TheImperialPalacewasaglow.Hundredsofcolorfullanternsfloatedintheskyaboveaspeoplefilledthestreets,theirvoicesringingwithlaughterandcelebration.Aparade,ledbyalargereddragon,madeitswayalongthemainstreetwhilemusicandthescentoffoodfilledtheair.

Mulanstoodinsidethethroneroom,hermindablur.

Thepastfewhourshadbeensurreal.ImmediatelyaftertellingtheEmperorhername,fearhadfilledMulan.WhileshehadsavedtheEmperor,shehaddonesoasawoman.Anditwasstillillegalforhertofightasone.ShehadfollowedhimfromtheNewPalacetotheImperialPalacewithalumpinherthroat,convincedhewasgoingtopunishher.Buttohersurprise,hehadbroughthertothepalacetohonorher.

Nowshestoodinfrontofthethrone,atinyfiguresurroundedbydozensofcandlesthatlituptheroom,makingitwarmandbright.Behindher,themostimportantpeopleofthecitystoodwatchingherintently.AmongthemwereCommanderTung,Honghui,andtherestofherbattalion.EvenRamtishandSkatchwerethere,bothnoworseforweardespitebeingforcedintobattle.Infact,theylookedalmosthandsome,freshlywashedandstandingwithpride.

Risingfromhisthrone,theEmperorapproachedMulan.Shebowedandsmiledwhenheencouragedhertostandoncemore.

“HuaMulan,”theEmperorbegan,hisvoicecarryingoverthecrowd.“Thepeopleoweyouadebtofthanks.Ioweyoumylife.Ingratitudeforyourserviceanddedication,Iinviteyoutotakeyourplaceamongourgreatestdecoratedwarriors—asanofficerinmyImperialGuard.”

Behindher,sheheardthesurprisedmurmursfromtheonlookers.WhattheEmperorofferedwasanincrediblehonor.Infact,itwasthegreatesthonoranysoldiercouldwishfor.IttookMulan’sbreathaway,andshehadtomovehergazefromtheEmperorsohewouldn’tseetheemotionrunningoverherface.Unfortunately,whensheturned,shefoundherselflookingrightatYao,whohadtearsofhisownrunningdownhischeeksashewatchedMulanwithpride.SeeingthelargesoldierweepingmadeMulansmile,andsheturnedbacktotheEmperor.Sheknewwhatshehadtosay.

“YourMajesty,”shebegan,“Iamdeeplyhonoredbythisimmeasurableinvitation.Butwithhumbleapologies,Icannotacceptit.”Oncemore,theroomfilledwithsurprisedmumblesasthosegatheredtriedtomakesenseofheranswer.OnlyCommanderTungseemedtounderstand,andhegaveherareassuringsmileasshewenton.“Ilefthomeundercoverofdarknessandbetrayedmyfamily’strust.ImadechoicesIknewwouldrisktheirdishonor.Sincethen,Ihavepledgedanoathtobeloyal,brave,andtrue.Inordertofulfillthisoath,Imustreturnhomeandmakeamendstomyfamily.”

TherewasapauseastheEmperorconsideredMulan’swords.Thenhenodded.Raisinghisvoice,heformallyaddressedthecourt.“Devotiontofamilyisanessentialvirtue!”Ashisscribestooknoteofthisnewofficialdeclaration,theEmperorlookedoncemoreatMulan.Hedidnotsayanythingforamoment,hiswarmeyesseemingtopeerintohersoul.Then,asthoughsatisfiedwithwhathehadseenthere,theEmperornoddedagain.Thistime,inavoiceonlyshecouldhear,hesaid.“Verywell,HuaMulan.”

Turning,hemovedbacktothethrone.Dismissed,Mulanmadeherwaytowardthesoldiers—herfriends.Thenightwasyoung,andthecelebrationwasjustbeginning.Forthenextfewhours,Mulanreasoned,shewouldforgetherjourneyhomeandjustenjoylife.Shewouldhavetimetothinkaboutwhattosaywhenshesawherfamily—andherfather—later.

