Hello, my friends! Here is chapter 4 and I am still excited about this story. if some of you are feeling bugged by whole Tigress and Po, I'm sorry. There isn't much I can do. But I assure you they will get along eventually. and sorry for breaking promise, this chapter isn't about Po and Tigress. It's about human and a new OC character. About damn time.
also, I am replanning my story with Purpledragon6. This person is awesome, me gusta.
anyway, here is fourth chapter. and sorry for mistakes I wrote the whole thing on my phone.
Po had a dream. A nightmare. And it is one of those type that will continue to hunt down even though you are fully awake. It was no different than other days, Po was still fighting himself to forget it, to erase it in his head so that he can enjoy a little freedom from those wretched dreams.
It was always same dream, and he could have gone used to those continuous and unending dreams, but he was not. It was only getting worse as each day passes.
It was just a small fragments of images and voices in the first day, but as the each night progresses, it began to turn in to much more horrifying image, like a piece of puzzle matching themselves in indistinct order, to form a much bigger piece of puzzle... None of those dream truly made sense to him, at least, not all of them. He knew Tigress has to do something with the picture, and he saw tigress leaving him, as he got sucked in to distorted and twisted darkness.
It would have been same dream as last time, but this time, Po saw something else. And if the word fear alone does not suffice, he had no idea what to describe this dream.
He felt like a frightened child in his bed, afraid to come out and face the monster. And this monster was not something that Po was yet to fight against.
Po watched the whole thing... It was a nightmare... But it also felt like someone was telling him something. Like a warning. Like a vision that Master Oogway had once told him few years ago before his departure from this world.
If this more than a nightmare? This is some sort of vision, or just a fabrication of his fear and imagination...
He saw Tigress fleeing. There she was clenching her heart, as if she was trying to hold on to it, as if her heart was a broken pieces of crystals. She stood weakly towards him, with her eyes watering.
Tigress shouted.
"I'm so sorry, Po! But you would never understand! You would never understand all things that I had kept from you!"
Po yelled back.
"What things, Tigress?! What are you sorry about?!"
She broke in to tears.
"All the things I have kept from you... All the things that I have done... I did them for you, Po!"
Po clenched his teeth and shouted back.
"What did you do, tigress?! What do you mean they are for me?!"
Tigress seemed to ignore that question.
"But... How can you do that to me?! How can you even betray me like this!?"
Po jerked and tried to reach her, but forces from his back kept him restrained too well.
"What?! I never betrayed you, Tigress! Talk some sense to me!"
Then Tigress turned and began to run away, with that particular sentence that kept on repeating in every other dreams.
" you, live like that, Po... You live... Like you always have..."
Po shouted, he was getting desperate.
"Tigress! Wait! Don't go!"
However, her shape began to disappear in to the darkness as she ran away from him. Soon, there was nothing but darkness around him. He was alone.
He continuously shouted for Tigress, hoping that she might come back. It was however, a futile attempt.
After multiple attempts to call Tigress, he felt his throat getting sore. He could only panted, he could only draw in iron air, that only seemed to choke his throat.
Then he saw something.
It was dark so he could not make out who or what it was, but it was there.
Standing... In front of him... It was huge, perhaps standing even higher than 8feet. The beast was possibly larger than Master Rhino! Slowly, this time smaller figure began to emerge next to it. He squinted his eyes, trying to make out the character with given very small amount of light.
He whispered and found a new strength as he saw the character's face.
"Tigress...?"
Then suddenly, he saw the large creature pinning down Tigress, and she desperately tried to free herself but the creature was too strong, too big. It held her tight on the ground and began to lift her in the air.
Po saw this, and yelled. He twitched and jerked in his position to free himself. He could not watch his friend getting hurt by the monster!
"Tigress!"
The monster then, drew out its weapon and held it merely an inch away from her forehead. He monster said with low and intimidating growl, but the voice was so distorted, Po could not understand what it was dying but he understood one phrase.
"Kill... You..."
Po then heard a loud noise echoing the empty darkness. Po immediately looked away from Tigress. Even in his dream, he could not see Tigress dying by the hands of enemies. Po cried. He cried for her, and to himself. With his all will to get free of himself, he still could not do it. Four sets of hands were always there. No matter what his dream was, but it was always holding him. If not were these damn hands! These stupid hands!
With the loud thumping noise, he saw the creature walking away, from Tigress. And he there was nothing in him to stop it...
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Chapter 4 dancing in the rain.
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The day was getting dark and sadly and ironically, rain wasn't planning on stopping.
