Ancient Future Chapter: 3
The next day Hango begins the day with teaching Lee Taichido. They're going to an underground cave with Hiroka unconscious on Lee's back where Hango will begin his training.
Lee: Okay I understand that this whole Kung-Fu thing has to be all mystery cool thing, but why do we have to go through all this trouble just to go through an underground mountain?
Hango: I know what I'm doing here, and we don't understand the extent of your power, so we'll have to go somewhere where I know you can't cause any real damage our get any unwanted attention.
Lee: Oh yeah, so why am I the one who has to carry Hiroka? Why are we even bringing him with us? He tried to kill us man!
Hango: He's the only one we know that knows about what's going on, so we need him alive so we can question him. Besides, if we leave him behind someone would find him, and we'll more than likely have to fight him again one day and it'll be harder that time.
Lee: Ok, I just love that excuse. So why am I the one carrying him?
Hango: Will you just stop complaining about everything? I thought you could use the exercise, and if you can't take that then you won't go passed basic Taichido, now man up!
Lee: Well I didn't think you'd get so worked up about it, I was just trying to be funny.
They arrive to an underground cave lit up by glowing blue crystals.
Hango: Here we are.
Lee: Whoa! This place is amazing! I thought it'd be dark and you'd use some weird Taichido thing to light the place up!
Lee then drops Hiroka on the ground.
Hango: You have no imagination. Actually you're half right. The crystals you see here are made of Chi, this kind of Chi is made by normal living things like plants animals or...
Lee: Mountains!
Hango: ... Yes Lee, and mountains. It makes it easier to focus in your Chi at your beginning state.
Lee: Oh, so that's why you sent me here.
Hango: Well, that and like I said, we don't understand that power of yours. When we start getting into Chi and what it is, I'll explain why.
Lee: Alright, let go!
Hango: Okay then. First, I'll have to explain what Chi is. We as humans have energy naturally, in daily lives we use it for everything we do. The energy we use is the natural energy humans have by default, stamina. But people who aren't Shinyang use even a little Chi just to live. Shinyang go through special training to unlock and tap into this Chi and use it.
Lee: Oh I see, so that's how those guys were able to sense me.
Hango: Now, amplifying your natural Chi is different for every person. Some people get it rather easy, others go through pain and suffering, but they all have to train for quite a while before they can use Chi in combat.
Lee: H-how long did it take for you?
Hango: Well, I didn't keep track, but I'd say, about 6 months.
Lee: 6 months?! You've gotta be kidding me! Isn't there a faster way?!
Hango: Hey, that's not a long time, and its s good record compared to how long it usually takes.
Lee: Well since we're in a rush to find out why our clan is trying to capture us, isn't there a faster way?
Hango: Well now that I think about it, I never worked really hard at it, and I never really took it that serious, until...
Lee: Until what?
Hango: ... Nothing. Look, I can make you considerably stronger in a shorter amount of time, but it'll be a pain, it'll be harder than any other training method you've ever been through.
Lee: Well you know me; I never take the easy way!
Hango: That doesn't change anything.
Lee: Man, way to put me down.
Hango: I'm not joking; this isn't something to take lightly. Do you know why there aren't a lot of Shinyang in the Renshu? Its cause a lot of people almost die or really die from trying to become Shinyang. It's not an easy task to overcome no matter how long it takes.
Lee: Wow, seriously? I didn't think this was that dangerous.
Hango: You should really take this more seriously, not a lot of people survive this.
Lee: Okay, so where do we start?
Hango: Before using anything, you'll have to be able to visualize and tap into your Chi. To do that, you'll have to do a specialized meditation for beginners that enables you to visualize your Chi core.
Lee: You're using big words. Can you calm it down already? I can't understand what you're saying.
Hango: Just, sit down and try to look inside yourself.
Lee: Waa?
Hango: Try to visualize you core. Imagine a blowing blue ball sitting in a void of black space.
