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Chapter Text

THE MIGHTIEST WARRIORS, BOOK ONE

PART ONE

"THE RETURN"

Episode I: The Prince of Darkness (1 - 5)

Chapter I

Qing Temple

- Year 500 -

The Qing Temple was the pinnacle of a life of prosperity. Master Oogway envisioned it and created Kung Fu, which brought peace and tranquility. As he wielded his yin-yang staff, the tortoise could walk on the golden glossy platform and see his students forming kung fu movements, lighter deflections, and hard thrusts.

Three sections brought eternal peace to this apotheosis of the sky, which was light cheese in color, and the sun glimmered from above the predictably white clouds. A reddish-yellow tiger in a golden robe with black linings on her neck and the edge of her sleeves strode back and forth, grasping her paws behind her back. She stared at her students in gold garments and yellow and black sashes; they stood in horse stances and formed the Chi Sao blocks and straight punches of Wing Chun. The yak in a long green robe was positioned next to Oogway and his longtime companion, Mui Tan Huang (the tigress master of Wing Chun). Peering at the yak's students in brown silk garments, Liu Bong Shien watched their flowing arms across their surroundings before shouting with energy as they thrust. As the master of tai chi, he led them in their water-flowing movement of his arms and the swift forward attacks with both hooves clenched.

Kung Fu. Part of harmony, focus, and concluding the war against the darkness. Wing Chun. Eternal peace is as eager as you encourage love toward others and listening to Mother Nature. Tai Chi. You have water within your body as a soul, forging with glory, happiness, and integrity that you absorb energy with a rapid push.

The female tiger strolled beside her tortoise companion and watched all the students glorify their forms. "This is going to change the world, am I right, Master Oogway?" Mui simpered.

"Yes," Oogway replied in his calm, light tone. "After a few years, what we created here in this school will spread. Our martial arts are rooted in the Earth and grow like living trees." Oogway turned to her. "Are your students ready for their spar, Mui?"

"Yes, Master Oogway," Mui nodded, her paws still firmly clasped behind her back.

From above, in the heavens of blue and yellow, a bird form soared near the gray brick pillars from the red gate that was breached with golden wood in between. A grey goose in a gold robe approached both masters as he dove soft and landed in front. In a moment, a messenger took some time off to catch his breath. "My master, my lady," he admired; both Oogway and Mui nodded at the avian with gentle smirks. "We have a visitor coming from the Kong Temple. And the Ox Warrior is close to the front gate entrance."

"The Ox Warrior?" The tigress master inquired, curiosity evident in her voice.

"He requests to have a word with all three of you," a messenger informed as the yak teacher approached from Oogway's left side, brushing his thinned mane. "By any means necessary, the Ox is from the homeland of Jinse Simiao, the ancestral palace and massive city where the Prince lives with his father, Emperor Khan."

The yak craned his neck back. "Emperor Khan's son is coming our way?" Liu Bong Shien forced his tone higher. Such brilliant and surprising. Oogway revolved his head at his gray beast companion. Liu pardoned. "Master, forgive my concern. Do we not remember how cruel the Emperor has been since his father's death twenty years ago?"

The tortoise hummed. "As a matter of fact," Oogway reflected, "we all know the arrogance of Ox warlord. However, I assure you, my dear friend, the visitor could honor our reputation as we build our temple." He turned to the messenger. "Bring the traveler in."

A bird nodded. He flapped his wings and bounded off the platform into the wind.

Moments later, all three masters were positioned together. Red and gold flags billowed. The plaza was pale gray and filled with all the students of gold, green, and brown silk clothes dancing with water and forms. The sunlight spoke to the bluish horizon as the masters waited and stared expectantly at the brown gate at a further distance near a gray, large watchtower. A howling voice gave a command, and the brown gate opened.

Four blue gorillas in dark gold armor marched and heaved a black coach decorated with soft gray drapes. The tigress master strolled down the small stairs from the gray platform after she nodded to both Oogway and Liu Bong Shien. Many students discerned that the coach's color and the gorillas' armor came from Kong City. A royal palace village was similar to Gongmen City's, made of golden and red flame towers. Nevertheless, gold and black were symbols of spectacular success, as Oogway adored. The black coach stopped and was placed down in the middle of the Qing Temple courtyard.

Most heads watched, and plenty stopped focusing on their training — a massive, black hoof spawned from the carriage's right side. A young, grayish-blue Ox warrior in a long, black kimono robe strolled as he left his ride. All four apes rose. The Prince's gold belt carried a large black sword case beside his left waist.

Mui lifted her heart and chin. A young, tall, and muscular Ox craned his neck, and with luminous red eyes, he met hers. "Greetings, my Prince," the female tiger welcomed the royal Ox, swallowing. "Welcome to Qing Temple. I am Mui Tan Huang, a Wing Chun instructor." She gestured with her left paw at the two beloved masters, who both grinned. "I present my yak companion Liu Bong Shien, a Tai Chi teacher and Kung Fu master, the Magnificent Master Oogway."

"It is my honor to meet you, masters," The royal Ox complimented, nodding. "I am Prince Huoju, son of Emperor Khan of Jinse Simiao."

"Yes, my Prince. I admire your father's reign. Come with us," Mui smiled. She turned and strolled while Huoju followed. He nodded at his ape servants positioned beside the coach. The enormous Ox swept his bushy, fur tail. "Let us have the words you truly desire."

"How do you like our marvelous temple, my Prince?" The yak master asked politely.

The strong Ox sat on the crystal sapphire chair. Huoju grasped his pale white mug and sipped his green tea. Two wolves and two deer in red and black robes stood on each corner. All four wielded their silver guandaos. "It is superb to get a glimpse of your students while they educated themselves outside the courtyard," Huoju reviewed. "Best of all: A few of my companions adored living in a prosperous school. And to hear your astonishing tale of how martial arts have been born, forged with the creation of light, love, and happiness."

"My pleasure, Prince Huoju," replied Oogway, delighted.

The yak stroked his chin beard. Liu Bong Shien ambled beside the Prince as if Huoju needed a Tai Chi master to sense the royal Ox's characteristics. The yak master fell to one knee and caressed Huoju's right hoof when closing his eyes.

"Is your father interested in you joining our martial arts?" Mui inquired the Prince, smirking toward her black ears as she sipped her gray mug.

The Prince buzzed his throat. "The Emperor concentrates his wealth across China, allowing his construction workers to maintain his temples with gold roofs and structures. My father is resilient in his succession, despite his power and loyalty, which are his ways of building for the dynasty," Huoju clarified. "Emperor Khan has never been interested in my future to participate in your education."

"Oogway and I tried to convince your father last month, my Prince," Mui explained, placing her small gray mug across the top left corner of the table. "Khan discerns our term to educate his loving son that you adore Kung Fu. Nevertheless, before you become an Emperor one day, you are willing to become a master and let your legacy go forward with your children's children when you are gone."

"That is fair," the Ox nodded.

Liu slowly bent his head. Every master senses students' and visitors' thoughts to glimpse nostalgic memories. You await your teacher's comment to describe your reputation as if your soul has meaning in your courageous heart. The yak opened his rapid, reflective eyes. His hoof dragged away after letting Huoju's hand release. Three heads turned toward the appalled Tai Chi master. Liu's shaking eyes and head made his big heart thump louder, and soon he was panting. The Wing Chun master stood up quickly from her seat and approached her yak companion from behind. "Liu? What is it?" Mui hushed and put her palm to Liu's gray mane.

Oogway peered at the Ox, revolving his massive head towards the petrified Tai Chi master. "You are not here to discuss learning here," Liu convinced with his frightening voice. "May I keep this simple? Is there a motivation for you here, my Prince?"

Huoju dazzled his eyes, inaudibly inhaling from his rich black nose. "My father's conqueror rules plenty of sanctuaries across China where masters like you three teach the growth of seeds of knowledge, encouragement, prosperity, and happiness," Huoju informed, seeing both Mui and Liu startled by his statement. Four guards around them rotated their perplexed heads at the Royal Prince like some unexpected argument would light a spark. "In my father's name, Emperor Khan, obey his lord's command. Acting as the Emperor's Hand, I demand that you three masters surrender your temple. Refusing to do so is an act of defiance and rebellion against my father."

The yak master rose fast from his knee, standing taller and craning his head ahead of the unemotional Ox's face. "Is this your father's command, Prince Huoju?" Liu was stunned. His floppy ears flicked, eyes thrived, and mouth opened. "That is revolting! Your father must not disintegrate sanctuaries! Masters teach their students the essence of peace and the birth of knowledge!"

Mui, beside her yak friend, intervened, her eyes widening. "My Prince, have you forgotten the Emperor accepted Oogway's schools and spread them across many temples after your grandfather's death?" she demanded. Oogway stood up with his yin-yang pole from his bamboo chair. "Your father wouldn't divide and eradicate sanctuaries!"

Huoju quickly pushed a crystal chair with his back and rose to his feet. "Then Emperor Khan decided and changed his mind," Huoju asserted menacingly; the wolves and deer positioned their guandaos at the royal, ambitious Ox. "Kung Fu, Wing Chun, Tai Chi... they are all a threat to the conqueror."

"Who is the conqueror's name?" Mui insisted.

Huoju's steely eyes peered at Wing Chun's tigress master. "Lord Commander Siwang."

Across the broad Qing Temple's platform, crowded with many students and monks, every ear rose towards the shrieking sky above or the iron entrance. Oogway turned, and three black vortexes catapulted angry golden flames. The first penetrated the golden house temple with its scenic gardens and pillars. The second wrecked into the middle of a tall, rich yellow tower with banners of Kung Fu, Tai Chi, and Wing Chun. The third and last crashed, smashed, and splashed into the platform, combined with black shadows and red fires. Many students dodged, but many more ran, shouting in horror as flames crawled over them.

Huoju grabbed the blade of a guandao held close to his throat and moved it away from him. "Striking the Prince and Emperor is an act of treason," he warned.

"You look ruthless," Oogway described. He spun his jade staff and struck the bottom of the table, throwing the Ox off the platform.

Liu mounted his knees with Mui; Oogway and two masters heard the gate entrance banging loudly. A strong push cracked the gate open. And in swarmed an army of bandits in red, gold, and black armor. They rushed in against all the students over the courtyard, yelling with sharp swords, daggers, and hammers — gorillas, deer, hyenas, yaks, and bovines charged as the students tried to back away.

"This discussion is over!" the Prince snapped. All heads, including the guandao-holding guards, revolved at the Ox, motioning the upside-down table with messy mugs and crumpled table mat. Huoju growled under his rough throat and stood in a rapid fighting stance with his guards up. "Your dissent speaks to me as a no."

Huoju grasped and wrenched the red tablecloths. Wolf and deer guards heaved their guandaos at him; Huoju circulated both sticks under the sharp blades and disarmed them. Simultaneously, he snapped a wolf's head, caught a buck's antler, and threw him toward the sky. Oogway intercepted from above the platform, swinging his jade yin yang staff. Huoju stretched a twisted cloth ahead, caught the tortoise's stick, and propelled his front kick at Oogway's center shell. Liu bounded forward with a rough growl under his throat. The yak balanced his feet forward, stirred his muscular arms while traversing onto Huoju's vertical fist, and pulled Ox toward Liu, sweeping his right hoof onto Prince's lower ankle.

Huoju fell to the concrete floor; he spotted the Tai Chi Master's approaching kick and managed to dodge what would have been a knockout blow to the head. The Prince rose after rolling on the floor as if Tiger master Mui Tan Huang intervened behind Liu Bong Shien when Oogway leaped back on the platform. Liu motioned his arms as if Huoju struck many straight hooves at him. The yak again transversed Ox's right wrist, circulating sleeve. Huoju noticed the yak's repeated movement; he curled on Liu's back and grasped the yak's belly, tossing Liu into the throng battle over the golden platform.

Mui advanced her chin stance as her tail swept on the ground, her eye pupils shrinking. Huoju spun his body with a butterfly kick toward Wing Chun's tigress; Mui palmed his right ankle as if Huoju guarded his fists as Mui thrust her straight, circle punches toward Prince's chest. Huoju's arms went separated after Mui's lethal blows. His thought perplexed her mastery of confusing opponents with substantial distractions. Mui heaved her jo phan kick onto Huoju's high knee attack. She averted his left fist and fisted her clenched left paw at his chest simultaneously. Next, Mui diverted another punch and struck hard to his upper torso.

The Prince slid her feet across the other side of the garden courtyard. How does Huoju know to combat? Did his father train him? Mui thought. Her black ears stood, and rapid steps behind Mui bounded above a Wing Chun master. Oogway landed ahead of Ox Prince. "You have begun to fight stronger," tortoise described Huoju, wielding his staff as if Oogway slid his left foot back from Huoju's next attack if the Prince surprised him. "Who is your master, my child?"

"It is he who balances the light and darkness," Huoju chuckled nastily. "A teacher who seeks life and death in our pure souls. The night wins against the day, and the darkness has ways of feeling toward light enemies."

"A mystery teacher, he is," Oogway determined. "Your mind is like water disturbing its placid surface. I assure you, Prince Huoju, your master, to who you do not speak his name, entices your healthy thoughts to believe your wicked instructor."

"Let the light fade," Huoju squinted his eyes, clenching both of his hooves. "And glimpse your former companion."

Oogway dashed ahead of Huoju. Mui behind the tortoise shrunk her pupils and ears rising as if a floating black vortex with an angry fire soared and screamed near the Wing Chun tigress. She twisted her body, fisting against the ball of light with her clenched claw, and struck with a pale white beam, cracking all sides as the oil sphere shredded apart with more than a hundred solid black pieces. She bounded across the crowded courtyard, piled with Huoju's army against all students skirmishing.

Huoju craned his neck forward with his iron horns, charging his sprint force at Oogway. The elder tortoise leaped above him and struck his yin-yang staff directly at Ox's spine, illustrated with rapid winds. Oogway landed and turned toward running Ox, who ceased his feet and drew his big, sharp sword from the rich black scabbard. Huoju's large blade went glossy, and the edge glimmered with light red. His gold-black robe billowed behind after his turn.

Huoju slashed his sword toward Oogway's long neck; the tortoise's staff deflected it with a jade sparkle against crimson sparks. Oogway diverted the Prince's blade from both shoulders and above, guarding against the blade hammering his head. Huoju discerned that several masters purposely bore abilities to wield weapons, the same as without blades or sticks to use, and that hands and feet are your weapons to guard and assail. The bovine spun and ground his sword with crimson sparks below Oogway's feet, rotating again to another slash toward the tortoise's neck. He heard no cut nor whine from his opponent. With suspicious anticipation, bending his head to one side, Huoju surveyed a headless turtle before his eyes, squinting at his weapon without gore splotches.

Huoju heard Oogway's quiet laugh; his jaw went open. Impossible! The Ox thought slowly. "Deceived by your opponent!" Oogway beamed, raised his head from the shell hole, and hammered Ox's forehead. Huoju guarded above with his sword from the jade staff that voiced its sun.

"My teacher is right!" Huoju realized, snapping with his eyes growing wide and pupils shrinking. "I try not to trust a sagacious turtle!"

"Trying is not an accomplishment," Oogway counseled him. "Doing is your priority."

"I take your advice," Huoju clenched his teeth. He struck his sharp sword onto Oogway's yin-yang, hammering repeatedly. The Ox Prince kept hitting Oogway's staff side by side: Left, right, left, and top, forcing Oogway and his staff to the floor. The bovine's last whip swirled before Oogway flipped back into the fore temple's door, ascending gold stairs that touched and absorbed yellow stars.

Fire arrows at the front gate whistled angrily over both walls as if yak and wolf wielding gold arrows. They stood on the wall bridge, pierced through arms and shoulders as if jarred and falling into the battlefield with their excruciating scream. Mui and Liu pulsed their friction of momentum from their rapid punches and hooks deflecting against one another who opposed their lovely and innocent students. Mui summoned her sharp fangs, and her eyes went thinner like the cat hunting its prey. She diverted in all fours over the line of space by reaching her Wing Chun students of brown robes, spotting a male tiger of gold uniform spiraling his air kicks at a giant, nasty black boar who wielded a spike ball stick.

The yak master took wicked brown boar down to the floor as if his sturdy arms tricked the bandit's movement and flipped his hoof. Liu witnessed every student, including Oogway's and Mui's, randomly defeated locals (Huoju's separated armies of archers, swords, and aggressive bandits with war mauls and hammers) around him. Despite being a sagacious yak, he was only the tallest teacher, along with Oxen, Gorillas, and Bovines. Liu Bong Shien glimpsed the golden stairway ahead of the Qing Temple's Center; Huoju ascended the stairs with a sizeable keen sword, entering the red barricade doors that opened by Oogway.

Master! Liu thought worriedly. His eyelids rose. A vicious yell ahead of the yak master encountered. A dark green lizard with black chest armor that painted a blazing emblem spawned his curve hook blade. A shrieking yell with rapid movement crossed the lizard bandit, catapulting him off course to the left wall. A bluish-pink peahen who darted her talon toward the reptile nodded at Liu Bong Shien. The yak scanned his marvelous, attracting peafowl student in a long cinnamon robe and light brown linings with water details.

Qing Temple Center was the essential library with twenty-five crimson columns and a gloss black and white floor. Its yellow ceiling was once drawn with white circle patterns, large dot moons, and small stars blessing the glass floor. Many red cabinets piled with over five hundred scrolls and grew more knowledge to write. How ravishing—

The left side of the ceiling wrecked apart like a waterfall collapsing with ashes, smoke, and debris. A flame ball shattered through multiple red columns with yellow zigzag dragons. On the right Center, Huoju slashed the eighth column straight as if the Ox Prince lurched his stance forward with an all-out sword attack. Oogway rolled backward; he flattened the jade staff above his head from Huoju's sword hitting him.

"Surrender!" The Ox Prince yelled, slashing twice on Oogway's stick with the right parallel combo. Last, however, Oogway leaped onto the tenth column before the thirteenth pillar with the smaragdine slither dragons.

Oogway settled his tension after landing through gaps in the hallway, giving his staff position in front of the elder tortoise as Huoju's raging eyes glared with crimson, continuously swinging his sword at Oogway. The magnificent sensed the Ox's weak heart and tender mind, and the flow within Huoju's body rushed into a hollow with fire. The following above Prince's head went soft stings between his forehead and both eyes.

Oogway and Huoju bashed their emerald staff and pale gray sword near their heads, thrusting their same strained muscles when their eyes snapped at each other. Sharp resonances of harsh growls from outside had the Center crumbled most of the glossy red, yellow, and green structures. Over fifty students of green, brown, and gold robes sprinted across long, wooden corridors piled with hundreds of amber manuscripts wrapped with glass and ties. "You have immoral darkness in you, my child. You seemed stressed," Oogway discerned, hearing the yak master's loud cry near the front entrance from the stairway.

"There are things I could have warned you about my father's reign. And his acts of overprotectiveness and pitilessness life!" Huoju briefed him sorely.

"RUN!" Both warriors heard Mui's shout at every student and even Liu Bong Shien. Elder tortoise quickly glimpsed Wing Chun tigress and Tai Chi yak masters as if their jaws collapsed.

A slight distraction, Huoju gave another swing with his blade, and Oogway ducked his whole neck and head into his shell, slashing structure cabinets. The Ox's sword got stuck on small sideboards beside the scrolls. Oogway ran from him, bounding Huoju's back shoulders, and jumped with his companions. Huoju yanked his weapon; A shady fireball vandalized the gate's window below the ceiling. Ox Prince snarled while approaching three masters as if the circular yin-yang glass above the entrance tore apart. Every debris smashed into the Center, and Mui's eyes closed with the silence of the vortex's wicked wail.

Inside the temple, you could glimpse all surroundings going in pitch black: only throbs and sharp cries. Everywhere went visibly after a horrid blast as the gray velvet smoke faded. Mui Tan Huang's body had gone frozen, discerning what most of the heavy debris nearly buried her. Mui burst her agonizing cry as her right arm was trapped with a sturdy cabinet. She lifted her breath so none of the collapsed roofs, damaged columns, or cabinets arose. Mui flicked her black ears wide as if a child's frightened cry echoed, with a sword screeching. She slowly looked up ahead of the collapsed Center with faint gray smoke.

The Prince's sword was no longer glossing with pale silver, nor was his black and gold silk robe. Now Huoju, with crimson eyes and wielding his flame sword, pointed both deer, wolf, and yak, hugging themselves hard behind the shredded pillar with jade dragons. His crooked head sighted children's absorbed tears; he thrived his eyes and wobbled his mouth. Thoughts incorporated into the Ox's eyes, submitting his sharpened fire sword away from every child's eyes.

Huoju's head turned at Mu Tan Huang's forceful sob, shattering all debris that collapsed into her. Mui mounted on the wrecked surface as if her gold robe and sleeves tore around her. Behind her, the yak master roared at the back entrance. Children of yak, wolf, and deer rushed toward Mui and through the back, reaching Liu's warming hooves.

"SISTER!" Liu raised his weeping voice and craned his hand at Mui. "COME WITH ME!"

Many ruthless bandits rushed in at the front wreckage gate, positioning behind Ox Prince. Although, they circulated Huoju and Mui Tan Huang on the sides. "You are not going to stop, Prince," Mui told the Ox Prince in a firm tone.

Huoju shook his head.

Liu scanned Huoju's glossy flame sword swinging. Bandits stood back as if the Prince strolled forward. Mui revolved her head; she gave her yak companion a nod with a tormented smile and eyes shaking. Yak, deer, and wolf grasped Liu's hooves; they dashed across the damaged concrete land of debris and billowing fires touching over bridges and temples. All four ran into the opened green gate and through the black smoke shielded behind them. They were long gone.

Mui clasped her fluff paws ahead of her heart, positioning her horse stance as the Ox Prince approached Wing Chun tigress. She felt substantial steps like a giant foot stomping the ground with full, short quivers nearby. Mui knew she could not handle all hundred bandits, including their royal Prince Huoju. Her mind went silent, and her heart throbbed in an inaudible, solitary rhythm.

Huoju stopped strolling in front of Mui; his large head craned to her as the Prince wielded a flame sword on his shaking, clenched right hoof. I am going to regret this. Huoju thought sadly. He raised his blazing sword, peering at Mui's instant, pastel-white eyes opening. The whole Center boomed with gray surroundings like a hurricane billowing its jarring screech, glimmering Huoju and his army off inside.

Many survivor students of brown, gold, and green robes sprinted across the light green grass road over the land ridges. The cheese daylight on the horizon went dark as if rising smoke soared from the Qing Temple aftermath. It was the most dreadful day to observe fires crawling over structures and temple towers collapsing, and many had been slaughtered.

The yak flickered his floppy ears while carrying a wolf cub and a small deer. Behind him, a young yak student and the elder tortoise Oogway next to Liu turned at the desolation of the Qing Temple, witnessing the unimaginable snow-colored reptile creature with enormous, white wings soaring and summoning its sharp, pale gray fire in its behemoth mouth.

Mui. Oogway reflected sorrowfully, palming his heart as the tiger student held his blue katana sword, with the green snake Xiao slithering beside the elder tortoise and yak. The elder tortoise turned to Mui's son Taolin, whose red tears unveiled before him. 

Chapter Text

Episode One: The Prince of Darkness (1 - 5)

Chapter II

Training Hall

Seven Hundred and Five Years Later / Present Day

1205

THE YEAR OF OX

April 3, 1205

The Valley of Peace, Guangxi — SONG DYNASTY

A star of spring gleamed with pale orange and yellow from the cobalt heaven.

A river beyond green meadows trickled with foaming waters across the Guilin mountains on the ridges near the horizon. One of the peaks lay an enormous palace of red columns with golden slithering dragons and three jade upward roof tiles. In Jade Palace, originated by the Magnificent Oogway, the creator of Kung Fu, China's essential heroes lived — they called themselves Masters of Jade Palace: the Dragon Warrior, Furious Five, and their red panda mentor, Master Shifu. The left side of Jade Palace had been repaired; the cause of this destruction was a warrior of dark chi from the raging emerald sky.

A Supreme Warlord, once known to himself as Beast of Vengeance. The yak who once skirmished with his tortoise brother during the Great War. The beast who was once banished by his former ally, the Collector, who mostly gathered every warrior's chi, then all four of the Furious Five, including their Master.

There was a village with a famous name through the skirts of whispering trees. Many people, including the Hero of China, occupied their farmland home, the Valley of Peace—the only known community where the famous Mr. Ping's Dragon Warrior Noodles and Tofu restaurant thrived. On the other store, the most exquisite Tea House on the north side, all living villagers adored sipping hot green teas every morning and night. Then, the fashionable clothing silk store was two blocks from Mr. Ping's restaurant, and large vessels were on streams to lead in any direction in all of China.

The sound of a morning bell represented a wake-up call for masters. To begin their awake to guzzle and prepare the kung fu training within the next thirty minutes after breakfast. By then, the gongs from the bell echoed for a short time. Two villagers sprinted the walking path on Valley of Peace. They giggled as both villagers realized when the Furious Five masters, including the Dragon Warrior, awakened in the morning once they reached the tallest stairway above.

The rabbit wore a pink robe with a peach sash on her belly. She came from next door to the Dragon Warrior Noodles restaurant, where she and her mother enjoyed the smell of pasta ingredients daily. The goose wore a brown cloth robe and carried the action figures of the Furious Five in his bag. The goose lived with his father between the Valley of Peace rivers. The boatman who traveled east and west picked many travelers to venture into this prosperous village.

The rabbit and goose arrived at the Jade Palace in nearly a half-hour. They both reached the front door without disturbing loudly as the masters went training immediately. Again, the bell gonged once more.

"Those masters are beginning their training right now!" the rabbit beamed while sprinting with the goose.

"Cool!" the goose surprised, so stubborn and encouraging. Meeting the Dragon Warrior and Furious Five was the best suggestion to fill their hearts. He reminded his bunny companion. "My father will be arriving at my house around midday. Are you sure we can peek inside the room where the Dragon Warrior trains the Furious Five?"

"Of course," she nodded. Both children hurried to a side of the Palace where multiple trees and many blooms perched across. They found the Training Hall building a few yards away. "Just for twenty minutes, and then we'll return home. Let's play some action figures, Jun."

"Okay," Jun genuinely smiled as he dropped his bag after they arrived outside beside the Training Hall. "I do not know if we'll get into trouble for trespassing."

Next, the rabbit snatched both Tigress and Viper from Jun's bag. The goose grabbed Monkey and the Dragon Warrior before the two could begin their acting. "This is where the Dragon Warrior met me here three days ago," the rabbit reflected. "And do not worry, Jun. I offered him for us to be outside for a playground at any time except the Training Hall inside."

"Really?" Jun questioned her in surprise. "That's good to know!"

"Can you believe it?" Ju Di went excited, carrying action figures of Tigress and Viper. "He promised me to meet us outside, and we will be able to talk to him and the Furious Five for a while!"

"Wonderful!" Jun smiled.

"Remember our pig friend from the clothing store?" Ju Di reminded him about one of their companions. "A fancy tale about the Dragon Warrior, he told most people and us. Po can wipe out all the bandits in his way with the Five! And then at the Tea House, he confronted hundreds of bandits who demanded villagers some money, and then the Dragon Warrior warned them all, then said, 'Enough talk, let's fight!'"

"That story never gets old," Jun thrilled. "Let's play!"

Ju Di and Jun drew their action packs of Masters of Jade Palace. They giggled to themselves as the wind breezed from the flowers, overhearing sounds of strikes and weapons swinging from the Training Hall. The rabbit thrived her aqua eyes and reminded her of her best friend to peek at the hole in the large wooden door. For one at a time to take a turn, they glanced at the highest kung fu masters training inside the Training Hall.

Monkey swung into circle iron spikes, practicing his agility maneuvers to evade any such attacks from enemies carrying swords and daggers on the ground. He sprang through windows as part of his survival instincts.

Crane balanced his movement to his slender legs on the Jade Tortoise bowl. He used both wings to swirl a volley of red arrows and one with flames at the tip of it. Crane soared upward and supported Monkey by diving into the spike hole first. The avian grappled Monkey, letting his partner swing and throw him through a dummy person in the wooden ceiling.

Viper slithered her body through the upcoming torch below her near Crane's Jade Tortoise. She quickly withdrew the scorching flames and increased her agility and maneuverability. She sprung her body upward twice from the incoming torches and struck her tail into one of the crocodile dummies beside her. Mantis. A green insect master where Jun and Ju Di could not see him from rapid movements on the crocodile dummy hordes area near Viper's torching spot. Mantis advanced his thingies, pounding into crocodiles, surrounding him with spinning arms and tails, opposing the bug directly. On each spin, Mantis deflected and pounced the dummies back in simultaneously. Viper united with the insect to combat several models before finishing three opponents with a single team blow.

"Cool!" Jun tapped his feet on the other. He turned to the rabbit. "Ju Di! Viper and Mantis destroyed three dummies in there!" Next, a pounding roar lingered in a battle. "Look! Tigress is attacking those swinging woods with lances on right now!" the goose pointed excitedly.

Last but not least, Tigress. She leaped to the spinning curl logs, attacking wooden spike boards that swung around as Tigress used her most robust kung fu stance. She now robed in her new outfit — a long gray sleeve tunic with green leaves and navy blue trousers. With deflection from her paws, she disciplined her veracity (part of honesty and power) for decades as she unleashed blows to her fists and kicks. Crane joined the team along Tigress to support and oppose swing boards. Once spike boards were fragmenting into bits, the avian mounted Tigress in mid-air, releasing a drop to his Jade Tortoise at another level of balance.

Crane and Tigress engaged as the striped feline spun her kicks, and the avian deflected fast blows with his wings before he flew. Monkey dove on the edge of Crane's Tortoise from the spike rings above them as Tigress maintained her stability. The giant bowl weighted toward their companion and the other briefly. Monkey thrashed three palms while his fourth towered on its emerald arm. Tigress parried two hands and one foot; Crane locked his talons on thin edges before interfering with the two.

Viper slithered on Tigress's body through her left arm before the streak of green stormed into the air and dropped down on Monkey's shoulder. All members of the Furious Five remained on all limb sides of the bowl, concentrating on their balance before engaging one another.

"Have you finished sightseeing?" a silver voice asked the children behind.

Both Jun and Ju Di quivered. They glanced at a red panda mentor in a white tunic with the shaded gray shawl wrapped around the left side of his chest and whole leftward arm: the best and only kung fu master, as many people knew a teacher along Oogway.

"Master Shifu!" Ju Di and Jun bowed to the instructor after relieving.

"I am wondering how you two arrived in Jade Palace?" Shifu determined, asking politely ahead of the children.

"Well, Master," Ju Di regarded. "Three days ago, I was with my family to meet the Dragon Warrior and Furious Five. I begged Po for him to come outside with us here to see our action figures to play."

"Master Shifu," Jun respected the red panda's title as the red panda readied his ocean eyes at the young goose with charm. "Both families gave us free time to head to Jade Palace to meet Dragon Warrior and the Furious Five. My father will arrive with his new visitors around midday, and I would love my dad to tell him a pretty awesome day to see a new autograph sign. And someday, I will be a kung fu warrior like him, Master."

Shifu chuckled. "Now, young one," Shifu patted the goose's shoulder. "You will become a warrior like us one day. And—"

Shifu perceived the toys on the flowers. "You brought action figures? It's amazing."

"Thank you, Master," Ju Di nodded with a smile toward her ears. "These action figures belong to my best friend here. His favorites are Tigress and Po."

Just then, an unexpected voice in the Training Hall fluttered with might and triumph behind the door. "Get ready to feel thunder!"

Jun and Ju Di widened their eyes after gaping. "Po is here! Let's check him out!" Ju Di was pleased.

Master Shifu opened large doors as Jun and Ju Di went through first. All three saw warriors scattering across the Hall and found the People's Hero. The panda stormed on the moving curve logs as Po combated with Tigress, intercepting spike boards and combining defensive punches using water flow. Tigress evaded Po's defense as she stayed focused on her instincts. Next, the Dragon Warrior swung his sparrow kick; Tigress deflected his boot, and the tiger fisted the blade beside her.

The Dragon Warrior ascended the air and landed the large bowl toward the edge with Crane. Po focused balance movements accurately while Crane soared, swinging his kicks. The panda deflected the bird's talons with his flabby arms. Po controlled his stance briefly and finally had a chance to make Crane unbalanced, delivering a double kick and a heel kick.

Po leaped from the Jade Tortoise and encountered wooden dummy hordes with Mantis, his limbs pounding model arms and tails in his way. The Dragon Warrior and his insect companion intercepted numerous models. They thrashed dummies with simultaneous forms while engaging one and the next; rapid punches and swinging kicks made the two warriors way into more separation from getting crowded. Mantis released a vibrant streak of emerald toward three crocodile models, which collapsed woods into bits and had Po reaching for the next level ahead of him.

Torch flames.

Small pipes randomly spat blazes before letting the panda maintain the survival course. Po's reptile partner Viper reached behind him with snappy slithers, guiding Po across which metal tubes could not fire. Following the serpent, the Dragon Warrior rolled barrels through the vapor and the other without hesitation. Sensation required the two to dodge burns, which was part of the quickness maneuverability before they risked breaking through obstacles.

Viper ascended on the panda's feet, motioning through Po's arms as they bounded off flaming pipes and faced the remaining crocodile models. They maneuvered five fire arrows launching at them. The panda performed thrashes each time while leading his weight one way and the next, having Viper launch half of her body per wooden dummy. Once more than ten models around the two warriors retreated (only half fragmented to pieces), Po leveled his forearms against Viper. Her tail whipped where she targeted the panda's limbs.

Above the two students, Monkey swung his tail across circle spiles, penetrating through one hole with his kick. His speed made him focus on losing hordes of foes and capturing those enemies trying to escape near windows. The golden snub warrior landed next to Po and Viper, facing themselves as the other interfered. Crane barged into the spike circle gap and soared across wooden columns before facing the three. Tigress struck on one of the ropes that Monkey swung, and Po parried his palm bashes once Viper whipped her lengthy tail toward Crane's wings. Mantis returned into the combat after clobbering his clawthees on ruptured models, now vibrating his short wings ahead of Viper.

After a long improvision of fighting, Tigress tied on the Crane, Mantis, Viper, and Mantis as they retreated from their leader. Po committed his panda stance form before engaging her. On the safe platform with Shifu and Jun, the bunny examined one of the wooden dummies to her right, where she could not discover what the device presented.

The dummy was a free-standing cylinder column with three straight arms (two above and one below), including a whole downward leg.

Tigress and Po straightened their thrusting fists by not hitting themselves but observing the opponent's strikes. As the morning training nearly ended based on hanging torches lit by one hand across the Hall, Po and Tigress met their firm paws against where they hit. One of their arms almost reached their chests, resulting in the fight's draw.

Master Shifu tapped his wooden staff on the floor. "Well done, students! Your discoveries of discipline are now complete."

Six students bowed to their instructor after their training was successful. The Furious Five surveyed two visitors after the Dragon Warrior recognized the children of goose and rabbit next to the red panda instructor.

Po gasped and separated his full arms. "My fans! I thought it was too early to meet me."

"Ju Di made a call for both of us to have our time meeting you and told us exactly the right time from yesterday," Jun reminded the Dragon Warrior. "My dad will return in a few hours from now."

"Oh," the panda realized. "Now, I understand."

"Anyway," Ju Di spoke, perceiving in her head when caressing long ears on the left side. "Jun and I saw all of your moves like YEAAHHH, and HA!" she frankly punched with double blows and extended her slight kick. Showing to the masters what fans see kung fu moves. "And you have beaten every Furious Five like 'Woah!'"

For a moment, Jun and Ju Di gave their share after they saw a kung-fu fight shortly; the Dragon Warrior surveyed Ju Di's bag of action figures.

"I would love to do Kung Fu skills one day," Jun sought his future of himself as Master Goose.

Just then, a goose named Zeng interfered after soaring above the ceiling. He called Shifu while the Dragon Warrior joined two children beside the Five. Monkey palmed on all fours next to Tigress. "I thought Po gave away one of his action figures back in Secret Panda Village," he reflected.

"Uh, Monkey," the bug dashed on Monkey's shoulder before landing. "He gave one of his figures to Lei Lei a while back."

"Frankly," Tigress entered the conversation with the Five. "Po will always play his action figures when the Dragon Warrior is in a mood with these children."

The red panda carried a scroll from Zeng. "Attention!" Master Shifu announced. He turned to Furious Five and Dragon Warrior. "We have a message from the Emperor."

"Woah, really?" the panda craned his neck while Shifu sensed cookies from Dragon Warrior's breath. "What's the message say?"

"This message goes to every class of martial arts in all of China," Master Shifu glazed at every student's eyes. The Furious Five, including the two children, paid close attention as they stretched their necks near Shifu; the Dragon Warrior widened his green eyes as the panda intrigued. "As the Emperor of China, I will select three classes next month. For centuries, many Emperors created a duty to the makers to construct stadium tournaments. All classes desire to enhance their training to accept challenges. The competition will open in one month at Kong Bai Stadium. Stay tuned for further notice."

"WOW!" Po was stunned. "The Emperor is creating the Tournament?! Outstanding!"

"The best idea is we'll have to entertain the Emperor if he meets us anytime now," Crane regarded.

"More training, more hardcore," Viper said, sneering at Crane.

"Both Viper and Crane are right," Master Shifu accepted, then handed the scroll to Zeng next to the goose as the Master gazed at all the students' eyes around him. "We must satisfy the Emperor. Show him unique training you all must practice."

"Does that mean any visitors, including Ju Di and I, can go to Kong Bai Stadium?" Jun inquired with curiosity.

This inquiry brought Shifu regard, caressing his Fu Manchu beard. "Of course. The Emperor allows all visitors," the red panda chuckled.

"As the Emperor craves martial arts before picking any three classes," Tigress embarked, bonding to her paws. "Then we shall admire him and his people." She looked at the Five, including Po, who constantly beamed at her. "Let's get training."

All the Furious Five sprinted outside as the Dragon Warrior visioned the dummy beside the door inside the Training Hall. Jun and Ju Di entertained themselves by grasping their action figures and heading near the flowers to make themselves comfortable.

"Master Shifu," the panda named his teacher respectfully once Shifu walked behind Po. "I may have seen the rest of the dummies for the past eight years, including my beginnings," Po's giant hand pointed to the model where he had not seen it before. "But, what kind of dummy is it?"

"Hmm..." Master Shifu inspected the letter beside the left arm and thought of the wooden dummy. "This dummy is ancient, Po. I recognized this mahogany before in my youngest days."

"What is it?" Po asked, bending his face to the left. He was curious to know more about this awesomeness device.

"There were many legendary masters, as they have told about all martial arts combined mutually seven centuries ago," Shifu spoke. "Kung Fu, Tai Chi, Mui Thai, and many martial arts exist in years of peace, especially… Wing Chun."

"Wing Chun?!" Po spread his eyes, seemingly impressed. "There was Wing Chun back in Qing Temple?!"

"Yes," Master Shifu nodded. "Wing Chun is one of the greatest concepts that develop a strong grapple the attack and defense to enhance within close range combat." Master Shifu touched the free-standing mahogany dummy once he described the meaning of Wing Chun. "My former partner vowed to train me before she left towards the west, and I only used some of the forms she pictured me to follow her movements."

"How long have you been keeping this dummy, Master?" Dragon Warrior asked, rotating his neck to him.

"Three days," Shifu replied. He scrutinized the dummy's leg with his palm: Firm. Expertly designed and sensed inelastic log where Shifu convinced that it considered steel, but the natural wood made it sturdier. "This dummy has been forged to new wood."

"Who gave it to you, honestly?" Po asked with his curious voice.

Master Shifu snatched the parchment letter on the dummy's left arm, handing over Po to show him. "One of the closest friends I have ever known with Oogway," Master Shifu detailed the panda.

The Dragon Warrior opened the letter and began reading.

It has been a long time, my brother. I apologize for leaving you with a broken promise because I had to head home. Trouble came near my village towards the West in Tiger Village—

"WHAT?!" Po brightened his green eyes, craning his nose close to the paper. "Tiger Village?!" Po stayed reading the letter script.

I had to protect my children, including my grandson, from the attack. I only redeemed my grandson from the tragedy — the darkness slew my son and daughter-in-law. No one could look after my grandchild. Forgive me, Masters Oogway and Shifu. Pardon me for my absence days. Four years ago, I heard stories that Kai took your students' souls, including yours. Luckily, as I recall, this beast, which you knew, did not snatch my students and me.

I am sure you are still learning my forms, brother. Today, I am giving you Wing Chun's free-standing dummy as a gift. Hopefully, you'll invite me to Jade Palace with my students. We'll teach ourselves where my vow must be accomplished and a dinner to greet my students and yours someday. Love from your sister, as always.

Sister-In-Arms

"WOW!" Po widened his jade eyes at the red panda teacher. "You have a sister?! And a date?!"

Shifu gently downcast his long ears. Noticing how the Master truly listened to astounding words from Po impacted Shifu's heart, bristling his fur behind his back. "Yes, but—" Shifu's words cut after the panda was amazed.

"That is awesome, Master!" Po stunned. "I never know you have a girl—"

"Po. Focus," Shifu immediately shut the panda's voice down with his palm. "She is not my mate, however. My sister and I were close enough, only sticking to the part as friends. Close friends, I mean."

"Sorry, Master," Po apologized to Shifu, sweeping his forehead. "I was too excited about this all the time. But I want to see your sister! What is she like?"

"That can wait, Po. Soon," Shifu affirmed the Dragon Warrior with patience. Just then, both Shifu and Po overheard Jun and Ju Di's voices ringing across the garden. "You can spend your time with your fans, Po. You have thirty minutes. After that, begin your training with the Five."

"Yes, Master," Po bowed to Shifu. His teacher roamed toward the walkway where the Furious Five practiced.

Immediately as the Dragon Warrior sat beside his fans, he relished them in such entertainment, thriving into roleplays he could manage children in his heart. The goose browsed his action figures. "Oh, no! Tai Lung returns! Soon, he will have revenge, and the Dragon Warrior will avenge Jade Palace with the Furious Five!" Once Po was amazed, he delighted Jun and Ju Di by making themselves the happiest moment of life. The pink foliage from the Sacred Peach Tree swam across the western wind and through steep mountains above misty ripples.

The sun shone the blossoms through the breeze of peace. Many leaves floated softly, listening to the waterfall drops that communed all trees guiding down through the next valley far away to the west.

The pink blossoms landed on the cobblestone road of the Valley of Peace's neighborhood townsfolk.

The Prosper Valley.

Chapter Text

Episode One: The Prince of Darkness (1 - 5)

Chapter III

Fellowship of the Nine

The small city, about ten miles west of the Valley of Peace, was a pleasant village where many people occupied numerous vegetable and crop products in restaurants near the rim. On every block, clothing stores stocked fashionable robes for villagers of any size, including the Masters, everywhere in this town. The Tea Restaurant delivered evergreen shrubs of green and red teas as any villager fancied, only sweet and unsweetened, which any man, woman, and child desired for sustenance. This village had no bandits conquering or stealing belongings within the people's homes.

Near the Prosper Valley's rim was a small temple known as Shuǐ Palace towards the riverside. The temple's owner, a stripped feline master, trained nine warriors using one of the most excellent martial arts techniques of defensive skills, Wing Chun. They called themselves Fellowship of the Nine, the other for a short-term known as The Nine. Each animal forms in different lifetimes, including the cities or villages where they formerly resided. Not knowingly, they became famous but had been hidden sight from enemies and became a secret of martial arts. Master Chen Ming, the elder feline and the great grandmaster of Wing Chun and secretly Kung Fu, observed her nine students outside the most extensive training land for all combat weapons, including many dummies everywhere.

She comforted her cobalt silk hanfu with a black ribbon sash and navy skirt. Master Ming stood before the Nine's Arena, observing her grandson, the Nine's Leader, Chen Xing. He wore a blue robe with a first-degree black sash and navy trousers, including a Yin-Yang symbol on the back of his robe. Xing used his claws in front of a wooden dummy with force combinations to enhance attack and defense. Ming and Xing survived the ambush threat from an unknown attack near Xinglin Senlin, their original houses of Tiger villagers. Xing had lost his whole family except his grandmother in his cub years. Xing was the only student to train Wing Chun with Master Ming in his fifth year.

Beside the young tiger in the Nine's Arena, the white peacock in his long blue robe ran through the training land while he summoned feather blades. Soaring into the breeze and spinning his whole body, the peafowl tossed most of the knives toward dummies that all stood on roofs and plenty near him. As the avian landed, the peacock drew his guandao after extending his white and cobalt train, slashing wooden enemies surrounding him. This talented student who united with the Nine was named Lao.

The peacock student's inception was what Fellowship merely knew their friend used to occupy with Lao's mother at the Summit Village, where many birds thrived. Lao only recalled his past when he moved with his mother to Master Ming's Shui Palace to be safely away from terrible incursion. Lao's peahen mother feared that her husband could search for their son to become cruel and one day become royalty. Lao never recalled his father, nor did the Fellowship know their brother's parents.

On the right side of the Nine's Arena beside Lao, the wolf student wore her midnight blue vest with black tribal leaves and the mountain background and black short trousers with a red sash around her waist. She taunted a moving dummy, then swayed her wooden stick onto the floor as the wolf with gold-ring eyes leaped over the enemies. With a first swipe and downward spin, she attacked many models around the wolf (her grin was the ability with patience). The dancer, Lotus, united with her closest friends, the tiger and the peacock. The wolf's origin was one of the ten cubs who survived the aftermath of Wolves Village with the cause of Boar gangs' assault.

The crocodile near the river floated underwater and leaped off the surface, kicking the moving dummies that carry axes, snatching its blade after he spun his tail around the models. He dove through the long grass from the model. It nearly swept him using a sword and ambushed it using a silent prey, leaping into the stream. The ferocious name was Zhao. He wore metallic navy armor around his waist and an azure hooded cape.

Immediately after Zhao spotted the bunny in front, the crocodile trained Doctor of the Nine in a sword battle. The bunny, who wore a bluish ocean robe with tree plants, dodged complex attacks. The tiny warrior strengthened speed attacks where a fearless warrior desired to defend herself using sai blades. Hong adored her unique skills of Wing Chun combat with Lao and any insects, willing to fight by one side with Mantis, one of the Furious Five members.

Hong immediately defeated Zhao to her practical advantage. The snarling cobra crawled behind the grass and slid through the crocodile's body. Fǎnshè, the Serpent of the Nine, struck Hong's sai using his tail to snap. Hong defended herself from the cobra's tail and abilities. Fǎnshè became Master Ming's excellent serpent student of the Fellowship, knowing the serpent studied Master Viper's slither skills using kung fu. Fǎnshè had his intention of Master Viper, craving one day to spend some time with her.

Three heavyweight Fellowship members were the Ox, the Gorilla, and the Bovine, named Niu, Bao, and Shòu.

The Ox Defender of the Nine conveyed his preference for using his ax in a challenging situation. Niu fought the gorilla on the vast square surrounding, swinging both sides and deflecting Bao's bamboo pole. Niu was also trained in kung fu by Master Storming Ox in his teenage years after Gongmen City announced the death of Master Thundering Rhino and the battle. Before the son of Master Ox accompanied Master Ming's palace, Niu could not handle his father's temper during the days, months, and three years of Master Ox's loss of his colleague. He craved to feel the flow of contentment and the principle of inner peace.

Bao wielded his bamboo stick as his favorite the most. The Nine's Heaver shielded himself against Niu's combinations in his studies. He thrust his pole onto Niu's ax, averting below young Ox's feet when the Defender leaped and swung his weapon to the gorilla's neck. Bao diverted the shaft, rolling across the stance area, and he opposed his partner with a swing reflection. In his inception, Bao's uncle used to work with a noble peacock lord to lift massive cannons and followed the Lord of Gongmen's orders. Bao confronted his uncle after his seventeenth year. The young gorilla revealed that his uncle was a criminal in the most wanted picture. Bao was born in the south Gorilla Village, close to the North where Master Viper's father resided. He merely aspired not to become a fugitive to follow his uncle but desired to learn kung fu and even Wing Chun.

The yak peered at the Ox and Gorilla fencing each other on the enormous training square. Shòu could duel his classmates with his weapons; however, he mastered sword skills and many combination interventions like Niu attacking Bao. Before joining the Fellowship, he was once a pirate member in his fifteenth year, following his father's orders during his dark time. Shòu was part of the pirates for over five years, fighting with his father against the royal ships, including other pirate junk ships that were not allies. Shòu was concerned about how his father became the sickness of the foundations of gold treasures near the East of China. The young pirate found a letter from his long-lost family member in his father's office and read about the madness of pirates. After being marooned by Shòu's dad, the yak swam through the storms of the Eastern China Sea. Shou landed in Gongmen City without being caught and journeyed through the west instead of becoming mad to go greedy and dangerous.

All three wore their trousers; Niu had navy blue armor, chains linking over his body, including his back, similar to Master Storming Ox. Niu's right shoulder had a tattoo in Mandarin, Defender. Bao used iron blue armor over his waist, including mini spikes like a belt. Shòu frankly wore pirate pants, including a large helmet beside his horns.

After hours of extended training, Master Ming rang her long, metal bell, concluding her students. The Nine swiftly stood in their positions from beginners to advanced ranks from left to right.

"Bow," Master Ming conversed with her students.

Nine students clashed their hands, bowing respectfully to their grandmaster. Master Ming observed her students breathing heavily on their concentrations, ridding their weaknesses precisely after excellent training. She surveyed every student with her silver eyes, and everyone accomplished their training.

"Very good! Well-fought training, my students. Your water expressed the next step of your path through goals," Master Ming proved them, repeatedly roaming in front of her students on both left and right. She surveyed her students' sharp eyes; most of the Nine peered at their master. "Remember your training; you have to discover your instinct. Remember how you soothe your feelings as you will defend yourself from enemies. The more you calm your instinct, the stronger you are to defeat against any size opponent."

Master Ming palmed her grandson's shoulder; Xing nodded to her while the peacock smirked at his teacher. "I received great news from the goose earlier while nine of you were training," she clarified, roaming between the middle of the line. Ming looked in front of her students. "The Emperor of China offered his makers to forge the tournament at Kong Bao Stadium. He will tour through every class of martial arts to critique his experience. The Emperor will choose the top three martial arts to test skills to claim the trophy."

The Nine muttered shortly. Xing turned to Lao by giving another nod.

"Now," Master Ming began. "There are thirty classes to the Emperor's interest. The Fellowship is one of thirty on the list."

What? The Fellowship exchanged their glances while murmuring. Xing and Lao widened their eyes; the wolf beside the peacock grinned with her sharp teeth. Lotus could perceive the tournament interestingly. "The Emperor interests one of the classes he has not seen for years, including centuries, along with his bloodline," Ming explained. "First, however, Wing Chun."

Ooh! 

Impressed, Lotus dazzled her yellow eyes as if she was thrilled to meet the Emperor. "So the Emperor is coming, Master?" Lotus inquired her master.

Master Ming peered into the eyes of her students and her wolf student. "Not quite, Lotus," Ming jiggled her head. "He will saunter with his followers by heading to one of my close friend's monasteries at the Valley of Peace."

Wings flapped from the air next to the Nine near Shui Palace. The Nine's goose messenger in a cobalt silk robe soared next to Master Ming, landing at the Arena. "Good morning, Kong," Ming greeted the goose with a smile on her ears. She stood next to Kong. "Do you have a letter with you, my dear?"

"Indeed, Master Ming," Kong nodded in a fruity voice, summoning a scrolled letter from his robe. "Your companion seems fluffy on his cheek and deeply misses you." He handed the message over to Ming's paws. Ming drew the green tie that tightened around it, perceiving the knot's color as that reminded of someone who chose the feline's preference. She opened the paper and began reading.

Come to Jade Palace, my sister. We should talk.

- Master Shifu

Oh, my dear brother. My lips bless Oogway and Shifu. She rolled the paper as Ming gazed forward at her students. "For now, we will train more on the next day until the Emperor meets us one day, either tomorrow or a few weeks from now before the Tournament."

The peacock with a blue train flicked his crests upward. "When is the tournament, master?" Lao asked.

"Next month, Lao," Master Ming replied. The Nine muttered, glancing at themselves interestingly.

Around dusk, Ming dismissed the class as the Nine informed about the Emperor's presence; the next one as the student discerned top training priorities before his arrival and the tournament soon. Within the apartment of Elder Tigress's Rice and Dumplings near Shui Palace, Ming and Xing cooked white rice grains, radishes with vegetables on sides, and dumplings as the Prosper Valley's favorite food restaurant. Both wore different robes, including light brown aprons with lantern lights in detail. Ming sliced carrots on the working table using a chef's knife; Xing peered at the iron pot filled with water that continuously boiled rice grains. He sensed the steam of water and radishes, and you felt the heat from the container, gently swirling the wooden spoon on it.

When Xing was five, his grandmother taught him how to cook rice and dumplings. He desired Ming's unusual ingredients, as many villagers, including the Nine, cherished vegetables like radishes. Once Xing placed one of the radishes in the pot, the tiger mentioned the scroll that had preoccupied him and the rest of the Nine earlier.

"Nana," Xing respectfully called his grandmother for life except for the class.

"Yes, my sunzi?" Ming turned after she chopped the carrots. "What is it, my dear?"

"Does the Grandmaster of Furious Five know that you are coming to Jade Palace?" Xing inquired.

"Absolutely," Ming said. She snatched pieces of carrots and placed them into the pot. "My old friend has not seen me for years, my sunzi. Shifu and I were great friends back before you were born. You remember asking me if we could see the Furious Five and Master Shifu?"

"Yes," Xing nodded.

"My time of reuniting with my dear brother is just the beginning," Ming palmed her grandson's paw. "Tonight, I will travel with the boatman to head to Jade Palace and see my old friend. I will be back by morning. Nine of you must train and exercise tomorrow. You and Lao are in charge."

"Yes, Nana," Xing agreed to his grandmother. Next, Ming sniffed at one of the cooking pots closer. Her gifted scent was detecting with such spirit.

"The rice is ready," Ming notified; both stripped tigers grabbed white bowls, including three large dishes for Heavyweight students. All plates filled with rice and veggies on the main plates and sides and dumplings on their sides were placed on a large tray. "Give these to the Nine, my dear. It's almost nighttime before dusk ends."

Xing strolled with a large tray once entering the Shuǐ Palace; he infiltrated a large dining room with a circular table. The extent was part of the Nine's Meeting Room, having students gather and discuss training, speak of the Prosper Valley, and read written messages from all of China. The room dazzled with five orange lanterns with children's paintings — the table forged with mahogany and nearly stone. By part of the open spaces behind Xing, as he placed nine bowls across the circular table, you could see outside the Arena loaded with dummies and lethal weapons stashed together.

Xing rang the bell with a small sash. The Nine apprehended the sound of a ringing bell; they exited their rooms when communing and recombining their strengths after long hours of training. The Nine entered the dining room; however, one of the Nine was not inside the chamber to join. Before dismissal, the peacock informed Ming earlier that Lao preferred to educate himself by training alone at the Nine's Arena. Xing attended to his family around the circle while guzzling rice and chopped radishes using his chopsticks.

"So here comes the snake I knew from my kung fu master, he once told me," the cobra Fanshe embarked on his memory as the Nine contemplated Fǎnshè. "Viper grabbed the ribbon using her tail and attacked one of Bao's uncles. Before Viper concluded him as she returned to her father's palace, Master Viper had lost his venomous teeth. He bit the wicked gorilla's impenetrable body shield all around him. Once Viper defeated him, her father made her proud. She defended the palace, the village, and many people around them."

The gorilla took his giant wooden spoon and dug into the white rice with soy sauce, tasting it with his mouth. Chewing and imagining rice that created him, including his heart, was warmer than eating a vegetable dumpling. "Bao, hungry," the gorilla said next to Fanshe after swallowing his rice. "Bao, Fǎnshè, and Viper."

"HA! Our special companion here reveals you shade your cheek into pink!" The bunny grins, sipping a brown mug of green tea. "You know, I thought snakes could infect anyone who's bitten. My mother once said reptiles, except crocodiles, summon fangs for a death wish."

"Not many will do unless serpents use the kind of death wish, Hong," Fǎnshè pointed. He grasped the spoon with his tail. "Not every snake like me will poison them after their defeat."

The young yak dipped his spoon into vegetable soup on the bowl, sniffing soft carrots as he contemplated the cobra's address. "My father advised me not to trust serpents back then," Shou spoke. "Not to be offensive, I encountered one Python who esteemed in front of the pirate lords at the island from the southeast of China's sea. He never intoxicated pirates or villagers once I perceived him. My dad envisioned that reptile as the worst adversary. To me, Python was not."

The cobra hummed. "Well," Fǎnshè began, digging his spoon into the bowl. "Pythons do not have a poisonous bite; however, they smother anyone using their lengthy body, crushing your lungs around your whole body. I do not wish to keep intimidating anyone for a reason at all. Even then, I am friendly and trustworthy instead of becoming your enemy."

"Seems you have a point," the pirate affirmed. "Whatever my dad mentioned disgusting words about his past, he is the only one who despises serpents. Not just going to unsettle your clarification, Fǎnshè."

"Most importantly for the Nine, we study and swear citizens of the Prosper Valley," Lotus pawed both from one side to the other on Fǎnshè's reptile skin and Shou's big arm. "We got each other, and that's all that matters. By uniting together in this part of friendship, we are family as—" the Nine's Dancer sniffed and detected the aroma of sweets in the Nine's dining room. Lotus peered at the yellow jar above the large counter. "I smell cookies," she widened her yellow eyes.

The crocodile chuckled. "Oh, boy. There she goes again," Zhao shook his head, placing his spoon next to the bowl.

"Is Master Ming still here?" Lotus questioned the Nine, craning her neck over the dining room and ducking below the table like a cub doing hide-and-seek. "I do not want to get caught three times again."

"I don't know," Zhao answered, pointing to the next apartment of Shui Palace near the Arena outside. "Maybe in her bedroom. She's not hungry, Xing? Is she coming?"

The tiger guzzled the white rice as his tongue in his mouth melted with broiled soy sauce. He watched the ferocious crocodile while swallowing rice in his throat and placing chopsticks beside the bowl. "No," Xing replied, caressing a hardened plate to one side. "She has to go pay a visit to her friend. I believe Nana ate her food before she left in time."

"So..." Lotus tiptoed slowly when her tongue drooped on the side of her lips, grinning with her sharp teeth. She reached her arm to the highest counter. "Can I have cookies?"

"If I were you, then I would not steal many cookies from everyone," Xing beamed.

"We're not the only ones who ate cookies in a jar," Zhao said after inhaling his nostrils. "Especially..." The crocodile explored the dining room. Zhao looked keenly at the rest of the Nine, as only eight students occupied. The crocodile peered at the empty seat beside Xing as a bowl of rice and dumplings was on the table. "Where's Lao?"

"Yeah, where's my boyfriend?" Hong demanded the Nine with squinted eyes.

"Lao is probably in a room resting," the young Ox beside the yak considered, pointing his hooves on the Nine's hallway and the next behind Xing. "If not, then he's outside training himself alone."

Xing heard pouncing woods from outside the palace once the eight of the Nine questioned themselves about the peacock's whereabouts. Xing concluded his food within a minute as the tiger stashed his plate on the dining table, grabbing Lao's rice and dumplings before reaching outside the Arena. Xing strolled to the stream that the Nine had practiced there earlier, as Zhao practiced swimming and ambushed other models.

At the Shui Palace arena, the tiger watched the peacock separating his talons using a three-step horse stance (chin stance). Lao attained momentum toward the dummy's arm as his blue eyes focused on the model — multiple straight punches, Chi Sao blocks, then a front kick to its leg. The peacock spread his train, flipping backward, and hurled dagger knives to the target mark near the dummies below. Lao drew his guandao on the weapon stash next to him, swinging against one that opposed him using axes, diverting blades on all sides. Lao finished the action model by slashing the wood. For his expert combat against enemies' swords and daggers, the peacock ordinarily exercised with Shou for years when the yak began after exiling from pirates. The Nine's Pirate Shou demonstrated the Nine using swords to resist and engage.

While panting, Lao wobbled his feathers with warm sweat that absorbed his robe. His concern was that the peacock preferred being alone in such a reasonable way by having self-training after the dismissal class for long hours. He craved disciplining his feelings without distractions during the fight. As the sweat spread within his elegant garment, Lao inhaled gently, becoming water in his intellect while shutting his eyes.

"Well fought," Lao heard the voice behind him. The peacock sensed rice behind him, seeking his best friend and a brother carrying a bowl and chopsticks. Lao's breath harshened from him, hot and significantly cold. Xing closely inspected his brother's robe, which was so saturated that he could see sweat drenching under his armpits and neck.

"I was wondering how long you forgot your rice to eat, brother," Xing pondered.

The peacock calmed his breath, placing his guandao in the weapon stash next to Lao.

"Your rice is quite cold now," Xing told the peacock. "And your feathers are messy on your sleeves."

The peacock glanced at his feathers, trembling gently. Bending and hardened over his arms. "Oh," Lao swept his feathers gently, pulling his draped sleeves.

"You know, you don't have to use your feathers to welt against your opponents," Xing advised his brother. "You'll ruin your wings. But, your feet will manage the kick and most of your wings to deflect only."

"As I should have," Lao nodded, tugging his sleeves back calmly. "I did not notice my rice was ready. My apologies, brother."

"It's okay, Lao," Xing affirmed the peacock's apology. "You've done well long enough on your busy timing. I can reheat your rice."

"You may do so," Lao nodded. "I despise the cold food, after all."

A moment later, Xing set the rice on one of the small pans and reheated the food within a few minutes in the kitchen. Lao comprehended his best friend's explanation of Xing's grandmother meeting the Furious Five's grandmaster before cooking rice. Just then, Lao and Xing strolled into the dining room, and the Nine conversed with each other about Shou's pirate days with his father.

The Nine, except Xing and Lao, sauntered to their bedrooms within an hour later. The Fellowship apprehended Master Ming's return in the morning and must practice tomorrow. Xing stood beside the doorway, embracing Lotus around her; the wolf licked the tiger's cheek. Lotus headed to the Nine's hallway and opened her bedroom to the left side, dazzling her eyes with the last grin with her teeth.

The tiger and peacock conversed in a dining room after the Nine left.

"You okay, Lao?" Xing inquired, laying his back beside the doorway after crossing his arms.

Lao placed his plate with a spoon next to the bowls in the middle of the dining table. "I'm alright," Lao replied. He stood from the chair and tugged his feathers in his sleeves. Xing perceived something about his best friend not speaking with the Nine. Lao raised his eyebrows. "Why do you ask?"

"You have been alone training outside for the past few months, something disturbing that made you misfortune," Xing figured. "Is there something bothering you?"

"No," Lao wobbled his head. Xing could glimpse his brother's eyes blinking slightly, sighing before answering. "Nothing bothers me from anyone or anything. I always go outside alone and must prepare my newest rank. I wonder if I will accomplish my final red sash test and hopefully earn a black sash like you."

"You still have much to learn, brother," Xing advocated, gesturing his neck to the door. The tiger and the peacock walked out of the dining room, and the cold sweat drenched Lao's robe over him, strolling to the path side of the Arena. They went to a small temple near the Nine's Barrack. "You did great at a private tournament back ten months ago. You see, I desire my experience to visualize and learn Kung Fu with the Furious Five one day. And eventually, we'll become the greatest grandmaster in the future. We all have many things we do not know around this world, Lao. Nature is filled with dangerous places, and the Nine must watch ourselves when we're ready to go on our own."

"You're right," Lao agreed to Xing's explanation. Both Xing and Lao arrived at the small temple. Dark blue roof tiles were linked with four columns in front and two large windows beside the black door with circular tribal detail. The sign above the door Steam / Bathroom was where the Nine bathed to eradicate the smell of sweat and oozy. During cold months, the Nine comforted the steam as you sense the drizzling smoke around your body, making it soft and warm when closing your eyes.

Lao removed his robe and trousers before getting in the twelve-by-twelve rectangular tub, which dazzled with blue on the surface. Chen Xing carried Lao's sweat garment, submerging it in the black basket with water while gently washing the robe with soap on all sides. Lao washed the soap on his feathers, neck, and train. The peacock wielded the wooden bucket next to him, pouring water around him; Xing draped Lao's robe and pants on the long rope with pinchers lined with the Nine's clothes. Armors merely stashed beside the wardrobe.

Shortly, both peacock and tiger infiltrated back to the Nine's Barrack. After drying himself with a large towel, Lao wore his gray robe and trousers. "Have you taken a bath, Xing?" Lao asked while strolling into the corridor with his feline brother.

"I did earlier after practice," Xing replied, heading to the bedroom covered with cultural mountains. "We need good sleep to practice early in the morning before Nana's return. I just wanted to let you know what exactly we must do. We'll do our meditation for all of us."

"Okay."

Xing continued walking through the corridor as his bedroom was near Lotus's interior. Lao moved the moving door with his feathers, considering one word his brother once replied to him. His eyes brightened as Lao desired to talk more, glancing at Xing before his brother opened the door. "Xing," the peacock called him. The tiger turned to peacock right before he infiltrated his bedroom. "I need to inform you about a word misfortune you once mentioned."

"What is it, Lao?" Xing asked with care.

"Do you remember when my mother and I met you with your Nana for the first time?"

"Yeah?" the tiger nodded.

"Visions of mine have been lurking for quite a while, which I do not recognize. Possibly a dream," Lao clarified, shutting his eyes to peer at his vision. "Every day, I saw dark, snowy mountains in the forest. My mother was there, carrying me through streams of pitch-black surroundings and over snow meadows while I peered at the orange fire above the mountain behind us. For that purpose, my mother was frightened while sprinting within the vast. Not for long before I suddenly awake, I heard a wolf growl. That was why I was distressed while training on my own."

"You experienced either nightmare or memory," Xing pondered, approaching his brother. "Was someone going after you and your mom?"

Lao sighed. "I do not know. Somehow, that dream has some dark secrets that I cannot prove. I want to know why."

Xing observed the peacock's distressed thoughts in him. Something that a nightmarish memory could endure peacock's presence as if Lao foresaw the disturbance.

"Nana and I will see what we can do for you tomorrow, brother," Xing strengthened him, patting the peacock's shoulder. "Ming experiences flow from the universe. She will show you one of her master's final teachings to stream your memories unflustered."

"I accept your convenience," Lao admitted.

"If you have some concerns, Lao, the Nine are here to help you," advised Chen Xing. "You're not alone, brother. We all stick together with the Nine until the end." The peacock nodded again, realizing that Lao could never be alone in his life, as he had his feline brother as a brother-in-arms. "Goodnight, Lao," Xing said once entering his room.

"Goodnight, brother," Lao said, closing his bedroom door.

Lao sprawled on his bed, reflecting a brief snarl from a wolf, and he and his mother sprinted away in forest shadows from someone trying to capture both.

The revelation increased Lao's confusion and similarity of impatience.

Lao queried himself in his mind. What is the meaning of the hallucination? What was all about that nonsense?

Chapter Text

Episode One: The Prince of Darkness (1 - 5)

Chapter IV

Brother and Sister

The Furious Five and Dragon Warrior sauntered with Shifu in a corridor from the Student Barracks. The Masters of Jade Palace had enough hardcore training for today as their schedules tomorrow were crucial. Shifu pondered about Emperor Huangdi, who embarked on trekking across China to foresee classes in perspective. He was expecting to have his followers with him to Jade Palace.

"What does the Emperor interest before he comes to the Jade Palace, Master?" Crane inquired the red panda master.

"His preference will soon reveal, Crane," Shifu replied. Shortly as the Masters of Jade Palace arrived in the hallway, Shifu turned to his students, grasping his wooden staff. "At first, the Emperor interests us. Tomorrow, Huangdi will arrive here with his colleagues in the daylight. I suggest you all five practice with Dragon Warrior in the morning. Most importantly, improvise skills you have trained all the years."

"What about you, Master?" Viper asked him, slithering beside her striped feline sister.

"I will demonstrate the Emperor by myself," Shifu answered, then patted Viper's lengthy neck. "Po has been a teacher for four years and is skilled in qi, including inner peace at a young age. Get some rest. We have a big day tomorrow."

A moment after the Dragon Warrior and Furious Five began to sleep in their chambers, the red panda teacher headed to the Hall of Heroes, lightening all seventeen jade candles in front of Master Oogway's painting. He sat on his brown rug and closed his eyes, relaxing his muscles by breathing "inner peace." Ripples settled throughout his meditation course as his grandmaster spoke vividly about minding settlements. Agitation forms strong currents, which by blinding what you struggle to see. If you allow ripples to settle, the answer becomes clear.

Master Shifu breathed in and out, his soul drifting amid gold and prospering hues of blossom foliage swimming over him.

The red panda surveyed the celestial terrain of the Spirit Realm, where every land and water was living gold: dazzling stars across the horizon, light brown meadows springing with colorful flower blooms. The water below Shifu circulated gently, surging into a Yin-Yang icon. As the water spread over his body, Shifu peered over the reflection of the tortoise, who appeared forward with a grin.

"My old friend," Oogway chuckled, grasping his emerald pole with a yin-yang symbol.

"Master Oogway!" Shifu widened, then cleared his throat while bowing to his teacher. "It has been an honor to see you again."

"So has I," the tortoise simpered, giving both masters to embrace as Shifu had been missing him for more than eight years. "You have trained Po and Furious Five well, Shifu. I am proud of you."

Shifu unveiled his dazzling eyes with his grin breaking. "I perceived that my student Po is the only Dragon Warrior saving China I remember. My apologies, Master. I was too blind in the beginning to see. You were right."

"Well," Oogway patted Shifu's shoulder. "My prophecy was nearly stumbling from my brother wanting a chi power. I found one who will fulfill his destiny to defeat many warriors threatening souls." Oogway strolled behind, guiding with his stick where all beam blossoms soared gently around the tortoise. "Come, Shifu. Let us walk."

For a moment, Shifu gazed at every inch of the cosmic surroundings, experiencing the Spirit Realm for the first time, and he could not describe in a thousand words how thriving this heaven was. "This... is beautiful, Master," Shifu looked at all the golden terrain as the wind murmured, soft waves chanting snow froths. It was this prosperous afterlife (or spiritual meditation trance) to live with late masters. You could lay upon the grass fields caressing your back and floating on the surface of the golden ocean. "My students are exceptional and well-trained. Po is in charge of being a teacher instead. My retirement is what I must regard my life for because my teaching days are already over for me. I am getting old now, Master."

"So am I, even eternity as my age is immortal and still old like you." Oogway joked, chuckling with his student.

"I wish to live in a new home instead of aging enough," Shifu said.

"Someday, my old friend," Oogway said sagaciously. "Someday."

Shifu crouched on the dirt as he touched the yellow water-like chi pouring down from his palm, which he sensed warmth with light that sparkled like stars. "I have someone coming to Jade Palace, Master Oogway," Shifu informed, meeting his eyes on Oogway. "My old friend will soon bring her students to meet the Furious Five. And she does not know you are in the Spirit Realm."

"Chen Ming," Oogway revealed the guest's name. "I assure you she will understand my presence."

Shifu observed pink foliage next to his feet, dazzling by a rising sun. "My sister made a promise to herself she would return."

"She has. Chen Ming created her Wing Chun class. Nine of her fellow students are similar to your students' origin. One of my colleagues gradually found one of the Nine students having difficulties in his past."

"Who, Master?" Shifu stroked the blossom flower on his palm.

"A clever student," Oogway detailed. "My colleague once told me that his grandson could not remember his memory except the disturbing past continues haunting his life."

"I can offer Po to support Ming's student," Shifu vowed.

"Hmm," Oogway nodded, deeply hummed as honey.

"Is this. . . where I can be my new home after my life?" Shifu asked.

"Look at this here, Shifu," the tortoise guided his hand to the saturated soil, stroking the bloom that the red panda watched. "A soil grows one lotus flower on earthy mud. Each light stands firm, and the night sinks. As the evening passes the flower's sleep, the morning rebirths the lotus. Indeed, souls pass on with natural causes and unfortunate deaths the Mortal Realm binds."

So I can come here, whether I decide to be reborn in the Mortal Realm or stay with all masters. Shifu comprehended.

The tortoise inspected the swarm of peach foliage swimming over the giant pebble next to the blossom tree. One flower vibrated its brilliant yellow, pulsing other blooms near Oogway. It touched the reptile's hand, casting his on the glittering ripples. "Auh," the tortoise simpered.

"What is it, Master?" the red panda chuckled.

"Your sister has come home, my old friend."

Footsteps lingered as Shifu's ears twitched. Shifu's vision returns to his healthy life.

The red panda opened his eyes. Jade candles ahead of Shifu darkened as the wind sang its breath. Shifu rose from his rug, checking his surroundings in a Sacred Hall of Warriors everywhere. Large doors remained open for a while. Behind him, broadening his eyes, a feline in a brown hooded cloak stood before him. Her stone eyes met him, remembering her former partner in the youngest days with Shifu.

"Ming," Shifu gasped. Ming removed the hood as she blinked her eyes with a nod, releasing a tear that poured next to her cheek. The Nine's Master considered to herself before her arrival that either Shifu or Oogway Ming would have demanded her disappearance. Shifu palmed Ming's paw. "You look flawless."

Ming beamed. Her other paw patted Shifu's hand once she crouched. "Same cheek and robe with a blue shawl."

"Oh. I have different outfits instead of the same clothing," Shifu chuckled, ensuring he did not wear the same outfit daily. "You traveled long enough from West?"

"I've traveled for far too long," Ming grinned. The Nine's Master yet locked her eyes on Oogway's staff behind the candles, knowing her breath thronged inside of her nose. "I should have known Grandmaster Oogway has been gone. How was he when I was away?"

"He was better after you left, making himself comfortable in a better place."

Shifu carefully met his eyes on her expression: broke, kindly, and serene. Ming's arms surrounded the red panda after she hunkered. "You miss me well," Shifu had noticed her return that streamed his healthy heart, missing her desperately in years. She would have thought masters would never be disappointed with any student's return.

"I miss you too, brother," Ming twinkled her stone eyes and grinned her smooth lips.

Ming and Shifu entered the Training Hall, filled with training armaments as the feline wandered, surprisingly curious to marvel at Shifu's work educating his students. The red panda guided her, indicating his gift of a Wing Chun dummy beside the Panda model. He cherished how this dummy's wood and barely metal made harder than metallic. Ming's villager companion, Gidahn, an expert lumber, forged this dummy as if he had become a talented designer along with the goose servant. Kong was the Nine's Messenger with the skillful uniqueness of the architect to build historical weapons.

Ming showed Shifu ten blocks of chi sao, part of the advantage skills to enhance and counter enemy strikes. She hurled her punches at the center, deflecting the dummy's arms with chi sao blocks. Ming palmed the model's jaw where its head thrust back, as the Nine's Master enabled a chi strike, yet again, diverting arms and pushing her kick to the model's belly. Shortly after Ming's indication, she and Shifu sat on a flat surface next to the panda design. Many candles around the rug they sat on lit with bright lights before the two served green tea themselves.

"How is your grandson doing?" Shifu asked as he sipped his tea. "I like to see who he is."

"He's been substantially alright," Ming answered, guzzling the mug. "Chen Xing has been sparring well with other students of mine. Before my son's death, including his wife, my grandson had no parents to look after him. My home was destroyed long ago when we fled, where I watched my son die from the fire. Standing by the fire was the outsider who murdered my boy and my daughter-in-law — my grandson's parents. I could not engage my son's killer because I had to save my grandson from him. Chen Xing had envisioned nightmares, day by day, every morning at a young age."

"That's tragic," Shifu apologized for Ming's loss. "I am sorry about your son."

"Chen Xing disciplined throughout his course," Ming interpreted. "He's no longer having nightmare issues. There were numerous perplexities I've encountered, which both Xing and I had to hide somewhere where no soul would find us."

"From whom, Ming?" Shifu asked worriedly. "Who was following you both?"

"From those who wanted us slain," Ming added, caressing a tip of the cup that she revolved her finger. "Not just me and Xing. I remember the face of the killer, and I bear not to mention his name."

An omniscient killer. Shifu pondered.

Chen Ming continued stroking her snow-white cup with detailed cobalt clouds. "I heard this rumor from my messengers' colleagues in China. People living in rural areas, sending messages to a few geese messengers reckoned the name that controlled his army, remained silent for years. Something dark merges, assuming the person named 'Ruler of Retaliation' has been lurking here in the Mortal Realm and will avenge his father's legacy."

"'Ruler of Retaliation?'" Shifu repeated with confusion.

"This Ruler had an ancient title and promised his father that he would restore his legacy. My messenger Kong mentioned an old tale of an Ox warrior seven hundred years ago. I meditated on one of my ancestors last week in my chamber, who once informed me about the young prince, commonly known as the son of Emperor Khan. He craves to rule China, leaving martial arts in ruins we have created."

"That sounds terrifying," Shifu noticed her clarification.

"I am aware of his return," Ming was concerned. "My grandmother, whom I saw in the Spirit Realm, warned me that this sickness lies near a hidden summit. Northwest of Tibet. She spotted many armies, saying they are all growing in the border and will emerge."

"I believe your words are ominous to hear this news," Shifu comprehended, placing his cup beside his rug. "But is there any situation that will prevent terror?"

"If a miracle happens, then their leader would soon dissipate," Ming shook her head, placing her cup beside her. "Earlier, one of my messengers shared one piece of news before I ventured to the Valley of Peace. A messenger from Master Wolf's palace flew to the northwest and then disappeared for at least a day. I recommend not sending one of your messengers to head over to the lands of the West. I am concerned that the enemies are clever and can examine the skies to seize avian messengers."

"Very well. I will note my servants to draw themselves away from there," Shifu nodded, sipping his green tea that soothed his voice and throat.

A moment passed for a short conversation, and Shifu and Ming spoke about their students. Ming contemplated the red panda's confrontation with the Dragon Warrior's arrival in the beginning. The Great Dragon's dark heart in which she remembered rumors about the escape from Chorh-Gom Prison, the ambitious Lord of Gongmen in the eastern city, and then the Jade Slayer's final days of power-hungry chi to everyone's defeat. Chen Ming filled her spirits after contemplating Shifu's story, including the Furious Five's origins.

"I would love to see your students one day, brother," Ming was immediately interested in the Furious Five when Shifu finished his tea. "I should have seen everything I missed. The Nine will be honored to greet them all, especially your student Po. May I see the portrait of Tigress, brother?"

Shifu offered Zeng to fetch the parchment painting within his chamber and brought it to him. The Nine's Master opened the scroll, manifesting the young feline in red qipao and black trousers, who was bounding the limbs of her Kung Fu tiger style. By the Gods. Look at her! There was no denying that the face was the only one related to Chen Ming's sister she could describe with more than a thousand blessings. "I just wanted to say that I deeply miss your student's family. Tigress must know that she's no longer in solitude. I'm delighted that you have been raising my niece, as she's the pure one of the Furious Five. I've always wondered if she was just like her mother. Soon, she has to see her aunt."

"That can wait, sister," Shifu patted Ming's paw, letting her return Tigress's portrait to him. "It will be a genuine pleasure to greet my students in the morning. I have some important schedules to do. The Emperor will appear at Jade Palace here to see a demonstration."

"I understand," Ming comprehended.

"You have your place, right?" Shifu asked as his pupils grew across his ocean eyes.

"Of course," she smirked, chuckling lightly. "My palace is not far from here."

"Where?"

"About ten miles west from here," Ming answered, pointing West. "The Prosper Valley is where I dwell with nine students."

"Great!" Shifu murmured with excitement. "I'll be there with my students if we are in luck on a top three list of martial arts."

"Brilliant," Ming finished her tea.

Just then, Ming and Shifu approached the Hall of Warrior's front door to exit. Shifu's thoughts kept swimming into every speck of his closest friend, who was well-educated with their tortoise teacher. Their world was divine and beautiful, filled with inclinations before they raised Tai Lung.

"You are going to leave again, right, sister?" Shifu pondered.

The feline revolved her head to the shoulder, her silver eyes meeting the red panda's, who raised his pale eyebrows. "I won't do the way I left you both since our early days," Ming said. "After I left when our adoptive son had his heart fragmented, I never wanted to start quarreling with your and our grandmaster's decision. He was our boy, but he's no longer suffering."

"It was a difficult choice to make," Shifu comprehended. "I know you had to leave, save your family from danger, and take good care of your only grandson. Your apology is accepted. Grandmaster Oogway and I wondered if you would revisit someday after you were gone."

"It was a long trip; many years had gone before I came here," Chen Ming said. "I just hope I would forgive my firstborn's death and his wife." Ming immediately turned to Shifu and hugged once again for a great reunion. "I will return, brother."

"I know you will, Ming," Shifu approved. "If you wish to come by here with your students, you are welcome to Jade Palace anytime."

"Thank you, Shifu," Ming accepted Shifu's welcome. Ming dressed in her traveling cloak and grabbed her staff. Before she strolled down the colossal stairs, Shifu immediately called her sister.

"Ming. One more word before you go back home. Is one of your talented students having issues?"

"Only one of the Nine students, not my grandson," Ming explained. "Chen Xing sometimes sees his peacock brother distressed about his past, which he cannot remember. My student's peahen mother, whom I met, said she must raise and protect her son from one of their own, who drove himself mad. He desired his son to show him something potential."

Potential? Shifu perceived his old friend's hint. Indicating that their teacher had countless companions as only one that Oogway mentioned of his colleague, the possibility of "grandson" was enough to recognize the peacock as the spiritual warrior. The red panda elucidated. "Master Oogway told me that his companion is watching over your student. He told me about your student's long-lost memory, which continues haunting his nightmare."

"Master Oogway told you that? You cheated me," Ming joked. Shifu nodded as both chuckled. "I'll greet our Master later on, but I have to see what my student is having trouble with tomorrow morning."

"You can meditate alone with green candles, Ming, and you shall see Oogway in a moment," Shifu advised. "Meditation requires your students to make Inner Peace, the capability to swim your mind into the unflustered cloud. Have the Nine practice zen."

"Thank you for the advice," Ming appreciated. "I'll teach my students a new lesson." She turned gently without a rush on a stairway.

My student's peahen mother, whom I met, said she must raise and protect her son from one of their own, who drove himself mad. He desired his son to show him some potential.

The red panda witnessed the eyes of crimson, lightened with embers standing on the weapon that was the word nearly destroying Kung Fu. A metal dragon tumbled where Gongmen and Jade Palace masters rushed in the horde of wolves before the rope sparked with a thousand suns, and the dragon spat its fire. Potential struck in Shifu, knowing the smell of powder and angry foams on the harbor he was on that time with two Masters of Gongmen and his students. Crimson and white trailed across the water like there was no tomorrow, and several balls of fire deflected and submerged. The last one was the icon that circulated Yin-Yang, which rushed pale ripples around the broken hull and launched the fire directly at the warship junk, splitting it half apart.

"Do you notice your peacock student is identical to someone?" Shifu asked Ming.

Ming stopped near the stairs as the breeze fiddled with her brown cloak. His question was common in describing the young peacock's origin, although Shifu worded his old companion. "I needed to ask, Ming. The Masters of Jade Palace had a history of the Lord of Gongmen wanting to destroy the creation, which brought some of us into mental trauma. My student Po was in difficulties for several months and needed to recover from the past. The Dragon Warrior went through what Lord Shen initially raided his home," Shifu elaborated. "You said your student and his mother fled from someone who drove himself mad. Is he the one or someone else related to him?"

Each of the Nine had origins to where they came from in China. Half were the sons of masters. Some were only peasants and formerly bandits, but they strode into a passion to becoming students, as likely all into one bonded as brothers and sisters of the Nine. I trust that my brother shall hear Lao's origin. Chen Ming beckoned her nod, turning her shoulder toward Shifu.

"My student's grandparents were Peafowl Nobles of Gongmen City. Later, they followed their son before my student," Ming said, her blood running cold in her heart as Shifu made his ocean eyes widen. "He doesn't know his father. He had been the Prince of Gongmen long before Lord Shen was exiled before the Lord of Gongmen returned to his city. My student learned only the history of his father losing the battle. Since the lord and lady wept tears and laid under the earth soil, their son pulverized himself under the harbor, the Nine's Brilliance is the heir to the Gongmen City throne."

"I see why," Shifu comprehended. "What is your disciple's name?"

"His name is Lao," she answered. "My grandson named him a brother since Lao and his peahen mother came to my palace. His true name for his Peafowl Noble bloodline is Dōngjì, meaning winter."

"That's a wonderful name for your student," Shifu blessed his old friend's student. "I'll keep your words confidential about that matter, Ming. I am sure that Lao will know the beginning."

"I will regret myself if the peacock student I've known as my lovely grandson finds out the truth by himself," Chen Ming patted her chest. "He's just a child, like his father, but not an aggressive emotion. I need more time at the right moment to speak with my student after the Tournament."

Ming nodded at once when Shifu discovered her difficult situation that Lao would soon reveal his distant memory. They both gestured their hands at each other, and Ming sauntered down the stairway path to lead Valley of Peace, where she must return to the boatman and ride back on a stream towards the Prosper Valley.

In his memory, Shifu sat on the flat ridge beside the peach tree with Oogway and Ming, sipping tea while glancing at the morning. From his perfect life, he missed the closest friend he had ever known and had waited years for Ming's return. The blossom flower, soaring in a breeze, stroked Shifu's cheek.

"Oh!" Shifu chuckled. "I almost forgot to go to bed. I have a big day tomorrow."

Shifu returned through the door and closed the behemoth entry to the Hall of Warriors. The midnight sky with gray clouds remained peaceful, and the Sacred Peach Tree near the Student Barracks gleamed with pink blossoms. Shifu went to his chamber, perching on the bed as the breeze bore blossom foliage.

"Awesome."

In the Spirit Realm, observing from the golden ocean with white ripples, floated an old tortoise. Glinting his yellow eyes, Oogway surveyed his Wing Chun student in a brown cloak who strolled down the Jade Palace stairs. Pink foliage swam over her, and Chen Ming sensed peach blossom flowers, staring at the sky with awe. "Grandmaster Oogway. . ." she breathed out with a genuine smile.

"Hmm. Chen Ming," Oogway simpered.

Chapter Text

Episode One: The Prince of Darkness (1 - 5)

Chapter V

Yǐnxíng Summit

?, Tibet — NYINGMA

The snow thronged with frozen drops of ice beneath the skies in Tibet. Near a small village and mysterious mists of scourge mountains, a rabbit guided on a small road with his lantern each night to arrive at his cousin's house. Alone in the dark with only light, the snow breathed his cozy cloth, and the torch dimmed. A cold wind made the rabbit tremble his body. Not many villagers of this lonely village had to see him in the dark at once during a snowstorm, knowing he could find his way home on this ridge path more than a million times.

His warm garment and a torch could safely return to his wooden house—not far enough on the steep right side near his homeland. A rabbit could not get himself other warm garments to fight these raging winds. By day one, living in this blistering storm, ice would frost living things enough. As his family and others he knew had occupied well with survival instincts, most villagers in a steep side village used fire in their houses to keep themselves warm. They ensured no one would be frigid if they used too much wood to burn the rest.

The wind began to mute its shrieking streaks. Hell. I thought this storm could freeze my ears off. I am relieved! A rabbit stopped momentarily, his ears registering the soft silence as he slightly turned behind. His lantern brilliantly dazzled with dancing white-orange silks behind the sheet around it. But a lonely villager was not staring at his light. Something immovable over his surroundings ceased from the rage just as he almost returned to his home about the other side of steep side slopes below him. The snow immediately triggered with immovable drops in the air. A rabbit behind could not see the sparkling objects when a villager nearly returned home on the other side of steep rocks below him.

In the air and under the rent clouds, puffs of snow wafted with hesitation.

By the heavens—Am I cursed?

A lonely villager and his people comprehended that the mountain perching Northwest of Tibet was a damned terrain. Their stories once told by each generation that several people living in the forbidden boundary of the MengMeng Mountains kept disappearing. Villagers mentioned that one who slept within the unknown could wake. The darkness snared on those who were closer to someone's territory. Only one made a wolf arrive home, who was a villager's grandfather's great-great grandfather's companion. He was almost smothered by solar glares on the ridges that hued gray. Somewhere the darkness occupied, about thirty-five miles from the village to MengMeng Mountains, stood one statue. And the wolf's old brother's red deer companion, bewitched by the sleeping darkness, murmured his revival spell on the warlord, commonly known as Ruler of Retaliation.

A fading scream crept above the sky. The rabbit squinted at a vulture carrying a large tan bag, whose eyes of velvet crimson sparkled on the villager. A squawking noise was not from the village; a muffled shriek screamed in the distance as a rabbit determined someone inside the bag where a vulture entangled it, spinning through the breeze of a snowstorm. Oh, no. Not another one! Behind a lone rabbit, the snow billowed with a snowstorm gust. And a bandit with his bag drifted away and beyond.

A vulture soared onward with his giant black wings, venturing long enough from China about two days behind him without stopping. His surroundings floated with vortex snow, which prevented the storm from his view. His talons gripped the knotted bag harder, which inside hollered with shrieking cries. "WHEE!" a vulture guffawed, swinging the bag like a ragdoll. "Your goose scream makes me laugh, Yao! HA!"

"PLEASE! LET ME LIVE!" The abducted goose named Yao wept and almost bellowed his sob after the blackbird cawed at him. The goose served with his master from Wolf Palace. His job was to send a confidential letter to someone crucial. Yao might have gone lost before he was captured alive. He believed that Master Wolf could search him. How would anyone find Yao in Tibet when his teacher was in China? No one regarded the sleeping mountain except lone villagers and Chen Ming's grandmother — they were the ones who witnessed. And now, this rumor was confirmed by Chen Ming.

A vulture immediately glanced through the mountains in his solar red eyes, spotting one of the flaming torches that waved near the tip of a Yǐnxíng Mountain covered in rime. Down toward steep sides, the gleaming gold eyes of gorillas detected their ally with surrounding snow spheres. Apes steered a massive pirate wheel-like, with its sturdy rope that poured specks of ice stretching. A leopard who waved vulture with a torch cleansed white puffed snow using a spitfire from his mouth and burned to clear a hole path under the mountain.

Many lights on the sides of this mountain were gorillas with giant steering wheels that immediately opened a large, flat entrance from the top of the ridge. For a moment, a vulture released his talon grip, freeing a goose inside the bag in mid-air near a tip. The bag was swallowed into the black hole, with Master Wolf's messenger shrieking with snowfalls.

Inside the deep, the bag and remnants of snow plummeted like raindrops. Surrounding Yao, warmness engulfed, and thunderous shouts swarmed as bandits occupied—not a comfortable place to live under the mountain. The goose continued screeching horribly in the air as if he would never fly inside the bag. All the rocks below the hole were tinged with reddish veins. Thousands of sparkling eyes were living souls below — thousands of vicious warriors. Among these ridges were all the veins glossed with the orange underneath the mountain, filling with various artilleries and countless platoons. Crimson orbs emerged black vultures on the bag, their sharp talons snatching Yao with full force. Vicious creatures flung one and the next, the poor bird's cry deafening in horror.

Up. Down. Up, and SLAM!

One vulture thumped the brown bag on the gray bridge. Its metallic platform structure sparkled with iron and velvet stars. After a short agony from Yao, blackbirds trudged and dragged the messenger to the heart of the platform. The veins brightened a gush of blood over vast ridges as the shadow ribbons grew outnumbered. One vulture opened the bag and freed the messenger. "DON'T EAT ME! PLEASE!"

A vulture with a scarred left eye jostled his foot and shoved the goose on a thick rhyolite floor, invading his head near Yao's beak. "Nay! I find my beak to drink your splotches, birdie!"

"OI! My Lord!" a second vulture ahead of the blackbird extended his wings with a flinch, bowing as the other stopped clenching and bent his body beside one bandit. Yao burst his fading sob while embracing his snow scroll with a wolf sigil dearly, and he surveyed the ribbon clouds that stood more mighty than countless bovines. Shadow silks breathed in and out with steady flows from its ruby scar muzzle under its left eye and nose, glooming its solar red eyes and large horns. Lingering on the rhyolite platform, the beast gazed at the poor messenger, whose beak and neck were quivering while Yao stumbled his gasp.

"Sir," a vulture on the right called to the shadow, tightly clenching his talon to the messenger's sleeve. "My ally has found him near Khong Mountain in China. This messenger has Master Wolf's scroll in his feathers, and that goose meat might message to someone important."

The shadow figure summoned crimson eyes, snatching Master Wolf's scroll on Yao's feathers with the cloudy hoof shade. The shadow scrutinized the manuscript after the goose immediately intimidated.

To whom I send my parchment to Gentle Dragon

Remind the Gentle Dragon that I am looking forward to your tournament. I may have to send my messenger toward wherever the Gentle Dragon leads to any temple while I train my students. Inquire him when he is coming to my Snow Palace.

— Master Wolf

"Excellent work, Commander," a monstrous tone from the shadow uttered with murmurs to its lips, then placed the scroll on a large bag beside the second orb on the left. "Call out the army and speed up their work as much as possible."

"Yes, sir," a first vulture nodded and bounded off.

The shadow figure of an enormous body roamed after the vulture dove to the bridge and screeched his snarl. The messenger could not do anything for himself to flee; bandits were surrounding him, giving their grimacing looks as they growled at the innocent goose. Yao rotated his neck in front as if the shadow clouds spoke inaudibly, and its crimson eyes went brighter than the fire. He visualized the shadow in black, revealing itself. An Ox, evilly smirking with a nasty scar below his left eye to black nostrils. He wore gray armor with gauntlets and a black kilt to his body. He drew a flaming sword, pointing to Yao's neck.

"Who are you sending this message to?" The Ox insisted on the terrifying goose.

Yao popped a single egg below the goose. Bandits and souls perplexed in their eyes. "Listen!" He tremored, swimming his neck quickly behind and front. "I do not want any trouble! Please, I'm just a messenger. I want to go home!"

"Your home is here now," The Ox immediately exhibited. "You go back to your land and report your master, and rumors will begin to spread, son of Tuan."

"How do you know about my—?!" Yao feared, but the Ox interrupted him.

"Your soul," the bovine radiated his eyes, examining his body. "I sense your pity soul in you, Yao."

The goose once again popped another egg as Yao trembled more. "I can set you free," the bovine said, craning his neck near the goose, his charcoal breath puffing. But you'll have to clarify everything you must know about the message you are sending to who you deliver. Do such a favor for me."

"Who are you?" the goose demanded, his voice ebbing in fright.

The Ox pulled and widened his arms back, smirking after sheathing the sword to his left waist. "I am the supreme Ruler of all of China," The Ox answered. "The essential warrior who skirmished people that built temples and repopulated their existence with knowledge of tranquility. Henceforth to who you demand ahead of this soldier you seek, is—"

"Prince Huoju!" the voice spawned beside the shadows. The Ox sighted the hawk, who clarified the goose after this bird soared beside his evil master. The Ox named Huoju, the Emperor Khan's noble warlord and son, depressed himself by closing his eyes. "The great conqueror who eradicated every master and student of all China. Known to himself as Ruler of Retaliation and always the Prince of Darkness."

Huoju shrunk his pupils after he glared his eyes at the hawk. The Prince of Darkness swirled his blaze sword, nearly plunging the hawk's throat, silencing him and the rest of his servants. "You disgraced me by interfering in my presence and clarifying the messenger for my reputation," Huoju snapped. "The son of Tuan already knows my name. You mistake me one more time, and I will obliterate your existence. Return to my palace in thirty minutes, Ying."

Ying yelped and nodded. "Yes, my Prince," the hawk flew away.

Huoju dimmed his eyes and eyed his shoulder toward his servants, announcing them to return to their duties within this central mountain, including those on rocky temples; countless red stars and a group of bandits dispersed with their echo answers. The Prince of Darkness sheathed his flame sword, which the dancing fire hissed to its silence, appearing with sharp steel. "You'll have to come to my Throne Room," Huoju snatched the goose's front garment. "We'll discuss this privately."

The Ruler formed into pyroclastic clouds, soaring among the smoke trail as the messenger roared with frantic horrors. Ashes began to billow behind the streak. Below them, bandits watched their master fly beneath the vein mountain as the smoke searched a circular platform that Huoju occupied. The Throne Room was built with a chair and a table of bones. Within the inner hole from downstairs, the monument of a gray bovine in a long robe with a sword pinned to the floor stood, glimpsing down with a tense smirk.

Huoju shook the goose as the Ox gently thrust him to the table. The Prince sauntered beside the chair, caressing the hardened, black balcony with rocks, peering onto these lands. These horrific territories gathered with such sophisticated forms of stones where bandits camped their own homes, growing wickedness to spread immorality. Weapons sharpened, hammering metallic swords enough at the blacksmith somewhere near a steep rock. Every bandit growled from the fighting terrace near the sheer terrain with red smoke from many holes, brawling themselves in combat to face the battle. They trained to focus on killing the strong and weak. The Ruler was never a merciful warlord; he craved everyone's fear of death, impressing him on the darkest path.

Distant cries deafened as the Prince of Darkness surveyed the section paths near lava lakes. Within the metal bars were missing villagers and disloyal criminals — hundreds captured. Those captors were unfortunate enough to spread this news, as Huoju sealed them from all of China to reveal who he was and his scheme; he would not let that happen.

Their laments, singing in his ears, made the Ruler grin wickedly. He faced forward while Master Wolf's messenger muttered in silence. "For over five hundred years of being resurrected, I desperately dishonored my father. He disapproved of his son for leaving every master behind who survived the Qing Temple seven hundred years ago," Huoju said in desperation. "My late father's wish was to conquer the land everywhere and slay life."

His father's harsh voice stormed in, vicious enough to hardly despise Emperor Khan, who swore deed with great power. Not able to neglect that he was always his father, his son Huoju would obey to carry their legacy, even after Khan's death. Gold was their virtue, and their power remained fierce, as the Prince of Darkness envisioned. Prince Huoju glared on his shoulder to the poor goose and roamed to him. "I will ask you one final time," Huoju unsheathed his flame sword, his shadow hoof snatching the goose. He directly aimed the tip of the billowing fire on the messenger's throat close to him. "Who are you sending this message to, son of Tuan?"

His sword continued slithering the dancing fire under Yao's throat; the fire crackled and nearly burned his feathers. The goose screeched; Huoju heaved his razor sword as the blade wailed, and Yao immediately bellowed.

"NO! I CAN TELL YOU! PLEASE!" Yao covered his wings to his head from the flames. "Master Wolf... Forgive me!"

Huoju chuckled. He slightly sheathed his fire sword away next to his kilt. After dropping the messenger to the hardened platform, the bovine swirled shadows behind the goose, vanishing the smoke with a gale.

"Do you forgive him?" Huoju inquired to him wickedly. "Perhaps your master will punish your life."

"Yes…" Yao trembled his body, shattering his cry. He did not want to be dead or killed otherwise, nor disgraced to Master Wolf, who had loved him ever since the messenger worked for him for almost fifteen years. "I am sending this letter message… to the Gentle Dragon."

"Who is the Gentle Dragon?"

"The Emperor of China."

"Emperor," Huoju vibrated his silky voice, dazzling his red eyes at the goose's. "Is that right?"

"Yes…" He startled.

The Prince of Darkness stormed his shadows in the goose's beak, browsing through the list of Emperor names from many centuries, which he carelessly bothered them. He advanced within the golden temple of Forbidden City. And within the Gentle Dragon's Throne Room, Master Wolf's messenger stood on the balcony and met an elegant, elder gray water buffalo in a yellow silk robe with detailed black dragon and yellow eyes in front last week. "Emperor Huangdi," Huoju named the current Emperor of China of the Song Dynasty. He insisted on Yao. "What is this Gentle Dragon interested in now?"

Yao forced his beak to be open, mumbling as if the messenger quivered his mouth and stammered. "He... he interests all classes to enjoy martial arts…" the goose explained. "And someday, within a month from now, he'll soon choose any top three to challenge in the tournament."

"Such a spirit," Huoju affirmed, turning behind the balcony and glaring at the veins of the platforms. "He is constructing the tournament. That will gather all masters and students there, those who have their forefathers' blood, their forefathers who survived the Qing Temple. Once everyone is there, no one in this life will continue to exist, making my father proud, even in his death."

Huoju swiftly turned and demanded the goose with a mild grimace. "When will the Tournament open?"

"I do not know," Yao shook his head. The goose knew the tournament could open, enabling the Gentle Dragon to invite all masters and villagers to one area. Yao could not answer truthfully but added a brief instead. "All I know is that the Emperor craves viewing in Kung Fu and all martial arts classes. I swear! Beg my life, mercy!"

Huoju laughed at once with a scoff. "Very well," Huoju forgave and affirmed. "Before I let you go, you'll have to send me every rumor you overhear from the Emperor and all masters."

Yao snapped, widening. "Why?!"

"I only want the messenger," The Ox craved. "For that purpose is by listening much intelligence to share. No other servants of mine will travel their wings to be seen in the Emperor's eyes. But," the Prince eagerly met Yao's eyes and his soul. "You are one of Master Wolf's best messengers, traveling faster in the sky with stronger wings than my vultures."

"Oh, dear…" Yao quivered rapidly.

"My vulture companion will watch your back while you soar to China. Travel with him to the Emperor's homeland and several palaces without your master's monastery," the Prince of Darkness strolled closer to the goose, clenching Yao's robe in the air. Huoju puffed his muzzle with a charcoal fire breath at him. "If my vulture loses sight of you while you return to Master Wolf's palace, torments may occur. By clarifying everything to either masters or the Emperor about me, my whereabouts, and schemes of mine, I will burn you alive."

Yao drained multiple eggs after a terrifying feeling from the deranged Ox clutched his heart. "Are we understanding?"

"YES!" Yao cried.

"Good!" Huoju chuckled evilly. "By then, you return each time after your reports, and you will call me master. Now leave this mountain at once! Get out and go to the Emperor's Palace!"

He tossed the frightening goose in mid-air. Yao soared higher as he went, and a vulture immediately pursued him as long as he obeyed his master's command. The loathsomeness bird guided Master Wolf's messenger above the hole where the goose fell before; both birds escorted themselves out and disappeared. Now, as the Prince of Darkness respired from agitation mind, footsteps croaked behind Huoju.

"New crocodile bandits have arrived, my Prince," a badger in his midnight vest noted the Prince of Darkness before a bandit cleared his throat. "Their leader assembled his men. They are interested in your potential plan."

"Remarkable," The Ox pleased.

A badger took a glimpse of the black table with skulls, looking at five large eggs where the messenger had hatched. His spine shivered with coldness as his feeling climbed to the back of his neck. "Um... sir? When did that happen?" the badger pointed.

The Ox turned to his table skulls and followed his servant's gaze. "Where do these things come from, Liu?" He rolled his head with bewilderment.

"Er — Oh, these things are eggs, your Grace. They came from underneath—"

"You do not have to inform me," Huoju raised his hoof. "Gather the crocodiles to the training. I will arrive there in the next hour."

The badger nodded as the bandit strolled beside him and was about to leap. The Prince held his left hoof open. "Liu. One more thing before you soar yourself across the terrain. Inform my bird soldier, who occupies alone in his dungeon. Tell him to come to my Throne Room immediately. I like to speak with my colleague after Ying's presence."

"Yes, my Prince," Liu nodded, then vortexed his body into a red orb, soaring away from Huoju's Throne Room and deep down to a steep side rock ahead of Ox.

Shortly after Liu's dismissal, Prince Huoju sauntered through the hollow inside his Throne Room from downstairs. The petrified statue ahead of Huoju stood beyond large rocks behind as if the Prince peered only at a stone figure. He lightened red candles before the massive bovine figure in a long robe carrying a sword. Huoju immediately prayed to Emperor Khan's character, which was duplicated from the Mengmeng Mountains. The Ruler of Retaliation knelt before the monument, praying to his father.

"I have found what I've been waiting for," Prince Huoji lightened all crimson and orange candles, scents of cherry and tangerine wafting in his muzzle. Lights emerged from the rest of his father's belongings and the tower banners under Emperor Khan's feet. The next was the iron shield with black paint of fire symbol, the golden cape, and the thorn crown beside the cloak. "The messenger shall overhear any such rumors about this 'Tournament' from the Emperor… Whoever this person is, I will strip his title, tear down the dynasty, and reclaim what yours is, father. I foresee the great one who succeeds, outnumbering those who bear their glories. Parasites shall see the Prince of Darkness's wrath in the name of my master's achievement."

Each candle floated like lanterns of ash, lightened through stones where the Ox reincarnated beside his father near the Méngméng Mountains. The voice deepened its whisper like a snarl, and Huoju raised his chin, listening to the erratic shadows. 

"Your life as the so-called Prince's Wrath evolves procrastination, lingering the waste of your potential, Huoju," whispered the rusty voice of Huoju's father. "The Master of Death expects your greatness, decaying those who serve their righteousness. Their light and dark balance the universe. And darkness should swallow the whole."

"The light will fade, Father. This age, longing for us to be victorious, is the Year of Ox; the day will be promising, feeding the people's fears. Many will bow to your son."

"We shall see."

Everything returned to normal after the Prince's meditation. The candles immediately lightened the rocks within the hollow. Heavy footsteps approached from the Throne Room above the stairs. The Prince of Darkness met scarlet eyes, pure as the sun, and revealed itself as the black bear in scathe armor and black kilt. "Praying to your father, again, are you?" the bear asked with boldness and elegance. "He has been insulting you in front of his presence."

"Whether he still insults me or not, he's still my father, Mingling," Prince Huoju spoke to her while eying on the bovine statue. "After centuries while building our army, those people in China focus comfort, not a single rebellion to reveal and defend their land."

"No wonder the Chinese have spread their joys for the last four years," Mingling said with her vicious grin. "They cry out to their hero who saved the country; they do not stop talking about him."

"When you went to China, surveying outcast bandits that you invite them to my clan, who is this warrior that his souls call him the People's Hero?" Huoju asked. "Or the other title they name him — Dragon Warrior?"

"Only I perceived him once from new blood soldiers. They mentioned that he does not stop eating bamboo sticks," the black bear referenced. "The worst kind that I am glad not to be lazy."

The Prince of Darkness chuckled. "Mockery suits you well."

As I have been, my champion. Mingling fiddled her claw fingers on the bovine's bulky limbs and palmed Huoju's cheek, making him turn to the black bear with a genuine smile. "Ying awaits you in the Throne Room."

Moments later, the Throne Room glimmered to dark and violet stones within the whole extent. The hawk sat on the chair to the left side of the table as Huoju locked his solar glare at the poor soldier. The black bear, who stood beside the Ruler of Retaliation, extended her right claw, bending her muzzle at Ying. The two tyrants scrutinized the bird's expression well enough: one had the brilliance of inner feelings, and the second was the brute-crushing bones. Such wasteful for being stupid, Ying. How long will he be when interruptions of his make my champion piss off even more? Mingling shook her head.

"My Prince Huoju and my Lady Mingling," Ying begged, adjusting his back while sitting on his chair. "For the last decade, I've been your loyal servant; I did achieve several things —except some were failures— but finished difficult victories. I do not mean to interfere with you, my Prince. I helped the poor messenger to remember you as the great one."

"You imbecile," Huoju grimaced, stabbing the dagger into the pile of a rock table. "You apologize too much for many mistakes. Tell me, Ying. How many of my men are in this mountain?"

The hawk slightly opened his brown beak, then closed inaudibly. "About exactly thirty thousand, my Prince," Ying said, counting the current numbers of Huoju's army.

Huoju clenched his hoofs, tensing his cheek through his nose, glaring directly into the bird's eyes. "Thirty thousand?" Huoju repeated, mockery triggering him. "I want more than thirty thousand men! Is there anyone in China who is not interested in my army?" He snapped his head away from the bird.

"Not yet, my Prince," Ying replied. Nevertheless, he saw Huoju's hoof dazzle into flames. The hawk noticed his master listening to him, having alone with him and the bear who endlessly smirked with a sense of sharp red eyes at Ying, and the Ox reflected on strangling this bird. "But there is something that could help you gain—"

"Gain on what? Spit it out," Huoju interrupted the bird's words solemnly, turning to Ying.

Ying inhaled to his beak inaudibly, stumbling his words within a second, and replied. "There is a trio somewhere in Mongolia who can build more army than you'll ever have."

The Prince landed his hoofs on the table, leaning and craning his neck toward Ying. The hawk shook his neck. "Trio?" The bovine inquired interestingly. "Who are the three, Ying?"

"The Wu Sisters," Ying named the legendary criminals; Huoju bent his head to the right. The black bear relaxed her scarlet eyes at the Prince of Darkness once the hawk clarified again. "They were the ones who gathered many bandits using banners and recruitment posters across China before, as all three sisters planned to claim China for a purpose. About six years earlier, the Kung Fu Council of Gongmen City reasoned with the Emperor of China. The jail near Jiānyù Tǔdì in China does not contain Wu Sisters to use sarcophaguses to them. Those correctional rhino guards transported the three leopards to Chorh-Gom Prison less than a week from here in Tibet."

"Charming," Huoju crooned with fascination; he drew his body back from the table after leaning ahead of the bird. The Ox revolved to the bear next to the door as the grizzly grinned and nodded. "We'll set them free and soon join my clan."

"You want the Wu Sisters?" the hawk asked, rising from the table's chair. "My Prince, thousands of rhino guards are protecting the pris—!"

The bear's eyes hued scarlet into violet close to her pupils, meeting the hawk's trembling eyes. Her claws merged bits of shadow, darting towards Ying's beak. Ying's body stoned without an inch as his heart stopped pulsing; his neck smothered, and his lungs shrank. Ying's face was drenched purple as the hawk's eyes lightly shaded to tears, stumbling to the floor. The bear roamed close to the bird; stifled with an intense grip, Ying's eyes began to color light red with veins.

Huoju palmed the black bear's silky ink shoulder; the bear's purple velvet eyes reverted to crimson. The hawk rasped and inhaled, coughing harder.

"You learned your lesson, Ying," Huoju warned the hawk. "Can you not see I am interested in growing the army I will ever have? I require everything else to prepare before advancing to war!"

The Ox threw a fire dagger beside his flaming sword and nearly stabbed the hawk's throat. Ying trembled after yelping before the weapon floated, returning the Prince's hand. "And now, I have the proposition for you. Search for bandits and exiled combatants interested in my clan claiming China. Make sure no light will overhear my scheme. Is that clear?"

"Yes, my Prince," the hawk nodded gruffly.

"Soar across China with my avians. Do not return unless you give me more than thirty thousand men."

Ying extended his wings and soared away, far to the ridge entrance above the mountain, to search for any bandits around China interested in his master's plan. The Ox's state of mind grew outraged, inhaling and exhaling through his nose like a bull's growl.

"This imbecile should not have existed in my presence," Huoju grimaced, shaking his head. One way or another, if Ying ever mocks me again with his stupidity nonsense in my presence, the rest of his flesh will rip apart.

Clinging steps behind two wicked warriors echoed near the circular stairway. Huoju glanced forward at the fires beneath those terrains; the bear beside him gazed at a welcoming visitor. Hidden from hues, a shadow form with red-orange eyes strolled with iron claws, scraping the floor with a tap.

"Leave us, Mingling. My companion and I should discuss this private conversation. You go scout with your archers marching forward to crocodile armies, where they arrive in front of the gate. I will be with you in a moment," Huoju ordered the bear affectionately.

The black bear nodded, her claw gesturing two black hawks across the ridge platform beside Huoju's. Two avians clasped their talons on Mingling's wrists and carried her toward the southwest of the mountain entrance.

"My Prince Huoju. You summoned me?" the elder voice crooned behind the Prince of Darkness.

"Yes," Huoju smirked, eradicating his grimace and inhaling his nose breathy. "You have not been around in my Throne Room for months."

"Sometimes, I preferred myself to meet you in some time," the elder voice said ordinarily. "The only matter I do that is by glancing your bandits and must go solitary."

"Solitary fits you from being disturbed. On the contrary from loneliness, you supported my men well," the Prince of Darkness said. "So, my dear friend. What troubles to you?"

"My vision had a brief glimpse through my attempts. Not as worth satisfying that affection was oddly rare. The past persists to be buried."

"You've had to reflect on those who pretended to use their affection to you," the Prince apprehended someone behind him in shadows without glimpsing behind. He only surveyed reddish veins over the vast inner mountain in front, filled with all souls and bandits working much harder. "The rumor from the goose is true. He has now begun to acknowledge my command."

"Just as you have a scheme," an elder voice understood. The shadow of a bird with a long neck tugged his feathers within long sleeves. "I overheard your grimacing tone across the circular stairway before my arrival. Did Ying frustrate you once more?"

"The hawk made me desperate," Huoju shook his head icily, facing the stone terrain. "Ying made mistakes. He was the first to befriend you since you resided in your cavern after arrival."

"Shall I silence Ying after his return?"

"No," Huoju refused. "Leave that to me. Let him live for a short time until one final mistake." The Ruler could see Ying above the hole in the mountain.

The Prince of Darkness cast his zen glare into his servant, shadows of silky gray ribbons streaming in the clouds. The flash of disturbance, loss, selflessness, and defeat by the hero's icon bellowed its shrieking smoke from the golden plate, Yin-Yang. Within different sights of the distant memory, Huoju contemplated gongs of metal hammering with forge and wolf howls bearing across the sea of breeze, the water hissing. "This divination unveils fear of knowing how one's destiny ends, but to prevent your fate from happening, son of Feng," Prince Huoju urged his disciple. "That prophecy you once spoke to me is history. The next era will fulfill my father's retribution, and the light will fade."

In the dark denim depths that Huoju manifested in, hulls floated onward with soft foams, rents of crimson sail with an eye sigil rising with tangled ropes. The shadow cloud heaved the metal barrel; flesh and bones of white left with muscle fragments, cracking its head open. The shadow's hoof cast its frothy yellow blaze in the white's heart, thundering the form's mouth scream into the inferno sphere.

Waking from his brief sensation, Huoju turned his solar red eyes at a cunning person who desired to claim something that belonged to the familiar figure. "You grasp Gongmen City, and I will have the world, Shen."

The metal on the peacock's feet scraped while the avian stepped out of the shadow. Dark feathers around the bird's gray robe revealed the color of feather markings on the train: red, white, and black. The Prince of Darkness and Lord of Gongmen grinned wickedly. "I accept, Master," Lord Shen agreed.

Chapter Text

Episode II: Pure Awesomeness (6 - 17)

Chapter VI

Kung Fu Demonstration

April 5, 1205

The Valley of Peace, Guangxi — SONG DYNASTY

The sunlight gazed all green and farms near the Valley of Peace. The morning was the only nature of all students and masters, embarking them to prompt their schedule for six days of practice and the seventh day for relaxation. Children desired a fortune story from the Dragon Warrior about how he defeated many warriors like Tai Lung, including terrors. Peach Tree whispered the blossom, soaring in the overhead of a massive waterfall through Jade Palace and a Student Barrack.

The blossom foliage descended on the barrack's platform, the iron bell chiming the morning cheese sunlight. The barrack's door unlatched rapidly from the kick. "Justice is about to be served!" Po announced. The Dragon Warrior bounded, and the Furious Five followed him.

They all dove into the Arena, where Po initially met the Furious Five, wanting to see which Oogway could choose one student to become a Dragon Warrior. The old turtle's prophecy was based on which he picked Po. Oogway curiously intrigued these panda monks, who healed him in a Village of Pandas more than five hundred years ago, a sacred place of healing.

Po and the Five reached for the Training Hall as they had eaten their breakfast before the morning bell; their master advised them to prepare for the Emperor's arrival. The red panda observed his students doing their prep to themselves as Shifu allowed the Five and Dragon Warrior to participate in Tai Chi flows of energy. The Jade Palace Masters had regarded as something Grandmaster Shifu could share with the Emperor of China: a contribution that could astonish the Gentle Dragon.

Crane soared continuously through the rings, plunging within when the panda commanded the bird and ordered Monkey to avoid Crane's flight ability near aside. Monkey swung through ropes that attached large rings for Crane to infiltrate with agility, dodging battles. Tigress thrust a single crocodile dummy, walloping any strong opponents when Mantis behind her welted all crocodile dummies. Po arranged for Tigress to do a tornado backflip as she pounded flying opponents trying to attack her. She landed movable logs for her preferred fighting stance and struck many wooden spikes. Viper slithered near the inferno flames, avoiding many fires with greater mobility. 

Their prep had finished within an hour, and the Dragon Warrior and Furious Five were ready for their demonstrations. Grandmaster Shifu intended to share with the audience and the Emperor commune the philosophy of Kung Fu and the creation of Master Oogway himself. Shifu's students immediately formed their horizontal line in front of the doorway of Jade Palace Arena. Their teacher waited, and the rest joined their master's timing until the arrival of the Emperor. The audience ascended through the stairs as the Emperor and his aristocrats joined aside. Geese unlocked the Arena gateway as Shifu ordered them.

Many villagers entering the Arena with joy strolled for their seats in both galleries, surveying artistic designs of Kung Fu banners. After years of training and preparation, all weapons and dummies were secured and ready for combat so that the Five and Po could enhance their skills. A moment on, the gold garments of the elder and Gentle Dragon's buffalo guards arrived. Several protectors with the lung dragon sigil of the Song Dynasty formed their lines one way and the other; the Emperor of China emerged from the Arena's door—the water buffalo with a grayish beard in his golden dragon robe, who shone his yellow eyes.

The Jade Palace Masters bowed to the Gentle Dragon. "My Emperor Huangdi," the red panda greeted. "I am Grandmaster Shifu. These are my best students of Jade Palace, and it is an honor to welcome you and commemorate your presence."

"Greetings, Grandmaster Shifu," the Emperor nodded with closed eyes within a second, accepting the red panda's bow. "I am honored to meet you and the Dragon Warrior and Furious Five students."

"The honor is mine, my Emperor," Shifu pleased the Gentle Dragon. "By half an hour, we will begin our demonstration, and by then, I can clarify how Grandmaster Oogway created Kung Fu."

"Brilliant," the Emperor smiled, clasping his hooves under his belly. "You are one of Oogway's worthy students of Kung Fu and the owner of Jade Palace. I remember Grandmaster Oogway, who trekked into my palace in Lin'an long ago and mentioned you are one of his most trustworthy students on your master's side. Your teacher would appreciate you and your students to carry his legacy."

"Thank you, my Emperor," Shifu brought the Emperor's compliment with a nod. "And my Emperor, if I may. I have a large chair for you to sit on immediately with your followers and guards. In that case, we can converse ourselves and let my students prepare their presentation."

"Of course," the Emperor accepted, proceeding forward with Shifu. "I shall wait until your presentation begins."

The Emperor sauntered with Shifu on the stairway platform, followed by the water buffalo's people, who joyfully observed the Arena. Po and the Furious Five separated themselves to gather weapons and dummies with geese servants wherever the Masters preferred to encounter models.

After twenty minutes of completing the decorations and most Valley of Peace citizens coming into the galleries, the Five spoke with each other as Po listened when perching in the center of the Arena. The panda bent his knees together and closed his emerald eyes in meditation. "So many people here," the bug commented, pointing people to both galleries of the Arena. He stood on Monkey's right shoulder when the langur surveyed the children chirp within. "I wonder how many of the Emperor's followers were invited here."

"Party guests," Monkey figured. "They come and have a party here for more wine and saké with bananas. We should hang out with them."

The snake peered at villagers and the Emperor's followers in the gallery platforms. "Maybe they come for Po's dumplings?" Viper guessed.

The bug snorted. "If you can eat a hundred and three dumplings in your sinus, I'll tell you that," Mantis teased her as Viper hissed at the bug softly.

The alpha of the Furious Five intervened. "Let's not make any more jokes this time," Tigress advised. "We do Kung Fu for the Emperor, so let's show him unique to us."

Many seats filled with the pack of civilians, and many pandas gazed at the Arena, delight ruling elsewhere. Po thought his two fathers, Mr. Ping and Li Shan, could arrive at the Jade Palace. They had to travel south to bring radishes and veggies before returning home at sunset. Dads would have loved to come here and commemorate the Emperor here. I'll share my fancy story with them later!

Po only took the time to meditate before the demonstration while the Furious Five continued speaking. The Five did not bother the panda as they parted to greet fellow villagers and children. Little by little, they conversed about their presentation, as they must entertain visitors and the Emperor as much as possible during combat and kung fu demonstrations. The panda comprehended and immediately realized what to do for him and the Five during peaceful thoughts.

"Dragon Warrior!" a giant's voice called the panda.

Po's green eyes brightened after awakening, turning from behind. Po recognized the bovine who saved China from the Wu Sisters along with legendary masters. What was even more hardcore glancing at the honorable guest was the bovine master in his council robes. He wore a white robe with a yellow sash belt around his waist and a long gray coat with flared-up patch shoulders detailed with water waves and intricate lines.

"No way! Master Storming Ox!" Po gasped after a goose servant shut the Arena's gate behind the old bovine. Po sauntered to Ox, who was smirking. "Wow! It's amazing to see you again!"

"Greetings, Dragon Warrior," Storming Ox chuckled, blended with fruity tones as Po hugged the giant.

"AUH! My Emperor's Wisdom is here!" the Gentle Dragon on his chair waved at his bovine companion.

"Wait? You're working with the Emperor now?" Po pointed at the water buffalo beside Grandmaster Shifu and the guards. The Ox nodded. "That is so cool! I thought you've stayed with Master Croc in Gongmen City."

"I was elected two years ago," Master Ox said. "The Emperor strongly urges someone who will be his bodyguard as protection and support proposals for lords and senators for any suggestions, including votes about delivery food and vegetables. And during his absence, I will be his eyes and ears whatever Emperor Huangdi urges me to do."

"That is awesome!" Po beamed, jumping lightly. "Is Master Croc here? Is he coming?"

"He stays behind, kid," Storming Ox replied, considering his closest friend he had known for ages that he could not go to Jade Palace for a reason. "Croc has his routine to maintain his shipping business for crops and food from Japan." The Dragon Warrior listened to Master Storming Ox. Po would have been amazed if Croc were with Ox. "Masters Croc and Boar were in charge of Gongmen City after their promotion before I began to work with Huangdi as my next generation of bodyguards. The great news is that the Kung Fu Council, now titled the Tower of the Holy Flame, was rebuilt six years after Lord Shen's defeat. The purpose of peacocks initially ruled there for centuries.

"The Tower always belongs to peafowls. According to Lord Feng's oath, the Emperor and his aristocrats decided not to vend the residence. They left the rebuilt Tower of Sacred Flame as the museum for the people to detour, see all the peafowl ancestors."

That will be a badass hardcore if Master Croc shows up today.

Po grinned. "I'm glad everything else worked out so well. Anyway, how's everything you've been doing, Master Ox?"

The bovine hummed. "I've been sturdy for a while," Storming Ox palmed on his waist sides, glancing at both galleries with audiences around them. "Taking care of Huangdi and watching the Tower for ages before being elected with my companion. In every aspect, I must allow manners to be disciplined after all these years. My time for this week is when I will see my son. I have not seen him in years."

"You have a son?" Po gasped, and Storming Ox nodded with a slight grin. "Wow! I didn't know you had your son!"

"It was a secret," Ox clarified, chuckling. "When you, Shifu, and Furious Five left Gongmen City, my son arrived home after my old friend's funeral ended at Kung Fu Council. He showed up near Shen's Firework Factory when I guided Soothsayer to pick up her belongings. My wife, whom I know, wanted my son to learn Kung Fu when she traveled to Japan for friendship and family purposes. So I taught him."

