Po reached the top step and sat down, struggling to catch his breath.
Self-loathing was not a new feeling to him, but the realisation of exactly what he had done to Yujin brought that feeling back with a vengeance. He hunched over and planted his face in his paws as he imagined how she have felt reliving that horrible night, the flashbacks she must have suffered. He hated Hei Nuwang for talking him into it, and hated himself even more for accepting that dagger. He never should have listened to her.
Eventually he got up and slowly made his way into the central temple. The door was already open, waiting for him to walk through it. The entrance hall was just as gorgeous as he remembered, but also dark and empty. "Yujin?" He called. Though there was no answer, but it was much warmer in here than it was outside, and the door leading straight forward creaked and opened slightly when he called. This was definitely where he was supposed to meet her.
Po crossed the room, stopping when he was near the door that led to the room with the bloodied bed. No-one, especially such a loving mother as Yujin had once been, should have to go through that. He continued on to the door ahead, ignoring the other door to led to the room full of scrolls, and knocked. When he received no answer, Po sighed and opened the door himself. Only Shifu and Oogway should be allowed to be all mysterious and kung-fuey.
He was once again inside the ornate, circular room, which looked a little different than the last time he was here. In between the pillars a translucent red veil hung from ceiling to floor. What is it with Yujin and red, anyway? Also, the little table that stood in front of the giant painting of Past Yujin was covered in scorch marks. The two halves of the Eternal-Ember-that-never-really-existed were gone, replaced by a simple wooden box. A torch on very pillar darkly lighted the room. There was no sign of Yujin.
Po looked at the box. Maybe she wanted him to open it first? With only one way to find out, Po walked over to the box and pulled open the lid. Inside was an aged red scarf. Po reached into the box, lifted out the scarf with both paws, and froze as one last vision came to him.
Though her burns had grown more tolerable over the last few years, Ember could not free herself from the prison that was her own body. Not temporarily. The dagger's effects had worn off long ago, but the coma still limited her power. She could only project her spirit from her body every few years, which was roughly how long it took to build up the energy required to do so, and even then she couldn't stay out for long.
Five years after she locked away the painful memories, instinct drove her to use her gathered energy to visit the Valley of Peace. She didn't know why, but she'd wanted to see if it was as peaceful as the name made it out to be. It seemed peaceful enough as she gazed at the village far below, taking in the smoking chimneys and twinkling windows. Perched in a tall tree that stood on the precipice of a great cliff, Ember felt a strange urge to go to the Jade Palace that stood above the lower clouds. Somehow she knew that something precious was waiting for her in there. She was about to give in to temptation when she sensed the presence of soldiers in the forest behind her. One in particular could be heard shouting orders. A big rhino. A rhino that for some reason made her blood curdle just from feeling his chi. Ember went still, and listened.
"... I'm just wondering, exactly how much did Hei Nuwang pay you to betray the Dragon Empress and her family?"
"Actually it was Tujiu who paid me. But I mainly did it 'cause I was just following orders. It's a shame she got burned, thought. She was a real dame." The rhino laughed.
"I must thank Tujiu and Long Feng for their assistance." A faint voice in Ember's head spoke. She hissed. She hated him, she realised. Hated whatever he had done to her before she lost her memories.
Ember travelled across the trees, making her way closer to Long Feng and his goons. When she saw him, she hissed again. Yes, she had definitely seen this rhino before. Long Feng froze and signaled his men to stop. His ear twitched. Then he aimed a crossbow in her direction and fired. Ember let the arrow bury itself into her helmet, where it failed to pierce her skull.
Yes, this Long Feng had to die.
All alone in a dark, silent forest shrouded in snow, a little panda cried.
He'd never meant to get lost. He'd only been trying to get away from those mean kids who always called him fat. He'd strayed off the path, fled into the forest that surrounded the forest where he lived, and hadn't been able to find his way back. For hours he had wandered, desperately trying to find the village so he could go home, but the forest seemed endless. Now night had fallen. It was dark, it was cold, and it was quiet. Po held one end of his plain red scarf in both paws, twisting the fabric as he sniffled.
He hated this. He hated getting picked on. He hated that it was his fault. If only he could see his toes past his stupid big tummy, then maybe he would be left alone.
To top off a perfect day, he was tired from running. He'd found a little dry, snowless spot beneath a protruding rock, where he'd hoped to sleep until the next day. He hoped that with the daylight back finding the village would be easier.
He sat down in the dry spot, leaning back against the stone wall that may as well have been ice. He rubbed his arms and closed his eyes, trying to sleep but was too scared to...
Ember reached out, paralysing the other soldiers before they could interfere. She leapt down, landing on all fours in the snow, and slowly straightened. Long Feng's eyes went completely round as he realised who she was. Ember stared back, savoring his horror.
