A/N: 0-0!Wow!I wasn't expecting so much replies at once!Thanks everyone!I think that updating on Monday is a good thing after all...
Well, I really appreciate the interest from all of you, I hope I can keep doing my best to keep this way.
So...the replies for most of you...
But!
Before that I would like to say that I had enough of the KFP LOA series. Seriously, episodes 22,23 were the worst thing I've ever watched !They are not just out of character but they look complete different people! Mr. Ping and Scorpion?With that goes the(horrific!)Crane and a pig?(sorry for the language but...bite me!)Tigress crush on Shifu?(probably around her teenage years..)Episode 27 and 16 were kinda nice. Few were funny and other should never exist. There's only 1! 1 Reason that I still keep watching the show. If it's confirmed that it won't happen what I'm expecting I'll just "ignore" the series and that's it.
International-Wonderland;
Thank you sooooo much for reading this!I'm glad that you're liking it so much!I really don't know what else to say to express my gratitude, so I'll leave an update for it.
WoYoYo;
eld mcm;
Lol, yeah. I was having my doubts about the orange colour...but I honestly believe that it was way better than...purple.
Alpha tiger;
Very welcome!Even if you're anon at least you DID review and I give a lot of valor to that!Yeah..Tigress was mean but she had to(I made that way) and the flashback was my best catch so far.(the first time they meet, Crane's name and the origin of his hat)All in one XD. The best was about the hat for sure. Many people would think that it has a great story behind it…well...the best things in life are the most simple.
strange dude;
Maybe someday...
ShoothingStar;Carzynuts;Anonymosrules;Shifufanatic;Holoispartan23;Unrealistic(also 23?XD)and Frenir(and the others);
I own you all my motivation and happiness that I have for making this story!I really hope that I can keep this way for a long time!Thanks for everything!
Charlie B. Barkin;
Yeah…I know Charles, you're the couple 'expert' of KFP fanfiction archive. You can see any possible sings of a possible pairing on a place nobody would take notice. When it comes to pairings I know that your suggestions will be the most meaningful for me. I really hope that I don't screw it up on the pairings.
Crane couldn't believe it. She was right there! After so many years being so far away from each other she was right in front of him. He noticed how different she was from the last time the avian saw her. She was taller now, apparently stronger and even more beautiful than ever.
Mei Ling hugged him so hard that Crane though that his members would split away from his body. She was way stronger than he had anticipate.
"Uhg!...I...Ling...I...can't...breath!...Urgh..." Crane warned while trying to catch some air. The mountain cat released him quickly.
"Oh! I'm so sorry Jien! I think I got overjoyed..." She said laughing a bit at her own excessive happiness.
"That's ok. I'm fine," The waterfowl said while massaging his chest with his wings." When did you got here?"
"Oh, just few minutes ago. I have to say that it was a quite interesting journey," Mei Ling replied crossing her arms and staring at the bird.
Crane could notice that Mei Ling was evaluating him, especially his psych. That didn't help a bit. He was already getting nervous just by being closer to her again. It was no wonder why, since that time on Wu Dan he would never forget the humiliation that Mantis and Monkey made him pass through. After that day the avian didn't spoke with both for five months.
"Sorry if I called you in a hurry...it's…something really important that I need to talk about," The avian explained timidly.
"Really?" Mei Ling's eyes went wide. What could it be? Before she could notice she was giving a hint to herself of what would be the subject. "What is it?"
"Hum..." Crane glanced around and it became obvious that he wanted to speak in a more private place. "Follow me."
Mei Ling followed him to the nearest desert alley. Crane seemed apprehensive, she never saw him so nervous since-
"I need a big favor," He said after getting sure that they were alone. Mei Ling frowned a bit. It wasn't what she was expecting, and for some reason making 'another' favor for Crane wasn't in her 'to do' list for the next ten years.
"Oh...a favor," Her tone was a bit cold and severe." What kind of favor?"
The bird complicated himself even more. He should have said 'help' instead of 'favor'.
"I...it's hard to explain...you need to see for yourself," Crane said with pleading eyes. Mei Ling sighed.
"You didn't get yourself into trouble, did you?"
"Well...not quite."
"Jien..." Warned Mei Ling.
"Ok ,ok! Just help me please! I really don't know what to do anymore," The avian was feeling stressful. Crane knew that he didn't want to go into that road with Shen alone, he needed help and the only person of thrust that would not betray him or kill Shen was her.
"Alright," She agreed "..so, tell me, which way?"
Crane noticed that her tone of voice had change a lot. From cold to very sweet and playful. The avian stared at her, she was carrying the most affectionate expression that he had seen in ages. The waterfowl was confused. Just few seconds ago she was really happy, then apparently she got angry. Now it was something else. Something he hadn't seen in her before. 'It's that...?"
