A/N: So I've been planning on this story for quite some time now, and though I really wanted to upload it soon, I wanted to wait until the long Halloween weekend. So yeah, a Happy All Saints Day to all and enjoy.

To visit the cover page, go type mildirk[dot]deviantart[dot]com/ on the address bar, then and add this extension art/Dreamcatcher-Cover-266702570

Dreamcatcher

Legend tells of a young elk, who travelled from distant lands. He ventured to our lands from the great ocean. The villagers, upon seeing the new stranger, welcomed the stranger widely for they seldom receive guests. He was treated well as if the stranger was like a brother. But soon, he had to leave to venture to journey further beyond our nation. The villagers were saddened, and so was the elk. He wanted to give them a token, an item that was part of the elk's culture. Take this to remember me, he said. This item is dear to me. For whoever possesses this, gains protection from the evil spirits. Hang them up and the spirits will go away.

He left the item under the villagers' care and he was never heard from again. He left behind the art of dreamcatching and it eventually became a part of their culture, to honor the spirit of the elk. One night, bandits raided the town. They killed the villagers and burned their houses. They pillaged their supplies, including some of these dreamcatchers. What they did not know was that these items were linked to them now. When they found no use to these dreamcatchers, they destroyed them all. Little did they know their actions would cost them dearly. The day after, they never woke from their slumber, until they eventually met their deaths. Some say their spirits wander around finding their way back to their bodies, or even searching someone else's…

"… and that is the story of the dreamcatcher, my friends. And for a very affordable price, you can have this authentic item yourselves!" A shopkeeper said with a smile as he held the item with his hand.

Master Crane and Master Mantis stared at bunny shopkeeper. "That's some really… interesting story you got there. But I'm just looking for something that'll help me with my sleep." Crane replied with a tired smile.

"Yeah, we certainly don't want him to sleep forever." Mantis added.

"Hey."

"Relax Crane. You've got good karma."

"But sir, if I may, that is also the purpose of the dreamcatcher. The dreamcatcher is meant so that evil spirits do not disturb you. It makes sure that you are peaceful in your sleep. It's double purpose."

"I don't know. It looks fake to me." Mantis replied.

"Shame on me then to lie to the greatest masters of all of China. But I tell you the truth."

The two masters looked at each other, reluctance showing in their faces. This sounds like a rip-off.


Crane was flying just above the thousand steps of the Jade Palace. Mantis rode on Crane's back looking at the item that is hanging on his beak.

"I can't believe you fell for it, Crane."

"Well the guy did say, we could return it if we're not satisfied."

"Yeah. Well… he shows you a little ritual and all that. Do you actually believe in all that mumbo-jumbo?"

"Well… no. But-"

"But nothing. You were played."

"We'll see. I'm getting tired."

"Didn't sleep last night?"

He briefly paused his heading as he hovered over the ground."Look Mantis. I'm desperate. I've tried everything. I've tried all the herbs, meditation, trying Po's noodle soup…" Then he shuddered. "Viper's acupuncture. I think I'll try anything at this point." He then continued his way back to the Jade Palace.

Finally, Crane landed on the palace garden. Mantis jumped off of Crane's back and landed on a rock. "It's almost dinner time. I heard Po's going to make us something different. You coming?"

"Nah…" He yawned. "I think I better catch on my sleep."

"Okay. Take care."


"Crane's not coming?" asked Viper.

"No. He really wants to catch up with his sleep."

"I feel bad for him." Viper replied.

"Yeah, me too." Po said. "Cuz he's gonna miss out on my dumplings of awesomeness." Po handed each of the masters a bowl with a pair of dumplings in each. "There's more here if you want."

Tigress took a conservative bite out of Po's dumplings. "Wow, Po. You've really outdone yourself."

"Uhm… thanks." Po picked up his bowl of soup and placed it closer to his mouth to take a sip. I can't believe it. Tigress is a fan of my dumplings, he thought.

Tigress took a slightly larger bite. Wow, I can't believe I've become a fan of Po's dumplings. Tigress looked at Po, but he was looking back at her. She decided to break the contact. I can't let him see me enjoying this.

Oh she's enjoying this. "Would you like more, Tigress? I can get you some more."

"Uhm… It's okay Po. I think two is plenty."

"You know… those are my dad's dumplings… I mean the recipe. I just… followed… it."

They all gave a puzzling stare at Po. Awkward silence.

Okay, maybe I should not have said that, he thought.

"I'll have some more." Monkey replied.

"Okay, I got it." Po then got up to get some more. "I wish Crane was here though. There's more than enough food now." He said as he picked up a few pieces of dumpling. "Oh well. More for me."

"Hmmm… greedy." Monkey grinned.

"Yeah? Well… whatever. I'm sure he's cool."

"Remember Po. One must not take advantage of other people's shortcomings." Po and the rest of the five looked at the door. Master Shifu had just returned from his meditation exercises.

"Master Shifu… uh- Master Crane is skipping supper and there's more than enough foo-"

"Well I am a little hungry, Dragon Warrior." Master Shifu then made his way to a seat and got himself comfortable.

Po looked at the rest of the five and back to Master Shifu again and back. "O… kay." He put the dumplings on Master Shifu's bowl.

