Author's Note: This is my first fanfiction, so I could use a lot of tips or advice on what to and stuff like that. I don't own Kung Fu Panda, but most of the characters I WILL own like Mei, her mother, the two unimportant geese and so on. I don't own Tai Lung, though.

Prologue

"Mother…what's wrong?"

A figure in a darkened cave walked over to another one, who was lying down. Gold eyes flashed upon the standing figure's face.

"I am getting old…"

"I know that, mother," the standing figure whispered. Her voice quavered a bit, and she knew what was coming, though she wanted it to be false.

The figure on the thin blanket nodded weakly. "You do, Mei-Mei. You also know what I am going to say, aren't you?" She said a sparkle in her eye.

Mei scowled at her nickname her mother had given her when she was young and she crouched down. "Mother, don't talk that way. You're going to be fine."

Mei's mother ignored her. "Listen closely, Mei," she instructed, becoming serious. She closed her eyes and exhaled a ragged breath. "I don't have much time. There are things I need to…warn you about."

Mei sighed, her breath ragged as well, but not because of old age. "A-alright, what do you want to tell me?"

Mei's mother nodded and she turned her head towards the roof of the cave and she took a couple breaths to contemplate about her next words.

"Mei…I know you think the Valley of Peace is the answer…" her voice became faint. "But it isn't. People will not—"

"Mother," Mei interrupted. "It's called the Valley of Peace for a reason. They will help us. And they can help you."

Mei's mother shook her head. "No, Mei! There's a reason I do not want to go there, or else I would have already. Now just listen."

Mei sat silently thinking about what her mother had said. There were reasons why she couldn't go to the Valley of Peace, and Mei had a feeling her mother wasn't going to tell her.

"Your father…" the old, sickly figure on the ground coughed and let those words sink in.

Mei was shocked. They would never bring up her father in any conversation. For her, he was just a man that had known her mother. She knew something was about to come— something dark and mysterious.

"What about him, Iris? What does he have to do with this?" She asked, using her mother's name. She tended to say that when she could tell something was wrong. Iris chuckled. "About everything, dear. But do not worry. I have accepted fate…"

What in the world is she talking about? Mei thought worriedly.

"Mei…It's going to be alright. Just—" Her body jerked and Mei's eyes widened with shock. "Mother! Are you…" Her voice faltered. "Is it time?"

"Mei…" she croaked when her body had relaxed. "Water and the herbs…"

Mei was surprised at her mother's request but she hastily got up and gathered the herbs her mother asked for.

Her mother was an old soothsayer, who didn't use her skills very often. Recently, though, she had been receiving a lot of messages.

"Here, mother," Mei said, placing the herbs next to a small bowl of ashes.

Iris sat up slowly and her golden eyes reflected off of the water brightly. She grabbed a handful of each herb and tossed it into the ashes.

Blue flames appeared, which almost burned her whiskers, and a cloud of smoke surrounded her.

Mei paced around the cave, her hands becoming sweaty and a strange gnawing at her heart forming. What was she going to see? What sort of message was she receiving?

After what seemed like an eternity, Iris gasped and was panting. "M-Mei…" She slowly sank back to the ground and her breath was even rougher than before.

"What was it mother? What did you see?" Mei asked, clutching her mother's shoulder gently. Iris let out another harsh breath and then replied. "There might be hope after all…" Mei looked at her mother wildly. "Mother, what did you see?" She asked more firmly.

Golden eyes stared back at Mei and Iris sighed. Suddenly, Iris's golden eyes seemed to turn a hue of blue.

"When dawn turns to day, nothing will stay. Love can be the basis of tragedy, but love is not the enemy."

Iris suddenly gasped again and Mei stared fearfully back at her. "M-mother?"

Iris looked up at her daughter through sorrowful eyes. "It's going to be okay," she whispered. Her eyes, which had turned back into golden, formed tears. "I know you can do it."

"W-what? What do you mean? Mother!"

Iris slowly closed her eyes and whispered another strange message. "Beware of the master of masters, the one who holds a grudge. Take advantage of the strong thieves, the ones who quickly judge. Hold on to what's true, and you will make it through…"

Iris took a deep breath and uttered out final words.

"I love you, my little snow leopard."

Her heart slowed to a dead halt and a soft mist whirled around the cave. Mei watched as it circled around and finally disappeared.

Mei gently placed her mother's body on to the stone floor. She stood up and wiped tears that formed from her eyes.

Mother, I will travel to the Valley of Peace. I will face whatever you feared the most. I'll do it for you, Mei thought gazing outside of the cave.

She packed all of her possessions quickly and put them in a bag and also grabbed a small bag that used to be owned by her mother. It wrapped around her waist like a belt and she checked the contents of it. There were just a few coins to get her by when she arrived at the Valley of Peace. She made one final tribute to her mother and then without a second thought, she walked out of the cave and began walking down the skinny trail.

A pair of geese flew through the clouds, enjoying each other's company.

"I'm glad we did this, Peony," one of the geese murmured to the other. The other blushed and replied, "I'm glad too, Jun."

Jun grinned and kept flying when he saw a figure on the mountain side.

A white cat-like figure with brown and black spots.

He faltered and almost fell to his death, but he recovered from his shock and began flying quickly back towards the Valley of Peace.

"What's wrong, Jun?" Peony asked as she saw Jun flying quickly away.

"Follow me, Peony! I must warn Shifu of…of…" He stopped for a breath and didn't want to finish his sentence.

"What are you talking about?" Peony asked incredulously. Jun whipped his head back towards Peony. "Just-just look at the mountain!"

Peony did and then she finally saw the moving object.

The one that looked a lot like…

"T-tai Lung?"