Chapter: 21 Point of No Return

"Open the gates! And hurry!" ordered one of the Imperial tower guards. A bulky soldier pulled at the winch, opening the gates just enough for the Trailblazers to squeeze in.

Tomas practically fell over into a soldiers arms. "We need..." he panted. "To speak to the emperor."

"Shan Yu has WHAT?!" exclaimed Shang.

"He's returned," stated Zi. "The Scarlet Sword performed a ritual and it worked. While TSao and the grandmaster were defeated, an entirely new enemy has surfaced."

"And this one comes with his own army of the undead," dreaded Tomas.

"I don't suppose you can blow up another mountain, can you Mulan?" asked Ling.

"This is serious," interrupted the emperor. "I want every soldier ready to defend the city. Every archer on the wall, every lancer behind the gates. Gather those who cannot fight and bring them to my palace. I want every able body fighting."

"Even the women?" asked a soldier.

The emperor turned with a glower, "Young man, our entire kingdom was saved by a woman. If there are others willing to pick up a sword, let them!" The soldier saluted him and rushed outside to deliver the news.

"But you heard Tomas," said Mulan. "The army cannot be killed."

"We will find a way to kill them. Even if we do not, I will not lose my city without a fight. If we are to die..."

"We do so with honor," saluted Shang. "Alright! I want everyone ready in ten minutes! Suit up!"

Everyone scattered about in preparation for the impending siege. "Alright Tomas, what's the plan?" asked Zi.

Tomas turned away, "I don't know."

"Oh come on, lad! We've got to do something!" urged Benjamin.

"That's just it, Ben. I don't what we can do. This battle is a lost cause and we know it. These things can't be stopped. Maybe held back for moments, but never fully destroyed."

"Just like our spirits," motivated Ben. "We won't give up!"

"We cannot give up," said Lihua.

Zi stepped forward. "Our best shot at stopping the army and Shan Yu is destroying the scorpion talisman. It's the source of all his power."

Tomas livened up. "We find Shan Yu during the battle, crush the talisman, and save China. Sounds like a plan to me."

"And we're supposed to just hold off the rest of his zombies until then?" pondered Lihua.

"Do we have a better plan?" replied Tomas. All remained silent. "Look, I know this looks bad. Really bad. But we've been in tougher scrapes than this. Like when-...hmmmm. Alright, so this IS our toughest scrape but we can manage this. We're the Trailblazers, and we never back down." Tomas looked to Lihua. "Even you." She raised a brow. "That's right. I said it. You fight with us, you become part of our family. You've certainly proved yourself through tenacity and dedication. I don't know about you guys, but I'd say Lihua's Trailblazer material."

Zi and Ben smiled at her, "Now more than ever," Zi pat her on the back.

"Welcome," nodded Ben.

Lihua faintly smiled with a bow. "I am honored to be included in the 'Trailblazers' as you say. I will fight to the death alongside all of you."

Tomas smirked at her, "That's all I needed to hear. Come on, everyone. Together, we can stop this evil and save all of China!"

"I suggest we take another 'Lucky shot' at Shan Yu," said Zi while refilling her quiver with arrows.

Tomas agreed, "It worked on Tsao, it'll work on this maniac just the same. How about it, Luck? You feeling up to the challenge?" Lucky eagerly squeaked on the table. "That's my snowgie." With the briefing over, the Trailblazers readied themselves for battle. Lihua sharpened her sais and Zi grabbed an Imperial bow from the armory. In need of new weapons himself, Tomas equipped both an Imperial sword and shield before departing. "Benjamin," he called.

"Yes, lad?"

"I want you to help get the citizen who cannot fight safely to the palace." He helped fasten his shortsword. "We'll handle the battle."

"But Tomas-"

"You've got nothing to prove, buddy. I know how brave you really are." Tomas sighed, "Besides...if this should happen to be...you now, the end. Someone's got to tell our story. You've spent your whole life studying history, now you're making it." Tomas left Ben in solemn silence and joined Zi outside.

"Lihua is taking up positions with the lancers at the gate. I'm going to join ranks with the archers on the main wall."

"I'll join you." said Tomas. "When those things breach our defenses, bows won't do you any good."

"You sound so sure that they will."

"Well considering that we can't kill them, I'd say they've got pretty good chances." Tomas could see Yao and Chien Po hauling elongated projectiles with dragon heads on the tips. "What are those?"

"Cannons," grunted Yao. "Even if we can't kill them, it'll be a whole lot easier to fight if they're...you know..."

"In pieces," smiled Chien Po.

"It's gonna be a BLAST!" Ling laughed obnoxiously. When no one joined in, he moped. "Just trying to lighten things up before our imminent deaths." He snickered and gave Tomas a nudge, "Careful, those cannons are just as loud as fireworks."

Tomas facepalmed, immediately regretting his actions. He sighed in relief upon realizing Zi hadn't caught him. His relief was short-lived when he saw Lucky staring up at him. "Lucky...the snowgie." he warned. "Don't you dare-"

Lucky smiled and squeaked twice.

SLAP!

Zi loosened up her hand after such a hit. "Oh Tomas...you were doing so good!"

Tomas gave the mischievous snowgie a death stare. "I should have gotten a dog. It would have been much more loyal!" Lucky bit his pointer finger and squeakily laughed. "Why you little!"

"Tomas," called Shang from below the wall. "Everything alright up there?"

He regained his composure, "Of course."

"Good." he turned to face the soldiers. "Soldiers of the Empire! Prepare to fight. If we die. We die with honor."

"Amateur," said Tomas before clearing his throat. "This is it, everyone! The enemies headed for us are unknown and undead. Not what you want to hear but what you need to. No matter what happens, we're going to make sure the Huns learn a valuable lesson: That this city is teeming with mighty warriors, warriors with so much to live...and die for. This is for your families! This is for your emperor! You fight, you cut these things down until they take your life! Shan Yu is the primary target. Destroy his Scorpion Talisman of Manipulation, and his armies will fall. You see him, you take him!" Tomas drew his sword and raised it over his head. "LET'S GOOOOOO!" His scream was followed by the countless war cries of every fighter in the city.

Mulan stood next to him, "Where'd you learn to speak like that?"

"I saw my share of battles in the Maelstrom, my warrior clan." Another wave of battle cries filled the midday air. "Damn. That speech got an encore."

"Those aren't our soldiers'." muttered Zi.

"What?" Zi pointed and Tomas turned. A grossly exaggerated army was marching down from the Tung Shao Mountain Pass. "Oh." Like a swarm of army ants scrambling out of their hill, the undead army coated the entire pass in a mass of darkness. Tomas gripped his sword and now whispered to himself. "This is for China. This is for my team. This is for everyone back home. Elsa...Anna...Alek...Hilda and Herfinn." He looked up at the sky and nodded, "This if for you, Nora. For you, Ada. Should this be my end, I will see you soon." Tomas took a deep breath and braced himself for the imminent attack.