Chapter 2
Po, Tigress, Crane, Viper, Monkey, and Mantis knew there the minute they woke up the next morning, there was going to be mayhem all over the palace. Po tried to get up early especially this morning so it wouldn't annoy Shifu... but the old Master seemed to be already ticked off about something oblivious to them. They didn't get a chance to greet their master as usual this morning. As soon as all their doors opened, Shifu was pacing up and down the hall with a list of tasks to do... for the festival. He was giving out to everyone about them slouching, or when Mantis yawn, he threatened it would be the very last time he would ever do it again for the rest of his life.
"We have to focus," he said. Everyone nodded in unison. They knew he was only stressed and that was the main reason why he was threatening them.
"Monkey," he turned to the primate. "Have you practiced the Zhu?"
"Yes Master," Monkey shot back quickly, just in case his master threatened to beat him with the instrument if he didn't say anything at all. He practiced all day yesterday, and asked Po, Tigress, and the others to sit with him as he played to make sure he got the notes right.
"Mantis and Crane," he turn to the insect first, and then the avian. "Is the Scarlet river technique to the point and flawless?"
"Yes Master," they both replied, but not as worrying as their simian friend. However, same as Monkey, they were practicing all day yesterday, and asked the others to watch them and help them make it reach Shifu's expectations, before being satisfied with a clean bill from Tigress, who knew what Shifu expected, and what his opinions of perfections were.
"Viper," he turned to the serpent. All he had to do was give her a look of question.
"Yes Master," she replied with a positive attitude. And Shifu didn't have to question further.
"Po," he turned to the panda. "Have you found something for the festival?"
"Yes Master," he replied. He was about to explain what he was doing, but Shifu finally moved on to Tigress.
"Tigress?" He did the same thing to Tigress, giving her a nod, and she nodded back, followed by a 'yes master'. What she was doing at the festival is still unknown to her comrades. Although the suspense of temptation to ask about what she was doing was killing them all (excluding Shifu). They offered to help her with what ever she was doing, but she declined. They never heard her practice whatever she was doing, and kept thinking if she stepped out of it, or it wasn't that big of a deal.
"Just go over it all again this morning." Said Shifu. "That's all I ask. The festival starts at noon, and we'll be meeting the other masters down there early. I'm leaving for the valley now, so I can meet the other Masters. When the gong rings out, you are all to meet in the Village square immediately."
"Yes Master." They replied.
As they finished up their last minute practices... the afternoon gong rings out throughout the Valley, signalling for them to do what their Master have told them to do. They waited for each other one by one. Po came out first, then Crane, then Monkey, then Viper, then Mantis... and then they all watched Tigress walk out, with a scroll wrapped up in-hand.
"Are you doing a speech Tigress?" Asked Po. Everyone looked at him as if he asked to be skinned. He raised a paw. "I know we're not meant to ask you... and I- e.i made a promise to Shifu not to ask you this... but I'm only curious."
Tigress blinked a few times in surprise... before smiling. Not just at him, but to them all. "Thank you all for not asking me about it until now... yes I'm doing a speech. I'm afraid that's all I can say... shall we get going?"
They realized that she was extremely calm about it, and thought it was safe to try and dig more into it when they were walking down the steps.
"It must be very important to Master Shifu," said Mantis. "If he wanted us not to ask you about it."
"It is," she replied... but then she lowered her voice as she added; "It is to all of us..."
Everyone didn't really understand what she meant by that, so they quickly moved on to their own works. when they asked Po what he was doing after he told them he finally got something to work with. But he said that it would ruin the surprize.
"What surprise?" Asked Monkey.
Po tapped the side of his nose. "That will be telling, won't it?"
"Fine then don't tell us," said Monkey with a sigh. "Must be so ultra amazing you won't share it with anyone."
"Indeed," Po replied.
Shifu had them sitting in their places as soon at the opening music to welcome everyone started playing.
"Now this is the performances in order; Monkey, Viper, Mantis and Crane, Tigress, and then Po. I want you all to sit in that order."
"Yes master," they replied, and did so. He smiled at them for the first time in days, before adding; "You'll do fine... just like you always have done for everything else." And went to greet Master Ox and Croc.
