Life's a bitch. Just saying XD

Crane was breathing hard as he completed his hundredth push-up. He rolled over and gasped out a large breath of air. His wings were naturally strong, built up at the joints, but he hadn't ever been used to physical labor, save for lifting boxes. But he continued on, flying to one of the wooden boards on the top of the janitorial platform. He hung upside down and touched his toes again and again, just as he had seen other falcons do. It was supposed to train patience, balance, flexibility, and resistance.

Crane had been busy recently. Not only because he was cleaning and training for the try-outs, but the Jade Palace selector was arriving tomorrow morning. Crane had no clue who it was, but the selector was going to be watching the students for three weeks, to decide who would return with him to Jade Mountain. Crane tried to stop thinking about this though, because it was crowding his days with hard work.

Crane had actually learned he could exercise much longer by focusing on something else, which happened to usually be, Mei Ling. Crane, despite only being a janitor, was smarter than more of the 'jocks' at the Academy. Okay, fine, he was amazingly smarter than most of the students there. His father had been a historian and until he was…well, until he became a janitor, he had studied his father's books and had been a genius.

But things change, and people change. Just like Crane was trying to do now. So greatly enthused by Mei Ling, Crane was going to- or tries at any rate- to make his life a living dream. Hell, maybe along the way he could win Mei Ling's heart.

He wanted to be exactly like her. Strong and independent. Two things Crane have never been. And he couldn't stress how beautiful she was. He had watched her (which he began to believe filed him under –obsessive stalker-) train today, sweat gleaming off her fur, her face fierce, but caring, but focused, all at the same time!

It took until then for Crane to notice his thoughts had possessed him and he had fallen from the rafter beams. He rubbed the back of his head with his wing.

He heard a giggle, "You okay there Mr. Clean?"

"Oh, Mei Ling, I, uh, err…" He jumped up and stood straight.

"Don't worry. I get lost in my thoughts too much. Just like you, eh?"

He coughed nervously. "So…what brings you out here?" He said changing the subject.

"You" She said with a smile.

He blushed madly and said, "Well…uh, Mei Ling, we've only know each other for…"

She giggled again (which made his heart skip a beat), "Not like that Big Boy. Maybe someday…" She winked at him, "I came out here to help you train"

He managed a crooked smile, "Really?"

She nodded and flashed a smile back at him, "If I'm going to kick your butt in the training grounds, you'll have to pass try-outs"

He looked down mortified. "Oh…really…that's why…"

She laughed again, "I wasn't being serious, lighten up Bird Brain"

She seemed to like giving random nicknames.

Mei Ling seemed like she had something else to say but instead said –with that beautiful smile of hers- "Let's get to work"

She pulled him along the pathways until they reached a table. She grabbed a handful of chopsticks and handed them to him. "See this cup here?" He nodded as she pointed to a small cup on the table.

"Now, one thing you'll learn when you become a student…" Wow, she already believed he could do it! "…is precision. Fly up a few feet." He did what she told him. "Now throw a chopstick into the cup." He nodded and did it. Wow this kung fu stuff is easy.

"Higher" She said simply. He did so.

"Higher" She said again. With a bit more trouble he managed to land it in the cup.

And it continued. After a couple more times, he started to fail, but Mei Ling pushed him again until he got it. By this time, he was high enough that the cup was a dot and Mei Ling had to yell to him. "Again!"

"I can't even see it!"He yelled back.

"It doesn't matter! Trust your instinct!" He gulped down air and threw the stick. It fell, fell, fell.

But it went way off mark, hitting a sentry. Which actually turned out to be the warden, "Crane?! Is that you!" He heard the warden yell.

Crane cringed and yelled back, "Coming!" When he reached the ground, Mei Ling had hidden behind a wooden pillar and mouthed 'Sorry' before running off.

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Mei Ling banged her fist against the side of the wall, Idiot! She tried to teach him something, and of course, she just caused him trouble! That's all she ever did! Was cause people trouble! The warden would definitely punish Crane. But why should she care? He's just a janitor.

She exhaled slowly. She didn't have a temper that was easily set off, but Crane…He just made her so crazy! She didn't know why either! She didn't mean anything by her thoughts, she was just scared…But, again, why? She wanted him to become a student, to succeed, but why?

