First impressions are pretty much important when you meet some kung-fu masters...sometimes. But you know...with these two brothers, that's a different story.

Chapter 4: First Impressions

As they entered the Training Hall, Travis and Quiang were wide-eyed at how it looks like and they see all the action coming in already. Crane going around the big turtle shell doing several balancing moves, Monkey swinging around the swinging clubs, Viper dodging the Fiery death several times, Mantis crossing the gauntlet while Po and Tigress started sparring each other with their kung-fu skills. All of those activites seem to intrigue and interest Quiang, but Travis seemed a bit more...intimidated by them.

Quiang chuckled softly and asked, "It's awesome, huh?"

Travis seemed a bit skeptical about everything that's happening and he asked, "Are you sure about this?"

"Aw, come on. Why so down, little bro? You'll never know what you'll miss out on." Quiang said, playfully punching Travis' arm.

Travis sighed heavily as Quiang went downstairs with Shifu to get a little closer and he followed them down anyway and soon enough, everyone of the masters stopped what they were doing and faced themselves with Master Shifu. He went over to his students and said, "We have some new members that are gonna live with us."

They all looked at Quiang and he waved them hello and bowed to them and the masters bowed back as well. Crane looked at him and he asked, "What's your name?"

"The name's Quiang. I am most honored to be in your presence." he said, politely.

Viper slithered over to him and she said, "Someone's quite the gentleman here."

Quiang just smiled at that comment and he said, "Well...that's kinda how I am."

Shifu looks around and saw only Travis from behind his brother and with a little glare, Travis slowly walked from behind him and he only looked down on the floor, feeling nervous and anxious and also fearful as well when he's in front of the kung-fu masters. Quiang elbows his brother and prompts him to look at him and as he rose his head up, he felt a bit tense to know that they're staring at him. He swallowed hard and said, "I'm...I'm...I'm, uh..."

"Travis." Quiang muttered.

"Travis. I'm...his younger brother."

The younger wolfdog just bowed to them and most of them could sense that he's intimidated or excited, but no one would know what his initial reaction is because he only kept himself quiet. Travis then looked down on the floor again, trying to avoid any eye contact with them. Quiang told them, "My brother can be a little bit...shy around new people. Plus, he's not so much comfortable around strangers."

Most of them were surprised to hear something like that out of Quiang, but he quickly told them, "Not that you're strange or anything."

"Are any of you good at kung-fu?" asked Tigress.

"We both are." Quiang immediately answered.

"Show us what you got. Quiang, go first." Shifu added.

Quiang did his best kung-fu moves he could do and he did a kick, turn, spin combative kung-fu move that is enough to make anyone go absoultely insane. Once he attempted a backflip, he managed to grab on to the swinging clubs, he totally lifted himself up and flipped around and landed back on the ground, punched on the gauntlet and made his way back to where the others are standing.

It left everyone impressed and Shifu said, "That was amazing what you just did. I think you'll make an excellent fit here."

Quiang chuckled softly and said, "Thanks."

Then, Shifu turns to Travis and said, "You're up."

That made the younger wolfdog totally nervous when his name got called and he slowly walked up to training grounds and he could see that it's completely risky for him to try it out. He said, "Won't that be dangerous?"

"Aw, Trav. It's not that dangerous." Quiang said.

"I don't know..."

Quiang could sense his nervousness and anxiety concerns for something like this and he takes a deep breath and tells him, "My brother doesn't really like to show his kung-fu skills in front of everyone except me. He has stage fright."

Shifu couldn't quite understand how someone would just turn down showing some new skills based on intimidation and he said, "Students, why don't you get Quiang reacquainted and show him around the palace? You're dismissed."

The students bowed to him as they went along with Quiang leaving Travis and Shifu alone to talk in the training hall and the grandmaster seemed a bit perplexed about this and when they're left alone, Travis could tell that it wasn't gonna be good. Shifu then said, "Never in the history of the Jade Palace have we let a newcomer turn down showing their kung-fu skills. Tell me the reason."

Travis sighed heavily and felt like this is going too quickly because he just got there and explained, "I just met you and I really don't want to show my talents to strangers."

Shifu was taken aback by how Travis sees him as a total stranger and he told him, "We are not strangers. Are you embarassed about your skills?"

Travis quickly told him, "No. Never. I'm just not ready to show them yet, that's all. I have great skills...just don't wanna show it to anyone except for my brother."

Shifu looks around the training hall and only sees that it's just him and Travis standing there. He quickly turned back to the younger wolfdog and said, "But there's only you and me here. Just show them to me."

Travis sighed heavily and felt like there was no way out of this one and he did some kung-fu moves as he let it all loose, going through every training maze he could go past, including dodging the fiery death, riding on the seven swinging clubs and punched it down, going through the gauntlet and made his way back to Shifu. The grandmaster looked very impressed with his moves and he said, "Very nice. Excellent. Wish you could've shown it to everyone."

"Yeah, but one person is enough for me." Travis said, dusting himself off.

"You sure about that?"

Then, Travis was shocked to learn that the masters were there the whole time and he felt super embarassed about it and he lowered his head down and said to himself, "I'm so humiliated."

