Chapter 1

Admist the disappearing twilight, there was humming, the sound of pick axes hitting in time with the stone surfaces as a fire gently roared behind them. One form stood by the fire as he counted little tiny white sparkles in his paw. He picks one up and inspects it, and shivers slightly when he spots the pure white center, as if to feel the winter was arising in the middle of the present autumn season. As the flame danced lowly, he looked up towards the group of wolfs ahead of him. His appearance was tall and built with an eye patch to end it with a creepy finish.

"Move faster men!" He claimed. We now know he is the leader... and also that he was the tallest, oldest, and boldest figure there, hollering the same phrase repeatedly as he wrapped his whip up and put it safely away. "We move out soon!" He decides to change. "And I need these for my mission! Just two more pieces, and it's more then enough!"

"'Ow many pieces 'ave you got sir Chen?"

"Just enough once I get the two more my boy, you don't need to know! Now keep moving!"

One of the wolves rose his head and stopped attacking the wall with his pick axe. "You heard him men! Altogether! One, two three!"

All axes hit the wall with their own level of damage and force. None were below six at least. The leader smirked as he began marching from the top of the line, to the end of the line. "There is a delicate dessert flower in the Valley of Peace... once we attack and get hold of it, she... combined with my plan... will be the most dangerous enemy in the world! Once she consumes the right amount... that's when it begins..." When he reached the top once again, he began to sing as he playfully swung his sword around, dangerously close to his men's tails;

Chen:
Born of cold and winter air
And mountain rain combining
This icy force both foul and fair
*He stares into the crystal to see a small swirling silhouette within.*
Has a frozen heart worth mining...
Cut through the heart, cold and clear-
*His men began to hum again, but along to the rhythm their tools were playing at this point, and then the one at the end of the line began to sing too, before going up along the line.*

Wolf 1:
Strike for love

Wolf 2:
And strike for fear

Wolf 3:
See the beauty sharp and sheer
*Eventually, one of the men came across another little white sparkle, and took it out gently.*

Wolf 4:
Split the ice apart

Wolf 5, 6, and 7:
And break the frozen heart!

Wolf 7:
Beautiful!

Wolf 6:
Powerful!

Wolf 5:
Dangerous!

Wolf 4:
Cold...

Chen *Picking up the final crystal that was exposed on the ground*:
Ice has a magic,

Wolf 4:
Can't be controlled,

Wolf 1:
Stronger than one,

Wolf 2-5: Stronger than ten

Chen+ Wolf 1-7:
Stronger than a hundred men!

Wolf :
*Dropping his pick axe and taking out silks and soft grey bundle*
Born of cold and winter air

Chen:
*taking the silks and bundle and puts them on*
And mountain rain combining

Wolf 2 and 4:*
*taking out boxes and putting them in a pull along carriage covered with a large cloth*:
This icy force both foul and fair

Wolf 5+6:
*Helping Chen up on the front seat of the carriage as the others put out the fire and put away their tools, and then they gathered around the back and pushed it along*
Has a frozen heart worth mining

Chen:
Cut through the heart,

Wolf 3:
*As Wolf 5 and 6 pull the carriage forwards*
Cold and clear!

Chen *as they began to move along*:
Strike for love

Wolf 1-7:
And strike for fear!

Chen:
There's beauty and there's danger here,

Wolf 1:
Split the ice apart...
*Within minutes, they arrived at the entrance to a village...*

Chen:
Beware... beware her frozen heart...
*He reads the entrance sign: The Valley Of Peace.*


That morning...

"Tigress..." Whispered a little voice from the door. The cub didn't stir once in her slumber, apart from a little mumble no one could understand. This didn't do anything major but only to make a small, tiny giggle escape from the person at the door... as they slithered into the room as quietly as they came. Dawn was approaching fast, but it was most likely the majority of the valley were already awake. The large glowing sphere rose slowly as the twilight began to fade away, casting sunbeams in every direction while it illuminated the Valley, growing more and more vivid with the passing time, making the sky more radiant as it climbed higher and higher into the sky, in the same, steady pace.

"Tigress?" They whispered again. "Are you awake?"

This time, the cubs ear flickered. "Umhm..." she mumbled. "Deeply."

"Oh come on! You promised we could go to the Valley today for our time off!" They whined.

"The gong hasn't sounded off yet!"

"But the sun is rising... so we're to rise with it... so we have to play!"

Sighing heavily, Tigress finally rose, rubbing her eyes tiredly. "Okay, okay, I'm awake... but Shifu won't be happy we're missing Viper."