"That. . . is incredible!" Po beamed. "I would love to meet your son one day! Where is he now?"

"Somewhere in the west. After another trip, I will be there seeing my son again—after two years."

Two years?

Po pondered how Storming Ox had been throughout the years since the Gongmen incident, not to mention the bovine's son, the panda, and the Masters of Jade Palace did not know. Knowing the Dragon Warrior comprehended his bovine friend well, the loss of Thundering Rhino impacted several masters all over the Song Dynasty, especially those who were fondly close to the late son of Master Flying Rhino. The panda watched the Ox Master's tender smile as if not experienced his heart flowing slowly. As Po was about to speak, Tigress strolled behind the panda and palmed him.

"Po. It is time."

"Alright."

The demonstration was about to begin as Po nodded to the striped feline warrior. The Dragon Warrior patted the old bovine's hoof with pleasure. "It's so wonderful for you to be here, Master Ox! You can sit with Grandmaster Shifu, and I hope you enjoy the show!"

"Thank you, kid," Master Ox sauntered away from Arena. "Good luck to you and the Furious Five."

The drums rolled, and basses rumbled by pigs and geese musicians. The Dragon Warrior and Furious Five formed their horizontal line as they bowed to their teacher and the Emperor of China. All students embarked on their first form of Kung Fu. Their aspects of each unique characteristic of balance for Crane, tiger style for Tigress, palm strikes for Monkey, speed and ferocious for Viper, and Mantis for thingies. Po used his fighting style that allowed him to modify his mastery skills: kicking, flowing arms, lethal punches, and belly gongs!

All students ignored every distraction everywhere as the crowd applauded in joy. They quickly improvised their fighting techniques while Shifu inspired the audience. In every move of Kung Fu, featuring Lou Loong Mong Yut and the other five random forms, the Furious Five and Dragon Warrior began their sparring with each other once at a time. Crane fought Monkey in balance versus palm strikes. Viper and Mantis in speed and acupuncture, later Tigress and Po with strength and power. Hundreds of blows and kicks deflected, ending the battle.

One of the Furious Five displayed all people the avian's deflection. Crane sent one of the firework machines called "The Thousand Tons of Fire." A giant device in the dragon's mouth contained a volley of rocket fireworks. A pig servant sparked the string above its head, and Crane soared in the air, all citizens' eyes watching him. They witnessed the art of balance as Crane hovered in the wind, his ebony wings deflecting over a hundred shrieking infernos. Crane had made flawless attempts to protect himself from weapons and deflection of throwing knives and arrows, including fireworks. Po had never seen how Crane could eradicate all fireworks using his wings since the beginning of Oogway's choice of the Dragon Warrior.

Finally! That's so cool! Po's mouth was open, and his eye pupils grew wide.

As Crane continued showing the art balance of Kung Fu while remaining in the air when spears were launching toward the avian, Po cooked noodles near the audience. Pasta butter and hot chili flavors wafted across two galleries, thrilling the people as plenty were in line to eat. Even after the gifted years of cooking, the Dragon Warrior fed his customers too well. His goose father made him learn this expert level, which took annuals to fill the people's spirits as many craved more for their stomachs: One customer ordered noodles with a hot spice flavor among garlic sauce, and the dragon-warrior size dumplings — these food orders were for the Gentle Dragon. Po strolled to the stairs platform and urged the Emperor to try his noodles; one of the guards tasted the pasta first as an experienced defender who was willing to risk saving the Emperor from poisoning. As always protective from a buffalo guard, there were no signs of poison when the guard sparkled his eyes. A buffalo guard approved and let Po give Emperor his noodle food.

The Emperor recognized that the famous Dragon Warrior Noodles and Tofu Restaurant was exceptional for everyone to eat. He relished a sign of joy and chewed much of the secret ingredient Po created with Mr. Ping. The hot and juicy pasta flavor melted Huangdi's mouth, absorbing his tongue. He swallowed with peppercorn, butter, and chopped radishes river under his enormous throat. The Emperor's yellow eyes glimmered as his heart thumped louder. The sunlight from the sky beamed him down, and pupils extended, facing down to his plate, giving the next surprise the Gentle Dragon tasted again. Po watched the Emperor's astonishment with a grin, and yellow eyes dazzled while Crane finished his art of balance presentation.

Viper. The female serpent slithered toward a rain of arrows from gooses. Viper avoided shooting through the sides, sliding her longing body through bandit dummies that attacked her aggressively. She bashed her tail on each model attacker while hastily mounting them. A volley of fire arrows stormed from the gallery roofs, and Viper intercepted, maneuvering her lengthy body. Her agility and lethal strikes were part of her ideal; her father's echoes smoothed her inner mentality, which made her concentrate on difficulties.

Mantis. The insect student who became intelligent against all bandits made any enemy blind to see the bug anywhere. Mantis roamed into haste motions and delivered his attacks all over the battle. He bounded across the Arena, hitting thirty wooden crocodile dummies with moving arms, legs, and tails. The audience surveyed the streak of green trailing with zigzags, fast attacks battering the woods into fragments as the Emperor of China intrigued the bug. Mantis parried several throwing knives. "Fear the bug!" Mantis shouted, devastating dummies everywhere.

Monkey. The street-smart and humorous student of eagerness towered his long tail, bearing his whole body while meditating. He focused on every model's footsteps, waiting for his surprise. Palm strikes and kicks damaged wooden weapons. He snatched a Shaolin Bo stick, studying Yin Shou Gun with defensive flows as he could infiltrate enemies attempting to slay Monkey in a surrounding position. Being the trickiest player to fool those while defending himself, Monkey could handle and play the rules the enemies dared not to challenge him.

Tigress. The leader of Furious Five and Shifu's adopted daughter tested her might against the Iron Ox. The war machine dummy was grasping axes, in motions chopping and slicing; many students learned to avoid and intercept its weakness to defeat the giant. This mighty model was helpful to all masters when any bandit could mount in the machine, swaying sharp blows with its blades. Tigress glanced at axes that shoved side by side while executing her tiger stance. One shaft stabbed the ground, making Tigress ascend one of the giant shaft axes, embracing its arms. Tigress found a red circle mark on the Iron Ox's head once the other limb swayed in the air. She climbed onto the neck and jumped in the air with a spin, hammering a kick toward a temple. She continued repeating her strategy, her limbs bashing and deflecting several of the giant machine's arms.

Tigress maneuvered one from its left ax swinging on her; she bounded toward its neck and into the air, hammering her powerful sparrow kick. The Iron Ox tumbled backward, and crowds thundered their applause.

The Dragon Warrior. The People's Hero, persisting his panda stance amidst the Arena square, surveyed geese servants nock fire arrows on both gallery roofs. The next were crocodile models, which spun limbs and tails toward him. The final introduction was for Po to embark on one of the last teachings of Kung Fu, which the red panda teacher passed his experience to Po at the Dragon Grotto. A single drop of water flowed on the panda's arms, and angry ripples from his thoughts ebbed. Shifu's sagacious suggestion, followed by Grandmaster Oogway's, was for his students to concentrate on what they could search for clear answers.

One bow string sprang with its shrieking fire, and Po deflected the bolt with his palm. Six fire arrows launched at him, making him bowl around the Arena, advancing his limbs against wooden dummies. Each time while deflecting and attacking simultaneously, the Dragon Warrior propelled his quick fists and elbows on one crocodile and the next while dodging fire arrows; one bolt almost stormed toward his right ear as he deflected the second, swerving his foot on the model's tail, which—

Not my tenders!

Gladly, Po parried the spike ball while smirking, not wanting to experience the part that could suffer him briefly. His belly unleashed his chi, the stream of sparkling yellow shattering all models and crossbows over him, one by one. A few remaining attackers stormed on him. Beside Po, he wielded Oogway's yin-yang pole—the Spirit Staff. The tortoise offered the Dragon Warrior in the Spirit Realm a gift for being worthy, ending the Jade Slayer's madness of power-hungry. Po's staff remained swinging, countering enemies' axes and curved swords. Sometimes, Po was sparring with Monkey to grasp Bo sticks against deadly weapons in life-threatening situations.

Two crocodile models shook into fragments after Po revolved his jade staff on them, his chi blending with sharp slices. Puffs of gray smoke behind Po above heaved from its metal snout, the moving wheels underneath the new giant machine reeling on him. Iron Ox the Second merged with metal horns and sturdy wood. The boss wielded three massive axes, two spike iron spheres, and fireworks in its mouth.

Let's dance!

He sharpened his intellect, searching for the red target mark that might be the weakness below its upper chest. The panda launched his lethal attack from the Iron Ox the Second, deflecting other fast assaults as two spheres hammered Po as he evaded using a panda roll. Once the machine started to leisure for a short time, the red mark brightened, and Po propelled his front kicks in the air, hitting the target.

A spinning spike tail sphere swung to one side and the other when Po began to roll to where he could avoid sharp spikes, which the Iron Ox the Second burst its roaring snout. Distinguishing this latest machinery for masters to perform their dangerous tasks, the Dragon Warrior and Furious Five had previously trekked through lethal missions. They were born to be extreme. Po continued to force back from the Second Iron Ox, its heavy axes nearly dicing and hammering the panda. Two tail spheres rapidly swung, and Po battered with his strong sidekicks, rupturing both. Crowds within both galleries cried with intensity.

The fire arrows and rockets from the Iron Ox's mouth launched toward him, and Po deflected several. While spinning, he snatched one rocket and furled a projectile, wrecking Iron Ox's upper chest with critical damages. Only one enormous ax remained when the machine shrieked with tangling ropes and mechanical links, stumbling the Arena. The Dragon Warrior mounted on its arm, embracing a swing. The Iron was about to collapse while disorienting, and Po sprung himself into the highest air above the Jade Palace Arena.

"SKADOOSH!"

Po delivered a strong sparrow kick to the upper head of the Second Iron Ox, tumbling the giant machine to the ground. The whole Arena filled more shouts with entertainment, and the result of the final round's demonstration fulfilled the Gentle Dragon's approval. The presentation of Masters of Jade Palace's Kung Fu was completed, finally inspiring the Emperor and his people. Since the Gentle Dragon picked which monasteries were the best before the worst, he could choose only three martial arts classes to challenge in his Tournament — twenty-nine temples to go.

Shifu clarified his announcement to many about the true meaning of Kung Fu. In such a legacy of Oogway's life, he found harmony. Oogway once told young Shifu during years of peace living in Jade Palace that living beings formed tranquility, bravery, and kindness. The war was built on power and possible to conclude. Wung Chun has different qualities in martial arts, such as eternal springtime. Kung Fu, for work achievement or other words, consists of two parts: Above is the symbol of capacity, and lower is prevention.

These results exist in many martial arts that can deliver a force of mindfulness and unflusteredness. The Masters of Jade Palace assembled beside their red panda teacher, bowing together before the Emperor. The Gentle Dragon praised them all, leading citizens of the Valley of Peace to thrill once more.

Awesome. Oogway grinned happily at the Spirit Realm's peach tree during meditation.

The ocean-green peacock in cobalt robes beamed his little grin. "Now the Gentle Dragon has chi knowledge before the people, you, and pandas for generations. The Dragon Warrior's father and his people never abandon their ancestors' gift."

"Yes. . . More will go on when the Gentle Dragon meets young disciples, Lord Feng," Oogway broke his smile. The spirit warriors contemplated the vibration of cheers under the gold ripples, the people applauding their hands at the Masters of Jade Palace, giving them to bow and raise their limbs. The wave of yellow on the Arena fluttered Guilin Mountains onward to the farthest terrain and near the Valley of Peace's neighborhood village.

Chapter Text

Episode Two: Pure Awesomeness (6 - 17)

Chapter VII

Noodles and Dumplings

Po strolled down the stairway from Jade Palace. This long day behind the Kung Fu demonstration during the Emperor's arrival was remarkable for the panda. The Five were left as they all rested within the Student Barrack after their presentations, which pleased the Emperor well. The panda gazed at all the children, who giggled while they sprinted through pathways nearby, and villagers danced to each other. The lanterns spread across the trails, seeking how stunning this village was better than everywhere else in China as the Dragon Warrior reminisced of the panda village and countless festivals.

Po spotted the pandiva leader in rose pink robes with a blue sash. She covered half her face with her fan, unveiling her ocean eyes. His father, Li Shan, introduced him to her, the number one ribbon dancer in the world who won her titles across the boundaries. Brought with more than fifteen pandivas to participate with Mei Mei for the past few years, she obtained her clothing store with a yin-yang brand of their clan title. Her store was two blocks ahead of the Valley of Peace beside the Dragon Warrior Noodles and Tofu. Mei Mei flirted with Po, snatching his belly with her ribbon. She greeted them as their eyes met closer to their noses and touched each other. 

"Hi, Po."

"Oh, hi!" Po awkwardly greeted her. "How are you been doing, Mei Mei?"

"Lovely, honey," Mei Mei attracted to him. "I saw you and the Five at the Arena earlier with my Pandiva sisters. That was marvelous, Po! You have achieved your goals in Kung Fu skills for the Emperor."

"I appreciate," Po agreed to her imposing taste. The Dragon Warrior sighed. "It's been a long day for me."

"I believe you all are," Mei Mei stroked Po's paw; they sauntered near the stream bridge. "How's Tigress?"

"She's been doing great. Tigress is always training herself, and she does every day. That's just part of her goals."

"Is she coming?" asked Mei Mei.

"Not sure," he couldn't reply about Tigress instead. He only noticed that the female tiger remained at home. Their heads turned to the Jade Palace. "She's with Master Shifu and the others at Jade Palace by now."

When the two reached the bridge, one of her Pandiva sisters called Mei Mei. "See you soon, love," Mei Mei said, kissing Po on the cheek and leading her to her Pandiva apartment.

Po continued strolling across the river bridge when the colossal panda hugged villagers of a pig and three geese. Big Fun stood by him after releasing four people. "Let me give you some of that!" The fat panda's hug grasped Po, and Dragon Warrior felt thousands of crunches on his back to the neck from Big Fun. The giant bear always embraced everyone for love and being a friend. And Po admitted to that kind of him and needed more crunches from his back.

Po wandered through the streaming bridge after he greeted Big Fun. The panda recalled from his mind as Po approached a fully covered crater beside his adoptive father's restaurant in the upper left corner. He remembered a former Jade Palace student, a snow leopard who craved a Dragon Scroll to become a Dragon Warrior. Still, the title was refused to him because Master Oogway foresaw his heart as evil and the power of the darkness within him.

There is no secret ingredient. Po had tried to convince Tai Lung that the scroll was always blank, appearing as the reflection himself, including Po at first.

Po arrived near his father's restaurant near the entrance as Mei Mei reminded Dragon Warrior that two of his fathers had returned. The boxes of radishes and fruits were placed through tables and delivered from both noodle folks themselves after a return. Po caught sight of a radish icon on the wooden box that reminded him of his childhood. He met the goose chef who adopted the panda twenty four ago. 

Two fathers were a sign of affection parenthood to encourage their son. A family to these unique creatures was always in their hearts. Po understood how deeply Mr. Ping was now closer to his father, Li Shan.

When they saw their son entering the front entrance, his dads placed their radishes in boxes. "Hey, Dads!" the Dragon Warrior waved his flabby limb at Li Shan and Mr. Ping.

"Hey, son!" Both fathers greeted him back.

"How's the training been going?" Li Shan asked his son, hugging Po.

"Going so well," Po grinned, embracing Li and Mr. Ping. "The Emperor is here, and the Five and I entertained him well!"

"Really?" Mr. Ping and Li Shan both asked their son, surprisingly.

"Oh yeah!" Po beamed, nodding. "You guys should have seen him entertained! We demonstrated Kung Fu to him earlier, and everyone showed up around daylight!"

"I'm glad the Emperor loves your Kung Fu style." Li Shan approved.

"Did you give him your noodles, son?" Mr. Ping asked his adoptive son dearly, pointing at the Dragon Warrior.

"Of course I did, Dad!" Po beamed. "He's very hooked on my noodles!"

"I'm so proud of you, son!" the goose patted his son's moving belly. "The Emperor loves your noodles but hasn't tried my noodles."

"We'll see," Li Shan believed, peering his left eye at Mr. Ping. The elder panda cleared his throat as if scanning his son's tired eyes and sweat around his fur. "So, your friends are coming? Are they hungry?"

"No," Po wobbled his head, perceiving the Furious Five in a long day of a hard workout and demonstrations. "They're taking a huge break after a long day of training. I guess I'm ready to eat anyway."

"Great!" When strolling near the front door, Mr. Ping smiled, patting his son's belly again. "Let me cook noodles for you!"

"What? No way! I'll cook," Po jokingly refused.

"No, it is my turn to cook."

"Then let us cook together," Li Shan reasoned them both desirably.

All three gathered food supplies inside the restaurant. They all placed each ingredient on cooking noodles, tofu, and dumplings. They picked bags of pasta and boiled water in a large bowl pan. Chopping carrots, chopping garlic, special seasonings, and sometimes a chili powder flavor for any daring, or most of these villagers used to burn their mouths before. For nearly a half-hour or more, the noodles finished cooking.

Po, Li Shan, and Mr. Ping brought their bowls to their dining table and sat beside each other. Po adored his father's dumplings and had been dying of eating them. He could fill many dumplings in his mouth; however, he could like Li Shan's world record of a hundred and three dumplings. Perhaps someday, in Po's consideration, he would challenge his panda dad.

At the restaurant's archway, the Ox peered at the pandas and the goose sitting on a table, eating as they communed. His ruby eyes read the title above the entrance sign, "Dragon Warrior Noodles and Tofu." The bovine used to eat different noodles and grains of rice in Gongmen City. He regarded trying something new for him to eat at everyone's favorite restaurant of all time. Li Shan and Mr. Ping widened their views at him.

"Oh, we got a new customer," Po's biological father grinned.

Po looked back, and Storming Ox strolled into the entrance. "Master Ox!" Po rose after waving.

"Po!" Master Ox praised. He revolved his colossal head over the restaurant as if hundreds of Dragon Warrior posters were mounted on both walls and orange lanterns hung on black strings across the Noodle Restaurant above. "What a marvelous restaurant you have there, kid."

"This restaurant is so valuable to this village, Master," Po pointed to every painting of Dragon Warrior and Chinese aesthetic design. "And here. Master Oxwould . I like to introduce you to both of my fathers."

Po guided Ox, showing both of his dads. "This is Mr. Ping," the panda named his adoptive father goose. "My goose father owned Noodle Restaurant and raised me twenty four ago." Po showed the bovine to his panda dad beside Mr. Ping. "And this is my real dad right here, who we had separated long lost since I was around one or two years old back to my old village, and he found me four years ago. These are both dads."

"It's such a great honor to meet you both." Storming Ox respectfully shook their hands. "Your son is a worthy warrior to all Kung Fu. Po saved Gongmen City from Lord Shen's incursion."

Mr. Ping raised his long neck and inspected the bovine, the grandmaster of Gongmen City. "What an enormous being! My son Po once said to me about you after Gongmen City."

"One of the three legendary street fighters you supported Oogway to cease Wu Sisters from building a war," Li Shan added, grasping his large brown mug of green tea. "You, Master Rhino, and Master Croc have an incredible story."

"So that had been for decades," Master Ox chuckled.

Mr. Ping clasped his wings. "My son mentioned to one who was a fan of his, murdered by the bird using this weapon. Li Shan and I deeply share our sympathies with you, Master Ox. I am sure you and Master Thundering Rhino were dear friends."

"Rhino was a great fellow; I had known him for years," the Ox clarified to all three.

Master Ox's stomach groaned, letting Po flicker his own ears after gaping. "Looks like Master Ox is super hungry!" Po palmed the old bovine's back of his long gray robe. "Have you been eaten, Master?"

Storming Ox shook his head, palming his big belly. "I haven't been eaten since broad daylight."

"Then join us!" Po supplicated to Master Ox. "My dad's noodles are super delicious!"

Ox apprehended why Po requested, needing for the bovine him to eat something for dinner instead. His belly continued to growl little by little, allowing Storming Ox a second thought. He sat with the two pandas as the goose chef went into his kitchen and cooked noodles for his new customer — an honorable customer of the Dragon Warrior. Not long after, Mr. Ping gave Master Ox a large bowl filled with pasta, vegetables, and dumplings on the side. Blends of vegetable soup wafted in the bovine's ink muzzle and over the restaurant, his stomach suppressing from groaning. Mr. Ping desired everyone's joy with their noodles with many positive critics.

Storming Ox caught a large portion of noodles and chopped radishes with his chopsticks and devoured them in his mouth. Each chew was swimmingly engulfed with spicy peppercorn flavor, swelling his crimson eyes to two yellow stars. By the Gods! Mr. Ping's noodles are—how do I describe it? Marvelous!

Storming Ox tasted a pasta noodle, and his mind flashed with surprise, widening his red eyes. The taste of delicious pasta from noodles — hot and fresh — flowed in his stomach, the spicy flavor melting in his mouth while chewing.

Storming Ox ate his noodles, smirking. Yes! He loves my dad's food! Po wished to express, but the food in the bovine mouth swelled both cheeks with three Dragon Warrior size dumplings and voluminous pasta.

"What's the story about the Tournament, Po?" Li Shan inquired Po before his son swallowed his dumplings, drinking his green tea.

"It's the message from the Emperor that arrived yesterday. He wrote about his interests in all thirty temples around China. Next month, Huangdi will choose any of the top three classes to challenge in the Tournament."

"That sounds amazing," Li Shan astounded, nodding at his son while eating a dumpling.

Watching his son eat noodle dumplings, Mr. Ping wondered. "Which classes will be on a top-three list, son?"

"Not quite sure yet. I am curious to see the Emperor choose any of the top three who are the best and only the active ones, like me and the Furious Five."

Li Shan buzzed his throat. "At least he envisions in any martial arts like Kung Fu."

"And there's one where I do not know," Po added, moving his noodle bowl to the left. "Shifu brought some 'ancient' dummy that this concept has been around for a long time."

The elder panda wielded his chopsticks as he grabbed the pasta before guzzling it. "Like what, son?"

"You tell your dads all about your feelings," Mr. Ping worried, patting the panda's shoulder softly. "What is it, Po?"

"Shifu said that some ancient art is one of the greatest concepts that can use some grappling within close-range combat. Some like using attack and defense," Po explicated when the giant bovine sipped his tea, having Storming Ox flicker his short floppy ears. "He's described that name in which Shifu used some form at an early age."

Storming Ox cleansed his mouth with white napkins. "What's the name of the concept?" Storming Ox inquired Po with curiosity.

"I think it's called. . ." Po reviewed carefully. He examined Shifu's thoughts about the strange dummy inside the Training Hall. "I think…" Po nearly forgot, but blowing his mind after his revelation like a spark ignited his mind. "Oh, now I got it! It's called 'Wing Chun.'"

"Wing Chun?" Mr. Ping repeated these words surprisingly.

"I remember the awesome concept before," Li Shan recalled, believing his rumor to be legit, while his jade eyes rested on his son. "Your great-great-uncle once told my father about the incredible martial arts skill. Your great-great-uncle used to be the greatest grandmaster of Wing Chun before. I thought Wing Chun martial arts classes were long gone."

"There is only one class I was mentioned," Storming Ox noticed when guzzling. He clarified all three around the table as all three heads revolved around him. "Before Master Oogway went to the Jade Palace long ago, he used to have one of his excellent students — a student-master of Wing Chun. I met her rarely once before, whenever Rhino, Croc, and I decided to return to Gongmen City to take full charge of the Masters' Council after Shen's parents passed away. After training my son for three years after Gongmen, he wanted to be more confident as my life was crumbled after Rhino's death."

Po, Li, and Mr. Ping overheard Ox's explanation. Ox's ending verse caught the Dragon Warrior's attention about Storming Ox's son as he remembered his conversation at the Jade Palace Arena. "What happened to him?" Po was the first to question him with care.

The Dragon Warrior sensed the old bovine's hesitation thoughts as Master Storming Ox would not wish to speak. The giant felt his upper chest pushing his throat. "My years of pain went through the unfortunate habit I should not rage my son's failure," Storming Ox began. "My son knew the anger, and he could not become patient as I used to. After three years of Kung Fu training, filled with illness and loss, I was disappointed because of my friend's death and anger issues."

Po, Li, and Mr. Ping attended to Ox's struggling life. The Dragon Warrior grasped his fingers together on the table. "On a month after," the Ox added. "Croc and I handled a threat that stormed after my son in Gongmen. Some bandits were once my son's bullies from his school. Croc and I found my boy, who stormed many packs of nemesis. In solo fighting, my son defeated hundreds of bandits without even a blink of distraction, and he showed them no mercy.

"I ceased my son's rage after the battle was over. Within a few days, my son wanted to venture somewhere best—to discover what harmony means to him. He decided not to be part of my ferocity instead."

Storming Ox ended his elucidation. Po, Li, and Mr. Ping wished to know about the bovine's son that happened to Ox's son. The Ox massaged his neck.

"I suppose I should explain to you three about my son. One of my former guards from Gongmen discovered one monastery where a student-master trained Wing Chun," the bovine believed. "Somewhere near the half town and half village called 'The Prosper Valley' is where my son trekked to the west alone. Before my son left, I yearned for him to be safe and love him as always. He's a great kid."

"I'm sorry, Master," Po apologized heartily. "You're not the only one who was furious. When I was in the Barrack Factory to face Shen, I wanted his answers about my parents, noticing how my emotions boiled. Later on, after months of Gongmen, I found my real dad, who guided me to the Secret Panda village. He nearly lost everything, but not even close. Kung Fu chose me as I earned the gift after seeing the Furious Five beat Boar; I have been a fan of them ever since. Shifu taught me what presents a life of tranquility, including inner peace, which guided me to flow memories I barely forgot about my childhood life. I restored my past to see my parents in the old village where I was born.

"Your son did see that you, as part of yourself, got angered; that doesn't mean he lost interest in Kung Fu. Whatever he has found a class of Wing Chun, he could see calmness, greatness, and prosperity to all he can control his anger instead. He desires supplements and discipline instead. His teacher, like you, taught him about inner peace. Confidence is his role."

Storming Ox apprehended the Dragon Warrior's clarification, discerning how necessary emotions interfered with education and fighting. Martial arts bear unique skills at different levels. Students must grasp their patience on challenging tasks — the years of struggle to Storming Ox kept him incapable of reflecting on the loss of his dear companion and the city under siege by the peacock lord's wolf army.

"The Prosper Valley, huh?" the goose was inquisitive, stroking his beak's jaw while pointing west. "That village is not that far enough. It is our Valley's neighborhood, townsfolk, I remember. My dear friend, who I used to know, had once traveled there. He mentioned some of his friends who met a striped feline master before."

Po spat his green tea to the floor accidentally, coughing. A stripped feline master? Po stunned. The note that a panda remembered from Training Hall in Jade Palace that Shifu's Sister-In-Arm came from Tiger Village.

"Whoa, son. You're okay?"

Po cleared his throat after Li Shan gave hard pats behind his son's back. "A tiger master is over there, Dad?"

"I am certain, son," Mr. Ping confirmed.

Now, Tigress is no longer the only tiger left. Po thought. 

"Since your friend Tigress is no longer alone, son," the goose determined, "many tigers could be anywhere. Lurking somewhere, as your dad here said about the secret panda village?" He pointed his feather at the old panda, making Li Shan rotate his eyes out of glance.

"Oh, boy."

"Dads!" Po called them two. "I'm sure there is a village where they are repopulating again."

"Okay," both dads agreed to their son's ponder.

For over many discussions about a half-hour, they conversed about the Noodle Restaurant's inception — a pig who formerly owned a noodle shop before awarding his dear companion to Mr. Ping's grandfather. Storming Ox was thrilled about Mr. Ping's lifetime of being a chef's legacy of cooking noodles. The company desired everyone's favorite noodles that could not break through a family tree of noodles by Mr. Ping's bloodline of the goose family.

Master Ox finished devouring a large portion of his pasta noodles, swallowing the rest by making every last bit of flavor enter his stomach. He complimented Mr. Ping's secret ingredient that a possible food was much tasteful of such blends. As the large bovine filled the goose's latest critique, he strolled through the archway with the Dragon Warrior when Li Shan and Mr. Ping started cleaning one table. "Po," Master Ox patted Po's shoulder. "I would like to thank you for eating your father's noodles. Give Mr. Ping his tips for me. He deserves these yuans."

Ox handed the Dragon Warrior twenty-one yuans—ten silver and eleven gold coins.

"Cool!" Po gasped, tapping his feet. "My dad's gonna love your tips, Master!"

"Mr. Ping's a good goose, kid," Master Ox grinned. "You are fortunate to live with him, including your father, as always."

Po embraced the Giant Ox as the bovine didn't see him coming. The giant hugged him back, chuckling. "Thank you so much!" Po appreciated.

You are welcome, Dragon Warrior. Ox grinned.

"Anyway, you're going back to the Emperor, right?" Po asked.

"Of course," the bovine nodded, and both peered at the streets filled with hundreds of villagers strolling to their homes and apartments across the roads and alleyways. "By tomorrow morning, I'll be traveling to the west and around China until all twenty-nine classes. Remind Emperor Huangdi about my son's last whereabouts in the Prosper Valley."

"Alright, Master Ox," the panda shook Ox's right hoof with manners. "It's been a pleasure to meet you again. Good luck, and I hope you'll find your son."

"Thank you, Po," Ox admired the panda, blinking his right eye. "And I hope you'll be in a Tournament someday."

Po watched the Ox master stroll on a complex pathway, returning to his buffalo colleagues as they followed the Emperor. A dark blue goose soaring from the northwest landed ahead of the Dragon Warrior. Zeng handed a lime scroll to Po, informing him about an old companion of Jade Palace from the Kung Fu club who wrote this letter. The panda opened the script and read.

To one of my best friends from Jade Palace, Po

I know we have not been around for such a long time; Lian and I miss you so much more, and the rest of my Kung Fu club members are very likely to meet you sooner one day. By tomorrow, once I arrive at the Jade Palace or in the Valley of Peace, you will not believe to see me in a better shape for myself to be a lot tougher!

I once heard about the Emperor's interests in martial arts last time. And one of my clubs, spreading all over China, is on a list of thirty classes. And I wonder by which of the three categories will be above to accept this challenge. And without a doubt, my wild guess is you and the Furious Five will be number one! I'm still determining which of the two will come forth to stand and face a challenge to the Tournament. I will be very much to face you and the Furious Five for a rematch—we'll see!

It has been a long time, buddy. We want to talk. I have been taking a long trek around China with Lian. We made various club members of the Kung Fu class and two of my children I raised. I'll see you later, Po.

From Kung Fu Club Founder

Peng

"I'm so proud to hear from you, Peng!" Po beamed, punching the air. "I'll be waiting for you at my dad's noodle shop if possible. Time to get back to Jade Pala—!"

As he turned with his limbs heaving intense achievement, an orange-striped creature emerged out of nowhere ahead of Po. He trembled his body after twitching. "Oh, hey, Tigress! I was wondering about you," Po addressed her, not noticing she was behind Po every time. He focused on a goose aside from him. "Anyway, Zeng, go ahead to Jade Palace, and I'll write a letter to Peng later."

Zeng soared away above the Valley before Tigress started. "Master Storming Ox joined your side with Mr. Ping and your father today."

"I know, right?! Master Ox loves my dad's noodles, and the Emperor loves mine! Ox and my dads spoke ourselves, and he has a son we have not noticed for years!"

"Hmm. I overheard," Tigress grinned.

Oh! His mouth went shrunk open. "How do you know?" Po asked Tigress.

"I walked along with Mei Mei after I came from the stairs," Tigress informed Po. "Then we passed with that panda who hugged thousands of villagers every day and walked across the blocks of Valley. Mei Mei and I have been talking for minutes, and we heard Master Storming Ox's story about his son, his anger issues, everything."

"You really are sneaky, Tigress," Po suspected the feline.

Tigress chuckled with a half-grin. "I think not unless I hunt my meal."

Po burst his laugh. "You're not serious, right?"

"No," she jested.

The panda beckoned his relieving sigh after chuckling. "Oh, Tigress. I praised Master Ox for coming here. Man, I wish I could help his son right now," he craved. The Dragon Warrior thrilled several passions on encouraging those in need of guidance, which direction on good advice he was born in. Aside from encouragement after sensing Tigress's soft hums, the panda fathomed her expression; reading the feline well made Po regard. Her amber eyes drifted onward to her feet before Po's.

"Are you alright, Tigress?" You wanna talk?" Po asked her with care.

"Let's take a walk," the feline pleased him.

The two warriors ambled on the river bridge; the water ripples on the surface webbed, the way you motioned your palm on a cooling surface. They were only on the platform as one pondered her panda friend's acquaintance. "What does Mr. Ping know about the village? The Prosper Valley."

Po lay his flabby arm on the bridge's deck while glimpsing at the water that mirrored the velvet navy blue heaven with blinding stars. "Dad regarded that an old friend of his used to live there mentioned some of his friends that they met. . . I don't know that you may be surprised."

"Surprise me," she flattened her tone with curiosity.

"They found a tiger master, Tigress."

Her expression loosened her glance, unable to close her lips halfway, as Po recognized his feline companion's posture. Tigress faced the mirror's surface and the current's stream, loading countless questions that tapped her once more.

"Is he right?"

"Dad confirms," Po said. "Tigress, if I remember, you and Grandmaster Shifu have been wondering where your family is discovered. And maybe a tiger master can be related to you. You're not alone anymore!" his fist wobbled, tapping his feet.

Tigress nodded. "After all this time, I wondered if there were any tigers in China out there. I wanted to reveal my parents and learn the truth about them and where they had gone. What I only remember is that I was at Bao Gu Orphanage, Po. I had always expected to see someone who could come — someone who looked like me. They were never coming back."

The Masters of Jade Palace noted Tigress's beginning. Bao Gu Orphanage was her brief priority to remain in hospitality under a sheep caretaker's care. Those with nurses manifested the girl as something exquisite and extreme. What meant to them was that they were not like peasants as the feline was capable. Each orphan reminisced about the showering storm that hid many under blankets, a sudden growl creeping in structures farther and closer to their rooms. Only one of their own appeared innocent, and neither children nor caretakers reached her. Day by day, caretakers did observe issues of having the girl reside, frightening to survey her fierce teeth and claws that could maul on anywhere. Haunting yells followed in Tigress's head.

She's a monster! Mohhonster!

One visitor came to a nurse who investigated a caretaker's disturbing news, which made the nurse fear. By ceasing to spread apprehension, the visitor maintained his appointments with the girl, allowing her to do what he demonstrated the essence of discipline. By control, the girl adjusted her strength while grabbing rolls of dominos, her limbs swimming with Tai Chi flows. After practicing each day, her intensity adapting from the uncontrollable intellect changed everything to Tigress.

The orphans knew her and became friendly as Tigress learned to adapt her behavior and strength. Her good memory displayed dark and bright dominoes; Tigress mastered her precision agility, shaping the whole into a yin-yang icon.

After contemplating Tigress's inception, which the Five and Dragon Warrior knew her tale enough, Po pondered one who could clarify to her. The day Shifu received a Wing Chun model gift with a pardon letter. "I know someone who will fill your answers, Tigress," he patted the striped feline's back, letting Tigress turn her amber eyes at him. "Let's go see Shifu."

Chapter Text

Episode Two: Pure Awesomeness ( 6 - 17 )

Chapter VIII

Wood and Fire

The Prosper Valley, Guangxi — SONG DYNASTY

Nightfall of dark ocean prevailed in the sky — the Prosper Valley lightened candles in many cultural houses and apartments. Most of the villagers on a prosperous encouraged themselves to take a walk at night, spend time with their families and friends at home, or go saunter. The people comforted their preference for this valley; their home was where their hearts were.

The Nine had been training long enough at Shui Palace's courtyard throughout the day. Most had heard of Emperor Huangdi's arrival at Jade Palace earlier. The Nine determined the Emperor's presence, uncertain when the water buffalo would come in to visit soon. Eight of the Nine discussed in the dining room, guzzling their dumplings, white rice with soy flavor, and drinking teas. Across the courtyard outside, Lao joined Ming near the stream as the peacock desired to concentrate on the vision that still disturbed him. Instead of worrying, Ming and Lao inhaled their senses in meditation, thriving peaceful songs of soft ripples.

Dressing in a gray robe with blue linings on the neck and edge of sleeves, the Nine's Leader swallowed the soy rice, guzzling his wooden mug of mint tea that freshened his throat. "So far, no troubles have yet to come," the tiger met most of the Nine's eyes around the circular dining table. "And we deserve more training at my grandmother's courtyard."

In a long, navy robe, the yak pirate sipped the rice with his spoon beside the Ox and Crocodile in front of Xing. "You fought well during sword training today, matey," the Nine's Pirate grasped his large mug before drinking. "Shiver me timbers, your brother Lao practiced so hard. He attacked many precision hits with his daggers. Savvy?"

"And you did well on our Chi Sao sparring, Shou," Xing delighted Shou.

Chi Sao was a challenging engagement involving arms that attached and formed a circle. One arm must move to the opposite, and the other must control movement simultaneously. "Your punches were quite rough. I've sensed your tense arms, and even you are getting used to it," Xing described. "You have hoofs with three fingers each, and your blocks are good. I recommend doing five forms and practicing a large freestanding dummy to enhance Chi Sao blocks."

"Agreed," Shou concurred while nodding to the leader, sipping a hot tea in his throat. The yak made a deep sigh.

"This day appears to be longer than I expected to," Niu considered while eating his rice. He glanced at a gorilla beside him. "Bao, what have you been doing with Fǎnshè after the practice?"

"Bao and I were watching Lao's mother today," the cobra said. One student took turns each week to aid Lao's mother at home above a hillside woods similar to Jade Palace. "Lady Xia adored my gratitude when I continued listening to her conversation, which was thrilling from her short tale. She saw a gorilla who looked like Bao since her earliest days when she apprised me before leaving. She called him a crazy grandpa, and we slept with her like we were in heaven."

The gorilla clasped his hands. "Bao, Xia. Bao, pillow. Bao, tubby. Bao. . ." the gorilla billowed his cheeks, turning cherry. "Date. HA!" The gorilla burst his laughing breath across the dining room. The eight of Nine perceived a new witticism; a few giggled and almost chuckled as all grabbed their plates. Bao flattened his giant palm to the table, wobbling the sculptures, dishes, and cups like the Earth rumbled.

"Lao's gonna kill you if he finds out, Bao. By the Gods!" Xing deadened his guffaw, deliberating as he returned his rice plate. "At least my brother cannot handle your humorous jokes after all if he is in here."

"Aye!" Shou accepted, guzzling rice on his large plate using chopsticks.

"As soon as we can make plans when Emperor Huangdi arrives soon," the crocodile pondered next to the cobra and the gorilla, asking Xing, "Who will come with him, and what is our demonstration to surprise him?"

"His group of followers maybe, Zhao," the tiger examined carefully. "If that's the case, if the Emperor of China travels along to them, then we must introduce ourselves to the Gentle Dragon. As I recall our demonstration method, we'll go forth to each of us about lowest to the highest rank."

"And now I must be first, right?" Shou asked the leader.

"Aye," Xing nodded. "I hope the Emperor doesn't see you as a pirate, but don't you worry, Shou. Nana will convince the Gentle Dragon that you have been living here for two years; you have always been a loyal student in Nana's eyes and mine. Savvy?"

"Savvy."

"Have you two been thinking about your brother's vision?" the bovine in his gray robe with black linings inquired. Niu and the rest of the Nine had logical confusion when contemplating their avian brother's issue. "We don't know about his disturbance that keeps bugging him for a reason."

"Lao is closely inspecting his concern for that matter, Niu," Xing clarified, seeking Lao and his grandmother beside a stream. "He might have been hurtful inside of him, and he couldn't show his feelings outside."

The rabbit bounded on the table, and plates vibrated at once. "Has Lao been hurt, sweetie?" Hong drew her sai daggers, widening her eyes with dark lids around. "Nobody ever starts crossing my boyfriend again. If anyone starts bullying him, they must go through me first!"

Xing chuckled at Hong. "Such bravery. I can see you two are close right now, Hong."

"How close?" Hong asked.

"You and Lao," the tiger pointed her and Lao outside.

Hong turned her head outside, swirling her eyes, her heart pulsing forward. Her eyes began wobbling apart as if the rabbit sensed the peacock's breath. She thought of herself collapsing her long ears and spooning the peafowl within the bedroom, covering and humbling in their sleep.

Hong cracked her gasp. "Wait, I—"

"You both are fine," Xing calmed Hong. "We understand this friendship. Lao is the only one in China who desires someone unique; all he does is seem very confident, like you. You both deserve a triumph."

"Then I'll flirt with my peacock to the end, honey," Hong flirted while beaming to many blue eyes of the Nine. "He's mine."

"And let me ask you two simple questions, Hong," Xing said, pointing his index digit at the bunny. "Just to be clear, we, including you, will keep our words confidential."

"Go on."

Xing drew his head close. "You think Lao is your true love, Hong?" he asked.

"Yes."

"You would marry my brother, can you?"

And Hong had done the answers. The Nine overheard their lovely sister, who Hong considered marriage to Lao. Xing imagined them dressed in red robes, striding across the Fighting Square that poured with blossoms and white snow from the gray horizon. Young Ox Niu beside them carried a pea-bun cub with black beaks and long bunny ears. Further on, contemplating their imagination made the tiger chortle, picturing kids that glimpsed the grasp of feathers with furs as both stood in front of themselves with the Marriage Swore phrase.

The Nine's Leader laughed hysterically, and the Nine roared their giggles, considering both Lao and Hong's future raising their children. Lao would not have kids between their blended fur and feathers; either half might get half lips and halfbeaks. Lao and Ming listened to the Nine's boisterous guffaws, but neither realized the meaning of humorous jesters. Auh, children. Ming continued meditating with Lao further on without waking.

"You are out of your mind, Hong!" Xing beamed while laughing. "My brother should have heard what you said!"

"At least that's such adorable," Fǎnshè chuckled next to Zhao and Lotus the Wolf.

"Aye," Shou giggled. "It has."

Just then, the Nine calmed their hysterical cries as most of them went to their chambers after their belief discerned both Lao and Hong's future of feather-fur children. Most could not handle their amusements, despite the insanity from their bunny companion that she schemed to vow marriage with the peacock. A jester, but a good one, she tried. Hong had been with Xing, Lao, and Lotus for most of her years; with her experience of remedies, even her ears were the gift of a better listener, the bunny had her type of compassion toward the Nine.

Chen Xing, Hong, Niu, and Lotus decided to stay in a dining room regarding their peacock brother to unveil whenever Lao and Ming finished their meditation. At that moment, Lotus, in her nightgown, asked. "Has Lao been okay, Xing?"

"Well, I can simplify the meaning of our brother being humbled secretly for the last six months," the tiger replied. Xing caressed his finished mug above the edges with his digit. "He might have foreseen something he entirely forgets. Likewise, his illusions are somewhat compared to Nana's and my origin, which we both experienced."

"And Lao?" Lotus pointed the peacock beside the Nine's Master. "His meditation continuously lets our brother investigate some vision."

"He's getting there," Xing responded to Lotus. "Lao needs more time with Nana until he's done meditating."

The young Ox leaned his back straight and clasped his hoofs on the dining table, his heterochromia eyes of crimson and cobalt glittering. "Does his mother know about her son, Xing?"

Xing shook his head, not knowing the queen's awareness of her son's struggle. "Mom hasn't noticed about her son," Xing clarified to all three in front. "I'll keep in mind that this week is Bao's turn; Lotus and I should talk to her after his shift."

"How bad is it?" Lotus drooped her midnight ears. "Some… forest and wolf growl?"

Xing knew the Nine overheard last night's conversation as if the peacock had visioned either nightmare issues or memories he recalled before. The Nine's Leader glanced at the Fighting Square near the creak where his grandmother and brother perched on the grass. "That's what I'm worried about," Xing said. The tiger wondered about his brother's grave flashback that continued haunting the peacock, discerning that he had felt his nightmare before. The Nine's Leader apprehended how terrible his memory went when he saw his dead parents killed on fire by a monster, and Ming saved her grandson from evil within the shadows. Lao and Xing had different nightmare flashbacks but the same principles of suffering.

Breathing in and out, as far as the Nine's Brilliance meditated, a flinch made him twitch his head, humming with a soft grunt. The black curved his neck, and visions scratched his feathers. Ruptures of wood had drawn him in the illusion.

Cracks of wood inside a large manor shattered slowly. The young peachick trembled under the counter where he crouched near the room of glass pots and minerals within bowls. The peahen mother in pink robes screamed and snatched her son from the lab after the inferno spread like a river cascading from the ceiling. Lao and his mother saw their neighbors inside the living room. Their neighbors were a swan family, frightened by unfamiliar shouts and shrill fires that stormed to Lao's old home — Summit Village. Swans demanded themselves about the attack and what had caused it by whom. Young Lao could not catch their frightening words. Instead, he saw a small, allured swan tightening her wings around her black swan mother, touching their necks.

Lady Xia's husband yelled from behind, ordering her to depart together. Lao was confused about the meaning of his parents quarreling at each other's throats. The flash collapsed the wooden ceiling and made a spouse scream. Xia dashed out on a large corridor that was scorching to flames. She bore her son tightly, racing across the large hallway which cabinets perched on before, and a swan family followed them. Lao mumbled his cry, gazing at this poor swan being guided by her parent. Flames above these swans collapsed and blocked their way.

Xia shattered through the collapsing window and stormed out of the mansion, sprinting into the dark woods. In terror, birds wailed amidst the raging snow, blended with embers among the Summit Village.

Why were they running from their spouse? Where was his father?

Who was the husband of her mother?

And who was that swan Lao never noticed a marvelous creature with her parents?

Blizzards erupted across these ridgy woods, touching their silks and feathers. Lao leaned on his mother's cheek forward. A silhouette wolf spawned beside the gap logs in front, growling at them, and Lao turned away with a brilliant flash.

The Nine's Master glimpsed her gifted student flinch his body and neck. "Lao?" Ming called her peacock student. Was that a nightmare or a memory? She could not ask him to regard his mysterious vision. Panting heavily, Lao rose and turned away from the quiet waters, clenching his feathers as his glaring eyes narrowed. His talon clouted a crocodile dummy across the Fighting Square. The Nine chronicled the broken model and sprung from their bedrooms and the dining room.

Chen Xing was the one made through the Quarter's door and saw his peacock brother growl his throat and ramble toward the temple's mahogany door. "Brother?" Xing widened his stone eyes. Lao kicked the entrance as eight of the Nine watched him leave. Ming gestured her paw toward her students to a halt, ordering them to stay once she followed the peacock, and Lao stopped on the road of the Prosper Valley.

Plenty of villagers sauntered their paths on both sides, staring at the peacock, murmuring their voices. What was going on? Why is Lao mad? Is he alright?

While standing still, suppressing hot boils within his veins, the peacock relieved his breath slowly and steadily once he closed his azure eyes. The Nine in front of the gate peeked at their brother while Ming approached behind the young albino close enough. Chen Xing, Lotus, and Hong ascended on the brick wall of the roof tile. Niu, Shou, and Zhao stood close to the door, and both Bao and Fǎnshè reached the right wall beside the door.

"Lao?" his teacher called him dearly, strolling behind the peacock. To Lao's thought, the old voice pacified his feelings and firmly settled his anger. "Are you alright?" Ming asked, her paws palming on Lao's shoulders.

The peacock shut his eyes as he leaned his head, facing the dirt. "Never been better, Master Ming," Lao crooned in depression.

"What happened, my dear? You saw something disturbing while we made inner peace. Is there something you need to tell me, son?"

Lao knew he desired to have support from the Nine, including his Master. For six months, he endured, surveying brief illusions, which had been calling to him, each by nightfall during his sleep. The Nine's Brilliance never wanted to express to any of his brothers and two sisters that Lao faced a muddle. He began to admit as he raised his head.

"I must speak to you about my struggle, Master Ming," Lao illuminated to Ming scarcely. "You and the Nine will not understand what I saw during sleep and meditation."

"You saw something distressing. What was it, Lao?" Ming held her chin, raising her weary eyes.

"I saw a fire," he elaborated, making the Nine exchange their glances warily. "There were walls and ceilings shattered in the mansion. Villagers were wailing outside. These fantasies were nonsense. But there's only one I saw. This swan girl was the one I might have known first before your grandson and the rest of the Nine. My unknown genesis I think of that nightmare is what fire killed a swan and made me the murderer. I didn't want to share this with the Nine because I suffered. I must continue meditating to reveal how I became a killer."

"No, my dear. You are not the murderer," Ming contradicted, stroking the peacock's shoulders and conversing with her beloved student. "You have been through with the Nine, and they remember who you are as a friend to them. Your friends see you as an exceptional companion and a brother you have become. They always give honor in your presence. Look at me, sunzi."

Lao watched Chen Ming's silver eyes. She continued. "Being humiliated to yourself wasn't part of this nature. The vision you might consider is not what you see in the nightmare, Lao. It is a memory," Ming elaborated on Lao's troubling revelation that represented the remembrance of a memory pool. Lao sustained Ming's clarification as he comprehended with his Master once more. "The memory you seek first will prevail, and secondly, the inner peace I'd learn from Grandmaster Oogway can flow through your peace of mind to reveal your 'unpredictable' consciousness. Let me explain: An old friend from Jade Palace told me his student found peace five years ago, and the Dragon Warrior saw his biological parents, the panda meant to become. He was the one who your Grandmaster fulfilled his five-hundred-year prophecy and chose the panda well to defeat Oogway's evil brother. The Dragon Warrior made every land of China safer more than ever.

"The Nine do know about your frustrations. And we can help you meditate, be happier with your brothers and sisters, be entertaining to Shou's last days of the pirate, and spend time with my grandson and your sister, Lotus. By such greatness in you, Lao, the Nine do not see you as a threat and killer."

Ming's claw fondled the peacock's cheek. Her silk paws were smoother than his peahen mother's feathers. "You will know this memory you seek will reveal, Lao," Ming convinced Lao. "Be like water."

Be like water was essential for every martial artist in China. Be specific to any being's struggling situation for problems you must solve. Speaking with anyone you love most is like any work job or family relationship you have been going through circumstances. They want to consider the cause of someone's problems and take care of the boss's important project or the people you are close with; they want to speak about their issues.

Lao embarked on walking across the village for a night after Ming told him she could bring one of the Nine to look after a peacock. Be like water, an elder's smooth voice echoed in Lao's mind. He used to know every land through this sauntering road and recognized many of his villagers long enough since he and his peahen mother arrived at Ming's Shuǐ Palace. The villagers conceded to him, and many esteemed him because Lao's mother was a Lady, and the peafowl was a Prince. Lao only referred to himself as the villager and average person instead of greediness, nor a noble peafowl like any lord.

A pink sow in a green flower and gold hanfu raised her eyebrows. "Are you alright, Lao?"

For a weekend, this neighbor who occupied Ming's Palace was mainly the clothing maker who sewed silk robes to Lao and Xing to honor Master Ming's students. This clothing maker sewed garments for anyone wearing small to large sizes of their clothing correctly. A sow named Mrs. Yan was a teacher, farmer, and painter. She met Lao before on his first day of school, along with Xing and Lotus. Lao, Xing, and Lotus desired paintings of endless steep mountain backgrounds and farming beside her cabin near the streams.

"I'm well, Mrs. Yan," Lao replied, wandering forward. "Had a long day recently."

"I'm always available, sweetheart. If there's anything you wish to speak with me," she brushed her heart, and Lao nodded before departing. The peacock had this anger from a mysterious generation, as neither wanted to be upset. Instead, he did not want to be part of this sour anticipation in front of his friends and villagers.

For a long walk after ten minutes, the peacock relished in solitude with gentle breezes, saluting villagers passing by. Soft steps crept from behind, chuckles emerging at once. Each time, in isolation after hours of training by walking off across the Prosper Valley, he determined his wolf sister, which gave a glimpse of her scheme, to stalk behind and then capture her prey on him at all times.

Lotus, by the spirits, not now.

Lao turned left toward the alleyway, revolving his head behind him. The rabbit in her ocean robe fell to the dirt with a pile of wooden barrels.

"Ha!" the bunny chortled after she tripped. "I knew you could hear my sneaky steps!"

"You stalker," Lao scoffed to Hong. The bunny stood and continued smirking. "I thought Lotus was the one attempting to scare me."

"Nah, she knows you are mad, not really. Lotus decides to stay with her brother while you need to take a walk. With me, thank you, Master Ming!" Hong said.

"So, you prefer to spend your nights walking, talking, and grooving through the village to entertain ourselves?"

"Can that grooving treat Lotus and much of your brother Xing?" Hong mopped plenty of dirt off of her hanfu garment.

"You're quite envious," Lao exchanged his determined glance. "I don't see how many bunnies can melt through such feathers with bird villagers."

"But that rabbit like me who opposed the panda since a winter festival," she told the peacock about one of her family relatives. She stood ahead of the peacock and craned her neck above. "My old cousin still lives in his old house near the Valley of Peace."

"About this 'walking, talking, and grooving' we are going for," Lao tugged his feathers in draped sleeves. "You have enough words to express my soul to you."

"Is this about love, Lao?" the bunny asked, her chanting voice deafened to curiosity.

Love?! He gasped inaudibly. "Lotus and I are close; she will always be my sister. You have been madly in love with me since you came here."

"You wouldn't be mindful yourself about your mother," Hong wondered, clasping her paws behind her back as both strolled across the street. "Hasn't Lady Xia taught you how to treat a lady?"

"Naturally," the peacock answered.

"Then I'll just join aside through your spine," Hong leaped behind Lao's robe from behind.

"What are you doing?" Lao widened at the bunny, wobbling.

Hong embraced Lao and cuddled her cheek around his neck, buzzing her soft throat. "Your mother urged you to treat any lady. You start walking," the rabbit pointed forward, "then I shall start talking and grooving with you."

Lao and Hong could see the forest near the streamside path, surrounded by a vast landscape of steep mountains. "You want me to soar across this valley while you ride on my back? You're mad!" Lao shook his head.

"That's your excuse, love," Hong shoved his neck. "Mush!"

Chapter Text

Episode Two: Pure Awesomeness (6 - 17)

九  Chapter IX  九

The Discovery

Summer of 1177 (Nine days after Tai Lung's aftermath)

Oogway was at the Peach Tree of Heavenly Wisdom with his granddaughter Tigress, and the situation between her and Shifu's adoptive son was vulnerable. Inside the Hall of Heroes, the student-master Ming, in a silver blue garment, bore the messenger's scroll and read her son's message. Shifu had his leg limping when heading straight to his partner near the moon's pool. With this news, rhino guards finally escorted Tai Lung to Chorh-Gom Prison — a two-month journey to leaving China to the nearest border of Mongolia. A brother-and-sister bond did grow strong, but Tigress revealed her brother's horrible actions. With only Oogway speaking with her in grief, the child had to let Tai Lung go from not seeing each other again. Tai Lung was forbidden from returning home and was no longer part of Shifu's family.

Ming glanced at Shifu. "I have to go home. My son needs me. Someone lurks in my brother's village, planning to threaten my people, and that happened to Tigress's parents five years ago. You must be her adoptive father, Shifu. The same goes for Master Oogway as her grandfather. Tigress is too pure, just like her cousin. Our teacher knows I am departing today."

Pondering this difficult departure, Shifu watched Ming carry her bamboo equipment bags and stroll toward the door. His legs began to cringe as he followed her with his cane. "When will you return, sister?"

Ming looked at misty ridges down to the East, still in front of the opened gate. "I may or may not see you three. Maybe never."

"Wait—"

"I cannot stand this grief here any further, Shifu!" Ming snapped upon her shoulder at him, whose ears drooped. Sighing while clasping paws on her face, the feline breathed in. "You know Tai Lung is like a child of our own. I wanted to help him," she shed tears at Shifu, "and you sent our boy away. . ."

"Oogway and I were the ones to send him away, Ming. Putting our son away was the only way to end his outrage."

The feline stroked her tears after looking away from the red panda. "Stay with me. Don't go," Shifu rasped his feeble voice, begging and palming his heart.

"I'm sorry, brother. It is time for me to defend my firstborn son from whatever this threat stands in every soul's way. I will defeat it." Her lips softly quivered. Putting down her bamboo travel bag, Ming knelt and enfolded Shifu, and the red panda did the same. "Please, for the love of spirits, stay with my niece, Shifu. Do not let anyone discover her name and her inheritance."

九

He recalled his sister-in-arms with Oogway long ago in the Jade Palace.

Shifu stood near the Moon Pool inside the Hall of Heroes, the aqua hue reflecting ripples cast on his body. On top of his partner, he was the arrogant one, Shifu pondered of Chen Ming, far clever by his side, and their Grandmaster. Their adoptive son was unique to being the Hero of China, despite themselves insisting on pushing their student harder, the bold and most brilliant. Something that prevented Tai Lung from becoming an extraordinary warrior made their hearts crumble to a thousand pieces. Oogway predicted that the Great Dragon bore darkness in his heart; Chen Ming wished to change him and contradict her Grandmaster's vision. Shifu made a difficult decision after the catastrophe.

I wished I could have done to save our son with you, sister. I am sorry. . .

Fading steps approached from the Hall of Heroes doorway, and Tigress and Po sauntered, passing by the rarest artifacts of ancient armaments and armor — those placed in each section beyond paintings of heroic warriors who many dressed for fighting and wilded their weapons in battles. They found their Master standing near the Moon Pool, clasping his hands behind his back, reflecting his adoptive daughter's genesis before Tigress came along with the Furious Five and the panda.

Shifu embarked on Tigress, seeking soft waves of pool water below. "Many centuries ago, an ancient monastery was called Qing Temple. It was the land of harmony where dynamic warriors of martial artists made Wing Chun and Tai Chi after Oogway created Kung Fu. A siege stormed into the monastery, laid waste to rubble, and many students but those who survived fell. Days after the catastrophe, Master Oogway searched for the remaining students on those scattered and found plenty, even his companion. She was the creator of Wing Chun, and the maker's name was Mui Tan Huang, your ancestor, Tigress."

"Whoa! You have a hardcore ancestor, Tigress!" Po beamed.

Shifu continued as Tigress kept her posture. "One of my own used to live in Jade Palace, been the closest one I had ever known when Oogway brought his dear companion before you arrived at Bao Gu Orphanage. And our friend, Tigress, is my sister-in-arms — your aunt, Chen Ming. Master Ming is a distinctive warrior of Qing Temple heritage. She and I had assembled to ourselves after I initially met her. Chen Ming has been training Wing Chun for years, passed from her ancestor survivors how she studied their ancient scrolls. And now, she teaches nine students. One of them is her grandson.

"Ming had her son during our peaceful days, even her relative sister, both of their same bloodline followed by their ancestors. I wondered if Ming's sister was in trouble after raising Tai Lung for twenty years at my youngest age. The last message your aunt received from her sibling, she and Ming's brother-in-law fled into the hidden woods. There were no other messages returned from either of them."

The red panda turned, his paw reaching Tigress while she knelt beside him. She gently gripped her Master's hand once her adoptive father continued further. "Five years after the mysterious incident, I went to the Bao Gu Orphanage to hear the caretaker's disturbance. She had an issue with keeping one soul while children had been scared of one, an only child, which the caretaker had discovered of the girl's parents. The child's parents were. . . Chen Ming's sister and her brother-in-law — your parents."

WHAT?! Po rose his green eyes.

Tigress sensed her chest colder than the grasp of Po's hug. Her throat dragged back as she slightly opened her lips.

"Tigress," Shifu peered at his daughter's eyes thriving. "After waiting years to hear any rumors about your parents, we considered that your mother and father had been missing, never able to return to bring their only daughter home."

The revelation impacted Shifu's daughter. Tigress pulled her small tears from her amber eyes, and Po flattened his paw against her back. Not as humiliated, the panda cared more about Tigress in such spirit by being much closer to her and the rest of Furious Five, like the family he cherished most.

"Your mother's sister is pleased to see you in person soon," Shifu told his foster daughter. "And she urges me to greet Furious Five and Dragon Warrior, allowing us to introduce Fellowship students. Ming will be the only one to converse with you about her sister."

The red panda's paw clasped his daughter's and continued. "Months after you've been here, a week after the dark day that your adoptive brother was sent to Chorh-Gom Prison, I wished that I could have done to help Tai Lung — the way your aunt strongly wished to keep him here. Complications were in turmoil; many villagers refused to let Tai Lung linger but to stay rotten in prison instead. So, Oogway and I only decided to give in, only to never again emerge chaos from him. Chen Ming moved on after she decided to head home, knowing her families were in danger."

"Forgive me, Master. I must take a walk."

She stood, bowed to her adoptive father once, and dispersed toward the clearing paths of the Garden of Masters. These masters promised not to mention Tai Lung in their presence, which only both Tigress and Shifu could experience terrible agonies. Now, through the years, as long as they could make things personal to their adopted family, they could only consider one thing that truly mattered the most: move forward and neglect the past. Shifu gave his soft sigh, perceiving that he had weak points when speaking with his adoptive daughter, something that he had to regain that was broken. Being an adoptive dad was never a good taste to make Shifu push his students harder, and one of his kept his heart broken more. His promise to treat his daughter for Ming's sake had failed him to watch over Tigress. Perhaps he was a terrible father, but he achieved what Shifu needed to do Ming's favor.

The Dragon Warrior pardoned his teacher, bowing to him. "I'll keep an eye on her, Master Shifu."

Shifu watched Po depart out of the Jade Palace temple, beginning to pace his stroll toward the Garden of Masters.

Now my daughter has to decide. . .

九

Tigress perched her back on the Sacred Peach Tree, pondering her aunt that she never knew one of her parents' siblings, alive and well. Crossing her arms over her knees while in solitude, Tigress needed to relieve her moments to ponder if she was the only striped feline tiger left. Indeed, during the years of training, she and her adoptive father kept their words confidential to discover her kin, only to expect a miracle, to receive a word from anyone like Tigress.

Foliage blossoms swam above Tigress's forehead. The tree felt the same way as Tigress's isolation. Had Tigress noticed a Peach Tree being alone like her? The only that made her smile more was Tigress reflecting on her Grandmaster Oogway, who saw the striped feline so unique within her spirit compared to other striped tigers the tortoise had met. She recalled him as she and the old tortoise perched near the cliff of Peach Tree, knowing her thoughts were so broken and considered her adoptive father shameful; with a mistake, Tigress summoned four from different houses. Was it the scroll that changed four of the Five becoming masters? Maybe the manuscript was replaced accidentally?

Accidents tended to happen, but there were no accidents if the Grandmaster Oogway was around with her. The voice of the elder tortoise healed Tigress's thoughts, the flesh of a warm heart flowing more placidly than ever. She missed him so much.

Many warriors and students bore emotions that time when spending their loved ones; they cared more for siblings and friendships. Tigress thought about her Grandmaster Oogway.

Heavy steps thrived closer to her left; Tigress used several senses of friendly approach and enemies with clenched fists and eyes broad and narrow. There was one who was more forgiving than his reptile sister, including the Five.

"Shall I join you, Tigress?"

The black and white bear stood beside the striped feline warrior and the Peach Tree.

Tigress only observed the velvet blue sky, the ocean sparkling with pale stars among the realm. She heard Po's words, alright, knowing that she would accept him by doing so; Tigress needed someone to be in touch with instead of being alone in the dark.

"I did not know you have your aunt," Po said. "None of us know that."

"Us?" she repeated, not in a hostile tone but concerned.

"The Five know," Po explained as he sat beside her, perching behind a Peach Tree. "I had to tell them about you."

The panda elbowed the log, and a peach fruit landed on Po's giant claw. They glanced at specks of trees throughout the Guilin mountains, the moonlight glinting above the stars. For a moment, neither had to speak, but lanterns perched villages down to the Valley of Peace and across the mountains of Guilin were thriving before the two could feel whispers from the breeze. Is this really true? All of them? How long was I have been the only tiger?

Tigress recalled a thought from Shifu.

Ming had her son before during our peaceful and struggling days back then, even a sister of her kin, both of the same bloodline followed by their ancestors.

She regarded Shifu's words carefully, discovering further.

Master Ming is a distinctive warrior of Qing Temple heritage. She has been training in Wing Chun for years she passed from her ancestors. And now, she teaches nine students. One of them is her grandson.

Continuous thoughts from Tigress, she opened her smile peacefully inside instead of showing outside. Po continued communing as he visualized Ox's son, wanting to see Thundering Rhino's godson from the earlier discussion in Ping's restaurant.

"I was like, 'WOW! Thundering Rhino is your son's godfather!' and—" Po peered at Tigress, whose amber eyes met blossom petals billowing next to her. "Tigress, you listening?"

"I have a nephew. . ." Tigress nodded.

Nephew?

"You do?" Po rose his jade eyes.

"If you listened to Shifu closely enough," Tigress continued, "my aunt has nine students of hers from that class, and one of them is her grandson. When Shifu said that Ming used to have a son before, I had a cousin whom I had never met. I'm certain that my mother, whom I may never remember a face, has her sister. Whatever else happened to my cousin, then I should meet my aunt about her son."

She turned to the panda. "I wonder if my cousin married someone who was my sister-in-law and gave birth to their tiger cub, which might be why their son had a family before. If that happened when Ming's son and sister-in-law died, I should share my condolences with my nephew's family. I wish I could see my cousin's son. That may be the case; I still have a family of my own, my bloodline. I've been a sole tiger after all these years. I have so many questions to ask the two."

Po palmed Tigress's back. "You will. And that's why all of us will go there tomorrow, Tigress. The Five will honor the class and meet your family."

Just then, an unexpected voice summoned beside Tigress behind a tree. "You see!" the bug spawned beside Peach Tree, "Now I know you guys are besties!"

"Yeah," Crane agreed after soaring, "Last time, you both hugged back there in Gongmen City after Shen's defeat."

"We start the wedding," Monkey quipped as he stood in front of Tigress and Po, clasping both paws of the black and white bear and tiger. "You may kiss your moon, Po."

"Monkey!" Viper hissed ahead of the langur.

"I… object," Monkey efforted, once massaging his neck.

Po gestured his palms to everyone. "Guys, come on. There's no such thing as we are engaged, but we stick together as friends. I can be her family."

"And we are family, my panda brother," Viper addressed, vibrating her tongue of affection.

"So," Mantis pondered them two, leaping on Monkey's shoulder, "what were you guys talking about?"

"It's something that I've kept thinking that I am only the last one," Tigress spoke.

Reading her lips well as if the expression was priceless enough to determine her consciousness, Viper slithered onto the feline's legs. "We know what you mean. You finally found a family."

"You know, Tigress," Monkey embarked in front of the Five's alpha. "I never knew who my father was after I'd known my mother a while back. Even we heard about Po's parents back then, and his father came. Even then, I still had many questions about my own kin, and I did not know where he might be for years. We know your parents will not return, and I feel pity. But now, your family has returned, and we will meet your kind."

"You see," Po pointed, explaining that most of the Furious Five had their own families but never gone. "Just like what Shifu said back there."

"Hardcore can understand," Crane sauntered in front, then turned to Po. "And your noodles are getting cold, that turns out."

"It's almost bedtime — hey! My noodles!" the panda sprang his whole body.

The insect landed on Po's shoulder, his wings and antennae buzzing. "I killed it, Po," Mantis smirked.

Dragon Warrior glimmered his eyes at Mantis. "How?" the panda questioned confusingly.

How in the name of Gods did Mantis eat Po's noodles through the insect's small, empty stomach?

The striped feline warrior was the first to widen her amber eyes. Her insect brother continued. "My mouth just went bigger than yours," the insect acquainted Po by jesting. "I activated 'antenna power!' and suddenly killed it with my hunger!"

"Now that's hardcore," Po laughed as Tigress rose from the root she sat while all strolled into the forest to Student Barrack. "Come on, guys, we eat, sleep, and skadoosh! Go to Master Ming's monastery!"

九

Chapter Text

Episode Two: Pure Awesomeness (6 - 17)

Chapter X

Blood Brothers

April 6, 1205

The color of the pumpkin horizon lightened green and brown farms across the homeland of Guilin terrain. Citizens of the Prosper Valley craved this morning the most, including the Nine. Yesterday was a break from Ming's plan, and for this today, Chen Ming wanted to proceed with her students to do hard training on Wing Chun so that their honorable visitor, the Emperor of China, could arrive soon enough. The bell gonged, and the Nine awakened from their sleep. The feline considered having this day off for the Nine to either be internal peace to their master or train if Lao preferred.

The peacock had a long night with his bunny partner, Hong. They spent the rest of the evening gliding through the Guilin mountains near Prosper Valley. The corridor was filled with cherry scent sticks, and shoji doors barged with morning light from outside. The Nine reflected on Hong and Lao's relationship while all reached the dining room to grab their cups of green tea.

Ming and Xing were in the small restaurant beside the Shui Palace, cooking rice and salads to feed the Nine and most villagers of the Prosper Valley.

In exhaustion, which was normal for every soul waking from a nap in the morning, Lao grabbed his tea from the side of the table as the bovine stood next to his brother. Niu bore the teapot and served a few mugs on his companions over the table once the peacock stroked his tiring eyes.

"What happened to you, brother?" Niu asked the peacock.

"Long night," Lao massaged his eyes before sitting on his chair. "I am still exhausted."

"I feel you," the crocodile beside the peacock gave a small beckon before Zhao sipped his cup. The bunny Hong raced for her mug and sat beside Lao. Her expression was satisfied while grinning and sensing the green tea. "You're not the only one walking late at night."

"Oh, last night was excellent, alright," Hong smirked before drinking her tea. She cradled the bird, who chuckled. "The very best one ever."

"Charming," the cobra relished as Fanshe savored a cup of tea, using his tail with a spoon.

The Nine's Pirate entered the Nine's Meeting Room, sitting next to Niu, his keratin digits fiddling the tip of his mug. "So, what can the Nine do for today?"

"Break time for today, I suppose," Fanshe guessed. "I'm certain yesterday was supposed to be a day off." The cobra could see his gorilla brother Bao sit on his bulky chair beside the reptile after the ape grabbed the large tan mug.

"Well," Lao reflected, the tip of his wings caressing and revolving the edge of his cup. "Unless you all want to practice our demonstration."

The Nine's Pirate sipped his hot mug and nearly slammed it on the dining table with a pleasant tone. "AYE! Great idea it is, matey," Shou grinned with his eyes wide open. The cup on the table had not shattered nor spat after that. "Sword training? Guandao?"

"Forms," Lao told the Shou. The peacock gave a long, hard look to all eight members of the Nine. "Shou, you'll do sword battle. Niu, Master Ming will show you a kung fu dragon form, the flow of which has to be precise, the way water is your guide. Bao, you adapt your attack and defense. While you are experienced in stealth, Zhao, you begin to oppose your opponents without any objects catching you. Fanshe, you do subtlety, similar to Master Viper's moves, but far more agile. Hong, Tai Chi flow and dexterity maneuver for your pair of sai blades. Lotus, greater speed, and ribbon dancer. I will do a coping of a blindfold for a pre-level of a black sash and Guandao. Xing, Chi Sao, blindfold, and veracity."

"What's next?" the Nine's Dancer inquired before sipping her blue mug.

"You all going to love this one," smirked the peacock as he pointed his head to all of the Nine. "Rumble."

"YES!" all seven beckoned their fists, applauding. To the Nine's personal preference, they must oppose each other for a short time, and then whoever gets defeated must join a side against the one not overcome by any of the Nine students — a hint: Blue against Red. Red has beaten, then joins aside to blue. The Nine craved this substantial activity more than an Elimination match or higher difficulty matches.

"Can't wait to kick anyone's butt right now!" Niu pointed all with a stirring smile.

The peafowl grasped his mug and presented his double glare at the Nine's Defender. "Good luck with that," Lao wished him menacingly. Most were stunned with shrinking mouths as if all laughed. The Nine's Brilliance announced. "Five minutes of Rumble, then for the groups of whoever gets many numbers than yours will win."

"Any other suggestions?" the wolf asked with a sharp teeth grin, gold ring eyes fixing at Lao.

"Combinations, Lotus," Lao answered, sharing out details. "First high rank, Chi Sao blocks including attacks, and first ten forms. Middle rank, First five forms. Lowest rank, first form."

The Nine comprehended their brothers and two sisters to recognize their sash ranks. Lao perceived Shou's advanced level of a blue sash. Most of the advanced ranks that brown sash: Niu and Zhao. Green: Bao and Fanshe. A red rank belonged to Hong. The professional classes of Wing Chun were identified for Lotus as a double crimson, Lao represented double red with the black sash, and Xing for a First Dan (first level of the black sash).

None of the Nine students had the lowest ranks. They exchanged their heads with one another.

"No sign of lowest rank at that point, for regardless," Niu notified Lao as the peacock made the mind of lowest rank from the Nine.

"Then one of the middle ranks goes for Shou—one to three forms," Lao stated the yak pirate.

"Any last activity," the cobra queried the peacock. "Just not being so pushy."

"Sparring Elimination match with Master Ming," Lao declared to the Nine, "and that will be our end of the day. Master Ming will inform Huangdi and his followers about the life and prosperity of Wing Chun, including her bloodline survivors of Qing Temple."

"Brilliant," the wolf beamed. Lotus presented a nod at her closest peacock friend.

The Nine managed to train at the Fighting Square outside the Shui Palace. They all ate their rice a moment later to commence their demonstration process. Xing continued cooking with his grandmother to feed villagers at their rice restaurant. Lao snatched his guandao sword, combating the yak pirate to enhance sword-to-sword combat skills. Zhao swam through the stream, charging against movable dummies after he leaped away from the small river. Bao and Niu linked their forearms into bridges, combined with Chi Sao blocks for over ten blocks first, and moved on to ten other blocks.

Fanshe sparred with Hong on the platform; the cobra's tail whipped her paws, positioning in their fighting stance. Hong managed her continuous blocks against her reptile colleague; she charged her energy deflection, and Fanshe parried her fast blows. Beside them, the wolf shifted her ribbon stick within mid to close-range battle, wavering her sash stick as multiple flutters of ribbon tightened many dummies on half of the training ground. She pounded the rest with a severe kick and most bong sao strikes.

Lao gazed at Xing's training. The tiger covered his eyes with his black sash, educating his brother to sense the surroundings instead of eyes. This sensation was of such importance to hear noises from far and nearby. Lao and Chen Xing bridged their arms as if the tiger went for defense, and the albino peacock proceeded with his offense. They intensified their strength of Chi Sao. The peacock was surprised as his brother deflected and palmed Lao's wings simultaneously with a bit of grip and fist against the target. Lao preferred the blindfold, which Xing had done with a black sash wrapped around his head and eyes since his grandmother first granted her grandson the First Dan.

The Furious Five and Dragon Warrior walked out of the Jade Palace entrance and followed Shifu near the stairs.

They had finished their warm-up exercises earlier after their breakfast. Their teacher gave Zeng a scroll beside him. "Take this message to one of the Prosper Valley's geese servants, Zeng. Notify either one to inform my sister-in-arms that the Masters of Jade Palace are on their way with Emperor Huangdi in one hour."

"Yes, Master Shifu," nodded Zeng. The goose messenger grabbed Shifu's scroll and placed it under his sleeve before he began to flip his wings, banking with strong winds to the west. Zeng and many messengers managed to soar anywhere else further in China, regardless of resting and flying once again after their break.

"Emperor Huangdi," Shifu told his students behind him as he clasped his hands on his back. "Is he in the Valley of Peace?"

"Yes, Master," Tigress replied to her adoptive father. "Mei Mei saw him earlier, and she once said Emperor Huangdi is still at his rental apartment."

"Very well," the red panda nodded. "We will inform our Emperor to ride his vessel along so Huangdi can accept our permission to reach Prosper Valley."

"Have you been to the Prosper Valley, Master?" Viper grinned with her tongue out.

The red panda shook his head. "No. I have never been there," he answered. Monkey beside Tigress returned as if he carried Oogway's wooden staff and handed it to his teacher. Shifu tapped his stick and had his eyes meet the black and white bear. "And Po. Remind two of your fathers that you are coming with us, and we will be at the Prosper Valley for a while until you return."

"Yes, Master," the panda bowed.

The Masters of Jade Palace sprinted toward the Valley of Peace.

White clouds pulled apart, the yellow sunlight unleashing its beams across this prospering homeland. The villagers presented their respective bows to Emperor Huangdi three blocks from Mr. Ping's restaurant; the Masters surveyed the elder water buffalo moving out of the green apartment with multiple antelope and yak guards outside. Most of the crowd applauded, sighting Emperor Huangdi saunter to the sailboat. Nearing the Dragon Warrior Noodles and Tofu restaurant, as several villagers bowed to the panda before jogging with a throng to catch up with Huangdi, Po entered the archway. 

Mr. Ping and Li Shan snatched a ton of empty bowls from their customers who had finished eating noodles. "Dads!" Po called the elders goose and panda.

"Hey, Po!" the goose chef waved at his son after Mr. Ping handed Li Shan another five bowls. "These villagers are talking crazy about Emperor Huangdi. Do you know what he is doing?"

"Yeah, he's taking a boat ride to the Prosper Valley. And that's where I go with my friends and Master Shifu."

"Whoa, really?" Li Shan gaped at his son, packing ten bowls.

"And why, my dear son?" the goose asked. Mr. Ping arched his one eyebrow, bending his feathers on his waist.

"Shifu wants the Furious Five, including me, to meet Master Ming and her students," Po said. "The first part of the crazy reason is, Dads, Tigress has her aunt."

"Her aunt?" Mr. Ping widened his eyes after giving Li Shan another stack of five plates. Oh, I got it! The elder panda nearly tripped after balancing the bowls straight enough. "I thought she was the only tiger left!"

"We thought so," Po considered the same thought from last night's conversation with Master Ox. The Dragon Warrior tapped his fingers in front of his belly. "And the second reason is I'm going to see Master Ox's son over there from that palace."

"Strange city, strange noodles…." Mr. Ping pondered worriedly. He gazed up at him. "Po, I don't think—"

"It's okay, Dad," Po calmed the goose. "Nothing's gonna happen to me or the Five. We can handle ourselves."

Of course, you all do, son.

The goose thought as his beak nearly wobbled. He suppressed his mouth and widened his pupils. "Alright, son," Mr. Ping affirmed while hugging Po. "When will you come back?"

"Around dusk before night," Po answered once Mr. Ping released the embrace. "We're going to enjoy the awesomeness class and stay there for a while."

The bug creaked his wings and landed on Po's head just then. "Sorry to interfere with your discussion, guys! The Emperor's boat is leaving in three minutes, Po. Let's go!"

"Okay, bye, Dads!" Po waved as the panda ran out of the archway with Mantis. "We'll be back!"

"Careful, Po!" Mr. Ping thundered.

Po jogged on the tan brick road where pigs, deer, pandas, antelopes, and geese villagers followed Emperor Huangdi further blocks from the river. To the left intersection, the bovine in his council robes strolled with other guards ahead of him. Mantis crawled on the panda's back as he stood next to the bear's neck on the shoulder. Po pardoned the villagers' way and searched for Huangdi and the Furious Five so that the panda could search for the sailboat where the panda had been through the village everywhere since he was adopted.

Master Ox fetched his carriage and Huangdi's stacks of luggage. He transferred a big golden baggage, and brown and gray yak guards packed plenty of bags, rolling carts. The stream sang close; Po shortly headed through the side of the pathway and reached behind the bovine.

"Master Ox!" the panda called.

"Po!" Storming Ox, confused while carrying luggage. "What are you doing here?"

"Master Ox," Po panted after jogging. "The Five and I will visit Shifu's closest friend in Prosper Valley and see the Wing Chun class."

"Really?" Ox determined with his perplexing thought and smirk.

"Yeah!" the panda grinned, nodding. "The Five and I wish to see all nine students. Seeing your son and even Shifu's old friend will be remarkable. I like to see how awesome that class is!"

Master Storming Ox heightened his low chuckles. "Very well, Dragon Warrior. Ride along with us," he agreed, palming Dragon Warrior's back.

Shifu told Huangdi about meeting Master Ming and offered a ride with the Emperor and the Masters of Jade Palace to reach Prosper Valley. Po supported some luggage before they arrived on a large sailboat nearby. The luggage items were placed behind the boat as Po and Storming Ox sauntered to the side of the boat, and they arrived with the Furious Five in the middle of the ship with Shifu.

Few followers entered a sailboat as most villagers waved goodbye to Emperor Huangdi and those who worked with him. Four boats followed the leading river boat: two for followers and two for guards, as Storming Ox preferred sitting with Furious Five, Dragon Warrior, and Shifu. Once the sailboat cruised away, the panda brushed his paws, tapping his feet.

"Prosper Valley, here we come!" the Dragon Warrior shone his smile.

The Nine exercised outside the Shui Palace.

Lotus and Xing jogged their ten-mile across the boundary of the Prosper Valley and through the village road while Lao soared above them. A rapid run zipped past the three.

"On your left!" Hong announced, her tiny feet dashing and cutting through in front of Xing and Lotus. Lao balanced his vibrant wings as the bunny's fast pace shook below the peacock. Why is that bunny sprinting faster than them? How did she manage her feet rapidly?! That feels awkward! Lao thought.

After jogging, Bao dangled on a large branch from a tree, pulling himself up using his massive for as long as he burned his strength.

Shou, Niu, and Zhao lay in front of the square platform, raising and bending their arms. They burned their muscles around fifty times with push-ups and mostly continued their durability. The crocodile Zhao had a warming form over his reptile body for sweat and even his bathing after swimming over the river and ambushed dummies. The Ox Niu used push-ups from his father back in Gongmen City for ages. His shape formed more advantage by that preference, enabling strategies to focus on battle and defense. The gray yak Shou realized his strength became sturdy. The yak pirate's arms burned more and relaxed his advantage. He flattened his head and body on the surface after reaching the targeted number of sixty push-ups.

"Shiver me timbers!" Shou panted heavily.

"Keep up, matey!" Niu encouraged the Nine's Pirate.

A moment later, the cobra practiced maneuvering arrows and throwing daggers in the opposite direction near the square platform. He needed to continue the demonstration process, oscillating over the palace. The feline reviewed Fanshe whenever the cobra becomes worthy of evading arrows and daggers, then joined together in a first square by able to meditate peacefully.

After a few more yards of sprinting with Xing and Lotus, Hong waved a finish line near the entrance of Shui Palace. Lao soared behind two of his closest friends as his wings went sore. They arrived at the gate while Hong contented them three to the Fighting Square by assembling the Nine. The Nine had a long workout to exercise their advantage and regain proper health expectations. All students burned their lungs to themselves after breathing in and out. Master Ming had praised her students, who pushed their limits at their physical training as if their furs were drenched with sweat.

Lao let out his sharp puffs, the heat trapping in his robe. 

"Bow!" Ming ordered the Nine. She scanned her loyal students, who bowed to her. "Great work! You all enhanced your process. We'll continuously practice your demonstration for Emperor Huangdi with each sunset and dawn."

"What's next, Master?" asked Lao while panting.

"Take a day off," Ming answered. "You all have a great time with the workout. Take a bath in each three of you."

Ming called the gorilla and young albino peacock. After seven students dispersed through the sidewalk and entered the steam house next to the Nine's Barrack, Lao and Bao stood before Ming. "Bao, after bathing yourself, look after Lao's mother. You know the drill."

Bao nodded, softly hammering his fist on his chest twice. "Bao, bath. Bao, meet. Bao, peahen," the ape smiled, retreating with the heavyweight students.

Lao glanced at the elder feline. "And Lao, my dear. I have a gift for you. Once you finish your bath, come to my chamber."

A gift? Lao reflected in his fascinated and confused look. "What is it?"

"It's the finest silk from the ancient province. One of my old friends wishes to give you a gift."

"By whom, Master?" Lao asked with his eyebrows rising.

"From Soothsayer," Ming replied dearly.

Soothsayer? The elder goat with a bearded one? How long had that goat traveled too far with some "valuable" item? Lao did not bother with another question when the peacock nodded to his master after breaking away.

The sizeable pool of three feet was filled with soap foams. As the middle ranks went first, the heavyweight students managed to bathe with soap foams around their bodies. For another ten minutes, every three students, Lao, Xing, and Lotus, kneaded with soap and water after entering the pool bath. Shortly, Lao eventually cooled his feathers and quivered the rest of the water around him.

The peacock wore his gray trousers after he dried himself with a large brown towel. Lao cleansed his feathers once he arrived in Ming's meditation bedroom. The Nine's Master revealed a blue silk robe. She managed to open a black mahogany box. Ming kept locked the chest carefully before Lao infiltrated. The feline showed his peacock a new garment in front — glossy blue silk with a yin-yang icon on the back of clothing — edge of white silk sleeves trimmed with black tribals and spontaneous blue lines. Lao adored magnificent silks, and the peacock craved to wear marvelous robes to fit him.

Oh, my! Lao thrived his open beak and eyes. "A glorious gift from my old friend I met," notified Ming. "This robe you seek belonged to late Lord Feng — the peacock lord of Gongmen City. Mali, the Soothsayer, is the peacock nobles' true companion. She befriended Lord Feng, including his late beloved, Lady Muqin. Feng's queen once told the Soothsayer that this robe belonged to ancestors before Lord Feng. By wearing this robe, Lao, a true warrior, will honor a student to reflect the ancestor who helped our Grandmaster Oogway in previous wars many years ago."

Lao adored an actual color of blue for the feathers that connected to his heart. The peacock inspected the silk he conveyed, stroking soft patterns and the upper chest. "Who was Lord Feng, Master?" Lao asked Ming before embarking on wearing his new robe.

"He was the father of Lord Shen," she clarified. Neglecting Lord Shen from his thoughts, Lao perceived the story as royal peafowls of Gongmen City. "A true prosperity ruler and a great Lord of Gongmen. Many centuries before Shen, the peafowls ruled over Gongmen City. The nobles brought great joy with the invention of fireworks, and several villagers enjoyed colorful flares from the sky. According to Soothsayer's prediction, instead of the 'warrior of black and white' prophecy for Dragon Warrior, Feng's most notable ancestor, Li Han, wore the true warrior's robe and famously risked his life to support Grandmaster Oogway during the Great War. My master foresaw this garment and remembered his skilled peacock warrior, who once told Grandmaster Oogway that the robe could become a real meaning worthy of one of the royal bloodlines.

"A legend once noted: Some warriors said the silk seemingly glows into darkness. Some masters said this robe enables a wielder's reflexibility senses, where one's awareness can extinguish any enemy's creation of ambush. Some bandits against the righteous peacock said this robe could repair the cuts on its own, and a spirit warrior called upon him to redeem a life after death. This robe has only a story to itself, and most rumors from witnesses say their voices are meant to be true about the wielder's blue robe. This finest silk was given to me by the goat named Soothsayer, who desired to deliver a peacock student to share. The mantle is yours now."

The summary of this story made Lao believe Li Han's garment could be mysterious. Lao seemingly questioned his thoughts about Grandmaster Oogway's tale. The Great War? What was Oogway and the noble peacock warrior joined aside against whom? I thought about the two Generals in the war — the beast and the turtle. The young peacock sighted himself in the reflection of the blue robe. The feline beamed as if she noticed a perfect fit for Lao.

"This robe, Master—it's majestic!" the image of a seeking peacock himself with a cobalt robe. "I love it."

"I know you do, sunzi," Ming smirked, palming her peacock student's shoulder. "Every time I see you trained well enough, you have become worthy every day since you came here and met my sunzi, Lao. I know Xing watches you as brother-in-arms together, and you need a friend to look after you. You take good care of your silk, Lao. This robe is ancient."

Lao beckoned his nod before leading himself out of the Nine's Master's chamber. At first, his thought reflected the name of the elder goat.

"Master," Lao turned to his teacher. "How did the Soothsayer know me?"

"We both messaged ourselves a little while ago," explained Ming. "The goat and I are good friends, became wise to manifest anyone's future. She was the caretaker who looked after noble peafowls' son. Soothsayer and Shen were connected closely for years until the prince's banishment. The peacock lord had returned after almost thirty years, and Soothsayer wanted to convince the peacock that he must change and be part of happiness. Within that moment, she'd lost someone the Soothsayer adored and looked after her loving son. For several years, when I contacted her about Shen for an apology, Mali wished to know how everything else I'd been doing was genuine. Even then, I once notified her about my students, including you. My colleague is strongly interested in seeing you one day, including my grandson and your sister, Lotus."

"And that box, Master Ming?" pointed Lao after gazing at a box covered up.

"It's confidential," Ming answered. "That crate will be revealed some other time."

Lao strolled out of the Shui Palace, his robe smoothing his whole body around his feathers. The peacock wondered about the ancestor warrior Li Han, who wore this soft cloak and fought alongside Master Oogway centuries ago. Most Prosper Valley villagers saw Lao's newest silk, which was glossed by the blue sky.

Mommy, look at Lao's new robe! It's beautiful!

Wow! That's so beautiful! His fabric colors look like the daylight sky!

Oh, my Oogway's blessing!

The peacock could see Hong supporting Ms. Yan, placing a stack of clothes in a sewing silk store, as his bunny companion waved at the peacock.

Ming and her grandson walked out of their entrance when Lao hurried to Mrs. Yan and Hong for support. Xing wore his cobalt robe after he dried himself from bathing. Three students, Shou, Niu, and Zhao, sat on the Fighting Square as they bent their legs and straightened their backs, closing their eyes. The feline pondered to the talented student.

"How's Lao, my sunzi?" Ming asked her grandson.

Xing checked his peacock brother earlier in the morning as if he could not detect Lao's flustered mind or being humiliated after some hallucination haunted Lao's memory. "He seems better, Nana," Xing answered. "No sign of anguish memory for today."

Xing's belly snarled. "Looks like I'm hungry. I need to eat something vigorous somewhere else," Xing looked at the roads and alleyways as if many restaurants he knew in the Prosper Valley had opened for him. "Where should I eat at?"

"Go to the east," Ming pointed. "There's one village where I met Shifu at the Jade Palace. There is a famous restaurant where I want you and your brother Lao to have lunch with a goose chef who cooks noodles. "You both should try your newest appetite and meet the Dragon Warrior's family. The boatman will take you both there, and all you have to say to the boatman is to take you and Lao to the Valley of Peace."

"Alright, Nana," smiled Xing. "We'll be back before sunset."

Xing pressed his soft lips to Ming's fluffy cheek; she blessed her grandson's forehead and embraced him. Xing and Lao sauntered over Prosper Valley road to the east, where a boatman rode his boat near the stream. The feline reflected a good memory of her grandson and the peacock student meeting their eyes for the first time. "Good heavens. . ." she muttered herself. "Look how grown my grandsons been. . ."

Year: 1189

A soft breeze blows through the midnight sky of twinkling dots of white lanterns  You journey across the muttering rivers and high ridges to view the Prosper Valley  You take a night swim at the small lake about a half-mile from the north side of the bamboo and oak forest  The night that dazzles with the blue horizon is the essence of smooth and absolute, letting you stroll with your family to carry orange lanterns  This village has been guarded for centuries; as long as you walk with those you fond with care without getting lost in the woods and spot crocodile gang members who rob your yuans for trouble.

Whispering winds dance with orange lanterns across the sidewalk of the Fighting Square and the Shui Palace structures, detailed with the dancing serpents forming into crimson ribbons. The small tiger in a pale blue top and black trousers encounters the average-size dummy, hailing his qi under his throat. He combines his Chi Sao blocks and deflects both arms, giving a lethal front kick toward the dummy's belly. 

SMACK!

The dummy shatters its sturdy wood, and the small tiger raises his left ear, overhearing his grandmother's conversation with their guests in front of Chen Ming. Amazement dominating with his gasp, Chen Xing has never seen these majestic avians before. The peahen is in her fluttering hanfu of pink and blue and emerges in front of the Shui Palace entrance, her turquoise wings folding on her peachick's shoulders before her. Prince Dongji, the mother's son in his cobalt silk robe, moves his little head as if his eyes widen and looks directly at the tiger cub strolling. The prince grins at the tiger cub, who smirks with his keen fangs.

The cub and the peachick sprint around the gray, flat arena of the Fighting Square as they play a game called "Tag You're It." They both giggle with joyous and fun voices as the peachick tries to reach his feathers toward his newest companion, who sprints on all fours. The young chick could not handle himself to catch up with his new friend, and both play different roles like "Hide and Seek."

The tiger cub checks on the young albino, panting loudly, bending his body forward. "Are you alright, friend?" Chen Xing asks.

"You're so fast, Xing! I'm tired of running," the prince sighs.

"Why don't you use your wings?" Xing points.

"I can't fly… My mama can," the prince explains to the cub to make a reason that chicks cannot soar at a young age. But instead of creating a sort of tiredness, the peachick presents a grim smirk and touches the cub without realizing it is a trick.

"Tag! You're it!"

"Oh no, you don't! Come back here!" the tiger cub is stunned and chuffs while Xing dashes with four paws.

No matter how hard the bird attempts to run and dodge the cub from being snatched or tagged, Xing tackles him, and mothers Ming and Xia beam at their cub and peacock child.

"Got you there, Dongji!" Xing chuffs, and they laugh heartily.

The boys meet again for the next few months when Xing's grandmother Ming keeps the Lady and the young prince in, allowing them to enjoy their stay until the peafowls can find another safe house one day  Regarding the Lady's understanding, Ming discusses with the peahen in the Meeting Room that Lady Xia and her son must be safe from trouble  Sometimes, her grandson once mentioned the boy's father, who was a loving parent  Confused by the fact that Xing wishes to know Xia's husband, the cub seals his word after his grandmother speaks to him, revealing that Prince Dongji's father has turned into a bitter parent  Discovering what peafowls bear their bloodline, the son carries the royal blood from his father and his grandparents  Xing and Ming keep Lady Xia's promise, sealing the truth from Prince Dongji.

The following day introduces heavy rain, and the storm's hues drench to dark emerald, white flashes clapping. Xing finds the prince who struggles on the Fighting Square platform and makes his sprint for him. In their mothers' eyes, racing toward the side as they watch in horror, Xing rescues the peacock and carries him into the Barrack. The feline cub has the strength to hold Dongji, who is lighter; the prince's robes are heavily soaked and cold once they both infiltrate the palace. The cub finds three towels from one of the storage chambers and helps swathing him, preventing water from pouring under the bird and his small train.

Prince Dongji stutters, trembling his feathers once he clenches the towels. "I'm so cold. . ."

"You're okay. It's just the rain. Nothing will hurt you anymore," the tiger cub embraces the peachick. The young peafowl notices how he feels a friendship hug by being rescued. The peacock hugs back to the cub, watching the blankets of thick showers outside as bamboo sticks flutter and swing from gale winds. Their friendships are bound to be unbroken on that stormy day.

"Thank you, Xing. You're my best friend," Prince Dongji says.

Xing releases him after being embraced. "I found a great name for you, Dongji. Something that I shall call you my brother while we stick together like always until the end."

"Brilliant. So what will you call me then, Xing?" Asks the young prince.

"I'm going to call you Lao. One of these Mandarin words references lǎo dà gē, meaning big brother. I shall stick to the first word of brother by naming you Lao."

"Lao  Lao — That sounds better than my real name!"

Xing and Lao beam. Their limbs rise by bonding their arms simultaneously. "Brothers for life! Brothers to the end!"

And they become the blood brothers for life.

Chapter Text

Episode Two: Pure Awesomeness (6 - 17)

Chapter XI

My Sister

30 Minutes Later

Following Shifu's advice, the feline meditated on inner peace, enabling several relieves to communicate with spiritual masters. Chen Ming remained peaceful as she sat on the mat in her room with multiple green candles, lighting the picture of Master Oogway in front of her. Ahead of her was a promise to break her smile while swimming within the clouds of judgment, given that she saw the old tortoise monk smile upon her each time.

The ocean of blossoms swarmed through her surroundings. Hissing foliage soared above, and Ming's eyes continuously closed shortly after rustling flowers landed on glossing water. She gazed at the starlight of the Spirit Realm: green lands, tangerine sunset, and gold ocean ripples. Beyond this celestial domain, piles of ancient temples and asteroids floated. The mirage surface imaged a blurry form sauntering towards Ming. She peered at the blurry form, blossoms spreading with green-like wings. The shadow of an elder tortoise blocked the stars ahead of Ming, who chuckled.

Ming. My old friend.

Master Oogway. 

Her grin began to break. Seeing the spirit of her teacher, her best friend's educator, and the only Kung Fu creator who built compassion was a blessing. Chen Ming poured one warm tear after the other; Oogway floated to her close, his arms embracing her. The Nine's Master did the same, her forehead stroking his chest. She could dream of having herself in the company of one person who treated her like a loving daughter. Baba. . . Her reptile father was not like the other one she could remember, but Ming made sure his memories were stitched in hers, sprouting vivid scenes of happiness. 

The gray shoji door knocked thrice, only to escape her meditation trance. The Nine's Messenger was stammered with surprise.

"Oh, I'm sorry, Master Ming," the goose pardoned.

"Kong," Ming suspected the goose servant who had infiltrated near the door accidentally. She rose, and the Nine's Messenger looked back with a genuine smile. "There's no need to apologize. I already finished meditating."

Chen Ming sniffled once, sweeping her tears. "What brings you here?"

"Right," he quickly nodded. Kong tapped his feathers ahead of him as if his legs were trembling. "I came today and received a new message."

She rolled her head once. "A new message?"

Kong nodded. "Yes," Kong nodded, beginning to clarify her without stammering. "A messenger from the Jade Palace named Zeng came here a moment ago and sent his note to me. This letter is from Master Shifu."

Ming's paws trembled after she grabbed the letter from Kong. The feline opened a letter and read Shifu's note. Kong sometimes perceived how his master reacted on other days when either excellent or poor news followed. But, the Nine's Messenger read her expression carefully, which stretched her wrinkles around her eyebags. Ming widened her eyes. "They are coming."

"The Dragon Warrior and Furious Five, Master Ming?" the goose guessed his suspicious tone.

"Not just them, Kong," Ming warned while strolling out of her meditation room, and Kong followed her. "The Emperor is on our way."

"Uh oh!"

Ming swam her eyes around Shui Palace. None of the heavyweight students of the Nine spawned at the Fighting Square; she heard a door shut from the Nine's Barrack. "Kong, call out to all four of the Nine," commanded Ming to the goose. "I'll handle the other three."

"What about Master Lao and your grandson?"

"I am certain they saw the Emperor's vessels. I hope…" Ming perceived strongly. "Call them, my dear. Tell them the Emperor is coming and reaching here as fast as possible. And Bao is at Lady Xia's cottage. Go!"

The red panda turned his head to the right when the Emperor's vessel motioned forward, breaking river water in front. "What a marvelous view, isn't it, Master Shifu?"

"Lovely stream," the red panda agreed. Shifu turned his head, meeting the enormous Storming Ox. "How do you manage to spend along with Emperor, Master Ox?"

"As I told your Dragon Warrior student, Huangdi elected me to look after him while venturing through meetings across China," Master Ox elucidated as he flattened his back against the bamboo chair, clasping his hooves. "Many years ago, Rhino, Croc, and I brawled at each other the last time at a small village. One fan came to us, and we saw that he was only a peasant, wearing luxurious gold garbs. Unlike the audience, who did not wear fancy robes. We didn't know who he was at the time until that fan brought his father to him, who thought of us as a wasteful opportunity."

"Oh. . ." Shifu comprehended with a surprised look. "I'm assuming that would be Emperor Huangse."

"As rude as Huangse was, his son is unlike his father. Huangdi has been an enormous fan ever since," Master Ox beamed, the Emperor of China drumming his chuckles with blessing. "He educated me to admire Lords and Ladies at their temples, invest taxes for construction, and have the economy cut prices in half for food and all the people."

"That is good," Shifu hummed. "The robe you wear looks like Master Thundering Rhino's garment. Who gave you your elegant garment, Master Ox?"

Ox observed Shifu, who was pleased. His throat embraced, and he inhaled. "It was him," the bovine answered.

"Rhino?" Shifu determined.

The giant Ox nodded. "About a week before Shen's arrival," Storming Ox started. "Rhino, Croc, and I went to the Council's appointment inside the Sacred Flame Tower as we strolled on stairs to the 5th floor at the Library Chamber, where the meeting was around the back. That day was our friendship anniversary, so as my birthday, either Croc or Rhino had a better memory. We three sat at the meeting table and conversed with senators, including Huangdi. We pledged to accept their contract by allowing subjects to have houses and apartments to work in all Gongmen City districts.

"After we signed an arrangement, Rhino brought me folds of gray robe with a white garment wrapped with a red silk bow. Once I looked into his sharp eyes, he grinned and touched my shoulder. However I did, or we accomplished more glorious things in our early days, I made him proud."

"Wonderful," Shifu smiled as the red panda smoothed his chuckle.

"I remember him most of the weekends," Ox continued, palming his robe beside his leg when he gazed forward. "The last time children met Thundering Rhino was three days after our agreement. On dawn, that shaded light tangerine around the sky, many innocent eyes sprinted all over the courtyard and over bridges as we strolled with Mali, the Soothsayer. Few were in the water flow as the summer began yesterday, and we all laughed and enjoyed timing with them. I adore several who called me the 'Gentle Giant Master.' I never expected the accident when a yak child accidentally bumped behind Rhino and fell on the water next to the bridge. I was almost frightened to see him drowning, but the water was not deep enough for him. Thank the spirits.

"Many children swam with Rhino and saw his smile, the last moments before they even promised to return to my brother for more fortune and entertainment," The red panda saw Master Ox hesitate as if his throat rose and eyes closed. "Then, one day, my heart was wrung when Shen shot his cannon at Rhino."

Shifu, including his students, contemplated the Storming Ox's remembrance; the loss of Thundering Rhino did rip those fonded of him, those who had his inspiration to keep them moving forward, never to give up faith. The red panda held his gentle grip on Ox's hoof he grasped. "The Masters of Jade Palace missed him so much." Shifu reflected amicably.

"So do I, Master Shifu," Ox nodded in his low, calming voice.

Sailboats sailed on the streaming river and traveled long enough to be about five miles away from Valley of Peace. Throughout the current, green shades of the jungle were merging with blends of lime leaves swimming among the sail, as Po could not close his mouth.

"Are we there yet?" insisted the bug, tapping his thingy beside Po's neck.

"Patience, Mantis," Tigress pacified Mantis. "The town is not far from here."

"Yeah," Crane agreed, standing beside Tigress and Monkey as Viper slithered on Po's legs. "Remember that our boat ride took a long to reach Gongmen City?"

"Oh, that one," the bug recalled. "That took forever except this one! Ain't that right—?"

While Mantis checked the panda, harsh snores from him made the insect gasp and see Po lay his head to the left. Why does Po faint?! Mantis thought to his stunning antennas.

"Somebody wake Po…" the bug covered his nose from Po's sense of cookies and healthy teeth.

"Hey, look over there," the bird darted his large feathers at the wooden sailboat. "Is that a boatman from the Valley of Peace?"

The Five scanned the sailboat drift across the curved river. "Yeah, that looks like the goose from our home. Chang Liu's vessel." Monkey brushed under his jaw. "I think he sailed from the Prosper Valley."

Beside Monkey, Tigress peered close to the brown riverboat. A brown goose mounted his ropes beside the mast. Her sight caught a person who glossed orange fur, robing a blue garment. Someone is riding on the boat with the boatman. They didn't see the Emperor's ship. Tigress thought. She sharpened the scene of the boatman and an unknown villager grasping large ropes as her eyes missed the subject's face, nor what a villager looked like. The villager wears a subtle azure garment. I have rarely seen any master or villager dressed in blue around China. Who is that?

"You look suspicious, Tigress," Crane's voice intervened in her gaze. "Are you alright?"

"Yes," she nodded. "This river seems such grace."

Tigress nearly felt the light presence that sang and whispered in Tigress's ears. Nevertheless, the subject of Chang Lin's junk had the same fur and was almost hard to match her kind, as she revealed others like her from her adoptive father, Shifu. Only the aunt and nephew, somewhere living in the west, were closer to expect a family reunion. By coming to her attention, Tigress bore several questions, which she caged her feelings after seeing Viper's father make his daughter proud, two of Po's fathers encouraging their son. Could her aunt be proud of Tigress, alive and well?

Her forgiving moment was when she lived in Jade Palace and journeyed across China. The Masters of Jade Palace were her family. One of them was her faithful companion, the closest, yet always a terrible liar, who inspired them and her.

The Dragon Warrior, in unconscious sleep, mumbled. "Dumplings... I'm home."

Many laughed, but Shifu, Ox, and Emperor Huangdi offered chuckles.

Moments later, junk vessels drifted to the western stream once the Emperor and Shifu witnessed colorful, bright streams. The Furious Five kept their speculations on vivid paths, dazzled with velvet green foliage, deepened into the bamboo forest. On a signboard, Shifu spotted "Welcome to Prosper Valley," Shifu woke his panda student; the red panda thought he could have brought a large gong bell and rung, snapping Po from his deep sleep.

The panda snorted annoyingly.

"Are we there yet?" Po asked while sleeping with closed eyes.

"You see?! Po's not the only one who asked!" Mantis burned his tiny throat.

"Almost…" Crane stretched his long neck to the left side, yawning.

Multiple farmers on the meadow beside the stream gazed at the approaching junk vessels and respectfully bowed when they saw Emperor Huangdi in the boat. Po wobbled his head, and a flash woke him. A little movement of the streamside, many steep hills and mountains, imaged hundreds of houses and apartments over vast, landscaped grounds. Guilin's outskirt of the Valley of Peace unveiled their village's neighborhood townsfolk: the Prosper Valley.

"WHOA!" the panda gaped loudly.

The Dragon Warrior, Furious Five, and Master Shifu had never seen any of this village of Prosper Valley. The acres of green land farmed with thousands of fruits perching under the dirt. The sky once blew with a blue horizon, and as the Masters craned their heads at many familiar houses and apartments — nearly much twice the size of the Valley of Peace. Secondly, hundreds of path roads and cleared streams allowed vessels to travel faster.

"This is amazing!" Po beamed, embracing the wooden pole to the right side. Over a hundred village houses lined elsewhere as the enormous green forest cliff towered that poured with two waterfalls. "That's a big village!"

"I'm amazed how this village expands largely," Shifu pondered.

"A lot of farmhouses!" Crane observed in delight.

"That's so wicked!" Mantis stunned.

"Free bananas!" Monkey exclaims, bounding his feet and tapping his head. "Free hangouts!"

The goose flew above the Prosper Valley, spotting five vessels on the large stream that had arrived just now. Kong could not see a brown boat. The Nine's servant suspected Lao and Xing did not return nor notice the Emperor's arrival.

"Do you have any confirmation of Lao and Xing?" asked the feline ahead of the goose servant.

"No, Master Ming," Kong shook his head. "I assume they didn't see Emperor Huangdi and Masters of Jade Palace."

"Very well, Kong," nodded Ming. "As soon as Huangdi comes, we will route them to display our belongings and rare sculptures from legendary warriors to buy us some time. After ten minutes, Shou starts his demonstration; you find Lao and Xing in the Valley of Peace. If you spot my students somewhere there, tell them that Emperor Huangdi is here with the Masters of Jade Palace."

"Yes, Master Ming."

Seven of the Nine focused their Chi Sao training on Ming's order. The feline strolled back and forth, expecting the arrival of Emperor Huangdi, including her oldest friend, whom she had known Shifu for many years. Ming remained calm despite being anxious inside her feelings when the feline focused on seven of the Nine practicing Chi Sao blocks.

Eight warriors, most villagers, and followers strolled on the road of Prosper Valley. Emperor Huangdi surveyed the wall, layered in blue bricks and decorated with a sign of Chi Sao forms, entitling students' names on the large door. A yin-yang, crafted with water and cloud forms, titled student members "Fellowship of the Nine." Above the door, Huangdi and the rest read the temple's name, "Shui Palace."

My grandfather's great-grandfather would have loved to see essentials, and this is where I will experience what I have never seen.

After clearing his throat, the water buffalo raised his hoof and tapped the gate.

The Nine's Master heard the gate knocking thrice, the introduction of Emperor Huangdi's presence.

All students of the Nine concluded their circular bridges of Chi Sao. "They are here. Form up," ordered Ming to seven of the Nine.

All seven lined themselves on the flat square as Ming instructed Kong and geese servants to invite several guests to the courtyard temple. Everyone sauntered through and observed this hardcore palace bearing this training arena to Po's mind. This panda was too excited, for the spirits' sake! He could not ebb his enthusiastic behavior when the Furious Five saw the Nine bowing the Emperor before his presence. Not long after all seven respected the buffalo, greeting him dearly, Tigress spotted the Nine's Master for the first time, drenching her cold heart and spine.

The Furious Five inspected one of the Nine members—the giant gray yak with a short brown mane. Ever since the desert was sometimes haunting in the rarest glimpse within the dream, the bug remembered an abandoned ship with rented sails perched in the middle of nowhere. Mantis, Crane, and the other three masters, Bear, Chicken, and Croc, had infiltrated the junk ship four years ago.

"Please tell me that's not Kai," Mantis pointed at the yak, his soft growl muttering with solemnity.

"Nope," Monkey disagreed while sauntering. "That yak looks similar but different with not-so-glowing jombie eyes."

"Yeah, I get that," the bug discerned. Mantis spotted all seven students. Only two did not appear. "And where are the other two?"

"I thought there were nine students. There are only seven of them," Viper considered and gasped at the enchanting wolf. "Look, Tigress—Oh, my! That student over there looks beautiful wearing her qipao!"

Tigress scanned her amber eyes to all seven students of the Nine standing forward and clasping their hands on the Fighting Square. She glimpsed to the right as if Tigress noticed low to high-rank sashes by the left and right in her point of view. The Five's alpha surveyed the wolf's sky blue qipao with green foliage and pink lotus flower on Lotus's upper chest.

The wolf student is exquisite.

The water buffalo approached the Fighting Square as Ming, in front of the Nine, bowed to him with a curtsey. "Emperor Huangdi," the Nine's Master summoned the Emperor's title. "Welcome to Shui Palace. I am Master Chen Ming, the Nine's Master. The descendant of Muy Tan Huang's Wing Chun student of martial arts."

"Greetings, Master Chen Ming," Huangdi addressed her with a nod. "I am honored to please you. My grandfather's great-grandfather was a Wing Chun master with Master Oogway. I accept your greetings."

Ming bent her head. "The honor is mine, my Emperor," she smiled after nodding. "In two minutes, your Grace, I shall allow you and your followers to show you my rarest sculptures, including my students' history. We will begin our demonstration in about ten minutes."

The Emperor nodded. The water buffalo sauntered on the front of the square as Huangdi foresees the seven students of the Nine.

"Hello, sister," a soothing, elder voice echoed behind Ming.

Ming turned to the Masters of Jade Palace, gathering together. Look how old and attractive she is! Po sparkled his eyes. The panda heard many exciting murmurs in front of the Five. None from his left side, Tigress's body, were not motioning that Tigress's eyes met the Nine's Master. Her healthy heart ascended as if she hesitated her thoughts and mumbled silently.

Ming chuckled and shook Shifu's paws. "Same look and shawl," the feline chuckled.

"Oh! So as yours," Shifu pointed to Ming's cobalt silk garment uniform with his pupils growing wide. The red panda was delighted as he embarked. "Ming. I am truly honored to greet you here. I like to introduce the Dragon Warrior. Po. Master Oogway's successor."

The panda stood forward, his heart thumping and feet tapping, shaking the old feline's claw. "WHOA!" Po beamed. "You look gorgeous, Master!"

"Pleasure to meet you, Dragon Warrior," Ming greeted the panda. "You look handsome."

Shifu gestured beside the Dragon Warrior. "And here I introduce the Furious Five: This is Crane," the red panda pointed at the avian, and so the rest of his students, "Viper, Monkey, Mantis, and here, this is Tigress."

Ming opened her mouth with a stun. "I know all the names," Ming beamed and gracefully approached them. She inspected one member and the next, with every form of the Five. "Tall and big wings," Ming examined the avian, motioning Crane's wings. "This one is unique. The avian has the potential of balance and defense." Crane shaded his red cheek, chuckling nervously.

Next to Crane, the green serpent showed no sharp teeth. The old feline buzzed her throat. "Hmm. Lovely — No arms, but she has exquisite dexterity."

"Woopsie," Viper stretched her grin with a blessing hiss, making Chen Ming chuckle.

The Nine's Master scanned Monkey first. She spotted the green insect on Monkey's shoulder, who gasped and crawled. "Small…"

Monkey burst his laugh and covered his mouth. Yeah, thanks a lot, Monkey. Mantis suppressed his chuckles. Ming continued. "The insect is capable of swiftness—his strength is substantial."

She now inspected Monkey. "Four quick hands. Monkey fits intermediate forms of agility and comedic personality; my neighbor mentioned your student before, Shifu." Ming continued as she noticed Monkey holding his laughable breath.

Shifu quickly grinned at his nervous students. The red panda balanced his vision toward his adoptive daughter, who witnessed and met the tiger's eyes. Ming stood in front of Tigress in silence. For a moment, their presence reunited the two felines; several people in China mentioned that all tigers were long gone, and Tigress was the only one who thought she would have been the last sole survivor—a marvelous creature.

Ming immediately remembered her sibling, who had the same height, fluffy white fur cheeks, and orange with black stripes.

Autumn leaves fall. Kites soar across the silver sky. Cubs and tigers sprint to a joyous playground near cherry blossom trees. The young feline, robing in her brown robe with a blue shawl, meets her sister — Yōuměi, a charming creature with amber eyes. Ming's brother-in-law, her sister's husband in his orange silk with a cerulean sash and black trousers, saunters across the sunflowers. Yōuměi handed a sunflower pot to Ming's son Shuǐ near the wooden house with an upward tile roof covered with pale snow. And both sisters, including Yōuměi's husband, beam their smiles.

"Unstoppable paws. Your student has a ferocity and a gentle heart," the Nine's Master detailed Tigress after recalling Ming's sister. The Furious Five Leader believed this cunning feline described her as strength and control. Ming stroked Tigress's claw. "Hello, Tigress. You may know me, perhaps. I am Chen Ming. Your mother's sister."

Tigress could not move her lips after her old aunt's claw patted hers. Ming's soft voice grew. "Oh, my sweet child. You have the same enchanting look, just like your mother's," Ming glanced at her more from Tigress's feet to her head, wondrously stunning. "One day, I will explain to you about your endearing parents."

"You have seven students, Ming," Shifu said. "Where are your grandson and your clever student?"

"Chen Xing and Lao are on their way," Ming answered after caressing Tigress's paw. "They are somewhere riding on a vessel, returning as soon as possible. Your students can sit on these chairs next to Emperor Huangdi."

The seven of Nine remained still on a fighting square. Ming allowed her students to continue their Chi Sao practice as the Furious Five observed them briefly. The Five and the Dragon Warrior strode across the sidewalk near the audience platform. Tigress revolved her head back; Ming stopped her amble. The feline couldn't stop gazing at the most gorgeous, lethal, and innocent student's eyes as her heart ascended and wobbled her eyes.

Shifu looked up beside Ming. "Ming? Are you okay?" Shifu asked, holding his sister's left claw.

The old feline's tears poured down her cheeks. "Oogway's blessings," she wept, sniffling. "Our daughter is just like my sister."

Chapter Text

Episode Two: Pure Awesomeness (6 - 17)

Chapter XII

Tofu

Ten Minutes Earlier

The Dragon Warrior's father, Li Shan, finished sweeping with his broom more than a hundred times near the restaurant's archway, starting from one area near the kitchen's dash and the end. After once called by the goose, he entered Mr. Ping's kitchen, bearing the iron pot, and placed it on the grill, lightly hissed with orange embers. "There you go, Mr. Ping."

"Thank you, Li," Mr. Ping grinned, happily clapping his wings on his chest. "Now, take a broom and clear some dust off my restaurant."

Li Shan peeped at the restaurant's cobblestone floor while arching his brow. "I cleaned the floor like thrice."

"Oh. Well, give more sweeps again. More customers are always on the march to here, expecting to see no dust clouds merging on their feet."

Ping and Li Shan saw pandas Dim and Sum saunter near the archway. One of the twins spoke out. "We'll be heading to Grandma Panda's house, Mr. Ping. We'll be back for an hour."

After giving their heads to nod on both pandas after the twins departed on the road, Li's side belly wrung. "Ow!"

The goose's chest flared with cold. "Li, are you alright?!"

Li braced his limbs on the wooden dash, grunting a little while massaging his love belly. "Just my muscle cramp."

"Here, take a seat."

Mr. Ping supported him and let Li sit on the oversized chair. Li stretched his body to one side and the other, taking deep breaths to relieve himself. "I'm sorry, Li. I pushed you too hard on that one," Mr. Ping regretted.

"It's okay. I can go further. I need a break for a few minutes."

"Let me help you with that."

Mr. Ping palmed on Li's love belly, his feathers humming its golden light. The pain spiked in his muscle, which was severely strained, and became lesser. Each subject's chi was worth relieving — each pulse from the goose's light swam through various muscle tissues, reverberating strokes and veins. Li Shan breathed in and out with his soothing sense of relief. "I'm good now, Mr. Ping. Thank you."

The goose withdrew his wing, worries spiking in his head. "We should have taken a ride with our son. Close this restaurant for a day."

"We need to keep your restaurant going," Li Shan advised. "At least you expect to pay your last rental fee two months from now?"

"Oh, yes. I must have forgotten about that one," Mr. Ping pondered, flattening his feathers under his beak. For a moment, he inspected Li before voices from the archway entered. Customers were entering, and the goose pardoned Po's dad. "Rest here, Li. I'll take care of my customers."

One by one, Mr. Ping poured his soup into one bowl, each relishing different tastes with pasta flavors to blend, as the goose put vegetables. Li Shan decided to keep moving forward, ensuring he could save time falling behind. He began to send a large tray with Ping's noodles, passing over dining tables toward villagers. A few newcomers (the deer and one bovine) inspected several pictures of the Masters of Jade Palace. One sweeper, which presented "The Dragon Warrior's Mop," had not only the two but citizens ponder Po, who used to work there. Interestingly enough, they persisted in defining the legacy of Mr. Ping's history and the adoptive son saving China.

Just then, a traveler in a hooded gray cotton cloak was infiltrating from the archway, swimming his head on planted ropes with colorful lanterns hanging above subjects. Mr. Ping peered at a visitor coming through, and Li Shan turned as if the elder panda glimpsed the mysterious visitor with a clouded tail, who observed paintings and banners of the Dragon Warrior. The goose readied for his note before the guest strolled close to the dash. "Hello, Mr. Ping," the traveler addressed, glinting his dawning eyes. "I like to have spice noodles and green tea. Make some extra sauce on the side."

Mr. Ping wrote a script to recall a list of the customer's food. "Okay. Is there anything you'd like to add, son?" Mr. Ping asked.

The traveler shook. "No. That will be it for today, sir," the traveler said. "And Mr. Ping, have you seen your son Po? I sent a message to him last night, letting him know I will meet him here."

"Are you a friend of Po's?"

"Yes," the traveler nodded.

"I'm afraid you missed him a while ago. He's heading to the Prosper Valley with the Furious Five and the Emperor," Mr. Ping notified the traveler. "Who are you?"

The hooded figure dismantled his traveling cape, wrapped in a full circle. Mr. Ping encroached his cold breath under his long throat, perceiving the familiar guest who was easily recognizable in true colors of gold circle patches on the feline's gray fur. A snow leopard, full-grown to the Dragon Warrior's height, had the exact facial recognition of Tai Lung. The visitor wore a brown, studded belt and a pair of lime trousers.

"PENG!" Mr. Ping gasped. "Wow, you've grown!"

Peng chuckled dearly as Mr. Ping rushed out of the kitchen door. "I'm just too tall around Po's height."

The goose simpered. "Look at you! Po and the Furious Five will see your new shape!" he embraced the young leopard. "It's good to see you, Peng!"

"It's good to see you too, Mr. Ping," Peng grinned, stroking the goose's back while hugging him.

"Come sit here," the goose offered Peng a seat at the second table. "I'll serve you your sustenance right away. I would like for you to introduce my son's father, Li Shan. And Li, this is one of our son's companions, Peng."

The old panda removed his bamboo hat with a genuine smile. "Wow, you must be my son's great friend!" Li Shan shook Peng's paw. "I am Li Shan, Po's father."

"It's my honor to meet you, sir," Peng introduced.

The snow leopard and the panda sat on their seats. Li Shan began speaking with the clouded feline when Peng put his wrapped cloak on the other chair beside him. "My son once spoke about you before. The one who challenged Temutai's nephew at a peaceful square and kung fu club, you created a faction. That's an incredible tale."

"Yeah," Peng nodded. "I created the Kung Fu club with my wife, Lian, to invite students to improve their knowledge of growth and fighting. Grandmaster Shifu accepts my permission to fulfill my faction across China, wherever I roam with my great love. Many masters use martial arts talents to defend villages and cities from bandits. I do for the club by presenting my wife and me to teach every villager to train Kung Fu to treat others respectfully. And by enabling to gain more students and villagers to learn, they can protect themselves."

"That is amazing," Li Shan was impressed. "I wish I could have seen everything."

"What's your story, Mister?"

That's a better start to tell him a tale. Li Shan nodded.

The tiger and peacock rode on the wooden junk boat, trekking on the rippling blue stream toward the Valley of Peace. Lao saw steep green trees and gentle wind that whispered with hissing foliage swarming among the mast and the river. The blood brothers observed the pink foliage from a Sacred Peach Tree above from the left, blossoms floating over their surroundings. Each leaf scented with peaches made Lao and Chen Xing break their grin, the peacock closing his eyes.

"These blossoms are from that tree over there?" Xing asked, lifting his arms a little.

"Ah. Impressive," the goose boatman who lived in the Valley of Peace simpered, remarking on the blooms that he recognized the meaning of the gentle breeze around them. "The Sacred Peach Tree of Heavenly Wisdom senses your presence. These foliages have called upon you, Masters Xing and Lao. He who planted his peach tree above the ridge near the Jade Palace sees purities in you."

"A tree?"

The goose chuckled. "Grandmaster Oogway."

The tiger gaped. "Oogway planted his peach tree? How many years?"

"Many moons, my dear fellow."

The Nine's Leader motioned his claws on blossoms, which glinted light roses upon him and his peacock brother, who continued to meditate in front of the small vessel. One of his claws hued foliages a speck of silver and returned its color, having Chen Xing break his grin again. No wonder how Lao and I are unique. But is anyone more distinctive than me? One of the Furious Five?

Just then, the wooden boat nearly reached a famous village in a Valley of Peace, only streaming across the side of the river. The Nine preferred to start sauntering near the eastern road to enter the Valley. Xing was amazed at the look of a village everywhere on this streaming water, and a boatman oddly peered at their blue clothes. The blossoms and flowers floated through Xing and Lao's surroundings as the boatman glided his ride near a bridge.

"So, you two people are from Master Ming's Shui Palace?" the boatman asked dearly.

"Yes," Xing answered. "Both my brother and I come from the Prosper Valley. Our village is charming. Great people, neighbors, the finest silk clothing, and my grandmother's rice restaurant. My people love Master Ming's special ingredient."

"Sounds like a better place to visit," the goose commented with curiosity. "Have you both tried Mr. Ping's Dragon Warrior noodles here?"

