WAY OF THE FLYING CRANE

by Ulquiorra9000

Chapter 2

Tashi, a 23-year-old warrior, grinned and took up his position in the outdoor fighting ring, a patch of grassy ground marked with stakes. "Good luck, Parduc."

Parduc, a beefy blue-skinned djinn, returned the grin and bent his knees slightly in the ready position. He tightened his massive fists. "Same to you, Tashi."

Both warriors looked the part. Standing outside the Way of the Flying Crane combat school, and surrounded by dozens of onlookers, Tashi had short brown hair and a white sleeveless tunic and black pants, while Parduc wore knee-length shorts, straw sandals, and a belt. His chest was bare, revealing well-sculpted muscles. His dark eyes watched his human opponent closely. The both of them were good friends, but for now, opponents.

"And... begin!" the school master declared.

For a moment, neither warrior moved. Tashi stood in a meditative calm, drawing on years of careful practice and study. He allowed his surroundings to flow through him, to allow him to become one with the upcoming battle. The thought amused him; any non-warrior would be pretty confused by that!

Parduc didn't move either, and that didn't surprise Tashi at all. He had known the djinn for years, and despite the bigger young man's powerful lightning spells, he would never rush into any situation unprepared. It was a daring game, a test of wills.

Tashi lost.

Might as well try! Tashi had rarely ever won a friendly spar against Parduc, but he felt good about this one. He had practiced with the use of knives, and had several at his belt, but he wouldn't use them today. He had a different plan.

Tashi bunched up his leg muscles and sprang into action, the cool, humid morning air whipped his face as he went. Higher and higher he went... two feet, three feet, four. Even up here, Tashi retained his inner balance, and he felt his mana circulating smoothly inside him like a gyro.

And still, Parduc didn't move. The djinn's only movement was his eyes flicking up to watch his friend unleash the Way of the Flying Crane, but Tashi thought he saw a small grin cross Parduc's face.

Form one. Make it fast! With a sharp shout, Tashi whirled around and came crashing down on Parduc's face and neck like a dervish. He snapped out a kick aimed right at the djinn's temple, faster than the eye could see.

But not faster than lightning could see. Finally, Parduc had moved, and right before Tashi's slipper-clad foot collided with his head, he summoned a small barrier of sizzling reddish lightning. The crowd oohed at the precision of Parduc's counter-move.

Tashi bared his teeth as he pumped his white and blue mana into his form one kick. He used only a sliver of red mana, preferring blue and white to contrast with Parduc's strong red mana. His leg burned and shook with the effort of breaking through Parduc's guard.

It wasn't worth it. With a huff, Tashi broke off the attack and unleashed the next move in form one: a vertical kick to the chin. Form one was the most basic, but important, type of fighting in the Way of the Flying Crane, and Tashi loved it. All his practice went into the vicious kick.

Whack! This time, Parduc was too slow. He stumbled back and his lighting faltered as Tashi's foot snapped his head upwards. For just a split second, Tashi saw an opening in Parduc's guard, so he followed up with form one's third move.

Tashi landed lightly on the grassy ground and sprang straight back up, even higher than Parduc's head. Three well-aimed punches pummeled Parduc's face, and a kick to the throat made Parduc's whole body tremble. Tashi grinned and kept up the pressure as the crowd watched in awe. Come on... crumple. Let me win this one!

Sudden pain blasted through Tashi's whole body, and he gasped in shock. This time, Parduc was the one smiling as lightning flowed from his skin. Tashi mentally kicked himself. He focused his mana in his skin, hoping I'd keep contact for too long! I over-extended.

Tashi's vision flickered as another jolt of lightning issued from Parduc's open right hand, and the warrior felt himself tumble painfully across the grassy ground. The impact snapped Tashi back to his senses, however, and he sprang to his feet before Parduc could land another blow.

The crowd watched, silent and tense, as the two friends circled each other in the ring. Tashi felt sweat soak his tunic as he watched his opponent, his hands held up in the ready position. Maybe he'd try form two and shake things up...

This time, Parduc went first. The djinn pointed his finger and issued a thin jet of blue lightning, and Tashi quickly rolled to evade it. The strike was only a feint; while Tashi rolled, Parduc charged and brought up his booted foot, hoping to catch Tashi in the stomach.

