So Dawn Goes Down to Day

"I can't help but feel this palace is more elaborate than mine," the empress said wistfully, as she gazed up at the Jade Palace. It was truly majestic in the morning sun, standing proud as a testament to China itself.

"Your majesty, we decorated your palace strictly under your own instructions," Jian spoke, hoping that this visit wasn't going to inspire a re-decoration plan.

"Quite." Xīyǒu responded, dull. She headed towards the impressive doors and stood before them. "How magnificent this place is! And to think, it didn't take us long to get here at all," she added, leaning against the door on her tiptoes, seeing the highest point she could reach.

"And we could have gotten here even quicker, had you not insisted we stopped at every souvenir shop in the valley," Jian muttered.

"Stop giving me sass and start helping me look my best for my introduction," Xīyǒu began brushing down her cloak, making sure not a speck of dust would mar the beautiful silk. Jian patted down her shoulders and back, though it all seemed to make no difference to him. Clearing her throat, Xīyǒu knocked on the doors. No answer.

"Well that's rude!" Xīyǒu knocked again, but still no one came. "What, are these Kung Fu masters too stuck up to come and say hello to their dear empr-"

"Good morning, your majesty," came a voice from behind her. She jumped round, fur on end, only to see an old tortoise standing beside a surprised Jian. Master Oogway smiled and dipped his head in a bow, a gesture that the empress did not return. "I didn't expect to see you so early."

"It seems you didn't expect me at all," Xīyǒu replied, glowering, "no one is answering your door."

"My students must be training already," Oogway chuckled. Xīyǒu's fur puffed a little in anger. Not anger at the situation, but anger that the old tortoise seemed to be completely ignoring her indignant attitude. "Come." Motioning with his staff, Oogway led Xīyǒu and Jian towards the training hall.

This is it? Xīyǒu thought to herself. No grand introduction? Just taking me to them, rather than the other way around? She felt more confusion than anger, as she did not really mind in the least. Sometimes she preferred a more... Subdued interaction. It made her feel less guilty. Now's not the time to dwell on that. She beat back the thoughts that threatened to intrude. She had gotten good at that over the years. Let's just try to have a good time at the - oof! Xīyǒu was winded as Oogway's staff knocked her in the stomach. Not intentionally, of course, but the tortoise had lowered it horizontally to block their path, and she had walked right into it. At least, she didn't think it was intentional. But that tortoise sure seemed sneaky. He raised his staff and smiled at her.

"What are you-" She took greedy gasps of air as she looked up, and saw that he had led them into a large hall in the midst of, what appeared to be, utter chaos. Oogway's students were certainly going all-out. Xīyǒu stared in awe. While it at first seemed chaotic and messy she noticed, if she focused on one at a time, how akin it was to an art or a dance. In the centre of the room, two students brawled; an elephant and a red panda. The elephant charged towards the red panda with tremendous force, but his fist only crashed into the ground in an explosion of dust. The red panda was far too nimble, and launched himself off the elephant's forearm to deliver several swift kicks to his face. With a quickness that defied his size, the elephant used his trunk to grab the red panda's foot and slam him into the ground.

Still awestruck, Xīyǒu's attention shifted to the students training around the fighting pair. A snow leopard, an owl and a rooster - just like she remembered - were training independently, seemingly (and literally, in the case of the owl) flying from one piece of equipment to the next. They seemed to flow so naturally, as if they had been doing this routine since the day they were born. Each strike had the precision of a weapon, yet seemed to pack even more of a destructive force.

Now this is strength, Xīyǒu thought. A spark of admiration gleamed in her eyes. How long and hard they must have trained just to be here right now! How determined and devoted they must be to their craft, and how it shows in their skill! No wonder they are so respected; a respect they no doubt deserve, and have earned. A familiar emotion bubbled to the surface. Guilt, and the fear of guilt, wormed its way into her mind, poisoning her thoughts and souring her expression. It needn't be this way. An idea lit up in her mind, as if it were the light at the end of a tunnel. Not just the army and the guard - imagine if I were to learn such a skill! Another thought quickly extinguished that light. As if she, the empress, would be caught dead becoming a student to another. The path to improvement is laced with failure after failure, and she did not - could not! - fail at anything. Never mind, she frowned.