"We'll leave a message that we're just hanging around the markets! He won't mind!"

"OK, OK." She jumped out of bed, and they giggled helplessly as they escaped out the door, out the gates, and down the steps, after leaving the note for their master on the kitchen table. Although we are aware of this, they never suspected the villagers in the valley were up at this hour! Of course not everyone was awake, but the fishermen were leaving to work, while the stall owners were just starting to set up their trinkets and trading goods, most catching the childrens' eyes with curiosity and excitement. Viper oohed and ahhed at the silk ribbons and head dressings, and Tigress' eyed over the silks and nun-chucks. She could imagine the palace tailor stitching her a silver shirt and pants, while she practiced with a new pair of nun chucks, as she gave the wooden dummies a single hit, and they broke immediately... as the others that were unharmed watched on in fear... OK, OK maybe her imagination was getting out of hand, but she made sure it didn't get out of complete control.

"Have you got your eye on anything dear?" The stranger asked Viper as Tigress scanned a near-by stall. "Something amazing must of gotten a little thing like you out of bed at this time this morning!" Viper's gazed turned towards the stranger. It was a tall man that was wearing light blue over-all's, beige pants, and tanned sandals on his black feet. The little snake smiled at the stranger brightly, but his eyes made her stomach twist a little. One was steel grey, which wasn't that strange though... but then she noticed his other looked black, which was half in and half out of his white bushy beard and side burns, which made her question.

"Not yet sir." She answered slowly, but her eyes couldn't stay off all the treasure exposed for long. They widened each time they found something new, or something shiny... or dressy. "And nothing got me up early this morning. I always wake up at this time."

"Take your time, let your eyes and mind wonder child." Chuckled to man. "There is plenty for you to look at." Viper's eyes soon spotted two silver medallions sitting side by side on a silk cloth right in front of her. Both were in the shape of half of a heart. There were Chinese characters pressed into the metal, and delicately decorated with two dragons; one red and one blue, wrapped around it as if to protect the characters, before crossing over in the middle. The characters read;

死党

"Oh Tigress look! Isn't it pretty!?" The little cub looked over her friends head curiously, before smiling at it. "It's beautiful." She said softly. Running her tongue across her teeth, simply wishing she could get them, she watched Viper look into her satchel. I may not have enough for it, she thought.

"How much is it sir?" Viper questioned excitedly as she rummaged through.

"Twenty yuan my dear," he smiled widely. This time Viper was almost ready to rip her satchel apart, but was only to find ten yuan inside. She looked down sadly, before seeing Tigress take out another ten.

"We'll take the medallions please," she said, her eyes moved towards Viper as she let out a little smile. Viper gasped, and happily gave over her money to the stall owner too. The stall owners made sure he got the right amount of money, and place them one by one on the open space in front of him. The two novices watched him quietly, but restlessly all the same.

"There yours," he replied after he finished counting the coins. Viper squealed as she reached for them, but Tigress already picked them up for her, and gave her one half of the heart, before putting on her own half.

"The necklaces are so beautiful," Tigress said softly.

"I'll keep it forever." Said Viper firmly she grinned down at it. "I love the two dragons covering both the words!"

"Ah how sweet..." said the stall owner. He suddenly chuckled, almost evilly, frightening the two students. "If only forever for you wasn't so... short." Suddenly, out of nowhere, he ripped his beard and side burns clean off his face, revealing the face of a black wolf. His 'black eye' was inn eye patch, but it wasn't so important to them. "You two are Master Shifu's students..." He grinned at Tigress. "You must be little Tigressa... do as I say and it will be less painful for you!"

Villagers started screaming as they ran away, slammed and barricaded their doors and windows, while other ran to get Shifu, or to watch from afar what was about to happen, and they watched anxiously at the sword the bandit had pulled out, and then at Tigress and Viper. "Warriors never follow the enemy's orders! Now leave before you're sorry for coming by!" Viper claimed, as she and Tigress jumped into their fighting stances. "And her name is Tigress."

"Same for me sweetheart. Bandits don't follow enemy's orders either. Also, I'm a villain, I will always get your names wrong the first time." Suddenly, with a click of his fingers, more wolves surrounded to two youngsters. "Well... not without a fight anyways... afraid now?" The two didn't shift. "Fine, have it your way. Attack!"

