Hey once again everyone. I know that I just finished another major story, but I thought that I'd create two prequels to the final major story. The first one will be about the Furious Five and how they came together, and the second will be about Kiro's journey all the way up to when he first met the group in Sage's Siege. Both of these prequels will take place before the first movie, just letting you know so you won't be confused. These stories won't be as long as my major stories. I'm thinking around 7-10 chapters. Anyway, I'll be doing the Furious Five prequel first. Enjoy the first chapter…
*With Tigress, night time*
"Master," the teenage Tigress said, "I've trained hard, haven't I?"
"Yes, my student, you have. Why do you ask?" Master Shifu replied.
"Well, I'm certain that I can handle myself, now. I don't think that you should pair me with some others. You know how I was treated at Bao Gu, and I don't want that to happen again. Besides, more people would just slow me down."
"Young Tigress, you must learn to trust others and get along with them. There will come a time in your life where you will be no match for your foe alone, and will need help. Now, go to sleep. I have to meet with Master Oogway to discuss the details of the four newcomers in a few days." The red panda explained as he pushed Tigress towards her room.
"Ugh, fine! I still don't like it, though." She groaned.
"You don't have to like it, I just ask that you understand. Goodnight, my pupil." Shifu said as he left the tiger standing by her door in the dark hallway.
Great. Just fantastic…
*With Shifu*
"Master Oogway, are you sure that these new students will be able to face these challenges that you say they will?" Master Shifu asked an old turtle, who was sitting on his wooden staff in a meditated position.
Oogway liked to meditate by the peach tree, late at night. He believed that it was the best time of the day and the best place to find inner peace and soul search.
"Hm. Shifu, you always worry too much. Trust me, everything will turn out better than you envision it. Yes, the Furious Five will be one of the best team of warriors in all of China." The tortoise replied.
"Master, I had a vision the other night. The Shang-Ti twins have escaped the jail and are out and about, probably planning their next heist. They're one of the best kung-fu fighters in the country!" The worried panda stated.
"Well, the Five will be able to stop them. I know that they will, because they were born to aid the Dragon Warrior one day." Oogway said calmly.
"If you say so, Master, but I do have my doubts."
"Oh, Shifu, when will you learn that if you calm your mind, you will be able to see clearly." The turtle sighed.
*With Tigress, the next day, late afternoon*
"So, Master, when are these new students going to get here?" She asked, getting impatient.
"Soon, Tigress, soon. That is almost the twentieth time that you've asked today. You're either nervous or excited." Shifu replied.
After an hour had passed, a knock on the palace door rang through the halls.
"I'll get it." Shifu said as he walked to the door.
The master opened it and a monkey stepped into the palace. The ape only had a few belongings with him and he was short with a black face. He had two metal bracelets on his wrists and brown fur covered his body.
"H-hello, Master Shifu. My name is Monkey and I believe th-that I've been chosen to be a part of your new team." The chimp said nervously. He had obviously rehearsed this simple sentence many times.
"Oh, good. A new toy has arrived!" Tigress said cheerfully as she crouched down, getting ready to lung at the chimp.
Monkey went pale and his face became contorted with fear. "Yipe." He whispered.
"Tigress, you will NOT bat around the new member. You're to welcome him and treat him with as much respect as I treat you. Is that clear?" Shifu said, glaring at the tiger.
Ugh. So this primate is gonna be a member of this 'elite team'? Fine…
"Alright, Master. I apologize for my reaction, Monkey. I didn't mean to make you afraid. It's just that I've never seen a warrior such as yourself, before."
Shifu chuckled. "You've obviously never met Master Gorilla."
"It's okay. I just hope that we can get along." Monkey smiled nervously.
Once Tigress showed the new member to his room, she returned to the main hall to find a snake and a bug in the doorway. The snake looked to be about eighteen or nineteen and had two flowers on her head. The only thing special about the praying mantis, however, was that he had an old Chinese symbol imprinted on the back of his short, green body.
"Master! This girl tried to eat me!" The bug cried out.
The reptile looked at Shifu with an innocent expression. "I didn't know that I was going to have to work with him. I thought he was food!"