"My brother and I haven't before but will be willing to give the first taste," Xing said. "My grandmother's neighbor talked about that restaurant not long ago. According to her words, she said noodles from the Valley of Peace are actually 'awesome.'" Xing regarded a taste. Taste that his grandmother's neighbor from the clothing shop, an excellent friend of Master Ming, a former critic, had eaten various foods across China. Mrs. Yan described the flavor of butter and chopped vegetables that watered inside her mouth, sensing hot spices that spiked on her tongue and swallowed with a hot stream under her throat.

"Mr. Ping cooks very well. He is the chef expert cooking noodles and tofu," the boatman elucidated both warriors of the Nine to reason them and head Dragon Warrior Noodles and Tofu. "Give yourselves two a try. Perhaps one of these days, you'll be his customers who will always like to come and eat his famous noodles along with the Dragon Warrior."

"Wonderful," Xing nodded. "My brother and I are hungry right now, and we'll have a drink there at no time." He tapped his claws on his belly.

Oh, brother. You haven't stopped thinking about that food.

The peacock student offered a small chuckle while meditating when only a small wave of blossoms swam away on lustering ripples, his beak sensing several wafts that lurked across the Valley. Only a moment to contemplate Chen Xing's first tries for the past few minutes, his feline brother pardoned. "Lao, what do you think?"

Lao rose his crests, breathing in and out from his peace of mind, opening his eyes. "Certainly," the peacock nodded to his brother. "My feathers snarled like a bull. Sustenance is highly recommendable than speaking noodles."

Sustenance. Sure. Chen Xing thought when bending his eyebrows up and the other down. "Can you sing me a song about food?"

The peacock billowed his cheeks after bursting his chortle, his stomach beckoning a short growl. The tiger broke his grin but could not barricade his laugh under his breath. "By the Gods! Your stomach's been listening!"

The tiger's belly rumbled, making Chen Xing gasp, and his peacock brother menacingly stared at him.

"Oh, you were saying?"

The blood brothers guffawed.

The audience strolled through sculptures of Oogway and legendary warriors inside the Hall of Nine and Ancestors. Chen Ming only had the opportunity to have more time to perceive her grandson and her clever student arriving here in time to participate in a demonstration in front of the Emperor. This was the only first time her grandson was late, but never when he and the Nine had always arrived on time during missions and meetings. Chen Ming regarded two students behind schedule, like today or in a previous private tournament for the Nine's contest. Her thoughts were interrupted as if plenty of guests leveled ponders, observing the battle with halberds with billowing red banners behind her featuring Generals Oogway and Kai bounding off the cliff above thousands of black spears. Ming continued to converse with a whole audience, elucidating Oogway's first staff, including a double-blade replica belonging to a previous owner from his yak brother.

Po and the Furious Five watched the Nine link their arm bridges with circular motions outside Fighting Square, practicing Chi Sao. The cobra Fanshe clarified to Bao while the gorilla practiced with the gray yak and the blue Ox to form a circle whenever they comprehended the reptile's details. Water is your companion; the mind is like water. The Nine's Dancer Lotus sauntered on the Fighting Square as she stopped before the wooden dummy, embarking on her horse stance; she pressed her paw to one of the dummy's arms. By being in the center, Lotus bashed the front five times, bong sao (swing arm), impacting with a front kick, following bong sao combinations, and rapid straight punches.

Ooh! Aggressive and lovely!

Po inspected the female wolf wondrously, perceiving the warrior's strength but easily distracted by Lotus's looks. Next, the panda pondered the Nine's wooden dummy, which his red panda master clarified about the close-range encounters, mainly using models to enhance Wing Chun blocks. Immediately, the Five saw the elder tigress near the Nine's Quarter and finished the legendary sculpture history tour with the Emperor and Shifu, having several guests to express and contemplate ancient stories. Chen Ming ordered seven of her students to stroll to the Fighting Square once the demonstration went near. The Nine's Pirate Shou trembled his head, clasping his hooves after the Nine's Master volunteered him first for the only list of lower sash ranks to highest.

The Nine's Defender, Niu, keeping his posture to a greater substantial, examined the gallery of unfamiliar visitors in garments over the middle of the Emperor's seat, next to the Masters of Jade Palace the way he quickly recognized them. Further next to the gallery, with Emperor's guards in gold armor, emerged the bovine with red eyes in a gray council robe. His smile made the young ox draw his cold breath under his throat.

Dad? The son of Master Storming Ox inaudibly gasped.

Ming passed by the bovine master toward the bottom middle of the gallery, meeting the Masters of Jade Palace. Shifu stroked his long beard, reflecting on one of the Nine interestingly.

"We are intrigued by all of your students, my dear sister," the red panda regarded. "A student of yours who wields butterfly swords is familiar to Oogway's brother-in-arms."

Chen Ming hummed with surprise, glancing at the Nine's Pirate. "Shou is one of the Nine's substantial students, Shifu. He is an expert swordsman who can educate his brothers and sisters wielding swords. Shou was a pirate, followed by his father and the rest by the end of the Great War before them. My student was marooned to the sea when he discovered his father became wealthy by looting treasures across the ocean and beaches. Shou once informed us that his father had gone poisoned after ravenously seeing gold. And one of the worst parts is the family tree, which Shou never knew was the generation of his ancestors."

His ancestors?

Shifu reflected and turned with his perplexing head. "What do you mean by that, Ming?" asked Shifu.

"Shou's greatest legacy of great-grandparents was unique. . ." Ming reflected on Shou's memory. The elder tigress used to seek anyone's future and the past in which Ming foresaw the yak's parents. In the heart of the pirate yak's ship manifested one of the oldest paintings of other yak ancestors. The feline discovered Shou's childhood, which surveyed dark halls within the hull, followed by every yak ancestor wielding their weapon of choice. Browsing toward the last picture near the captain's bridge led a double spear weapon in the lime-blue sky, bore by a familiar character with long horns and a brown mane in battle armor. "One of Shou's ancestors was the supreme warlord who fought alongside our master."

Very interesting.

Shifu recalled this haunting figure behind a surrounding jade at dusk, blessed with the orange horizon and smaragdine clouds thrived — knowing such horrors to see Kai spiraling jade knives who opposed his students across the Master Garden. A spirit warrior yanked these links that your heart was dragging your chest, drawing too close to the vibrant sun, until you felt nothing, vortexing your chi to his servant and jade zombies.

He wobbled his head into reality, hardly ignoring the sense of the jade slayer wreaking havoc on the side of the Jade Palace, which the beast hurled his former brother's statue. "Does your student know?" asked Shifu.

Chen Ming closed her lips with concern. "No. He hasn't. I looked into his memories of his family. On what I saw unexpectedly from Shou's bloodline is too emotional."

The red panda nodded and scanned the Fighting Square. "I see."

Just then, Kong notified Ming that the demonstration was about to begin. The Emperor sat on a giant gold chair with two great guards and Storming Ox, including a gray impala. Shifu wished Ming good luck on every student's demonstration, and Ming had no other option but to let the Nine's Pirate Shou commence his butterfly sword persistence.

The Nine's Dancer swam her head to the left, envisioning the whereabouts of his two brothers, but focused her fighting style as the people within the gallery chanted their applauses. Hurry, guys.

The drums rolled from farmer pigs; the Nine's Pirate stepped on a square using butterfly swords. Kong was keen to give a short glimpse of the Nine's Master, who began to beckon her nod. Now, her signal was the time for the goose to fly. The Nine's Messenger sprang and soared over Shui Palace tiles and beyond.

Standing amidst the square, Shou offered his respective bow to Emperor Huangdi, commencing the demonstration. Chen Ming uttered to her student. "Shou. Show the Emperor your experience of Baat Jam Do."

Baat Jam Do presents a close-range pair of knives combat as "eight-cut swords," known as "butterfly swords." Easy enough, the Nine's Pirate thought.

The junk sail disembarked near the Valley of Peace's dock. The boatman flung the rope knot onward the pole, leaning his boat toward the side. Once the junk finally moored, the two students went to the riverbank, observing the eastern Guilin Mountains, which thrived with light velvet green specks, houses, and apartments lying ahead. Two students filled their minds with such spirits about this land of peace familiar to their homeland, pondering one temple that perched among steep ridges, which glinted with emerald, red, and gold above white streaks of clouds.

"That appears to be astonishing," Lao hummed interestingly. "This Valley mentions peace, something similar to our village being prosperous. Would you agree, brother?"

"Oh, yes. Very interesting," the tiger agreed.

Two students offered the goose boatman some yuans and tips, to which he brought his great smile once more. "Thank you so much, you two. It means so much more."

"Aye. Thanks for the ride, sir. Take good care," Chen Xing waved him goodbye.

"You too!"

The two students embarked, strolling on the west road, onward to the entrance of the Valley of Peace, which the cobblestone path ahead swarmed with cherishing villagers walking randomly. Moving carts with various tools and sustenance roamed, crackling their metal wheels. Curious enough to wander across the Valley of Peace, mentioning several goods and deeds, but knowing one place where they could start a story where Chen Ming wanted her grandson to meet one who raised someone special.

Chen Xing and Lao ambled onward the long path that apartment complexes with merchandise stood firm, merging with children of geese, pigs, antelopes, and pandas. Several shop signs appeared while only leading straight down the western road, passing grocery shops wafted with fruits, bread, and teas. Giggles and wonderers swarmed over the two travelers, amusing great smiles as this village offered prospering friendliness to strange guests in cobalt silk robes. The two were not strangers, as one of the runt pandas with a cherry blossom ear giggled. "Fluffy kitty!"

The Nine's Leader chuckled. "So adorable."

Other children across the cobblestone street ran toward them but were left with six pandas behind. Their mothers revealed their faces, which Lao caught their widening glances, and he reminisced of his mother's wary face. "They are afraid of me," the Nine's Brilliance regarded. "Have they ever spotted someone who was more fearful?"

"Remember what our grandmother said, brother. The past remains to be staying behind. It would be best if you continue forward," advised Chen Xing.

You're right, brother.

The pathway continued to fill pedestrians walking in their direction, heading to Mrs. Chow's gift shop, Tea House, their homes, and many more. A few beckoned with half of the grins, and the other half stared in puzzlement at the two who were new, simply recognizing the familiar tiger with dawning red and black stripes, and beside the tiger, well, only the peacock's train was blue. Lao ignored some of the pandas' stares from the red balcony as the two warriors adapted their focus to the children's giggles, unable to stop smiling.

Lao felt his chest stiff and crests rising as if the pandas murmured their voices a little loud. It was awkward when a few pandas foresaw him that was familiar to the other peacock. "Relax, Lao," Xing calmed him. "They're just curious about us. We're their neighborhood townsfolk."

Lao flickered his crests as whispers thrived behind him. "Even curious to see those who had a history before, they might wonder if someone who looks like me."

"Nay. What does your heart tell you?"

Lao kept his thoughts swimming while the two nearly reached Mrs. Chow's gift shop, where the store's board creaked, and within the sow's store, merged with blossom flowers and silk sheets with ribbons. "I am not a monster," Lao said.

One of the small pandas with green pants gaped. "WHOA! What kind of a panda are you?" the boy rolled around with children of pigs, deer, and geese sprinting around Xing and Lao's surroundings.

"My panda brother right here is my best friend," Chen Xing introduced a child with a jester spirit, making Lao billow his cheek.

Several children giggled but had called from their parents, who pardoned two warriors to give their new visitors a space. "I think happiness is such a thrill, after all," lightly grinned Lao.

"I told you," the tiger knuckled Lao's shoulder.

The two of Nine smiled at a peaceful living land of great neighborhood folks in Valley of Peace as they strode through a long path. In Lao's mind, he considered liking to place a visit to any rental apartments, including Dragon Warrior Noodles and Tofu, just up ahead, about a block away. Lao's neck and head are curved. Just then, a group of the Pandiva clan in silk hanfu garments of green, purple, and light blue embarked to flirt their figures, wobbling their hips side by side while covering half their faces with colorful paper fans. Their main sister in red-rose robes with sky-blue sash surveyed the two, signaling her eyelashes.

"Looks like someone's attractive to you," Xing pointed.

"Preposterous!" Lao disagreed softly.

"Oh, come on. This woman looks fabulous. She's asking for a date."

"Nonsense!" he flagged his wings down.

Mei Mei ambled while flirting with the tiger and peacock's trail. She hummed, hastily rotating her sash stick over the peacock's body, dragging him before her. "Brother?!"

"Oh. How charming you are," Mei Mei craned her head toward Lao's beak, her cherry fragrance wafting his beak. "I know what you are thinking."

"What?" Lao stammered.

"To settle your mood with a fluffy kitten, this will overpower your thoughts wildly, honey."

"No, please!"

Panda ladies crooned their hums with chuckles in front of their fans, witnessing Mei Mei spiral her sash, which made Lao spin wildly. About more than seven times, Lao wobbled his dizzy head, almost tumbling his talons as he balanced his stance. Chen Xing gestured his claw at Mei Mei's, gently kissing her fingers. Mei Mei revealed her genuine grin. "Oh. Handsome warrior. Thanks for the blessing, Kitty."

"You look marvelous, my lady," the tiger simpered.

"A little help here, Xing!" Lao rotated his head while leaning elsewhere, but his feline brother got to him first, relieving him to walk forward. "This is absurd!"

The tiger chuckled. "You'll live," Xing said, patting his back. They began walking toward the stream bridge.

For a moment, they stayed within the heart of the Valley's road, sharing their views of the phenomenal scenery with a lengthy stairway toward the top ridge of the Jade Palace. In time, while recovering his head from near-nausea, the peacock glanced to his right and discovered the top of the archway's board, displaying a gold dragon with a red scroll, written with black ink strokes "Dragon Warrior Noodles and Tofu." In between the titles were familiar icons of yin-yang and spiral clouds. Standing amidst paintings was the panda in a black and white garb with a straw hat and a billowing gold cloak in the air.

Chapter Text

Episode Two: Pure Awesomeness (6 - 17)

Chapter XIII

Visitors in Blue

"Who was the guy you were looking for, Peng?" asked Li Shan with his thoughtful idea.

Peng finished devouring his noodles and placed his chopsticks in the bowl. "My uncle. He was Shifu's student who wanted to become the Dragon Warrior, but Oogway saw something in his heart that the title did not fit him. Darkness was within him, made my uncle grief mad, almost sabotaged half of the Valley."

Li Shan had given thoughts on the young leopard when a soft wind danced bamboo wind chimes. Peng wished not to speak his uncle's name publicly, and many had heard this tale long since the village's tragedy happened. Li Shan's son Po rarely mentioned the Great Dragon to his dad; they only had to speak privately instead of letting the wind carry voices elsewhere. "I think I've heard of this guy before; not too crazy about your uncle," said Li.

"Yeah, so have I," nodded the young leopard. "I wanted some answers from the villagers before I had to speak with Po to find out the truth about what my uncle went through."

"I see."

Mr. Ping in the kitchen kept dicing garlic, lettuce, and carrots using his sharpened chef knife before sweeping the rest into the iron bowl. Several whispers and public tones in the restaurant deafened, letting Peng, including Mr. Ping, follow customers' glances at the archway's entrance. His whole back swirled with ice. "Curious. I've never seen these two warriors before."

"What is it?"

Li Shan turned his head to the entry. For the first time, knowing that the old panda wished never to see one who nearly took everything away from him, he spotted one of the two guests in a voluminous cobalt robe, the exact pose of the bird's beak, but those eyes and train were not equivalent. No. That cannot be him. He quietly stammered his breath. He recognized the name that brought loyalty and empathy. Lord Feng?

Villagers sitting at their tables while eating their meals began to inspect newcomers, who gazed at decorated lanterns above and several posters of the Masters of Jade Palace on both structures. The tiger and peacock kept their heads roaming on familiar objects, avoiding most eyes from villagers, who were whispering. "Looks like this restaurant is the right place. What do you think, brother?" Chen Xing asked the bird.

"It's luxurious," Lao perceived.

Chen Xing suppressed his laugh. "You don't see gold and reflective structures here, eh?"

Amazingly astounded, the peacock scrutinized the object that sparked his thought. "The Dragon Warrior's mop. How thoughtful."

The tiger drew closer to gaze at the Furious Five paintings, starting one and the next. One interest that Chen Xing always wished to fly in his dream was the avian with a straw hat. Crane balanced his firm stance with his single foot, the other darting a high kick to the sky. The insect soared above the spiral clouds; Xing could hear the insect chirping his wings. Small yet deadly to combat the bug. The green serpent with a ribbon sash danced her fluidity breaks, her slithers wringing, which the cloth wrapped around the gorilla bandit in shiny silver armor. Monkey lept into the spike round's hole. The last picture made him silently breathe in, drawing his head close to the only striped feline in a red sleeveless hanfu with a lotus flower.

By the Gods. Her face — Her face reminds me of my mom.

"You okay, brother?"

Behind the Nine's Leader, Lao asked with heartfelt concern. He saw only the tiger breaking his short grin with a nod. "Yeah. Let's order food, shall we?"

"You'll likely see the Furious Five on day one, brother. You'll see."

"I know. I wish that I had so many questions. And you know who Nana and I get to see her."

The Nine embarked to greet visitors who spread murmurs over them, wondrously expressing the uniform fashions they never recognized the blue, which the hue presented optimism and growth. Li Shan merely dodged his concern to mask his solemn mentality but gave a welcoming posture to the two warriors instead. "Ni hao," greeted the tiger to the panda, and both Li and Peng offered them a nod.

After the Nine stood before the kitchen's dash, the leopard drew his head close to Po's dad. "Are you okay, Mister?" whispered Peng. "You must have seen a ghost or something."

Li cleared his throat. "I knew one who I befriended with before. Just had a blast from the past."

Mr. Ping finished blending noodles in the iron pot, meeting two warriors in front as Lao and Chen Xing relished the smell of pasta flavor wafting closer. "Welcome to Dragon Warrior Noodles and Tofu, my newest customers. What elegant robes you have!" the goose remarked, bearing his notebook and a small black paintbrush. "How can I help you serve?"

"I like to have two tofu buns," Xing read the menu beside Mr. Ping as the goose wrote down the orders. "Two large dumplings and two old spice noodles. I like to have an extra sauce for my buddy on one of the two noodles. Lao, do you want some sauce on a side?"

"Yes," Lao nodded.

"And two green teas," Xing added. "That will be the end of our checklist."

Mr. Ping finished writing a list and gazed at the tiger with curiosity.

"Excuse me, sir. You look like one of the Furious Five. I've heard Master Tigress has been looking for tigers throughout her life. Are you related to her?"

And both Ming and I have been.

"Maybe?" Xing guessed. "I don't think Master Tigress is related to me, but she reminds me of someone I knew. She's my motivation."

"Hmm. You both look like students to me. What kind of concept are you two learning?" Mr. Ping grinned, brightening his eyes.

The Nine's Leader grinned. "We study Wing Chun. It's a unique fighting experience of martial arts, compared to Kung Fu, which my brother and I also study."

"Oh? Wing Chun? My son's intrigued about that concept; the same goes for his father here, too."

"Our class is far superior to learning simple to mastery strategies by training on physical contact within close quarters," Lao expressed. "The palace welcomes any soul to learn Wing Chun. Two nine of us, we call ourselves Fellowship of the Nine. The Prosper Valley's guardians."

Li Shan was sipping his hot tea, and the water submerged his throat, making him cough. "Whoa! Let me help you, Li," the leopard offered the panda some support, patting Li's back thrice.

"So, who are you, my new customers?" Mr. Ping asked the two.

"I am Chen Xing, sir. The Nine's Leader," the tiger beckoned the goose's wing, simpering. "And this is my closest best friend, my peacock brother Lao. The Nine's Brilliance."

The peacock shook Mr. Ping with gratitude. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Mister—"

"Ping. Mr. Ping. It's nice to meet you two, Chen Xing and Lao."

"Pardon me, you guys."

The two followed the leopard's voice to their right. "Did you say you guys are from the Prosper Valley?"

The tiger regarded the leopard's yellow eyes with perception. "Yes. The Valley of Peace's neighborhood townsfolk."

Li Shan cleared some of his harsh coughs. "Po. My son is with the Furious Five. They are heading down to your village."

Xing's stomach wrung, and he felt his back clasp with rime. He and his peacock brother turned to themselves with profound surprise and haste. "Brother, the Masters of Jade Palace are coming to visit the Shui Palace!"

"We didn't know they were heading to the village," Chen Xing shook, arching his brows.

The bell gonged. Villagers raised their ears and heads, recognizing the warning bell's chimes. Lao and Xing had only known their village's bell when their home was under siege. They widened their eyes to themselves as if they had never seen the Valley of Peace situation. One gray goose in a green robe soared down from the sky and announced all the villagers. Peng and many citizens apprehended the warning bell as a goose villager shrieked after landing.

"Help! Crocodile bandits are attacking the Valley!" terrified goose villager.

"Where are they?" Peng asked after the snow leopard removed his cape and placed it on the chair.

"Near a block from my clothing store!" the villager answered. "Fung and his gangs are attacking!"

"Let's get to your store," Li Shan pointed when he joined Peng. "We'll stop them."

Both Li and Peng sprinted out of Mr. Ping's noodle restaurant. Chen Xing felt his stomach rumble, and he stroked his belly. "Sorry. It looks like I'll eat later."

"Let's go," Lao bobbed his head once. He and his brother pardoned Mr. Ping and ran out of the archway and through the cobblestone road, following Li Shan and Peng. Terrifying villagers scattered in alleys, some Pandiva clans merging toward the west.

Crocodile bandits stole plenty of metal and yuans near a villager's clothing store. Their leader shouted at them as they barged into any stores across, rupturing the properties with their weapons before looting villagers' money. Not aware of their surroundings, the crocodiles could hear feet sprinting nearby, and their leader in red trousers glared at the two.

"Fung!" the snow leopard Peng shouted the crocodile leader.

Crocodiles turned, and Fung flashed his eyes, unveiling his grim look. "You again," Fung pointed, waving a signal command at them. "Let's dance right at them, guys!"

"I have to leak!" One of the bandits excused.

Widening his eyes momentarily, Fung snapped. "NOOO!" he clenched and threw his helmet on the floor. He wore it again. "There's no time! Attack!"

The fight shook the whole block. Peng spiraled a kick above as two bandits repelled; Li Shan swept his broom to plenty of bandits' legs. Peng bashed some who went closer to the snow leopard, clobbering triple kicks. Next, a Pandiva founder arrived, smashing the bandit's cheek with a nun-chuck. Reptile gangs surrounded all three villagers; Peng continued brawling with most dragon swirl punches and kicks with a leopard style of Kung Fu. A crocodile bandit wielding a blade almost plunged Li Shan while Mei Mei disarmed a sword from him. Fung managed to strike Peng's body with his spike tail and hit Li Shan's front chest. The old panda crashed on the floor and struggled, and a feather blade drew through the crocodile's black dagger.

Chen Xing united with Mei Mei and thumped a dagger bandit with a one-inch punch — Lao spun his feather blades toward the bandit's dagger. Most of the bandits tripped over from the impact. Fung broadened his stunning eyes of never before seen two students who arrived on time.

"NO! Not stripes again!" Fung grimaced while directing the two of Nine. His eyes darted to the peacock of the cobalt train. "Shit. You cannot be that guy from Gongmen City!"

"Mind your voice, and surrender!" the peacock defied.

Fung gesticulated his fist. "GET THEM!"

Peng, Mei Mei, and Li Shan continued to advance with the two; Xing was invincible once most bandits mainly attacked the feline and peacock. Xing deflected several sucker punches with hundreds of Chi Sao blocks — Bong Sao, knife-palm strike onto their throats, and Lao parried feather blades on daggers, which two reptiles swirled toward the bird. Sidekick, bong sao with knuckle strike, and palm hit towards crocodile's cheek. Peng struck through gangs surrounding the snow leopard, and Lao spun his train to every bandit after Peng leaped forward; most bandits who tried to attack the snow leopard tripped over.

Lao forcefully engaged plenty of reptiles when he thrashed his kicks, repelling with wings and fiercely slitting the bandit's dagger. Peng diverted several limb swings and one tail nearly slashing his head; the leopard ducked, plunging fast blows on his chest incredibly, and the fourth blow of his high kick uppercutted Fung in the air. Lao drew his rope dart from his robe and snatched Fung in mid-air.

"Get down!" Lao yanked Fung down to the road, instantly wrecking his front body with a harsh thud.

Three bandits stood still as if their perplexing thoughts climbed: Either fallback or continue fighting. At first, Lao expected their withdrawal, only to spare themselves instead. They briefly looked at themselves and went for the peacock. Lao deflected their weapons, which tried to plunge him; he collided with a fierce three possible picks against one by one: front kick, sidekick, and jon fan.

Peng observed two students he had never seen before except in the noodle restaurant after Lao defeated the three remaining bandits. Mei Mei gazed at Xing and Lao with an attractive expression while steadily grasping a nun-chuck.

"You guys are impressive!" Peng unveiled his priceless look, widening his eyes. "Who are you two?"

"I'm Chen Xing, the Nine's Leader," identified the tiger, pointing to the peacock before looking at Fung. "And my peacock brother Lao, the Nine's Brilliance. We are from Prosper Valley, your greatest neighborhood townsfolk."

"Greetings," Lao greeted the snow leopard, turning to Li Shan. "Are you alright, sir?"

The young peacock's voice made Li Shan think of the late Lord of Gongmen, who had blue feathers and a train dressed in hues of the ocean and red lines. Li Shan nodded. "I am alright. Thank you."

Xing gripped Fung's chest armor. "What's your big hurry here in the Valley of Peace? Who are you?" Xing demanded.

"Tigress, you got Fu Manchu beard? Are you secretly a guy?"

Chen Xing rumbled his throat. "I'm not the one who you think she is," the tiger shook his head.

"HELP!"

All heads turned to the black pig villager who dashed from the alleyway across North while squealing. "Bandits are robbing my Tea House!"

"Are they friends of yours barging in the Tea House?"

"All my boys want is rob too poor to feed the—No!—to feed the gang."

"Not today," Xing released Fung's chest armor. Chen Xing and Lao scanned frightened villagers at the next intersection, scampering away. "Where's the Tea House at?" Xing inquired the leopard.

"I know the place," Peng answered him. "I'll show you guys to the Tea restaurant. I can sense heavy resistance from boar bandits."

"Mei Mei and I will handle these crocodiles," Li Shan pointed at the small block section. "You three will go there with my twin nephews. They are nearby near the streamside, living with Grandma Panda."

"We'll find them," said Peng, then told Xing and Lao to lead the snow leopard from behind. "Follow me!"

The peacock, tiger, and snow leopard sprinted through the northern complex paths after dispersing Mei Mei and Li Shan behind struggling crocodiles. Mei Mei heard a whimper beside her as Fung raised his knee and head. She ultimately battered her nun-chuck to his head. Whack!

"I'm in love. . ." Fung spun his neck as the bright rainbow revolved above his head, glimpsing over Mei Mei, and flattened to the dirt.

Chapter Text

Episode Two: Pure Awesomeness (6 - 17)

Chapter XIV

Tea House

The three warriors sprinted near the stream across the cobblestone bridge, searching for Po's cousins that Li Shan pointed to look for them. As Peng called the twins, both pandas in the clay building with upward tiles went out from the brown door and spotted the snow leopard, the tiger, and the peacock waving at them. Ultimately, only they recognized one of Po's friends to support. The twins greeted the Nine and accepted some support from Chen Xing and Lao, while all Masters of Jade Palace were absent to stop the incursion.

The four followed the leopard to the next bridge, where several Valley citizens scampered into the heart of the village, screaming for help.

All five sneaked to the Tea House as they mounted on a wall structure beside the red gate. Ahead, green bamboo structures using a heavy metal pole barricaded the entrance door of the three-story building. The twins peered at multiple windows opened briefly, and one of the bandits shut one shutter with a low grunt.

Peng pointed to a villager on a top left corner window. "Over there," he guided all eight eyes at the dark blue dame who waved her feathers at them. Lao and Xing glimpsed the geese as a dark green crocodile snatched a villager and slammed the window closed. A gigantic Boar carrying a long stick with a ball and spikes gazed through most square buildings as all five ducked down their heads. After a short time of looking, the massive boar infiltrated the Tea House after a lead bandit knocked a large wooden to the left flank and now shouted the gang to barricade the next entrance.

Frightening voices within a three-story Tea House roared. "Looks like these bandits are holding off villagers inside," Peng regarded. "They're using them as hostages."

"They're robbing a cash box and everyone's money!" a goose villager screamed from behind.

Lao caught looking above the building's red roof. Sensing multiple windows as the peacock found one above, a large window with dark surroundings inside could manage to fit Lao. "Xing and I go above, and you three go below," Lao informed, pondering his new idea to infiltrate. Then he palmed Xing's back of his left shoulder. "Remember the plan of mine? As above, so below, Xing?"

Xing gave a thought, recalling the Nine's as above, so below procedure. The tiger noticed his brother's plan as if Xing stood in Mrs. Yan's clothing apartment and watched Lao enter the window on the second floor while soaring or climbing. Xing grinned. "Great idea," the tiger nodded while Peng and the twin pandas missed their scheme. "Lao and I have a plan."

Slammed fist; coins dribbled like a river. The clan of Boars spat curses on frightening villagers, forcing them onto the ground. "STAY DOWN! SHUT UP!" one of the boar bandits shoved a giant pig in a gray robe toward the table, flipping him off guard. Plenty of crocodile bandits over the counter searched some safe chest somewhere inside the Tea House. Three geese, two pigs, and two rabbits, including a terrifying child bunny with her mother held through under mahogany dashes. Most bandits thought the Furious Five and Dragon Warrior were never late to save this village. Many crocodiles and boars, including a fluffy panda, reconsidered the Masters of Jade Palace's whereabouts.

A gray boar with a square jaw and black mohawk in a dark brown sleeveless shirt urged the alpha hog. "We better hurry, boss. Those goons from Jade Palace will be here any moment now."

"They'll face us soon enough," a giant boar said, glaring at his comrade. "If any of them attempt to save these people, they'll grieve their dead people in this Tea House."

One of the large boars battered fists on walls, two crocodiles hammering their tails, smashing tables. One reptile and two hogs flipped rabbits and pigs as their pockets poured out of yens on brown bags. Vexation was their type, and their hunger devoured villagers; intimidating the eyes of innocence satisfied them. The Masters of Jade Palace would have handled the situation quickly if they had been here. Only five were up to this dangerous circumstance: save every hostage without getting killed.

Lao ascended through the large opening spot. Dim and Sim crept through the right side of the restaurant. Next to the peacock near the opened window, Chen Xing waited for Peng while the snow leopard returned his cloak from Mr. Ping's restaurant to disguise himself. Peng's true dream seemed similar to Po's trance of becoming a Dragon Warrior in controlling the chaos of rumbling battle and outraging bandits inside a restaurant's large house. Peng immediately knocked the entry's barricade, fragmenting it into bits.

Many bandits turned to the front door. "Who is that?" a lightweight boar pointed to a traveler.

The figure in a hooded, cotton-gray cloak entered, passing most collateral tables and chairs. Boars and crocodiles began to ponder their perplexing heads, warily eying on the guest not from here, as one of the boars was aware of him. One reptile grasped a bunny villager's feet and wobbled him as if yuans dribbled out of his pockets. Bandits peered at the traveler when thoughts piled and flooded with suspicion, their hands clutching the blade hilts.

Xing and Lao above sneaked through supporting woods below the roof, observing hostages at the following structure beside the dash table. Peng searched for one good table with only a portion of a few scrapes, beginning to sit on the mahogany chair.

"Hey! Hoodie! Get lost!" a gray boar wavered his fist ahead of the guest.

A giant hog palmed his chest. "Relax. I've seen this guy before. Give him a drink."

A gray boar snapped his amber eyes at a rabbit on the wooden dash. "You heard him! Serve tea!"

"Yes, sss—sir!" Quivering his arms and paws wasn't easy enough for a rabbit, a co-owner of a goose who ran away outside.

Mumbling his throat, a tan rabbit in a light-brown robe poured a large mug of tea, which his teapot was clinging to the outer circle. "COME ON!" a gray boar rushed him.

"One tea for the guest," a rabbit offered, and a boar shoved him to the next counter after he grabbed the guest's mug, sauntering him toward the newcomer. Many bandits surrounded Peng, their heads and misty eyes glaring at a serene, cautious traveler. Peng guzzled the green tea as one colossal boar with brown and red spikes ambled when bandits moved their spaces.

"Boy, we ain't as dumb as you should have traveled elsewhere. If I was you, you should take a walk, find another place to drink," a gray boar bent his muzzle, bursting his watery mouth.

"Give this guy a refill," said a boss, turning his comrade an ugly stern. A giant hog clenched a boar's wrist. "Not you. . ." he glared at one of the crocodiles, who stood with a group of green reptiles. "Gahri. Fetch the teapot."

The panda twins embarked on their position on the side of the Tea House apartment as both carried something useful to ambush bandits inside. Something small and tactical. Xing and Lao saw two rabbits—mother and child—tremble in fear after a gray boar smashed his fist on the table near Peng. Fung's right-handed comrade in baggy dark lime trousers beckoned his nod, strolling toward the wooden counter where a rabbit was. As not a single bandit checked for villagers here, a mother rabbit raised her face by staring at two warriors above the ceiling beams. Xing gestured to her a quiet sign when he pressed his pointer finger to his lips. A mother and child nodded.

Careful enough to approach the guest with a hog boss, Gahri refilled the guest's mug by half. The crocodile scrutinized his draped cloak, unveiling a clouded fur and black tip curving at the end of the cape.

Shit. . . It's that boy.

Gahri gently stepped back as his heart pulsed with shrilling ice, only masking his glance. A hog boss kept his posture at the guest.

Peng swallowed his green tea as many bandits gained their heads on him closer. Xing, Lao, and the panda twins prepared to unleash their advantage.

"I think your hood gets everyone here nervous, newcomer," said a boar boss, craning his head near him. His breath of Swiss cheese impacted Peng's muzzle. "May I remove your hood and show your face around here?"

The guest gestured his clouded digit of one moment while sipping his last round of tea, and he placed the cup on the table, swallowing a whole. "No need. I'll reveal my face here. I believe some of you can recognize me."

The traveler removed his hood, revealing the figure's clouded head, black ears, and yellow eyes. A whole group around him and the table filled with thunderous gasps, dispersing away. "I'll be damned," surprised a boar boss, who roughly vibrated his voice. "It's the Great Dragon's nephew."

Peng struck a single straight punch on a giant boar's muzzle, propelling him in the air. Many surrounding bandits were dragged away. "Now!" Peng signaled his claw, and the twins threw two small balls with sparks in the window, and Chen Xing and Lao flung theirs. Puffs of white smoke soared in after a tiny blast of bombs set aside on the ground. Xing and Lao leaped on the table, and united Peng and two panda twins infiltrate from behind.

Dim and Sum called out the hostages, escorting them all away from the affray as if plenty rushed over the middle; a few villagers dashed to the doorway and windows. One reptile bandit nearly sliced Dim's throat after Sum pivoted that sword away using blocks of Kung Fu, swiveling turns. Peng diverted boar bandits that surrounded him, including the two of Nine, wherever Xing managed Chi Sao and Lao, battering kicks only and wings to parry from limbs and weapons.

Lao ducked several cuts from a first boar bandit twirling his spear. An aggressor burst his scorching yell from his throat. Outraged, he was savaging himself that boar had been underestimated peacock for the first time. A single cut near Lao's made an assailant race his clouded mind, briefly staring at the peacock's slash. The blue silk split the opening and stitched itself like meat flesh. The peacock visioned a standard image with a motion of plodding. Lao immediately bounded above and clobbered a boar's cheek, snatching his sword. Ironically, while fighting, Xing and Peng did not glimpse the peacock's flexible speed and reaction, and Lao hammered a crocodile's spike ball above him.

九

Shou, The Nine's Pirate / Baat Jam Do

Slice attack, butterfly knives, eight cuts introduce. The yak pirate penetrated most of the dummies over the fighting square. Shou positioned another model into the action against the gentle beast; Shou sliced many daggers and a long, heavy stick to use more significant advantage combat by moving side by side and forward. Shou's vital role in sword combat preferred the yak's interest in such reasons as metal-to-metal weapons of choice since Shou's pirate days in the sea from the southeast.

The Masters of Jade Palace encountered one who nearly ruptured their monastery and almost brought their chi energies to the Spirit Warrior. Smaragd hues touched the whole of China as if ghostly streaks of green fiddled their whole bodies, rummaging every prey's heart that was boiling. Billowing clouds reverberated low chuckles of the Jade Slayer, making the Dragon Warrior twitch his head once. He regarded the Nine's Pirate wielding butterfly swords as familiar to jade knives; Tigress inspected her amber eyes at Shou, who spiraled his gray body on the dummy's chest at his left ankle.

九

The dark crocodile bandit flung sucker punches toward the tiger, simultaneously performing Xing parry pivots and straight fists. The feline sidestepped and did a knife palm under the reptile's throat, suppressing his gasp of air for a brief period. He carried and slammed the dark crocodile bandit near the mahogany dash table, fractured in half.

"Rip them all down!" a giant boar spat at bandits with his brown and yellow teeth.

Tables and chairs are cut down into fragments. Xing and Lao decided to parry swords and most fierce blows hastily. Lao repelled a forceful dagger from another reptile bandit, trying to plunge the peacock. Dim and Sum across the restaurant escorted plenty of villagers away as both bunnies hid under the table dash. Peng spun a kick in mid-air using a hooded cape, blinding close to who was gaining on him. Each shift and the next from his cloak, which billowed with a slash on their faces, disoriented one another, letting a few bandits roar in terror; two crocodiles pounded off their soaring leap after the spinning kick. A lightweight boar snarled with his yellow teeth after he caught in a naked left eye toward panda twins.

Lao shut one bandit from his right side after a forceful sidekick. As soon as the peacock gazed at a lightweight Boar that a bandit tossed the dagger, Lao's feather blade penetrated the weapon at an instant angle gap between Dim's neck; two swords crossed away from the twin panda. Bandit's knife was thrust into the side of the wooden wall.

"HOW?!" a boar was baffled with surprise, glimpsing at the peacock who had thrown feather knives to his young age and used swinging arms with accuracy at Shui Palace. Lao pinned his hoof to the ground, swimmingly twirling his other foot on his muzzle. The hog was hurling on the wooden structure in between both columns.

"That's a cool blade, dude!" Dim was impressed with the peacock carrying feather blades. "Thanks, buddy! I owe you one!"

The peacock smirked at him with a nod.

Xing growled to one of the bandits; the feline did a front kick to the crocodile. Xing dodged many sharp blades as Lao defended his striped feline brother, and Peng managed to brawl enemies all over the Tea House, one by one. A few bandits diverted away when heroes progressed aggression; these gangs were helpless to make the alternative approach.

A mother rabbit rushed with her daughter, and Dim and Sum guarded them. A ferocious dark emerald crocodile bandit in red baggy pants intervened at the front of the door. Dim and Sum could not repel the bandit's sword to pierce. Both twins drew their necks back; a reptile bandit swung his grip at their cheeks and knocked like a hammer. Xing heard a scream from the child rabbit. The blade shrieked amidst the air, and with immediate haste to intervene ahead of two rabbits, Chen Xing palmed his paws against the side of the bandit's sword.

"Why don't you pick somebody with your own size?" Xing snapped.

"Do NOT outsmart me, boy!" a crocodile clenched his sharp, light brown teeth. "Nobody will put me down! Fear the crocodile who eats dumplings like you!"

"Oh! Before you eat me, I got parasites! You should try some!" warned Xing.

"NO!"

A crocodile grimaced at him. Xing felt a reptile's muscles weaken his strength. The sword tried to jab through Xing's claws; the tiger controlled a strong thrust with a soft power push. Dim and Sum escorted both rabbits out of the affray after escaping Tea House. Both twins spotted pandas across intersection brick roads dead ahead, approaching from another side of Valley of Peace.

Mayhem shook the Tea House. Most refused to surrender and continued damaging the restaurant's property, smacking wood everywhere with their hammers and swords. Peng, Lao, Xing, and the panda twins stood full circle, glaring at gangsters while they panted their harsh breaths.

Xing and Lao positioned their Wing Chun stances as they guarded their arms in the center of the bodies (peacock's wings and Xing's arms), and the other three, Peng, Dim, and Sum, used Kung Fu stances. A few bandits begged the others who refused to surrender to tell them not to attack while surrounding these heroes. Bandits realized they had damaged the Tea House and the roof would collapse sooner. Cracking woods deadened to rumbles; the bandits immediately dismantled their weapons, and they all agreed to stop fighting.

A small boar who stood at Xing's height rushed in with his high-pitched war cry, swinging his punch at him; Xing deflected to the center and struck his mighty straight blow at a boar's chest, pushing him off their surroundings. The peacock beside the tiger streaked under the fat crocodile's legs with his blue train after sprinting near Lao. Twin pandas fisted boar and gator as if bandits bounded from the wooden tables. Next to Xing, Peng flipped his body back, uppercutting his whole right foot at the black boar's jaw, knocking him off to the tea dash.

Most bandits dropped their jaws when one thin green crocodile approached in front of Xing. "Gahri, don't go front!" warned one of his crocodile gangs behind Gahri.

The tiger, the peacock, and the snow leopard darted their eyes at Gahri, whose trembling body froze his left foot, letting Xing guard his chi sao arms in front. Fung's right-hand comrade breathed in. "Okay, you guys," he spread his limbs gently, eyes scanning the rest. "Everybody. . . just calm down."

"How 'bout I destroy these columns, and then we all calm down with it!" a gray boar snapped, aiming his large metal maul at the third column.

The tiger grimaced with his thick, inaudible growl under his throat before a gray boar began to heave his hammer upward. Xing fetched his brother's feather blade from the peacock's sleeve and pitched it toward the hammer's pole. The weapon's staff snapped in half, and the hammer smashed the gray boar's head, tumbling him onward.

Gahri swallowed hard, quivering his head. "We surrender!" he announced with fear.

Whole bandits around the warriors' surroundings released their weapons to the floor as the crocodile lieutenant Gahri revolved his head behind. Dropping his thin wooden blade, many heard voices and feet rushing to the front door of the Tea House. Black and white bears dressed their homemade armors wrapped with clothes, iron and stained plates above their heads, and bamboo gauntlets, giving a bold look towards them all.

The Boar Clan Leader refused to release big axes as if clenching the axes' grips with a grim look toward every bandit's eyes. "Pathetic fools!" a brute boar spat as he darted his eyes at warriors, rotating his dark hooves around him and bandit companions. "Do you think these guys are the new Furious Five? They are nothing to compare!"

A new Furious Five? It looks like that menacing boar entitled us too soon!

Many ears flicked when Lao's crests rose. They heard wings flapping from the top window where Xing and Lao infiltrated. The goose entered from the door after gliding from the sky. "Master Xing! Master Lao!" exclaimed the goose.

Bandits held their stances as many panda villagers behind twins Dim and Sum guarded their home weapons. Kong landed ahead of the Nine students at once. Xing and Lao submitted their arms; Peng and the twins remained on guard. Kong might have known the battle before asking villagers to understand where the two students were wearing blue silks. Kong revolved around his head. "What a mess!" he panted.

"Kong?" Lao widened his eyes. "What are you doing here?"

"You both need to get back to Shui Palace!" Kong pointed west in front of Xing and Lao. "It's urgent from Master Ming!"

"These bandits just robbed and damaged the Tea House real bad, Kong," the tiger spoke. "Lao and I cannot return unless we control these gangs."

"The Furious Five and Dragon Warrior! They are there in our village, Master Xing!"

"We know, Kong," Lao realized, pointing his feather knives at bandits. "The panda's dad from Mr. Ping's said that the Masters of Jade Palace went to our village."

"Not just them, Master Lao!" Kong shook. The Nine tilted their puzzling heads while guarding their arms ahead of them. "The Emperor! Emperor Huangdi arrived at our palace twenty minutes ago!"

A mix of surprised and horror faces filled in. Xing and Lao's backs brushed with rime from Kong's revelation. "WHAT?!" the tiger exclaimed.

The peacock's eyes dilated. "The Emperor is in the Prosper Valley?!"

Kong nodded quickly. If Jade Palace masters and Emperor Huangdi are at the Nine's Palace, that is our turn after the Five and Dragon Warrior! Lao thought shockingly.

"DUCK!"

Xing dragged his brother's neck under; a colossal boar's ax spun toward five warriors. The floor was grinding behind, and a boar hurled his black dagger at one of the Nine. Xing snatched the blade with an instant reflex ability as no bandit nor warrior caught sight of the tiger; he flicked the dagger back and penetrated the giant boar's right shoulder near his upper chest.

A boar screamed, collapsing and wrecking on the counter as bamboo cabinets, including metal bells, crushed above him. "Guys, what the heck are you DOING?!" Gahri snapped at his crocodile gangs.

"We'll take care of these bandits!" Dim announced, and Sum added behind three warriors. "You two guys go back to Prosper Valley! We, the pandas, got this!"

"GO!" Lao urged his brother Xing and their new friend Peng.

The peacock tossed two smoke bombs at Dim and Sum, and Lao summoned his weapon from his robe. Once he snatched his own, Lao smashed his small bag of bombs, spreading billowing grayish clouds within a Tea House room, filling anxious screams and the pandas roaring their cries. Gahri and his ran ahead of the smoke; all pandas rushed in full force without stopping, crashing against many bandits. Peng and two of the Nine were nowhere to be seen.

"Those boars are worthless. Somebody ruined my party, and I will disintegrate their flesh and bones for this."

The enormous green crocodile with spiked gauntlets and shoulder pads watched the whole scenery of the Valley of Peace, not as lousy turmoil that the giant crocodile could hear distant yells down there. Somewhere down the Tea House, with dots of black and white bears barging into the restaurant, spotted specks of white, blue, and gray scampering to the western path and onward to the side of a thousand steps, inclining on the ridge. The birds soared above as Peng and Xing sprinted with four paws across the village roads near a thousand stairs. Fung's cousin, the ferocious bandit, brightened his eyes and shrunk his pupils.

"There you are," Lidong snarled, pointing to these fled warriors leaving Valley of Peace on the side of the stream. "We follow them where they're heading! Show these little shits no mercy!"

"What about—?" one crocodile bandit Wong was about to ask, but Lidong cut him off.

"This town has warned!" The giant crocodile spat as showing all over Valley of Peace. "Seize them!"

Eight paws trotted on all fours with haste, four wings in the air shrieking while flapping near a sauntering road beside the streaming river. Lao would not mind his arms flared with sores in his muscles because he had flown more than ten miles before and beyond more than a thousand. Kong traveled afar ever since he had grown to deliver several mail deliveries and messages before becoming the Nine's Messenger.

"You two guys didn't know about this?" Peng widened his eyes at Chen Xing while the two felines trotted on all fours.

"No!" Xing replied. "Lao and I didn't notice the Emperor is in Prosper Valley. We should have stayed in my village and eaten my grandmother's rice for good. But that was unexpected!"

"Can Lao fly higher?" asked Peng as the snow leopard wondered about the peacock's glide.

"Sure he can! Lao can glide higher at around Jade Palace's height. My brother's job is to keep the sky clear, you'll see! He's got bird eyes to watch!"

Peacocks fly, but only slightly farther, like all avians could manage. Lao searched green tree ridges that he could hover through, then ascended his altitude higher by climbing and bounding on the highest edge. The young peacock was far better at surveying the whole land of bandits and birds filling the sky. There were other possibilities, such as a volley of arrows could appear on either towering mountain ridges. So far, archers were not making their appearance, and that's good enough, alright. Kong followed Lao in a warming sky as the goose had enough courage to support his companion. They surveyed the snow leopard and the tiger sprint on all fours, leading to the tan dirt road and the bamboo forest.

"Listen, Peng!" the leopard turned to Xing, their claws trotting louder. "If you are going to stay at Valley of Peace, which is fancy to take control of these bandits, that's up to you! Lao, Kong, and I can manage our way home!"

"That's okay, Xing!" Peng smirked. "I'll help you three to reach your place and see Po and Furious Five! I'd like to see your class and all nine of you!"

"Cool! You are welcome to my grandmother's palace anytime now and even Prosper Valley!"

Lao and Kong immediately checked through soft pillow trees over the vast mountains. The starlight gazed at the messenger, and three warriors rushed in the breeze of awareness. Drums began to thump Xing's heart of worry. The tiger's mistake was not his guilt; the unexpected call was what Kong reminded both students to return home because of Emperor Huangdi's arrival. What if the Emperor could never see both exceptional students of Wing Chun's class? Could he or a master ever mark any student to despair their rank?

We got to warn Huangdi and Jade Palace masters!

Chapter Text

Episode Two: Pure Awesomeness (6 - 17)

Chapter XV

Hurtling Hindrance

九

Niu, The Nine's Defender / Kung Fu Dragon

One of the three legendary Masters of Gongmen gazed at his son's dragon form of Kung Fu. A formidable flow of chi, waving arms, unperturbedly sensible. Niu's arms of Tai Chi flow were as tranquil from tension. He swirled palms after swinging arms, straight punches, a strong sense of kicks, following sparrows, and spinning. Impressed with the bovine's intro and energy, bringing observers to deafen their awes, the Dragon Warrior was interested in meeting the Nine's Defender; Niu commenced engaging with wooden models after dissipating his tension and let the flow through his strength, rupturing dummies.

Before the Nine's Defender's introduction, Chen Ming introduced a tale of Niu's story that Master Storming Ox first trained his son after the death of Master Thundering Rhino, the foremost steward of the Masters' Council, Niu's godfather. The son of Storming Ox went through dire events by facing students from the previous school who bullied him before his father's class in Gongmen City. For three years after the demise of Thundering Rhino, unable to let Master Ox determine his son's issue to see his father bearing depression, Niu rampaged against a whole clan of bandits and students who joined vicious gangs to steal villagers' belongings. They obeyed to kill for no mercy. Niu nearly slew the bandits across half of the city's districts after Storming Ox ceased his son's relentless rage. Master Croc regarded his old companion's mourning to their closest friend, and Storming Ox made a terrible mistake unveiling his anger toward his son.

Niu's father told his son to head west about ten miles from the Valley of Peace. Storming Ox needed him to remain tranquil as he and the two Masters met Oogway's feline disciple after Shifu became the tortoise's clever pupil, one of the original Furious Five. On the night that seemed only yesterday to Storming Ox, something he had recalled as a "wealth of riches" as Chen Ming continued her tale, her grandson found Niu in a town of affrays (A place where street fighters fought to earn yuans, which brought shame to dishonor kung fu, as Ox feared, and so did Rhino). In the form of Wing Chun, Niu impressively witnessed his striped feline brother defeat a massive boar, save the son of Storming Ox, and convince him to see the present.

The young bovine's honor virtue was present, and Niu became the Nine's Defender as he initially wished to be Gongmen City's guardian.

Storming Ox's son had become tranquil for two years of Wing Chun; Ming initially provided Niu a capacity for inner peace, which prevented him from aggression. Using the dragon form of Kung Fu, Niu clobbered dummies in a fighting square around him. Ming gave soft chuffs to Niu's father next to her once the Nine's Defender fragmented models, one by one with several blows combination. The last dummy Niu encountered had him tap his hoof on its chest, ripping all model parts from his son's newest gifted talent.

"That's my boy. . ." Master Storming Ox simpered.

九

Rays of the sun shimmered.

Mirage waters cast back with bright light.

Chirping leaves embraced the wind.

Xing and Peng leaped above the stream. Both warriors reached for the next side of the meadows through the jungle. Lao and Kong continued soaring under the ocean sky as the peacock and goose surveyed hills and mountains. Again, there were no signs of archers unleashing arrows within the specks of emerald trees.

Peng and Xing advanced straight into the forest; the road was ultimately not dir-lined. For a moment, while their hearts drummed in their chests, Peng quickly gazed next to Xing's left side. A light green river frothed with numerous bubbles trailing onward, and thirty eyes of reptiles glared at them.

"Crocodiles! These guys are catching up!" Peng warned.

"Looks like they've brought some army!" Xing determined. "We stay away from the water!"

Lidong, Fung's cousin, snarled with his large bubbles underwater. Peng and Xing focused on sprinting onward to the blends of dirt and grass, dodging river banks. In the air, Lao glanced at the bamboo and wooden border filled with boar bandit clans. Gods! Who called the whole army trying to stop us? The peacock surveyed final glimpses of the edge and his brother racing down the ridge with their leopard traveler.

"Kong! Warn my brother and Peng that there is a bandit border ahead! Tell them to bank left!"

The goose dove toward the two runners as Lao observed several ridges and other meadow terrains filled with endless bamboo trees fluttering. Who in Oogway's blessings keeps summoning bandits? In the bamboo forest? Inside the clouds? The peafowl thought dreadfully.

Soaring near Chen Xing and Peng, the Nine's Messenger beckoned his main wing ahead. "There's a border where bandits block your path! Lao said you both must bank left!"

"Alright!" Xing noted.

"Gotta jump over the next riverbank, now!" Peng turned.

Both warriors leaped their edge towards another side of the opening field. Lidong's foams in the sunlight river roared, letting all twenty-eight eyes draw back from their leader. While the feline warriors jumped to the next terrain, Fung's cousin bounded off the surface, his triangular muzzle with sharp teeth opening wide near the edge of Peng's billowing cloak.

SNAP! 

"Yikes!" Xing widened and glimpsed at the colossal reptile splashing back underwater.

"COME HERE!" Lidong seethed with his bubbles.

That was a close call! 

Peng sprinted after landing with Xing on the other side of the open grassland.

九

Bao, The Nine's Heaver/ Attack and Defense

The giant ape commenced the second form of Wing Chun, Len-tia Tao. Bao, the mighty gorilla, lunged his fists toward several action dummies around him, spinning their spike limbs. Shocking grounds beneath Bao's two palms, the gorilla smartly booted movable dummy crocodiles as Bao continuously used the second form. The Furious Five and Dragon Warrior visioned Bao that not every bovine but apes supported villagers by bearing heavy objects. What made Po and the Five reminisce about him was when they confronted gorillas who worked their peacock lord back in Gongmen City for heaving heavy cannons.

Viper recalled one in his shiny metal armor who was immune to her father's venom fangs as Lord Viper fragmented his, without knowing how dangerous the gorilla bandit became. Instead of her own, which had no fangs to disorient him, she summoned her red ribbon with her tail, tightened around Great Gorilla's limbs. "Bao, block! Bao, attack!" the Nine's Heaver launched his heavy palm strikes toward two action dummies.

He's good. Viper let out her red tongue with approval.

Ming grinned at Shifu. "You might want to embrace the rail, brother," advised the Nine's Master.

"Why?" beamed the red panda master while bewildering.

"Watch," she manifested after gripping the bamboo rail.

The gorilla encountered three heavyweight dummies, and other crocodile dummies gained their way toward Bao. Once the gorilla checked a new lookout, Bao sprang and smashed the fighting square with his two clenched hammer hands.

The whole ground shook the palace, including everyone sitting in their seat like jumping in the air.

"OH!" Shifu widened his eyes and caught the rail with Furious Five and Dragon Warrior. The Nine's Master simpered with her delightful giggle.

Everyone applauded, and Shifu palmed his chest as if his heart leveled, then chuckled. Monkey echoed his compelling voice, gesturing his palms in the air. "YEAH! I'll give him my cookies for that big guy!"

The green insect bent his antennas, applauding and stunning on Monkey's shoulder. "What a big ape who climbed on the big tower and roared at birds!" he simpered. "Spatting at them like, 'I am the King of THORAX or King of Big Apple!"

九

Five bandits (two boars and three crocodiles) surged onward to the meadow path, exploding their curses with disgust at the two felines. Xing and Peng twisted their heads at five bandits ahead, using their deadly force of weapons to stop running. Peng and Xing considered penetrating through roadblocks down the path. The tiger and the snow leopard leaped on the large brown bark tree and spiraled their kicks.

"Nothing personal, guys!" the Nine's Leader commented, and Peng opposed them.

Peng recoiled with his triple kicks amidst the air, striking two boar bandits from one side on the grass and the other splashing on the river bank. Chen Xing dodged many tails swinging from three reptiles; Peng caught one and then twirled the second bandit. Xing mainly struck all the soft punches into aggressive combos with Chi Sao's attack and defense strategy.

A full surprise attack ensued as Xing widened his silver eyes — crocodiles from the river snarled out, and Peng back-elbowed a bandit. The snow leopard immediately snatched a reptile, tossing a bandit to Xing; the tiger sent a powerful kick as a screaming reptile flew into the puffy green trees of the towering mountain.

"Nice kick!" Peng impressed.

"Thank you." Xing beamed.

"More bandits on our way!" Kong warned out loud from the sky. "There are fifty of them closing in!"

The tiger wobbled his head around the open grassland with the blessing of a light blue river touched by a yellow sun. "How far?" asked Xing.

"NOT far! Hurry!" Kong gestured to them both.

"Oh, shit!"

Xing and Peng sprinted to the next side of the river, where the tiger remembered the path to Prosper Valley as the only route to get there in time.

The ground shook, and a horde of gruesome thugs roared.

九

Zhao, The Nine's Predator / Stealth and Prey

Bubbles underwater ghastly foamed, and the crocodile warrior sprang out of the pool. Zhao created his surprise attack against the will of immovable dummies: four limbs and one tail. The crocodile's spike ball was attached to his tail, using the fifth limb as his fatal machine. His lengthy tail was his typical usage of brutal fighting when surrounded by enemies.

Master Storming Ox reflected Zhao as familiar to one of his reptile companions since the days of the Street Fighters were young Thundering Rhino, Croc, and Ox combated against each other for yuans and huizi* who would win. Storming Ox was convinced that the reptile student was the Nine's handy warrior in protecting Prosper Valley from crocodile bandits within deep waters. Ming clarified that Zhao was the burglar, but only within the young times did the bad teach the small to be thieves and mischievous predators, fearing those wading near the water. Zhao hated what he had become for being dishonored in front of villagers by threatening them all, and he could not feel remorse.

The kid has those eyes. The eyes of my old companion. Does Croc ever have anyone before?

The bovine master pondered the young crocodile.

九

Lao advanced his flight through multiple gaps between the trees from the mountain towers, his wings fiercely shrieking in the breeze. Kong did not master much of these daredevil gaps as Lao continued whirling his whole body under bark tree logs. Kong usually flew above pillow trees as he wanted to check on Lao. The peacock trained on longing meadows where both felines continued hurtling and farther back billowed with dust clouds, swimming forward with boisterous battle cries.

Something stirring with rough cries at the farthest mountain tower ridge, emitting harsh caws. Swarms of light gray and black dots emerged underneath clouds.

"What is that?" Lao feared.

Dots embarked to dive towards the peacock and goose, looming wicked vultures. These blackbirds were the ones that endangered any messengers alone in cloudless skies; gruesome birds were careless, and they only killed one goose at a time. Luckily, Kong was with Lao, and this circumstance made it much more challenging to handle vultures going after them. Vultures spotted two birds and now engaged them in an immediate threat. "LUNCHTIME!" a main vulture with a white fur neck thundered in his croaky voice.

"Get on my back, Kong!" Lao exclaimed.

Lao stretched his train and wings, balancing their flights. Chen Xing and Peng glimpsed at vulture bandits chasing the peacock and the goose beneath the sky. Kong wrapped Lao's neck as the Nine's Brilliance dodged over fifty sharp claws, nearly mauling him and the Nine's Messenger.

"Who's calling all the army?" Peng pondered worriedly.

Chen Xing watched his back and led forward while panting his breath harshly. "Looks like our friends back there aren't giving up that easily!"

"No doubt about that!"

Immediately, the tiger and the snow leopard hurtled on the vast clearing, barging into the next bamboo forest. Above trees and beyond, vultures snapped their cries.

九

Fanshe, The Nine's Serpent / Subtlety

"I've always been proud of you."

The father of Master Viper with gray Fu Manchu echoed, who curled his lengthy body over his daughter in their shoji chamber. His daughter had no sharp teeth ever since but had a gift dancing her sash stick, which the daughter defeated the almighty in the village. Within the dark corridor beside the chamber, the cobra with a broad neck crown launched his body onward, biting the assassin's neck. The killer was a lime python who ruptured the house's front door. And the python was the partner of the gorilla with gloss armor.

The stranger, whose lips and teeth were splattered with dark gores, submitted to Lord Viper. He washed his mouth to bow to him and the Lady, who appeared with her lily flower crown. They slithered toward the cobra, whose light emerald eyes turned down, and the father's tail raised Fanshe's head, sharing his gratitude to him. "I am truly blessed to see my daughter safe from harm. You defined courage as being given to seeing the good within you. Since I heard you have no family, I shall accept you as my son and my daughter's adoptive brother."

Fanshe brought his small smile to the two serpents. He had no other returns to offer, but now being adopted was his only beginning to be the reptile of Master Viper's family. He looked to the father's left. The girl with no fangs broke her genuine smile, waving her crimson ribbon at him.

Awareness tongue, fierce fangs with tasteful venomous of doom presented. The cobra Fanshe slithered and recoiled from daggers and blades darting toward him. Fanshe snapped one-to-one weapons and slapped his tail, disintegrating woods and dummies within each opponent everywhere. She remembered him. Her father's protector was always her adoptive brother since she was small, and he was young and brave, the change of heart. Their father, Lord Viper, was unique in unveiling his venomous fangs, manifesting each soul never to underestimate him or terrorize the serpent master.

The cobra would not use his fangs unless any savage bandits were up to the challenge of facing their price towards death. As only clever enough to use his tail instead of his poison fangs (as he swore not to kill), Fanshe always hammered pressure points, exclusively one hit the other dummy's or bandit's weak spot to diminish their strength and agility. By most of the attacks, Fanshe knew most of throwing daggers and shooting arrows to avoid weapons, which most bandits were wary enough to chop any reptile's head off. As much as he's skillful in dexterity, subtlety was the key to him and his adoptive sister.

九

Lao twirled his flight around those massive trees beside the steep mountain; gray and black vultures nearly clawed Kong's back as the peacock eluded into another gap between two large trees. Black vultures snarled. One vulture in front of Lao almost ripped the peacock's neck, making Kong fear while shivering.

"Hang on, Kong!" the peacock spun his whole body. Lao kicked a vulture's chest as the black talon from another vulture retreated from him and Kong. The Nine's Brilliance recoiled his body with his wings, deflecting and knocking ten large birds under the avian. Ahead of them, black vultures screeched as if their sharp, sunless claws shone.

A sudden growl stormed above the peacock's back. "MASTER LAO!" Kong shouted, but a gloomy vulture bandit tackled Lao and Kong.

The Nine's Messenger went off first before a third vulture hit Lao; his flight after a few rented feathers spun him out of control. Lao hastily rummaged for sharp objects in his long sleeve when the blackbird with a white fur neck burst his tongue out. "YUMMY!" a third vulture rocked his wings back and forth, extending his talons out. The peacock flung something small, which reflected with a silver mirror. His feather knife plunged the bandit's wing, and a third vulture hollered his painful cry, tumbling him down to the streaming river with fifty yellow eyes under the surface.

Lao barely maintained his altitude by spreading his wings wide enough, sensing his feathers in the thick air. The goose flew beside him. "BY THE GODS, are you alright, Master Lao?!"

"I'm alright!"

"There's more of them coming in hot, Master Lao!"

"Damn it!" the Nine's Brilliance glimpsed behind and saw a horde of vultures aggressively soaring farther away toward them. "Get down below! Stay in front of Xing, and he'll protect you! GO!"

The Nine's Messenger dove. Knowing that flying with the peacock while surrounded by devouring vultures was endangering the goose's life.

"COME HERE, YOU LITTLE SHIT!" a fourth vulture bent his wings down near the peacock and bellowed his caw, but Lao rounded his foot on the blackbird's neck, descending him with several feathers dusting off.

Three blackbirds bent their wings as the wind entered their feathers and gained more speed. At any cost to defend himself as if vultures flew near him, Lao revolved his body with sharp feather knives. Birds screamed as one sliced at his cheek, a second hammered on the upper shoulder, and a third behind the back. Plenty of blackbirds withdrew due to the young albino's warning sign. A sign that peacocks could do brutal ways to conclude the enemy's vicious attacks.

Xing, Peng, and Kong went to the forest-like jungle — a few miles from the Prosper Valley. The Nine's Messenger spotted crocodiles crawling among branches. One bandit began to jump with his limbs wide open, snarling. "No, you don't!" Xing roared. The tiger leaped from the old tree's large trunk, his sturdy sidekick clobbering a crocodile's right lung.

Peng nearly shattered the branch after he jumped above the tree. The snow leopard almost stumbled into the river full of raging reptiles. Meanwhile, with a sudden impact and loud snaps of branches from above, one of the blackbirds crashed on the crocodile named Irwin, who almost snapped his teeth on Peng's gray cloak. The leopard quickly inspected the sky before following the Nine's Leader and Messenger. Chen Xing's brother lowered his flight altitude, chased by more than five vultures constantly gaining on the young albino.

One gruesome blackbird almost snapped his beak on Lao's train about three feet away, repeating clenches as he stared at his meal, wanting to fill up his belly. "Here's bum-bum!" grinned a lead vulture with a nasty, white gooey in his mouth.

Lao glared his eyes in annoyance. That is why I despise vultures!

九

Hong, The Nine's Doctor / Tai Chi & Sai Attack

A couple of bunnies on the gallery side next to Chen Ming and Master Storming Ox chirped their surprises while anticipating one of the students of the Nine: Small prey, silk fur, cinnamon eyes. The bunny swam her body movement, swirling her Tai Chi form. Hong did not mind the peaceful meditation song that the geese and pig musicians provided a substantial recommendation to the rabbit. Reminding these aggressors around her in a full circle fighting square made her soft glides, and with each limb to hit, she hailed her qi.

Musicians Village was her home, but it was always hers when she chose one thing that changed her. A monk in orange robes traveled from Tibet, came to visit for a drink of hot tea, and spotted one rabbit in pink hanfu crawling on the soggy mug; three pigs across the muddy road drew their chef knives and daggers. She saw a monk with his limbs swimmingly deflected two blades and the third flung near a pig's crotch. Later, within days, as Hong asked the Tibetan Mastiff monk to follow his ways, he only invited her to embark on learning energy. The energy that guides your flow, you swim within the water without your mind flaws, as calmness is your dear friend.

As she was good at being a doctor, her family had numerous generations of aiding those into battles and recovering many from injuries; Hong followed guidance from her former monk master, partaking his considerable skills to treat every soul with kindness.

Hong's rapid attacks with soft grips within each dummy's arm shattered one and the other, thrusting her swift limbs. The Furious Five were amazed at her talents, knowing this small student pounded all crocodile dummies while she bounded over models. The bunny darted multiple model legs within the next step of her two sai blades. Her lethality concentration was disarming all swords from every dummy's grip and the deadliest blades; she swirled her body above them, bounding her kicks against every model.

Oh. Shifu brushed his beard below his jaw. The red panda master sensed his slight movement, crawling with insect tips behind. Mantis opened his mouth wide open, looking at the potential of this remedy—the same speed movement as Shifu's natural motion. "Hong's a marvelous student," nodded Shifu. "What do you think about the Nine's Doctor, Mantis?"

Mantis could not shut his tiny lips as if his eyes emerged with the shape of red hearts, including his chest dragging to reach a beautiful and lethal bunny student. Hong hurled her last three kicks at the dummy's head, belly, and side of its left knee. "I think I'm in love," Mantis breathed.

九

Peng, Xing, and Kong arrived at a blue watery river where the tiger and the peacock had traveled there before — three more miles into the forests with green grasses. The whispering river was the only path to reach the Prosper Valley alive. The tiger turned his head behind on a cinnamon bank river to the right side. None of the ruthless, grim bandits spawned behind dazzling trees and the light brown path. "Looks like our tail is clear!" Xing believed.

"We are NOT clear!"

The young peacock shouted, making three heads turn to their left. Lao kept grunting while continuously flapping his wings with haste. Two black vultures unmasked their disgusting looks with wicked eyes and spat with white gooey from their pink beaks, almost munching Lao's blue feathers near the peacock's train. "Vultures are on my train!"

"Kong!" Xing called the goose. "Get to the Shui Palace and tell everyone that bandits are on us and heading straight to the Prosper Valley! FLY!"

"Yes, Master Xing!" Kong nodded to the Nine's Leader and propelled his tiny wings upward, soaring away. Xing and Peng quickly observed the peacock struggling in the air, and gruesome vultures flew close to the avian's train.

"Lao! Jump on my back and grab that vulture's neck!" Xing advised. "You must control his glide! You gotta mean him, brother!"

Affected his strength into tiresome, the Nine's Brilliance was slowly descending near the blue stream. Two glowing lime eyes and more from crocodile bandits' heads swam above the surface, sniffing the albino's feathers. Their triangular mouths opened wide, growls richly quivering. "YOU ARE MINE, NOW!" a lead vulture with a fluff neck brushed his tongue in his beak. He bent his wing and dove ahead of the peacock.

Under the surface, Lidong billowed his air bubbles, springing out of the water with a loud hiss. In an immediate reaction timing, Lao banked right. "NOOO!" a lead vulture screeched, and Lidong crushed him in his mouth, splashing into the river.

"Damn!"

The peacock landed on Chen Xing's back, and the tiger instantly sprung himself and boosted Lao's altitude. After bounding, Lao snatched another vulture's tail and rounded his rope dart, catching a second vulture's neck.

"OI! Get off meh!"

A second vulture yelped; the rope jerked his pink collar up and flew into the air with his sharp wail while Lao stood on the gruesome bird's back with his balance. Peng and Xing gazed at all the starving vultures who gained their altitude, following Lao. Ironically, the vultures were helpless, and they tailed to one of their own who was in trouble with the peacock.

"This is not gonna be a good day for me!" Xing humbled his quivering head. "Looks like I'll be disappointed in front of my grandmother's eyes!"

"Relax, friend!" Peng settled him. "I'll reason the Five and your master that we had trouble coming to Valley of Peace! We'll take care of these bandits, and then you both do your own thing at your palace!"

九

Lotus, The Nine's Dancer / Greater Speed, Ribbon Dancer

The attractive wolf student emerged, the second-best of the ribbon dancer. Po regarded his original name, "Little Lotus," as the wolf was given the name at birth from Lotus's mother for the rarest white flower from the Wolves Village. The dancer, who grinned with her sharp teeth and sharpened her small pupils, enabled her Chi Sao forms, darting her limbs with many attacks with defense toward weak points. Lat Sau, Bong Sao, Kun Lum Tao, and multiple combination defenses transpired her, mastering her quick techniques as the wolf emitted her qi cries.

A lotus flower had this representation of Tigress, as she mainly wore her qipao with thorn veins and the flower. Based on wisdom, with the petals slowly growing every morning until the night to be closed, a lily flower presented resurrection every day. The night almost cast a shadow upon the small puppy after she fled across the hungry forest from the Wolves Village, with scorched timbers and dying embers swimming among her. Month by month, the day silenced the misery; the wolf cub with yellow eyes followed lily flowers to the vast healing meadows and found the sow traveler amidst the dirt road; Mrs. Yan escorted the wolf to one place that preyed upon Tigress before. Every day, in Bao Gu Orphanage, the wolf resided with the pain and suffering until one with silver eyes closed her wounds.

Lotus and I do have disturbing experiences in common. Tigress reflected the Nine's Dancer.

Lotus commenced her agility combinations with her paws, twirling her blue ribbon stick as the war machine-like dummies advanced with the attack on her with primitive weapons. Whirling her dancing style by using mentality and tightening each dummy's belly without hesitation, Lotus flickered her Wing Chun style, with qi flowing through her arms. She pounced many models with her foot and another, her ribbon stick swinging to a loop.

The Furious Five and Dragon Warrior Po expected to see the two students appear but did not come after seven students presented. However, considering one of the two, Tigress wished to see Chen Ming's grandson — the Nine's Leader. Nevertheless, as the former lone-striped feline after meeting her aunt and soon seeing her nephew, she could be their family without a doubt. Now, participating in the next, who was the next student? Guesses flooded the stripe feline warrior's thoughts, speculating one student who "flies" with the Nine—far brilliant when the Masters of Jade Palace regarded the Nine's Brilliance. An owl? Maybe another avian-like Crane? A mysterious sighting should reveal the student soon enough. 

Chen Ming found the Nine's Messenger cast his glide down to her in the brightest sky, landing softly beside Ming after his last ten miles of flight travel. Kong murmured to Chen Ming and widened her eyes, gasping. Shifu rose his own at his old friend, drawing his head close to the Nine's Master. "Ming? What is wrong?" he queried.

Ming darted her silver eyes at the red panda master. "They are in trouble."

九

Crocodiles floated on the surface as they hurtled on and on, bellowing their foams. Chen Xing and Peng nearly reached the rim of the Prosper Valley, knowing the tiger first spotted the round river bank for a final turn, and the stream was twice the size of the Valley of Peace's rivers.

"Jump!" Xing shouted. Both the tiger and snow leopard sprang their last jump across the stream. Three bandits leaped from the water and hissed with their opened fangs. SNAP!

That was close!

Chen Xing finally searched for the board sign "Welcome to the Prosper Valley," the land of harmony and the Nine's village. Four riverboats parked on the side of those wooden poles they linked with, and one of the rides left with subjects in gold armor. Emperor Huangdi is here! He and the Masters of Jade Palace are at my palace!

They broke their way toward the main section of the light-brown cobblestone road; Chen Xing and Peng told villagers to hide in their complex houses. Once they almost arrived at the Shui Palace, more than a hundred yards away, gold armors were within their stone stances. In front of the Emperor's guards, Masters of Jade Palace and all eight of the Nine (their master included) piled their Kung Fu and Wing Chun stances. The eyes of stone and amber met, making the Nine's Leader slow his pace, the Furious Five alpha dilating hers, and the Dragon Warrior met his clouded leopard companion.

The Dragon Warrior gasped, meeting his clouded leopard companion. "Peng! You're back!"

The tiger and snow leopard skidded their feet on the cobblestone. "Guys! Vultures and crocodiles are coming!" Peng announced.

"Sunzi! Where's—?" The Nine's Master was asking her grandson, but the eight of Nine drew their views in the sky.

The Nine and Jade Palace Masters gazed at the dark spots swarming in the sky. Lao bailed his ride from the vulture as he dove forward to Prosper Valley. The Masters of Jade Palace wondered who the last student of the Nine was. They spotted the form of blue and white descending with the bird's voluminous train feathers. No. . . That can't be him. Po muttered. A haunting figure with a menacing laugh and metals that rattled in the billowing red smoke and the red-eye symbol made the Dragon Warrior horrifyingly broaden his green eyes.

Sh-Sh—Shen?

The last student of the Nine was the peacock, who swiveled his body, landed his feet on the cobblestone, and stopped sliding backward to a halt; never before seen him have blue train feathers, cobalt silk with a yin-yang symbol behind Lao's back. Yes. . . Yes, I was. . . Echoed the phantom's silky voice that shivered the panda's spine. Po remembered his old enemy last time on the warship and quickly saw him before the cannon snapped ropes away.

"Shou, my pole!" Lao roared, and the Nine's Pirate behind the group tossed the peacock's weapon. The Nine's Brilliance summoned his smoke bombs from his long sleeves and smashed to the ground full of white spirals all over Lao. Vultures raced down towards the peacock, bellowing their caws at him. One by one, entering the smoke, quick and hard thrashes thudded, silencing their screams. Multiple vultures dispersed the ambush as plenty swung and knocked. The gray smoke vanished, and crocodile bandits spawned.

The colossal bandit popped his fingers while crushing his knuckles. "This fight is going to be a piece of cake!" Lidong grinned. The enormous crocodile scanned the fading smoke. The tiger stood beside the albino peacock with his len chin stance and chi sao arms. The panda and the Five's alpha formed their kung fu stances next to Chen Xing, unveiling Masters, the Nine, and the Emperor's guards.

"Uh, oh!" shivered Lidong.

Chapter Text

Episode Two: Pure Awesomeness (6 - 17)

Chapter XVI

Crestfallen to Outstanding

"Is there a problem with hurting the Nine's coolest students, Lidong?" the Dragon Warrior demanded.

The rest of Lidong's crocodiles let out their clamorous curses behind their colossus leader. "These three chicken shits destroyed our fun, Dragon Warrior!" Lidong spat.

"Fun?" Peng beside Tigress bellowed, pointing his finger at Lidong. "You and your lowlives robbed villagers inside the Tea House with Fung, Gahri, and your boar gangs!"

"Wait, there is an attack in the Valley, Peng?" Po asked, turning his head at the snow leopard.

"My new friends and I handled them before pandas took care of those gangs!"

"SHUT UP!" Lidong clenched his yellow teeth, stomping his right foot forward. One block of the main path shook into tremors; several plates, bamboo counters, and clothes fell, pots shattering on the ground. The giant crocodile hated this conversation against warriors. Lidong pointed out all three heroes. "Give us Peng, tiny-whiskers, and Lord Shen! Or we break this village in pieces!"

Somebody hand this guy a giant dumpling to shrink his height.

Brushing his chin jaw under him, the tiger ambled forward and clasped his paws behind his back. His silver eyes trained on the tallest reptile, who craned his stiff neck. Xing raised his head. "You see the rest of my villagers glaring at you?" Xing pointed at many intersection roads, sidewalks, and alleyways. Lidong and his crocodiles revolved their heads and did so; the giant reptile caught his left eye at one pig who wielded his bamboo pole under the standing counter. In the streets, rabbits and geese rose and introduced their snarling looks at them—small sticks and big pans in their grasps.

"Whoa! These guys are defensive!" Po was stunned, his feet tapping.

"My people have been practicing at my palace every morning until afternoon for years," the Nine's Leader warned. "They are bold enough to break bandits' arms if you all touch children or steal their belongings. Your move."

Lidong's mouth with sharp fangs widened, glimpsing at a small tan bunny in her pink kimono who wielded her large iron pan, tapping the metal with her smallest paw. A villager beckoned her disappointing glare, her poofy fur rising.

Fung's cousin guffawed, sprinkling his tears elsewhere. Many crocodiles behind Lidong heightened their bellowing laughs as if the panda, two tigers, and the white peacock sniffed cheese breaths from the colossal crocodile's yellow teeth. "You and what army, whiskers?!" Lidong grinned, raising his right fist.

Somewhere, as Tigress and Xing flickered their ears, a black iron pan swiftly flew past them and walloped Lidong's left eye. "OW! HEY!" Lidong grimaced when covering half of his left face, glaring at whoever threw the kitchen pan at him. "Who did THAT?!"

"My army," Xing announced. The enormous croc rushed with his loud bellow. Xing stood before his forward open palm, launching his six-inch fist toward Lidong's chest. "Chop Suey!"

Lidong launched across his bandits and wrecked with them. All eyes grew, and mouths dropped behind the tiger — the giant crocodile shortened his wheezing breaths with his excruciating chest. Muscles stung with fire. "KILL THEM ALL!" Lidong commanded with his weak breath when placing his claw over his heart.

All warriors positioned their Kung Fu and Wing Chun fighting stances; crocodiles dashed and—

CLASH!

The main road rumbled, fists and kicks thudding within the splash—impacting all the heroes and wild bandits running against each other. The Nine, Masters of Jade Palace, and bandits brawled under the blessing daylight with the ocean horizon. A few villagers vacated the fighting area while the young Ox Niu, the gorilla Bao, and the yak pirate Shou advanced with their giant fists.

Heavyweights engaged local bandits from the side of the road. Zhao and Fanshe stormed into surrounding enemies, their swift tails bashing one and the next.

Chen Xing, Lao, and Lotus charged forward with Chi Sao attacks and blocks against crocodiles. The three hurled their fast blows as the Furious Five and Dragon Warrior united. Behind these substantial students, Chen Ming and Grandmaster Shifu intervened reptiles, climbing on village tiles. The Nine's Master circulated her straight punches as Shifu drew his staff and swept under their feet, deflecting swords and daggers. Both masters had their spiritual nature as elderly teachers, chosen by the hand of the Kung Fu maker.

Monkey bashed his palms, confusing the enemy's senses. Mantis's "thingies" penetrated swords, capable of small, patience, and nearly impossible for assailants to see the insect master within the conflict. The bunny boosted her jump on Lao's back, springing amidst the air. Her rapid kicks bounded her foot and the other, thrashing each crocodile's head.

Crane shifted his wings and bashed his talons towards bandits up in the air, which foliage of green and pink floated. Tigress offered Viper to slither on the feline's whole body through her limb, launching onward with a snarl. Beside them, Po belly-gonged a croc as the panda could cope with any size of the opponent. By being fluffy and big, Po propelled fast punches around him. Lao caught his silvery guandao from Kong in the air, and the peacock committed his deflection forms of the Cai Li Fo.

While several crocodiles stumbled in fear while retreating, Monkey hastily saw the peacock wielding his weapon, repelling swords with most parries. The langur embarked to spring while bowling his body elsewhere. Storming Ox's son deflected most metal blades with his large horns. Bao teamed with Niu and combined his brute limbs of lap sao, bong sao, and back knuckle combo. The gorilla hammered his mighty fist on the ground, shaking the bandits' balance around them. 

Fists and kicks deafened when the panda swept his limbs on bandits, flipping and rolling down on brown patch roads. Xing engaged three suspected callous bandits, dodging knives that nearly sliced him apart. Tigress forcefully drew her tornado backflip on crocodiles and propelled two reptiles from Chen Xing, guarding him. While there was no time to introduce a family during this skirmish, the two striped felines pressed onward, diverting fast fists. Amidst the main road near Chen Xing and Tigress, Crane repelled halberds with his wings in the air, Lotus sweeping her ribbon on local bandits. The wolf tangled all four over their bellies, and the avian shoved most over the boundary from barging into homes.

Peng dismantled his gray hood cape, tossing ahead of a gruesome crocodile with snarling sharp teeth. After being disoriented, a bandit's muzzle was struck with a powerful sparrow kick, crashing his chest down. So tolerant that Peng became vicious, Po could not help but spill his surprising tone. "I can't believe you're back!" Po stood up with Peng once the panda back-elbowed a snarling bandit from behind. "Masters of Jade Palace have missed you!"

"So have I, Po!" Peng beamed after the leopard spun his triple kick in the air. "I have a lot of stories to discuss after this is over!"

Across the lonely alleyway near the Shui Palace, pounding on floors and walls colored by the yellow sunlight, the Nine's Pirate sliced marauder bandits' swords using Baat Jam Do. Lidong's metal armbands deflected the yak's swords, swiveling in random directions. The Nine's Pirate diverted his blades in each turn, and the other whipped Lidong's cheek, losing the giant's sense of direction.

While grunting with hostile glances at the young bovine, the giant reptile was hesitant, unable to lift his limbs or step away. Something within the Nine's Pirate made Lidong reminisce. Green fires spread from mountains into the heart of darkness — homes with bricks scattered with snarling reptile creatures. The sky was hued with smaragdine sunlight, rocks covered with thin ice, and ancient monastery temples floating across different cultures.

The vision happened so fast when Shou's Baat Jam Do blades only shimmered jade.

One of Lidong's recruiters ran for the Nine's Pirate, and the giant crocodile snapped. "Hold fast, you maggot!" Lidong tripped on the small rock while retreating, and Shou's blades gave strong whips on each encounter, slamming an undersized rookie down.

While lunging his butterfly knives by diverting limbs each time, the Nine's Pirate glimpsed at the green insect launching under every reptile's feet. Sweeping against the dirt made several crocodiles fall, one by one.

"Nice move!" the Nine's Pirate was astounded, seeing Mantis intercept a giant crocodile from behind. "I'm Shou! It is a pleasure to meet you, Master Mantis!"

"You're welcome, big guy," Mantis appreciated, observing one bandit behind Shou. The bug leaped from the yak's shoulder and fully charged onward. "FEAR THE BUG!"

Three reptiles advanced to the yak as Shou armed his two blades; the middle bandit's sword heaved upward, and the cobalt silk line clenched his left wrist, forcing him to slap his comrade's muzzle. The Nine's Dancer Lotus in royal blue qipao and black short trousers rolled her ribbon stick, the fabric beating the next as the wolf yelled. She slapped her small pole, battering one's rib and the other under his ankle; with acrobatic rolls in the air, Lotus landed and hammered—

A crocodile with a battle helmet winced and crashed his knee. "DOW! NOT MY—!"

Without hesitation, the Nine's Dancer flung her strong kicks twice, tumbling him within the horde. With sharp growls, one brute stormed toward, having Lotus flip backward, her foot uppercutting his jaw. After thrusting him in the air, her ribbon tightened his body, spinning the brute as he shouted.

"Whoa! Sweet moves!" Po supported the wolf when a large bandit fell above the pack, giving Lotus a wild smirk to the panda. "Monkey, cease those guys!"

"On it!" Monkey raced on all fours and chased two reptiles in a small alleyway.

Crocodile bandits barged into a sow residence's mahogany door, snarling in a rampage. Inside, the room unveiled the window's light, which shone a brown rug and poster boards with words of hope, love, and peace. Besides these items were pictures of a sow family on one of the structures. Monkey infiltrated the house right on time after two bandits entered. Two rookie crocs had nowhere else to exit except some windows, as Monkey studied them well; crocodiles could not fit over the small shutters to go. Instead of escaping, while rookies nodded to themselves, they roared forward to Monkey, rounding their small limbs. Monkey bashed two with his palm strikes and his long tail at them. The cobra slithered and entered from the small light window as Fanshe noticed rookies taking over the house.

Walls rumbled from banging, wood shredding, and papers tearing. While Monkey focused these crocodiles ahead of him, Fanshe interfered, his tail clutching a rookie's arm after that crocodile tried to smash Monkey using—

A brown clay pot shattered like rocks, and baked wafers splattered on the floor. "WHAT?! A cookie jar?" Fanshe opened his eyes.

"Free cookies!" Monkey cheered after knocking one of the rookies with a palm knife hit. "Just come and join the Five Side!"

"No offense to you. I'm on a diet!" the cobra commented while slapping the gator's cheek with his tail. "I'm Fanshe! It's an honor to meet you, Master Monkey!"

"I'm grateful to meet you, kid!" complimented Monkey.

Main roads had filled with a fierce battle.

Shouted voices thundered as a few bandits stormed near villagers' homes, shredding pots and food stands. The peacock scattered a few when parrying their blades, twirling his guandao. Most bandits switched their daggers with defenses instead. They decide to engage in weapons for murder. Lao did not want to slay anyone initially because killing was a dark way to end their lives. Weapons were only for what he achieved to defend himself, opposing the murder. As honorable heroes who pledged their lives to defend the weak, the young, and the sick, the Nine swore not to kill evil creatures.

Engaging through arms, chests, and feet, the peacock diverted daggers, nearly slashing him. Repelling enough blades using his guandao, the Nine's Brilliance hastily extended his cobalt train; Lao clouted all three with a single swing, tumbling them backward. A rookie crocodile from different locals froze, and the peacock struck his forehead with the guandao pole. A bandit flattened out cold after tumbling on the floor.

"This is so unnecessary!" Lao seethed.

"Focus!" Xing advised his brother next to Tigress.

The peacock spiraled his weapon when the Nine's Doctor launched her fists at other reptile bodies, disorienting their heads with a hard kick twice. Hong parried fast daggers with her sai blades, booting her feet on their knees.

Once Hong mounted on the peacock's back, Lao launched his whole back, letting the Nine's Dancer hail her cry in broad daylight. Crane propelled his foot and the other on one reptile bandit as Tigress uppercut him first, driving him into the horde. Several that were against Masters crashed on the floor, grunting.

"Alright, Master Crane!" the Nine's Doctor supported with her grin before she clenched one's claw, slamming his body down. On to the next engagement, Hong swiveled her foot, flipping the next one forward. She quickly scanned on marauders near the alleyway and began to trot within the horde, hitting each bandit's knee. Most were after the Nine's Doctor.

Shou rammed his head sideways as Lao thrust his kick onward to the next crowd of crocodile bandits roaring with their vicious teeth. Farther behind the two warriors, Chen Ming and Shifu remained in their fighting poses with the Emperor and Master Storming Ox near Mrs. Yan's silk store beside the Nine's Shui Palace. The Nine's Defender Niu motioned his lofty arms on two crocodiles as they swung wavy swords. The young bovine caught one's wrist and booted twice on the other's knee and chest. His hoof clenched the pressure point, made the bandit release his grip with his hollering cry, and Niu threw him in the air, spinning his kick at the reptile.

"Behind you, Bao!" Niu warned his gorilla companion, who drummed his giant fists while roaring.

"Bao, strong!" the Nine's Heaver elbowed the giant crocodile's muzzle, leading him into marauder hordes. Most of what they roared on surrounded the ape in full force as the gorilla pivoted countless blows with his bare hands.

Underneath the affray farther from the Nine's Heaver, Viper plunged several knees and ankles by more than ten storming their way, and she ascended through one's spine. One rookie that Viper clenched her body against a crocodile's whole arm swung his own twice, now swaying toward the other five bandits. Bao continued striking in the center of his Chi Sao form by standing still with arms guarding the front. Rapid lightning lunges from Viper's tail pounded one and the next, having the colossus ape thrill on the green snake's fluency on subtlety.

Lao spiraled his guandao, which four reptile gangsters were surveying him, and the weapon was frightful enough to hold fast or lead on against the peacock. The Nine's Brilliance possessed eight cuts side by side before one could advance, and one of the tall ones charged.

Need to be faster.

The peacock swept a large reptile's right foot, bowling him down with a pole lunge.

A second (average-size) reptile spun a spiked tail, allowing Lao to roll to his left and rush his guandao grip. He uppercut a bandit's long jaw with a quick knockout. A third (overweight) shoved his wavy sword, and his opponent hammered it down. Lao pinned his armament while launching his whole weight, his talon slapping above a third bandit's head. A fourth (about the same average size) retreated his feet and crashed his back on unconscious fellows he stepped on, and a streak of green with a yell — Fear the bug! — zipped.

Shou attacked the other four next to the Nine's Brilliance as crocodiles observed his strange stance; they were not acquainted with seeing this pirate before. The yak performed his sword style, swirling and deflecting their blades as if for those confused at Shou's tapping feet, then their heads hammered and spun their bodies to the ground.

Tigress propelled fast kicks on every two against one on the main path. As Chen Xing flung his limbs on several crocodiles' claws, the Dragon Warrior maintained his fighting stance. While diverting and belly-gonging three reptiles, Po spotted bandits engaging the white avian around him. What interested the panda more was the blade's metallic shrieking while Lao parried cleavers. The guandao was forged with gleaming silver. Glinting its light once on the panda's eyes let him remember his old foe from Gongmen City. The Lord of Gongmen wielded the same weaponry as the edge slashed off some fur on his muzzle. Instead, Po shook off during this affray.

"Wow! You have your fancy guandao! What is that blade made with?" Po asked while hammering his elbow at one's chest.

"This blade is Heaven steel, Dragon Warrior!" commented the young peacock.

Po gasped wondrously, trapping the reptile's neck with his flabby arm. "Heaven steel?! One of the three hundred forge blades from the stormy night sky to soar and vanquish ten thousand demons?!"

"Yes!" Lao answered after he gyrated the pole and swept a crocodile's feet.

"WHOA!"

Lidong's muscle groups assembled as their leader commanded to attack the three warriors —the peacock, the panda, and the yak pirate—to their right. From Lidong's perspective to the top left, the young leopard paced his paws on hordes while performing acrobatic spins. Peng clouted his strong kicks on three muscle bandits, the front line of reptiles hesitating as they stood their ground. Before the raid stopped, Lidong surveyed all four — Peng and Po enabled their Kung Fu forms, and Lao and Shou executed their Wing Chun flows. 

"Screw these guys! I'm going after those two tigers!" One of Lidong's recruits returned his formation to the left horde, and the Nine's Leader and Furious Five's alpha thundered their growls. Their snarls against throng bandits finally appeared dominant, more than ten reptiles withdrawing in cowardice. "Never mind!"

Lao pointed his silver guandao under Lidong's throat. Yelping, the giant reptile shrunk his own eye pupils. "Consider your judgment, or face your consequences," the Nine's Brilliance glared.

Grunting with a snap, Lidong stomped his foot, shaking the four and the whole block before he roared and spun his tail. Lao sprang over Lidong's lengthy tail and jabbed his weapon's pole on the colossus's chest, staggering him away. All five bandits bellowed in front of their leader, storming toward all four warriors.

Shou severed their wavy swords as Lao swept his train, and Po brawled with Peng, their limbs thwacking on each Lidong's brute they faced. The giant harshened his breaths for a moment before maintaining his stance, and firm whips to his left were deafened, combining with his group's shrills. Amidst the crocodile horde surrounding the middle emerged their kind, whose spike tail pummeled their bodies. One by one, Lidong's gang of twenty swiveled their heads, observing their surroundings in confusion.

"What the—?!"

A spiky ball hammered his head. The next one in the opposite direction struck the side of his ribcage, a reptile assailant snarling in pain. "I'm on your side, dammit!"

"Who the hell is?!"

"Then how do we know which is which?" a rookie bandit glared.

"MAGGOTS! If that guy hurts any of you, he's not with us!" Lidong swayed his clenching fists. "There he be!"

The Nine's Predator scurried underneath the pool of affrays; Zhao towered his height and engaged four limbs, his tail clouting Lidong's cheek. While the giant crocodile was spitting curses while flaring stings mauled a scratch, the vulture in the sky dove with his shriek, aiming his fast glide at the young peacock. Crane made his impeccable time by precisely rolling and striking the blackbird's left lung.

Lao parried more than three blades with his guandao, whose weapon glinted with white sparks; three bandits beside their reptile companion hurled their lengthy ropes, snatching Shou's horns. They tossed his head side by side, and the peacock flung his feather blades, snapping lines apart, causing the Nine's Pirate to free his way with relief.

Uppercutting a croc's jaw, forcing the bandit off course, the Dragon Warrior spotted a stream of five reptiles storming down to Lao. "Help the big guy with two swords, Viper! I'll go help the peacock!"

Peng pounded his hammer kicks on one bandit and the other as Viper next to him launched her slither lunge, following Po toward the Nine's Pirate. Shou hailed for his peacock companion once the five crocodiles pressured their line against Lao, leaving the yak against the crowd. The panda began chasing next to him before the green snake pierced her tail with rapid lightning, staggering those who were gaining on the Nine's Pirate.

"You look mighty, sweety!" the serpent master expressed gratitude with her hissing smile.

"Thanks, Master Viper!" Shou nodded, and the two engaged forward with full force, his butterfly knives dicing their blades and her tail whipping their limbs.

The peacock's defense put too much pressure—all five bandits engaging him; luckily, his guandao was the variety Lao achieved on attacking and defending. The Nine's Brilliance focused on a tall opponent, who beckoned his snarl, heaving his ax; the peacock thrust his foot to the left. He bowled to the right before Lao mounted on his back, springing in the air with his peafowl caw.

Lao's foot hammered a tall opponent's muzzle, knocking him down. A second advanced with his wavy sword while all three turned their heads at the panda, engaging him. "Tear the panda apart!"

The Dragon Warrior propelled his open palms toward their wrists, diverting their limbs before elbowing one and a second. A third thrust his kick, giving the panda's foot to block the leg and throw him on the brick structure.

A second bandit flipped in the air with his spike ball, and Po caught his tail with haste, slamming him down. "WHATCHA!" after Po flipped, his belly bounced the bandit's head, his paws clenching his lengthy end, spinning him above the bear. The first retreated, bellowing his anxiety. "Catch!" Po threw the screaming bandit at him, tumbling them into the affray.

Po's ears caught the sounds of wood fractures behind him, giving him a short glimpse of the peacock and a tall crocodile advancing their armaments. A reptile slashed the water tower's leg column beside him, creating harsh rubbles on the supporting beams. Snapping fragments haunted the panda ever since each rope ripped apart from Lord of Gongmen's Warship; the past to him repeated a deja vu scene. That thing's going to fall!

The Nine's Brilliance struggled his parries from a crocodile's ax whacking his guandao. About four times, the croc's fifth attempt went for Lao's head; the peacock hastened his dodge under, the ax slicing another tower's column. Cracks from the water and wood raised as the bandit clenched the bird's robe, shoving him away before retrieving his ax. "Have a nice swim, bird-brain!"

By the Gods!

Lao hurried his crawl while the water tower wobbled forward, the water cascading from its lips. The Dragon Warrior tackled the Nine's Brilliance right before the fall, reaching its final collapse.

A splash of waves swarming with cracks of ice and wood washed on a few blocks and toward the main road, leaving a small stream of water in bits. The brawl quietened while seeing the minor destruction, and the affray started more with battle cries.

The panda checked for cuts and bruises on himself and the young peacock near the main road. As Po did, venomous tones crept into his head. I scarred you — I scarred you for life.

The Dragon Warrior quivered his head, forcing the haunting past away as he could. The Nine's Brilliance held his own head. "Are you okay, buddy?" Po widened his jade eyes at the bird. As far as the peacock would wave his nod at the panda who saved him, a tall reptile behind Po raised his ax with his shrilling roar. The panda countered his wrist from slashing, belly-gonging him toward the flooded alleyway.

Po checked back on the peacock student, wishing to give him salutes as Lao would want to, as only the Nine's Brilliance gave a short nod to him. One of the Nine in the affray shouted for help, bringing two warriors to return to their positions.

Near Mrs. Yan's silk store beside the Nine's Shui Palace, Chen Ming and Shifu threw most of the close-quarter combatants who raced around their flanks. Farther away from the old masters, two oxen warriors— Storming Ox and Niu — maintained their dragon stance positions with Huangdi and his buffalo guards. Defenders in ornate gold armor tipped their halberds with fast swings against swords. The avian Crane shifted his short glide, thrashing a second vulture's chest and neck.

"Son, watch out!" Niu's father unfolded his solar red glares, his son turning his back. A brute crocodile in his gray lamellar armor and battle helmet crawled on all fours with a sprint, snarling straight at the bovine. The Nine's Defender encountered fast blows with his Chi Sao, palms bridging on forearms, two hooves striking the croc's mouth.

After being disoriented with smothers, a giant croc in his gray lamellar armor launched his hands at the young bovine's throat; Niu's forearms deflected from grasping. The Nine's Defender unleashed his circle punches at him, remarkably had Master Storming Ox glimpse at his son, charging his forehead at a bandit's crown.

"Nice work, son!" Niu's father praised him while wheeling his body, his iron horns warding off wavy swords with harsh clanks.

"Thanks, Dad!" Niu broke his grin.

Peng, Po, Shou, and Lao detained the line of raided crocodiles and forced them through. Above the affray, Crane caught a vulture storming down, smartly spun his kick, and a wicked blackbird descended toward the mighty leader, crashing down. Lidong drifted his light head on elsewhere as Po engaged him.

Gotcha!

Po's combinations of one uppercut, snatching Lidong's tail while whipping the main ground grounds back and forth, let the poor bandit faint with whizzing growls. The panda threw him toward the confusing leader, whose eyes sharpened a vicious glare. Lidong stormed forward and shouldered every reptile in his way, and his beastlike grumble grew deafening.

The Dragon Warrior and the mighty reptile leader rushed their strong blows, embarking the panda to deflect fists and clout on Lidong's ribcages; Lidong burst his grumbles in pain. Fung's giant cousin ran his main fist harder before Po clutched his punch, and one of his fingers was free. He thought about what horror stories unfolded from several bandits, mentioning the golden wave of chi vanquishing the Great Dragon.

Po's grip with thumb and index lifted his pointy finger.

"Oh no!" Lidong gasped, trembling his body. Fung's cousin knew what Po could do to the mighty crocodile. "The Wuxi Finger Hold?!"

"Are you and your army going to surrender, Lidong? This is your last chance!" the Dragon Warrior insisted.

Weapons still drew near every bandit attached to the Nine. Most were on Lao's guandao, which pointed one of the lieutenant's blades near a bandit's neck. Many froze their muscles, and the Nine and Furious Five waited for any bandit's movement. Behind Chen Xing, the Five's leader, Tigress stayed on guard with her Kung Fu tiger style. One of the bandits touched Xing's arm as the tiger used the block fook sao in the upper chest of the crocodile. Xing shook his head softly; a bandit knew he could not be more clever than the tiger.

The panda nearly triggered his pinky finger, and Fung's cousin's face went pale.

"STAND DOWN!" Lidong shouted, forcing his crocodiles to turn their heads at their leader. For a moment, while staring at a whole, one by one, they dropped weapons, and Lidong faced the panda. "We surrender."

The Wuxi Finger Hold bore its potential enchantment, yet lethal to each master, as many taught before their teachers. Before teachers, only one refined the ability, knowing to be the creator, Master Wuxi. They cast their soul to the Spirit Realm as part of the technique to defeat those who refused to surrender. There was another life of heaven masters, outcast warriors, and peace when the suffering was no more.

Multiple discussions from bandits shortly debated to agree and disagree with each of them. Although properties were damaged and attackers nearly assaulted a few villagers—Shou, Lao, Bao, and Chen Xing of the Nine and Tigress and Crane of the Furious Five witnessed several incursions. All six reported to their masters, Chen Ming and Grandmaster Shifu. Huangdi's guards chained most reptile assailants with eight-point acupressure cuffs, linking together to the rest of the Emperor's officers who arrested them; many recruiters followed those orders to clean every property damage to all houses.

"Lao," Shou called beside the peacock. The way the young yak could see his peacock brother wield his guandao with wariness, Lao lowered his train and feathers. "You can stand down your guandao now."

Lao nodded to his pirate brother, pointing his weapon down. Some of Huangdi's guards approached the giant crocodile, who held his hands onward, accepting his surrender. They cuffed 

"We finished this fight," Lidong submitted to Emperor Huangdi with an apologetic feeling, acupressure cuffs pricking in his wrist; the giant regarded this consequence. "We will clean this property damage and turn ourselves in for our commitment to a crime. My men and I have noticed that serious outcome."

Seeing the Gentle Dragon's nod in disappointment, Lidong visualized all four warriors standing near the Shui Palace. Po, Peng, Shou, and Lao surveyed all bandits who cleaned citizens' properties, as the Emperor of China commanded low lives for severe punishment. The Dragon Warrior decided to stand with his friend and new colleagues while crossing his limbs, watching Lidong as two guards remained ahead.

"There was a dream I saw," Lidong embarked on his words while gazing at three warriors, not Po. "I keep seeing your uncle who bailed Chorh-Gom Prison to claim some scroll. The noble peacock lord from Gongmen City wanted China with the unstoppable weapon he used. And then, the big yak came down with a flash of green fire and smoke from the sky. He wanted to steal everyone's qi to conquer the world full of jade stones. Not just China. If those dangerous, Mightiest Warriors were here by now, then China would have laid ruins everywhere."

Mightiest Warriors? Po and Lao thought with confusion.

"You must have seen a nightmare before, but that was only a dream," Lao clarified while strolling close to Lidong. "The Dragon Warrior used powerful Wuxi magic on Tai Lung and banished him. This Lord Shen from Gongmen City crushed himself with his cannon and sank to the bottom of Gongmen Harbor. This Beast of Vengeance is long gone, obliterated to himself in the light at the Spirit Realm. Those 'Mightiest Warriors' you are considering of those adversaries returning, it's a nonsense myth."

"I hope you are right, peacock," Lidong expressed with doubt while Huangdi's guard grasped the giant croc's arm to move forward. Both stopped momentarily, and Lidong needed to ask the peacock a question. "Before I go, are you—?"

"Save your words, Lidong," Lao's striped feline brother intervened when he shook his head. The tiger's open claw stopped Lao from going forward. "There's no such thing as you can see my brother here as another tyrant. The Nine heard of the Lord of Gongmen, and my brother has never met him," Chen Xing said, his chuffs blending into soft growls. "You can go see that asshole underwater by yourself for a proof."

"Then I am sorry," Lidong apologized before dispersing with his gangs and Emperor's guards. Chen Xing had bold thoughts that clouded him momentarily.

Those personal words from them mean nothing to my brother. Lao is not the son of the tyrant.

Chen Xing turned away from bandits in line with links of metal acupressure chains on the road. He checked on his peacock brother, whose weary eyes cast down to his feet. "You good, brother?"

Lao lifted his crests and placed his feather blades in his long sleeve. "I am alright."

Chapter Text

Episode Two: Pure Awesomeness (6 - 17)

Chapter XVII

Dramatic Demonstration

Two hours of delay.

The Nine's Brilliance meditated in his quiet room, with shoji walls painted with snow mountains. Lao sensed the petals swimming on the rippling stream near him. No screams or the fragmenting woods interfered with the old calamity, which the peacock avoided his nightmare. The phrase referencing the serenity, "Be like water," Lao was only good on reflection. Instead of reflecting on the misery, the Nine had one of their principles: to maintain each student or master's course. Dwelling in the past remains yesterday, never to those who regarded complexities.

Afternoon skies filled with orange fruit, and audiences from the Prosper Valley, the Emperor's followers, and honorable guests in both galleries had fulfilled to experience Wing Chun's philosophy. The Masters of Jade Palace had listened with their leopard companion Peng to the Nine's Leader, Chen Xing. They contemplated the Valley of Peace's attack as his grandmother was with him near the Fighting Square. The Masters had histories of crocodile bandits (Lidong's) and boars raiding the Valley before, knowing thieves and gangs robbed and hurt villagers. One of the Emperor's guards reported to Huangdi and Master Storming Ox that he spotted a large group of boars at the steep ridge edge of the Prosper Valley after Lidong's surrender. Neither could avenge their reptile comrade as a buffalo guard saw them all depart into the woods.

This long day to two warriors of the Nine could have been the worst, nearly jeopardizing Chen Xing and Lao's lives. Luckily, instead of disappointing them, the Masters of Jade Palace blessed their arrival in the Valley of Peace. The three warriors and Po's people prevented the Tea House hostage. They were grateful enough to handle the unexpected raid and followed the Emperor's appearance at the Shui Palace.

During this delay, marveling at the Masters of Jade Palace, Chen Xing glanced at many guests across the Square. At the same time, Emperor Huangdi apologized to the people near the buffalo guards. The first was oxen Niu and Storming Ox, embracing dearly, a reunion as the tiger figured with a wholesome. I'm glad they see each other again. His dad should know I saved his son from being a street fighter.

All four of the Furious Five stood next to Peng and their new colleagues, the Nine. And finally, close to Chen Xing, the Nine's Dancer Lotus was with Tigress, Po, Shifu, and Chen Ming. He surveyed pleasures and commemorations on complimenting the Nine's current demonstration, becoming vivid and blessed. Xing had been bearing his demeanor to one guest who was almost a ghost from the past, whose face was natural but with amber eyes. His mother's eyes were the color of the stone.

Tigress beckoned her slow nod to the Nine's Leader, and Xing returned him with gratitude.

Guests returned to their seats as Emperor Huangdi announced to resume the presentation. Both Chen Xing and Niu went in line with the Nine next to the platform as the Nine's Master went into the Nine's Barrack. Chen Ming checked her adoptive grandson in the peacock's bedroom. "Lao, my dear. You are ready."

The Nine's Brilliance strolled out of the Barrack to embark on his essential demonstration role. The Masters of Jade Palace saw him, closing in on the Fighting Square, and Lao's brother Xing went behind and wrapped a black sash cloth around the bird's eyes. Blindfold is an expert level closer to black sash rank, always recommendable to sense your surroundings and feel the presence of enemies approach within close and far range. A blindfold level is physical and mental — your brain and ears guide. Your eyes do not.

I know one's face.

In the middle of the gallery, Emperor Huangdi surveyed the young peacock. Next to the elder buffalo, Storming Ox barely widened his crimson eyes while craning his neck with surprise. The kid cannot be the son of my old friend's killer. He's just the boy.

Chen Ming gestured her bow to the Emperor and lectured the audience.

"My Emperor. I want to introduce you to my second student. I feature you the Nine's Brilliance. Lao."

九

Lao, the Nine's Brilliance / Blindfold and Guandao

The peacock bowed to the Emperor and every master before his wings contacted Xing's arms, embarking on Chi Sao. Their limbs formed in a circle as Lao let his wings follow and control his brother's movement. Lao could enable all forms of Wing Chun with attack and defense strategies. Snappy paws swept wings like silk breeze, a soft strike from claws and white feathers repelling with a bong sao and tan sao combo.

The peacock managed momentum to his slender limbs and feet, knowing his kicks were stronger than his wings. His wings, however, were only to deflect various targets of fast blows, weapons to disarm and knock opponents using his poles. His Chi Sao blocks had the Nine's Brilliance focus on challenging close-range attacks.

Chen Xing started on his circle fists toward his brother's arms, delivering Lao's wings parry.

Wavering bridge links while one maintained the limb and the other connected, Lao swiveled the tiger's arms wide, his train fanning while sweeping. The tiger's feet sprang before he landed close to his brother, taking another engagement to guide the peacock on his surroundings. The Dragon Warrior scanned his emerald eyes on the two warriors when the crepuscular light cast its soft yellow beam toward the Fighting Square — the day that seemed yesterday made the panda reminisce reverberations of crackling woods, gurgling ripples, and panting breaths.

"You gotta let go of that stuff from the past because it just doesn't matter, Shen," Po says to the defeated conqueror in his silver silk robe, whose body of snow-white feathers with a red train lays forward in defeat. The eyes of red-orange cast his glare down in reflection. Above, next to the peacock, the Warship's ropes strangle the metal barrel of the dragon's fragmenting face. "The only thing that matters is what you choose to be now."

"You are right," Shen beckons his nod. The last thing the Dragon Warrior could do was to see the Lord of Gongmen, the peacock's head cast to one of his feathers. Was Shen able to commit his surrender to the panda, the only symbol of a black and white warrior who had changed the course of history to defeat him? Could he turn himself in? That would not matter to him, despite the people he feared could rip him apart.

"Then I choose. . . THIS!"

Glossy feather blades swing toward Po, the peacock's crimson eyes snapping. Po diverges side by side from sharp knives, which silver metals shriek while Shen reels with aggression. The Lord of Gongmen bursts his loathsomeness screams before the panda begins to parry and bridge his main arm movement. After a single spin to his foot, the peacock attempts to cut through, his knives landing a small streak on Po's muzzle.

Po gives out his distortion of yelp as his muzzle fur floats down, widening his glance at the wild peacock. Shen flings his screeching feather knives, attempting to get the panda to stomp his foot and grasp the broken deck's floor. One blade after the rest flies before the Dragon Warrior plunges the board, almost hitting his face.

Shen was advancing hard, drawing his silver guandao. Ropes snap their cuts from the peacock, fluctuating his weapon to the panda each time. Without advantages to stop him, Po manages to maneuver one way and the next as the Lord of Gongmen gains on him, spiraling the blade with lethal pivots. Po rolls forward before the peacock leaps to the weak structure. Amid the mast column breaking into fissures, the dragon cannon fractured, and the last time facing his old adversary, the cannon itself collapsed. Metals creaked, and woods screamed to sheds.

And peace silences the Lord of Gongmen's misery.

Reverberations of cheers and applauses disturbed Po's mind, waking him into reality. The Nine's Brilliance now wielded his glittering silver guandao on the Fighting Square platform, slicing action dummies they were spinning toward the young peacock. Gongmen City and his old nemeses were impossible to forget. Demanding the evil peacock lord was one thing the panda wanted answers about his kind; the night that chaos stormed with fire, howls featured their leader's bird caw.

Shen is gone.

That was all the Dragon Warrior softly squinted his emerald eyes. Next to Po to his left, his striped feline companion raised her steady regard. Not wanting to interrupt him when the crowds beckoned awes at the young peacock student.

Spoken voices from Po's surroundings piled in.

"Looks like the kid Lao has talents!" Viper mentioned while observing the Nine's Brilliance wielding his guandao, sweeping various attacks and parries. "Could the Nine's Brilliance be. . . like the other one we confronted before?"

"No. That's just another peacock," Monkey scrutinized Lao's movement. "But this kid's very good in combat back there."

"So far, that peacock's young and unique," Crane detailed as he surveyed. "He looks familiar to someone we knew. Lao has average academic words that we barely understand. We can manage some of his angered issues."

"I can help him as well, Crane," Viper agreed. "I would love to control Lao's temper. What do you think, Po? Po?"

Po quivered his head softly after his daydreaming through his old adversary encounter. Monkey patted the panda's shoulder. "You okay there, buddy?"

"Yeah. I was daydreaming. And yes! I'm interested in him."

九

九

Chen Xing, the Nine's Leader / Chi Sao, Blindfold and Persistence

Tigress and Shifu surveyed the Nine's Leader in his long-sleeve blue silk tunic with black vein leaves and ebony trousers. Chen Xing positioned on the Fighting Square with the Nine's Dancer Lotus, his black sash wrapping around his head from his eyes revealing. With their Wing Chun stance, their limbs bridged and formed Chi Sao forms in circulation. The wolf started first as she pounced her loop fists on her tiger brother, whose paws deflected with accuracy and speed. Lotus propelled one of her feet when Chen Xing bashed with his palm parries from his sparring partner's kicks. His foot barricaded her leg, letting the tiger advance with rapid circle punches.

Ahead of the Nine's Leader, the Nine's Predator (his second volunteer) emerged, whose lime eyes widened. The tiger's forceful blows ruptured with a short breeze when Tigress kept watching him with marvel. Chen Xing maintained his Chi Sao stance before Zhao swirled his lengthy tail, building the tiger's advantage to his feet, shoving with a block. Zhao always knew he could not underestimate his feline partner. Xing regarded the crocodile's lack of reaction as the reptile could improve further.

One of the tiger's kicks let the Nine's Pirate (his third and final volunteer) flinch briefly and leveled his guards up in defense, facing the Nine's Leader with his black sash blindfold. Size does not matter in combat whether you are a little encountering the tall and the big facing the small. The yak pirate and the tiger linked their arms through a circle of Chi Sao as Chen Xing sensed the pirate's tense and soft limbs simultaneously.

The Nine's Leader attempted to launch his straight punches at his yak companion, and the Nine's Pirate deflected his palm blocks. Little by little, Xing's blows were in pace and, in more incredible swiftness, made the audience in awe, letting Shou diverge his strong arms. Shou made his opponent's arms apart by hammering his palms down and swinging his wrists upward, shoving the tiger back.

The Nine's Pirate started his round kick as he hailed; Chen Xing flickered his black ears after swiveling his striped tail. His whole left arm firmly trapped Shou's leg, and Xing's right foot clamped behind the yak's foot, throwing him down to the platform. With a loud thud from Shou, the tiger drove for one smack close to his ribcage, his circle fists rapidly striking near his head. The whole gallery filled with the Dragon Warrior's applause.

Rumble

The Nine favored their best hobby of free-fighting martial arts. Heavyweight students Shou, Niu, and Zhao wielded their swords as the two learned their yak brother's pirate style and butterfly knives from the Nine's Master. Bao and Fanshe, their brotherhood bond as close friendships, pulsed countless tail strikes and large palms. The Nine's Serpent performed his slithers as he deflected his gorilla brother's bashing hands. Fanshe stormed and rounded his whole body over Bao's legs, and the ape fell on the platform with a loud thud.

After a brief snarl with triumph, having the gallery filled with whistles and cheers, Fanshe supported Bao as the gorilla began to bow, dancing his palms across the Fighting Square. Visitors and guests burst their guffaws.

Both female warriors, Lotus and Hong, committed with their fast paws and one ribbon. Hong dodged the swirling fabric, having Lotus advance toward the bunny as the Dragon Warrior reminded the Nine's Dancer of Mei Mei's nunchuck and ribbon stick. The next, while Lotus's ribbon tackled and spun Hong, a white smoke puffed beside the wolf. Using his wooden pole, the Nine's Leader dashed in the smoke as Chen Xing searched for one of his brothers; his black ears registered the Nine hailing each other with sword clangs. Remaining persistent in sensing his surroundings, the tiger caught hearing the floor's soft stroke, letting Xing swim his head from one side to the other.

A cobalt train fanning with vibrations swept the tiger's legs, and Xing leaped his feet from his peacock brother's surprise, vanquishing the white smoke. Lao pivoted his wooden pole toward his feline brother, parrying Chen Xing's dragon pole with acrobatic spins. One of Lotus's ribbons almost clenched Hong's stomach, which the Nine's Doctor rotated her small limbs over and the next, drawing closer to her opponent. Behind Hong, the Nine's Predator Zhao spiraled his spiky tail against the two bovines, who ducked their heads from him. The Nine's Pirate and Defender faced their reptile opponent before Hong spun herself from the ribbon, scampering toward Lotus.

The Nine's Dancer made her front body crash before she rapidly glanced. And before anything to defend herself, the other went for the win first. The Nine's Doctor Hong drew two sai blades near Lotus's chest. Emperor Huangdi and many close to him filled applauses.

九

A russet sunset gleamed on the Guilin Mountains of the Prosper Valley. The Wing Chun demonstration and entertainment were over. The Nine completed their hobby activity, "Rumble," before following the Combinations test and Elimination spar with Master Chen Ming. With such a substantial performance, indicating the Nine show Wing Chun to their audience, the Masters of Jade Palace, their citizens, and the Emperor and his people were heavily praised and learned about their inception.

The Nine's Master invited plenty of his honorable guests to dinner; the Emperor of China granted his wish to try Chen Ming and Chen Xing's white rice.

Ming and her grandson cooked white rice with melted butter as several villagers of the Prosper Valley left Shui Palace. After dinner, the Masters of Jade Palace spoke with the Nine as Chen Ming met with the Gentle Dragon. The old buffalo's hooves clasped on his belly with delight.

"I would like to thank you and your grandson for inviting my group and me to your feast, Master Ming. Your food is scrumptious," the Emperor of China beamed ahead of the old feline teacher, whose smile curved with wrinkles.

"You're welcome, my Emperor," the Nine's Master pleasured.

"The Dragon Warrior recommends you and the Nine try Mr. Ping's noodles in the Valley of Peace."

"The Nine will look forward to eating noodles soon, my Emperor."

"I am strongly intrigued by your students," Huangdi said with amusement. "I am curious about one of your Nine students who drew my attention the most: The peacock."

"Lao is beyond unique, my Emperor," Ming said, gazing at her avian student. "He is like my own grandson, just as the peacock's peahen mother offered me to stay close to Lao with his tiger brother."

"Is there a heritage to your finest student?" asked Huangdi with a respective grin, his sun eyes beaming. "I knew someone who was my closest friend, the extraordinary one. Around the latter, my persistent father ordered the two who could have destined for tenderness to throw their son away."

Chen Ming hummed with determination. "As far as I know, my Emperor, my student is worth superior. Brilliance came from his father's side. And charity was born from his mother's side," Chen Ming elucidated. "Lao's lifetime is complicated here in Shui Palace, Emperor Huangdi. I would love to clarify more about my peacock student. A letter will let you know about my second student if you wish to accept my offer."

"Yes, indeed. Your student reminds me of Lord Feng of Gongmen City, Master Ming. I loved him and his lady more because they were gracious."

"Who was your closest friend, my Emperor?" the Nine's Master inquired with inquisitive reflection.

The Emperor's gold eyes drifted off and rested toward the Nine's Brilliance. "Someone who had a complicated life," answered Huangdi.

The Masters of Jade Palace on the Fighting Square observed the Nine with amazement, respectable deem, and encouragement. The red panda teacher met the two warriors and the leopard. "I am grateful for you, Chen Xing and Lao of the Nine, and to you, Peng," Shifu applauded with a single clap. "We thank you three for saving the Valley of Peace. Fung and his crocodiles would have caused chaos in the village without you three."

"Thank you, Master," Xing and Lao nodded.

"It was worth you two came along," Peng beamed at Lao and Xing next to Shifu. "You guys are incredible. I have never seen any of those famous martial arts like that before. As I am honored and would love to practice Wing Chun with the Nine, I have my Kung Fu Clubs to look after. There will be countless mentions across China, and my classes will be your sponsors."

The Nine's Heavyweights Zhao, Niu, and Shou took their surprising glances and slapped each other's hands with approval. "Alright! Now the Fellowship has sponsors!" Niu grinned.

Master Storming Ox patted Niu's shoulder. "I'm proud of you, my son," he chuckled with a low voice.

"The Masters of Jade Palace will oblige the Nine to seek how you can improve your physical combat and state of mentality," Shifu uttered the Nine with encouragement. He began to scrutinize the three giant warriors to the left.

"Shou, Niu, and Zhao," the red panda chuckled with curiosity. "Emperor Huangdi's colleague mentioned earlier that you three are familiar with the original Street Fighters who became legendary heroes. Master Storming Ox craves inviting you to the Council Masters of Gongmen City as you are honorary students and Prosper Valley's Defenders."

The red panda ambled and speculated the mighty ape, the cobra, and the bunny. "Hmm. Resilience, speed, and bravery," Shifu described the other three disciples with determination. "To Bao and Fanshe as 'Heave Slither Brothers,' my student Viper reflects the time of Lord Viper, who protected his village from a thousand bandits. Only one in his shiny armor nearly attempted, and his daughter achieved the near impossible. She is delighted to see you, Fanshe. A family reunion of brother and sister filled her heart. Your adoptive father will be proud.

"Viper will inspect your skills of subtlety and strength," Shifu again chuckled. The Nine's Doctor wavered her tiny paw with a salute, making Lotus and Chen Xing suppress their chortle. The red panda continued. "An expert healer, you are, and somewhat more comedic relief than my insect student. Mantis is interested in having two physicians for the Nine and the Jade Palace Masters. He will guide you through rapid attack advantages as you focus on passive-aggressive techniques."

The Nine's Dancer remained postured as Shifu's wooden pool tapped twice. "Attractive and veracity," said the red panda. "The Dragon Warrior notices you are an elegant ribbon dancer. He will show the Pandiva founder to help you balance your style. Po recommends that you try to use nunchucks."

Those will come in handy! Lotus widened her smiling teeth.

By the next, as Shifu embarked to survey the Nine's Brilliance, the red panda recalled the haunting figure with raging flashes of crimson fireballs across the harbor. He cleared his throat beforehand, neglecting the ghastly white figure. "An intelligent student," he described the young peacock. "Before the dark time, the young Prince of Gongmen City was Thundering Rhino's pupil who became the morality and defender, seeking encouragement by helping his parents' citizens. He helped them handle bandit incursions across districts with his master. He was righteous among his people and envisioned political aspects of economic goods and needs.

"Whatever happened to Thundering Rhino's student who went berserk at the end, he was no longer the one who could have continued his parents' legacy. Shen would have been the honorable Lord of Gongmen if his destiny by the beginning never occurred."

One by one, the Dragon Warrior and Furious Five gesticulated their slow nods at the Nine's Brilliance, whose ocean eyes rested on them all. They met and witnessed the tyrannical peacock lord.

The red panda master started. "My student Monkey has an excellent taste to your guandao attacks. You'll bear mobility once more as he can improve your pole. Crane anticipates you are slightly good at gliding in the air. Escaping routes and evading obstacles are your endurance. While you have your flight as an extraordinary gift, not many peafowls but one can fly. My avian student will teach you to maintain your flight courses."

Shifu strolled halfway and wavered his pointy finger. "The Dragon Warrior has his cravings for your weapon skills of feather knives and rope darts, including your mentality. Your master speaks to me about your disturbing experiences with your meditation, which you are having difficulties with. Po can help you guide you through your barriers; the Masters of Jade Palace hope you will memorize the unknown. Know this, my new friend: you will always remain present, but learn the past from not dwelling in despair."