"Don't say that. Your skills are great." Viper said, cheerfully.

"Don't be that embarassed to show it to us." Monkey added.

"I can understand what you're feeling. I felt the same way when I first came here and it's nothing to hide from." Crane added.

"Listen to these two. You've got the sickest moves that anyone has ever seen." Mantis added.

"Freakin' awesome. That's all I can describe it; you're freakin' awesome." Po said, happily.

Tigress didn't say anything to Travis, making him feel a little scared and also sad as well thinking that he's not even good enough and Travis said, "Thanks, but I don't think your comments would help me."

"What do you mean by that?" asked Shifu.

"Someone's not that accepting."

Then, they realize that Tigress was the only one that didn't say anything and Po said, "She's kinda like that sometimes. You sees your moves as pretty great, but she doesn't show it."

He immediately took a guess about why Tigress didn't say anything to him and he told Quiang, "Then, she must hate me."

"Travie...don't say 'hate'." Quiang said.

"Well, it's true. Face it, big bro. I'm never gonna be good enough because I'm a wolfdog. Maybe the world would be a better place if I don't exist."

Travis walks away from the training hall, leaving most of the warriors confused and a little bit concerned for him. Quiang sighed heavily and told him, "Bullies gave us a hard time at the orphanage, but it has the biggest impact on Travis because he was bullied too...because of me."

"Why do you say that?" asked Po.

Quiang sighed heavily and he told them, "Trust me, you wouldn't believe me if I told you. But it doesn't bother me so much. Anyways, I'm gonna go and see if my brother's okay."

Quiang left the training hall to find Travis and Shifu thought to himself, 'I wonder what Quiang's problem is.'

Later, Quiang climbed up the steps to the Sacred Peach Tree and when he saw it for the first time, he felt like this is a sense of peace and tranquility among the cherry blossoms and the sight of peaches all around. As he looked around however, he saw Travis sitting on the edge of the tree and when he came over to him, Travis looked to see his brother there and turned away from him. Quiang sat down next to him and he said, "You know the world would be a sad place if you didn't exist."

"It's just that...I'm not like you, Quiang. No matter what, I'll never amount to anything. But...you've been through some stuff and you never get mad at anything." Travis explained.

Quiang could tell that his brother felt like he's not affected by all the negativity around him according to his leukemia and he said, "The thing is sometimes life will get you down sometimes, but you can't let it keep you down. We all carry baggage, but we lighten those burdens up as we go along."

Travis felt like crying at any minute and Quiang could sense that it might happen and he just raised his chin up and said, "Things will get better. This is a whole new experience for us and don't worry about what might happen yesterday or in the future. Those things doesn't matter to me."

Travis got all misty-eyed and said in a broken voice, "I wish I could be like you, Quiang."

Quiang puts his paw on his shoulder and just hugged him tightly. Travis embraced that hug and felt like never letting it go, because it felt like it was all he needed. Quiang told him, "You're my little brother and nothing will change that."

Those words struck to Travis and he just cried on his shoulders, hoping that he'll never lose him and try his best to be a better person. They broke off for a second and Travis said, "I'm sorry, Quiang. I guess I still can't let go of what happened back at the orphanage with those bullies."

"But we don't have to deal with them anymore. Besides, that was just yesterday. This is today. Let's just enjoy our new life with our new family."

Travis sighed nervously and said, "I don't know."

"Just give it a chance."

He was reluctant to give it a shot, but with Quiang by his side, he's hoping that it'll be a good experience for him and he said, "Okay."

"And don't worry so much. Whatever bad thing happened to us, we overlook it and replace it with something good. I'll stick by you no matter what."

It was comforting to know that Quiang would still be there for Travis and suddenly, someone overheard the entire thing and she couldn't help but feel emotional over it.

"That was so sweet."

The brothers turned around to see that it's only Viper and that left them a little embarassed and Quiang asked, "How long did you see that?"

"You guys have a very strong bond, don't ya?"

"Yeah, we do."

She smiled at them and Travis came to her and said, "I'm sorry for not giving you my first impression. It's just that everything was happening so fast, I wasn't prepared for it."

She lifted her tail to his chin and said, "It's okay. I had that same reaction when I first came here, but overtime it takes time getting used to. Just be yourself."

"I'll try."

"You wanna come back inside?"

"You go ahead. I just need some time to myself."

Quiang and Viper made their way down the steps back to the bunkhouse and for Quiang, it might be a good time to tell her something. He asked her, "Do you guys have any medical care here?"

"Yes, we do. We have some of the best doctors, nurses and medical care here in the Jade Palace." Viper answered.

"That's cool...because there's something you need to know about me and I can only tell you."

"Like what?"

He looks up and behind to make sure that no one's listening and he whispered in her ear, "I have leukemia."

That shocked Viper to the core when she found out about it and she asked, "What? Really?"

"Yeah. Had it when I was 2."

"I'm so sorry."

Quiang chuckled softly and asked, "What's there to be sorry for?"

Viper was a little surprised that he took it as nothing and asked, "You never thought of dying?"

