Twelve soldiers attacking with sharp blades, and many more with bows and arrows. Four kung fu masters, one with an injured leg. Mantis had faced far worse.

"Crane! Arrows!" Monkey yelled as he blocked the first blow then kicked the first attacker back seven feet. Crane immediately leapt to the front of the group and began deflecting the heaps of arrows that came flying at them from the rooftops with his expansive wings. There were dozens and dozens of the lethal projectiles, but Crane had been practicing the art of deflection since before he came to the Jade Palace. A crowd of brainwashed bowmen had nothing on Master Shifu's training hall.

Mantis pounced from Monkey's shoulder onto the trio of red-eyed crocs aiming to gut Crane while he was focused on the arrows. Like a dark green bolt of lighting he never struck the same spot twice. Once on the first thug's neck. Two on his arm, making him lose his sword. Three on the second thug's chest at the same time the first fell. He jumped to the third and struck him square in the forehead.

Nearby, Monkey's skirmish was just as swift. Four soldiers fell to his phenomenal reflexes and relentless fists. As for Mei Ling, the nasty cut on her leg didn't stop her from dropping her three attackers with one blow of her staff.

Mantis nerve pinched the last brainwashed thug in the shoulder and then leapt back to Monkey, who signalled for them to start back through the open door into the HQ. At the same time the assault of arrows stopped as the bowmen prepared to reload. Crane lowered his wings and ushered his friends inside. Monkey slammed the door behind them, and a second later a sound like heavy rain filled the air as another volley of arrows struck the wood on the other side.

"We should keep moving." Mei Ling said, grimacing as she held her injured leg. "They'll follow us for sure."

"And go where?" Monkey asked. "They'll have the place surrounded. Does anyone have any ideas?"

"I do." Mei Ling said. "We need to get to Top Dog's office. Inside is a hidden trap door. Down there is an underground tunnel that leads right to the royal palace. No-one from the Order mentioned it, so I don't think it'll be guarded."

"Underground, huh?" Crane pulled a face. "Fine. Hurry, before they break in and find us."

"And before Ember's people find us, too." Mei Ling added.

Mantis slumped against Monkey's neck, feeling a minor headache coming on. Brainwashed soldiers trying to kill them. An evil cult bent on taking over the world. A demon goddess who can paralyze people without even touching them. Ain't life as a kung fu master grand?

In spite of all this madness, the halls of the HQ were eerily quiet. Mantis and the others moved as fast as they could without Mei Ling's injury making her lag behind. As they reached the armoury and passed by it, it became apparent that it wasn't just eerily quiet. It was improbably quiet. Their pursuers should have entered the building and attacked them by now. Or maybe they were surrounding the building. Holding it under siege.

Or maybe they were readying their cannons to blast the place apart. That last thought drove Mantis to jab Monkey behind the ear, urging them to pick up the pace.

They reached the second floor balcony of the main hall and looked down over the wooden rail. The ground floor was a mess, with furniture and paper strewn all over the floor. Mei Ling pointed to the door they needed to go through, a single red door on the lower floor opposite the hall. Then she grunted and slumped against the rail. "Mei Ling?" Crane lowered himself beside her.

Mei Ling rubbed her injured leg. A red stain was steadily growing on the dressing. "It's bleeding again. I can't afford to lose any more blood, damn it."

Mei Ling was keeping an impressively cool head. Crane on the other hand, was on the verge of panic. "Gosh darnit, Mei, why did you have to get yourself involved with these people?"

"Please don't start, Crane." The mountain cat sighed. "There's a medical room on the way to Top Dog's office. We can get something there."

They helped get Mei Ling back on her feet and then travelled warily down the stairs. Their first impression of the ground floor was right. There was no-one here.

Then...

"Voices. So many voices. Can't sleep. The Empress is angry."

They all leapt into combat stances and searched, but the voice had seemingly come from nowhere. Mantis spun round on Monkey's shoulder, close to freaking out. The room was empty. Candlelight cast flickering shadows all over the place. "Who the hell said that?"