More than likely, the peacock understood the concept as his old feline teacher had advised him before the red panda did. Shifu now stood forth to the next student, the feline warrior with silver eyes and a short, black Fu Manchu beard. Tigress maintained her posture after she clasped her wrist behind her.

"And finally, Chen Xing. Leadership and strong," Shifu defined the Nine's Leader. "I am your grandmother's closest friend. We became brother and sister under Grandmaster Oogway's care," the red panda scanned the tiger's rough paws. "Mmm—stone hands, which I assume you have been bashing Ironwood logs. And with the dummy's wooden arms, you hit your forearms with deflection. How many years have you been punching the Ironwood Trees?"

"Twelve years, Master Shifu."

"That's good. Eradicating pain is substantial to your advantage while engaging in combat against throngs of bandits."

Yes, indeed. Chen Xing agreed.

"For decades," Shifu continued, his wooden staff towering beside him. "Grandmaster Oogway and I had been searching for your kind after your grandmother's departure. Chen Ming had to return home to watch over her son after her companions who brought their daughter to Bao Gu Residence were evanesced. Although mysteries have always lingered across China, knowing any soul can happen with uncertain fates."

The world seems dangerous out there. Nana was right, and Shifu was too.

Chen Xing nodded with understanding as Shifu continued. "My student Tigress has been under my care, as well as Oogway's. She was the only tiger left, as I thought I could never see my closest companion. And so, as you and Chen Ming are considered the only souls left in common, the three felines are no longer in solitude.

"However," Shifu considered. "Tigress will need her room to meet you and your grandmother in person. She will invite you to the Jade Palace whenever she is ready. Tigress will train you with her Kung Fu tiger style. Regarding your paws as firm and slightly tense, you performed precision hits with various blocks of Chi Sao well. The Masters of Jade Palace have our new intention in practicing your Wing Chun, and the Dragon Warrior delivers his remark."

The black and white bear spread his limbs with encouragement. "You guys are totally awesome! You defeated the whole army of crocodiles back there, and each of you demonstrated your styles! They're so—!"

"Incredibly hardcore," Tigress commented, beaming her grin.

"YEAH! You guys will be amazed to see the Hall of Heroes, thousands of scrolls, the Training Hall, the best room in the Student Barrack, and everything! You gonna love that place!"

"Oh, the Nine are looking forward to Jade Palace, Dragon Warrior," the Nine's Doctor, Hong, assured.

"I agree," Chen Xing nodded. "The Nine will have free time this weekend or later to head to the Jade Palace. We'll get to know each other as your new buddies."

The next moment, as one of the Furious Five was about to open for more, Xing's stomach made a faint growl, letting him chuckle. "By the spirits. My brother and I haven't eaten food."

"Speaking of food," Chen Ming simpered. "The Dragon Warrior served his noodles as your gift. A gift for the Nine to eat his secret ingredient."

The Nine's Messenger strolled with a wooden pushcart of five dish bowls detailed with cobalt-long dragon wave plates. Beside him appeared his geese partner Biyu, who brought another wooden tray with four large bowls. All bowls contained the fading steam of Dragon Warrior's noodles. The Nine thrilled their breaths with passion.

Lao hummed after swallowing his food in satisfaction in the Nine's Meeting Room. "By the Gods! This food is delicious!"

Beside him, Hong clasped a large portion of noodles in her mouth, devouring with relief. She pointed her chopsticks at the peacock while swallowing her food. "Mark my words! I'll be heading to the Valley of Peace and eating many noodles from you!" Hong clenched her teeth, smiling.

In front of them, the Nine's Defender Niu burst his chuckle. "Not when I get there first!" he uttered.

After the Nine finished their meals, the Masters of Jade Palace shook their hands as soon as the dusk of pumpkin orange and jade clouds merged toward the west. Peng began to join them across the cobblestone road once Tigress was the last to give her claw shake to her striped feline friend, Xing. She promised to meet again at either the Jade Palace or the Shui Palace if she wished to attend to see the Chen family.

The Masters of Jade Palace rode on the boatman's junk sail as the Nine offered yuan and huizi tips to ride these warriors home. The babbling water reflected dark clouds and a few white sparks from the sky, and the bamboo forest crackled branches with chirping insects. Tigress sat behind the front bow with Shifu as she crossed over her knees, her tail hooking next to her foot. She and her adoptive father reflected the two warriors of her kind while the Furious Five conversed under the roof.

"I'm happy you came here with us, Peng," Po beamed, patting Peng's shoulder beside the leopard with Monkey and Crane. "We also have a lot of stories to tell you about how we confronted Lord Shen in Gongmen City and encountered Kai in Secret Panda village!"

"I've heard those two before," Peng mentioned. "The peacock lord's return to his city made half of this country concern him. And then, months after Shen's fall, a few people mentioned the yak went from temple to temple, raiding and claiming souls with his Jade Warriors. How did you guys survive both evils?"

"Maybe luck?" Crane guessed.

Mantis creaked his wings above Crane's conical hat. "Not shit, genius."

"Language," Shifu grunted.

"I can't stop thinking about the Nine. Two of them, actually," Peng pondered. "Chen Xing's a cool guy, reminding me of — well, he's got types of you and Tigress. And Lao, he's like one of my avian students with miles upon miles of more complex words than him. The peacock looks like those peafowl nobles. Are there any more birds like him here?"

"Not all of them, I'm afraid. I hear peafowls live from India," Monkey speculated while massaging his jaw.

"I read your message yesterday, Peng," Po smiled. "That is so awesome you have your kids!"

"Kids?!" the bug leaped toward Peng's leg. "Whoa there! Are you the father now?"

The leopard beckoned as the Five praised him. "Sounds like great news there, kid," Crane said. "Are your kids like sons, daughters?"

"Two of my special sons," Peng replied. "They're so innocent and adorable."

"What are their names?" Monkey inquired with curiosity.

"My youngest son is Zixin," Peng named one. "My other son, I adored the awesomeness name I gave him at birth."

"What's your other son's name?" Viper slithered to Peng, showing her red lips wide.

Someone who is a good friend to me, Peng reflected.

Peng could not stop smirking as their eyes rested on him with interest. He turned to the panda. "Po."

Viper was the first to gasp while Crane collapsed his beak wide open toward his panda friend. Many turned to the Dragon Warrior, whose emerald eyes glittered. His gasping went inaudible. "I named my firstborn after you," Peng smiled once more. "My wife Lian and I wanted to have our son's name for you. Despite all six being good companions I came along with, the seventh, you are a great friend, Po. I use his name to follow his uncle's footsteps, letting Lian and I guide him through his course to become an honorable warrior.

"That is why I named him, in a futuristic thought that my son desires to meet you all one day. Po loves Kung Fu, just like you. And I wanted to say that my son is such a wonderful kid, and he wishes to see his godfather someday."

"His godfather?" Po pondered. "Who is your son's godfather?"

Peng chuckled. "You are," Peng pointed at the panda.

Crane's mouth wide open with shock. Most of the Five shone their eyes, and Tigress slightly smirked before Peng spoke. "Lian and I hardly chose one of you to be my son's godfather for days after my firstborn son. We thought someone perfect for letting my son see his uncle in the future."

"That is so nice," Viper's cheek gleamed into a rose, her tongue ringing with a pleasant hiss. "And his godmother?"

"That's a good question, Viper. Lian and I thought about who my son's godmother would be, and we hardly tried to choose which one. At first, Viper," Peng rested his yellow eyes on the reptile master's eyes. "My wife and I believed you would be the first to be his godmother under Po's guardian while you are right at mother guides. But, my firstborn once said a very first word after he saw one of the Furious Five posters at my clubhouse."

"What did Po say?" asked the panda.

"You all gonna like what he spoke after Lian and I found his perfect aunt as his godmother."

The Masters followed their leopard companion's gaze to one of their own. Their eyes embarked on widening their eyes than Crane's beak after Viper melted her awe expression. Me? The stripped feline stammered, her amber eyes glimpsing at them back and forth before resting toward Peng's.

"I realize you are going to say no, Tigress," Peng realized. "I choose both of you as my son's godparents. Because in our distant future, if Lian and I will not survive, I strongly want you and Tigress to look after my sons. Even when someday we will not be around if anything gets worse."

Po and Tigress gazed at themselves with wary recently. As they contemplated their leopard companion, who desired the two warriors to bestow them his Will, they met their red panda master beside him within the interior. Shifu took notice of their regards, beckoning his slow nod to Po and Tigress. The striped feline warrior reminisced about her parental guidance from her serpent sister. Viper's thin red tongue tickled Lei Lei's cheek in Tigress's chamber.

I look after Lei Lei like my own, as her mother is thriving, and her aunt Mei Mei is exquisite.

"Tigress and I will look after your sons, Peng," Po patted Peng's claw.

Tigress nodded and revealed her slight grin. "You have my word," she said, taking her pledge to him.

Chapter Text

Episode III: The Top Three ( 18 - 29 )

Chapter XVIII

The Lord, the Lady, and the Prince

One Month Later

May 7, 1205

Yinxing Summit, Tibet — NYINGMA

The Prince of Darkness and Lord of Gongmen sat on their chairs at the Hollow's platform, their solar and crimson eyes training on shroud clouds that emerged above the veins of lava underneath. Sulfur and molten metal across the sea of darkness and fire chanted whispers, allowing the two warlords great tastes of their liking. Determining more significant numbers below the podium, Lord Shen wandered his sight at the vastness as he had his own. Wolves were the strength of his pack, and now, forming with his bovine ally, the resilience was far grander than before. Prince Huoju regarded several recruits and experienced fighters across the stone pillars beside the line of his army. The rest, as the Fire Clan members, gathered outcast bandits and those who could achieve what was worth: deception and hatred.

Hisses and squeaks deafened from charcoal clouds. The Prince of Darkness invited one of his best avians to communicate his interest in conquering China with Emperor Khan's son. A hive of tiny gray and midnight wings swam out of the pyroclastic clouds, causing Prince Huoju's lips to curl again. The swarm sped around the mountain, and bats shrieked with admiration and hospitality. Lord Shen remained in his seat, searching for one bat in his red vest whose two comrades followed their leader.

The three with long gray ears and curved teeth bowed to Huoju, the Prince of Darkness, Mingling, the Lady of Shadows, and Shen, the Lord of Gongmen. "Greetings! We are Zei, Bian Fu, and Mianfu. The three are at your service, my Prince," one tiny voice and the other introduced.

Prince Huoju determined their perception of his ideal, scrutinizing their remembrances of the Great War. Legends and the old after the Great War continued legacy histories of the Fire Clan against the Emperor's Rebellion — the Great War was the success of the Qing Temple's desolation.

"Welcome, Zei, Bian Fu, and Mafan. I am Prince Huoju, son of Emperor Khan of Jinse Simiao," the bovine graced, his hoof gesticulating his torso and two of his loyal companions. "These are my associates: Lady Mingling from Inner Mongolia and Lord Shen, son of Lord Feng of Gongmen City."

The black bear in her heavy lamellar armor robe nodded with gratitude to these newcomers. The peacock kept his head onward with satisfaction. Zei's brown eyes widened, the other two bats following their gape. "Lord Shen. So it's true, then. There were rumors about Lord of Gongmen's defeat, and none could claim that's authentic."

"Aside from the peacock lord's recognition, Zei, we follow deeds for Lord Shen and his reign," Mianfu patted his chest. "Yes. My bats and I are technicians! We build weapons; we craft metals to melt with flesh and bones after our meals."

"My clan, Dark Wings, heard of your defeat in Gongmen City, my Lord," Bian Fu said. "It's a shame that the fat bear who refuses to stop eating a whole country of dumplings defeated you. My brothers and I have always admired you, even at your loss. Those wolves who fell before you were brainless fools. No offense to my vulgar language, my Lord."

The peacock gave low chuckles with a whiz. "None taken, Bian Fu. As I am honored to hear the presence of enthusiasts," Lord Shen leveled his grimace at the three, "the Lord of Gongmen expects loyalty. If that is admiration you desire to follow, there will be a proposal for you three. Who among you is the chemist?"

Mianfu raised his dark gray wings. "I am, my Lord Shen."

"Good! Now, the two shall search for the farthest towns and cities across Tibet. While you gather countless metals, forgers shall melt iron into scorching cannons. Which of the two is the blacksmith expert?"

"Me, my Lord," Bian Fu patted with a vicious grin.

The Prince of Darkness beside Shen buzzed his fruity throat. "Now that settles the anticipation. Lord Shen expects to assemble your teams. There are other blacksmiths forging artilleries, and they shall require assistance."

"Wonderful," Zei simpered. "Thousands of my clan mates are willing to train at barracks. My brother Mianfu wishes to know where cannons are to study the peacock's work."

"My artilleries are near crimson columns close to the platform there," the peacock pointed at the lava lake, the other side of the steeps. "Prince Huoju's men are experimenting with the cannon stabilities and ranges."

Mianfu tittered with pleasant hisses. "Thank you, my Lord. I look forward to becoming your chemist partner."

Mianfu and Bian Fu soared onward to the swarming gray and black wings that echoed their mimicking titters and hisses. The alpha Zei remained on the platform's ledge. "I find my purpose in following one's matter about partaking to conquer China. Those underneath the soil from the Great War were prominent, not ones with tiny dumplings. Dark Wings served previous leaders under Generals who followed the Fire Clan, and that era had no leader, no soul who could claim this country. We have been waiting for years, sleeping and biting victims until we follow the one who shall rule under his sovereignty. And the warlord's name is Prince Huoju of Jinse Simiao."

Zei bent his knee, his gray wings holding high in admiration. "Dark Wings and I fall before you, my Prince, Lord, and Lady. The swords and wings are yours, and we are in debt to serve you well."

"Rise, Zei," Huoju gesticulated his hoof with pride, standing among the bat. "You will be one of my Lady's Commanders. Come with Lady Mingling and me."

Shen rose from his skull throne and trekked with the three within the rocky corridors emblazoned with igneous glass surfaces, sparkles of orange stars glinting. The Prince of Darkness chuffed his charcoal breath. "Shen, you remain here on the Hollow's platform. The messenger will arrive soon and inform you about the Tournament's chosen disciples of three classes."

"As you wish, my Prince," the peacock obeyed. "Where will you be going, if I may ask?"

"To the forsaken world, my dear companion," Huoju answered. "Will be paying respects to those who left and banished to the Diyu Realm. Those who lost glory, whose masters betrayed their students, and those who seek vengeance in return to the Mortal Realm. The rest shall join; a few who will dare challenge the almighty may be stomped their bones to dust by my feet."

The Prince of Darkness's voice of crumbling rocks stiffened, yet might as the Lord of Gongmen regarded him with absolute. The black bear Mingling hissed her rasping tongue, revolving her claw toward the center of the Hollow's igneous structure. The violet stream rotating the void sphere emerged, the breeze fiddling their furs as the peacock's robe glided ahead of him. "Make yourself comfortable before we return," Prince Huoju gave a soft pat on Shen's shoulder.

"Good luck to you, Master," Lord Shen wished him. Huoju broke his wicked smile before swallowing into the void sphere with his Lady and their new partner. A scorching hue around the ball dug within the heart, kindling with a thunderous clap of the metal cannon's trigger. The doorway left with floating ash embers, leading Shen to depart the Hollow's Platform.

Lord Shen surveyed across the courtyard's columns and igneous structures layered with scorching orange veins. All alone, the peacock wished to converse with someone, others like being loyal to him. Defining loyalty as the peacock remembered his friend's name once before, the one-eyed wolf brought him into familiar songs of the forest from his former army—songs of the wolf howls in the air. That loyalty to Shen, who he trusted, was the closest one to his side; that wolf no longer mattered to Shen. The peacock passed by statue monuments of Huoju's warlords and toward the broad platform before observing clouds of tiny gray wings swarming above embers. While neglecting his old companion's dying grunt, something entwined in Shen's thoughts.

Bo. . .

A soft female voice immersed him.

An old name had not been heard since the final days of banishment with Shen's army of wolves. His people who served him must respectfully address his title and surname, "Lord Shen," under their command. When the peacock leaned his feathers against the railing, other familiar voices of silver and melody crept into his head and toward his heart.

Mother? Father?

A mother's voice grew. Something where Shen endured his excruciating soul as the family tone kept entering his head. Some voices had always called the peacock Shen, meaning divinity and thoughtful for his pride birth. What he gazed into some trance? The avian's memory blends in with the dark and shifts into the light.

1150 ( 55 years earlier)

Gongmen City, Zhejiang — SONG DYNASTY

Beyond the land rested a harsh salty scent of the eastern sea, the silver light swimming its moon glare on the craggy hills of the prospering metropolis, thousands of street lights pulsing in red, orange, and yellow. Gongmen City was the regal land; only one gargantuan pagoda tower stood, including four-season towers before the main. Peafowls ruled this city, and the rest before the two defended their citizens and the Realm to protect and serve. Above the entry gate, their billowing flag's sigil was the tower with ornate yellow and red flame upward tiles. Their ten-story royal house was named Tower of the Sacred Flame.

Within the care room of Gongmen City Hospital, the peahen lady in her light rose and cyan hanfu gown hatched their newborn resting in the nest. Her peacock husband, in his cobalt and orange robe, observed with a sow doctor, who initially delivered an egg; a doctor inspected their infant's egg, shattering freedom above the shell. Embracing their feathers with elegance and hope, the father and mother shed tears, and their gift made it a success. Together, never before seen, the small figure was revealed as the omen sign, presenting terrible luck in China.

Their child had white feathers. The color in China reflected a symbol of death, but on the contrary, the white illustrated purity and innocence: half blessing and half curse. The son mumbled his cry, widening his orange-crimson eyes at his biological mother, whose gasp intensified. "Mama," the son cooed.

Mama nuzzled her head on her firstborn, whose giggly laugh made the father and a doctor grin with chuckles. The Lord of Gongmen found a specific name for his son; he discovered a perfect character to continue his father's legacy, and many of them served for hundreds of years before him. The father's side carried consciousness and ruthlessness. The mother's side was spirituality and brilliance. Their surname, Shen, persisted for generations after Lord Li Han's heritage fell, finding the calm waves that sang among the stars in endless times. Lord Feng and Lady Muqin of Gongmen City named their Prince. Shen Jianyu. A spirit builds the universe.

Instead of two names after a surname for their son, Lord Feng and Lady Muqin of Gongmen had to choose one. The father recommended their child manifest constellations, representing aspects of each soul's inception symbols. Lady Muqin had one who she adored. Her father, Heng Bojing, used her son's name to continue along with Jianyu's grandfather's name. She had a gifted hearing of the ocean's melody, which the surge lapped against the beach and underneath the sea, muffled crashing tides—there were deep, gentle waves. Lord Feng and Lady Muqin nicknamed their son Bo, only agreeing to use Jianyu's alias in the family area outside of public meetings.

The two nobles met the goat caretaker within her new chamber, a brilliant mind of the fortune teller who had strong bonds with children. As Lord Feng had the urgency to manifest guarding the Realm and the Sacred Flame Tower, Lady Muqin craved to aid the people with credits. She needed her husband to do the same. So they brought their son's guardian to watch Jianyu.

Winter encroached its snow across the city in the evening, and Jianyu's parents offered their son a gray silk garment. Their son was born with a metal element, reflecting silver he robed in his favorite color. Jianyu rode behind Lord Feng's long neck and back, giving awe glances at his city. He and his parents trekked with a group of royalties from different houses in China. The last thing his parents narrated to him that night was his first Chinese New Year during his infant time. Many souls commemorated one of Lord Feng's companions, who celebrated the year of his kind—that year brought the child's wonderment of amber and white fireworks with black stripes.

Jianyu's Eighth Year (1158)

Within the following years of Shen's youngest days, Jianyu met a Tibetan wolf cub in rent clothing, whose red eyes poured into waterfalls. The young Prince never comprehended some people's reluctance to wolves and how vicious they became. Instead, he urged Nana Soothsayer to occupy the young cub with children. After hearing distressing news from Master Flying Rhino, Lord Feng invited wolf migrants to Gongmen City—they lost their homeland. Boar bandits attempted incursions in Wolves Village, although intolerance from their leader was apparent.

A howling cry from the wolf cub named Zhong sauntered through the roads of Gongmen City toward the Sacred Flame's Gateway as the boy lost someone closer to his heart. After watching his new companion, who shed once more, Prince Shen embraced the young cub. Lady Muqin, in her rose and aqua hanfu robes, met her eyes with her husband next to Soothsayer. "This child lost his home, Feng. Is there a soul for this boy who can reside in this city? We will address the catastrophe and hear newcomers."

"No soul in Gongmen City shall leave this poor creature in dark places, Muqin. Mali Soothsayer suggests to reside the boy with our son, and I will accept her proposal," Lord Feng insisted. He clasped his cobalt feathers as the Lord of Gongmen met Flying Rhino in his dark silver robes with flared-up shoulder patches. "The Council shall listen to wolves and send our officers to cease boar bandits' abomination."

"Daddy. Can I keep Zhong? Please?" Prince Shen's ruby eyes locked on his father's.

Soothsayer Mali gestured her nod to the peacock lord, whose beak shattered from fading. Lord Feng knelt in front of his son and the wolf cub. "The boy will be in our protection, Jianyu," he smiled. "He will be living with Peafowl Nobles."

A few months later, things changed often. While Wolves Village had no survivors, the child's father became a victim of flesh and bones, devoured by boar bandits. Jianyu's companion and adoptive brother Zhong needed room without showing weakness in front of the children. The young people who kept company with Soothsayer shared their losses, knowing how their wolf companion felt. Jianyu and Soothsayer's youths had more time with Zhong, bringing him into playgrounds across Sacred Flame Tower's courtyard.

In the Prince's ninth year, he started his class in Mandarin language and writing. Starting to achieve more than students, Jianyu was the first to pass the academy on learning aspects of chronology. He could unravel into the next level of advancement if persisting in introductory astronomy around the middle class (not an appropriate age, but soon enough). His adoptive brother Zhong was only in home school with Soothsayer Mali. The tutors from the elementary academy only allowed students at nine (Zhong was seven). When he departed from the school to meet his adoptive brother in the Throne Room, Jianyu craved to speak with his father more often. He participated in complex assertions that Lord Feng addressed with other lords and ladies in China. With several attempts to bring his father joy from meetings, Prince Jianyu remained with his mother outside the courtyard with Soothsayer's children and had Zhong with Master Flying Rhino.

"Why wouldn't Father come to see me, Mother?" Jianyu asked his mother. His small voice was stiff.

Lady Muqin knew the meaning of her husband not reaching over to their sons to be in touch with them. As more complex as the Prince needed to comprehend more about their responsibilities, Lady Muqin filled her answers to him. "Your father appears to be assembling with visitors every day, Bo. This may be difficult for you to understand, my son. Once your likelihood slowly changes to be like your father, you will notice what we are into the majority."

"I don't want to grow up, Mother."

"We age, Bo. That's part of life you must enjoy however you can. Your father and I shall have our intention to preserve you and your brother in happiness," Lady Muqin's head was closer to her son. "I will make sure of your father's attention."

Shen broke his smile once more.

Jianyu's Fifteenth Year (1165)

A year before his fifteenth, trio fighters ceased the Wu Sisters' dictatorship. Their schemes put lives against village by village, later controlling city by city and even successfully governing a whole dynasty. But none of the Sisters' strategies prevailed. Across the Sacred Flame courtyard, an azure horizon casting shimmering rays from hazy gray clouds touched the three, who strolled toward the opening with admiration. The street fighters, who initially brought disgrace to their houses and Kung Fu dishonesty, restored justice. One of the three was Master Flying Rhino's son, Thundering Rhino. After the son of the Kung Fu master introduced Juren, the Storming Ox, and Croc, the Iron Reptile.

The young gray rhino warrior, in his patched shorts and a wide belt, fell before his father. "I am proud of you, my son," Flying Rhino smiled, patting Thundering Rhino's shoulder.

This year, the boy's expectations for meeting his father waned; Lord Feng had always met individuals in his Throne Room, meeting his crucial subjects to revolve matters. "This day has become more solemn than yesterday. I deny the teacher's request, Father; we should focus on the concentration of gunpowder in the lab."

"That will be put on hold for the time being, Bo. And you shall not revoke your architecture instructor," Lord Feng said. "You must be strongly aware of this invitation your mother and I conversed about—the Emperor of China and his Prince are on our way."

Jianyu gulped, widening his glare at Lord Feng. "I beg your pardon?" he breathed with surprise and bitterness.

His father spread his feathers to a halt. "Control your posture, son. Your bitter behavior cannot be shown in front of their eyes, Bo; you wish to follow this route to keep the Realm safe. In that case, there will be no mockery of Emperor Huángsè's presence. And this is serious," Lord Feng's eyes were sharp. "You should comprehend the Emperor's unlimited strength of his monarchy power. If you insult him, nothing will prevent the buffalo until he finishes everything into—"

"Feng."

Lady Muqin snapped at her husband, silencing him as he cleared his long throat. She proceeded to her son, rotating her voluminous sleeves over her stomach. "Huángsè is an ordinary being but lacks empathy," Lady Muqin said. "I suspect you will be the first to introduce his son at your instructor's field trip?"

Prince Shen faded his solemn posture. "Very well," he answered, his nonchalant voice of annoyance withering in defeat.

On the courtyard platform, an honorable guest, standing before the Lord, the Lady, and the Prince of Gongmen, was a water buffalo in crimson and gold robes with dragon carvings. He stood firm with might, towering with a silent glare, that his wide and upward horns brought children into surprising and horrifying glimpses. The three gesticulated their bows to the Emperor of China, whose smile shattered. Huangse's son, in his gold attire, did the same, bowing with them with admiration. Promising to converse crucial topics on yuans and economic growth to several royal houses and trading, Lord Feng and Lady Muqin invited the Emperor to the Throne Room. Jianyu and his wolf brother Zhong escorted the Emperor's son to the field trip group near the Entrance Gate.

Enchanting smells of a salt breeze wafted as the group of chroniclers passed on public roads that filled a thousand signs everywhere you lead on turns and hike on irregular elevations. One of the tallest members of Shen's class was the visitor himself, Prince Huangdi. Keeping his pace with his classmates while their teacher beckoned to manifest the city, Prince Shen could see the buffalo inspect citizens passing by before they bowed to him.

A lunch break transpired in the afternoon. The class, venturing to the eastbound, arrived at the dragon's entry, the path from within to lead the ancient underground that was built before Gongmen — Undercity. Prince Shen regarded. His father and colleagues ventured there and showed most of the old-fashioned texts and lost textures from the antique Mandarin times, many dynasties before the Song existed. So far, from his father's knowledge, they discovered hidden paths and shelters before the library, one chamber that was owned by his warlord ancestor from the Great War.

Observing the dragon's entry with awe, Shen was shoved by a mighty shove toward his upper shoulder, pushing him down to the pavement. Standing before the peacock in defiance, a water buffalo and his two foxes teased the peacock. "Look at this freak, everyone. Do you think you are born by being the golden boy who PASSES CLASSES?" a bully flickered his hoof, glaring crimson eyes at the bird. "You know too much, and I think you are the cheater who CHEATS!"

"Those white feathers will make people bad luck, Shen!" a fox with dark emerald tops from a bully's left taunted. "You made China the worst luck!"

"Hey!" Zhong interfered and pushed a fox, darting his paw. "You leave my brother alone!"

"Who's gonna save your pet, dog? Your teacher? Your wolves?" a water buffalo mocked and innocently held his hoof on his lips. The crowds' gasps intensified. "Oops, I hear they have been dead. I hear those boars ate all your people, and they think their bloods aren't made of stones."

"You take it back!" Zhong clenched his teeth, growling.

"Look at him; this craven thinks we are scared! Ha ha ha!" a second fox with a green vest and brown trousers guffawed with his and their buffalo companion. "What do you wanna do with him, Temutai?"

"Show these wimps some MANNERS!"

Temutai's first fox threw his punch before Zhong attempted to bark. The other tackled Shen, wrestling the peacock by throwing punches. Surrounded by whistles and classmates cheering for the affray, Temutai reckoned to grasp the wolf and bird, dragging them toward the hilly road from the teacher inside the Undercity's entry with tourists. No wolf guards were nearby, and other closest areas that Lord Feng ordered plenty to monitor his sons during Shen's field trip.

Thrown into the alleyway near the Harbor's pier, which the path above hung with lines of wet and dry sheets across, Zhong rose from his feet. Temutai hurled his heavy blow toward his stomach, pushing the wolf to the structure before heaving Prince Shen farther. "Get your hooves off me, you imbecile! I am a Prince of Gongmen, and my father will torture you for this!"

"Daddy's not here. It's just you and me. Come on, birdie, FIGHT BACK!"

Screeching, Prince Shen delivered his kick from spinning, but Temutai's belly bounced him off, and the bird repeated his attempts: slashing, booting. Chuckling with mockery, the bully caught Shen's wing and pounded his chest, pushing him down.

"Ha! Would you like to try that again? Er — Take a break? Try to warm up more?" Temutai taunted the bird, who screeched for his wing's feather fractures. "You are WORTHLESS!"

"HEY, PUT ME DOWN!"

The bully hastened his turn and saw Emperor Huangse's son clutch two foxes in his hooves, lifting higher toward the apex of his height. Screaming at the giant, foxes attempted to round their fists and kicks at him. Prince Huangdi slammed their heads together and hurled them toward the pier. "That's enough, Temutai! As the Prince of Huangse, the Emperor of China, I command you to step down and surrender!"

"You hurt my friends, Princess!" Temutai grimaced. "Did your daddy teach you how to respect, coward?"

"Insult me one last time, and then my father will put you and your house in ruins," Prince Huangdi snapped his yellow eyes.

"What makes you think daddy will do, bastard?" the buffalo tapped his fist against the open palm. "Let's FIGHT!"

Two giants brawled toward the quay, wrestling their grips as they dragged themselves on the pier, which forced boatmen to scurry and witness the brawl. Temutai, twirling his head, struck his horns on Huangdi's head, jabbing his hard blows on his stomach and uppercut. The Prince of China tumbled back. "I am the best!" Temutai laughed, following his gibberish guffaws. "HE-HE-YOSTADABADA BOO-BUM-BUM!"*

A wolf bark screeching from behind tackled Temutai. Prince Shen grasped a wooden pole and whipped the bully's head. After seven strikes from the peacock, Temutai caught the bar and jerked Shen in the air, throwing him over Huangdi before engaging Zhong, who attempted to bite on his limbs. Bowling his body, Temutai tugged the wolf's vest and heaved, slamming him to the wood platform.

"Zhong!" Shen shouted once his wolf brother's sharp whine deafened, and Huangdi trotted on all fours after puffing his muzzle. Countering Huangdi's round fists while swaying his limbs, Temutai rammed his head and swept his longhorn under, tumbling the Prince of China next to the pier pole; Huangdi grasped on edge from slipping.

Their teacher's shout approached from afar beyond the street hill. Still, the affray continued as Shen sprinted to Temutai and screeched, attempting to propel his front kick. "You have spoiled me FOREVER!" the bully clenched the bird's throat and held him to his height, treading his heavy steps near the Harbor's edge, where singing ripples tapped on junk ships' hulls. "No smart ass will fool Prince of the Moon in a tacky tower! One day, my father finds the Medallion and will crumble cities with his bare hooves!"

"You are ma—!"

The peacock's throat clogged his breath from Temutai's grip. "I'm not mad. I am — the UNSTOPPABLE!"

Temutai's feet were pierced by Zhong's teeth biting him, nibbling left and right in rapid jerks. The bully heightened his gabble guffaws. "Nice bites! Guess what, puppy?" Temutai thrust the peacock toward the Harbor, and Jianyu screamed before the water swallowed him.

Under his wings, he crawled out of bubbles from the resounding splash, his small train broadening behind his head. Following this cold that clogged his eyesight, Shen fluttered his arms one and the other in slow, unsteady motion; he had never been under this water nor experienced from his parents, who did not have their webbed feet. Glanced above were ripple flashes, and the bird held his wing long before his air bubbles burst from his scream. 

"HELP!"

The water absorbed the feather train that kept him sinking further. Down and down, the Prince of Gongmen tired his wings and talons, trying to climb the invisible ladder. The worst culprit, adding to his weight submerging, was his voluminous clothing, dragging him into the depths. Neither of his attempts to swim above was working. Above these ripples, lights touching his head became the last thing to see the yellow figure before the water barged into the peacock's lungs.

"WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS ABOMINATION? Prince Shen!" a teacher screamed.

The bird coughed out salt streams from his throat before the giant with soaked yellow garb backed away, and his teacher darted onto the pier and checked the peacock. Startling, a teacher inspected the wounds and rented robes on Shen and Prince Huangdi's bruises. "By the spirits. . . Emperor Huangse is going to kill me."

The metal gates banged open, and the Sacred Flame's door knocked, emerging the giant buffalo and two peafowls with officials. Prince Shen's parents were storming down the stairs before the Emperor paced his loud stomps. "My Prince Jianyu!" his mother raced down from the platform, clenching the sides of her hanfu robe from tumbling. Lady Muqin spread her fragrant jasmine wings and clenched her son, who burst his tears before wolf guards stood at their sides. "By the Gods! What happened?!"

"He attacked me!" Jianyu sobbed.

"Who?"

"Him right there, my Lady!" Zhong pointed at the bully.

Temutai clenched his eyes, full of hate. "You freak! I should have crushed your skull by a chan—!"

Prince Huangdi pressured his blunt snout. "You want to fight someone else with your size? You should have teased me first—!"

"SILENCE!"

The courtyard thundered the Emperor's shout, deadening children's shouts. Emperor Huangse, towering before the group as many bowed to him, glared at everyone. Trembled by his presence, Lady Muqin stepped aside and arched her neck before her husband arrived beside the buffalo. The Emperor held his hoof under the bird's beak, inspecting shattered feathers, ripped garb, and one black eye. "By the spirits," Huangse filled his silent breath in his lungs, releasing Shen. Stunned, inhaling with his iron breaths, he surveyed his son's bruised injuries on his shoulders and darkened fur on his upper neck. "You tell me, son. Where is the instructor?"

"THERE, my Emperor," Shen saw Huangdi point at the teacher.

Shen's father enfolded his son in his wings with his beloved, and peafowls and their wolf son watched before their feet sprang by the giant's heavy steps. The Emperor towered ahead of Shen's teacher, who trembled his body. "Where were you before the incident?" he demanded.

"My Emperor. I was on speaking terms with the Undercity's—"

"My colleague's son was almost murdered today!" Huangse roared, causing the teacher to shrink his height and flutter on his knees. "You were responsible for children's safety, yet you are unworthy to watch over two of the most important souls!"

"Forgive me, my Emperor! I beg you mercy, PLEASE!"

"Get him out of my sight! Take him to Gongmen Jail!" he commanded, and wolf guards seized the teacher at will. "I shall be dealing with him later."

"MY EMPEROR, PLEASE! NO!" the teacher wailed before Lord Feng and Emperor's guards dragged him away, over the bridge and to the iron gate before his cries deadened. Prince Huangdi's father bridged both hooves on his upper shoulders and had his gold eyes radiate before his father.

"Son. Tell me what happened?" Emperor Huangse demanded. "Who did this to you, the wolf, and Prince Shen?"

"Temutai and two foxes, your Grace. They taunted Prince Shen and his brother, and I intervented from them three," his son answered, ceasing his tears without studdering. "Temutai threw Prince Shen to the shore, and I saved him."

Shen remained his startling stare at Huangdi's father, who crept his eyes on his shoulders directly at Temutai, who sank his head to his feet. "Temutai struck me and opposed peafowl nobles' son, my Emperor," Huangdi added. "Among his crimes are his highest of treasons. He called Prince Shen a freak and called me a coward and bastard."

The Emperor's grimace flashed his gold eyes with fire. He stared at his son's bully, who faded his mockery face as Shen looked at Temutai. "Escort these children to homes, Lieutenants," the peacock heard Huangdi's father command his gold cloaks. Huangse met a warrior in his shiny armor, flared-up shoulder pads, and a helmet.

"Commander. Gather you and your men to find the parents of the three and restrain them into custody. Bring them here," the wolf bobbed from the Emperor's command. "There will be a trial today, starting with you, Temutai."

Huangse dominated his pose in front of him, causing the bully to tremble his head, shitting his trousers.

The Prince of Gongmen, aiding himself on the tenth floor of his father's Throne Room, could hear the Emperor's thunderous shouts echoing beneath the silky amber winds from the salt sea. He was swathed in silver towels, croaking his voice from severe coughs. The amber dusk bathed its light to his front and had him close his eyes. He reflected on the misfortune and the water, where he screamed for help. Gods. . . I hate water.

"Prince Shen?"

The bird turned and found the behemoth buffalo joining his company with the wolf Zhong. Prince Huangdi emerged with a few stitches on his cheeks, wearing another set of expensive garb of gold waves and the dragon. The Prince of China presented his hoof, flattening on his chest. "Are you feeling well?"

The bird coughed, presenting his bitter compliment. "Never been better."

"Those low lives do not deserve spitting their insults against you," the buffalo said. "No need to be harsh, but my father wished me to interfere with fists. As he's the stubborn leader who has me into lessons, I had no choice but to protect people from getting harmed, knowing people are my people to treat them."

The bird's red-orange eyes studied the buffalo's feet to head interestingly. "I hear people could not silence their mockery at you, mentioning your height and your shyness," Prince Shen mentioned. The visitor looked down to his own feet. "Their manners seeming to deliver their gossip to one another shall be punished accordingly."

"Hmm. I think you and I are even in common by being offended."

"What is?" the peacock asked.

"A few citizens I encountered were jabbering about you behind your back and mentioned the bad luck sign—you were born with albino feathers," Prince Huangdi clarified, snouting innocently. "I mean no offense, Prince Shen, but considering their lack of honesty in describing their superstition, they should have known better to hold their tongues and learn their manners."

The peacock arched his long neck and filled his inquisitive thoughts on Huangdi, who stepped closer to him with Zhong, maintaining his composure. "You and I may have been humiliated by those who said we do not deserve living. I say never let them overwhelm you," the giant advised, clasping his hooves over his stomach. "I hear your father shall speak with the Council and have every soul to meet by this week. Once Lord Feng invites most people and has a word with them with the Emperor, the citizens of Gongmen City will have no choice but to end their bitter histories. If anyone dares to mock royalties and whispers about you and me, their comments and houses will be removed. And following this prime law by the Emperor of China's rule, anyone who strikes the Emperor and his children, including the Lords and Ladies and their Princes and Princesses, shall be punishable by death or exile to the Great Wall of China for life."

"Fair enough," Shen stretched his grin halfway. "Now, I will not have to worry about peasants with terrible tastes," the peacock grinned. "Forgive my manners. I should have presented you my thanks for saving me."

"Absolutely," Prince Huangdi nodded, kindly glancing at the two. "Does that mean we are friends?"

"Er. . . I say let's get to know each other," Zhong patted the buffalo's back, chuckling.

Once the Peafowl Nobles served dinner to the Emperor of China and his son as their honorable guests, Prince Huangdi became their faithful companion to Prince Shen and Zhong—the trio of best friends.

Chapter Text

Episode Three: The Top Three ( 18 - 29 )

Chapter XIX

The Sign

Jianyu's Twenty-First Year (1171)

The son of Lord Feng was all grown from his previous years and soon became the next Lord of Gongmen City under his father's heir. For the last six years, the peacock managed to practice martial arts with Masters Thundering Rhino, his former Master on the combat square. As Lord Feng required his son to educate him on the importance of Kung Fu, Rhino trained Prince Jianyu, who believed that his wings were not ideal for attacking but for deflecting fast blows and his talons for kicking. With the following activity to the peacock's advancement, Master Thundering Rhino showed his student rapid flows with a guandao, his feet propping in the air. He taught him Cai Li Fo, one of the significant and challenging expert martial arts, to be astute, executing the peacock to perfect his attack and defense. Jianyu adapted his skills to eliminate opponents quickly. His wolf brother, Zhong, managed his talents to adopt Kung Fu well with Masters Croc and Storming Ox. 

During Zhong's service with wolf guards two years earlier, Jianyu woke in his dormitory and headed to the balcony platform. The calming wind from the south stroked in his flowing robe, and the velvet night sky was bathed in a silvery-bronze stream of a thousand suns. The Prince of Gongmen had trouble sleeping but preferred to walk downstairs before he could get his tiredness back. Down from the main floor and up from his parents' chamber in the ninth platform, Jianyu searched his path through the dark cherry marble hall, where Lord Feng and Lady Muqin rested behind the golden door. 

Unnoticed by deadening swooshes from four doors behind, Shen thought there were his parents' maids on this night-hour shift, who could prep their duties to be called upon and clean chambers. But this was no different than being bothered by his classmates for fraud and disappointment. Near his talons were nippy hushes, and fading hisses were near, closer than rapid swooshes. Filling his quiver breaths, Jianyu barged and bolted the gold door, sprinting for the crimson pole next to the king-size bed. Lord Feng and Lady Muqin felt their son's cold rush and tried to nurse him. 

"Oh, my sweet boy. You had a nightmare, Bo?"

"Something is coming. . ." 

"Son? What is the meaning of this?" Lord Feng asked solemnly. 

"Father. I am being watched."

"By whom?" His father flipped his bed sheet and stood beside his son. 

From the gold shoji unlatched with rapid clicks, the door attempted to open, but the bar ceased from the arm's lock. Amidst the center sliced with a white slash, the shoji door opened freely, introducing a dark gray form swathed in wraps, a hood cover, and a mask. Standing eight inches tall, glaring with dark cherry eyes at the three nobles, was—

"A weasel?" Lady Muqin widened her eyes.

The assassin roared her squeaks, unsheathing her dao sword. 

"BO!"

His father shouted as Prince Jianyu lunged at the front and parried the Weasel's curve hits, battering to the center. So small, experienced with agility, the assassin sliced the tip and the next, mounting on Shen's pole before leaping at the peacock; Lord Feng backslapped his wing and sent the Weasel on the counter, crashing into the bronze mirror. 

"GUARDS!" Lord Feng thundered his outcry. 

The assassin, tittering with high pitches, crawled down from the drawer and darted silver knives. "BO!" his mother screamed. 

At least two silver knives marked and slit on Shen's stick legs, spitting his brief gash gores as the Prince grunted, staggering once he whipped his pole to the ground. "SON!" his father yelled, attempting to tackle the assassin, but the Weasel bounded above Feng's neck and entered his garment, biting his feathers. 

"Feng!" 

"Father!"

"BY THE GODS!" Lord Feng snapped his cry, rolling to crush the Weasel, who snickered wickedly. Jianyu quickly ripped his father's robe and saw a slight movement behind him. Crawling from the center, crotches, and armpits, the assassin bitten Feng with severe mauls, and the Weasel emerged at Feng's chest, tackling the Prince on his throat. 

"BO!" 

Shen was launched backward toward the bed, tumbling him to the side. Once he felt the firm grip on his feather strands by the assassin's clutch, the peacock glared at the Weasel; the silver dao nearly plunged his throat before the killer chirped, dazzling her maroon eyes. "The Lord of Qidan Clan sends his regards, BIRDIES!" Weasel screeched, heaving her dao before Shen's mother clenched him with her talon. 

"Get away from my son, you horrid creature!" Lady Muqin hurled the assassin at the shoji door. 

Penetrating through the door's shoji paper to shreds, squeaking her cry, Weasel succeeded in her backflip with her rough land, skidding her feet on the marble. "Father!" she spun her dao and saw Prince Jianyu and Lady Muqin gather around Lord Feng, who was rasping in agony as his chest was marked with scraps and fractured feathers. 

"HEY, STOP!" the peafowls saw the wolf merging from the crimson stairs, growling and holding his dao sword.

Weasel licked her sword, reeling her stance as she faced Zhong. "Doggy. . . Would you like to play?" 

"There's no one ever told you before, Weasel: You mess with my family, you get fangs." 

"Alrighty then! LET'S PLAY!"

The assassin shut the shoji door, unveiling silhouettes of the Mustela and Lupus in the brawl. Intense screeches and howls stormed, and Zhong fell.

"ZHONG!" Jianyu shouted.

"Help him!" his father croaked. "Seize that creature!" 

The Prince reached for the bedroom door, pulling the knob bar. Whines from the shoji creaked before Shen could hear Weasel and Zhong wrestle on the floor, snarling and choking. He forced the door open but stopped within a small gap, unable to spread freely. "Hang on, brother! I'm coming!" 

His brother's roaring cry, combined with tearing fleshes, became deafening. A loud thud slammed to the side, and a sharp blade plunged through the flesh, stopping the whine. 

"NO!" Jianyu cried, kicking the door; twice in a row, he whirled his crimson pole, ripping the shoji paper apart. The Prince broke through as several gore slashes spread from both structures, and farther from his talons lay a stiff assassin, and the sharp piece of blade stabbed through the Weasel's center. 

"Zhong!" Shen ran to his brother to the left, who leaned against the structure and held his trembling paws, sharpening his groan. "Brother, look at me!" 

A storm of wolf guards rushed from the hall and witnessed the scene. "Physicians!" Shen hollered the guards.

"Mother of blessings. . . Private Zhong!" a high-rank wolf guard in his dawn lamellar armor rushed to the incident and inspected his soldier's wounds. "Help Lord Feng, corporals!" 

"Yes, sir!" three wolf guards ran into the Royal Chamber and aided Shen's father, whose groans in agony were harsh. 

"What. . . have. . . I. . .  done . . .?" Zhong sobbed. 

"Brother, it's okay. You are alright," Shen shed his tears, wrapping his wings around his wolf brother.

Lord Feng informed the commander of his details about the assassination attempt and heard words from the Weasel, one who worked with a Qidan Clan; the peafowls remembered the clan leader's son named Temutai, who almost drowned Shen under the harbor. Determining this act of retaliation, Shen's father urged Emperor Huangse to seek justice and resolve this matter. After eight months of waiting to hear calamity news, the Qidan Clan members were sent away to the north of the Great Wall, several to Mongolia for banishment, and most of their leaders faced the death penalty in both prisons of Chorh-Gom and Jianyu. 

With that common name Shen had from his birth, the second prison was named after one of the vulture wardens, who had his father's ancestor build the dungeon within the living dragon's mouth and constructed it in the suffering beast's belly, where no prisoners shall escape from the giant's hunger. A huge sleeping dragon buried beneath the mountain was once called Jianyu, one of the spiritual dragons who soared among the universe with the red dragon before their children reigned in heaven long before their extinction. 

What satisfied Prince Jianyu, as justice did serve, Temutai's father and three of his officials were devoured alive — a cruel death.

Around the Prince's twenty-first age, following the young wolf's approval ranks from corporal to sergeant, Zhong and Jianyu craved to be blood brothers, with one that shall look over the city under his parents' care with the Masters of Gongmen's guidance and the other guarding his family. One of Lord Feng's requests was to invite impala guards, those who needed more authority across several streets. Disapproving his father's approval, Prince Shen preferred his wolf brother's people; despite their vital strengths and thoughts, wolves became fearless. 

Several months after Zhong's promotion, Lord Feng strolled onward to the courtyard, the horizon bathing in dusk crimson and yellow. His son had been walking with Zhong and their wolf guards, who stood in line with their crimson banners. Regarding his son's difficulties, he apologized to Prince Shen for shattering promises that Feng could have fun with him and more attention than giving hard work on crucial aspects and meetings for priorities. Upon arrival near the Tower's entry stairs, Shen saw his father smiling at him dearly. 

The sea waves murmured rough ripples on the charcoal night, and Shen was in the Laboratory Room. After his duty, Prince Jianyu had been going to his father's Laboratory Room for most of his hobbies, craving to gather mixed powders before the gunpowder. With lists that he carefully scrutinized and collected tools for experiments, learning too well to his father's recommendations, Prince Shen grabbed the jar with mixes and tapped it harder on the round bowl. Despite the harsh ingredients and sudden reaction, the inferno swarmed its hissing puffs of soot, raising silver and charcoal silks from the ash. Gazed with stupefaction, Prince Shen searched dancing lights of crimson and white within the smoke, and above the shrouds was the grim-like head of the peacock smirking at him. 

"Beautiful," breathed Shen. 

The son created enthusiasm, without knowing his parents were behind the Laboratory Door, who frightened each other. 

The following month after his father's succession to bequeath his son's new title as the Lord of Gongmen, with the sky now washed in velvet cobalt with the silver moon, Lord Shen dried himself with his towel, quivering his drenched train from the bathroom down the first floor near the garden. He was robed in his elegant silver silk robe, gifted by his Nana Soothsayer on his twentieth birthday. With his topic that he had nearly finished his gunpowder project for the next Chinese New Year's celebration, he owed answers to his father's questioning upon his parents' matters to discuss for his next opportunity with allied lords and ladies beyond close and farthest temples with Emperor Huangse's connections. Although most generations before him have remained loyal to late Emperors, his father predicted their Emperor's loyalty could grow even more for the next thousand years and the next dynasty—thanks to Prince Huangdi's admirable suggestion.

Lord Shen and Commander Zhong invented the iron cannon, forged with elegance like a gold dragon. Its flowing hanfu and mane bore its colossal mouth, clenching the metal barrel and four yellow limbs with wheels. Traveled far to the outskirts, with the cannon's wheels moaning woods when in motion, the peacock and wolves transferred the artillery upon the apex hill, where the sunset sank its rotten orange. For the bird's prime purpose, Shen desired to enhance this city's defenses, in which he was aware of tyrants from the grounds and sails from the raging sea. The four-season compass towers were meant for mid-range battles with archers, but discovering defensive improvements, Shen searched for destruction to weaken dictators' activities. Signaled by Lord Shen's nod, Commander Zhong held his torch and matched the cannon's rope trigger. HISSSSSSSSS. 

BOOM!

The cannon shot across the northern sea, leaving a fading red trail as the ball screeched crimson and white sparks. Repeated other attempts to trigger once more and send four angry red flashes beyond the sky, Zhong watched the fireworks plummet into the beach waves, praising his avian brother's work; both brothers cheered at each other with their wolves. "SPLENDID WORK!" the peacock emitted with bliss. 

Opening the Sacred Flame's door upon his arrival, Lord Shen trekked on crimson stairs, the yellow lanterns reflecting on him once he passed five floors. Through the seventh, as the peacock wished to speak more with his father dearly, granting his wish by his mother's promise, he searched for Lord Feng and Lady Muqin in his presence. Not as he would be worried about their absence, despite the responsibilities weighed on his shoulders to observe the city and solve every individual's issues. 

Finally, reaching the eighth floor of honorable guest chambers, voices emerged, with small echoes from the Throne Room two floors above him. Lord Shen crept onward without allowing their attention, narrowing his vibrant train. 

"This is an absurdity!" his father thundered his growl, which had his son's crests flicker upward, flooding his cold heart. "Our son is leading to his obsession with my blueprints and the fireworks!"

"Mind your tongue, Feng!" hissed his mother. "You'll draw maids a scene." 

"This isn't happening. . . What I did to Shen was my responsibility, my love. And I am the fault to blame for putting my son in my Laboratory!"

The new Lord of Gongmen hid behind a large column and surveyed the two parents and — the old Nana? As enough to begin overhearing this discussion in this Throne Room, the only office to speak after a meeting or a family to discuss, Shen craned his neck and eavesdropped on his family's conversation. 

"Mali," his mother called the goat in front, planting her whole feathers against her heart with anxiety, standing aside her husband behind the sapphire throne chair. "Why does our son keep forging those cannons and these hazardous mixtures of fireworks? Feng and I attempted so hard to cease our son's welfare. Is that my son's passion to build weapons for the city's defense, or are we in grave danger from his madness?"

"My Lady, everything about Shen's interests is what makes your son overbearing," Soothsayer Mali stated with care and alarm. "By other means, if this happens in the wrong hands from your son's passion, his weapons defending this city may not be defending the innocent people of China. I am afraid that Lord Shen shall need to cease his actions by what is doing for the right to the wrong reason."

"My son is more concerned with that than the city's issues, Soothsayer. He is becoming the main problem," Feng was humbled, stretching his whole neck long with grace and bitterness as Jianyu could see the goat bear her head, looking at Lord Feng's angry eyes. "My grandfather taught my father, and the rest of Li Han's forefathers before me invented high spirits to deliver people's joy for centuries. Now, Jianyu, who I educated to create fireworks, has considered developing hazardous, claiming the way you mentioned that the city should have defenses under my son's supervision. That is not what I instructed him to be: a warlord or a tyrant with legitimacy. Bo created these fucking gunpowder mixtures loading with his cannons!"

"Feng!" his wife snapped her cry.

"Muqin and I have never seen our son's schemes he had done, Mali," Feng held his wing on his head, forcing his query. "No matter how many more times we attempted to convince him not to forge his cannons, he rather focuses on fireworks than giving us the attention we deserve. How do we stop him?!"

The goat pressed her glasses back on her muzzle. "While there's the only hope to change his course, my Lady and my Lord, his fate may unveil the impossible," Mali said, gesturing at the peahen. "Fetch me his garment, Lady Muqin." 

Lady Muqin handed her son's old silver robe. "My Lord. Step closer to me." 

"What for?" 

Mali delivered her sudden grip under Feng's wing without delay and yanked his feather. "OW! Imbecile! Why did you—?"

"With your son's silk and your feather, my Lord and Lady, these samples will manifest your son's inevitable fate," the goat munched the back edge of Shen's old robe and tore the fabric like a flesh of paper ripping apart. Their son puffed his feathers once he glared at Mali, and Muqin intensified her gasp.

"Are you mad?" the peahen glowered at her with cold eyes. "That was my son's favorite garb; I gave it to him on his fifteenth birthday."

"Does he not wear his robe like he used to, my Lady?" 

Their prolonged glances at each other from peafowls were beyond comprehension, but they admitted that their son's growth no longer required him to wear his garb. "No," Muqin answered.

"Then, these samples of his are my recommendation to foresee your son's destiny. This is the only way."

Placing Shen's samples in her bowl, Mali held a handful of silvery powder and tossed it on the feather and a piece of fabric. Specks of ocean flashes popped, smoldering with hissing blue smoke. The Throne Room, dazzling with crimson fire torches and yellow lanterns, dimmed to slight darkness, but the center was left with sparkling white smoke, swarming with grayish haze streams.

What do you see? Shen muttered, leaning his chest against the crimson column. The moonlight mist settled its billowing breeze, winding its shift as something emerged above the bowl and their heads. A caw from the smoke lessened, unveiling a white peacock in his silver robe, which broadened his train and wings amidst the starry. 

A silvery gust shot from the bowl, shooting under the bird's train as the mist swept the form to dissipation, silencing the caw. The middle started to form a slow vortex, then faster than before, shifting its breeze to a screeching whirlpool. Before the peafowls' eyes emerged a scorching gold fog, and a new character spawned a hoop, cracking its distant thunder. A circle, Lord Shen gaped, drenching his head in horror, sketched white with a black dot and black with a white spot. 

The Yin Yang.

"Excuse me!"

Shen snapped into consciousness and provoked his sinister glower at the intruder, who disturbed the peacock's presence. Further on from the Hollow's stairs was the goose Yao in his gold robe with a dragon sigil. Dreaded in tremors, Yao stiffened his breaths, panting before he could see three silver feathers under Shen's sleeve. The goose squeaked. "Ah! Don't kill me!" 

Shen's crests sank at once; his memories were somewhat returned, and his surroundings became more regular than being lost in his thoughts. For the last five years in service with the Prince of Darkness, his leader with a lack of determination to send his trusted officials to travel and invite every criminal from China, Shen had recovered his memories, regained his strength from the fall, and practiced his Cai Li Fo to dance his flow of water. The peacock reflected his parents, who were fond of him the most, good and bad. Notwithstanding that he had witnessed this sign before his red-orange eyes in the Throne Room, he felt the ice in his heart before, and it haunted him again. 

What was it? Shen deadened his mutter. During his mild dementia, recovering his wounds and bones from his leader's healing, Prince Huoju had him educated on the meaning of his fighting, and what caught the peacock's eye near the temple's sigil was the symbol of Yin and Yang, the white that holds darkness and the black that cloaks the light. Together, both presented the balance of life in one piece. Something swept a peacock away, and that sign appeared. That thing is destined to do what?

"Lord Shen?" Yao pardoned him, still crouched at his height with a gold scroll. "By the Gods. . . You—?" 

Are you alive? Yao spoke no further, lost his thoughts on the peacock who arched his brows with confusion. "Forgive me. I could not find Prince Huoju and Lady Mingling nearby but found you instead," the goose said.

Neglecting the Yin-Yang sign, Shen sheathed his feather knives and looked away, glancing at the billowing ashes and streaming embers ahead of him, with an army of marchers on foot striding their heavy steps. 

"Did I interrupt your solitude, my Lord?" Yao asked him innocently.

"You insulted me, Yao," the peacock twirled his train. 

"Spare me, my Lord! I did not come to startle you," the goose twitched his height again, wincing. "I have come here to send you my report from the Emperor. And this message is for Prince Huoju only." 

"What report?"

The peacock's silver voice grated with hisses, surveying Yao's scroll before him. Regarding the goose, who was only a messenger without a threat, Lord Shen grabbed the Emperor's scroll with care when Yao's terror expression slowly faded, easing his posture. "It's the Emperor's confirmation of three classes now participating in the Tournament, Lord Shen."

The peacock opened the knot and unrolled the manuscript. Once Lord Shen had opened the report, Yao relieved his breaths. The orange script with gold reflection layers, the peacock scrutinized, showed the Yin-Yang sigil with tower mountains with twirling clouds and red strokes that left three classes the Emperor verified their names:

I. The Righteous Seven - Tai Chi

II. Masters of Jade Palace - Kung Fu

III. Fellowship of the Nine - Wing Chun / Kung Fu

"Good work," the peacock handed the scroll to Yao. "What of the Tournament's date?"

"The scroll is just the original verification but without a note for the date, your Grace," Yao explained. "Huangdi had forgotten to write it down before he published the second version in all of China." 

Shen looked upon the messenger from his webbed feet to his head. "What is your name?" the peacock asked.

"Yao, my Lord." 

"Tell me, Yao," the peacock began, tugging his wings in his voluminous sleeves. "What did the people of China say anything about the death of the warlord?" 

"Which warlord, Lord Shen?" 

Uncertain to regard one that was defeated, Shen added. "One who was like me." 

The goose's beak trembled slightly, arching his brows while clasping the scroll close to his chest. "You don't remember anything, do you, my Lord?" 

The peacock reflected his youth memories. "He was the Prince of Gongmen. His ambition thrived with fulfillment and honesty, but the rest was washed away," Shen elaborated. "There was the reason he accomplished something for the better—something that brought people to madness, loathing the Prince." 

"I only know what you mentioned was. . . the most fearsome warlord who wanted to claim his Tower in Gongmen City," Yao explained, stretching his neck with suspicion. "Are you absolutely sure you don't remember, my Lord?"

"What was he?" 

"The Lord of Gongmen, sir," he reminded the peacock. 

Yes.

Shen unsheathed a single gray blade from his right sleeve, gazing at himself upon the reflection of the feather's razor light. "Lord Shen. Pardon me, sir," Yao cleared his throat, standing before him. "If I could ask you something for answers. How? How did you—? I mean — Would you like to know how he died?" 

"What killed him?" 

"An unfortunate death, sir. No one deserved to die from the cannon crushing his soul."

For a moment, the peacock took his prolonged reflection on white foams that turned fire below Gongmen Harbor. He had a frightful vision before he glanced at the light from the void, followed by inferno foams. "Most officials I encountered before mentioned the peacock lord who had his traumatic life and was banished from home before he returned for revenge," Yao continued. "They say in the beginning, the Prince was a pure noble, achieved greatness indeed, but did terrible things." 

"What terrible things?" Shen broadened his glare eyes at him, his regard becoming aware.

"I — I wish not to say that disturbing tragedy, my Lord. No one speaks about the village," Yao feared, seeing Shen draw his presence close to the goose in a menacing posture. Yao swallowed hard. "The Prince of Gongmen did his drastic action, which had silenced those who could kill him and his family." 

"Attempted assassination?" Shen rolled his head.

"I may be wrong, sir. But something to do with ending the Lord of Gongmen's reign." 

The peacock's metal talons tapped and drummed, motioning to Yao's right side. "I assume that Lord of Gongmen wished not to be defeated but then ended himself from. . .  suffering?"

"I say he ended his suffering, my Lord. He found peace in the end."

"Peace?" the peacock turned to him, strangely surprised.

"When there's death ahead of him, the Lord of Gongmen was no longer in pain, free from misery," Yao said.

Glancing down at his metal talons, Shen daydreamed about a crimson shoji wall with radiant candlelight-like stars. Behind the silhouette was the goat with broad horns, overgrowth downward. Before he could see the being in there, an elder voice blending with soft and caring echoed from his back, the same tone that was not hostile but a reminder to cease his abomination. 

"Odd. . ." Shen crooned his languid tone, glancing at the dancing stream of embers swimming past by the platform. "There was one in a factory with me — a place filled with molten metal and harsh black smoke. Those words were spoken to me, and said, 'The cup you choose to fill has no bottom.'" 

"Sage words. Someone who used to know Jianyu well. Some lady loved too close to the boy who had no love from his parents. Listen, my Lord," Yao stood to the side with Shen. "I am not here for trouble. I am here to tell you that serving with the bad is horrible." 

The peacock's glower eyes raised Yao's feathers, causing his spine to grow nippy. "My Master serves me well, Yao. Take your words out of it somewhere else." 

"But why? Why are you serving with this —  madman, Lord Shen?" the goose asked worriedly.  

"To conquer Gongmen City. Prince Huoju's words of wisdom and leadership deliver his remarkable voice and authenticity," the peacock emitted his voice to solemnity and rigidness. "From his conception, he claims that I will succeed once again in conquering my home and never face destiny." 

Good heavens.

"You have those memories from the late Lord of Gongmen, Lord Shen, but may I give you my advice?"

"No." 

"Never trap yourself in the past. It discomforts you, opening your wounds. The only way to move on from that is by letting it go," Yao suggested. "Does it still hurt when you see your memories?" 

The peacock's immediate sense of wolf howls and affrays in the fire stung his head again, irritating him. 

It hurts.

Shen massaged his head, blocking his depressed sight from the goose. "Was the Lord of Gongmen ever forgiven before facing his destiny?" Shen inquired him.

"I'm afraid not, sir. Forgiveness is — what can I say? — to lead the change. That I overheard the Dragon Warrior's words that he wished to change one thing that Po could have him for, for the brighter future," the goose mentioned, puffing his beak to disapproval. "I fear the panda was insane because the Lord of Gongmen cost lives he committed, and that warlord was lucky not to face his death penalty." 

Shen neglected the goose's words rather than hearing which fates were worse to bear the misery — crushed by a cannon? Or a long-suffering behind the cell before execution? Neither deserved the Lord of Gongmen's fate; Yao told him so.

"Just one more question, my Lord, and I'll leave you be. Please?"

The peacock's grunt reduced. "Go on." 

"There is a class I was mentioned from Emperor Huangdi's words. The Wing Chun class has nine students who are young and fearless, unlike the Masters of Jade Palace. Each of them has their incredible story before they united as one who defeated the whole army of bovines and boars in the Hajin Province. And then there is one student; many people spread rumors that the boy looks familiar — he looks like you, but younger."

"A peacock?" repeated Shen, leveling his inquisitive tone. "Who looks like me?" 

"Yes, my Lord," the goose bobbed his head. 

Shen kept his eyes squinting, attempting to recall other memories that had impacted him before; none emerged in front, but embers were replaced by flashes of snow swirling in the heavens. Quivering his head from hallucination, Shen clenched his beak, glowering at the messenger. "Never heard of him," he groaned under his throat. "You should go, Yao. I shall hand that scroll to my Master." 

Yao handed the scroll back to the peacock and hurried to the ebony platform, reflected velvet diamonds by the silver light above the mountain. "Lord Shen, I—" 

"Swear to me," Shen sharpened his cold eyes. "Swear that you will not gossip to those you know, not even. . . the Emperor."

Croaking to slight baffles but deadened as the vulture screeched at him with her ebony wings above the air, Yao kept his beak shut, nodding to Shen. "My words are sealed, my Lord."

Yao began soaring about the smoke shrouds, leading through the silver light that bathed on him. Will this poor goose ever return to Prince Huoju and Lord Shen for crucial details from the Emperor, even where the buffalo could travel any distance? The peacock witnessed most of the soldiers who failed in front of his Master, and Huoju showed them no mercy, scorching the rest of their remains rather than vanquishing their qi. "Min, you know what you must do," Lord Shen beckoned his head to the vulture. 

"With pleasure," tittered Min.

The vulture's wings beating in the breeze were vibrant, shattering ember clouds as Min flew onward to the light, following Yao before they appeared no more. Quiet, at last, hearing the ambiance of armies marching under him, lava flows popping in the distance. For a moment, the peacock recalled the messenger's words that quite itched him momentarily. Regarding the name of the Dragon Warrior, Shen wished to know more about him.

Who is Po?

"My Lord Shen," the peacock turned and introduced a badger in the column stairs. "Prince Huoju and Lady Mingling are here, requesting your presence."

Mounting on the Hollow Platform's balcony railing, Shen broadened his wings before observing the mountain's gateway, which summoned its stream of ice-silver light, inviting ants of shadows and soldiers. Inhaling before the fall, the peacock sprang and soared down, along with intense winds that flapped his robe and vibrant train. Gliding farther down, squinting his eyes against the harsh breezes in front, Shen began to angle his body forward and tug his wings to his sides, increasing velocity. By the time he nearly arrived, sighting the Prince of Darkness who strolled with Lady Mingling on the igneous platform, the peacock pivoted his body upward with his quick flow, stopping his flight as the observers glanced and stepped away from him. Landing on the platform with the bird's vibrant train, walking with his metal talons brought the bovine's smile upon his comrade. 

"Auh. My dear Shen," Huoju chuckled with his deep, charcoal grunts. "I find your solitude worth timing?"

"Indeed. Master Huoju. I brought good news," the peacock handed the gold-orange scroll to Huoju. "Yao delivered his message to me, and this scroll is yours."

Huoju opened the Emperor's scroll and read when the black bear Mingling exchanged her enchanting sight at Shen. Her grin, stretching to one side, made the peacock keep his pose from quivering.

"Wonderful," the bovine grinned but faded his smile after discovering the missing date. "It appears Yao has something missing here."

"Yao worded to me that Emperor Huangdi had forgotten to write the date on the scroll, Master. Such a disappointment," Shen shook his head. "The messenger will return to the Emperor's officials to discover the Tournament's date."

"Good. And I brought worthy warriors from the Spirit Realm."

The peacock gazed at unfamiliar subjects in flowing robes and sleeveless but invited with reptiles and familiar warriors. Most from the Diyu Realm had fierce faces—demon faces, but the peacock looked away and recognized a few remaining ones alive: Great Gorilla, porcupines, and Crocodile Sergeant. Most who were banished, plenty perished, appeared in dark gray and black blotches, those who challenged the Prince of Darkness but submitted to join his side. 

"Lord Shen. I would like you to introduce our new companion in my Throne Platform. This warrior, who has a bitter history in China, compares to your ambition to claim the recognition that belongs to him from the temple. You will meet him soon before we ride to Chorh-Gom Prison and free Wu Sisters."

"Brilliant." 

"Prince Huoju, Lord Shen, and Lady Mingling," three warlords exchanged glances with the crocodile bandit in a brown velvet scathe with a fire sigil. The reptile bowed to warlords with haste, silencing his harsh breaths from running from the front gate. "More guests from China are here. And the clan leader is very pleased to see you in person!" 

Prince Huoju reverberated his charcoal-rich drones. "Who is the clan leader, Zhen?"

Giant steps from the igneous platform rumbled, approaching closer to a threatening presence. Most soldiers and visitors cleared their path for the guest as Shen took his long glare at the sight from the mountain's gate. Sensing close once the invited visitor intensified these haunting, hysterical laughs, Shen filled his lungs with shock. He stared at the giant water buffalo in a red sleeveless top and brown trousers who bent his knee before the Prince of Darkness. 

Gods! You cannot be. . .

"At your service, Prince Huoju!" Temutai honored the leader.

Chapter Text

Episode Three: The Top Three ( 18 - 29 )

Chapter XX

Chosen Classes

May 9, 1205

The Prosper Valley / The Valley of Peace, Guilin — SONG DYNASTY

The dawn brisked its crepuscular light across the Guilin Mountains and throughout the two lands of Prosper Valley and the Valley of Peace. At the Shui Palace, shone by a stream of warm light, the Nine practiced Chi Sao in two groups — one for wooden dummies to enhance their limbs and defenses and the other for practice sparring. For the past month, their newest friendship with Masters of Jade Palace had finally improved to their tastes, allowing them to meet one another for such improvements and tips. 

Surveying these students with satisfaction near the Fighting Square, sipping her peppermint tea from her cup, Chen Ming anticipated recent news that spread across China, from Huangdi's temple to the rest that took two to five days to deliver the scrolls to the classes. Regarding her expectancy, she sent the Nine's Messenger to fly by the Forbidden City and meet the Emperor, waiting for the buffalo to name those who must linger before the twenty-seven messengers depart with scrolls. Four days passed, and Ming spotted seven geese soar toward the Guilin ridges; Kong's arrival became imminent as the feline master held her pose, concentrating on her students' performances. 

Then, at last, the Nine's Messenger made the eighth appearance and flew down to the Shui Palace with incredible beats of sharp wings, landing on the platform. All students gathered around and had their teacher enter Kong's space; the goose held the Emperor's message with a buffalo sigil. Opening the gold dragon scathe from the knob, Chen Ming held an orange scroll and opened it. The list of three classes revealing their names had all their faces exchanging glances.

On the opening field of the Jade Palace Arena, Po squared his eyes while drawing closer to Shifu, who carried an orange scroll from the Emperor. "So. What do we know about these guys? Righteous Seven?" he asked interestingly. 

"A Tai Chi class," Shifu discovered, indicating to his pupils a list of Tai Chi students, including all seven biographies (eighth for their teacher).

"No wonder those eyes are bobbing, I tell you that," Mantis creaked his wings, snickering before the serpent hissed beside him, stopping his mockery. 

"Master Sheep introduces her Tai Chi students of Righteous Seven," Shifu read with his students. "For centuries, after the Desolation of Qing Temple, Liu Bong Shien's legacy and his philosophy were carried by their disciples and their descendants before Master Sheep."

"Leo from Vu City," Tigress read, seeing the fox. "Master Sheep's first student who masters his deadly forms of striking joints with his iron paws." 

Shifu's fruity throat droned in relaxed determination, his fingers stroking his chin's white strands of beard. "Is Leo like the one who used to be in Jade Palace, Master?"

"No. Leo is unrelated to Junjie," the red panda was sure, grinning.

"Whoa! The late Thundering Rhino trained one of his last students named Nam from Kong Su before Master Sheep. Oh, he's interesting!" Po checked the painting of the gray rhino in a voluminous, flowing lime garb with tribal lines that stretched from his back to edges, which showed clouds pouring the rain and the waves crashing. The giant had his horn carved upward, unveiling water spiral outlines. 

"He's like Thundering Rhino's son, right?" Monkey brushed his bald top.

"Nope! But I'm sure he has inspired, wielding a cloud hammer and heavy armaments before his water horn," Viper surveyed and looked at the other biography scroll, gasping. "Crane! Look at this one!"

Tapping his hat upward to see clearly, Crane stepped next to Viper and found the brown hawk who soared under the snow, gliding above the fading cloud stream. Sharp black talons and silver chest lines near the bird's neck. "Hmm. This one's fascinating," Crane scratched his chest. "Fei from Willow Fan, two miles near Summit Village." 

The panda, Bao, in a brown vest, red trousers, and headband, gasped next to the avian. "AUH, so cool! He's got his talons so sharp!" 

"Hey, you guys! Look at this!" Mantis hopped with his insect wings ahead of them. "Huong of Mei Sao, Master Bear's youngest sister." 

One of Master Sheep's heavyweight students was the bear in voluminous dark lime hanfu and a light green top, her form rounding her pose as her dress twirled to the side while drawing her claws with a qi vortex. Huong had a round head, her lips lined in silk ebony, and around her eyes were hued in silvery green. 

"Oh, my. Huong is so sweet," the serpent stretched her cherry lips gracefully. "Look at her smile." 

"Check these guys out!" Lei Lei chirped, presenting her teacher Tigress and Grandmaster Shifu to scrutinize the last three portraits in awe.

The first painting illustrated the impala in dark green garb and dark slate trousers, forming his Tai Chi stance as Shi Dang rounded his body to the left, darting his kick to the other against hyena assailants within the alleyway before the complex hills of Gongmen City and the Tower of the Sacred Flame. Unlike the terrain of China, the second painting depicted the dry meadowlands of Kenya, introducing the furry warrior of an African lion in a tribe outfit with a green loincloth, whose cheeks had the paint of cherry spears. The third and final portrait, displaying Nepal's rime mountains of white powder and charcoal strings under apexes, appeared a black leopardess with a red dot between her brows, robed in ocean-green attire and a crown jewel. 

"Master Shujaa, the Mfalme's Prince of the Swahili Tribe, and Lady Kasi of India," Lei Lei read. 

Tigress hummed in surprise. "Very interesting."

"I heard Shi Dang before, Master Tigress. One of my friends from the Panda Village used to meet him in Gongmen City, and he seems to be special at inspiring children like me!" Lei Lei chirped in a surprising tone, tapping her feet. "I'd like to meet him!"

"I am sure you will meet Master Shi Dang," the feline patted her student's back.

"Okay, guys! Today, I would like to invite one of the students from the Nine!" Po cheered, gathering the Five as Tigress could see the panda and her companions cheering. "Tonight, we are celebrating this day for being chosen!"

"Master. May I invite Chen Xing?" Tigress asked Shifu, whose head leaned on his master's root pole with kind. "I like to speak with him more often." 

The red panda stretched his half grin, chuckling dearly. "You are a Master, Tigress. You can invite him here."

"And Lao and Lotus!" Po included the second guest. "Later this week, I owe Master Ox's son to have a chat with him!"

"So have we," Monkey commented. 

Shifu intensified his grunt approval. "Very well."

"The Tournament has invited the top three classes, including the Fellowship, to show the greatest martial arts skills," Chen Ming proclaimed, and the Nine set their cheer softly. Lao remained still with his feathers together inside his sleeve as the peacock's eyes widened.

"Now," Master Ming cleared her tender throat, drawing the Nine's expressions toward her. "The Tai Chi and Kung Fu classes will arrive at the Tournament in two weeks. Master Sheep of the Righteous Seven has officially joined her side with Emperor Huangdi. The Kung Fu class is a famous martial art many recognize as the Five Masters. I have known Grandmaster Shifu since a young age. Used to work and train with him and our Grandmaster Oogway a long time ago." 

The Fellowships listened to their teacher carefully. "Everyone knows the names of the famous Kung Fu masters, and every fan of good people recognizes them all. The Furious Five have officially ranked the top three."

"You mean Master Tigress and the others are on their way to the Tournament, Master?" Hong asked Master Ming.

"And there's one Kung Fu master who will join the Furious Five students," Master Ming gestured to her first digit.

"Master Shifu?" guessed Niu.

"The Grandmaster of Jade Palace is the retired teacher of the Furious Five, Niu," Ming clarified. "In what a prophecy was meant to save China, I can give you an easy hint about a person: The warrior of black and white."

Quickly discovering the known prophecy, the Nine's Leader puffed his chuff chuckles. "The Dragon Warrior is on his way to the tournament."

"Are you kidding me?" Lotus asked awkwardly. "The panda?!"

"Uh, Lotus," Chen Xing palmed her. "Stunning may create your worst fear of challenging him."

"Impossible," the feminine wolf doubted, swiftly turning her head away from her feline brother.

"It is possible, Lotus," Master Ming calmed Lotus. "The only way you must challenge the Dragon Warrior is to defeat the Righteous Seven and the Furious Five. However, only one student in the Fellowship or Righteous must survive the elimination match. If the Furious Five eliminate either the two teams of the Nine and the Righteous Seven, they will not challenge the Dragon Warrior."

"That seems convenient," Lao was convinced. The peacock tugged the feathers in his long sleeves together. "Despite how the Nine met Masters of Jade Palace and studied Kung Fu with them, I think my newest competitor will be Master Crane."

"Wings of Justice!" the bunny uttered in jester virtue.

"Oh, she summons the waves of chi wind right up your train, brother!" Xing chuckled while grinning. "Hey, I can go for special attacks like Wings of Chop Suey! Wings of Sandwiches! Wings of Noodles and Rice!"

"Wings of Stupidity," Lao stared at him jokingly.

"Ha!" Hong beamed with a soft chuckle. "When was the last time you brushed your beak?"

"Listen, students," Ming called the Nine. "Let's not worry about their arrivals to expect. Be alert. The Masters of Jade Palace have extraordinary experiences, their minds flowing like water for years. We must continue our practice within two weeks until the Tournament. In three days, the Masters of Jade Palace will invite us to observe their activities. We are still determining who the students of Righteous Seven are. From now on, the Nine will work hard on our training and prepare for the competition. The Dragon Warrior will demonstrate Kung Fu forms with the Furious Five.

"I suggest you all study their skills well before the Tournament. And you all must do the same. Before we dismiss, we will greet all the masters to admire with discipline, confidence, and respect. If Masters Sheep and Shifu have their wishes to meet at our palace, we will offer them an invitation for villagers and guests around a week before the Tournament. Food and tea will be served, and I would like to bring the Dragon Warrior and his fathers to cook noodles here. They deserve to try out my rice." 

"Gladly, Nana," Chen Xing approved. "You know I can cook rice with you." 

His grandmother simpered, and her chiming chuckles made him smile. "Not this time, my Sunzi. They shall taste my secret ingredient—mine."

Of course, they will.

Intense swirls from the air shifted, emerging the goose in midnight changshan and a cap. "Auh! Greetings, Biyu," Chen Ming praised the goose's presence. "Such a spirit to see you." 

"Indeed, Master Ming. I have a message from the Dragon Warrior. He wishes to invite Masters Xing, Lao, and Lotus to the Valley of Peace." 

"YES!" the wolf thundered her cheer, rounding her arms around her brothers' arms. She grasped them close. "Us besties will go together!"

Lao chirped his chuckles. "You show your enthusiasm for your good, sister."

"Fetch your set of clothes and bathe yourself before you go, my children," Chen Ming told the three. "Send Masters of Jade Palace my regards. Class dismissed!"

The Nine bowed before the rest led to their chambers, gathering their sets of fresh clothes. The bovine with eyes of red and ocean was ahead of his feline companion, linking his hooves on his waists. "Why can we all go to the Valley of Peace together? We can celebrate being chosen over there," Niu grunted his blunt snout, quite jealous at first.

"I was just thinking the same," Chen Xing said, regarding on the same page with Niu's idea once they walked across the Fighting Square. "But yeah, we all went to Jade Palace and marveled at Masters for weeks. So. . ." 

"That's cool. At least the Shui Palace has my muscle," Niu said, fading his temper. "Our home always needs the Nine of Prosper Valley."

"You know you are the best Defender, big brother," Xing patted his brother's bulk arm, which brought Niu's muzzle puff with blessing. "You proved to show your heroic acts, and bandits did shit their pants after they saw you and your dad." 

Niu lowered his loud laughs. "Hell yeah, that was the best day I ever experienced, and I'm glad I saw my dad coming by here," he smiled. "Enjoy hanging out with the heroes, Xing. Send my regards to them."

"I will," Xing gestured his head, fisting Niu's hoof. "See you the next day, Niu. Write your letter to your dad."

"On it!"

Foams dripped as the cold brushed from the avian's feathers. Earlier, Lao had trained with the Nine before this surprising news from the Gentle Dragon. Lao needed to clean himself on an extensive bathroom pool, even as the peacock wanted to be ready to travel. Watching his brother and sister play in the water, spreading showers at each other, Lao emerged to tackle both and dip under with them. The three traveled east on a large vessel at the streamside river with the boatman from Valley of Peace, while the Nine invited travelers to tour the Shui Palace. As Chen Xing preferred to meet with fans, his brother did not mind them. Regarding the observers who could suspect his "legacy," Lao denied his heritage. 

Chen Xing, Lao, and Lotus tipped the boatman once more, allowing him to give warriors a free ride the next time they could meet the boatman next time. Arriving at the front path of the Valley of Peace, the three watched villagers cheer at their neighborhood folks, welcoming them in once the three trekked on before the children. Lao could barely regard these pandas, half-delighted and the other half concerned about him, those who witnessed the reckoning by Lord Shen's raid. With the pandas observing from the apartment complex's balconies, Lao neglected their gaze, arriving three blocks before Mr. Ping's Noodle Restaurant. 

"Stripey!"

The three spotted Lei Lei scurry beside Pandiva members near the wooden wagon of carrots and radishes. The girl in her pink qipao and brown trousers had a tea rose flower on her left ear, carrying a Tigress action figure from her paw.

"Aww, look at her! She's so pretty!" Lotus beamed. 

Mei Mei and Tigress walked next to Pandivas before the feline's student joined, cuddling her teacher. Hugged briefly, simpering with Lei Lei, Tigress saw the three warriors strolling, who waved at her. A block away from here, pasta noodles wafted in their senses, knowing the restaurant owner, Mr. Ping, cooked his secret ingredient and fed with his fellow villagers for countless moons. By reaching toward the Restaurant's archway entry, the three peeked at the Dragon Warrior and his companions sitting at their table, sharing their laughs despite the panda having his joke about someone's bean buns that shattered and said my tenders. 

"Hello, guys!" Chen Xing entered and waved. 

"Hey! Welcome, guys!" the panda waved at them first, approaching the three as his emerald eyes beamed. 

"Greetings."

"Hi!"

Lao and Lotus smiled before the four of the Furious Five beckoned their waves back at them. "How are you guys doing?" Po shook Chen Xing's claw, Lao's wing, and Lotus's paw.

"Just wondering how lucky we are going to face each other at the Tournament," the tiger simpered, giving warriors to welcome these guests. "I'm so thrilled!"

"We all are," Monkey guzzled his noodles. "We fight, party, throw bananas out in the sky, and pull everyone's trousers!"

"Sure, starting with bandits first!" Lotus laughed. 

"Ha! This is unbelievable!" Po was stunned, gripping his head. "I cannot believe us heroes will go against heroes like that!"

"I look forward to competing with you, Dragon Warrior, and to you all," Lao stretched his smile at the group. "It appears as heroes will be legends, anyway." 

The panda deafened his spiritual laughs, rounding his flabby arm on the three. "Alright, come in! I'll serve you noodles right away!" 

The group began their conversations together once Chen Xing sipped his mug of cold water, and Lotus gathered her noodles with her chopsticks, ravenously eating them. Lao was interested in contemplating the histories of several bandits like Fung and his crocodiles attempting to raid the Valley of Peace. Reflecting what Masters of Jade Palace achieved from their attempts, the Nine had the history of their first mission; among their priorities was to prevent the whole army of bovines and boars from ravaging the Hajin Province, similar to Lord Shen's armaments, but appeared catapults that rained with fireballs — The Fire in the Sky, a Hajin citizen mentioned the city's endless raid.

The Dragon Warrior and Furious Five discovered what Po mentioned of the "scariest bandits of Hajin Province," recalling the boar leader responsible for the city's destruction, forced citizens into cells for quarters, and demanded the Emperor of China surrender his reign. There were eight members before the ninth was introduced from the eastern sea; the Nine's risks of saving the town were quite challenging, unlike what teens thought other heroes were invincible, but realized how dangerous it was to put their lives in danger. Their first time, stopping the boar leader's reign of terror by bringing the tyrant to justice, was rewarding. What stopped the army's invasion before their imminent surrender? The flash of silver lightning from the sky and several bandits caught a white beast swimming in the air that had terrorized them all. 

"Whoa!" Masters of Jade Palace gasped, and Po was the only one leaning forward, crossing his limbs on the table with hype. "I wish I could have seen that!" 

Mantis chirped his insect wings ahead of Po. "What did the beast look like?" 

"I couldn't say, Master Mantis," Chen Xing reflected. "Somebody summoned a big dragon across the sky and made the army wet their trousers. I'm not sure who did. The boar commander was going to announce his submission and call his army to stop, but that thing from the sky showed up." 

"That's quite a mystery there," Viper stretched her lips with novelty.

"Oh, yes, Master Viper," Lao nodded. "I could not stop reflecting on the beast under the clouds, but all we accomplished was keep the city under control after the boar commander's surrender."

"Until all rhinos and Master Eagle's avians came the next day and arrested them all," Lotus filled her voice in for her brothers. "Everybody hailed us for saving Hajin Province, and that's when all nine of us called ourselves 'The Fellowship.'"

"I'm glad you all achieved your success," Monkey respected them, drinking his water. "Were there any reinforcements — any masters from temples?" 

"Nope," Lotus shook her head. 

"Really?!" Monkey and Mantis shared their surprised reaction, opening their mouths wide. 

"The Nine were only the ones who answered Shi Zhang's distress call, so... No backups. No one else showed up." 

"Sheesh! We should have stayed in China, guys!" Mantis flared his limbs at his comrades. 

"As I was thinking the same thing," Viper began, leaning her whole front close to the table. "All of us traveled outside the country from Vu City to Volcano Island and dealt with vandals and pirates." 

"Pirates?" Lotus amplified her heavenly voice, stretching her grin wide. "Oh! Tell me about those guys! My fluffy bovine was a pirate!"

Their discussion to stop pirate ships from sailing and conquering eastern cities was thrilled when the three heard their tales regarding the realization that the Masters of Jade Palace were absent in China. Chen Ming was initially writing her letter to Shifu but discussed with her neighbor, Mrs. Han, that all the masters from the palace had departed to the east. Lao was about to speak freely with the Dragon Warrior and Furious Five but detected light winds soaring from behind. From the archway entry, urging the peacock's presence while the goose was panting his breaths, the Nine's Messenger gestured to him. Lao excused his companions before he sat up and joined the goose's company next to the archway. 

"What news, Kong?" Lao asked and saw Tigress and Lei Lei approach from the river bridge. 

"My apologies for the interruption, Master Lao," Kong regained his breaths, clearing his throat. "Master Chen Ming has bad news to share in her report."

"What happened?"

"Your guandao is stolen."

The peacock's crests arched upward to a shock, and his eyes broadened. 

"How?" Lao asked, attempting to lower his worried tone. "How is that possible? Did the Nine recognize a person who stole my weapon?"

"I believe your sister Hong is the one who spotted a thief, Master Lao," Kong explained, clasping his feathers. "One of the guests is a strange bird. She could not recognize who that visitor was, but Hong saw silvery-white feathers underneath dark-ocean hanfu sleeves." 

There could be thieves like vultures. No, vultures destroy belongings. 

"Was this visitor an avian?" Lao guessed.

"Possibly, sir. Hong could not get closer when a thief soared away," Kong answered regretfully. "You still have other guandaos as your replacement, Master Lao." 

"Indeed. I'll stick with other weapons I have been practicing with," the peacock said, nodding. "It was just my main guandao I had used for a decade—Nana gave it to me as a gift; someone who remained unanimous brought that weapon to my master five years ago — used to be in the wings of my father's."

"Yes indeed," Kong bobbed his head. "You are far extraordinary with your dexterities, sir. I will never forget your training every day."

"I am honored," Lao complimented the Nine's Messenger. 

"Enjoy your company with your brother and sister, Master Lao. Make sure you three return home the next day," Kong smiled, spreading his wings. "Expectations and big days are ahead of us! Good night."

"Good night, Kong," Lao nodded before the Nine's Messenger embarked to soar away.

"Sometimes, we rarely forgot to place some of our armaments after our training," his feline brother joined him, giving a soft pat on Lao's shoulder. 

The peacock buzzed his wearing sigh. "A thief has an attractive look." 

"A pretty lady like you?" 

"Oh, shut up!" 

The peacock and tiger snickered, their glances drawing away as their brief guffaws suppressed, not to draw observers nearby. "Come along, my brother," the tiger rounded his arm over his brother's long neck. "Our sustenance is getting — Oh!"

Their insides flooded with rime, and Tigress was ahead of him beside the archway, simpering. How long was she standing behind them? The Dragon Warrior mentioned to the Nine that Tigress was superior in "stealth mode," but not always. "Master Tigress," the two presented their bow to the feline, who did the same with a respective nod. 

"Good evening, Xing and Lao," she stretched her slight grin. Beside Tigress, Lei Lei was behind her, shyly peeking at warriors. 

"Oh? What do we have here?" the tiger bent his body halfway forward and caught the girl showing herself. "Is this your student, Master?" 

"Yes." 

"And your name is, sweetheart?"

The teenager's shy expression seemed to fade. "Lei Lei," she introduced. 

"Ni hao, Lei Lei," Xing held his paw on his chest. "I am Chen Xing. And my panda brother here, Lao." 

The girl tittered as the peacock exchanged his glance of annoyance at Xing, smiling at Lei Lei. "Greetings." 

"Lei Lei! Tigress! Your noodles are ready!" Po uttered. 

The night settled the gentle wind, and lanterns filled with soft orange kindle fires. Po could see Lao unable to speak; the peacock was sipping his noodles with a wooden spoon and drinking green tea afterward.

The whole group continued conversing at the dining table as Mr. Ping cooked noodles for his customers; this night neared the Restaurant's closing, and both Li Shan and Mr. Ping served the last five meals for sows and antelopes from three tables behind the warriors. Filled with friendliness with the Nine, eating a small dumpling, Tigress had sat ahead of Chen Xing, who beckoned his head with his eyes sealed, showing his respect to her. Po and the Five led their next topic on jesting the panda that they remembered the panda being beaten by a bear dummy. Oh, you guys are so mean. . .  Viper barricaded her lips from chuckling. Neither of Lao, Xing, and Lotus spoke with them a little but enjoyed listening to their conversation well, reflecting Viper's father, the insect's final encounter with a kind of his who "ate" his head, Grandmaster Shifu's retirement, and Po's leadership. 

The avian reached for his cup of tea and unveiled his kind glance in front of the three. "How have you been doing with your meditation, Lao?"

The peacock cleared his throat. "Your query seems to be intriguing, Master Crane. My meditation is improving," Lao grinned, glancing at the bird's runnet eyes before Po's. "So far, I expect a few bitter memories to manifest, but I will repeat my next rumination." 

"Like my inner peace is where I will be eating cookies while Nana is sleeping," Lotus jested, tittering. 

"Oh? I hear you eat cookies," Monkey broadened his smile. 

"I eat my mama's cookies! Her sweets are top-notch!" 

"Careful now, Master Monkey," Lao warned before his feline brother presented his suppressed chuckles. "Lotus is likely going to find a cookie jar." 

"YES! Where is it?" Lotus snapped her happy glance at Xing.

"How will I know where Monkey's jar is, sister?" the tiger smirked. "Why don't you politely ask him?"

"Remind me, Lotus," Lao pressed Lotus. "Have you promised Nana that you are going to be healthy?"

"HA! I can eat cookies without limitations! You know I won't stop, my birdie brother." 

"No way," Chen Xing simpered, shaking his head. "Anyway. I almost forgot to mention Righteous Seven."

"Yeah! We read the Seven Biography after receiving the Tournament's scroll. Those guys are hardcore masters!" Po said, leaning his head close. "Do you guys know who they are?"

"The Nine never heard of the class before, but the Righteous Seven is interesting," Chen Xing answered. "We like to read about them, their origins, and their inceptions."

"Oh, you three can check those out at Jade Palace," Mantis said, hopping toward the middle of the table. "Once Masters of Jade Palace and the Nine study Righteous Seven, I will be the first and shout, 'Fear the bug!'"

"Wings of Silliness," Crane interjected, and the Five burst their chuckles. 

"By the way," Lotus leaned her head. "Master Chen Ming wishes to invite you all for dinner about a week before the Tournament." 

"Sign me up!" Monkey flickered his palm high. 

"And. . . Dragon Warrior," Chen Xing eyed the panda, who bobbed his head, leaning closer. "My grandmother will be cooking rice; she likes to have you, Mr. Ping, and Li Shan to cook noodles at my palace; not only are you guys the honorable warriors, but the Nine shall send the invitation to another — The Righteous Seven." 

"Invitation? The Righteous Seven approves!" 

An exciting voice from afar deafened one's echo, and agile forms swirling above the Restaurant stormed down to the front archway, unveiling three forms in lime tops. The leader was a red fox in tops and silver trousers, carrying a bow, an intricate quiver, and arrows with green fletchings behind him. The second to his right was a brown hawk in sleeveless changshan and trousers. The third member introduced the antelope with black antlers in dark emerald tops and ebony pants.

All three strangers strolled in before the group sat up from their seats. 

"Good evening, ladies and gentlefolk," greeted a fox, grasping paws behind his back. "I am Leo of Vu City, the Righteous Seven Leader. You six must be the Dragon Warrior and Furious Five of Jade Palace."

The fox peered at the peacock, the tiger, and the wolf beside Crane. "Auh. Three members of the Nine of Prosper Valley, the greatest neighborhood townsfolk. A pleasure to meet you, Masters Chen Xing, Lao, and Lotus." 

"I am Shi Dang of Gongmen City," the antelope presented beside his comrade, tapping his chest twice. "Master Sheep's mastery of presence, and it's my honor to meet you, Masters of Jade Palace and the Nine."

"Your Highness," the hawk stepped forward.

Your Highness?  

In slight puzzlement, the Five caught the hawk's comment, just as Lao and his adoptive siblings regarded the stranger's esteem. Neither of these warriors but the Nine regarded the peacock's secret recognition. How did the Righteous know Lao's inheritance? "I am Fei of Willow Fan, the Righteous Seven's Bird of Prey," the bird introduced and fluctuated his wing to a respective bow. "Never in my life could I ever meet a majestic peacock, and I am thrilled to see you." 

If Lao is a prince, then who are his parents? Tigress thought.

"Forgive me," Lao pardoned. "I believe you have mistaken yourself for introducing a title to me, Master Fei," The peacock kept his pose at the strangers. "I am not one of the honorable nobles, only a villager who exists in the Prosper Valley with my family." 

"Your family?" Fei bent his head to the left.

"His family," the tiger stood beside him, and their wolf sister joined; the brother and sister clenched their fists in defense. "Would it be nice to treat each other as adults?"

The fox balanced his silvery chuckles. "Forgive our manners. The Righteous Seven are no mischiefs," Leo worded, glancing at all the warriors when his comrades submitted. "My great companions and I are your newest fans. Masters of Jade Palace and the Nine have our respect. We are here for a truce, greeting you all with admiration."

The panda was beside the encounter. "You are too kind, Master Leo, Master Fei, and Master Shi Dang," Po spoke, displaying his generosity. "You guys seem inspired by our types; your histories are so awesome!"

"Oh? You and the Five are learning about us," Shi Dang was impressed, his hooves bridging his waist to an honorable subject. "The Righteous Seven are into the Nine — the young adults who ended Boar Leader's reign in Hajin Province. What catches our attention first is the peacock. As for me, I like the bovine, the son of Master Storming Ox." 

"And the tiger. The boy who lives with his grandmother in Prosper Valley has studied Wing Chun for years," the fox added, his paw patting his chest in deep admiration. "Master Chen Xing, your inspiration suits me and my master. I suppose your class of Wing Chun and my Tai Chi have a history of harmony with the three forms, only known forefather survivors of the Qing Temple." 

The tiger bestowed his wheezing chuffs, granting his praise. "And a wolf. Many like you were vandals, plenty of low-lives, and most from Lord Shen's army," Fei glanced at her, whose muzzle showed fading curves.

Careful now.  

Lotus deadened her low growl, but his feline brother Xing palmed on her shoulder, silencing her irritation. "But. . . Master Lotus, unlike those wolves, you are such a lovable being. Your history from the Bao Gu Orphanage was heartbreaking compared to another who had experienced the unfortunate. Discovering your ambition to fulfill what is right for your brothers and your sister, you deserve more attention than being forgotten." 

"Ahem," the fox cleared his throat. "My companions are greatly fond of your motivation. The Righteous shall get to know Masters of Jade Palace and the Nine before we compete in the Tournament." 

"I see you guys like to hang out," Po gracefully broadened his flabby arms. "Would you like to have tea with me and my friends?"

"Thank you, Dragon Warrior. My brothers and I are departing soon to travel back to Wugu City," the fox asserted, turning to his comrade. "Go on, Shi Dang. Elucidate yourself with our new friends."

The impala stepped forward and introduced himself ahead of the group. "My father used to serve with Lord Feng at the Tower of Sacred Flame. The peacock lord was a noble being," Shi Dang mentioned. "My father witnessed the trial outside of the Tower's Courtyard, and it was regretful to see Lord Feng and Lady Muqin banish their son who was involved in a horrible crime. Knowing their son's prevention to seal his fate from happening, their son Lord Jianyu claimed his defense that he protected himself and his family from those who could harm them."

The Dragon Warrior, reflecting Shen's fierce eyes with a deep, crooned voice haunting his head, kept his concerned posture when his jade eyes swiftly glanced to his left for Chen Xing's peacock brother. "After Lord Shen's fall, the Righteous Seven thought all the peafowls were no more, no longer to rule Gongmen City," Shi Dang continued. "And now, after the Emperor verifies three classes, there is a peacock from the Nine of Prosper Valley, who I craved to meet the boy, learning his history — I look forward to hearing his story." 

"I hear peafowls live in South Asia," Viper mentioned, slithering past Po's feet. "That's all I know where they live."

Indeed.  

Shi Dang could beckon his head to a nod regarding the peafowls' whereabouts. "I like to ask the Nine's Brilliance before I yield my curiosity. Suppose I could receive your answer, whether or not you are reminding me of Lord Feng, who my father cherished before his death along with his wife in their bed. May I ask you a question, Lao?" 

"Ask your question," the peacock allowed him. 

"Are you one of the peafowl nobles, based on their inheritance with legitimacy?" 

"We do not know the answer from our new friend, and soon-to-be my contender, unless he confirms," Leo said, his cinnamon eyes twitching half of the peep and broad toward the peacock. "Are you, Master Lao?"

The peacock could remember where he was in the Laboratory room, filled with chemistry equipment. Woods cracking on walls no longer bore their durabilities as the fire scorched and amplified shrieks. Lady Xia carried her son, sprinting through the hall when a husband screamed from behind. Nearly breaking through the window had the ceiling collapse, and both peafowls escaped freely, diving into the icy darkness below the ridges. 

"I regret to tell you that my bloodline is not pure from the peafowl nobles," Lao confirmed, straightening his long neck. He still could not remember who the father was but brought three strangers to exchange their unwary glances. "You may have been looking at him, who is exactly like me. That one you will mention — I am not the son of a tyrant nor the grandson of a peacock lord, Shi Dang." 

Shi Dang, Leo, and Fei looked at each other in understanding. "Considering what you mentioned of your father, who served with the late Lord Feng, I am honored you shared his story," Lao remarked the antelope. 

"Hmm. A fine villager, indeed," the fox Leo described, grinning. 

"Seems we are too friendly here," Crane was sure. "You three are welcome to visit Jade Palace if you are all willing to see Kung Fu. Lao, what do you suggest?"

"I suggest the Righteous will learn the Nine's Wing Chun strategies," Lao advised them. "In return, we'll study the Righteous Seven's Tai Chi training."

"Gladly, Master Lao," the hawk approved.

The bass horn blew from the wind, following a single bell's gong.

"We must be going," Leo said, surveying the group of warriors. "The Righteous Seven will reach the Jade Palace and Prosper Valley in the coming weeks before the Tournament. And after contemplating Master Chen Ming's request, the Righteous accept the invitation." 

"We look forward to meeting you again, friends! Have a good night!" Shi Dang waved at them, and Leo summoned his smoke bomb from his pocket, blasting a single puff of silvery mist. You heard their feet scurry before Fei broadened his sharp wings, flapping his limbs against the wind before the three vanished. 

"Geez!" Po's eyes brightened while being amazed by the peacock beside him. "I never know you are—"

Lao smirked and shook his head when Po immediately changed his thoughts. "Never mind. We'll talk about that next time."

"Yeah. Thanks to them, my dumplings are sweating cold," Xing joked. 

And his friends guffawed their giggles. 

Chapter Text

Episode Three: The Top Three ( 18 - 29 )

Chapter XXI

There Is No Secret Ingredient

The Hall of Heroes had a marble floor illuminated with emerald hues and dragon columns slithering to the ceiling. Passing by full of architects and ancient armaments that belonged to late masters, Tigress joined with Chen Xing, who was amazed, surveying the blade with a green lung dragon that was forged into four — the Sword of Heroes. Rightfully impressed to hear Tigress's history lesson about the four brothers (three warriors and one blacksmith), Chen Xing mentioned that Po once heard this sword could be sharper at cutting when not touching or nearing the blade. At this moment, wishing to wield the sword, Xing reached for the Sword of Heroes, broadening his digits, and—

"OW!"

The tiger flickered his claw back, smirking as he chuckled. The Nine tried touching this sword. How did the four brothers do that? Chen Xing continued shaking his limb in stun, and Tigress only stretched her grin halfway, reminding how Po attempted to skulk and reach the Sword of Heroes. Continuing with entertainment, passing by Grandmaster Oogway's wooden staff with emerald candles, Jin Hu's Iron Fist of Justice, and Lady Wind Song's Fan, Tigress and Xing glanced at the repaired Urn, painted with endless mountain ridges with a horde of wolves sprinting and swinging beyond the clouds. 

Each body that burned to dust from the cremation carried Tenshu's spirits — the army of wolves who fought against the minions of darkness. Felled before the last standing to their resurrection, many formed into wraiths and sang whispers as their percussionists played war drums across the sea of mountain clouds, avenging their brothers. Once they achieved vengeance by wiping out the unknown and never again emerged to terrorize the weak, Tenshu's Army of Whispering Warriors set their spirits free and restored their souls; each of them, about nine wolves, sacrificed and sent their ashes to be rested in the Urn. After the horror legends, wolf descendants who were born from their ancestors' bloodline at any age encountered Tenshu, who created demons, and he craved them to be his blessing. Only half stayed as monsters, while the other half escaped from the spirit, thanking shamans who repelled Tenshu from entering every wolf again. 

From the next hall, manifesting war histories, Chen Xing gazed at the behemoth paintings with the ocean of a thousand spears. "I like this one. The whole painting of warlord generals in the Great War. It's exactly like the one at my grandmother's Shui Palace."

The tiger recognized the two generals who called themselves the Jade Warlords — Generals Oogway and Kai, the Supreme Warlords of China. What caught his eyes beside the tortoise and the yak in battle armor standing on the cliff was the snow leopard, the peacock, the bovine in rose hanfu armor, and two soldiers who stood beside these generals. One was in a green hooded cloak with a tail of stripes, and the other, a yak, held his giant ax. 

"You know the Great War, Xing?" Tigress asked him, finding her thoughts rivetting at the tiger's inquisitiveness.

"My grandmother used to tell me night stories about the Jade Warlords fighting in battles with. . . other heroes who served with them," Xing answered, his claws clasping behind his back while gazing at the war paintings. "All her words came from the Grandmaster, who experienced the war and brotherhood." 

"The Great War is well known in China," Tigress said. "The war was started when Qing Temple was raided, destroyed by a tyrant warlord, who wanted his father's worth of loyalty to destroy the martial arts essentials."

"Qing Temple was supposed to change everything; it should have brought thousands, maybe millions of masters and students to bring balance throughout hundreds of temples," Chen Xing regarded. "Now, the country has fifty temples, rebuilding what was destroyed." 

"Hmm. You are the chronicler, one who studies histories and war battles." 

"Well, I'm not that clever, but my brother does," Chen Xing deadened his light chuckle. "But, I like chronologies because what you read more about them, knowledge comes to you." 

"Knowledge is power," Tigress was approved. 

"Yeah." 

The feline could see Xing's gaze locking on the painting nevertheless, how several painters who had listened to Grandmaster Oogway's description to paint what he witnessed and experienced in battles, deep down, the Masters of Jade Palace liked Oogway's story. Tigress followed his eyes and saw one of the generals in his billowing green cloak. The yak's flowing mane had her speak with Xing. 

"You seem to look at General Kai more than the Grandmaster." 

The tiger's low chuffs were heard regarding Tigress's voice. "Kai was my inspiration throughout my childhood story until my grandmother told me about him," Xing said, releasing his claws from his back. "He might have committed something horrible." 

"Like what?" 

The feline's query was thoughtful. "I could not recall what drove General Kai mad, but only I remember what he did to protect his brother from getting killed. One of his reputation titles, among other great names, was bitter. Of his terrible reputation, he was called the Maker of Widows." 

Master of Pain, Beast of Vengeance, Maker of Widows! She heard Po's glorious introduction and remembered him impersonating the yak warlord's characterism.

"I think Kai butchered prisoners — his enemies who were married — labeling the rest of their wives as widows," Xing continued, turning to Tigress. "That revelation, Ming told me, was when Kai came to China, and we hid in my grandmother's friend's village from the Beast of Vengeance. We were teenagers when that happened, about five months after Lord Shen's fall."

The tiger looked onward and found several armaments lying on all the displays. General Kai's double halberd was closer to Xing, giving him an examination of the blade and the pole. "That's the replica of what Kai used his weapon?"

"Yes," she answered. 

Xing continuously inspected the weapon and discovered the replica's reforged blades. Clean and sharp, but not precisely the one the tiger had seen at his grandmother's Shui Palace. "Ming has a real one, inside the Nine's History Hall. She used to say to me that she was given a double halberd by Grandmaster Oogway, who wanted to move on from remembering the past," he clarified. "Kai used to have two double halberds. He used the main one throughout battles until Oogway shed it in half before he. . . banished him. The second one is what the Grandmaster had here before my grandmother."

"Po put this replica here after he read Oogway's scroll. He wanted to have a double halberd in the warfare hall," Tigress said.

"Hmm. Po's not the only one being motivated," Chen Xing smirked at Tigress. 

Departing from the Warfare Hall, two warriors walked outside the Jade Palace, wandering across the Garden of Masters as soft breezes fiddled on their furs and cheeks. They passed by giant stones of late masters in moss, those who served and aided Grandmaster Oogway throughout the centuries. Unlike other stones bathed in rich dark emerald moss, the latest one was Master Thundering Rhino — a rational being who had helped his comrades Ox and Croc to stop the Wu Sisters from reigning in China. 

I wish I could meet him in person. Nana was the only one who met him before his death. Xing thought, staring at the stone's head with its majestic clouded horn. 

"I'd like to ask you a question, Xing, if you wish to answer," Tigress coped by standing closer to Xing. "What happened to your parents?" 

Her question had Xing's face dissipate his smile, unveiling his neutral figure. Xing knew what to expect from Tigress regarding his late parents. She was right to ask, as these felines were the same in that they lost theirs in common. Unrelated to Tigress, whose parents abandoned her at Bao Gu Orphanage, Xing's family was even grieving; the tiger began clasping his claws on his belly, responding. 

"There was home, I used to live, with a family of my own, along with. . .  tigers, Master Tigress," he closed his silver eyes, his tone altering to earnest. "I was a small cub, witnessed the destruction when the forest was. . ." 

Tigress could hear his chuffing rough, and his head shook in dismay as he looked down at his feet. "You don't have to speak about your tragedy unless you want to, Xing," she urged. 

Tigress has to hear. She must know my history. 

Chen Xing walked onward as Tigress followed him, contemplating his tale. "Ming and I were the only survivors. My father and mother were with us on the night but were murdered. Somebody stormed into my old village and brought uninvited guests," he continued, stopping halfway near the ridge stairs, closer to the bamboo hills where the Student Barracks perched. "Every time I looked at the fire, Master Tigress, where my parents were there, I saw those eyes behind flickers and embers. They were crimson — Killer's eyes. That's all I remember." 

"My condolences, Xing," Tigress shared her sympathy.

Thunder from the east of seven steep mountains across deadened its claps. The tiger's memories were striking in Xing's mind but quickly faded as he remembered arrow fletchings stirring their hisses in shadows and sticks snapping while sprinting. "This night is passing. I can practice Kung Fu with you tomorrow," Xing said, reassuring his tone from discouragement.

"Gladly," she nodded before he saw him walk away. "And Xing."

The tiger turned to her. 

"This may be strange for tigers to see each other again. I was like you and your grandmother alone, but the only thing keeping me safe is what I have been living with my whole life. With Po, the Five, and Shifu and Oogway," Tigress elucidated, her eyes looking at his with empathy. She approached him with casual steps. "I can only imagine that you both are not alone with the Nine, your friends. Had it bothered you when you felt the only tiger left?"

Xing arched his brows. "Every single day, Master. Every single day until my peacock brother came, my sisters, and the rest," he answered, giving his long stare at the quiet storm. "Ming and I are not alone anymore. I hope there are any more survivors like us out there, but we keep praying to the heavens until we find them one day."

Everyone, like us, Tigress pondered. 

"When I look at my parents' painting, Master Tigress, you—" he stuttered, his silver eyes randomly squinting as if hesitating to say. Tigress listened to him when Xing gazed at her. "You look just like my mom."

Sadly, Tigress could not speak when discovering Xing's eyes, reflecting what Lei Lei used to nudge with her after training and their walks across the Valley of Peace. Lei Lei used to remind her that if she wished to have a mother like her own, then Tigress would have been the one to adopt her. Viper was only good at parenting, but Tigress treated her panda student well, unlike Shifu, who mistreated his pupil to be worthy. 

Tigress caught Xing sweep a small tear from his right eye before he cleared his throat from disheartenment. "I should go. Goodnight, Master Tigress." 

She blinked her eyes with a slow nod, allowing Xing to dismiss and walk away toward the ridge path to the Student Barrack. 

Goodnight, nephew. 

An hour had passed, and the night crawled into puzzling beams of colorful stars above. Lao sat on the emerald rug, meditating with the Dragon Warrior outside Training Hall. Candles surrounding Po and Lao had lit and wafted with scents of peach and lily, the warriors could smell, and soft breezes fiddled on trees. Wanting to discover the peacock's issues, Po had let Lao recover his long-lost memories of what Chen Ming deciphered the misfortune first. Granting the panda's advice, letting the memories flow like a river, Lao commenced aiding his breaths in and out in serenity; Shifu was on the side of the Training Hall's gateway, surveying these warriors.

Keeping their histories from mentioning Lord Shen, the Five desired the panda to support Lao. Not wishing to disturb these warriors during meditation, Shifu strolled away to his chamber, knowing this night summoned deadening claps of thunder from the north, with silver flashes popping under the gray clouds. The Dragon Warrior could feel the storm but continued the peacock's meditation course. 

When Po examined memories closer, he saw a dear mother. The Dragon Warrior's mother sacrificed her son to save him from Lord Shen and his wolves. As for the other, flowing through the unknown, Lao twitched and squinted his eyes, surveying brief flashes of ocean eyes, the white summit, and the wooden house. 

A two-story palace perched on the bank of the summit's apex slope, and the silver clouds were hued by the bathing yellow light pouring snow. His mother once said their village was prospering with friendly neighbors and fellow avians nearby. A maple tree once stood higher beyond the ridge, with glittering lime foliage branches and a giant trunk. The boy in his dark blue satin robe held his beak open and tasted a flake. The cold water was refreshing, unlike how his peahen mother harvested a chunk of flakes from the upward tile and a waterfall down to three ridges below the Summit Village.

Lao saw a majestic bird scurrying nearby — a swan with a sunlight crown in her ocean hanfu, too innocent. 

"Huiliang! Your lunch is almost ready!" the girl's mother called. 

The ocean? Oogway's blessing.

How could he ever forget the swan's name? As a child, sometimes, if you have a good memory of a peaceful life, the later years could slowly fade, but a parent remembers every moment to keep your memories nostalgic more. He found a group of avians in expensive garbs strolling on uneven ridges, leading from downhill to other peak routes, and several wore their gems through necklaces. 

Nearby from these pedestrians walking by them, wolf guards in dark gray lamellar armor with wraps guarded each house, patrolling. 

Odd. What are those guards doing here? When did this happen? Lao thought. 

Later, filling with perplexity and curiosity, he found a wolf with a left eye patch sauntering with his peahen mother, Lady Xia, at the nearest hillside. A long, forgotten name was called by his mother, which had the wolf smiling and waving at the boy. His name was Dongji.  Winter. His brother used to call him that before Chen Xing changed the peacock's name. The blood brothers wished to upon themselves as family, and his real name, which originated from Mandarin, used to be fitting. 

What was this village like? Who was my father?

A languid voice named his son from behind, shifting the peacock's eyes to rapid blinks before he returned to reality. 

The bird's gasp heightened, and his talons sprang. The blink of an eye caught Po's attention, waking the panda from tumbling backward. "Whoa! I think I fell into my dumpling bowls," the panda chuckled. "Oh, are you alright, Lao?"

Po read the peacock's expression just as the peacock's neckline was drenched in sweat. Lao inhaled and blew out his nippy breaths, settling his anxiety. Each concentration of reliving his breaths in and out lessened the bird's intellect, but Lao wished to answer Po about the memory loss that the peacock attempted to reflect. "I. . . think so?" Lao said, stroking his chest. "Nothing's impacting for sure." 

"What did you see, buddy?" Po leaned his head. 

"I wish I could tell you, but there's a—"

One flash of lightning clapped from the nearest peak, sending Po and Lao leaping in the breeze with their white faces. "OH!" the panda broadened his eyes. "Time to get in the Barracks! Race ya there!"

The peacock could see Po reaching the nearest hill and tumbling his body forward, rolling. Standing from the rug, as two geese began wrapping carpets, Lao sprinted to the path and broadened his train, leaping in the windy breeze.

The wind gushed through the bird's wing strands with vibrations. Spotting Po roll on a hilly ridge before the Barracks, Lao saw gaps in the bamboo and tree columns ahead of him. With inspiration from Master Crane's gift of dodging through traps at this temple, imagining strings of dry fabrics one line and the next, Lao merged through broad gaps and under the log, zipping his quick flight to a vibrant glide. 

Sprinting on the stairs, Po merged to the next ridge as he was upon the Barracks close but could not see Lao nearby as specks of droplets hissed in the distance, nearing. "Lao, I'm almost there!" the panda uttered, pacing thirty steps before the door, where two red lanterns perched in between.

Po tapped the shoji side upon his nearing arrival, with his ears catching loud wings with vibrant flows. "Yay! I — What?!" 

"Right on time," Lao smirked, standing beside Po.

"How did you—?" Po widened, but the sounds of the rain drumming close were intensified, and they saw the raining wall advancing its growth, washing the Jade Palace and the Garden of Masters. "Nevermind. Get in!"

They entered and shut the door, the roof introducing heavy taps from the shower. The panda and the peacock heightened their panted breaths, exchanging glances at each other momentarily before the two set their laughs, lowering their guffaws in relief. 

"Phew! That was close," the Dragon Warrior laughed.

"Indeed," nodded Lao, dusting off two foliage leaves on his upper right shoulder. 

"You can fly faster!" Po cheered. "Did Master Crane teach you how to master your flight?"

"Slowly but surely, Master Po," he stretched his grin, strolling with the panda through the corridor before the kitchen.

"You are a fast learner. I mean, you have a gift!" 

"A gift, yes. But not among the stellar people with brilliant minds," Lao commented nonchalantly. Behind these corridors, shoji walls introduced harsh winds with hard taps, the shower singing distant claps of thunder. "The storm seems uneven; rather than the harsh environment, a calming storm would be nice to allow me and my adoptive siblings to practice Wing Chun forms under the rain." 

"Wait. . . You guys can do that?"

"Absolutely," Lao answered, nearing the kitchen as the candlelight of lime dusk emerged from their left. "You'll see our performances whenever the Tournament en—WHAT in the name?!" 

Widening the bird's eyes before him was Lotus sitting on her chair with Master Monkey, eating a dozen almond cookies. "Lotus?! What on Earth?"

The langur burst his suppressing laughs. "Gods. . . Me like Monkey's cookies!" Lotus praised, mouthing with her chunk of sweets. "Brother, you gotta try these!"

"Off to bed, you!" Lao snapped.

"Make me. . ."

"Now," the peacock's nonchalant command was boldly dominant, but his wolf sister showed him a troll face with hysterical titters.

"Relax, Lao. I'll get to her bed soon enough," Monkey assured, smiling as Po and Lao continued toward the next corridor. The rooms introduced peaceful snores. 

"By the spirits, this is exactly why my sister is addicted to cookies," Lao snapped, lessening his tone from disturbing. "I warned you, Master Po." 

"Don't worry, kid. At least Lotus is enjoying her company," the panda said, palming Lao's shoulder. "Would you like to see my Dragon Scroll inside, buddy?" 

"Why not?" the peacock simpered. 

Entering the Dragon Warrior's chamber had them sighted water splotches pouring behind the shoji walls outside, enticing every warrior to listen to nature's song during comfort. Po lit a match and had the candle on, its hues of peach and cheese brightening the room's surroundings. From the bird's ordinary eyes, with muffling rain singing behind the shoji walls outside, Lao surveyed posters of the Dragon Warrior and Furious Five, the armaments of halberds and swords, the brown drawer, and his bamboo bed. 

From the beginning of these posters, Lao pondered about the panda who met the Masters of Jade Palace, the first time Po could ever survive before engaging the Great Dragon. The middle showed many banners and posters from different towns before Gongmen City's peacock banner (Lord Feng's) and Masters of Gongmen (the three legendary masters), unveiling the map of China's three different landscapes of the Song Dynasty. After scrutinizing the last portraits and historical sceneries, which were during the before and after events of General Kai's arrival, the peacock caught his attention at Po's paw, setting a picture of the panda's mother next to another portrait of his two fathers. 

Is that Po's mother? Lao thought, wishing for the best not to ask him dearly, regarding how difficult Po could answer his question about Po's biological mother. 

Neglecting the question for the time being, Lao could see Po kneeling and reaching under his bed, rummaging for the scroll. I wonder what he hides from his companions. A small pot of Monkey's cookies?

The langur could soon go wild if Monkey discovered where Po hid more sweets under the bed. The bird's thought of action figures on the other drawer table had him close his beak from mentioning them, although the relations between Po and Xing have in common: they were fond of heroes. But did Po and the Five know of one of Xing's favorite toys standing by the Great Dragon and Master Storming Ox?

"Ah ha. Finally," Po felt his digits on a hard, glossy surface, revealing the "awesomeness" scroll. The scroll had lime-green knots and a crimson cylinder with intricate patterns of reflective gold bronze scathes showing the bearded dragon beast.

The peacock's breath was inaudible. "This is. . .  marvelous," Lao stared at the scroll. 

"This was given to me by Grandmaster Shifu," Po clarified before handing the scroll to Lao after opening the cap. The panda sat on his bamboo bed. "When Grandmaster Oogway envisioned me since I was a normal villager, I changed my life when his prophecy of what I become the Dragon Warrior. I realized within a few years later, when I was chosen as the Dragon Warrior, his evil brother came by four years earlier, and the prophecy fulfills my destiny to defeat Kai by not just kicking butts and high-fiving bunnies but being confident and a hero to end evils."

Lao brought out a gold parchment with emerald handles from the scroll shell. Once opening it, the brown with gold glass displayed Lao's face. With puzzlement, attempting to open and close the parchment, he could only see himself once again. "It's blank," he drenched his face with wide eyes. 

"I know, right?" Po simpered. "The scroll is blank."

"But. . . I don't understand." 

"I had the same feeling of telling Grandmaster Shifu, Lao. Just like what you are right now," Po worded, sitting close to Lao. The peacock's spine, drenching with a cold stream, had him maintain his composure. "The scroll, rather than deciphering secrets, shows the meaning of yourself. You see your head on a manuscript by noting how you can describe yourself not just as 'brilliant' but to understand a complicated answer of what you must discover. But to me, I found the solution. Once I realized when I opened the Dragon Scroll for the first time, I thought there would be some mysterious metaphor words or something to discover. But the decryption never lies on there. Only you can see yourself; all of us can.

"But later, when I was going to leave the Valley of Peace, my father spoke his wise words to me, saying that he shared his secret. Something I had not seen coming. He said to me, 'The secret ingredient is… nothing.' "

"Nothing?" Lao gaped, widening his beak.

"Nothing. There is no secret ingredient," Po expressed in his goose father's words. "To make something special, you have to believe it is special. Compared to each born with uniqueness, no matter how hard you throw your feather blades on wooden dummies, achieving difficulties to be stronger, you earned your progression — from the start of your journey as a student to a master. Not only am I the Dragon Warrior, Lao, but once you see yourself on a scroll, you are the Dragon Warrior too — All of us."

The panda's words were admiring, enticing Lao to like Po's conversation. Lao thought more of his beginning to meet brothers and sisters, the unusual beings that each brought their intentions for Kung Fu and Wing Chun. Chen Xing was always his brother and taught him Chi Sao with his grandmother. He mentioned one word that the tiger presented was his prime purpose: family. Lotus sought encouragement for one another, although her heart changed the Nine. As much as Hong was too kind to thrive in aiding the Nine, she pursued love — love for the weak and strong. 

Despite all eight having their ambitions to fight for, Lao finally discovered what his dream of becoming a warrior meant to be. With his growth improving and growing up with his family, Lao achieved honesty. Honesty mattered in his heart, and he thrived with confidence, caring, and admiration. Po was right. Always believe in yourself, and keep your head above water. Lao thought of his advancement strategies of Wing Chun, nearly defeating most of the Nine but Chen Xing and Chen Ming. 

"I understand who I am and my purpose, Dragon Warrior," Lao said. 

"You do?" Po arched his brows, smiling. 

"I am. . . I am the Nine's Brilliance, and I believe in honesty. Honesty for us Dragon Warriors who never give up hope," the peacock wrapped the Dragon Scroll and handed it to the panda. "I am glad you became the People's Hero, Master Po. Your story and your words of wisdom truly inspire us all."

Everybody. . .  

Po grinned as the shower behind the shoji walls lessened their impacts, lightning claps deadening at a greater distance. "My bedtime has passed," Lao went for the door, bowing to Po. "Goodnight, Dragon Warrior."

Po bowed back to him. "Good night, Lao. I'll see you in the morning." 

Appearing the peacock's right side was the feline herself strolling in the corridor, whose small smile appeared to the side. "Master Tigress," Lao greeted, and Tigress nodded, blinking her amber eyes before the peacock entered the guest room next to Po's chamber. They could see an amber light dimming to a sudden dark hue along the rest of the chambers, snores dominating. Po preferred to keep the Nine in the company and stroll through the Palace and beyond the ridges with the Five. 

Motioning her head, Tigress invited Po to the kitchen after Monkey escorted Lotus into her guest chamber beside Chen Xing's. The smell of sweet cookies impacted their muzzles, which had Tigress remember Po and Monkey could sneak into the dining room and grab a dozen almond cookies each after their long training sessions.

Tigress put all four candles to silent hisses when pressing her digits in between, the room becoming darker before the last candle remained standing on the table. "Lao seems to be a great kid, don't you agree, Po?" 

"He is," the panda approved. Tigress's amber eyes were only more prevailing than the candlelight. "How is your. . . I mean, how did the conversation with Xing go?"

Her throbbing chuffs were introduced. "I'm getting there. I need to understand that I am their people," she answered, reflecting on Chen Xing's discussion. Po leaned closer, pondering long enough to see the feline's tired expression, unveiling her arched brows.

"You okay, Tigress?" 

Her stare toward the panda had her answered dearly. "Xing thinks I look like his mother."

"His mom?" he gaped.

