Episode 1: The Prince of Darkness ( 1 - 5 )
Chapter IV
Visiting
The Furious Five and Dragon Warrior sauntered with Shifu in a corridor from Student Barracks. The Masters of Jade Palace just had enough of hardcore training on their own. Shifu pondered about the Emperor named Huangdi, who shall journey across China to foresee classes in perspective, that he expected to have followers and politicians with him to Jade Palace tomorrow.
The Furious Five and Dragon Warrior communed to their retired master. The bird behind Shifu convened. "What does the Emperor interest before he comes to Jade Palace, Master?" Crane inquired Master Shifu.
"His preference will soon reveal soon, Crane," Shifu replied, walking in a corridor with Furious Five. Shortly as the Masters of Jade Palace arrived in the hallway, Shifu turned to his students, grasping his wooden staff and gazing their eyes. "At first, the Emperor interests us. Tomorrow, the Emperor will arrive here with his colleagues around daylight. I suggest you all five practice with Dragon Warrior in the morning. Most importantly, make yourselves improvise and your preference skills you have practiced and learned all the years."
"What about you, master?" Viper asked him, slithering beside Tigress.
"I will demonstrate the Emperor by myself," Shifu answered, then patted on Viper's slither. "Po has been a teacher for ten years and skilled chi, including inner peace at such a young age. Get some rest. We have a big day tomorrow."
A moment after the Furious Five and Dragon Warrior began to sleep at student barracks, Shifu headed to Jade Palace, he lightened many smaragdine candles in front of the wall with Master Oogway's painting. He desired to meditate and some time to commune the great grandmaster of kung fu. Shifu sat on his rug and closed his eyes, relaxing his muscles and calming his breath by saying "Inner peace" repeatedly. In the next quiet of meditation, Shifu seeks his vision of an old friend in front.
Oogway smirked to his old friend as Shifu visited the concept of a Spirit Realm, the red panda surveyed every land and water made of gold: dazzle stars across the horizon, light brown surfaces. The turtle in front believed Shifu's presence, and knowingly the red panda will soon join Oogway in few years. Shifu in his vision sighted a sound of water below him. The water circulated across gently, developing a yin-yang symbol that represented life and also Oogway embarked to see his old friend closing his eyes as focusing on inner peace. Just then, the water spread over Shifu's body, and the red panda peered over the reflection of old tortoise glimpsing at him with a grin.
"My old friend…" Oogway summoned, wielding his yin-yang pole. "It is great to see you again."
"Master Oogway!" Shifu opened his vision, then bowed calmly from his surprise, clearing his throat. "It's been an honor to see you again."
"You have trained Po and Furious Five for many years," Oogway pleased, the elder turtle guided in front as he held a large green staff with yin-yang icon above. "I am proud of you, Shifu."
"My pleasure," Shifu complemented him. "I perceived that my student Po is the only Dragon Warrior saved the world I remember. I am very sorry, Master. I was too blind in the beginning to see. You were right."
"Well," Oogway patted to Shifu's shoulder, "my prophecy was nearly stumbling for my brother wanted a chi power, and I found one who will fulfill his destiny to defeat many threaten warriors." Oogway embarked strolling behind, guiding with his stick where all beam blossoms soared gently around the tortoise. "Come, Shifu. Let us walk."
For a moment of walking, Shifu experienced the happiness and pleasant where he sought the Spirit Realm for the first time.
"This... is beautiful, Master," Shifu looked all the golden heaven and mostly a land of peace as wind murmured. The water colored in made of gold and gloss waves below. It was this prosperous realm to occupy beside with demise masters as you could lay rest upon the fields of grass caressing your back, and floating a surface of the golden ocean. "My students are exceptional and well trained. Po is in charge of being a teacher instead. My retirement is what I must regard my life because my teaching days are already over for me. I am old now, Master."
"So am I, even in eternal as my age is immortal and still old like you." Oogway joked, chuckling politely.
"My wish is to be living a new home instead of aging enough," Shifu said.
"Someday, my old friend," Oogway said sagaciously. "Someday."
Shifu crouched to the dirt as he touched the golden water-like chi, pouring down back from his palm he sensed warmth with light that sparkled like stars. "I have someone coming to Jade Palace, Master Oogway," Shifu informed, meeting his eyes to Oogway's. "My old friend will soon bring her students to meet the Furious Five. And she does not know you are in Spirit Realm."
"The elder tigress," Oogway revealed. "I assure you she will understand my presence."
