Another plot could be a time - travel fanfiction. Shan Yu somehow travels to a time when Mulan is just an ordinary girl, before she decides to take her father's place. He sees her strength even in her normal life and they end up having an unexpected friendship that changes the course of both their futures.
One idea could be that after Shan Yu's defeat, instead of dying, he is captured and Mulan is tasked with guarding him. During this time, they start to have conversations that make them see each other in a different light. Shan Yu might share his past and the reasons for his aggression, and Mulan might start to understand the complexity of war from his perspective.
Maybe there could be a fanfiction where Shan Yu has a younger sister who looks up to Mulan. Shan Yu is initially against this friendship, but as he sees how Mulan influences his sister in positive ways, he starts to have a change of heart. Mulan, on the other hand, through her interactions with the sister, gets to know Shan Yu in a different light. This could lead to a slow - burning romance as they both overcome their initial prejudices.
The plot could involve Shan Yu being resurrected by a dark magic and Mulan being the only one who can stop him again. But as she tries to defeat him, she discovers that he has some new motives that are not entirely evil. This could lead to a series of encounters where their relationship evolves from pure hatred to something more complex, with the 'lemon' aspect being a hint of a more passionate connection that starts to develop between them.
One positive interpretation could be a story where Mulan and Shan Yu, through their encounters, come to understand the value of peace. Shan Yu might see Mulan's courage not as a threat but as a sign of the strength of her people, and they could potentially work towards a truce.
Once upon a time, Shan Yu was leading his Hun army when he spotted Mulan in the distance. Instead of attacking immediately, he was intrigued by her courage. Mulan, seeing Shan Yu, readied her sword. But Shan Yu said, 'You are a brave one, girl.' Mulan replied, 'I will not let you harm my people.' Shan Yu laughed and said, 'We shall see.' And so began an unexpected encounter between them.
One idea could be a story where Shan Yu's OC has a secret alliance with a small group within the Imperial City. This group helps the OC gather intelligence about the Emperor's plans, adding a layer of mystery and intrigue to the story.
Common themes in Mulan Shan Yu fanfiction include the theme of forgiveness. Mulan may have to forgive Shan Yu for his past actions, or vice versa. Another is the theme of adventure. They might go on adventures together, exploring new lands. And the theme of acceptance is also there. Shan Yu has to accept Mulan as a worthy adversary or more, and Mulan has to accept Shan Yu as a complex being rather than just a villain.
The fanfic might be about Mulan trying to redeem Shan Yu. She believes that there is good in everyone, even a fearsome villain like him. So she decides to visit Shan Yu in prison. Shan Yu is initially very resistant to her attempts at conversation and reformation. However, Mulan keeps coming back and sharing stories about her own life, her family, and her village. Slowly, Shan Yu starts to listen and is intrigued by her tales. This could be the start of a transformation in Shan Yu's character as he is exposed to Mulan's values.
One common theme could be the idea of redemption. Shan Yu being the villain, the fanfiction might explore how Mulan could change him through love. Another theme could be the breaking of boundaries, as they are from different sides in the original story. Maybe a theme of forbidden love as well.
Maybe in the fanfiction, there's a threat to both their kingdoms. Mulan, with her combat skills, and Belle, with her intelligence, team up. They use their unique strengths to outwit the enemy. For example, Belle deciphers the enemy's coded messages while Mulan leads the defense. They also learn from each other's cultures along the way.
It could be. Mulan is a very well - known and beloved character. Some fans might be intrigued by the idea of exploring a relationship between her and Shan Yu in fanfiction. However, it also might be a bit controversial as Shan Yu is the villain in the original story. So it may not be as mainstream as some other fanfiction themes, but it surely has its own niche audience.