Chapter 1: Fury of the Tiger
The drums were beaten loudly, giving a harsh melody for the otherwise peaceful and cloud free night. The full white moon hung overhead, almost acting as a spotlight for the large dirt arena which was hand made by the villagers for the fights they liked to hold every now and again. The rules were simple; two fighters go in, and when one either throws the other out of the ring or one is knocked out, the victor was declared. It sounded simple, but it really wasn't for the fighters who were involved.
The drum beats got more rapid, and the small crowd of villagers began to cheer. Most of them were farmers and basket weavers, as this wasn't a very blessed village. They barely got by with their crops and more than often even that would be taken away by bandits just passing through. Entertainment like these dirt arena fights were pretty much all the fun they could ever hope to have. Sometimes they would place small bets on who was going to win. There was always a safe bet that most of them placed.
"Ok! Settle down, settle down!" A dirty looking old brown rabbit called to the crowd as he leaned on a small wooden cane. He was wearing what appeared to be Raggy blue clothing. He also had an almost mustache like patch of fur beneath his nose. It was partially graying, just like the rest of his fur. Only one of his hazel colored eyes was open, as the other had lost its function and remained closed.
"Now I know this is kind of pointless because of our brutish champion, but I'd like to let the other fighters know that you still have a chance and you could quite easily steal the title for yourself! Though Bao has not been defeated, that does not mean he cannot be beaten! I urge you to give it your all, and make a spectacle of it! Oh yes, and don't get any blood on the crowd please. That too." The elder said with a small grin, revealing one of his broken buck teeth.
The old rabbit looked over his shoulder to a single creature, sitting on a smalloverturnedd basket. All that could be seen in the shadows that he sat in at the moment were his massive glowing green eyes. "Best you drag it out boy. Can't have another three second match." The elder said in a stern tone.
"Ladies and gentlemen! I now introduce our running champion, Bao Dai!" The elder called out to the crowd. They erupted in cheers and whistles as the figure that the elder had been referring to in the shadows stood and made his way into the arena.
He stood taller than almost every creature there, and he wasn't even an adult yet. His sleeveless shirt was a powder blue while his pants were a teal green. His belt was an odd amber yellow color. One thing every article of his clothing shared in common was the tears and dirt marks. When he came into full view under the moon light his emerald eyes gazed at the crowd.
Tigers weren't the most abundant of creatures around China. The ones that he had seen were usually travelling merchants from the East or North. He knew his father was one of such merchants and had abandoned him at a very young age. His mother died when he was only an infant and was taken in, only out of pity, by the elder of the village he now fought in. For thirteen years he did chores, and was very much feared among the villagers due to his explosive temper. This was all he was good for. His stripes only signified his usefulness as a fighter.
Even by the standards of the Chinese Tigers he was a bit large. It was clear that even if he ever found some Tigers around here to hang around, he would still be the odd one. The villagers didn't accept him, the elder only tolerated him and his father never bothered to know him. He bottled everything up. He bottled it up, and let loose at these fights. The only place where his rage would grant him momentary acceptance. The only place the villagers would smile while they spoke his name.
"Now! I open the floor to any challengers! Though he is only sixteen, he is more than capable of taking on opponents triple his age! No, quadruple! Any takers?" The elder called out into the crowd.
A moment of silence overtook the crowd and a deep laugh could be heard among them. The villagers yelped as someone began to push through them. Once the creature came into the moonlight, it was clear that it was a Silver Back Gorilla. He wore armor made of silver that glinted in the night and wrapped around his arms were massive iron chains. His fur was pitch black and his eyes were a dark brown. What was more was that he had much of a muscle mass advantage over the Tiger that stood before him.
"I'll crush that runt into powder. I heard about this stupid little contest of you villagers from a few brigands. I thought it would be interesting, but all you got here is a little kid! Hah! Look at you. Awe, you scared kid? I'm not gonna break anything. Maybe a toe or something...but that's the worst of it, I promise." The Gorilla cooed as he pinched Bao's cheek.
