Chapter Eight
Shifu was snapped out of meditation by the sound of his students returning from training, they all took their places at the table but
were still full from the lunch time feast and so only nibbled on some of the leftovers from the large meal. The six warriors were chatting
animatedly with each other and hardly noticed when their Master left the room, Shifu soon returned with his flute and sat down on his
bed as his students conversation broke off into a series of yawns. The six young warriors had grown silent as they each stared off into
space before Shifu began to play his flute, his students shifted their focus onto the music trying to find the hidden meanings and memories
that only Shifu could decipher. The mournful yet beautiful music lulled the already tired warriors into a state of half awareness, the haunting
yet comforting music seemed to echo and eventually fade long after Shifu had played the final note. He looked at each of his half asleep
students and spoke in a calm whisper like voice. "I believe it is time for bed." At the sleepy yet questioning glances from his students he
added. "I will sleep here for one final night. Just to make sure my cold has truly gone, now off you go. Goodnight." His students filed
past him biding him goodnight before heading off to their own rooms for a well deserved rest, it wasn't long before each of the young
warriors fell into deep slumber and not much longer afterwards that Master Shifu also fell into a deep sleep.
"Sire the Thread of Hope is in sight, we should make it to the Jade Palace by noon tomorrow." A goose servant said with confidence that
he didn't feel as he bowed low to the Emperor, the Emperor nodded and replied. "Good, we'll camp here tonight and break camp at dawns
first light." The servant goose bowed low as he was dismissed and rushed off to carry out his Master's orders. The Emperor sat on his light weighted throne that travelled with him and brooded. 'I hope we get there soon enough, even now it could be too late.'
Dawn crept slowly closer as the inhabitants of the Valley of Peace and the Jade Palace slept, all except Shifu who sat on the bunk-house
steps a blanket wrapped around his shoulders to ward off the early morning chill as he watched the stars fade. A few minutes before the
gong was to sound Shifu made his way back to the kitchen, just as the gong sounded le laid down on his makeshift bed and feigned sleep
just as his students arrived. "Po! Be quiet, Master Shifu is still asleep." Tigress growled as loud as she dared, Po grinned nervously at
Tigress' angry glare as he noticed his Master still apparently asleep. "Why don't we take our breakfast with us and eat at the training hall?" Suggested Viper in a hushed voice.
"Good idea." Tigress agreed nodding, after a few minutes they all quietly made their way to the training hall breakfast in hand after thinking
they had succeeded in not waking their Master.
Shifu waited for a few minutes before sitting in a meditative position lost in deep thought, this brooding came to an end fifteen minutes
later as crane entered the kitchen carrying empty dishes. "Oh, good morning Master." Crane said respectively bowing once he had put the
dishes down, Shifu grunted in response still partially lost in thought before standing. "Crane if anyone needs me I'll be meditating at the
Peach tree of Heavenly Wisdom." Shifu stated before swiftly leaving the room without another word, Crane bowed to the retreating figure
and replied. "Yes Master."
Crane quickly made his way back to his friends. Hey crane what took you?" Mantis asked as the others stopped briefly to greet him.
"I was talking to Master Shifu." Crane stated making everyone stop again.
"He's awake?" Viper asked, Crane nodded and spoke again.
"Yeah he said that if anyone needed him he'd be meditating at the Peach tree of Heavenly Wisdom." They all quickly decided to get back
to training, they were just about to start when a Jade Palace attendant appeared. "Masters, an Imperial Palace messenger just arrived,
he is in the arena." The goose stated before bowing and leaving hastily, the six warriors exchanged glances before making their way
to meet the messenger waiting in the arena.
The six warriors arrived at the arena and Tigress spoke before anyone else could. "What do you want messenger?" She demanded
harshly. "Masters I have been sent to inform you that the Emperor shall be arriving at noon today, also I have been instructed to inquire
on the health of Master Shifu." The messenger stated formally.
"Oh, well we will make sure that the Jade Palace is ready to receive him. Also tell the Emperor that Master Shifu has recovered." Tigress
replied a little gentler this time, the messenger goose nodded before taking off to return to his master and relay his new information.
"You guys inform the attendants and help them get the palace ready, I'll be back to help you after I tell master Shifu." Tigress instructed
before rushing off to the Peach tree of Heavenly Wisdom, with Tigress gone the others rushed around the palace informing all of the
attendants and helping them with various tasks in preparation for the Emperors arrival.
"Your Highness I bring a reply from the Jade Palace." The messenger goose said as he bowed low to his Master.