"I do mention her name," Shifu deemed, glimpsing the pink flower next to his feet it dazzled into a rising sun. "My sister made a promise to herself she will return."
"She has," Oogway reconsidered. "The elder tigress created her class of Wing Chun. Nine of her fellow students are similar to your students' origin. My soul mate gradually sought his grandson to one of the Nine students having difficulties of his past."
"Who, Master?" Shifu pondered.
"Clever student," Oogway detailed. "My peafowl colleague once spoke to me that his grandson could not remember his memory except the disturbing past where continues haunting his life."
"I can offer Po to support Ming's student if I must," Shifu vowed.
"Hmm," Oogway nodded, deeply hummed as honey. Just then, the turtle immediately turned through his reflection, seeking a white tigress wearing a brown travel cloak over her. Oogway chuckles softly.
"What is it, master?" Shifu asked.
"A visitor you have, my old friend," Oogway answered.
"Who?" Shifu asked once again.
"Your sister." Oogway smiled. Shifu noticed a sound of footsteps in a matter of short seconds as one of his large ears twitched. Shifu's vision returns to his normal life.
The red panda opened his eyes apparently, and softly. Jade candles ahead of Shifu darkened as the wind sang it's breath. The red panda rose from his rug, checking his surroundings in a Sacred Hall of Warriors everywhere. The large doors remained open for a while, and Shifu noticed a visitor could open those big gates. Shifu peered to the elder tigress in a brown cloak with the hood, standing still. Her eyes met both blues of the ocean, remembering her partner master in the youngest age with Shifu.
"Ming," Shifu surprised the elder tigress. Ming removed the hood as she blinked her eyes with a nod, releasing a single tear that poured next to her cheek. He could tell his companion smirked. The elder tigress thought to herself before her arrival Ming would have confronted Shifu and Oogway for a return. Then, as she turns out, Shifu touch Ming's paw, and the elder seeks down to her closest friend. "You look old."
Ming beamed. Her other paw patted on Shifu's hand once she crouched. "Same look on your cheek, and robe with a blue shawl."
"Oh. I have different outfits instead of the same clothing," Shifu added truthfully, making sure he did not wear the same outfit every day. "You traveled long enough from West?"
"I've already sauntered for too long," Ming grinned.
The elder tigress yet locked her eyes on Oogway's staff behind the candles, knowing her breath thronged inside of her nose. "How was Master Oogway?"
"He was better after you left," Shifu replied. "Making himself comfortable in a better place." Shifu carefully met his eyes on her expressional feeling: broke, kindly, and serene. Ming's arms surrounded the red panda after she hunkered. "You miss me very much." Shifu had noticed her return that streamed his healthy heart, missing her desperately in years. She would have thought masters will never be disappointed with any student's return.
"I miss you too, brother," Ming twinkled her blue eyes and grinned her smooth lips.
Later on, both Ming and Shifu went inside the Training Hall as the elder white tigress ventured across the enormous room filled with potential, and lethal training. The red panda guided her to indicate his gift of Wing Chun dummy beside the Panda model. He adored how this doll was once made with wood and barely metal as harder than metallic. Ming forged this dummy as if she was an expert designer along with her goose servant named Kong, who was the Nine's Messenger he became skillful of the architect to forge history with weapons.
Ming indicated Shifu with ten blocks of chi sao, part of the advantage to enhance your skill to counter enemy strikes. She hurled her punches on the center, deflecting dummy's arms with chi sao blocks; Ming palmed to doll's jaw where its head thrust back, as the white tigress enabled a chi strike, yet again, diverting arms and pushing her kick to model's belly. Shortly after Ming's indication, she and Shifu sat on a flat surface next to the panda design. Their cups filled with tea and many candles on opposite sides on the ground to enlighten bright lights instead filling more on surroundings everywhere.
"How is your grandson doing?" Shifu inquired when he drinks his tea. "I like to wonder who he is."
"He's been substantially alright," Ming answered, guzzling the mug. "Xing has been sparring well with other students of mine. Before my son's death including his wife, my grandson has no parent to be taken care of while I lost my home a long time ago. I have seen the worst enemy after my son died from the fire. I could not engage that hatred person because I had to save my grandson from him. Although, in some monthly mornings in his young age, Xing had some experience of a nightmare in which haunted his fear, a fear of lost parents killed by a monster."
"That's very sad," Shifu vehemently apologized for Ming's loss. "I am sorry about your son."
