Back again. I don't have too much to say this time except thanks for the continued support. Enjoy chapter 4.
Chapter 4: Getting Used to Things
I've been training for about three weeks. After the wolf bandits attacked things have gone quiet. Slowly but surely, I'm learning how to use the natural strength that comes with my body. It's strange. Like I'm limited by my own mind. I'm used to seeing myself like this sure, but I still haven't fully accepted what I am. I can deal with the fact that I died and came back to life in another world, but this form. I still feel more human on the inside. When I lose control, I don't feel like myself. I manage to restrain myself a bit during these events, but I worry that I'm turning into something. Something dangerous. I'll have to get a handle on this before I seriously hurt the wrong person.
I am now meditating on a rock underneath a small waterfall. It was Friday and after I was done training for the day, Shifu recommended I try meditating since I told him I've never done it before. I decided to go for a long stroll around the outside of the valley. I came across a steady flowing river. I figured it would be a good place to try and meditate as the sound of the waterfall was peaceful.
"This is nice." I said with my eyes close in a lotus position.
I'm sure your wondering why I just didn't meditate by the peach tree. Well I heard from Viper that Tigress likes to meditate their often. I'm not scared of her if that's what your thinking. I just thought being around someone I don't get along with that much wasn't good for my peace of mind. We haven't agreed on one thing since I got to the Jade Palace. I don't know why she doesn't like me, but at least she makes a good sparring partner. Of course, she always ends up beating me, so I don't think she minds that much. The rest of the five thinks I'm crazy for fighting her almost every day, but honestly, facing people leagues above me has always made me better. It was certainly helping me be swifter in my movement.
About fifteen minutes of meditation later I opened my eyes. I stood up and leaped to the grassy ground that was about six feet from where I was sitting. My agility improved a bit too. I started my way back to the valley because it was time for dinner. I was walking on a dirt trail on my way to the village when I heard a twig snap. I stopped in my tracks when I heard it. Suddenly crocodiles emerged from the bamboo forest and blocked my path. Six of them. They all had spears except the one in front. He held a small axe.
"Alright guy. Hand over all your money." The croc with a helmet said.
"Sorry I'm broke." I said with a shoulder shrug.
"Don't lie dude. You got that fancy outfit and stuff." He retorted.
"You can clearly see I don't have pockets." I said tugging my pants a bit.
"Uh alright- well- uh give us your clothes." The croc demanded with his axe pointed.
"No give me YOUR clothes." I said pointing a finger.
"What th- no you can't have our clothes! You give US your clothes." He demanded again.
"I asked you first." I retorted
"Wha- no you didn't!" The croc said getting irritated.
"Yes, I did." I argued
"No, you didn't!" He argued back.
"Pretty sure I did."
"Gah! Your making this difficult!" He said now fully irritated with me.
"Sorry I didn't know I was getting robbed today" I said sarcastically.
"You're not supposed to know!" He yelled.
"Know what?" I playfully asked.
"That your getting robbed!"
"I'm getting robbed!?" I said with a fake worried look on my face.
"Dude seriously?" He said with a done with this look.
I started laughing. "You guys aren't good at this are you?" I asked with an amused look on my face.
"Glad someone said it." I heard one croc say under his breath.
"I heard that Gary!"
"Ok listen I'm in a good mood so I'll let you guys off with a warning, because it looks like you all have the combined IQ of a rock.
Their leader glared at me after I said that.
"You know what? I take it back. That was offensive to rocks." I said with a smirk.
"That does it! We're doing this the hard way. ATTACK!" He said, and his goons charged at me.
"Sure, why not?" I thought to myself.
I leaped in the air and roundhouse kicked the first croc. While midair I back kicked the next one. I landed softly on my feet. Both were knocked out after that. Before one could hit me with his spear I gave him a left uppercut that launched him in the air. He landed behind me. Two more crocs came at me from the front. I had to flip backwards to avoid being stabbed. As quickly as I dodged I launched at both crocs and clotheslined them both in their necks. Broly would be proud. I rolled forward after my last attack and stood up. All that was left was the leader.
"Hi." I said with an evil grin.
"Uhhh bye." He said turning to run away.
I grabbed his tail before he could get far. He was still running though. I don't think he realized he's not going anywhere yet.
"Going somewhere?" I asked effortlessly holding his tail as he tried to escape.
He finally caught on.
"Gaaah Darn it!" He yelled throwing his helmet on the ground.
"So, what do you think I should do now?" I asked still holding his tail.
"Ummm let me off with a warning?" He asked with a nervous smile.
After that I instantly punched him in the face knocking him out.
"There's ya warning."
Well that was almost too easy. When I first got here it took more effort to bring down bandits.
"Now what to do with these idiots?" I asked myself.
I then got an idea.