Whoa! Tashi pushed off the ground with a palm and narrowly dodged Parduc's kick. He nimbly flipped himself upright and sprang into the air again, this time flipping himself upside-down. This was form two; with his body inverted, Tashu could open up new avenues of attack and throw his opponent off-guard.

Tashi spun in place and let loose two quick kicks. Parduc swatted one aside with a lightning-infused fist, while the other collided with his chest with a dull thump. Encouraged, Tashi landed on his hands and pushed off the ground again, this time kicking out with both legs at the same time.

But Parduc was ready. The djinn ducked the blow just in time, and Tashi thought he felt his heels scrape Parduc's back. It was no good; Parduc released a well-controlled jab that caught Tashi right in the stomach. Lightning oozed from the blow and Tashi tumbled to the grass once again, his chest heaving. I can't take another one of those!

Parduc sprang to deal the finishing blow, his right fist drawn back. Tashi squirmed out of the way just as Parduc's fist came crashing down, and he quickly chopped a hand at Parduc's side, intending to strike a critical nerve cluster and cripple his larger opponent.

It worked; Tashi's hand easily crushed Parduc's flesh, but Parduc's knee came up at the last second and caught Tashi in the stomach, and this time, Tashi, knew that he was finished. He stumbled back, gasping for breath. His chest felt like it was on fire. He raised an open hand in a gesture of surrender.

The crowd clapped and Parduc took a small bow. Tashi sank and crossed his legs, trying to clear his head as the crowd dispersed. The school master walked over to Tashi. "Why did you lose?"

Tashi swallowed. "I was not ready to finish what I started."

"Clearly." And with that, the school master walked off to usher his students back to class.

Tashi scowled at the master's retreating back. Although he had finished his primary training here and worked as a wandering warrior for several years, it had been under the tutelage of a different master. This one definitely seemed more strict than Tashi's old mentor.

Parduc walked over and settled next to Tashi, his chest heaving and skin dotted with sweat. "That was a good one. That last blow... I'm glad I stopped you before you built on it." He winced and massaged the place Tashi had last struck.

"Yeah, well..." Tashi clapped a hand to Parduc's shoulder. "Maybe next time, huh? So what's that make us? Sixteen to four?"

"In my favor. Don't forget that part," Parduc smiled.

"Yeah. Sixteen you, four me."

For a minute, the two of them that silently, watching their surroundings. Situated on an island in the middle of a vast lake, the Dirgur Stronghold was the most acessible of the four main Jeskai strongholds. An entire village floated on huge barges of bamboo, the buildings connected to each other, the island, and the lake's banks with long bridges. Spires of rock and dragon ribs served as natural anchors for the barges and bridges. The whole village was a marvel, really. Or at least, Tashi thought so.

Finally, after watching some village fishermen drag up a net of squirming fish, Tashi spoke up again. "So... you're really ready to join the Ertau Guards?"

Parduc nodded. "I've been thinking about it, meditating... and I really do think it's time. Several masters have given their approval, and I've spoken to the Guards captain. Tomorrow, I'm going to offficially join."

Tashi hesitated. "Hey, um... you don't seem too excited about it. What gives?"

Parduc looked uncomfortable. He shifted in place. "It's such a big step, Tashi, and it's a life-long commitment, you know."

"What, you're getting cold feet now?" Tashi playfully punched the bigger man's arm.

"No... well, maybe a little." Parduc made an embarassed grin.

"But..." Tashi sputtered. "Everyone wants to join the Guards!"

"I'd never get to see the world," Parduc commented. "You've been outside Jeskai territory before, and by what you tell me, it's fascinating out there. With the Guards, I'd always have to patrol our borders to keep Mardu and Temur raiders out."

"Don't tell me that's the only reason."

Parduc huffed. "We wouldn't see much of each other anymore, Tashi. I don't like that thought."

"Oh." Tashi didn't want to admit it, but he felt the same way. Parduc was his oldest friend, and they'd been through a lot together, including the time a gang of Mardu bandits stormed a rural village where they had been stationed. Only Tashi's quick kicks and Parduc's lightning had seen them through that.

Tashi picked at a few blades of grass, still slippery with morning dew. "Well, how about this... I'll write to you about my adventures, and you can tell me how many villagers swoon at the sight of their big blue hero saving them from the Mardu!"

Parduc laughed in spite of himself. "Promise?"

"Promise. Look, we aren't trainees anymore. We owe it to ourselves to achieve all we can."

