Banquet
I don't often get writer's block, but when I do, it lasts two weeks and is followed by a torrent of ideas.
(The choices Dai and Kiera make in this chapter will affect what happens later in the story)
-With The Master-
The Master tossed a dagger from hand to hand as he waited patiently for Dai to show up with his answer.
"I don't think he's gonna show," Shan, who had returned to the City after preparing The Master's soldiers said.
"Patience, Shan," The Master said. "He'll be here; he knows the stakes if he doesn't show,"
A couple of minutes later The Master was proven correct as Dai entered the warehouse.
"Well, what's your answer?" The Master asked, not wasting any time.
"No," Dai said simply
"No?" The Master asked.
"That's what I said," Dai said. "I won't kill Tigress, not for you, not for anyone,"
"That's…disappointing, I was really hoping we could avoid more needless bloodshed," The Master said sounding disappointed and left with his guards.
-With the master, later-
"Are you sure this is a wise decision?"
"Yes," The Master said over looking a map of the City. "My spies tell me that the Master's banquet is being held here," He said pointing to a Hotel, one of the most expensive ones in Gong-Men City.
"The students will be here," He said pointing to another building several blocks away. "But, the students won't be arriving until later tonight. When they are inducted as Masters, that's our window to strike,"
"Once we hit the Master's banquet, it'll surely alert the students, and they'll come running, that's where you come in Saber, you need to keep them busy as long as you can while the rest of us attack the banquet," The Master said.
"I think I can manage that," Saber said.
"Alright," The Master said.
-With the Masters-
"Are you sure this celebration is a good idea?" Tigress asked walking up next to Dai as he greeted the guests.
"I'm sure, people need this; it's a distraction," Dai said leaning on his cane slightly as he watched Kung Fu Masters stream into the Hotel's Dining area, from all over China.
"I thought you didn't like that thing," Tigress said seeing the cane-weapon.
"Okay, so it's growing on me a bit," Dai said.
-With the young heroes-
"Man, this gonna be one epic party!" Dega said excitedly, practically bouncing up and down.
"Yeah, it's been so long since I've been able to relax," Kiera said.
"For you relaxing, is running up and down the old Palace stairs about fifty times," Dega joked making Kiera smack him hard on the shoulder.
"Ow Ow, kidding!" He said rubbing his shoulder.
"I agree, after everything that's happened it'll be nice to unwind and just be normal for a night," Lupa said
"Define normal," Saber said.
The Sabertooth was sitting away from everyone else; he didn't sound too happy about the party.
"You're not coming?" Kiera asked.
"No, you guys go, have fun, I'll just stay here," Saber said.
"Kai, are you coming?" Kiera asked.
"Nah, you guys go ahead, "I'll catch up, I've got something I need to do first," Kai said
Kiera just shrugged and left with the others.
-With the Masters-
Dai was never a big fan of these banquets, even as he sat there he looked uncomfortable to Tigress.
"I hate these," He said
"This was your idea," Kiro reminded him, his mouth full of food.
"Yeah…" Dai said absentmindedly.
"What's wrong?" Tigress asked recognizing the tone in his voice.
"It's something The Master said; He said 'Enjoy the Banquet, while you still can,'" Dai said.
"He's just messing with your head," Kiro said.
"I don't know, maybe," Dai said, still sounding distracted.
A moment later, the doors to the banquet hall exploded open sending deadly shrapnel all over, those not killed by the explosion were quickly cut down by The Master and his followers as they streamed into the large hall.
Dai and the others all got to their feet, ready to fight, the Master smirked and calmly stepped aside giving his soldiers armed with muskets clear shots at the Masters.
"Fire," He said calmly.
-With the young heroes-
Kiera stopped dancing when she heard the thud of a distant explosion over the music and looked towards the exit, she caught Lupa's eye and nodded towards the door.
"Sorry, I gotta go," Kiera said to the tiger she'd been dancing with, and raced to the door with the others, leaving the tiger confused.
Once outside, they saw the smoke coming from the hotel the Master's banquet was being held at.
"There!" Kiera shouted, pointing.
The students ran forward but didn't get too far, as a figure jumped down on the from above, quickly knocking Dega into a wall and engaged Lupa.
Kiera stopped and turned around to face the new threat. Something about his fighting style, the way he spun his sword in his hand seemed familiar to her, but she couldn't place why.
-With The Masters-
Dai, Tigress, and Kiro barely got out of the way in time. Kiro jumped on the long table and summoned a large table, hurling it at The Master and his supporters, only to see it get sliced in half, by the Master.
"Okay, that's new," He said ducking as more musket balls flew past him. He summoned a shield, that seemed to work until Dai grabbed him and pulled him off the table.
"Are you crazy?" He asked.
"Sort of," Kiro said making Dai roll his eyes.
