A Dragon Doesn’t Need A Sword

by VerboseLepus

Summary:

Mulan

Abandoned alone on the mountains to die, Shang taking credit for her wins.

Khan ripped from her, Mushu missing.

There she meets Shanyu, the enemy general of the Ice Lands, who offers her a deal she can’t refuse. Return home, get her horse back, no joining them, just to travel with them.

But war isn’t that simple, and there are truths she learns that may change the fate of their world and her own beliefs.

All while becoming the generals favored, she begins to question her homeland, her own feelings and if she even wants to return home.

AU based on both the poem and Disney versions of Mulan in a completely new world.

Chapter 1: Author Notes

Thank you for deciding to read my Mulan x Shanyu fanfiction! 

 

This is a story I’ve thought about quite a bit and am very excited to share with you. Disclaimer that this story will be set in a complete fantasy world that is based in Asian mythologies. 

 

This is a work of fiction, and only loosely based on the Disney version of Mulan. This is heavily inspired by the original poem “The Ballad of Mulan” where her legend originated. This story is not based on a real person or any real person or area of history.

 

Because this is also based heavily on the original poem more than the Disney movie, please take note the characters are not going to have the same personalities you are used to or most likely grew up with. 

 

Everyone makes mistakes, people you love will do horrible things and will have no redemption. So please, if you would be so kind, be prepared to release your idea of who these characters are and accept who they are in this version and that it is not to bash the characters from the movie but create a new story with the base from nostalgia mixed with legend.

 

This fanfic will be covering very heavy topics such as

 

• Violence
• PTSD
• References to kidnapping women and children
• References and the after effects of SA
• Torture
• Horrors of War
• Pedophilia
• Women as objects and not seen as human
• Selling of humans
• Prostitution

 

This is a romance, a slow burn yes but, there will be no explicit sexual scenes in this story or graphic SA. None of these are things listed above the author condones, but is all written and added in ways to show the true horrors of war. What happens to those who follow blindly and do not seek the truth, and the effects of this on a person, or people. 

 

If you are going to take inspiration from this story please let me know! Also I do not allow my work to be posted by others on other sites without permission, or translation. If you would like to please reach out to me. My only accounts are ao3, Wattpad, TikTok, Tumblr and instagram. All same username, any other username is not mine, if you see this reposted without the credit or permissions please let me know and report it!

 

Also please note I do not write over 3k for a chapter, at most it’s usually 2.5k, this is a personal preference, and is done to match my writing style. This fic however will be long so that just means more chapters overall, but same length in story. I do not have an expected chapter or word count. Just know this is a long story.

 

I hope you enjoy the fanfic!

 

Here is also the link to the playlist of songs that either were inspirational to this story or ones I listen to while writing. I’m huge on lyrics so you may find hints to future parts of the story in songs!

 

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5z4jEhqzr1HDFbw4mP6UG6?si=pgmxtBWVQ_qv78v2DgjJ1Q&pi=JGCLOYQ6Sqmlp

 

Please let me know what you think!

 

And a thank you to my AMAZING beta team for their edits and support. As well as thank you to all the support and those who came from my TikTok about the idea for this story. I hope you stay tuned to see this story through!

 

Now lets jump into the story of Mulan from the Grieves.

 

GLOSSARY (to be added to as needed):

 

Jie - Older sister informal

Danjie - Eldest Daughter

Gege - Older Brother

Baba - Father

Mama - Mother