Author's note: Here we are, my dear friends. The 40th and final chapter of this story. Don't the wrong idea: this isn't the end of the Frog Dojo's adventures. In fact, I still have plenty of ideas. It's just that we're gonna leave each other for now. I sure hope you will enjoy this finale.
The first thing Yukan became aware of when he regained consciousness was the burning pain over his face. That's when he remembered how Black Hawk grabbed his head with his wing and created explosions just before he passed out. Did it mean he... lost? Dang it... but then again, what did he expect? It's not like he could have won against the champion of the Phoenix Sanctuary after all.
"... Is he okay?" a distant voice asked.
"Yes... I think he's coming back... Yukan...?"
After blinking his eyes a few times, the sun parrot managed to see correctly. He was lying on an infirmary bed with Shining Eagle, Kivuli, Kodok, Mei Ling, Akoni, and even Master shujinko standing around with looks of concern on their faces. "Yukan, are you okay?" Shining asked.
"Well... I feel like my head passed into a toaster, but except that, I'm fine," he replied, touching a wing to his head and wincing at the feeling. "What happened?"
"This Black Hawk guy tried to roast your head up with his combustion powers, but Shining Eagle jumped in time to stop him," Akoni explained. "Geez, that was quite a violent duel you had back there, dude."
"I would like to have some explanations, Yukan," Shujinko said in an unusual serious and almost scolding tone. "My students told me that you attacked a traveler for seemingly no reason, caused a lot of damage in the city that I will have to pay for, and you have put civilians in harm's way by fighting in a public space! Just what went through your little mind?"
Yukan lowered his head in shame. "I-I'm sorry, Master... It's because... this guy..."
"Don't try to hide it: it's clear that you have some sort of history with him," Kivuli said with a serious look. "I've never seen you act so aggressively, not even against Temutai. After the trouble you caused, I can safely say that you own us an explanation."
"But I-"
"Yukan, please," Shining Eagle said in a begging tone. "I know you said you didn't want to talk about your past until you felt ready for it... but it's clear that it's causing you trouble. First, you give up the Legendary Tournament, and now, your fight with this guy. Why are you keeping us in the dark? We're your friends, Yukan. Don't you trust us?"
Yukan was about to reply back... but decided to remain quiet. They were right; how could his friends ever trust him moving forward if he refused to tell them about his past? He couldn't just keep his secret in the dark forever. It would probably end his friendship with them... but he had to do it. "Alright, I will tell you everything," he softly said before looking up at everyone.
"As I said at the Legendary Tournament's feast, I was born in the village of Riho in Japan. When I was a kid, I watched Kung Fu warriors in action, protecting my country and performing amazing feats. It didn't take me long to realize that I wanted to be just like them and become a great Kung Fu master. Luck decided to smile at me as I discovered my fire powers at a very young age and everyone in my village saw me as a blessed warrior who could accomplish anything."
Yukan marked a pause to lower his emerald green eyes. "If only they knew... I submitted a demand to one of the country's best academies for martial arts, magical powers, and pretty much anything that can turn one into a warrior, the Phoenix Sanctuary. My demand has been accepted and I was welcomed into the academy. It's there that I met everyone that would form my entourage until this year."
"Black Hawk was one of them. He was the strongest member of my class and a true genius. So amazing that, for a time, I actually idolized him, wishing to one become as great and awesome as him."
"Did you have other friends there, Yukan?" Akoni asked.
"Yes. One of them was a black owl called James. When he started at the academy, he felt nervous and unsure of himself. I was there to keep him motivated and told him that he could do it. It didn't take a long time for he and I to become close friends. There was also a peregrine falcon called Rakonto. He was a native Indian who came to the Phoenix Sanctuary because he learned how to fight like a hunter in the wild and wanted to become stronger by learning in the modern world. Believe it or not, but he is blessed by three Great Spirits who guide him in battle and also in life. One of the strongest guys I have ever seen."
"There was also Sora... The most beautiful girl I have ever seen. She was born in Saudi Arabia and adopted by a Sultan who took great care of her. Along with being a blessed dancer, she was also a great warrior, having mastered three different fighting styles: Ninjitsu, Berserker, and her own creation, the Sky Dance." Yukan closed his eyes a moment. "I had a crush on her the moment our eyes met. It took me a while, but I ended up finding the courage to ask her out and we started dating."
Shining Eagle blinked her golden eyes a few times. "... You dated a Middle Eastern heiress before coming here?"
"Yes," the sun parrot confirmed. "The last member of my class was a parrot named Lucas who came from Canada. He was a big happy-go-lucky goofball... and that's why I liked him. He and I became close friends too. In fact, for a time, all my class went along perfectly well: we were a big team taking on missions and looking after each other."
