Prologue One Last Mission

Mei Lien

"Find them…."

Mei Lien fought against the light slumber that had taken her over at the sound of her master's voice, and then leaned back against the wall when she found herself surrounded by reality. She was no longer in her training hall; she was on a sail boat heading to a strange land. There was no voice because her master was no longer alive; it was just a haunting memory that would stay with her forever. And now, she was the Head Master….not a student, and not just a master. Her students, all masters through hard work and dedication, were not with her….she was alone.

The tiny red panda wrapped her robe tighter around her shoulders against the chilly midnight air and reluctantly peered at her reflection in the calm waters. "Oh…" This is an embarrassment.

The reflection in the water hardly reflected her normal self; her normally smooth, white fur was tousled and messy from the journey…her midnight blue eyes were only half open under the droopy eyelids…..her large round ears with their white to red to white pattern were drooping as well, and the pink blossom that was normally tucked neatly behind the left ear had blown off at some point. Her beautiful light blue and purple robe with gold trimming was wrinkled and clung to her due to the dampness in the air.

She didn't look like a respected kung Fu master….but yet….. Despite the tiredness, her deep blue eyes still held the same light in them that every good warrior had. Mei Lien stood up straight and as tall as she could manage. She would make herself look more presentable in no time. She had to….

Just then, the reflection of the sailor she had hired appeared next to her. "Master Mei Lien? We are nearing the Valley of Peace. Shall we maintain our speed?"

He was asking if she needed more time. All this time, she had still not taken her eyes off the reflections in the water. She hardly had the energy. She willed herself to look into the night sky filled with stars. I have to…. I have to…..

…The destruction was absolute, and the battle had been fierce. All that was left of their beautiful village, the palace, the training hall….rubble, ashes…..it was all gone. Lying in broken heaps and hidden by smoldering ashes. She and her students had gone away on a mission, leaving only the Grand Master of the palace, Master Shi, watching over the valley. They had done this many times before; Master Shi was one of the first, besides the late Grand Master Oogway of the Valley of Peace, to master the art of Kung Fu; therefore, she was one of the very best and was perfectly capable of defending their valley herself.

But something, or someone, had managed to slip by her, and the valley was burning by the time she and her students returned. They immediately leapt into action as soon as their ruined home fell into their sights. They fought, they destroyed the thousands of warriors that had invaded their home, but never found the leader, or the reason why they attacked in the first place.

When everything was still, she watched her students tend to wounds….look for survivors…..paw through the rubble. Only the thought of her master sent her running to the ruins of what was once their home.

"Master Shi?" No answer. Maybe her voice had not come out as steady as she thought, but she began to fear the worst as she ran about the ruins, lifting charred artifacts and pieces of wood.

"Master Shi!" Nothing. "Please answer me!"

Mei Lien. Her sensitive ears barely picked up on the voice. "Master Shi?"

"Mei Lien….." She heard it now. The strained whisper of Master Shi was coming from underneath a fallen door that was slanted against the wall. She could just make out the white figure lying still beneath the shadow of the door.

"No!" The little Red Panda ran over to the door with phenomenal speed, jumped, and kicked it high so that it would fall in the opposite direction of the white wolf. The door crumbled to bits when it crashed to the ground.

Mei Lien gasped in panic as she examined her master with wide blue eyes. The once beautiful white wolf was lying under even more rubble; the little red panda could not even see the rest of her body, but Master Shi lay so still that she could tell her wise teacher was a goner. "Master Shi…. No….."

Feeling hot tears stinging her eyes, she made her way through the crumbled remains of the palace and fell to her knees before her master. Despite being half buried under a heap of rubble, the white wolf just smiled the same reassuring smile Mei Lien had always known. "Oh, Mei Lien…." She reached out her free paw to her student.

At the sound of the soft, steady voice of her master, Mei Lien let out a ragged breath and held tight to her master's hand with both of her own as the first of the tears spilled over. She couldn't accept it. No. Not now. This was not how a person like Shi was supposed to die. Not like this. "Hold on, Master Shi. I will get you out of here."