"Nah. I survived chemotherapy, surgery, heart attacks all in 12 years. I would never feel sorry for myself and go in a deep depression over it. I just know that there is life after this and I make the best out of any bad situation I face. I cheated death so many times that it's like I've never left behind anything before. All I have to do is keep getting stronger, get through it all with a smile and always live each and every day like it's my last day on earth."

Viper was intrigued with his positive outlook on life and winning spirit despite his condition and that made her feel really inspired and made her want to be a better person. She said, "I just met you and already I feel like I wanna be just like you. You never complain about anything that happened to you?"

"Why should I complain? Where's the fun in that? I have leukemia, but it doesn't have me."

"That's amazing. When are you gonna tell anyone?"

Quiang still wanted to keep it to himself and Viper and he said, "Eventually, they'll find out soon enough."

Viper looks at his head and sees that there were a couple of surgery scars and some around his body as well and she was surprised that he survived through it all without any case of fear inside of him. He said, "Travis has been worried about me ever since I have leukemia, but I always tell him that I'll never leave him if I ever die. A part of me will still be there for him no matter what. You, me and Travis are the only ones that knows about my condition and I don't want anyone else to know about it yet."

"Well...we kinda have something about keeping secrets here. Once Shifu suspects we're hiding something, he has his ways to finding out the real issue. Are you sure you won't tell anyone?" asked Viper.

"I'm positive. I'm prepared for whatever life hits me."

Viper smiled at him and she told him, "Your secret's safe with me."

Hours later, Travis and Quiang were walking through the hallway and they could smell something really great coming in the kitchen and when they entered, they saw Po making some noodles and the brothers took their seats before Po turns around and sees them there. The panda chuckled softly and he said, "Hey, didn't see you guys there."

"Our noses led us here." Quiang answered.

Po chuckled again and said, "Looks like your noses are pretty good. Let's hope your taste buds are awesome."

"What are you making anyway?" asked Travis.

"Noodles."

Hearing that made Travis howl in excitement and happiness and exclaimed, "I LOVE NOODLES!"

Po froze for a minute after hearing Travis' excitement and looked completely surprised by it and when Travis saw his reaction, he chuckled embarassedly and sat himself back down, clears his throat and said, "They're sorta...my favorite food."

"Mine too!" Po exclaimed.

Travis was surprised that it's also the Dragon Warrior's favorite dish as well and that he met someone that has the same food interest. Po asked, "Have you been in my dad's noodle shop?"

"We had some, but never actually went there." Travis answered.

"You totally have to go there. It's so cool!"

Quiang chuckled softly at this and said, "I think you two are like noodle-holics."

Later on, everyone else came in the kitchen and they were surprised to see Quiang and Travis sitting down together and as everyone else sat down, Monkey looked at Travis and asked, "So...you like it here?"

Travis replied, with a slight ounce of nervousness, "It's...starting to grow on me."

"Hey, I bet this will be your first time trying out Po's noodles because they taste really amazing. I swear, it'll have your taste buds begging for more." Mantis exclaimed.

"My brother loves noodles." Quiang explained.

"Oh, really?" asked Viper.

"Yep, it's true." Travis said, with a chuckle.

Seconds later, out comes some bowls of noodles and as everyone ate, Quiang tried it out and said, "Holy smoke, this is really good."

Travis ate some too and he felt the same way and his taste buds were jumping uncontrollably and said, "This is cooler than any noodles I've ever tasted in the orphanage."

"How long were you boys there?" asked Tigress.

"About...12 years, I guess." Quiang answered.

"What for?"

Travis knew that this would go into the personal stuff and he said, "That's something we don't talk about, so...let's just leave it at that."

Tigress figured that there's more to the story than that and she kept her eye on Travis while she was eating, which made him a little uncomfortable. Soon enough, Viper asked Shifu, "Can Quiang be my sparring partner?"

"Of course, Viper. I was originally gonna have Monkey as his sparring partner but-"

Quiang got excited for it and he said, "It's cool. I can have two sparring partners; both Viper and Monkey. It works out really great."

Shifu clears his throat and he turned to Travis and asked, "Have you thought of a sparring partner yet?"

"I don't really know yet." Travis replied.

"Hmmm...Crane, you think you can be Travis' mentor?"

Crane looks at Travis and he replied, "Sure, master. I think it'd be great to be his mentor."

Hours later, Quiang and Travis entered their rooms and Monkey helped put in an extra mat for the room and he said, "You two will be happy here and if there's anything you need, don't be afraid to let us know."

"No problem." Quiang answered.

"See you guys tomorrow."

Monkey left the room, but not before giving them two words.

"Welcome home."

Quiang immediately got on his bed and Travis did the same on his mat and they looked at each other and Quiang could sense some worry in Travis and he said, "Hey, everything's gonna be fine. You'll see."

"I hope you're right. Because I worry that you might never wake up." Travis replied.

"Aw, Travs. Worry less about me and more on you. Tomorrow will be a great day, I just know it." Quiang said, happily.

He already fell asleep and Travis sighed heavily as he turned to the side of his bed and he whispered to himself, "Good night, big brother."

So...how do you think their first morning of training would be? One way to find out...