For today, Viper was glad that Po wasn't here, and she was sure that Shifu felt the same. If he was, he would definitely be freaking his butt of over the fact that they were currently in the place where the Jade Tortoise of Infinite Wisdom had been created. On the other hand, Viper herself had been quite shocked upon being brought here, back when she and the others had been paralysed and fully expecting to be brought to the Children of Nuwa's dungeons.
The beasts that had killed Boar and taken them prisoner had been nothing more than villagers trained in the arts of poison and combat. Even Boar's death had been only an illusion, as they discovered when they were brought to one of the wooden huts and saw him lying prone on a simple bed. All this had been that pheasant's doing. Either she was a powerful master of mental techniques or a sorceress, but Viper knew by now that whatever she was she wasn't evil. She'd given the order to administer the antitoxins but make sure they stayed in the hut, while she went back into the mines to personally locate Su. The small group of villagers who had reported her presence had been out of their mind with fear. They hadn't realised the illusion hadn't been lifted yet when they approached her, and she'd injured herself while trying to flee. When they told of the small red panda in the green robe who took her away, Viper knew at once who they were taking about.
There was no describing how relieved she felt when the pheasant, Mengxiang, returned with Shifu and Su. Despite the villagers' report, she looked unhurt, while Shifu appeared fully recovered from his own wounds. When the villagers apologised profusely for what happened Su merely giggled and said it was okay, while Shifu waved away the apologies and assured them that all was forgiven.
Su and her parents had never looked so happy when they were finally reunited, but Viper had had something nagging at the back of her mind as she watched their embrace. Something that had troubled her since their trek through the forest. Something concerning Anwu and her promise.
Despite her slight unease, the few hours after the reunion had been pure bliss. The village, much like the panda village in resemblance, was a paradise compared to the forest, the prison and the mines. After being reassured that the newcomers were not with the enemy soldiers, the villagers had welcomed them with open arms, bringing them a hearty meal and friendly conversation, feeling honoured to finally meet the late Master Oogway's legacy. Boar did not participate much, his pride having taken a hit at the revelation that he'd been brought down by mere villagers wielding tiny knives.
The village doctor had tended to Viper's internal injuries as they'd explained how the pheasant, their leader, had wandered into the village decades ago, weeping and lost. It had soon become apparent that she possessed spiritual powers. She could create powerful illusions, enter minds, erase and alter memories. But she had been so full of sorrow that they could bring themselves to be afraid, and she eventually became a permanent resident. With her powers she protected them, driving bandits away with her illusions and erasing their memories of the village's existence. Soon she became their leader, and to the devoted, something more.
Currently the pheasant was speaking to Master Shifu in her home, a grotto on the outskirts of the village. She'd requested to speak to him in private soon after Viper had been treated and promised that she would live. Now wearing a fresh bandage, she was slithering over to Su's family to request the same.
Anwu's gentle smile faded when she saw Viper's eyes. She whispered in Pong's ear, kissed Su on the forehead, and suggested they talk in the house they'd been brought to. They left the feast, went inside, and Viper shut the door. "Anwu, I'm sorry. But you made a promise."
Anwu sat on the bed Boar had been lying on while paralysed. "I know."
Viper coiled on the floor, wincing from her ribs. "What did you mean when you said Su was supposed to return?"
Anwu intertwined her fingers and rested them on her thighs. "You're probably aware that I had been struck by consumption a long time ago. Fortunately it went away before Su was born."
Viper frowned. Consumption was not like a cold. It did not just fade away. "Go on."
"I was dying. I was going to die, and there was nothing Pong or Qiang or anyone else could do to stop it." Anwu hugged herself, tears in her eyes. "It was the worst three weeks of my life. God, it was so horrible. I became thin. I had a fever that would not stop. My bed was covered in bloody rags from all the coughing. The only thing that stopped me from putting myself out of my misery was the thought of holding on until Su could be born. One day, while Pong had gone to get something to stop my chills, a cicada came to see me."
"A cicada? Who?"
Anwu wiped her eyes. "She called herself Meng Po. The spirit who oversees reincarnated souls. You heard of her?"
Viper had gone rigid. "I have. I never imagined she could be real."
"I thought the same, until she showed me the visions. She showed me a vision of a beautiful little girl, standing in a green meadow holding a big golden coin in one hand. I knew right away that girl was my baby. I asked her why she showed me this. She said that a long time ago, someone very ancient and powerful created a great seal to protect the world. That seal was in danger of being broken, and it needed to be strengthened by sending the soul of its creator back into the mortal world. When as long as flowed inside a living body, the flow of chi would bring protection to the seal. It sounds ridiculous, I know."
Viper remembered the Peach Tree and Kepa's mortal form. "Actually it doesn't."
Anwu actually looked surprised. "Anyway, she needed a mother to bring that soul back into the mortal world, and I needed myself and my baby to live."