"Mei Lien." The soft, steady hand held fast to hers when she started to pull away. The beautiful red panda looked back at her master with a heavy heart. It seemed Master Shi would never escape the ruins of her palace alive.

Mei Lien looked deep into the brown depths of her master's eyes, and felt her ears turn up when she saw calm peacefulness rather than fear. Master Shi was ready, but she wasn't. The red panda held the great wolf's head in her small hands. "Master Shi, who….who did this? Who attacked our village? Who did this to you?"

"Never mind that, Mei Lien. Listen carefully, now, my old friend. I need you to promise me something."

Mei Lien was just fighting to keep her voice steady. "Anything."

"I need you to set out and find Master Shifu of the Jade Palace. Tell him what's happened, and that I give you my permission….to take the scroll Oogway kept for me in the library. He will…..know what to do from there. The scroll will give the both of you further instructions. Shifu will have a scroll from Oogway as well."

Mei Lien took a moment to register the words; she found herself more overwhelmed by the sound of her master's voice growing quieter and quieter.

"Master Shifu…." Mei Lien muttered the words halfheartedly….thoughtfully trying to recall the name. It sounded familiar, but she couldn't place it.

Shi must have read the look on her face. "He was a student of Oogway's and is now the Head Master of the Jade Palace. Go alone the first time, then take the others with you when you make the next journey. Leave the villagers in the care of your students. Do you understand?"

The only thing that confused Mei Lien was the reasoning. Why not try to rebuild the village? But then again….Master Shi, like Oogway, may have had confusing methods, but she never led them astray. "I….understand…..Master." Mei Lien could just manage the words as she watched the white wolf's eyes begin to set.

"You must…find them, Mei Lien. It may be essential to the survival of…..what's left of our village. Promise me you will seek help, rather than trying to do everything yourself." Master Shi's grip on her hand was getting so weak she barely felt anything at all.

"I will, Master…." Despite her efforts, the little red panda's voice cracked as a quiet, powerful sob escaped her body. "I don't know what we will do without you, Master…..I….." There wasn't enough time in the day for her to express all she and Shi had been through, or how much she would miss her. All she had was the look in her eyes.

Master Shi understood and smiled as best as she could. "I know, but my time has come as well, Mei Lien. You must go on without me…..and believe in yourself."

Before Mei Lien could summon the strength to give a response, a light shone from beneath the rubble and slowly began to engulf the body of Master Shi. Pink petals replaced the mass of her frame and began floating their way up to the heavens. Mei Lien began to panic at the sight of her master vanishing into a mass of petals. "Master, wait! You can't leave yet….. We don't….have anything to remember you by….or…."

Master Shi's ascent didn't cease. The white wolf just smiled, looking as peaceful as ever. "Every time the wind blows these petals through the air…..look back and….remember me."

And then she was gone. The only thing left of her was memories….and the petals ascending into the sky.

As soon as she was sure she could depart what was left of the village, she took the chance. She left two hundred hungry survivors in the hands of her students with very few suitable places for shelter.

….She had to keep her promise.

"All ahead full, Fu." The chubby pig bowed to her and went about his way.

She looked away from her haggard looking reflection and searched the horizon. She could just make out the Jade Palace sitting atop its hill. She had only seen it once, and it had been a very long time since she had called on an outside village for help. But she had to go through with the mission, for her students….for the villagers…..for Master Shi.

Mei Lien sighed, rolled her eyes when she caught sight of her reflection again, and departed to her room. Soon enough, they would be in the Valley of Peace. She just hoped she could find the answers she needed to save her village.

…..I hope you have enjoyed the story so far. Please review and give me feedback on what you think so far if you have time. Every little bit helps! Thanks for reading and I hope you will keep checking back. I have more stories written if you would like to check some of them out in the meantime. Thanks!

-Angelwriter84…..