Double update because both chapters are kind of short.
G/n ran all over the house, calling out for everyone. "Y/n has returned!"
"Y/n?" M/n and S/n looked up, then ran out the door.
"Y/n!"
"Mother!" She ran to her and threw her arms around her mother's neck, M/n bursting into tears.
"Y/n!" Tears streaming down her face, S/n ran over and grabbed her tightly. "There is so much I have to ask you."
"Tell me about you first." It had finally hit her that she was home and began to produce tears of her own.
"I...I am matched!" She was now laughing along with her tears.
"What's he like?"
"He's handsome. A little shy, but he's not afraid of spiders."
"I'm so happy for you." She looked around. "Where is Father?"
-
F/n was sitting on the bench. The blossoms fell on the bench next to him. He sighed and picked one up.
He looked more tired than usual, making Y/n feel all the more guilty. She bowed before him, startling him. "Y/n!"
"Father...forgive me, father...I stole the family horse...I stole your sword...I stole your armor...and the sword...I lost it...the sword is gone...now I understand...how much that sword means to you...but..." She took out the gifts. "I've brought you the sword of Shan Yu. And the Crest of the Emperor. They're gifts to honor the L/n family." She put them on his lap and bowed again.
Gently, he picked them up and placed them to the side, kneeled, and brought his daughter into a hug, his eyes misty. "The greatest gift of honor is having you for a daughter. And it is I who should apologize. My foolish pride drove you away. One warrior knows another. You were always there...yet I see you for the first time...I've missed you so."
Y/n began to cry again, burying her face into his shoulder. "I've missed you, too, Bába..."
The rest of the family stood by the gate. M/n and S/n were smiling while G/n scoffed. "Huh. She brings home a sword. If you ask me, she should've brought a man."
"Excuse us."
They looked behind them and saw Shang and Mu.
"Does L/n Y/n live here?" Mu asked.
Mouths agape, they all pointed.
"Thank you."
They entered, G/n getting a horny look. "Woo! Sign me up for the next war!"
They approached the bench, where Y/n and F/n still were.
"Honorable L/n F/n. I..." Shang started, but the younger cut him off.
"Y/n! Uh..."
"Mu? What are you doing here?"
"You forgot your helmet." He looked at F/n, who was looking down at him with mock disapproval. "Well, actually, it's your helmet, isn't it? I mean..."
His face relaxed into a smile, making Mu even more embarrassed.
"There's another reason," Shang said, holding out a sword to her. "You have saved the dynasty. The entire kingdom is in your debt. You have brought honor to your ancestors, to your family, to your village, and to your country. As befits a great warrior, the sword is marked with the pillars of virtue."
F/n leaned over to read it. "Loyal, brave, true...and what's this fourth virtue I see?"
Shang looked down on her with the same pride of a parent. "Read it aloud, Y/n."
She read it in her head once, her breath catching. "Devotion to family."
"You have brought honor to us all," Mu said, grabbing her hands, then quickly letting go, turning red again.
"Calm down, Zhu Yingtai," [Chinese version of Romeo] Shang joked, rolling his eyes, then turned back to Y/n. "The emperor urges you to reconsider his invitation to join his council. He awaits your decision."
She thought for a moment, then said, "Oh, does a decision really have to be made right now?"
They all looked surprised at her.
"Y/n, you must consider carefully," F/n advised.
"Yeah, but if I rush it, that's not very careful, is it?" She bowed to Shang. "Thank you, Captain. But please tell the emperor that my decision will be delayed."
He nodded, understanding. "You're only going to make him want you more, you know. Acting this wise."
She giggled a little, then asked, "Would you like to stay for dinner?"
"WOULD YOU LIKE TO STAY FOREVER?" G/n yelled from her spot, making them all chuckle.
"Well, I mean...i - if you want us to..." Mu stuttered. "I - I guess we could..."
A look from Shang shut him up. He put on a smile and turned back to Y/n, answering for both him and Mu. "Dinner would be great."
-
The green shoot has grown up to the sky. And her ancestors celebrate her in the vault of the heavens. The girl became a soldier. The soldier became a leader. And the leader...became a legend.
And they all lived happily ever after...
The end.
-
"Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God commanded you, that your days may be long, and that it may go well with you in the land that the Lord your God is giving you." - Deuteronomy 5:16
-
Y/n:
Look at me
You may think you see who I really am,
But you'll never know me
Everyday,
It's as if I play a part
Fa Mu:
Now I see,
If I wear a mask, I can fool the world
But I can't fool my heart
Y/n:
Who is that girl I see
Staring straight back at me?
Fa Mu:
When will my reflection show
Who I am inside?
Y/n:
I am now
In a world where I have to hide my heart
And what I believe in
Fa Mu:
But somehow,
I will show the world what's inside my heart
And be loved for who I am
Y/n:
Who is that girl I see
Staring straight back at me?
Why is my reflection someone I don't know?
Fa Mu:
Must I pretend that I'm
Someone else
For all time?
When will my reflection show
Who I am inside?
Y/n:
There's a heart that must be free to fly
Fa Mu:
That burns with a need to know the reason why
Y/n:
Why must we all conceal
What we think;
How we feel?
Must there be a secrete me I'm forced to hide?
Fa Mu:
I won't pretend that I'm
Someone else
For all time
When will my reflection show
Who I am inside?
Y/n, Fa Mu:
When will my reflection show
Who I am inside?
Y/n:
Inside
Y/n, Fa Mu:
Who I am inside