Welcome returning readers and greeting to the new, I have again traded my spare time to create a tale for your joy. Let it be remembered that you, my faithful readers, drive me to do what I do. Let us continue with this tale…

Chapter 4 One's journey begins with having Faith

Thousand Steps

Po had taken the sash that Natani had to hold his sword to apply pressure to the wound. Tigress was still angry for not being able to go after Sǐwáng though she knew better than to fight an opponent without her arms. Natani was still on Po's back and has yet to say anything.

"Natani why?" Tigress finally broke the silence. Out of all the questions Natani had hope for them to ask, they had to ask that one. Inwardly sighing Natani debated on how to reply to the question. "Sǐwáng…is complicated during childhood he has always saw the world in a different light than I did. In his eyes what he does is in no ways evil or wrong. The world might call this evil or wrong, maybe even insane. But to him evil only exist if there is conflict." Natani glanced at Tigress to see she was still confused. "In short, evil is a matter of perspective. What we call evil he calls it progress." Tigress finally was able to grasp the idea. But with one answer a thousand more question formed.

"If Sǐwáng is evil or at least our enemy, does he see us as an enemy?" Tigress wondered, "Yes, he see's anyone who stands against him or anyone who calls themselves protectors his enemy." "Then why did he spared us and gave Po the medicine to heal my paws?" Natani understood what Tigress was getting at, "Sǐwáng is a complicated like I told you, he don't believes in protectors due to childhood horrors. But he does not think he is evil, you may be a protector of China but he also respects you as such. He wants to kill you when he faces you. He was fighting me at that time you interfered so he does not believe you death was needed." This only enraged the tiger even more. Sǐwáng, you think I'm not worthy of a fight. You will regret this act.

So lost in though Tigress hadn't realized that they had reach the top of the stairs until Po spoke up. "Finally, man I'm getting better at this." Po gestures towards the stairs. "PO! TIGRESS! WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?" Master Shifu has been waiting at the front Gates all morning and due to their fight it was now noon. Master Shifu saw the burnt marks on Tigress and Po was covered in Natani's blood as he continued to bleed. "What's happened, why are you injured?" Shifu's rage instantly changed to concern for his daughter, though he might never admit it, and their guest. "We ran into Sǐwáng while looking for Natani, we…failed at apprehending him." Tigress bowed her head in shame at failing, Shifu felt a twinge of despair, realizing that all Tigress ever wanted was to make him happy and not fearing the burns on her paws she worries over her encounter.

"Don't worry about, we didn't intend on capturing him now. This was just a chance encounter." Shifu turned and was about to call for the Palace healer when Natani interrupted him. "This was no accident. Sǐwáng came here knowing where I was; he came here to see me. This was why I travel alone, I'm sorry but I can no longer allow you to accompany me on this journey." Master Shifu instantly remembered back to when Master Oogway explained to him that there are no accidents. Sighing in defeat he gestured for them to follow him back to the barracks to the healer can help them there. "Go ahead and go to the barracks I will get Han" "Yes Master." With that said the three headed towards the barracks while Shifu went to the palace healer.

Jade Palace Infirmary (Mei Ling's Room)

The mountain cat lay there motionless except for the slow rising of her chest as she breath. From the outside one would think she was at rest maybe even a peaceful slumber, but that was nothing compared to her subconscious.

Dreamscape of Mei Ling's

Sǐwáng was charging at Mei Ling in slow motion, but no matter what she tried she could not move. As Sǐwáng neared her she was still staring at the sword but this was different this time no white and blue blur that saved her she could only closed her eyes as she felt the cold metal cut through flesh.

Reality

Mei Ling gasped from the dream's shock and breath hard. After a minute her breathing returned back to normal as she begin to stare around the room. Her gaze fell upon a crane sleeping as his head was tucked under one of his wing and was balancing perfectly on one foot. "Crane…." Instantly crane woke up from his sleep and rushed over to Mei, "Mei are you okay? How are you feeling? Are you still hurt anywhere? What happened? Are the others-"Mei Ling grabbed Crane's beak closed to silence him. "Cranes I'm fine but slow down with the question I can barely understand what your saying."

Nodding his head Mei Ling let go of his beak a slight chuckle escaping from it there after. "Sorry, Mei. Are you okay?" Mei Ling could only roll her eyes, as this was also the first question he had asked. "Yes I'm fine, a slight pain in my right arm but beside that I'm fine." Crane visibly gave a sigh of relief as he smiled in response. "Mei what happened you were just carried here by Natani, unconscious and bleeding to death?" with that Mei Ling gave a confused look as Crane realize Mei Ling was probably never properly introduced to Natani. "He's the guy that saved you and brought you here. But something about the guy seems very off, none of us except for Po, the Dragon Warrior, trust him."