All the wolves caved on the two girls, who fought back well. They had each other's backs through every second, and with the help of the villagers calling out warnings ("Look out!" Perfect example.) They were doing fine, and even better when Master Shifu finally decided to show up. He wasn't annoyed or angry with them or anything, or they didn't know because he had to help his students with the battle. All was going well... until the first wolf, the one who was the stall owner, started throwing these strange crystals at the Master and students, in panic when he realized his men were being wiped out faster than he expected them. The ones that missed the three completely (or ones they dodged), they weren't expecting they exploding as soon as they hit the ground.

"Be careful of those exploding crystals!" Shifu warned as he jumped out of the way of one of them. "They're most likely to cause strange happenings."

"Yes Master," Tigress replied as she grabbed a wolf's hand, pulled him closer, before leaping and kicking him in the face. Everyone cheers as a pair of big Jade Green eyes peeked through all the spaces possible to watch the battle.

"I wanna see! Lemme see!" Said a little boy. He was a small black and white bear, and a big fan of Kung fu was desperate to see at least a piece of the action. He was on his way to the local education center, until he heard all the commotion going on the same route towards where he was going. Being only a little boy, he couldn't see over everyone, and had to go on his hands and knees and peer through all the spaces between everyone's legs. He gazed with amazement as Tigress flipped this way and that at great speed, Viper zooming here and there, knocking out bandits with a flick of her tail, and Shifu fighting with such... form!

"Watch out!" A villager said. Suddenly, all the leg owners moved away, and the boy flattened himself on the ground the best he could, and was almost a target for a unconscious wolf. He shielded his eyes, before letting them resurface from his arm. He shook in fear as the same wolf that tricked Tigress and Viper earlier, walk towards him, pick him up by the scruff of the neck (with some difficulties) and turned to Shifu.

"Leave that boy alone!" Tigress yelled. "He isn't part of this!"

"Aw," the wolf grinned. "Protecting your boyfriend are you?" Tigress growled as the black and the white bear blushed deeply, despite being so frightened. "Well, you can have him!" He then threw the boy towards her, laughing as the poor child got bumps and bruises as he skidded across the stony road... eventually grinding to a halt, a few feet away from Tigress, Viper and Shifu.

"Don't move child," Shifu warned. The boy quivered in fear, ready to cry his eyes out in front of them all there and then, but he did what he was told. Completely frozen, he didn't turn around or attempt to get up. He felt safe once he saw Shifu walking slowly towards him, but the wolf was well prepared. He got six of those white crystals again, and hurled them towards Shifu. They whizzed through the air at neck breaking speed. They seemed to float through the fragile air.

"Master look out!" Before Shifu could react, Tigress shoved him out of the way, and stood in front of the villager boy, arms away from her body... only to be in the way of the firing crystals. The Wolf disappeared with a cry of victory while everyone watched in pure horror as the young cub was flogged by four of the crystals. Everything happened in slow motion, one by one, her body jerked as they entered. They disappeared into her fur and through her skin like bullets, sitting into her as she collapsed, landing on her back with a thud. As for the other two crystals, they flew out of everyone's sight, never to be seen again.

"Tigress!" Viper screamed, slithering to her friend's side. The cub's eyes were closed, her frame was limp, and she wasn't responding. Shifu ran over to her as the bear jumped up to help, and checked her pulse quickly.

"She's alive," Viper sighed with relief at those very words. "But we need to get those crystals out. Someone help!"

The boy brushed himself down as villagers gathered to either watch from a closer distance, or deciding to help the unconscious cub. He was about to help out, but he fanned him away.

"But she saved me! I have to help!"

"There is no need," Shifu gestured him to go, and this time, he ran away as fast as he could. He continued to run and run, until he was out of breath, and forced himself to stop before he actually killed himself. With his paws holding his knees as he got his air back, while looking behind his shoulder. He knew he should of stayed to find out if the tiger girl was okay... Why didn't he ignore Master Shifu and helped anyways? It wasn't like he was going to get into trouble or anything...

He noticed small glints on the ground as he turned his head back. With curiosity waving over him, he crept over to find what seemed to be the same fragments the tiger was injured with. Only these ones didn't explode...

Yet.

With shaky hands, he picked them up. Four more of the powerful stuff were now sitting on his palm. He looked back at the scene. Was it possible for more of those fragments disappeared and were now the ones sitting in his palm? He looked around, before he placed two of them on his other paw so it was in balance. He was staring at them with wonder for so long; he jumped at the sound of the gong, and ran to the Education Center that was now in view... squeezing the crystals tightly within his enclosed paws. Again they didn't explode. And when he was inside, with the teacher guiding him into the room safely, he re-opened his paws, to find the crystals still there, now with no shine visible... but then a kid came up from behind him, made him jump, and they disappeared once more.


