All props to Joe 'Po' Navark for helping me with this story. So...what happens when two preteens attend a kung-fu summer camp where one has lost one arm and the other lost two legs? Well, this story is a prime example of that...so I hope ya like!

With Open Arms

by: Terrell James

Chapter 1: Camp Duties

One summer day in the Jade Palace and the kung-fu masters prep themselves up for a little something happening. Shifu looks up as he sees his students setting up the kung-fu summer camp from all over the entire palace. Most of the Five were enthusiastic about this experience to teach kids the arts of kung-fu and bring their experiences in hopes of gaining the kids confidence, knowledge and mostly about the art they never knew before.

Just then, Musaki comes around and he seemed very curious to see what the buzz was all about and Shifu immediately caught his attention and he said, "Ah, Musaki. Just the person I wanted to see."

"Hey, Shifu. What's going on around here? I saw some areas where the Five will be and I didn't know if you guys had something going on and stuff." Musaki said.

"Oh, remember when I mentioned about the kung-fu summer camp?" asked Shifu.

He then recalled that time when Shifu announced that it would happen and he said, "Oh, yeah. That's right. Didn't know you guys were having it today."

"Well, it's a 4-week camp in which children will learn about the benefits of kung-fu and how to learn some moves they can use." Shifu replied.

"Oh, okay. Arizona has mentioned to me about volunteering for this summer camp not too long ago." Musaki said.

"Yes. He will be a counselor trainee because he loves working with kids and he has told me that it'll help him build better teaching skills." Shifu said.

Musaki nodded his head and he said, "I was also curious to see what kind of job I would do."

Shifu chuckled softly at this and he turned to him and said, "That's why I came to you...to be the new student teacher for the kids ages 8-14."

That seemed to surprise Musaki the most because he never expected anything like this before and he asked, "Why me?"

"You've been here long enough and I would usually see you do some kung-fu practices with your younger cousins so it's only fair that I'm willing to give you this opportunity to showcase your teaching skills. I would've given it to Tigress, but I figured you're more responsible and more reliable and that you have a good way of keeping kids in line." Shifu answered.

Musaki felt really amazed that he was given the task to do so and he wouldn't let that opportunity slip away and he said, "Thanks, Shifu. I have been thinking about doing some sort of summer job."

"Well, this is your chance. And your second duty is to assist Arizona whenever he needs it. That young wolf sure knows how to keep kids in line more so than us." Shifu added.

"I'll take it!"

Minutes later...

Po, Crane, Viper, Monkey, Tigress, Mantis and Arizona stood in the Sacred Hall of Warriors waiting for Shifu to show up and Viper looks up at Arizona and he asked, "You up for this task, Arizona?"

"Are you kidding me? How can I slip this opportunity away?" Arizona asked, excitedly.

She lets out a smile and she could study the young wolf's excitement and she said, "You're looking forward to teaching the kids, aren't you?"

"Yep. I want to make a good first impression at this." Arizona added.

Tigress looks up at Arizona and she said, "Just don't take away the fact that you're a counselor trainee."

Arizona stares at Tigress and said, "Yes, but keeping kids in line is what I do best. Living here with you guys gave me this opportunity to teach kids how to become anything they wanna be. I know it's a huge responsibility, but I've always wanted to do this since my days being captive with Dai Ling growing up."

Mantis hopped up on Arizona's shoulder and he could tell that he's excited about it and asked, "Been looking forward to this, have ya?"

"All my life. Only..."

Crane could sense the wolf's excitement switch to anxiety and he asked, "Only what?"

"Well, it's not just talk. Now it's the real thing." Arizona said.

Po comes up to Arizona and he said, "Hey, don't worry. I know how kids work and believe me, even though you're a rookie, you'll do fine."

Arizona could sense that Po does know a lot more about kids and wished that he could give some pointers from the Dragon Warrior and said, "Hope you're right."

"Just remember what I taught ya."

Arizona tried to think back of a certain example and said, "Not to tie down a kid on the Swinging Clubs like Tigress did?"

Tigress growls at Arizona for bringing up that subject out of nowhere and all Po could do is laugh it off and said, "That could be on the list of what not to do when dealing with kids."

"You tied a kid on the Swinging Clubs, Tigress? That was mean." Monkey added.

Tigress tried to forget about what had happened and she said, "I didn't know how to watch over children. How else was I supposed to keep Zan contained?"

"Patience. Don't worry. It's all a part of the learning experience. All you need to do is at least give them some encouragement, positive reinforcement and above all...don't lose your temper when one makes a mistake. We don't want another repeat of what you did with Max and Tae Kwan Do when you played 'duck-duck-goose.'" Po explains.

"Yeah, did you really have to put both of them in a chokehold?" asked Arizona.

"They couldn't stop running." Tigress shot back.

"Tae Kwan nearly blacked out and was almost in a coma." Po reminded her.

Tigress groans at that and she wanted to get this over with as soon as possible and she said, "I don't understand why Shifu wanted me to participate in this anyway. All I've done is yell, scream, and lose my cool at them when they mess up."

"Just try to have a positive attitude. And does it really matter if they mess up? Yes, they do need discipline, but they also need to correct them, in a more calm and mature way." Arizona added.

