Hey guys! I've still got a poll going on my profile about what kind of story I should write next, so I'd apreciate it if you guys could vote. Anyway, I'll stop talking and get on with it.
Imperial City outskirts...
The warriors of the Jade palace had scattered around the outskirts of the Imperial City. They each had the same task-observe the city. Finding out where the guards were, and how many were stationed was important, but there was another unspoken task. Find out who inside the city was already fighting back.
The Imperial City was bordered by high walls on all sides, as a defense against invasion. Normally during a time of war, archers would stand atop the wall and shoot at enemies from above. Now it only served to keep Fang's enemies out.
Po and Viper were watching from the top of the wall, Po running along in 'stealth mode.' Monkey and Tigress were moving through the city streets, Monkey jumping between houses. Mantis was using his size to his advantage, getting close to the palace. Crane watched everything from above, flying high above the city ready to warn the others if he spotted guards.
Tigress was running, but what was she looking for? She still had no plan, no idea of what she would do. She had to find Xue, but then what? Suddenly, Tigress saw movement from around the corner. She quickly backed up into a doorway, trying not to be seen. She'd gone too close to the palace, there were sure to be guards here.
But as a shadow began to form around the corner, Tigress realized it was just Monkey. Before she could move, a paw clamped over her mouth, pulling her back through the door. She began to struggle, before she looked down at the paw. It was white, with black stripes. Xue
As Tigress relaxed the paw was removed from her mouth. Tigress turned and came face to face with Xue. She took a step back, and looked at her surroundings. The house she was in only had one room, and no windows. There were two thin beds along one wall, and a table with a map of the palace in the opposite corner. Apart from that the room was empty.
"I thought you were a guard!" Tigress hissed
"Be quiet!" Xue whispered "I didn't want to be noticed, I'm sorry."
"Do you have a plan?" Tigress asked
"Maybe, but it requires you and your friends." Xue grabbed a scroll from the table "Take this, give it to your master."
"What is it?" Tigress asked
"A forged scroll. It looks like something Fang sent out to her warriors, telling them what to look for. You can use it to find that thing and stop her."
"Why can't you?"
"Fang and I have one thing in common. We have no access to any kind of records, you do. Use this to your advantage." Xue said
"Of course sister." Tigress was about to leave, but hesistated "Xue...I saw Jade in the forest nearby." Tigress chose her words carefully.
"She's here? Good, she is an excellent fighter."
"Xue, Fang got to her, from what I could tell the process has already started." Tigress left, unable to bear seeing the horror on her sister's face.
When Tigress reached Shifu, the others were already there.
"Where were you?" Shifu asked
"I lost sight of you, we though you'd been captured." Crane said
"I thought I heard a guard approaching, I hid inside a house." Tigress lied
"As long as you're safe." Shifu said
"Master, I found this scroll in the city. I think it will be useful." Tigress handed Shifu the scroll.
When Shifu had read the scroll, he handed it to the others to read.
Warriors, go forth and seize every village, town and city with any form of temple or sacred place. Take prisoners if you must, but find out if any of these places has a legend attached that speaks of The Darkness. Search the temples, tear them apart if it will aid you. Find The Darkness and bring it to the Imperial City.
"What's The Darkness?" Po asked
"I don't know." Shifu admitted
"What can we do if we know nothing?" Monkey asked
"The Darkness...it sounds familiar." Viper said, deep in thought
"You've heard of it?" Shifu asked
"I've heard it somewhere before. I think my father told me about it." Viper said
"Are you sure?" Crane asked
"Yes, he told me a legend about The Darkness, but I can't remember it."
"So we still know nothing." Mantis said
"Well, maybe not." Po said
"What do you mean?" Crane said
"If Viper's father told her about The Darkness, why don't we ask him?" Everyone stared at Po, surprised he had been the only one to think of this.
"We will leave tomorrow. Tigress and Po, you will remain here and keep watch over the city." Shifu said
"Yes Master." Everyone replied, bowing.
"For now, I suggest we all get some sleep." Shifu said
"Master, someone should stand guard." Tigress suggested
"Yes. Tigress, you and Po will both guard in shifts. You are the only two not travelling."
After that everyone got ready to sleep. They set up camp on top of a hill overlooking the city. The trees around them were thick, but it was still easy to gain a clear view of the city. Being this close to the city, they couldn't light a fire, and it was a very cold night.
"Po, I'll guard first and wake you ok?" Tigress asked
"Yeah sure." Po agreed.
Tigress sat with her back to a tree, looking out over the Imperial City. Even from that far, Tigress could see the palace. Every window was ablaze with light, guards moving through the palace and its grounds. Somewhere in there, Fang and Tao were planning to take over China, all because of something that happened so long ago.
"Tigress." A voice came from somewhere above her, high in a tree.
"Jade." Tigress replied
"Why don't you leave?" Jade said, leaping silently from a tree and landing in front of Tigress
"Fang needs to be stopped, and Xue can't do it alone."
"I should help her. You have more to live for than me, why do you insist on risking it?" Jade asked
"You can't do anything with that collar on." Tigress said
"When the process has finished I will use my power against Fang."
"You're not strong enough to resist her mind Jade."
"I have to try!" Jade insisted
"How bad is it?" Tigress asked.
Jade shde her cloak, letting it fall to the ground. The silver collar gleamed in the moonlight, contrasting to Jade's fur. Jade was white on her right side, while the fur on her left was orange. At least, it should be.
The collar had already begun to transform Jade. Veins of black had spread outwards from the collar, reaching all over her body. Her eyes had darkened, and her entire body shook from exhaustion.
"I have to leave." Jade said, picking up her cloak
"Xue can help you." Tigress said
"Not without killing herself." Jade replied, fastening the cloak "Goodbye."
Before Tigress could reply Jade was gone, leaping through the trees. Tigress sighed, settling back against the tree. Jade was definitely her sister, nobody else could be that stubborn. Jade was right though, she couldn't be saved without Xue sacrificing herself. Fang would never remove the collar herself, and so by the end of this war, Tigress was going to lose a sister.
"Tigress?" Po's voice sounded behind her. She prayed to the gods he hadn't seen Jade
"Po, you don't need to guard yet." Tigress said
"I, uh, couldn't sleep. I thought you might want to rest." Po explained.
"Alright, wake me if you get tired." Tigress said.
As she lay awake, unable to sleep, one though went through her brain. Xue or Jade? Both were her sisters, both had suffered, but only one would survive this war.
Review? It would make my day ;)