"Aw man!" Monkey began paniking. "I'm up first?!"
"Relax Monkey," Viper patted his shoulder. "You'll do great."
"Thanks Viper," he whispered, before Shifu got up on stage to announce to the whole Valley that their event was about to begin. Po looked at the crowd, and then on stage, where he saw every kung fu master in China that came around to this important event...
"Now Master Monkey will play the Zhu for us."
They clapped the primate on, as he got up, bowed to his master, then to the other masters that sat behind him, and then the crowd who cheered him on. He picked up the stick, and then picked up the Zhu; an instrument with a rectangular wooden body, with silk or gut strings that are played with a slender stick. He closed his eyes, to wash away the pressure he had. As soon as the melody began to play, everyone calmed down with it, and moved in time with the song. They realized that it was an important melody to them all... the one their dearly departed master composed himself...
Master Oogway.
"You know," Tigress said quietly. "When I was little, he would play this song on the same instrument, maybe with Shifu playing the flute... and I always found a sense of peace..."
"Me too," said Mantis. Crane and Viper nodded along.
"I guess it brings back those amazing memories back..." Po looked at the ground, smiling.
"You could hear him play from the Valley too..." He said, making everyone rise their heads. "So I guess we all find it peaceful."
After Monkey, Viper, and Mantis and Crane's performance, Tigress stepped up. all was going well so far. Monkey did great, not messing up a single note. Viper finished her recreation on the story of how she saved her father from the gorilla beautifully. Crane and Mantis' performance was done flawlessly. Now it was Tigress turn...
"'Out, out, brief candle!' A fugitive once said," she began. "'My life's but a waking shadow, why bother even attempting to walk the thin fragile line it stands as? 'Tis nothing but a tale told by a man who is against the law. His life was full of fury and not in happiness, full of sound and rarely in silence. Feeling the doubt... and not the pride.' From time to time, he asked himself why he even went down this road in the first place, and why he wasn't on the life that seemed far from his reach..."
The rest of the five looked at one another with a startled, but happy look as Po stared in shock. He turned his head to the five, pointing at Tigress.
"Wait..." he said. "Isn't that the-"
"Yes," Viper said in a whisper. "It's Oogway's speech when we were announced to the valley for the first time as the Furious Five..."
"It brings back great memories." Said Monkey, as Mantis sat on his shoulder. "A really amazing one of Oogway."
The audience and the rest of the Kung fu masters seemed to be taken aback too. The crowd began whispering to one another. Tigress stopped and waited professionally, and as she did so, the Kung fu masters had their chance to nod to each other and bow to the open space in front of them, as if their departed master was there.
"Sometimes," The feline continued when there was silence. "Thoughts about how fragile one's life can be goes through the minds of even the mightiest of Masters... and they can reflect on their own lives. A person that is teased because of his appearance may hurt his feelings, and being told he could never achieve anything amazing, can satisfy the hunger of the demons that spew this words of hatred, as well as eat of his confidence... he could have stopped himself from achieving what waits for him at the top of the hill..."
Crane closed his eyes when everyone looked at him excitedly. "That gave me so much confidence." He whispered.
"Patience, persistence and perspiration make an unbeatable combination for success... some people can never find the strength within themselves to cope with this test. Confining them in a cage of negativity and nothingness could shrink an intelligent mind... before the sky eventually comes clearer to an impatient mind... and slowly make the world run faster then one... but still able to put them in time."
"I laughed so hard when he said the part about coping with the test." Chuckled Mantis. "It described me perfectly. And the entire Valley agreed with the same reaction... even though Shifu scolded me after for laugh aloud."
"I'm sure he did," Po whispered.
"Sometimes ill-luck can be traced in many family histories. Shame can be a every strong word that can linger and hold onto you for life... especially if you know that your own relatives look at you with the word written clearly in their eyes. You try to distract yourself, but the word remains in your head through it, but only in tiny letters. When you are pressured into following the family's recognition, and you feel hopeless? Lack of belief goes straight to your confidence... but people have jumped out of the way, and used their daily distractions to win their battles with what people made them believe in."