Viper's heart nearly stopped as it dawned on her. "My gods."
"I didn't know what else to do... so I agreed. I allowed Meng Po to place a soul into my unborn child."
"And Su didn't remember her past life because she drank the Five Flavoured Tea of Forgetfulness. But why would she visit you and tell you this? She could have simply placed the soul without telling you. She's done so with millions of others."
"But this was no ordinary reincarnation." Anwu looked down at her knees. "You see, there was a condition. Because this soul was not mortal when she died, there was no guarantee the potion would work. If it became apparent that it hadn't... she would have to return to the place of her death."
"The Valley of Peace."
"I don't know why, so please do not ask." Anwu said. "When Su began revealing knowledge she shouldn't have, we hoped she was just a genius. But then you came to our village... and she met Master Shifu."
"Shifu?"
"It was the way she acted around him. Usually she hardly speaks around strangers. But with Shifu, it was as if she'd known him for years. She didn't know it, but she knew him. I knew right then the Five Flavoured Tea didn't work. So when we received the offer to have Su train at the Jade Palace, I had to say yes. I didn't dare break the deal."
"... Does Pong know?"
"I told him after my consumption went away. It didn't take much for him to believe me. He knew the way the disease faded in such a short time wasn't normal."
"You... you know I have to tell the others about this. For Su's sake."
"I know. I was going to tell Su myself when we came to the palace, but then the ambush happened. Is Su still feeling... sick?"
"I'm not sure. Other than a small headache, she's been fine ever since we found her in the prison. I just hope that whatever demon was plaguing her has finally worked its way out."
Ten minutes after the Jade Palace's destruction...
Su sat on the dirt ground, resting against the stone dragon that watched over the road leading back to the village.
She was curled in a ball, sobbing as she held her tummy, which was still being stabbed over and over from the inside. Ever since that red-eyed panda showed up, the pain wouldn't stop. It was getting worse the more she thought about him.
That vile, murderous, evil beast! How dare he come back? And wearing that face! The rage was so all-consuming it was like her insides were boiling. The need to murder him and his cult was so great that it was literally trying to claw its way out her body.
Su fell to the side, and her shoulder hit a small puddle. The water soaked through her tunic and fur, the cold contrasting with the raging heat that she had a chance to focus. She had to get back to the palace. Warn Shifu and the others. Su gasped as she forced herself to her feet. She held her stomach as she started walking.
It was very late when she reached the village. She didn't go through the main street or up the stairs, sure that the red-eyed panda was expecting that. Instead she went around the village and up the mountain, taking the isolated side path through the forest. Near the end her feet were hurting almost as much as her tummy. She heard the fighting before she saw it. She looked through the trees at the palace and saw the soldiers fighting the masters twenty on one.
Saw Shifu leap to intercept a blow from a meteor hammer meant for Viper.
Saw blood flying as it hit him.
Heard herself scream.
Su turned and ran back into the forest, sobbing from all kinds of pain. She didn't stop running until a big rock blocked her path. She stood hunched over the rock, staring at a wide pond on the other side.
She'd failed them. No matter how hard she tried to help them, it hadn't been enough. She'd failed... again.
The pain got worse. Almost bent double, she stepped around the rock and into the pond. It went up to her ankles.
Kill them.
No. That's not what Master Oogway would want.
Kill them all.
No. I won't.
KILL THEM!
GET OUT!
The voice shoved at the inside of her stomach with claws. Su let out a long, horrible scream and bent down so far her paws touched the surface of the pond. Red tears fell from her eyes and into the water. As she cried, the tears turned from red to black. The tainted water crawled up her arms and legs, crawling towards her stomach and gathering there.
Her entire body started to shake. She fell, turning on the way down so she landed on her back without a splash, staring up at the starry sky. The convulsions worsened as the water on her stomach turned completely black and started to ripple.
A black arm with claws shot out from the spot where her bellybutton would be.
With it came the rest, a lean, pure black body the same height as the little panda that slid out and sprawled across the pond right next to her.
The convulsions ceased, as did the pain and tears.
For the longest time, both were as still as the night air. Stars twinkled overhead, reflected in the water around them.
Then the creature stirred.
It brought its arms in close, stroking its chest as it took in its new existence. It quickly understood how it was supposed to move, and slowly started to rise. As it moved, water crawled up and covered its body, turning black and adding to its mass. By the time it was crouching, staring at the darkness and trees and sky, it was as tall as a gorilla. It sniffed, taking in the smells of the forest.
Glowing blue eyes blinked and looked at the girl. She had passed out. With a tendril it tenderly wiped the dark tears from her face. She'd suffered terribly, and it was all their fault.
It would hunt them down. Kill them. Make them regret their sins.
It threw its head back and unleashed its first sound, a visceral screech that promised a bloody revenge. Then it vanished into the darkness, pondering where it would strike first.
Su remained in the centre of the pond, as still as a doll.
And that was how the masked panther found her.
