Darkness.
It was everywhere, surrounding the space of her mind and sight. She looked around, lost and confused. When she thought she would never escape, she spotted something. It was small and seemed to be far away. But there was no mistaking it.
It was a small spot of light.
As she saw it, she could hear muffled voices echoing around the dark void.
"You could never attend the Lee Da academy, youʼre too small."
"You might as well give up now mountain cat, thereʼs no competing with those rhinoceros and oxen."
"I present the newest student of our Academy! Mei Ling!"
"Hey kitty youʼre pretty good with that Bo staff. If you want to work on something bigger, you can work on my staff, yʼknow what Iʼm sayinʼ, hahahah- Ow! Ow, ow I was kidding, I WAS KIDDING!"
Mei Ling chuckled at the memories. Then some more hit her all at once.
"Me? No, no no….Thatʼs crazy. Thatʼs just…craziness talking."
Was Mei Ling insane, or did the bright spot seem to grow larger?
"Well youʼll never know until you try."
The light had grown brighter….it was practically blinding now. Mei Ling had recognized the two voices bantering; she remembered the moonlight that had made the skinny, lanky bird look like a majestic warrior.
Crane.
The silly, shy, bottle-necked janitor she was so fond of. He had grown to become more than anyone had expected of him, even her.
She had to warn him, to tell him what had happened. As she ran towards the light, the voices in her head grew louder and clearer. They sounded like worried voices, and some arguing. As she grasped the white, shining light the entire void she was in turned blindingly bright.
Mei Ling opened her eyes slowly. Vision blurry and feeling sick, she awoke with a weak groan.
"Mei Ling!" Crane hurried to her bedside, concern etched on his face.
The rest of the five had stopped bickering. They surrounded her bedside, waiting for an explanation. Shifu began the interrogation, as he always has before.
"Miss Mei Ling, what has happened in Lee Da?" Shifu implored.
"We were….attacked", Mei Ling closed her eyes in pain of her memory, and tears began to fall.
"Mei Ling…." Crane stepped forward to comfort her.
"No….I have to finish….please" Mei Ling drew in a shuddered breath before continuing. "It was so sudden, so well planned…It had been a regular day, and then… they just appeared."
"Who?" Shifu drew closer, fearing the answer he already knew.
"The Imperial Army..." Mei Ling closed her eyes and let her mind escape the horrors of reality and slip into the abyss of dreams.
"Whatʼs this about, Shifu? The Emperor should be, like, our biggest fan!" Po said, outraged.
"Po", Shifu focused his eyes on the ground "The relationship between Kung Fu and the Emperor has always been…strained."
After Mei Ling had lost consciousness again, Shifu took the Five and Po hiking to the Pool of Sacred Tears.
"The fact that Masters of Kung Fu had so much sway with the public has always been considered a threat to the Emperor. When the Five and especially you, Po, have defended China twice when the Emperor has failed put you as a threat to him."
Shifu continued "If you have to power to defeat Shen and Tai Lung, then surely you have enough power to take over the Imperial court, and rule over China.
"What, thatʼs crazy!"
"Yes, Po. But that is not the point. The Emperor has always been weary of Kung Fu, especially since masters such as us use it for the people, and not for the Emperor. He sees it as a direct threat of his power. Kung Fu Masters govern their own towns and cities as they see fit. Now that Master Oogway is gone, there will be no more delegations between us Masters and the Emperor. Master Oogway was the string that held us attached, because he was the one able to appease the Emperor that we wouldnʼt turn against him."
"Meaning heʼll try to destroy every trace of Kung Fu. Heʼll try to kill us all." Tigress said, anger flashing in her eyes.
"Master, what should we do?" Viper asked looking at Shifu in despair.
"The Emperor has probably already sent a force to stop you from doing anything." Mei Ling said, arriving in the middle of their conversation "The Academy is destroyed, and rumors say that Gongmenʼs Masterʼs Council has fallen as well. They seemed to have gone for the other Kung Fu academies and palaces; theyʼre weary of the Jade Palace."
"I donʼt think they plan on leaving us alone, though", Mantis scowled.