The crowd gasped as they watched the gorilla taunt Bao. This is how it always went. An arrogant challenger would waltz in, taunt him, then beg for mercy within minutes. Did Bao always give them mercy? He had to keep it interesting, didn't he?
"You better be able to break more than a toe you dumb ape." Bao growled as he grabbed the Gorilla's arm and punched him roughly in the chest. The Gorilla scampered back as Bao released his grip on the Gorilla's arm.
"Heh. You dented my armor kid. This is made of some expensive material. I guess I'll have to break more than a toe now. An eye for an eye right?"
Bao didn't wait for a second move, he quickly moved his way forward, pulling his arm back to punch once more when the Gorilla snorted and threw the chains wrapped around his arm around Bao's wrist, directing the punch into the air.
"Didn't think it was gonna be that easy did you?" The Gorilla said with a smirk as he pulled Bao towards him with the same chains and landed a very hard punch to the Tiger's face. Before Bao could hit the dirt, the Gorilla pulled Bao back towards him again, and repeated that movement. After a few hits, he let Bao fall to the dirt ground.
"Aw. Gonna cry kid? I'm sure most of these villagers would be crying if they got pounded in the face like that too. Swallow your pride and stay down. Come on." The Gorilla said with a chuckle.
Bao began to slowly stand up, wiping his muzzle clear of the blood that was flowing from his nose. He let out a growl as he glared up at the Gorilla.
"What's wrong kid? Momma ain't here to give you a hug? Kiss your boo boo's better?" The Gorilla asked with a snort.
Bao clenched his paws and let out a short roar as he leapt at the Gorilla once more. He dodged the chains this time as the Gorilla swung his arms to wrap the chains around Bao. Bao landed four punches to the Gorilla's chest, effectively ruining his armor.
"W-Wait! Stop kid! My armo-"
Bao didn't listen as he snarled with his contact his paws made with the Gorilla's armor. He could feel his paws beginning to bleed from the force of impact, but he didn't care. He didn't care about anything. Not himself, not the villagers and most certainly not the elder who he was trying so desperately to please. Nothing mattered to him.
The armor was effectively ruined and the Gorilla was resorting to using his arms to block Bao's blows, but to no avail. One thing that many feared about Tigers was their immense strength. This Gorilla was starting to realize what he'd gotten into when he could no longer afford to take blows to his arms and was taking them to the face now.
The Gorilla slowly fell to his knees and coughed, beginning to look dazed. "Bao! Enough!"
It wasn't enough. It never would be enough. This arrogant Gorilla was going to learn the hard way that words carried weight, and that weight was about to be applied to his face. After two more blows, Bao felt his arm gripped tightly, relinquishing him from hitting the Gorilla any further. The Gorilla fell flat on his back, clearly knocked out. His nose was bloodied and his right eye was swollen.
Bao snarled as he tried to remove his arm from the grip of the stranger that had stepped into the arena to stop the senseless beating. His eyes widened when he noticed it was another tiger, with all white fur and very vibrant blue eyes. He wore completely white attire, with blue trimmings along the edges of his clothing. His shirt was long sleeve and his pants hid his feet. The belt he wore was black with an odd symbol on both tips of the tying ends.
"He was beaten when he begged for mercy, Bao." the tiger said in a very calm tone. "I will be your next challenger. Though I promise you, victory is a dream if you do not control your temper."
"You shut your mouth." Bao snarled as he finally managed to get his arm out of the grasp and stepped back. "If you are here to challenge me, then you are just another arrogant fool I have to drop."
The crowd cheered again at the prospect of yet another fight. "Though I hate to assert myself when not necessary, there is something to be observed here. We are both tigers. I've mastered my inherent anger and honed my strength. You will not win, boy." the tiger said in a very calm and relaxed tone.
Bao snarled as he pushed forward to punch at this newcomer. To Bao's surprise he didn't even move. Bao's blow landed square in the other tiger's chest. The other tiger just stood there, not even changing his stance. There was no grunt of pain, flinching or even a look of annoyance on his face. Bao commenced to punch again, but to no avail. In fact, pain rang through his paw.