"He told me about them — their fatalities. If I could just. . . to keep close company with him, Po, I would," her head lowered to downcasting. "Xing does not know I am his aunt yet. After the Tournament, his grandmother and I will tell him."

Her amber eyes only illuminated when Po's digits blackened the candle, allowing Tigress to reveal her surroundings from daydreaming. The panda held his paw behind her, leading them into the corridor. "Come on, let's head to bed." 

Hearing two shoji walls closed, staring at the ceiling long enough while the rain's ambiance had numbed all the warriors, Chen Xing wrapped himself in his bed, crossing his knees to the side in a deadpan. His contemplation on attending to spend his time with Master Tigress freely had him concerned about her identical expression. Closing his eyes from clouding his thoughts, dozing into his subconsciousness before something emerged, a speck of dust swirling into a face of dawn orange and black stripes, he saw his late mother. 

Chapter Text

Episode Three: The Top Three ( 18 - 29 )

Chapter XXII

Dinner

One Week Later

May 16, 1205

The Prosper Valley, Guangxi — SONG DYNASTY

Tonight, the Masters of Jade Palace and the Righteous Seven, chosen competitors by the Emperor of China, were invited to the Nine of Shui Palace. For the past week, the Nine commenced their strategies to study the ways of Kung Fu from the Masters of Jade Palace. Not long after, a few days before the Nine's Invitation, the Righteous Seven and their teacher, Master Sheep, arrived at the Jade Palace and shared their experience of energy and water movements. On the platform at the Jade Palace Arena, each student from the Righteous Seven adapted their forms with incredible capabilities to one another, displaying the gradual motions of meditation. 

Each section delivered the rise-and-fall when angling their sides, their limbs summoning fading flashes of chi. The Seven sidestepped to the front and back positions and lifted their feet, showing horse stances as if one's foot sending the power of qi through their arms, combining the slowness deflection and agility blows. With the history that followed from the inception, the Masters of Jade Palace and the Nine reflected the monks from the ancient temple of Panda Village, who adopted the energy's balance as they spread harmony and healing before the following created the uniqueness into defenses. 

The Nine bestowing the quintessence of Wing Chun brought the Righteous Seven to stupefaction; Tai Chi students observed the complex from young warriors who executed short and long structures at each form, displaying the combat's lethal blows at close quarters. Following most of the performances after Lao's agility flight and Lotus's ribbon dance to Shou's brute strength and pirate-style sword stances, Chen Xing and his grandmother displayed them a Chi Sao form — a difficult pattern to enhance blocks, which one and the other linked their arms to a form of a circle, rounding a ball before any could start the attack and defend. Her grandson commenced propelling his straight blows while she did the same by blocking his. Gaining his advantage, Chen Xing hurled his heel kick right before Chen Ming blocked with her foot forward and the other toward his chest, sending him to flip backward. 

Returning to his defensive position, Chen Xing saw her storming with her horse stance forward, her fists rounding as the tiger re-engaged her, returning their circle of Chi Sao. Their arms lowered their tension, their feet sweeping side to side while moving toward the center. The felines bending their heads to a nod proved their next strategy — surprising their guests and companions. One and the other started rounding their fists and palm blocks; the speed from Xing's offense and Ming's defense gradually changed from slow to rapid impacts, surprising most spectators. The Dragon Warrior was the only one who dominated his surprise with the Masters of Jade Palace.

"WOW!" Po threw his fists in the air. 

Both tigers began to engage one fist and one palm, thrusting their strengths against themselves. Ming's raw power was fierce compared to her grandson's, whose force was equal. As these warriors were evenly matched, their fist and palm collision brought a hard lunge, propelling Ming and Xing back as they skidded their feet to a halt. Most contestants emitted applause, and feline demonstrators respectfully presented their bows to Righteous Seven and Masters of Jade Palace. 

A cobalt banner welcoming the competitors and honorable guests was displayed above the entrance of the Shui Palace. As the sun gradually settled under the heavens, the sunset was bathed in orange. With the Emperor and his guests invited, several tables were laid across the Fighting Square, and lantern lights of yellow and crimson stretched from two temple houses above them. The Nine had stashed their armaments and action dummies in the temple's vault near Chen Ming's chamber.

Chen Xing, robed in his midnight changshan and ebony trousers, walked beside Crane as they checked the Dragon Warrior and his two fathers bring iron pots. Next to the two elders, Chen Xing's grandmother started a fire and poured water into her metal pot. The tiger could see his wolf sister tittering with Master Tigress across the Square and his peacock brother strolling with Emperor Huangdi beside them. The two warriors, with their histories of Bao Gu Orphanage, had common experiences of being isolated, but the children they faced had different impacts on Lotus and Tigress. One faced their faces in horror because of her teeth and claws; the second, unlike the first, heard harsh words dominating around her, intimidated by their spiteful actions. Being struck by throwing bricks and being insulted, Lotus despised living there. Until one day, visitors selected her; thanking the one who aided her, constantly calling him a brother, Lotus blessed her adopted family every single day.

Walking with the peacock, the Emperor was praised for meeting Lao in person, being generous and pleased to admire young warriors who saved citizens of the Hajin Province. Determining the student's words so engaging, unlike the other who was once a good friend to him, Emperor Huangdi could see Lao being gifted by the bird's parents, one with stubborn cleverness and the other bravery.

The boy is much like the one who treated me well. Lord Feng was like my other father, whom I never had compassion for, but I am glad to meet him and his Lady.

Before the gate summoned its friendly taps twice, Kong and Shui Palace messengers opened the door. Before their eyes, honorable warriors were Master Sheep and her students — The Righteous Seven. All wore their garbs of light green and dark emerald, introducing themselves ahead of the Jade Palace Masters and the Nine with admiration. Chen Xing was the first to introduce before the Nine joined his side, bowing to them. The tiger presented his nice pose to the late Thundering Rhino's former student Nam, a rhino in a long white tunic and pale green coat.

The bear wavered her fan in her voluminous hanfu of glittering green dust, blessing Lotus. The two students, Leo and Fei, beckoned their amicable gestures toward Lao and the three Heavyweight students. The tiger's mind was filled with suspecting questions regarding his brother's heritage, determining whether the Masters of Jade Palace and Righteous would soon discover Lao's father. Shifu and Ming once clarified to Xing that they kept their words confidential — the revelation of the Nine's Brilliance as the prince. The peacock's mother, Lady Xia, was like his own; she was so unique that she taught her son to bond friendships and respectfully treat a lady. She once mentioned the aftermath of their village, about her husband who sacrificed himself to save Xia and their son from the unfortunate incident. Who was Lao's father? Xing questioned himself freely. He only knew from Lady Xia's words that Lao's father was a good soul, not a tyrant like the late Lord Shen.

Last month, inside the Training Hall at the Jade Palace, the Dragon Warrior shared his bitter experience with Xing when the tiger wished to ask about his daring mission with the Furious Five; all six warriors arrived in Gongmen City to blend in and end Lord Shen's reign. The tyrant asked his rival how Po found peace; Shen expressed his defeated words that he truly fragmented the panda's soul. But then, noticing how the panda would have wanted to spare Shen's life was even insane; despite what Po's old nemesis caused the unimaginable crimes, the Lord of Gongmen brought suffering to all the pandas.

The water was raging, yet I needed to see what I could do to rescue Shen, where half of his ship sank. My lungs could not stand against the pressure when swimming down further. When I saw the last of his remains before the vessel was gone — I stopped. There was no other way to save him when he was dead.

I tried. . .

Even if someone like Po was willing to reflect on one's heart filled with a void, there was no guarantee Shen could be redeemed.

Voices ahead of dinner tables intensified claps and cheers, dropping Xing's bitter thoughts about the mad peacock. Master Sheep's students praised the Emperor's welcoming speech for introducing his competitors and Chen Ming's invitation. Moments went by as Chen Xing introduced himself to his fellow contestants, Master Shujaa of Kenya and Lady Kasi of India, praising their presence as if he wished to travel outside China and learn traditions and languages, thus their true meaning of life and prosperity.

"Your grandmother's rice is delicious, Master Xing," the lion spoke with his tribe's blunt and soothing accent, simpering. He gradually ate his rice dumpling, one and the next. Shujaa was in his emerald dashiki with intricate silver and black lines, the center displaying crimson spears — the Swahili tribe's icon. "Your grandmother pleases customers; their voices praise her talents and yours, Master Xing."

"Thanks, Master Shujaa," the tiger smirked, blending his pasta noodles with bits of chili powder. "Master Ming's talents are far better than mine."

"The Gods gifted you both a blessing, my friend," Shujaa commented. "When was the time you started cooking at a young age?"

"Since I was six? Seven? Ming knows a lot more than mine."

The panther in her yellow attire with smaragdine lines and shawl ate her noodles with sweet pepper. "You are talented, Master Xing," Kasi praised, toning her Nepal's northern accent. Her crown with gleaming stones shone rapid blinks from yellow and crimson lanterns. Her forehead's red dot was more luminous than the lights. "I find your cooking skills could take years to become expert."

"Yes, Your Highness," Chen Xing nodded, sipping his peppermint tea.

"Mr. Ping's noodles are even more scrumptious than my husband's meal from the Dragon Warrior's," she said.

"I cannot deny that Po and Mr. Ping cooking noodles with their secret ingredients please their customers, my Lady. I say they are significantly talented," the tiger simpered. "I've always wanted to go outside China and experience other countries."

Shujaa's chuffs lowered in novelty. "I hear you are curious. In my experience, starting a new journey to the next continent was rough to find a better life. Knowing where to go is essential; someone else used to say to me, 'When lost, while you smell the air where it leads, always follow your nose.'"

Chen Xing chuckled. "Ain't that the truth."

The lion offered his little grin, gathering a round of noodles with his chopsticks. "So, Master Xing. What is that you like to ask?"

"You have traveled so far much from Africa, Master Shujaa. What made you leave before you came to China?"

Shujaa's lips gradually retreated to normal, reflecting memories of his life as a tribe warrior in Kenya, surrounded by long grass hills, flat trees, summits, and a village before the sea of beating white waves.

"My father exiled the chosen heir, who was willing to challenge the contestant to rule under the Swahili tribe," Shujaa began. "His brother proposed to his son to enter the Dance of the Sea, one of his strong warriors who could equally match against the other — the King's son. I was the one who accepted my cousin's fight before any of us debated whether or not to whom my father could choose his successor."

"The Dance of the Sea?" the tiger repeated; his question was curious.

"A fighting arena at the shore, where two warriors combat each other against the sea waves. To live the fight is to drown or kill the contestant," the lion explained. "My King disliked his brother's suggestion, but my father decided to end the family feud."

The lion continued his tale; the sense of high ripples slamming on him and his cousin was hazardous during a combat trial. Spears plunged, swung, and warded in agile flows, delivering fatal blows. Blinded his sight by his soaked mane, Shujaa was forced down to the surge by his cousin's claws strangling his throat. A violent wave washing the two toward the flat sand allowed the lions to spar their final brawl, claws mauling their fur, sharp teeth crushing their manes before Shujaa's cousin delivered his last uppercut, attempting to grab his spear.

"Then you lost the battle," answered Chen Xing.

"Spared lives by the King's brother; he wished to exile the weak in separate ways. One must be banished with the mark of shame, while the rest must be sacrificed," the lion continued. "I was the only warrior who traveled far to the East alone, to the Arabian Sea, to India, Nepal, and China."

"And in Nepal, my dear Xing, I met Shujaa cross paths, trekking onward to the sea of white mountains before Tibet and China," Lady Kasi spoke, her limb arming behind Shujaa's silky puff mane. The two warriors leaned their sides closer when the lion amplified his low chuckles. "Beyond temples, we became monks before Shujaa and I arrived at the western border. We were told that in Wugu City, the temple's owner, Master Sheep, accepts newcomers to her Mountain Palace for lone wanderers. The Mountain Palace, which we are greatly interested in, is what changed our lives to believe in harmony — Tai Chi."

"I am glad you both found each other and the temple, Masters," Chen Xing blessed the contestants, simpering. "It's satisfying to see you and Shujaa survive through perilous adventures together."

The tiger motioned his claw thumb on his cup. "One of your experiences from your background story, Lady Kasi, is beyond intriguing."

"I am all ears, Master Xing," the panther lengthened her smile.

"You are the shaman who repelled Tenshu," the tiger mentioned as he was intensely intrigued. "You nursed a wolf?"

"A wolf was ill when I met him, my dear. His strength was weak during his troubling consciousness," she clarified, tapping her napkins on her lips. "After saving a villager, he blessed the Gods and me, never again to meet the ancient spirit that Tenshu claimed victims, those who were the blood of his army."

"My grandmother was lucky to save my sister Lotus," the tiger added, sharing his historical incident with them. "Chen Ming's brief knowledge of shaman abilities to cast bad spirits away was enduring. Instead of witnessing the unexpected, I had to remain close to my brother and his mother, letting my grandmother tolerate her meditation into Lotus's essence."

"Does Lotus have the bloodline of Whispering Warriors?" Lady Kasi queried, her eyelids squaring. "By saying your sister previously encountered an evil spirit, you counted her as Tenshu's descendant, among seven hundred and thirteen."

Shit. . .

The tiger's expression of widening eyes had answered; thus, muttering his words, he deadened from two warriors to hear his reaction, having him glance at her wolf sister, who continued strolling with Tigress across five tables, smirking at her feline brother.

"Oogway's blessing. . ." Xing rotated his head to the two warriors. "I didn't know the name of that specter who entered my sister's body back then. Now I know."

The panther's throbbing drone under her throat faded to understanding. "You were a child, Xing. Regarding that time, you were confused but worried about Lotus; your only duty was to keep your family close until your grandmother set your sister free," Lady Kasi expressed, palming her heart. "I am glad Lotus is living well."

Putting the topic aside, Chen Xing regarded the panther's experience as a shaman who could foresee one's future and repel evil spirits with her mind. He thought of one desperate to offer a shaman survey what he saw in his haunted dream, a killer who slayed his parents in the forest, bathed in the fire to ruins.

I wish to find out who murdered my parents. All I want is a shaman. Meditation relieves my anxiety but barricades my vision.

Chen Xing sipped his tea and leaned close. "Lady Kasi. As you are a shaman, I may need some assistance," he said, drawing the panther's attention. Instead of his to aid, the tiger mentioned one in the current state. "My brother Lao has this memory to reflect his past life, but sometimes he encounters someone. Lao described a nightmare, saying a wolf's growl woke him, scaring him."

The competitors exchanged glances and were seen listening to the tiger once more. "His meditation progress gradually improves, reflecting the past a little, but Lao still cannot remember any further events in the Summit Village where he was born," the tiger continued. "Unlike the incident, my brother used to meet a girl, a swan neighbor, before the voice interrupted his presence. Lao could not see who the father was but saw his mother along with a wolf."

"Hmm. You and the Nine need help," the panther discerned while Shujaa and a few spectators nearby glimpsed, listening to the conversation. "As stated, meditation flows your thoughts well. By swimming through the rough water, you always follow the current. Considering Lao's issue to reflect what remains to be sealed from deciphering requires assistance."

Indeed.

Chen Xing drank his last sip of peppermint tea. "If I may, Master Xing, my fellow companions of the Righteous Seven have been regarding Lao," Lady Kasi bridged her arm over the other on the table. "He is an extraordinary being who has practiced the difficult aspects of Cai Li Fo — his side hobby — during his training. I want to ask you a simple question if you are allowed to answer."

"Of course, my Lady," Xing grinned, nodding.

"Do you think Lao's father might be. . . the Lord of Gongmen City?" asked Kasi.

The question of Lao's mysterious heritage was exceedingly anticipated in Xing's thought, unveiling his expression throughout his hesitation while figuring out the words to answer. He could hardly reflect on the amount of news about the city's incidents and the death of Master Thundering Rhino. The tiger recalled a sinister face, the painting of a peacock madman, which was haunting at first.

"To tell you the truth, Your Highness," Xing said, placing his chopsticks in his bowl and moving the plate to the side. Shen is not my best friend's biological father. Lao had his dad and faced a difficult life; he might have disappeared in Summit Village after he saved his peahen wife, including their son. The tragedy was upsetting."

"Understandable. I hope Lao's father will find his family, Master Xing," the panther comprehended, clasping her silky black paws on the table. Her pale brown eyes glimmered. "Who is Lao's mother?"

"Lady Xia. She's my adoptive mother."

"My mommy!" Lotus passed by her brother, tilting and nudging her triangular head against his with a blessing before she licked him once. The latter of brother and sister manifesting their nuzzles brought Lady Kasi and Master Shujaa to stretch their lips to delightfulness, seeing the adoptive family bond before the Nine's Dancer whispered the tiger's ear.

After listening, Xing caught the Dragon Warrior gesticulating his paw to him. "Excuse me, Lady Kasi and Master Shujaa. Po is drawing my attention," he pardoned, standing up and grabbing his bowl. "If you both need anything or desire to speak with, the Fellowship is here for you."

"Of course."

"Gladly, Master Xing," the lion chuffed.

"Enjoy your meals."

Chen Xing began walking as drummers and erhu musicians played their rhythms, delivering the song's introduction of rich tones, which had several recognize "The People's Hero," a villager from the Valley of Peace who turned to a warrior. Before the Palace's gate opened, a group of three wolves with their alpha—who Xing recognized as Master Wolf of Snow Palace—emerged with an old goat with curved, broad horns.

I would like to know who these guests are.

The tiger was close to the noodle stands, where Mr. Ping's pots billowed steam under the lanterns and in the air. According to Po's fathers' wisdom, anyone could cook at any age, creating something special to taste the awesomeness. Guffaws emerged from the third table, where the Furious Five members and their teacher conversed with Bao Gorilla and his cobra companion, Fanshe. 

"Hello, my great customer from the Prosper Valley!" greeted Mr. Ping, widening his wings. "Come and try both of our noodles here!"

The tiger grabbed a silver ladle and dipped it in the Dragon Warrior's pot, which was buttery pasta with chopped radishes, bits of lettuce, and spiced chili powder flavor. Tasting the flavor with the combination of lime and red chili had Xing's tongue spike with a hot stream before swallowing.

"Po!" he gagged and cleared his throat, his tongue on fire. "Your noodles. . . It's good!"

"See, Dad! I think I've got Xing's favorite flavor there," Po cheered up, his fathers chuckling. "How do you like the chili?"

"The flavor hits the spot, but a little salty."

"Ooh. I knew it!" Po showed his grimacing smirk.

The tiger went for a next turn and did the same to Mr. Ping's pot, sipping noodles. The boiling food was surrounded by gold soup with tofu blended with garlic, radishes, and peppercorn spice. Xing's lips were drenched, the peppercorn flavor waving in his mouth while chewing vegetables. With his sense of spiritual relief, Xing heightened his drone.

"Now, this is so delicious. I am not gonna lie on that one," Xing smirked with the goose and Po's father.

"So, which one do you like, Master Xing?" Li Shan asked.

"These samples are tough to pick the winner," the tiger said, bridging his fist under his chin with uncertainty. "There is no doubt that you both have gifted talents. Mr. Ping, you make noodles for a lifetime and educate your adopted son to cook with special ingredients, giving Po years to enhance his skills. Compared to the Dragon Warrior's current status, I am close to my grandmother's art, but do draw my customers who praise my cooking experience."

"I feel where you are going, Master Xing. But I am happy you are learning well," Mr. Ping simpered, clasping his wings dearly.

"And Po, you are the son of the goose father and Li Shan," the tiger met Po's eyes. "As much as you have been learning well to draw your customers for more meals, you did your job with good execution. I am about to choose which of these awesomeness samples I like, Dragon Warrior — I am going to go for Mr. Ping."

"Aw, man! I gotta cook much harder than I expected!" Po smirked, clenching his fist. They could see Li Shan rounding his limb around Po's neck, patting his son's shoulder.

"You're good, Po. Deep down in my heart, I like to praise Mr. Ping because of his stellar chef experience," Xing explained. "Remember what I said: You both have talents. Whenever my mind wishes for lunch and dinner with my empty stomach, I can come to your Noodle Shop with my companions anytime."

"Auh, Xing, your words are encouraging," Po shared his gratitude. "We tried out your grandmother's rice, and — holy smokes! — Her food is something! I can't find a word to praise, but it's delicious!"

"Now you know why Master Ming likes to offer you her food from her gifted mind," Xing commented.

"With your same idea, Xing," Po walked close to him. "I'll be able to catch up with the Nine's incredible histories and talents while eating rice, filling my empty stomach for good."

"I believe you," the tiger smirked before Li Shan drew his hearty laugh.

"You can go with Xing, son. I can manage your pot," Li Shan took over his son's spot. "Thanks for trying out our noodles, Master Xing."

"Of course, Li. See you around, gentlemen."

The Dragon Warrior and the Nine's Leader casually walked across the Fighting Square, presenting their friendly gestures toward guests and fellow contestants before the Emperor of China. This was the first time the  Masters of Jade Palac toured inside the Nine's Historical Hall with ancient artifacts and armaments. One of the halls was secretly locked for only honorable guests and warriors, but Masters eventually enjoyed the painting of Oogway's Great War history from Master Ming's vision.

Po and Xing spotted Lao giving in terms with Tigress and her student Lei Lei. The girl dilated her pupils and broadened her limbs, her hug clasping Lao's chest. "My Panda Birdie!" Lei Lei uttered, driving two warriors, and a few observers chuckled at the scene nearby.

"She's so gorgeous, Po," Xing commented, laughing while simpering. "Now I see her behavior is natural."

"I know. Lei Lei spends more time with your brother."

Master Ox and his son were farther ahead, speaking with the Righteous Seven's teacher before Po could call Xing's companion. Niu was in his midnight garb with black lines as he began strolling with the panda and tiger into the Shui Palace's Barrack, entering the Dining Room. The bovine grabbed a brown teapot from the bamboo dash and poured tea cups for himself and Po.

"You managed to hang out with Tigress more, Xing? How are you both doing so far?" Po asked the tiger in a comforting voice, sipping his tea when the fading stream barged into his muzzle.

Xing and Tigress were considered the same species as their kin. Before answering Po, the tiger reflected on the moments of their last conversation, meeting the panda's emerald eyes. "We're getting along, little by little, but it feels great," the tiger smirked. "Tigress and I needed to chat during the Training Hall and Hall of Heroes tour. She is flexible, performing her agile movements when I was studying Kung Fu. It's like resurrecting what I had lost interest in, but with that hobby came back to me, Po, it's really — I am back into Kung Fu."

"I see," Po grinned, stroking the cup's edge. "When I was around teen years, I saw the Five beating the heck out of Boar, throwing punches and kicks, which made me a hardcore fan."

"So did I, Dragon Warrior," Xing nodded. "Every time I see Masters of Jade Palace, Po, during the Nine's missions and a few tournaments, you all inspire the Nine and me."

"As did my friend Peng, who created Kung Fu Club," Po worded. After envisioning us Masters of Jade Palace, the Valley of Peace's peacekeepers, Peng craved for villagers to be in martial arts classes. While not all the heroes could arrive in time to save people, the citizens will defend themselves with hardcore capabilities."

"I agree," the tiger nodded.

"Oh! Wait, I got a question for you guys," the panda expressed in his hyped-up tone, drinking his tea before questioning. "Do you mean citizens of the Prosper Valley are all fighters?"

"They all learned, Po," Niu answered, lowering his laugh. "Remember a villager who threw a wok at the big crocodile?"

"Yeah! I didn't see that one coming. It was severely cool!"

Their discussion, which included mentioning the awesomeness moments and past events, lingered; the panda could think of Grandmaster Oogway as his chosen successor, usually meditating with his teacher before and after training activities. The Nine's Defender started his queries, being delighted at first.

"Is it that nice to be a warrior who protects people from assailants?"

"Always is," Po grinned.

"What was your experience of meeting the Furious Five for the first time, Master Po?" Niu took his large sip of green tea.

His past self of being beaten and bounded off from the long stairway had Po deaden his chuckle, placing his cup on the table. "It was eight years ago when the Five and I started our friendship," he started, droning his sigh. "When Grandmaster Oogway chose me as the Dragon Warrior, the moment I fell from the balls of firework, Master Shifu and his students were —"

Po lightened his laugh. "They had the worst day of their lives. They were trying to kill me."

"No kidding," Chen Xing commented, leaning his back against the jamb from the pathway. He crossed his arms with credit, understanding the panda's sense of humor. "Grandmaster Shifu spoke his words true to Nana."

"You weren't the only one who experienced the overwhelm and confusion before, Master Po. Not compared to you," Niu said as Xing and Po focused on him, who drank his last sip of tea. The bovine's heterochromia eyes of ruby and ocean met the panda's. "When I was in Gongmen, my father and Uncle Croc were busy handling matters to the wolves' state to clear their mess. Not only the issue, however, but they were also handling a few aristocrats who conned my dad. A few people who sailed there from Japan were from the school, and for the right moment, after I got distracted alone across the narrow roads, they bullied me and tormented me with social aggression."

"Wait, you were bullied?" Po leaned forward, widening his eyes.

"Bullies disrespected me and my reputation at home. They knew where I lived at my mother's cottage, so I moved on — back to Gongmen City before I heard what happened in China: the death of Master Thundering Rhino and the town," The bovine's composure was stable. "During my unexpected confrontation with them, they called me a 'Rhino lover' and 'Kung fu dummy.'"

"Lowlives," the tiger commented, shaking his head.

"Lowlives shouting out with name calls were extremely rude. I did fight back against them, showing them some manners. When their alpha was insulting, which did hurt me personally, I was in a fury, rampaging them all, one by one," Niu lowered his sight, unveiling his face of disappointment. "They all got scared shit before they ran away into the alleyways from me, leaving one person behind — their alpha."

Niu's left hoof triggered slight trembles, which Po caught his brief glimpse at before the Nine's Defender had his other hoof palmed over, lessening his twitch. "After I held that idiot against the column, threatening him with my spiteful words," Niu shut his eyes with shame. "I knew I went too far. Dad gladly arrived at the incident and saw me choking the bully to death — I let him go before the antelope guards turned him in and had my dad speak with me."

"Then what happened?" Po arched his brow muscles upward.

"Dad knew I was in serious trouble; he did tell me that killing those criminals was wrong. Mistreating the ways of Kung Fu was on me, breaking a few codes when I broke bullies in half," Niu said, lowering his puff from his muzzle. "In case you have not noticed my history, Dad was overwhelmed during training, saying he could have saved Master Rhino from. . . from Shen." 

The tiger reminisced the parchment news next to the Palace's gateway, indicating the sigil that shook his body to his core — a crimson eye from the peacock lord. The news went viral when his grandmother read out the scroll, and Xing remembered her tender voice into crumbles, leaving him to watch and aid Ming in her chamber while she wept.

"Instead of my father going to teach me his ways," Niu continued. "He guided me where to start my journey toward the West. A palace where a teacher can alleviate my temper, becoming the finest student. But I ended up somewhere in a town, where I started making yuans and huizi from — gambling while fighting, like my father and Masters Croc and Rhino who fought for the riches."

"A street fighter," Po guessed.

"Yeah."

"And, Dragon Warrior," Chen Xing went close and put his hard palm on Niu's upper shoulder. "Niu's friendship started there and here, and I saved him from being a street fighter. Isn't that right, big brother?"

The bovine's drone was steady in friendly composure. "I always know you are right, Xing. Wing Chun changed me, and I owe you one, brother," Niu stretched his grin. "Dad is looking forward to speaking with you when you have a chance."

"Of course. I've always wanted to meet the legendary Master Storming Ox."

Po cleared his throat. "Most of us who are into martial arts changed our lives. Kung Fu inspires me when I meet my best friends — the Five and Shifu."

Behind Po from the Dining Room's broad window was Lotus waving her paws as the drums and erhu instruments performed the honor of "Grandmaster Oogway" intro, inviting Lady Kasi and Master Shujaa in the Fighting Square before they danced their Tai Chi forms. "Gentlemen, excuse me a moment," the tiger went for the door and peeked at his companions. "My sister draws my attention, so I'll catch you guys later."

"Alright, buddy. We'll be in touch," Po bobbed his head, simpering. "If you need more noodles, just ask me or my dads outside."

"Gotcha," he nodded. "Enjoy Po's company, Niu."

The bovine and tiger landed their bro-fists before Xing departed to the door.

"So, Dragon Warrior. I've heard that one of your friends from the Furious Five seems to be the closest of all," Niu mentioned. 

"Oh?" Po stretched his smile, rounding his head to his thought. "Where do I start from there? They are all my close friends. I wonder who could that be."

Departing from the Nine's Barrack, Chen Xing walked onward and surveyed visitors trekking their way in random directions. Shortly after, he found Lotus waving her paw at him a few yards from the Fighting Square, where the Nine's Pirate was guarding next to the Shui Palace entry. Out of nowhere, the tiger's left side bumped a visitor's shoulder, showing the wolf's ruby eye and a patch.

"Oh, pardon me, sir," the tiger pardoned the visitor, presenting his kind posture. "I didn't see you there."

"Er, you are good," the wolf forgave him. The visitor wore his scathe armor with rope pairs around his stomach and dark gray gauntlets. There were no weapons on him. He beckoned his respectful nod to the tiger before the wolf joined Master Wolf nearby. "Master Xing."

Three wolves gathered in company with their alpha before the old goat with curved horns in colorful robes met Xing's grandmother, who hugged and praised the guest with surprise.

Wolves are almost like Lotus. That wolf with one eye — who is he?

"Cookie," Lotus's paw palmed the tiger's back, leaning her head close to him. "I got a surprise for you."

"Oh, yeah?"

"Remember the visitor who stole our brother's guandao? She's here."

Chapter Text

Episode Three: The Top Three ( 18 - 29 )

Chapter XXIII

The Stranger

Great. . . Where is the visitor now?

The tiger maintained his neutral posture when observing the scene of honorable guests enjoying martial artists in friendly company. The Shui Palace's gate tapped thrice as the Nine's Messenger Biyu went for the entry, inviting a few villagers of the Prosper Valley. "Our friend Kong is entertaining her in the Nine's Hall."

"Wonderful. I got a job for you, sister," Xing hooked his arm behind her neck, walking together near the Nine's Barrack. "Have you and Shou to guard the front door. Show yourselves some class act as pirates."

"With pleasure," Lotus broadened her teeth, licking his cheek before leading herself to the side of the Fighting Square. "Master Tigress will go with you. She knows."

Without knowing where the feline master was, Xing turned, and Tigress was strolling in her gold hanfu and black trousers, her claws clasping on her stomach in recognition. Last time, his sister Lotus shared her thoughts with Tigress about Lao's stolen weapon. "Lead on, Master Xing," the feline master nodded.

Onward to the Nine's Hall before the Corridor, Tigress allowed her pose to wander while entering the room. Kong and the guest in a hooded black velvet cloak glanced at the artifacts while walking. The broad chamber had a slated gray floor in reflection. One wall was painted with historical events of the Qing Temple, where the class Wing Chun was educated before with Kung Fu and Tai Chi, the beginning before the current dynasty, and at the end of the hall displayed vivid painting strokes of nine warriors standing amidst the road of Hajin Province in dark gray smoke and fire at night before orange-yellow daylight, lessening the harshness.

Two viewers standing between the Three Kingdoms and Liang Dynasty marveled at a thousand black and crimson spears undulating before the massive boulder. Standing on the boulder were warlords of the Mightiest Warriors. Catching their eyes were flowing emerald cloaks from Generals Oogway and Kai sprinting into the horde before the scorching red sun.

"Here is the well-known history of the Great War, young miss," Kong beckoned his wing, manifesting the monuments for the guest. "Would you like to see the warlord's double halberd?"

"Yes. . ." the visitor in a hooded cloak answered dearly. "I would be honored to see the ancient weapon."

The goose's fruity voice droned in a grasp. "Very well."

Without hesitation, nodding with their exchanged glances, Tigress and Xing followed, leading him first as he clasped his claws behind his back, roaming to the nearest section of Fallen Heroes' ancient artifacts. Kong's chronicled speech about the warlords' battles was satisfying to Xing's thought, passed by Master Ming's voice, words from her tortoise teacher's wisdom and history.

"The Jade Slayer used to carry two double halberds at that time while serving in the Great War with his fellow brothers," Kong clarified, passing by polished dragons and silver columns. "One vanished into the Spirit Realm with him, while the other stayed behind and handed to his brother. Despite General Kai's return, the corrupted chi power in him gradually made him stronger; by stealing chi from late masters, he hunted them for five hundred years. Several victims witnessed his arrival with his raging power; combined with his emerald knives with chains, the Mightiest Warrior could go flawlessly rage. His corrupted qi could regenerate his strength, more like healing his lethal injuries after claiming souls.

"After years of grief for the loss of his dear brother and longing to seek a better future in his Kung Fu, Oogway managed to hand over Kai's second double halberd to someone who is more honest and has a heart. Master Chen Ming kept the ancient weapon in the Fallen Heroes Hall. The story of the Mightiest Warriors who were trustworthy in defeating tyrants, avenging their brothers and sisters as they fought for righteousness — justice for the Desolation of the Qing Temple and the fallen soldiers."

The goose and the visitor reached for the monument of Kai holding Oogway across the white sea of snow ridges before the Panda Village. Upon the display, the Mightiest Warrior's double halberd was carried with emerald silk. The blades were treated well, occasionally with rock stones to sharpen the edges and polish the sides. Tigress was on the nearest path, observing Xing stroll close to the goose and the visitor. "Here, you see the Supreme Warlord's double halberd — the second weapon."

"And the first weapon?"

"The panda who sacrificed himself to hold and send General Kai back to the Spirit Realm, the Dragon Warrior's dragon qi destroyed the first weapon the yak had carried with him."

The hooded figure, leaning close without the blade's proximity, surveyed the sword's clean edge patterns. "Exquisite. . ."

"Exquisite indeed. The tale of this weapon is far too mysterious to decipher its lore. From what this experience learned, Master Ming's veteran student, her grandson, nearly attempted to grasp Kai's weapon but was disoriented by a strange voice from the billowing basil smoke and green eyes. Unlike Kai, the unknown cause was the weapon to ward off those unworthy of hate. The double halberd only speaks to the chosen, and only he, the Mightiest Warrior, could return his grip on his weapon."

"A fallen warrior who turned hero to evil. General Kai may be gone forever," the female visitor said, withdrawing herself from the halberd. "But the weapon's power itself remains inactive."

Not long after contemplating the history, Kong could see Chen Xing present his nod to him, grinning back at the tiger. "Enjoy yourself, young Miss. And if there's anything you would like to discuss more about the lores, the Nine of Shui Palace are here for you."

"I look forward to that. Thank you."

The Nine's Messenger was dismissed, passing by the two felines as Xing started his casual walk. On the opposite side of injured warlords, the tiger surveyed the painting's boundary of a thousand halberds pointing at the sky, with billowing red ribbons attached below the blades. The yak dashed through the horde with the tortoise in his dark green lamellar armor, who wielded his single halberd across the battle, warding off the ape's axes to the left side. Above the bloody affray of the gold sky, with horizon clouds touching pillar mountains, was the peacock (ocean and green feathers) hurling silver daggers, and the snow leopard trotted on all fours, roaring next to the Jade Warlords. Several faces cried with tension, eyes squinted, and blades clashed; Xing could hear soldiers intensifying their war cries on the ridges and in the thick trees.

"Isn't this double-halberd much majestic?" Chen Xing stood beside the hooded visitor, claws clasping behind his back. "Well, not that majestic to dance around with it, of course. I almost knocked myself out to the side right here."

"Oh?" the female queried interestingly. Her beak nearly showed under the hood.

"It's true. This double halberd does not accept any soul in that regard, and I attempted to grasp it with my claws. But with that circumstance, it pushed me away, and I did hear strange voices — only one that sounded like raspy breaths."

"It's an evil weapon," said the stranger.

"No kidding. Master Chen Ming discovered the blade's presence, and she could not know who or what was preventing anyone," Xing said. "The two warriors could withstand the conflicting episodes, and Grandmaster Oogway and Chen Ming were the ones. As my dear friend stated, only General Kai can wield his weapon — not possible anymore because he's obliterated to bits."

The female under the hood lightened her chuckles. "I hear you are a fan of this warlord. . ."

"I used to be," the tiger commented, glancing at the battle paintings. "Kai would have been the best Supreme Warlord ever to bring balance and justice to his brother General Oogway in battles. One warrior should have been trustworthy instead of being the stubborn, narrow-minded soldier to himself."

"Hmm. You do know more of these warlords."

"From my grandmother," he smirked. The tiger's claw beckoned to the closest entrance where they had previously entered. "Would you like to see more lore across the hall?"

"I would love to, Master Xing," the stranger tugged her velvet cloak. "But since I was here to see the ancient weapon before my eyes, which I gladly did, I must be leaving soon."

The stranger stopped walking. Before her eyes stood Tigress guarding the front, crossing her limbs. The sound of laughs and faded chuckles were washed upfront from the Fighting Square, from the Masters of Jade Palace table, giving their friendly company to the contestants.

"If you don't mind, young miss," the tiger pardoned close to her, who turned to him, so calm without flinching. "I like to chat about the incident when you were here last time. This will not take long."

Comprehended, the stranger joined Chen Xing and strolled toward the history hall, departing to the nearest Barrack. Musicians setting their new soundtrack of zen healing began playing the soothing rhythm; Tigress, walking from behind to two while in guard, practically contemplated the song's theme of a lotus flower. Her serpent sister mentioned Viper's village, where her parents used to venture across roads. The day celebrated their daughter's birthday; her parents gave her a ruby ribbon sash. Across the broad roads, emerging the Viper family with their daughter who twirled her ribbon sash, their citizens praised them in their presence, presenting a few musicians and one villager, a bunny in her rose hanfu, presented Princess Viper with a crown of two lily flowers.

Viper revealed that these flowers symbolize purity—she was born with elegance without fangs. Tigress cleared her thoughts and focused on Chen Xing, who started his inquiries.

"On that day, you visited Master Ming's sculpture tour and contemplated the Nine's histories," he reminded the stranger, his silver eyes fixing on her. "One of my sisters saw you take Lao's guandao and fly away from Guangxi. Have you ever learned stealing is wrong, ma'am?"

The stranger's velvet white feathers were shown, pointing at him. "Does that remind you of your attempts to steal radishes and several ink bottles near a farmhouse?"

The stranger's words had the tiger's spine washed with cold water, his face unveiling the sense of brief guilt from her eyes. "You got a fair point," Xing died out his wheezing chuckle, which failed to lessen his tugged lips from tensing. "You read my history well."

"Great things as you are among great warriors, Master Xing. You are not the only one guilty of being a thief."

"Never again, and never will," Chen Xing vowed, holding his claws on his stomach. "Someone I knew did step on one's hoof and get me punished for good, had me into a laughing torture for a month."

"Really?" her hood nearly slipped to her right, the stranger's head nearly showing a bird with a sunlight mark above her head.

"Not really," Chen Xing lowered his laugh as the stranger giggled. "My neighbor's mother would never hurt any soul. I loved her."

"Hmm," the stranger pulled her hood in front, passing by the corridor next to the dining room. "I am certain she's such a spiritual character."

"May I ask? Who are you?" the tiger asked.

"What you see me is the anonymous who brings in favor to the one who dearly misses so much."

"Oh really?" the tiger softly barricaded his claw against her, watching the figure.

"Yes, Master Xing," her eyes were shown bright. "A friend of your brother wishes his luck in the Tournament."

Friend of my brother.

Chen Xing took his prolonged reflection to remember Lao in his quarter, who dozed while muttering. He could never think about his brother's past event when he and his peahen mother fled from home — home from the unfortunate massacre. "My brother used to say some words in his sleep; I cannot recall the name," the tiger flickered his digit, flatting under his chin. "What was her name?"

"Your brother will remember. . . In time," the stranger ensured.

Noticing her heavenly voice was soothing in hope, Chen Xing inspected her in the voluminous cloak, and behind the fabric unveiled an ocean hanfu drawn from the cobalt sea of silvery stars above her talons. "May I look at you?"

Finding the tiger's tone filled with curiosity and the Nine's good reputation of encouraging people to one another, the stranger loosened the front cloak's pin and gingerly pushed her hood back, unveiling a curved neck outward. The stranger's feathers were bathed in white, orange beak, and black strokes were shown between her mint eyes.

By the Gods. . . You are beautiful.

Chen Xing surveyed the bird's head in wondrous. "You're a swan. I know where you come from. Your hanfu's color and the pin's silver moon sigil."

This stranger knew her risk of getting discovered. Nevertheless, her wry expression was hidden in front but brought her a small smile instead of unveiling her discomfort zone. How could the tiger know her house sigil from afar? The swan's home was the house of riches, her family sigil who aided their citizens with care, whether poor or above the average of the middle class. Regarding the keep, Chen Xing's grandmother knew the house's reputation; they were good citizens. Ming remembered her grandson studying house sigils across the Song Dynasty.

Dodging his thoughts as soon as the stranger's soft wings stroked his wrist, Xing cleared his throat. "My apologies. You can put your hood back on."

The bird did so gradually, remaining neutral. "In my life, I have never seen a thief steal a weapon until. . . nevermind," the tiger said, shaking his head, searching for words while lost in thought. "Anyway, why could a lady do such a thing to grab a weapon and fly away from the Shui Palace?"

"About this stealing, Master Xing, I had to borrow and send it to a nameless shaman for a week and remake the blade," the swan explained, drawing closer to him. "Lao's guandao now belongs to his wings. Whenever he wields it in all the battles, Lao will experience the weapon's enhancement like never before."

"What weapon material does Lao's guandao have now?" he asked, arching his brows.

"From the falling star. A heaven blade," she answered.

Great. Lao has another one.

The sword's material originated from the falling sky's tear; made with titanium and stone steel, heaven blades cut through dense and impenetrable objects five times the strength of regular metal and steel, slicing through the flesh and bone and the rigid structures. With armor, however, most regular blades can fracture with one swing or a second, but the heaven material does not matter. "I've always wanted a heaven sword. Now I am jealous," the tiger puffed his chuffs, chuckling. He reached for the Barrack's yin-yang doorway. "A nameless shaman. . . Is there a name of the subject?"

"I hear a special visitor would like to see you. Very soon."

"I like surprises. Who?" Xing asked, the door lessening its rumbles while opening.

"You'll see," the swan smiled. The stranger craned her head near his black ear, whispering. "I left Lao's guandao inside your brother's bedroom, under his bed. It's now a parting gift."

"My brother will be pleased," he said, beckoning his claw for the swan to move forward. Viper's song finished its final bangs from the percussionists, who delivered slow, rhythmic lines of the calm winds. The sea of guests intensified their cheers, praising the musicians' works when the contestants applauded.

"One more thing before I must go," the swan turned as her cloak glided to her right. The tiger opened the other door of Yin before meeting his eyes at the stranger. "Do you and the Nine ever read the news lately?"

"What news?" Xing queried. His sense focusing on the swan was nearly distracted from behind; Tigress, revealing her amber eyes from the nearest hall from the Nine's Barrack, ambled close to Xing, concentrating on the swan's presence.

"Rumors are mentioning the bovine's army is gathering members, thousands upon thousands of them in Tibet," she stated, not drawing attention when the swan approached the felines. "They follow this leader who calls himself the Prince of Darkness."

"The Prince?" the tiger narrowed his eyes in confusion; he regarded a recent history that was rarely known. "The Nine might have heard about it sometime. Tibet is far from the West, about more than eleven hundred miles."

"A myth story was told since the banishment of him and his sister after the Desolation of Qing Temple," she continued with her heavenly voice. "The Prince of Darkness makes his vow to destroy souls of the Qing Temple bloodline, descendants of the ancestor survivors. Under his promise was his father; he commanded him. Emperor Khan was responsible for the tragedy."

"That, I know the history well. The tyrant's name was Prince Huoju," said Xing. "'Makes?' Are you saying that the Conqueror has been around for over seven hundred years? Banished?"

"Only rumors, Master Xing. As likely as the descendant of the madman, a giant ox may not be the same Prince of Darkness," the swan ensured.

"Yeah. I would not be surprised unless the tyrant is compared to Kai."

"No. . . Unlike the one who you were a fan of."

The alarming conversation had Tigress draw her presence near her nephew; Xing noticed the feline's throbbing sense of low chuffs when he maintained his sight on the swan. "And then the next words were alarming, but a different myth," the stranger continued. "The shaman had a vision dream that she could not describe the symbolic fortune. She witnessed one of the five elements of the Wuxing. A Metal, among the Water, the Fire, the Wood, and Earth, is among its destiny to defeat the greater evil."

"Fortune, perhaps," Xing guessed.

"Only one of the five has the rarest bloodline to gather warriors and unite to fight the common enemies," she stated.

How is it possible for the Prince of Darkness to return? Some say he was exiled before the Great War, and after a terrible war, he's been long gone ever since.

His perplexing thought was interrupted by a sea of citizens amplifying their cheers. One of the Emperor's bovine officials, in his lamellar armor of gold and crimson cape, stood behind the oak podium, announcing the commencement of the address. "The Emperor's speech is about to begin shortly," Tigress muttered to Xing.

"Let's get back to this tyrant's name. How can you be so sure the Prince of Darkness is still around after centuries of living?" he inquired the stranger with suspicion. "He cannot be the next Kai, who was five hundred and fourty something years old."

"No. . . I think not," the stranger shook her head straightforwardly. Her silver-white wing wrapped her cloak line close to her chest from spectators' eyes. "Ever noticed what happened to Master Wolf's messenger, who has gone missing for over a month?"

"I heard he flew to the west and hasn't been found so far," he regarded. "Should I be concerned about the West?"

"Not just the Nine. After the Tournament, all temples must," she warned. The felines' wary glances exchanged to look at themselves briefly.

"Excuse me, Masters. I must be going," the swan pardoned, walking to the nearest Palace entry where Lotus and Shou stood on both sides of the gate and observed the stranger. When the swan looked down at her feet, the wolf lengthened her tongue, and the yak popped his keratin digits; right before the stranger's turn, Xing gesticulated his crossed palm under his throat, allowing the two to cease their guarding duty.

"Despite your history of being a good warrior," the stranger turned to Xing, whose mint eyes shone under her hood. "I hear you make promises."

Xing strode to her, presenting his claw on her main wing. "I swear to you, ma'am," he muttered. "You are the anonymous subject who's done a task; you will not be discovered. I only learned the guandao has returned as a parting gift, reforged by a mystery person. That's all I know."

The swan, stretching her beak to a smile, nodded gracefully to him. "Thank you, Master Xing," she patted her other wing on his dominant limb. "Good luck with the Tournament. And to you, Master Tigress."

"Safe travels, Miss," the striped feline master nodded with a little grin.

Lotus and Shou opened the Palace Gate and escorted the stranger to the exit before the swan clasped her cloak's sigil pin, broadened her pulsating wings, and commenced soaring into the breeze. Flying north of Guangxi terrain, merging into a thin white river cloud, the swan in her billowing velvet cloak was out of sight.

With doors closed with low rumbles, Lotus approached Xing and rolled her head in a haze. "Hey. So what's the word, Cookie?" she stretched her grin.

Presenting his left brow upward, quirking his lips, Xing deadened his chuffs. "She's a traveler, Lotus. Nothing more," he answered.

"Would you at least tell me something?" the wolf unveiled her smiley teeth, flirting.

"The traveler likes to see Kai's double halberd for one time, wanted to see how powerful it was."

"Aye," Shou bobbed his head, smirking.

Another wave of applauses thundered, emerging a few whistles. "Come along, you two. The Emperor's Speech starts," Xing gave his hard pat behind the yak's upper shoulder.

"Don't forget me some cookies," Lotus tittered and joined Shou behind the contestants, uniting with the Nine to the right.

Yeah. Remind me again after the Tournament, sister.

Chen Xing, throbbing his low chuffs with chuckles, crossed his limbs over his stomach. "Is Lotus always like this?" Tigress asked, stretching her slight grin.

"All the time, Master Tigress. She craves more cookies when she catches her eye on cookie pots. But guess what? Lotus cannot eat them during a big event this month."

"Hmm," she softened her drone in comprehension. Tigress mainly reflected on Monkey and Po eating a dozen cookies in the kitchen while they snuck through the Jade Palace Barrack during training. Under supervision during their teacher's absence, Tigress was the only one who caught her companions; Po, knowing she had eyes and ears at the Jade Palace, considered her experience as an elite "stealth mode" warrior.

"There is something you should know, Master Tigress," Xing smiled after turning to Tigress, whose eyes fixed on him. "After this Tournament, I would like to spend more time with you. When my parents were killed when I was a cub, I waited all these years long enough to see if there was anybody like me and Nana. My grandmother granted me her way for me to befriend my brother, my sister, and the Nine. Every single day. . . Until you came."

Tigress motioned her head to a kindness, blinking her amber eyes. "I just wanted to say that I am glad to meet you before we all go to the Tournament next week."

"I am honored," Tigress said.

The Emperor's official's booming voice was heard once the bovine mentioned the three classes; Chen Xing started to draw his sight away from showing Tigress his vivid emotion. His grandmother was on the side of the Fighting Square with a few guests passing by her, breaking her grin once more when she saw the two tigers standing together.

"You and I may be the same that will never have," Tigress spoke, bringing Xing's attention. "I have no memory of my father or mother."

Her head was slightly lowered. "Rather than living with them, I was raised to be what I become — a warrior of the Valley of Peace and a daughter of Shifu."

Tigress's inception at Bao Gu Orphanage was bitter, and her experience living under the caretaker's protection became rough. Most orphans witnessed a shadow creeping through walls on several nights, fearing children in their beds. A few who dared to peek behind the structures spotted their own with fangs and claws; many screeched for help. Her mind had forever chronicled the conversation behind her marked door; words from the sheep caretaker speaking with a valuable guardian of the Valley of Peace shouted to him. She's a monster! MONSTER!

Xing would not know who Tigress's parents were, who did either the wrong thing or the right reason to leave her behind for the prime purpose — not prepared for their responsibility or sacrificing their daughter to the Orphanage to be saved from someone. I am sorry for Tigress. I really do.

Somewhere under their feet throbbed its chirping wings, hopping and climbing on Tigress's back. Vaulting over the right shoulder of her neck was the green insect, flickering his limbs. "Gods, I wish this speech should end. It's so annoying," Mantis grumbled, darting his eyes on Xing. "How about you, tough guy? You got some fancy speech?"

"Not really," the tiger shook his head. "I'm timid to draw people into liking my voice."

"Oh, okay. Neither do I, and these little—"

"Mantis," Tigress muttered her deaden grunt.

"My bad," the bug said, lowering his head in guilt. With his brief thought coming to mind, Mantis whispered to her ear. "Hey, why not Po since you don't do the speech, Tigress?"

"For sure. Po can indicate the awesomeness tale and entertain us before we challenge the Nine and Righteous Seven."

"Speaking of challenging," Xing mentioned, drawing Mantis and Tigress their attention. "I can go easy on you all."

Mantis hopped on Xing's left shoulder. "Careful now," the insect glowered his glare, lessening his warning tone. "Tigress is aggressive. If you face her in the Tournament arena, I bet your ass she will show you no mercy, grappling your whole weight like a ragdoll. Word of my advice: Don't you underestimate my sister."

"Good to know, Master Mantis."

"And me—" Mantis nearly broadened his tibial spines, but Tigress cleared her throat as a reminder. "Oh, right. You know."

"Oh? Mantis," Xing whispered close to Mantis. "My sister Hong, do you see her there? She thinks you are handsome."

Unable to find words to deny, Mantis held his open mouth wide, drooping his limbs down as he wobbled his legs and fell. Chuckling, Xing held Mantis to Tigress before the speech announced the Emperor's presence, and the wave of applauses surged. The tiger, joining aside with his wolf sister, surveyed a few wolf faces, and then the last was the goat's keeper with an eyepatch standing next to Xing's grandmother and Master Wolf. The only keeper gazing at the view before he spotted Xing and Lotus delivered his gesture to an admiration nod, and the tiger returned his.

Chapter Text

Episode Three: The Top Three (18 - 29)

Chapter XXIV

The Soothsayer

"Here we all are! Soon, we will face each other at the Tournament with pure awesomeness!"

The Dragon Warrior volunteered his role when the Emperor of China wished for Po to partake in his speech. The panda stood behind the bamboo podium, surveying all the delighted souls of warriors, guests, and honorable masters next to Emperor Huangdi. Several observers before Po amplified their hearty chuckles as he spoke more of his inspirational tone. "Before we dismiss, I'd like to say a few words! The Masters of Jade Palace honor our new allies and contestants: The Nine of Prosper Valley and the Righteous Seven of Wugu!"

The waves of cheers leveled to a high spirit, bringing their claps. "Warriors honor their masters. Warriors admire their contestants. Warriors encourage people. We are Grandmaster Oogway's descendant students — the knowledge and wisdom shared by our teachers, Grandmaster Shifu, Master Ming, and even Master Sheep," Po beckoned his paw to their teachers, who showed their respectful smiles with gratitude. "With succession to all the houses, Kung Fu guides our success to manifest inner peace and tranquility; Wing Chun presents the most mobile ways of hardcore discipline and virtue, showing encouragement and love. And for Tai Chi, Liu Bong Shien's chi philosophy reveals the body of water we flow with energy and their ways of empowerment, seeking kindness to one another."

His feline colleague, Chen Xing, stepped in. "As for the Dragon Warrior, who he likes us to do: Let's kick our butts and admire opponents!" Xing fisted in the air.

Audiences cheered as if plenty chuckled across the Shui Palace courtyard. Beside the peacock was Tigress, blinking her amber eyes with her grin. "Let's see what you can do to spar with me at the Tournament," Tigress smirked.

"Hmm! That's the spirit," the peacock grinned, glancing at the feline's garb. "You look ravishing, by the way, Master Tigress."

"Mei Mei's clothing design is appealing," Tigress said, her claws clasping her waist with determination. "Since the Tournament will start next week, you take on Crane, and I fight your brother."

"Fair enough. I highly look forward to competing with Master Crane's strategies in the Arena."

The feline's silvery hums throbbed in satisfaction. "Here's one condition you must know."

"And what's one condition?"

"You hurt Crane; I will eat you in your sleep."

The peacock's crests fell, and his eyes and long neck drew away from her. "I'm joking," Tigress chuckled.

The Dinner Party was over when several guests departed the palace to their homes, and the Righteous Seven were dismissed early for the training preparation across Guangxi before Kong Bai Stadium. With help from the Nine, the Masters of Jade Palace wrapped all the decorations and the musicians' instruments as these warriors decided to give aid packing for them. Neither of the artists worded but accepted with kindness. The Nine, bestowing farewells and granting good luck, bowed to the Masters of Jade Palace near the entrance; Tigress was outside before the Xing joined her. She began to pat her claws on his own.

"After the Tournament, Xing, we will discuss your wishes. I promise."

Emerging her presence towards the two felines, Chen Ming walked from the Fighting Square, where Master Storming Ox hugged his son and wished Niu to fight well in the Tournament, win or lose. The elder feline and the Furious Five alpha presented their bows.

"Goodnight, Masters," Tigress said.

"Goodnight, Master Tigress," Ming nodded.

The two looked upon the Jade Palace trekking towards the tributary port, their junk boat waiting for their customers to sail to the Valley of Peace. The teams' preparations were expected to take three days to depart and two days to arrive at Kong Bai Stadium. The sixth day marked their final time to review their studies and training before the three teams could compete on the seventh, the official Tournament day.

Good luck, my niece.

Chen Ming last sighted the Furious Five alpha turning towards the port with the Dragon Warrior and departed.

"Is that all, Nana?" her grandson asked, walking back into the courtyard with Ming. "All the visitors?"

"A few more to go, my sunzi," she answered, simpering. "I have a special guest you three must meet."

The Nine's Brilliance, the peacock, strolled near the felines before he could hear sharp wings flapping from the sky, nearing from the stretches of Guilin ridge.

"Master Lao!" the Nine's Messenger, the goose, landed before the avian. Kong regained his wing's strength. "There you are. Your mother wishes to see you three."

"Wonderful. Someone is summoning us first, Kong," Lao said, fiddling his feathers in his long sleeve. "After we meet the visitor, we will see her."

He watched Kong present his nod before the goose soared away to Lady Xia's cabin.

Waiting long inside the Meeting Room, watching the goose servants untie ropes with lantern lights one and the other, Lao and Lotus sat on their chairs as their feline brother leaned his back against the table corner near the beverage pots and cups. The tiger took moments to reflect on Tigress and her kung-fu style to learn well, and most of her skills had him practice primary forms before the complexity levels — advanced and expert. Chen Xing was quite a quick learner compared to Monkey and Po, as Grandmaster Shifu anticipated his cleverness, unlike Lao and Lotus.

The peacock, clearing his long throat, contemplated the first meeting of his fellow competitors, willing to see them again on the Tournament day. Once entering his thought, Lao could observe his avian mentor, Crane, soaring beneath the clouds as the two birds hovered above Jade Palace and the Valley of Peace. Unlike other peafowls, Lao was the only avian that could fly the longest distance from their temple to Shui Palace; Crane thought the boy had a special gift.

Lotus gently brushed her digits on the table as she regarded moments of her serpent companion Viper twitching her ruby sash across the Jade Palace arena, dancing with Pandiva dancers along Mei Mei. Her inspection of those warriors grasping the stick with a sash made the wolf thrill with anticipation, which pleased her and caused her to modify her dancing strategies to her advantage.

Something inside her had Lotus dug into consideration of these visitors. Not only concerned about her kind like the girl but far gentler and spiritual than the aggressors, Lotus sensed a lost presence that was barely recognized, as she could not ever think of an old scent coming back to her ever since she was so small and curious. The smells of the Dragon's Blood and fading sulfur were familiar, and the scent was near.

Coming from the Nine's Barrack entrance of the door's whining woods introduced their teacher coming in. After Ming followed the old goat in intricate patterns of colorful robes and large round glasses, tapping her root cane in delight and oddly pleasant.

"There, they are," the goat crooned with her voice of silky water, chuckling. More visitors arriving behind the goat were three wolves — one in sleeveless gray tops and black trousers, one white wolf in a dark blue ocean robe with gray trousers, and one with an eyepatch in his black lamellar armor with a belt pair of two ropes.

"My haizimen, I'd like to introduce you to the caretaker and the wolves," Chen Ming gesticulated kindly with her claw to the group. "My old friend Mali, the Soothsayer of Gongmen City, and her trusted allies, Master Wolf and his son Leo of Hunan, and Zhong of Gongmen City."

"Ni hao, Masters Chen Xing, Lao, and Lotus," Master Wolf, the snow canine, presented his bow to them as they returned the same with kind and respect. "Your Wing Chun inspiration thrills my temple and my fellow students."

"Yes, they are," the old goat with round glasses stretched her smile.

"My pleasure to meet you, Soothsayer," the tiger stretched his grin.

The Soothsayer's sight met the peacock herself, broadening her eyes bright and vivid. "You've grown up bigger than me. I used to know someone like you before," Soothsayer pointed her cane at Lao. "You must be Master Lao. I am very honored to meet you in person, my dear."

Lao greeted with a nod. "Nice to meet you, sir."

His feline brother burst out his suppressing guffaw, clearing his throat. "Lao," he leaned his head close to Lao. "Could you not recognize the goat with a beard is a lady you are speaking to?"

"Oogway's blessing!" the peacock gasped, lowering her brows as he pressed his wing on his chest. His adoptive siblings hid their grins behind their palms. "My apologies, ma'am. It was such a misunderstanding."

"Apology accepted, my dear," the Soothsayer chuckled. "You're not the only one who considered me a male."

"Dragon Warrior," Lotus, Xing, and Lao guessed simultaneously with a sense of amusement, strengthening their chuckles.

Once filled into silence by a throat clear, their feline teacher spoke next to the goat. "In our early days, Soothsayer and I journeyed in China as we both were formerly the fortune tellers to manifest any soul's destiny," Chen Ming said, caressing the goat's hoof. "As of today, my children, with only limitations, Mali wishes to foresee the fortune in all three of you."

"Yes," the goat tapped the floor with her cane again. "Yes, my old friend. Ming could never stop mentioning you three."

Of course, she does. Old nannies love mentioning grandchildren.

Lotus pulled her grin while not drawing her sight on the wolves, whom she was timid to. One of the canines keeping close to his master lowered his head to shyness, his crimson eye meeting the girl. "Master Lotus. You look like one of my children. I hear you are such a talent in your dancing characteristics. Are you?"

"I am, Madam Soothsayer," Lotus said.

"Let me come closer to you, sweetheart. So I can see your fortune."

Allowed to do so, Lotus held her paw forward and had the Soothsayer caress the palm. Closing her eyes before the blinding sights of the starry mountains and trees beyond the ridges, Mali could hear the distant winds muttering behind the green. "My dear child," the Soothsayer's voice heightened with care. "You are among the survivors of the Wolves Village. Master Chen Ming raised you since you were a cub, found at Bao Gu Orphanage. Your blood flows like wine among other wolves who have the blood of their ancestors. Yours, like your brothers and sisters of all the tribe, have the bloodline of the Tenshu. The Army of Whispering Warriors."

"By the Gods. . ." Lao was surprised, but his brother answered with his brows arching upward.

Lady Kasi is right, Xing thought.

A month ago, the Dragon Warrior once showed the Nine to feast their eyes on the Urn of Whispering Warriors in the Hall of Heroes — remade with patches as it was previously shattered to bits. The panda mentioned that when the great hall was surrounded by quietness, many warriors could hear the haunting breeze muttering from the pot. "Hold fast, brothers. . . Hold fast," hissed the Urn. Most of the warriors wet their pants, but the wolf Lotus could not, as if she was entranced with a silky voice from the wind that blessed her ears.

"Yes, my dear. You are Tenshu's descendant, gifted by his blessing and vengeance. All the wolves facing the nightmare experienced the relationship of their ancestor, who presented judgment to your soul. Only half returned from the limbo, and the other half joined his side before their death. From your teacher's experience saving you from Tenshu, my dear, I am glad you survived."

"Thank you," Lotus smiled. "Will I be reencountering my ancestor, Madam Soothsayer?"

"No, Master Lotus, but spirit lives in you for a blessing, granted to speak with fellow wolves of the Mortal Realm," Soothsayer said. Lotus could hear her expression as the goat's eyes almost drifted to her left but focused on the girl instead. "One of the Master Wolf's students wishes to meet you after the Tournament."

Lotus's ears perched upward. "Who?"

"Someone very special, Master Lotus," Master Wolf simpered.

Her parent, Chen Xing figured, slowly arching his eyebrows.

When growing too fond of her adoptive brothers, despite the years of her training, loving her feline grandmother and Lao's peahen mother, Lotus could not remember the face of her biological parents. Her lily sigil on her qipao was the origin house where she was born — she only knew the sigil from the old garden was her mother's. Giving a brief sight towards the wolves before the last, whose lips tugged in from quivering, Chen Xing joined his sister's company and had the goat press and caress his claw with her hooves. Strangely, to see the rain in the distance and the haze of silver swimming over the ripples before brief flashes behind the clouds, Soothsayer saw the pool of tigers gathering in the forest.

"Hmm. . . I find the people of your kind, elegance, determination, and bravery," the goat said, vibrating her hums. "Master Chen Xing, the descendant of Qing Temple survivors, has a good heart, born with leadership. Your ancestor, Mui Tan Huang, would be proud of you for carrying her legacy, my child."

"I am honored," Xing smirked.

"Qing Temple is my inspiration to restore long-lost codex scrolls and temples from the shattered grounds, Master Chen Xing," Master Wolf said, patting his chest twice. "For a thousand generations, my forefathers before me have never forgotten the oath your ancestor shared her voice to rebuild the old to become the new temples."

Unable to answer, Chen Xing filled his type of honor and acceptance with fellow neighbors of the Song Dynasty's Kung Fu disciples. His grandmother filled her heart with blessing. "Thank you for your kind words, Master Wolf."

The elder goat's hum dominated in this chamber, unveiling the crescent of her amber eyes. "Among all the children so special, my dear Xing, you are. . . unique. Something prevents dark magic from the greatest enemies. You have—" She reflected deeply on the tiger's soul. Before she could attend to delivering her kindly words toward him, the goat could hear the raining sky's low vibration of the sheets nearing before her. Widening her eyes in stupefaction, drawing her cold breath in her lungs, Soothsayer retreated her hooves and head.

"Oh, my. . ."

"Madam Soothsayer?" Xing was puzzled. "Are you alright? What did you see in me?"

"How interesting," the goat gaped, stretching her grin. "We will meet again, my child. . . Soon."

The tiger took his prolonged glance at his adoptive siblings before the wolves and his grandmother. Neither spoke after the unknown, but Xing regularly kept his composure before the old goat handed her hoof to his brother's wing. Knowing the history of wolves who formerly worked for Shen, the tiger regarded either of them to react seeing another peacock. Still, Master Wolf and his students were not precisely positioned on their wrong foot to intimidate him. Out of the two, the third wolf, a one-eyed student, gave a friendly smile sign.

"Master Lao. . . the Nine's Brilliance, raised by the claws of Master Chen Ming," the Soothsayer simpered. "Your heart fills courage, the strength of friendship; you keep your friends company long before the frays. You are the cleverest student, thriving in the complexities of your gifted abilities — Kung Fu, Cai Li Fo, and Wing Chun."

His siblings Xing and Lotus teased him as Lao arched his left brow, looking at Xing's claw flip this thumb up. "Oh, my dear child. . ." the goat broadened her eyes and lips. "Unlike your brother and sister, I find your bloodline so pure, the blood of an ancient family — Peafowl Nobles."

But. . . Lao cannot be. . . Xing feared, disappearing his grin as Lao did the same.

"And. . . the Mightiest Warriors."

"WHOA!" Lotus chirped.

I am not surprised. My brother is the descendant of Lord Li Han.

Chen Xing smiled at his avian brother, patting his back, which received Lao in return for his smirk.

Mali inspected the peacock's silk robe, which Chen Ming had presented as the goat's gift to Lao. "You have elegant clothing you wear, my dear. It is a lovely garment," she touched the material close to the sleeve.

"Thank you for a gift, Soothsayer. It's exquisite."

Exquisite.

The haunting word in the goat's mind trespassed, the voice that seemed yesterday to recall the other she loved. "Of course. I knew you would love Lord Li Han's garb," simpered the goat. "My Pr—ahem—My child. Your master mentioned you to me so much, and you have my sympathies for one of your parents who sacrificed himself to save you and your mother from the village under siege."

"You are too kind, my Lady," Lao accepted her tenderness.

"You are a gift among your brothers and sisters," she continued. "They are your family, my dear. Look after them as I looked after my children half of my lifetime."

"And my adoptive grandson will," Chen Ming chuckled.

After having tea and a brief conversation with one another, Chen Ming wished to have Mali stay in Mrs. Yan's rental room rather than having the goat travel far, despite her strength becoming fragile with her blessing age. Mali thanked her feline friend before she let Zhong escort her out of the chamber.

"If I may, Master Lao. Would you like me and Zhong to walk with me towards the Shui Palace doorway?"

Finding his feline master bent her head with a nod, the peacock cleared his throat and went to her. "Very well."

Zhong and Lao used their appendages under the goat's arms and guided her to the nearest exit before the three crossed the road, heading for Mrs. Yan's shop nearby. The warmth sensation in the goat's reflection transpired, as well as the memories of her walking on the uneven sections with the young wolf and a peacock prince who gave her company before they returned to the Tower of Sacred Flame. The bird's wing was impacted before the goat crooned her tone.

"Oh, my dear Shen. . . I hope you live in happiness. I missed you."

Neither the wolf nor the bird worded but exchanged their glances when they arrived at Mrs. Yan's, the flower scents of cherry and jasmine wafting. The store bore a single-story complex with four amber windows length. From the door, after hearing the peacock's word from Chen Ming, the neighbor agreed to bring the goat to her rented chamber after receiving a few yuans. "Thank you, Master Lao. You are too kind," the goat caressed the bird's chest.

"Anytime, Madam Soothsayer," Lao said.

"You can go to the apartment complex with Master Wolf, Zhong. I will rest here."

"Goodnight, Mali. And Good luck, kid. I hope we meet again," the one-eyed wolf Zhong grinned and joined his canine brothers.

Time to see my mother.

Chen Xing, Lao, and Lotus crossed on the ridge hills before the moon's silver light emerged from the shadow web clouds, the trees whispering by the whining breeze. The Heavyweight students had their watch for the Shui Palace as Bao, Niu, and Shou could take turns while sleeping. Far down the small town, glittered lantern lights stretching from low to the outskirts and far to the ridges of Guilin Mountains laid with random dots of amber — one by one becoming the birth of stars. From there and to the East, the three could see the Jade Palace in the distance.

That wolf — Have we met before?

Lao continued strolling with his siblings, contemplating brief moments of the canine with his left eyepatch. However, he could not remember those with battle scars, and he rarely saw plenty of assailants with one eye and another in burnt wood and yellow. His last recall before Zhong's scar was a boar clanmate in Hajin Province who had his right eye mauled with a clean-cut cross through his right cheek.

"I can't believe it!" their sister clapped her paws on her head. "Tenshu's Army of Whispering Warriors! I like the sound of that!"

"Aren't you concerned about your ancestor who will haunt you again?" Xing asked.

"Don't know and don't care, my Cookie. Remember what the goat said back there? I am free from him so I can befriend him anytime I want!"

Xing puffed his vibrant breath from his lips. "You're crazy."

"Hey, birdie!" her paw sent a hard pat on Lao's back, distracting the avian. "How the hell do you have the 'valuable' bloodline of the Mightiest Warriors and Peafowl Nobles?"

"I don't even know, sister," Lao said, flickering his wings. "But isn't it obvious we three had ever been in our big chamber and heard our Nana's nighttime stories about. . . warlords?"

"Of course we had," Xing answered, stepping on the thick steps before the thin path of bamboo trees. "Every night for a bedtime story, Nana had always been the voice of her teacher, our grandmaster from the Great War days."

True. The peacock thought.

"Are you serious, birdie? It's so outstanding to hear about your bloodline!" Lotus chirped, storming her way with the bird and the tiger.

"What about the Soothsayer's vision back there, Xing?" Lao turned to his brother. "She must have discovered something mystical — about unique and dark magic you can prevent."

"How should I know?" Xing commented. "Mostly, a fortune teller cannot lie about a soul's destiny. However, I may have to meet the Soothsayer again after the Tournament, see what she means by that."

"Do dark magics exist?" Lao asked.

"I know nothing of them but a few mythologies and supernatural beings. Maybe. . . Shui Gui?"

"That creature claims a soul who drowns but frees the last victim to become one," Lotus gestured with her paw.

I'm aware of that. Chen Xing determined.

"Maybe Yinglong?" the tiger assumed.

"Should we like to call that spirit dragon and have him shower at us with his tears?" Lao questioned the tiger in a sarcastic, earnest way.

"We only got wet in the rain for years, but not the dragon, Lao," Xing figured. "If only he had appeared once in our lifetime, we would have loved to see his majestic appearance."

"What about the dragon that flew in Hajin Province, Cookie?" the wolf mentioned. "Does the Soothsayer know who was involved and wet everyone's pants?"

"It's been two years years, Lotus — no one knows. It cannot be Po because he flew his bearded dragon in the Spirit Realm."

The brothers could hear their sister's low hum in anticipation, yet wanting answers for discovery. Her idea was transpired to mention the old goat. "Isn't Mali so ravishing, boys? She's adorable," Lotus grinned with her teeth. "Her voice reminds me of Mrs. Yan's mother!"

"She seems. . ." Lao leaned his body to the nearest bamboo trunk when the two waited for him. "— oddly innocent. I want to meet her again."

"You could sleep with her and call the goat a sir next time," Xing jested.

Lotus gasped and threw her soft punch to Xing's arm. "You're so mean!"

"Are you mad?" Lao gaped in puzzlement. "For Oogway's sake, Xing, she is the lovely goat!"

"Brother, let me ask you, and be real with us," Lotus stepped ahead of the tiger in high spirits, her muzzle meeting his. "Is the Soothsayer more like a female or more like a male to you?"

The tiger reflected deeply, though his sense of humor was sometimes developing. He was not as gifted as the comedian. Either was born into something lighthearted, keeping in touch with one another instead of loneliness. Chen Xing glanced at the velvet blue sky with a thousand silver shimmers, and both Lotus and Lao detected his lips stretching to one side.

"Probably more like a sir to me," he sneered.

They all cried with boisterous laughs.

Chapter Text

Episode Three: The Top Three (18 - 29)

Chapter XXV

Lady's Cabin

Lady Xia was the three's best mother; Lao had known his own ever since he came from an egg. Chen Xing sought one that he wished to have a mother when his late biological parents aided their son before their deaths, and Lotus granted to accept her brothers' adoptive parent without being alone in the woods. Despite the gossip rumoring about the last known peacock lord who ripped all of the pandas' hearts, neither of the three knew who Lao's father was, and Shen was not the parent. Lady Xia reminded her son of her great husband, who perhaps died from the heart of darkness — died from hate? Their mother never lied about the cause of Lao's father's death — the power of hatred in his clouded thought. Instead of going beyond themselves, they only regarded Lao's father, who had sacrificed to stay behind in the Summit Village where the Nine's Brilliance was born.

Lao had a family of his own, the Nine, raised together in unity. When the avian was fifteen, their feline master wanted Lao to remain close to his mother after discovering Lady Xia's sickness. Most of the servants searched for remedies, as Chen Ming and her bunny student Hong recommended treatments to slow down the illness. Every week, Lao had to check on his dear mother and keep her company as long as needed.

According to Chen Ming, neither of the students had mastered their healing qi yet, though the potential to learn from the experience would take at least thirty years to unleash. And if by doing so again, another period would occur. But now, after Chen Ming met her brother-in-arms again, she and her students could have the advantage of mastering their chi from the Masters of Jade Palace.

Chen Xing, Lao, and Lotus arrived at the cottage they built with their teacher and a few goose servants. The cabin's exterior was dominated by large and braided roots, blooming lavender with silky white jasmine flowers, the roof slightly tilted to the left, and on its valley stood a chimney. All the moons later had roots growing, blanketing the clay, as Lady Xia preferred living in the forest. Reaching for the door, they entered the small hall of painting portraits. Lotus caught her favorite pink lily perching on the large pot of mud in the living room with a rose lantern. From their left was the broad chamber with a firepit; mostly during winter days, the Nine could come to the cabin and serve themselves almond cookies Lady Xia made. Passing toward the end of the corridor and to the left was their peahen mother of pink and turquoise laying in her bed.

Lady Xia wore light violet with blue edges on her neck and sleeves, detailed with roots and thorns. The chamber was lit with crimson candles, the scent of cherry blossoms blooming as the students entered, finding her and the servant Kong, who was speaking.

The Nine's Messenger stood up. "Master Lao, Master Xing, and Master Lotus," Kong said, approaching them. "Your mother is having a great time remembering the dream."

"What kind of a dream, Kong?" Chen Xing asked.

"Lady Xia rode on the sailboat towards the calming seas."

"I am glad to hear she is well, Kong," Lao smiled as Xing and Lotus sat on Xia's bed, comforting their mother. "How is my mother doing?"

"She's thriving well, Master Lao," the goose smirked. "So far, Biyu and I have treated her with healing remedies. Your sister Hong, whose list we brought plenty from her cousin in Heilongjiang Province, deserves credit for eradicating your mother's disease. More of her list of supplies will be delivered in two weeks, which will be enough for Lady Xia to maintain her health throughout half the year."

"Thank you, Kong," Lao patted the goose's shoulder. "You can go and rest now."

"I'll see you in the morning, Master Lao. Goodnight."

"Goodnight."

The goose stretched his beak to the side before closing the door. His short wings vibrating in the air became less and less noticeable in the distance; only now were the peacock's surroundings conquered by his wolf sister's titters.

"Mommy. You know your son has the Mightiest Warriors bloodline?! We met the goat at the Shui Palace, and she visioned all three of us into who we all are!"

The peahen's silky voice from heaven chuckled. "My dear child," Lady Xia held her wing on her daughter's side of her head. Her grated voice was slightly sore but gradually improved from her throat medicine. "I am certain you and your brothers have a bright future ahead of you."

"Indeed, Mom," Xing rested his claw on her heart, and her other limb palmed his. "How are you feeling right now?"

"I am blessed, my kitten," the peahen simpered. "Where is my son?"

"Lao's right here," he tilted his head to his right.

Showing himself forward, the peacock could hear Lotus's nostril sniffing throughout his mother's chamber; Lotus swam her head wildly, widening her yellow eyes. "I smell cookies."

Oh, no.

"Oh, yes. I think it's time for some almond cookies," Xing smiled.

"Whoa, now!" Lao intervened, which caused Xia to soften her titters. "If Master Monkey is here, he'll trip you with banana skins all over the floor!"

"Boo-hoo, Monkey's not here," Lotus gave him a witty glare. "Momma asked me earlier that I would want cookies. So I said, 'Yeah!'"

"Did not," Lao squinted his eyes.

"Did yes. I—" Lotus's sense had gotten stronger this time, her ebony nose intensifying the smell, and she let her paws cover her muzzle. "I can't stop my nose! The sweet of awesomeness is calling to me! That's it — I'm going for it!"

Quietly storming out of his mother's bedroom, Chen Xing chased after his sister. "Master Monkey!"

Monkey could swallow a whole cookie jar from them if he's here.

"My children are gorgeous," Lady Xia chuckled. "I love you all."

"We all are," her son simpered, his wing meeting his mother's heart. "How are you, Mother?"

"You know me well, son. I have been swimming into the heart of the ocean," she replied, touching his wing. "The sea is real, Dongji. . . I saw it in my dream."

His birth name from the inheritance was sometimes called by his mother respectfully and sometimes by his siblings. Lao was not bothered by what he could be called either way. "What's it look like?" Lao asked her.

"Magical. . ." she described the dream. "Blue waves slammed. . . Into the loving storm, the sails billowed, and the clapping clouds guided me to the serenity. I had no fear of loneliness, my dear. Would you want to know how I got out of there alive?"

"How?"

"I swam with dolphins, son. . . They are lovely creatures," she answered, simpering. "Instead of the storm, I went into the depths and found another realm. . . The realm where I met. . . a giant deer."

"Deer?" Lao gaped.

"He is real. . . He calls himself the King — the King of. . ." Lady Xia coughed, worsening her grated throat as Lao reached for the silver cup with a red liquid — the blossom brew blended with strawberry flavors. Sighting the medicine with silvery steam escaping, Lady Xia took a sip before the minor ache from her throat gradually softened, relieving her with a long sigh.

"I'll never forget his face. . . He's almost like. . . like. . ." Xia lowered her soft grunt, giving up the description of the majestic Cervidae creature with a thorn crown. "I hope I'm not insane, son."

"I believe you, Mother. I find your dream enjoyable," Lao commented, pleased to hear about her experience. His mother could describe her dream that touched her sensation, the feeling of mysticism from another realm, merging with dolphins. The peacock wished to ask one of the Masters of Jade Palace to know how Master Dolphin's armor came by in the Hall of Heroes; the armor was useless in ground areas, but within the seas, it was useable, unknown for certainty. Master Shifu could not comprehend what this armor was for. Still, he mentioned that the Grandmaster Oogway used to trek on sails and encountered Master Dolphin in the East China Sea, and thousands of dolphins fought across the rough seas, fighting off pirates. Several wore their armor, which automatically parries swords when aquatic creatures engaged from leaping and diving, reeling their tail flukes.

"The Tournament is near, Mother," Lao reminded his mother, leaning close to her. "The Nine will be out of town for a couple of days. With inspiration from Kung Fu masters and Tai Chi competitors, we will fight for worthiness. The competition we will be facing is extremely challenging."

His mother softened her hum. "Kong told me," Lady Xia simpered. "My dear Dongji. Would you like to tell me about your panda friend? The one who craves aiding you?"

The sound of droplets from the stalactites showering towards the ripples at the Dragon Grotto, and outside of the cave raining the falls were flourishing to hear when Lao inspected the Tai Chi movements from the panda, who gradually settled his motions after the bear caught a tear. Learning too well that anger could cloud judgment and unsolve the situations, Lao needed to alleviate his temper. Once the peacock attempted to soothe his thoughts from overthinking and go for the flow with Po, concentrating on the surroundings, he achieved his ninth try without falling on the water, balancing his weight while motioning his wings and talons.

WOW! YOU DID IT, LAO! Po threw his fist in the air with spiritual encouragement.

The peacock's chuckles intensified before answering with his mother. "The Dragon Warrior is enthusiastic, Mother. He helps me meditate, but no offense, Master Ming."

"The panda is a treasure, son," Lady Xia said.

"He is. I promise you, Mother. The Masters of Jade Palace will meet you after the Tournament. I want to surprise them with their own eyes."

Of course, you will.

Lady Xia lay her whole neck on the silky round pillows for comfort before listening to the crackling whispers of the forest's branches beside her. The Soothsayer's words flooded Lao's thoughts, reminding him of his inheritance.

If my mother is a Lady, and I am a Prince, then who is my father? The Lord?

Instead of wanting to know who his biological father was before Xia, Lao found his way to ask her with curiosity. "Mom?" he patted her shoulder. "How come my father did sacrifice his life after we escaped the Summit Village?"

The peacock could hear her throat lowering, sighting her eyes that glanced downward. Never once could her son mention their old home in destruction, which involved unnecessary frays before the cloaks of fire wrapped around their cottage. Despite the years of hiding and living in Shui Palace, befriending the Nine ever since became the next chapter of another life. And now, Lao wished to discover the past.

"Oh, my baby," Xia softly gripped his wing, attempting to remember the calamity event. "In his life, your father had trouble before he decided to fight off the assailants. His loyal friend wanted us to save our feathers before my husband would try to drag us into complications. Your father knew his heart was endured with ebony heart because. . . he would not dare force you into manifesting the conception of ruling the kingdom and learning his creation in his laboratory."

I remember.

Lao was in the chamber where the fires cloaked and smoldered across the room inside the laboratory. He was a child in ordinary life, confused but curious about his father's creation. Neglecting random flashbacks of those haunting screams beneath the snow, he could hardly remember his mother strolling outside the ridge path before the night transpired. A warrior with a funny spike fur above his head was walking beside her.

"When I was meditating with the Dragon Warrior and my master, Mother," Lao began, "I remember you. You were strolling with someone close to you at our old home. I remember a swan neighbor. She was there with her parents."

"Huiliang. . . She's a sweet little girl," Xia crooned, pulling her smirk.

Lovely girl, yes. I wish I could see her if she's alive. 

Lao cast his head downward, drooping his crest to determination. "Do you know who was that guard? On the day you walked with him?" the peacock asked.

His mother coughed before she smirked at him. "My dear. . . I remember the wolf. He was steadfast to me. The guard was too kind to me. Not only loyalty, who defends his family's blood, but he also treated me and you well."

"Was he a good friend?"

"A very good friend, son. My guardian mentioned in his life that he could go home to his wife and his daughter, who waited for him," she said, her wing touching her son's head. "Every day, Dongji, Lotus reminds me of him."

Hmm. . .

"What was the wolf's name? Your sentry?" he asked her.

Lao took a deep thought into recalling the calm of the nippy breeze, watching the terrain, settled with over a thousand camps. The night sang the wolves' chorus, howling at the full moon. He never thought of the prime purpose of these 'guards' protecting one for their lives until their last breaths. Instead of the people claiming that the wolves were savages to antagonize town to town, Lady Xia met most loyal people; she mentioned they followed you as your protectors, and before you encountered the peril, they were the first to serve in fighting to death, saving your life.

The last moment Lao could ever think of a sentry was the one standing beside him, carrying the boy on his back. He could not remember the face of his guardian.

"I wish to remember who the name was, son. Forgive me—for not remembering him," Lady Xia said, frowning. "Hopefully, I'll remember."

"I am sure you will, Mother," Lao said, letting out a teardrop.

"Hug me."

The mother and son embraced before the whining breeze touched and swirled the leaves outside. Their embrace was longer than the last, and it was unknown how long the peacock's mother could last if not treated to ward off the ill. The boy knew when and what to anticipate his journey, regardless of what he could do without his mother. His feline brother would always look after him, not only as a brother but as a family closer to home.

After blessing his mother, a clear throat escaped from the chamber's doorway, and both avians sighted the tiger wipe out his tears.

"My apologies. I was going to knock on a door for you, Lao," Xing said, alleviating his rough voice. "I'll be—"

"No. I am listening. We were having a good time," Lao spoke.

"Yeah," Xing simpered. "Anyways. Mom's cookies are about to finish."

Triggering with a brief puzzlement, the peacock broadened his eyes. "How many cookies did Lotus eat?"

Giving an innocent look, the tiger skimmed away before returning to the birds. "About thirty of them."

"What?!" Lao shrieked. "And you?"

"Uh. . . About twice over."

"GOOD HEAVENS! You two will be sweet rush soon enough!"

Xia tittered. "My beautiful children. . ."

Chapter Text

Episode Three: The Top Three (18 -29)

Chapter XXVI

Chorh-Gom Prison I

May 19, 1205

Tavan Bogd Mountains, Mongolia

This night, four rhino guards withstanding against the raging snowstorm, was quite a better day for someone planning a retirement this week. One of the correctional officers, an experienced rhino in his dark crimson lamellar armor, was among the leader of the three in front of the most heavily guarded prison in Mongolia — closely the first as if one of the prisons in China has the highest fatality rate that no prisoner could escape from the deathly dragon's stomach. With this forbidding facility, after severe crimes, many convicts deserved to be protected from themselves escaping and returning to China. Regarding a bitter history, only one out of a thousand inmates was Tai Lung, one warrior who escaped after his twenty years of suffering in prison. And their new prisoners were somewhere behind the gate in the well-known cavern fortress — Chorh-Gom Prison. After the prisoner escape incident, the Chorh-Gom Prison was built to reconstruct these bridges where behemoth stalactites shattered the rest into the depths. Despite the unfortunate attempt to stop the leopard, Commander Vachir, who survived the fall on the mountain valley, proposed his one-way ticket plan to prevent prisoners from escaping again. 

Four officers positioned behind the opened gateway, surveying the mountains filled with grayish stream clouds; the snow among the raging storm swirled past them. From their nearest positions, they had crimson torches, two red lanterns linked on the outer beam, and a giant pit of orange fire in front of the officers, with embers flowing with incredible swiftness. When the storm gradually lessened harsh breezes, leading the pit's dancing fires to its dancing flickers growth, a veteran officer ordered two of his men to gather more chopped logs in the Warden's cottage near the gateway within. As they did so, two rhinos were finally relieved from the rime storm, their senses receiving the warmth entry before the next shift occurred for the next two sentinels.

"Hey, Captain," the officer with his red torch, a sergeant in a dark green lamellar and inner black tunic, stood close to the leader. "I was wondering. After your retirement starts, where will you be heading home in China?"

"Somewhere south of the Song Dynasty, Sergeant," Captain said, dusting off the saturated snow on his left shoulder. "You know why I haven't been in touch with my brother's family?"

"You and your brother don't get along, sir," he guessed.

"Oh, no, son. You probably got that wrong," Captain wheezed his low chuckles. "I meant that my brother's family hasn't seen me for the last fifteen years. And my mother is expecting me to come home, about six months of travel by walking unless only I like to fly in one of the airships."

"If only. That would be nice to get you back home faster than on foot," Sergeant nodded. "How has your mother been doing, sir?"

"She had been healthy when I read her latest message last week. Thank Oogway's blessings," Captain said. Both officers began to observe the fifth guard, who volunteered his duty at the front of the rocky ridge, holding his crimson torch as he entered within the snow breeze. "I think. . . Her wish to see me home at my brother's cottage is deserving, and I'll make sure I can come home in one piece."

"I know you will, Captain. Chorh-Gom is not going anywhere under any circumstances. Let us look after these prisoners."

"Thank you, Sergeant."

Giving pats themselves, they brought out their spiritual laughs before the snowstorm's song became lesser than before, the front of harsh white and gray breeze still blanketing the majestic view of the ethereal ridges. Finding what lay ahead of the flat rock was the dancing crimson torch within the density of the billowing snow, not moving back or forward from the guard's position. The body was nowhere sighted.

"Kang?" Captain uttered the guard's name. But the wind itself spoke its whispering ambiance.

Sergeant Wan was invited to inspect the incident beforehand, his grip prepping for the spear when the other two officers guarded the doorway with the Captain. One private gripped his own, and the other had his fingers trembled with drastic suspicion; the second private was employed for a month and had no experience of this activity before, doing this daring job to survey and guard the cavern. Corporals monitoring the billowing flakes readied their defenses as their Captain advised them to stay alert; one distraction, and they were out of luck.

Sergeant Wan scrutinized the snowfall traits of their guard's footprints, leading the trail toward the edge of the flat surface, the front of the terrain undulating with strong currents of the icy gray surface along the flakes. About to announce his guards for the alarm, something stirred to the left, summoning the whine of woods and tight ropes. Groaning vibrations were hard to ignore his previous work for the sails at the harbor in Vu City, used for him to deliver packages from the trading junk ships. But with familiar resonances heightening in rich pulses nearby, Wan squinted and caught what appeared to be floating silhouettes drawing close: five behemoth spheres with strings holding a colossal ship.

Zap!

Nowhere in sight to catch, a short buzz needle with a little red bulb plunged through Wan's upper neck. Numbness, his throat suppressed his scream, and his limbs were shut from wavering.

One of the officers nearing the Captain's position spotted the silhouette of his comrade struggling to crawl and collapse with his crimson torch. "What the—?! Sergeant!" A black arrow zooming from the streaming gray and white launched and plunged into his left knee, collapsing the officer to the ground with intense screeches.

"Officers down!" Captain yelled, his spear deflecting two and five bolts rapidly aiming for his head and chest. "Warn Commander Vachir, and we need ten guards!"

"Yes sir!" a first private with green eyes obeyed and sprinted into the gateway, shouting Vachir's high-rank warriors.

Gaining momentum to stand his ground, Captain unleashed his quick flows of deflection, evading more than three black arrows — the fourth flung into the wounded soldier's upper shoulder. "CURSE THESE ARROWS!" he grimaced in pain, struggling to crawl.

"Hang on, Private!" Captain stirred his head and rammed his horn against the fifth arrow to the side. Ten guards in their besiege position proceeded to the front and spread, guarding the wounded as most rhinos began to diverge and deflect more bolts — twenty in the air, raining down on the horde.

"Shields up!" the group leader proclaimed, and only nine heaved their iron shields above; their officer from the nearest lead was no more by a fatal eyeshot and his throat.

This ambush was unfamiliar with the drills that all the rhino officers maintained practices for months and years. But at the moment before the raining arrows were in silence, a tiny flare signaled from the farthest ridge, appearing to be floating down. The next flare and the next unveiled more ship-like silhouettes drifting with the others, popping a thousand torches.

What the hell? Captain was stunned, heaving Private's arm behind his neck.

Most sentinels standing on their guard witnessed a line of one harpoon launching from a floating vessel, the impact fastening the grip against the thick surface — another summoned with rich and quick vibrations, landing ahead of the harpoon seven yards away. "Make ready!" the leader shouted, drawing their halberds to the front as rhinos hailed. Prepping to withstand the unknown assail, facing the floating sails across the harsh snow environments and the front, most eyes from the officers caught their attention at what emerged to be a sharp-edge glare reflecting from crimson torches, and there the invader was, arching one's neck to a menace.

"No. . ." the guard growled in dread and disbelief.

Above the peacock hollered a bat leader's screech, the flock of flying bats swarming from the front boat as they assailed under their feet and heads. The first officer, leading into a brief disorientation, grimacing in discomfort from mauls, was gripped by Shen's rope dart and yanked forward, unbalancing his poor stance; the peacock, twirling his guandao with incredible haste, rounded the pole and whipped him out with an uppercut. Sending the unconscious victim in the breeze, Shen rounded his talon and booted him into the horde, spotting the two officers who joined and dashed toward him — behind the avian thundered a low rumble from landing, emerging the black bear in her onyx lamellar armor, who advanced with a steel ax.

Mingling faced off a rhino with a hammer while Shen dealt with the other with a halberd; the peacock, managing to diverge his quick dodges with fluidity from getting cut, parried the weapon within long to close range, gaining close to the defender without hesitation. Finishing him off with his guandao, getting a clean cut to break the rhino's halberd grip, Shen sidestepped to one side and spun his train, tumbling the officer back.

Somewhere close, behind the avian, introduced fast rumbles, one's heavy feet trotting on all fours and the snout puffing. Rapidly dodging the oncoming sprint, bounding in the air from the officer's back, Shen observed the raging buffalo charge into the rhino horde, ramming the rest without stopping. Temutai thundered his growl and began throwing his straight blows against one another, headbutting his fifth victim and the sixth for his broad horn. The water buffalo shifted his angle to the left.

More than ten officers from the entrance sprinted into the affray for reinforcements. Squeaking bats swarming through the group lacerated most of their flesh, biting their necks; only the other five stood behind the gate with giant hammers. Upon their advancements with victorious defeats against poor rhino guards, Mingling, the bat Zei, Temutai, and Shen engaged the left of last-standing officers.

The black bear, hammering the first officer's halberd with her axe, spun her whole body and shattered his jaw with her heel kick; Zei and his horde of infesting bats mauled a second rhino with a hammer, causing him to collapse as he screamed out with severe excruciation; Temutai brawled all two beside the black bear without hesitation, shattering their horns when clenching and colliding two faces; Lord Shen nearly pierced the fifth victim with a dark silver guandao near his throat, twirling his quick dodges before sweeping his train.

Sighting the officer who dared not to submit his surrender while rising with his knee before streaking, the avian flung silver feathers toward his feet, staggering him as Shen triggered his talon kick toward the chest, pushing him off a distance. He rounded his rope dart and tangled the officer's horn, tugging him to mid-air, and Mingling delivered her axe a wide swing and struck, sending his lacerated body toward the entrance.

"FALL BACK! SHUT THE GATE!"

A veteran officer declared his order, inviting the officers in before shutting the door in advance. Tearing off the muzzle flesh from a lifeless rhino, Temutai hurled a horn between the gaps and delivered its fatal blow into one's chest before shutting the entry with a slam.

"CRAVENS!" Mingling plunged her dagger into the door's base, her claws thrashing and pounding. "Open the fucking gate!"

Before pacing his walk close to the front, Shen shifted his turn and caught a private rhino who held his splotched limb in defeat. "No! Please don't kill me!" he winced. Shen remained his pose still before deciding his fate without plunging his guandao in his heart. But Mianfu and his bats, without questioning the officer's life or death, unleashed their bites and sharp feet with lacerations on him; his deafening scream became lessened when his throat gashed.

"Too bad for this coward," Temutai grunted, presenting his quick giggles in spiritual wickedness. "He-he-hahaha-dum-dum-dum! Let them end his suffering."

"Zei! The gate is bolted!" Mingling wavered her claw, pointing to the gate. "Let's give them a surprise!"

Retreating to the nearest rocky platform for the distance of the airship's glide, Shen surveyed the swirl of screech bats soaring through the junk shrouds and thousands streaking their flights at random areas before thirty airships. Loomed with giant steps rambling closer to the peacock's proximity was the water buffalo, who gestured his friendly taunts, presenting a rough pat behind the avian's back.

"Long time no see, Shenny," Temutai gritted his teeth. "One day, I'll sit on that Emperor's Throne and send the realm toward the moon!"

Nonsense.

Neither the peacock could comment back with approval or not but decided to focus on the black bear gesticulating her flabby arms for three airships near their positions. "Ready!" Mingling flared her dominant claw and snapped her crimson eyes at the gate.

"Bite the belt, son!"

The guard did so when the veteran pressed his strength against him with other rhinos for their comrade; the Captain shattered two bolts and yanked them away. The guard, struggling to fight off his companions' grips, clenched his teeth and wailed. "Burn his wounds. Hold him down, corporals."

"BY THE GODS! The horn!" one of the sentinels at the front entrance shouted in horror before the Captain ran and inspected injured rhinos before the other, dreaded with intense nervousness, proclaimed. "Where's Commander Vachir?!"

Foot marchers jogging on the brick bridge arrived with more than thirty rhinoceros (ten archers, five halberds, ten war hammers, and five swords) as Captain rapidly swam his head, searching for their Warden. The Warden's cottage was opened from the door, but a veteran like him was not like their leader with a gold horn cap. From officers demanding his presence and discovering the Warden was visiting the valuable prisoners below the chasm, the Captain decided to take the lead. "Men, form up! Archers, stand your positions! Nock!"

Most archers drawing their arrows from quivers pulled the strings and started aiming when half of the forces without bolts stayed in their current defenses. Accompanied with crossbows aside beforehand, Captain held his gesture to a halt before proceeding toward the large gate; with brief silence but blunt snouts and the bear's deaden shouts, he budged and peaked through the hidden hole — the center of the gate's fastened metal. Transfixing after the three subjects prepping for their march was the three airships gliding with gradual motions before it was too late to shout at officers. On the bases of these sails revealed specks of sparks behind the iron cannons.

"STAND CLEAR—" Captain ran and tackled the young officer. And the gate was set off.

KABOOM!

Rapidly into scraps swarming with debris cast a surge of burning red fires storming through the line of rhinos on the platform and the bridge; the firework shrieked, leaving the remains to dissipation. Billowing ebony ashes blanketed, filling the cavern's volume; for a moment, Captain and the young private below him for cover hacked their harsh coughs and checked for survivors near the deck and the bridge, only finding a few of what was left of dead rhinos on the floor, most below the chasm had drawn distant shouts from the far and the closest.

Down at the near-deeper chasm before the void, Commander Vachir was on a flat plateau beside the three metal sarcophaguses, drawing his qiang. Ignoring the intense shockwave and the sentinel screams from above was impossible. Overlooking longer at the debris, sighting a few rhino guards tumbling in the air while screaming, Commander Vachir washed his face in white.

"Mother of—" Vachir gasped and drowned his face in pale, sighting most of the guards from the first bridge tumble one by one. "What the hell is going on up there?!"

"We are under attack, Commander!" a sergeant officer in his dark emerald lamellar ran to him, carrying a red torch. "No sign of any resistance or bandits at the front gate!"

"Who is attacking?"

"I don't know, sir! We need reinforcements!"

"Ring the iron bell thrice, Commander! All the sentries will hear my message!"

"Yes, sir!"

Checked for wounds, but no deep cuts or burns; Captain inspected the sentinel's injuries as the guard continued coughing out to the side. "Private! Are you alright?"

"I'm good," he winced, puffing out to the corner before his eyes caught one of his own laying flat on the brick railing, his back roasted with charcoal burns. "Wong? NO!"

"Corporal, get back!" Captain resisted him from sprinting, but from the wreckage front with a thousand bits pouring, invited sounds of low grinds and heavy steps.

The resounding strikes of the iron bell chanting from the depths were incredibly heard and delivered the rhythm's note for the marches of Commander Vachir's guards. The wounded guards could hear their allies shouting in every direction from below.

Not long after, as the bridge was still standing, more than fifty sentinels raged and streaked with every weapon they carried before maintaining their shields. Most of the debris slowly cleared to disappear as if the front initially stood the gate before had dragged out the harshness. Their eyes before the front loomed the giant silhouette of an ox with broad horns, emerging crimson eyes with a muzzle scar-wound, charcoal puffs, and a sword. The invader was robed in his dark orange lamellar outfit with tassels and a tangerine cloak, sprinting in might towards the herd.

Chapter Text

Episode Three: The Top Three (18 -29)

Chapter XXVII

Chorh-Gom Prison II

"FIRE!"

One officer commanded as the volley of red fire arrows launched, and the bovine parried most with a full swing upward and a cut to the left, dissipating bolts into fragments. Prince Huoju rolled to the front from more than five arrows flying past him, and behind the giant stormed his army of the Fire Clan, along with the three warriors Shen, Mingling, and Temutai.

"Attack!"

The horde waves of sentinels and the clan clashed into bloodshed. The air was undoubtedly dominated by rapid swarms of bats swarming in random directions, each targeting their prey at the bridge and on supporting platforms with five ballistas as Vachir's forces pushed back, still struggling to maintain their route forward. Countered and deflected in all the quick offense and defense strategies with clean knockouts in a pool of affrays, Shen drew out his feather knife and staggered the sixth sentinel who fell beside the warden cottage structure.

A raging rhino swinging his halberd-ax thrust forward and began to strike; maneuvering heavy swings from him by rolling around the surface, the avian executed his role of shattering both knee sides with his metal talon, weaving an officer to collapse before a corporal rounded his weapon to the right. Dodged under with agility, nearly sliced by an inch from his beak, Shen pivoted his dark guandao and whipped the blade and the pole, knocking him down. Quickly surveying the upheaval as Prince Huoju and Mingling crossed the bridge terrorizing the sentinels, Shen commenced supporting his allies beside Temutai, who tilted his head and rammed more sentries with hyper laugher.

The Prince of Darkness rounded his turns as his heavy swings delivered slashes toward two sentinels, tumbling both off the edge. Shoving his sword into a third officer's belly, heaving the body toward the fourth ballista, Huoju parried the fourth hammer as his loyal Commander, the black bear, decapitated an opposing officer with a single swing, the gore gushing onto the fifth fighter's eyes. Succeeding in silencing the sentinel's horror scream with a mighty cut toward the belly, shoving the soulless off the bridge, Mingling drenched her glaring eyes of violet at oncoming herds from the first bridge entry, one by one, clenched their throats by her glare, all the local sentinels fell to suffocation before a flock of four times ten of screeching bats mauled on twenty alive.

"My Huoju. . ." Mingling attracted the bovine with a silvery croon.

"My moon. . ." Huoju held his hoof close to her chin, his digits stroking warmly. "Allow you and your best fighters to shatter prison cells inside all the floors and escort prisoners here. I will attract the sentries' attention."

"As you command," her ebony lips with a scent of cherry blessed him before wielding her ax, pacing her heavy stroll toward the corridor ahead. "Mianfu! Huang! Jun! With me and your fighters!" Mingling uttered and called a few, following the bear into the gargantuan dormitories as several bats assembled with them.

Leading on the bridge railing, the Prince of Darkness bounded to the closest bridge below him, where more than ten officers commenced storming from the catwalk indoors; several dots of gray rhinos on all bridges after the second sprinted to a river one way, and the other, shouting their war cries.

Knocking down more than thirteen rhinos without a single cut from his guandao, Shen sprinted to the closest stalagmite as four rhinos with two axes and hammers charged at him. Mounting with his talons and bounding became his quick strategy of avoidance. His leap landed toward the middle officer's head, and he sprang away with his loud caw. The avian unsheathed his rope dart and twirled to the left, the claw bashing a second rhino. One down.

"No, you don't!" a private with a small horn and square jaw roared, hammering his ax forward. Rapidly sidestepping to the right after a miss, Shen flickered his vibrant train and swept under a rhino's feet before engaging the next two with agile spins. While Temutai's bovines of Qidan Clan tackled and plunged their armaments at several guards elsewhere, Shen spiraled and parried the giant's hammer, his talon delivering a fast blow downward before striking the guandao's pole for another knockdown. Two down.

Following in the opposite direction, Temutai continued ramming with his broad horns toward the last defenses at the front, dodging the ballista arrow as it impacted close quarters with his seven bovines in minor injuries. "DESTROY THOSE BALLISTAS!" the giant buffalo darted his hoof when a swarm of silver-gray clouds of bats washed all two giant crossbows to collapse.

Temutai, presenting his quick glare at a charging rhino with his halberd, deflected the weapon with his horn twisting to his left, snatching a dagger from him. He slit one's throat before plunging the other under the chin; the giant buffalo sighted the avian who aggressively took down all four officers with the utmost success of parries, and a fifth rhino from the Warden's cottage near the door grasped what appeared to be a ball with a red spark.

"Eat this!" Temutai threw the officer's dagger and struck it in the corporal's mouth. The Warden's cabin flashed with high shrieks and billowing charcoal puffs. Covering the intense heat with his wing from sight, Shen snapped his friendly glare at the giant buffalo.

Temutai tittered his chuckles. "You're welcome!" he surveyed the bridge, along with most of the casualties of rhinos among the waste. Several members of the Fire Clan and ten of the buffalo's Qidan Clan raced toward the platform with spiritual joy, sighting Temutai shove his fist in the air. "Head down to bridges and enter those halls! Free all the prisoners!"

A stampede sprinting across the bridge started leading towards bridges below them and the rest farther down to the depths. Shen waited for the horde stream, observing one of the bats twist his glides. Zei spotted Shen mounting on the bridge railing, soaring close to him.

"My Lord! Three sarcophaguses are sealed there, and those rhinos guard them!"

"Proceed to search the Warden, Zei," Shen ordered while deflecting his dark guandao blade from Vachir's sharpshooting archers from the first bridge's battlement tower; a few archers behind Shen released their volley of bolts countered and felled a few as plenty of sentinels began concentrating what they were taking fire from. "Find his key and free them!"

"Yes, my lord!" Zei nodded before soaring down with his bat herd across the long bridges.

On the third bridge, the Prince of Darkness twirled his sword. He finished off the two guards with a hard, straight shove, plunging into their bellies. Distant shouts commanding - FIRE! - from flanking towers were heard not long when fire arrows crossed paths with high-pitched gray fletchings, enabling him to divert and roll side to side. Mimicked with intense caws, various counts of avians in dark and brown vultures and hawks dove and crashed into more than five towers, along with swarms of bats assisting their allies.

Spotting a dozen sentinels from the drawbridge, preferring to sheathe his weapon, Prince Huoju rumbled his snout, roaring and countering his hooves on grips while deflecting one and the other, flawlessly shattering a rhino's arm and the other's leg with a heel kick. Shoving a third off the bridge and handling a fourth with his horn, parrying the halberd with a twist, Huoju clenched a fifth's horn and slammed his whole body downward, the spine shattering. Sidestepping the ax that nearly slit his right foot, the bovine delivered the combination of his swift blows forward, uppercutting a seventh.

Harsh breezes vibrating from behind the group of sentinels invaded, and the peacock emerged, spinning his dark guandao. An eleventh guard loosened his mouth as his spine was drenched from the cold. "No. . ." he feared and recognized the tyrant before but started charging, with three officers against the peacock.

Shen, unwaveringly dodging thrusts from the halberd before a third (with a massive maul) attempting to hammer down, dove under a ninth officer in between the steps and broadened his train with potent pulsations, blinding their sight; once they twitched to confusion in dreadfulness, the avian thrashed below and darted the pole, slamming their knees. Shen slapped his talons twice on a twelfth's cheek, resulting in the fatal blow as he drove his guandao pole towards an eleventh's head.

"Flawless execution, Shen," Huoju praised his student's performance, his clenched hoof thrashing the last officer's head thrice. Storming from the raging screams farther down the pathway before the drawbridge were twenty more sentinel rhinos triggering their crossbows, red bolts zipping past the two.

"With me!"

Huoju commanded as Shen spread his train, beginning to leap with the bovine. Diving through two bridges before the sixth, the Prince of Darkness, whose cloak rapidly billowed by the streaking breezes, leaned his body and stretched his vicious grin; the Lord of Gongmen, hastening his diving pace with his quivering train and silvery-gray robe, maneuvered his snappy glide to and fro, rolling over the bovine as they monitored Zei's bats above the chasm's main bailey, gliding and attacking the Warden's officers across the guardhouses and battlements before the last drawbridge. Once the Prince of Darkness neared the chasm as several bolts rained from behind and elsewhere, two hawks clenched Huoju's hooves and heaved his behemoth weight, gliding him towards the nearest elevator tower.

Finding three sentinels who attempted to raise their armaments in full force, Huoju pivoted his sword and slammed to the platform, sending all three fall across the catwalk. The bovine bounded off and took his leap, his blade plunging into the middle rhino's chest, ending the guard's suffering. No more than thirty rhino guards marching ahead of the Prince of Darkness gained on him as the vibrant wings interfered from above, summoning the bovine's loyal avian soldiers: four hawks and one peacock. The Lord of Gongmen, landing hard beside the giant, twirled his main armament when broadening his train, displaying his vicious glare.

Huoju, clenching his blade, slit his igneous oil and cast a blaze on his sword, which brought guards to cease their advancements with intense startlements. "Who will face me?" the Prince of Darkness proclaimed tauntingly.

One of the old sentinels from the middle proceeded with his clouded ax, charging him without hesitation as he hollered.

Diverging the routes when avoiding most of the oncoming swings and spears, Zei quickly surveyed more than a hundred guards as he commanded his flock of bats, and somewhere in front of the drawbridge from the lowest point connecting the rocky platform was their sentinel leader, and his horde of archers drawing their bolts with fastened pieces of fireworks.

"LOOSE!"

Vachir signaled, and a volley of crimson arrows rained towards the bats; one by one, in random bursts from their proximities and far, Zei and his bats dodged, and several of his clanmates from behind were blasted and fell, their deathly shrieks intensifying.

"I'm gonna rip that asshole apart!" his comrade snapped his eyes.

"Prince Huoju needs the Warden alive, maggot!" Zei contorted his grimacing head at the bat. "We disorient him and steal his key!"

The flock of bats assembling to a twist of vortex cast their roaring wings and streamed into barricades, mauling rhino limbs, despite the cost of a few falls from plunges and slices. Repeating this lethal scenario thrice in a row had most with large metal shields fell and stacked to one another, leaving the Warden and his thirteen correctional sentinels the last standing. Commander Vachir, delivering his sharp lunges with his halberd and cutting down several of their wings, taunted a whole as his foot stomped the bat, fracturing the spine.

"Look out, sir!" a sergeant with a square jaw and a wounded right shoulder forced the leader down from the screaming bat. Another approaching with a shrill laugh plunged his sharp feet metal into the Sergeant's neck, slitting the throat.

"Hey! That's the Warden! Steal his key!" Zei exclaimed.

How wary of regarding the swarms attempting to circulate the surroundings, Vachir grabbed a dead soldier's shield and bashed one and the next, swinging the other with his mighty strength as he roared. Four of his best guards collapsed from two spears thrown from the sky, and black hawks threw their handheld balls with crimson sparks, killing off the other five with deadly firework puffs. "COMMANDER!" A sixth guard raising his arm under the pool of stiff guards deafened his cry, and a hawk's halberd split his head apart. Cornered, helpless, Vachir surveyed the vortex swarms hovering with slow and steady advancements, waiting for their bat leader's orders.

"GIVE ME THE KEY, WARDEN!" Zei shouted.

"Not this time," Vachir contorted his muzzle with his blunt snout. His hand forced the key into his mouth, swallowing the whole.

"Gods to be damned!" the bat leader gasped. "Pin him against the wall!"

Ten bats zooming past their leader tackled the Warden as their feet and wings fastened Vachir's limbs. Their fangs biting him forced the agony rhino toward the corner of the brick wall, hovering Zei towards him. "Dick move, fatso!" he teased, stretching his grimacing glare.

Vachir laughed when contorting his face in pain. "That's right! No key, no door to open."

"I could have you killed while tearing your insides open! There's always another way to open the close!"

"Over my dead body," Vachir grunted.

"Soldier! Give me your feathers!"

A black hawk, swinging his dao sword with a clean cut through the sentinel's chest, approached and heightened his main appendage. Peeling off the avian's strong feather under the secondary, Zei launched himself and hovered in front of the drawbridge as large hawks rampaging into the affray destroyed the winch with their firebombs, the rattle chains whirling before the drawbridge slammed with a billowing gush. "COVER MAAAEEEE*!" Zei shrieked, and his volley of bat clans assembled apart, their swirling glides slamming into two ballistas. The other three ballista launching arrows with fuse sparkles blasted under the chasm's support, slowly fragmenting to bits. Zei arrived and saw three sarcophaguses of iron containers with silver metal linings, and above caskets were blue-emerald dragon injections; three bats commenced digging through the keyholes; from Zei's perspective, the inside's trigger was easily felt while randomly motioning through its core.

Knock-knock. Three more pins to go. His two clanmates hacking the keylocks forced the feather quill into the last pins with loud clangs.

"Got it!"

"Same here!"

Come on. . .

Zei's grunt heightened when rotating the feather into two pins before the last. "FIRE CROSSBOWS!" Vachir thundered, and all five ballistas, after the first two crossbows were taken out, set their triggers and concentrated firing; twenty red arrows from the ridge crosses rained with fire arrows. The first fifteen bolts raining nearby were struck by a swarm of Zei's bats interfering, pivoting to deaths before their fall; only five nearly hitting Zei's head penetrated his comrades, who dodged to the corner while taunting at sentinels with high-pitched giggles.

After searching for the final pin, Zei yanked the quill and shattered its wing, the ebony shackle unfastening as two caskets puffed out its billowing white smoke from the gaps. The middle sarcophagus wheezed out the same from the opening. "WAKEY, WAKEY!" Zei laughed with his sinister smile before he flew away with his brothers for assistance.

Struggling to fight off his appendages from bats' teeth clenching in his muscles, Vachir watched the three sarcophagi needle dragons draw away, the devices unlatching the front caskets before the hissing white smoke billowed apart. Unable to flee while being forced to move, the Warden spotted all four yellow sights from the left and right, and one with gold and hazed eyes popped open in the middle.

Oh, no.

Chapter Text

Episode Three: The Top Three (18 - 29)

Chapter XXVIII

Chorh-Gom Prison III

Waking from their prolonged subconsciousness from the sarcophaguses, the Wu Sisters fell to their knees and briefly regained their strength from each other. Vibrant sounds of the distant cries and battles from above were dull when Su's eyes of foggy azure and yellow surveyed the drawbridge to collapse. The Sisters were in states of confusion, surveying their surroundings. Still, they hastily discovered the affrays of rhinos and bats and a few avians of black hawks and vultures flying nearby, who praised them for their awakening. Several episodes transpired from their awakening procedure, while their sight adjustments flooded to major blurs, flooding their eyes with invisible clouds and ripples.

One, their breaths were filled with the Dragon's Blessing. During their sleep, the injections puffed out the enchanting smell of lavender that softened their bodies from resisting, allowing those inside the sarcophagus to sleep for punishment. Two, their tongues were minorly numb but returned normal while the Sisters clicked and licked their cold lips. And three, despite minor episodes triggering their physical senses, their limb muscles churned to rapid wobbles, thus causing their breaths to shake. Yet, resting within the sarcophaguses was no freedom, and they hated being trapped there.

Their senses commenced restoring reverberations of ringing ears, hoping they would feel their vivid surroundings once more. Finding rough growls from the left, Su Wu clenched her blinding eyes and stretched her mauled ear. "Sister. . . Where are we?" her youngest sibling, Wing Wu, asked. Her sight was introduced to brief disorientation. The eldest attempted to squint her vision ahead of her and discovered the tower-like structure with crimson torches before the vortex of squeaking bats flying around the chasm.

"Chorh-Gom Prison," Su Wu discovered, grunting when supporting herself from her knees. She took her long reflection of another prison whose metal structures pulsed like a heartbeat, and the stomach's growl wrenched the rocky surfaces. Good riddance. We are not living inside the sleeping dragon.

Su Wu's rich chuffs heightened without her surprise. "There's no place like Jianyu Prison," she grinned.

"Were we supposed to be eaten inside the dragon's belly alive, Su?" Wan Wu asked from Su's right, quivering her head when brushing off her foggy eyes.

"Someone else delivered us here to make our escape plan much less impossible than the other," Su Wu determined, smirking as her harsh grunts deadened. For a moment, taking brief recoveries to squint their eyes at their proximities and the chasm with disturbance, the Sisters found the Warden farther behind the drawbridge, with Zei's bats allowing their wills to force the rhino's physical strength with greater torments. The reverberations of his agony and battle cries put a smile upon the elder sister, the music in her ears (one mauled) aiding her with slight approval.

But this battle was unknown to them, and they, whoever was behind it all along the appraisals from bandits and soldiers, the Wu Sisters wished to discover the fighting. Above the chasm platform stirred its howling caw, drawing their disoriented faces towards the air.

"There's our company," Wing Wu simpered, wincing a little.

Landing on the platform with vibrant wings before the leopards presented a brown hawk in a sky vest scathe. "Wu Sisters! Long time no see!" a hawk broadened his dark gray wings and bowed to them. "My ally is on his way to escort you out of Chorh Gom Prison. He's at the mid-bailey, clearing out the Warden's forces."

Attempting to lift herself with one knee, Su Wu broadened her mouth and hissed, her other knee wobbling as her whole weight shifted, crashing her shoulder. "The dragon acupunctures put you three to sleep much longer as I feared those injections. They are restraining your strengths from your independence. Physicians will aid you with better treatments."

"Fuck their aids. We'll fight it off," Wan Wu snapped with a grin.

Their elder sister regained her strength with one knee and the other, thrusting her weight back to her usual pose. Su Wu's cold stare was prolonged momentarily as the hawk kept his stance still with pride and grace, hearing the leopard's crooning chuffs before she sniffed under the avian's neck. Showing her approval of him as an ally, she sheathed her claws one and the other. "Sisters. . . Show our new friends who we are. We meet someone in charge."

A hawk's thriving high hopes for the Wu Sisters' return brightened his grin.

After thrusting his fire sword with a lethal cut under a challenger's belly, resulting in a rhino's quick death before all the sentinels' eyes, Huoju enhanced his defensive stance as crimson arrows from the small towers showered across the chasm, and his peacock comrade, Shen, was agile to maneuver the front and rolled towards the nearest fourth tower. Bringing enough haste to draw his secondary weapon, Shen hurled and rounded the rope on a first guard with an ax, forcing him directly to the steep. Hurling another, wrapping a stomach, Shen pivoted his body and leaned his jump, bashing his metal talon against a guard's muzzle. Tumbling ahead with a front flip, he flung four pairs of silvery feather knives on all eight sentinels; sighting them all with loss of senses and in intense grunts, the Prince of Darkness singlehandedly cleaved his scorching sword on one and the other, churning their deep cuts to spray gores.

"Cut them down!"

One officer shouted from the affray, piled with twenty avians of hawk and vultures farther down the bailey ridge who cleared through the path for the Prince of Darkness and Lord of Gongmen. "Come with me, student," Huoju dashed onward as the peacock followed him in advance and sighted the large group of aces (bats and hawks) destroying all four ballistas. Heading down to the second tower before the drawbridge, Prince Huoju trotted on all fours and rammed more than five rhinos, most falling to the steep and a few towards the right side, clasping from falling. The two fighters holding their position with their blade stances had waited for other sentinels ahead; drowned with dread faces, the sentinels were transfixed and held their halberds and spears in front, crowded without their rooms to spread.

"SIR! WE'RE OUTNUMBERED!"

"HOLD YOUR GROUND!"

Officers shouted. Not long to see the bovine and the avian approaching with casual walks and menacing glances, rhinos had no advantage to surround the invaders as if the ridge platforms were too thin to cross in front and back, and several avians and bats gathered from behind Prince Huoju and Lord Shen. Officers could not execute their defenses long enough, and before they could attempt to push forward, bellows advanced with loud armament parries from behind the last rhino forces.

"TURN AROUND!" Another captain shouted in dread, forcing half the sentinels to turn before their defenses were too late to barricade.

Mauled and plunged across the ridge platform, throwing many to the depths, the three leopards stretched their lips, and their eldest sister deafened her creamy chuffs. "Meow. . ."

Fastened with three tails into a single knot, the Wu Sisters bounded and performed their incredible whirls, lacerating every flesh and bone of those cornered and could not run away from the three. Every armament snapped before all the sentinels trapped in the Deathly Vortex, which hovered above and created its roll toward the rocky floor, scraping and hurling sharp bits at them all.

"SCREW THIS! I'M OUT OF HERE!" a rhino guard broke his formation and decided to sprint ahead with others who fled.

One by one, the Prince of Darkness, sheathing his sword, continuously delivered his brawls with his lethal blows, grappling one flee and the second as he shoved them to the side. Encountered the first four of the last defenders, Huoju combined his appendages to deflect from their halberds, those attempting to plunge and swirl as he heaved the pole and hurled the guard to the abyss. He headbutted a hornless rhino twice, battering more until crimson splotches popped from his eyes, shoving him down. One last rhino, a captain whose head was splattered with red blobs, burst his haunting roar, wildly lunging and heaving his dao sword.

Shen interfered with his guandao horizontally, lunging to the side before pivoting. Rapidly parrying the fast curves and a hard thrust, dodging the decisive attack with the result of the guard's dao that shattered the tip, the peacock began shoving his armament, thrashing from his knees to his abdomen. Delivering the seventh strike, Shen hauled and delivered his hard thrust, forcing a sentinel into the air before the brilliant wine vortex from the Sisters grinding the rocky structure sent sharp rocks at him, spiking his flesh to bits.

"Mother of. . ." the peacock breathed out.

"Behind me, Shen."

Obeyed to do so, the avian retreated behind once the Prince of Darkness stood forth and remained still. The Wu Sisters, slowing their vortex spin, separated themselves and led their eldest to present her vicious glare at the bovine, hissing. For a moment, the three lessened their persistence, monitoring the bovine with odd inquisitiveness.

"So, he's the one?" Wing Wu asked, wrinkling her muzzle.

"That bovine reminds me of fluffy Master Ox. Except. . . this," Wan Wu gestured to her muzzle, indicating the giant's nostril scar.

The eldest sibling's silvery voice crooned under her throat, thrumming with careful curiosity. "Hmm. . . I know nothing about you. Not like the fluffy Ox I know from Gongmen City," Su Wu examined her eyes from his feet to head with wondrous. A crimson torch shone on her foggy eye. "Who are you?"

The Prince of Darkness manifested in their souls and glanced over endless memories from the bitter beginning to well-known criminals of China. "I am Prince Huoju, son of Emperor Khan of Jinse Simiao," the giant introduced, patting his scathe armored chest. "You three are the well-known criminals I've heard of—the Wu Sisters."

"Jinse Simiao?" Wing Wu repeated with high spirit, wobbling her head when ridding her disoriented mind. "Isn't that ancient palace outside of China? Abandoned for centuries?"

"You know histories better than we are, Wing," Wan Wu said.

The eldest sister planted her claw under her chin, grinning. "I may have heard, thanks to my youngest sibling. Since my sisters and I do our own thing to plan and take China for good, I might spare those who freed me and my sisters from the prison," Su Wu creased her muzzle, unsheathing her claws. "Give me one reason we should not kill you like all the shitbags."

The giant's throat ruffled in determination. "You and I have our common ideal."

"Is that right?"

"Your intentions to rule China in favor of your perspective and gather all the forces, as I was mentioned from my army, are extraordinary," Huoju grinned. "Familiar with your ambition, you are not the only soul who wished to vanquish the Realm."

"Is this the invitation you are asking for an alliance?" the eldest rolled her head, amazed.

"Su."

Wan Wu was the one called, and they followed her gaze. Behind the giant's back emerged the familiar bird these Sisters recognized. Easing the guandao to his side, the peacock showed himself. "Is that. . . Who do I think he is?" Su Wu sharpened her sight at Shen with wonder.

With a brief expression of wonderment, the giant glanced at his student, reflecting that the Wu Sisters had a history of their encounter long ago. "You do know my student."

"I've heard about him. Wasn't he supposed to. . .?" Su Wu was lost in thought, but the lavender scent slightly triggered her sensation. Her sisters dove in to round her arms behind their necks and supported Su. The eldest clenched her teeth. "That fucking lavender. . ."

"I have answers for you regarding my student, Wu Sisters. Your thoughts about deciding to join my army are tentative," the bovine said. "Regarding the Dragon's Blessing that stalls your strength and mind, my allies shall carry you to the entry, where your friends await your arrival. Your ride to the airship will transport you to Tibet, to the Yinxing Summit."

