Miyabi and Sakura Meet Mulan

Chapter 2

Miyabi, Sakura, Grandma, and Li were all standing together, waiting for Mulan to come back outside. There were crash noises which made Li worried of what could be going on. "I think it's going well, don't you?" Grandma asked Li and the girls. "Doesn't sound like it to me" Miyabi replied. "I agree" said Sakura. Suddenly, the matchmaker came out with ink stains on her face looking like a mustache and her butt was on fire. "PUT IT OUT! PUT IT OUT! PUT IT OUT!" Mulan threw tea over her to put the fire out, but she was terribly embarrassed over what happened. She came to her family and guests as the cricket hopped out of the building and back in the cage where it belonged. "YOU ARE A DISGRACE!" the matchmaker snarled, thrashing the teapot down on the ground and glaring horribly at Mulan. "You may look like a bride, but you will NEVER bring your family honor!" she stormed off. Mulan felt very bad. Sakura decided to hug her while Miyabi and Grandma glared at the matchmaker for insulting Mulan right to her face like that. Mulan felt very, very bad and the group walked back to Mulan's place to rest and think about what happened today. Li took the horse back to its stable and walked Miyabi and Sakura to their home and discuss their new living conditions for their time away from home.

Miyabi and Sakura felt very bad for Mulan. They sat with the family as they got settled and talked about their family and their culture. Once the girls got settled and comfortable, they decided to help Mulan as she sat alone under a cherry blossom tree. "Nobody's perfect. Everyone makes mistakes" Miyabi said as she sat next to Mulan. Mulan didn't answer. She turned and kept looking sour. She could never do anything to please her family and today was so embarrassing and horrifying to endure for her. The girls only knew her today and yet they really wanted to help her and do something to make her happy. They then looked and saw Mulan's father come over. "My, my, what beautiful blossoms we have this year." Zhou sat next to his daughter with a smile. He took one of the blossoms, combed back Mulan's hair and placed it in to make her happy and spiritual. "But look, this one's late. I bet when it blooms, it will be the most beautiful of all." Mulan smiled back at him. "That's sweet" Sakura smiled. Then everyone heard drumming sounds. Zhou stood right up, taking the drums as a signal to him somehow. "What is it?" Mulan asked. Zhou walked out to meet with the other citizens as there was serious business going on. "Mulan, you and your new friends stay inside." he walked off. Grandma passed the three girls. She then cleared her throat a bit and pointed on the roof, knowing they were very curious about what was happening in town today. Mulan hopped on the roof and grabbed Sakura, then she grabbed Miyabi.

Mulan, Miyabi, and Sakura then took a look as they saw general army men had come to visit China. The newsreader, Chi-Fu, had a scroll. "Citizens, I bring a proclamation from the Imperial City! The Huns have invaded China!" Everyone gasped in shock and fear. 'Euterpe mentioned them before' Sakura thought to herself. "By order of the Emperor, one many from every family must serve in the Imperial Army." Chi-Fu continued as he read each family name out loud to give them scrolls to serve in the camp and army to defend their country. "Mulan, didn't your father serve in the army before?" asked Miyabi. "Yes. Last time he went into attacking, he got hurt. He could get killed if he went into another one. How did you know that?" Mulan replied. "Lucky guess?" Miyabi grinned sheepishly. "The Fa family!" Chi-Fu called. "No!" Mulan gasped. Zhou handed Li his cane and came close, nearly wobbling. "I am ready to serve the Emperor." he bowed respectfully, then reached for the scroll. "Father, you can't go!" Mulan called for him, making him face her and the other two girls. "Mulan!" Zhou protested against her protests. "Please sir, my father has already fought for-" "SILENCE!" Chi-Fu hissed at her. "You will do well to teach your daughter to hold her tongue in a man's presence!" "Mulan, you dishonor me." Zhou nearly sneered. Grandma then came to escort her granddaughter and guests back home to keep from interfering. Mulan nearly cried. She didn't want to lose her father like this. It would be a great honor, yes, but he is a lot older and could get himself killed or seriously hurt.