Chapter 8: Dragon

"Help someone please help!" screamed a doe. The flames streaked over her house as she and her baby were trapped in the fire.

"Jan, I am coming!" shouted a male deer as he tried to get to his wife and child. Yet, the flames were too high and all he could do was watch helplessly as the flames drew closer to his wife and child.

"Help us!" Jan screamed as her baby's cries increased. Out of the sky a dark figure appeared, a creature wearing a cloth that looked like scales covering the beast's entire body with two huge wings flapping towards the burning house. Jan watched in awe as did her husband as the beast opened its mouth and a shower of ice fell onto the house putting out the fire. The beast flew towards Jan and her baby. She saw the creature was wearing a cloth that resembled scales of a dragon, was built and was twice her height. Wore a black dragon's mask covered in the same cloth that looked like scales with horns. The figure had no tail like a dragon and the only part Jan could make out was its eyes were jaded and saw the mask opened so the beast could let out the ice.

"Need a lift?" he asked, for his voice sounded male. Jan was scared but once her eyes locked onto his jade eyes, she felt safe. She only nodded as he wrapped his arms around her, holding her bridal style. Her baby was calm again and smiled at the figure holding her mother. The figure flapped his wings and landed gently on the ground, placing Jan and her baby safely down.

"Jan, Jan!" cried her husband rushing to her. They hugged and kissed each other and looked at their house. It was burnt but could be fixed, but they were all alive, which to them was far more important.

"Thank you um, what is your name?" Jan asked looking at the figure once again.

"They call me, Dragon," he said gently. Then with a bow he leaped into the air and flew off.

"Thank you Dragon!" Jan yelled after him holding her husband and daughter in her arms.

Dragon flew over the country side as people looked up and saw him. "Hey it is Dragon!" one shouted.

"Hi Dragon!" others yelled.

"You are the best!" some yelled. Dragon smiled but was still sad.

If they only knew, he thought as a tear fell from his face. He flew down to some trees and took off his outfit. Once his mask was off a panda of black and white stood, his outfit was stuffed into his bag. His wings slowly went back into his skin where no one could see them. The clothes he wore now were a pair of yellow pants. He placed his bag over his back and headed to a small noodle shop. Customers sat in tables as a goose wearing a red robe and funny red hat was serving them.

"Po, you are back excellent table six needs their soup," the goose called.

"You got it dad," Po said placing his bag in an empty crate and putting on a white apron. Then he picked up a tray and headed to table six. "Hey Mr. and Mrs. Wong, how is it going?" he asked.

"Oh hey Po just fine so, sweet of you to ask," said a female goat.

"So, far so good with Dragon keeping us safe," Mr. Wong said.

"Yeah he is something," Po said and left them to eat. Soon the restaurant cleared and Po was alone with his dad, Mr. Ping.

"So, how was your day?" Mr. Ping asked.

"Saved a doe and her baby from burning to death in a fire and put the fire out before it completely destroyed their home," Po answered. Mr. Ping smiled for he knew all about Po's gifts and his other identity.

"Po, I have been thinking, you should go to Peace City," Mr. Ping said.

"What for, I have no reason to go there," Po said.

"Son, you need to explore the world not hide here forever," Mr. Ping said.

"I am not hiding," Po argued.

"She is not coming back son, you know this it has been three years, Po, maybe going to Peace City can be beneficial for you, help you start over," Mr. Ping said.

"This isn't about her dad, if I stay here people will be safer, I am too dangerous to be around crowded areas, what if I hurt an innocent?" Po asked. He knew his powers were strong and one time uncontrollable, when he was five his wings grew, six the fire and ice happened, his healing ability according to his dad happened at one years old. Mr. Ping helped Po control his gifts the best way he could but Po feared being in a city it would only lead to trouble.

"Po," Mr. Ping said placing a wing on his shoulder. "You can't live in fear forever, okay I will make you a deal if you can stay in Peace City for one month and if you like it, stay and if you don't come back home and I will never ask you to go again," he added. Po looked into his dad's eyes and knew his dad was right. They was hardly any crime here, the fire was the first thing to happen in months. Maybe going to Peace City, wouldn't be so bad.