*A few hours later*

Tigress woke up feeling that the world around her was spinning too quickly for her to cope, even though she was still lying down... When her eyes went back into focus, she found herself in the Jade Palace Medical Wing. How she got there she didn't know, but her arms felt sore and heavy, and she was all alone... so no one else was in the room for her to question how she wound up in a recovery bed when she was meant to stop a bandit from killing her Master...

Master Shifu! Did he die? Is he OK?! To her relief, she saw a familiar shadow dancing along the paper walls, it's large ears flickering... but then she noticed two other shadows: one was Master Ooguay... And she hoped the other was Viper... but it wasn't, unless her body magically grew arms and legs, and she had weird lumps poking oddly out of different places... not to mention a mane of some sort.

"Is the child still resting?" Said a gruff, male voice. That was definitely not Viper... or anyone she would know.

"She hadn't opened her eyes since the incident. I got the doctor to take out those crystals I was talking about. But he could only take out little pieces out, and not the entire cryst-"

"Yes, yes, also you have told me that. I am fully aware. I'm glad you came to get me Shifu," the doors slid open, and Tigress shut her eyes again in fear.

"She should be awake by now," the voice that was NOT Shifu's began crawling along her face. "Luckily situations like this will not make her comatose." Her ears heard the sound of water swishing about for a few seconds, before feeling a warm rag sitting on her head. And good thing too; she felt her heavy arms and legs growing slightly cold, and relief ran through all the nerves in her body to calm her the best they could.

"Child? Wake up." She slowly opened them, only to let them widen with surprise when they met a pair wild yellow ones. "Don't be frightened," the stranger reeled their head back, to reveal a wolf, with mostly grey fur from her perspective, but white and some black patches were found, with one or two odd lumps coming out of his head. The 'lumps' turned out to be blue and white feathers coming out of his fur, over casting certain parts of his fur with a blue shadow. Around the area of his eyes, two shades of blue, forming a half jagged line along his cheekbones, stood out the most. He was wearing a white silk shirt and pants, following a light blue coat.

"W-w-who are you?" Tigress asked, as she struggled to sit up, and the fox helped her up and out of the bed, on her feet.

"My name is Rai, and I need you to calm down. You're going to be alright, but you need to listen to me. I'm a good guy, I'm here to help you. Stand still for me."

"Help me? But... I feel fine! Perfectly normal!"

He didn't respond, but she did as she was told, and stood as still as a statue. Shifu and Ooguay were watching closely as Rai lifted one arm, and then the other, before inspecting her paws and claws when he asked her to show them. That was when Tigress noticed bandages tightly wrapped around both her arms and paws, twisting in and out of the spaces in her fingers, letting all ten digits wiggle freely. But those little movements sent pain and sudden heaviness going up her arms. "It seems that no damage has been done to the naked eye, however, we need to to check on two more things. I want to remove the bandages." Shifu allowed him, and Tigress felt relieved he did, because the sudden heaviness and pressure that was upon her felt a whole lot lighter.

"Well... she healed quickly." Shifu peered at the cubs arms. Tigress had a look too; what was he talking about? There were no cuts on her arms or anything.

"Indeed," said Rai. "The crystals don't show much physical damage on the outside... but the real thing we need to check is..." He looked at Tigress deep in the eyes.

"Tigress," he said. "I need you to focus on an object in the room... now it can be anything," The cub stared right at Master Shifu, "but me and your masters are not an option..." Nodding slowly, she scanned the room slowly, before locking her eyes on a bowl and jug on the dresser beside the bed. Moving to the center of the room, with Rai and the Masters watching very closely, she focused on it, narrowing her eyes. "Now rise one arm," she did so. "Open your palm." Again she did what she was told... then- BAM! A white flash came out of her opened paw, hitting the bowl, jug, the dresser, AND the section of the wall it was in front of... before covering them with ice. Shifu gasped, Ooguay felt his heart drop, Rai nodded, and Tigress inhaled sharply, her palm shaking as she stared at the objects with pure amazement, not sure if they even count as objects when they are now broken beyond repair around her. "As you can see Shifu," Rai placed a paw on the cubs shoulder, causing her to hunch a little. "The pieces the doctor failed to take out have done something amazing... yet dangerous."

"Can't you not get rid of... whatever it is! You're meant to be a specialist about all this."