Monkey just tried to keep himself from laughing. "Better luck next time, Po."

After an evening meal, Shifu returned to meditating. He offered his former students to come with them, though they declined. Po, however, was always the eager one and he actually agreed to join Master Shifu. And so, having nothing better to do, the rest of the five thought it best to hit their beds early. Walking to the main hallway, Mantis could not help but notice Viper staring on Crane's room. "I think I better go check on him." said Viper. She then slid the door of Crane's room open to check inside. Upon checking, Viper was relieved, yet surprised to see Crane sound asleep. "We better not disturb him." Viper said to Mantis and Monkey as she left the room to go to hers.

"I hope he finally gets a good night sleep." Monkey said, his eyes focused on Crane's silhouette. "Just seeing him restless, makes me feel uneasy."

"Yeah." Mantis replied, though his eyes were focused on a familiar item they had bought earlier, which was now hanged on the wall just on top of the sliding windows. "I hope so too."


Legend tells of a young elk, who travelled from distant lands…

Yeah? Well… whatever. I'm sure he's cool.

I can't believe you fell for it, Crane.

Whoever possesses this, gains protection from the evil spirits

I've tried everything. I've tried all the herbs, meditating, trying Po's noodle soup… Viper's acupuncture

He really wants to catch up with his sleep.

They killed the villagers and burned their houses.

We certainly don't want him to sleep forever.

I feel bad for him

When they found no use to these dreamcatchers, they destroyed them all.

Do you actually believe all that mumbo-jumbo?

The day after, they never woke from their slumber

You've got good karma

They eventually met their deaths

Mantis woke up violently. He looked around seeing he was back again in the comfort of his own room. Mantis noticed the moon was still way up and assumed that it was still early morning. People are still sleeping. The sound of trees swaying more than usual suggested to him that it was very windy outside. He tried recalling his dream. It was strange. Something about that dreamcatcher did not feel right for him. It gave him the creepy vibes and he could not wait for Crane to return it later today.

Then again, he thought about it. Crane was asleep when they saw him. Still, he thought it best to check on his colleague and friend.

He slid open the door to his room and was surprised to see him still asleep. He focused his attention to the dreamcatcher. I can't believe it. It actually works.

His attention was now focused on the room's surroundings. Now that he thought about it, it was kind of hot inside. It made him wonder why Crane would want to endure this. "I guess I should open the window. It is windy after all." He reached for the sliding windows and with one kick from his leg, the wooden frame slid open effortlessly despite his small size. Soon, the wind was going to gently rush on Mantis' face.

But instead of a gentle breeze, Mantis was met with sustained gusts of wind. The wind had caught him by surprise. So much so, that he was actually pushed back by the wind. He landed at the mat where Crane stood still asleep with one leg. Overturned by the wind, Mantis tried to get himself right-side up again, but as he did so, he noticed something at the corner of his eye. It was the dreamcatcher and the rope that kept it hanging just above the window was about to snap. But just as he tried to get back to his feet, the rope snapped and the item that they had purchased earlier was now in free-fall.

No.

If there was something he could do, but he was not quick enough. The dreamcatcher was already near the ground. All he could do was watch. And at that brief moment of impact, the item broke in two to three parts. Mantis looked at Crane, wondering if he heard that or witnessed the entire thing, but Crane just stood there motionless with his eyes closed. He then returned his attention back to the damaged item.

"For something made of wood, it sure broke easily." He said. "Unless…Unless… this is made of cheap wood." He was suddenly beginning to be suspicious. "I knew it. This is a fake! Wait 'til I tell Crane tomorrow. I bet he's going to be so-" Mantis stopped. He had just noticed something happening to the damaged dreamcatcher. Mantis looked at it with curiosity. Then bright light-bluish glow radiated from the item. Mantis was just dumbfounded. "Okay, I may have spoken too soon." Emerging from the glow was a ghostly matter that soon began to take the shape of a tall avian-like creature. Yet something about the creature felt familiar. He looked at his face and then it hit him. "Crane?"

"I'm free! I'm free!"

"No! Wait!"

But it was too late. Crane had made his way to the window and flew away and disappeared to the night sky.

"What just happened?"


Mantis felt a sense of worry in him. He was worried about what he just witnessed. And what it meant feared him as he had a hunch. He slowly climbed his way to Crane's head. "Crane? Wake up." He whispered as he did not want the others to wake up. However, Crane did not wake up. He called out his name once more. "Crane?" But no luck or whatsoever. He was beginning to panic. "This isn't funny, man." He said. "I'm not laughing." But so was Crane. He did not react at all.

This was making him really nervous now. Mantis felt bad that such a simple gesture of kindness would end up with him being in a lot of trouble or Crane for that matter. "Crane!" Mantis started to shake his neck. "Wake up!"

Despite his efforts, all the shaking did was to cause Crane to go out of balance, eventually tripping to the side. Upon hearing a somewhat audible thud, Crane did not budge despite the impact to the ground.

they never woke from their slumber

He suddenly remembered that particular phrase from the shopkeeper's story. Could it really be? He looked at the badly damaged item that lay down on the floor. There was only one thing left to do.