Lee: Okay, I gotcha now.
Hango: You're so weird.
Lee then sits down and begins trying to visualize his core.
Lee: Hm...
Hango: (Well since this could take a while...) I'll go look for some food, I'll be right back.
Lee: Huh... I... what are you... talking about...?
Hango: (I'm impressed; his mind is already gone into his inner realm. He might start fighting a lot sooner than I expected.)
Hango then walks toward Lee.
Hango: (I should go, but I shouldn't leave him here unprotected. Eh, I'll leave a Chi barrier around him in case something goes wrong while I'm gone)
Hango then erects a barrier made of Chi around Lee. Then the camera zooms into Lee's face as he has a flashback.
Flashback...
4 years ago, in the village of the Kuhai clan's village...
Lee: Meili, Bolin.
Bolin: Hm?
Meili: Hm?
Lee: I need your help!
Meili: Well what is it?
Lee: I (pant)... wasn't able to... (pant) get away from them all!
Bolin: What are you talking about...?
Zheng: Lee, where are you?! Oh, there you are!
Meili: You got into another fight?
Bolin: Why can't you get along with people Lee?!
Lee: Hey don't blame me; they said my brother was a terrible heartless older brother that never stays around for his younger brother!
Bolin: You idiot. Well, I guess we can't just sit here. Let's deal with them.
Zheng: You got some nerve, you little runts. You beat up my friends Lee, don't think I'll let you walk away from that in one piece! Alright boys, let's teach him a lesson.
Bolin: Okay Lee, you'll take the 2 on the right, and I'll take the 2 on the left and Zheng.
Lee: Why're giving me the harder job?!
Bolin: Cause you're the stronger one right?
Lee: Oh, yeah, okay!
They then run at the gang of bullies and eat them up.
Zheng: Ugh!
Lee: That's what you get for talking crap about my brother you rotten bas...
Hiroka: Lee!
Lee: Huh?!
Hiroka: What is the meaning of this?!
Meili: Huh, captain Hiroka! Please don't punish Lee for this he was only defending his brother's pride!
Bolin: Uh, I'm right here ya know.
Hiroka: All of you, in my office now!
Meanwhile...
Hiroka: Zheng, you may go.
Zheng: Yes sir!
Hiroka: Meili, get in here!
Meili then enters Hiroka's office.
Meili: Please captain Hiroka, you can't blame Lee for this. He was only defending his brother.
Hiroka: I'm tired of him lashing out cause of his mouth. I can't keep allowing him to be excused for not being able to take a few words!
Meili: It's not like he just lashed out for no reason, Zheng just wouldn't stop.
Hiroka: Well Meili, who started it?
Meili: ... uh, well...
Hiroka: You didn't see it did you?
Meili: Well, I just took Lee's word for it.
Hiroka: You didn't even see what happened and you wanna defend him?!
Meili: Uh...?!
Hiroka: Get out!
Meili then runs out of the room in fear.
Meili: Ah!
Lee: Well, what do I have in store?
Meili: I'm sorry Lee; I couldn't convince him that you're innocent.
Lee: Don't blame yourself Meili.
Bolin: Hello I was in it too; I should be the innocent one!
Hiroka: Bolin!
Bolin: Huh?!
Hiroka: ... You may go.
Lee: What?!
Bolin: What?!
Meili: What?!
Hiroka: Lee, you come in my office right now.
Lee: Wait captain Hiroka I can explain honestly please give me a chance to explain myself!
Hiroka: In now!
Lee then goes into the office.
Lee: I have rights, I had every right to do what I did, it's not like I destroyed the place or anything.
Hiroka: I could care less about you or what you do, just get one thing straight here Lee; leave, Zheng, alone.
Lee: You're telling me that as if I was the one who got all this started! I'm so sick of you always taking his side just because he's your son!
Hiroka: My son may have his pros and cons but he's not strong like you, you could really end up hurting him!
Lee: Huh?!