"NOT ON YOUR LIFE!" The praying mantis shouted.
"Watch it, bug." She snapped.
"Students, please calm down. I would like you two to meet Tigress. She'll be working along with the two of you." Shifu cut in.
Tigress smiled, revealing her row of sharp teeth.
The bug almost passed out on the spot at the sight of it, but the snake was ecstatic.
"Hi! My name is Viper! You have amazing teeth! So shiny…"
Tigress raised an eyebrow. "Um, thanks? Why are you so excited about my teeth?"
"Well, I don't really have any fangs. See?" Viper stated as she opened her mouth, revealing her gums, but no teeth of her own.
"I see. I'm sorry to hear that. I know how fond reptilian are of the fangs." The tiger replied.
"No, it's fine! I've gotten used to it!"
Tigress nodded and crouched down to the shaking mantis' level. "And what might you're name be, bug?"
"M-M-Mantis." He squeaked.
"Hm. You're a fierce warrior, huh?" She pondered.
"You bet, kitty. I'm the fastest around!" Came the suddenly confident reply.
"Well, I'll let you all get aquainted with each other." Master Shifu said before walking off.
"Why you little bug…" Tigress snarled as she lunged for Mantis.
"AH!" He yelled as she swiped for him.
"No one calls me 'kitty!'" She said between clenched teeth.
Mantis was too fast for Tigress' attacks, and Tigress soon realized that she wouldn't be able to catch him.
"Don't call me that, go it?" She said finally.
"Sure thing, hot head." He replied.
In response to this comment, Tigress' claws came out of her fingers.
"I mean, uh, Tigress." He said quickly.
"What's all the commotion out here?" Monkey said as he walked into the main hall. "Wait…Mantis?"
"Monkey? BRO HOW'VE YOU BEEN?" Mantis shouted as they ran to greet each other.
"Good, man. How about you? I heard that you got into a sticky situation with the crocs, huh?" Monkey replied.
"Yeah, well, nothing that this bug couldn't handle! What about you?"
The two started talking about the old days and their recent adventures while Viper and Tigress stood off to the side.
"Boys, huh?" The snake said to Tigress.
"Hm. I couldn't agree more. So, tell me a little about yourself…"
Soon, Tigress and Viper were engaged in their own conversation about their past and what lead them to where they are now. Viper quickly realized that Tigress had a horrible past and didn't like to talk about it.
While everyone was talking, a large avian slowly walked into the palace wearing a straw hat. He had a sack with some of his belongings flung over his shoulder and he sauntered in without anyone noticing. Everyone, that is, except Viper.
"Who's that? He's cute…" She said, biting on her tail.
Tigress glanced over her shoulder at the silent bird, wandering around the palace area, looking at the massive architecture.
"Lunch, hopefully, but I assume that he's the last of the new members." She said at last.
*With Crane*
Crane continued to walk around the palace hall until a tiger followed by a snake approached him.
"Hello. You must be the last member of the new team. Your name is…?" The tiger asked.
"Uh, hey. My name is Crane, what's yours?"
"Geez, I just realized that everyone here is named after their species. Weird, huh?" Viper said. "Anyway, my name's Viper. People call me Vi or Vipe. Whatever floats your boat!"
"I see." Crane replied, then raised an eyebrow when Viper winked at him. She quickly blushed and slithered off to meet with a monkey and a bug. "What about you?"
"Tigress." Was all she said. "Welcome to the team."
She turned and walked off. Crane assumed she was going to meet with the master.
Geez, what a ray of sunshine she is. Hopefully the others aren't like her…
Once the new members had all met with each other and had gotten unpacked, they were called into the master's room.
"I trust that you've all met each other. Now, to discuss your training regimen and what happens from here on out…" The panda stated.
Well, that's the end of the first chapter! Hope you guys liked it! Sorry that this first chapter didn't have a lot of action or a cliffhanger, but it'll get better as the story progresses. Plus, it's hard to do a cliffhanger with a prequel and all, since we all know what happens in the movies. Leave a review with your thoughts and I'll write more tomorrow. More to come…