Long Feng scowled and raised his reloadable crossbow, firing another arrow. Ember burned the arrow in midair. Long Feng prepared his crossbow as he vaulted over a fallen tree. He backed away and fired again. Ember again incinerated the arrow. The middle of the fallen tree trunk exploded, scattering splinters and fire. Long Feng's jaw dropped. Ember started to walk, moving straight through the smoldering gap in the tree trunk.
"What the hell are you?!" He yelled.
Ember did not answer, instead reaching out to paralyse him. Long Feng guessed what was about to happen and rolled to the side before she could touch him, losing his helmet in the process. Ember melted the helmet into goop right before his eyes and then sent a trail of fire shooting across the snow towards him. Long Feng barely dodged, then kicked a tree nearly as thick as he was. It crashed down towards Ember. She disappeared in a flash of red and emerged right behind Long Feng's back. The rhino swore and rolled away from her as the tree hit the ground.
"Huh?" Po opened his eyes and looked in the general direction of the thunderous sound. "What's that?"
Ember sensed Long Feng taking cover behind a rock twenty feet away. She lifted a paralysed soldier, threw him at a tree next to the rock, and him landed on the ground where Long Feng could see him. 'You're next' was her message.
"Go to hell, witch!" Long Feng roared. With her chi, Ember lifted one half of the fallen tree, the half with the roots, and threw it. Long Feng cursed again and scrambled out the way as it crashed behind the rock. Ember lifted the bigger half of the tree, the half with the mass of bare branches, and threw that, too. This time Long Feng did not dodge. He stood his ground and punched the trunk as it came at him, bisecting the tree again. Then he took off into the forest. Ember merely walked after him. She wasn't done playing.
In a small clearing, she heard him chuckle as he hid behind yet another fallen tree. He was up to something. Deciding to let him build his hopes up, Ember kept walking. The snow was very thick here, but it didn't slow her. She was near the center when Long Feng shot up and fired a flaming arrow at her feet. Ember watched as the arrow hit a small powder keg that had been hidden beneath the snow. She barely flinched as it exploded and fire filled her vision for a few seconds. The heat never bothered her, anyway.
She sensed a second keg hidden by her left leg. Still obscured by the fire, Ember bent down and picked up the keg, holding it up to the fire. Long Feng's grin vanished. He started to turn and run. Ember threw the burning keg at his chest and watched as the explosion sent him flying.
There was a shout up ahead. The child looked up from the burnt remains of the tree, feeling fear welling up inside him. Maybe this wasn't such a good idea. Then again, he may never get home otherwise. The child very slowly walked towards the source of the sound.
Ember had him. At her feet lay Long Feng, arms and legs splayed out, chest armour dented and scorched, eyes staring straight up at her face in barely concealed fear. Ember made no expression behind her mask, but she was taking immense pleasure in his vulnerability. He looked pathetic. Helpless. Just like she felt every second she spent trapped in her casket.
"Still feel like following orders?" She asked.
At first Long Feng turned pale. Then he growled, defiant. "Die, witch!" He lifted the arm with the crossbow. Without moving an inch, Ember set both arm and crossbow on fire. Long Feng's scream was like sweet music as the crossbow fell from his grasp, burned beyond use. He flailed the arm for a few seconds before slamming it into the deep snow, dousing the crimson fire.
Long Feng was hyperventilating from the pain. "You vile... little... creature!" His eyes were wild. He reached up with his other arm, but could not quite reach her throat. "You burned me arm... how dare you..."
Ember thought on this. If he didn't want to be burned, then he would-
Crunch.
Long Feng screamed so loud it hurt Ember's ears, but she loved every second of it. The rhino's eyes were now bloodshot at he glared up at her. All fear was gone. Only hate remained now. "You wait... just you wait... I'll survive this... when I do, you will beg to go join your baby."
Ember did not remember any baby, but the revelation that she'd had one was more than enough to make her take it one step further. She quickly found the nerves in his shoulders and knees. Paralysis was not the only thing she could do with them, as Long Feng learned to his sorrow when she touched them.
Red ripples spread and faded where she touched his body. The pain was so great that Long Feng lost it completely. He howled like a banshee, failing his ruined arms in a futile attempt to hurt Ember.
"KILL YOU! I'LL GODDAMN KILL YOU! I'LL CUT YOU UP INTO LITTLE PIECES, YOU WITCH! YOU DEMON!" The curses grew louder and cruder as time went on.
Ember felt her strength begin to fade. She couldn't stay much longer. No more playing.
"Mission's over." She said, stopping Long Feng's tirade.
Behind her, the stone under the snow and dirt melted and became lava. Like a serpent it reared up, poking through the surface and curling over Ember's head. Ember directed the tip towards Long Feng's face. She paused, giving herself a little more time to enjoy his suffering...
Snap!
Ember turned her body, hissing. Another soldier!
Except it wasn't. Standing at the edge of the clearing, staring at Ember and Long Feng like he was watching a nightmare, was a frightened little panda.
The child's heart stopped as his foot stepped on a twig.