Hiroka: ...
Lee: What do you mean?
Hiroka: Listen just stay away from each other from now on.
Lee: I don't get it; you let him talk trash about my family, cause a big fight, and then you let him walk away scot free, what happened to justice?!
Hiroka: I don't need to explain myself to you.
Lee: Could you at least tell me why...?
Hiroka: Don't you get it? You're the one being questioned here.
Hiroka then slowly takes out s small canister from behind his back from where Lee cannot see it.
Lee: I'm tired of this, can I at least get a phone call to my dad?
Hiroka: After this, I don't this you'll have to worry about that anymore.
Lee: What's that supposed to mean, are you gonna do some kind of inhumane punishment?! It's really not that big a deal!
Hango: Okay Hiroka, that's enough.
Lee: Huh, Hango!
Hango then arrives into Hiroka's office
Hango: I'll be taking it from here captain Hiroka.
Lee: Hango! When did you get back?!
Hiroka: Hango, when did you return?
Hango: I recently got back about an hour ago, Hiroka.
Lee: Uh, okay, let's go home already.
Hango: Yeah, come here Lee.
They then walk out of the office.
Meili: Oh Lee, he didn't hurt you did he?
Lee: Meili, you sat by here all this time?
Meili: Yeah, are you...?
Lee: That's pretty creepy.
Meili: Huh?!
Hango: Thanks for looking out Meili.
Lee: See ya!
Lee and Hango then leave the station.
Lee: Man that was close, you have no idea how scared I was until you showed up, thanks bro.
Hango: Glad I could help. Now, start talking.
Lee: What?
Hango: How and why did you get into a fight again? but this time it had to be right as soon as I got back!
Lee: Now hold on a second, I can explain!
Hango: Well...
Lee and Hango then sit down by a river and talk.
Hango: Why Lee, why do you keep beating people up in my name?
Lee: I just, couldn't keep letting him run his mouth.
Hango: Ugh... Lee, I wish you'd stop with constantly getting in trouble; I don't want this to continue cause of me.
Lee: D-does dad know?
Hango: Yeah... you've got it coming when we get back.
Lee: Waa?!
Hango: Well come on lets go, I bet I might be able to have dad show you a little mercy.
They then start walking home.
Lee: So Hango, tell me about your adventures outside the village!
Hango: Oh, okay. Well I went to a... science lab.
Lee: And what'd you do there?
Hango: Well, I uh... found some things there and I, fought some guys who were, strong.
Lee: And...
Hango: ... I beat up like 30 plus guys by myself with some help from a friend.
Lee: Whoa, that's awesome! One day, I'm gonna come with you one day!
Hango: Well I don't know about that.
Lee: Why not?! With you around no one has anything to worry about. I mean of course I'm strong as stuff, but even if it gets hairy, you'll be right there to protect me. We'll always have each other's backs.
Hango: Ha, ha, are you just saying that to encourage me to ask dad to show mercy?
Lee: No I really mean it.
Hango: Huh?
Lee: I'll always have your back, no matter what so I'll be able to go on your next mission!
Hango: Slow down. I admire your loyalty, but you still have a lot to learn.
Flashback over...
Meanwhile...
While Hango is looking for food, Lee stops meditating.
Lee: Ah, this is so boring! But I did gain a little something from it. I can at least emit Chi a little bit. Hey Hango, aren't you gonna say something? ... Hango? ... (Where the heck did he go?) ... Hango! Hango...!
Lee then tries to get up and walk around but he is stopped by a Hango's wall of Chi and cannot get out.
Lee: Ow! What the heck is this?! Hango, Hango! Huh! (I sense someone coming this way, but for some reason, I don't know who it is. I know it's not Hango. Did he just abandon me here?! I gotta get outta here!)
Lee starts hitting the barrier with his bare hands.
Lee: Ugh, ah! Come on... come on! Ugh, ah!
Lee then breaks through it and runs behind a large rock.