Shifu closed his eyes and sat in the Lotus position as the rest of the Five started to fight amongst themselves. There had to be a way to save themselves, to save Kung Fu. Could this be the end of the sacred art?
No, Shifu thought, I refuse to let Oogwayʼs legacy die. We just need a plan. Perhaps Tigress and I could form a strategy later tonight, something to save-
"Master Croc!" Po shouted with happiness, fan boy mode in full throttle.
The rest of the Five turned from their bickering to stare at the Master. General Croc no longer had on his Imperial armor or his cape. He was in his regular attire.
"Oh, man. Master Croc, are we glad to meet you" Po got up and started to run towards the Master.
"Wait, Po." Tigress said with an unusual tone in her voice. Her voice was calm and cold, almost ice-like.
"Master Croc, where is Master Storming Ox?" Tigress took a step in front of Po, almost shielding him from Master Croc.
"Heʼs holding down the fort at the city. Why? Whatʼs wrong?" Master Croc said, "Cʼmon Po. Lunch is on me. We have to talk about this recent epidemic."
He turned walking away, expecting Po to follow, which he began to. The rest of them had started to follow him as well, eager for an answer to their problem. Tigress had lifted an arm in front of Po, implying for Po and the rest to back off. Tigressʼs composure was calm, almost too much so. The rest of the Five and Mei Ling looked confused, wondering why Master Tigress is acting so strange. Even Shifu had an eyebrow raised.
"There have been rumors that the Masterʼs Council has fallen from attacks from the Emperor. Surely you must know something about that." Her piercing eyes looked at him coolly.
"Keh! Rumors are rumors! Gongmen is safe, Iʼm telling you. Thereʼs no need for violence now that Shenʼs gone. Come! I have heard that the Dragon Warriorʼs noodles are the stuff of legend."
"I see. Please excuse my insolence, Master Croc." said Tigress, her voice eerily calm, "But I cannot let my comrades attend lunch with you. There are too many holes in your story. Why visit us now, so long ago from when Gongmen city had been officially freed from Shenʼs tyranny? Where did the rumors come from then? Why visit when you can just send a messenger? Plus, the scent of blood is strong on you."
The Five, Po, and Mei Ling all took several steps back. No one had smelled the scent of blood on General Croc, no one but Tigress. Shifuʼs eyes widened as the rest of the group looked at Tigress in utter shock as she got in her defensive stance.
"Furthermore, you have not addressed anyone else but the Dragon Warrior. You have been avoiding Grandmaster Shifu, almost as if you fear him. And if the time for violence has passed…" her gaze fell upon the crocodileʼs armor and cloak "Why are you hiding a blade?"
General Croc had not turned since Tigressʼs verbal beating. He started chuckling as he applauded Tigress.
"Ah, I see why the famous Master Tigress is considered the Pillar of the Jade Palace. You are astute, alert, and intelligent. Your combat skills are truly legendary…. This is a problem. "General Croc quickly lit a spark with his metal belt and claw, and lit a small bag on fire.
Master Tigressʼs eyes narrowed as she charged on all fours at him, realizing his intentions. The rest of the group quickly dispersed and began to charge at him from all different directions. General Croc proceeded to throw the bag into the air, and swung himself in a full circle. His deadly tail lashed around, repelling the offenders from all sides. Shifu, however, managed to sneak through General Crocʼs mighty tail defense and pinned the reptile down by the throat with his staff.
The bag that had been thrown high up in the sky erupted into a beautiful flash of colors.
"Fireworks", Croc rasped through Shifuʼs staff, chucking to himself "If I were you, I would be running by now."
"They will attack the Valley!" said Tigress as she helped Po on his feet, the others already running back down to the palace.
As Tigress and Po caught up to the group, they were immediately intercepted by troops on the road back into the Valley. Shifu quickly dispatched most of the soldiers with his superior speed and combat prowess. Viper and Monkey had finished off the stragglers without halting, the soldiers no match for either master, let alone two working together.
"Crane, get me down to the Palace! Donʼt try to argue!" Tigress leapt in the air and soon became a dot in the sky, carried by Crane.