Mei Ling looked at him. "I told you something was wrong with the people here. That sounded pretty far away, though."

Monkey swallowed and headed towards the red door. "Let's keep going."

They got to the medical room without anything else happening, which was a good thing since Mei Ling was getting weaker with each droplet of blood she left behind on the floor. The room didn't have much light due to the windows being boarded up, but Monkey found a candle on a table and lit it. The gentle glow revealed a bed nearby, and Crane set Mei Ling down on it before rooting through the cabinets.

Mantis looked at the boarded windows when Monkey strayed near them, but they were completely covered up. His antennae twitched. "Do you hear that? It sounds like fighting."

Everyone froze, and they all heard what Mantis was talking about. It was barely audible through the boards, but it seemed like there was a battle going on out there.

"It must be Ember's people." Mei Ling said, looking slightly dazed. "The crowd of Long Feng's soldiers must have drawn them here."

Crane looked just as troubled as Mantis felt. "Let's stop this bleeding and get out of here." He returned to the cabinet and found a needle and stitches.

Thump!

This time, Mantis actually jumped, losing his balance and tumbling off Monkey's shoulder. Not noticing, Monkey said, "What was that?"

Mantis was feeling ready to bust some skulls as he picked himself up off the floorboards. "How about this time, we go and check?"

"You two go." Crane said. "I'll help Mei Ling."

Like a true friend Monkey waited until Mantis was back on his shoulder before entering the corridor.

Empty. Of course it was.

"This is getting so old." Mantis muttered, thinking how true it was that nothing was scarier.

"If you want, we can check on the secret passage." Monkey said.

"Oh, what the hell."

The door to Top Dog's office, a single door at the end of the corridor, wasn't far, and was slightly ajar when they reached it. Almost at once they could tell that something wasn't right. Scattered all over the floor outside the door were empty bags and spilled dry grey powder. A searing heat emanated from the gap in the door, as did a voice so soft it was indistinct.

Monkey slowed his pace, his face grim, as he and Mantis approached the door. They couldn't see the speaker through the crack. Monkey reached out and silently nudged the door, widening the gap.

A second later, Mantis was sure that they were dead meat.

A dishevelled Top Dog was crouched over an open trapdoor in a corner of the large office, patting at the drying cement inside with a trowel. His red robe was singed black at the shoulders, and his fur was covered in soot. He whispered to himself as he patted the cement, over and over and over again. "All done. All done. She will be pleased with my success."

"Uh, Top Dog?" Monkey spoke, not moving from the doorway.

Top Dog looked at them. There was a glazed look in his eyes, like he was sleepwalking. The smile on his face, however, made it clear that there was something even worse going on in his mind. "I knew you would come. Just like she said. She knows and sees."

Mantis had a sinking feeling as he looked at the cement filled passage. "Top Dog, what did you do? We need to use that passage!"

"Can't, can't, can't." Top Dog muttered. "Told me to seal it. Only the dragons can open and close the door to the past."

Mantis had to remind himself that Top Dog wasn't insane, not really. But Ember's special brand of brainwashing was beyond creepy. "Top Dog, we need to get to the palace. The royal family is in trouble."

"Yes, yes, she saw and told me." Top Dog said.

"You're talking about Ember, aren't you?" Monkey asked warily. "Where is she?"

"Not here. She would have closed the door herself, but she has places to be. Memories to find. A panda to tell her."

"Po?"

"The peacock's eye on the black wolf's shoulder." Top Dog dazedly wandered over to the big desk in the middle of the room, sat down behind it, and gazed at the paintings that covered all four walls. Every single painting depicted imperial soldiers locked in battle. "Satisfaction. That's all she wants."

Mantis had head enough. He leaned towards Monkey's ear. "Let's head back."

"But Mantis..."

"Do you have any idea how to snap him out of it? If not, there's nothing we can do. I'm sure he'll be fine. Besides, the others need to know about this." He gestured to the cemented trapdoor.

Monkey looked very reluctant as he nodded. "Okay, Top Dog. We'll just use the streets to get to the palace. We don't want to get in Ember's way, we're just going to help the royal family."

