Hello. It's been a while. (Well, to me it's been too long since I have updated.) So I'm just going to cut to the chase and let you read.


"A...a panda?" I mumble.

For a moment, I contemplate the possibility of me being mentally insane. Maybe that last coffee I had was one too many. I started to think that the teenager that gave me that said coffee slipped something in it. I tried to come up with anything to explain why a giant panda was in front of me. I assumed everything except the truth.

During my short time here, I have come to realize that almost anything can happen. Almost everyone you can possibly imagine and the few that you can't you can find here. People from all over the world journey to one small location in one small country to do the thing that they enjoy; or to just simply win for reasons that vary so greatly. I have seen many outside-competition brawls break out; eventually being broken up by Iron Fist Tournament officials and Mishima Zaibatsu guards before they escalated into anything more than what they were.

The stage looked like something out of the Alps. Huge, towering mountains; beautiful, flowery scenery and lush, slopping hills.

Now that I was thinking about it in the ring, I could faintly remember a kangaroo. Two actually. One baby and a mother. What possible reasons would they have to enter the competition?

I hear the bell ring, and instantly get into my stance. The panda doesn't seem to have a stance. Not that I'm surprised that an animal hasn't studied basic martial arts. I figured it probably just used its overpowering size and brute strength to win its battles.

I control my breathing, making myself calm for challenge ahead. Letting my chakras flow through me, I let my body become like water. Water is free, yet controlled. It flows to the rhythm of its on beat yet can compose itself in a blink of an eye and be one of the most deadly forces this world has ever known. Elegant. Graceful. Volatile. Water.

My body is fluid. It is unattached from my normal physical and mental limitations. It is guided only by my spiritual power. My body is fluid...my body is fluid.

I prepare my mind and my spirit for the fight which has already started to begin. I wait for the panda to attack, just so I can get a feel for what it does in situations like this. The animal moves closer and goes for my leg in one swift movement with its paw. I step back quickly and kick the panda on its upper belly. I stayed in the scarecrow stance for a moment; analyzing the animals next move.

Looking at its entire figure, I realized that on its arms, there were two bracelets; one for each arm. They resembled greatly to Xiaoyu's. I recalled then that the Chinese girl had told me about this panda being her bodyguard.

Lost in my thoughts, my mind seemed to have skipped over the image of the panda coming towards me with a paw reaching for my face. My reaction was slower and the prize I received for my huge error was a clawed paw to the face. I screamed out in pain and held a hand to my face which was bleeding from the three parallel scratches that ran through the left side of my face, narrowly missing my eye. It again barrages me with wild swings and then some kicks. My ankles were now bruised and the backs of my arms were also covered in multiple scratches from guarding my face.

I felt the sting of my wounds as the animal swung its arms wildly, sending a mass of airflow my way. This was insane. Who had ever heard of a hunter killing a bear or even a deer with their bare hands? No weapons? I wasn't going to kill it of course, but I couldn't even see how I could get a knock out.

Running out of ideas of how to get the upper hand, I just waited until the panda shifted into a more opportunistic position so that I could find a good place to begin my assault, but I had to realize that I was running short on time, so I had to make my move immediately.

"Consider those the last hits you will ever make, Panda," I say, a little angrily I must admit. Never before in a fight have I ever bled like this.

I chose not to get in my Tarantula stance. Like before, being near feet with a fighter that uses mostly their lower appendages would not be as smart as just staying standing. Instead, I delivered steady, constant kicks to the animal's belly until it finally crashed backwards. I did not stop however. Only until it fell did I continue on my hands and feet.

Flow...and then strike! Flow...strike! I commanded myself in my thoughts as I continued the onslaught.

Finally I rise and surprisingly, the panda rises quickly along with me. I drew a sharp breath at the pain I was feeling that was coursing throughout me. However, I was prepared for the next part of this battle. Bringing my arms out wide and then crossing them quickly and swiftly, yet violently, I strike with my hands and then deliver one final kick, ending in my scarecrow stance. I was finding it pretty difficult to stand on my own two feet and now I was trying not to scream standing on one.

The animal stays down for a few seconds, but then rises as I try to quickly catch my breath. (And that wasn't because of the constant attacking, but because I found this fight so very exhilarating!) I was confident that I would win again. And that confidence only made me feel more hope that Xiaoyu was winning her battle.


Walking back to my hotel room to soak in a nice hot bathtub and then bandage my wounds. After all, I was finding it increasingly hard to walk. The panda had scratched my ankles and battered my legs. I was sure the bruises were clearly visible from Mars. But, as I walked agonizingly up the steps to my room I couldn't help but hear sobbing.

And then, "Zafina!"

I automatically recognized that it was indeed Julia Chang who had called for my attention and I couldn't help feeling a pang of guilt because I knew what this would be about before I looked up. But, I looked up anyway and saw a sad-faced Julia Chang holding a crying Ling Xiaoyu in her arms at the top of the stairs. I sigh quietly and make my way upstairs, quickening my pace a little. I grunt a little in-between steps before finally making it to the stopping point before the next flight of stairs.

"Xiaoyu," I begin curiously, though I'm not curious as to what is happening, because I am already aware, "did you not make it?"

The sobbing girl only shook her head. She kept her head firmly in place in the palms of her hands. Julia Chang's features seemed to sink, her smile faded.

"We were both so sure she was going to win that fight," Julia started, her voice melancholic, "Your little crush crushed her."

"I'm sorry, Xiaoyu," I say, "But, I guess what they say is true; the silent ones are always the most deadly."

Julia took one shocked look at me and for a moment I thought she had somehow magically uncovered that I had for a small moment I had secretly wished that the silent Russian won instead of Xiaoyu. But then, I heard the crying Asian sputter and then giggle and then Julia laughed out loud. It was loud and hysterical and then Xiaoyu joined in on the laughter.

"W-what did I say?" I stutter in embarrassment. My cheeks blushed a crimson red.

"Usually that saying, 'silent but deadly' is used to describe"-Julia stifled another outburst of laughter-"flatulence!" And then the two laughing females' hysterical howling got louder until it became unbearably awkward.

"I'm sorry; my English slang isn't so good!" I apologize rapidly.

After their howling rage of laughter, Julia and I both tried our best to comfort Xiaoyu after this loss. Fortunately, she had some words of wisdom for us.

"If either of you guys fight him," she tried to say in English, "don't let him attack you or let him find out where you are most weak. There's no mercy after that."

We both nod. No mercy? Sounds fun to me. Very, very fun. If I were to fight him, I think that fight would be more interesting than any other I have participated in. I smiled slightly at the idea, hoping neither girl next to me could see.

I give Xiaoyu one final hug goodbye, savoring it somewhat, and then take leave to my room. I had much to do before the next match next week.

First on my list is to take a bath, jeez...


So, I sort of rushed this one because it took me so long to do...

Wait...did that make sense? Okay so I rushed it at the end because in the beginning and middle it was taking me too long. Yea, that's better. Anyway, I know I sort of rushed and maybe didn't really finish the fight scene. Well, I think that if Zafina is confident that she is going to win then do we really need to read a a whole scene when we know she's right and she's going to win anyway? Okay, I did not mean to sound like a jerk when I said that...it's just true. Plus, it relieves my stress not having to write such a long fight scene. And then I can focus on more pointless detail when I write about the other parts of the chapter.

Also, if you don't get the flow strike thing...uhm to me, when Zafina is in her stance, her body seems to flow like water yet stay control. Interpret her movements how you will, that's just how I interpret it.

Anyway, thanks for the reviews and the support!

~M.o.t.C