"Fool! Quickly, one master will not be enough! I will go ahead!" With that, Shifu had sped down the path with unimaginable speed leaving behind a trail of dirt and dust.
Po knew why Tigress was so desperate to defend the Jade Palace. It had been her escape from the orphanage, her one true home. She had found friendship, fun, love, and peace in her times in the Jade Palace. Throughout all her changes, from lonely apprentice orphan into a beautiful Kung Fu Master surrounded by the people she loved, the Jade Palace had always been her sanctuary. A place where she would always belong, and if she left, a place that would welcome her back with open arms. And Po would NOT let them take that from her.
"Hyah!" Tigress had slammed her fist into an Imperial soldiers face, sending him flying into two more of his comrades.
Tigress quickly dodged another spear, her body moving like fluid water, her fists striking with animosity. The soldiers hadnʼt expected a surprise aerial assault from the tiger. With each strike, her arms had movement that of a cobra: swift, powerful, and deadly. The Imperial armor the soldiers wear stood no chance against the ironwood- hardened fists. Crane had flown in to the chaos, taking out archers before they could aim at the ferocious feline destroying their troops. The Five joined shortly after, Shifu dealing the most damage against the slow soldiers.
"Crane!" Shifu called to the avian as he was dealing with a soldier, "Fly to Chorh-Gom Prison, and get the Anvil of Heaven! Quickly!"
Crane burst into top speed towards the prison. Chorh-Gom Prison has been under the command of Shifu after Oogway had passed. It was far away near outer-Mongolia, but with Craneʼs unearthly aerial speed, he should get there in a matter of hours. Although Tai Lung had escaped, the Anvil of Heaven who guarded him were no ordinary guards. One thousand rhinoceros that were hand-picked by the warden Vachir. The time of arrival would vary between one or two days. However, their assistance could help defend the independent valley from the Emperor.
In all the chaos of combat, the Five and Po, nor Shifu, realized that General Croc had returned from the Sacred Pool of Tears. With a sinister grin, he pushed an archer out of the way. He lit a familiar bag on fire using the same method and snagged it with an arrow.
As the arrow hit the building, the fireworks went off, igniting the wood. Soon, the fire devoured the entire Palace, as more archers hit the palace with their arrows with sacks of gunpowder in them.
The plan had been simple. Destroy one of the most valuable pieces to Kung Fu history, and if they could, kill a master. They would have lost the battle, even with 50 of the best he had to offer from his division of the army. The rest of the men left the destruction they made behind: ransacked businesses, thrashed homes, even some innocent bystanders killed. The citizens of the Valley of Peace cried in despair for their loved ones gone, their hard work lost, and their homes destroyed.
Tigress couldnʼt help to feel the same way, as her feet underneath her collapsed beneath her weight. She was on her knees, eyes wide as she stared at the building covered in flames. Tears began to streak her face, yet she remained silent. The rest of the five (excluding Crane) had gathered the unconscious bodies and tied them up, doing anything to erase their minds on the sight before them. Shifu trembled in rage, his teeth gnashed together as his fists tightened even further on his staff. Po knelt beside Tigress, his hand on her shoulder comforting her. She pushed his hand off her shoulder, looked away, and clenched her eyes shut to avoid the tears from overflowing.
As the small number of troops left retreated out the Valley of Peace, on soldier was brave enough to approach the chuckling General.
"Sir" the soldier looked nervously at General Croc "If I may be bold enough to ask…What was our job?ʼ
"All it takes is a tiny spark, a tiny spark to ignite the flames that will swallow everything in a sea of fire…." chuckled the reptile before continuing "Weʼve sent a message."
(Original A/N)
"All cruelty springs from weakness." - Lucius Annaeus Seneca
I hoped you guys enjoyed this chapter! I had fun making Tigressʼs badass scene in this chapter, haha! I know, I know, there wasnʼt any TiPo, but I really wanted to focus on the plot and action of the story in this chapter. If you guys have any constructive criticism, or have suggestions on the chapters later, I would be glad to listen (read). THANK YOU TO YOU GUYS THAT REVIEWED
Remember to show some love with reviews! Any suggestions/criticism will be read!
Till Next Time, Audience