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Beamtobeamtheywent,withMulanbarelystayingaheadofthehuge,hulkingwarrior.Butstayaheadshedid,andsoonshehadreachedthecaptiveEmperor.Turningjustintime,MulanmetB??riKhan’sswordasitonceagainswungtowardher.ThesoundofmetalonmetalfilledtheairasshestruggledtoholdstrongagainstKhan’sonslaught.Butthenheswungonelasttime,andthemotionwassopowerfuhatitsentherswordflyingoutofherhand.

Inhorror,Mulanwatchedasthebladefelldown,down,downtowardthegroundandthen,withahiss,droppedintotheburningliquidofthefurnace.Mulanletoutacryofdespairasshewatchedherfather’ssworddisappear,meingintonothing.

Foralongmoment,shestaredatthefurnace.Shehadlostherfather’ssword.Shehadlosteverything.HowcouldshestandachancenowagainstthegreatandpowerfulB??riKhan?

Andthen,fromabove,sheheardavoice.“Youareamightywarrior.”

Lookingup,shemettheEmperor’sgaze.Eventhoughhewastrapped,helookedstrong—andcalm.

“RiseuplikethePhoenix,”theEmperorwenton.“Fightforthekingdomanditspeople.”

RiseuplikethePhoenix.TheEmperor’swordshungoverMulan.WasthispartofwhythePhoenixhadspetoher?Hadeverythingbeenleadingtothismoment?Shethoughtbacktothedespairshehadfeasshestoodonthemountaincliff,exiledandalone.AndthenshethoughtaboutthestrengthshehadfoundwhenshehadfacedXianniang,andthepowershehadfewhensheheardCommanderTungepther.Despitetheoddsandtheobstaclesthrownherway,shehadovee.Shewasaphoenix.Shehadrisenaboveitallandbeawarrior.

Hearingthebeatingofwingsbehindher,Mulanslowlyrosetoherfeetandturned.ShegaspedasshesawthePhoenixappear,wingsspread.ThebirdwasnolongerthewretchedcreatureshehadbeenwhenMulanfirstmether.Shewasbeautiful.Strong.Magnificent.HerfeathersnearlyblindedMulanwiththeirvividcolor.