Author's Note: Hey people! Fairly short one this time, but there is a lot in it if you know what I mean. Now trust me people, the action and meat of the story will start soon. Just going to say that this story is a fair bit longer than Fragile hearts. So far I've counted around 50 chapters or something like that... Yeah, 50. So I hope you're ready for that, cuz I know I am! Anyways, on with the story.

Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN KFP!

Enjoy.

Desperation

Meanwhile, dark clouds loom over the emperor's heavenly tower, its mighty phoenix just barely able to make contact with its orange and red wings. A perfect representation of the tower's most integral inhabitant.

The emperor stands by his bedroom window, his golden eyes glossed over with a mosaic of anxiousness. His paws remain clenched behind his back as his eyebrows remain furrowed in a solemn expression. A myriad of thoughts run through his mind, each one getting just as much attention as the last, yet there simply is no answer in any of them. How can this be? He's their emperor, the son of heaven. Mortal or not, he should be able to lead his people through this dark time. Yet he finds himself utterly lost.

His ears twitch at the sound of the door creaking open, yet his eyes remain glancing over the forbidden city's skyline. Building after building carved with such excellence that even the Gods would marvel at. Beauty now tainted by the sorrow and terror plaguing its streets. "My love." Golden irises brighten for a brief moment at the sound of his wife's sweet, compassionate voice. "What troubles you?" This brightness is soon thrown away after her concerned question only reminds him of today's terrible events. He turns to answer, but not before admiring the sight of his empress. A white lioness, adorned in red robes with the patterns of a golden dragon and phoenix flying together embedded in its fabric. Her deep red eyes ask this very same question with their worried stare, fuelled by her undying love for her dear emperor.

"It's only getting worse, Meili*." The emperor's usually powerful voice is reduced to a solemn murmur, his fur growing as pale as a tombstone. "Another squadron of guards have gone missing, people are only growing more fearful…" Meili's concerned eyes soon grow into worry as her dear husband's momentary silence freezes the air, "And, just minutes ago, Jiankang had told me that the first of their patients have died. Malnourished, crying, and plagued by her nightmares." A dry lump forms in the emperor's throat, his urge to vomit intensifying at the very thought of that poor antelope's suffering. What kind of sick maniac would do that to one person, let alone over a hundred.

Seeing the grave guilt gashed into his eyes, Meili approaches her husband and takes his paw in hers. "Renci*… There is only so much that you can do." She gently coos to him, putting a tender paw on his cheek as her eyes glimmer with empathy.

Renci merely shakes his head, "That doesn't make my failure any less pitiful. Some… heartless madman has snuck his way into my home and is happily murdering my own people. I can't just stand by while this happens." A quiet yet noticeable snarl embeds his voice as he looks on towards a portrait of a lion with glowing ember eyes, his fur much darker than Renci's. His father, a real emperor. He had done so much for his country, and now look what is becoming of it. How can he dishonour him like this?

"You haven't stood by, my love. You've done plenty already." Meili assures him once more, her tone growing more stern at his stubbornness. "Besides, the masters of the Jade Palace will be on their way soon."

"But how many more will die before they arrive?" The emperor's voice rumbles the floor as he tears his paw out of his beloved's grasp. He turns himself to stare out the window once more, his wrathful blaze simmering to a determined flame. "Something must be done."

He feels his empress' soft paws massage his back as her tender timbre kisses his ears again, "And tell me, beloved, what else can you possibly do when your own army is being taken down with ease?" Though she tries her best to be supportive of him, she can't help the natural scepticism that comes from her question.

As golden eyes continue to stare deeply at the now desolate, fear-ridden streets of his once proud city, the resolve in his eyes only burns brighter. "There is one option, one that I'd hoped would never be needed." Regardless of his fiery resilience, this statement only comes as a whisper, the gravity of his words burying his confidence into the floor.

Meili's paws stop in her tracks, her deep red eyes frozen in shock. "You don't mean…" She trails off, hoping that maybe her dear husband would have something else in mind. He doesn't answer, sending a frightful chill directly to her heart. "Renci, are you absolutely sure that the masters won't be enough?" Her voice practically trembles as the empress reaches her paw out for her husband's.

Renci gratefully takes her paw in his, a stone-cold expression on his face. "I don't doubt their capabilities, my love. But if this fiend is capable of murdering hundreds of people with such ease, then China is in grave danger." The emperor's stern expression soon deforms into an unyielding scowl, "Until they arrive, it could very well be the end of us all. I can't take any chances."

In spite of her husband's surety, one question still eludes the empress, "How will you-?

"I'll be meeting with an old friend soon; he should relay the message." The emperor's voice regains the power it had been needing the whole day as he turns back to his dearly beloved. Before he can say more, he is interrupted by a knock on his door and the sight of one of his elite leopards guards.

"Sir, there's a private matter that requires your attention."

The emperor nods his head in response before gently placing a paw under Meili's chin and placing a short, yet sweet kiss on her lips. "I promise you, my love. Everything will be okay." His tender voice sends a welcomed tingle into her ears.

She flashes Renci a smile just as he heads to his bedroom door, "I never doubted you for a second, my lord." Flashing her smile back at her, he leaves to speak with the elite guard, leaving his wife worried for what private matters could be of such concern.

And why he is hiding them from her.

1* Meili = Beauty in Chinese

2* Renci = Benevolent in Chinese

Ooooh! More secrets to unravel, and more characters to meet. Ah! I love writing mysterious stuff! As I've said, things are going to kick off real soon, and the jade palace masters will be on probably one of their craziest journeys yet. Anyways, lemme know what you think in the reviews and until next time :)