“Youwereright,”Mulansaid,loweringherweapon.“Wearethesame.”

XiannianggaveMulanasmall,sadsmile.“Withonedifference:theyacceptyou,andthey’llneveracceptme.”Thewitch’swordswerefullofemotion,andasMulanwatched,ateardroppeddownXianniang’scheek.

Mulan’sheartachedforthewomaninfrontofher.Shehad,onlyashorttimeago,felttherewasnoplaceforher,either.Yet,ironically,ithadbeenXianniangwhohadgivenherstrengthtoembracehertrueidentity.IfonlynowshecouldmakeXianniangseetherewasanotherway.

“Allalong,youtoldmemyjourneywasimpossible,”Mulansaid,softeninghervoiceassheapproachedthethrone.“YethereIstand,proofthereisaplaceforpeoplelikeus.”

“No,”Xianniangreplied,shakingherhead,thenbowingitindefeat.“It’stoolateforme.”

Mulansheathedhersword.Shecametoastopinfrontofthethrone,unarmedandvulnerable.

Foralongmoment,warriorandwitchwatchedeachother.Mulandidn’tmove,herbreathingsteadyasshewatchedXianniangstruggletopickaside.“Please,”Mulansaid,breakingthesilence.“Ineedyourhelp.”Hervoice,strongandproud,bouncedoffthewallsofthethroneroom.

Mulancouldnotreadthewitch’sexpression.ThenXianniangtookadeliberatestepforward.Mulan’sbreathhitched.

Whatwasshegoingtodo?

Inanswer,Xianniangletoutapiercingshriek.Mulan’shandswenttoherearsasshewatchedthewitchdropherdaggerandrundownthethronestairs—straighttowardher.JustbeforesheslammedintoMulan,Xianniangletoutanothercryandtransformedintoahawk.FlyingupandoverMulan’shead,thewitchdisappearedthroughthedoorsattheendoftheroom.

Racingafterher,MulanburstintothehallandfollowedthehawkasitflewdownthepalacestepsandoutintotheairabovetheImperialSquare.Herheadarchedback,Mulantrackedthebirdasitcontinuedoutoverthecityandthenturned,flyinginthedirectionoftheNewPalace.

Mulangavechase.Belowher,CommanderTungandhismenfought,pushingbacktheShadowWarriors.Mulanclamberedupontoaroofabovethesquare.Hereyeslockedonthehawkassheranoverthetiles.Whenshereachedtheendofoneroof,sheleaptontoanother,makingherwayoutofthepalaceandontothetopsofthenearbyhouses.Herstepswereconfidentdespitetheunevensurfacesandthebuildings’greatheight.Innotime,shereachedtheconstructionsiteoftheNewPalace.

Onlythendidsheslow.Leapingdownontotheground,Mulanstoodcatchingherbreathasthehawkswoopedintothewestwatchtower.Thefaintestofsmilestuggedatherlips.Inhergut,sheknew.Xiannianghadansweredhercallforhelp.SomewhereamidtheconstructionwastheEmperor—andB??riKhan.NowMulanjustneededtofindthem.

“Whyareyouhere?”

B??riKhan’svoiceboomedwithangerasXianniangflewthroughthewindowofthetower.Scaffoldingcoveredtheinsideoftheunfinishedbuilding.TheRouranleaderstoodononeoftheraisedwoodenplatforms,theEmperortiedtoapolebehindhim.Transformingbackintoherhumanform,sheapproachedtheRouranwarrior,ignoringthedaggersheshotatherwithhiseyes.

TheRouranleaderhadnopoweroverheranymore.

“Theattackhasmetfierceresistance,”Xianniangsaid.

B??riKhan’seyeswidenedindisbelief.“Fromwho?”hesnapped.

Xianniangalmostsmiled,butshekeptherexpressionstoicassheresponded,“Ayoungwomanfromasmallvillage.”

B??riKhanlaughed.“Agirl?”

Walkingtowardtheedgeofthetower,Xiannianglookedoutovertheconstructionsite.Onthegroundbelow,shecouldseeMulanracingtowardthetower.Shewascalm,composed,herfaceastudyinfocus.TurningbacktoB??riKhan,Xianniangshookherhead.“No,”shesaid.“Awoman.Awarrior.”Hervoicewasstrongandproud.“Sheleadsabandofbraveandloyalsoldiers.Thearmyisnotfarbehind.”ShesmiledasshesawherwordsmakeB??riKhan’sfacecontortinrage.Helookedouttheunfinishedwindowofthetowerasifhemightactuallyseethearmy.Instead,hesawMulanmakingherwaytowardthem—thewarriorwhothreatenedtoruinhisplans.

“Awomanleadstheirarmy,”Xianniangcontinued,eachwordslowanddeliberate.“Andsheisnoscorneddog.”

“Youledherhere,”B??riKhanaccused,turningbacktoXianniang.Hesoundedsurprised.

“Youshouldn’thavetrustedme,”shesaid.Themomentwasanechooftheirearlierconversation.Onlynowitwasshewhoheldtheupperhand.Becauseshenolongerneededhim.Andheknewit.B??riKhan’sfacegrewredandhishands,hangingbyhissides,shookasrageenvelopedhim.Hereachedbehindhisbackandgrabbedhisbow,notchinganarrowandaimingitrightatthewitch.

Xianniangdidn’tmoveexcepttoliftoneperfectlyarchedbrow.“Whatmakesyouthinkyoucankillme?”sheasked.

“Ican’t,”B??riKhanreplied.Fastaslightning,heturnedandaimedthearrowawayfromXianniang—andtowardMulan,whohadmadeherwayinsidetheNewPalacegatesandstoodonthegroundbelow.“ButIcankillher,”hesaid,lettingthearrowfly.

Xianniangwatchedthearrowmovethroughtheairasifinslowmotion.LookingdownatMulan,XianniangknewshecouldnotletthegirldieatthehandsofB??riKhan.TheRouranwarriorhadbeenthelastinalonglineofpeoplewhohadmadeXianniangfeeltrapped,afraidtoembracethepowerwithinherself.

Xiannianghadbeenright.Theywerealike.Mulanhadhiddenwhoshewas,perhapsnotintheformofabird,butunderthearmorofaman.Yetshehadultimatelyembracedwhoshewasandallowedotherstoseehertrueself.MulanhaddonewhatXianniangcouldneverdo:shehadbecomefree.IfMulanweretodienow,everythingshestoodfor,allthatshehadfoughtfor,wouldbefornaught.

Xianniangknewwhatshehadtodo.

Leapingintotheair,Xianniangtransformedintoahawk.Withaflapofherwings,sheputherselfrightinthepathofthearrow.

Thearrowslammedintoherbody,knockingheroutofthescaffolding.WindwhistledinherearsasXianniangfeltherselffall.Justbeforeshehittheearth,Mulan’sarmsreachedoutandcaughther.AsMulanloweredhertotheground,Xianniangtransformedbackintoherhumanform.ShelookedupatMulanandgaveheraweaksmileasshefeltthelifedrainingfromherbody.

Herheadgrewheavy,andXianniangletitfallback.Asshedidso,shemetMulan’seyes,whichwerefullofsurpriseandcompassion.“Takeyourplace,HuaMulan,”shewhispered.Andthen,withonelastbreath,herchestgrewstill.