"Xing disciplined throughout his time," Ming interpreted. "He's no longer having nightmare issues. There were many disturbances I've encountered, both Xing and I had to hide somewhere where not anyone will find us."
"From whom, Ming?" Shifu asked worriedly. "Who was following you both?"
"From evil's souls who wanted us slain," Ming added, caressing a tip of mug she revolved her finger. "Not just me and Xing. For some whereabouts, I could not tell who controlled bodies of men in China. For what I convince, they remained silent for years, and some other places have rumors back then have once assumed that person name 'Ruler of Retaliation,' has come to Mortal Realm and will avenge his legacy."
"'Ruler of Retaliation?'" Shifu repeated with a confuse.
"Whoever was that name 'Ruler,'" Ming considered. "Then something dark merges shortly, where I believe a young Ox who was a prince in seven hundred years ago will savage China and the rest everywhere. Since I meditated last week on the weekend, my ancestors once informed there was a young prince who is a son of Emperor Khan, craves to rule China and devastate martial arts we have created."
"That sounds horrifying," Shifu noticed her clarification.
"I am aware of that prince will return," Ming concerned. "My grandmother in a Spirit Realm I saw her warned me about a sickness lies near a hidden summit somewhere on the northwest of China. She has seen many darkness armies, saying they are all growing in border and soon will come."
"I believe your words are giving me a warning call," Shifu agreed about Ming's grandmother's vision. "But is there any situation that will prevent terror?"
"I do not know," Ming shook her head. "Earlier, my messenger Kong shared one grave news before I venture to the Valley of Peace -" she placed her cup next to her, "-One of the messengers from Master Wolf's palace went over to the northwest and then disappeared for at least a day. I recommend not to send one of your messengers to head over North. Because, in what I concern, the enemies are clever and can explore the skies to snatch any bird messengers."
"Very well. I will note my servants to draw themselves away from North." Shifu nodded, sipping his tea as he swallowed green with warmth flow that soothed his voice and his throat.
A moment on for a short conversation, Shifu and Ming spoke about their students. Ming contemplated to the red panda's confrontation of Dragon Warrior's arrival in the beginning, Tai Lung's darkness heart in which she remembered rumors about the escape of Chorh-Gom Prison, the ambitious Peacock in Gongmen City, and then Kai's final days of power hunger Chi to everyone's defeat. The elder tigress amazed Shifu's life plot including the Furious Five's origins.
"I would love to see your students one day including Dragon Warrior, brother," Ming immediately interested the Furious Five as soon as Shifu finished his tea. "I should have seen everything I missed. My grandson will be honored to greet them all, especially your student Po." Just then, she remembers a sister of her kin. Ming also had a sister before in which she notices about Tigress and including her family as well. "I just wanted to say, that I deeply miss your student's family I'd known them for years. Tigress must realize she's no longer in solitude. I've always wondered she was just like her mother, and she's valuable to Furious Five. I'm delighted you raised my niece, and I shall like to meet her soon."
"That can wait, sister," Shifu patted on Ming's paw. "It will be a great pleasure to greet my students in the morning. I have some important schedule to do. The Emperor will arrive at Jade Palace here to see a demonstration."
"I understand," Ming comprehended.
"You have your place, right?" Shifu demanded as his pupils grew across his ocean eyes.
"Of course," she smirked, chuckling lightly. "My palace is not far from here."
"Where?" Shifu asked politely to know where Ming's palace.
"About ten miles west from here," Ming answered, pointing west. "The Prosper Valley is where I live there with nine of my students.
"Great!" Shifu murmured to such excitement. "I'll be there with my students if we are in luck on a top three list of martial arts."
"Brilliant," Ming finished her tea.
Just then, Ming and Shifu approached through Hall of Warrior's front door to exit. Shifu thought about her closest friend all the time, and then sort of think about losing her in which was Ming on her final day of Kung Fu class back then with Master Oogway had an urgent problem to head over West.
"You are just going to have to leave again, right, sister?" Shifu pondered, worrying.
The white tigress revolved her head to the shoulder, eyes meeting the red panda's. "I won't do the way I left you both since our early days," Ming urged. "After I left since Tai Lung's heart of darkness, it was such broken through my heart and forgot about your interest of Wing Chun. I should have done that in the beginning to teach you."
"You've had your choice," Shifu comprehended her a moment of hardness. "I know you had to leave and go save your family from danger and take good care of your only grandson. Your apology is accepted. Master Oogway and I wondered you would return someday, and then many years later, you have returned."