"Mei Ling gave a nod of understanding and then realize that she was here but what about the students of the academy. "Crane what of the student's at Lee da?" Crane frowned realizing that Mei Ling was not being to be happy with what he was going to tell him. "Mei…every student is dead. Some death was called by fatal injury while others bleed to death. I'm truly sorry." Mei Ling was in shock her eyes clearly showed pain but anger. She refused to say anything, which was until Crane gave her a hug to comfort. Then everything broke lose Mei began to cry and mourn uncontrollably. After ten minutes of this Mei Ling calmed down and accepted that in their line of work things like this might happen. Sǐwáng's voice rang in her mind as this thought passes. As long as there are protectors there shall be criminals…what would happen if there were no one there to protect?

Mei Ling tried to get up but Crane pushed her back down leaving him in a rather embarrassing position. For a moment neither of them spoke only the crimson of their face show what they were feeling. "Crane I know your happy to see me but let's save this for some other time." Crane's face darkens with blood as he got up so quick that he tripped over himself resulting in a slight giggle from Mei. "I'm sorry…. uummmmm…let me get Master Shifu he wants to talk to you about what happened." Nodding in understanding Mei Ling again tried to get up but this time Crane just gave her a questionable look. "Crane, I'm fine. I just need a walk and get some fresh air." Crane nodded, "But if you need anything you call me and I will fly you back here okay?" Mei Ling patted Crane's shoulder in response and slowly made her way out with Crane behind heading in the opposite direction to get Master Shifu.

Mei Ling was making her way out of the infirmary when she smelled blood…fresh blood. Making her way towards the source fearing the same situation as Lee da. To her surprise Mei found the scent was coming from a room in the infirmary too, fearing that one of Crane's friends was hurt she opened the door to see Natani wrapped up. But what caught her attention the most was his sword. It called out to her almost like Sǐwáng's but the feeling was different, the sword was almost howling in anger. You could feel the rage coming from the blade even though it was sheathed.

"You know most people knock before they enter a room, especially if it's occupied." Natani's rough voice brought her attention back to the leopard. "Who are you and what are doing at the Jade Palace!" demanded Mei as she tried the best she could to sound threatening but with her current condition she doubt she could take on a lowly bandit let alone an armed leopard, granted he was injured too.

"That's rather in polite considering I saved your life back at your school. Anyway My name is Natani you have already meet my brother Sǐwáng and too why I'm here I meet him earlier today and was injured during combat." Mei Ling was shock to hear that a panther and snow leopard could be brothers. But then again The Dragon Warrior is a panda and his father is a goose. Guess life can be different.

"Listen, I know this might go against everything logic has to offer but can you please take my sword and cut yourself?" Mei Ling growled deeply and got into a fighting stance even though every muscle in her body was screaming at her for doing so. "Are you crazy?! No scratch that you're insane! Why would I kill myself just because someone ask me too?" Natani sighed knowing full well that Mei had misunderstood him; even so his request was quite …strange. "No, I'm not asking you to kill yourself, I just need you to draw some blood and wipe it on the blade then placed the blade in my hand." Mei Ling still didn't move, "Why should I do that?" truth be told Mei Ling was curious as to why Natani would ask such a ridiculous request.

"My blade is special. It takes the blood of those that it cuts and mixes it with my Chi. Basically it will help me recover fast but I can't move right now. Please Sǐwáng could attack any minute. He already knows that I'm here!" Mei Ling hesitantly dropped her stance as she approached the Leopard and grabbed his sword. Instantly she felt the rage that hatred towards everything around her. It was as though the blade wanted to kill everything…No this is ridiculous it's just a blade…still it's much like Sǐwáng's though not evil but hate. Mei Ling drew out the blade and it seemed to glow taking her finger she slide it across the blade and drew blood. After smearing it on the blade she could feel her wounds healing. This is amazing with this power I could do anything even conquer- No what's going on…it's the blade…I-

"Tiānshǐ stop it and obey me, heal her and return to me." Natani's voice was rustic but commanding and Mei Ling felt as though the crazy moment was over, thankfully her wounds had complete healed and she gave the sword back to Natani in doing so she could see a black aura beginning to engulf the blade. After a couple second the entire katana along with the wounds under Natani's bandages began to glow the sinister color. And after another minute it all faded. "Thank you that was very brave, but I do need to apologize for tiānshǐ here, I should have warned you about her. Let us go find the master to report our condition then I can continued on with my journey and you yours.