New story! This one came to mind immediately after 'Dark Side of the Moon.' It's the sequel to the fic that takes place after this and the events of 'A Tiger Cub's Horrifying Secret'. Arizona's living a new life after being taken in the Jade Palace, but struggles to move on from his past as haunting visions and nightmares from his past threaten to live a new life. This deserves an angsty moment, but can also be added as a horror thing. Should I or should this not have a horror genre along with angst? Let me know as you review. Until then...enjoy the new story!

Arizona's Past Wounds

by: Terrell James

Chapter 1: Struggling to Move On

One night in the Jade Palace, Arizona sits alone at the roof of the palace, looking up at the half moon and he knows that he's different from other wolves who howl at a full moon and one can witness the darker side of one.

He hears the thoughts of Dai Ling's words embedded on his head thinking that no wolf would ever howl at a half moon, but he didn't really care about what he said because he is who he is.

He felt like he had no other choice but to let out his frustration by howling at the half moon. He just felt the need to sort of deal with his own issue about trying to move on with his life, but finds it hard to escape Dai Ling's words.

After that, he lowers his head down and lets out a heavy sigh and closed his eyes for a while just to think things over and he finds that living a new life after Dai Ling's death and being prisoner at Kong Wolf City would prove to be a challenge if his past might be a cause of distraction.

"Arizona?"

Arizona quickly opens his blue-hazel eyes, stands up, turns around and sees Musaki standing there on the roof, looking really worried. He lets out a heavy exhale and he asked, "What are you doing here?"

Musaki scratched the back of his neck and he answered, "I kinda...heard you howling and I just wanted to know if everything's okay."

Arizona was trying to cover up the fact that he's struggling to move on with a new life so Musaki wouldn't notice, but just as he was trying to find an excuse, it proved impossible because he could see in Musaki's face that he knows what's really his problem. Musaki immediately asked, "Haunted by your past, aren't you?"

Silence filled the air and all Arizona could do is just stand there and he turned away from him because he knew Musaki was right. He lets out a big sigh and replied, "Yeah, I am. I've been living here for like two months now and everything's fine and all, but sometimes it's kinda hard for me to just accept what it is because I can't get whatever happened out of my head."

Musaki wanted to know more about it and he got to his side and asked, "How long have you felt that way?"

"After my first week of living here. I often have nightmares thinking that he might still be alive and will come back for me." Arizona replied, sadly.

"He's dead, remember?"

Arizona sat down on the roof and replied, "I know. But that's not the only thing I'm worried about."

Musaki sat down with him and he asked, "What's that?"

"Just last night...I dreamt that the entire Valley was burning down and that everything was destroyed, everyone was dead and I see people being burned to death or even killed and I couldn't do anything to save them because it was already too late. I often see...little kids...get killed in the process and I just felt really helpless."

Musaki was silent for a minute, but he figured that Arizona's problem was that he can't let go of the past and that his new life might be threatened with the haunting images of what he's been through. He didn't want that to happen and he's willing to help him in any way possible. He puts his hand on his shoulder and he asked, "Look, the Valley is a very happy place...even though danger lurks in every now and then, but that's where me, the Five and Po come in to prevent this from happening. I'm willing to help you get past this so you can live a happier life."

Arizona knew that Musaki would be the person that he can count on and trust and he looked at him and said, "I'm really happy that you came into my life."

"Hey, it's only the beginning. Just keep your head up, okay?"

"I'll try."

Musaki patted him on the back and walks away, leaving Arizona time to think and contemplate on what had happened after Musaki came into his life and became a great friend to him. He never really thought people like him would exist in this universe, but he's glad he met him.

He stood up, looked at the moon again and climbs down from there. As he made his way back in the students barracks, he fears that his past might haunt him again making his new life really difficult to live on. He sighs heavily before he reaches the door and thought to himself, 'What do I do? I wanna move on with my life, but how do I avoid this problem I'm having from my past if it's still there to haunt me?'

Later that night, Arizona-along with Ruiz, Kazuo and Shing-all fell asleep in the dorm room and Arizona was the only one tossing and turning, groaning in his sleep as if a nightmare is about to come over.

Nightmare

Arizona runs through the streets of the Valley of Peace as he sees the entire place on fire. Villages and homes were being burned to the ground and in a matter of seconds, little kids were consumed by the flames, leaving behind their entire bodies burned. Arizona looked in horror as everything was coming out.

But it grows worse from there...he sees Kazuo, Shing and Ruiz's bodies-all hung, stabbed and bloodied up. Arizona became completely terrified seeing his friends die in a gruesome, disturbing manner. And then, he sees Max's remains scattered around the ground and blood gashing out of his skin and what's worse...Musaki stabbed and bleeding all over his body.

Arizona got down on to his knees and started crying hysterically, seeing his friends he cared so much for were dead. But what's even worse than that? He looks up at the Jade Palace and it exploded into a million pieces and he watched in ultimate horror as it just happened. His new home was gone.

When he walked in there, he sees everything gone and destroyed in seconds. He felt a chill go down his spine and he literally sees Master Shifu lying there in a pool of blood on the ground and then to his shock, Po was also wounded and killed too with mounds of blood coming out oof his body and then, he sees the Furious Five-all hung and killed too.

Every person that he cared so much for were dead and gone and he didn't do anything to save them. Tears were filling up his eyes and he started sobbing hysterically, knowing that he was alone now and with a sight like this...it became horrifying for him.

All of a sudden, Arizona heard some footsteps coming in and in the dark shadows, he sees a very familiar face coming in behind him...

"Arizona..." the mysterious figure growled.

Arizona immediately knew that voice. He looked up, gasped in horror and whispered, "No...it can't be!"

It was Dai Ling...coming back with a vengance. He brought in his dagger and planned to kill Arizona. He growled at him and he yelled, "THIS IS WHERE YOUR LIFE ENDS!"

As he was about to stab him...

SNAP!

Back to reality

Arizona woke up screaming loudly and when he turns around, he sees that he's in his room. He started panting heavily and sees Ruiz, Kazuo and Shing still asleep, but alive. Arizona shuddered softly, thinking that his past might get in the way of his new life and fears that his nightmare will become a reality.

He laid his head back down, looks up at the ceiling and fear soon sets into his head and he tries to avoid that feeling of helplessness again and goes back to sleep.

Unaware that Master Shifu was checking in on him, thinking that something's bothering Arizona and whispered to himself, "What is Arizona afraid of?"

Do I know how to create angst with a horror side or what? Awesome start, right? This is gonna be an awesome fic! Tell me what you guys think of it and this is only the beginning!