Chapter Twenty-Two: Loyalty, the Noblest of Sins
Shifu did not like tea.
Although he would never admit this, it was the truth, nonetheless. Perhaps it was the culture - the petty formality of the ceremonies - that irked him. Perhaps it was just the taste. Writ large, any such pomp and circumstance had always annoyed the red panda, even from his youngest years. As the grandmaster of a prestigious institute of martial arts, the irony of this predisposition was not lost on him. He had become a practicalist entombed in a lifestyle of etiquette and protocol. Such was life.
If he had ever fully understood Oogway's tendency to surround himself with perplexing contradictions like these, he might have even foreseen his master selecting a panda as Dragon Warrior; it certainly would have spared his mind no small amount of agony.
These internal musings had caused Shifu's senses to meander from his present surroundings. Being summoned for an imperial audience had never been unusual for the overseer of the Jade Palace. In ages past, Oogway would speak on behalf of the Valley of Peace with the mightiest echelons of power: emperors, warlords, and dignitaries from foreign lands. But Oogway was gone. Like so many things, the task of representing their small commune had fallen to the stoic red panda, who was unlikely to ever be convinced he was worthy of such responsibilities.
"Is the tea not to your liking, Master Shifu?"
Whisked back to reality, the grandmaster looked first to the untouched drink before him, and then up - partially averting his gaze from the one who sat opposite himself. Such was the custom, after all, when facing the Emperor of China.
"With deepest respect, your majesty, the matter at hand is of utmost-"
"The respect is mutual. You won't lose your head for looking upon us."
Shifu hesitantly complied. The tense of the ruler's speaking initially confused the grandmaster, until he realized that this was itself just another imperial protocol.
The tiger sitting upon the imperial throne had an intensity about himself. Even in a reclined position his bearing seemed poised, as if preparing to counter some unforeseen attack. The garments he wore mostly concealed his figure, but he was certainly in sound physical shape despite an undoubtedly luxurious lifestyle. The darkening pigments in his visible fur revealed the first signs of older age, likely brought on early by the stresses of governing a realm on the precipice of decline.
"If you must know, the tea is fine." Shifu said. "It is my own tastes that are defective."
The Emperor gave a short huff, amused. Handing his own drink to an attendant, his paw came to rest to his side; the tiger's claws gently glided over the Heirloom Seal of the Realm, the jade symbol of his heavenly mandate.
"Yes, Shifu. We are well aware of what has brought you here. This business with the Mongols is a timeless dilemma - one we have inherited from our fathers, and their fathers before them."
Shifu sensed another presence in the room; the unique bird that had flown him across such great distances entered and gestured reverently towards the throne.
"Ah, we'd almost forgotten." the tiger said, acknowledging the messenger and holding out a sealed scroll. "To be delivered to the overseer of military preparations in Xiangyang prefecture."
The avian received the scroll promptly before bounding over the nearby balcony and taking off into the air with tremendous speed. His eyes having followed the bird's path, Shifu now looked out over the pleasantly tiered landscape of rice paddies that surrounded the Emperor's country estate on all sides. The Jade Palace master greatly preferred this picturesque setting to the crowds and noise of Hangzhou.
"Apologies for the interruption. Perhaps we should take our discussion outside?"
Most questions from emperors were not actually questions. Shifu nodded in agreement, grabbing his staff as they moved from the small throne room to an outdoor walkway overseeing the property of the estate.
It was surreal in a way, walking alone with the ruler of the Middle Kingdom; this notion dissipated as Shifu realized an emperor was never truly alone, even in that moment remaining under the watchful gaze of many of his armed bodyguards.
"May you live in interesting times... That is the saying, is it not?" the tiger asked rhetorically.
His focus was on the countryside and the many laborers who worked the paddies. Midday had clearly passed, but it was not yet sunset. He continued speaking.
"Interesting times indeed: corruption cripples the land while the power of our enemies becomes insurmountable. We no longer know whether to consider some as allies or insurrectionists - your friend the Soothsayer is no exception."
Shifu looked up at the Emperor for a moment, but did not speak; the ongoing dispute over Gongmen's autonomy was none of his concern. The two continued walking.
"Regardless, the goat's abilities of foresight are invaluable to The Realm."
"Indeed," Shifu added, "she believes an invasion is imminent. We must act quickly."