For a moment, Parduc hedged, staring at the village as he considered Tashi's words. Then he made a decision. "I suppose we do. Okay!" He stood and put his hands on his hips, and Tashi stood too. "Starting tomorrow, we begin our new lives. Physically, we're separate..."

"But in soul, united!" Tashi finished. It was a silly phrase they had made up together as kids, a crude approximation of the enlightened masters' teachings. But they liked to say it anyway.

Parduc heaved a deep breath. "I guess I've got to get going. You know, to prepare to join the Guards."

"Yeah."

Then, Parduc clapped his hands together and bowed his head. "Safe travels, my friend."

Tashi did the same. "May you find honor and fulfillment in your duty."

With that, Parduc walked off, leaving Tashi alone with his thoughts.

*o*o*o*o*

The blazing evening sun had nearly sunk behind the distant mountains beyond the lake. Tashi sat atop his favorite meditation hill on the school grounds after a quick dinner, right under a blossom tree. For hours, he had sat still save for his breathing, willing his mind, mana, and body alike into a trance. His eyes were shut, his ears and skin finely attuned to his surroundings. He could hear the dry rasp of a butterfly's wings as the insect passed, felt the resulting disturbance in the air. Pollen wafted through the air, a sign of a lush spring.

Earlier, Tashi had admittedly felt bitter about losing to Parduc yet again, but now, as he sat empty of most emotion, he only felt vaguely hopeful. His blue mana reached tenderly into the foggy future, and he saw strafe and conflict, but also prosperity there. For the Mardu Horde, violence and profit were one and the same, but for a someone like Tashi, that combination was more ominous.

What could it be? Tashi ignored the sun's light blaring through his eyelids and delved deeper into his trance, intensifying the blue-white mana aura that surrounded him. His earthly body body began to feel light and distant as his mind climbed higher into the trance. There was still no clarity... but there had to be something...

But nothing. Tashi felt his control over the trance slipping, and he reluctantly let it go. Faint frustration surfaced in the back of his mind, and he pushed it back down. Perhaps he'd consult a master and see if he could get any further...

"Tashi! Good evening."

With a start, Tashi opened his eyes, his meditative trance gone. His mana aura faded and he turned around, surprised by the sight of his father, being escorted up the hill by a school guard.

Tashi got to his feet, wincing at how sore his earthly body was. His mind felt smooth and malleable after meditation, but his body felt awkward by contrast. Well, that was how it usually went with such things. "Hello, dad. Haven't seen you in a while."

The guard backed away to give father and son privacy. Tashi's father, Arba, smiled and joined Tashi at the hilltop. He wore a simple brown shirt and pants, but he carried himself with the pride of a hardworking artisan; in his case, a wood worker. Musical instruments and household furniture were among those things that he created daily in his shop.

Arba scratched his jaw, where he had three-day stubble. "I wasn't interrupting, was I?"

"No, I was done anyway."

"All right." Arba smiled. "So... it's been a while, Tashi. Been busy at the shop back at Sage-Eye Stronghold. Business is good. This noblewoman wanted to redecorate her living room, and that meant plenty of business for me! Bought some new tools and everything! Your mother was very happy about that."

Tashi grinned back. He liked his father's pride in his work, even though some saw the Way of the Artisan as vastly inferior to the Way of the Wandering Warrior, the Way that Tashi followed. But as Arba had often said, pride came from self-assurance and success, not arrogance or wealth. "That's great." His face fell. "But that's not all you came for, is it?"

"No, it's not. The Khan sent me this earlier this week." Arba pulled a folded letter from his pants pocket and held it up to eye level. "Lady Sangye arrived at the Sage-Eye Stronghold a few days back and visited my father's tomb. Personally asked Khan Orzat for permission to go in."

Tashi's heart sank. His grandfather was a touchy subject, and he definitely felt uneasy now, even in his post-meditation calm. He swallowed. "Do you know exactly what she wanted in there?"

Arba shrugged. "Just to carry out some scholarly research to further her path to enlightenment. You understand those things better than me, son. Do you think visiting your grandfather's tomb would help her?"

"No." Tashi balled his hands into fists, his heart suddenly racing. "Grandfather Chodak ruined our family name when he tried to assassinate Khan Orzat and rule out of petty spite. He deserved to be cursed to death and sealed away. What else does anyone else need to know?"