The Sisters waited for hawks circulating from the apex altitude without further questioning, allowing the stranger to aid them. Three birds grasped their claws and hauled them in the breeze, flying with a flock of thrilling avians and bats. The Prince of Darkness saw Zei and his group tug the Warden and hand him to the bovine, who dragged Vachir towards the highest lookout before the elevator. The Wu Sisters filled their clouds of concern and anticipation, deeply in consideration of their long-awaited goal to claim China after their desperate attempts to gather forces and dominate villages before larger cities. Bringing up another topic in thought, the youngest wished to query her sisters.

"Are we still dreaming? Is our escape becoming real?" Wing Wu asked, her voice throbbing with hope and slight doubt.

Indeed, the Dragon's Blessing infused in their sarcophaguses, the Wu Sisters smelled the lovely scent and lived in the darkness without a light. From protracted periods of sleep, retrained by the aroma, they envisioned good and bad dreams: the good ones flooded with childhood times when they were abandoned and ought to partake in their challenging aspects by looking after themselves, always together to steal food and clothes for survival, escaping prisons too easy; the rest before their adulthood flooded with varieties of greatness from kung fu students to well-known assassins. The bad ones overwhelmed the girls, unlike the succession of conquering China with their criminal syndicate. They were dragged away on the soil by dominant tyrants and drowned under the ripples while trapped behind the pure darkness inside the sarcophagus without a key. Neither of them was afraid to face death, but one of the worst dreams they truly never wished to return was a disappointment from their cunning master, who initially sought fortune for his students to restore balance. Completed their fourth mission to prevent the calamity and the siege in the eastern city, the Sisters disappeared from Imperial Forces, who discovered the massacre of the temple that burned a senator and people alive during the battle.

A senator's son accused the warriors of committing murders. The Wu Sisters discovered the false accusations from those who attempted to frame them, but all citizens believed him to see them as killers.

"Never thought we could escape the impossible," Wan Wu thought of the vivid trance. The peacock's appearance clouded her mind. "Ever notice Shen's feathers present death? Most people proclaimed he is the omen."

"Shen was dead in Gongmen. But how is he alive?" Wing Wu glared her eyes in puzzlement and shock.

"Damn, if I know. I say Shen refuses to die, and I find him the conception of his ideal that we are not the only ones taking over China," Wan Wu said. "Isn't that what Huoju said, Su?"

"Yes, Wan," Su Wu crooned, flashing her eyes of gold and silver. "We may be tentative, but one way or another, sisters, his plan, unlike ours, will restore what we have lost."

Su Wu's head leveled towards the height, and her claw nudged the hawk's leg. "You. What year is it?"

"It's the Year of Ox!" a hawk answered. "The Prince of Darkness and his army will succeed by destroying the dynasty, and his ideal of rebuilding a new era is worth promising to bring greatness no leaders could ever build before. What do you expect my savior to do his conquest?"

Discovering the year, as Su Wu determined the bovine who assembled his army to free the Wu Sisters, she thought of the advantage of uniting her own — a thousand list of bandit clans into one as a criminal syndicate so she could follow and reinstate their previous schemes.

Hmm. . . I have a revelation.

The eldest thought.

Chapter Text

Episode Three: The Top Three (18 - 29)

Chapter XXIX

Chorh-Gom Prison IV

Zei and his fellow brothers fetched the metal links the Prince of Darkness wished, and they gave those to him before the rest of the flocks started soaring with the avians. Prince Huoju clenched the chains and tightened the Warden's throat from him freeing. Mounting on the hoist, he signaled the torch and had hawks from the sixth bridge trigger the winch's lever pole, the clinging links hauling the ride. The lift only fitted two giants and one medium. They observed the horde of bats aviating passed by in random directions, increasing their altitudes towards bridges.

The Prince of Darkness had his peacock student remind him of the initial memories of the Wu Sisters' inception and their criminal activities. A little no better to discover the Wu Sisters than before, the old Shen regarded the Street Fighters who had helped Grandmaster Oogway to stop the trio. His last thought from the news before claiming Gongmen City was when the Sisters were captured in Western Xia for the assassination attempts and were taken to Jianyu Prison.

"Master Huoju," the peacock cleared his stiff throat, panting his warm breath. "The Wu Sisters. . . What do you see in them?"

The giant's throat strengthened. "Dark. Obsession. And dominion. The girls are undeniably combined into one to rule China. Their purpose, I find in them, my dear Shen, has a comparison to my ambition. Unlike what I promised for my father's quest, the Wu Sisters consider their way to strengthen not only themselves but to carry their own."

"You find how intriguing they are and crave them to be in your service," Shen commented with a grasp.

"Yes. This strategy of inviting the warriors with an extraordinary reputation from these Sisters is the closest thing to commencing my conquest. If the female fighters decide to join my army, I assure you, my dear Shen, the success of ruling the country is moderate. Defeating enemies from high places is essential to win further."

The peacock's rich throat hummed. "How often will you eradicate the Emperor's power?"

"Crushing their funds, welfare, and the list of his powerful friends," Huoju said.

"Good luck with that."

Shen was not the voice of his as he and Huoju glared at the Warden, whose breath heightened his snout, grimacing. Finding boldness from Commander Vachir, Prince Huoju clenched his throat, having the other hoof press against his forehead. Swarming into the rhino's mind thrived most familiar voices, chanting —

Escape from Chorh-Gom Prison. . . is IMPOSSIBLE!

My prison has one way in, one way out, featuring one thousand guards — and one prisoner.

The Prince of Darkness thought of the prison's changes that filled more cells for prisoners instead of one. The bovine caught the rhino's memories, displaying the prisoner in a kneel position, the shape of a tortoiseshell with injections weighing on his back, and the chains fastening the boulders pulled the leopard's limbs from moving. After monitoring the recent event hours before the attack, the Warden met the Captain from the Chorh-Gom's gateway with a group of sentinels. The Captain held an orange scroll blanketed with beautifully Mandarin strokes from the Emperor's handwritten copies. Commander Vachir, rarely interested in updates from all of China, filled his anticipated query.

When will the Tournament start at Kong Bai Stadium, Captain?

Four days. Captain answered.

Escaping the rhino's trance into reality, filling his eyes with scorching red, Huoju snapped, remembering the last moments of Shen, who previously mentioned Yao's report of the Emperor's scroll — the names of the three classes. "Shen. Have you ever received the latest news from Yao?"

"No, Master. Yao has not been returning with any reports," Shen answered, which lessened the giant's glare. "The Tournament's date remains unknown at this time. Shall I fetch your avians and hunt Yao?"

"The Warden has answered, my student. The date is now known," Huoju said, grating his grunt. "Yao is no use to me."

Dragging Commander Vachir to the apex and on the first bridge before the gateway, swarmed with freed prisoners who intensified their cheers and whistles, the Prince of Darkness hauled the rhino as his student Shen stood back, allowing the bovine to unlatch his cloak when the black bear Mingling thundered her shout, driving most of the spectators to spread apart for the vast area. The Wu Sisters were transported to one of the medical airships to seek their treatments. The prisoners thrilled each other with high spirits as they watched the Warden fall to his knees and beg for mercy. Thundering their cheers, they wished to leave Mongolia and return to China. Once lessening their joys from the black bear, whose claw beckoned to a brief silence, the right side of the crowd next to Temutai and his buffalo crew showed a group of crocodile gangs observing the scene. The giant reptile was the tallest and bulkiest with his sinister face, and in front of him were his cousins, small and stupid.

Fung and Gahri bathed their looks in apprehension as they saw the avian standing beside the Prince of Darkness across the bridge. No way. . . Shit. . .

Fung drowned his cold breath in his lungs. "Fung. . ." Gahri leaned his head closer to him, muttering. "Is that the peacock who Po told us about him?"

"He cannot be," Fung trembled his head. "I thought. . ."

"Hey," his mighty cousin, Lidong, whose low voice was grinding under the soil, delivered his hard tap on Fung's shoulder. "Isn't that the kid from the Prosper Valley look like this scumbag?"

The odd comparison of the two peacocks was quite matched, but their feathers were not — the old dyed with crimson and the young drenched in cobalt. However, their beaks differed, as if Shen's was far more curved downward than the other. Each reflected the boy in a blue silk robe, flickering his vibrant train with the Nine. "Yeah, that boy is like Shen," Gahri said. 

"How?" Fung broadened his eyes, shaking his head. "Does that kid know about him?"

"I asked one of the students before, and that cat said his brother is not Shen's child," Lidong recalled.

Unable to find words of Shen's return, the crocodiles drew their sights on the bovine, who stared at the panicked rhino. Commander Vachir swiftly swam his head, his burning breaths quivering as he could not believe the rest of his prisoners were standing before him. "Commander Vachir," uttered the Prince of Darkness, and Vachir faced him with intense dread. "The rest of your prisoners are now free and will decide their fate."

"This is madness!" Vachir hollered.

"Madness, yes. I find your memories swarmed with prisoners you mistreated," Huoju wrinkled his muzzle, smirking. "That victim, who you put your hands on that prisoner, you could have treated the leopard well instead of serving his meal with your piss and shits."

Random inmates around the pool guffawed and taunted the Warden. The crocodiles only exchanged glances after Lidong crossed his limbs in disgust. "As your prisoners wish to see you suffering like the rest of your people, I will fight you, Warden. Prove yourself how you are tougher than your pets."

Vachir stammered. "I will not fight you."

"Craven!" one fox prisoner snapped, and the rest joined their shouts in curses. As several outcries dominated the prison, Vachir, trembling his fists, leveled his guard. Not long after the bovine spread his arms wide for glory, Prince Huoju progressed his stance forward, beginning the brawl as Temutai heightened his laughs.

Throwing a punch from the Warden was simple, yet the Prince of Darkness deflected it with his limb, and the other launched his straight fist toward the belly, starting to combine his lethal blows: two jabs at his cheeks, one heel on the upper knee, and the spinning back kick towards the upper chest. Not letting down, shaking his head from his body nearly wobbling, Vachir readied his stance, cautiously approaching forward. Once either of the challengers made their first move, Shen surveyed the fighting as Vachir delivered two right kicks to the side, which Huoju parried with his sharp elbow. The Warden started the combination of his straight blows, leading the Prince to execute his flawless deflection as Vachir's sixth attack produced a hard thrust, forcing the bovine's feet to a quick skid.

Regaining his breaths from exhaustion, Vachir watched Huoju's grin to the side, and the bovine's taunting grunt had the rhino advance and bound in the air with his right kick forward. Rounding his main arm on the Warden's whole leg, the bovine clenched his chest armor and heaved him in the air, forcefully slamming him down. Forcing out his grimacing roar, Vachir winced before Huoju kept his distance. For a moment, the back of Vachir's spine spiked with amounts of his muscles, triggering minor stabs. The pool of prisoners gradually heightened their shouts while enjoying the brawl, watching the Warden suffer. Rising from the thick ground while wincing, Commander Vachir rapidly stretched and flickered his arms left and right before resuming combat, both fighters facing in circles.

Vachir drew close before he attempted to present other fast jabs, and Huoju countered them with his palms, twice combos to sideways before launching his grip towards the Warden's upper chest, his keratin digits hardly pressing into the flesh, letting Vachir hollered his cry. "On your knees."

Vachir risked slamming his whole arm, but once shoved away, Huoju hastily caught his other hand and jerked him back, ramming his head twice. The third impact was heard with a bone snap from Vachir's forehead, drawing out cherry gores. Casting him in the air with a single uppercut, Huoju doubled his fists in haste before striking his elbow and a heel kick to the right, pushing the rhino to the nearest bridge as Vachir crashed on and spat out some of his splotches.

Shen, remaining still, prepped his weapon with his wing while eying on the injured rhino, who tried to rise with one knee and the other, coughing out harsh wheezes. "I have a family of my own. . ." Vachir moaned with low croaks, the blood on the temple of his head streaming into his eyes. "Please. . . don't kill me."

The Prince of Darkness could hear the black bear's short grunt of disgust from his right. "Why does this fucking coward beg mercy?" Mingling grimaced at the Warden. "You think your wife and son will save you from my Huoju's wrath? Does he look like he cares? Fight back!"

Spectators heightened more entertainment as they hurled bits of debris and rocks at the Warden. Unleashing his cry, Commander Vachir sprinted to Huoju and threw his fists, bashing one another. Most of his blows were traded when the Prince of Darkness took his defensive aggression to deflect the rhino's fists — until one had struck the bovine's jaw.

Finding the rhino's strength wearing off briefly, which his dominant fist hurled to the chest, Huoju took his quick grip and swift, his other hoof plunging to his ribcage before gaining momentum with the combination of three blows: two punches to the belly, and one hard kick to the side knee, resulting Vachir's balance's tumble to the left. Sensing the dao's grip from his hand while Huoju charged on fours before bounding, Vachir made his haste to grab and lunge his vertical force through the bovine's belly.

Joys softened, yet many witnessed the Prince of Darkness being stabbed by the Warden, who upheaved his distortion whine. What filled all their breaths in their cold lungs was no bloodshed from Huoju's belly wound, and the Prince's lips stretched to a vicious grin. He clenched Vachir's fist and yanked the blade's lunge, bringing the other to grip the rhino's throat. "What. . . the he—are y—?"

Drawing out the dao, which his wound concealed itself, the Prince of Darkness heaved and plunged into his heart. He stretched his head to Vachir's ear and muttered. "Your nightmare."

The last breaths from the Warden became lessened until submerged in silence. Huoju threw the body in the air and had Vachir tumble past all six bridges before the platform. A soft crack was heard from two thousand feet deep. Again, once seeing the Warden's death with surprise, the prisoners presented cheers before they admired the bovine. The flock of bats assembled before the Prince as they began to soar in broad directions and descend toward the bridges below. Lord Shen led away from the bridge, joining Huoju's comrades before the crocodile prisoners and Temutai's buffalos.

Mingling unfolded Huoju's cloak and clasped it around his neck, stroking her claw digits on his cheek. Receiving the fond in return, Huoju did the same before the bear returned to her soldiers. He announced to spectators. "Now. . . Prisoners of Chorh-Gom. The Warden no longer breaths, and I give you two choices," Huoju turned to the prisoners before his flock of avians and bats assembled behind him in the air. Most of his forces from the front gate held their halberds and stood their ground, prepping for the Prince's command. "Work with me, and I will prove your freedom to take back what is yours. Bend the knee, and I'll spare your lives. Refusal, you die with all the sentinels."

Sighting the prisoners exchange their concerned glances with one another, Huoju saw a few peeps bending their knees for the ruler, one by one. Crocodile gangs did as they attended to do so without further questioning or rejection — no other words to decide, but to live more for freedom either way. Only one prisoner out of fifty, an old wolf whose fur was drenched in light silver and lamellar armor with inner dark gray woven cloth, approached the Prince of Darkness. This inmate, a former peacock's wolf army member who told the leader that no family of his would ever meet him again, proclaimed he would not work for the genocidal tyrant. Accepting a wolf's wish respectfully, Huoju let Mingling step forth and draw her ax, delivering a clean horizontal cut towards a canine's whole neck, decapitating his head.

Snapping his keratin digit, Huoju signaled the bats and ordered all to open fire. Each bridge before the fourth was linked with ropes wrapping firebombs. Fused with all the crossings, one burst into flames and ruptured, collapsing the second and all the bridges. All the debris fell into the void and wrecked on the platform, ripping through and through the darkness. Vachir's body and all of the sentinels were no more.

Lord Shen mounted on Huoju's ship as he surveyed half of the prisoners and the Crocodile gangs entering the third vehicle on the right, where the Wu Sisters rode on. Unhitching the behemoth harpoon, Huoju's chow-chow captain shouted to the crew to level the altitude before giant apes controlled the cannons aimed for the entrance. "Fire at will," Huoju commanded.

"FIRE!" Mingling signaled, and the cannons of the six airships spat fire, unleashing more than forty balls of scorching orange fireworks. Launching all the rain of conflagration had the front walls of the Chorh-Gom Prison's outer gate with watchtowers shower the wreckage to shreds, crushing those who remained injured from the nearest entry, which was now blanketed to billowing silver charcoals.

Witnessing the prison's destruction for the first time, Shen thought of his cannons, which he had crafted to be fatal, as he had created them before the long days of his banishment. Never considering how his welfare could have him reign the Song Dynasty, the peacock reflected long and hard, questioning his mind about what he had envisioned in the first place. He closed his eyes and remembered the victim's remains of flesh and bone before him.

Who did I murder? Shen could not recall who was ahead of the cannon's barrel before grinding his metal talon to a fuse.

Interrupted by a rhythm hack of laughs from the peacock's left, Temutai offered a hard pat on Shen's back. "I never thought you forged your weapons with much potential for THE ADVANCEMENT! Very impressive!" he chuckled. "I like your project, and a few cannons of yours will be borrowed for display and break siege through city walls!"

Take your hooves off me.

Shen buried his antagonistic thoughts, unveiling his fake grin to the corner as he praised the buffalo. The airships began to sail away with massive torches winding the hot-air balloons, steering into the silvery ocean clouds before the apex. Only fourteen ships joined Huoju's war vehicle in fifteen, allowing the other half to soar to the southwest from Mongolia to Tibet.

Across the clearing sky from the harsh snow environment, Shen led his way to the main bridge, joining Huoju's company as the ship's Captain steered behind the wheel. "Where to, Prince Huoju?"

Facing south, the Prince of Darkness leveled his head. "China," he answered. "On the fourth day, my brothers and sisters. . . WE ASSAIL KONG BAI STADIUM!"

Chapter Text

Episode IV: Tournament ( 30 - 41)

Chapter XXX

Tournament, Act One

I. Prelude

May 23, 1205 — Tournament Day

Kong Bai, Guangxi — SONG DYNASTY

Applause from the spectators of all of China thundered across the stretches of the Guangxi terrain, the outer rim before the next land, featuring the behemoth colosseum of gray bricks and arches. On the galleries and the top featured banners of the three classes: gold and jade for the Masters of Jade Palace, the blue and silver waves for the Fellowship of the Nine, and rich emerald and brown for the Righteous Seven. The stands from all seven rows from top to bottom were the citizens of the Song Dynasty. The first and second were the Emperor's officials, honorable guards, and the lord and ladies of their houses; the third and fourth introduced villagers, including the members of the Shaolin (thirty classes of martial artists); the fourth and the fifth emerged soldiers under their service with the Emperor of China, who they surveyed the whole stadium and outside of the Guangxi Province.

On the upper circle platform between the third and fourth rows were the honorable subjects of the Song Dynasty with their current ruler: Masters of Gongmen and the Emperor's Wisdom—Master Storming Ox, the retired fame fighter Kwan the Unkillable, two generals, Master Bear and Master Chicken, three teachers of their classes, Grandmaster Shifu, Master Chen Ming, and Master Sheep, and their water buffalo ruler, Emperor Huangdi.

Once observing the swarms of gold, emerald, and cerulean confetti popping from small fireworks around the inner circle before the musicians, Master Storming Ox thought of most citizens with their children finding merriments to one another, reminding himself and his closest companions enjoy their company with the Soothsayer's classmates at the Sacred Flame's courtyard. The bovine had harness links around his body, including his metallic kilt with puttees. The arena is perfect, Master Ox thought, his crimson eyes catching glimpses of the dancing dragons wavering across the giant stadium with billowing banners. Grandmaster Shifu had an everlasting memory of his tortoise teacher inviting the citizens of the Valley of Peace before the panda showed himself from the ball of fire — the beginning of Oogway's chosen successor.

Escaped from the silvery webbed clouds dawned the streams of yellow light touching the Realm and the Kong Bai Stadium, and the percussionists rolled their drums with the introduction. The opening was starting now, presenting three behemoth gates of the east, the northwest, and the south. The northwest flashed quick warriors in dark green clothing, performing their acrobatic flips as all four bounded between the pillars, and the three raced to the front. All seven on their corner transpired to create slow and agile motions of Tai Chi, the air summoning sharp feathers that cut the breeze.

From the south gate, opened with low creaks and rumbles, zoomed silvery-blue flashes into the stadium, inviting all eight warriors of the four might, three strong and one small, before their ninth member soared from the sky with rich vibrations from one's wings and a lengthy train. The Nine beckoned to manifest the spectators with their first forms of Wing Chun while their avian brother, Lao, stirred side to side, soaring through the gaps of those long poles before he landed beside his feline brother and wolf sister. Commencing to introduce, each member exhibited each character's form of their competitive, unique traits: the leader's crouching tiger and hidden dragon, the brilliance's balance and agility, the dancer's serpent sashes, the doctor's rapidity flows, the serpent's kiss of the wind, the ferocity's momentum, the heaver's drum fists and a roar, the defender's lung dragon with six digits, and the pirate's butterfly knives and swordsmanship.

The gateway from the east nearly opened to ajar, and the line of gold underneath the gate sent white waves and gold ripples. Emerging out of the light sprinted warriors with incredible haste: the green insect's streak zoomed and bounced on columns; Monkey performed rolls and spins in the air; the avian with a conical hat hovered with great speed as his wings heightened the winds with sharp edges, soaring through the column barriers; the serpent, Viper, crawled on the poles and sprang one end and the next, landing on the fighting platform; the striped feline master; Tigress, bounded on fours with acrobatic flips as Crane caught and hurled her to the nearest surface, showing her form of a kung fu tiger style; heightening a roar from the gateway spawned a panda with burlap short patches, rolling himself into the arena.

It was a glorious day to present these honorable fighters participating in the challenges ahead. The Dragon Warrior, Furious Five, the Nine, and Righteous Seven observed the stadium bellowing with high spirits as many praised their presence. The ones with the panda and his companions dominated the most; their prestige showed great value with respect and honor to the citizens and the Emperor for annuals.

"Wow! Get a load of this, guys!" Po gaped, and the Furious Five, beaming with their panda friend, looked at a few familiar faces closer to the first rows of the stadium. "Now, that's a giant place to see everyone he—"

Po gasped and widened his eyes at the Emperor's row. On the front seat, sitting next to Masters Croc and Sheep, was the admirable fighter he recognized. "GUYS, LOOK! Oh, my gosh! It's Kwan, the Unkillable!"

A retired wrestler was a ram with broad, curved horns, waving at the citizens and the fighters below, presenting his kind and admiration. No way! Kwan! When being summoned by the citizens' cheers, Chen Xing thought of the famous wrestler whom the tiger knew in his youth time; his bovine brother, Niu, standing beside their peacock brother and wolf sister, gave his hard squint at the throne platform where someone he cherished in his dear life emerged next to the Emperor of China — his father, Master Storming Ox.

"LOOK! Masters of Gongmen are here!" Po darted his digit.

"Don't forget that Peng is here with Lian and their boys next to your fathers and your whole panda family!" Tigress guided his friend's sight toward the citizen gallery platform.

The front right side was perched with hundreds of bears in black and white praising their hero and brother (and their cousin from Dim and Sum), where gray forms with clouded patches and gold eyes appeared, including two cubs of theirs. Po could barely see his fathers amidst the jumping crowds praising their loving son. Next to the goose and the elder panda, before Po's eyes, Mei Mei and her pandiva mate, in their silky robes of rose and light purple, held their banner that showed the Five and Dragon Warrior forming their kung fu stances.

"OH, MY! SHE IS HERE!" Crane bellowed as Xing glanced at the other gallery platform, where other scholars in different classes hurled their fists and hands waved in the air. As the tiger noticed a few before, admiring what they sought their traditions to be fighters for purposes, Xing caught the name of the class, which he perceived where his avian colleague started from before the Jade Palace: Lee Da Academy. And, from the midst of the front rows before the giants behind the figure, a golden cat, a friend of Crane, was there.

After moments of joy, the galleries deadened when the three classes formed into groups, with the Emperor's gesture inviting all the eyes to him in the throne gallery.

"Greetings, citizens of China!" Huangdi proclaimed in high spirits, beaming at the spectators. "The time has come to see all three classes prove themselves to seek challenge! I present to you all the Tai Chi martial artists: the Righteous Seven! Beside them are Master Chen Wing's disciples: Fellowship of the Nine! And next to the young fighters are Grandmaster Oogway's warriors, the heroes of Jade Palace: The Dragon Warrior and Furious Five!"

The joys around the stadium heightened as the Masters of Jade Palace were known because of their reputation. Most banners fluttering and carrying the spectators emerged as many looked at character names and their class titles. Go, Dragon Warrior! Tigress Hardcore! Monkey rocks! Kiss me, Viper! Go Nine! Fear the Righteousness! And many more signs from the fans praised and encouraged them all.

"Masters of Jade Palace! Fellowship of the Nine! And Righteous Seven! The four wheels will take their spins!" the Emperor of China uttered, signaling the officials on the top of the stadium. "Spin the first!"

The first wheel of gold, blue, and green began to roll. The colors indicated which team could go first before taking on the second. It stopped, and the indicator landed on the emerald triangle. "Tai Chi is in!" the Emperor hollered, bringing spectators of the green banners and supporters to cry for joy. "Now spin the gold and blue wheel!"

After the other two wheels of green and gold and the three colors began to withdraw, the two bovines triggered the bamboo machinery's lever, allowing the middle of gold and blue to spin. The realm stirred to a silence, except for the winds that rustled, the middle wheel's woods tapping from the pointy arrow, and the heart racing in Xing's flesh lowered the drum's rhythms, anticipating to observe who would be competing against the Tai Chi warriors. This patience became thinner the moment when the arrow reached amidst between the gold and blue. Thunderous gasps amplified, and the indicator chose the Righteous Seven's newest foes to chase for the title.

Blue.

Cobalt banners fluttered, and supporters and fans of the Nine bellowed their cheers. "Alright! Piece of cake!" Niu clenched and cracked his keratin digits. "You ready for this, Xing?"

"Right on, big brother. Let's not get ourselves cocky," Xing smirked.

The Dragon Warrior and the Furious Five had their hands shaken with their soon-to-be competitors. Po, beaming at the tiger, patted him. "Good luck, buddy!"

II. Tai Chi vs. Wing Chun

From these complex forms, the introduction showed and proved to all the observers that many craved to see how warriors trained and practiced Kung Fu, Wing Chun, and Tai Chi for several years. These concepts exhibited symbolisms of life, tranquility, and ceasing the war, which the three bore their guides on. Tai Chi unleashes the energy flow; Wing Chun builds agility and strength with eternal springtime; and Kung Fu for progression and achievement. Regarding these paramount notions, Chen Xing reflected on his grandmother, who could read all the philosophy scrolls that he read, nearly most of which were written by all the Wing Chun ancestors. One of their ancestors, Mui Tan Huang, unveiled the ordinary life beyond the importance of becoming water in your body.

Ancient writing from Mui Tan Huang had chronicled in the tiger's mind.

One who emerges a formidable and intimidating character excels as a warrior.

One who submerges emotions excels in fighting.

One who defeats his enemy respects the foe.

One who encourages the young and sage has a good heart.

With the Nine had known some of the histories, including Mui Tan Huang's principles of Wing Chun, they would love to read Grandmaster Oogway's concepts at the Jade Palace, where Grandmaster Oogway stored a thousand scrolls of kung fu, written by the former warlord and magnificent. Most of these could take years to master the techniques, comprehend the philosophy, and read other side stories Chen Xing craved to read. Like the essentials, all the late masters from paintings who wished to share their ideas with the tortoise, their stories were all written and known from all their armaments, including their inceptions across the Hall of Heroes.

On the large platform, the Righteous Seven demonstrated their Tai Chi forms of water and energy that strengthened from their feet to their limbs. Their arms flowed with rippling motions, stances balancing. This demonstration had their competitors and observers in awe after each student unleashed their qi in their veins. The Emperor's call summoned the Nine's presence, and when all the young masters assembled from their ranks, they commenced their forms that started it all from the first level of Wing Chun: Sil Lum Tao. Encounters depicted the close range to engage against foes grasping with quick grapples, mobile fists, and agility movements. Their horse stances fastened the platform, strengthening their limbs without losing balance when opponents attempted to stumble them. Kicks or sweeps were undeniably ineffective against the horse stance but moderate enough. Punches flowed through bridges like water, the air hissing and bashing from their impacts. The voice from Xing's grandmother reminded him of his demonstration that he could perfect one of his forms for hours: Sil Lum Tao. When concentrating harder without distraction, Chen Ming's voice of wisdom and persistence washed in his mind.

Remember, my dear Sunzi. Blocking and attacking from your advantages can confuse opponents during close-quarter combat situations.

What about my brother, Nana? Xing asked her.

Lao's wings are not meant to attack, which will ruin his feathers. But with deflection, your brother has defensive strategies for them. Considering his feet are far more advanced in hitting and preventing kicks, a staff weapon for Lao is handy.

Shou vs. Kasi

Before commencing the match, the Tournament officials emitted statement rules that must make warriors obey and not violate the principles, according to Shaolin's Laws under the late Grandmaster Oogway and honorable monks. As overruled to understand clearly, the warriors had their oaths with the Emperor's supervision, and the match invited the low-rank fighters, introducing the yak pirate and panther raajakumaaree (princess). They were substantial warriors of Wing Chun for Shou's Baat Jam Do and Tai Chi for fluidity pose. Once the bovine entered the platform, Lady Kasi removed her beads with a heart-shaped jewel and handed the pendant to her fox companion. Her eyes gazed at her competitor, her mind flooding with concerns about the likes of the young yak with upward horns, remembering the event that the emerald sky streaked and invited the foe that was forgotten ten annuals earlier. Gladly, from her perception, Shou's horns were in contrast to the late Jade Slayer's serrated horn edges.

Shou and Lady Kasi presented their bows to the Emperor of China and the masters and judges. At once, the two fighters bowed to themselves and formed their stances: one for a water chi and the other for a fist. No weapons were added. The referee, the antelope in his gold cap and robes with black edges, held a red flag detailed with the gold dragon.

"Big Pirate. You're tall!" Kasi smirked, showing her fighting pose. "Tai Chi; Kasi."

"Beautiful princess, ye be," Shou complimented the princess, spreading his horse-stance feet and guarding his limbs ahead of his chest. "Wing Chun; Shou."

The flag waved, and the match began.

Round One

The panther started the fight, which caused her to sweep her foot to the middle as Shou's horse stance remained firm and preventable against tripping over, his arms presenting fook sao against her fists, drawing the other defensive combo palm sao before his knife palm aimed towards her throat. Kasi's arm contacted Shou's bridge, dodging the palm as she spun her limb when he moved forward by mistake, driving the yak to plunge and crash.

The panther extended her arms, her feet fastening to a balance when Chen Xing anticipated her defensive strategy, waiting for Shou's next move while the yak hastily rose from his feet. The Nine's Pirate stepped in to engage, and Kasi, persisting in repelling his forearms from fists landing near her head, sidestepped to her corners and withdrew; Shou continued gaining on the panther by forming his ripped arms into basic blocks of chi sao, rapidly clutching Kasi's wrist before landing a blow from his right hoof. The score pointed to Shou.

Round Two

Delivering intense hails, including the sounds of thrashing blows, Kasi uppercutted her palm through Shou's chest, which she forbade sharp claws in fighting, as the rules stated. Immediately disoriented, the yak shook his head and balanced his stance, readying his opponent's next move. As these warriors began to resume, the yak summoned Jan fan kick, parrying Kasi's leg from booting his knees. Several punches landed from both, their fists ripping the breeze as Kasi swept her limb to the platform, enabling her to spin. Sighting a surprise attack from her vortex feet, Shou avoided when withdrawing; when nowhere else to move toward corners as if Shou almost stepped on the out-of-bounds line, Kasi delivered hard kicks, twirling her feet to his legs, which brought him collapse to his knees and her foot bashed his upper torso.

Shou fell off the platform and crashed near his brothers, and Kasi earned this round.

"WHOA!" Niu bedazzled.

"That's gotta hurt!" Zhao gasped.

Round Three

Only one student could win this match.

Regaining his brief recovery, springing his feet on the platform while snouting for concentration, Shou started and fastened his horse stance, hurling his straight feet and guard parries. Kasi's roar enhanced her dancing forms, thrashing her vertical fists. This aggressiveness from the bovine's attacks brought him to circling bong sao palms over the panther's wrists, deflecting Kasi from clutching him; with lap sao, knifing her neck, Shou quickened his circle punches, and while attempting to do the elbow strike, which made his defense open without guarding the center, Lady Kasi hurled her foot to his ribcage. HAAA! Quickly advancing her combination techniques, her grip clutching with a qi warded off Shou's large limb, and the other bridged a fatal palm blow, tossing the yak in the air before his collapse.

THUD!

Lady Kasi won.

The serpent master gasped, her thin tail pressing her lips. "OH! Good heavens," Viper pitied the young yak.

"Not bad at all!" Monkey cheered when towering himself with his sturdy tail, clapping all four of his palms.

Bao vs. Huong

The second match introduced the two giants, the gorilla and the bear, facing themselves on the platform. Their strengths showed that Bao had firm stone-like muscles, while Huong, Master Bear's sister, improved her limbs, remaining solid yet regular. On the night that Chen Xing met the Tai Chi students, Shujaa and Lady Kasi spoke to him about Master Bear's sister, their companion, whom they were thrilled to anticipate the bear's uniqueness, which Huong was the ordinary soul to see anyone special in their hearts. With a history from their friend, reflecting the losses where the assailers slew Huong and Master Bear's people, the Nine shared their sympathies with her.

Houng was in her sleeveless lime top and burlap shorts, her cinnamon eyes radiating as she inspected her opponent ahead. Bao, stretching his wrist joints with preparation, sighted her with awe, gently tapping his fists on the platform before gesturing to his challenger.

"Bao, Huong? Bao, dance?" the gorilla presented his vicious smirk, chuckling.

"Gladly, Master Bao," her beast voice crooned and lowered to a rich cream. "You are so much more unique than your mates."

Two giants slammed their fists and bowed.

"Bao; Bao, Wing Chun."

"Tai Chi; Huong."

And the red flag wavered.

Round One

This round embarked with the gorilla trotting on fours, and the bear positioned her giant's strength stance, extending her claws. Engaging into fists when parrying forearms, Huong quickly sidestepped and battered to the left side, Bao blocking the attack with his right palm's tan sao while the other bashing her muzzle simultaneously. From their hands and claws darting with the air screeches, delivering fatal hits, the gorilla heaved his whole weight with his main hand and launched his feet, striking the bear's chest. Onward to his combos, when Huong was off course while wobbling before turning too late, Jan fan and heel kick pierced through her legs, and Bao clutched and pivoted her out of bounds.

She fell, and the gorilla drummed his chest with pride, roaring.

"ALRIGHT!" the Nine's Doctor, Hong, threw her tiny fists.

"WAY TO GO, BAO!" the Nine's Serpent, Fanshe, praised his giant brother.

Round Two

The crimson flag with the gold dragon made another flutter, causing Bao and Huong to clash into a close-quarter fight. Gaining opportunity, Hong gripped Bao's wrist and pressed into his joint, the pain stinging in the gorilla's mind that made him withdraw while grimacing. Aggressing forward with momentum, which brought all the eyes to watch the platform, full of twists and turns, drummed with wallops from two competitors, Huong broadened her claws with qi, darting three straight punches toward Bao's head. Avoiding the vulnerable spot, Bao barricaded his bulky arms over his head, his elbows stopping several uppercuts.

The gorilla, regaining his strength, spread his arms wide before the bear darted her whole limb onward, nearly punching his torso, yet Bao went for the deflection when he curved his palm and parried it down, grasping and thrusting Huong back. In a simultaneous act, Bao swept his foot to where the bear tripped over and tumbled. Huong, seeing the gorilla commit his proximity to reach down to her, propelled her foot to his upper legs but failed to ward him off as if Bao clutched her ankle and wrestled her, twisting the limb where her joints trapped and flared into severe excruciation, making the bear roar and tap the floor for surrender.

Bao won.

"NOW, THAT'S MORE LIKE IT!" Fanshe cheered across the outer platform, and the blue banners on the gallery next to yellow flags waved and thundered hails from the Nine's fans.

Kasi vs. Niu

The ebony panther previously contemplated the tale of the well-known warrior who raided the rats' territory where Master Storming Ox nearly drowned; neither the small assailers could stand against the giant from his intellectual mindset. This story was quite well-known to her. Still, Lady Kasi and the Righteous Seven heard the other tale memorizing like yesterday, reflecting the days of the three leopards and the criminal syndicates before the three warriors prevented the schemes and the invasions when they entered the volcano manor. At last, sighting one warrior with heterochromia eyes of blue and red, her contestant stepped onto the platform, and the Nine's fans from the galleries intensified the giant's presence.

The Nine's Defender, son of Master Storming Ox and the godson of Master Thundering Rhino approached his challenger with pride. This competition was his opportunity to let his father see his son competing against a challenging opponent. However, his training to anticipate fighting had him educated to diminish his bitter emotions. Emotions caught him off guard during his training and on a mission to prevent the incursions from the assailers ripping Hajin Province apart. Ever since Chen Xing brought Niu into the Shui Palace, despite the activities progressing him to master his sentiments, he was changed from nearly following his father's footsteps into the outside world of low lives, where the three street fighter legends formerly competed against each other for yuans.

The bovine's distraction from recalling the moments of his father's aggression and owing his companion's life led Niu to focus ahead of himself, thanks to the Dragon Warrior from his right side, who uttered the bovine with encouragement. "I BELIEVE IN YOU, BUDDY! MAKE YOUR DAD PROUD!"

Many warriors regarded the Emperor's Wisdom on the throne floor, where Master Storming Ox leveled his head high with recognition as Niu could give a glimpse at him before facing his contestant. "I know the face of the Kung Fu Master, friend," Ladi Kasi surveyed her eyes at the young bovine. "Master Storming Ox is such a spirited being, and I am honored to meet his son."

"You are too kind, your Grace. I am indeed his kid," Niu nodded with a little smirk, and the two competitors bowed. The panther began lifting her footwork before she performed her dancing pose, both arms flowing, giving her first acrobatic flip forward. Her paws glittered with yellow qi pulsations. "Tai Chi; Kasi."

Niu positioned his horse stance, thumping his feet thrice to harden Niu's feet, presenting his Pak sao limbs before her. "Wing Chun; Niu."

Round One

Committing to engage, Niu forced his stance onward, and Kasi broadened her paws, twirling her body in the air. Right before the panther's kick, Niu fended off with his crossed wrists upward from hammering his head. She rounded her arms and proceeded to assault through the bovine's barriers, enabling her to elbow his belly and batter her feet on his upper leg and torso. After wobbling, but gaining momentum instead of collapsing his knees, Niu encountered her forms and prevailed kun lim tao form, driving his hooves with bong sao and hurling his foot on Kasi's right leg. With off balance, Kasi panicked, and Niu stormed toward the panther, unleashing more than fifteen circle punches toward her chest.

Performing a spin, Niu rounded his kick and the other, striking her legs off course and her torso, tossing Kasi out the platform to a fall.

"BAO, NIU!" The Nine's Heaver pulsed his torso with his fists.

"Nicely done, mate!" The Nine's Pirate clapped his hooves.

Niu puffed his snout, and when he turned away, a screeching roar launched into the air. Lady Kasi bounded and twined her body into acrobatic motion, giving her a hard landing with her right foot hammer that shook the platform and the bovine's legs. Damn, did I piss her off? Niu guarded his limbs, readying for another surprise attack, which made him wary after he defeated his contestant in the first round. This wariness was likely done so that Master Ox's son could anticipate bandits that refused to submit after being defeated.

The panther and young ox gazed while in stances, circling the platform before easing their arms. Lady Kasi, creating a balance with one foot while the other hooking against her dominant leg, hit her paws together, grinning. "Bahut badhiya, mera dost," the panther approved. "Well done, my friend. It's not over yet."

Smirking, Niu set his horse stance and bowed to her for another round.

Round Two

"Ready?" the antelope referee signaled the left side to Kasi.

"Ready," Kasi answered after floating her arms with a qi flow.

"Fight!"

Without hesitation to startle her opponent, Kasi sprang her foot to Niu's jaw, and the bovine pounded her foot's tip with his palms crossed. Brawling, the pather bridged Niu's blocks with all the efficiency that she lined her deflection forms. Niu hurled his other palm on the center point when the other, tie sao, connected simultaneously, rapidly pummeling through the opening as the felines Chen Ming and Chen Xing taught him where to break the opponent's defenses with quick and decisive moments. Doubling his kick with jan fan, which had blocked Kasi's legs from kicking his chest, Niu rounded his arms and covered the side of his head as Kasi attempted to spin her kick in mid-air and clobbered him. Snouting, the bovine charged and yanked his head upward, keeping the panther in the distance while bounding above him.

"HAAAAA—!"

Widening his heterochromia eyes, Niu rapidly spun and propelled his high kick directly to her torso. "YA!" He sent the panther off the platform, and she tumbled.

The son of Master Storming Ox made a victory.

"LET'S GO, NIU!" Chen Xing cheered, throwing his claws in the air with triumph.

"OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE, BIG BROTHER!" Lao cheered with the tiger.

That's my boy! Master Storming Ox smiled next to Emperor Huangdi, who lightened his grin and flashed his gold eyes at him with delight.

Chapter Text

Episode Four: Tournament (30 - 41)

Chapter XXXI

Tournament, Act Two

Bao vs. Shi Dang

"You can do this, Bao. I believe in you," Fanshe heartened the gorilla outside the square. "Show him what you are made of!"

"Bao, Bao!"

The ape tapped his chest and led himself to the stairs before the platform, the Nine's fans rousing and waving their flags. Before the giant's eyes, his contestant rose from the platform and approached, unveiling the impala with twirled horns. Shi Dang, in his dark green top and black trousers, surveyed his new opponent, whom he regarded. A week before the Tournament, when studying the Righteous Seven in the Jade Palace Library with the Furious Five, the Dragon Warrior was thrilled about Shi Dang's background, which the impala's father was the honor guard who used to work with Peafowl Nobles. As he was the only firstborn who remembered the day of reckoning to see the young Lord Shen and his wolves banished to the north, Shi Dang's father participated in and had him and most of the antelopes to build fortress towers and defend the Sacred Flame from tyrants, including the one who was disinherited. On the night, with competitors celebrating each other, Lady Kasi spoke with Po about the deer's survival instinct, among more significant aspects of sensing surroundings and detecting foes from close and far.

When Lord Feng and Lady Muqin's son returned home after Peafowl Nobles died from grief for never seeing their only child again, Shi Dang craved to rebuild the Holy Flame with Masters of Gongmen to continue the history and the legacy importance, authorized by Lord Feng's Will before his demise.

"Bao, Bao!" the gorilla slammed his fists together.

The Impala grunted. "Nice to meet you too, Bao," Shi Dang beckoned his head. His first thought on the gorilla made him regard Bao's historical incident. "I feel sorry for what happened to your head, friend. The Righteous Seven read about your dark history, and I am glad the Nine look after you as your family."

"Bao, kind," the gorilla grunted, which caused Shi Dang to unveil his puzzling look. One of the Nine helped their contestant.

"He said you are too kind," Chen Xing worded the deer.

Oh. I'll have to get used to Bao's words.

Shi Dang, warding the distraction off his mind, cleared his throat. They bowed and formed their stances.

"Bao; Bao, Wing Chun."

"Tai Chi; Shi Dang."

Round One

No matter how big or small, they opposed each other after the start; Shi Dang avoided all the strong arms of the gorilla strength. Bao used tok sao toward the deer's left wing, and Shi Dang strengthened his hard front kick to the gorilla's ribcage. Performing his qi demonstration with advance, when Bao set his foot forward, the deer pounded his hoof to the ankle, his fists sending fatal thrashes, amplifying with an excruciating roar. After the impala kept his distance from the opponent, Bao charged onward.

Squinting, Shi Dang sidestepped and bowled to the left, ducking below the ape, who launched his feet off the ground, missing the hard thrust. Giving a possible chance, the impala dashed from behind and bounded in the air, extending his foot through the shrieking air stream before Bao's upper chest. Booted twice, causing his back to weigh down to the edge of the platform, Bao gasped and had his foot spring, flipping backward; the gorilla pinned his large hands on the edge and attempted to spin and lean on the safe route, but the impala would not let him a chance as Shi Dang prevailed his acrobatic spins in mid-air and bashed the giant off course, and the whole arena intensified their gasps.

"WOAH!" Lotus widened her gold-ring eyes, then cringed when Bao crashed his back on the out-of-bounds surface.

The Nine reached out to their gorilla brother and supported him. The bovine and the crocodile heaved his arms on their backs. "You got this, Bao! Get back in there!" Chen Xing encouraged the ape.

"BAO, BAO!"

"Outta boy!" Fanshe approved. "Go kick his butt, Bao!"

Round Two

Drumming his chest with his fists with an aggressive posture after amplifying his roar, Bao sprinted on fours as Shi Dang planted his limbs down and prevailed his tai chi stance; with the Nine's Heaver rounding his hard throws, endeavoring Bao to shatter his opponent's blocks, Shi Dang rotated his body side to side when sweeping the giant's grasps, but the ape did an elbow strike to the deer's chest and back-knuckle combo under his jaw. Upon mighty hits, causing the impala to disorient, almost wobbling before attempting to stand his ground after shaking his head from dizziness, Bao traversed the bridge of his arms while blocking his contestant's forearms from clutching. Delivering enough potency, right before Shi Dang clasped the giant's wrist, Bao deflected with a tan sao and knife palmed to his whole chest, his other fist receiving the deer a potent slam, putting him to slide and collapse towards the square's edge.

Round Three

Grunting in triumph, Bao firmed his horse stance and two grips near his ribcages, anticipating his opponent's surprise attacks as he concentrated on the Impala. Knowing what to expect, the giant's posture displayed a smirk; Shi Dang formed his energy flow from his hooves throughout the body while breathing, remaining tranquil. As the referee fluttered his flag, the two fighters engaged and hurled their limbs within the bridge-to-bridge forearms, one attacking and the other defending. As Bao could do one arm deflecting the Impala's swinging arms, Shi Dang prevented him from progressing the giant's combination, with his hoof launching a palm strike to Bao's left shoulder, shoving him back before the deer darted his foot towards Bao's left lung. Shi Dang rolled to the side as the ape charged onward; the deer clenched his wrist amidst the air and flipped him down, slamming the surface with a mighty impact.

Shi Dang won the match after his foot nearly landed on Bao's neck.

Oh dear, Viper thought as she held her tail to her lips, and the green banners wavered.

Niu vs. Shujaa

"Alright, big brother. You can do this. Win or lose, make your dad proud," Chen Xing gave him a firm pat on the bovine's upper shoulder, and Niu puffed his snout.

"I'm all in, brother," the young ox grinned and nudged his hoof on his friend.

Stepping onto the platform, the son of Master Storming Ox approached his next contender, whom he anticipated of him from a faraway land. There were no large felines with large manes in China, but there were lion dragons that used to be soaring in this prospering realm. Niu had his eyes caught on the monument stones before the Jade Palace Arena's front gateway. One of the dragons, he remembered mythology, was one beast that devoured gold, and among other majestic creatures, he was inspired to contemplate the tale of one of the nine sons was a lion creature. All mighty that bore courage and magic. Filled his mind with novelty that no other people like him were from the ancient land of China, a Swahili warrior, whose gifted mind of empathy and potency being the bravest student of the Righteous Seven, noticed several lion totems that evolved the dragons before their extinction; their appearances triggered him to imagining who the beasts were from the ancient times, that his Tai Chi master visioned them their appearance had flowy manes like his, behemoth wings like avians and scathe skins like lizards.

Appearing in only a dark green loincloth, which, from his tradition of formerly living in a Swahili tribe, Shujaa met his bovine contestant with a respective nod. "You are far from home, Master Shujaa," Niu spoke. "I hear Africa is a majestic country."

"It is," Shujaa said. My teacher spoke to me about those totems, Master Niu. It was magical to see them in paintings and statues."

"I love them all, friend. I am glad you are as interested in them as I was in my youth."

"So, I see."

Finding their conversations that went friendly, having become a distraction for a brief moment, the warriors of lion and ox bowed to the Emperor of China and themselves, and the referee raised his red flag in preparation.

"Tai Chi; Shujaa."

"Wing Chun; Niu."

Round One

The lion started with his limbs spreading wide into a water flow, engaging the bovine, whose eyes could detect the boxing technique as Niu readied his forearms forward. Diverted to hurtle the fists as the giant pivoted, repelling the lion's countermeasures, Shujaa spun below with his heel kick, pushing Niu to collapse back, but hastily raised his foot by blocking the other heel from another attack before the giant made the advantage on rolling before standing up, regaining his defensive stance. They circled the square, waiting for their moves to block or to search for the moment of one mistake to attack. The bovine went on, motioned his straight punches thrice as Shujaa rounded his forearms into deflection, and his third block was at a miss. With momentum gaining, the bovine paced his circle thrashes to his chest; receiving amounts of quick and hard blows of about fifteen, the lion tripped backward, and with luck, his right foot fastened from falling and progressed to parry another ring of fists when twisting his body to one side, elbowing his chest and kicking his upper knee.

The bovine, withdrawing, popped his neck and held his arms up, readying for another. Shujaa stormed ahead, springing in the air into acrobatic rolls before his left foot extended downward after landing; right before impacting his upper shoulder, Niu clutched his whole leg and spun him in the opposite direction. After seeing his contestant fall and roll before trying to stand, Niu charged on fours and rammed him, forcing the lion to fly.

Next to the Furious Five, the Dragon Warrior praised Master Ox's son's talent, heightening his cheer. "WAY YOU GO, NIU!"

"Not bad for Master Ox's son," Tigress grinned.

Round Two

The Emperor of China allowed two competitors to start wielding their weapons as he wanted to entertain the audience while they were observing the battle. In favor of the judges, the weapon contest served as only one round to announce who would win the elimination, despite lethal blows from the armaments that could potentially transpire in every fight as far as many fighters thought about bandits wielding their blades. Seeking the duo weapons that had him inspired by his father's skills when Master Ox engaged Master Croc outside of the Sacred Flame Tower's courtyard, Niu grabbed the ax blades and played around with the duo, managing those grips to wield well with his experience. Looking at what to expect his feline opponent to carry, the bovine readied his weapons before the lion finally fetched a large halberd with a curved silvery blade with lion dragon carvings. Spinning the pole, laying it behind his back when aiming and preparing for the attack, Shujaa let out his low, creamy growl.

Once sighting their nods, the referee waved, and the match commenced with the armaments striking with shrills and clangs. The observers saw the contest with extreme cheers and awe, filling all the cries around the arena as the fury of these attacks from the bovine and lion had citizens sitting on the edge of their seats, anticipating to see who could win or lose. Twirling the pole with unnatural fluidity, born from the youngest age that he killed a member of the enemy tribe at nine years of age, Shujaa slit through the giant's parries when piercing straight and slashing on sides, but Niu countered the rest with flawless blocks, bashing where the spear attempted to plunge or lacerate his fur. Rounding his axes, and as Shujaa hammered his halberd from two blades nearing his head before his foot struck the bovine's belly, Niu fastened his other foot and rounded his horns, warding his opponent in the distance.

Dodging back with an immediate response from getting rammed, Shujaa created his halberd to a vortex above his mane and charged onward, allowing the bovine to parry, role, and round his other ax, nearly cutting the feline's mane at mere inches. Almost surprised to get decapitated, Shujaa, provoking his expression with wide eyes into glare, rolled to one corner and made perfect disarmament when trapping the halberd through the curvy blades, yanking the ax off the bovine's grip. Gasping but concentrating on the fight with his one weapon left, Niu clutched the ax together and reengaged, heaving and slicing on sides to try disarming the lion's halberd. As clever as Shujaa regarded opponent's armament was slow but brutal to deliver fatal damages, but with his halberd so agile enough to cleave the opponent's head, the lion parried the ox's hard thrusts upon upper shoulders before forcing his weight to the side and shoving the weapon away. Shujaa clutched and slammed Niu to the side after another rapid disarmament. Ending this match, the lion amplified his rough roar and nearly plunged the bovine's neck.

"I yield!" Niu surrendered, and Shujaa, fading his intimidating face, accepted his opponent's surrender, the match announcing the lion's victory; the green banners and pendants flew in the air.

Withdrawing his halberd and handing it to the referee, Shujaa extended his claw and pulled Niu to his greater height; the two warriors surveyed the galleries and heard all the citizens shout with joy; and on the Emperor's platform, Master Ox was the only one standing with other legends who still sat their chairs, but Huangdi had his friend to sit as Ox was relieved to see his son alive.

"That was a good fight, Master Shujaa," Niu smiled.

Shujaa chuckled, patting his left shoulder. "Good fight, my friend. Despite your defeat, Niu, you deserve your credit."

"Niu lost the battle, citizens! And he showed you all the recognition as the father's son!" the Emperor of China proclaimed, spreading his arms wide. "Praise Master Storming Ox's son!"

Many approved and encouraged him, banners waving.

Zhao vs. Shi Dang

The Nine's Predator from Hu Tzu Village, the most exceptional reptile student in Chen Ming's eyes, was now participating in this contest, emerging towards the platform where the Impala waited for his new rival. Upon the stranger's arrival at the Shui Palace, the incident occurred when the old garden bridge crossing the small river from the temple's yard to the bamboo forest collapsed, and Chen Xing's peacock brother strolled across without warning. The stream carried its rain current and shattered the two beams, and Hong, planting one of Ming's lavender flowers at the side of the porch, saw him falling into the water and called out for help. Before Chen Xing could sprint on fours to the riverbank, almost about to plunge, there was no need for him because a reptile carried the peafowl before his eyes and handed Lao to the tiger. When they saw the peacock's rescuer, Chen Ming and Chen Xing questioned the stranger about where he traveled from and what his purpose for departure was. Zhao had a family of crocodiles before, raised by a clan of bandits; the reptile was the only one who disliked what they mistreated him as such, including their schemes by intimidating and drowning villagers across bayou villages where they owned their turfs before the citizens.

There was no possibility that Zhao's family of rotten apples were either Fung or his fellow crocodiles, even though most of the clans, unlike the ones the Nine confronted before, were far more vicious than other gang-related territories. Gladly thanking Chen Ming and her grandson for having him reside in the Shui Palace, where he had nowhere to travel, Zhao gave in and was pleased to be one of Chen Ming's disciples.

Twirling his broad tail with a spiky ball, Zhao bowed to the Emperor and his challenger, who presented his slim eyes with curiosity and sternness.

"Ferocious crocodile. . . very deadly," Shi Dang nodded, bowing to him. "Tai Chi; Shi Dang."

"Nice to meet you too, Shi Dang," the Nine's Predator grinned, motioning his stance to a reptile style, readying his limbs forward. "Wing Chun; Zhao."

Round One

A surprise attack Zhao transpired from his tail sweeping the floor, and Shi Dang nearly tripped over after he sprang and landed. As stated that the round was for warriors to carry weapons, Shi Dang rapidly fetched a set of sai knives from the side of the platform, and Zhao caught the curved sword, both fighters engaging in the air with harsh reverberations of metal against metal edges, ringing all the ears to a rough start. Pounding and darting when engaging on the floor, Zhao dodged the Impala's sai blade slicing, and while perfecting his posture to gain closer to his opponent, the crocodile booted his knees and spun his tail. Shi Dang warded the spike ball from his left. However, the impact was evenly powerful enough to slide his feet back, but Shi Dang dashed forward and crossed his weapons upward, shoving off Zhao's ball again.

Monkey leaned and stroked his chin beside Viper and Tigress as Mantis was on his bald spot, sighting the warriors who unleashed their roars while receiving their defenses with critical hits and fatal attacks on countless blocks. Po, drumming his digits on his stomach when gaping at the contest, squared his emerald eyes with merriment as Shi Dang flipped in the air and hurled dao blades before Zhao jumped to the corner and diverged, swinging his curved blades with two faultless parries.

The crocodile stood up and regained his stamina; as his contender charged against him with his other pair of sais, prevailing the uppercut, Zhao pivoted to the right and struck the grip pole to the shoulder, his tail sweeping the Impala's feet. Crashing his back to a loud thud, Shi Dang rolled and hurled his last pair but failed to hit the crocodile on his leg and torso after a quick deflection. Without hesitating, the Impala flashed his foot to Zhao's right leg and booted his stomach, lurching his balance. And clutching the curved blade with two hoof palms with agility, radiating his qi, Shi Dang ripped the sword in half and disarmed Zhao, withdrawing at a few paces as the audience heightened their shocks.

Zhao, quivering his reptile hands with slight surprise, accepted to brawl after forming his Wing Chun stance, his tail whipping off the spike ball as he tossed it to Chen Xing across. For a brief moment of concentration on their next move, as both warriors stepped into their close-range combat, Shi Dang started the palm lunge, and Zhao recoiled his reptile hand onto the bridge, punching the chest rapidly at the same time. With this "dispersing hand" method of defense and attack, the crocodile deflected the deer's fast arms opposing him, but Shi Dang flinched his stance when Zhao curved his wrist and clutched the forearm. Sweeping his leg behind the ankle, forcing the Impala to tumble, the crocodile shoved him down, skimming to the kneeling position. Unleashing his hail, Zhao pummeled his opponent's upper torso with circle punches, landing the sixth blow to his stomach.

The Emperor of China congratulated The Nine's Predator, and the blue banners fluttered, following the Nine's shouts with glory.

"NICE WORK, ZHAO!" Mantis chirped.

Hong vs. Nam

Dressed in a rose pink robe and a blue sash for her interest in the pandiva's tradition, the bunny Hong entered the square and looked at the citizens on the gallery stands. With dignity and respect, she waved before the blue pendants and billowing banners commemorated her. Mantis hopped on Crane's conical hat from Monkey's head as he would like to observe the contest with his new friend. Gawking at the bunny, whose paws had shaped into a heart at him, the insect gasped and passed out.

"Mantis?" Crane chuckled.

"Hong's asking you out, buddy," Monkey smirked. "Would you like to give some flowers to her after this?"

The insect only wheezed his moans in stupefaction rather than looking back at the bunny.

Hong's feet wobbled as the platform began to tremble, and now heightened more as the Nine's Doctor turned to her new rival as she must fight. This contender was no small or large but far menacing with his height as the warrior approached, robing in his green coat with a white robe and black belt. Nam, the Earthing Rhino, familiar to the faces of the Flying Rhino and Thundering Rhino from people's perspectives, presented his friendly composture to his challenger. What made her go sightseeing more was the rhino's ivory horns engraved with clouds and the peak terrain. Expecting this match that could be far more difficult for her to engage, Hong withered her doubtful thoughts to maintain her posture as nonchalant as unveiling nervousness from the giant. Her monk teacher before Chen Ming detailed to Hong how to face bandits with their heights; the old feline master reminded her not to overthink their size but to seek advancements in defeating them with incredible dexterities. This fight was the first one for her to challenge the mighty rhino.

Whoa.

The Nine's Dancer, Lotus, widened her gold ring eyes beside her brothers.

"My word!" Lao expressed his amazement.

"My thought exactly," Chen Xing commented.

The Earthing Rhino intensified his giant buzz, nodding at the bunny. "You seem so small to face me, young miss."

"Many before you used to mention me that, Master Nam," Hong grinned, stretching her paws and limbs forward with a grunt. "I like being small and cuddly."

Nam droned his throat. "So, I see."

"And menacing," the bunny cracked her digits, twitching her glare.

"Oh. . ."

Surprised to regard his opponent, who showed no sign of retreat but bravery as no other small citizens could fight from his perspective, Nam rolled his head with awareness to see what Hong was capable of. After bowing to the water buffalo and themselves, two fighters beckoned their fighting poses of Wing Chun and Tai Chi. With Hong's rapid body twists before paw lunges and Nam's balance with his left foot and both arms revolving to a half circle of qi on his hands, they spoke their introduction.

"Wing Chun; Hong."

"Tai Chi; Nam."

Round One

Without letting Nam expect her movement, Hong scurried into a roaring wind and sprang in the air as she roared, darting her kicks on all sides. Parring her surprise attacks, Nam heightened his arms over his head from several bashes, and, at the right moment, for the bunny to spring her jumps and deliver diving kicks with acrobatic flips, the rhino rounded his head, pounding his ivory horn on her, sending his kick to a backspin. At a near miss, unveiling a vicious smile from the bunny, Hong parried his foot and rolled backward with incredible flows, grunting at the Earthing Rhino.

"WHOA!" Mantis gasped.

"She's fast!" Po gaped.

With enough praise from the other warriors who would soon be their rivals, Hong smiled and flickered her long ears, hustling to the left and right with rapid zigzags as Nam broadened his eyes and twirled his limbs in defense. Catch me if you can! Instead of her words teasing from her lips, but with her mind, the bunny engaged the giant by hurling her fast kicks in the air, which caused Nam's round fists to ward off, attempting to clutch her. Right, left, right, left, up! Deflecting the giant's elbows and arms, Hong hastily mounted his left limb and jabbed her foot and the other with quick thrusts to his cheeks. Her aggressive attacks brought Nam's senses into disorientation, jiggling his poses.

"Damn. . ." Crane breathed out.

"She's got some talents!" Viper praised.

"GET HIM, COUSIN! YOU GOT THIS!" one of her hundreds of siblings from the Heilongjiang Province at the Dragon Warrior and Furious Five galleries proclaimed. And bunnies hollered their honorable sibling. Po, filling his lungs with wonder and surprise, caught his sight of a citizen who had come to the Noodle Shop since the last Winter Feast. On the third row, jumping and exhilarating, was the chef Wo Hop.

Shaking off the disorients, Nam puffed his snout and rounded his left hook and Hong; kicking in the air after leaping, Hong dove with a spin as her foot and the other sent him quick thrashes to powerful thumps, shattering through the rhino's forearm blocks and hitting his torso. Hitting three blocks and four to his chest, Hong flipped and landed into a fast skid, observing her opponent's wobbling stance. Without giving the bunny's odds of sighting his disadvantage, Nam, swimming his limbs to a tai chi pose with his digits shining yellow, rushed to the front and presented his heavy stomps when twisting his body side to side, rounding his fists.

Smirking, Hong launched herself with her foot darting his forelimb, forcing him to the left, and the other foot walloped his upper jaw after her triumph yell.

The Nine's Doctor earned the first round.

Round Two

The rhino's fast recovery went well as he wished to regain his sight and strength, starting the next round by reclaiming this match from his contestant. With his jaw popping, returning to normal, the Earthing Rhino stretched his half grin to the side. "Good kick, Master Hong," Nam praised her with spirit. "You are the first bunny who is more courageous than other students from temples."

The Nine's Doctor grunted with blessing. "Are you Master Thundering Rhino's son, sir?" asked Hong, broadening and clenching her fingers. You look like him."

"No," Nam beamed. "I am his nephew."

Does late Thundering Rhino have a brother? Where could he be?

Once she saw Nam's Tai Chi pose, where he presented his water form, the Nine's Doctor asked him. "Is he like a master, related to your uncle?"

"My father prefers to be a citizen instead of a kung fu master."

Stretching her grin with understanding, Hong motioned her Wing Chun stance, and the antelope referee signaled the flag.

"Hammer!"

"Sais!"

Both warriors clamored as the platform's two sides tossed the clouded hammer from the bear and a set of sai blades from the wolf. After catching hers, spinning the blades when the Earthing Rhino twirled his body and created the vortex with his hammer, Hong left her light ocean trail from behind after sprinting to a zig zag, screeching before mobilizing in the near encounter through Nam's space. Nam thrust his hammer pole to a horizontal barrier with the success of his quick parries, deflecting Hong's lunge attacks on his angles.

Fifty slashes occurred from the bunny's aggressive tactics, attempting to break through the Earthing Rhino's defensive poses. But with thunderous shocks amplifying from the gallery stands and the Nine, Nam shoved the pole and rounded his head, his horn fending off duo sais as he performed his whole weight to a spin, gyrating his cloud hammer with harsh winds.

Not as lethal against friendly allies, the hammer's winds passed through the columns and the arena's floor, and the Dragon Warrior and Furious Five received the harsh current. Their clothes fluttered, and Crane's hat almost flew off with the insect. "WHOA!" Mantis clutched on the edge of the conical hat from flying away.

"That. Was. AWESOME!" Po cheered.

Hong set her course to dash herself after springing, dodging Nam's hammer above her. Flipping on the next before the last, as if the hammer struck down, Hong mounted on its grip and flung her kicks to his head. Unaffected from knocking over, Nam made haste by stomping forward and shoving his hammer, directly hitting his challenger's whole body. And whirling another strike received her a fatal blow,

Screeching in pain, Hong was the result of her defeat. Her struggles to stand up caused her to fall, and Chen Xing called off the fight with his gesture to the referee. Nam surrendered his weapon and approached Hong, whose left shoulder injury with a rented fabric showed harsh scratches on her fur.

"I yield. Ow!" Hong winced.

"You're going to be alright, Master Hong," Nam assured her, his hand pressing on her scrapes. For a moment, his warmth qi flooding in her wound washed the rest of the scratches, fading until her wound was no more.

"Unbelievable," Hong gasped. "That was quick!"

"Master Hong, you have my respect," Nam offered his hand to her and helped the bunny to stand before the Nine's Pirate and Defender came to their side. "I do not want to hurt you further because it is too dangerous for you to fight against the experienced fighter. I saw rabbit citizens fight for the heroes; a few perished, while others survived."

"I fight for the good because I risk my entire life for the people as well, Master Nam," she said, motioning her recovered shoulder. "I am not like the citizens."

"Hmm. . . An act of courage," Nam regarded.

"My hundredth great-grandparent was a Tai Chi master," she beamed. "He was my inspiration when he took down a horde of bandits who disrespected martial artists. All of the assailers wrecked his people's houses without mercy, and ever since my ancestor fought for the villagers, he saved most of them; after defeating his enemies, leaving one to a last standing, he died protecting his people and home. As a Hop of Heilongjiang Province, I carry his legacy to show what it means for all bunnies who can be warriors."

"Brilliant," Nam smiled.

The Nine's Doctor hopped on Niu's shoulder and braced his left horn for a ride, giving her a wave at Nam. "Thanks for fighting, Master! You did good!"

Chapter Text

Episode Four: Tournament (30 - 41)

Chapter XXXII

Tournament, Act Three

Fanshe vs. Shujaa

Shujaa had been kneeling on the platform and meditating to reflect on his old home. With a nostalgic sense impacting him, he smelled desert, rainwater forests, salty breezes from the beaches, and beyond the lands across Kenya. The lion wished he could see the rest again. Since his exile, there was no point in his return, giving up his right to claim his tribe's heritage after he lost fighting against the tribe members. In desperate times before his exile, Shujaa and his tribe fought enemies for the turf, and those he reckoned to engage and slaughter those who harmed his people were reptiles long and small, cloaking within dry grasses before ambushing several.

Shujaa's ears detected soft hissings from his next opponent, and, from his perspective, the lion was ready to face him for glory. The cobra's hisses were as friendly to introduce the lion as his challenger. From Chengdu, raised by Great Viper, the father of Master Viper of the Valley of Peace, Fanshe, the Nine's Serpent, lowered his head to a bow, respecting the Emperor and the lion in their presence. With the serpents born with a scaly body without arms, eyes sharpened, and fangs honed, the snakes were the children of lung dragons. Their majestic ancestor creatures handed to their serpents, who could use their gifts for good. And Shujaa was well aware of his opponent's capabilities.

"My buddy Xing wishes to see what Africa is like over there, Master Shujaa," the serpent said, his tail bridging under his jaw. "I wonder what it is like to travel outside of China."

Shujaa rolled his head. "You never left China?"

"Never in my life," Fanshe answered. His reflection on reading the Righteous Seven's history interested him in the lion's yore. "I read you engaged serpents where you are from. Were the snakes horrible?"

"Not every snake," the lion said. "My old tribe and a few outside of Kenya were together to vanquish their foes."

"Should I be concerned about your. . . killing instincts?" Fanshe arched his brow.

"Fret not, my rafiki. I no longer kill."

Smiling with a nod, the Nine's Serpent fluttered his tail. He revealed the demonstration of his general form without arms, which his long-lost sister and adoptive father made him inspire.

"Wing Chun; Fanshe."

The lion gestured his Tai Chi pose, his mane flowing from the soft wind.

"Tai Chi; Shujaa."

Round One

Fanshe slithered his reptile skin and pounded the lion's steps as the lion Shujaa approached him with full force. The lion, gaining to withdraw his legs when sidestepping, hurled his fists against the snake's tail from lunging. Fanshe wriggled his body halfway and fastened Shujaa's leg as he slithered through the feline's body and towards the arm. Tightening the lion's limb with haste until it was too late for Shujaa to sweep his opponent away, the Nine's Serpent clutched and mimicked his fist to bash his head. With sudden reflexes of thrice hits, having the cobra hurl in the air, Fanshe hailed and spun, his tail whipping the lion's head twice.

That is not bad at all. Viper grinned, reminding him of herself that she fought for the first time, defeating the gorilla with silvery armor. Instead of her fangs, Viper advanced the ape with her crimson sash, slamming him and trapping his limbs.

Fanshe raised his front body and stretched his wide neck, his whispering tongue quivering as he locked his sight on the lion, who shook his head on the floor after a hard strike. Shujaa, creasing his muzzle when he saw the serpent's eye twitching, stormed onward and jumped, sending his heel kick down before the other. Landing precision parries from the tail, whipping off the attacks from stomping, Fanshe bent and lashed his body as if dodging from every limb the lion threw and countered the assails. Whipping the feline's leg, belly, and forehead with harsh claps, Fanshe wrung his claw's wrist and yanked Shujaa, spinning him in the air.

"WHOA!" the lion cried.

"HA!"

The Nine's Serpent cast him in the air before reaching him to his fatal blows of spinning attacks. Twice combos of slashing, the lion sent off and crashed on the platform.

"BAO, FANSHE!" the ape drummed his torso, praising his reptile brother.

"That's the spirit!" Lao beamed.

Ow.

Shujaa lay his whole head flat, his mane down to his sight. "Are you alright, big lion?" the serpent slithered in front, inspecting him.

Shujaa lifted his right thumb. "I'm okay," his voice numbed.

Round Two

The next round had Fanshe committed to his advancement as Shujaa predicted his attacks, sidestepping to the corner before the cobra whipped his tail to the right. When the lion executed his flowing arms into fluidity, prevailing his qi in his body with hidden marks of the tribe sigil on his chest, Fanshe waited for his contender's attack, both warriors circling the platform while gazing. The next encounter shifted the Nine's Serpent to his defensive pose, whipping his tail as he dodged the lion's fists in each blow.

The tiger's distraction had him bridge his digits under his jaw, caressing when surveying the Emperor's platform with all the masters who enjoyed the fighting and one of the Furious Five members across the arena, whom Xing thought about Fanshe's related serpent family.

They have not been seeing each other for annuals. I wonder what Viper thinks about Fanshe and their home.

A hard crash from the platform shook the arena and the tiger's mind, and as the gallery stands heightened with the spectators' cheers, the fight was over, and the Nine's Serpent earned his victory. Shujaa flattened his head on the floor and could not regain himself to stand after his collapse.

"WELL EXECUTED, FANSHE!" The Nine's Brilliance commended Fanshe.

"How did Fanshe win, brother?" Xing asked the peacock after nudging him. "Sorry, I got distracted."

"He trapped Shujaa's right arm and steered his fist to end the battle with numerous jabs toward the cheek," Lao answered.

Fanshe checked on Shujaa to the floor, his tail unleashing the spear-like qi to send his energy on the feline's fur, starting from his feet to the mane. The yellow pulses rippled and dissipated bruises, recovering his opponent.

"Sorry about that, Master Shujaa," the Nine's Serpent aided him. "I didn't mean to hurt you like that."

"There is no need to be ashamed, my friend," Shujaa chuckled, grunting when he held his arm where Fanshe initially wrung. "Your skills are well performed."

"My pleasure, Master Shujaa," the cobra grinned, supporting the lion with his tail to straighten Shujaa's leg from falling off. "I hope you don't see me as immoral, but I am the serpent who looks after people and friends."

"You have a heart, my rafiki," the lion stretched his grin. "Like the other one whom I admire—Master Viper. With your light among you, you are a serpent who treats one another respectfully by your original master before your companions."

"That's very kind of you," Fanshe smiled. He led his defeated challenger to Nam close to the platform's stairs, who guided Shujaa to the Righteous Seven's quarter. "You are going to be alright, Master Shujaa?"

"Usijali, my friend. Do not worry," he beamed. "I am strong."

Nam vs. Zhao

"Have you ever seen a crocodile who wears his billowing cape before? Entertaining thousands?" The Nine's Predator, Zhao, asked the Earthing Rhino after they bowed to the Emperor and themselves.

"I heard about him and the Street Fighters before," Nam reflected. "The three masters are my inspiration."

"Same! Those guys are the greatest!" the reptile simpered. "My favorite one is Master Croc."

This match nearly started when the Nine's Leader, Chen Xing, glanced at the two warriors, reminding him of the former Street Fighters. If only the Nine's Defender had liked to be on the platform with the two, fighting against each other, this competition, as Xing thought, would have promoted the Emperor of China to have citizens of all China see the young warriors of rhino, crocodile, and bovine—three fighters—as the historical monument of the old Street Fighters.

Sorry, Niu. These matches are the Elimination. How could the Emperor not see that awesomeness moment?! Just a special commemoration for them!

"Wing Chun; Zhao."

"Tai Chi; Nam."

Round One

"The croc is in!" shouted Zhao after wigging his broad tail and sprinting towards Nam. The reptile delivered his Jan fan as Nam hurled his front kick with a perfect parry. Pivoting to Earthing Rhino's side, Zhao formed his block of kune lum tao to Nam's right arm and back-knuckled combo to his head. Skidding to the angles on each side, the Nine's Predator rushed and bridged his arm lan sao, swinging and attacking simultaneously, confusing the rhino's persistence. Nam prevented his fast attacks from hitting his lower torso and ribcages as he rammed him to the side, clutching the reptile's wrist, and yanked him to the corner.

Skidding to a halt, almost falling back, but balancing his pose, Zhao progressed onward and engaged Nam, casting rapid straight punches, his elbow joints pounding where the rhino's arm joint linked as Nam attempted to trap him. Stinging his other joint, thrusting his opponent farther away with a hard kick, Zhao whirled his tail to the left, whipping Nam's head.

"There you go, Zhao!" Niu cheered as the Nine let out their joys, applauding their brother.

"Hmm. This match would have been nice," Chen Xing raised his voice beside the bovine.

"What is it, brother?"

"The Emperor should have put you on the platform, Niu," Chen Xing answered. "Everyone deserves to see something extraordinary that they'll never forget."

"Oh yeah? What is?"

The match resumed when Nam was on his feet and charged against the crocodile, but Zhao, gaining his opportunity, sent circle punches toward the rhino's chest.

"The event would have been official after this contest," Xing clarified. "If Emperor Huangdi may add something valuable for everyone to remember the old times about famous warriors, then he should have added the match called 'The Street Fighters.' Would it be awesome for you to volunteer in the ring and fight the two warriors? Your dad would have loved to see it, but Master Shujaa eliminated you."

"Oh! Now I know why you thought of that," Niu grunted, crossing his arms. "That would have been possible!"

"It's okay, buddy," Xing patted his back. "Let's give Zhao and Nam some encouragement."

The tiger surveyed the Emperor's platform, and his thoughts filled his mind. I hope Master Ox sees what we thought about this match right now.

Mid-Round Two

The spike sword sang its sharp metal wheezes, and the hammer roared its gale, sending blue sparks from the blade with multiple causes of the crocodile's deflection. Zhao struck the corner, Earthing Rhino swinging his clouded hammer to the right, delivering the shrieking winds as it slammed to the platform, the silver clouds splashing. After dissipating the cool haze, Zhao rounded his sword downward, curving the slashes when Nam blocked the assails with his hammer's pole, shoving the reptile's weapon when deflecting. Jumping in the air, Nam rotated his body and rounded his behemoth weapon, and Zhao, widening his eyes, forced withdrawing his head down at a near miss from the hammer's edges. WOOOOSSHH!

Zhao engaged him again after Nam landed before him as the Earthing Rhino twirled his hammer above his head. The Nine's Predator, lunging his sword thrice, hurled his spike ball tail, attempting to shatter Nam's qi shield from breaking his defenses. With the hammer's rough winds bursting and the sword's screeching breezes, mimicking the battles in nighttime stories of the Great War, Chen Xing could hear his avian brother's cries with foams under the current, remembering the first time the tiger met Lao's savior.

Lao! Lao! Where are you?! Xing cried out. Other voices flashed in his mind, hearing Lotus's howl and Hong's shout.

Lao's drowning! He's over there!

After the incident, when the night bathed its heaven with midnight showers, Chen Xing was in his brother's room, wrapping a cover on Lao, who sipped their sister's cherry tea that Hong served him. I will never forget that day. Lao owes you one, Zhao. Xing thought.

Escaping his mind, Xing snapped and surveyed the last moments of the two warriors finishing their combat. Jumping ahead of the rhino, the Nine's Predator stirred his sword to the right and whipped Nam's shoulder with his tail. Both combos delivered lethal hits, knocking the rhino to the side. Lunging the blade near Nam's throat ended the match, and the Emperor of China claimed Zhao's winner.

"I yield," Nam surrendered, chuckling and accepting his defeat.

Accepting his truce, Zhao reached for the rhino's hand and pulled Nam to his feet. The cheers thundered along with billowing green and blue banners.

"Well done, Master Zhao," the Earthing Rhino shared his compliment to his contender. "You fought like Master Croc."

"Did I? Highly doubtful," the Nine's Predator grinned. "I learned how to fight well with my Master Chen Ming. Master Croc is my hero."

"I suppose he is," Nam agreed, walking out of the platform with him before their separation. "I look forward to sparring with you again next time."

"Gladly!"

Fei vs. Lao

"This is it, brother. You are up," Chen Xing said, walking beside Lao near the stairs.

The Nine's Dancer, Lotus, caught up to her brothers. "I thought it was my turn," she pondered.

"Your rank doesn't match with the challenger, sister. He's like three ranks above you," the tiger explained. "Fei likes to face Lao."

Despite the "rank" purposes, Lotus was on the level of red sashes, and Fei's grade was at the third level of the black sash, among the advanced class with the fox, whose rank was nearing the fifth. Lao's level of red with black sash nearing the competitive rank was compatible with fighting the high positions. Stepping onto the stairs platform with caution, with the stadium's silence overwhelming, Lao lessened his shyness and tension, neglecting most of the eyes and mutterings on him. Chen Xing caught sight of the peacock's wings trembling.

"So many people," Lao muttered.

"We're right here, my birdie," Lotus comforted him, patting his back.

"Show everyone who you are, Lao. Prove them they are wrong," Chen Xing persuaded the avian. "You are the Nine's Brilliance and our brother. Nothing more."

Lao nodded. "Thank you, both."

"Go kick the hawk's ass."

"So should you," the peacock teased, his smirk deafening his adoptive siblings' chuckles.

Every corner of the Kong Bai Stadium deadened to whispers once the young peacock entered the platform, observing the whole arena and all the eyes gazing at him. The Nine's Brilliance had hoped that no citizens could ever mention themselves about the late Lord of Gongmen, whom they feared, and his diabolical actions. With him showing his presence before their eyes, he would rather not hear about the comparison between him and the dictator. While his bloodline was only pure, fearing that his parents were related to the peafowl nobles of Gongmen City, Lao was only a farmer and a warrior of the Shui Palace.

Lao remained his posture neutral, neglecting the murmurs and the stares around him when searching for the hawk somewhere here. But how was Fei not close or coming from the stairs on the opposite side? The peacock looked to his right as if the Righteous Seven were the ones who kept their gaze on him, but their hawk was not there. Neither on the columns nor the Emperor's platform, where Lao's opponent could appear. But sharp shrills deadening from behind began to flap like knives edging the blades, echoing the winds.

Spreading his cobalt train, the Nine's Brilliance quickly dipped his head before black talons almost ripped his flowing crest with haste. His body flattened when Fei's flight shredded the winds with pitch cries, mimicking the caw. Lao stood up and raised his train in defense, glaring at his opponent, who soared across the column gaps before taking sharp turns to the platform, landing before the peacock.

"Oh."

"Shit."

Monkey and Mantis heightened their surprised voices as the Dragon Warrior began to step in and interfere, but his stripped feline friend gripped Po's shoulder and stopped him. "Po," she whispered. The panda knew this confrontation was not for the Dragon Warrior to stop during this contest. Po had to let the Nine's Brilliance defend himself from the hawk.

The avians had their death stairs for a prolonged period as if the peacock would be willing to be Fei's guest to start the fight without bowing the Emperor and his opponent, resulting in insults that could impact the hawk's traits and reputation as Lao read the Tournament's rules accordingly. Fei eased his wings and straightened himself from progressing his antagonism toward his rival, having Lao do the same. After Fei bowed to the Emperor before the peacock did, he lowered his head and body with pride and manners.

"So it is true then," Fei determined, his glowing yellow eyes prevailing sternness. "I heard gossip about you, Master Lao. Your bloodline is real; only the Righteous Seven knows what you are. No one but the goat knows."

Walls have ears everywhere else. The Nine's Brilliance deadened his disapproving grunt into realization.

"And your point is, Master Fei?" Lao asked.

"Are you related to the late Peafowl Nobles? Lord Feng and late Lady Muqin?"

The hawk's last question triggered the tiger, whose rich growl deadened. Gladly, the Nine did as neither Fei nor Lao could catch. The Nine Defender had his hoof barricaded his feline brother from meddling, calming Xing as Niu discerned. Lao took time to reflect on his answer, and when he tugged his wings in draped sleeves, he replied with frankness.

"Perhaps I am familiar to them, Master Fei. You have a point about what I look like — Lord Feng and Lady Muqin," Lao answered, reluctantly shaking his head. "But I am not the one who you remind of him."

"No. You are not like the other one," the hawk agreed. "We shall speak after the Tournament and be friends again."

Fei knows who I am, but I am not Shen's son. He's wrong.

Lao bowed to his rival, alleviating his posture and raising his face nonchalantly. Instead of wings to engage, despite the flaws for him not to ruin his wings if only he could use them for deflection how Crane taught him, the Nine's Brilliance fluttered his limb to a gesture, fetching Xing to toss the peacock's preferable dragon pole Luk Dim Boon Kwun (six and a half point pole). The hawk fetched his bamboo pole as Nam threw it to him; the avians presented their various flows, which Lao rooted to modify his forms of Cai Li Fo and Wing Chun, and Fei formed his spiral sides.

"Wing Chun; Lao."

"Tai Chi; Fei."

Round One

Lao's stance became stiffened by strengthening his body. The bamboo and dragon poles clashed to a hard, swift impact, beginning the two fighters pace their fast parries. With side-by-side attacks, Lao summoned a kan gwan (covered pole) by stirring Fei's bamboo stick to knock it downward, his dragon pole thrusting shoulder to stomach twice, and his gray talon booting the hawk's upper torso. Fei pulled back and returned to his defensive position when gyrating his weapon, deflecting a dragon pole toward the head height angle; Lao immediately ducked the incoming sweep from Fei's advantage. The peacock forced his knee to rise, and both Fei and Lao spun their bodies with immediate haste, their poles shattering apart after the impact.

"Knives!" Lao hollered, and the Nine's Pirate tossed his weapon, Baat Jam Do (butterfly knives).

The peacock, demonstrating the eight-cut form, showed spinning blades with aggressive agility, launching forward to his opponent. Becoming immediate to fetch sai knives from the fox ally, Fei twirled his weapon, and their blades impacted within close-quarter range before their faces, metals clanging and wailing across the thin air. Each turn had the avians parry and attack within flawless blocks; neither received their blows, but as the peacock pushed through, nearly sliced from his rival but made blocks, Lao propelled his foot and kicked the hawk as Fei skidded backward. About to storm forward, Lao rapidly twisted his body, his vibrant train sweeping the hawk's feet from running toward the peacock. Almost struggling to rise after the fall, Fei could see the peacock jump and broaden his train with a loud caw, making the hawk roll to the side from getting pinned.

Fei approached, but Lao surprised him with a fast whirl, almost slicing the hawk. Keeping distance from the peacock, once sighting him to alleviate his tense breaths, the hawk went for the approach, lunging his sai knives at the face height. Lao, forming his guarding pose, pushed his knives to the left side after the sai attempted to reach his neck. Wincing after a parry, Lao angled the side of his butterfly knives and whipped Fei's beak. Lunging sais twice, the hawk failed, and Lao's attacks repeated with other blade whips. Thrice combos after shoving the wings down, the blades hammering from limbs to upper shoulder, Lao's tenth blow nearly slit Fei's neck and had his knife slap the side of his head. WHACK!

Fei's feather cheek left with stings, wincing him, and to his surprise, after underestimating his opponent, the hawk gasped before it was too late for him to ward off. Lao, the Nine's Brilliance, bounding in the air, tackled his opponent with a hard slam and aimed his butterfly knives under his throat.

"YEEAAAAHHH!" Lotus burst her cry before the Nine, and the galleries exclaimed their cheers.

"YOU GOT HIM!" Chen Xing gestured his clenched fist.

Po and the Furious Five praised the young peacock's performance.

"What an exhilarating round!" Viper simpered.

"Well done, Lao!" Crane applauded.

"WAY TO GO, BUDDY!" the Dragon Warrior clapped his paws.

Chapter Text

Episode Four: Tournament (30 - 41)

Chapter XXXIII

Tournament, Act Four

Round Two

The second match continued to progress as the antelope referee signaled his flag, and Fei, whirling back, began to spring and soar in between the columns, fitting gaps from corner to corner as if his dark wings sharpened, slicing the breeze behind his trail as feathers shrilled. Hovering to the last turn with an immediate lunge, the hawk whirled his body, his tugged wings casting a harsh gust in silver twirls. Receiving the wind blows had drawn Lao to skid back with his robe billowing from behind, and from another spinning wind blasting toward him, the peacock dodged to the corner and did the other into zig-zags. He warded the winds off with his second dragon pole, cutting off the nippy breeze when silencing the shrills. One way and the other, deflecting and bashing simultaneously, the Nine's Brilliance spun his pole forward, fanning four gusts away, but the fifth thrust him off guard after a failed deflection before Lao turned.

With his weapon sliding away, Lao, in dread and caution, rolled on the floor toward the left, the impact seething its wind's harsh blow at a near miss. Rushing into dodges from side to side, coming back and forth, the Nine's Brilliance rapidly extended his wing.

"Rope dart!"

Chen Xing tossed the wrapped line with a metal claw to Lao. The peacock could observe the hawk gliding through the column gaps when the hawk's wings gathered deadening breezes under, forming a sphere-like gale shaped like lightning qi. With a right moment before Fei's last turn, Lao whirled his rope, the metal claw blaring with wooshing air. Hurling right before the hawk began to face the peacock, the rope dart rounded and fastened Fei's body, trapping his wings in.

"Get down!"

The peacock yanked the rope, slamming Fei to the platform. WHAM! Tugging his opponent with greater force, forcing himself with acrobatic flips, Lao walloped Fei with his talons twice — the belly and the head. The peacock pulled him again, launching the hawk into the air after Lao screeched his caw. SLAM! Lao loosened the rope darts and fetched his dragon pole; Fei, shaking his head from intense dizziness, spread his wings before he amplified his grunt, hailing at his challenging foe after menacingly glaring at the peacock.

Gaping at Fei, whose left eye blinked to a taunt, the Nine's Brilliance caught his sight at the hawk's talons clenching and his dark wings propelling him in the air. Fei clutched the dragon pole with incredible haste, but Lao rounded his wings, shaking the hawk off the grasp and shoving him to the side.

"GUANDAO!" the hawk shouted.

"GUANDAO!" And the peacock extended his wing.

Two blades tossed in the air, and as the avians clutched their weapons, their guandaos blared and struck to an impact with a glimmering yellow spark. The crowds gained heights from their seats, craning their faces; all three classes slowly advanced to the platform, willing to intervene if the avians pushed too far, as Po could easily remember the harbor incident with Shen cutting off ropes from the cannon. The match became intense to anticipate the peacock and hawk, who whirled their blades in every direction, parrying and lunging with brisk movements.

Fei is pushing it! Po broadened his eyes.

Fei sent three forward lunges struck onward, and Lao deflected two, dodging the blade's third attack above him. Heaving his guandao toward the rival's weapon that hammered down, barricading against it, the peacock resisted the hawk's firm thrust; Fei's strength pushed his opponent harder, enabling him to force the peacock to lower his stance and lower toward the floor. Lao's resilience nearly matched him, but his advantage was when he felt the hawk's wings straining, and the peacock strengthened his stance, raising him into dominance. Among the last withstanding their blades against each other, their growls intensified, and their guandaos rounded off.

The tip's edge of Lao's sword locked on the flame blade's curve and disarmed the hawk with a quick yank to the side, and the end of this intense match prevailed the Nine's Brilliance spin in the air with a loud screech and hammered his guandao down near Fei's neck.

"WHOA!" every spectator and warrior deafened their gasps.

The realm's silence shattered and heightened their cries for the young peacock who defeated the Righteous Seven's second-best student. The Emperor of China was the first to stand and applaud before many joined him to praise Lao and his final execution.

"WELL DONE, LAO! YOU WON!" Po cried and clapped. And the Furious Five, praising the peacock, joined the panda's side.

Not in his life could the Nine's Brilliance ever vile himself from the citizens seeing him again if they could taunt his presence, but no one else did after Lao's success. Many respected him, and the Righteous Seven proved themselves wrong after considering the peacock's identity with the other. Master Fei raised his chuckles in defeat, which had the Nine's Brilliance surrender his guandao and accept the hawk's truce.

"Oh, dear. I thought you had me there, kid," Fei sighed in relief. "Master Sheep is right about you; you must be special, unlike all the warriors."

Lao grinned, tugging his wings. "You showed your strength, Master Fei," he commented, and the hawk grunted with approval. "Although, I am curious. Where do you come from?"

"Senlin. Northeast of China," Fei beamed, cooling his face with his dark wings. "Good heavens. You made me sweat."

"Now, we are even—Wait. Did you say Senlin?" Lao turned to him. "Isn't that. . .?"

"It's a small town village near Summit," he answered. Where I came from, Senlin was a prospering place for all the birds. My people living there invite tourists and visitors who travel far and close."

"I hear Senlin has a stocking exchange for fabrics," Lao determined. "I think that will be wise for me to buy fancy silks from your province."

"Oh. . ." Fei broadened his beak, smiling. "My friend. I will be honored to sell my finest silks to you and your friends with a high discount. Do you have a tailor from your village?"

"We do. My neighbor's name is Mrs. Yan, and she is the Prosper Valley's best tailor."

"Good. With my word as a friend and your new seller, I look forward to your friend partnering with Senlin's Tailors. My colleagues will be delivering repetitive fabrics to her."

"Wonderful! I will take the offering!" Lao smiled.

"Absolutely!" his feline brother nodded next to Lao. "My brother loves skirts. After the Tournament, he'll dress his hanfu and start dancing with the pandiva clan."

"Preposterous!" Lao gritted his beak in annoyance, but Fei found the tiger's words amusing.

"What about you, Master Lao?" the hawk asked. "Gongmen City before you live the Prosper Valley?"

The Nine's Brilliance chuckled.

"Summit."

Leo vs. Xing

This final match introduction invited the high-rank fighters to prove themselves worthy. From Lao's perspective, he knew nothing much about foxes. Still, he was aware of Leo's unique skills compared to Grandmaster Shifu's capabilities, which were far more different when the Nine's Brilliance read Leo's biography scroll among the Righteous Seven. Across the galleries from the Nine's side were enchanted with distant cries, cobalt banners of blue with orange and black stripes billowing.

With this match leading the last stand of Wing Chun and Tai Chi, the Emperor of China summoned and prevailed percussionists around the outer platform, performing drums. Steady rhythms heightening the notes about the battles and honor glorified the souls and the warriors as if the contenders had their concentration on fighting. The tiger had his foot reach for the step before entering the platform, and before his silver eyes, his challenger, standing in the opposite direction, displaying narrow eyes, awaited him.

Lao is right. There are so many people here. Chen Xing thought, masking the nervousness in his heart and mind while the outside depicted nonchalance. One by one, his brothers and sisters heartened him.

"I believe in you, Xing!" Niu clutched and quivered his fists.

"You got this, Cookie!" Lotus wiggled her tail.

"Tell Leo to kiss your butt!" Hong hollered above the bovine's head.

"Fight for our mother, brother!" Lao clasped his wings.

"Show him what it means to be a pirate, me bucko!" Shou encouraged him.

"Bao, Xing!" Bao drummed his chest.

"We got your back, buddy!" Fanshe quivered his hissing tongue.

"Good luck, Xing!" Zhao beckoned his head.

Xing needed this encouragement to bury timidity as he presented his smirk at the Nine. As far as the Dragon Warrior and Furious Five shared their enthusiasms to bet which fighters would win the final match, Tigress had anticipation to see what the Nine's Leader was capable of since she taught a few elements of her kung fu forms to him before the Tournament. Her good eyes inspected her nephew's tail sweeping the floor; the sense of preparation was fitting due to her young self as she bashed foliages with her limbs long ago, her amber eyes prevailing with stark fierceness at Boar, the Unstoppable.

I am not Shifu. . . I am Tigress.

The fox, Leo, twitched his round ears and grinned at his feline rival, robing in his sleeveless dark emerald top and onyx indigo trousers.

"When I was a child, I loved the old storytelling about the tiger's bloodline who were the survivors of the Qing Temple. Your ancestor, Mui Tan Huang, the creator of Wing Chun, was an outstanding disciple who educated her students on Oogway's side," Leo said in conviction, his thumb stroking his digits. "Do you and Master Ming still remember her warrior principles?"

"Always have, Master Leo," Chen Xing answered.

"Are you sure you are a fast learner?"

"Maybe a 'little' fast learner?"

None except his fellow companions could friendly tease the fox as Leo regarded the tiger's small gift of comic enthusiasm. Not as an insult for being called a "little" throughout his years as a citizen to a Tai Chi student, but finding the humor quite odd. The fox numbed his drone with acceptance. "I see you are progressing to be a comedian. How old are you?"

"I've always wondered how old I am. I went to my grandmother outside the garden, watering her plants. I asked her, 'Nana, how old am I?' But she asked, 'What is your favorite number?' and I answered, 'Oh, I'm four years old.'"

Bad luck. The fox heightened his snicker.

"Seventeen years with a second-degree black sash. Hmm. A student-master, I presume you are still learning how to become a grandmaster someday."

"Remind me that when a white beard grows out of my chin."

The Nine and Righteous Seven hid their lips when tittering. Leo could not stop chuckling. "Of course. . ."

"Let's talk later after this, then. Shall we?" Chen Xing grinned, and both warriors presented the bow to the Emperor before facing themselves. The fox jumped and gyrated his body, his leg landing with a stretch before the other stomping forward, his paws radiating yellow meshes of qi in his veins. Leo's challenger planted his feet to a horse stance, and his claws forming a defensive guard glared yellow qi, but he had never seen fade silver pulsations on his palms — the fox could hear the hone blades sharpening.

"Tai Chi; Leo."

"Wing Chun; Xing."

Round One

The tiger's arms remained barricaded, knowing the fox saw his opponent's horse stance skidding to the right while going in the opposite direction. Circling on the platform momentarily, Chen Xing and Leo advanced and unleashed their limbs.

More than thirty blocks of Chi Sao were at flashes from all the eyes as Chen Xing combined his snappy claws into withstanding parries; in the air, Leo threw every limb with all the bashes, fists for the arms, and feet for the torso and defenses. Bridging on the counter-attacks, Xing formed two sides of bong sao and tahn sao, with his leverage attacking and blocking simultaneously; Leo forced his kick to the left, but Xing warded the foot off with his knee before his other limb of jan fan bashing the fox's body.

Leo nearly lost his limb balance, going to wobble; although the damage was near-fatal, he sustained the pain as Chen Xing waited for the fox to recover his stance. The tiger knew the only consequence of hurting his opponent, breaking bones, could disqualify him — giving one chance to continue the round, the Nine's Leader prepared to engage the fox.

I need to be careful this time. The Nine made a vow to the Shaolin.

"You good, Master Leo?"

The fox's leg became stable now after his qi recovered him. "I'm ready."

And the fight resumed.

Mid-Round One

"Pillars!" Leo stormed off the platform and climbed on the nearest wooden column, and Xing did the same, reaching for the other one. The tiger, clutching the wood surface with his sharp claws, sprang one and the next, swinging his body on the last pillar before landing on it with his perfect balance, facing the fox, who extended his foot outward. Leading one pillar and the next while jumping and poising, Chen Xing started spinning, and Leo leaped and lunged his limb.

The tiger received and withstood the blow behind his ribcage, and as he angled his body, Xing lunged his feet upwards, landing one on the fist and the other on the torso. Flipping backward, Leo landed on the third pillar, jumping back with loud grunts before Chen Xing raised himself quicker with his arms. Paw to claw and limb to limb in every block and attack with swiftness had both fighters receive their hits, and Leo and Xing leaped on other pillars when engaging again. As the fox made his bound to extend his right foot down, the Nine's Leader blocked himself with his elbows, following the other hit as the tiger launched his circle punches. With three fists, Xing pounced before the last blow sent Leo flying above the fighting platform, grasping the farthest pillars from falling.

Intensifying his rich growls, Chen Xing bounded and clutched on the wooden pillars on the other side, jumping across another and then the next, chasing after Leo, who climbed down and hurled his feet, battering the tiger's back. The tiger released his excruciating growl, tumbling and crashing to the fighting platform. Yet, Chen Xing rolled thrice and had to keep his stance firm when he raised himself with his left knee, glaring at Leo, who began to spring on columns back and forth before grasping the fifth pillar to the right, spectating his rival with a slight grin on the fox's face.

Rise, brother. Rise! Lao thought, gripping his wings.

Now it's my chance. Leo grunted and jumped off the column, diving his foot with his body whirling with such screeching winds. This howling breeze had Xing react and shrink his eye pupils, dominating his silver moon iris, sweeping his stripped tail with swiftness before he rose to a loud growl. Right before the fox's limb darted downward and registered the pummeling impact, the tiger's arm parried the foot and the next, repeating the blocks before Leo's fourth kick went off course. Xing's fist landed under his opponent's jaw, uppercutting him in the air. The Nine's Leader, heightening his growl after a jump, whirled his foot toward Leo's ribcage; the other struck his head, and a third spin kick catapulted the fox down across the pillar gaps, wrecking him one before his fall.

"COOKIE!"

"MARVELOUS!"

Lotus and Lao were exhilarated; the Dragon Warrior, Furious Five, and the Nine praised the Nine's Leader in high spirits.

"WHOOOOOO!" Niu hurled his hooves in the air.

"WAY TO GO, XING!" Monkey clapped his hands.

A stripped feline master, crossing her arms with delight and admiration, approved of her nephew's skills.

Good work, Xing.

Round Two

This match was all coming down to the two warriors fighting for glory, as citizens, the high-rank officers, judges, honorable masters, and the Emperor of China highly anticipated seeing this entertainment contest. The fox, creating his Tai Chi form with his paws into a half circle of yin-yang, shone his qi on his digits. And the Nine's Leader, fastening his feet to a horse stance, formed his limbs flow to a crouching tiger, hidden dragon movement. This form caught Leo's expression priceless when he broadened his eyes.

Oh, my.

The red flag with a gold dragon swung, and the second round began with the two warriors clashing together.

Chen Xing countered rapid air kicks from Leo, which seemed nearly inevitable to dodge as the tiger continued lunging his arms, flowing like water. Maintaining defenses when the fox battered his challenger's arms before breaking into the tiger's horse stance, Chen Xing sidestepped to the left and thrust his elbow, shoving the fox to the corner.

The tiger skidded his stance forward as Leo hurried back to him and bounded, flipping forward, extending his feet into hard blows. Receiving seven attacks, nearly disorienting, Chen Xing rounded his arm and clutched Leo's ankle an instant, yanking him to the side; the tiger, pouncing his claws through the fox's limbs that blocked three lunges and two rear kicks, folded his other arm behind and waited for Leo to attack him on full force. Heightening his shout, Leo whirled his heel kick to the left, and noticing a surprise attack, Xing deflected his leg with his leading arm, having his other claw to parry and clench his opponent's fist. The tiger swept his foot and rounded his claws, twirling Leo in the air before his fall.

Rolling up from the floor, Leo hailed his qi, his paws fluttering yellow rivers on his forearms.

Shit!

The Nine's Leader, whirling his limbs forward with haste, repelled countless round arms and elbow strikes. Chen Xing countered the blocks with chin and palm thrusting toward Leo's neck, combining tan sao and other parries with simultaneous attacks and blocks. Even as Leo unleashed his physical attacks, tiring his arms, Chen Xing progressed by his elbows thwacking shoulder to shoulder and fists battering his small torso in rapid circles. More than ten hits transpired, and with a heightening shout with qi, the tiger's fist landing on the fox's left chest inflicted him from one inch to a six-inch punch, buffeting Leo off course.

OW!

The Dragon Warrior and Furious Five, but Tigress recoiled with intense flinches after witnessing the fox collapsing his knees and hearing Leo's smothered breaths and coughs in smothers. Collapsing, the fox fell to the platform with his arm supporting himself, his other paw grasping his injured torso.

"I —" Leo coughed. "— yield!"

Rushing to him, Chen Xing, kneeling ahead of Leo, grasped his claws together and pressed one into his chest; the Righteous Seven nearly dashed toward the platform as they saw their injured brother smothering, but something flashed in the tiger's wrists had them stopped and let the healing do the trick. The tiger's paw, pressing on Leo's torso, cast out his qi, blended with a morning light that bathed its gray showers into the fox's flesh, replenishing his strength and a broken ribcage linking together.

At last, the fox's shattering breaths had dissipated, and Leo let in breaths with alleviation.

Oogway's blessing. The fox sighed and lowered his head to Xing's chest.

"Leo's alright!" Chen Xing announced, and the referee called the match to end; the audience from the Nine's side showed their blue banners billowing and pendants showering, cheering for the Wing Chun and Tai Chi contest.

"WOW! THAT WAS WILD!" Po exclaimed.

"THAT'S MY COOKIE!" Lotus squeaked her cheer.

"WELL DONE, XING!" Monkey cried out to the Nine's Leader.

Chen Xing indicated his digit to summon the Righteous Seven warriors to enter the platform. Helping Leo to rise from his struggle, the tiger inspected the fox's injuries. "Are you alright, Master Leo?"

His aching voice grunted under his throat. "I'm alright," he panted. "Your punches are lethal, Master Xing; I felt your qi."

"Oh. I must have been practicing with it for a decade at least," Xing said, inspecting his palm.

"Is your qi like that? The way it is radiating yellow and barely gray-white?"

"I'm not sure," Xing scrutinized his qi closer to his palms but could not indicate the light pulsations. "Does everyone have different qi colors?"

"Perhaps," Leo regarded, softening his grunt. "Help me up."

The tiger did so as he carefully carried him across the platform before Fei and Nam arrived from the stairs. "You did well in our sparring," the fox wheezed his chuckles. "I would love to rematch against you at some other time."

"I look forward to your talents; I'm not gonna lie on that one," Xing said. His smiling lips had faded into realization. "Leo, on that first round, I nearly violated that rule not to injure students during the spar. Frankly, I noticed every enemy's movement in a wide-open area where I predict anyone's weaknesses. That was my commitment and all about the Nine's preference for Wing Chun strategy."

The rhino, Nam, made his way before the tiger. "Leo?"

"I'm alright, brother. Carry me."

Chen Xing handed the fox to the rhino, whose hands were braced and arms folded on Leo in his arm. "Good heavens. . . Your skill is strangely extraordinary, Master Xing," Leo complimented.

"Indeed," Xing agreed with a nod. As Lao strolled to the side of the platform with Hong, Fei, and Shi Dang approached to support Leo while his feline brother and the fox descended the stairs. "Tai Chi is undoubtedly a magical thing to flow some energy, Master Leo. Many martial artists teach Kung Fu, Wing Chun, and Tai Chi to one another for the good; there's also what I am inspired that each of us has potential for."

"And what is?" The hawk, Fei, asked, stretching his grin.

"Our bodies are like water. Strength comes from the water as if your fists and feet shift into becoming water. You cast your water onto something; your wave is like power, crashing against barriers. When barriers fall, the water floods in to become one," Chen Xing said, though the fox, the hawk, and the Impala stared at him with odd figures, looking at themselves.

Brother, you sound like the panda.

Lao lowered his chuckles with their wolf sister as Chen Xing pardoned the Righteous Seven fighters. "I may be strange to say what I mean, but—"

"Oh, no, Master Xing. Your words are likely wise; I think you mean 'energy' when you said water in our bodies," Leo smirked. "It's encouraging."

The Nine's Leader heightened his creamy chuffs, grinning. "I'll see you later then, Masters?"

"Indeed," Leo nodded. "And good luck competing against the Furious Five, Master Xing. You and half of the Nine will need it."

Gladly.

Fei and Shi Dang guided their injured brother across the medic quarter, where the Righteous Seven waited for their brothers to inspect their injuries after they were eliminated. The Nine's side began to intensify with the people's cheers; the Emperor of China announced every soul would want to be applauded and thanked the Righteous Seven for fighting in the competition, despite their loss in the Tournament was impactful to them, but never thought about having a trophy either way. So instead of the reward, fighting against dedicated warriors was preferably part of the Righteous Seven's tradition, fought for honor and respect.

The Nine's Brilliance rounded his wing around his brother's neck. "What a fabulous sparring, Xing! You almost decapitated Leo!"

"Oh, is that so?" Chen Xing nudged his shoulder with his fist. "I punched him with your feathers on my palms. Hey, you see that?"

"Where?"

Lao's head sank to where Xing had pointed, but the tiger's digit launched into his beak. "HAA! I got you there!" Xing guffawed.

"You despicable!" Lao laughed.

Chapter Text

Episode Four: Tournament (30 - 41)

Chapter XXXIV

Tournament, Act Five

"Fellowship of the Nine have claimed victory, people of all China!" Emperor Huangdi announced above the temple with judges and masters. "Their next opponents, the Furious Five, are willing to face a challenge against the Nine!"

So, this next competition became official, as the Nine's Leader thought, his heart racing in his veins. The striped feline master, Tigress, held her posture on what she would be encountering against which one of her opponents to engage. Her determination to anticipate the Nine made her guess the three fighters Tigress could compete with unless Crane and Monkey could have their advantage on either of these warriors. Her nephew was one thing; Lao might be able to, or Lotus, regarding she and the wolf had familiar past events that were nearly identical but different past bitter experiences. 

"Despite the 'Elimination event,'" the Emperor added, "four students from the Nine are eliminated; only five warriors remain. Now that the numbers are evenly matched to compete!" 

That is entirely fair to say. Five against nine would have been worth challenging. Tigress reflected, crossing her limbs as she softened her drone. With gold and red pendants poured and the Valley of Peace citizens thundering their applauses with the Prosper Valley people, Tigress saw Chen Xing's sight gazing at her with wonder and perception. 

"And if the Nine defeat the Furious Five, they will face the Dragon Warrior as the grand finale!" the Emperor stated. "Now that the Nine have eliminated the Righteous Seven, I shall grant them a recess for an hour and thirty to recover themselves before the next event emerges," Emperor Huangdi continued. "Small session activities will feature one of the Nine, a Kung Fu demonstration, and Dragon Warrior's qi with Grandmaster Oogway's staff!"

Thousands hailed with joy. 

This break will buy my brother's time. Chen Xing figured. 

Upon the platform, readying his emerald staff with a yin-yang, the Dragon Warrior made his tai chi motion as he rounded side to side, creating a vortex above him. A little did Po know this incredible power, the green pole — given to Po by the Grandmaster Oogway — was made to open the door to the Spirit Realm beyond the silk domains and through the unknown. Ever since he defeated the Jade Slayer and saw the old tortoise for a reunion, the staff whirling the water to a yin-yang had Po returned to the Mortal Realm; with this pole, only he, as the wielder successor, could travel to the Spirit Realm with his qi.

The tip of the yin-yang cast out a dancing yellow light with rippling water-white silks, fluttering its brown-orange shadings into a behemoth lung dragon—Po's qi, as precisely as the panda remembered the beast of his avatar. Many surveyed the panda, who formed his dragon stance, and his jade staff, which hovered the majestic creature across the Kong Bai Arena. Unveiling their faces in awe, they had no words to describe how magical the panda's chi could summon with his magical pole.

During this half-hour break, almost concluding the Dragon Warrior's qi demonstration, Po and the Furious Five commenced performing their Kung Fu forms, preparing for the following event to face five members of the Nine. Mantis was floating in the air with incredibly zig-zag speed when leaping from pillar to pillar above the platform, unleashing his qi.  

After checking with the Righteous Seven, the panda went to the Furious Five, who mentioned the Seven's experience being defeated by the young warriors, including people from small villages before large cities mentioned noodles from the Valley of Peace. "This is really the best day ever!" Po expressed his spiritual enthusiasm. "I can't believe we are fighting for glory!"

"Oh, the Emperor is much pleased, Po," Viper spread her grin. 

"Hey," Crane extended his wing and had the bear glance at the platform. "Look at Xing and Lao."

"Oh, are they going to introduce something?" Mantis asked above the avian's conical hat. 

"Two sashes?" Monkey skimmed. 

With novelty, Tigress kept her posture neutral when folding her arms behind, surveying two fighters. 

The Nine's Leader and Brilliance ascended to the platform when the Nine commenced practicing their Chi Sao; the Righteous Seven passed through the quarter and had themselves inspect what young warriors trained and showed them. With the sky shading into the ocean and the clouds shedding apart, sunlight rays caressed the Arena. 

"This one is. . ." Lao lowered his puff, a sense of nervousness striking his mind as he grasped his wings together. "Odd."

"Relax, brother," the tiger appeased him, patting his back. "I could tell that the audience is about to see you. Most of them don't even know who you are, except Prosper Valley villagers and the Jade Palace masters."

Many audiences, including the black and white bears, could survey the two warriors walking on the platform. When the tiger looked back when soothing his brother, the Five and Dragon Warrior showed their nods at them. Stopping in the middle of the platform, Lao and Xing could see the Emperor and masters speaking with each other; neither of them watched as of yet, but where the Nine were, the fox, the bear, and the rhino caught their attention to observe two warriors while the hawk, the Impala, the lion, and the panther remained focusing on chi sao blocks with young warriors before their eyes.

"Fei misjudged you; he knows he nearly went too far and was wrong about you," Chen Xing said. "Don't take it personally from him." 

"But what if he's right?" Lao asked. 

"Never mind what he says," the tiger advised. He extended his arm and showed the civilians' eyes that observed them. "Show these people who you are, Lao. You only know that you lost your father, who stayed behind to save you and our mother. All you and Mom know is that he loved you."

"Ok," Lao nodded.

"Cheer up, brother. It's a big day for us!" Chen Xing turned and gestured his arms in the air, and the gallery flooding with blue banners echoed their joy. Citizens of the Prosper Valley encouraged their heats as many commemorated them with honor and reputation. One farther down to the gallery stand, Mrs. Yan cried out the peacock in encouragement. 

"We love you, Lao! Show everyone your talents!" 

"Alright," the tiger smiled, palming his brother's shoulder. Xing handed him a black sash. "You ready for this, Lao?"

"Ready is my middle name."

"That's the spirit!" Filling his mind enthusiastically, the Nine's Leader helped his brother tie a sash around the peacock's head while moving the crests, covering the eyesight. The Nine's Brilliance sought his path of leading his red/black sash final test by accomplishing all the advantages he had trained for years. The rare art of Cai Li Fo was well known to one of the avians in ancient times who created it with Grandmaster Oogway during the Great War. 

The Dragon Warrior could see the Nine's Leader move onward and present his bow to the Emperor and his disciples. "My Emperor," Chen Xing uttered to the royalty with respect. "I offer you the Nine's Brilliance to demonstrate his uniqueness. First round: Cai Li Fo. Final round: Chi Sao, featuring one of his partners."

Several faces exchanged glances at that moment regarding the rarest art that had last prevailed before Lord Shen's fall. Master Storming Ox, reflecting the old art that had passed from his late friend who taught the Prince of Gongmen, could see the buffalo turn his head toward the Nine's Master. Chen Ming, observing her students before setting her eyes on the Emperor of China, beckoned her head with a nod, and Huangdi gestured his hoof. 

"You're up," Chen Xing told his brother, strolling out of the platform. "I'll be right behind you near a side of the ring. Your guandao is right below you. Good luck."

CAI LI FO

Standing behind the Nine's Leader, Po and the Furious Five anticipated seeing what the Nine's Brilliance could present his demonstration. As eager to regard the peacock's skills, the Dragon Warrior moved closer to the tiger, fiddling with his digits. Chen Xing knew this day would be enormous for Lao's Cai Li Fo, which he had dreamt and thought about, as well as his generation and legacy. Lao was meant to him dearly, a key to his family. On the night after Lao's bloodline revelation, a mysterious dream seeing the peafowl silhouette with a broad train spoke to the tiger with a soothing voice, echoing with creamy ripples.

Chen Xing, Son of Shui. Regarding the peafowl bloodline, the disclosure with your brother is valid from the shaman's eyes. As you are his family, you made Dongji care for you as a brother-in-arms. You have noticed the similarity of his character by seeing my descendant compared to one soul from his heritage. 

Know that his father loved him so much, and his son will be the last blood of the Peafowl Noble. Be there for Dongji.

Who was the figure that spoke to him? A forefather? If the peafowl proved that Chen Xing was deeply concerned about who the father was, he would not be so sure that Shen was related to him either way. Undoubtedly, Lao could have a different heritage to Xing's thoughts, unlike the late Lord Feng and Lady Muqin. 

I hope my brother is not Shen's son. Shen is gone.

"Are you thinking what I am thinking?" Po asked.

"Hmm?" the tiger quivered his head and escaped his thoughts. "What are you thinking, Po?"

"Your brother," the panda gestured. "What will he do with a blindfold?" 

Chen Xing simpered, folding his arms. "Watch and learn, Dragon Warrior. You'll love it."

Many eyes were on the Nine's Brilliance, who presented his bow to the Emperor, proclaiming the activity and his introduction.

"Cai Li Fo; Lao."

Near his foot, Lao launched and grasped his guandao with haste, prevailing the quickness as he whirled his train with vibrance, the blade its metal against strands of thin air. 

The Nine's Brilliance delivered his rapidity flow with his water dancing when spinning his guandao, piercing on one side, slicing forward, and balancing his talon when rotating. Imagining his brother's capabilities, Xing remembered the night that the clouds showered the Prosper Valley, witnessing Lao with his guandao spin clockwise, cutting through every drop of water as if the blade's sharp metal sang. Instead of using his drenched train, the water's weight preventing him from spreading its feathers, Lao only folded it and used his body to dominate fear with his dancing pose. The rain and water were the peacock's fear, and he mastered against all odds. 

Tossing the guandao in the air, Lao dropped down his body, rolling towards the opposite direction, his talon extending a quick catch on his weapon before angling his body, facing the other opposite with a quick lunge. What mastered his skills instead of his eyes, the sensation from his hidden ears made him detect the metal shrills in thin air, steps within proximity, breaths puffing, woods grinding, sticks snapping, and leaves rustling. 

Not long enough to observe Lao's performance while the peacock managed to plunge the air behind him and slice forward, Po could hear the echoes of the ghastly ship's hull and the ropes whining. Other echoes mimicked the sword that cut through the air and ropes shattering apart. Following that apparent memory, the eyes of the tyrant flashed before his eyes, grunting him about the contrary of those scars. 

Wounds heal. I don't care what scars do. 

If only Po could mean one thing when he knew the face of Lord of Gongmen, the panda would have admitted to speaking with the Nine's Brilliance in front of him. He was not ready for him and the Furious Five to speak with the young peacock. 

The rains, which Chen Xing reflected in the storm, were the warriors' cries for his strength, benefiting Lao to be much more confident instead of the water washing him away. Next to the tiger, he could see Po lower his gaze when detecting a glimpse of a minor downcast. But all else had faced when someone's hand nudged Xing's forearm while Lao skidded to the corner and bounded in the air, spreading his train when amplifying his caw. 

"How long have you trained Lao, Xing?" Monkey asked the Nine's Leader, and Po stopped daydreaming and continued watching Lao's performance. "Your brother's stance seems to be getting better; I could barely notice Lao's choreography of —" Monkey brushed his jaw, searching for his words. "What is this demonstration, kid?"

"Cai Li Fo, Master Monkey," Chen Xing commented. "My grandmother and I trained Lao since a year after my village went desolated. While you are looking at my brother's form, Lao trained himself alone during a gentle rain that Lao faced horror before. As my grandmother and I were able to inspect his fear, Lao mastered against the storm, and we were on his side, performing our forms under the rain."

"Yeah! Your brother told me about you guys doing the forms in the rain!" Po expressed, smiling.

"Not bad," Monkey gaped. "Your brother's skills are formidable."

"Um. . ." 

Near Po, to his right, the avian inspected Lao's fighting poses. "His stance is getting there, and I'd rather train him more to glide his wings," Crane pointed to Lao's aggressive form, describing the peacock's minor flaw in balancing his stance. "As the Masters of Jade Palace, we are already getting along with Lao, unlike the guy who was a troublemaker. Do you know what your brother's life story is?"

"I do," Xing replied, which made Crane focus more on the tiger. "It's a very long story, Master Crane. I would love to share my answers with you guys. I have known Lao for ages, but it'll be much better to clarify this later after the Tournament."

"Of course," Monkey nodded. The quartet warriors stayed observing the platform when the Nine's Brilliance executed his talons, kicking in the air, one and the other, before having his weapon hammer forward. "Xing's right, Crane. We'll talk more after this."

"Should you masters supposed to train with the Dragon Warrior?" the tiger asked them.

"Ahh! No worries, kid," Monkey said, heaving himself with his tail and balancing his whole body. "We got this. Instead of training, would you like to have my cookies, Xing?"

Just in time, Chen Xing smirked. 

Had the Furious Five desired their friend who preferred to give them cookies during the Tournament? The tiger, simpering, could clarify Monkey about his wolf sister and her cookies, as Lotus could eat a thousand sweets every month. Lotus, you need a lot of help. Xing thought. 

"Perhaps later then?" Xing smiled, chuckling. "I can trade you with my sister's cookies."

"Oh!" Monkey simpered. "Does Lotus have almond cookies?" 

"And blueberry cupcakes." 

"Yummy!" Mantis chirped. 

"Now, my stomach is hungry," Crane beamed.

Lotus is going to kill me.

During the five-minute execution, the sweat began to engorge through Lao's underarms, his back, and his neck. Po wondered if the breeze could soothe his wings and cool his body if the peacock could remove his robe, which was the only root of the issue. How often could the peafowls with long robes fighting in battles handle the heat with their sweat? The Dragon Warrior pondered his question but would not mind Lao about the peacock's robe using it for his preferred rhetorical fighting style.

Chen Xing, Monkey, Crane, Mantis, and Po continued to speak during the last two minutes of Lao's Cai Li Fo activity, still having a minor topic about Lotus's sweets as if Monkey had plans for her to cut down on diets. When seeing Lao tossing his guandao before giving a reverse roll before catching the weapon, the Nine's Brilliance made his quick turn and sliced the air with a final cut when heightening his caw. Lao ended his demonstration with a bow and guandao on his left wing. 

The points took little time after the Emperor and his judges scored him for Lao's completing his intermediate level, progressing him to the highest degree. And the citizens of every village cheered the peacock with applauses. 

Well done, Lao!" Chen Xing entered the platform and clapped his claws, approaching his avian brother. "The audience really likes you."

"Of course they are," Lao grinned, lifting the sash to his forehead. "Am I aware that these people know who I am?"

"They already know who you are, brother," the tiger stretched his grin, extending his arm to a gesture. "Can you hear their cheers all over the stadium? You are famous."

"I love you, Lao!" Mrs. Yan echoed. Don't forget that I am your best teacher, who makes you flowers and silks!"

Chen Xing numbed his laugh. "Mrs. Yan is asking you for a night. Looks like Hong is jealous now."

"Good for her," Lao commented, but the tiger suppressed his chortles. Lao took time to observe the Arena as if the Righteous Seven finally admired the peacock, giving a good taste to his experience. Lao inhaled and asked Xing, "Is this a final test?"

"Final test, brother," Chen Xing replied. "You have been waiting for this opportunity for a long time, brother. This round taught you everything you have been training for the last twelve years of Wing Chun and five years of Cai Li Fo. After you've defeated seven of us the last time, your next opponent, Lao, will be me."

"Then let's go!" Lao chuckled. "We fight to the end. I accept your sparring."

CHI SAO

The peacock's dream had come true. The Nine's Brilliance alleviated his hype that he may be destined for fortune, visioning himself as the Grandmaster of Wing Chun, Kung Fu, and Cai Li Fo. Lotus handed her red sash to her feline brother, kissing them both before saying good luck to her brothers when stepping out of the platform. After tightening the red sash around Xing's head, Lotus inspected the other and patted the peacock; Lao and Chen Xing had their decree when performing the highest level of Wing Chun to master Chi Sao without the eyes — only sensation when your blocks and attacks could automatically do the trick. 

A blindfold challenge was where the Nine's Brilliance started to challenge his might.

A thin breeze sang in their ears. Chen Xing could describe what the Spirit Realm was like when his grandmother meditated in her chamber as she saw the domain unimaginable that was like here but oddly different than living in this Mortal Realm, along with thin breezes as Chen Ming heard it too well. Xing could paint the Realm of gold and green in his mind; he theorized that the peaceful domain was like heaven with floating lands where Spirit Warriors thrived. On the contrary, at the greater distance, his grandmother caught a glimpse of orange and crimson tears lying across the vast terrain where evil creatures lingered within fiery fires of the doom — bad people who committed high treasons. Spiritual dragons had their judgments when deciding what to do with welcoming deceased souls. Chen Ming was aware of the reptile beasts, making her grandson ponder about them with incredible agitation.

At the highest level of Wing Chun, performing the Chi Sao blindfold was a piece of knowledge that used discipline and physicality, and Chen Ming taught her students about peace instead of war. Without the eyes, the ears were the key to detecting movements and objects like arrows whirring through the air, the touch contacting a form, and breaths nearby. 

Po and the Furious Five moved closer to the platform's edge as Chen Xing and Lao presented their bow to themselves. No weapons were needed during this final round as far as the panda gaped at the warriors with excitement.

"Wing Chun; Lao."

"Wing Chun; Chen Xing."

The tiger and the avian moved closer, and their limbs were in contact on one end and the opposite, forming a circle of Chi Sao. The Nine's Leader quickly contemplated his grandmother's sagacious words about complexity. 

Remember, my students. Chi Sao is much more complicated than your fundamental fluidity as what you know of Wing Chun blocks and attacks to encounter. You progress your forms, and your movement enhances your arms to engage against your partner's limbs in and out. 

It is more complex to Lao's wings; I can alter his blocks where he can guide through haste compared to his talons like his brother's claws to attack, his feathers for distraction and disorientation, and his wings to deflect the blows. Once you reach the black sash one day, you will not be the same as you were from a student to a master.

Chen Xing started his fists, and Lao blocked the assault with fook sao, encountering through rapid punches. The tiger took advantage to the left after kune-lum-tao to the right after Lao felt his wide open area with his instinct. The peacock's talon swept near as Xing raised his foot with a jo fan and parried his leg at the angles, forcing Lao to do the kicks on the sides. 