Meanwhile...
Hango: What?! My barrier's been broken, aw man, I have to get back now!
Meanwhile, back in the cave...
Katsu: Man I can't believe we didn't catch anything at all.
Lee: Huh!
Ryota: Yeah man, I can't believe we didn't catch anything at all.
Lee: (Who said that?)
Some strange people start coming into the underground cave.
Lee: (Oh no, who's that?)
Ryota: Hey, don't sweat t that much; it was Zhidoa's fault for trying to capture that girl. If it wasn't for him, we could have got some fish, we were just too close to miss it.
Ryota then grabs one of the glowing blue crystals and starts eating it.
Lee: (What the?! That is weird, but I always wondered how those tasted.)
Ryota: Ugh, we can't keep living off of these. We need some food that'll actually fill us up.
Katsu: Well it's better than nothing, it's we have something to keep us alive.
Ryota: I'm just so hungry. Hey, does it feel like someone else is here?
Lee: (Huh?! Oh no!)
Katsu: Nah, it's probably just Zhidao on his way here.
Ryota: This, doesn't feel like Zhidao.
Katsu: Calm down, it's probably just that girl.
Ryota: But if it was, shouldn't Zhidao be with her?
Katsu: ... Yeah, we should go check it out.
Lee: (Oh crap!)
Ryota and Katsu then walk towards the area where Lee is.
Lee: (What'll I do? These guys have a crazy Chi powering through them. I can't beat them in a fight and Hango's not here to help me.)
Katsu: Careful, t could be a trap.
Ryota: I'm good; I don't need to be lectured by you.
Lee: (I won't believe that Hango just left me, but it doesn't matter now.)
As Katsu and Rytota get closer to Lee...
Lee: (Alright, looks like I have to fight now!) Ha...! Huh!
Meili: Huh!
Meili was in the same direction as Lee and they both jumped out at the same time without realizing it.
Lee: Meili, is that you?!
Ryota: Ah the girl got lose!
Meili: Lee, is it really you, after all this time?
Katsu: It doesn't matter. Geez I thought Zhidao could keep a better hold on her. Kid who are you?
Lee: Who me?
Katsu: Yeah you!
Lee: I have no reason to tell you!
Katsu: Why you...! What are you doing here; you lose you mommy or something?
Lee: I don't need to tell you!
Meili: Lee stop, this is a fight you don't want to pick please!
Lee: I've changed. And besides, it's not like we have much of a choice.
Meili: Lee, don't, it's okay, we'll be safe if you just follow my lead.
Lee: Huh!
Meili then puts her hand towards their heads
Lee: ... W-what are you doing?
Meili: I don't get it, why isn't it working?
Lee: W-what are you... Talking about?
Katsu: Sorry little lady, that doesn't work on us.
Lee: What are you talking about?! What is anybody talking about?!
Katsu: We don't have time for this, the girl's our hostage, but the boy needs to be taken down now! Let's get him!
Meili: Lee let's run!
Lee: Not a chance!
Lee and Katsu then charge at each other, but Katsu punches Lee in the face and knocks him down on his back.
Meili: Lee!
Lee: ... Lucky shot.
Katsu and Ryota then charge at Lee at the same time. While Lee is jumping around to try to avoid them, they are still hitting him around here and there. Then, Lee puts his hands together, just like he did in the meditation, and charges up Chi that causes a large smoke screen.
Meili: Lee!
Ryota: Ah!
Katsu: Tch, that brat!
Lee then runs toward Meili.
Lee: Alright let's go!
Lee then grabs her hand and runs toward the opposite side of where Ryota and Katsu are.
Lee: I was in way over my head, I needed a strategy, I can still beat them if I catch them by surprise!
Meili: Will you just stop trying to beat them?! You just can't do it!
Lee: Don't worry, I've learned a lot! What were you trying to do to them back there?
Meili: Uh... I was...
Hango Oh crap, what's going on here?!