"Good." Top Dog leaned back in his year. "Good. Tell Crane that she sends her regards." He closed his eyes and stopped moving. It took a while for Mantis and Monkey to realise that he had fallen into a deep sleep. It was like someone had just doused a candle with their fingers. Not even Po could fall asleep that quickly.

"Ooooookay." Monkey slowly stepped backwards out of the room and closed the door.

They wasted no time heading back to the medical room, stepping inside to find Mei Ling's leg fully stitched but Mei Ling still looking pale. Mantis did most of the talking as he and Monkey explained what they'd just discovered. It was no surprise how Crane and Mei Ling reacted.

"Top Dog got brainwashed and blocked the passage?" Mei Ling rubbed her forehead. "Great."

"I guess that means we go to Plan C." Crane said.

"Wait, the trapdoor was Plan B?" Mantis asked. "Then what the heck was Plan A?"

Crane ignored him. "There's a battle going on out there, right? That means most if not all of Long Feng's forces will be distracted. We should take the chance while we still got it."

"Yeah, let's hope we get out before they decide to break in." Monkey said.

"Please don't jinx it." Mantis said.

Even as he spoke those words, it was too late.

The explosive crash of wooden boards splintering like twigs was like a punch to the ears. The fierce setting sunlight pouring into the room attacked their eyes like blunt knives. In the split second that a dozen figures smashed their way through the windows and into the room, all four masters had frozen. Then the moment of dazed shock was gone, and they once again found themselves fighting for their lives.

Mantis leapt from Monkey's shoulder, and as he flew through the air he saw that their attackers were not red-eyed thugs. Even half blinded by the crimson sunlight, he could see the vacant look in their eyes. Not only that, they were imperial soldiers. He reached the first brainwashed soldier and jabbed a single point in the neck. The large pig collapsed to the ground, out cold. Mantis jumped to the next victim, ready to use the same tactic. Just as he landed on the boar's shoulder he saw two things out the corner of his eye. Crane being shoved down by three soldiers, and four pairs of hands reaching through one of the broken windows and dragging Mei Ling outside.

"No!" Crane shoved his assailants away with his wings and took off through the window. Mantis and Monkey wasted no time following, casting their opponents aside as they went.

Outside they could see that the battle was nearly over. Fallen soldiers were all over the place, and only a few were still fighting on the rooftops. They heard Mei Ling cursing from the other side of the square. Her four abductors were dragging her by the arms into an alley right across from them. In her current state, she could only struggle in vain. She had lost too much blood.

Mantis, Crane and Monkey tried to pursue, but only got halfway before a stray cannonball struck one of the buildings overlooking the alley. The entire structure collapsed, disintegrating into broken chunks of wood that blocked the alley like a landslide. Crane took flight at once, disappearing over the blockade. After what felt like forever he returned, his expression stricken. "She's gone! Vanished!"

They heard the explosion of another cannon, and the pavement exploded some distance away. Monkey grabbed Crane's shoulder. "Come on, we need to hide!"

They almost had to drag Crane to the nearest unblocked street. Some time later, in a relatively intact noodle shop much like Mr. Ping's, they stopped to catch their breath and reflect on the disastrous turn of events. Mei Ling was gone, taken by the enemy. She could be anywhere in the city by now. If she was still alive.

"She's alive." Crane muttered, as if he had read Mantis's mind. "She was the star of my old academy. She's alive."

"And we'll find her." Mantis replied. "But right now I'm more worried about that." He pointed to the nearest window. Small glowing embers were floating down past the window like snowflakes. "There must be a fire nearby."

But it wasn't, as they soon discovered when they took the risk and ventured back outside. There were no fires to be seen. The little embers were falling from the gradually blackening sky, like surreal weather in dark nightmare that was all too real.


From a small burgundy red room on the top floor of the royal palace, Long Feng glared in revulsion at the falling ember snow and what it represented. Ember, the evil demon who nearly killed him so long ago, had returned.