The red panda's brisk tone revealed some of the urgency that he had been fighting thus far to suppress; the Emperor was unmoved. The walkway they were on passed a large tree, and the feline ruler stopped once more. Shifu soon realized he had not halted on account of the tree itself, but rather the tiger cub that rolled about playfully at its base. The child was carefully overseen by various attendants and protectors, leaving no doubt that this was the young heir to the throne. He was weak, vulnerable - not unlike the empire as a whole.
"We've heard it said that Oogway once made peace with the nomads of the steppe - fought alongside them, even." the Emperor prodded, eyeing Shifu.
"You've heard correctly. But that was long ago, and Oogway is-"
"No longer among us, we know. We received word some time ago. He was a loyal friend to China and to the imperial lineage; you have our condolences."
Shifu gripped at his old master's staff slightly tighter. In times of great trouble he wished his mentor were still there to guide him, to cajole him from despair with his poetic wit. Not even inner peace could numb the red panda to that longing.
"What would you have me do?" Shifu asked at last.
"The majority of our forces will gather near the city of Xiangyang." The Emperor's focus did not move from the child under the tree. "We want you and your fellow masters to fight alongside the army. The region controls access to the Yangtze, and without it, all of China will fall."
"Your majesty, the Masters Council is not a military force."
"We are aware of this." the tiger asserted. "You're defenders of the people, are you not?"
Shifu gave a conceding bow of the head.
"Then defend them. You were not asked to attack, merely to repel invaders upon our lands. Council or not, as subjects of The Realm you must preserve Heaven's Mandate."
"As you command, majesty." the grandmaster capitulated.
Shifu turned to leave, already knowing there was no point in arguing further. Best to leave before saying something one might regret.
"There is another matter." the Emperor said, stopping Shifu mid-stride. "A most unusual rumor passed on to us from a Mongolian informant."
Shifu slowly turned to face the ruler once more; the tiger's tone of voice had caused an uncertain fear to grow in his gut.
"Mere days ago, a feast was held by the Mongol Khan. Word is, he had some noteworthy company."
"Is that so?"
"Three foreigners. A tiger. A crane. And a panda."
The teacher was speechless at the revelation - for what could he hope to say? He was immediately aware of the rather serious implications if such a rumor were to be true.
"The coming fight will require the Dragon Warrior's skill; that is, assuming his allegiance remains... unchanged." The Emperor's accusing glare threatened to pierce straight through Shifu. "You will see into this matter."
"Y-yes, of course." the red panda stammered. "I will do everything I can."
Content with Shifu's surprise, the ruler walked away. The grandmaster's mind was in a near-paralyzed state; his consciousness a swirling mess of thoughts interlaced with paranoia and confusion. However, he knew one thing to be true: Viper had been right.
Indeed, something was very wrong.
After many days within the crowded city, Crane found the plains just outside Khanbaliq to be a marked improvement; even more so given his present company.
Following the Mongol princess' instigated free-for-all, Mei Ling had been more than willing to accompany him for some much-needed fresh air.
"How's the wing healing up?" the feline asked, keeping steady pace next to the avian.
"Fairly well, I think."
A sufficient distance from the walls, the bird and cat duo stopped to rest by the long-since-collapsed ruins of a granary. Mei chose one of the more structurally sound bits of it to lean against.
"Think you'll be able to fly again soon?"
"Haven't really tried yet." Crane said, flexing the appendage in question. "Besides, I think you should worry more about yourself at the moment."
The cat granted him this, raising her leg to inspect the wound on her ankle. Yuelen's attack had sliced cleanly through the fabric of her clothing to the flesh underneath, and a small flow of blood had stained into her fur.
"That princess fights dirty... shouldn't have underestimated her." she grumbled, tightening some cloth wrappings around the affected area.
"As I saw it - seems you can fight dirty too."
Mei smiled, "I was merely repaying her the favor."
Crane reciprocated her lively expression, but it was only a passing facade for his concern.
"Why do you let her use you like that - doing her bidding, playing her games?"
"We all have our own indignities to bear it seems." she deflected after a pause.
The golden cat looked away, her tail brushing to the side, signaling her discomfort. She knew her response had been inadequate.
"It has to do with your father, doesn't it?" Crane's glare was assertive.
"Erm... speaking of." she quipped, nodding in the direction behind the avian. Lingering a short distance away from them, Ganbataar and several of the Kheshig guards had followed the two from the city. While they seemed uninterested in approaching further, the felines were standoffish in their bearing as they idled about surrounding the ruins, watching them.
"Making sure we don't run off, I presume?" Crane postured, fairly confident they were out of earshot.