"Okay Dad, I will go but if anything happens that you need me," Po said.

"I will call you," Mr. Ping assured.

At Peace City

Po gazed up at the huge building and noisy cars. People in fine cloths looked at him with odd looks. Guess they never seen a panda before, Po thought. He already bought a paper and saw a want ad for a cook. "I can do that no problem, the Jade Palace must be some fancy restaurant," Po said to himself. He was about to ask for directions when he saw a car zooming by with money flying out.

"Thieves!" shouted a bank teller.

"Think it is time Peace City met Dragon," Po said going into an alleyway. He slipped on his costume as his wings grew. Then he took off in the air after the robbers. Po saw them racing down Main Street and landed a foot in front of them.

"Who is that?" asked an old woman.

"He will be crushed, dude move!" a pig man shouted. Po smiled as the car raced towards him and he held up his paws and stopped the car dead in its tracks. The car's back end rose up and crashed onto the ground. Once the car was stopped the robbers got out and held up their guns.

"Shoot him!" the leader shouted. Po smiled and blew out a trail of fire at their guns. They melted like marsh mellows as the robbers dropped them yelping in pain.

"You guys need to chill out," Po said and breathed ice on them having them stuck to the road. Soon the cops showed up and the crowd cheered.

"Thanks stranger and who might you be?" asked a bear officer.

"Dragon," Po said with a bow. Then just as he was about to fly off five figures came to him.

"Uh the Furious Five, sorry but you are too late um Dragon here already stopped these crooks," the bear officer said. A red figure walked up to Po and all he could see was a pair of golden eyes.

"You are Dragon?" she asked for her voice sounded female.

"Yes," Po said.

"I am Huntress leader of the Furious Five, these are my friends White Shriek," she said showing him a white bird. "This is Emerald, Quick Jade, and Jokester," she added motioning to a green snake, green bug, and monkey. All of them wore masks and robes of outfits that covered their bodies.

"Nice to meet you all," Po said.

"We saw what you did and we want you to join our team," Huntress said.

"You want me to join this team?" Po asked.

"Yes, each of us has a special gift that we use to fight crime, I am super strong, White Shriek has a high pitch shriek that it can shatter anything, Emerald can be invisible, Quick Jade is superfast, and Jokester is super flexible," Huntress explained.

They have powers like me, awesome maybe joining them won't be so bad, that way I won't be alone, Po thought happily. No Po, remember the last time you had a partner, no you are better off alone, you know this, Po reminded himself. "Um Huntress, I am honored you want me to join this team but I am going to have to decline," Po said.

Huntress's face fell as the others exchanged shocked looks. "What you are refusing to join us?" she asked as if she didn't believe her own ears.

"Sorry, nothing personal but I work alone," he said and without another word Po flew away. The Furious Five were left shocked and confused. Why would Dragon not want to join them? They all wondered as they headed secretly back to the Jade Palace. Once they got back Shifu was waiting for them.

"Master, Dragon we met him," Tigress said taking off her mask.

"You met him, where is he?" Shifu asked.

"He is gone Master," Viper said.

"I don't understand did you ask him to join us?" Shifu asked.

"Of course we did Master," Mantis said.

"Well, what did he say?" Shifu asked.

"He said no," Monkey replied. Shifu looked confused at this answer.

"He was as strong as Oogwya said maybe stronger but he said he worked alone," Crane said. Shifu decided to talk to Oogway.

Oogway was near the Pool of Sacred Tears meditating trying to get a better picture of the future. So, far nothing came to him. Just as Shifu arrived Oogway opened up his eyes and said, "Dragon is here". Then Shifu rushed to the entrance of the Palace doors and opened them hoping to see a mighty dragon instead he saw a panda, wearing yellow pants, having a pack on his back smiling.

"Hello, my name is Po Ping and I am interested in your cook position," Po said with a bow.

Author's Note: Hope you all enjoyed this chapter and please review.