After vigorous training and one more meal, just before bed. Li-Mei, Po, and Shifu were walking the palace grounds. Po still feeling a little hungry headed toward the edge of the grounds, the one spot that was peaceful and beautiful. The Peach Tree of Heavenly Wisdom, had been a place of peace and tranquility for both the Dragon Warrior and Master Shifu. Li-Mei, who had only visited the site once, could help but feel calm as they approached. The three of them looked up at the crystal clear sky, the stars twinkling, the moon shining bright, and a soft breeze swirling with the hint of peaches in the air. Each one of them feeling all the burdens lifting from their shoulders as the gazed up at the heavens. Shifu and Li-Mei's ears twitched, a loud slurping noise could be heard under the tree. The two red pandas slowly turned around and looked at the giant panda devouring several juicy peaches. Po paid no mind to his master nor his new friend staring at him, the sweet tasting peaches were the perfect late night dessert, for the hungry warrior.
"I believe it is time we go to sleep," Master Shifu spoke. Li-Mei looked at her uncle and nodded her head. Po also agreed with his master, and grabbed a few more peaches, he was going to make a awesome breakfast using them. As they entered the sleeping barracks, Li-Mei suddenly turned around and scanned the shadows that were creeping closer the buildings. She couldn't help the feeling that she was being watched, she strained her ears, training find any foreign sound. She finally turned around, coming face to face with her uncle, who gave her a questioning look.
"I thought I heard something...It must have been the wind rustling the leaves," Li-Mei told Shifu as she walked down the hall to her room.
"It has been a long day...you and Po trained very hard today. You probably just tired." the aged red panda said with a smile. Li-Mei gave her uncle a smile back, but she couldn't shake the feeling that someone was there. Finally bowing to her master Li-Mei headed off to her room, listening to the soft foot steps of her uncle walking to his.
The night was calm and clear, the air a little chilly, and a red panda who was gazing up as the starry sky with a smile on her face. Suddenly, her ears began to twitch, as she could her something was approaching window, it as flying fast. Not wanting Po to wake up, Li-Mei decided she would deal with the winged intruder on her own. Grabbing her black bamboo flute, she jumped on to the window sill and on to the ground. As she stood waiting in the shadows of the sleeping barracks, the trespasser was getting closer. Being as quite as she could Li-Mei readied herself to attack. Just as she about to pounce she caught sight of a silhouette of a bat across the moon. Realizing who was coming, the red panda emerged from the shadows and waved at her fellow comrade.
"Komori what are you doing here?" the red panda asked the bat who just landed in front of her.
"Sensei wish to talk with you again," he informed her.
"Why? It's too soon, I have nothing to report to him." she said her mind whirling around with ideas as to why he would call upon her again in such a short time.
"He...didn't say...but it's im-," Komori responded.
"Komori we should move from this place. I don't want anyone to over her us," she said as she moved away from the sleeping barracks toward the Peach Tree of Heavenly Wisdom. The bat just flew along with the red panda, the two of them looking ahead at the rather large peach tree, the branches that were beginning to lose their leaves.
"Aka, we have no time for detours!" the bat exclaimed.
"Komori, I'm aware of that. But I want to talk you, privately." she said she took seat at the base of the Peach Tree of Heavenly Wisdom.
"Aka! We must be going. Sensei will not be pleased if we are late!" Komori yelled upset at the red panda's sudden procrastination. She merely looked up at him, her face blank.
"I want you to tell Sensei that I will not be attending this meeting. It is far to early for another status update." she simple said.
"AKA! Have you gone mad! No one disobeys an order from Sensei Kitsune! Y-you know the consequences of that!"
"I am aware of what he will do, but I believe that if I remain a little longer. I will be able not be punished. I'm getting very close to Master Shifu. I just need a little more time, and then we can attack."
"What has gotten in to you?"
"Why would you ask something like that! I'm fine, but I also have to keep my cover here. I don't want to blow my mission on something so silly."
"Fine! I will tell Sensei what you have said! But...It's your funeral," Komori retorted. He looked at Li-Mei one last time, and then flew in to the night sky. The young red panda remained seated, but her ears were moving to catch the sound of the bat's wings flapping. When the sound was just about out of earshot she stood up, and with ninja like skills, she began to flow the sound of flapping wings. As she entered the forest, the young red panda, leapt quietly on to the trees, and continued to jump from one to the other. Her ears, honed in to Komori's flying. She glanced quickly up at the sky, the moonlight shining down on to the forest floor, she made sure to stay in the shadows of the trees and their branches.