Five minutes later
I tied up the croc bandits to a tree using the pants they were wearing. What? It's not like I carry rope with me everywhere I go. Anyway, they were still unconscious, so I just left them. Imperials patrol this trail often, so I'm sure they'll be around to pick em up. I figured the imperials knew a bandit when they saw one.
The Valley
After a short run back to the valley I was now running on all fours through the streets. Flipping and vaulting over carts. I then took to the rooftops. Jumping from roof to roof felt amazing. Parkour experts would be jealous. This was also a good way to work on stamina. I made my way to the thousand steps and started running up. When I was at the doors leading to the arena, I jumped up. I did a corkscrew flip before landing in the center of the arena.
"Yup definitely getting used to things." I said as I walked the rest of the way towards the Palace.
So yeah, I can do these things now. Still, the hardest thing for me right now is using my strength constantly. Half the time when I lose to Tigress I hold back trying not to let my emotions control me. There are also times I do act on emotion and it makes me sloppy. Its not anger its over excitement. I don't know why I get excited when I fight her, but I do in fact have a need to surpass her. Maybe compared to her I am an amateur, but where I come from I was a pro. I would've been champ if it wasn't for….. well that's a story for another time.
The Barracks.
I was sitting down snacking on an apple after I made my way to the kitchen. Honestly, I prefer meat, but considering the fact this world is animals only, I think that's a no no. I was only in the kitchen when I heard someone moving through the hallway. I heard someone enter and I turned to see Crane.
"Oh, hey Will." He greeted.
"What's up Crane?" I asked.
"Nothing much I just got done looking through a few kung fu scrolls."
"There are like a thousand of those you guys are supposed to read right?" I asked before taking another bite of my apple.
"That's right." He answered.
"How far along are you?" I asked after swallowing a bite.
"I'm up to one hundred scrolls." He answered.
"Neat."
"Yeah. Its too bad you can't read any though. I'm sure you'd have no problem understanding them, but the thousand scrolls are only reserved for the masters." Crane explained.
"No worries. I'll be a master in no time at all." I declared.
"I don't doubt it. You already knew basics when you got here." He said
"Well it doesn't take a genius to learn how to punch people in the face."
We both laughed at what I said.
"Hey what are we laughing at?" I heard Monkey's voice ring from behind me and Crane.
We both turned to see Monkey with Mantis on his shoulder.
"Just conversating." Crane said.
"What's for dinner?" Mantis asked hopping onto the table.
"Some fruits, dumplings, and bean buns." I answered.
Soon the four of us were all sitting at the table having lunch.
"So, what's Viper up to?" I asked.
"I think she said something about practicing her ribbon dancing after training." Crane answered.
"Viper dances?" I asked.
"Yup. She's pretty good too." Monkey answered.
"I'll have to see her perform one day." I said before taking a bite of a dumpling.
"Where'd you disappear to after training Will?" Mantis asked.
"Just for a long walk. Know the land. That sort of thing." I explained.
"Anything interesting happen?" Crane asked.
"Well I ran into a small gang of croc bandits, but they were child's play." I answered.
"Oh, did one of them have a lazy eye?" Mantis asked.
"Now that you mention it yeah."
Monkey lightly laughed. "That was Fung and his band of idiots."
"I take it that your more than familiar with them." I assumed.
"Oh yeah those guys are always up to something, but they're about as dangerous as a splinter." Mantis explained.
"I believe you." I said.
"Did you take them to the town Jail?" Crane asked me.
"Eh I didn't really feel like dragging them all the way to the village, so I tied them up to a tree with their own pants for the imperials to come get em." I explained.
After what I said the room was silent for about two seconds before everyone erupted with laughter.
"I can't breathe!" Mantis said dropping to his back.
"I can just imagine someone's reaction when they see them like that!" Monkey said holding his gut.
"Monkey's rubbing off on you." Crane said before laughing again.
I didn't find it funny at the time, but now that I think about it, the situation was hilarious. Our laughter carried on for another thirty seconds or so when they all suddenly stopped and stared at whoever was standing behind me. I turned to see Master Shifu standing by the door.
"Oh, um hello Master." I greeted.
"William you will accompany me immediately." He demanded before walking down the hallway.
"Yes sir." I said before quickly tagging along.
The Main Hall
I followed Shifu all the way to the Main Hall. He was silent the entire walk there. Must be important. We came upon the giant doors and we stopped. He then turned to face me.
"Listen closely. You are about to meet someone very important. You are to show him the upmost respect. You are to address him as Master and stop flicking your tail." Shifu ordered.
I tilted my head at that last part. I looked back and saw that my tail was flicking. I put my foot on it to stop it from flicking.
"I wonder how often I do that." I thought to myself.
"Do I make myself clear?" Shifu asked.
I bowed. "Yes Master Shifu."
"Good. You may now enter."