"Perhaps." Mei answered as her more playful temperament took hold. "Or maybe, they're just making sure you don't get carried off by ferals, with you being flightless and all..."
"Oh really?" Crane jested back, immediately catching on to her implication.
The avian master certainly knew better than to exert himself, but the golden cat had an ineffable way of removing his more cautious and calculating mettle. He simply couldn't resist.
Challenge accepted.
Even faster than she had anticipated, Crane shot upwards, lifting her off the ground with him. For the first time in weeks, his wings drove over the swaths of air with purpose. The avian was pleasantly surprised that he was able to carry their combined weight with ease, steadily increasing the intensity of his effort, his strength having returned.
"Okay, okay! I take it back!" Mei pleaded jokingly, the ground below them growing increasingly distant.
Crane grinned in response, lessening the frequency of his wingbeats and bringing them downwards. He chose to land atop the decrepit granary structure, which fortunately remained sturdy enough to stand on. The feline stumbled slightly; partly from her ankle wound, partly from the highly unusual sensation of flight.
"That was... different."
"Never flown before? Well, obviously, since you... You know I've always thought about doing that-"
Mei had cut him off, gently clamping his beak shut with her paw and showing a captivating smirk.
"Don't make it awkward."
Crane gave a bashful nod. He loved that smile. Her paw fell away and they embraced.
"What did you do to my wing - how did you manage to fix it?" he asked as they parted.
"Chi healing. I still have much to learn, but it seems it was enough to help with your injuries."
"Thanks again, but... how?"
"Simply put - meditation, and a lot of time alone to practice."
Crane's focus was again on the soldiers in the distance below them, who looked thoroughly unamused with their theatrics.
"Since you can fly again, will you try to leave?"
The avian pondered the question for a moment.
"No... don't think so. Not until we get what we came for."
"And what is that, exactly?"
Crane turned to her again, intrigued by her eager tone.
"You first. You still haven't been straight with me - why are you really here? What's the deal with your father?"
Mei looked towards where the old leopard stood below, "Believe me, I'm not doing this for Gan; I don't owe him a damn thing. I cannot forgive him, either."
"What for?"
It was clear she didn't want to answer. The golden cat just kept staring out, frustrated. Eventually, she made up her mind.
"You really must know?"
Crane didn't even have to nod to show his answer, and so she began to speak.
"My father was born the bastard son of a noble, one amongst the inner circle of the old Khan. When he was still little more than a child, his father sold him into a life of servitude to the royal family."
"Not exactly the greatest father ever." Crane butted in.
"True. Growing up amongst the Khan's family, Ganbataar developed a close bond with the eldest Prince of Mongolia, being assigned as his personal bodyguard."
"Khasar?"
Mei nodded, "The young prince was sympathetic to Gan, and when the two grew older they took revenge upon the one who had enslaved him."
"So Gan murdered his own..." the avian started.
"Yes, he did. Since then, Khasar and my father have been like brothers. They fought in all the old Khan's military campaigns, folly as they were." The cat rubbed at the back of her neck. "It was during one of these pointless wars that Gan met my mother, the leader of a local rebellion sympathetic to the Mongols. Not long after, I came along I suppose."
Crane was astounded by what Mei had neglected to tell him for so many years; but deep down, he understood withholding it all. He had, after all, his own reasons for putting his early years behind him.
"That must have been a rough upbringing - I'm sorry."
"It was... what it was." she sighed. "Eventually it even seemed normal to always be traveling with the armies."
Crane also turned his focus towards Gan, "I'm guessing things didn't end well."
"Hmph. Remember how I mentioned loyalty the other night?"
"Sure."
"During the last invasion of Goryeo, the Mongol army was crushed and the Khan himself was killed in the fighting. I was still a young girl, but I'll never forget how the Korean army ravaged our camp after the battle - it was chaos."
The cat's posture tensed, her voice saturated with bitterness.
"And where was my father? He left us - his family - to save the Mongol prince."
Crane was afraid to ask, "What happened to your mother?"
"She learned the hard way where my father's highest loyalties lied. I had to watch as the soldiers murdered her, helpless to do anything."
To Crane, even more concerning than the terrifying revelation, was the relatively removed tone in which the golden cat had delivered it.
"Mei, I'm sorry, I didn't-"
"Don't be sorry, Xian. You couldn't have known... and it was a long time ago. My mother wasn't exactly the embodiment of virtue; my father will never believe he made the wrong choice, or that there was ever one to be made. In his mind, doing his duty is the only thing that matters."
