"Be careful!" Henri called after Mulan. She just rolled her eyes and kept running.
I am just going to the market, what's his problem? But Henri had many reasons for being so overprotective, for hardly letting her out of his sight, but he had yet to tell her how her mother really died.
Despite his often overbearing nature, Mulan had a very good relationship with her father. They did many things together, and he taught her even more, except that is, when it came to martial arts.
"For the last time, NO!"
"Oh come on," Mulan exclaimed, "I know I'll be good at it."
"I can see absolutely no reason that you should have to fight. I can protect you."
"But you can't be everywhere! What am I to do in those times?"
"Stay home," Henri shot back while walking away, "Besides, Sebastian will always be here."
"Eh?"
Mulan, however, could not just simply let it go. For days she spent time off thinking, and enviously staring at students at the Martial Arts Academy. Then one day, she suddenly found her solution.
"Oh Sebastian!"
"Yes, my lady?"
"I understand that you trained father in the martial arts skill, so --"
"Oh no," he cut her off knowing where she was headed with this, "I am NOT going behind your father's back."
"Oh please! I just want to be able to protect myself. I've heard the villagers' tales of The Hun, and if they return I do not wish to be helpless."
He chuckled, "The last thing that anyone would think to call you, having known you for only five minutes, would be helpless."
She had to laugh at this as well. He continued, "However, I do see the logic in your argument." He sighed, "Very well then, I shall teach you, but be prepared to work hard. And for goodness sake don't let you father find out."
The next couple of months that followed were filled with all the hard work that Sebastian had promised. For her "warm up" she was to run 4 miles each morning, swim for 2, and then get started with her lessons. He relentlessly charged her with tasks to train her emotionally, physically, and most importantly mentally.
However, no one knew how this training would change the tide of ominous things to come. {Enter Shan Yu.}