The younger tiger slowly stepped back, glaring at the older one with great contempt. "What are you? Yo-You didn't even feel that?" Bao growled.
"I told you. As long as your temper rules you, my victory is secured." the tiger replied with a small smile. Bao growled and bared his teeth as he jumped at the other tiger again. This time, the other tiger simply moved out of the way and made Bao fall into the dirt with a quick motion of his leg sweeping under Bao's. The villagers laughed at how easily Bao was brought to the ground.
"Give up yet?" the larger tiger asked with a chuckle from where he stood above Bao. Bao snarled as he pushed himself off the dirt ground and swung his paw just past the head of the challenger. It missed as the white tiger quickly moved out of the way again. Bao continued to swing his paws, but again and again the blows would miss.
"Are you going to throw a tantrum Bao? It seems as though you are not as great as they say, hm?" the white tiger said with a smirk.
"Shut up! You don't know ANYTHING!" Bao snapped angrily as he moved in for one more blow, but his wrist was grabbed and the white tiger quickly tossed Bao over his shoulder, onto the dirt floor. Bao coughed as the impact made the air quickly escape from his lungs. For a moment he could not breathe. Once he could, he stood up slowly and dusted himself off. He let out yet another snarl as he ran towards the white tiger.
"On the contrary Bao. I know many things." the white tiger said as he continued to dodge Bao's blows. "I know you are alone and you feel alone. I know you have lost and I know you crave acceptance. I know you wish you weren't a tiger."
Bao let out another roar, and landed a punch to the white tiger's face. "You don't know me."
"I don't need to Bao. I know because I felt those things. Your anger will never gain you acceptance. These villagers will never see you as anything more than entertainment." the white tiger said as he quickly hit his palm to Bao's stomach, making him slide back along the dirt until he was outside the arena.
"It is time to grow up Bao." the white tiger replied.
"And the winner is the stranger! Uh...what was your name again?" the elder rabbit asked.
"Dai. Master Dai of the Sky Temple." the white tiger replied.
Bao felt his arms shaking with rage as he heard the groans of disappointment from the crowd. He ran towards the white tiger again, only to be stopped by the tiger's massive palm once more.
"Bao. Let me teach you. Wu Wei is the only method that will help you cope with your strength and anger. You must cast aside your pride and your anger. Come with me. I promise you, I will not let you down." Dai replied silently as he extended his other paw.
Bao panted as he looked at the so called "master's" paw. He looked to the villagers who were all just upset that they lost their bet. He then looked to the elder who only used him for chores and entertainment like these fights in the ring. He looked down for a moment, not sure of what to say. Anything was better than being in this village, but he just didn't know.
"Bao. Trust me. It is not in my philosophy to abandon my disciples. You can master your rage, and master your strength. You can be someone they look up to, not down upon. Your potential is great, and though you lost here today, training in Kung Fu will hone you into a great warrior. What do you say?"
At the mention of being looked up to, and learning Kung Fu his eyes almost lit up. He heard so many stories about all the great creatures who gained respect because of their mastery over Kung Fu. Maybe, just maybe, he could aspire to that as well. Bao gripped Dai's paw and shook it three times.
"I'm more than willing to learn, Master Dai." Bao said with a bow of his head, knowing full well that it meant respect to a master.
"Good. Any arguments on behalf of you villagers?" Dai asked as he turned his head. Many of them were booing and the elder rolled his eyes.
"Take the boy. He destroys all my nice things anyway with those grippers of his. Take care, Bao. I hope one day, you'll come in here in a greater light. Or don't come back at all. Doesn't make a difference to any of us." the elder said with a snort.
"Excellent. Go gather your belongings and -"
"I have no belongings. Let's get out of here." Bao growled quietly, not liking what was just said by the elder. Dai nodded and gave him a small smile.
"All is well then. Come on. We have quite the road ahead of us. I hope you can walk a long distance after that whooping." Dai mused silently as he hald his paws behind him.
Bao cracked his neck and snorted. "I've taken worse."