"What are all these bags you're carrying?" Mei Ling asked noticing the bags filled with food and clothes on Crane's wings. The avian seemed lost for a moment since he wasn't paying attention. "Jien? Hello?"
"Huh?" He said returning to the reality." Oh, this bags?Well, they're for a…friend of mine."
"A friend? Who?" She asked while walking past the avian and, accidentally, touching her large tail on the avian's legs.
The feeling of the soft fur caressing his legs made Crane shiver. It was really hard for him to keep focused while having Mei Ling around like that.
"I-It's…a surprise...why we don't go check on him now? I have nothing better to do anyway."
"It's almost night. Don't you have to return to the Five?" Mei Ling asked while admiring the city. She never saw such impressive place since she that pass by in the Imperial City. Crane sighed.
"Hum...yes, I do. You want to come along?"
Mei Ling turned around and grabbed some bags that Crane was carrying.
"That would be great. Lead the way."
Both avian and feline returned to the establishment. In their way Crane and Mei Ling shared many adventures they had along the years. For the avian's big surprise Mei Ling had mastered a very hard and rare style.
"The Five Families?" Crane seemed shocked.'"But…but..that's.."
"Impossible?" Mei Ling asked laughing at her friend's expression." I took me a while, but hey!If you're an air kinect I can do some nice things too."
The Five Families main components of the style are the legendary five families' kung fu styles: Fut Gar, Li Gar, Mok Gar, Hung Gar and Choy Gar, each of them complete styles with different approaches to Kung Fu, all descended from the temples of Shaolin. Their lines came together and created a style that combined the might of all the Five families to create a system with better transition and strength.
"And I also know the Five Animals," Mei Ling added only to make Crane's beak to drop open ridiculously.
The Five Animals style was complemented with the Five Legendary Shaolin Animals, each with its own approach to fighting techniques, and each with its own advanced form within the style.
"Which ones you know?" Asked Crane after few minutes of silence. He couldn't believe on what he just heard. Mei Ling was just enjoying herself with the situation.
"Let's see...the leopard, the dragon and the crane," She listed with her fingers. "And of the Five Families...the Hung Gar and Fut Ga."
"Really? That's...that's awesome!" Crane said a bit off himself. Mei Ling stared at him with an odd look. "I mean...that's impressive. Heheh, I'm passing too much time with Po."
"Who's Po?" Asked Mei Ling.
"My best friend," Said Crane. Mei Ling stared at him again. "I mean...my best male friend," He corrected himself.
"Oh, he makes part of the Five?" Mei Ling's curiosity always amazed Crane, but thanks to that it was one of the reasons of why he learned calligraphy.
Flashback(19 years ago)
Crane and Mei Ling had return from their last mission at the province of Heng Li. Taking care of the several major conflicts in the area they could return to the academy for a deserved rest.
"My back is killing me." Complained Crane while leaving his bag over his bed. Him and Mei Ling were sharing the same room.
"That's because I told you to not buy so many supplies for the home journey," Chuckled the Mountain Cat laying in her bed." If you want I can alleviate the pain."
"It's not another of your weird medicines, is it?" Asked the avian sitting next to her. Or at least he tried since his legs were spreading out ridiculously.
"What? No! And you know that I was just testing that thing, I didn't know that would make you lose so many feathers at once. I still feel really sorry for that."
"Right, I bet you found funny to see how my skin was," Crane replied darkly. Mei Ling just rolled her eyes.
"It wasn't that bad. I was surprised, true. And you should be glad that it didn't make your pants fall too, otherwise..."
"Ok, Ok! I got it," Crane said having enough of her jokes." I just passed weeks without leaving my room. And that's not bad at all, letting aside some 'jokes' coming from the others."
"Ha, I don't know why you were complaining so much," Mei Ling said on an undignified tone. "Everyone started asking me how it was like to have a naked chicken in my room. And if we..." She stopped all of sudden. Crane glanced at her.
"If we…?What?" He asked hesitantly. Mei Ling didn't repliy." Well, I believe that whatever it is doesn't matter now. So if it's not a medicine what is it?"
"Oh, just a relaxing massage. What do you think?" Crane's mortified silence was taken as a yes by Mei Ling. "Nice, just lay down."
Slowly the bird made what she said. He wasn't feeling comfortable at all. While doing this he saw some of her personal stuff next to the door.
"What's that?" He asked pointing with his beak to her objects, when he felt her hands over his back he sensed that she had took off her gloves.
"That?Just my calligraphy equipment," She said with clear amusement. "Why?"
"You learned calligraphy? How?" Crane asked.
"The headmaster instructed me of how to do so. It's a very interesting art. You should try sometime."
"Maybe..." Crane said feeling very relaxed already." I was thinking…tomorrow we have a free ..."
"Yes?"
"..."
"Huang?"
Crane fell asleep. Mei Ling sighed. Apparently the avian had relaxed too much.
