Mulanfelthollow.Shemoved,butwithoutdirectionorpurpose.OverandoversheheardthewordexpulsionandsawthelookofdisgustanddisappointmentonCommanderTung’sface,thelookofbetrayalonHonghui’s.

Shehadnevermeanttohurtthem.Shehadjustwantedtodoherpart.Yetsomehow,allalong,shehadknownthisdaywouldcome.Onewayoranother.Butforonebrief,happymoment,asshehadcausedthatavalanchetowipeouttheenemy,shehadfeltstrong,proud.Shehadfeltlikeshecoulddoanything.

Butforwhat?Nowshewasexpelled.Shecouldn’tretreathome.Shecouldn’treturntothearmy.Shehadnowheretogo.Soshejustwalked.Sheleftthevalleybehind,headingupintothemountainswithBlackWindbyherside.Witheachstep,theairgrewcolder,butshedidn’tnotice.

Reachingtheedgeofacliff,Mulanstopped.Thewholeoftheworldseemedtostretchoutinfrontofher,thesinkingsunsettingthesnow-coveredgroundaflamewithredsandpinks.InfrontofhersatthePhoenix,itsownfeathersabrightcomplementtothescene.Mulanstaredatthebeautifulsight,andherheartbrokestillfurther.

Sinkingtotheground,Mulanallowedherselftocry.Thesobswrackedherbodyasshewrappedherarmsaroundherself,seekingcomfortshecouldnotfind.Ashercryingintensified,shestruggledtocatchherbreath,herchestheavingandtight.Shefeltbrokeninside,likeapartofherhadbeenshatteredandwouldneverbemadewholeagain.

“WhathaveIdone?”shesaid,lookingoveratthePhoenix.“Icanneverfacemyfamily??.??.??.Icannevergohome??.??.??.”Asshesaidthewordsoutloud,afreshwaveofgriefhitMulan.Sheloweredherhead.Shewasnolongerthestrongwarriorshehadbecome;shewasafragile,frightenedgirl.

Asshesatthere,sheheardthePhoenixcomecloser.ThebirdwrappedoneofherwingsaroundMulan.ThecomfortwastoomuchforMulantotake.Thebird’sunconditionallovefeltundeserved—butMulanallowedherselftoacceptit,leaningintothePhoenix.

Foralongmoment,birdandgirlwerestillasMulan’scryingsoftened.Justasshemanagedtogetherbreathingbackundercontrol,ashadowfelloverthem.Mulanlookedup,andhereyesnarrowedasshesawagroupofblackbirdsflyinginformation.Theyswoopedandliftedontheaircurrentsinabeautiful—butsinister—dance.

Therewassomethingfamiliaraboutthebirds.AsMulanfollowedtheirmovements,sherealizedwhy.Theywerethesameblackbirdsthathadattackedthearmyearlier.

Asifoncue,thebirdsflewstraightdownather,andastheydid,theytransformed.Nowinplaceoftheflockwasthewitchstandingbeforethem.MulanandthePhoenixsharedalook.Atthebird’sencouragingnod,Mulanpushedherselftoherfeet.Liftingherswordandsummoningthelittlestrengthshehadleft,shemetthewitch’spiercinggazewithoneofherown.

“Ifyou’reheretokillme,”shesaid,“Ipromisethatwon’tbeeasy.”

“Killyou?”Xianniangrepeated,hereyebrowsraisinginsurprise.Sheshookherhead.“No.Yourdisgraceisworsethandeath.”

ThewordswerelikeaslaptoMulan’sface.Shetightenedhergriponhersword,forcingherselftokeepherbreathingevenandherexpressioncalm.Shedidn’twanttogivethewitchthesatisfactionofseeingherpain.Butshefailed.

AsthewitchrecognizedMulan’sagony,herexpressionsoftened.“Iunderstand,”shesaid.Shepaused.Hereyesgrewthoughtful,asthoughshewerelostinamemory.“Iwasagirllikeyouwhenmypeopleturnedonme.”

Inherhand,Mulan’sswordtrembled.Therewasheartbreakinthewitch’swords.AndforthefirsttimesinceshehadencounteredXianniang,Mulansawhernotasawitch,butasawoman.ShehadbeenquicktoassumeXianniangwasaterriblepersonbecauseshehadalignedherselfwiththeShadowWarriors.ButMulanhadnotstoppedtowonderwhy.WhywouldsomeonewithsomuchpowersubmittoB??riKhan’scommand?Buthereitwas:Xianniang’sownpeoplehadshunnedher.Lookingatthewitch,Mulanrealizedtheyhadmoreincommonthanshecouldhaveeverknown.

AsifreadingMulan’sthoughts,thewitchwenton.Thepaininhervoicewasmirroredonherfaceasshespoke.“I’velivedalifeofexile.Nocountry.Novillage.Nofamily.”Pausing,XianniangmadesureMulanwaslookingatherassheadded,“Wearethesame.”

“We’renot,”Mulansaid,eventhoughtheexactthoughthadjustcrossedhermind.“Wecan’tbe.”

Xianniangshookherhead.“Weare.ThemorepowerIshowed,themoreIwascrushed.Justlikeyou.Yousavedthemtoday—andstill,theyturnedonyou.”

Mulanfeltlikethegroundbeneathherfeethadgrownunsteady.WhatXianniangsaidwastrue.CommanderTungandtheothers,theyhadturnedonher,despiteeverythingshehaddoneforthem.

“Mergeyourpathwithmine,”thewitchsaid,watchingasMulanwrestledwithherthoughts.“Wewillbestrongertogether.”

Foralongmoment,Mulansaidnothing.Shecouldnotdenythat,together,theywouldbeapowerfulpair.Butwhatwouldshebesacrificingtoturnherbackontheworldsheknew?Slowly,theshakyfeelingbegantofade.“Youfollowacoward—aleaderwhorunsfrombattle,”shesaid.

Xiannianglaughed.“B??riKhandidnotrunfrombattle!”shesaid.“ThatcowardwilltaketheImperialCity.Andyouremperorwillfall.”

Thewitch’swordsfinallysnappedMulanoutofherfog.

Fall?

shethought.Whatwasthewitchsaying?

“Thatcan’thappen!”Mulancried,strengthonceagainfloodingthroughher.Shetookastepforward.