It was roughly twenty years ago when that fateful night had occurred. That night when Ember had caught him while he was at his most vulnerable, had chosen to punish him for his involvement in her suffering. True, he had been one of Tujiu's direct subordinates when it happened, but he had only ever been following orders. Back then, it had been nothing personal. Of course, Ember hadn't seen it that way.

It had been one of the coldest winters he had ever lived through. He and twenty of his loyal soldiers had been sent by Tujiu on an errand that took them through the Valley of Peace. In the dark of the night they had chosen to sneak undetected through the forest that surrounded the valley, and that was where Ember had attacked. All twenty men slaughtered, with Long Feng saved for last. She had tortured him, broken him. Absentmindedly he touched the stumped that had once been his whole arm. He eagerly anticipated the day when he would return the favour.

The door opened behind him, and in walked Colonel Sao, his old friend. "General." The sound of Sao's voice made Long Feng just a little better, and he turned round with a small smile. The fox bowed and got right to the point. "I am pleased to report that the plan went perfectly. Though only the viper and a member of the Gongmen City's Master's Council took the bait, I was able to answer their questions without any suspicions. I believe that the ambush at the prison was successful?"

Long Feng's smile faded. Sao noticed. "Sir, what went wrong?"

Long Feng gave him what he assumed to be a reassuring look. "You are not to blame. You did your part perfectly. But the prison was attacked before our little pests arrived. Everyone was killed or disappeared, and that's not the worst of it. The Dragon Warrior has escaped, along with several prisoners. A family with one child."

"Pandas, per chance?" Sao asked. Long Feng nodded. "Damn it. If only we'd captured Ember when we had the chance."

"Don't worry, my friend." Long Feng smirked. "We'll get another chance. In the meantime, I have new orders for you. Three members of the Furious Five, as well as the traitor Mei Ling are cornered in the HQ. Take some troops and head straight to the HQ to assist in their capture."

"Yes, sir." Sao looked over Long Feng's shoulder and his eyes widened when he saw the falling embers. "Sir, I think the palace is on fire!"

Long Feng shook his head. "No. It's Ember. She's here in the city, or at least close by."

For the first time, Sao looked truly afraid. Long Feng couldn't say he blamed him. "Oh god."

"Sao, leave at once for the HQ. Leave Ember to me and Lady Nuwang."

"Yes, sir." Sao left at once.

Long Feng took one more look at the window before pulling out the special mirror that was his means of communicating with Lady Nuwang. After a few moments he saw her beautiful but cruel features on the reflective surface.

"Izumi, is that-" Nuwang's purple eyes blinked. "Oh, it's you. This had better be good."

"Whether it's good depends on your opinion." Long Feng held the mirror towards the window so she could see. "Ember snow, just like you told me about. She's here."

"Talk about unfortunate timing." Nuwang sighed.

"Indeed. Without you, we have no chance of defeating her."

"So don't bother trying. At least for the moment she is too busy obsessing over the Dragon Warrior to interfere with our plans. There's a chance that he is also here in the city."

"I beg your pardon? She's obsessed with the Dragon Warrior?"

"Yes, don't ask me why. He's an insignificant bug."

Long Feng scowled. "If he's insignificant why did we invade the valley to cap-" Suddenly he understood. "Ah. Beauty... and brains. That wasn't flattery, I assure you."

The Lady laughed. It was surprisingly pleasant, but he knew that it was also deceiving. "I will be arriving soon to deal with Ember. In the meantime, use the special resources I gave you to recapture the Dragon Warrior if you can."

"My lady, the men here that weren't subjected to Scorpion's enhanced elixir were personally trained by yours truly. Is that panda really dangerous enough to set the terracotta warriors loose on him?"

"He slew the demon king of the underworld. I'm not taking any chances. Have them subdue the panda with extreme prejudice."

"Of course, my lady. Oh, and by the way, how is our captive tigress?"

Lady Nuwang grinned. "Oh, she's not going anywhere."

"Have you considered using her as leverage against the Dragon Warrior? It might make capturing him easier."

"Don't you worry. I have plans for her."