As she followed deeper into the forest, the dark it got. However, an orange glow started to come in to view, breaking through the blackness that had started to surround her. Li-Mei leapt one last time, making sure not make any noise. Still listening to Komori's flapping, she then started to focus on the sounds near by. She could hear the flapping of wings, but also voices. These voices, however were too low for her to make out what was being said. Thinking quickly and carefully, the young red panda jumped to a neighboring tree. The voices were still to low to make out any words that were being said. Li-Mei took a deep breath and leapt once again to a tree close to her, and the orange glow. She slow exhaled, relieved that no one at the camp had heard her. The voices were low, but not low enough for Li-Mei to make the conversation.
"Sensei! Sensei!" anxiously the bat said, as he approached his master. The sounds of the leaves crunched indicated that Komori was now walking to Kitsune.
"Komori, where is Aka?" the fox said, his voice had no trace of emotion.
"Uh-She-Well...."
"Komori..."
"She's...not coming." Komori said in a small voice.
"Care to repeat that, a little louder perhaps?"
"She is not coming, Sensei"
"Are you telling me that, Aka has disobeyed an order?" the fox said, a small hint of anger coming out. The red panda heard nothing, but figured that Komori nodded his head in replay.
"I see, well. That's too bad really. I need to know of the status, and inform her that we would have to move the day of attack tomorrow."
"She, said that it was too soon to give a status report"
"I see, Komori...I would like you to continue your observation on Aka through the morning. However, I will need to return to camp by the being of sunset. You will then prepare for the attack." the fox explained.
"Why is he planning to attack tomorrow? I haven't even updated him on my status either...but if the attack is tomorrow...uncle will know who I really am.." Li-Mei thought.
"...if you happen to come in contact with Aka, make sure not to inform of the this change." Sensei Kitsune said to the bat.
"Yes, Sensei." Komori responded. The red panda then scurried to a lower branch and hid. The sound of crunching leaves fainted away in to the sound of flapping wings. Li-Mei kept as still and quiet as possible, as Komori flew over head.
"Sir, what are we going to do about that little rat!" a familiar voice spoke.
"Ah, well she will learn her lesson, General."
"What of the bigger one?"
"Shirokuma and Okami will take of that bumbling Dragon Warrior. Komori and Hokuto will deal with Aka. As for Shifu we will deal with him. He will have no one able to come to his aid, he will be killed. Then the Jade Palace will have a new master." Kitsune and General Oushi started to chuckle. Li-Mei's mind began to race, with questions. She careful leapt toward a neighboring tree, heading back toward the sleeping barracks. As the trees started to clear away and the building go the Jade Palace come in to view Li-Mei kept to shadows making sure that Komori would not spot her.
She sighed with relief with fact she made it inside without a problem. She carefully slid her door open and quickly closed it. Li-Mei glanced at her bed, falling upon it, and dozing off in to a fitful sleep.
The dark sky melted into gray, pink, orange, and yellow. As the sunlight started to lighten up the palace grounds, the sound of the gong rang throughout it. As quickly as possible a groggy red panda leapt to the door and slid it open.
"Good morning Master!" she greeted a smiling aged red panda.
"Good morning Li- PO!" Master Shifu yelled. The soft snoring sound was replaced by shuffling feet and... "RRRIIIIPPPP!" the dragon warrior fell through the door and looked up at the two red pandas staring back at him.
"Ehhh...Good morning Master Shifu," Po said with a large grin on his face.
"Follow me, " the master ordered turning around and leaving the building. Po and Li-Mei looked at one another and quickly followed. Master Shifu led them back to the training hall, but stopped short of the stair case. His two students looked at him with curious faces.
"Since you the two of you seem to work quite well together yesterday, I would like to try that again. But this time you will be fighting me."
"Are you sure about that?" Po said his voice small.
"Yes, are you ready?"
"Yes, Master!"
"Alright on the count of three. One. Two. Three!" Master Shifu leapt in to the air and land on Po's head. The large panda tried to grab his master off his head but no such luck. As Shifu grabbed the Dragon Warrior's ear, Li-Mei jumped into the air only to be met by Po's wailing face. The two students collided, Po a little stunned, and Li-Mei unfortunately stuck under Po. As the slightly stunned panda got up, he was met with a kick to the back, this time he rolled to the other side of the training ground, dragging a poor red panda with him. Master Shifu on the other hand had a satisfied smirk on his face as he watched his two students. As Po regained his footing, there was a red blur coming at him just as it was about to make contact it ended up flying backward. Shifu land on his feet and looked at his niece, who had counter his attack. The smirk from the master's face was now gone, he looked at his two students who looked right back at him with determination in their eyes. Then quick as lighting Li-Mei and Shifu were locked in combat, Po on the other hand just stood there. He wasn't sure which red and white blur happen to be his master or is new friend. Recalling the day he first saw them fight, the Dragon Warrior, with some luck grabbed both red pandas' tails. Shifu and Li-Mei had identical facial expressions of shock. Po pulled them up higher so that they were all eye level with each other. Both Master Shifu and Li-Mei gave Po the evil eye for still holding them by the tail. All the poor Dragon Warrior could see was stars, as he tried figure out what had just happened. Master Shifu and his niece had kicked Po right in the face as hard as they could in order for the panda bear to release their tails. The two of them stared down at the poor panda who remained still and then looked up at each other.