Dai unsheathed his Katana and got ready to vault over the table with the others.
"Wait until they come over the top," The Master said.
-With the young heroes, the same time-
"Keep going, I got this!" Kiera shouted to Dega and Lupa.
The hooded figure slowly stood back up and faced Kiera, gowling.
"Go!" Kiera shouted once more, and Dega and Lupa ran off.
Kiera yelled and attacked the hooded figure. "Show your face, you coward!" she yelled punching and kicking the hooded figure. Every punch, and kick she threw he managed to block like he knew her every move.
He hastily drew a sword, which Kiera batted away and kicked the figure in the leg and punched him in the face, but he remained upright, panting heavily taking a defensive stance.
Again, something about his stance seemed familiar to Kiera.
"RAH!" She yelled rushing at him again, intent on killing him.
The hooded figure backpedaled frantically, trying to avoid Kiera's claws but she hit him multiple times in the chest, knocking him back into a wall, where she spin kicked him to the ground. Where he remained, taking raspy breaths.
Kiera kneeled down pulling the mask and hood off intent on seeing her attacker and gasped.
"Sur…prise," Saber coughed rolling to face Kiera.
"Bet you didn't…see that coming," He said coughing.
"Saber I'm sorry, I…" Kiera said kneeling next to her friend.
"I think I'm gonna rest now," Saber said closing his eyes.
"Saber, Saber!" Kiera cried shaking the sabertooth.
-With the Maters-
"Remember, those Muskets only have one shot," Dai said and let out a loud war cry, vaulting over the table with Tigress and Kiro, they landed, and Kiro summoned a shield to protect them from the first volley, and they rushed forward fighting their way through The Master's soldiers.
Dai engaged The Master, something seemed very familiar about his fighting style to him, was he an ex-student at the Academy? That would explain a lot.
As he fought, Dai tried to see under the hand painted mask and hood.
"Your gonna pay for the people you've murdered!" The Master said attempting to and nearly disarming Dai.
That caused more red flags to go up in Dai's mind, not many people could do that, not even Tigress or Kiro, only…
Dai's eyes widened as he came to the realization, he paused, giving the Master the chance to cut him across the chest with His sword, knocking the Tiger Master to the floor.
The Master spun his sword in his hand preparing to deliver the final blow, when a plate crashed into his head, knocking him off to the side.
He turned, holding his face and saw the young heroes all standing in the doorway.
"Surrender, you're outnumbered," Kiera said.
Seeing not only the Students but the Elemental Hazards as well. The Master lowered his weapon, pulling out a small smoke bomb.
"You win this round but this has only just begun," He said, "Soon, you will all die!" and detonated the smoke bomb, by the time the smoke cleared he was gone.
"Dad!" Kiera exclaimed rushing to her wounded father, helping him up with Tigress's help.
"I…think I know who The Master is, or at least who's helping him," He said.
Kiera wasn't sure if she should tell her father about Saber's betrayal.
"Who?" Tigress asked.
"Not here, wait until we get back to the Valley," Dai said.
After making sure, her Father got back home safely, Kiera left to go and try and find Saber.
-With Kiera-
She went back to the scene of their earlier fight but didn't see the Sabertooth anywhere.
"Saber?" she asked looking around.
"Saber?" She asked a little more loudly
"Here," A voice finally answered hoarsely.
"Saber?" Kiera asked moving towards the voice.
"Over here Kiera," That voice, Kiera recognized as Saber's, she walked over and saw him on the ground, leaning against the wall.
Kiera went over to him and kneeled down next to the wounded Sabertooth, in the daylight, she could see the severity of his injuries more clearly, and she felt horrible for what she had done.
"Saber, I'm so sorry," She said.
"I'll live…maybe," Saber said attempting to stand but falling back to the ground.
"Let me help," Kiera said.
"I don't have much of a choice, do I?" Saber said as Kiera helped him to his feet.
"Not really," Kiera said letting Saber lean against her, he was heavier than she thought he'd be.
With Kiera's help, Saber managed to make it all the way back to the house, where she had to kick the door open because her hands were full. At the sound Dai and Tigress both rushed over, ready to fight but relaxed when they saw Kiera and Saber.
"Saber!"
"I found him like this," Kiera explained, letting her father take Saber from her.
"What happened?" Dai asked.
"I was ambushed last night," Saber lied. "By The Master and a couple of his supporters,"
"And you fought them off?" Tigress questioned.
"Sort of…" Saber said coughing.
"Ti, help me get him upstairs," Dai said.
With Tigress's help, Dai carried Saber upstairs and set him on the bed.
"Stay with him," He said to Kiera and left the room.
As soon as I can come up with a name for him and a reason for it, that Tiger Kiera was dancing with will make another appearance. Another chapter should be up relatively soon, now that my writer's block is over.