Xīyǒu wasn't really sure what to do next. She wanted to address them all, but they hadn't even seen her come in, all too wrapped up in their training to notice. She turned to Master Oogway, as if to ask for help, but both Oogway and Jian were attentively watching the impressive show of Kung Fu in front of them. Xīyǒu sighed and stepped forward, clearing her throat. She was not sure how she was going to make herself heard over the noise, but by the gods, she was going to do it. Luckily, someone had already heard her. The young red panda, whose large ears afforded him such sensitive hearing, was distracted enough to look over. Upon seeing the empress in the hall, he was dumbstruck. What?! How can she be here already?! It's far too soon! His distraction proved fatal, as it allowed Elephant to deliver a powerful blow, knocking Shifu smack into Rooster, and the two landed in a crumpled heap at the feet of a very startled Xīyǒu, who flinched as if they had actually hit her.

"...Uh, need a hand?"

Shifu looked up, and saw a lilac paw outstretched. The empress! He looked up at her properly. She seemed very... Bright. As if sunlight emanated from her. The stories must be true. Suddenly, Rooster's wing appeared from no where.

"Thanks!" Rooster clucked, as he grabbed her hand and lifted himself up. He dusted himself down, jumped and then bowed hastily. "Oh! I mean, uh, thank you, your majesty." Xīyǒu smiled, and then extended her hand to Shifu.

"No, I'm... I'm quite fine," Shifu helped himself up. He did not follow the same etiquette as his friend, as panic was already setting in. How long were they going to get to practice, anyway? Did she want them to perform now? In a month? Why were the members of the royalty and council so irritatingly vague, as if there were no other schedules in the world but their own?

The commotion had caught the attention of the other three students, who soon paused their practice to gather around. They all expressed some positive emotion or another, Xīyǒu noted, from eagerness to pride. All except the red panda, who looked like he'd just been insultingly slapped in the face. Xīyǒu took a deep breath.

"Good morning, students of the great Master Oogway. I am your empress, Xīyǒu, but you may call me Xi whilst I am here. My guards have advised me to keep things informal and friendly." She turned to Jian and winked. Jian planted his face in his hoof. "As you are probably aware, I am here to watch you... Do... Kung Fu. I would like you to come up with some kind of performance, and demonstrate it to me next week. Whomever I think is most impressive, will be coming with me back to the palace to train the imperial guards and army in your style. Unless, um, you don't want to then..." Her eyes darted nervously as she shuffled in place, not sure what to say, "...Then I'll see you around, I guess?" She followed it up with a shrug and turned to Oogway. "Okay, I think that's it. I'd like to be shown around now, please. Let's leave your students to practice." Jian and Xīyǒu left the room, followed closely by Oogway. Just before he left the doorway, Oogway looked back at his students. It was only a brief glance, but Shifu was sure he saw something in Oogway's eyes. Some kind of emotion, but he wasn't sure what... Remorse, perhaps? But why...

It didn't matter, Oogway had gone.

No sooner had the empress left than the students had begun their discussion.

"I can't believe we just met the empress!"

"She's so small, I always imagined her bigger."

"Hey, she's taller than Rooster."

"Hey! At least I can fit through any door, unlike someone here!"

The group laughed, but Shifu could not find humour in him.

"Oh for goodness' sake Shifu, lighten up." Fenghuang sounded exasperated. "You're bringing the mood down."

"He's probably still hurting from that awesome trunk-punch I delivered. Seriously, did any of you see it?" Elephant crowed, clearly proud of himself.

Normally Shifu had no problem engaging with the others, even if he did like to keep his distance sometimes. But this week had been bad, and it looked like it was only going to get worse.


Oogway gave a sigh of discontent as he watched the empress and her guard take to their rooms for the night. The empress may say that she is at the Palace to watch Kung Fu, and she may even believe it herself, but he could feel that a much more unpleasant fate was about to unravel, one that was going to envenom all at the Jade Palace. Not every destiny is a benevolent one, and he knew he could do nothing to stop it.