All of them seemed surprised at Arizona's advice and Po was the most surprised and said, "Sounds like he knows more about kids than me. Just take it from me and Arizona and you'll do fine."

Tigress lets out a heavy sigh and said, "I'll try."

"Awesome. If you keep cool and be patient, there should be no problems. Also...Shifu has told me that I'm keeping an eye on you...just in case you start to lose it with them." Po added.

That shocked Tigress to know that Po was watching her by Shifu's request and she asked, "Why would he do that?"

Po winces at that answer he was gonna give her and he quickly said, "He doesn't trust you around kids."

Tigress was about to say something before Shifu walks in with Musaki and as Musaki got in front of Arizona and Shifu in front of the others, Shifu then told him, "Students...during the next 4 weeks, each of you will teach mounds of young kids everything you know about kung-fu. Give them examples of your moves and make sure that they do everything we tell them to. You all know the ropes around here and I expect you to make this camp run smoothly as possible. Are we clear?"

"Yes, Master Shifu." they all replied.

"Great. Arizona, since you're a counselor in training, you'll know what the kids capabilities are. Even though you've been around here with us for almost a year now, you've got a lot of experience with kids since being in the Valley of Peace, so I trust that you'll handle things around here?" Shifu asked.

"Don't worry. I will not fail you." Arizona said, with much determination.

Shifu was still greatly impressed with Arizona's growing sense of willingness and he said, "I know you will. And also...Musaki will be the new counselor."

The Five and Po stared at Musaki with a surprised look in their faces after hearing that Musaki's a part of the counselors and Tigress asked, "Why him?"

"He's been around for 4 years and I'm sure he is capable of handling young kids and showing them the right things. All we can do is give him a chance at this." Shifu added.

Viper slithered over to Musaki and she said, "Welcome to the team, Musaki."

"I gotta tell ya...I'm a bit nervous about this." Musaki said, a little unsure.

"Those same nerves will be fade away when you teach those kids. And don't worry about a thing...we'll all help you if you need it." Monkey said.

Just then, Zeng flew inside the palace doors and he quickly said, "The kids are on their way, master."

"Thank you, Zeng. Students...shall we?"

All of them were really looking forward to this kung-fu summer camp and as they set out, Shifu stopped Tigress for a second and he said, "I already know about you tying up Zan in the Swinging Clubs while he was here. Po told me."

Tigress felt like she was being tricked by the Dragon Warrior and didn't hink that he would actually know about it and he then said, "That's why I asked him to keep an eye on you while you're handling the young ones here."

"It's like you don't trust me with the kids." Tigress said, defensively.

Shifu didn't say anything about it and he said, "Let's just focus on right now. Don't put them all in a chokehold like you did with Max and Tae Kwan Do."

Tigress then went behind them as she made her way to the door, awaiting several kids coming in the palace.

There were around 20,000 kids coming up the million steps in the Jade Palace, all astonished and also amazed at how long it takes to reach to the top. One person, a young Siberian Husky, around 11 or 12, brown eyes, red and white fur, only wearing a T-shirt and a glove around his left hand, wasn't really sure what to expect from this experience. He lets out a deep exhale as he continued on walking the steps.

'How am I gonna get through this? And with only one arm?' he thought to himself, taking a little glance at his prostetic arm.

He accidently bumped into one kid and he said, "Watch where ya going, will ya?"

"I-I-I'm so sorry." the young Husky said.

Just then, another Siberian Husky; grey and white fur, orange eyes, between 13 or 14, wearing a bright green vest and some long blue jeans caught up with the other Siberian Husky and he said, "Hey, Laz! Isn't this awesome that we actually get to go to the Jade Palace for 4 weeks?"

Laz chuckled nervously and he replied, "Yeah, tons of."

The grey furred Husky could tell that Laz is definitely unsure of himself on getting through this and he said, "Are you nervous, Lazarus?"

Lazarus turns to him and he quickly replied, "What would make you think that?"

"Because you keep looking at your glove. When I'm nervous, I ramble on and on and on and I never shut up about it and end up talking about weird stuff like pudding."

"Kenji...this is different. I'm gonna be trained with the most respected kung-fu masters in China. How will they even react when they see my one arm?" Lazarus asked, worriedly.

Lazarus slowly takes off his glove and looks at his prostectic arm for a second and puts it back in before anyone else finds out and he asked, "Are you sure this is gonna work?"

"Ah, of course it will. I mean, after all..."

Kenji rolls up his pants legs and shows Lazarus his prostectic legs to ensure that the masters will never know about it and then rolls it back down and said, "The important way to not let anyone know about it is confidence. When it comes to kung-fu, there's no limits."

"But still...what if one of us get thrown out?" asked Lazarus.

Kenji pats Lazarus' shoulder and he said, "Hey, Laz...we're not gonna get thrown out because of prostetic limbs. I mean, who knows what would happen?"

"That's something I'm afraid to find out."

As both Huskies made it to the top of the Jade Palace along with the other kids, they faced the kung-fu masters for the first time and bowed to them as they bowed first. Lazarus took a deep breath and he thought to himself, 'This is gonna be a long summer.'

Here we have the debut of Lazarus and Kenji. You'll see them later on in the story. Awesome beginning though, right? More coming up!