When he looked up, the woman was looking right at him. The pitch black eyeholes seemed to stare into his soul.
The little panda panicked and ran.
He ran blindly through the forest, tripping over stones hidden beneath the snow, losing his scarf on a branch. It was a present from his daddy, so he ran back and grabbed it. He was starting to wrap it back round his neck when his foot landed on something flat and slippery. His leg slipped out from under him and he fell hard on his back. He skidded across the narrow frozen river, stopping right in the middle. He'd banged his elbow. The scarf hung loosely around his neck, one end covering his eyes. He scrambled to his feet and pulled down the scarf. He looked the way he'd came, terrified that the scary woman had followed him. The tree line was dark and silent.
Crunch.
Po flinched, but no-one screamed. It wasn't the sound of a breaking bone, but the ice cracking underneath. Po tried to run, but it was already too late.
Ember watched the child turn and run, disappearing into the trees. She let him go, a little curious as to what a little boy was doing so far away from the village. Most likely he was lost, but no matter. The valley's protectors would find him, soon. She turned her attention back to the helpless rhino. In a moment, he would pay the price for his cruelty...
Crunch.
The distant sound of breaking ice met Ember's ears, followed by a splash. Her bloodlust faltered just a little as she realised it was coming from the direction the child had run off to. But it could have been anything, and she couldn't stay much longer. She had to finish Long Feng now. The sharp tip of the lava stream inched closer to Long Feng's face.
"Help! He-help!" came the child's cry. More splashing. The lava stream and Ember hesitated.
Long Feng growled and kicked Ember back while she was distracted. He rolled away from the lava stream as it collapsed and pushed himself up with his burned arm. Ember reached out to paralyse him, but lost her focus she heard the child's cry again, shrill with terror. "Daddy! D-daddy! Someone h-h-help me, p-please!" Ember glanced in the direction of the voice. She doubted the child knew how to swim yet. When she looked back at Long Feng, he was gone. His footprints led to the opposite direction. Ember stalked forward, eager to catch and kill him before she ran out of time, but then- "Help! S-somebody! Some-" she heard the child choke as he swallowed icy river water. The splashing continued as he desperately dried to stay above water.
He's going to die, she realised with a chill. The only other person close enough to get to him in time was... but Long Feng... Ember stood rooted to the frozen ground, torn. Already she could feel herself being drawn back to her physical body. She could try to catch Long Feng first. If she killed him quickly enough, she could still come back for the boy... but if she was pulled back before she reached him...
As suddenly as it started the splashing stopped, and Ember no longer had a choice.
In a red flash she was at the riverbank. She saw the ragged hole in the ice, and the red scarf that floated in the water. There was no sign of its owner. Ember searched for the boy's chi, and quickly found him. He was right underneath the hole, almost to the riverbed. In a second red flash Ember was underneath the water, ignoring the cold as she wrapped one arm around the lifeless child. In a third flash she was kneeling on the riverbank.
For a frightening ten seconds, the tiny panda boy lay limp in her arm, his head propped on her shoulder. Then he twitched and shivered. Water splashed on her back as he coughed it out, his coughs sounding like hiccups. He stopped coughing eventually but the shivering continued, prompting Ember to lend her chi to dry his fur and fend off hypothermia. When she was done, he kept shivering. She was wondering if she had given him enough when he started sobbing.
"Daddy..." The child whimpered, wrapping his little arms around Ember's neck, desperate for comfort after his near drowning. "Daddy..."
Ember had completely frozen. She swore she'd felt a pair of tiny arms embracing her before. Unconsciously, she lifted her other arm from her knee and curled it around the crying child's back. She whispered in his little black ear, surprised by the warmth in her own voice. "Shhhhhh... it's okay... it's okay... you're safe now..." The child sniffled, soothed by her words.
The pull on Ember's spirit was growing stronger. She had to get him home immediately. She touched the back of his head, sending him to sleep and at the same time searching his memories for his home. She saw the local noodle shop, and the kindly goose in the noodle bowl hat. Immediately she flashed to the back alley behind the shop, which as she expected was empty. She strode to the back door and pushed it open. The kitchen and eating area were deserted. On the counter was a notice: GONE TO FIND MY SON. WHOEVER FINDS HIM AND BRINGS HIM HOME WILL BE REWARDED WITH A YEAR'S SUPPLY OF BEAN BUNS. Next to the notice was a missing person poster with the child's face.
Ember silently praised the adoptive father as she laid the little boy on the counter and covered him with a tablecloth. The goose would see him as soon as he entered the shop. Ember stroked his cheeks, wiping away the tears as he slept. She was curiously disappointed as she realised that for both their sakes, she would have to lock away this memory with the others before the Hei Nuwang Long Feng had mentioned could see it and use it against her.
She was out of time. As her spirit disappeared from the shop and returned to her casket, she cursed Long Feng. Next time he would not be so lucky.
"Now, Po... we must talk."