Ryota: Who said that?!
Hango returns to the cave.
Hango: Lee, what're you doing?
Meili: Hango, is that you?
Hango: Meili, what you doing here?!
Lee: We can explain later, we have a bigger problem right now!
As the smoke clears, Lee points at Rytota and Katsu.
Hango: So you've been pinned down by these guys huh?
Lee: It wasn't like that; I was coming up with a strategy!
Katsu: Hey you, are you with these little brats?!
Hango then dashes behind them too fast for anyone to perceive and knocks the two of them our cold.
Katsu: Ah!
Ryota: Ah!
Hango: Well that was just too easy.
Lee: Man you took those guys out with ease, you're just awesome Bro!
Hango: Okay, now you mind telling me what happened and how you wound up with Meili here?
Meanwhile...
Zhidao is around the mountain sides looking for Meili.
Zhidao: Where'd she run off to? Meili?! (Looks like I'll just have to follow where those other two morons went off to.
Zhidao then walks toward the underground mountain area
Meanwhile...
Hango: Wait a second, you broke through the Chi barrier I put around you?
Lee: Yeah and, why'd you leave me here with that thing?! I could've got killed by those other guys if I didn't break through it!
Hango: Well I thought you needed some protection while I went to go get some food.
Hango then points at some fish that he left at the far side of the cave when he knocked out Ryota and Katsu.
Lee: Oh wow, you got some real food! Let's cook it!
Meili: I'll make a fire!
Hango: Though I should be eating some of these right now.
Hango then walks to one of the glowing blue crystals, grabs one and eats one.
Lee: Waa, not you too!
Hango: What? Oh, I can't believe I forgot to mention, these are crystals made out of Chi, you can eat them to heal and regain Chi or stamina.
Lee: Whoa, that sounds cool.
Meili: Crystals like these grow in underground places like this, so it would make sense why those guys would want it so badly. Sounds like a perfect hide out.
Lee: Do they taste any good?
Hango: Actually they taste absolutely horrible, and when you eat on, your stomach will feel so filled up you won't be able to eat anything else for a while.
Lee: O... kay.
Hango: Oh yeah, and they don't digest.
Lee: Hm?
Hango: They turn into pure energy then disperse inside our body.
Lee: Well that's... Why'd you eat those instead of fish?
Hango: I'll need the energy in order to train you right?
Lee: Yeah but, if you can't eat fish if you've already eaten one of those Chi crystals, why don't you just eat fish then some of a Chi crystal?
Hango: Because it won't give me much of an energy boost.
Lee: Well that's what I'm doing.
Meili: Uh guys...
Hango: No you can't, you have to do this for your training.
Lee: I don't see what the big deal is, after all I'm just a beginner right?
Meili: Uh guys...
Hango: If you eat these you won't want to eat fish cause your stomach will be full.
Lee: You just said that it tastes nasty so I don't want it!
Hango: I'm you teacher and you'll do what I say!
Meili: Guys, we have to get outta here!
Lee: Huh?
Hango: Huh?
Meili: My brother's coming here, we have to go before he gets here!
Hango: What? Ugh!
Hango then gets attacked by Zhidao from the behind.
Lee: Hango!
Meili: Hango!
Zhidao: Meili, what are you doing here? It's time to go home now, sister.
Lee: What're you talking about? She's from the Kuhai clan!
Meili: ... I...
Zhidao: You know these people and you never told them the truth?
Lee: Huh?
Hango: Huh?
Zhidao: This girl; is from the Kudo clan.
Lee: What?!
Hango: No, that can't be.
Zhidao: Meili, you don't belong with them. It's time to return!
Hango: You'll have to take her from us!
Lee: Yeah, come and get some!
What is the truth behind Meili's past? Why did she go to the Kuhai clan in the first place? Why is Zhidao so determined to bring her back? Find out in the next chapter of Ancient Future!
End of chapter: 3
To be Continued...