And those two words rang inside her head, as she drifted off to sleep.

When Mei Ling woke up from a dreamless night, she heard a knock on her window. When she looked out it there was no one. Then, suddenly Crane appeared in it.

She smiled and opened the window, "Hey there" She said with a smile.

He gave back a nervous grin, "Hey, uh, can I get some help?" One wing was tucked back and she noticed instead of hovering there he had grasped the windowsill with his talons.

She stepped back nervously, "Uh, sure…Won't you come in?" He flew through the windowsill and stood. "So what'd you need Crane?"

He winced and said, "These." He pulled out his wing that had a gash in it.

Mei Ling gasped and forced him to sit down on the bed. "Who did this to you!?!"

He chuckled nervously, "Me. I, uh, was cleaning out the oldest kwoon and I, err, was looking at some of the old equipment."

Grabbing some bandages she used for sprains and cuts she asked, "And?"

"Well I guess some of the old traps still work…The Flogger for instance…"

She gasped. Every Kung Fu student had heard of the Flogger. It was a deadly machine configured by Master Iron Ox. It was a set of two large, wooden logs in spikes that were each six inches. When triggered, a wooden log would fall down and knock through anything that was in its way. "You survived it!" She gasped

He shook his head ashamed, "When I triggered it…the floor fell out, hehe, saved my life too. But my wing caught a spike…" He looked away from her, mortified.

"By the Gods Crane, be more careful!" she scolded. "You could have been killed!"

A part of her was angry and frustrated at the Crane. How stupid can men get!

But another part of her was afraid at his reaction to what she was about to say.

She bandaged the gash and said, "Crane…I don't think you'll be able to train for awhile."

He stood up, "No! I gotta! Try-outs are in two days!" She was surprised at the determination in his voice.

Mei Ling frowned, "It'll probably take a week to heal. I'm sorry Crane…" She said looking at her feet.

"There has to be a way" Crane said twisting around.

The room was silent for a moment.

Then, Mei Ling perked up, "Oogway!"

Crane looked at her inquiringly.

"Master Oogway, from the Jade Palace! He'll know what to do. Come on!" After she pulled him (By his good wing) to the training grounds, they stopped, "You're the janitor, you know when and where he'll be arriving right?"

"Uh…I think. All I was told was for his dorm to be ready by sunrise. But I'd bet he's with the Warden, getting a tour or somethin'" He said nervously.

She groaned and turned around to go back, and ran straight into a turtle.

"Oh, Master…Forgive me" She said hastily.

He only chuckled, "Do not worry. Were you looking for a Master Oogway?"

She nodded trying to pass him, but the turtle blocked the walkway, "Yeah, uh, we have some bad news, and this Crane needs some attention"

He chuckled again and said, "There is no bad news, only news young one."

She rolled her eyes but had an idea, "Do you know Oogway?"

He nodded and wet his withered lips, "Yes, I know him very well. Why would you need him now, on such a beautiful day?"

She sighed and said, "I told you, we have a problem."

He smiled, "Well, maybe I could assist"

She was about to say no, but the turtle seemed like he wouldn't refuse. "Fine" She said through clenched teeth. She allowed him to pass by her. He held looked at Crane and said "Ah, I see…"

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The Red-Crowned Crane was only nervous. Something radiated from this turtle. Good, but mysterious.

"Ahh…I see your problem. You are not sure of yourself, nor do you believe in yourself. You wish to learn Kung Fu, but you have one major flaw. Tsk tsk, you need to believe in yourself Crane. Promise me, you will believe."

Crane, in a trance by the turtle, said, "I…I will try"

The turtle nodded. "Good" He walked past Crane, leaning heavily on his staff.

Mei Ling snorted and whispered, "Yeah thanks for nothing old man. You didn't even see the real problem."

The turtle, apparently hearing her, said "I did not see any other problems young warrior"

Crane looked down at his wing and, almost out of his own will, ripped the bandages off.

"Crane! What are you…? Whoa…" The gash was gone, pure, white feathers covering his wing.

Crane could have sworn he heard faint laughter.