Xing caught on to his brother's wings and made multiple straight punches inside Chi Sao's movements. Lao reflexed the combination of bong sao, tan sao, and feather palms near the tiger's cheek as the avian engaged him, flinching Xing away. Nearly at a distance, the tiger returned and focused on his presence anywhere from his center. With his punch launched onward, Xing felt his brother's wing deflecting, diverting his body to angle his elbow, nearly hitting Lao's neck, but the avian sidestepped to the left and pounded him with his talon, causing his train to broaden with quick vibrations. 

Spinning to the left to rise with haste, swimming his head elsewhere, Xing could not search for his brother; his guarded limbs had him extended left and right had him guide, and his ebony ears detected dull movements. The breeze was the one that mimicked his brother's train. Not a target, but the tiger knew the real one somewhere, about a few yards from each other. 

"Oh, shit. . ." Mantis muttered in shock. 

Viper held her breath, widening her eyes. "Wow," she whispered.

Monkey and Po held against their lips from breathing out. Tigress, still crossed her limbs with perception, studied her nephew's form on his feet to head, her eyes catching on the peacock. 

Chen Xing could still hear his brother's train sweep near his right side, closing him in with two steps as he rounded his limbs with lap sao, swiftly angling his body. The tiger calmed his breaths as he felt the strands of his brother's train on the tip of his right foot. Knowing where not to stand, Xing led the other way as Lao motioned his body to the corner, numbing his sounds while swimming his head, breathing in and out. 

Closer.

Po kept his paws clutched before the Nine's Leader and Brilliance made their turn, nearly facing each other. However, their limbs were off course at the proximity, which triggered the audience's gasp, and both warriors rounded their heads in confusion. Once the audience's reaction numbed, the tiger shifted to the left, and the peacock went to the opposite, distancing apart as they were still searching to engage. Not long after detecting movements from three yards away, the tiger used his lap sao limbs and made his slow turn to where he went, and Lao could hear his brother's feet revolving to a soft brush. 

Almost.

The Nine's Brilliance rotated and extended his wing, and his sleeve touched the feline's arm. 

Contact!

And the battle resumed. Chen Xing thrust his arms down, had tan sao to the right, and struck with his palm towards the lung. Barely noticing his sleeves flapping elsewhere, Lao targeted his brother's inner strength to the middle with his wings, palming the tiger's elbows with lightning speed. The wind caught off through Xing's arms when Lao pressured his attacks with fook sao blocks, encountering the tiger's circle punches before him. Repeatedly parrying the fists, breaking off the wrist locks from each other, they shifted around in circles. 

"Whoa!" Po and Monkey gasped.

The tiger blocked Lao's wings with his bong sao from trapping his sleeve, with multiple counters swiftly hitting at every block; the two fighters unleashed their attacks with defenses. Xing's kune-lum-tao had his elbow rounded his brother's wing and the other, almost gaining his proximity, but the avian thrust his whole body trapped with the tiger's arms together. Rustling sweeps quivered from Lao's train as his feathers aimed for the ankles, and Xing sprang and launched the side of his kick, booting Lao's torso. 

After landing, the Nine's Leader felt his feet rumbling from the peacock's train, which began to shift into rapidity turns, giving the tiger to advance and resume his Chi Sao encounter. Receiving claw bashes with his wings while deflecting, Lao revolved his limbs to deflection with lum-chin, delivering his front kick a fatal blow to the tiger's stomach. Advancing his brother once more, Chen Xing raised his front kick, and Lao extended his crossed wings and shoved his brother's foot, blocking the tiger's palm thrust. The Nine's Leader prevailed his surprise with his clenched claw and thrust toward the chest, and the Nine's Brilliance barricaded it with his wing, resisting the tiger's potent force. 

Their limb strengths matched, and when Xing resisted his fist attempting to push through, Lao, heightening his grunt, launched his wing forward with his loud caw.

SWOOSH!

Lao sent his brother into the air, tumbling him to a wobbling skid. Unlike the previous joy, the galleries heightened the citizens' glee cries even more thunderous than the last, applauding the Nine's Leader and Brilliance who concluded their Chi Sao performance. 

"WOW! THESE GUYS DID AMAZING TALENTS!" Po cheered.

"YOU ARE TELLING ME!" Mantis commented. 

"THAT WAS OUTSTANDING!" Crane chirped. 

"WAY TO GO, YOU GUYS!" Monkey clapped his hands. 

"WONDERFUL DEMONSTRATION!" Viper vibrated her hissing tongue with a great taste. 

Good. Tigress grinned as she observed the Nine hail their brothers. 

Chen Xing removed his sister's red sash and opened his eyes with a shocked expression, blinking as the light shone in his sight. He could finally see the peacock still guarding himself with fook sao, but the demonstration was at an end with his fist and palm clashing together. 

"Bow!" the tiger commanded him, and Lao returned to his stance, bowing to him. "Remove the sash."

The Nine's Brilliance did with his talon lifting the sash from his head. Using this complex form, his eminence at Chi Sao proved Lao's progression in competing against his brother. Lao, panting heavily with warm breaths, saw Xing's nonchalant expression. The tiger gracefully approached him as Lao held his brother's sash on his wing, lowering his sight as he closed his eyes. 

"Here is your sash, brother."  

Nevertheless, the spar demonstration was significant to him and those who marveled at the two warriors. Looking at his grandmother on the Emperor's throne platform, Xing waited to see if Chen Ming determined her judgment. Several years had the peacock progressed his journey to be a warrior who became a brilliant student before their eyes, and there was no denying that Lao showed who he was to the Nine and their people. Lao held his wings longer, knowing what to anticipate during his time at the new den with his brother and their grandmother. 

Lao felt his brother's claws palming over his wing and sash. And from his dream that came to him, Xing gently folded his claws and closed his brother's wings. 

"You did it," the tiger beamed. "You have earned yourself worthy to the Nine, brother. The black sash belongs to you now."

After everything Lao had worked so hard since the beginning of their friendship, the peacock observed his new sash, his beak stretching wide. The peacock's face was the first time Xing met him and his peahen mother that night. The Nine's Leader heightened his chuffs. "I'm very proud of you, brother." 

The brothers embraced before the Nine joined them, celebrating the Nine's Brilliance as the Dragon Warrior, Furious Five, and all the audience hailed the peacock with joy and glee.

The new rank was where Lao embarked on the new era of black sash. He had changed, as if the Nine's Brilliance and the Nine's Leader were not the same children when they played with their wolf sister each other for years, delighting with their mothers — Chen Ming and Lady Xia. This rank for Lao's black sash journey started as his first den; Chen Ming's position was above fifty den, above the Grandmaster title after twenty; Chen Xing's rank was at second den, ranked up to his third after assisting his avian brother. But still, the young tiger master was at such an age the progress to following her grandmother's footsteps as if their forefathers and mothers pursued their tradition for centuries and would sprout their seeds more for thousands of years. 

Chapter Text

Episode Four: Tournament (30 - 41)

Chapter XXXV

Tournament, Act Six

Viper vs. Fanshe

On the platform emerged the two serpents: the Nine's Serpent and Furious Five's reptile sister from Chengdu Village — their father's homeland.

After all the years, Viper never mentioned her adoptive brother to her companions at the Jade Palace. From the cobra's perspective, he lived with her serpent family after Fanshe saved the Great Viper from the Great Gorilla's assassin. Only a year after seeing him as a stranger to her, Viper accepted the outcast, who no longer followed with Great Gorilla's bandits. The lowlifes mistreated the citizens with no respect, as Fanshe opened his eyes and saw that no other serpents or the people could remind him about living a lousy life.

Every day, slithering in the village of Chengdu before the Great Viper's acceptance, Fanshe surveyed many people that changed his heart more than ever; the citizens who saw him as an outsider could comprehend what this cobra determined to lead before him after seeing one reptile from the poster banners near the courtyard. A poster depicting the Grandmaster of Jade Palace saying the heart grows within happiness, Fanshe knew what to expect in return from Great Viper, whom the people mentioned the almighty serpent saw the eyes of innocence and a few who could change through the second chance.

"After all these years, I think about our father all the time, Viper," the Nine's Serpent said, arching his eyes when approaching his sister. The referee waved his red flag to prevent the cobra from moving closer. "How has he been doing? Is he alright?"

"He is alive and well at our home. I thought about him too," Viper said, showing her little smile. "What made you leave his palace?"

"I. . ." his voice trailed off, and he looked down before he found words to elucidate. "Father wished me to live in another palace, where he reached out to his colleague who could accept students," Fanshe answered. "Since you left, I wanted to do the same thing the way I could handle myself, but our father suggested not to when going alone out there. He was right when I arrived at the Shui Palace, where I made new friends. The Nine are a family, but you, our father and mother, and our young sibling are always my first family."

"He will be very pleased to see you in person."

I am delighted to hear.

Fanshe beamed, nodding before his sister rounded her tail behind her. "Are you ready, brother?"

"I am born ready," the Nine's Serpent snickered, and the two bowed to the Emperor and themselves.

"Wing Chun; Fanshe."

"Kung Fu; Viper."

Each match during the Wing Chun vs. Kung Fu event was now to have a single round with only one participant to be eliminated, allowing all the contests to be quicker. These serpents were equal to their deadliest tails and fangs, and as the referee signaled his flag, the match started with the snakes hissing and launching simultaneously.

Screeches like blades blared, and Viper, curling her body to a ball before rolling to the corner, dodged her brother's tail whips. LASH! Viper hastily snatched her crimson ribbon stick to her right before Fanshe took his sharp turn and grasped a bamboo pole. Concentrating on his sister's tail, whipping the air with her sash while unveiling her dancing form, the cobra began to peer and tighten the pole with half of his body, pointing the weapon at her with a holdfast.

Viper slithered close to her brother's space, commencing to engage Fanshe with full force by twirling and lashing the fabric in a cross direction towards the bamboo stick. Seeing her close in on him, Fanshe parried the sash whips and rounded his weapon to plunge into her twice. After three dodges at once, the Nine's Serpent pinned his staff and yanked himself in the air, creating a whirl as he glimpsed down and dove. At the fight moment, Viper whipped, tightened the sash on her brother's pole, and yanked herself near him, cutting down the bamboo with her tail while Fanshe blocked her attacks. She shattered his weapon to pieces and had her sash clench her brother's center of her body, flinging him down the platform.

"HA!" Viper unleashed her cry.

Thudding on the platform, shaking his dizzy head, Fanshe crossed his side roll to the left as soon as Viper whirled her sash and slapped the platform, whacking where she could hit her brother while he dodged several attacks. Wack! Snap! LASH! Viper lunged the fabric and whipped to the corner, and her last attack delivered a blow to Fanshe's center of his back.

Wincing with his eyes wide open, Fanshe stopped and bent his body as his dodges made his sister's sash miss twice, which nearly had him clutch his neck. But as the Nine's Serpent endured having him lunge and whip his tail, attempting to clench his sister's sash and break it apart, Viper found her opportunity to seize him after his mistake. After bounding in the air before spinning, the Nine's Serpent extended his tail to lash, and Viper, casting the fabric with twirls, caught her brother's body and tightened him, yanking him down with a greater force.

"Sorry, sweety," Viper kissed him and thrashed him twice while tossing and hammering Fanshe, sending him a final whip in the air and slamming his head.

THUD!

"OW! That's gotta hurt!" Monkey cringed.

"You are telling me!" Mantis commented.

The referee signaled his flag and emitted to congratulate Viper for winning this match. The female reptile checked his brother, who wheezed his breaths with laughter in pain.

"I am sorry, brother," she apologized, giggling. "I thought you said you're ready."

"That was," Fanshe paused, his mind twinkling like stars as his eyes rolled and his tongue drooped to the side of his lips. "Lovely."

Monkey vs. Zhao

Leading to the platform emerged the former street-smart Monkey with the mastery of four hands of Kung Fu. To Chen Xing, the Masters of Jade Palace were lucky to have him as part of the team who could bring enthusiasm and jesters, which he was born from being a comedian. He introduced himself as he rushed and held his hands high, puffing his calls as he jumped on the columns and somersaulted on each pillar, swinging back and forth before mounting on one. Citizens of the Valley of Peace, heightening their joy at the galleries with yellow pendants and banners, showed their props to him when he surveyed the spectators and smiled wildly upon them. Monkey began to eyeball at the Nine and gestured his head with a nod to Chen Xing next to his wolf sister, who stretched her grin and revealed her teeth with a smile.

I eventually got some ideas for her, and Lotus will love my diet plan!

Just as he swung down and performed another somersault backward, landing on the fighting platform, Monkey turned and saw his opponent joining in from the stairs. Oh, this fight will be too easy! Thanks to the wooden dummies!

"Kick Monkey's butt, Zhao! I believe in you!" Niu supported his reptile companion.

"Give him what ye got, Matey!" Shou, the Nine's Pirate, clutched his fist in the air.

Cobalt and sky blue banners began to flow above the galleries from the Nine's side as the Nine's Predator, Zhao, introduced on the platform, waving at the citizens as he caught his eye on one of the banners with glittering yellow eyes as precisely that every night the people could see the orbs hovering across the bamboo forest, and even on the cloudy water surface.

The Nine's Predator gave a hard pat on his chest. "It is my honor to challenge you, Master Monkey," Zhao grinned.

"Me too," Monkey nodded. He had his tail boosted himself from the floor, supporting his weight. "You have no chance to surrender my bananas. Right?"

"Sadly, I prefer not to eat them; my stomach has no good taste in those fruits," Zhao said, disheartening.

No way! Monkey showed broad eyes with a minor shock, but the crocodile stretched his grin, popping his digits. "But you will surrender your cookies to me for Lotus."

"I bet you are," Monkey smirked. "Come and get them if you can."

"Oh, I'm shaking," Zhao trembled his body while Lao and Xing chuckled.

There are hundreds of dummy crocodiles from Jade Palace at the Training Hall. Zhao, how in the world are you going to defeat Master Monkey? Chen Xing wondered.

Two fighters began to bow to themselves after the Emperor with grace. The Furious Five comedian revealed his characteristic Kung Fu stance with his palms, and Zhao spread his feet to a horse stance, his tail swinging to a hook.

"Kung Fu; Monkey."

"Wing Chun; Zhao."

Monkey dashed across the ring with his hands, leaping with his shrill. As he somersaulted and aimed his foot down, Zhao swiveled with his tail, whipping the fists, but Monkey saw his opponent's surprise coming before dodging at the right moment with his feet. He bashed the crocodile's right side of the chest, and Zhao angled his quick turn to where his limbs could block fast blows with his arms, receiving the infliction from Monkey's feet that attempted to shatter the reptile's blocks.

Immediately guarding, Zhao made his lap sao on his opponent's right arm that swung near him; Monkey barricaded the reptile's punch with his palm, wringing Zhao to flip after Monkey's feet bashed the crocodile's legs. Flattening his stomach on the floor, the Nine's Predator whipped his tail to a hook like a scorpion, pouncing Monkey a few yards; Zhao hastily crawled on all fours, chasing after his challenger.

Leaping, the Nine's Predator threw straight punches three times toward the center, and the langur bashed the reptile's fists away with his palms, rounding his body to the corner — he mounted on Zhao's back before jumping to the nearest pillar. By puzzling, Zhao spun his tail with his attack, and he could not search for his opponent; he hastily swam his body until it was a little late for the Nine's Predator to rotate. Bracing on the column with his hand, Monkey sprang in the air with a backflip somersault, diving his foot.

With a shrieking yelp, Zhao held his guard up, but Monkey's foot clobbered his head, slamming his body to the floor.

And the Valley of Peace citizens cheered for the Furious Five comedian.

"OW! THAT'S GONNA LEAVE HIM A MARK!" Mantis uttered, thundering his joy.

The avian, Crane, lightened his laugh. "That's for sure!"

Viper vs. ?

The Righteous Seven looked forward to anticipating the Furious Five winning this event as they exhilarated for two classes competing in the advanced levels. They watched the female snake curl her tail when she smiled and slithered, seeing the Valley of Peace citizens cheer for her. Viper could see one poster depicting the daughter of Great Viper with crown roses. A quote writing — Kiss of Death! — had her numb titters.

That's a lovely painting. Viper grinned.

And from behind the serpent, while the Prosper Valley citizens thundered their joy with banners of sky blue with character posters "Nine" and gold ring eyes, her new challenger stepped onto the platform with dignity. The Nine's Dancer, a wolf named Lotus, emerged in her sleeveless qipao with a pink lily flower and black trousers — a ribbon dancer.

Before her, Chen Xing began to know his best friend Lao over three months as he and his grandmother traveled to Bao Gu Orphanage, where one of the Furious Five masters used to live there long before Grandmaster Shifu chose her. Mrs. Yan once told Chen Ming that children crept into their beds, cowering behind the walls after a newcomer from the outside world turned into a creature every night; that so-called beast terrorized them and their caretakers. Unlike Tigress, a child with fangs that many formerly feared — considering the wolf cub indeed had fangs instead of claws like the feline, Lotus was no monster from caretakers' eyes. Still, orphans were quite prejudiced to see her not part of their kind, claiming the girl was dangerous like wolves who were barbarians.

To Chen Xing and Lao, Lotus was not dangerous.

The striped feline cub was the only one who went closer to the innocent wolf cub as if no orphans would dare to approach her with compassion. Seeing the boy the only one embracing the wolf who wiped her tears off, Lotus accepted him because Xing had a good heart, unlike children. In her new chamber inside the Shui Palace, Lotus sat on the bed and held her knees when she pulled her ears back, rocking back and forth. After a whole month, she went through the unfortunate moments back at Bao Gu. Every day, the girl grew stronger to neglect the pain; raised and adopted by the wings of Lady Xia, trained Wing Chun by the Nine's Master, Lotus became Chen Xing and Lao's sister ever since.

The one-eyed wolf with an eye patch surveyed the fighting square on the gallery platform near the Emperor's Throne floor, guarding along with the officers. Wolf Boss could smell the scent of lily and rose flowers on the wolf's fur from afar, and he knew the gold-ring eyes of a child who adored her father and mother long ago before the Wolves Village lay its waste.

Gods — Look at you. It has been so long — Thank the turtle's blessing.

Zhong dulled his whine with high spirits and tears of joy, palming his heart while observing the Nine cheer their wolf sister. Her brothers' support for Lotus filled Wolf Boss's heart with blessing.

"Give it all you got, sister! Show Viper how it's done!" Chen Xing encouraged the Nine's Dancer.

"Good luck, Lotus!" Lao cheered.

The snake began to survey her opponent with a novelty. "I love your qipao, Lotus," Viper beamed, her tail pointing at the wolf's cloth. "You are so gorgeous, sweetheart."

"So are you, Master Viper," the Nine's Dancer stretched her grin. Her gold-ring eyes began to widen, catching her sight on the snake's crown flower crown above her head. "Is that my flower? That's mine!"

The serpent master smiled, humming. "Let's see who will earn lily flowers."

The two warriors bowed.

"Kung Fu; Viper."

"Wing Chun; Lotus."

Viper snarled before her tail whipped Lotus's Chi Sao with her fook sao block. With paw to tail, parrying and pounding, the two warriors engaged as the Nine's Dancer was immune from the female serpent's tail plunging and slashing; slithering closer to her opponent, Viper bent her whole body onward, attempting to shatter Lotus's forearms containing pak sao and chin-gon, which allowed the wolf to prevent the onslaughts from the snake's rapidity.

Receiving three lunges that nearly stunned the wolf, Lotus went for her straight blow when Viper sprang her whole body onward, hissing as the serpent almost caught Lotus's stomach, but the Nine's Dancer twirled her wrist to a snake, preventing Viper from clutching her body after Lotus thrust Viper with a hard pounce. The wolf, amplifying her rich growl under her throat, had her horse-stance feet sweep onward and stepped in, launching her kicks to the front and the side with a back kick.

Receiving the second blow, shaking her head after landing on the platform with a soft thud, Viper whirled her body and caught Lotus's foot, crawling on her spine before her body clenched her arm and neck, yanking the wolf's limb to punch herself thrice. After the third, with Lotus attempting to clutch the snake's throat, Viper yanked her wrist, tugging her whole weight in the air.

"WHOA!" Lotus yelped, but at once diving, the Nine's Dancer growled and caught eyes on Viper launching in the air. With that instant, the wolf somersaulted and landed a hammer kick to the reptile's head. After a hard landing to a crash, whiffing with coughs before clearing her throat, Viper snapped her sight and faced the Nine's Dancer, who showed her serpent kung fu form, with the wolf's paws shaping like the snake's head. As Viper quivered her tail, beckoning to wave, her crimson sash hovered in the air, and Lotus extended her paw for the weapon of choice.

"SASH!" the Nine's Dancer exclaimed, and the Nine's Leader tossed his sister's ocean sash with the stick.

'Wait, whaa—?" the Nine's Serpent had lost his thought when approaching the platform's edge, but the Nine's Leader helped the cobra mount on his limbs.

"Get a load of this," the tiger smirked.

Lotus began to twirl the sash amidst the air, with the silk billowing across when Viper did the same while dancing with her water form, her face unveiling her deathly smile before the snake catapulted her body onward. Lotus made her jump and flipped to the side, avoiding the snake's sash from trapping her legs as the wolf hastily sighted the red ribbon in circles. Engaging in combat, Lotus lashed and gave another whirl to her corner, lunging and hitting Viper where the snake could position; her reptile body made sudden bends, dodging every wolf's attack. For a moment of whipping and sweeping with the ocean sash, the Nine's Dancer rounded her weapon and nearly caught Viper's body in a firm grip; with an instant yank, the wolf spun her kick, and the serpent blocked with her tail.

When the serpent's tail lunged, Lotus elbowed and rounded her hip to face forward, her knife paws hitting Viper's neck twice. Seeing her opponent stumble to disorientation, Lotus sent a double kick to Viper; in mid-air, Viper stormed her body onward and had her tail whipped forward, and Lotus used her blocking form of bil-gee. Two blocks of bong sao with her elbows deflected the serpent's tail, and her paws hammered forward, with five circle fists thrashing Viper's body.

"AH!"

Viper winced and tumbled to the surface, and the goat referee waved his flag.

"LOTUS WINS!" the Emperor of China announced, and the citizens of Prosper Valley hailed the Nine's Dancer with joy. The wolf's brothers and sister praised her.

"YEAH!" Niu burst his cry.

"WAY TO GO, LOTUS!" Chen Xing clapped his paws.

That's my girl. Wolf Boss simpered.

Lotus presented her bow with such courtesy before she led towards the edge of the platform near the Furious Five's side, inspecting the reptile master. After quivering her head to lessen the dizziness while grunting, Viper let out her cough and cleared her throat. "Are you alright, Master Viper," Lotus asked, kneeling before the snake.

"Phew. . ." the reptile master stretched her grin, widening her eyes. "You did not pull your punches back there. That was — hardcore."

"Mmm. . . Now, where's my flower?" the Nine's Dancer simpered.

The snake gasped. "Oh, my. . ." Viper held a tail against her lips. "You do like these, right?"

"I love them!" the wolf grinned. "I've never seen lily flowers like that before."

"Oh. . ." the snake master determined, lightening her rough chuckles. The soreness on her body triggered her to a slight wince. "I wonder why your name sounds so. . . gorgeous, Lotus. Did someone give your name?"

"Someone did, but not my brothers or Grandmama and Mommy," Lotus said, still stretching her lips. Her paw cast out a qi of yellow-lime and set briskly glimmers of falling stars spreading over the snake's body, healing Viper as the snake's current injury state dissipated.

"Auh. . . That's better," Viper sighed in relief. "I owe you one, sweety."

"You're welcome," she beamed. The two warriors led towards the stairs. "My nana and peahen mother raised me with my best friends, who we raised together. Back home in Wolves Village, there were many flowers on the patio and the backyard, and their smells were as pleasant as I remember. Someone, who I may never know, found one plant that they praised the heavens for shining on the gardens, one light choosing their daughter's name. A plant, growing out from the mud, that's what I am called 'Lotus.'"

"How a lovely name," Viper stretched her grin with a glee. "I hear Master Ming has flowers in her garden."

"Yes!" the Nine's Dancer simpered, her head exhibiting a shock. "I forgot to bring you and the Five on a detour that night. My apologies, Master Viper."

"There's no need, my dear. We were all hyped for the Emperor's speech and contenders," the snake said, leading down. "By the way. I am curious about your — obsession, which your tiger brother once told me about your cookies. How many have you eaten?"

"I ate around five thousand cookies a year," she replied. "Twenty cookies a day, thirty cookies on weekends, and four hundred cookies in one month."

"MY WORD!" Viper raised her tail, widening her eyes. "You must be a cookie giant, just like Monkey and Po!"

Monkey vs. Lao

Let's see how this kid can handle me.

Monkey was on the pillar, zooming his eyes at his new contender, who would be willing to challenge the Furious Five's comedian. The banners of blue and ocean from the Prosper Valley citizens billowed while the citizens cheered and saw the Nine's Brilliance enter the platform. Swinging down to the surface, standing with pride and grace before the citizens of the Valley of Peace intensified their joy for the Furious Five's comedian, Monkey gestured his hands.

"Come join the Furious Five. We have cookies if you accept surrender."

The peacock, showing his face with slight confusion but finding odd, crossed his wings. "How thoughtful of you. I would be encouraged to do so, but with your trickster mindset, as I discover, you will not persuade me otherwise."

"Ooohh!" Monkey widened his mouth before he showed his teeth with glee. "Good for you! Care for bananas instead?"

Lao continued rummaging through the weapons selection with his wing. "Why won't you try to eat cookies with my sister Lotus? I can tell you: She is terrible."

"I would like to see her try," Monkey assured. While the Five's comedian surveyed his opponent to select one of the available weapons for a battle, Monkey turned pale as he grasped his own. "Oh! Bamboo poles. What do you prefer, kid?"

"My dragon pole and your cookies for Lotus," Lao said.

"HA!"

After bowing for the Emperor and themselves, the fight started as Lao and Monkey thrust their poles with surprise attacks.

Piercing forward twice before lunging in a horizontal direction, the Nine's Brilliance plunged his weapon and launched his foot in the air, kicking Monkey's bamboo stick. With a hard bash receiving, Monkey circulated his weapon, hitting one corner before he hammered the peacock's head above. Giving perfect blocks from receiving the infliction, Lao managed his agility to ward off fast impacts, angling his hip and stance within proximity when sidestepping to the left and right. At a right moment before rearing his back, the peacock fanned out his train with rich vibrations, blinding Monkey to have him briefly confused — Lao plunged through with his dragon pole and clobbered Monkey's chest, folding his train down. Lao spread it again and made a sweep toward his opponent's feet.

Getting back up to his feet after his whole back made him roll backward, Monkey heightened his call, pinning his bamboo pole on the floor. He yanked himself, his feet battering on the peacock; Lao used his staff and parried three strong hits. The third had the Nine's Brilliance stagger to his crouching level and gave a glimpse at the Furious Five comedian bound in the air, swinging behind his head.

"HA!"

Lao launched his clenched claw in the air and struck Monkey's torso.

Crashed on the surface, Monkey stumbled, shook his head from dizziness, and surveyed Lao stretch his defensive pose. "Catch me if you can," Monkey massaged his jaw and stood up in haste, sprinting toward the nearest column. "PILLARS!"

Once sighting his opponent bound and mounted on all fours with acrobatic flips, climbing to the highest column, Lao gestured his wing. "GRAPPLING HOOK!"

And the Nine's Dancer tossed the claw-like metal with a rope to him.

Lao rounded his rope and hurled the claw to the nearest pillar peak, fastening it. Lao tugged it and yanked himself in the air, casting toward the height before landing on the pillar.

"WHOA!" the audience heightened their gasps in awe.

Planting his foot on one and the other while splitting his stance, Lao spun his grappling hook, and Monkey made his acrobatic flips, leading forward. While keeping at a distance rather than drawing himself close to the peacock, Monkey flipped backward, with the claw nearly slashing his back under with a woosh sound. With his hands clutching the pole top, he swung and catapulted, screeching; right before the foot's impact, Lao sidestepped to the left, swinging the dart on the opposite. The rope fastened Monkey on his belly after he gasped, spinning him to the side.

The Furious Five's comedian had his hands land on two poles from falling while the rope slipped and withdrew, which made Lao haul with several rounds. Not this time! Grunting, Monkey set his course after launching himself with more forward flips. At this time, he was on his opponent, launching his feet. Lao, finishing a hoop for his rope dart to spin, was struck to the torso, causing the avian to tumble to the corner, but his balance had returned from falling as he stepped on the other column. Without a rope dart, as it fell, the Nine's Brilliance began to raise his wings forward, and Monkey gained his attacks on him — Front and back kicks. The avian deflected twice.

Lao had his talon catch his opponent's third kick and forced Monkey's foot down; Monkey let out his fists to bash the peacock's chest, but the avian diverted the attacks before his foot drove towards the center. Monkey clutched his foot, flinging Lao above toward his back, and made his feet smash him.

"OH!" Lao grunted, spreading his wings and tail while tumbling toward the platform. Twirling his body, the peacock hovered and let out his caw, making him roll and cause a sharp turn. From behind the bird's train was the air slicing into thunderous cracks, and the Nine's Brilliance took a rugged land on the square, skidding and readying his dragon pole before his opponent dove into him.

"Gods to be — WOAH!" Mantis burst with surprise.

SLAM!

Lao shoved his weapon above and blocked Monkey's foot from hammering down to his head. Bouncing back, grasping his bamboo by the counter, Monkey reengaged the avian on full force, loudening his call. Sticks struck like bricks side by side, clobbering before one warrior could deliver his fatal attacks. Attempting to ward off the dragon pole with a rough shove to the left, Monkey propelled his weapon toward the peacock's neck, and Lao, with reflexes triggering in imminence, dodged and whirled his body, his train sweeping Monkey's feet.

Sending his opponent in the air, the Nine's Brilliance pivoted his stance and launched his high kick to Monkey's ribcage. Lao gained his last approach, bounding across the breeze as he spun his body, lunging his heel kick and the other. A hard third strike cast Monkey to the nearest column, crashing his back there before bouncing back on the platform; Monkey's bamboo pole fell to the corner.

The Nine's Brilliance, pinning his dragon staff, lifting his whole weight towards the wind with acrobatic flips, spun his weapon, nearly landing a fatal strike to Monkey's head. And the antelope referee waved his flag.

"THE NINE'S BRILLIANCE WINS!"

The Emperor of China's announcement brought the spectators and the Nine into roaring glee. As shocked to bear his loss after the unanimous part, Monkey looked up to his opponent, who surrendered his dragon pole to his corner and extended his wing. Panting heavily with enthusiastic characterism, the langur beamed, grasping his opponent's limb before he rose next to him.

"Nice work, Lao," Monkey said, his body recoiling from his sored ribcage where the peacock struck him hard. He nudged his palm against his minor injury, softening his grunt. "Not bad. Not bad at all."

"Here, let me help you with that."

Once the observers witnessed him form a tai chi water flow, leaning his body towards the langur, Lao's wings emerged with strange pulsations that appeared as golden swarms of ocean ripples, bathing on Monkey's bruised fur. With slow surges caressing, the langur's injuries dissipated, washing the pain away.

"Auh! That's better," Monkey sighed with alleviation, giving the avian a hard pat behind his back. "Thank you, Lao. I owe you one. Except for my cookies."

"Right. . ." the peacock determined him, with a suspicious glance revealing before the langur. "I thought you could give me fifty cookies if you lose; you told me back at the Shui Palace."

"I —" Monkey trailed his voice but realized he had a pleasant conversation with the Nine's Brilliance about winning the bets to earn confectionaries. Surprised, the langur filled his breath. "Oh. . ."

"Gotcha," Lao simpered, laughing as they walked off the arena platform. "Now, I do not doubt that Lotus anticipates you to give her your almond cookies by then, Master Monkey."

"For sure," he nodded, turning his head to the peacock. "You did your training well, kid. You are going to be a great teacher."

"I may look forward to, Master!"

Chapter Text

Episode Four: Tournament (30 - 41)

Chapter XXXVI

Tournament, Act Seven

Semi-Final

Lotus vs. Mantis / Lao vs. Crane

The other two matches did not take long to introduce the Nine's Dancer, who started challenging the Furious Five's tiniest member before the Nine's Brilliance sought to contest Master Crane. Lotus reflected on the insect who launched into a pool of affrays and penetrated a clan of bandits within a short radius, defeating the rest like nothing. A tip that Lotus's teacher shared with her could give the wolf the advantage against the bug: See no tiny, but hear the chirrs.

The flag waved, and the line of green launched before the wolf's eyes, pummeling Lotus's upper shoulders. Slightly underestimated, Lotus swam her head and searched for her opponent, but he was too small to detect. With Chen Ming's hint that made slightly more sense, sounds of sharp chirrs were heard in the wolf's ears, and a line of dark green became a flash from her eyes. The Nine's Dancer recoiled her body to the left, rolling in the opposite direction; instead of using a crimson sash, her limbs were only viable enough while progressing to her expert level.

Lotus darted her fists towards Mantis's limbs — the insect's reflexes were extreme with rapidity at all the angles.

The Nine's Dancer countered fierce attacks; her elbows received slight cracks, sensing the insect's potent strength she could ignore while performing her bong sao blocks against Mantis's kicks. Almost gritting her teeth when cloaking the pain, Lotus shoved her elbow forward, recoiling her body to send her other limb with another impact. Tumbling back after a hard blow, the bug skidded on the surface, shaking his limbs.

"Phew!" Mantis let out his puff.

Quivering his antennae, with the surroundings around him started the motions go slower than expected. Mantis scurried towards his opponent. Lotus hammered her foot first; he pounded her legs, wobbling the stance while the bug advanced from behind. Hopping at once, Mantis struck her back shoulder, clasping the other arm as Lotus felt the pinch from his grip, with a nerve point forcing her to flip and crash down.

"HERE I COME!" Mantis roared, springing in the air — his limbs directly aimed at her.

Oh, no, you don't!

Grinning, Lotus rolled to the side; Mantis missed his attack mere inches from her head after the impact. Not allowing her opponent to advance, the Nine's Dancer skidded her whole body down, leading her foot to dart the insect before her other one did while twisting. Her blocks pummeled when Mantis hurled his limbs at her with aggressive fluidity attacks. Gotcha! The wolf thrust her one-inch punch, casting him off towards the breeze. Flipping her body forward, Lotus sent her front foot down, bouncing Mantis in the air again. She had another kick after performing a recoil jump; her other foot knocked him off toward the wooden column.

THUD!

"THE NINE'S DANCER WINS!" the Emperor proclaimed.

Two avians commenced the fight, and Lao spun his dragon pole on the ground, facing his opponent — Master Crane of the Furious Five, in the air. Wings of Gale! Crane let out his caw after he soared around poles, banking left with a swift tempest breeze. His dark wings cast a screech of twirling winds, cutting towards Lao. The peacock cut off blares of wind screeches, extending his train when the avian master dove while spinning with haste. Wings of Combat! Before Crane engaged the peacock with his fast kick, the Nine's Brilliance parried his attacks, his pole whipping towards Crane's back after yanking the avian master's other talon. Farther off the square platform, Chen Xing could see the Furious Five lean their faces — Tigress was slightly not surprised while crossing her arms but found it interesting to see these avians engage. Next to the female tiger, Po was thrilled, opening his mouth wide.

Clack - clack - CLACK!

Crane deflected his opponent's weapon with the bamboo pole that Monkey tossed to him. Going for the opening, the avian master delivered a hard kick to the peacock's stomach, skidding Lao near the platform's edge. Good heavens! The Nine's Brilliance balanced his foot on the edge; a shrieking wind approached from his right, and Crane thundered his caw, spinning his body towards the peacock. The peacock could finally see what the avian master saw in confidence — dodging this bird that appeared to be a giant log, swinging at him. Lao stretched his whole body back, flapping his wings once as Crane passed him.

"GRAPPLING HOOK!" Lao shouted, and his ox brother tossed him the rope with a claw. While Crane managed to glide and yield his flight to yaw, barging into thin gaps of long columns, the avian master detected his opponent yank himself in the air with a rope dart. Fanning his train and wings, the Nine's Brilliance soared towards him. One cawed, and the other did the same.

CLASH!

Talons against talons were heard from fast hits, and one avian fell towards the platform. Crane landed right before he nearly crashed on the surface. His opponent gained on him from above, landing behind the avian master directly before they snatched their poles. Resetting in combat, the birds lunged their weapons side to side, parrying from infliction. With a slight mistake, the peacock lunged his weapon under his opponent, and Crane stepped on its tip, forcing it to lose Lao's grasp; the avian master sent his kick directly on Lao's chest, keeping him in the distance.

As he rolled on the ground and unfurled his train, Lao grimaced and surveyed Crane, spreading his dark wings. His leg bent down as the other one was stationed. Crane Kick, Lao feared.

CRANE! CRANE! CRANE! The audience applauded the avian master, who arched his wings upward, waiting for the opportunity to knock his opponent if Lao reached proximity. For a moment, the peacock regained his strength as he stood, splitting his stance with his left foot forward. At last, Lao squinted his eyes, moving ahead; Crane sent his foot a high kick but missed his opponent mere inches below him. The Nine's Brilliance reached for his dragon pole, booting his claw behind Crane's back.

Lao whirled his grappling hook, rounding a rope around Crane's body — he yanked and twisted the avian master's body. WINGS OF REGR—! Crane blared his screeches, and the peacock threw his fast kick twice, putting him down. Pinning his staff, Lao forced his own weight toward the sky. He aimed his weapon at Crane's neck.

The Nine leaned their chests closer to the platform's edge, witnessing their wolf sister who struggled to rise with her knee bent. Chen Xing was surprised to anticipate the Furious Five leader combating the Nine's Dancer — both ordinary fighters who were Bao Gu victims before their lives were stitched to be honorable creatures.

Stay down, Lotus. Xing whispered.

The Nine's Dancer let out a dull whine, wobbling her stance as Lotus took a stand before she faced Tigress. The leader of Furious Five committed to create a tiger stance with her arms spread wide, readying her feet onward.

Please, don't push it, Lotus. Tigress warned. Instead of yielding, the wolf held her arms up, panting when shaking her head. In a circle, two warriors stared with their glares; before Wolf Boss caught his attention on the watchtower platform when staring at his daughter's brothers trying to climb on a platform, Chen Xing gestured the Nine not to during this round. Citizens in the galleries of orange and blue waved their flags and chanted for female fighters, and the Nine's Dancer pushed forward to a growl.

Big mistake.

With her eyes narrowed, Tigress struck her opponent at multiple angles toward Lotus's chest and ribcages, but the Nine's Dancer — fueled with intense and berserk — countered the feline's fists with her own palm blocks, parrying Tigress's elbow combos with better accuracy. Low growls rumbled during combat, but this was ordinary to Lotus when engaging her opponent; at this time, the wolf's snarl was quite antagonizing to Tigress. The striped feline master provoked her response when Lotus made herself an elbow attack forward. With an immediate block before the wolf recoiled and sent a back elbow, Tigress yanked her opponent's whole arm, thrusting Lotus to the corner.

Oh, no.

Chen Xing saw his sister's muzzle creases and was concerned about Lotus's behavior, which went out of hand; he and the Nine knew not to show their weakness in front of their contestants and assailants. His wolf sister depicted outrage, and her disadvantage led Tigress to an easy win. Once seeing the rage of the Nine's Dancer sprang on all fours forward, the striped feline warrior blocked every straight punch with unimaginable swiftness, her own feet barricading Lotus's round kicks. The wolf was dazed before either of them made their defenses break free — her worthy contestant delivered her hard fist toward her cheek. While luring her body backward, the Nine's Dancer planted her paws down and flipped her feet upward, forcing Tigress to withdraw after she received ribcage and head infliction.

Heightening her rich growl while breaking a slow smile, Tigress dashed forward before she jumped towards her, proceeding to subdue her opponent — but that would not let this striped feline further because Lotus sprang her feet under the feline's body, casting Tigress towards the columns. While reacting to stand with haste, Lotus recoiled before facing her opponent too late, and her face displayed a sudden shock. The Furious Five leader, swinging around the wide column with her claws that left their marks, launched against her. The feline's foot walloped under the wolf's front chest.

A high-pitch whimper was greatly heard; the Nine's Dancer felled, rolling towards the platform's edge near the Righteous Seven's side.

"LOTUS!" the Nine shouted, but Chen Xing lured his loud gasp before the whole gallery of civilians did theirs.

In dominance, Tigress provoked her kung-fu stance, waiting for her opponent to continue this fight. As the contestant, the feline had no desire to hurt the challenger further, as if Lotus struggled to rise from one knee, grimacing in discomfort. Her third Tournament was the cause of aggression towards a former antelope contender, and her fifth Tournament event made Lotus face this trepidation of dominance from her legendary opponent. The Furious Five leader conceded her combat stance, staring at the Nine's Dancer, whose bruised face began to tremble. Attempting to regain her strength, Lotus flashed her gold-ring eyes, whimpering while her teeth clenched.

The wolf fell, and Chen Xing gestured a cut neck to end the round.

"MASTER TIGRESS WINS!" the Emperor stated, and gold banners of the Dragon Warrior and Furious Five cried out their cheers.

Not long after seeing the wolf shed tears, the Furious Five leader closed her own amber eyes and commenced her tai chi stance, leading her foot and arms forward in a circle. The golden qi of yin and yang was cast from Tigress's claw, her digits of yellow ripples emitting a soft breeze of whirls of pink petals. A blossom whirlpool, hovering across the platform, cloaked on the injured wolf, ebbing Lotus's whimpers and her physical injury areas. This tai chi movement was Tigress's best after giving several opportunities to cast her chi on withered plants — and mostly on her injured companions.

The pain receded, and Lotus relaxed her tense breaths, still lowering on the floor. The wolf's eyes depicting disconsolation had Tigress feel her spine drag on the nippy surface of ice - the sentiment of guilt.

"Lotus. . . I am sorry," Tigress extended her claw, expressing regret.

Coming from Tigress's right side, Chen Xing vaulted on the platform and hurried toward his wolf sister. "Lotus. It's me — you're okay," the Nine's Leader hooked her arm around his neck, assisting her to stand. Tigress could see Xing's eyes meet her own. "She's alright, Master."

Instead of letting another word to share her pity, Master Tigress arched her brows and nodded to him, watching Lotus and Xing approach the stairs.

Tigress vs. ?

The striped feline master got her eyes on the last two students of the Nine. Tigress remained on the platform after seeing Lotus sitting on the chair. She could see Nine's Doctor inspecting the wolf's injuries on her ribcage and the side of her face; the feline was in remorse after Tigress won the match, which she did not deserve to achieve. But with her stark skills, the feline was overly matched against the wolf, whose rank was lower than hers. For a moment, folding her wrists behind her back while wishing to comfort Lotus, Tigress walked back and forth, mulling the following possibilities. If she could defeat the two students on her own, the Dragon Warrior would not need to challenge them because they could win the match without a doubt if the Nine were eliminated. Hoping to see the Nine's Brilliance challenge her, Tigress looked forward to accepting the contest.

"Well. This is it, then," Lao said, breathing in and out without tension as far as Tigress could see his nervous behavior well in her amber eyes. His feline brother looked at him with slight regard. "I didn't expect the Nine to win. We are one step closer to heading the final."

"I am thrilled to see that as well, brother," Niu, the Nine's Defender, anticipated in intense anxiety. "Lao, are you really sure about this?"

"What choice do I have, Niu?" the peacock asked him. "I can see how advantageous Master Tigress can do the veracity."

"Lao, you don't have to do this. Let your brother do it," Hong urged her after nudging cold tissues on Lotus's bruised cheek, making the wolf numb her grunt with a wince. "Master Tigress has studied your moves since you fought Masters Fei, Monkey, and Crane."

"Hong's right, brother," Chen Xing agreed. "Only I must volunteer. Tigress's skill is beyond there than mine, yours, and our sisters."

"But, Xing. . ." Lao stepped in front of him. "How are you going to fight her?"

"She has claws, and I have mine," Chen Xing answered. "Since Tigress and I are not allowed to use them, I am going to kick her ass."

The peacock's eyes broadened. "You are mad."

"Mad, yes. Besides, I will not let Tigress ruin your robe and feathers."

"Ahem! My apologies for meddling," the antelope referee pardoned, drawing the Nine's attention. "Master Lao, are you ready to fight?"

"Actually, sir. I—"

Chen Xing raised his claw. "I volunteer."

"Good! Master Chen Xing volunteers!" the antelope proclaimed and signaled the Emperor.

"I approve!" Emperor Huangdi endorsed, and the audience let out their tumultuous cheers. Lao found it odd and awkward to have his brother take over his role instead of him either way, as Lotus regarded Xing's brave act. Expressing nonchalance without further ado, the Nine's Brilliance had his wing patted his brother's back.

"Alright, brother. It's your funeral."

"Auh, don't be so dramatic," Chen Xing simpered, his claw nudging his avian brother's shoulder. "Besides. A big brother protects his little brother; you know that well, Lao."

Too well, brother. Too well.

Lao began to lighten his chuckles before the Nine supported their brother with praise and encouragement. "Good luck, Xing. You will need it."

This match took moments for Xing to participate in while he concentrated on previous training from a young age before meeting a Kung Fu warrior before his eyes. This was the tiger that could ever volunteer to fight against the other one who was like him but far more attractive and more vital. Citizens across the vast galleries of the Kong Bao Stadium lowered their cheers, and everyone's eyes were on him before the Nine's Leader arrived at the platform's stairs. He glanced at the Dragon Warrior and Furious Five members, who gestured their nods to him as he did the same. Stepping onto the platform when his insides were breathing in with rime — the feeling of timidness dominating his core — Chen Xing came to his next worthy opponent across the square, where the Furious Five alpha watched him.

The striped feline warriors took moments to glance at all the galleries, where only eyes spoke more than their whispers. The quiet was odd to Xing when he and Tigress met in this semi-final match. Was Xing ready to fight her after he studied Kung Fu with her a little? He never knew how challenging this fight would be as Xing would have to discover Tigress's skills.

"I find it strange for us to see each other like this, Master Tigress. The stadium seems silent," the Nine's Leader regarded, still observing the arena. Instead of prolonging to stare at observers, two striped felines met their glances. "Ever wonder why?"

"No," Tigress shook her head. Her eyes met him. "Is your sister going to be alright? I want to meet Lotus after the Tournament."

"She's alright, Master Tigress," Xing answered. "Lotus had a rough time."

Rough time? Tigress pondered. I wonder what caused her to be out of focus.

The tiger's mind scratched to reflect on Tigress. Undoubtedly, the picture of his late mother was always in Xing's room. Since they first met, Tigress's face was nearly a match. His mother would be slightly old if she were here, but there would never be a replacement like Xing's mom; with the only exception that made him happy better, Xing accepted to have Lady Xia as his adoptive mother.

Does my aunt exist? Is she the one?

Chen Xing flooded his thoughts when looking down at his feet, wondering if his contender could be his family.

"Xing? Is something wrong?" Xing heard Tigress, and he looked up to her for answers.

"Remember when we met on the night? When you mentioned my late parents?" he asked. "I don't know if it is true or not that my mother or father ever had cousins or relatives. I could not stop staring at my mother's painting every night; you look like her."

I could understand why.

Tigress remembered Chen Xing's parents' illustration, whereas his grandmother shared the portrait with her niece, what they were like before their fate.

"Are you. . . my aunt?" he asked, arching his brows. "Maybe a friend instead?"

"Perhaps we should talk later with your grandmother after the Tournament, Xing," Tigress said.

I believe we will. It is too soon to reveal the validity.

Their discussion went nowhere towards distraction as Xing and Tigress began to focus the round again after the referee calmly interrupted them. Presenting their bows to the Emperor and themselves, the striped feline warriors showed Wing Chun and Kung Fu tiger stances.

"Wing Chun, Chen Xing."

"Kung Fu, Tigress."

Within a rapid surprise, the Nine's Leader swept to the right side when the Furious Five leader launched in the air with her front kick, landing on the opposite side. Chen Xing began to bash her forearm bridge with a knife counter towards her neck; blocking his knife palm, Tigress had her other arm contact his arm, commencing to propel her fists directly at Xing's center after the Nine's Leader struck her ribcage.

Tigress encountered Xing's palms with chain blocks, which connected with bong sao, tan sao, and pak sao closer to her surroundings. When rounding her left foot to the right, Xing parried her kick with kune lum tao, with elbow and back-knuckle combinations inflicting her before pushing Tigress with full force. She could see her opponent's claw twitching before quivering instead, but the Nine's Leader let out his puff from his lips. As their striped tails swept back and forth, Tigress motioned onward, and Xing did so. Her foot began to propel right when he parried her leg with his jo phan; after an immediate block, Xing delivered a heel kick to her belly, but Tigress swiftly caught his foot to a trap and forced him to roll in the air.

Shi—!

Thudding and gasping, Chen Xing could see Tigress forming her avian stance when widening her arms to a flow; when she advanced closer, the Nine's Leader spun his feet to a whirl, allowing his defense to rise his stance quicker. Both tigers let out their roars, and the Nine's Leader engaged her with his front stance. Two straight punches blocked, and Tigress trapped the third with her palm; the Furious Five leader sent her other claw bash on his torso, pushing him back. Once skidding, Chen Xing had his limbs to guard his head to the side right when Tigress leaped and spun, her two kicks of heel and front hitting him. He clutched her foot and recoiled his whole back, his elbow striking towards her head.

The Furious Five leader staggered backward before Chen Xing could see her head shaking. Resonants of low and creamy growls from Tigress provoked him to stand firm in his defense; unveiling a nonchalant posture before forming a tai chi stance, Tigress proceeded.

Ready.

The Furious Five leader leaped and spun her feet in the air; the Nine's Leader sidestepped to the left after a quick dodge. Commencing to advance her aggressiveness, Tigress launched her kicks forward while Chen Xing sent his arms of chin-gon near her ankles, trapping her before she began to lead her punches toward his bong-sao arm block. He lurched to a stagger as Tigress balanced her stance, cornering near the platform's edge at the Furious Five side.

"Bamboo!" she hailed, and Monkey tossed the weapon to her.

"Pole!" Xing reached for his own as his peacock brother did.

Clashes of wood and bamboo thundered together; the Nine's Leader swirled his dragon staff below as Tigress did a vertical downward strike after she leaped, and Xing blocked her from a surprise reaction. With each thrust, his weapon bridged her bamboo, lunging towards her limbs. Distancing himself from a close range, Chen Xing jabbed under his opponent's feet, but Tigress sidestepped and parried his long weapon flawlessly. After a quick jab toward the stripped feline master's chest, the Nine's Leader made his staff rapid whirls onward, making Tigress sway backward.

WOOSH—WOOSH—WOOSH—WOOSH!

Right before the tip of Xing's weapon cast downward, Tigress forced her parry to the floor, her foot planting it; she propelled a front flip and sent her kick toward Xing's upper chest. But in an instant reflex, Xing yanked his weapon and barricaded his front but led Tigress in the air to land behind him. Recoiling fast, the Nine's Leader wheeled his long pole, sweeping the feline master's feet. After her fall with a sudden reaction, Tigress repeatedly blocked Xing's fast thrusts; when forcing her other foot to drive Xing's weapon away, the Furious Five leader recovered her stance and charged at him.

She began to thwack with her bamboo with fluidity spins — left and right before plunging forward, moving closer to Xing. He warded her off with hard pedal slams in horizontal directions, letting the tiger keep his distance farther from Tigress. But she would not keep him retreating as if her advantage was fierce, yet matching his moves; after four blocks before Xing's fifth lunge that nearly tumbled Tigress, the felines rapidly wheeled their bodies — counter-clockwise. And their poles in low-pitch winds contacted, snapping both apart in half.

CRACK!

Mantis gasped. "DAMN! These guys are fast!"

The felines inspected their shattered poles of bamboo and wood, wondrously surprised but seeing themselves with unbelievable moments. They alleviated their muscle tensions and their lungs, their breaths panting the cold in and warmth out; as useless as their weapons no longer used to continue further, the fight resumed again after Tigress formed her character stance and Xing used his chi sao stance. An antelope referee signaled his red flag and hollered:

"COLUMNS!"

Both felines ran for the columns — one way and the opposite; their thoughts were encouraging.

Let's go!

Keep up, Xing.

The Dragon Warrior and four of the Furious Five observed two felines spring on the columns, claws clutching in woods to mount on all fours; instead of climbing, the felines jumped one and the other, rapidly ascending before either one could approach closer. With immediate haste, Chen Xing and Tigress vaulted on the top of their columns, and the Furious Five leader went for the attack first — she leaped and rounded her foot on him. A rich growl thundered from her opponent, and Xing made haste to withdraw his head. How insurmountable as these felines engaged on top of this arena, their fists clashed rapidly as their combinations occurred: Chen Xing's arms of bong sao, tan-sao, and bil-jie perfected his defense, and Tigress's fists of dragon and insect claws before her parries with avian limbs and kicks mastered her aggressiveness.

Without notice to predict his opponent's quickness, Chen Xing attempted to lock Tigress's arms ahead of him from his foot slipping on the edge; their eyes of lava embers and silver ripples glared, and the Furious Five leader shoved her whole weight from her feet, casting Xing off to her side. Tumbling, the Nine's Leader readily clasped on the closest pillar and swung past his contender, balancing his stance. Farther away from her, the tiger positioned his chin stance, but the striped feline master recoiled in the air to an acrobatic flip — her right foot slammed a column where she stood.

Fuck!

Tigress's pillar tumbled towards his, forcing Xing to crouch his whole body on all fours and leap in the air. Drawing an immediate recoil, the Nine's Leader spun his foot, and the Furious Five leader did her own; a fatal clash struck two felines separately.

Tigress and Xing crashed their backs directly on both columns - one opposite and the other - falling towards the fighting platform.

"OH—!" the Nine gasped.

"—SHIT!" Mantis and Monkey finished their swear before Crane opened his beak wider than Po's and Viper's. And the felines crashed.

The fox, Leo, unveiled his face to a white next to the rhino Nam and the lion Shujaa. "Oogway's blessing. . ." the Righteous Seven leader astounded.

Planted with her whole body into struggles, Tigress felt her arms mauled, unlike Xing's claws, which were forbidden in the Tournament; instead of showing her pain, she masked irritation as scrapes on her arms pinched her flesh like fire. Her chests and ribcages flared with bruises. With comparison, Xing sensed grazes of bruise below his ribcages — battered in greater harm; limbs of his pierced with faded mauls, but nothing severe as he could only feel warmth areas where Tigress dodged his attacks. And his leg joints were barely dislocated.

That's going to leave a mark.

Kneeling only his good leg, Chen Xing pressed his poor knee joint to the side. Crack! He heightened his growl in distortions of ache, his teeth clutching; Xing expectorated blood out of his mouth. Unable to rid his raspy breaths in his muzzle and lips, the tiger stood and regained his strength. Once the Furious Five leader made her kung fu stance, Chen Xing popped his neck, and all eight of his digits did from his fast clutch.

Ready. Tigress narrowed her eyes.

You and me. Let's end this now. Xing teased.

Back at the hand-to-hand combat, their arms simultaneously bridged on each deflect and attack. Launching fists through vulnerable spots, Chen Xing countered and struck Tigress's upper torso and a side of her stomach; his own foot staggered her's before he pounded the feline's side of her ribcage. Wobbling, Tigress shook and firmed her stance from collapsing; his front kick made the advantage, and the striped feline master barricaded with her forearms. She threw her kick in the air as Xing dodged, but her claw weighed her whole body, casting her feet towards his torso. Struck by her surprise attack, Xing began to stagger; rapidly readying his weary arms up, the Nine's Leader made quick steps of chin-sao, his arms preventing Tigress from her bicycle kicks.

The feline master skidded her feet back; stopping at a halt, Tigress wagged her stripped tail, her irises narrowing with a menacing posture. Oh, no. Chen Xing sensed his opponent's imminent character as he mirrored her body. Storming toward her opponent on all fours, Tigress hurled her straight punches; Xing executed his basic blocks of chi sao, but the feline master's claws grated his arms, grinding his fur. Unexpectedly for the Nine's Leader to parry lethal attacks when a serious match proved, Tigress sank and threw her feet into spins, attempting to stumble Xing. Within an instantaneous act, four blocks against her fists obstructed, and his own claws started circle punches at her.

Circle punches were at mere haste, shattering Tigress's forearms: Thirty—fifty—eighty hits while blocking.

Prompting to end this fight now, Tigress clutched his wrist and recoiled her body, her elbow bashing the side of his face. Wobbling, Chen Xing crossed his forearms below and above with deflection against her kicks. With palm thrashes, the Nine's Leader pivoted and hurtled his elbows, breaking the Furious Five leader's fists — Tigress strengthened her distortion of growls. Stepping forward, Xing shoved and slammed her whole body down; instead of seeing something glowing yellow beside his opponent, Xing aimed his knife palm at her vulnerable area.

A referee's call concluded the match.

"TIE!"

"What?" Xing and Tigress worded in confusion.

The felines inspected their limbs, and a referee's result resulted as the fight ended with an enormous draw: Chen Xing's knife palm neared her apple throat, and Tigress's chi — the "claw of death" as Po nicknamed the kung fu's deadliest fatality blow — almost reached Xing's heart.

Oh, my — Xing would be dead in an instant. And I would be suffocated to death in a few moments. Tigress thought.

And Chen Xing, flashing his silver eyes, commented dumbfoundedly. "Shit."

Chapter Text

Episode Four: Tournament (30 - 41)

Chapter XXXVII

Tournament, Act Eight

"DRAW, INDEED! Both contenders are eliminated!" Emperor Huangdi announced to the audience.

Before the audience heightened their cries and applauses, Chen Xing twitched his ache muscles when wincing; slowly, the Nine's Leader began to stand, and Tigress angled her body to knee herself up. Both fighters surveying billowing green, yellow, and blue banners could not imagine citizens watching the contenders spilling bloodshed. Still, they assumed to take for granted what expectations occurred after the semi-final match. There were no horrors; the felines approved their defeat, but unmistakenly brought many to admire the Nine' Leader and the Furious Five leader. Citizens boomed their cheers; the Nine of Prosper Valley and the Furious Five of the Valley of Peace shouted for their brother and sister. Without enduring their bruises, Chen Xing and Tigress formed their tai chi stances, their claws bursting their light cloud waves of silver and yellow qi. Her body was blanketed with cool sheets saturating her flesh, dissipating bruises; his own body was drenched with warm rain, showering the remains of his wounds until his bruises were washed away.

Chen Xing's lungs were now healthy, fractures of bones snapping back to where the rest adjusted. And Tigress's scrapes were no more, relieving her. The Nine's Leader and Furious Five alpha paced their steps back and began to present their bow respectfully.

"Master Chen Xing," Tigress grinned.

And the Nine's Leader nodded. "Master Tigress."

CHEN XING! CHEN XING!

TIGRESS! TIGRESS!

Cheers dominated applauses as far as the felines could see the hypes, charmingly approved. Upon the throne chair, the buffalo stood and waved his hooves at citizens, who now numbed their cries. "WONDERFUL PERFORMANCE!" the Emperor of Song Dynasty praised two felines. "I must say that Masters Chen Xing and Tigress pleased every soul for witnessing their lethality combat! Not only did these two achieve glory and respect, but I would also like to give credit to Masters Shifu and Chen Ming, who educated their students after many years of training and harmony! Give them a compliment, everyone!"

SHIFU! SHIFU!

MING! MING!

Both masters overheard people and presented their courtesy, bowing many before their students. Not long after remnants of yellow, green, and blue confetti showered all over the arena, the striped felines — contented as being respected by admirers — shared their glances.

"Well fought," Tigress nodded, complimenting her opponent. She could see Xing's fists, which were barely trembling. With stupefaction to see Xing's reflex skills, the feline master asked him. "How long have you been training Wing Chun with your grandmother, Xing?"

"Quite a long time," Xing answered, massaging his knuckles, digits, and wrists while ignoring the pain.

"I assume you have been well-trained for your whole life," she surveyed and pointed to Xing's paws.

"Same as yours," he discerned. "Ironwood Trees?" Tigress nodded as Xing approached and spoke to her. "I have been striking the Ironwood Trees with my claws several times for twelve years, and I am still progressing to get there."

"That's good for you," she rubbed Xing's trembling digits. "Your claws should not feel pain from grates and cuts during that progression."

"Well, sort of. Perhaps my claws will be immune in eight years or more," Chen Xing said. "If my hands were chopped off, that would be a different story."

Tigress continued to inspect her nephew's digits; knowing too well, she found the bridges of his pinky fingers slightly bent. "By the spirits," Xing surprised. "I can't believe we are eliminated by a draw."

"You are telling me," Tigress grinned, her amber eyes meeting his. "The battle's not over yet."

"Wait. There isn't?" Xing widened his silver eyes.

"Your brother Lao is up to the challenge. And he will be facing the Dragon Warrior."

That is — my brother is going to get his ass kicked.

When Tigress finished examining his fingers, she popped two bridges, and Xing let out a quiet wince. "There," she said as the Nine's Leader returned his claws. "Now your fingers appear to be fine. Too bad you will not be fighting with your brother, Xing."

"Figures. That makes my brother fighting against the panda much fair and square," the Nine's Leader said. The audience, full of pride and prosperous villagers and classes of martial arts, cheered their support of joyous and surprising moments for two striped felines. "Looks like we have entertained many people here, Master Tigress."

"Yes," she nodded. "We have achieved the most—"

Tigress launched a fast punch to her nephew's right ribcage.

OW!

"—pretty hardcore."

Panting with harsh wheezes of laughter, Xing asked her. "Is that for real?"

"That. . . is for owing me a cookie," she jested. Chuckling, the Nine's Leader saw Tigress prevail her smile and stroll down the platform's stairs, thinking the two deserved this triumph for sparring at the Jade Palace and fighting against the Furious Five leader for the first time.

"Did you just tease Tigress?" Lao queried whenever he strolled beside the tiger. "What did you do to her, brother?"

"I like her," he snickered.

Indeed, a previous fight between the two warriors was unpredictable in determining which fighters could win. Chen Xing and Master Tigress were greatly admired for their lethality adaptions of Kung Fu and Wing Chun; their strengths were equally matched, but Tigress's experience was undeniably more knowledgeable than Xing's. Several people were on the edge of their seats while witnessing the intense match, and both masters were aware of their students facing harm while fighting. On the chair, sitting next to Masters Storming Ox and Croc near the retired wrestler Kwan the Unkillable, Grandmaster Shifu caressed his white beard. His feline sister crossed her leg on the other.

"Unexpected, wasn't it?" Chen Ming grinned.

"Hmm?" Shifu vibrated his silvery throat, turning to her. "I am surprised to witness your grandson matching my daughter's moves. How. . . odd."

"Odd, yes. But Xing is not like Tigress, nor the one who we adored," Chen Ming said, returning her foot next to her other. "Surely, our students have temperaments, staying true to their characters while not being greedy to chase their dreams."

"Speaking of temperaments," Shifu regarded. "How does Xing adapt his behavior?"

"Xing's leadership was flawless, but remains to be tempered at only difficult situations such as. . . bitterness. Like father, like son," she explained. "Unlike pursuing his skills to earn what he wants, he only seeks what is right for him — his oath to protect with his courage act."

"Hmm," Shifu nodded. "And what is his commitment to protect?"

"Family, Shifu," she answered, simpering. "He looks after brothers and sisters, and both mother figures like his own."

"That same goes to Tigress, who defends Po and the Five from unfriendly surroundings," Shifu commented. "Does Xing have a father figure?"

Her eyes lowered. "No," Ming said. "I would pray to the dragons that anyone like my late son could do something to treat my grandson with fatherly manners. Someone like my yak friend from Tanhuang, but he remains on duty to educate his sons and adoptive daughter. Xing wishes to have someone like him to be on his side. I only have one yak friend - no other bovine giants would like to, but maybe a wolf will do so."

"A wolf, Ming?" the red panda was curious.

"I may have found a wolf who could do a favor after my grandson watched my adoptive granddaughter since she was a cub. The Soothsayer from Gongmen City mentions that Lotus's father is alive and would like to see her after the Tournament."

"That is great news," Shifu was pleased. "Her father is here?"

"And close," Ming smiled.

Without knowing who was behind the two masters, Wolf Boss folded his midnight blue ears and stretched his grin, walking away before other wolves across the supporting gallery stand.

"You sure you are up to this, Lao?" Chen Xing asked the peacock, applying bandage wraps around his limbs after the Nine's Doctor spread her healing remedies on his arms.

"Absolutely not," Lao wavered his wings, glaring at his feline brother. "For spirit's sake, you had Tigress! We should have gained our advantages to fight Po."

"I really wish it could have happened, Lao. As disappointed as I am eliminated, you will have to beat him one way or another," Xing said. "It is time for you to face your worthy opponent, and that battle will be—"

"Oh, shut up," Lao teased Xing. "I see what you did here."

Chen Xing snickered. A referee approaching from the platform called the last student. "Master Lao. You are up."

This is it, then. I am the last one standing.

The Nine's Brilliance unveiled his head to a nod, unmaking nervousness before the Nine watched his expression. The Nine's Leader encouraged him after Hong wrapped bandages on his wrists. "Win or lose — make us proud with honor and praise everyone, Lao. You got this."

"You defeat him, birdie, and I will be resting with you," Hong smiled.

"Not if I get to my birdie first, Hong," Lotus grunted, smirking at the peacock. "Kick his ass for us, Lao."

"I love you all," Lao smiled. "Thank you for everything."

Final

The Nine's Brilliance vs. Dragon Warrior

Silence conquered the arena.

Just before the young peacock entered the platform from the stairs, Lao swam his head around as if only the wind spoke from nature — mutters on the galleries began to crawl. The Nine's Brilliance could not see the panda at the Jade Palace group side nor from the Righteous Seven and the Nine; noticed how this finale soon to be glorious, Lao thought the Dragon Warrior could depict everyone what this panda mentioned his friends back at the Jade Palace — The Dramatic Entrance. Something big for appearance, as Lao considered, knowing his opponent was the final boss. Deep down in his gut, the Nine's Brilliance knew his time came to face his opponent; his mind only predicted the Nine would be eliminated, not to mention himself facing Tigress after defeating Crane. His wolf sister did not win, nor did the felines after their fatal draw.

The avian's back was drenched with warm rays from behind, and his shadow stretched toward the front while pointing at the Furious Five; around him was bathed with a yellow light — blinded from his sight, Lao held his wing near his face before the glow pulsations began to dim. There, on the stadium gallery's roof above the Emperor's platform, was Lao's worthy opponent. His challenger was in a black and white outfit with a gold wave of silk cape - fluttered like dawn ripples. Under the opponent's conical bamboo hat, the Dragon Warrior emerged.

Dragons help us all.

Lao gulped, and all the galleries of the arena roared for the People's Hero. The Nine's Brilliance understood how this hero dressed his outfit, which defined symbols of justice, tranquility, and peace just as many witnessed when they first encountered him. Unexpectedly, Lao approached onward when Po crouched and launched his whole body in the air, his hidden avatar serpent with the panda's chi soaring down the platform. After the panda landed before his opponent, Lao stood his ground and watched the mighty qi dragon slithering through column gaps as if the creature showered its waves of dust light on citizens — as magically blessed to see many people with high spirits, the dragon plunged behind Po's back, and the panda motioned his digits on the edge of his hat.

"The Nine believe in you, Lao! Kick his butt!" Hong heartened him.

Po removed his gold silk cape from his neck while the Nine's Brilliance was in the middle of the platform; the young peacock regarded what to expect from the awesomeness he had endured through the most challenges against the Righteous Seven and the Furious Five — and Lao was next to face the Dragon Warrior. Expecting to greet one another, Po quoted his verse introduction, which Lao was familiar with.

"Legends tell of a legendary warrior who arrives at the arena and confronts his worthy opponent," the panda articulated, causing Lao to chuckle with the Nine. "He faces the Wing Chun master named Lao, the Nine's Brilliance!"

Oh, for Oogway's sake!

Lessening his laughs while smiling, the peacock teased the panda. "I see you like to fight. Maybe you should fight — WITH MY TALONS!"

The Nine's Brilliance hammered his foot.

Good heavens, you are embarrassing me and the Nine here, brother.

Chen Xing snickered, noticing this playful act was necessary to entertain youngsters, but understood the panda had to brighten everyone. The warrior says nothing when his lips pull to one side. While crossing his arms in delight, the tiger thought, seeing Po gesture his own digit. The panda removes his hat. And then he speaks!

"Enough talk. Let's fight!" Po spat, throwing his conical hat in the air as it cast spirals of qi ripples from behind. Grunting, the peacock performed a chi sao stance with his dragon staff, and the panda showed his style of kung fu — the hat still hovering in the air returned to his head.

"Wing Chun; Lao."

"Kung Fu; Dragon Warrior."

And an antelope referee waved his red flag. "Douzheng!"

"GET READY TO FEEL A THUNDAH!"

The panda sprang his movement forward with a double kick - side lunge and backspin, and Lao gyrated to one side, blocking the bear's second kick. TAP!

For a moment, percussionists outside the bounds performed their drums, which led the Nine's Brilliance and the Dragon Warrior to concentrate their movements; waiting for a strike, the peacock made a spiral to his side, and the panda gestured his digits to draw him in. Instead of grasping a pole, Po launched his straight punches forward, and Lao whirled his staff, pummeling the bear's attacks while with parries. Attempts to thrash toward their openings lasted for seconds, but with a slight chance to ward the avian's blocks, Po swept his feet; the Nine's Brilliance countered him as his talon sprang, and the other bashed toward the panda's torso.

Po skidded back before he resumed his position — Lao unfurled his blue train and whirled it under his opponent, backing the panda off as the Dragon Warrior reacted. Rolling down the floor to the side, Po managed to storm closer to the peacock from behind, but Lao spread his train again before the bear's eyes; a dragon pole plunged through feather strands and clobbered the panda's shoulder. Wincing, the panda hurled his straight punches, forcing toward the avian's head; as flawless as the Nine's Brilliance whiffed his pole to block fast jabs, Lao saw the panda's leg bending before a front kick could occur. He thrust his talon of fook sao, stomping the bear's foot from darting. Both warriors simultaneously trapping their surroundings led the panda and peacock to struggle their strength within moments face to face:

Po's paws clutched and withstood Lao's weapon — the peacock shoving forward with an equal resilience. The Dragon Warrior thumped his opponent's chest with his fist, and the Nine's Brilliance walloped him back with his foot. Both warriors slid back and almost staggered, rapidly flowing their stances.

"Phew! This is AWESOME!" Po grinned.

Don't bother exhilarating.

Lao only droned with a slight smirk but immediately sprinted onward.

Po repeatedly flowed the combination of his straight punches, attempting to uppercut Lao as if the dragon pole barricaded the bear's limb from happening. Sending more vicious attacks, the panda leaped with his double kick before his third—a heel kick diving toward the peafowl. Sidestepping backward, Lao thrust his pole before creating a vortex above him; the Dragon Warrior, launching his fists when bending his body to the side, whammed his opponent's ribcage and chest.

Skidding backward to a halt, Lao spun his pole and widened his train, storming back to his contestant. The Nine's Brilliance went for the panda's feet when concentrating on Po's kung fu stance; without catching the peacock's surprise attack, the Dragon Warrior launched his main foot. Lao, propelling his talon to the bear's belly, recoiled his body and drove his weapon—whipping Po's back.

The panda skidded and darted his way to his opponent, whose train began to unfurl with an immediate reaction, blinding the bear's sight; the peacock's staff plunged through, rapidly pounding Po's shoulder to a brief stun. Each hit from Lao's weapon was flawlessly blocked as if the Dragon Warrior motioned his arms into quickness. Unlike the same as the panda who blocked Shifu's wooden pole for the dumpling challenge, Po drove through Lao's parries and launched straight fists, delivering an uppercut blow.

In the air, cawing to a growl, Lao broadened his wings and train from tumbling when in the air; the Dragon Warrior pinched the tip of his hat while smirking. "Disk of Destruction!" Po threw his hat toward Lao, whirling with trails of qi ripples from behind. The hat, resonating metal blade blares, nearly paced with an incredible speed; Lao was fast enough to parry it, which nearly sliced his crest before the Nine's Brilliance landed, bowling himself to one side. The hat glided across the air with haste, returning to Po's head.

PO! PO! PO!

LAO! LAO! LAO!

Crowds thundered their applauses as marshmallow clouds crossed over the sky, with silky rays of the sun caressing the arena. With their unimaginable experiences of being shown from the eyes of citizens who cried for their heroes, the Nine's Brilliance and the Dragon Warrior remained face-to-face, circling the platform. Po was ready to push forward before his opponent, willing to make this final fight more challenging against Lao. Unaware of the peafowl's feet that strands of dotted spots crawled before the body, Po could see a yin and yang symbol from the silky sands — an apparition. Neither one could see what Po saw, but the illusion overwhelmed the panda's sight, forcing him to glance at the ghastly fabrics of sand blanketing Lao's head.

Bubbly hisses emerged, speaking with a familiar voice; Po remembered dreams and his last moment of watching his old foe. Lao's face was—

GRRREEEETINGS, PANDA!

No. . . Po drowned his expression into a shock. Becoming petrified while seeing the dead peacock's hollowed eyes were onyx in blackness, Po was disoriented by Lao's dragon pole that whipped him.

Snapping away from an unexpected trance, Po fastened his palms and blocked Lao's staff quick enough, fast parries catching every attack where his flabby arms could lead before the weapon. With rapid parries that failed lunges toward shoulders and swept below the panda's feet, Lao recoiled and aimed where the bear's stance—one hit on the leg and the other directly on his lower arm. Deadening his war cry, Po blazed his arms with qi, his defensive blocks deflecting Lao's pole. Lao kept the pressure on his opponent while dodging his tiny head from Po's fists; right before the bear's round punch transpired, the Nine's Brilliance rapidly rolled from behind and thrust his talon thrice toward the Dragon Warrior's round belly. Sliding his feet toward the edge, Po nearly fell to the side of the arena, arms swinging forward as he safely returned to his stance. Wicked laughs from the ripples of ghastly sand emanated, Shen in his specter form on Lao's body sneering at the panda.

Oh, look at him! A lifetime to plot his revenge, and this panda comes to me on his knees!

He's not real. He's not real! Shen's not real!

Anxious, Po trembled in fright, and Lao tilted his dragon pole, whacking near the panda's head. Upon impeccable timing to snap out of fear, Po's claws ceased the weapon above near his muzzle, heaving the specter peacock in his fluttering rented robes away from the bear's proximity. Both fighters, in reality, resumed combat.

"Tigress, what's going on?" Viper's eyes broadened beside the striped feline master. "Why is Po acting odd in front of Lao like that?"

"I don't know. . ." Tigress mumbled after Xing beside her shimmered his silver eyes with a slight stun. What's wrong with Po? The Nine's Leader swam his head back to the battle before Tigress spoke. "Something is wrong."

Lao's dragon pole swept below Po's feet as the panda flipped backward, gyrating before firmly standing his ground. He flickered his limb and shouted, "SPIRIT STAFF!"

Quite stunned and confused, Monkey tossed the yin-yang pole to Po; the Dragon Warrior finally swung his weapon and nearly sliced Lao's throat, but the Nine's Brilliance prevented it with his own staff at mere inches. Two sticks of gloss and wood screamed in a rustling air; Lao banked his pole left to Po's neck, and the panda safely guarded his green staff near his throat. Contenders impacted their weapons against their strengths face-to-face; the silk of sands rippled into rogue waves, shaping Lao's head into a grayish sinister creature with red-orange eyes.

Oh, you want to know so badly.

Swoosh! Lao struck his weapon to Po's left arm and right leg. Emitting with profound grunts, the Dragon Warrior clutched his Spirit Staff and countered Lao's pole that aggressively darted his body around him. Drawing the other away and near the peacock, Lao forced his kick and whirled with his train; Po flipped backward in the air, and Lao landed his back kick on Po's belly, emitting his piercing caw.

Ceased from skidding his squealed feet, Po lunged his opponent with rapid parries, a hard tap to the left sending Lao off balance; the Dragon Warrior sprang his body to a ball, slamming the Nine's Brilliance with full force. With each hit, while Lao was bounced in the air, Po whirled and clobbered the avian's body with unimaginable attack combinations. Hammering once before recoiling his weapon left and right, the Dragon Warrior cast a hard uppercut with his Spirit Staff's qi, its golden light with a dragon's face slithering into impact.

WHOA!

Many but fighters deafened their gasps; Lao nearly fell and embarked on spreading his train and softened a rough landing himself, splitting his stance. The Nine's Brilliance stiffened his harsh puffs when panting, his wing flattening under his long neck. Glaring, Po could see the display of the evil peacock teasing him.

Do you think knowing will heal you? Huh? Fill some crater in your soul?

Chen Xing inspected the gargantuan column close to the arena. Within a slight crack twitched its tiny fractures—

"That pillar will not last standing there much longer!" Xing warned all the fighters.

This kid is right. It'll fall anytime now. Monkey gazed.

Po saw Lao's eyes glare with orange, drown with waves of crimson — the same eyes the Dragon Warrior confronted his nemesis inside the Fireworks Factory, wanting answers about the night Shen set incursion to Po's old home. The panda softly glided his arms, his right foot crossing to a half circle; his green eyes fastened shut.

Lao's just the kid. I don't wanna hurt him!

Lao forced his talons and resumed combating with his pole. Po sensed the peacock's movement from the rustle. With precise, Po palmed onto Lao's tip of the dragon's pole, also heel kick to the right of the tip's side as Lao drew back with it and continued attacking the panda at different angles of a sweep and thrust. Po yelled as he palms onto Lao's tip of a pole using his hands near his expression. He skidded at Lao's feet after the panda forced the pole away from the peacock.

Lao immediately rose from the fall before Po's fists, nearly darting a hammer kick to the peacock's neck. As the Dragon Warrior hammered the peacock's limbs, Lao's talon jo phan blocked the knee where the panda virtually kicked him. Lao controlled the bridges with feather palms and obstructed them with swift wings, booting Po's feet. Lao grappled the panda's left arm, his cobalt train sweeping his contender.

Po tumbled his back to the ring hard, rolling away as Lao sprang to the other side of the arena, snatching the dragon staff. Motioning his arms with a tai chi flow, Po surveyed Lao, who spun his weapon before bowling down toward his opponent. At an instant leap into the air, seeing the Nine's Leader point his pole while screeching, Po launched his foot to the peacock's chest twice, darting him off course. Weighing his body to the left, the panda propelled his fists with incredible strength.

"FISTS OF FURY!" Po thundered.

Lao's aching caw shook the whole wind, his body propelling and crashing on the wood pillar. The column's base shattered into fissures, and Lao, slightly unconscious from the impact, fell to the platform. The Nine held their breaths in shock.

"Come on, brother—on your feet!" Hong shouted.

"Don't give up, Lao!" Lotus whined.

Po wobbled his stance, nearly reaching for his own staff beside him from the left, gazing at the peacock struggle on the floor. As he did, attempting to regain his balance from falling, the Dragon Warrior glimpsed at strands of sand swimming past to his feet; the dust current displayed what appeared to be fragments of wood platform before the white figure, lying flat ahead of the avian's fate. A silky voice, so haunting and memorable, breathed out into shatters. The eyes of his old enemy fastened Po's heart.

How did you find peace? I took away your parents. Everything! I—I scarred you for life.

You see, that's the thing, Shen. Scars heal. Po muttered at his opponent.

Lao, snapping with his gasp, trembled and coughed in an attempt to regain his consciousness. Po surrendered and tossed his green staff to the side, and Xing and Tigress exchanged wild glances in confusion with each other before the Five, Nine, and Seven fighters. When the panda could hear the shattered metals and tangled ropes, Po numbed his clenched fist. With sharp ice that washed and crumpled in the panda's spine, the Dragon Warrior drooped his arms, quivering his lips.

"I am sorry, Shen," Po lamented without letting the Nine's Brilliance catch Po's voice.

Lao groaned before the peacock softly curved one wing to the other; his train lay extended behind the wood column — its base cracking fissures slowly. Po stared at this vision of a ton of silks rustling around him into a familiar scene of the last battle: black water, dawn heaven bathing and washing soot clouds in Gongmen City, the warship that tangled with ropes tightening the dark, and a ruptured metal cannon with the face of the dragon above the grayish form.

The panda held his mouth in, closing his own emerald eyes. I failed you when I ran away from your peace — I will not fail you in your death.

The column behind Lao was fragmented, snapping fissures apart into grunts and whines. Instant reactions transpired from Tigress and Chen Xing, whose claws reached, screaming for their companions.

"PO!"

"LAO, LOOK OUT!"

The panda glared at the peacock's father's eyes. For you, Shen.

Imagining what would have changed the day the panda lost his old foe, Po sprinted to Lao, whose body mirrored Shen's spirit with silk strands of sand. The pillar, gritting its wooden teeth with the shape of a ruptured cannon when ropes snapped apart, tumbled toward them. Woods crackled into screeching metals. The warrior of black and white clutched the avian's robe and threw Lao to the corner; the column, collapsing fast on the panda, slammed down on Po.

Everyone wailed.

Po held the collapsed pillar with his paws above him, panting heavily with greater strength over his arms. Screeching with might, he heaved the column away from Lao to the backside of the arena. Po relaxed his tensing fingers thoroughly. A shrill gasp was deafening, along with cries around the stadium galleries; alleviating his breaths from tension, Lao rose from the floor when Po caught him snatching a yin-yang staff next to the peacock. The panda searched for his opponent's dragon pole from behind and grasped it. Puffing off remnants before dusting off, the Dragon Warrior tossed the peacock's staff—Lao's other wing immediately catching his own.

"You are not ready to meet your end, buddy," Po said. "You have many years to enjoy good fortune everywhere else here. The only thing that matters is you to live longer."

Lao bent his head slightly, knowing his soul was too innocent to meet the next life. The Nine's Brilliance tossed the green staff to the panda, pointing his dragon pole toward his opponent.

"So, you want to win the awesomeness battle, Lao?" Po asked amusingly after gliding his staff at precise. "You ready?"

Lao beamed at him. "Ready."

Both fighters resumed their fighting, their sticks of glass and wood blaring in screeches. Oogway's staff and Lao's dragon pole clashed, rumbling the ring. Po leaned forward with his yin-yang staff, leaping as Lao forced back when grasping the dragon pole. The peacock stretched his train, both weapons clinging when Po hammered down to Lao at a distant length vertically. Both weapons of wood and glass clung and propelled reflectively by the sides. Once Lao and Po thrust their sticks simultaneously, they both leaped away.

Dragon Warrior and the Nine's Brilliance swayed their weapons with a simultaneous clash; Oogway's staff and Lao's dragon pole screeched in the breeze near their owners' fates.

Draw.

The Dragon Warrior and the Nine's Brilliance had finally defeated themselves; the two warriors almost led their fate against themselves with their staffs. Galleries rumbled from thunderous applauses and cheers, and every citizen fluttering their banners outright approved for witnessing the final round. Surrendering their weapons, the Dragon Warrior and the Nine's Brilliance surveyed the stadium—thousands of souls complimented.

Lao respectfully bowed to Po. The young prince knew his life that he would be defeated by a warrior of black and white by his vision earlier before the Tournament, and the People's Hero regarded his contestant from the Nine would attempt to defeat him. Yet, that accomplishment expressed Po into a studdering reaction. The Dragon Warrior eventually nodded to Lao, thanking him for an epic awesomeness battle. The Emperor of China, standing from his gallery throne, gestured his hoof at two fighters, commanding them to approach forward and stand together amidst the arena. Waited for the Gentle Dragon's presence, many attended and surveyed Emperor Huangdi, who emerged toward the arena platform, spreading his arms wide. His guards in their armor and gold cloaks were positioned nearby.

"Well done, contestants!" the Emperor gleamed his yellow eyes in glee, clapping his hooves. "People of China! As the final fight is a draw, I proclaim them—VICTORS!"

The crowd cheered; the Dragon Warrior and the Nine's Brilliance raised their eyes, breaking their smiles.

"Yes!" the Panda leaped wildly. "We won! I can't believe we had a great fight, kid! They are so proud of us!"

"So it seems, Dragon Warrior," Lao grinned, swimming his sight elsewhere.

"You looked so better in the battle!" Po patted him over Lao's upper sleeve. "We are equally matched in our fighting experience! I am adapting into Wing Chun, Lao!"

"And I am genuinely learning your Kung Fu skills, Master Panda," Lao smirks while Emperor Huangdi is about to approach the area. "By the way," the peacock added, "I strongly wish to thank you for saving me back there; that wood pillar could have taken me elsewhere. I owe you one Po."

"I'll remember that," Po smirked. "You're welcome, buddy. I save you, and you will return me a favor someday."

You will expect nothing less from me. Lao chuckled.

"Two finest warriors," the water buffalo grasped his hooves together, approaching the Dragon Warrior and the Nine's Brilliance. He gestured at the panda. "One who saved China from the yak warlord who was an evil creature known to himself as 'The Collector.' The panda fulfilled his destiny from the Great Master Oogway's prophecy," the Emperor directed the peacock. "And the one next to him nearly defeated the Dragon Warrior in this Tournament — the Nine's Brilliance.

"You are one of Master Ming's brilliant students. The honor is mine to please, my child." Huangdi lay the palm on his chest, beaming. With utmost dedication, the Gentle Dragon questioned the competitor. "What is your name, son? And where do you come from?"

"I am Lao, my Emperor," the Nine's Brilliance bowed to the majestic creature. "I came from the Summit Village where I was born — a peaceful place where avians inhabited."

"Hmm," the Emperor hummed and gleamed his yellow eyes, reflecting. "Summit Village was such peaceful. I remember horrific news about the village being raided by assailants more than two decades ago. Some survivors said the peacock and his defenders battled against assassins, defending his family at all costs. Other survivors mentioned the peacock was related to some of his kind - like him and the peafowls - but could not determine if their minds were accurate. I am certain that only one among other survivors recognized this. . . fugitive who was responsible for committing his actions; his crimes were horrendous, and I am forbidden to share this personal tragedy with your panda companion. However. . . as if there was no other proof about Shen's existence since he was banished and did not appear before he arrived in Gongmen, I have remained in disbelief with this survivor's answers."

Twitched by distant sobs of the ghastly fragments, the Dragon Warrior weighed his mind. In Thriving Village, his people resided far from the lands outside Gongmen. The place was filled with prosperity and happiness but swarmed into rogue waves of fire; Po had one time to master his meditation, overwhelming his anxiety to face this dark past he confronted. Remaining unperturbed, the panda calmly breathed in and out.

"I wish I could have remembered the tragedy at my home, my Emperor," Lao wished the Gentle Dragon when Po and Huangdi met their eyes at the young peacock. "I kept glancing into my memory. . . my mother was there. There was someone I had forgotten—my father's face— unrelated to the other one who looked like me. My mother does not speak of her husband."

"Come closer to my hoof, son," Huangdi opened his large hoof, nearly approaching Lao. "Let me see your memory."

Near the Nine and Righteous Seven, the Furious Five could see the Nine's Brilliance stepping forward once and laying his wing on the Emperor's hoof. Chen Xing gave a quick peek at the Temple as Ming and Shifu witnessed the Emperor and Lao. Swimming deeply into Lao's consciousness ripples of the peacock's memories, the Gentle Dragon detected a sparkling flame, which manifested the melancholy of distant avian cries in horrors. Rapid triggers of the scorching tree altered into a burning house, displaying Lao's peahen mother clutching her son with her wings. Crackling woods whined; fire rained elsewhere, and sword fights screeched from outside.

Ahead of the eyes of the son and the mother, the father, who only had orange-red eyes, was featured in a blurry entity.

XIA! We must leave our house and run into the forest!

Get away with us! I know who you are!

These assassins are coming to kill us nearby! WE MUST DEPART NOW!

NO!

"Poor child," the Emperor frowned, his eyes gleaming at the Nine's Brilliance. "You and your mother survived the tragedy of Summit Village. I see your memories. . . drenched in calamity. Aside from this unfortunate event you once were there, you have the Peafowl Nobles bloodline; your grandfather was the peacock lord of Gongmen City. The other rarest bloodline, your ancestor of the noble family of peafowls, united with the three companions who were warlord brothers in the Great War and fought their own lives by fighting many battles to defeat evils, slaying corruption, and tyrannies. Among the four, chosen by the Emperor of China before his daughter reigned the realm, they were called 'The Mightiest Warriors.'"

"WHOA!" Po gaped briskly. "Those guys are legends!"

I have confidence in what you said, panda, Lao reflected.

"I see potential in your heart, my child; instead of lingering in the past, Lao, you endure the present where life matters. Deciphering your bloodlines, I proclaim you a new name for the sake of your late grandfather — my old friend and a father figure," Huangdi said before clapping his hooves once. "As your grandfather's grandson, henceforth shall be known as. . . Son of Divinity."

"WOW!" Po slapped his own cheeks with surprise. "That recognition is awesome! Lao, Son of Divinity! I love it!"

"You have your heart's blessing in you, my dear child," the Emperor beamed in peacock's heart decently. "There is something. . . promising. I had a vision where you fight with one with his metal against the darkness. A vision of — a new hope, the white dragon. As that mystic answer may lead into uncertainty, there is one where you could meet an outstanding master who will guide you into the light."

"Grandmaster Oogway?" Lao asked Emperor.

"Him," the Emperor answered, grinning. "The old tortoise envisioned this prophecy where he met your ancestor in the Great War. His ally—your ancestor—was named Lord Lǐ Han. Along with the peacock's army, he fought those who stood with rebels and against the Empress—my foremother. Lǐ Han was Oogway's great colleague, along with the other three Mightiest Warriors, for honor, courage, and blessing for brotherhood. Your grandmaster saw the peacock's future on all the children of peafowls, and only one of his peafowl descendants will reunite the three chosen warriors who passed their purest bloodline of Mightiest Warriors by their ancestors."

Po leaned in his reflection as soon as the Emperor spoke to Lao entirely. In his thoughts, Po was in the Jade Palace Library, where hundreds of scrolls were stacked. Surveying one of fifty parchments in each structure of alphabetical order, Po could see the red panda sitting on the chair behind the table near the structure before the Dragon Warrior filled his mind with curiosity.

I gotta one of those scrolls inside Jade Palace that talks about the Mightiest Warriors! When I once saw Shifu holding a blue scroll shell made of crystals like Oogway's, I tried to see what that scroll Shifu was going to read. But he said it is very secretive!

That's not fair!

"I hope you are willing to meditate and recover your long-lost memories soon, my child." Huangdi expected the young avian. "Remember this memorable quote I shall say to you: A word of 'awesomeness' to Dragon Warrior's logic will help you remain in the inner peace trance. Let the water go to the light — it will flow your heart to seek what was lost. Be water, my child."

The Gentle Dragon emitted his final announcement to the audience, proclaiming two champions of Kong Bai warriors. Confetti on the outer walls of the stadium ground showered in the air, colors of the rainbow shooting fireworks toward the sky. How awesome was it for Po to remember his first time being in the Jade Palace after being chosen as Oogway's successor, seeing showers of confetti flowing elsewhere like yesterday?

Sensing the matter of uncertainty for Po's odd behavior during the fight, Tigress stared at Po who began to smirk when the audience burst out their applauses. Next to Tigress on her right, the Nine's Dancer Lotus drummed her feet in glee, fangirling her avian brother for success. Upon cloaking his concern, smiling at his brother and the Dragon Warrior, Chen Xing fiddled his chin beard with his digits.

The Nine's Leader nudged Tigress's shoulder. "While Po was focused on my brother," Xing examined, muttering close to her. "I heard what he spoke. He said, "I am sorry, Shen.'"

A haunting memory of herself sprinting on the wood platform for the panda in the Fireworks Factory flushed in Tigress's eyes. The feeling of hopelessness clutched her mind and heart, knowing she and the Masters of Jade Palace had this past trauma of almost losing her friend and the city for a decade.

"Master Tigress?" Chen Xing called her, glancing at her amber eyes that shimmered.

"You and the Nine will have to discuss this with Shifu and us at some other time," Tigress raised her brows upward. "We would have to express our words about Po and us. Gongmen City impacted many; we were recuperated from the incident."

"Was it terrible over there?" the Nine's Leader asked her.

Nevertheless, the feline's only answer depicted her thousand-yard stare before him. The rainbow of confetti continued sprinkling with sunlight glares, showering on the arena ground elsewhere. Finding one that seemed to be the miniature shape of one confetti far from the distance outside the stadium, Monkey began to stand and survey more. Crane lifted the tip of his conical hat, with Mantis perching above the avian. Unlike the flowing showers, an object appeared to grow when soaring closer, nearer as if a flying figure unbalanced the flight, flapping the wings.

The audience numbed their cries, and an avian figure, sobbing in the distance, let out a screech. "MY EMPEROR!" a goose soared out of the confetti sprinkles after he shouted with a sob as soon as he landed in front of Huangdi between Dragon Warrior and Son of Divinity. "EMPEROR HUANGDI!"

"Yao!" Huangdi snapped with his eyes wide open. Yao, Master Wolf's messenger, made a hard landing to wobble before the Gentle Dragon, attempting his bow when his tired breaths shattered. Po and Lao exchanged their glances before the Emperor approached with intense worriedness. "What on Earth has happened to you?"

"MY EMPEROR! I NEED TO TELL YOU THE TRU—"

A shrieking air whiffed past Lao before the silence screamed, and a silver feather arrow penetrated Yao's neck. Another shriek heightened from Lao's side, and the Nine's Brilliance instantly caught the arrow with his left talon.

"YAO!"

"What the—?!" Po gasped and glared at the sight of where the arrow flew from. Above the gallery near the stadium's gate on the right side, a dark figure in a hooded cape readied to nock the third arrow. Next to the Emperor of China, who ran for the injured messenger, a wolf guard in his gray cape emitted his harsh growl.

"ASSASSIN!" a wolf guard alarmed, and he immediately sent his snarling gold arrow across the air. An assassin plunged into the gallery, and citizens gasped in terror.

"THERE'S ANOTHER ONE!" a buffalo in his gold lamellar armor screeched across the stadium floor on the Nine's side, spotting another assailant (a dark grey bovine) in his battle robe with ash splotches. A giant bandit, endeavoring to hurl his black halberd, was taken down by the Emperor's bodyguard, who threw his hatchet to the head.

Bystanders began to cry out in horror, swimming their heads elsewhere. The Nine, Righteous Seven, and Jade Palace warriors watched another attacker (a badger) wielding his double blade, slaughtering one citizen before a snow wolf officer in his gold cloak stabbed him in the throat with his wavy sword. Warriors witnessed more than airships hovering close to the behemoth gate from outside.

"What is this abomination?!" the lion Shujaa roared in solemn query.

Po's eyes reflected on what appeared to be the most frightening experience he could ever see this nostalgic nightmare again. On the reflection of his pool of emerald eyes, three airships with fire emblems launched four balls of high-pitch crimson fireworks, and citizens nearing the gate fled from the incoming rain. Violent blasts blew into shockwaves before the gate blazed into bits and collapsed; citizens in pure terror near the side where the blast had struck plenty, a few in the waves of fire silencing their cries. Fumes and soot clouds billowed, and airships nearing the collapsed wall of the Kong Bai stadium emitted their distant battle cries. Sprinting out from the ablaze soot emerged a horde of bandits.

"We're under attack," the Nine's Brilliance glared.

Chapter Text

Episode Four: Tournament (30 - 41)

Chapter XXXVIII

Ambush I

The gate shattered into a scorch of woods turned to glass and charr. The dark clouds shaping like a shadow gate flooded into a waterfall, and behind the ebony wall of embers emerged bandits with fire sigils on their breastplates, thundering their roars. Hundreds of citizens at the galleries shrieked, cried, and ran as many saw the horde of bandits surging in. More groups of the Fire Clan mounted over the stadium and dashed within from the entry. The Nine, Furious Five, and Righteous Seven assembled next to the Dragon Warrior and the Nine's Brilliance.

"MEN! ASSIST WITH THE WARRIORS AND ATTACK ALL THE ENEMY FORCES!" the Emperor of China shouted at the arena as he picked up Yao in his arm, but Master Wolf's messenger gagged and coughed out his gore. Hundreds of guards (antelopes, wolves, and bovines) from the gallery platforms stood with the warriors together.

"COME ON!" Po taunted, and many charged forward, both bandits and masters shouting their war cries, but the leading bandit before the panda never finished his cursed words.

"KILL THESE SONS OF—!"

CLASH!

The waves of allies and enemies splashed into one line. Bats launching in the air from the airships swarmed underneath the clouds as if the clan of Dark Wings formed their whirling glides above the barriers of Kong Bai stadium, squeaking. The shadowy cloud of bats overwhelmed the surroundings and stormed near the gate; Li Shan and the pandas shifted their seats away as Mr. Ping and the leopard Peng escorted the citizens. Peng's wife, Lian, carried the cubs Po and Zixin away.

"Go! Go!" Peng shouted.

"I will get many pandas out of the stadium!" Li Shan ordered Mr. Ping after pulling Lei Lei and guiding her to the fleeing hordes. "Keep our people and children safe from bandits!"

"Peng!" Lian hollered with their boys.

"Go with the pandas, love! I must get down there and help Po and the masters!" Peng glared. "Keep our boys safe!"

The clouded leopard family was forced to run along the horde; Peng quickly glanced at the torrent affray between the clan and all three martial arts classes — plenty from other temples jumped down from the galleries and assisted their allied warriors. "PENG!" the young leopard swam his head as Li Shan approached him hurriedly. "Help our son and your friends down there! My pandas and I will look after Lian and your sons!"

"Alright!"

Li Shan could see Peng dash on all fours and bounded toward the arena ground. "Mei Mei! You know what to do!"

"Pandivas!" Mei Mei shouted as she summoned out nunchucks inside of her pink robe. Several in their billowing hanfu garbs assembled behind her. "Show the Masters what you all got! Make them proud!"

Through the affray of shrill blades and battle cries, Monkey sprang into the breeze above the Furious Five, climbing on the wooden column nearby. A dozen assailants attempted to plunge their halberds where the simian scurried, and Monkey, somersaulting to rapid flips, heightened his roar. His quick kicks impacted a giant boar's head, disorienting him to a wobble backward; under the fight, Mantis clutched a crocodile's tail and spun him, hammering left and right twice in a row; the green insect, slamming a horde of assailants, threw one bandit across the arena before climbing on the column. Observing the Five, Seven, and Nine warriors defending their positions from spreading apart, Mantis delivered his uproarious hail in the air.

"ANTENNA POWER!"

The bug's antennae rippled its golden puffs of glittering sparkles, slowing every moment elsewhere. Right before nearing motionless, Mantis soared into zigzags that left his green trail, thrashing over forty attackers ahead of the contenders. Right after the forty-seventh to knock him down, all forty excruciatingly hollered, their limbs dislocated, bones from ten assailants shattering apart.

Dodging a bovine's axe from swinging, the lion Shujaa yanked his whole right arm, his palm knife striking the neck; his onyx feline mate entwined a gray bovine's forearm, breaking his bones. Near the African warrior, the giant rhino swung his iron cloud hammer at multiple clan members — dark swords and halberds in their hands. Radiating his light-orange qi from his gray hands when lighting his behemoth hammer, Nam parried several throwing swords and spun twice, thrusting his weapon into a harsh whirlwind — a flash shockwave stunned many except warriors nearby. Po, uppercutting and round-kicking a gorilla assailant's jaw, called out the Furious Five with their unique capabilities.

"TIGRESS!"

The striped feline master boosted on Po's upper shoulder and leaped in the air, endlessly thrashing her acrobatic kicks and punches across the horde. Her foot clobbered a gorilla bandit's chest, crashing him into the affray.

"MONKEY!"

A screeching langur performed backflips with his four hands, walloping a wolf with dark grey lamellar armor. His long tail rapidly looped and caught another wolf with the metal mask, gyrating him where Tigress knocked several bandits.

"VIPER, FANSHE!"

Two serpents slithered on Po's feet before his main limbs, launching themselves into the horde of boars and crocodiles. The snake and the cobra tackled one and the other, wringing their arms to control the attacks and defenses. Cleaving more than five before another ahead, the Great Viper's children lashed their tails, whipping and engaging into the pool of bewildering attackers.

"CRANE, FEI!"

Two avians of the onyx and brown soared in the air, deflecting the shrieking black arrows; parrying more than ten, Crane and Fei hurled bolts back, raining down on archers near the ruptured wall. In a simultaneous act, Fei twisted his own body into incredible spins, crashing down on bandits; Crane, twirling his including, cast his black wings to qi, the winds pitching on their faces. Knocking a behemoth crocodile with his mighty talons, Fei sprang and observed a swarm of screaming dots — bats — swirling like a hurricane; taking an automatic deed, Crane clutched Fei's talons and spun together, throwing him into the bats. The hawk's wings summoned a gale from his qi, a squeal whirlwind disorienting many bats. A few from behind the blood-thirsty creatures retreated, sobbing for reinforcements.

WHOA! Po smirked.

"MANTIS!"

Emerging below the panda, the green insect sprung behind a wolf bandit's head; gripping his fur, Mantis bashed his head when yanking an attacker while jumping, shattering his forehead and muzzle. As the tiniest fighter grappled a brown boar's wrist before a hard twist, Po clutched his arm and slammed his body to the ground, his fist thrashing the muzzle thrice. Mantis, growling in the air from leaping, threw a wolf and a crocodile, spinning them across the battlefield.

Outraged, a group of muggers wielding their swords and axes stormed toward the line of defense. Once sighting the panda, whose paws clutched together, many skidded their feet to a halt and deafened their gasps, tilting their heads.

"BUNNY?!"

Po gazed at the rabbit on his paws, who she rose.

Teasing into disdain, the clan cackled their boisterous laughs without expecting to fight one small warrior ahead of them. Smirking, Hong launched, clenching a laughing gorilla's face. The Nine's Doctor rained her straight punches down on a brute's nose, delivering him a fatal strike. Hong knocked a giant, who crashed to the floor.

"WHY YO—!" Another gorilla in his black armor galloped on all fours, attempting to seize Hong. Slowed down and retreated by two serpents who whipped and lashed his chest, a brute attacker caught sight of the Nine's Doctor in the air, diving her kicks. With the following attacks, Hong's kicks forced her to spring and repeated her vicious blows. One—two—three—four! The Nine's Doctor bounced five times and clenched a gorilla's large wrist, yanking him down. Despite not allowing him to crash down on her, Hong spun him with her pointy finger, seeing every bandit shower their faces in horror.

"Recoil!" Hong thrust a giant in the air.

"Lift!" the Nine's Doctor shifted her body to one side, lifting her whole leg.

"And KICK!" she bashed him, sending an ape toward the ruptured wall.

"SWEET!" the Dragon Warrior stretched his smile, and the throng of Pandiva clan from the galleries cascaded to the platform, emitting their war cries when sprinting.

The Nine's Doctor unsheathed and twirled her duo sais. "That's how it's done, Dragon Warrior!"

"ONWARD!" the Nine's Leader shouted, and the Nine of Shui Palace and their contenders assembled, crashing into the affray.

Within the throng of the pandiva clan, Mei Mei and Peng skirmished through scattered bandits—their fists and nunchucks beating them down. The two joined with the Dragon Warrior and Furious Five, pushing many attackers; Chen Xing rapidly flew his arms in all directions and parried into the endless punches and blade sways, two wolf bandits attempting to cleave the tiger. Lotus and Zhao linked with Xing from behind; the Nine's Predator shouted for the tiger to duck before his own long tail with an iron spike swung, whipping a boar's head. Lotus, whirling her duo butterfly knives, thrashed one bandit's cheek and the next after a badger.

Hitting another dirt for Zhao to clobber a boar's head with his tail twice, the Nine's Leader formed his chi sao counter with five of ten block forms, knocking all seven while Zhao attacked a gorilla and boar bandits. Fracturing a wolf's iron blade with luk sao, Chen Xing lunged his knife palm on the throat, puncturing an attacker's throat — the tiger darted his jo phan kicks at the knee and chest.

Glimpsing fast enough at the tiger, who engaged a wolf bandit, the giant panda sprinted and giggled. Chen Xing disarmed a canine's sword, lunging his elbow and a hard lunge with his fist to the belly; swiftly passing by the Nine's Leader, the panda Yoo leaped onto a gruesome wolf.

"Let me get some of that!" Yoo tackled him, and Xing gazed at the panda, wrapping his flabby arms around a wolf.

"I don't know who you are!" the fat panda beamed. Light pops on a wolf's back cracked.

"Arhh!"

"Another?" Yoo asked, and his arms clutched a wolf with utmost strength. Bones and spine shattered even louder than the previous, forcing an assailant to howl in pain.

"GAAAWW!"

A wolf's back was snapped, and his limbs were in motion to a halt, unable to resist back as Yoo dropped him and watched a bandit twitch his lips. "That's better. . ." he croaked.

"That's gonna leave him a mark! Nicely done, Yoo!" Chen Xing beamed.

Lao, Show, and Niu plunged into the affray throughout the rampage, engaging gorilla and hawk bandits with their swords and the peacock's guandao. Grimacing when skimming, the son of Master Storming Ox cast his gifted sight, rummaging for bandits' weaknesses nearby; with assistance, Lao recoiled and parried more than three halberds, providing Niu to dart forward with the Nine's Pirate. Shouting, the Nine's Defender shouted after he jumped above Lao, rolling to one side; his iron horn slit a boar's love belly and pivoted his wavy sword. Catching up with the yak who sidestepped and disarmed one gorilla's knives with flashes of his own butterfly blades, Lao rolled forward and dodged another gorilla—one halberd in two hands. Fast enough to jump onward with acrobatic spins, Lao whipped his guandao, slapping a beast's muzzle.

"OW! My nose!" a brute gorilla howled, covering his bloodstained nose with two large hands.

Oscillating one side and the other while avoiding a raging gorilla's hands attempting to seize the peacock, Lao plunged the side of an ape's knee and unfurled his train, flipping him in the air. A bellowing screech stormed behind the Nine's Brilliance, emerging a flash of green line; Mantis plunged his limbs and knocked a beast down, launching into another fray with the Dragon Warrior.

Three clouded leopard bandits in onyx armor snarled and sprinted toward the peacock and two bovines. Interfering amidst the clash, the Nine's Pirate skewered one feline's knee, ramming the other two as Niu and Lao reengaged several before leopards assembled from behind. Glaring at an alpha bandit, a mountain cat's eyes flared with purple fires, roaring frightfully. Upon lunging his quick steps backward to avoid a feline's claws swinging, the Nine's Brilliance recoiled to a spin, the guandao pole whipping an aggressor's head to a knockout.

"Whoa!" Niu widened his heterochromia eyes, ramming a boar with his head. "I've never seen that one with those eyes gleaming before!"

"You're telling me!" Lao commented when he thwarted a deer's knife and plunged the guandao's pole to his head, knocking a bandit down.

"TAKE COVER!" Shou roared, and across the sky rained three airships's scorching red balls of fireworks. Three spheres wrecked into one corner of the stadium, the other two plunging into the northern gallery seats.

"DAMN! How do we take out those bloody airships?!" the crocodile, the Nine's Predator, glared at airships before the spike ball on his tail swung, clobbering a clouded leopard's head.

"We throw those fires back at them!" the Dragon Warrior shouted beside Chen Xing and the lion Shujaa, his left elbow hitting a gray hawk's face. "KEEYAAH!"

"Good idea!" the Nine's Leader approved next to Zhao and Tigress, his bicycle punches ripping a goat's muzzle.

Mei Mei smacked the large boar's jaw with her nunchuck, swinging faster. She countered most of the blades as her clanmates defended their leader, pandas unleashing their hails. "Coming through!" Peng, dashing on all fours behind Tigress and Crane nearby, confronted a giant boar with fog eyes that sprinted toward Mei Mei with a bizarre and grim look. Booting a behemoth hammer with his claws, Peng spun in the air, his triple kick spurting a colossus across the side of the arena.

"Thank you, handsome!"

Mei Mei twirled her nunchucks aggressively, thrashing one crocodile and a wolf nearby, drawing their blades away. With Pandivas driving themselves back from bandits who attempted to surround the warriors from behind, Tigress and Crane endlessly countered deer and badgers, their bodies flowing in the air with flexibility, and their wings and claws deflecting halberds; Po and Chen Xing, glimpsing behind, glared at a throng of aggressors storming close. "Mei Mei's about to get in trouble!"

"On it!" Chen Xing slammed his fists on a bovine's muzzle five times, and the tiger dashed with his peacock brother.

Twirling her nunchucks, Mei Mei recoiled and yanked swords and long halberds, clobbering each face. Driving herself to disarm the other — a giant boar with his mighty axe who spat and roared, Mei Mei sidestepped, her favorite weapon attempting to fasten the grip below the blade. A hefty weight from a boar's hard jerk launched Mei Mei, her fist sending a fatal punch to his muzzle.

"Come here, you!" the Nine's Leader sprang in the air, tackling one langur, leaving one that attacked the Pandiva leader.

Knocked down by a langur's wood pole, Mei Mei could see the Nine's Brilliance wield his guandao in the air, unfurling his train when thrashing a bandit. Flawlessly delivering joint hits toward an attacker and a quick uppercut from the avian's talon, Lao recoiled and caught him using his rope dart, yanking an assailant to the ground and hammering his other talon to his head. Pandas regained their formation and charged through the enemy's line of hordes.

"Are you alright, ma'am?" Lao asked Mei Mei, whose Pandiva clanmates helped her up.

"I'm alright," Mei Mei nodded, stretching her hearty smile. An instant reflex transpired right before her grip pulled Lao's wing; Mei Mei blessed his limb, and Lao, glaring at a gorilla brute in his black lamellar armor storm with his mighty roar, heel kicked his jaw. The panda dancer kissed his other wing. Ew! REALLY! Lao yelped.

"Thanks, peahen," Mei Mei beamed.

"Ma'am, I am a—!" Lao attempted to correct her, but she and her pandiva clan mates erupted in cheers, charging forward. Briefly lost in confusion, the Nine's Brilliance muttered. "I am a peacock. . ."

"Now, that's a fine way to treat the lady, brother!" Chen Xing nudged the avian's shoulder. "Come on! Let's find a way to take down these airships and teach these clowns some—!"

Shrieking cracks from Kong Bai's wall thundered in front of many warriors. As they hit the dirt, a gruesome shrill from the blast deafened, with its soot fabrics billowing. Standing their ground, the Five, Seven, Nine, and volunteered fighters spread apart, waiting for another round of hordes to barge into the stadium. At this time, the invader emerged from the raging fires of the collapsed wall, robed in his dark orange lamellar armor with tassels and a billowing tangerine cape. Grinned viciously, the ox with two large horns unsheathed his flaming sword, red eyes glaring.

What? Those eyes. . . Do I. . . know you? Chen Xing's somber thoughts ruled in shock and dread.

The Prince of Darkness, sighting rhino guards who clutched their armaments and dashed toward him, flowed his stance to a water dance, cleaving his fire sword at one guard and the other flawlessly. Carving their limbs before slitting another rhino's throat, Prince Huoju left their remains into scorching ashes, silencing their death cries. What the — fuck? The tiger's words waned but whitened his head in dread.

Each cut from the blazing sword lit their flesh into soot ashes — remains reducing into bones. Huoju showed the warriors his sinister face with hate, and his throngs scattered on the sides, bounding as one near their tyrant leader. The flash of the giant ox's red eyes scorched, so frightening as Xing and the Nine could feel their bones tremor, the Dragon Warrior and Furious Five dominating their postures. Rolling the weapon downward, the Prince of Darkness tipped the edge of his fire sword between his feet; taps cast howl breezes, wailing into growls.

"FIRE!" a female shout from the sky emitted the scream, and three airships of the Fire Clan sigils cast all ten balls of sobbing fire.

"INCOMING!" Po shouted.

The warriors plunged to the ground, lines of soot blaring passing above them.

KABOOM!

Blasts echoed and rang high pitches in all the ears. Checking their own bodies to one another, the warriors saw where elsewhere smeared into fiery stardust. Fires struck near from behind, plenty on the gallery seats of the four compasses, and all five struck on the high platform. Realizing who the people were inside with the Emperor, several fighters cried out in terror.

"DAD!"

"SHIFU!"

"NANA!"

"ATTACK!" Prince Huoju roared.

The pool waves of the tyrant's packs unleashed their war cries, sprinting with their armaments forward. The Emperor's Guards and Master Wolf's officers in gold and gray armor raced to the front of their allies' line, bracing against the surge. Once sighting the splash, the Masters of Jade Palace, the Nine, Righteous Seven, Mei Mei, and her volunteered pandas linked together behind their allied forces.

"Lao, Niu!" Xing turned with his silver eyes at them.

All two rose from the debris on the ground. "Go check out the Masters inside the throne gallery! Make sure Ming, Shifu, and everyone else in there alive! GO!" Xing pointed his quivered paw where fireballs had struck. "The Nine will hold off back the enemy lines and make sure you two come back here. GO!"

Coughing out dust, Master Storming Ox pushed a large chunk of remnants of debris on him. Deafening coughs and gags ruled this throne floor, swirls of soot and dust swimming elsewhere. Horrified by the glance of this familiar smell of harsh powder and fireworks, the bovine master swam his head, checking his crocodile companion beside him, lying unconscious under the remnants. Closer than Croc on his right, a mauled hoof with a red spikey gauntlet and splotches emerged, and the ram's face was undeniably recognizable to see the victim's horns break apart.

"Kwan?" Master Ox gasped, shaking him. "KWAN!"

No sign.

"Croc—" the bovine shook his friend's scaled shoulder, gagging to harsh coughs. Thanking the spirits to hear Croc's whine grunt, Master Ox could see Chen Ming crawling out of the debris across the rental dormitory, Shifu remaining unconscious next to the old feline master. Beatings fluttered in the distance as far as the bovine regarded there were other avians — Master Eagle's forces — to assist. But he and his aces did not call upon emergency as if Ox recalled the Emperor's words about their sigils in Tibet, outside of the Song Dynasty. Who's there?

Puffing his muzzle, Master Ox dusted debris remnants off him, forming his beast stance. At this time, vibrations became creamy and more threatening than ever. Within the silvery soot, rushing like water from outside, feather-like strands seemed to be hauntingly familiar, blotched in onyx. The feathers were red and white with black dots like the demon's eyes. The red-orange eyes flashed to a menacing glare, and a silver guandao was unsheathed from the avian's long robes.

"No," Master Storming Ox dropped his jaw wide open. A pure terror conquered his face.

Somewhere in the dormitory behind the bovine, an antelope guard ran with his halberd, roaring toward the peacock. Covered mostly in shadow but his train that shaded in gray, Lord Shen lunged to a glide and twirled his guandao, beautifully recoiling into parries. Snapping a guard's halberd in half, the peacock whirled his train and knocked him down with his weapon pole.

"Shifu!" the Nine's Master tore her voice, crawling to her dear companion, who immediately burst his stiff coughs. Standing and leaning her shoulder against a golden column, Chen Ming gritted her teeth, disoriented. Flashes of harsh echoes of metal blades blared, and the Nine's Master drenched her face in white, seeing the living specter that widened her eyes. Shen, engaging another antelope in his gold armor, speared his leg and spun his kick, writhing the flesh before yanking his own blade.

"No. . ." Ming fluttered in apprehension.

"Miiinng. . ." the red panda's paw held high.

When rushing to the red panda who groaned and gagged, yearning to breathe from suffocation, Chen Ming dusted remnants and pulled him away; Master Ox, growling in anger, fetched for his axe under his hoof, sprinting toward Shen.

"Shifu!" Ming tore her voice.

She caught Shifu and swiftly avoided one of the unbalanced columns, almost colliding with them. Rushing safely toward another nearby column, unaffected by the blast, Chen Ming swept debris remnants onto Shifu, who immediately gasped for air. Clouds were pulled into his throat, triggering the red panda's coughs.

Flinching to one side and the other when sidestepping in haste, Lord Shen countered Master Ox's axe, his fluidity reflexes becoming flawless on hammering his guandao below the metal's grip and hitting the bovine's horn instantaneously. The giant's tail attempted to sweep, allowing Ox to spin and slit the avian's throat, recoiling; with a successful dodge, Lord Shen plunged in between the bovine's eyes, luckily deflected right when Ox shifted his whole head faster.

Big mistake.

Studied to take down a giant like it was easy enough, Shen twirled his body and darted his talon and the other, jabbing Ox's muzzle twice. The impact caused disorientation even worse than the bovine felt before. Nearly blinded when grunting in vexation, Master Storming Ox gripped his axe grip but instantly felt his wide neck clutch by the peacock's rope dart. Bolas spun and smothered him; the Lord of Gongmen, screeching his caw, yanked Master Ox with an unbelievable might, casting the giant toward the debris and Huangdi's Throne Chair.

THUD!

Pulling a vicious smirk after seeing Master Ox crash and fall with the majestic seat next to Masters Chen Ming and Shifu, Shen gathered his rope dart, seething his face at the elders. Glaring and softly hauled his smother guan dao as Shifu and Ming trembled to their chests.

"No. . . You can't be," Shifu let out his hoarse voice in dismay before the Lord of Gongmen spun his guandao, ambling toward them menacingly.

Fast footsteps gritted the floor nearby, and the wolf's growl rumbled the Throne Room.

"SHEN!"

From the shining light across the debris from outside, the one-eyed wolf clutched his war maul—the hammer mark seared with dark red flames. Growling, Wolf Boss lunged onward, and Shen recoiled his own body, swinging his blade. Dodging twice backward, the one-eyed wolf jumped above Shen's fast attack with his train, the canine's foot jabbing the avian's back. Landing with a backflip from behind Shen, Wolf Boss ducked the guandao's swing attack, parrying the blade and metal talons with haste. Thrice blocks in a row drew Shen to lunge his foot, distancing the wolf, who skidded his feet, overwhelming his snarl. Not this time, peacock.

Wolf Boss immediately knew the reaction timing as the Lord of Gongmen cast three silver feather blades. Clang! Witnessing the wolf's maul swing to a perfect parry, thwarting knives to one side, Lord Shen trembled his beak, frowning with his eyes wide. The battlefield of Kong Bai Stadium was ruled by war cries and shouts, cannonballs screaming their fires, and blasts jolting the surroundings elsewhere.

"Remember the last time you hurled your knives at me?" Wolf Boss glared, creasing his muzzle with hatred. "That was a mistake."

"Mistake?" the peacock snapped his eyes in bewilderment. "I don't even—"

"Don't bullshit me, Shen! You killed my army, and you almost murdered me back home!" Wolf Boss snapped, his digit pointing at him. "You should have known the consequence that I told you: You mess with a wolf. . . you get FANGS!"

The peacock hurled his rope dart with bolas, and with an instant reflex, Wolf Boss gripped the avian's weapon, jerking Shen's body toward the wolf. Angling his body to one corner, Wolf Boss slammed the bird's chest, and Shen let out his excruciating caw, sliding across the platform.

"How is it like to taste some medicine?" Zhong growled. "Did you ever think about a pack of wolves who treated you like a family? Did you even think about my people who tried to stop the masters from coming to your ship? It was all a mess you caused, Shen!"

Gritting his beak in distortion on the ground, Lord Shen glowered, eyes shutting hard. "What mess?"

The one-eyed wolf grunted, shaking his head. "You old, bigoted fucking fool—don't pretend you do not know; I remember what you did, Shen. Now that your parents have been long gone, I am willing to tear you apart for murdering my pack and fracturing me in pieces."

Shen shivered the facial of his smothering smoke before nearing the edge of the Throne Room platform—the light from the clouds beaming down on the peacock's ebony body. Strikingly sensitive to hearing the wolf's derogatory query, Shen peered at Wolf Boss, who clenched his fist, including war haul.

"I will be much happier to see you staying dead otherwise," Wolf Boss angered. "That panda's father wounded my eye. My family's disappearance dragged my heart into darkness. And your blades crippled me for five years!" he darted his finger at the peafowl. "Everything you led me and the wolves under your leadership was YOUR fault!"

Ming and Shifu witnessed the wolf clutch his left eye patch and the tissues of a piece wrenched away.

Rip! The wolf revealed his dead eye flesh.

By the spirits!

The blast from the past clutched the peacock's cold spine, and Lord Shen knew someone from the days before the dark times. Flushes of bitter cries and howls flashed in his mind.

My parents and I will look after you, Zhong. I promise. You are part of our family. Shen pledged to his dear brother inside the young wolf's bedroom after the avian heard grave news about Zhong's parents — murdered by boar bandits.

Shen, stop! This abomination is not who you are! Zhong warned and stopped in front of Shen. The Thriving Village of Pandas was plagued with blistering fires across houses to moss trees, and the young peacock lord and his army of wolves scattered apart, capturing innocent pandas. Odd memories sparked that seemed to be familiarly recognizable.

Get the wolves ready. We are loading the ships now. NOW!

Why aren't we firing?!

I—said—fire at them! FIRE!

No.

That was the last time Shen commanded Wolf Boss to fire his dragon cannon at the Masters of Jade Palace and Gongmen City across the side of the bay — with the pack of wolves on the ships before the blast.

"Broth—?"

Lord Shen was horrified by Zhong's angry growl. Wolf Boss sprang on all fours, tackling the screeching avian toward the gallery's edge and into billowing pools of smearing affray on the citizen gallery.

"What the heck was that?" Niu queried as he and Lao saw a billowing onyx shroud hovering away.

What was that noise? That caw? Dreaded in anxiety, Lao shook his head and began to climb with the bovine. Vaulting on the Emperor's platform with impeccable timing, Lao and Niu barged in and—

"DAD!" the Nine's Defender screamed and ran to his unconscious father.

"MASTER MING! MASTER SHIFU!" Lao rushed to both teachers, widening his eyes. "Are you two alright?!"

"We're okay!" Chen Ming heightened her feeble shout, coughing out debris clouds. Crawling out of the remnants of debris beside Kwan's body, Master Croc gagged and puffed his coughs, reaching for his companion's hoof.

"Juren!" Croc gritted in pain.

"Dad, please wake up!" Niu begged beside the reptile creature.

Ming grabbed Lao's left shoulder as the peacock prince shifted his head at the elder feline's tearful eyes.

"Lao, listen to me. Do not worry about me and Shifu; get back down there and help my grandson and the Nine."

"Master, please!" Lao begged, quivering his beak and eyes.

"Lao," Shifu's voice weakened. Leaning his back against the solid column, the red panda patted Lao's shoulder. "You must fight them. They need you."

Lao and Niu could hear the calls of their brothers and sisters — the Nine require assistance, front enemy lines growing in numbers in advance.

"Niu, we have to go," Lao clutched his wing on Niu's dark blue gauntlet. "Let the Masters protect—"

Large chunks of debris caught plenty of masters' attention farther down the throne room platform. Clawing himself out with an intense gasp of horror, Emperor Huangdi paddled the debris, including his shreds of the long yellow robe. "My Emperor!" Master Wolf and his fellow guards raced to Huangdi.

"Let the Masters protect Emperor Huangdi," Lao patted Niu's back. "They will take care of him and your dad. The Nine need the big guy with his eyes."

"The kid's right, Niu," Master Croc nodded at the bovine, giving him a soft pat on his wrist. "Let me stay with your baba. Fight for him."

Niu nodded to Lao after the young bovine rested his hoof on his father's chest. "I love you, Dad."

"Let's move," the peacock grinned.

