As he lunged, Mushu fired a rocket straight into Shan-Yu’s back, sending him flying into a tower of fireworks. The explosion lit up the night sky like a thousand phoenixes.

“You will bring honor to us all,” her father whispered, adjusting her jade necklace. But honor, Mulan realized, was a dress that didn’t fit.

Then the Emperor’s conscription notice arrived. One man from every family to fight the Huns, led by the terrifying Shan-Yu. Her father, Fa Zhou, though crippled from an old war, took his sword. “I know my place,” he said quietly.

That night, Mulan tried to quit, but Mushu (who needed her to succeed to regain his demigod status) forged a fake order from the General: “Train the loser… or else.” With nothing left to lose, Mulan improvised.