The first time was painful, but she didn’t tell him, merely gripping him tightly, her nails digging into his skin so hard that she was sure she’d drawn blood, and burying her face against his shoulder as the tears flowed when he shuddered inside of her.

“I’m sorry,” he’d whispered softly as he embraced her tightly, knowing without her speaking. “I didn’t want to hurt you.”

“I’m fine. There’s nothing to be sorry about,” she’d answered.

The pain had been mixed with unspeakable pleasure and the feeling of him inside of her was so fulfilling that she couldn’t begin to describe it.

Now they celebrated their tenth anniversary. They made love by candlelight, Mulan no longer a scared young girl but a mother of two, Shang a seasoned warrior and a man at the top of his career.

He still filled her with unspeakable pleasure.

Title: The Chase
Category: Mulan
Author: lightbird
Prompt: 2/5/07, blankets
Rated: PG-13
Disclaimer: I don't own it.

*******

She was such a tease. He pouted inwardly.

Still, it was somewhat amusing. And her cat and mouse game was more than a little arousing. Each time he caught up to her after chasing her around the house, leaving it in a shambles in their wake, he managed to snag an article of clothing that remained on her body. A scarf, then the sash that kept her dress fitting so securely and alluringly against her lithe, willowy body. He was sure that she intended to allow him to grab her clothing; no doubt he wouldn't be able to get near her if she didn't want him to.

Mulan let out a short screech each time he succeeded in removing an article of clothing and dashed away, now ducking under a table. He hit his head when he tried to follow, rubbing it dejectedly where it hurt and sending her into maniacal laughter.

They'd made it to the bedroom and stood face to face now, two feet apart, he waiting for her to dash off, she waiting for him to lunge at her. There was mischief in her eyes and both breathed heavily, both equally aroused by this chase that she had started when he came home and tried to kiss her in the kitchen.

Losing his patience he made the first move and she yelped as he snagged a handful of the material that was her dress as she twisted to run again. The delicate dress was unable to withstand the friction of her running off while he pulled on the material; it ripped and Shang wasn't really sure if she'd run out of the dress or if he'd torn it off of her. But it didn't matter.

"Ahh!" he exclaimed as he glimpsed the now-bare light bronze skin of her torso. Mulan snatched up the pile of blankets from the bed, quickly wrapping herself in them and giving him a smug look.

"Ah ah ah," she admonished playfully.

But she was already relinquishing control of the game to him, stepping forward and finally allowing him to embrace her.

Cross posted to 30_memories

Title: Remembrance
Category: Mulan
Author: lightbird
Prompt: 2/9/07, faded
Rated: PG-13
Disclaimer: I don't own it.

*******

She knelt before the wooden tablets, leaning in to brush the dust off one of them with the end of her sleeve. The writing on it was faded, so long had it been since she visited the family shrine.

Mulan frowned as she gazed at the tablets, reflecting on what it was that had brought her here for the first time in years. Once more she was being called into the Emperor's service, but she had a personal stake in this mission as well. She was hoping to find her husband Li Shang, who had disappeared on a mission five years ago this day. Her stomach felt as if lead weights were settling inside as she thought about him. If he was still alive, she mused with trepidation, he would look different now, no doubt. But she remembered what he looked like on the day he left; that would never fade from her memory. Tall, handsome, commanding in his armor, bright red cape and general's helmet. A presence to be reckoned with. It was hard to imagine that anyone could have gotten the best of him.

He'd left her alone, expecting a child. But she didn't know that until after he was gone; and maybe it was for the best. He didn't have to know that he might have been a father had she not miscarried. From the stress of his disappearance, the doctor had supposed.

Icy fear clutched at her heart as it occurred to her that maybe he'd been simply bored with married life, with her; soldiers that were used to battle and being on the move often found it hard to adjust to a settled lifestyle. What if she found Shang, alive, but he didn't want to come home?

Bending forward and kowtowing to the ancestors she prayed for their guidance and safe-keeping.

Title: A Legend Forgotten
Author: lightbird
Category: Mulan
Rating: T/PG-13
Summary: (AU) What if, despite the fact that Mulan saved China, the Emperor had still demanded that she be executed? What if she escaped and Shang was sent to find her and kill her? What would he do?
Disclaimer: I don't own it.

Title: A Legend Forgotten
Author: lightbird
Category: Mulan
Rating: T/PG-13
Summary: (AU) What if, despite the fact that Mulan saved China, the Emperor had still demanded that she be executed? What if she escaped and Shang was sent to find her and kill her? What would he do?
Disclaimer: I don't own it.

Title: A Legend Forgotten
Author: lightbird
Category: Mulan
Rating: T/PG-13
Summary: (AU) What if, despite the fact that Mulan saved China, the Emperor had still demanded that she be executed? What if she escaped and Shang was sent to find her and kill her? What would he do?
Disclaimer: I don't own it.

Title: A Legend Forgotten
Author: lightbird
Category: Mulan
Rating: T/PG-13
Summary: (AU) What if, despite the fact that Mulan saved China, the Emperor had still demanded that she be executed? What if she escaped and Shang was sent to find her and kill her? What would he do?
Disclaimer: I don't own it.

Title: A Legend Forgotten
Author: lightbird
Category: Mulan
Rating: T/PG-13
Summary: (AU) What if, despite the fact that Mulan saved China, the Emperor had still demanded that she be executed? What if she escaped and Shang was sent to find her and kill her? What would he do?
Disclaimer: I don't own it.