How long I had walked in these condemned woods? I knew I was certain I was following the river that I saw earlier, but I could find nothing. There was no place for me to set a shelter and get some shut eye. It was certainly getting more agitated. There was rain, and I could not set a fire, there was no cliff or a cave, that I could enter and get a cover from the rain.
So terribly long walk god know how many hours and having absolutely no cover from the rain, getting soaked from my face to... My paw... Wasn't all that great experience. Sure, during the mission, I sometimes had to walk in to even more horrible terrain, but it wasn't raining at that time. And after being a Liger, I just disliked getting my fur wet.
Good news was, my equipments were still on maximum performance, and that was still enough to keep me going. As long as my equipments remain operational, longer And even, better chance of my own survival.
I shivered in the freezing air around me, as the day has finally has gone to the past, and what was remnant of sun' slight has now hid itself, in to the horizon, submerging it in to the ocean of darkness completely. There are no lights in wilderness.
It was bizarre to come across the new found fact about my body. As I liger, a predator, I should be able to see clearly in darkness. I should be able to make out surrounding, but my eyes was clearly denying that. I was not getting anything from my sensors. Just cold and empty wind gashed against my visor/glasses that was hanging beneath my helmet, effectively protecting its owner.
I blinked my eyes again tightly to see if I am not still used to my body. Thinking that it might come to me naturally if I just adjust to my new eyes. Result, however, seemed indifferent. I was still surrounded by sheer force of darkness. I eventually sighed in defeat, and felt my ears lowering down. I tired to force myself to understand this situation. Forced myself to think this is normal, given that I now have humanoid Liger body, there might be still some features that shares common between those twos species. I just found myself complaining, asking why it had to be my eyes.
I looked for a small rubber bottom attached to right shoulder. Without the guidance of light, I had slight difficulty locating the exact location, but I knew where it was, and for that, I was able to reach it. With two fingers stretched, I pressed the button. Then, with the sudden flash, two rectangular sets of multiple LEDs came in to life.
I grinned slightly.
It was a simple technology, but it proved to be most useful.
But then, something caught my eyes from far away. It was light. Faint, but it was there. And it wasn't alone... I squinted my eyes and could make out dozens of them... Lights mean people.
I grinned at the fact. I thought to myself.
"Maybe I can get help from them, the suit is not exactly omnipotent."
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Downtown of valley of peace was always bright day to night. There was not a single day that goes without its multiple bands of red and golden lantern lights. Even though in raining night, various ships and hotel were still very much active with its customers. And those merchants and shopkeepers who have finisher their day would mostly go to near by bar to get a one good sip or drink before they head down to home, where they can lie down and sleep with rest of their family. Rain poured in and the candle light was flickering in the lantern, and water from sky would hit the roof of the buildings, and run down to the edge of the roof collectively. They soon formed a miniature waterfall, striking the muddled ground. Some of them gathered and created a small pond, and others just drifted away with the mud, making the mud darker and more glittering in the raining night.
Some people just plainly walked on the water, only just concentrating to the path they are going, and some others jumped around the flowing water, trying to avoid getting wet from the bottom.
Talking and chattering filled the air, as they blended with the sound of rain as if they were almost so natural. Cold steams formed on the ground as people let out a warm breath from their mouth and nose as they were talking.
Soon, everything that happened here will turn in to emptiness, and this place would stare back at her as if nothing as happened. All people would be sleeping then.
One Lioness, would not. Her shop was closed about an hour ago, but there were still left over work to do. The lioness stood at the entrance of her shop, her back facing inside of the building. She looked over the area she was around in. It was always same, and she liked it. She liked it here better than previous city. Valley of a Peace did not lied to her. It was remarkably peaceful than any other places... Although bandits were still persistent... But then, she had those amazing Kung Fu masters and The Dragon Warrior...
It was that legendary warrior who defeated Shen.
After then, everyone looked up to him. They admired him. That, also included her.
She closed her eyes, picturing the Dragon Warrior in her heart. She wasn't sure it was just a respect and admiration or something else. However, the problem was, she have never met Dragon Warrior in person. She'd only to find him on posters. Those who have seen him often explained it to her, knowing that she just desperately wants to know more about him.
So would tell.
Some would lie... None the less, she had find them all satisfying.
Bright lights on the street reflected on her white fur, and the edge of her velvety fur seemed to flow bright in darkness. And it slowly, gradually faded in to grey on her back. Light did not reached to there. She sniffed the cold air. The air sucked in to her strawberry pink nose and that made a smile on her face. Then unintentionally, she let out a one big.