"I see..." he started, still at a loss, "but where does this leave you? How did you end up in China?"
"Gan seemed to have little interest in raising me alone; with the aid of the Khan-to-be, he had me sent away to learn the ways of Kung Fu. Since I had my mother's physical appearance, I could pass for a Chinese citizen, and I adjusted to the new life well enough. In time, though, I realized I was becoming just another asset for them to manipulate in the Khan's ultimate goal - a conquest of China."
Crane had grown uncomfortable from hearing all this, and could only imagine how the feline felt, having kept so much of it secret for so long.
"So you see, Gan has become his father, and he doesn't even realize it. He abandoned his own child for the 'betterment of the realm' or some such nonsense."
The golden cat stopped speaking for a while, her legs dangling off the edge of the building where she sat. In all the years he had known her, this was not the Mei Ling Crane recognized; she had always been reserved, gentle and peaceable, and he never could have guessed that such a troubled past weighed on her. He couldn't help but think of Po, and how he too had defied an unpleasant origin to become such a beacon of kindhearted charm.
"As the daughter of a royal servant, I was summoned to fulfill an inborn debt to the ruler of Mongolia. But like I said, I didn't come back to all this for my father's sake, nor any kind of loyalty for that matter. I'm merely using them to get something I want, just like they did to me."
"How so?"
Mei turned to look at the avian directly, "If I complete a specific task for the Khan, I can ask for nearly anything I want in return."
She once again had Crane bristling with curiosity. "I've never known you to be one to have any use for money or extravagance. What could you possibly ask of a ruler?"
"It's simple really - all I want is a bit of land. Somewhere nice and remote, away from all this fighting; certainly no shortage of places like that on the open steppe. At least... that was my plan, anyway."
She wilted in his view, afraid that what she said had come off selfish or just nonsensical. Though it wasn't the most comfortable for him, Crane lowered himself to also sit on the edge of the building at her same level. Beyond the ruins directly below them, the view over the countryside was nothing short of dramatic.
"You may not believe me," he admitted, "but I've been finding that more and more - I want the same thing. Peace, solace, no more fighting; no more rules. That kind of life doesn't sound half bad."
Mei seemed to brighten at his words; he really did understand.
"I believe you."
The two sat in silence, appreciating the tranquility of the passing moments together. As dusk got closer the gentle breeze gained strength, becoming a frigid wind. It made Crane feel quite cold, but was refreshing nonetheless. He felt a gentle brush against his wing, and looked over to find that Mei was offering a folded scrap of paper that seemed to be scavenged from an old scroll or the like.
"This is what the Khan needs me for." she said, the avian beginning to unfold it. "Or rather, what he needs me to fix."
The scrap was covered with scribbles and drabble, some of it emphasized and some crossed out entirely. It was clear the cat had been studying something with furious vigor of late. But what immediately drew Crane's attention was the sketch that occupied the center of the page. It was the sinuous likeness of the ultimate quarry of his mission: The Dagger of Deng-Wa.
She's known where it was this whole time... I've been such a fool!
"Strange looking thing, isn't it? I just can't seem to figure out how it works-"
"Mei."
The golden cat immediately dropped what she was saying, startled by the urgency in his voice.
"What is it?" she asked, the bird master unable to look away from the drawing he held in his wings.
Crane took a deep breath.
"We're here for the same reason."
Author's Notes:
- I'm relieved to finally update this story after such a long hiatus; I won't bore you with any long list of excuses and whatnot, but suffice to say its been a pretty rough year so far as I'm sure many of you can understand
- First off, I express my thanks to lot of my friends for continuing to help this little project along; this time around I'd like to thank WayCaster in particular for his help regarding Chinese historical and cultural accuracy (was very useful for handling the Emperor)
- It was alluded to in the text, but for the sake of clarity, traditionally the Emperor always speaks in the tense of "we"
- Since this update will replace the placeholder I had previously, I should mention that a lot of edits to the story have been made; the only major change however is the removal of the prologue (Chapter 1) - don't worry, that world-building content won't be gone permanently, it will eventually be placed at a more appropriate point in the story
- No real action in this chapter, its mostly a big setup for the one following it (which I've been dying to write for like a year now lol)
- Thanks again to all my readers who keep up with this story, especially after a long break like this; I know I can't make any promises, but I'll do my best to avoid update gaps this large in the future