"I agree," Arba said nervously, "but I don't think it's really that simple after all. Right after that visit, Lady Sangye and her attendant left for Abzan territory. She mentioned it to Khan Orzat, apparently, and she seemed eager to go. That's what the letter says."

Tashi couldn't take it. "Let me see that."

Once Arba handed the letter over, Tashi quickly scanned its contents: "To Arba: per our agreement, I am writing to you in regards of your father's remains and any news related to such. Lady Sangye visited my combat school earlier, and she visited your father's tomb to further her studies and path of enlightenment. My guards only allowed her one hour in that tomb, and despite her convincing words, I remain uneasy about this. She then announced her journey to the Abzan clan's territory for further study at Arashin's great libraries. Perhaps you should tell your son about this too? I urge you to do so, for Chodak is the boy's family as much as yours. Kind regards, Orzat, Khan of the Jeskai Way."

The letter was frustratingly plain; just by reading it, Tashi couldn't tell what Lady Sangye's ultimate plan was, and neither, it seemed, could Khan Orzat.

But there was a way to get closer to the truth. Tashi handed the letter back. "I'm going after her."

Arba flinched. "I'm sorry?"

Tashi's eyes bored into his father's. "I've been meditating, dad, and I can't see exactly what's going on in the timeline of our clan. But there's something bad in there; violence, strafe, that sort of thing. Maybe it's related to Grandfather's tomb and Lady Sangye's visit."

"If you say so," Arba said, twisting the letter nervously in his hands. "Tashi... you're not going to hurt Lady Sangye, are you?"

"I'd much rather not," Tashi said doggedly, "but I've felt like I've been waiting for a chance to really make a difference. And if Lady Sangye is sniffing around Grandfather's tomb and running off to Abzan lands, I've got to do something. This is what the Way of the Wandering Warrior is all about! I have a duty to our family and the clan to do this."

Arba pursed his lips. "This could be dangerous, Tashi, and upset the delicate balance in our clan. Nothing good can come from it if my father's legacy is involved."

Tashi clapped a hand to Arba's shoulder. "Don't worry, dad. I've trained for years for this sort of thing! And besides... my friend Parduc is joining the Ertau Guards tomorrow. I don't want him to have all the glory."

"I suppose there's no way to talk you out of this?"

"None."

Arba hesitated, then embraced his son. "Then may the fates watch over you. Or whatever you warriors say. I can never tell..."

"I get the point. And thanks."

Arba parted from Tashi. "I suppose you'll have to pack?"

"Not as much as you'd think. Us warriors travel light. I'll just have to arrange to get a travel companion. I'll ask the school master about it tomorrow. I hope I get someone friendly..."

*o*o*o*o*

A/N: Here's a few excerpts from A Planeswalker's Guide to Tarkir:

Sage-Eye Stronghold: The main stronghold and nexus of the Jeskai clan is built into the side of a mountain at the edge of a bay. The bay is ringed by mountains, and the stronghold is only accessible by ship—or by people with excellent climbing skills. The adherents of the martial arts tradition followed here are known for their stealth, quickness, and cunning.

Dirgur Stronghold: This stronghold, built on an island in the midst of a vast lake, is surrounded by a floating village with a network of wooden bridges. Natural pinnacles of rock (and dragon ribs) jut out of the lake and serve as anchors for the bridges. This is the most accessible of the main strongholds, sitting near the crossroads of a major caravan route known as the Salt Road, where the Jeskai trade somewhat peacefully with Abzan merchants. The Dirgur martial arts tradition is aggressive. Its adherents are known for their skill with bladed weapons. The fiercest warriors of this tradition focus on elemental magic and become bloodfire warriors.

Way of the Artisan. Jeskai children who choose this path finish their education by learning a trade. The Jeskai are renowned for making weapons of all kinds and out of all materials, and every trade includes a component of weapon-making. Blacksmiths make kettles and swords. Weavers make blankets and braided whips. Carpenters carve wooden chests and arrows. There are artisan brigades that build watermills, boats, and other works for the Jeskai people. Many of the strongholds contribute funds for boat-builders to make and donate solid vessels for growing Jeskai families.

Way of the Mystic. These students continue their studies in the arcane and martial arts and will eventually become scholars, teachers, and monks in a stronghold.

Way of the Wandering Warrior. These students apprentice with an elder wanderer and spend increasing amounts of time in the wilderness, where they serve as scouts, spies, and nomadic arbiters of justice.