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.