Laughing to herself, she placed her paw in her head to brush her white tuff sitting in her head. Tuff, she called it, but it was more like a hair. They would start from her head and come down to her right blue eye, covering it slightly, and would end with slight touch of ivory.
She'd had to finish here quickly. Her body seemed to scream for sleep...
As she moved in to her shop to pack her things, she heard something moving behind her.
She turned around with slight annoyance and spoke to whoever that was.
"Sorry peeps, shop's closed right now. You gotta comeback tomorrow."
Then the voice responded.
"Well... We are not here... To buy your things..."
Her eyes shot wide open and she took a sight of multiple standing in front of her, their shadow creeping over to the ground, blocking the lights. She backed away a little, and sneered.
"What do you want!"
One crocodile came front with his large axe and replied.
"oh, everything!"
Then with the roar, he swung his axe on the the ground, it's edge effectively splinting the wooden floor. The Lioness backed away even more and hastily picked up a stick next to her, her hands shaking.
"Don't... Don't get any closer..."
Her voice was determined but there was a hint of fear in her. She nervously gulp down her throat.
One wolf came next to the crocodile, and said.
"Oh, what you gonna do? Are you gonna attack us with that stick?"
The crocodile commented,
"Ohh... I think I can feel tingling in my spine!"
Lioness backed away slightly more, but she was stopped abruptly. She gave a quick look behind her. There was nothing... Except the wall. With bandits surrounding her, she was now trapped. She held on to the stick even harder, as she felt cold sweat beginning to run down from her forehead. She bit her quivering lips hard as her eyes frantically rolled around in fear.
One of the crocodile raised his axe again, threatening to strike.
"Now... Now... Give us everything you've got here, and your money, then we will not try to harm you."
Lioness shrunk down due to the over sizing crocodile and his intimidating look. She literally felt her knees wobbling as sweat ran over them. However, she thought she might have a slight hope of scaring them away. With a slight hope, she raised her voice a little.
"You... You have no idea who my father is! He is the captain of the guard! If... If he finds you, then you all will be running your life!"
Then the third wolf replied with a vile snickering.
"Well, your daddy is not here to protect you now, is he?"
Lioness cussed herself. "Shit..."
As they came closer and closer, she felt her heart pumping harder and harder, and her stomach twisting. She closed her eyes and almost began to plead. She felt a stream warm water leaking out from her eyes.
"Please..."
Then... All the sudden, there was a loud scream from the croc.
"Ahhhhhrgggg!"
Lioness slightly opened her eyes to see what was going on, and gawk at the horror in front of her. Crocodile was still standing with his feet but blood streamed out like a waterfall in his chest... To be precise, he didn't even had a chest anymore, instead, an arm, was sticking out on his chest, and it was blooded with dark crimson red. It was holding something on its hand, and she didn't need a second look to see what it was... It was the bandit's heart...
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As I approached the light closer and closer, I didn't saw a small settlement of people or a camp. One light dividing to another, like it's replicating, it now produced thousands of them. It was a village... A small city perhaps? The idea that there is a city near by actually didn't really excited me. If there are more people, I have higher probability to get spotted, and last thing I wanted was getting captures by their some police or military force that I didn't know about. So I decided to walk without the lights. Lights will give away my position too easily.
And the power has gone pretty low anyway. I raised my fore arm and read the power out put.
30 percent.
I did walk all day.
I looked down as my boots stepped on something hard. It was a road. However, it wasn't some sort of concert or asphalt. It was actually a dirt road, and it has been hardened due to many people stepping on this path. There was no one in this road, but risking not getting spotted, I steered myself to the bushes at the side. I took notes of the surrounding. There wasn't much of tree any more. It was more like a grass field with small trees and bushes. And at the other side of the road, there was a city entrance.
My eyebrows went up as I saw the entrance.
"What the hell...?"
There was a large Chinese styled wooden door with black Chinese style tiled roof. And right under the roof, there laid a rectangular wooden plate that was written in Chinese. That was the main part. And both right and left side was rice field, and they stopped right before the gate. And beyond the gate, there laid even more Chinese buildings.
I said to myself.
"Great, I'm china. Now how the hell am I go back?"
But complaining won't get me anywhere. And where else I can go but move forward? With my binocular up, I began to scan the sector, looking for any possible threat. I spotted two bipedal Rhinos...? Standing infont of the gate. I thought to myself,
"Rhinos? I am a Liger and there are two freaking Rhinos holding spear. Don't tell me I'm gonna see a Lion with a sword."