"I think we kicked him to hard..." Li-Mei said as she looked back down at her friend and fellow student.
"I believe you are right. We will ending the training for the day." Master Shifu said as patted the cheeks of his student to get him up. The now groggy panda slowly lifted his head and rolled on his stomach in order to get up. Pushing himself up, Po managed to stand on his feet only be on his hands and knees due to is head suddenly swimming. Shifu and Li-Mei ran to his side to make sure that the Dragon Warrior was doing okay. This however was not case, Po could not stand up on his own with out getting dizzy. The two red pandas weren't tall enough to help him walk to the kitchen. As the two of them stared down at the poor panda, several students came walking by. They stared at the two red pandas and then the large black and white mass next to them. Master Shifu motioned for them to come over.
"Good, now let's try and get Po here to the kitchen," the elder red panda instructed his students.
"Yes, Master." they all responded. The bunnies, a boar, duck and the two red pandas slow and carefully made their way to the kitchen. Only stopping once in while to catch their breath and switch places while trying to help the poor Dragon Warrior walk. Exhausted, and out of breath the students made it to the kitchen.
"Thank you, Li-Mei and myself will take care of Master Po. You may go back to whatever you were doing before." Master Shifu ordered. The two red pandas scurried around the kitchen boiling water to brew tea, and taking Monkey's almond cookies. They set the tea and the cookies in front of the panda, nose twitching, it was all gone with in seconds.
"Po are you feeling better?" Li-Mei asked.
"My head still hurts...and I'aaamm feeling kinda tired." the Dragon Warrior answered with a yawn.
"Can you walk to your room?" Master Shifu asked. Po nodded a slow 'yes'. Getting up very slowly the panda managed to get to his room and fall in to a much needed sleep. Giving instructions to his niece, he left his two students and headed to the Hall of Warriors. Li-Mei looked over at the slumbering panda, and walked over to her room. She looked out of her window up at the sky, it's oranges, pinks, and yellows greeting her. But she soon spotted not far off, a large black bird of some kind flying quickly toward the forest. She stared up at not exactly sure what she was seeing but, as it fly closer to where she was, the outline became clear. Li-Mei knew exactly who it was. When in seconds all that could be seen was a blur of red and white leaving the sleeping barracks.
The bright colors of the sunset were not gone, in their place large dark clouds now roamed. In the distance the soft roar of thunder could be heard, but the pitter-patter of footsteps running to the Hall of Warriors, echoed through the grounds. Li-Mei, was running as fast as she could, she had to tell her uncle what was about to happen. As she arrived at the large doors of the Hall of Warriors, she took a moment to catch her breath, preparing herself for what she was about to say. The large doors squeaked, as Li-Mei opened them, as she looked down the halls she saw her uncle staring at her.
"Li-Mei, is something wrong with Po?" he asked her.
"No, Po is fine. He was still sleeping when left." she responed.
"Oh, well thank you for the quick updat-"
"Mas-Uncle, there's something I have to tell you...I-It's-I..."
"Li-Mei...what is it?"
"I...I'm, not who you think I am. My being here is, not by coincidence." she said. Master Shifu looked at her, quite confused.
"It's my mission to be here and find the weak points of the palace grounds. I'm part of the military that's responsible for terrorizing the neighboring valleys. That way the Furious Five would be dealing with the neighboring valleys, and the Valley of Peace would be weak enough to attack. Over the course of several months agents have been living here, waiting for the moment to strike." she explained, her eyes not daring to look in to her uncle's.
"However, I recently found out my Sensei has set his sights on you. He seems to be driven by revenge. He wishes to-"
Master Shifu motioned for her to be silent. She quickly glanced up in to his blue eyes. There she saw hurt and anger.
"Uncle?" Li-Mei whispered.
"Leave, and do not return." Shifu said coldly, turning toward the moon pool.
"Uncle, please...."
"Leave...Now!" Li-Mei's ears flattened against her head, she opened her mouth to protest but the look Shifu gave her, silenced her. Turning away she walked back to the doors of the hall. Master Shifu stared in to the Moon pool, not looking back at his niece leaving the Hall of Warriors.