During the three weeks that passed since the ice eggs were discovered, the Furious Five sans Tigress took turns guarding the precious vessels as they rested in the basement of Mr. Ping's noodle shop. Every night they would be joined by Su's parents, who would sit down beside the eggs and wait anxiously for the moment their child would awaken. Tigress and Po, despite their protests, had been forbidden from guard duty until they had completely recovered, though they were allowed on occasion to join Su's parents in watching the eggs for any sign that they were about to hatch. When they weren't watching the eggs, they were watching the slow and steady reconstruction of the Jade Palace.
The day the decision was made to hide the eggs in the noodle shop, Xian had gathered everyone who knew about Su's identity and issued a decree that no-one was to tell anyone about the incredible secret, not even members of their own family. The day after, Ox, Croc and Boar departed for Gongmen City, taking with them their friends' promise that they would be informed once Su awoke. Xian remained in the Valley of Peace, insisting on being there when the girl was reborn. There were so many things he wanted to talk about. Viper and Crane left after two weeks to check on Mengxiang's village and hopefully learn of her whereabouts. A message arriving two days later revealed that the people were safe, much to Shifu and the pandas' relief.
All the while, the ice eggs stood still and silent, dimly illuminating the underground room with a shimmering inner light, the two lives inside sharing the same dreams and memories...
Nuwa felt like a lake that had been pierced and drained of all its cool, clear water. She felt hollow. She felt sick. Above all, she felt lost.
Her brother had been everything a dragon was supposed to be. He'd been big. Strong. Powerful. Wise. He was the greatest dragon and most loving guardian she had ever known. And yet it hadn't been enough. He was gone, and Nuwa did not know how to get him back.
At the bottom of the crescent shaped pool that lay amongst the balanced rocks and golden grass, the First Queen curled and wept.
Fuxi had promised to rule China with her until the end of time. He had promised to protect her from the opportunistic scum who would seek to harm her or use her for her power. He had promised that he would never leave her.
Liar, she thought as she mourned amongst the gently swaying weeds. You're a lair, Fuxi. You promised you would be there for me, but now you're not. Now I'm alone. I'm the only remaining dragon in the valley. The only one. I'm alone.
Her tears mixed with the pool water, turning it into the crystal blue of the ocean. Though distant, she could feel the sadness of her children as they grieved for their uncle and leader. Most of them were gathered in the village that lay nestled in the base of the valley, finding comfort in each other, but others like Hei Nuwang had chosen to mourn alone, finding solitude in the forest and mountains. None were near, for Nuwa had requested that she be left alone for the time being.
Her chest ached as a new emotion pushed through her grief: fear. What was she supposed to do now that her brother was gone? He'd been the true leader, the first Emperor of all China, the one who took most of the responsibilities with stride. Nuwa just advised her brother and experimented with new creations. Now things had changed. She had her children, true, and some such as her beloved Yujin had grown to become leaders themselves. But ultimately it would be up to the Mother of Mortals to oversee everything. The more she thought of it, the more her fear threatened to consume her. Above the surface of the water, the clouds turned grey and began to shed rain.
Nuwa felt the rain sink into the pool like thousands of tiny liquid pearls. They merged with the pool water, merged with her, as if nature itself was trying to offer comfort. Then Nuwa felt something else merge with the water, something small, something that wasn't rain. It was warm and salty like the sea. It was tears.
Nuwa reached out, pulling the tears through the water and into her grasp. Something about these tears was different. The energy within them was not familiar to her. Whatever child had shed these tears had not been born by her hand. What was more, even as she held the little swirl of tears in her claws, she felt more touch the surface of the pool. The crying child was weeping at the edge, right above her curled, grieving form.
At first Nuwa felt frustration. She had told her children that she was not to be disturbed. But then she remembered that if they wanted her, they would have called for her. The crying child must not know that she was there. The tears kept coming, the shining drops mixing with her own. The Mother of Mortals felt her heart go out to the child that was not hers. Whoever and whatever it was, they were suffering just as much as she was. She could put her own pain aside long enough to ease the child's as much as she could, and then send them on their way so she could mourn in peace. Ashamed at this selfish way of thinking, Nuwa nevertheless shrank her physical form to a size that would be much less intimidating and slowly snaked her way to the surface. The shape of the child was dark and round, and they were carrying what appeared to be a broken ring in their hands. Putting on a brave face, Nuwa poked her head through the water.
The child was a tortoise, young at nearly one hundred years old. No taller than a pig, he bore a short green sash that wrapped all the way around his orb-like shell. His eyes, green like his skin and wet with those salty tears, widened as the goddess made her presence known. He backed away from the edge of the pool, muttering words Nuwa did not understand. She too retreated to the centre of the pool, in the hopes of quenching the child's fear with distance.
"Forgive me, I did not mean to startle you." She said, her voice strong despite her inner turmoil. "Are these tears yours?"
She held out her clawed hand, in which she held the child's gathered tears. The child stared at the tears in pure astonishment, and it was some time before he spoke. To her relief he spoke in her native tongue. "... Yes. Who are you?"
Now Nuwa knew for sure that he was from another land. "I am Nuwa, queen of this blessed country. And who might you be, tortoise?"
The tortoise went completely stiff. Again, he said strange words. "O-Oogway. Forgive me, your highness. I did not intend to intrude. A lowly foreigner such as myself is unworthy to be in the presence of a great being such as-"
"It's alright, little one. I am not angry." Nuwa tilted her head and inched back towards the edge. "But I am curious."
"Curious, my queen?"
"Yes. Neither your name nor your chi is of this realm. Where do you come from?"
"Ecuador, my queen."
Nuwa reached the pool edge and leaned forward on the shore. Oohway remained rooted to the spot some distance away. "Ecuador? I have never heard of that place."
"It's a very long way from here, my queen." Oogway said quickly.
"Is it anything like here?"
"No, it's very different from this country. You probably would not like it there."
Nuwa tilted her head further. Was there something about his home that Oogway disliked? "Each place is beautiful in its own way. Just like the people who live in it."
"And you are very beautiful indeed, my queen." Oogway said, shrinking into his shell.
Nuwa chuckled. "There's no need for flattery, Oogway. I won't bite."
Oogway still looked afraid. Nuwa's gaze travelled down to what he was holding. It was a bundle of strings beaded in green and blue, gathered together to form a thick necklace. "That's a lovely necklace you have there."
Oogway looked at the necklace, then back at her. "Thank you, my queen. My sisters worked together to craft this necklace for my mother."
Siblings.
Nuwa's queenly facade broke. Unable to stop a small sob from escaping her, her tears shed anew and stained the dirt beneath her body. Oogway's posture of fear melted away, compassion taking over as he finally stepped toward her.
"My queen? What is wrong? Have I upset you?"
"No, it's just..." Nuwa looked away and covered her weeping eyes. "You haven't heard the news?"
"I'm a traveller. I've only recently arrived in this country." Oogway paused, deep in thought. "Forgive me for asking, but... have you lost someone?" Nuwa nodded. Something warm and hard touched her arm and she uncovered her eyes. It was Oogway's hand. He smiled gently at her through his own tears.
His other hand was tight around the pretty blue and green beaded necklace. "Then perhaps... we are not so different after all."
Nine centuries later, Nuwa and Su awoke.
