Chapter Text
“What do you guys have planned for summer break?” Meilin asked.
“Probably going to the Bahamas with my mom and dad.” Tyler said.
“I’m going to reread all the Nightfall books this summer. In one day.” Priya said, which made her friends chuckle.
“I’m gonna spend more time getting a good look at Devon even more at my mom’s salon. I’ll get you guys some of his hair when she cuts it!” Abby said enthusiastically, which everyone, even Tyler, sighed dreamily at.
“I’m gonna brush up on my skateboard skills. What about you, Mei?” Miriam asked as she put her arm over her best friends’ shoulder.
“I honestly don’t know. Hanging out with you guys is good enough for me.” Mei smiled brightly, and all of her friends awed. They group hugged as Mei got on the bus.
“See ya, girl!”
“Bye, Mei!”
“Love you!”
“Mei, still up for karaoke later?” Miriam asked.
“You know it Mir! See you in an hour!” Mei said as the bus doors closed. She soon got to the back at the bus and waved at them.
Meilin Lee was now very giddy—she was not only on summer break, three glorious months of hanging out with friends—but she was now officially a freshman in high school! Despite being nervous about the upcoming school year, she couldn’t wait to continue her education, meet new people, and become an honor student at her soon to be new school. And the best part? All her friends will be at the school she’s attending! Life couldn’t get any better!
She eventually arrived at her family’s temple. She couldn’t wait to get to her mom so they could honor their ancestor, Sun Yee.
“Mei Mei! There you are!” Ming said as she went up to Mei.
“Hi, Mom!” Mei said as she hugged her.
“How was the last day of school?” Ming looked at her expectantly. When it came to school, Ming was always the first to ask about it to Mei, for she knew it was a subject she cared about most.
“Pretty great! Here’s my report card!” Mei said as she handed an envelope to her mom, labeled ‘to the parent/guardian of Meilin Lee’.
Ming opened it, and was impressed—all A’s for every quarter in every class. “That’s my little scholar—oh, I’m sorry, high school scholar.” Ming said as she smirked to Mei. “How do you feel about the Earl Haig Collegiate Institute?”
“Pretty good. All my friends are going to be there! And I’m going to take more French classes!”
“That’s my Mei Mei. Always aiming for more in education. Sun Yee is so proud of you, as am I and your father.” Ming said as she put Mei’s report card back in the envelope and put it to the side as Mei was beaming over what she said. Ming brought out the lighter for her and Mei’s incense to pray.
A whole month after Pandapocalypse 2002, Mei and Ming’s relationship grew stronger. Mei kept her panda, and although her mom didn’t like it at first, she was the second to follow through her daughter’s decision with support, the first being her dad. Ming accepted that Mei was changing and growing, and she couldn’t stop it even if she tried. But she’s accepted it with flying colors, along with other aspects of Mei’s life—her friends, the things Mei is interested in—her little girl was growing up, and she was proud.
After they were finished praying (and using Mei’s panda to raise more money to help pay of the SkyDome, of course), they went inside to celebrate with Jin’s cooking, only to find out that he hasn’t started yet.
“Jin didn’t even start yet? Where on earth is he?” Ming asked.
“I’ll just go in my room to wait, it’s no big deal Mom.” Mei said as she hugged Ming and was heading into her room to do so. She was looking for her CD of 4☆Town but couldn’t find it. “I know I have it around somewhere. Hmmm…” Then it hit her. Duh! Just find Dad and ask him!
She then came out of her room and was looking for him. “Dad! Dad! Have you seen my CD?” She asked as she walked all around only to not find him. “Mom, do you know where dad is?”
“Hmm…I don’t know Mei Mei. Try the basement, he could be down there.”
Mei went downstairs to see if her dad was there, but heard his feet stomping on the floor from an all too familiar rhythm.
“I'm gonna make it all the way, just watch me
I'm gonna hustle every day (ooh-whoa)
I'm making paper like it's origami
I only came to win the game, can't stop me~” Jin sang and danced to 4☆Town’s song. He opened his eyes and saw Mei at the bottom of the steps as she was staring wide eyed at him. Jin quickly turned off the CD player. “…I found your CD, Mei.” He soon said.
“Dad! You’re a 4☆Townie?!” Mei asked her dad.
“…Their music is very catchy.” He admitted.
A brief second of silence followed before Mei jumped up and down in glee. He expected her to be embarrassed by him but he got a completely different reaction. “Oh my gosh oh my gosh oh my gosh! Dad! You’re the coolest ever!” Mei said as she hugged her dad.
“Come on, Mei. Let’s go upstairs. I’ll make your favorites.” Jin said as Mei fist pumped, mouthing a quiet ‘yes’.
As they went upstairs, Ming was vacuuming and Jin got started by pulling out the food to begin cooking.
As Mei’s parents were preoccupied, Mei was getting ready to head over to Miriam’s for karaoke with her friends. She walked out her room and said her goodbyes to her parents as she went over to her friend’s house.
However, unbeknownst to Mei, a black car was watching her as she was walking.
“Grandpa, do you see her?” A voice asked on a cellphone.
“Oh yeah. I see her. The one with the red hair, panda ears and tail, right?”
“Yeah! That’s her!”
“Alright. I’ll talk to her and try to convince her. I’ll talk to you soon, Robaire.”
“Talk to you later, Grandpa.”
The man hung up the phone and followed Mei, slowly in his car, but far away so he wouldn’t be suspicious. Mei never noticed as she was often in her own little world. She was almost at Miriam’s house before a car pulled up and the man came out behind her.
“Hey, are you Meilin Lee?” The man asked as she turned around at the mention of her name. She didn’t recognize him. Probably a tourist, she thought.
“Yeeeeeeeesss?” She drew out her answer, unsure how to treat this person. They probably wanted a photo—she was the famous red panda girl after all.
The man chuckled. Mei instantly became skeptic, but let him continue. “Perfect. My name is Lucius Best. I’ve seen your panda. Quite an interesting ability from your ancestor Sun Yee. If you’re interested in using your powers for good, give me a call. We could use a girl with superpowers like yours to save others.” Lucius said as he walked over and gave her a business card with his information on it.
Superpowers? What? The panda wasn’t necessarily a superpower. The panda was just to attract people and make them feel good. She was by no means a superhero.
“Thanks, but no thanks, mister. I’m not exactly superhero material, you know that, right?”
“Well, if you give us a chance, we can change that. We can put you through training and help you. And you’ll be with other young people like you that have powers like you do to help the world out.”
“Wait, us? You’re not the ringleader of the whole thing?”
“Yes and no. But enough of that. I have to get going. Give me a call if you’re interested. If you are, we’ll put that panda to the test.” The man said as he walked to his car and drove off.
Mei looked at the card. Lucius Best, advocate for heroes, 313-XXX-XXXX .
She was utterly dumbfounded. Why was she considered for a superhero position?? She can’t save people!
Eventually, Miriam must’ve saw Mei outside her house, and ran out to hug her. “MEI!” She called. “Ready to get your karaoke on?”
However, there were more pressing matters on Mei’s mind right now. “Um, actually, Mir, I have a friend emergency. A code panda.”
Miriam’s face immediately became serious. “Whoa! This quickly? What happened girl?”
“A man wants me to use my panda to become a superhero.”