The Nine's Brilliance and Defender sprinted and jumped off the Emperor's platform, joining the fight with their family.

Chapter Text

Episode Four: Tournament (30 — 41)

Chapter XXXIX

Ambush II

The Nine's Brilliance and Defender crashed into the affray, assisting their family, companions, and allies across the arena. Most fighters from the gallery seats in unaffected areas from the blasts joined the fight, and the Masters of Jade Palace, rampaging one by one, struck several forces that drew closer to the allied defenses. Assisted by the Righteous Seven's hawk, who launched his talons and spun in the air, Crane swept his own, soaring across the air with Fei; underneath them, Monkey advanced with palm strikes in random picks, and Mantis cleared the path forward for him by rapidly hovering in zig-zags under the affray, shattering their ribcages and joints.

"WE'RE SURROUNDED!" A wolf guard, spinning his halberd, plunged a deer bandit's throat far down the right side.

"Not for long! GWWARRR!"

The Nine's Defender, Niu, rushed in on all fours, ramming throngs with his honed horns. Beside Master Ox's son, Lao released his screeching caw, landing with his talon toward a boar's neck.

Farther to the left, the snow leopard Peng hurled his straight fists as he fractured a goat's jaw and upper shoulder, joining assistance behind the Dragon Warrior and Furious Five in the middle. Three felines—Shujaa including—dashed for behind the allied defenses as followed for their advantage: the warrior from Africa sidestepped and clutched in a bear's wrist joint, dislocating his arm before the lion's kick toward another beast; Peng gripped him to allow his body to swing behind and lunge his digits to the neck-spine; Tigress, spinning her feet on the ground, shattered a gray bull's left knee, and Niu darted his own head, shattering an attacker's crown.

"NINE, ATTACK AND DEFENSE!"

Chen Xing's call sign was critical to the bovine and eight warriors to assemble with their forms. Niu rejoined with his family right after shoving his elbow into a third bear's muzzle, allowing Master Wolf's guards to knock a bandit down. The Nine positioned their horse stances, facing the waves of more than a hundred screaming bandits before the Prince of Darkness, who stood and watched far behind them.

"Cǐkè!" the Nine's Leader signed. The Nine locked their chin stances, and their chi sao  blocks and fists pummeled with the following turns in front lines:

Shou sliced a wolf bandit's sword with his butterfly knives, one weapon rapidly slapping the blade before a quick deflection against a boar's halberd, the yak's other knife whipping to the head. Flowing his arms to a serpent movement, Niu clouded a water deer's wavy sword, his horns deflecting black arrows and throwing daggers from the air.

Breaking through throngs of boars, Bao roared and brawled onward with his circle punches, arms trapping and breaking their upper joints. Commencing to jab his knife palm toward a throat, the gorilla clutched his belt and front cloth, throwing him at twenty bandits; emerging from behind a horde after beginning to roll and spin his large tail, Zhao recoiled his body to a roar, his morningstar tail splitting a crocodile attacker's head and the other. Twirling his own body again drove his mace into all five heads singlehandedly, compelling enemies in terrors.

"GODS DA—!"

Out of nowhere, a fast brown tail slapped a silver-bearded goat's jaw, ripping his jawline. "Language!" Fanshe recoiled when bending his body, striking his tail on one limb and the face, plunging a badger's stomach. Slithering close to the cobra for aid, Viper sprang in the air forward, spinning her tail and lashing all six assailants.

Sensing her feet from two serpents who vaulted on the wolf, Lotus sent her body into acrobatic flips, her limbs darting Viper and Fanshe. Curling her stances, the wolf whipped her sash stick, leaving seared marks on the faces of a gorilla, three bats in the air, and a clouded leopard. When the dancer cast rapid circle punches and elbow blocks, Lao deflected more than three blades with his snow-white wings, and his fluidity movements rolled his body, talons flashing ribcages — third uppercut lunging a second badger in the air.

Providing the Dragon Warrior on his side when grappling a bull's horns, Chen Xing twisted his own limbs as the tiger parried and wrecked a crocodile with his claws — one punch and one block simultaneously thrusting in each form of his chi sao. Shattering a reptile's muzzle and abdomen while Po spun a bovine and swung his right foot to the head, Chen Xing's six-inch punch plunged a bandit's upper chest.

"SPARROW KICK!"

"CHOP SUEY!"

Two warriors sent a bovine and a reptile across the throng, bowling and crashing many. "FOOLS! TEAR THEM ALL APART!" one bear with his faded left eye and a mauled scar seethed, and the pool of assailants sprinted back, carelessly running over their own.

"Yānwù!" Chen Xing commanded.

The Nine summoned their smoke. Puff! The bats soared their position up ahead of the bandits, who withdrew their heads in confusion when backing away.

The panda twins crouched near Lao as the army of pandas approached with haste. "Ready?" Lao asked the twins.

"Go time!" Dim and Sum both nodded.

"Ready when you are, brother," Lao turned to Xing to prepare the Nine's Leader's order. "Those cannons will fire at us anytime now!"

Fools.

The Prince of Darkness firmly gripped the hilt of his fire sword, expecting nothing less from his enemies, sending surprises on his own. Halting his throng of Dark Wings that began hovering in vortexes above the tyrant, Prince Huoju signaled his sword like a billowing banner, calling for Shen's cannons to fire at will.

Three balls of wailing fires launched, plunging into white smoke. Before the eyes of Huoju, an unexpected turn folded as he flashed with wonder.

The fireballs danced into swirls, like lung dragons fluttering their long bodies into ribbons—one ball crossed in circles, the second swung vertically, the third spun with incredible spins on the panda's paw. With a silver glint of white pulsing behind the smoke, the Prince of Darkness's charcoal breaths cascaded in his lungs in fright.

"SKADOOSH!"

Three stars catapulted back, slamming into three airships across the top of the stadium. One ship's giant balloon bellowed into bursts, tumbling down as its nose tried to claw the sky. The second vessel's hull, scorched to ablaze, plunged its crashing course toward the left side of the gallery. The third collapsed farther back from Huoju, fires splashing.

"Now, Bao! Do your thing!" the warrior thundered, whose growling voice was hauntingly familiar as Huoju swam his head back.

Behind the white smoke, the Nine's Heaver emerged, the gorilla roaring with his teeth bared. Pulling his hammer fists, Bao bellowed, "BAO, SMASH!" The ground shook into aftershock, and hordes of Huoju's first and second waves of his army flew back with tumbles and crashes, bandits wailing in terror. Fissures split with hundreds of tears, shattering whoever stood before the warriors.

The Prince of Darkness cringed his body, his face tilting when he pulled his brows and smirked.

"Shaever me tiiiimbiiss*!" the Dark Wings leader, Fei, cried in high pitches.

How exhilarating. Huoju chuckled.

"WITH ME, NOW!" Chen Xing shouted. "FOR QING TEMPLE!"

"CHARGE!" Po ran with the Nine's Leader and Tigress.

The Masters of Jade Palace, the Nine of Prosper Valley, and the Righteous Seven of Wugu sprinted out, with the Emperor's army, pandas, martial arts classes, and Master Wolf's guards roaring with their halberds and swords.

And the Prince of Darkness's army raged and ran toward them.

CLASH!

Yoo plunged through the affray, swiftly swimming his head as he lunged his fists and kicks with ridiculous spins, pandas and the Furious Five swarming with deadening shouts in all directions. Two wolves and one crocodile ahead of him pushed through with their axes, though only one and his reptile ally were nearly disoriented by the Nine's rapid thrashes with the Masters of Jade Palace. Stretching his lips to a smile and giggling, Yoo immediately opened his arms and squeezed all three bandits, breaking their backbones.

"I don't know who you all are either!"

Immediately, the whole battle ruptured. The other four airships began to hover across the arena in circles, spitting out the rain of cannon fires as the bats of Dark Wings twirled their glides elsewhere. Acting fast, the Nine's Leader skidded his foot to a half circle, his arms flowing to a yin-yang. One and the other did as the fox Leo, the lion Shujaa, and the rhino Nam executed their tai chi stances. One rain was in the lion's claw, the second was swung into the south gallery by Nam's clouded hammer, and the third on Leo's paws, bowling into Huoju's horde from the wreckage entrance.

The fourth, hacking from the metal dragon's behemoth muzzle, danced on Xing's claws; catching the fireball in an instant, the Nine's Leader made a vicious smirk at the assailants, who gasped in horror, shrills from the white sparks singing its deathly sobs.

"RUN AWAY!" an onyx gorilla shoved away with his mates and ran.

"HOLD THIS, PLEASE!"

Successfully throwing the fireball at the throng of enemies, Chen Xing caught another cannonball, grimacing when smiling at one airship that led forward. "Take out those airships!" the Dragon Warrior cried out, remarking all allies near the panda.

Wolf Boss scampered and whirled his maul hammer on the southeast gallery, parrying Shen's guandao in full force. Rage fueled by hatred in Wolf Boss's eye, willing to neglect their surroundings as if his business on taking revenge against his peacock brother was critical, regarding the loss of his pack of brothers and sisters who were slaughtered in vain—obliterated by their careless avian leader. At a successful rate of deflecting the wolf's weapon with agility, Lord Shen spun his own when sidestepping, lunging toward the canine's throat twice. Recoiling his head left and right without a flaw, Wolf Boss pivoted and darted his foot and the other, hitting the peafowl's stomach. Lunges and sweeps tired the wolf's arms, tensing the peacock's wings when Shen encountered his attacks; two weapons conflicted, and their faces confronted.

Growling in abhorrence, Zhong dominated his pose onward, risking to bite toward the avian's neck. Repulsing to smell the wolf's breath of rotten flesh, Lord Shen recoiled and spread his train, tumbling the one-eyed wolf as he could twirl his body when executing his acrobatic flips. Diving with his guandao after lunging his foot on the seventh stair, Shen bellowed his caw, and Wolf Boss's maul blocked the stab, staggering the peacock.

"Nice try," Wolf Boss seethed but quickly hammered his foot against Shen's talon, almost slicing the wolf's upper leg. Without being aware of the lines of scorching balls of fireworks launching and throwing back with piercing weeps across the arena, Zhong and Lord Shen resumed their combat, the wolf leading his advantage as he rounded his maul upward and downward.

"I hated everything you'd committed, Shen," the one-eyed wolf grimaced, swiftly driving the peacock to obstruct Wolf Boss's maul, nearing his face.

"Then why on Earth did you obey with that loathsome lord?" Shen snapped. The blade and maul clashed once more. "I am not that fool who remains to be perished."

"You are that perish fool who still breathes!" Wolf Boss growled, reminding Shen who the peacock was, but kept skeptical to be convinced. "That loathsome lord is you who should have stayed under the damn soil and let Diyu roast the rest of your corpse!"

The movement of the peacock's lips pursed; the blast from Xing's throwing object cracked the winds apart, blasting the airship. Glimpsing up as debris and scrap metals of the dragon cannon cascaded, Zhong and Shen thrust themselves apart—

CRASH!

Maintaining to defend the line with the rest of the warriors in combat, the Dragon Warrior countered a boar's ax before Chen Xing fractured a crocodile's shoulder joints with his elbows, Hong yelling underneath them when shattering a few bandits' leg joints. "THESE ASSHOLES ARE CRAZY!" one badger bandit darted his digit at the tiger, who dislocated a reptile's arms before clutching his tail and throwing him across the stadium floor. Bandits gaped in fright, stumbling their stances apart, weapons guarding while retreating a few yards. Archers emerging near the Emperor's platform on the sides began to release their volley of arrows, several landing a horde of bats with precision hits.

Seeing more than three dozen bats falling across the battle, the Nine's Brilliance engaged a black wolf bandit with his guandao, disarming the wavy sword with flame segments; Crane, spiraling his body in the air, gathered the wind with his ebony wings, kicking a clouded leopard's jaw. For a moment, the avian cast his wind qi that swirled into a screeching vortex, strands of gale penetrating bats and aces' wings before he assisted Fei by his side, re-engaging other flocks of bats coming down from the seventh airship. The vessel, whose dragon cannon was casting a velvet fireworks ball with red and white fires, turned starboard, and Po captured the fire in his claws.

Spinning his body into a yin-yang sphere, the Dragon Warrior threw the ball at the ship. "SKADOOSH!"

Burst the ship into flames before its collision course toward another airship, swarms of Dark Wings squeaked and flocked away. "RETREAT!"

Clenching her teeth to a grimace, Mingling growled in annoyance, running to the Prince of Darkness. "Shen's cannons are down, my Prince!" she seethed. "Those warriors are about to advance!"

"Those cannons are the distraction, Mingling. Continue sending our men to these enemies," Prince Huoju said, swirling his sword. "We can now show them what war means."

It's about damn time!

Mingling signaled the crimson bear claw sigil. Specks of black dots representing Bian Fu's reinforcements let out their screeches, and bats swarmed across Kong Bai Stadium. Hundreds gushed into separation, one leading to the west and into the arena. Bian Fu and his comrades bared their fangs and started diving. "TIME FOR RABIES!" he squeaked.

"CRANE, LOOK OU—!

Po called his avian brother, but Bian Fu and the Dark Wing clan crashed on Crane and Fei, who yelled in agony, falling across the battle with Master Wolf's forces. Another flock of bats, widening their smiles with sharp teeth, twirled their flights, one formation and the other darting into defenses. "CRANE!" Monkey cried out after thrashing a crocodile's muzzle with his kicks, dodging the swarms.

"GET DOWN!" Hong shouted at all guards, but a horde of Dark Wings bit every flesh of them.

"Take—" Viper and her cobra brother whipped their tails, unleashing their qi in the air. "—THAT!"

Six dozen bats fell but more concentrated on diving toward all the masters. "Spread out!" Chen Xing launched three orbs of yellow-silver qi, knocking over twenty bats, but tackled to the ground with Lao and Lotus. His claws cast an enchanting qi shield that depicted the slithering body of a raging bearded lung dragon, deflecting more than a thousand bites. Only one managed to shatter through on the left edge, and a bat plunged his fangs into Lotus's left shoulder and upper chest, emitting the wolf's agony howl.

"LOTUS!" Lao and Xing screamed.

"I GOT YOU, GUYS!" Po roared, and the golden yellow light of the bearded dragons swallowed all bats, hurling them away into the sky.

"Everybody, fall back!" Chen Xing commanded the Nine, standing and lifting Lotus's arm over him. The Nine's Dancer pitched her cry, her wound biting the inside of her leg flesh. "I got you, Lotus!"

The Nine withdrew as they were told to do so while Po's lung dragons cast Bian Fei and his Dark Wings clan to the clouds. Some managed to escape, flocking in different directions. Viper dodged a big gorilla wielding his ax, who teased her before the serpent master committed to dart her tail toward his legs, whipping his wrists before her uppercut combo. Glaring at the horde of Huoju's forces pouring in with their tyrant, Viper and Fanshe snapped, the Nine's Cobra baring his teeth. Fifty arrows soared across the sky, raining down on Huoju and his forces.

Forty-five fell, but the Prince of Darkness parried four with his fire sword, one arrow plunging into his shoulder gear. "Enough of this. I am going in."

"Archers! Take out the wolves up there!" Mingling shouted, her ax decapitating a buffalo guard's head after Huoju yanked the bolt.

Their archers crossing on the gallery platforms from the north and east shot their arrows, and twenty wolves fell, forty more.

"Provide support with all the masters—NOW!" one buffalo guard with his gold cloak commanded the Emperor's guards, and many plunged through the affray, a few of the Nine, Righteous Seven, and Furious Five forcing in with pandas after being caught into fighting.

Everywhere else had transpired to him at all once; Mantis launched across the affray as he darted more than twenty bandits, his flight hovering him in zig-zags, thrashing many as he let out his growl. Clutching one wolf's leg, spinning to knock more than ten bandits closer to him, Mantis hurled a bandit. "THAT'S FOR CRANE, YOU LITTLE—!"

Closer than ever expected to be ambushed, Mantis saw Prince Huoju pressing onward with his fire sword, dicing one guard and the other. The tyrant's hoof thrust the insect, slamming across the massacre.

"MANTIS!" Monkey screamed when he saw his bug brother fall toward the remaining column in the north. Snapping a leopard's neck with his wrapped tail and kicking him away, Monkey flipped across the horde of aggressors before Prince Huoju trotted on all fours with caution.

Ramming into guards, who flew and crashed with their allies, Huoju engaged Monkey, swinging his sword with billowing fires. Dodging sword lunges while rapidly rolling and springing around the tyrant, Monkey bashed his upper shoulder joint and left ribcage, his hands gripping and yanking the cape. Shifting himself under Huoju toward the front, the langur tugged, but the giant's weight became immovable; the fabric fastening on the tyrant's upper breastplate ripped apart, and the Prince of Darkness clenched his teeth.

"Oops—!" Monkey threw the cape before Huoju wildly lunged forward and gripped the langur's throat, slamming his body to the ground. The Prince of Darkness's hoof clobbered his muzzle, knocking Monkey unconscious.

You ruined my cloak—I have more to wear.

Several fighters spread around him, and Huoju faced anyone who dared to challenge the Prince of Darkness. Walking over the unconscious langur, the tyrant surveyed the arena, and one, unexpectedly storming ahead of the ox, darted her foot to his chest. Staggering while his feet slid to a halt, Huoju was nearly disoriented by the warrior's golden qi, bathed with ripples on his torso armor. Facing forward, the Ruler of Retaliation confronted the striped feline warrior, who posed her kung fu form of tiger style, roaring.

"How is that for hurting my friends?"

Who. . . are. . . you?

Without warning, Prince Huoju puffed his charcoal breath to a menace, charging forward after sheathing his fire sword. Snarling, Tigress flipped after she somersaulted above him, nearly ramming the feline. Unleashing in a fury, Tigress darted her claws, rounding her feet; Huoju repelled her attacks with his bulky arms, his elbow thrusting her torso. Each strike staggered Tigress backward but allowed her to leap toward his horns while emitting her roar, swinging to the side before her foot with golden qi struck his head. Fast enough, Prince Huoju blocked her heavy attack with his elbow, flipping her backward.

Sliding before regaining her tiger stance, Tigress quivered her rich snarl.

"Do you think you and your people are the only ones who learned the arts for centuries? Hmm?" Huoju teased Tigress, who provoked herself to a sinister growl. He taunted her with his winked eye—twice. "Show me more."

And Tigress sprinted to him on all fours.

"Keep the pressure!" Chen Xing advised Lotus near the arena barrier, who winced in excruciation. The Dragon Warrior, the Son of Divinity, and several warriors set their defenses close to them, withdrawing bandits from being surrounded. "Nine!" the tiger swam his head worriedly. "Where are they?!"

"BROTHER!" Lao yelped after knocking down a badger bandit with his guandao pole.

"I got you, sister!" the Nine's Doctor battered an antelope's knees, scurrying past her brothers before Hong assisted Lotus.

"Where are Tigress and the others?!" Po asked, twirling his Spirit Staff before pounding a brown bear's face.

A harsh yelp caught their attention, turning at the skirmish. Surveying the affray of bandits and allied forces, Po and Xing witnessed Huoju grip Tigress's throat, heaving her above the ground.

"TIGRESS!" Po screamed, and Xing pushed forward alone.

"XING, WAIT!"

Dashing on all fours, Chen Xing ignored his brother's call, engaging more than five bandits coming toward him. Two down, Chen Xing shattered a gray bovine's knee and a wolf's throat, the other three advancing with their halberds in hands. The Nine's Leader managed to barge through the battle, full of soldiers and assailants dropping down one by one by an instant. Arrows plunged into their faces, swords lacerated wounds, and screams muffled as Xing nearly reached for the Prince of Darkness.

Prince Huoju crooned his fruity throat, scintillating his crimson eyes, digging into Tigress's memories with his hoof press on her forehead.

Dark clouds showered the meadowland of Quilin Mountains with onyx rain, a two-story complex building with a tree emerging by angry white flashes. Trees withered as the storm winds waned and moaned, and two forms swathing in yellow robes—one hooded—approached the front palace of Bao Gu Orphanage. Four eyes of dawn looked down on their child, a mother giving her cub a long kiss on her forehead.

"Goodbye, my daughter. . ." Tigress's mother wept, hugging her.

The feline's parents left their child in front of the wooden door. With only confused eyes and alone under the showers, the child could not see them anymore, and Tigress sobbed.

"Girl. . ." Huoju gaped, eyes glaring wide. "You remind me of—"

"TAKE YOUR HOOVES OFF HER!" A haunting rage voice bathed his spine into rime, stopping him from scrutinizing the feline's face, the smell of lily blending in his muzzle. Prince Huoju glared, sighting at the tiger who provoked him with a chin stance, arms guarding onward.

"No . . ." Huoju unmasked his frightful face and threw Tigress to the ground beside the Nine's Leader.

"Touch her again, and I'll drag your ass to the Diyu Realm. Fight me, craven."

Widening his crimson eyes to a snap, the Prince of Darkness deadened his soft gasp. "Come here. . . Now."

An immediate dash sent Huoju right in front of Chen Xing, whose reaction to block before the tyrant was a short delay to attack. The tiger's arms of chi-sao stopped by the giant's unfathomable barrier; the Prince of Darkness seized Xing's throat, studying his face. The Nine's Leader was restrained from the tyrant's grip, unable to resist against him while hammering his fists on Huoju's arm. The bovine's remorseful face was tolerably depicted. "Impossible. . ." Huoju gaped in shock, the tiger's memories flooding in his mind. "You cannot be."

Xìngzhì Sēnlín

Swarms of shadows plagued the forest, cloaked by flickers of embers and charcoal smoke above the trees. Emerged across the night, three striped felines ran in terror—the fourth in his grandmother's arms. The child, only curious but overwhelmed by confusion and fear, trained his silver eyes on the billowing fires that touched and burned to ashes in the distance; their village was under siege, uninvited by assailants. Someone betrayed his family, and this child only knew he and his grandmother had to run. She mentioned there was death closer to his old home.

All the trees whined, screaming as the fires across the hills clutched and seared woods. This child had never seen anything so much in distress, his silver eyes catching on two of his parents—the father and mother, Chen Shui and Chen Yingtao, clutched their claws for dear life, fleeing with their mother. Their eyes drenched, and the boy could not suppress his cry.

"Shui!" his mother wept.

"I know!" his father swam his head wildly, his silver manchu beard fluttering.  

Tiring when gasping for air, with their hearts clutching in tension, the villagers jumped on the moss log, which died its age with fragile wood that still grasped strong enough to bear against their weights. One, the grandmother softly leaped, feet splashing; the cold water was not deep, but the bottom of her silk hanfu threatened to slow her when running. Two, Chen Shui reached down first, holding his arms up for his wife. Third—

"RU—!"

Yingtao's roar was silenced. The black arrows flashed into her throat and heart, tumbling her body into the water.

"YINGTAO!" Chen Shui sobbed.

She fell onto him; the boy's father held her in his arms, crimson flooding the pool of dark green with ember ripples. "MAMA!" Chen Xing cried before his father wailed, his mother's blood in Shui's arms and claw that held her head.

"NO!"

"XIONGDI!" Another echoed a scream farther off the trees just as the child could not recognize who was coming for them.

"Shui! We need to go!" Chen Ming bellowed, tears drenching her cheeks. "Run with us for your son's sake!"

"MAMA!"

Shadows dimmed the fire, slithering its flames from where the felines jumped, the old log blanketing with swirls of onyx. Shadows rippled and cuddled on Shui and his moon, emerging its embers under his throat.

"Mom. . . ." the father's voice numbed into frail.

"Shui, please!"

" Take him."

The shadows emblazed into slithers, and Chen Shui was bathed into hell, attempting to barricade his excruciating scream in his son's eyes.

"BABA!" the child gushed his tears, and the gale of ash writhed the soot across the forest. Writhing her weeps, Chen Ming stormed away into the sea of darkness, her grandson facing back. His father's haunted screams quaked the trees and leaves, scarring the boy's small heart with a permanent wound. All Xing could ever see at the last moment of his parents' deaths was the crimson eyes within the fabric ebony sheets of the scorching fires, shining before the darkness cloaked the firestorm, far and far away.

"Rage streams in your blood. Rage born from your own, " the Prince of Darkness inhaled his charcoal breath with utter shock, glancing at Tigress. "So as the other."

"The fuck do you mean—?" Chen Xing clenched his teeth, but the bovine's grip moderately clasped his throat, pulling him and studying the tiger's silver irises.

"I know those eyes, boy. . . You have—"

Grimacing with a thunderous roar, Chen Xing flared his silver eyes with pale white, grasping his three-finger claw on Huoju's wrist. The tiger's qi, wildly blended with yellow and silver, emerged as glass fractures, shattering and burning Huoju's limb. Contorting his loud and stinging outcry, the Prince of Darkness rammed his head to a headbutt, knocking the Nine's Leader to the ground next to Tigress. Slightly sensing dizziness, Huoju inspected his whole arm, silver qi glimmering into ripples. Ice burns triggering in his flesh forced the tyrant to grit his teeth.

"HEEEEEEY!" a booming shout shook the arena.

A yellow light flashed on Huoju's face. The Prince raised his hoof and shadowed his own as if he journeyed too close to the sun. A light of golden yellow qi surrounded the black and white figure, who wielded the emerald yin-yang staff, summoning twin bearded lung dragons flowing like ribbons behind him. Before the Prince of Darkness's eyes of apprehension and surprise, The Dragon Warrior pinned his weapon beside his right foot, the light rapidly diminishing before lung beasts let out their growls before their vanishment.

Standing next to Po were the three that the Prince of Darkness remembered the faces of his old enemies: the peacock, the snow leopard, and the yak. All four warriors bonded into one, and Huoju burst his remarkable laughter in mockery.

"Such a sensational entrance, panda! " the Prince of Darkness seethed cooly in a high-spirit tone, revealing the sense of recognition and admiration in their eyes. "Thousands eavesdropped in China and spread tales about this hero — this bear who claims to be the People's Hero — the Dragon Warrior!"

"You must be Huoju!" Po beamed with menace, his Spirit Staff pointing at the tyrant. "The Prince of Darkness! Ruler of Retaliation!"

Prince Huoju lowered his throat with intimidation and respect. "I'm surprised you have learned, People's Hero," he unsheathed his fire sword. "Do you four discover how to summon your beasts? I reckon not so; your Mightiest Warriors ancestors should be ashamed of themselves."

Only three heads of the leopard, peacock, and yak exchanged their glances with confusion. "Mine is!" Po spun his weapon, the flash of his qi slithering into a serpent-like beast.

"Doubtful. Your lack of erudition indicates you cannot form your flesh into one. But your qi does," Huoju lectured as he creased his muzzle into grim, cornering his lips to a sinister grin. "Show me what you are made of, Dragon Warrior."

"Justice will be served, Huoju!" Po glared, darting his whole body toward the Prince of Darkness. The clash of Po's light and Huoju's dark pool clouds splashed.

Chapter Text

Episode Four: Tournament (30 — 41)

Chapter XL

Ambush III

"Let's go help our friends!" Peng led his run with the yak and the peacock. "COME ON!"

"Help our mateys over there, Shou!" Lao pointed at the Nine's Heavyweights surrounded by the horde of Emperor's guards and Master Wolf's army. "I'll help Xing, Fanshe, and Bao!"

"Stay safe, mi bucko!" the Nine's Pirate nodded, galloping on all fours.

A quick distraction to witness Po's qi and Huoju's pool of darkness clouds clashing was seemingly epic to Lao but shook his mind off after the Nine's Brilliance barged into the battle, assisting buffalos and wolves before the Righteous Seven warriors spread formation. Peng, leading his feet on one bandit buffalo's muzzle and another to his upper torso, sprang to the nearest attacker that stood loftier than his own fighters—three times mighty Peng had remembered his stern-looking face. The giant water buffalo emitted his boisterous evil laughs while his clenched hoof split a lynx's skull. He glimpsed up and roared at the snow leopard.

"CAT!" Temutai snapped but was tackled down with the other four of his by Peng.

Hong wrapped a bandage around Lotus's affected wound and one patch against her upper torso, twitching while blasts outside the arena tremored the ground. "Help our birdie brother, Hong!" Lotus gritted her teeth, yelping after her paw kept the pressure on her wound. She attempted to stand while sliding her back upward against the wall, but disorientation flushed in her mind, her butt slamming to the surface. "Damn, these bites! What did they—?!"

"Stay here with these doctors, Lotus!" Hong advised her sister. Wolf physicians crouched near Lotus and inspected her. "I got Lao's back!" The Nine's Doctor made a scamper for the affray.

The sky of heavenly gold and blue shone crepuscular lights under the clouds, shining down the battlefield with soots and fires in affected blast areas, echoes of war cries deafening. Dominating in the air, surrounded by flocks of miniature dots of swarming bats departing from gold light and onyx shadows, the Dragon Warrior and the Prince of Darkness crashed to the front side of the Kong Bai Stadium above the gallery seats near the entrance. Bricks shattered and cascaded into waterfalls, banners of red and green tumbling with the debris. Regaining their feet, Prince Huoju unsheathed his fire sword with its ear-pitching blade, and Po spun his Spirit Staff, the gloss of lime and jade radiating with Po's lung dragon scales.

Both warriors began in combat.

Fire swung with billowing flickers, and the emerald stone parried with green and yellow flashes, emitting harsh metal and gloss sounds as Po and Huoju searched for flaw movements in one another. Lunging the bovine's belly, the panda spun his weapon vertically and struck Huoju's head with the tip of his pole and yin-yang. Thrice combo hits, the Dragon Warrior cast his yellow strands of qi into whips; Huoju whirled his sword hilt and deflected. WHACK!

Warding off the whips thrice, the Prince of Darkness cut down Po's qi and shoved his head, ramming the panda off the gallery surface. "WHOA!" Po backflipped and safely landed while casting his weapon into parries; Huoju's fire projections were thrown from his sword. Dissipating the fires with incredible haste from the emerald pole, Po chopped onward, but the Prince himself flicked his blade, rolling behind the panda. Driving his weapon to a sweep while Po's block warded the attack off, the bovine hammered against the Spirit Staff, both colliding against themselves with their strengths.

With one presenting a witty smile while the other did a solemn grin, the panda and the ox shoved themselves apart; the Dragon Warrior, soaring in the air with his bearded lung dragon, formed a qi painting stroke of his family character name, propelling his light on Huoju. SPLASH! The Prince of Darkness rapidly reacted to plunge his fire sword into Po's sign, shattering all the qi painting apart into glass fragments. Po made a rough landing farther away from Huoju, who snapped his light daze away before he squinted his red eyes at the panda.

"Exquisite," Prince Huoju smirked.

"Enjoying yourself, yet?" Po asked as his gold cape fluttered to his left.

"Oh, I am. Unlike the warlords I deeply admired to my nemeses, you're such a parody."

Oh—that's cold.

"You don't know the war experience as I have, panda. I can manifest to you what it is—fear, savagery, deception, desperation, and death," Huoju described, swinging his sword by his side, displaying a tyrannical posture. "Are you willing to die for your friends?"

Po held the staff horizontally. "I fight for the people I care about!" Po replied. "Except for a dying part!"

Huoju snickered as Po rushed toward him, swinging his weapon. Countering three blocks of outer parry, Po uppercutted Huoju's jaw, soaring the bovine away as the tyrant formed his cloaks of shadows around him from his wrist gauntlets. The Dragon Warrior, summoning the whirls of his silk-like qi from his paws, let out his battle cry. The panda's bearded lung dragon emitted its shrill roar, and the bovine's shadow clouds billowed its webbed wings. Two heads of the billowing clouds of beasts lunged against their faces, Po and Huoju combating with their avatars underneath the belly of the beasts; the panda's golden rays showered into heavy falls, and the gloaming winds sent a thundering shockwave across the land.

The dragons of Yin and Yang slithered toward themselves to a violent collision, their tails lashing and ripping the winds. 

CLASH!

Showered under the glowing rain, Lao took down a giant boar bandit with his guandao after twirling his body under the ground and slitting his legs. Quick deflections forced the Nine's Brilliance to recoil and repeat his parries up and down, cutting down all five halberds under the hilts. Approaching the young peacock's side, Hong bounded in the air from an unconscious boar's stomach, singlehandedly bashing all five bandits with her spin kicks. Driving themselves across the flooded affray of dying bandits and guards, Hong and Lao assisted Zhao, who spun his body, his spiked ball tail penetrating two badgers' shields in half. The Nine's Predator rolled himself onward from behind, surprising bandits with his fast kick before another tail whip.

"Brother! Master Tigress!"

Lao ran to the striped feline warriors before Hong covered the avian's side. Blasts from the sky of amber-yellow and twirls of onyx webs emitted the roaring dragons who continued thrusting and biting, repeating the Dragon Warrior and the Prince of Darkness's battle cries. Farther away, across a few yards from Zhao, the gorilla threw his arms elsewhere, battering two ape bandits who attempted to tackle him; the cobra, pitching his body onward with his fangs, bitten them swiftly.

"Xing, are you okay?!" Lao inspected his brother on the ground, who winced and numbed his conscious mutters, which Lao could not catch what he heard.

"I got these warriors, Master Peacock!" a wolf physician and three of his own checked for signs and lifted Xing and Tigress with their bamboo stretchers.

"Brother, please wake up!" Lao gaped in worriness. "I'm here!"

"Let them carry Xing and Tigress away from here, Lao!" Hong suggested, glaring at the battle. "We gotta help the Nine and stop these clowns—!"

"TAKE COVER!"

A second wolf doctor exclaimed as several warriors took a quick glimpse at the sky before hitting their ground; Huoju's shadows from the booming sky swarmed and surged through the arena, hitting those who could not have their chance to take cover. Lao uncovered his head from his wings, and close to him on his right, Hong tumbled to the side with Zhao, both unconscious.

"NO!"

"BAO, HONG!"

"ZHAO!"

Lao, Bao, and Fanshe screamed as a few panda warriors and a pack of Master Wolf's fighters fell from another shockwave by Huoju's shadow webs. A wolf physician, inspecting pulses from the rabbit and the crocodile's wrists, clamored. "They're knocked out cold, Master Peacock!"

"Take my friends inside!" Lao carried Hong and put her on Xing's stomach, and another wolf doctor held the bunny with his paw. "Bao! Fanshe! Get as many injured fighters away from here as you can!"

"Bao, help!"

"On it!"

The Nine's Heaver and Serpent raced to the stadium underpass with three unconscious warriors (Fanshe wrapped his whole tail on a wolf and carried him). A buffalo guard with his fluttering gold cape shouted ahead of the peacock.

"Arrows incoming!"

Not enough time to turn around for his surroundings, the Nine's Brilliance darted onward and dove onward, his wings blanketing above his tiny head. Harsh winds of the arrows rained down across, passing over Lao before the volleys marked on targets. Dying roars were heard, and another round of black arrows returned fire with high-piercing shrieks. Glancing up, Lao could see wolf and buffalo archers — the last remaining ones near the Emperor's platform — collapse into the sides and the gallery seats. And there, standing on the Emperor's platform, emerged Huangdi with injured warriors, Masters Croc and Shifu sprinting down into the battlefield.

Distracted to see his mighty brothers fighting alongside all three Righteous Seven warriors, parrying and blocking Mingling's axe and Huoju's fighters' armaments, Lao could hear croaking breaths from his left.

"S-ss-save. . . yourself. . . my. . ." an injured wolf guard with two black arrows and a mauled armor lay down with a crimson pool, reaching his paw for the Nine's Brilliance. His last breath escaped his lifeless body.

In his brief state of confusion and dread, Lao glimpsed elsewhere as another wolf with a sharp whining cry crashed farther away from a dead canine. Peeping closer was precisely the one the peacock remembered visitors inside the Nine's Meeting Room on that night with his best friends. The one-eyed wolf clutched his own abdomen, the distortion of pain escaping his lungs.

I—Do I know—you?

A little memory of the mysterious warrior walking under the snow was depicted but disturbed by the dark guandao emerging by the corner of Lao's eyes, blaring into spins. The peacock with now purple eyes twinkling made his last twirl with his weapon; the same train with demon eyes and dark gray robes bathed.

A specter who looks like me? Lao widened his eyes with dread, clenching his silver guandao. Who is—?

A sapphire movement dashed and intervened before Lao, feet sliding with trails of debris remnants. The Nine's Master provoked her richly growl in defense.

"Get away from my grandson, Shen!" Ming grimaced with her sharp teeth.

What? Lao puzzled.

Flashing his haunted purple eyes with hostility, Lord Shen twirled his dark guandao, sprinting toward Ming. The Nine's Master shoved Lao away and dodged Shen's lunge attack, her masterful sense of rapidity clutching her student's silver guandao in her claw. CLANG! Ming and Lord Shen danced their agility attacks, blades wailing from impacts; their parries in all directions seemed flawless as Ming mastered her dragon pole stance, and Shen searched for the mistake he could ever face, but none appeared. Sweeps and side cut thrust from the Nine's Master, and the Lord of Gongmen countered hers with outer blocks, expanding his dark train feathers behind him.

Near the northern barrier of the arena, Peng and the Nine's Pirate faced Mingling and Temutai — buffalo bandits and leopards engaging the Nine's Defender and three warriors of Righteous Seven. "I never LIKED YOOOOU!" the giant water buffalo seethed as he threw his hooves straight on Peng, who incredibly blocked blows with his forearms, withdrawing from Temutai's large horns. Peng concentrated on shattering the giant's lengthy arms while managing to bend his body side by side, his elbows fracturing Temutai's keratin digits; one airship with its balloon with a bovine sigil appeared to be Huoju's ride, hovering to the northeast stadium. A line of soot clouds from the Prince of Darkness's ship cascaded on the gallery, the dark shape galloping on all fours, ramming through sword and halberd fighters.

Spinning his feet and kicking thrice on Temutai's torso, Peng readied his leopard style of Kung Fu. Leaping past the giant emerged a shadow warrior in onyx berry trousers with a studded belt, whose violet eyes blended underneath ambers. "Peng!" the red panda master scurried behind the young leopard, skidding beside him. A shadow warrior, commencing a familiar stance that haunted Shifu for his life, heightened a rich growl before the eyes were flooded into embers, but purple immediately surged back.

"Shā diào tāmen!*" Mingling spat after parrying Shou's sword, and a shadow leopard dashed onward.

Punching his paw into the ground, Grandmaster Shifu cast a large debris and darted it with his kick. A shadow warrior flashed his digits and plunged in, chunks of debris spraying apart as the remnants rained across behind him. Temutai rolled away safely.

"You shouldn't have DONE THAT!" the giant water buffalo roared on all fours.

With quick steps scampering past Peng, Shifu launched his kicks toward a shadow warrior twice, the snow leopard joining the fight as Peng somersaulted and hammered his heel kick to Temutai's head. All three allies pushed onward with aggressive attacks; Shou led his sword chops before Mingling delivered ripostes, her ax hammering on sides. Temutai swung his head while his horns nearly rammed Peng, who distanced himself when spinning his right foot toward the bovine's head. A shadow warrior threw his fists into straight jabs, his accuracy hitting Shifu's blocks while the red panda was in mid-air and lunged with his fast kicks.

Wincing in pain from his stomach, Zhong angled his body on the floor and surveyed Ming and Shen viciously attack with silver and dark guandaos; blinded in the wolf's eye by the light in the sky, Po's dragon qi danced into ribbons, swimming past Huoju's worm shadows as both warriors soared under the clouds. Once seeing the Prince's velvet onyx surround the Dragon Warrior's lung beast, Zhong darted his eye on Lao, who snatched a dead buffalo's halberd and sent his riposte, cleaving a badger's chest. Another badger bandit wielding his double halberd stormed toward the Nine's Brilliance, and the avian made a vortex from the weapon using his talon, his bearded dragon qi of gold and turquoise slithering toward an attacker. Screaming in terror, a badger fled as the beast devoured him, wringing his body to roll a bandit toward the arena gateway.

What?!

Lao gasped and stared at his wings and a dead soldier's halberd but had drawn his sight away as he turned where Shen advanced the Nine's Master, cutting down her outer parries with his dark guandao. Ming, recoiling her body to the side, sprung and plunged her student's silver blade on the Lord of Gongmen; Shen dodged on the side as he diverted, blocking under and hammering the silver down simultaneously. Swirling to the right, Chen Ming skidded her foot and uppercutted. Rolling to her left, Lord Shen struck the feline's upper chest with his metal talon.

"NANA!" Lao hailed before a leopard bandit with wraps almost tackled him. The Nine's Brilliance sent his fast strikes on a third attacker' long halberd; as Lao twirled the blade while he broadened and swept his train under him, Shen did his own and cast Ming in mid-air. The Lord of Gongmen lunged his metal talon on Ming's cheek, knocking her out across the air, passing by Lao.

"NO!" Lao hailed at her, and a dead buffalo's halberd was snapped apart from a leopard's claw, plunging through the shaft. "Shit!"

"Protect the Prince!" the one-eyed wolf shouted as Lao used his talons to block a feline's limbs. "PROTECT PRINCE DONGJI!"

What the h—?!

Widened his eyes with shock and lost focus, Lao attempted to hammer a third bandit's claws with his wings but uppercutted in the air and crashed down, rolling near Ming. Disoriented, the Nine's Brilliance winced and reached for his silver guandao under the old feline's claw; fast steps approached the young peacock before a leopard unsheathed his claws, heightening his growl after pouncing for the kill. Out of nowhere, a gray halberd buzzing in the air pierced into a leopard's chest, a clean kill driving his lifeless body toward dead bandits and fighters.

Damn that bandit. . .

Lao grimaced as he crawled near Ming and nudged her shoulders for signs. "Nana!" he checked, and the Nine's Master held his wing.

Surrounded by Wolf Boss's group of wolves holding their armaments of wavy swords and halberds, Shen repeated spinning his dark guandao, glaring at them. One by one, wolves in their lamellar armor barked, reading their weapons. "This is for my sister, Shen," a masked wolf snapped.

"For my love!" a female wolf with a scarred face growled.

"And for our brothers, you killed them!" two wolves with duo swords lunged.

Lord Shen clenched his beak and commenced his defensive poses, attacking one and the next.

"My head. . ."

The tiger's sense of nausea and headache pricked his head, slowly waking up inside the stadium's quarter hallway, archways to the left depicting daylight from outside. And across the meadowland thronged with citizens and pandas fleeing, Emperor's guards defending them on all sides; swarms of bats glided above them, one by one diving into citizens. Resting back on the stretcher while his throat was thronged with inflammation by Huoju's grasp, Chen Xing flinched and gasped for air, several Huangdi's guards rushing from the long hall with their injured fighters. Wakened but grimaced in pain by the flashes of his headache plaguing his eyes, the Nine's Leader turned his head to the right and saw Tigress lying unconscious. Moans muttered under the feline's throat.

"Tigress. . ." Chen Xing winced and reached for her, but canines in their lamellar armor gathered around the tiger.

"Take it easy, Master Xing," a wolf doctor carefully wiped the wound scrapes with his rag on Xing's throat. "You have a minor bruise there, not much critical."

"Tigress—" the tiger winced more, flashes of enchanting visions of the dark forest and fire with the Prince of Darkness triggering him in pain.

"She's alright, big guy," a wolf doctor answered as his partners inspected the Furious Five leader. "You and Master Tigress have concussions."

"Leo!" a wolf across the hallway from the stadium's exit sprinted toward the doctor. "Zhong needs assistance! You're not gonna believe what our brothers are fighting right now!"

"What is it, Lee?" Leo washed Xing's throat with his cool rag.

"It's Shen, sir!"

No. . .

The world in Xing's mind began to muffle, deadening the stadium's tremors as the surfaces showered remnants of dirt elsewhere. Blasts from outside clapped in the distance. The tiger's eyesight was blanketed with blurs and clears, and the inflammation in his throat spiked before Xing let out his grunt of discomfort. "What?" Chen Xing shook his dizzy head.

Shouts across the hall heightened farther from where guards stormed from. "That's impossible!" Leo glared at Lee.

"We need you, brother! It's time to have our revenge for our dead wolf pack," Lee urged Leo. "That moron is going after his kid!"

"WHAT?!" Chen Xing raised his body halfway, eyes glaring wide. "LAO!"

"Easy, young warrior!" Leo cautiously restrained him.

"I need to save my brother!" the Nine's Leader snapped in horror.

"Stay here, Master Xing! Don't force yourself to make your head dizzy!" another wolf doctor beside Leo urged the tiger. "We'll get your brother out of there!"

Two wolf doctors called bovine doctors across the hallway, fighters in their gold lamellar armor with gold dragon sigils raced toward where the tigers were; Leo and his wolves barged away and left.

My brother—My brother's—in trouble—must—save him.

Wincing and clenching his teeth in excruciation, Xing slowly raised himself with his left knee, thrusting his weight into wobbles as he stood. Crashing his shoulder against the edge of the supporting beam to the right, the Nine's Leader could hear fading shouts from behind, neglecting Hong's agonizing cry.

Tired of the black bear's ax while perfecting his riposte countless times, the Nine's Pirate twirled his butterfly swords, swiftly slithering through Mingling's weapon. Advancing closer to her with an advantage, Shou whipped his blade toward her cheek, again recoiling to the other before he attempted to cut her wrist. Growling in disgust after a quick parry, Mingling pushed her ax hilt to his head, spinning and disarming the yak pirate's butterfly knives.

Blisterin' barnacles!

The Nine's Pirate staggered backward, but once sighting the black bear resumed another ax spin to split his head, Shou rolled to the side. CLANG! Successfully disarming her weapon with a foot hammering on the ax hilt, splitting in half, Shou executed his chi sao attacks, returning his straight fists ahead of the black bear's torso. Spitting with a roar, Mingling rounded her forearms and countered, her foot clouting the yak pirate's stomach; right before the impact, Shou rapidly clutched her leg and thrust her away.

Rushing to Mingling on all fours, Shou sprang and skidded his right foot toward her ankle; flashing her eyes with purple, Mingling jumped and landed behind the Nine's Pirate. She commenced to hurl her straight claws directly to his limb joints; rapidly forming his chi sao blocks of bil-gee and len-tia tao, Shou crashed his forearm bridges against hers, their faces nearing as Mingling taunted him.

"Descendant of the Collector," Mingling seethed, emitting her harsh grunt.

Wha—?

Shou felt the scorch on his hooves as Mingling clutched his wrists, stinging his joints. Jabbing his head twice, the Lady of Shadows uppercutted him in the air—springing near him to an acrobatic spin, Mingling darted her feet with slithers of shadows to Shou's ribcage, sending the pirate across the arena and into the barrier. He collapsed to the floor and was knocked out.

"SHOU!"

Mingling heard another warrior's shout across the waste where the remaining fights still stood between the Emperor's guards of six dozen and all five warriors—three from the Righteous Seven, one bovine from the Nine, and Master Croc. The bovine with two eye colors cried out to his yak companion, breaking his line of defense after sprinting on all fours.

"NIU, NO!" Master Croc shouted while rounding his spiky sword before spinning his tail.

Enough of this.

Mingling dug in her lamellar pocket and cupped her claw into something warm and wet. Readying her timing to see the Nine's Defender bound in the air, flying across the affray, the Lady of Shadows hurled her onyx ball and directly splashed on Niu's face and in his eyes. She sidestepped and dodged the bovine's crash beside her, watching Shen with purple eyes battle wolves across the battle. Her attention was drawn to see the Prince of Darkness crash his dark qi shadows against Po's bearded lung dragon in the sky.

"This stinking panda!" Mingling fumed in disdain, sprinting toward the nearest gallery barrier on all fours, leaving the Nine's Defender screaming and rubbing his eyes on the floor before three buffalo guards rushed to help him.

Peng and Shifu continued battling Temutai and a dark shadow warrior. The red panda swirled his arms when blocking a leopard's fists—the sense of a warrior's fur was seemingly familiar to Shifu, but he was cautious enough to lunge his fists as this foe could block his attacks. Finding his chance, Shifu leaped on Temutai and kicked his jaw, bouncing and twisting a shadow leopard's left limb behind. "Why YOU—!" the giant water buffalo snapped but was taken down by Peng's double kicks on his torso.

Emitting his chuffs of growl, a leopard recoiled his body from his arm being trapped, and Shifu nearly caught his sight at a shadow's eyes glowing hues from purple to amber into flashes. Seeing the red panda's hesitant reaction during his acrobatic flip, a shadow leopard rushed his duo digits with brilliant glitters of sky blue qi, a third blow darting on Shifu's torso.

"NO! SHIFU!" Peng cried.

Shifu flew back and fell with rough flips. Unable to support himself, the red panda felt the clutch of his chest aching, an excruciating pain pressuring in his flesh. Folding his ears, Shifu glared at a leopard strolling toward him when shortness of his wheezing breaths occurred; instead of the onyx shadows he focused on, the red panda stared at a leopard's amber eyes—the looks on a warrior's face, he was able to recognize those ever since Shifu held someone in his arms before Chen Meigui and Grandmaster Oogway. Remembering the child grown before the dark times, the Grandmaster of Jade Palace could see the eyes of the warrior destined to be the Dragon Warrior.

No. . . Shifu wheezed in fright.

The shadow of the snow leopard with his amber eyes arched his brows—unmasking his widened face—the same expression Shifu told his son how his pride for triumph blinded him and how sorry the red panda was for convincing his son to believe in him. The snow leopard was distracted by Temutai's hysterical laughs to his left, altering his sights into violet.

Chapter Text

Episode Four: Tournament (30 — 41)

Chapter XLI

Ambush IV

Temutai brawled into Peng's surroundings as the young leopard dodged his round punches. Peng ceased and grasped the buffalo's arms, landing his foot at Temutai's side of the knee and crotch; grimacing, the Qidan Clan leader reached his throat with his other arm, the shadow warrior sprinting toward both on all fours. Within a right moment, Peng yanked Temutai's arm to his left, forcing him to spin at once.

"Take that, you loudmouth!"

Recoiling his jump to a double kick, Peng struck his third and cast Temutai across. The shadow warrior dodged and passed below the yelping giant when skidding, engaging Peng. Their attacks and defenses striking elsewhere from limb to limb and kick to kick near their faces were easily matched as the two snow leopards searched for one flawed movement. One formed his light blue qi when darting his four leading digits for joints, and the other cast hidden crimson embers in his claws. Elbowing the shadow warrior's upper torso and jaw, Peng neared the arena's barrier and grasped his arm instantly, with a double-spinning kick combo launching the shadow to the wall.

The arena's barrier shattered into large fissures and reached its height before the third, remnants of bricks and piles of debris cascading. The shadow warrior shook his head from dizziness before he lunged and pounced Peng, gray debris billowing behind them.

Wolves snarled and bared their sharp teeth—one by one, surrounding Shen, who betrayed their alpha. Carefully calculating his way to defend himself while surrounded by his former allies, Lord Shen whirled his dark guandao when one canine stepped into his surroundings closer, another whipping away with a decisive movement after his metal talon kick. All three charged onward with their halberds, and the avian dodged two under when flattening his whole body down; he handled a third with the hilt of his weapon, hitting a wolf's head.

"Master Lao!" Leo raced with Lee down to Lao. The Nine's Brilliance remained his guard with his light guandao in his wings, perturbed to witness Shen singlehandedly knocking down the other five wolves with two blinks of his eyes. A few fell and knocked out, but four rechallenged the old peacock; countless twirls of his dark guandao cut down two wolves on their chests, the hilt slamming one in the air, and a last hammered down by the avian's talon to his face.

"Master Lao, you must flee!" Lee shouted as he, Leo, and the other five wolves on Zhong's side surrounded their ally.

"I'm not going any—!"

"Your brother wants you to stay away from him!" Leo worded, clutching behind the young avian's back. "Let us bring you—!"

"Look ou—!"

Sounds of whooshes clasped Lao's belly, the rope dart yanking the Nine's Brilliance.

"NO!"

Lao rolled to the side and neared the Lord of Gongmen. Wolves engaged as Shen almost glanced down to the young peacock who readied to throw his hidden feather blades inside his sleeves. Ready to curve his weapon, Shen swept his dark crimson train and tripped all wolves that neared him; most lunged to stand and fight back as Lao quickly rolled away from the fight, snatching his light guandao beside him. Snapped his eyes with glittering embers of purple, Shen lunged his dark guandao in one wolf's heart, countering another canine's wavy sword on his side; after slitting a second wolf's throat with incredible haste, the Lord of Gongmen cut down a third wolf's chest, the fourth wolf Leo being thrown across the fight.

"LEO!" Lee howled at his ally, then was clobbered into spins by Shen's talon. "ARGH!"

Shen is completely mad! Lao widened his dreaded eyes.

Moments of angry yellow flashes in the sky broadened the whole land, blinding their sights before Shen drew his feather blades in his left wing. Zhong, the one-eyed wolf, stormed from behind and seized Shen. "No, you don't!"

Triggering his mind into flexibility, Shen recoiled and escaped Wolf Boss's grasp, spreading his train to a quick sweep; the Lord of Gongmen's talon booted under the canine's stomach, his other foot whirling in Zhong's torso. Lao could see no other wolves would dare to fight back after Shen readied his feather blade again. Instead of fleeing as wolves told him to do so for his brother's sake, the Nine's Brilliance darted onward and trained his eyes on Shen's set of screeching feather blades hurl, aiming—

"FUCK!" Zhong gasped, and two feather blades parried away by mere inches of his chest.

Lao's light guandao sent two blades in their different direction, saving the wolf from being hit. And before a few conscious wolves struggled to rise and see, both peafowls met face to face. The eyes of purple and ocean glared, surveilling their talons to head; one found that seemed to be mocked by watching the young peacock's appearance when matching their motions like a mirror, the other disgusted his stomach with abhorrence, controlling his emotions.

"Stand down, imposter," Shen studied the Nine's Brilliance, violet eyes radiating. "You have that coward's face and his feathers."

Coward's face? This idiot thinks I stole his face—I deny it!

"How are you alive?" Lao grimaced. "Who in the world brought you back from the dead?"

"My purpose in serving with the Prince of Darkness in China is his vengeance, and I am willing to assist my teacher until the end of my days."

"Says the dead peacock who speaks like a demon," Lao said, his wing spinning his light guandao. "You hurt my best friend's grandmother, and I will send your soul back to Diyu, where you should belong!"

The eyes on Shen's flashed in fury. "Fight me."

Both peafowls shifted their guandaos instantly.

Performing his agility tricks when deceiving his father's counter blocks with his main limb, Lao spread his stance, rounding his luk dim boon quan (dragon pole) form—determining Shen's moves as Lao's grandmother mastered him to do the complicated art of quickness and tricks, the Nine's Brilliance set his ripostes before the Lord of Gongmen's hammer strike and slash combos, both blades unbelievably parrying within synchronization.

Both Shen and Lao lurched their poses as their weapons wildly contacted with harsh pitches of wails, ringing in their senses. Upon endless counters and parries of slitting and lunging, both peafowls slithered their guandaos in contact; Lao spread his cobalt train after hammering his father's blade down, springing amidst the air. His talon jabbed Shen's beak. Seething in hostility, Lord Shen shook his head and recoiled, his metal talon mauling the front of his son's robe. Not a scratch on his flesh, Lao avoided Shen's weapon, almost decapitating him; right before his father's guandao took a plunge toward his beak, the Nine's Brilliance shoved his own weapon to the left, recoiling his body to a heel kick. Grunting loudly, Shen skidded his talons, marks scraping ahead while he twirled his dark guandao, dashing back in fighting.

Lunging his attack, the Lord of Gongmen thundered his caw and rounded his blade, deceiving Lao's blocks and cutting the side of his robe's sleeve. Another dark guandao spin forward had Shen thrust in between the young peacock's stick-like legs; receiving a fatal cut, the Nine's Brilliance balanced his stance when hooking his weapon left and right, swiftly riposting. With other blade blocks on every turn screeching more, both peafowls contacted their blades, and their faces leaned closer.

The reflection on Shen's indigo eyes arose embers of crimson orange; the peacock's shadow wings wore their strength out amid Lao's potency ruled more, giving the young peacock the greater advantage to shove his weapon onward. Delivering Shen twice with lethal pokes on his upper torso, the Nine's Brilliance whirled his blade sideways, whipping Shen's face. Nearly stumbled to the ground, Shen grimaced and unfurled his crimson train while Lao attempted to push through. Nearly flabbergasted to see the old avian's webbed strands of train feathers, Lao rolled to the side as the dark guandao hastily emerged, disarming the light guandao. Farther away, the Nine's Brilliance cast two pairs of white feather blades, and the Lord of Gongmen hurled his own—all eight knives ricochetting and bouncing away. Lunging in the air into an acrobatic spin, Lord Shen sighted Lao's train unfurling behind the avian's back, marvelously enchanted with remnants of the white and blue strands into quivers. A haunting vision struck in the shadow peacock's eyes.

A wonderful peachick sat alone.

Emerald foliage swam in the winter breeze.

Snow weeps with the fire.

Shen snapped out until he was slightly late to protect himself, and Lao launched his high kick to the ribcage. Seeing him tumble with a loud caw, the Nine's Brilliance executed his acrobatic flip, talons booting the shadow peacock across the south arena wall; watching him bounce toward him, Lao delivered him another high kick to his stomach.

"Talon of Fury!" he launched Shen in the air, drawing the shadow avian's rope dart from the floor next to his other foot. Lao rounded the rope and wrapped Shen's body. "GET DOWN!" The Nine's Brilliance tugged and slammed the Lord of Gongmen a few feet away behind him, body thudding and ground impacting with miniature fissures. Rushing to the shadow peacock with rapid flips, Lao slammed and crushed Shen's upper spine.

SNAP!

Shen burst his excruciating caw into silence, the sounds of the dying battlefield lessening with the airships' cannon fires in the distance. Anger boiled in Lao's bloodstream; the Nine's Brilliance leaned his own head to the shadow peacock's side of his face.

"That. . . is for hurting my Nana," Lao said, panting heavily. "You son. . . of—"

"Lao," the Nine's Master quivered her tender voice, and Lao saw the old feline reach her claw for her student, nearing Wolf Boss to the canine's left a few yards apart.

"Nana."

He hurried to her and knelt before the Nine's Master, wings enfolding on Chen Ming's back. "Nana, are you okay?"

"I'm okay," she answered, lightheadedness surging in her thoughts. "You. . . must go to your brother Xing—now."

"No, I must stay here and take down all attackers as I can, Master," Lao shook his head. "Where are the Nine—?"

A deafening scream reverberated in the sky, tearing the young peacock's senses; they glanced where the cry pitched. The Dragon Warrior's bearded lung dragon slithered into ribbons and swam around the Prince of Darkness's behemoth swarms of onyx clouds forming serpent scales. Po's emerald staff thwarted Huoju's fire-sword disks, flashing lime sparkles.

"By the spirits. . ." Lao deadened his breath.

Another heightened his gasp with bone snaps.

Chen Ming almost grasped her avian grandson's wing, but he rapidly moved away from her. "Lao, no—"

"I got this."

Unmoving himself from turning away, Lao stared at Shen's struggle on the floor, one honorary code in his mind that he and the Nine swore not to kill enemies. Warriors like the Dragon Warrior would never do such a thing, but Po banished the Great Dragon to the Spirit Realm and defeated the other creature that could have turned all of China into jombies. The Furious Five told Lao that Po did not end his old foe before the panda could see only the peacock's remains sinking in the Gongmen Harbor's depths. How could honor affect the warrior's code when killing an evil spirit? Lao thought this avian was no avian because Shen was the Spirit Warrior who was supposed to be punished in the Diyu Realm with horrible people. Many people in China saw how cruel the Lord of Gongmen as Lao believed.

Lao, willing to end this bitter conflict, clutched his light guandao and led onward—

"DONGJI!" Zhong yelped thunderously.

Petrified to hear his own name being called, never in years except his mother and his adoptive siblings, Lao stood and shook; the Nine concealed their avian brother's real name, but Chen Xing was the only one who could call him in privacy. How did this wolf name the Nine's Brilliance? Knowing the peacock prince's legacy was now compromised in public sightings.

"How do you know that peacock's name, wolf?" Lao demanded the one-eyed wolf after turning to him, glaring at Wolf Boss. "Who are you, and why did you command your wolves to protect me?"

"Dongji," the wolf puzzled, widening his one eye as he looked at the tip of the guandao blade. "It's me—your guardian. I'm a friend of your mother's."

The young albino glared, aiming his weapon at him. "HOW did you know that name?!" Lao insisted furiously.

"Lao, withdraw your weapon—listen to me!" Chen Ming urged, but Lao ignored her.

Wolf Boss quivered his whole head. "I knew you since you were a kid. Your mother introduced me to you. Your birth name was given by Lady Xia, and—"

Lao leaned his silver guandao near Wolf Boss's neck. "For the love of dragons, if you are going to say I am the son of that dead maniac, I am not!" Lao protested. "My father died protecting me and my mother from the incursion where my village used to be there in the mountains!"

"Your father and I were there," Wolf Boss spoke. "You were too small to remember how the tragedy happened, but Shen—"

"Lao, please—!" Chen Ming begged.

"For the last time, Lord Shen is NOT my father! He is such a disgraceful noble lord who murdered pandas and wounded his parents!"

"Do you even see that peacock you had fought him?!" The one-eyed wolf pointed to Shen. "THAT is your father!"

"No—You don't mean that—You don't mean that. . ." Lao waned his denial voice, shaking his head. "No!"

"D-d-dongji?"

His father's voice slithered into stammers, growing unease as Lao and Wolf Boss glanced. The shadow on Shen no longer bathed, his eyes of red-orange twinkling in dominance. In the eyes of the resurrected peacock, filled with memories depicting snow showering across the summit land, a bitter smell of sulfur in the laboratory room wafted in Shen's beak.

His lovely boy was in his father's lab, introducing Dongji to his creation, in which he and his ancestors crafted fireworks for thousands of generations. This young boy, dressing in his light blue robes, studied Shen's work of art, only to believe that his father gathered remnants of gunpowder from his trusted companions, including crimson colors that had his family inspired with these firecrackers to ward off evil spirits. Dongji only understood the Chinese New Year purposes, but not the other half, which he could completely comprehend his father's use.

"Tell me this isn't real," Lao gaped at his teacher, whose disorientated mind nearly ebbed, crawling beside unconscious wolves and buffalo guards. "Nana, please! Tell me the truth of it!"

Chen Ming unmasked her despondent face, slow tears cascading. "The wolf tells the truth, Lao. I am sorry, my Prince."

Lao's soul was drowned, revelation overwhelming him more than the Nine's Brilliance could ever see his long-lost biological father before him. Shen sacrificed his family for the prime purpose: leading his wife and their son to flee from the incursion. Fire and cottage in the collapse were Lao's only answers to remember how he and his peahen mother survived. Someone was behind the attack, and neither of them knew who led unfamiliar guests to destroy the Peafowl Noble legacy.

"S-ss-son?" Shen broadened his orange-crimson eyes, the same face of defeat when he looked at the Dragon Warrior the last time.

Blinded by the flashing lights of the yellow bearded dragon and cloudy shadows slithering above the Kong Bai Stadium in destruction, Chen Xing crashed his shoulder against the tunnel archway. Disorientation washed in his head, unable to shake off his headache; coughing in wheezes, leaning his back against the structure on the floor, the Nine's Leader trained his silver eyes on the panda inside his lung dragon qi twirl its body around the soot clouds, and the bovine tyrant with his flashing crimson eyes recoil, both light and darkness splashing like a cloud of stars.

Memories plagued Xing's mind; hundreds of the Prince of Darkness's faces smirked at him. You—you were in the forest.

I was there.

The Nine's Leader gasped with his ragged breath. No, that voice couldn't be!

"Cookie!"

Wincing and puffing his rough coughs, Chen Xing glared to his left and saw his wolf sister rush to him, grasping her brother's arm to rise. "You're hurt!" The Nine's Dancer inspected his bruised neck and a small scrape on his forehead before her eyes searched for doctors nearby outside.

"Our brother—" Xing gagged, gazing at her gold-ring eyes.

"Hang on, my Cookie, we're gonna get—" Lotus gasped. "Oh, no. . ."

"Our brother. . . Where is—?"

"There," she forced her paw on the tiger's jaw, turning him where she stared.

Across the arena with waste, piled with unconscious fighters and fires along with a few remaining in fighting, they saw two white peafowls—their brother with blue standing ahead of the other with red. "Oh. . . fuck."

"That's Lao's dad. . . all along?" Lotus gaped in dread.

Somewhere rushing behind the two warriors, they could see the striped feline warrior with amber eyes watching the sky in battle. "Po?!" Tigress emitted her worried shout. "What is he—?!"

The three began to observe the Prince of Darkness's shadow clouds overwhelm the Dragon Warrior's surroundings, the panda's qi dragon whining its deafening roar as it mimicked his cry. One shadow limb slammed Po's jaw, and the Spirit Staff was flown across the sky, crashing down before Tigress, Chen Xing, and Lotus. Checking Tigress seize Po's staff in her claws, the Nine's Leader and Dancer looked back at their avian brother, who seemed distracted by surveying the sky that sang Po's dragon shrieks. The tiger's horror gasp was swimming away from his lungs as he and his wolf sister could not reach their peacock brother in time.

The Lord of Gongmen's eyes radiated purple, and his thrown feather knife flung into his son's right lung.

"BIRDIE!"

"LAO!"

Slammed against the arena wall with fissures cracking by the leopard shadow's grip under his throat, Peng gasped for air and fought off the brute strength, kicking the warrior's chest. None of his defenses could break free from stifling; before him, the shadow's eyes slowly hued with glints of indigo to amber, examining his prey. Other flashes of his memories swarmed as this warrior could smell the leopard's scent and the sense of raging snow in the north before meeting the cub and a cottage with unfamiliar faces across the snow valley of Inner Mongolia.

With ebony wings slightly broken, Crane limped with Monkey arm—Mantis on the langur's hand, getting closer to their red panda master. "Master!" Monkey cried out, but Shifu's petrified gaze was plagued by watching his—

"Peng?"

A fruity, silvery voice of the shadow warrior exalted into a shock.

While fragile enough not to fight back, Shifu, Monkey, and Crane could see the leopard's shadows ebbing to his feet, with flicks of slow ripples fluttering away. The Dragon Warrior's qi glittering his light in the sky began to lessen its ambient pulses as shadows crept and tangled around the panda; Po's agony scream forced the Great Dragon's grip to break and fall Peng freely.

"PO!" Crane, Monkey, and Mantis wailed.

"Where am I?" Tai Lung asked himself, swimming his sights at the stadium in waste elsewhere. Wariness, confusion, and guilt overflowed his soul, and the Great Dragon watched his nephew surge air in his lungs. With amber eyes darkened while coughing, Peng looked up to him, the shadows webbing away as the snow leopard's true form was revealed.

"Sh. . . Shushu? Uncle?" Peng widened, jagged breaths tearing. Shouts across the wreckage stadium thundered in the distance.

"Regroup to Huoju's ships! NOW!" a water buffalo bandit, holding Temutai with another help in his arms, roared all the Fire Clan bandits further away from Tai Lung's back.

"RUN, you little cowards!" Tai Lung heard the insect's shout.

Darting his healthy sight to the left, the Great Dragon spotted three members of the Furious Five and their red panda master staring at him. For eight years, the snow leopard was in the Spirit Realm, banished from the Mortal Realm after his defeat, and he thought he could ever see someone so close to him for pride and accomplishments. And there his father was, whose breaths ragged, his shaky paw reaching him.

"Baba?!" the Great Dragon stepped back in remorse.

"Tai. . ." Shifu's face flattened his head.

"Master!" Crane wept. "Shifu, hold on!"

"Return to Huoju's ship, Tai Lung. You're done fighting."

The Lady of Shadow's voice conquered the leopard's mind and altered his sight to indigo. Obeying her orders, the Great Dragon sprinted away on all fours, departing through the collapsed gateway.

"NO! BIRDIE!"

"BROTHER!"

Finally snapped out with his red-orange eyes, Lord Shen stared down at his son bleed out, breaths ragged in pain into smothers. The young peacock's brother and sister were the ones who hollered in anger as Shen could glimpse his sight elsewhere, a few remaining injured fighters watching everywhere in horror.

"You are a monster, Shen!" Wolf Boss burned his growl, crawling toward Lao.

"What. . . What have I done?" Shen stammered and stared down at his son and his wolf brother. The cold flood in Shen's spine was all too real to remember his late parents' faces; he had finally remembered the night—the night when his gray robes bathed in splotches of blood, and he was all too proud of accomplishing something. . . dreadful. Father? Mother? His parents did not answer. Their answer was in horror, and Wolf Boss's shocked face was like Lord Feng's.

"Brother? Son?" Shen quivered his head, eyes broadening in fright.

"You goddamn fool. . ." Wolf Boss grimaced, supporting Lao's head on his paws. "You've hurt your kid."

His beak quivering, the Lord of Gongmen bellowed. "NO—!"

His wail was muffled in silence, and Lord Shen's eyes glowed purple. "Retreat to your master's ship, son of Feng," Mingling's silky voice rang in Shen's head. "You have done your task."

Hundreds of swarming dots of gray and black bats flew underneath the sky, gliding their spins in vortexes toward the remaining airships that stayed behind with the lead warship—Huoju's with his bovine sigil. Lord Shen withdrew himself away and disappeared into the debris toward the collapsed gateway, with Master Croc chasing after him. Visions pulsed in fading black as Lao continued staring at the shadows snare Po and force him on board. Sounds of the Nine's cries dampened, with the Furious Five wailing for their panda brother. Several blinks later, the Nine's Brilliance could see the airships with black dots floating away into the distant clouds the last time, with Tigress standing atop the stadium's edge.

Lao could not hear any screams. The drain from his blood flowed out of the avian's wound, enfeebling his senses. The moment before the flashes of white and dark before someone's qi bathing on his wound subsided, surroundings echoing into numbness.

Muffled shouts and cries drowned, and the Nine's Brilliance shut his eyes.

End of Part One

Chapter Text

PART TWO

"THE PROPHECY"

Episode V: The Company (42 - ?)

Ch. XLII

Taken I

PO / ? / PRINCE HUOJU / ?

? — ?

Keep this fat one asleep. The panda's room will be more comfortable when we get there.

A bitter female voice echoed in the distance. All the panda remembered was that Po, the Dragon Warrior, had fought the Prince of Darkness, shouting his triumph words to stop his terror. It felt like a wondrous dream, like one of the big ones he rode inside his qi dragon, the beast swallowing all bandits across endless battlefields. Bandits cried out in terror and saw this majestic beast devouring every flesh and bone elsewhere and on the battlefield — a golden meadowland with hundreds of Guilin peaks and siege towers, spots of fires engulfing soot in all directions. To Po, he ate all the dumplings filled with gold coins, and his dragon's stomach swelled. With the panda believing his qi dragon was capable of the unimaginable, providing citizens of the Song Dynasty with riches and good luck to repel all evils, the Dragon Warrior roared out his specialty quotes; he could not stop himself from shutting himself up about defeating the reign of terror.

"Enemies of justice! Behold my Spirit Staff, Ruler of Retaliation, and you will be spared when I banish you with my qi to the Diyu Realm!"

The panda cast his emerald staff in his paw and swept fabrics of strands of silky ribbons, shaping like a broom, dusting off thousands of attackers underneath him. His encouraging words to himself and his companions did deliver, but unlike others who attempted to defeat Po, this common enemy had stopped him from trying. Rapid flashes of white stung in his mind, and the excruciating pain of his headache winced him, nearly awakening him from unconsciousness. His sensation grew back from warm, but upon arrival at the unknown, rime winds washed his body.

Balloons?

Sharpening his sight for his emerald eye, Po caught hissing torches underneath behemoth fabric balloons with a fire sigil linked with other balloons and the other. Most balloons transitioned to giant dumplings, steaming their silvery hues against the nippy breeze. I am so hungry . . . Who is that? Standing on the forecastle deck was the bovine with his fluttering orange cape—slightly darker now, speaking with a chow-chow captain beside the Prince of Darkness. The flow in the panda's head triggered a headache, deadening his wince. His sight began to fade at once Po's head weighed on the wooden surface, refusing him to observe where he was, somewhere flying above China right now—his senses invited a blistering cold in his fur. Where could his friends be? Where were Crane or other avians when he needed them to escape?

Fading shadows nearly flooded the panda's eyes. Something appeared from the bovine's side, nearly as one's cold stare of red-orange looked on Po, but he could not see the face next to the Prince of Darkness. But those eyes—those eyes were hauntingly similar compared to a few who had. Rather than those who looked alike, Po remembered only one, who was the last time he saw his old foe on that day.

Disarming the peacock's blades with swift parries with his bare paws, Po clutched his wings and tossed him to the corner of the front bow of the ship that once was, only debris and wreckage hulls floating on the harbor water. Lord Shen crashed and had a few rolls, grunting and glaring at the panda as he held his chest with his wing, panting heavily.

Po stood his ground, flashing his green eyes. "The battle is over! You don't have to keep acting all evil!"

But the avian was mindless, as Po could see his eyes glaring at him, willing to try to convince Lord Shen that his surrender could spare his life and face all the crimes the peacock committed. Shen Jianyu knew where his life would end, either way, because the prison could rot him, and he would suffer for eternity, punishable by death. Instead, not wanting to surrender to Po's advice, Lord Shen, wheezing his breath in and out with disgust and evil, calmly raised and quivered his train, with those feather eyes attempting to daze Po's sight with an instant flash. But that did not work for the Lord of Gongmen to gain his advantage, as if the panda overwhelmed his nightmare.

Arching his brows with anxiety, Po begged him. "Shen, please!"

Grunting and bellowing, the Lord of Gongmen dashed onward with incredible haste, drawing other pairs of blades out of his sleeves. Gasping, the Dragon Warrior rapidly sidestepped in every direction when dodging, the peacock's blades shrilling as Shen twirled and threw his arms wild and frenzy.

I tried. . . I tried. . .

The peacock ended up with the dragon cannon on a wrecked ship, crushing his bones to bits before the fireworks exploded behind Po. The Harbor was cold under, and Po swam down to where half of the War Junk Ship sank into the void, swarmed with bubbles toward his eyes. Farther on and on, the ripple lights grew dimmer and dimmer, and the panda tried to swim down to the ship; metals and woods gritted and moaned, leaving the rest of the bubbles with ascension. Farther down, the remains of the bird's flesh on his wing were revealed before the void swallowed the whole.

This catastrophe was the last time he could ever see Shen's corpse.

Only a month after the Harbor tragedy, instead of floating in the cold deep, Po covered his face and wailed in his chamber. The ambiance from this room waned from the chasm's dark shadows and crimson to a nighttime's azure horizon, as if the tree branches creaked and grasshopper insects chittered. If Po had mentioned the scars to heal, then Shen would not have believed it, because the scars could mark them as remembering the never-ending memories of the past. And he was right. The scars of his and those of his companions impacted the Masters of the Jade Palace. And from the cataclysm that Po tried to convince Shen to let the past go, it was too late for the peacock. The avian's corpse had been in his mind and still was ever since for the rest of his days.

Po could feel the paws burrowing into Tigress's chest without knowing his friends were in the Dragon Warrior's room. One by one, Crane, Viper, Monkey, and Mantis gathered and embraced their brother all night long until the morning shone the next day. These damages took time for the Masters of Jade Palace to recover their mentalities. And ever since then, before the Jade Slayer's arrival, the Furious Five were there for Po as their friendships meant to him in his dear life. The striped feline master rested her head on the panda's crown.

"Everything is going to be alright, Po. . ." Tigress aided him. "We will be okay."

Her voice alleviated the burns in the panda's tears just before Po could embrace her, accepting the world could go on without Shen instead. If this change had occurred, the possibility of peacock survival would have been limited. But Po knew that one or the other could execute the evil peacock for the crimes of murder and high treason. The Masters of Gongmen, or the Emperor of the Song Dynasty, and his high-ranking officers could have captured Shen first.

The panda's senses nearly returned with the uninvited surroundings of the cold winds, his subconsciousness dwindling, before his left eye gradually twitched open. The night fluttered with gray clouds. He could not tell how long he had been out, but noticed he had been lying unconscious while having some good and horrible dreams, near the starboard side, where guards in their lamellar armor with fire sigils on their chestplates stood close to his surroundings—clouded leopards with halberds in their claws. Torches danced across the meadowland of the strange terrain, filled with swarms of white clouds brooming the apex mountains. Bonfires of ten, twenty—

So many fires. . .

The cold, so strong that it made his body shiver, weakened his sight. Sounds clogged with murmurs of breezes, thus a welcoming presence of rich, pulsating chuffs. With the panda's sight blinded by fabrics of blurriness, Po sighted a living form, whole body covered in charcoal wraps, the amber eyes shining brightly near the panda's head. Elsewhere now, Po felt a warm presence, swathed in a large cover. Nothing he could do about his activity with his limbs, which was plagued by tremors and bruises from the awesomeness of fighting last time, Po let out a grating moan, his headache simmering in his eyes.

"Stay asleep, panda," another rich voice of chuffs soothed him. "It is for your own good. You're almost arriving."

"Arriving . . ." Po winced, weakening. "What do yuh—me—?"

A bandit walked away and disappeared.

In the unknown toward the other dimension this time, the panda's lungs burned, and Po was... running. Sprinting across the shadows, where the land darkened with hues of dark purple sky and orange at the horizon elsewhere, crimson fires with billowing white fabrics scorching in random areas and at a distance. At last, the Dragon Warrior, grasping his Spirit Staff in his paws, skidded to the edge of the cliff. Before his green eyes was a suspension bridge, reaching from here to the following cliff at three thousand feet away. The air thronged with snow, and under the clouds flashed cobalt lightnings, thunder whipping on pinnacles; the ninth lightning blasted farther back, behind Po.

"WHOA!" Po propelled himself onward, running on the suspension bridge.

Ropes whined in high screeches, and woods on the surfaces groaned in shrills—the panda's weight was as heavy against sturdy boards. When amidst the bridge, which was raging like ripples of the ocean, Po sighted a throng of shadow beasts sprinting on the other suspension bridge, roaring at their prey. Another throng of demons in onyx forms with fabrics of clouds launched where Po had run.

"Not this time, enemies of the shadow realm!" The Dragon Warrior screeched in high confidence.

One shadow cloud form catapulted through the nippy winds, and Po whirled his staff, the golden qi with his dragon devouring one demon in its whole mouth. Four more below the panda soared close but dissipated into yellow puffs while Po balanced his stance when spinning his relic. Filled his mind with confidence and spirituality, the Dragon Warrior sprang in the air from the rope's suspension, the end of his staff plunging into the shadow beast's neck, supporting Po's weight to another launch across.

Giving the effort to land with incredible haste, glimpsing at ten beasts swimming in the air with high screeches, the Dragon Warrior cast his qi dragon toward the sky, the beast with its lion head slithering and swallowing a whole horde; most of them were obliterated into gold and silver coins. "YEAH! Let's go!" Po bellowed his cry with joy. Calling the dragon while sighting more than a thousand creatures with crimson eyes darting in full force across the bridge, the Dragon Warrior leaped off the crossing and entered his beast, soaring in circles through and through, recoiling over the cliff.

"Let's eat 'em up, 'cause I'm hungry!" Po spoke with his dragon, and the deity throbbed with its grating purrs — a sign of contentment. Smirking with full potential to fly on the bridge, Po opened his mouth wide, and the dragon qi devoured over a thousand creatures, ripping suspension bridges apart. Several of them fell into the emerald clouds.

"Delicious!" the panda uttered, surveying the land in fires of white and dark crimson with trails of soot in the Valley of Peace. "Let's go!"

Dancing across the sky in slithers and zig-zags, the Dragon Warrior whirled on the behemoth mountain tower and cascaded to the surface, leaving remnants of silky gray and black shadows into obliteration. He launched toward the village, his qi dragon leaving its mouth open for the prey of two hundred beasts, who fled in horror. Thousands of citizens elsewhere clamored with joy for their hero, blue bolts of lightning striking red fires, waning the rest of the conflagration before the emerald hues dominated the sky. Landing on the street with his acrobatic flips, Po whirled and lunged in all directions with his relic, the Spirit Staff with glints of gold and yellow cutting down the shadows; the qi dragon caught two weapons of the catapult and cannon with its beast head, recoiling its body—one hurled across the horde of a thousand creatures across the long street. The second hammered on the throng of twenty on the river bridge.

"WAY TO GO, SON!"

"THAT'S OUR BOY!"

Mr. Ping and Li Shan praised their son inside the Noodle Shop, cheering with the pandas and the goose's customers. "Dads!" Po ran to his fathers. All proud as this warrior was, he was glad to see them alive and unscathed. The panda removed his conical hat and reached for their wings and paw.

And the shadow, whirling their forms in an ebony vortex to a four-armed ox, drew his fire sword and plunged the panda's head.

"GAHHA!"

Po wobbled his body, trembling his comfort zone within this... ebony room? He could feel much warmer from his ride. His whole limb became numb, despite the panda lying on his arm. The torch glaring in this hollow chamber lightened, blinding his eyesight briefly when he winced. His sensation began to hear an unfamiliar ambiance, but one that Po had smelled before. Oh, man. I need to change my pants.

His stench followed the other, bringing his nostalgia to haunt him again. Harsh environments of molten metal interfered, including the whiffs of charcoal smoke, gunpowder, and mixtures of wood fire. His spine was washed with coldness. Po remembered the event in Gongmen City before, his old nemesis, the wolves, and the Fireworks Factory. He had this dream before; it only occurred to him in random episodes, and he had passed through the misfortune.

Regarding this nightmare he went through after the Gongmen tragedy, he wished not to experience that ever again. But even now, this nightmare was real. No, not like this.

With his quick thought, flickering with a flash of a torch, Po pinched his flabby arm — nothing occurred. Okay, I gotta bang my head against the rock. His weight from his knees began to wobble, troubling his balance as if he had slept for a prolonged period; unlike the pandas, his father had taught him to sleep late before midday, as Po remained on his routine every single day.

"Inner peace!" He crashed his back against a cold, igneous wall but accidentally thumped his head with a blunt piece of rock.

Ow. That's gonna leave a mark! Nothing worked.

All alone in the dungeon, he spotted wormhole paths with reflection lights and ambiance coming from the entry. Po checked himself for injuries, but gladly, none of his cuts were around; his head was only flooded with brief disorientation. His sight became blurry, but he could barely see a torch beside him. "Where am I?" he gaped, swiveling his head in startlement. Ahead of him, blocking his escape, were ebony bars — a prison cell.

"Hmm. I got an idea."

Po held his paw and summoned his warm yellow qi, beaming its light against the dark. With his palm thrusting through the cold metal, the ebony dissipated his qi, and ebony ribbons hissing out from the bars merged with its shrouds, smacking Po. "Ow!" he collapsed his knee, his whole body tensing with quick discomfort.

Far from the Hollow's wormholes, sounds of vibrant feathers emerged, shifting Po's eyes to glare in front of the harsh environment. Nearly dulled with his eyesight from the cell bar, almost knocking him out, Po could see dark cherry ribbons on the metal bars sinking back in. And somewhere, bathed in dark gray from the hole nearby, emerged eyes of ruby-orange. One of his nightmares had Po encounter red-eyed sigils drenched in blood on trees, where his mother carried him into the snowstorm, sprinting from wolves. Running away from the same memory, Po remembered his village, scorched with embers to ruins; the cause of destruction was the army of wolves in control, capturing and slaughtering pandas. Their peacock lord was in charge with his wolf soldiers, cawing at them. At the last moment of his life, the Dragon Warrior encountered his nemesis, who almost surrendered to him.

The figure, approaching the cell from the hole's shadow, revealed himself in a dark silver robe and metal talons, and the Dragon Warrior broadened his jade eyes in fright.

"Greetings, panda," Shen introduced amiably. "We meet at—"

"SHEN?!" Po screamed. "You cannot be!"

Withdrawn his manners from bafflement to a sinister glare, the peacock rolled his head, humiliated at first, but drew his brows upward. "Excuse me?"

"You — On that ship, the cannon fell on you! You were outraged and fought against me after I tried to convince you!"

"Convince me about what? How did you know my name?"

The panda's face faded from shock to confusion. "What?"

By the spirits and dragons. How did this fat panda know my name? Did I meet him before?

Perplexed to demand answers from the prisoner, Shen locked his cold gaze on Po, being teased from his perspective. The Dragon Warrior took a long time to reflect on the cause of his nemesis's dementia — the cannon. No, that was not possible. Shen was supposed to be dead. He could not be—

"Oh no. . ." Po faded his voice, remembering the cannon's collapse. "You don't remember me? At the Harbor?"

The peacock unsheathed his silver knives and pointed at the panda. "Who are you?"

"Whoa! Take it easy!" Po tripped to his knees, holding his arm forward. "You might have hit your head hard from the cannon, and maybe you can't remember what happened to you!"

"You slaughtered the peacock," Shen clenched his beak.

"But—but?! You are that guy I tried to save you!" Po glared. "I did not mean to slaughter you back there!"

"That peacock you confronted was no more," the Lord of Gongmen deadened his croon voice.

"What?" Po broadened his clenched eyes. "I am so confused right now. How did you survive that cannon? You—!"

"SILENCE!"

A fire beneath Po's feet soared into the ebony bars, raging flickers as he retreated. Shen was born with a passion for charcoal gunpowder and fireworks, never flinching at the sight of his own projects, as the fire could no longer bother him. The smoke from the Hollow's paths dissipated as Shen turned his six, and the bovine with a deep cherry wound on his black muzzle through his eye strolled in with a black bear in gray armor.

Prince Huoju and Lady Mingling strolled closer to Po's cell beside the peacock, who stepped aside from the two. The black bear stayed behind her beloved, narrowing her crimson eyes at the panda while smirking. "The Dragon Warrior and I shall speak, my dear Shen," Huoju commanded the bird.

"Huoju," the panda remembered the ox tyrant, grunting. He stepped near the ebony bars. "Where have you taken me here? What is this place?"

"You are in the Dungeon's Hollow," Huoju answered sternly, gesturing his hoof to their surroundings. "This cell in here is where you enjoy your stay. Away from China."

"Away from China?" the panda repeated with a frightful voice.

"Under the mountain, somewhere to live far from your country. Welcome to my Empire, Dragon Warrior. You are in Tibet," Huoju grinned.

"Tibet?!" he gasped.

"No companions of yours will ever save you from the Prince of Darkness."

"That's. . . awesome."

The bovine huffed his snout, stretching his brow with puzzlement. "I find your enthusiasm so confusing."

Geez. This guy's breath smells like onions, burned in charcoal!

Becoming casual, clasping his hooves forward, Prince Huoju stepped forward once, eying down to the panda behind the cell. " In China, I hear the People's Hero who vanquished evils and tyrants. The one who banished the leopard, the second let the tyrant drown and die under the Harbor, and the last, you submitted your qi to the yak warlord in the Spirit Realm. Hmm. You looked stupendous. "

"Why, thank you?" Po was pleased.

"And stupid."

Grunted, the panda admitted. "Okay, fair enough, but I keep many to be spirited with my enthusiasm," Po worded innocently, his eyes rounding to his cell. He wished to ask the tyrant. "How long have I been in here?"

"Not long. Four days," Huoju answered.

"Holy smokes!" Po gasped, and his round belly growled. "Even my fists demand starvation!"

"There will be maids to feed you properly," the bovine grunted with his chuckles. "No wonder you and all the pandas never stop eating."

Huoju's sparkling red hoof fiddled with his shadows when cloud velvets stretched their glides into the Dragon Warrior's surroundings. Ebony velvets simmered, allowing the Prince to manifest into Po's memories. Noodles made with pasta, cookies made of sugar, baked with bread?

"Do you ever stop thinking about food?" Huoju asked, deadpanning.

"Not all the time. WOW—what's it look like in my brain?" Po chirped his suppressed chuckles.

"Perhaps I shall move along from your food cravings."

The Prince of Darkness neglected sustenance senses as Huoju remained his manifestation through Po's mind, swimming through the panda's blood. As Po stood still, once shadow velvets surrounded him, the bovine closed his solar eyes, reflecting through deep, nearly forgotten memories. Not forgotten, but flashbacks of childbirth had Huoju see Po's eyes, looking at the cub's mother.

Po recalled the tragedy of Thriving Village, where the wrath of flames ravaged bamboo trees and cottage houses; Shen's army of wolves with howls of death and the slaughter of war cries overwhelmed. Each scene brought happiness when Po could reflect on unforgettable memories. A goose who found him behind the restaurant's alleyway raised him dearly, treating his adoptive son well-fed with all the healthy meals from infancy to his current age. The Prince of Darkness droned his rocky throat, spirited to witness the Dragon Warrior in a conflict against Tai Lung. Another memory followed, introducing silvery feather blades that sliced Po's muzzle before the Lord of Gongmen faced his destiny. And then there was the giant bovine; with deliberation, Prince Huoju watched Po's dragon chi submerge into General Kai's heart and erupt him.

"Impressive. . . Your life was seen as a worthy opponent in their eyes. You would have called yourself the Dragon Emperor, as you were prophesied to defeat the greater evil. Among the other two who wished to claim their titles, the other wanted all the pandas to stay dead."

Whoa! This guy's shadow chi is giving me the creeps. And it tickles my belly.

Po reflected being satirical to the tyrant without speaking to him. As the panda was about to speak, Huoju intervened, opening his eyes. "Po Ping. . . Son of the goose, a teacher, a student, and Grandmaster Oogway's successor."

Great. Huoju knows my name.

"I think we are on the wrong foot here, snooping in my head," the panda quivered his head, standing near the front bar. "So... why did you capture me, Huoju? What do you want with me?"

The bovine's clearing throat was heard to ripple charcoals. "There is much more I have scrutinized in you, son of Li Shan. The three you had gathered have their legacy's blood, passed down by their ancestors. Unlike your people, who discovered their enchanting qi to heal, you are not one of the five."

"What do you mean?"

Huoju's head neared the black cell, shrinking Po's height. "What was unique is that you have the extraordinary power that was passed on to you, knowing you are worthy," the bovine said. He intensified his disappointing grunt. "I sense you may or may not be one of the descendants who were the realm's defenders."

"The realm's defenders?" the panda repeated in shock, widening his mouth. "Am I not the only Dragon Warrior out there?"

"Perhaps someone shared a gift with a blessing. And perhaps you are not like the others who stood beside you."

The cave corridor repeated one's wheezing chuckle, as Huoju and the black bear turned to the peacock, who sneered at Po. "Could you at least tell me how Lord Shen returned from the dead, Huoju?" the panda insisted shyly.

The peacock silenced his suppressed laugh when Mingling unveiled her sinister grin, dazzling her amber-crimson eyes. Huoju showed his wary expression to Po and Shen. "From your voice catching puzzlement and shock, it appears you and my companion have met before," Huoju stretched his right eye, crossing his forelimbs with determination. "As I understand the manifestation in the peacock's lost memories, the death of Lord Shen was prophesied, not meant for the panda to kill him, but something more."

Shen changed his look to suspicion, rolling his head, giving his stare at him and the panda. "The warrior of black and white still endures; the oracle predicts how one's destiny lasts," the bovine added.

"Oracle, Prince Huoju?" Shen asked.

"A soothsayer, my dear Shen," Huoju answered.

The goat with a beard? Man, I haven't seen her in years!

Po filled his silent breath in his lungs before Shen was slightly puzzled to reflect the goat, but comprehended the word.

"You still haven't answered my question, Huoju. How did Lord Shen return from the dead? " Po demanded, grasping the ebony bars. "Did he swim back up? There was no way I could swim down to him that far. All I saw was. . ."

"One of his remains," Huoju answered.

"Yeah. Like. . . Wait."

Po broadened his eyes into suspicion, sharpening his gaze at the Prince of Darkness, whose puff of charcoal blew across from his muzzle.

"What do you mean, 'One of his remains?' I was down there because I saw his wing sinking under the cannon," Po said, narrowing his eyes. "How do you know. . .?"

"What was strange for you to remember, Po?" the Prince of Darkness grinned. "You and Shen fought to the last standing, where you and your friends were there to bring my friend to justice. Of course, the Masters focused on saving the town from wolves and their leader conquering before Lin'an, and beyond the eastern cities before he could have claimed the realm. None of that mattered, anyway, because the cannon fell to Shen, and his conquest was over."

The Prince of Darkness, folding his arms behind his back with a smile on his face, walked back and forth, gazing at the panda. "Someone had the task, believe it or not. To seize the panda killer, who should have been invited to another, who could have begun the liberty conquest. Together."

"Do you mean to tell me. . . You were there?!" Po shrank his eye pupils.

"Indeed, I was. From block to block, lingering behind shadows. On a rucksack you rode with a wolf, you could have spotted me near the end of the stairs — the alley to the right near the ramp," Huoju smirked, thrumming his low tone. "Despite the troubles that occurred, I kept myself out of sight until the next day. You had your opportunity to swim down the Harbor, but with the peacock's remains under the cannon, Shen was dead."

Po and Shen exchanged their glances for a prolonged period until the Prince of Darkness spoke further. "On the night, along the city celebrating their heroes who ended the peacock's reign of terrors and respected the loss of Master Thundering Rhino, I dipped into the Harbor and swam toward the abyss," Huoju elaborated, closing his eyes of solar scarlet. "Finding myself through the debris, his body was found. . . "

"You—?" Po gasped. "You resurrected Shen?"

"Resurrected him, yes. But his mind is not the same as Shen's was," the bovine tyrant answered. "Rather than an ambitious warlord, my student is a clever soul who followed his intentions to restore his will. Considering his generosity and faith, Shen can bring balance under my promise."

"And what promise will satisfy Shen? By letting the citizens bow to his feet upon his re—?"

The panda's throat began to suppress his breath, forcing his knees to crash on the rocky floor, choking. Blinking his eyes, quivering while in suffocation, Po caught his glance at the black bear, whose smile stretched to one side, radiating her violet eyes. Mingling's head thrusting forward triggered the panda's blood flow to blockage, boiling in his temple as her shadows rounded and clenched over his round throat.

"Your lack of perception shows how incompetent you are in front of your Prince, you stupid, fat—"

"Mingling," Huoju delivered his quick palm on Mingling's forearm, ceasing her glare. Po regained his breath and boomed his severed coughs. "There is no need to mistreat our guest."

Geez! She almost exploded my brain! Po thought, wheezing.

Mingling lowered her glare and inspected the bovine's forearm. Scrutinizing battle scars, the black bear caught flashes of silvery streams swimming under his flesh, dancing its slithering ribbons as Mingling widened her eyes. "You haven't fetched your physician earlier to check your limb?"

"Not quite, my dear. She will inspect my wound when we find the fortune teller."

Po coughed when gagging for air, glaring at the bear. "That's some awesome chokehold I've ever felt, lady."

Mingling neglected the panda with a vicious grin, but an annoyed posture. Prince Huoju filled his words. "Your nemesis will endure the conquest where the other had failed. With a promise, Lord Shen will grant his wish to take charge in Gongmen City, while I must dethrone the Emperor and tear down the dynasty to a new realm."

"What do you want with this fortune teller?" Po queried the Prince of Darkness, but the black bear, Mingling, steadied her creamy growl under her throat.

"To see my future, where I predict my conquest shall overwhelm the lands as I have promised for centuries," Huoju raised his charcoal voice enough to let Shen and Po hear his words, staring at him.

The panda let out his cough, soothing his sweaty neck. "What about that prophecy thing? It still exists?" Po questioned, mentioning the sign as the peacock remembered the flash of the yin and yang sign in the Sacred Flame Tower's throne room. "The one that I was supposed to defeat Shen."

"If my ally could have defeated you, son of Li Shan," Huoju stated. "Then the prophecy would have haunted him further. Any form of black and white could have taken your role to end Shen's reign. It could have been the white tiger, but there is none, because he fought for the Four Constellations, sacrificing his life with the three to repel their evil teacher. It could have been a badger, but none would dare to challenge Shen. Although. . ."

Huoju deadened his silvery hums, his sight aiming toward the panda. "One of your kind could have avenged you if you had died at your home. Such a pity."

Dad. . .

Po stepped away from the bars as Huoju's solar eyes beamed into revelation. The peacock drew his expression away from the scene, his triggered thought remembering Mali in the Sacred Flame tower she used to keep him company before his banishment. Dreaded, he remembered Soothsayer's sign that the peacock held brightly on their faces before the other loomed, still sensing fear to reflect the black and white prophecy.

"My Huoju," the black bear cleared her throat softly.

"Mingling?" Huoju darkened his solar eyes, grinning at her.

"It is time for you to meditate with your late father and sister," the black bear said, her claw stroking his jawline. "Later, you and I will speak more, mentioning one of your wishes you'd like to discuss."

Po wavered his paws against the silky black shrouds that spiked his fur. "Yes, my Mingling. We had a long ride."

Rich throbbings of growls deadened somewhere close and near to one of the wormhole halls. With Shen preening on his left wing, the peacock stared at the ebony path, with dulls of igneous rocks shining in glints on the surfaces elsewhere. A living form, so vivid, walked out of the velvet shadows that had torn into webs, emerging as a creature in purple trousers with a brown sash and a shoulder pad with spikes.

The snow leopard's amber eyes shone.

"Panda..." The Great Dragon grated his harsh, fruity voice.

Chapter Text

Episode Five: The Company (42 - ?)

Chapter XLIII

Taken II

PO / TAI LUNG / LORD SHEN / PRINCE HUOJU

"Tai Lung?!"

Po gasped, sighting his first nemesis before him, the former student of the Jade Palace. The snow leopard glowed his amber eyes. He reverberated his fruity growls like a wood whine, nearing the panda.

"Yes. . . It is I, your old nemesis," the Great Dragon gestured his limbs with introduction, his face grimly scowling. "I have returned to steal the title you robbed me."

"Title?" Po widened his eyes. "What are you—?"

Without a warning or hesitation, Tai Lung lunged his arm and clutched Po's throat, slamming him against the shadow bars. "Where. Is. My. Scroll?!" the Great Dragon heightened his growl.

Po was gagged for air, wrestling against the leopard's grip. "How is this possi—?"

The leopard's strength of his digits closed the panda's throat. Dazed rather than interfering with the meaning of this quarrel, Lord Shen stared and slightly unsheathed the feather knives in his sleeves, prepping for unnecessary conflict. Once sighting the leopard's claws that could soon be mauling the bear's throat, Prince Huoju stepped in and gripped Tai Lung's forearm.

"Let the panda breathe, Tai Lung."

That panda crushed my head with his own rump—this bovine had no idea I couldn't breathe.

Tai Lung numbed his rage. Regarding Huoju needing the panda alive for his scheming purposes, to apprehend him from heroes and daring citizens, Tai Lung loosened his claws and pulled his limb. Po, emitting his harsh gasp, coughed and spat his saliva.

"Be soft with the prisoner," Prince Huoju cautioned the leopard as he walked back to Minging, inspecting his limb injury with speckles of silver shreds.

"You came back from the Spirit Realm?!" the panda widened, numbing his coughs when caressing his own neck. "Geez. You nearly broke my neck-apple."

"Perhaps I shall kill you for stealing my Dragon Warrior title; it belongs to me, panda. Not yours."

"After all these years, you still don't get it?" Po asked with his bitter voice, hacking more coughs until he cleared the rest. "Did I ever tell you at once that there is no secret ingredient? It's just you revealed yourself from that replica scroll!"

As it turned out, Tai Lung recalled the day that shivered his mind into swathes of bafflement, the time when he discovered the scroll's reflection of himself after so many years of expectation going to waste.

It's nothing!

His distant voice of shock quivered in his ears. The gold scroll mirrored his dreaded face.

It's okay. I didn't get it for the first time either.

What?!

There is no secret ingredient.

The snow leopard threw the scroll before the panda.

It's just you.

"Oh, not that secret ingredient thing again," Tai Lung seethed, looking away.

"Don't you remember?" Po demanded Tai Lung inquisitively as the panda knitted his brows. "That has nothing to do with becoming one, and only Dragon Warrior! It doesn't mean that the power of a dragon scroll could make you much more powerful! It has a story of anyone becoming—"

"QUIET!" Tai Lung lunged his claw at one of the bars with a hard impact. With all the rage crawling to the snow leopard's mind, he had enough of the panda's words from the secret ingredient that Tai Lung could not understand perturbedly. "If I ever find that Dragon Scroll from Jade Palace, then I will make sure my master will pass on that power of qi to me!"

"That is not going to happen, Tai!" Po snarled, shaking his head. "It has a story of a replica, letting you know why you look at yourself on that scroll! That's what brings you to question that Oogway will not answer you like that!"

"That tortoise betrayed me," Tai raised his voice with hate. "He is a foolish, frail being who stabbed me in the back. It all started when Shifu brought me in! And through all the hard work of pain and suffering, earning the rest to achieve the title, I kept dreaming of myself as the Dragon Warrior! And now, my ambition of what I've wanted to be is all gone because of YOU!"

It wasn't my fault! Oogway refused to give that title to you because you're heart was drowned in the dark, turning your back against him and Shifu!

Tai Lung clenched his fangs. "My title is still awaiting me, and I will make sure that nothing will deny my destiny at the Jade Palace."

"Tai! You know you're never meant to be a Dragon Warrior," Po glared, reasoning with him. "Oogway knew that he could not give you that title because he thought he could choose you as his successor, but that destiny altered!"

"Whether being denied or not, panda, I am the Dragon Warrior," Tai Lung growled, his patched gray shoulders bristling his fur to a greater height. "I will make sure my father sees that."

"Shifu will never let you! And you know it's true!"

"Pardon me!" Shen interrupted. "What is this sort of 'Dragon Warrior' nonsense?"

With utter disbelief, his body flushing with rime in his flesh, the Great Dragon turned to his side and saw what he flashed his amber eyes at the peacock; the leopard recognized the figure with train feathers of red and black eyes. "I never thought that title would have all the controversy to determine which warrior is the iconic one, and I know nothing about that," Shen said, nearing the bars. "Would you like to clarify what it is, and why it is so important to you, Master Leopard?"

The leopard's growls pulsed into chuffs, a sign of apology with manners to behave in front of this stranger in his gray robe. Had he ever seen or mentioned this peacock before during his imprisonment or during his training at the Jade Palace? The Great Dragon lessened his creamy growls, dimming his eyes as the Prince of Darkness gestured his head, allowing Tai Lung to explain in friendly manners.

"This title, peacock, has this prophecy that one warrior could be chosen as the Grandmaster Oogway's successor, as others before him were the symbolic warriors who became the heroes," Tai Lung stated, popping his digits with a single grip of his own claw. "After five hundred years of being the Realm's defender, Oogway would have granted only one who would be worthy to stand against all the threats. And being that warrior, peacock, whose ideal commitment to seek heroism, all that work was burned to the ground after refusal. The title meant for me to be the only successor."

The Lord of Gongmen held his head high with inquisitiveness. "And your point is?" Shen asked.

"I was robbed."

Oh.

There was no point for Shen to question further after his discovery, finding it odd how this feline warrior lost his way after being denied.

"I heard about you before," the Great Dragon pointed his digit at the avian. "Were you that peacock who was banished from home?"

"I suppose so..." Lord Shen answered.

"That invention of yours, what you created the turtle shell, it could have silenced me to death."

"Did I construct that?" the peacock stretched his brow upward with perplexity.

The Prince of Darkness grunted his throat, the grinds of charcoal enriching his voice. "Most of Shen's memories washed away, my dear Tai Lung, the one and true Oogway's successor as you claimed yourself to be," Prince Huoju said, standing amidst two warriors. "But let me rephrase your question for Shen, since he is willing to heal his mind to remember. Considering that you mentioned the turtle shell with the Dragon's Blessing injections ceasing your physical motions, being a prisoner for twenty years, I would say my student initially did."

The leopard's creamy growls heightened, and Tai Lung dominated his stance against the avian. "But that Shen, you remembered, was no more," Huoju worded, and the Great Dragon withdrew his claws.

No more?

"Pity," Tai sympathized.

The black bear, who gestured her mate across the hall, called Prince Huoju."Excuse me, my finest warriors," Prince Huoju pardoned. "Mingling, and I shall speak with my messenger. Do enjoy being friendly to yourselves."

Once sighting Huoju departed with Mingling, who presented her vicious grin at them, Tai Lung filled his mind with questions, full of curiosity after submerging his raging thoughts. "So, Lord Shen, if you don't exactly remember who you are, or claim yourself that you are not the past one," the snow leopard crossed his clouded arms with determination, gesturing his head. "What do you know of this one?"

"I don't," the peacock calmly seethed, simmering his bitter behavior. "But I was foretold that I was going to face this... panda."

"Is that so?" Tai Lung raised his brow. "Tell me."

"I was. . . supposed to be dead, as claimed by the oracle's divination," Shen elaborated. "This 'warrior of black and white' prophecy has been haunting me ever since."

"For what purpose?"

A prolonged period of contemplation rained the avian's thoughts, unable to seek answers. "I do not remember."

"Strange," the Great Dragon pulsed his chuckles with chuffs. "I think the panda must have vanquished you."

Grunting in disapproval, Shen asked the snow leopard. "How well do you know this bear?"

"Not well enough," Tai replied honestly after glaring at the panda shortly. "One thing I knew him more. He is the warrior who fell out of the sky with a ball of fire. Then claimed himself as the Dragon Warrior when Oogway or Shifu gave that scroll to this joke. Po."

Man. This guy has some good memories. Po gaped with amazement.

The panda remembered how his journey had started, from being a noodle folk to a hardcore warrior after several years, a life-changing purpose. Since he flew in the sky with a chair full of fireworks and tumbled to the Jade Palace Arena, his life merged toward greatness as Oogway prophecised one who could fulfill one's destiny.

Po was lost in thought while the snow leopard and the peacock conversed with each other about how they met their foe.

"That seems you two have met before," Tai Lung said, grasping Shen's words of the other peacock's plagued memories, seeing Po and the other five warriors in chains.

"Indeed. And it was — odd," Shen worded off to a numb, his eyes staring at Tai Lung. "Did this panda defeat you?"

"He banished me to the Spirit Realm for more than a decade. After many years of cursing and seething at the panda who stole my rights, I wanted to return. But then..."

"Then what?"

His mind clogged with remnants of emerald fabrics in the Spirit Realm, sighting the last moments of Tai Lung's combat, filled with horror.

Spring star sphere shreds.

A smaragdine light sphere splattered.

Revealing the leopard's amulet face.

"That spirit warrior came to claim my qi. The yak had his bitter tongue, never stopped talking about his—"

"Wait, you met Kai?!" Po thundered his query, widening his emerald eyes.

The peacock spread his wings. "Who is Kai?" Shen asked.

"The ferocious bastard who insulted every master who claimed to be forgetting about his prestige," the Great Dragon described, groaning in disapproval. "That yak earned his immoral reputation to mock and destroy whichever Oogway had created his own stature instead of the other."

Tai Lung, fuming with his rich chuffs into growls, creased his muzzle and lips. "I suppose that incompetent cow arrived in this Realm and ravaged China to pieces, and the Jade Palace — you goddamn moron. I should have—"

"You don't have to," Po pardoned the snow leopard. "The Five, Shifu, and I fought him."

"You all fought him?" he glared.

"We did."

Grating his rich pulses of low growl, Tai Lung neared the bars and glowed his yellow eyes in disgust, a frown creasing his lips. "Do tell me, what else did you do to him besides banishing him to the Spirit World?"

"That I did to myself to send him there. He blew himself up," Po replied.

"How?"

"My qi dragon."

"By the spirits and dragons. . ." Tai Lung shook his head in disbelief, sighing that resonated with chuffs and snarls. "Greedy bastard. I should have mauled the yak if he had ever released my qi."

"You ever read that jade scroll from Oogway before, Tai Lung?" the panda asked him, leaning against the ebony bars.

"Why would Oogway let me read his jade scroll? I know nothing of it."

"Oh. . . You never read it. But the Five, Shifu, and I did," Po said. "Had Oogway ever told you about Kai, right?"

"Why would he? Oogway never showed the emerald scroll to me," Tai Lung said, shaking his head. "What does that contain? Granting me the wisdom of his limitless power?" the snow leopard jeered him with chuckles.

"No," Po jerked his head back, gazing into the leopard's eyes. "It's not what Oogway could use that replica thing like that dragon scroll. That may be something for you to read his story and realize who you would have feared him. That spirit warrior whom you fought, Tai, was Oogway's brother. Kai and Oogway were together as warlords until Oogway banished him to the Spirit Realm for five hundred years."

This kept Tai Lung's posture, lessening his aggression. And finally, he listened to Po's encounter tale, which had Tai Lung been before the Dragon Warrior engaged the Jade Slayer. Returning from the webbed corridors of the Hollow, the Prince of Darkness cleared his throat as the bear Mingling dispersed herself and left. The snow leopard and peacock, meeting the bovine's face, spread themselves apart before the giant grated his rocky voice.

"Tai Lung, Lord Shen, I beg my interruption to spoil your pleasant conversation with the panda," Huoju stated, his hooves grasping his stomach, his solar eyes meeting Tai Lung. "There are plans for you to gain your trust if you are willing to earn what you should have and will always be yours willingly."

The leopard's chuffs drummed in curiosity. "What would you like for the Great Dragon to please you, Prince Huoju?"

"You will proceed to the lava river near the igneous peaks, not far from here," Prince Huoju gestured. "From there, the fighters seem to be curious about your presence. The trio requires training from your experience; educate them."

"Who will I be educating?"

"The Wu Sisters."

"NO WAY!" Po gasped. "The Wu Sisters are here too?!"

"I am not surprised," the leopard regarded, numbing his chuff chuckles. "But I will do as you command, Prince Huoju."

"Good. You are free to go."

Tai Lung agreed to Huoju's command, presenting his bow with respect to the Prince of Darkness as he stepped away from the bars; the snow leopard nodded to the peacock. "Perhaps we'll have another time to speak then, Lord Shen."

"I look forward to," the peacock said nonchalantly.

Wait. What did Peng say to me last time? Po reflected, remembering his leopard companion's words about his uncle.

"I have heard stories about my uncle, Tai Lung," the young snow leopard regarded, slowly strolling closer to Po; the panda was relaxed behind the bamboo tree with his crossed arms together.

"I am not here for vengeance," Peng said boldly, glaring at the panda after the young snow leopard drew a metal blade that belonged to the claws of the Great Dragon. "I checked your story. . ." his voice numbed with his chest pressure growing within. Sighing, he turned away from Po when the citizens of the Song Dynasty mentioned Tai Lung's fate to Peng. " Everyone confirms it—everyone. My uncle became evil. You did what you thought—you did the right thing."

Gasping, Po ran and grasped the bars hard. "Tai Lung, wait!" he hailed when the snow leopard strolled away.

"You should never have been the Dragon Warrior, panda," he uttered.

"There's something you should know!"

"What I only know is that Oogway failed to elect the Great Dragon as his successor," Tai Lung seethed, his rich growl deadening.

"Tai Lung, please! My friend journeyed across China a long time ago! Your nephew was looking all over for you!"

Tai Lung stopped and froze, dilating his amber eyes. My nephew?

There was a time when the Great Dragon ventured across the northern fields of Inner Mongolia and the Xia Dynasty, leading south to the mountains before his encounter. A terrible snowstorm, plagued with ice remnants, rained down on him elsewhere, forcing the snow leopard to search for shelter or the nearest village, where he could seek refuge before taking another trek. Farther on, until his kind was familiar, bringing him into the villager's yurt, filled with warm surroundings by the fire within, Tai Lung could see a child with amber eyes and the same face. The boy's face was like Tai's, his own since he was Shifu's son.

"AaBaa!" the cub ran to Tai and hugged him. Uncertain, he was being called a father, but the child was not his.

No. What had I done?

When the battle was fierce and full of horrors, Tai Lung strangled Peng against the structure at the Kong Bai Stadium in China, reflecting the last moment of sighting his nephew. "Peng. . .?"

"Tai!" Po uttered, but the snow leopard then sank his claws and strolled away to the dark, unable for the panda to see him again for the time being.

"As for you, my dear Shen," Prince Huoju turned to the avian. "I have a proposition for you."

"What must I do?" the peacock asked.

"You will patrol in this quarter here, guard the Hollow until another one of mine takes his turn; I shall be meditating in my chamber," Prince Huoju said, walking out his path toward the Hollow's lava light reflection. "Mingling will be on her way to educate my army—allow yourself to be with her and seek battle strategies."

"Yes, Master Huoju," the Lord of Gongmen obeyed.

"And one more thing," the bovine turned. "You have your valuable path to decide before you, son of Lord Feng. Choose one of two roads wisely to cross yourself on."

"I will not fail you, Master," Lord Shen presented his faithful bow, his wicked smile stretching across his face.

PO / LORD SHEN

The Prince of Darkness and his Lady of Shadows departed the Hollow of Dungeons, leading to separation; the Lord of Gongmen was the only avian to patrol around these deadening halls until the other could take his turn, considering the panda was less a fan of the silence. Shen never recognized this foe before, but only heard a haunting tale about the black and white warrior from his fate. How had this Shen not remembered this bear while the other Shen did? Po wondered if the avian's head got wacked by the maimed cannon so hard, driven him to either amnesia or just. . . no longer the Lord of Gongmen once was.

Several minutes transpired, with endless stares over a thousand times from the panda, whose mind was clogged with millions of questions, sitting down on the flat boulder near the metal bars. And those questions, Po demanded answers to Shen. The peacock neglected the bear's sight quite a while, and, while in boredom, he unsheathed his silver feather knife and glanced at himself from its reflection. What did someone say to Shen, reminding him of someone close to him? How did he injure his wolf brother?

You old, bigoted fucking fool—don't pretend you do not know; I remember what you did, Shen. Now that your parents have long been gone, I am willing to tear you apart for murdering my pack and fracturing me in pieces.

"What did I do?" Shen muttered, the song of his blade mimicking his brother's howl and the screaming wolves.

Did the other Shen wound you and our wolves?

"'Master?'"

The Dragon Warrior repeated a word with a shock, widening his eyes. "Do you even know what that guy's trying to do to you, Shen?!"

"That Ox will accomplish his conquest, panda," Shen clenched his beak aggrievedly, sheathing his blade back to his sleeve as the albino roamed forth to the bars. "And his promise, with the potential, will bequeath to me to regain what I had lost: my recognition."

"He's too dangerous!" Po pointed apprehensively. "That guy is more powerful than the Supreme Warlord guy! I know plenty about Huoju!"

"How well do you recognize my teacher?" Shen snarled with an earnest query.

"That warlord, who you are with, caused the destruction of Qing Temple seven hundred years ago, Shen; he murdered many kung fu warriors and those who were allied with the temples—"

Shen darted onward and bashed the bars, driving Po to recoil back with an instant jumpscare. "AHH!"

"The Prince of Darkness accomplished his purpose to rid those in favor of corruption and many warriors who wrote with all the lies. DECEPTION!"

The albino peacock unsheathed his feather blade and nearly gashed Po's left cheek, with blue sparks sparkling from the metal bars. Po maintained his distance from the raging avian, who wished the bear could keep his mouth closed instead of annoying him. Memories waned and surged into never-ending flashes of the panda's old foe, who burned down his old village and turned against him. Po could only think Shen had returned with a vengeance purpose, but confusion started to wobble his idea with dizziness. The peacock was brought back to life and no longer the same Shen, but could allow himself to finish the rest of the past Shen's wishes.

His face was, without a doubt, so much identical when Po and the Furious Five confronted him in Gongmen, even in the final encounter on the War Ship. The battle's over! You don't have to keep acting all evil! His voice echoed.

"You still. . . Don't remember me?" Po asked. "Back in Gongmen?"

"I never knew you," Shen answered with his contemptuous posture. "In dreams and visions, I keep seeing the black and white warrior with green eyes. The Prince of Darkness proclaims that they were only memories of the dead peacock lord who desired retaliation."

"Those memories are yours, Shen," Po stated. "You saw me before; we met!"

"Only the past Shen did. Not me."

"I don't believe it. . ." The Dragon Warrior shook his head in disbelief. "There's no way you forgot about me, Shen. I know it because you — you were there. Both places, as I remember too well: Gongmen, and my home—Thriving Village."

Thriving Village? I don't—

But the name of the enchanting place kicked in his mind, reflecting a welcoming party of pandas, whom his father and mother had invited. Lord Feng brought the one in charge of the pandas to introduce him to his son in the throne room at the Sacred Flame Tower. Who was that panda my father brought in? He said his visitor and the panda citizens came from the Thriving Village.

Thoughts clouded with conflagrations and remnants of his parents' horror cries, Shen could hardly remember the night that shone the throne room with its vivid light smoke. He witnessed the fate of the other, but still followed in his dreams the peacock that tried to flee from it. A white peacock swirled into a yin-yang symbol, the balance of light and dark.

"Why do you follow this guy for? Is it vengeance?"

Shen ignored Po's voice when in contemplation.

Po knew how lethal Shen's cannons were, which could not only eradicate the essentials of kung fu but also extinguish those who were learned from the martial arts ancestors. "I get it. . . You follow Huoju so you can take Gongmen City." Po thought. "But look. There's a way for you to remember."

"Do you ever silence your tongue?" Shen clenched his feathers after he swiftly turned to the panda.

"Please, Shen. I can help you remember!" Po grated his voice with dread and hope. "I don't know how hard your head got hit by the cannon, but I can show you."

"You are beyond inconceivable," Shen snapped cooly. "Your help shall not assist Prince Huoju's student because you are determined to end the reign of horrors. Like how you failed to save the other Shen, but he allowed himself to accept his fate."

"You accepted your fate, Shen," Po corrected him. "I'm telling you the truth as I remembered you."

Shen looked away with a suppressed growl of annoyance.

"On your ship, you asked me, Shen. You asked me: How did I find peace?" Po said, leaning close to the bars and holding both metal columns. "And I said: You know the one, I just hold my elbows up and keep my shoulders loose? Ring any bells?"

"No," the peacock snapped with a quick turn.

"Listen to yourself. That prophecy thing brought justice to end your tyranny. Do you think this black and white warrior is a serious threat to kill you, Shen?"

"You were a threat to the other peacock and drove him to his death. And you are a threat to me."

"I am not! I—"

The Dragon Warrior's voice trailed off as he recalled the moments of himself sprinting across the throne room, chasing after the Lord of Gongmen. Thoughts altered to bringing meditation on the hull, Po was on, flowing his form into inner peace like water, warding off and hurling cannonballs across the Harbor. How did you find peace? The peacock's frail voice echoed in the bear's mind.

Shen was afraid of me. Po thought, catching sight of Shen's eyes, filled with trepidation. The avian feared justice from the warriors, those who volunteered to avenge Master Thundering Rhino and Lord Shen's conquest.

"I had to save you from yourself. You were frightened of me." Po recalled, his mouth quivering. "The Five and I were able to stop you from doing your harmful things, like cannons that could, or can kill everyone. We didn't come to your city to kill you."

"Nonsense," Shen shook his head. "Prince Huoju spoke to me that many in China wanted to kill Shen. Based on what I heard from my master, all the council members and the Emperor of the Song Dynasty wanted to torture him before execution."

"They all wanted to, but it's so wrong for them to say like that!"

"Every soul in China said so, including the rest of you warriors," Shen grated his beak. "That's why the Prince of Darkness craved his part to destroy every temple that bears mockery and rotten apples."

"WE are not like those people, Shen! None of us did — me and the Masters of Jade Palace and Gongmen," Po said to him in defense. "We don't ever insult bad people according to the Shaolin Code, and every temple swore oaths to the Emperor of the Song Dynasty."

"Then those who had forgotten the oaths do not kindly treat their foes with respect," Shen rebuked. "All that the Prince of Darkness sees is full of ill-reputed savages who put down the foes and mock their deaths."

"That's not true. . ." Po faded his voice with utter disbelief, his insides drenched in nippy waters.

"Citizens in Gongmen even disgusted Shen, and I loathe every bit of their prejudice because of the white feathers they saw, mentioning death and being unlucky."

"You are so much more blessed than that, Shen. . . More awesome than unlucky," Po trailed his voice off into hopelessness, admitting that there were harsh truths from the people Shen brought fear to souls.

"It doesn't matter. . ." Shen looked away once more. "The rest is the past; it allows me to. . ."

"The past can trap you for ages, and you won't ever escape that hate among you," Po elucidated, again leaning against the bars. "With all the scars healed, you look at the present where you shall not fret the past and worry the future! It is simple."

This panda is. . . oddly confusing. Shen stared at Po.

"I shouldn't even speak with you," the peacock creased his beak, walking away.

"Wait! I know what you want!" Po reached his limb out between the metal columns. "Not your idea about Gongmen City or any of your atrocity plans along Huoju! You thought about peace!"

How did you find peace? I took away your parents—everything. I scarred you for life. 

Lord Shen reflected on the flashback of the other. He darted his eyes at him with a tremble. "No."

"Yes, you do!" Po glared, realizing with his smaragdine eyes that glowed from out of the shadow. "I know it because you said your words to yourself; I remember it well."

Po grasped the shrouding bars softly when he approached Shen ahead. As he looked at the sleeve, Shen nearly summoned a feather blade. "Choose your words wisely, panda. . . What was the last thing you said to the peacock lord before his fate? Say 'You' to me one final time, I will end you; I don't miss."

Po stepped back with caution, as he searched for words to describe how he attempted to "save" the peacock from the cannon. It felt severely personal to Po after he could see Shen's eyes, full of apprehension and hostility, as the avian's body swarmed with broken. The moment when the past Shen looked down at the ship's floor with imminent defeat, the Dragon Warrior spoke:

"I told him to let go of that stuff from the past because. . . it just doesn't matter."

You've gotta let go of that stuff from the past because it just doesn't matter.

They were Po's haunting, soothing voice that wished for Lord Shen to accept his surrender.

"And. . . the only thing that matters. . . is what he will choose to be now," Po added, with his drowned voice pressuring his throat. "In the end, Shen. . ."

Flashes of the cannon blasts and the ship's explosion seared his back to a launch before the water splash. "In the end. . ." Po trembled, one tear beginning to cascade while remembering the Harbor's insurmountable depths before the peacock's white wings swallowed in the dark beneath the maimed cannon. "He died. . . I tried."

Shen sheathed his feather knife in his sleeve. There was no need for the Lord of Gongmen to ask about the other's fate. His death was not a cowardly way to escape from, either way, despite how evil the past Shen was. When considering what was next for the peacock to lead, he approached the cage.

And a dart zipped past him, landing on Po's shoulder.

Gasping, Po broadened his eyes. "What?! What did you do?"

"I didn't," Shen snapped in confusion, looking the other way until throbs of small wings neared within the shadows across the hollowed corridor. With screeches and squeaks pitching close, the peacock sighted the bat hovering with guffaws.

"GOTCHA!" the bat Zei tittered, flapping his wings in spins.

"What did you. . . do to me?" Po pulled out a dart and flicked it away.

"IT'S SLEEPY TIME, CUPCAKE!" Zei squeaked with a fiendish grin, clasping the bars with his leather-like wings. "There will be no talking in here while you rot in there, prisoner! No more chit-chat to my favorite warlord!"

"What did you give the panda, Zei?" Shen demanded.

"Oh! It's Dragon's Blessing! Veeeery heavy stuff with those things," the bat replied. "I can do this trolling all day; the next time that panda speaks to you or any volunteers to patrol here, Lord Shen, I will maul his fur and flesh with all the teeth until his bones come up, like how I did to that brat girl. She is scrumptious than my last meals."

"How. . . dare. . ." Po numbed his sensation and lost his voice, his paw barely clutching the bars before his limb slid, and his knees roughly crashed to the ground.