As soon as my words finished, I saw one figure coming out of the door, followed by more Rhinos. I threw my paws on my face and breathed in hard. I nodded my head for my stupidity.
Apparently, there is a Lion with a sword. And he seemed to be a leader of some sort. Judging by the armor that he was wearing ofcourse. I closed in little more to eavesdrop their conversation.
I could make out the leader's voice.
"Did you had any problems on this side?"
One of the standing rhino replied.
"No sir, today was exceptionally quiet, sir."
The lion simply nodded.
"Good. Now I want you two get in and sign out for today. You've earned it."
Another Rhino acknowledged.
"Thank you, sir."
As they walked back in to the door, I could hear rather loud metal sounds. It was clearly showing that they are locking the gates. I simply smirked at the situation. Now they are gone, I lowered my stance and quickly moved out to the wall next to the gate. I laid my back against to the wall, flattening and blending to the shadow. I perked my ears to listen to any closing in footsteps.
Luckily, they were only getting further.
I grab the wall, and without problem, I jumped over, then landed on a ground without making much of the noise, as I placed my hand on the ground.
I scanned the area again, and I saw only few people walking around the street. The rhino guards were making their way to their barrack or home. As I looked around more and more, idea of getting necessary supplies and electricity has become more impossible. Everything was lighten by a lantern or a torch. But however, the city was indeed hold a beautiful sight to see. So, I decided to explore a bit, and get familiarize with the city. Perhaps plan out a quick escape route.
As I walked silently in the allies and narrow ways standing between the buildings, I saw a one shop maybe a restaurant with a circular doorway on the front. There were, indeed many other buildings that also looked liked a restaurant, but this one really stood out from the rest. It had a picture of a dragon and a panda. And next to the Panda, there was a odd looking goose smiling with a bowl of noodle. I smiled at that noodle without any second thought. It did look quite delicious. Then, suddenly I heard a loud growl on my stomach and immediately put my paws over it. I just realized that I haven't ate anything for while day!
Grumbling to myself and trying to hold my rising hunger, I spoke to myself quietly, "I'm not hungry, I'm not hungry..."
But... Still, my belly told me otherwise.
After few minutes of walking deeper in to the city, I reached the place, where that I could call it a downtown of the city. There was a large stairway leading up to the mountain in the other side, despite my curiosity, I dared not venturing up there.
So I kept my body low, hiding and sticking side to the wall, merging completely to the dark shadows. Few more... Uh... Bipedal pigs passes by. I though to myself loud.
What the fuck is wrong with this place?! Then one idea came to my mind.
I'm a predator, I'm supposed to eat meat. So, my question was, what will happen if I eat that pig? Can I even eat it? Shaking my thoughts, I now decided to go back to where I originally came from. Perhaps find a place to stay if possible. When I moved my feet, a sudden noise came to my ear. My ears perked up, and I turned to the source of the sound.
Someone was in trouble.
At first, I hesitated and asked myself should I help or not. So, I decided to move to the activity, and have a slight glimpse of what's going on.
I walked behind the roads and the buildings to avoid spotting, although the street was now pretty empty of people. My actions immediately halted when I saw the situation.
There was a young lioness. A young and white lioness, cowered and standing against the wall, quivering in fear. She held a stick in her paws. And he could see that she was holding it little too tight. Which means, she won't be able to respond to the attack because the stick was basically locked in to the place. Besides, the stick didn't even looked strong enough.
Then, I saw them. As my eyes scanned over them, I could not help himself from the rage. Sudden feeling of déjà vu surrounded me. It reminded of my commitment back in human world. Something that I made to myself before i was sent to here... Before i died. I promised to myself that I will take down every single piece of scum that's living on this face of the earth. What i saw in front of my eyes showed no difference from what I saw before my end. They are threatening the innocence. And they are attacking the girl. They intend to rob something that they do not rightfully deserve.
I clenched the paws hard. I felt claws unsheathed, and slightly sinking in to my skin. I cared not. There was something that fueled me to ignore the puny pain that I was getting in my paw. Not even few meters away from him, there was something that compelled me to spit out of rage and fury. The fury was hungry and it refused to consume anything but what lies in front of me. My face distorted and began to bare monstrous fangs.
Those bandits... They do not deserve anything! Not even their lives. They are the reason why people must live in fear. They are the reason why people has to suffer. Those low lives are the reason why my family died! My father! Died because of them. My comrades died because some one like them! I cared not about breaking my cover. Tonight, I shall avenge them.
Tonight, I shall dance with them.
Tonight... I shall show to them what can be robbed other than people's belongings.