"There is no such thing as a man of making miracles Shifu... I'm afraid I can't get rid of something irreversible... If it was even possible..." Rai bowed his head. "The damage has been done."

"Stop talking like she's dying!" The elder panda snapped. He was starting to go at least ten shades whiter under his fur as Ooguay held up with one paw, while the old turtle faced Rai slowly.

"What do you mean by 'irreversible'?" He asked calmly.

"As in I can't get rid of it... You should've called for me first. The crystals are now part of her blood… part of her. She'll have to learn to live with it..."

Tigress took a few steps back in horror. "How was I supposed to know they would cause something like this?" Ooguay let go of Shifu, who was now pacing back and forth in panic. "I'm a kung fu master and teacher! Not some fortune teller- or- or- sidekick!" Tigress didn't want to listen to any of this... so she covered her ears, and continued to walk backwards. Feeling the bed behind her, she placed a paw on the sheets... before that turn into a sheet of ice. She began to panic really badly, almost ready to cry.

"Tigress, calm down." Urged Ooguay. Rai watched as Ooguay slowly brushed past him, and placed a paw on her shoulder, telling her to calm down, and that she was able to get though with the whole situation, and not to worry.

"I warn you one thing," said Rai, getting Shifu's attention just as quick as Ooguay and Tigress'. "She cannot let anyone know about her powers..."

"Not even Viper?" Tigress whispered. She felt Shifu's gaze turn on her. "It's for the best Tigress," he said softly.

"Listen to me, Tigress," said Rai, quietly. "The power of those crystals within you... are now part of you. And like you... It will only grow." As he spook, the fox threw a handful of dust he took out in the air, and the dust formed a silhouette of an adult Tigress, creating magical swirls, and figures of people watching. "There is beauty in what you now own... But also great danger." The swirls turned into sharp knives and arrows soaring around the room. "You must learn to control it... or else." The knives and arrows suddenly went for Tigress, who cowered away, before whimpering at the sound of people yelling, as Rai finished his sentence: "Fear will counsel all the sanity you have... and your mind."

The cub finally had enough, and hid behind Ooguay for protection, covering her ears. The old master closed his eyes calmly as he extended both his arms protectively as the knives, screams, and arrow finally disintegrated with a click of Rai's fingers. His eyebrows wiggled into a frown, he eyes remaining shut. Tigress looked up at her Master worriedly. "She can learn to control it... I know she can." His eyes reopened. Determination was written within them. "I know Tigress... She can cope, and I... I have complete faith in her." Rai watch as Tigress flexed her fists back to paws. Shifu left the room, to find Viper slithering down the hall. He held out a paw, telling her to stop non-verbally.

"Go back to your sleeping quarters Viper," he said.

"Is Tigress OK? Can I see her?" He softened a little once he saw to worry in her eyes, and nodded reassuringly.

"Later, now run along," and he watched her slither away, before walking back into the room.

"I'm aware fear and insanity are a dangerous mix," Shifu said as he re-entered. " I promise to make sure no one knows about this..."

The next day, Viper watches as the doors and windows close around her. She looked at Ooguay with question, but he said nothing. He was watching it happen too, but hope was in his eyes.

"I'll disallow anyone who tries to enter the Palace grounds without my permission." The snake watched confused as a villager was questioned about warranty at the palace gates... before being told to leave.

"Tigress will only leave the Palace when on missions, stopping bandit raids, and with my permission whatever else. Viper and the Valley will be safe... no matter what..." Viper watched as Tigress closed her bedroom door. She waited for her day after day for training, but slithered away sadly when she found herself making her way there all alone... staring down at her necklace... missing its other half.


死党 - Best friends forever ^-^

Hey everyone! CookieM2012 here! Yes I am back again with another new story! So basically right, I'm doing a KFP version of Disney's 'Frozen'. I absolutely love that movie, and I've had this story, with a tiny little twist, in my head for a while! And wow! Apart from my one-shot "Echo" this is the longest chapter I've ever written!

So I hope you enjoy it! And the cover image wouldn't have existed if it wasn't for the amazingly talented Dragoness of the Stars! As soon as I saw it, I knew it would be hard to decide between which one would I use!

But I like to say a special thank you to the other people who also entered; AlienHeart1915, Tigergirl713, and pandamaster977720. It was awesome to see how everyone gave a different approach towards the cover image.

To be honest, I was looking for one person to do it, but then with the other few people who offered to do it to, I decided to turn it into a competition! And thank you those who entered! You guys are so talented, and I wish I could have used all of them!

Please review!