Inside the Main Hall
Shifu had me enter the training hall alone. I walked further in looking for whoever it was I was supposed to meet. As I approached the small pool, I noticed something in the middle. It looked like a big tortoise shell and it was balancing on a staff. I was uh a little put off by how silent the room was, so I decided to speak up.
"Um Hello?" I nervously said.
There was a few more seconds of silence after that. I then notice the shell started to move. Slowly the shell turned to reveal a tortoise balancing on the staff by his tail. He looked aged and had a friendly smile.
"Greetings young warrior." He said with a very calm voice. "It is nice to finally meet the new student at the Jade Palace."
I felt a little dumb for forgetting to bow, because this was obviously the important person Shifu mentioned. I quickly closed my eyes and bowed.
"Oh, sorry for being rude I should've introduced myself first. My name is William." I introduced myself
I then heard a light chuckle come from him. I looked up to see that he had vanished. I followed the sound of the chuckle and he was standing right behind me. I took my eyes off him for like two seconds.
"Well William. My name is Oogway." He introduced himself.
"Nice to meet you Master Oogway." I said.
He chuckled again. "You can relax yourself. I am a friend."
"Oh, uh ok." I said before loosening up a bit.
"Are you enjoying your stay so far?" He asked.
"Yes, the Jade Palace is lovely." I answered.
"And how are you progressing in your training?" He asked.
"Great. I'm picking up on things a lot faster than I thought I would." I said giving my best answer.
"Excellent news. Though not too surprising. I have heard of your victories before you arrived here." He explained.
"You have?" I asked.
"But of course. Your bravery has already saved the lives of many citizens." He said.
"Yeah well I only did what anyone should have done." I said.
"Ah but such nobility is rare even amongst warriors." Oogway explained.
"I'm not really praised for nobility where I'm from." I said looking away slightly.
"Hmm I see. It must be challenging adapting to a world that is not your own." Oogway said.
"Yeah well its not tha- wait what?" I was caught off guard. "Y- You know?"
He responded with another one of his friendly smiles.
"How?" I asked.
"Before you arrived I had a vision that we would be visited by a being from another world. The moment you arrived I felt your presence. Once I heard of a rouge warrior saving Nong Village, I had my suspicions. Now that we are face to face I am certain." Oogway explained.
The guy seems wise enough. I mean the whole situation is strange. There's no reason I shouldn't believe him. Might as well ask if he knows why I'm here in the first place.
"Do you know why this is happening?" I asked.
"No, I do not." He answered.
"Eh it was worth a shot." I thought.
"The universe simply decided to bring you here. However, your destiny is uncertain even to me." Oogway explained.
"My destiny?" I asked.
"Why yes. I believe you are here for a reason. Whatever that reason may be is for you to decide." He said.
I thought about it. "Well I've done good so far with helping people. Maybe that's the reason." I suggested.
"Perhaps. It may be too soon to tell, but for now the path you walk is of your own choosing." He explained.
"If that's the case then I'm off to a good start." I said with a smile.
Oogway chuckled. "Indeed."
The Barracks.
After my talk with Oogway he sent me off about my business. He's nothing at all like Shifu. He must be quite renowned if Shifu calls him master. I was on the path leading up to the barracks. On my way up, I noticed a certain feline on her way down. I can already feel the heat from her glare as we were about to pass each other. She didn't say a word as we closed in on one another. I winked at her and smiled before I passed her.
"Ugh." She said while rolling her eyes.
I honestly loved messing with her. Everyone else seems too afraid to try her, but not me. Ok sure when we spar she kicks my ass, but she still doesn't scare me. The only time we speak to each other is when we spar, and I decide to taunt her. She'll usually respond with a roar or a snarl. On rare occasions she uses words like shut up or I'll break your neck. I doubt Tigress would ever admit it, but I get better every time we fight. I think today is one of the few days we didn't spar.
After a short stroll I made it to my room. It was still a little empty. I hadn't got the chance to decorate yet. Maybe I can earn more money from helping some villagers. I laid down on my cot and stared at the ceiling. The sun had set, and the day was pretty much over. I haven't really relaxed much since I got here so why not now? I decided on taking a little nap. I closed my eyes and slowly drifted off to sleep.
Ok so this chapter is a lot shorter than recent ones. I decided I'm not going to write big filler chapters. I had to have William meet Master Oogway this chapter. I hope I nailed his character. This chapter is just showing how William is getting used to this new world. The next chapter isn't going to be filler though. I hope the time skip didn't put too many people off. I know Williams got a year before Kung Fu Panda and a lot of things are going to happen before that. I might be adding new OCs to this story. Whether they are good guys or bad guys is a surprise. Thank you for the continued support. I have an overactive imagination, so this is fun to make. I already know what I wanna do for the next chapter so that should be done soon enough. Don't forget to favorite\follow. A review is always welcomed whether you like the story or not. Everything helps. See ya real soon.