DawnwasbeginningtobrightentheedgeoftheImperialCityasMulanledBlackWindacrossabridgetowardthemaingates.Intheskyaboveafewlanternsdriftedaimlessly,whileaboatfloatedemptyinthewaterbelow.Thecitywasquietinthepost-celebrationhour,aswasMulan.

“Youcan’tleave.”

HearingHonghui’svoice,Mulanturned,surprisedbytheemotionshefeltasshelookedoveratthehandsomeyoungman.Throughoutthenightshehadtriedtofindhim,buttonoavail.Therewassomuchshewantedtosay.Shewantedtosayhowsorryshewasandhowshehadwantedtotellhimthetruthallalong.Shewantedtosayhello—andgoodbye.Butnowthathewasthere,infrontofher,shewasatalossforwords.

Honghuiwalkedcloser,therisingsunmakinghishairlightupandhiseyestwinkle.Hesmiledasheapproached,andMulancouldn’thelpsmilingback.“TheEmperorgiveshispermissionformetoleave,”shesaid.“Butyoudonot?”

“We’venotsaidgoodbye,”Honghuianswered.

“Goodbye,Honghui,”shereplied.

“Goodbye,Mulan.”

Therewasanawkwardbeatastheystaredintoeachother’seyes,bothclearlywanting—needing—tosaymore,andyetneitherwishingtobethefirsttodoso.Mulanshiftedonherfeet.Acrossfromher,Honghuiranahandthroughhishair.Mulanwonderedwhatitwouldbeliketotakethathandandholditinherown.

Asifreadingherthoughts,Honghuididjustthat.Reachingover,hetriedtopullherhandfreefromBlackWind’sreins.Nervously,Mulanclungtightertotheleather.Honghuishookhishead.

“Youstillwon’ttakemyhand?”heasked.Hisvoicewassoft,deepwithemotion.

Whywasshehesitating?Honghuiwasstandingthereinfrontofher,askingforherhand,andyetinthatmomentshewasmorefrightenedthanshehadeverbeen—evenmorethanwhenshehadfaceddownB??riKhan.Thisfeltmorereal,moredangerous,moreimportant.Theairwaschargedwithanelectricityshecouldnotyetdefine.Holdinginabreath,Mulanletherfingerscurlaroundhis.Asshedidso,emotionfloodedthroughher.Shegazeddownattheirfingers,nowtwinedtogether,andshesawafuture.Liftinghereyes,shemetHonghui’sgaze.Forthefirsttimeshetrulylookedathimandlethimlookather??.??.??.asMulan.Herheadmovedclosertohis.Closer,andcloser,untilshepaused,herlipsinchesfromHonghui’s.

“I’veneverkissedamanbefore,”shesaid.

Honghuismiled.“NeitherhaveI.”

Andthen,Honghuibroughthislipstohers.Astheykissed,theirfingersstayedlockedandMulansankintoHonghui.Itwas,shethoughtasamorningdovecooedsomewherenearby,everythingshehadhopedforandnothingshecouldhavedareddreamfor.Itwasperfect.

Mulanreluctantlypulledback,breakingthekiss.Hercheeksflushed,shebrushedastrandofhairoutofhereyesandsmilednervouslyatHonghui.Ifshecouldhave,shewouldhavestayedthere,onthatbridge,kissingHonghuifortherestofherlife.ButshehadtoldtheEmperorshehadamendstomake,andshecouldn’taffordthedistraction,nomatterhowpleasantitwas.

Pickingupthereinsfromwheretheyhaddropped,MulanthrewthemoverBlackWind’shead.Thenshejumpedonthehorse’sback.Withonelastlook,tooafraidthatifshespoke,hervoicewouldbreakwithemotion,Mulanturnedandrodeaway.Butbeforeshehadevenreachedthegate,sheheardHonghuishout,“Iwillseeyouagain,HuaMulan!”

Turning,shesawhimstandingwhereshehadlefthim,hishandintheair,wavinggoodbye.Shesmiledbackathim.

Yes,

shethought,

Ihope.

ThensheurgedBlackWindforward,disappearingthroughthegateandleavingthepalace,andHonghui,behind.