"Speak." Came the short reply.
"The Jade Palace will be ready to receive you by noon." The goose said while still keeping his head bowed.
"And Master Shifu?" The Emperor queried.
"Has apparently recovered, though from what I don't know. That is all the information I have Sire." The goose replied bowing as low as
he could as the Emperor dismissed him with a wave of his paw. 'At least he is now well, I would hate to break this news to an ill Panda.'
The Emperor thought to himself as he wished that his journey would pass faster.
"Master? Master?" Tigress called so she wouldn't startle Shifu if he was in deep meditation, as she reached the old Peach tree Tigress
saw her Master sitting peacefully beneath the blossom filled branches. He appeared to still be meditating but he had one of his ears
turned in her direction, Tigress approached her Master and knelt beside him. "Master the Emperor will be arriving at noon." She stated
simply, at Tigress' statement Shifu's eyes snapped open and his ears pricked up in surprise. "What!?" He asked in alarm.
"Relax Master, we don't want you having a heart attack now... A messenger arrived a few minutes ago to let us know, the others are
informing the attendants and helping them get everything ready." Tigress said soothingly trying to calm the alarmed Red Panda down,
Shifu took a few deep breaths before speaking. "Well we can't stay up here, we have to go help... Come on Tigress." Shifu Stated as
he hurriedly jumped to his feet and began to walk away, Tigress sighed and followed behind her limping Master.
Hours passed in what seemed only minutes to the frantic attendants and Kung Fu Masters, before they felt they were ready the entire
of the Jade Palace population was lined up in the arena. The huge double gates were open wide in anticipation of the Emperors arrival,
the Five and Po were lined up a step behind Shifu each freshly bathed and in his or her best clothing.
A few minutes of silence passed before servants that made the front of the Emperor's train appeared at the gates, they slowly marched
in time their foot steps sounding like many drums, they were followed by a heavily guarded sedan chair. The sedan chair had thin red
curtains around it hiding the occupant from view, carved wooden dragons covered in gold leaf decorated the sedans chairs top four
corners, dark coloured cherry tree wood that made up the chair was varnished and polished until it shone, each of the servants wore
matching orange and red trimmed uniforms with not a speck of dirt or wrinkle visible. The pig servants that carried the sedan chair gently
lowered it to the ground before each taking a step away from it, with grace and dignity an auburn coloured tiger stepped out into the
arena the sun reflecting of his shimmering fur making him look as if he were glowing. The tiger had an air of authority about him as he
stood tall and proud, his red and gold clothing only increased his royal appearance while showing off his muscular body. The inhabitants
of the Jade Palace bowed low in respect for their Emperor as he took in his surroundings, Master Shifu was the first to stand up straight
once more as he began to speak. "Your Highness, to what do we owe this great honour?" The Emperor looked fondly at Shifu as he answered.
"I heard that you had fallen ill my friend." Shifu's ears pricked up at this and he gave a quick questioning look to his students.
"I had, but have made a full recovery as you can see." He answered politely.
"Yes, I am glad you have for I have an urgent matter to discuss with you." The Emperor stated his face suddenly hard and emotionless.
"Of course sire, shall we talk in the sacred hall of warriors?" Shifu queried.
"Only if you are sure it's walls do not have ears Master Shifu." The Emperor replied as he began to follow Shifu who had started to walk
towards the hall. "Only the paintings sire and I don't think they will tell anyone anything." Shifu replied before stoping and giving a nod
to his students and Jade Palace attendants to let them know they were dismissed. He then continued to slowly lead the Emperor to
the Sacred Hall of Warriors, one inside he shut the two huge doors making it clear that they were not to be disturbed.
The other six Kung Fu masters were left to help the Jade Palace attendants, all of the servants and soldiers that came with the Emperor
needed food, water and a place to rest just as much as the Emperor himself. Though they were curious as to what was being discussed
in the hall they dared not try to spy as they knew their master had very keen hearing, with the decision to not go near the hall unless
absolutely necessary the six of them continued helping the attendants then went to the training hall for some late afternoon training until
dinner time.
...To be continued...
A/N
Well there you have it the final chapter of Shifu's cold, for those of you who are wondering his "dream" will be further explained in the sequel.
Speaking of sequel's I am willing to put up a small sneak peek of the first chapter... not the whole chapter only a small part of it as I am still in the process of writing it, let me know through reviews and I'll type a small part of it up and place it in a special section at the end of this story until then I shall leave this story as un-completed.
Well until either the sequal of Shifu's cold or the secret sneek peek. BYE ^^
