Chapter Thirty Six- Grandmaster of the Jade Palace

Instinctively, Shifu bowed to his master. Junjie followed suit, albeit uncertainly. Fenghuang eyed Oogway with disdain, but gave a little nod in greetings.

"Good evening my students." Oogway bowed to them. "It has certainly been a while. In fact, last I checked, I haven't been here since a certain fox decided to impersonate me."

Junjie looked sheepish. "Yeah. While we're still here, sorry about that."

Oogway chuckled. "I see someone's finally turned over a new leaf." The old tortoise turned to Fenghuang. "And what about you? I thought you wanted to rule the Jade Palace."

Fenghuang shrugged. "Still trying, I suppose. Just was too busy saving the Valley of Peace from lizard dictators and crazy cat ladies."

Oogway gave a full laugh at this. "Ah yes, I remember watching you all fight. You've all done well and I'm very proud of all of you."

Fenghuang and Junjie looked surprised. "Even us?" Junjie asked.

"Of course." Oogway nodded.

"Why would you be proud of us?" Fenghuang demanded. "We're disgraces to the Jade Palace. Even if we aren't anymore, why would you be proud of students that try to take over your home?"

"I believe you have all proven yourselves." Oogway explained. "Shifu was originally chosen to be my successor. But, in all honesty, it was truly a hard decision to make. I had many students through the years. You three and Chao were some of my best. Chao was meant for the Sacred Onyx Council. You three were meant for something more."

"Like what?" Shifu asked.

"For one thing, you three make up the Tri-Dragon of Death." Oogway said. "Scary name? Yes. But it is a representation of the power the three of you hold, on your own and joined together. I can remember the three of you when you were younger, always together, always there for one another. I knew from the moment I first saw it that you three were destined for something great."

"Are you going to tell us?" Fenghuang asked. "Or are you going to go all mystical and talk in riddles?"

"A stool with one leg will not stand." Oogway said. "But it will with three."

"And he chooses the riddles." Junjie groaned.

Something clicked in Shifu's head. Something he remembered Oogway saying when the red panda was locked in Aurora's dungeon.

"A house divided cannot stand. The Furious Five cannot work together if they are constantly at each other's throats. A trio of great warriors cannot succeed without cooperation and respect for one another."

Oogway noticed Shifu's look. "I'm guessing you understand."

"Slowing figuring it out." Shifu nodded.

"Good, explain it to me." Junjie pleaded, rubbing his head.

Shifu looked towards Oogway. "The three of us have to work together. We can't be enemies anymore."

Oogway smiled and nodded. "If all of you are willing to accept, and promise not to kill each other, I want all three of you be my successors and become Grandmasters of the Jade Palace."

Their jaws almost dropped. Thankfully, the three living warriors managed to catch themselves.

"Us?" Shifu repeated.

"All three of us?" Fenghuang clarified.

"Grandmasters of the Jade Palace?" Junjie finished.

Oogway nodded so casually you'd think they were talking about the weather.

"Why now?" Fenghuang said with a mix of anger and confusion in her voice. "Why are you telling us this now?"

"Because you've finally discovered your true potential." Oogway explained. "Fenghuang and Junjie, you two have proven that you're willing to change and fight with the Jade Palace rather than against it." Said fox and owl straightened a little. "If you two will truly change, then it would be an honor to have you as my successors."

Fenghuang and Junjie shared a look. Junjie was the first to step up and bow.

"It would be an honor." Junjie said. "It would also be nice to have an actual home. Not much of a traveler."

Fenghuang rolled her eyes. But she found herself staring at the ground, her eyes full of turmoil. It had been a dream of hers for years to rule the Jade Palace. But her plan was to overthrow the current master and take over for herself. Now she had the chance to be the master, but could she really work with Shifu? Junjie wasn't that annoying, but Shifu was always considered an enemy.

"Fenghuang?"

The owl's feathers puffed up a little as she turned to Shifu.

"If you want to come home," Shifu said. "I'd be willing to at least give you a chance."

Fenghuang's eyes widened a little. But her gaze softened. Then, for the first time in years, she bowed to Master Oogway.

"I'd like to come home, Master." Fenghuang said softly.

Oogway smiled. "Congratulations, Grandmasters of the Jade Palace." The ghostly tortoise suddenly dissolved in a white cloud and blew away in the wind, leaving the Grandmasters to themselves. The three of them started back towards the barracks.

"Grandmaster Junjie." Junjie grinned. "Member of the Tri-Dragon of Death and protector of the Valley of Peace. I like the sound of that."

"Don't get cocky." Fenghuang scoffed. "You forget that there are two other Grandmasters and two other members of the Tri-Dragon of Death."

"And we will beat your tail if necessary." Shifu added.

Junjie scoffed. "Whatever."

"Well, this'll be an interesting surprise for everyone tomorrow." Fenghuang noted.

"I think we've had enough surprises to last a month." Junjie sighed.

"Absolutely." Shifu nodded. "I feel like I need a three-year nap."

"I'm with you on that one." Junjie laughed.

Fenghuang smiled. "Well what do you know?"

"What?" Shifu asked.

"We finally agreed on something." Fenghuang sighed, ruffling the fur on Shifu and Junjie's heads. "Race ya to the barracks!" She flew off.

"You're so on!" Shifu laughed.

"Last one there does dishes for a week!" Junjie challenged.

The three of them laughed like children as they bounded off. Through their minds coursed memories of doing these same things when they were younger. And if someone didn't look close enough, you would've seen three children running about the palace instead of three elder Grandmasters, warriors of China.

A/N: Almost done! A couple more things I have to add!