"It was a long trip I had gone through before I came here in annuals," Ming said. "I just hope myself I would forgive my son's death and his wife." Ming immediately turns to Shifu and gives a hug at once again for a great reunion. A long hug Shifu accepted a friendly hug. "I will return, brother."
"I know you will, Ming," Shifu approved. "If you would like to come by here with your students, you are welcome to Jade Palace anytime."
"Thank you, Shifu," Ming accepted Shifu's welcome. Next, Ming wore her traveling cloak and her staff to walk. Before she strolled on the largest stairs, Shifu immediately called her sister.
"Ming," Shifu called her. "One more word before you go back home. Is one of your talented students having issues?"
"Just one of the Nine students only, not my grandson," Ming explained. "Xing sometimes seeks his Peacock brother having misfortune on his past he cannot remember. His peahen mother I met once said I must raise and protect her son from peafowl husband who's been driven himself mad, poisoned and desired his son to show him something potential." Shifu nearly perceived her explanation words to describe a hint about Lao's origin. The red panda ultimately understood the meaning of student's trouble, and also for another shock through his thoughts, the peacock's father might be one of Royals and for "soul mate" from Oogway's friend is a peacock.
"Master Oogway told me that his companion is watching over your student, his grandson. He explained to me about your student's long lost memory in which continues haunting his nightmare."
"Master Oogway told you that? You cheated me," Ming joked. Shifu nodded as both chuckled. "Amazing. I'll greet our Master later on, but I have to see what my student is having trouble tomorrow morning."
"You can," Shifu advised. "Meditate yourself alone with a green candle, and you shall see our Master in a moment. And show your students to make Inner Peace."
"Thank you for the tip," Ming appreciated. "I'll teach my students a new lesson." She just swiftly turned gently without a rush on a stairway. Although, Shifu notices something about "protect her son from a husband who's driven himself mad, poisoned." The red panda recalled the glimpse of peacock's rage that Shen's orbs lightened with fire, and howls of the wolf army in Gongmen City.
"Do you notice about your Peacock student is identical to someone?" Shifu asked Ming in a notified situation. Ming knew the secret in which the Nine could not reveal the Peacock's biological father. Lao's peahen mother in his child age told Ming about a perilous situation that could pull her and Lao through sickness. A disease that the albino created powder and even metal to spit and breathe fire. Ming knew Shifu who possible warned her, regarding the student's father.
"His grandparents were Peafowl Nobles, then followed their son before my student," Ming revealed without even looking back to her closest friend. She in her own heart went into guilt barely enough. "He doesn't know his father. One thing my student perceived was only a history of Shen lost the battle. I will regret myself if my Peacock student I've known as my lovely son will find out the truth by himself. He's just a child, like his father but not an aggressive emotion. I need more time in a right moment to speak with my student after the Tournament."
"I see why." Shifu realized. "What is his name?"
"His name is Lao," Ming identified her student's name. "My grandson nicknamed him as a brother since peahen and her son came over to my Palace. His actual name for his Peafowl Noble bloodline is Dōngjì, meaning winter."
"That's a good name to your student," Shifu admitted the preference of the peacock's right name. Ming nodded at once when Shifu has discovered her difficult situation that Lao will soon reveal his full memory. They both gestured their hands at each other, and Ming sauntered down the stairway path to lead Valley of Peace where she must return to the boatman and ride back on a stream towards the Prosper Valley.
Shifu in his memory sought a perfect life along Oogway and Ming. He missed his closest friend ever known onto his lifetime of all, waited and waited for years of Ming's return. A blossom leaf soared in a gentle wind it glossed Shifu's cheek. His mind popped out rapidly as the red panda realized a night turned midnight.
"Oh!" Shifu chuckled. "I almost forgot to go the bed. I have a big day tomorrow."
Shifu returned through the door, and now closing a large entry of Hall of Warriors. The sky that shaded gray and midnight remained peaceful where a Sacred Peach Tree near Student Barracks gleamed with pink as divine. The wind communed a blossom leaf, Shifu embarked entering his room of belongings and began himself perching on the bed, covered with a brown cover.
Shifu dozed peacefully; Oogway in the Spirit Realm peeked the ocean reflection of an old tortoise, vortexing into a vision of Jade Palace stairs, gleamed into yellow in his eyes. He viewed his Wing Chun student in brown, hooded cloak sauntering down the stairs as Ming nearly arrived the Valley of Peace.
"Awesome." Oogway smiled heavenly.