The boys turned to find Viper shed a tear. "I cried so much the first time... I cried non stop for the whole evening after that."
"Don't cry on us again Vi," said Monkey, chuckling as he gave her a hug.
"Little pranks are one thing. But doing it daily, and nearly hurting people in the process? Definitely not a good thing, nor considered little. The pain you have experienced in the past can reflect in your mind and fall into your pranks without you even noticing. Sometimes, even the a master has to be there to make the heartless have a taste of there medicine... before guiding them down the path of greatness."
"I felt my heart twist when he said that... about hurting people, which I did... but then I promised to change and never do it to the innocent again..." he kissed the tips of his fingers after letting go of serpent, before lightly touching his chest, where he felt his heart pounding under his touch.
"Doesn't mean you stop doing it to bandits though," said Mantis with a sinister grin. But then he realised he said in an eerie silence, and covered his mouth immediately, the grin taken from his face. Through the quietude, Tigress was looking at the piece of paper she was holding, gripping onto it a little. She turned to Shifu, who was standing at the side of the stage. He nodded her with courage in his eyes.
"Masters can't just be trained to become the best... they can be born with the strength of a hundred warriors together. This strength to on lookers if not controlled can be mistaken it into different things; Violent... strange... almost uncontrollable... or possibly named something that can cause one anxiety. Feeling like the room closes in around them... or that all fear them, and get so used to it... it surprises them when... someone doesn't fear them, or their strength. A still hand, and steady heart... and the right guidance, can make one controllable, and use their strength protect those instead of them seeing it as a threat."
All members of the five covered their mouth in shock. "Those words hit Tigress big time..." Crane whispered.
"But in a good way," Mantis added quickly. "All of us respected Tigress right from the start, but she didn't get to close with us, because she thought we were afraid of her... we looked at her with a smile after he said those words."
"We wanted her to realize that we were never afraid of her in the first place."
"All the differences I have spoken of have been combined together... to make these five amazing students become your protectors... Your saviors... Your heroes until years to come." She finishes on a shaky note, but she received a standing ovation, from all the Kung fu masters, and the crowd. She bows, and is greeted by getting into a group hug with Po, Viper, Crane, Mantis, and Monkey, who had tears in their eyes.
"You turned on the water fountains Tigress... in everyone. Well done." Said Po.
"Shifu knew how important this speech was to us... and asked me to read this out."
"You did amazing Tigress," wept Viper. "It brought back the memory we want to treasure-"
"And now," Shifu announced. "Our Dragon Warrior will show his piece."
Po breathed in, and waved over at the musicians who waited patiently. He got pats on the back for luck, and claps from the crowd. After bowing to the masters and audience, he said;
"I just want to say that I got my inspiration from the speech Master Tigress read to us all... but what I put together? I'm afraid it's not about Master Oogway..." he smiled, "it's about me and the Furious Five." He looked over at his friends, with puzzled looks on their faces. "The Furious Five... an amazing group of people from all walks of life, like any other heroes." He turns back to the audience, gesturing at the masters behind them. "All of your hero's must come from somewhere..." He then gestures at the Five. "As for me and the five? As said in the speech, they, and I'll add myself in there too, all have faced something years ago, to become who they were today. Some experienced lessons that were learned, some had to control their power, over come their fears and dangerous courses... and for me... facing the enemy who took almost everything I had away." He inhaled sharply, and nods at the musicians. They nod back at him, then at each other, before two started to play their instruments one at a time; two guitars, a piano was dragged up from behind the screen that the masters sat in front of, and a set of drums. As they did this, the other one walked down off the side of the stage... and brought Tigress up on stage. Everyone was surprised at first by how happy the music sounded... and Tigress was confused on being the only one of the Five to be brought up on stage again... but then Po began to sing...