"Why every time I touch him, he just blacks out?" Asked Mei Ling to herself.
End of Flashback
"Jien?Are you still there?" Mei Ling asked with a worried expression.
"Huh?...sorry, I was reminding something," He said apologizing.
"You're always with something in your mind aren't you?" She said on a cheerful tone. Crane nodded recognizing the truth behind her words.
"I was remembering how I...decided to learn calligraphy."
"I remember that too. It's funny how that started...by the way, did you ever told anyone about that episode with the medicine?"
"What? No, I wouldn't do that! I had enough embarrassing moments in my life, I don't need more," The waterfowl got annoyed with the question. He didn't want to remember about that episode. It was just like remembering about what happened at Wu Dan. " Do you remember about Wu Dan?"
Mei Ling's face hardened at his question.
"Ok, I got your point, sorry for asking," The feline replied. Crane was enjoying his little revenge while they had finally reached the establishment. "It's here?"
"Yes, let's get inside."
Crane leaded Mei Ling to the dining room where the others would be at this hour. His expectations were confirmed when he saw his friends at the table.
"Hey, Crane! My man!" Greeted Mantis when he saw the avian. "Where were y..." Mantis then saw Mei Ling "...you gotta be kidding me! Mei Ling? When did you got here?"
Everyone at the table was surprised with the presence of the mountain cat. Most of them seemed glad to see her again, at least the men did. It didn't took long for Po to jump in front of the mountain cat and start yelling in awe.
"OH MY I CAN'T BELIEVE IT! MASTER MEI LING! THIS IS ONE OF MY BEST DAYS OF MY LIFE! I'm so honored to finally meet you in person! I'm your big fan! I know a lot about you, thanks to Crane! If it wasn't for your awesomeness and goodness acts there would be no Master Crane! Pleeaasseee give me an autograph! Please,please, please!"
Mei Ling never saw something like that in her life. After recovering from the first shock she finally found words to speak.
"And...you...are?"
"Oh! Sooo sorry for my rudeness! I'm Master Po but you can call me just Po if you want!" The panda replied. Mei Ling turned around to face Crane and gave to the avian a 'this is the Po?" look. Crane nodded sadly. Something had disturbed the avian but the mountain cat didn't notice.
"Well then...Po. Nice to meet you. And I'm happy to see you all again," She said to the rest of the Five. Mantis and Monkey were having their 'awe' moment too. Tigress just greeted Mei Ling by nodding with her head. Viper eyed the cat with suspicious.
"Why you came here?" Asked Viper formally.
"Crane invited me, he said he needed h.." But before she could end the sentence Crane kicked Mei Ling on the leg to make her shut up the last word."...having a moment to talk with me since he wasn't so far from Yunnán."
"That's nice, too bad we'll be leaving shortly," The female snake said smoothly.
Crane was the only one who notice something strange in Viper's behavior. It was just like she was trying to make a point out of the conversation.
"Hum…yes, I guess so," Mei Ling was hesitant now." Anyway it's good to see you all again. Crane told me about the Dragon Warrior some time ago...where is he?"
Everyone went silent after that, even Po. Crane waved his wing in Po's direction. Mei Ling was surprised again.
"Really? It's you Po?" She asked. Po nodded proudly. "That's great! I'm impressed, I can't wait to have a sparring with you to see your techniques."
Crane smiled at his friends expressions. Apparently they didn't believe in Crane when he said that Mei Ling was far different from any other person the avian had met in his life.
"I'm a bit tired now...there's any room available here?" The cat asked.
"You can stay in my room," Crane suggested. Mantis and Monkey tried to hide their laughs while Viper thrown a hatred look at the mountain cat. Tigress decided to ignore the situation(as usual) and just ate her dinner.
Crane and Mei Ling went upstairs to the avian's room. When they got there the mountain cat felt odd to see only one bed inside.
"Hum...Jien?" She said while looking at the lonely bed.
"Don't worry, remember when I slept in the kitchen back at the academy?" Crane said to clear her doubts.
"You sleep only that way?" She asked amazed. "But, isn't uncomfortable?"
"Not for me, I got used to this in the last seventeen years."
"Don't you miss it?"
Crane didn't respond. Hell he did...he did a lot. While Mei Ling was falling asleep Crane remembered what had disturbed him so much. Something Po had said at the dining room.
'..If it wasn't for your awesomeness and goodness acts there would be no Master Crane!...'
No Master Crane, wasn't for her.
"I own her my life..."
A/N: That's it! For this chapter of course. I'm a bit sad now because my favorite soccer team lost in the semi-finals.(São Paulo FC) Anyway, I'm happy to deliver this new chapter although I can feel the presence of a writer's block ghost. I need to call the ghost adventures team!Because Ghost Hunters sucks...
By the way...,...,...,...I forgot. -_-"