*Places a paw on Tigress' shoulder.*
All her life she has seen
All the meaner side of me
They took away the prophet's dream for a profit on the street
Now she's stronger than you know
A heart of steel starts to grow
*He points at himself as Tigress is guided off stage and told to wait at the side, with a look of slight shock on her face, but not as big as the others.*
All his life he's been told
He'll be nothing when he's old
All the kicks and all the blows
He won't ever let it show
*Everyone chuckled at the first two lines*
'Cause he's stronger than you know
A heart of steel starts to grow
*He picked up a guitar, and began to strum in time with the fast, diegetic music.*
When you've been fighting for it all your life
You've been struggling to make things right
That's how a superhero learns to fly
Musicians:
Every day, every hour
Turn the pain into power!
Po:
When you've been fighting for it all your life
You've been working every day and night
That's how a superhero learns to fly!
Musicians:
Every day, every hour
Turn the pain into power!
*Po beckons the rest of the five onto the stage.*
All the hurt, *points at Viper.*
all the lies *points at Crane*
All the tears that they cry *points at Monkey.*
When the moment is just right
You see fire in their eyes
'Cause he's stronger than you know *Holds Mantis up into the air.*
A heart of steel starts to grow
When you've been fighting for it all your life
You've been struggling to make things right
That's how a superhero learns to fly!
Musicians:
Every day, every hour
Turn the pain into power
*Monkey is handed the drumsticks. Viper is guided to the piano, and Crane and Mantis soon realised what they should do.*
When you've been fighting for it all your life
You've been working every day and night
That's how a superhero learns to fly
Every day, every hour
Turn the pain into power
Crane and Mantis:
Every day, every hour
Turn the pain into power!
*The crowd starts cheering and clapping along as the two repeat 'power' over and over. Tigress watches the scene with a smile, but then get pulled up on stage again by Po, who hands her the other guitar.
"Po?" She tries to say over the noise level. She turns to finds all the kung fu masters either up on their feet, clapping in time with the music, or whispering the best they can about the performance.
"Come on Tigress," said Po with a giant grin. "Let's hear you play!" She was unsure as she guided her fingers across the strings gently...*
Crane and Mantis:
Every day, every hour
Turn the pain into power
Po *standing by Viper playing the piano*:
She's got lions in her heart
A fire in her soul
*Points at Monkey.*
He's a got a beast in his belly
That's so hard to control
*Points at Mantis.*
'Cause they've taken too much hits
Taking blow by blow
Now light a match, stand back, watch them explode
*Stands by Tigress.*
She's got lions in her heart
A fire in her soul
*Remaining in his place, points at Crane.*
He's a got a beast in his belly
That's so hard to control
*Points at himself.*
'Cause they've taken too much hits
Taking blow by blow
Now light a match, stand back, watch them explode...
*Tigress looks at the guitar she's holding. Smirking at the panda, she soon follows the melody solo, which surprises everyone as she played the guitar like an expert, and it brings a smile to Po's face, as he allows her take the lead.*
Po:
When you've been fighting for it all your life (Crane: all your life)
You've been struggling to make things right
That's a how a superhero learns to fly!
Crane and Mantis:
Every day, every hour
Turn the pain into power
Po:
When you've been fighting for it all your life
You've been working every day and night
That's a how a superhero learns to fly
Viper, Crane, Mantis, and Monkey:
Every day, every hour
Turn the pain into power
Po:
Oh, yeah...
Crane and Mantis:
Every day, every hour
Turn the pain into power!
*Now both Tigress and Po play the guitar solo together.*
Po:
Ooh, yeah
Whoa
Po, Viper, Crane, Mantis, and Monkey:
Every day, every hour
Turn the pain into power
Tigress:
When you've been fighting for it all your life...
Po:
You've been struggling to make things right...
Tigress:
That's how a superhero learns to...
Po:
Fly
*Viper finishes a small piano solo, ending the song.*
They breath heavily with satisfaction as the crowd went wild. Everyone, including Shifu and all the Kung fu masters, were cheering and clapping for them. Po and Tigress remained in their places, before turning to face each other, and smiling at each other... and sharing a quick hug, before the rest of the five joined in. All foreheads together, all eyes looking at the ground.
This was a festival that would never be forgotten.
The End!
There you have it everyone!
Hope you like it!
I have more new stories on the way!
As well as ones I still need to do lol XD
Please review!
The song is Superheroes by the Script btw :)