Kodok decided to voice the thought on everyone's mind: "I feel like the worst part is about to come."
"Then... everything started changing... My friends were growing stronger and better as time went on. They were receiving all the credit for our missions. But me... I was not. No matter how hard I worked, I was not able to keep up with them. I was starting to lose track of them and I wasn't going to win Black Hawk's respect anytime soon. For a time, becoming stronger was everything that mattered to me: I started neglecting things like eating, washing, caring about my friends, or spending time with my girlfriend."
"One day, I crossed the line. I went to steal a dangerous artifact inside the academy's storehouse: the Red Ruby of Fire. It did make me stronger... but it also caused me to lose my mind. I wrecked havoc into the academy and my friends were forced to fight me. In the end, they managed to neutralize me and take the ruby away. However, the fight caused a lot of damage. During the battle, I made a pillar collapse on Lucas' back, which caused him to lose the use of his legs."
Yukan sniffed a bit. "Lucas' career was put to an end because of me. And that wasn't the only thing that ended that day. Black Hawk... he was furious at me. He said that what I did was inexcusable, that I had put everyone in danger for selfish reasons and that I brought shame not only to the Phoenix Sanctuary, but also to all of Kung Fu. He said that he was done with me and walked away..."
By this point, everyone could clearly see that the sun parrot was fighting to keep his tears inside. "Sora, James, Rakonto... they did not talk to me at all. Even then, I could tell they were ferociously mad at me. Who could doubt it? I can tell when I'm no longer wanted somewhere, so I packed up my things, left an apology note on my bed, and left. I checked online for a good Kung Fu Dojo to join and decided to settle for the Valley of Peace in China where nobody knew who I was."
A dead silence fell in the infirmary room. Yukan looked up to see all of his friends having their eyes wide open. Somehow, this did not surprise him. They now knew who he truly was. And all the atrocities he had done. It was hard to accept, but... they probably no longer wanted to have anything to do with him. It had to happen sooner or later: Yukan lost a second home...
The poor bird did everything he could to not start crying. He simply pulled himself out of his bed and started walking away without looking at anyone, not wanting to see their looks of disgust. "I'll go pack up my things and leave...," he mumbled barely louder than a whisper. The tears were starting to burn behind his eyes. He needed to get out of here as fast possible. He would have all the time to cry when he would be alone and-
However, before he could cross the infirmary door, the sun parrot got stopped by a pair of wings that wrapped themselves around his body. His emerald eyes widened in surprise and confusion before lowering down. These wings were white. He slowly turned his head to see their owner. "S-Shining?"
The female eagle firmly held onto her avian friend, pressing herself against his back. Her golden eyes were wet with tears and her beak was quivering, almost in a pleading way. "Don't go, Yukan..."
... What? Did she really say that? B-But why would she-
"Yeah, Yukan! I see no reason why you should leave!" Kodok declared, jumping in front of his friend with a determined look. "I don't care what this Black Hawk guy thinks; you're my friend and it's like this!"
"Kodok is right, Yukan," Kivuli said with a serious look as she came to stand beside her amphibian friend. "You did one stupid thing, so what? We all have done things that we regret at one point in our lives. What matters is that you learn from your mistakes and let them make you a better person."
Mei Ling then came to put a paw on the parrot's shoulder. "We all know how you are inside, Yukan." She pointed at his chest. "You have a very strong heart - strong enough to stand up for those who need help. You showed it when you defended the Evergreen Village from the Qidan Clan. You're not perfect, but you're good no less."
"Do you seriously think I care about one stupid mistake you have done, Yukan?" Akoni asked, coming to put both hands on his shoulders. "Listen up; it's thanks to you that I escaped from these criminals and got to be with my sister again. I couldn't care less about what you just told me: you're my friend and that's final."
Finally, Master Shujinko sent his tongue to grab Yukan's shoulder and pulled him down so that he could wrap his arms around his neck in a hug. "Yukan, remember when I told you the day you arrived here that I consider all the members of the Frog Dojo like family? That wasn't a lie. You are part of my family, young Yukan..."
Yukan could not believe what he was hearing. Even after he openly told them the terrible things he had done... they were still willing to keep him as a member of the Frog Dojo? B-But how?! He did not deserve their friendship... even less their love... Unable to contain them any longer, the tears came out of Yukan's emerald green eyes and flowed down onto his cheeks. His beak trembled and he returned the hug to his mast... to Shujinko.
Soon, everyone came to wrap their arms/wings around the sun parrot, giving him the love he thought he would never get to feel again. This warm feeling that took the pain of his loneliness away. He loved his friends, all of them. Master Shujinko, Shining Eagle, Kivuli, Kodok, Mei Ling, and Akoni.
"I'm not alone anymore... I finally found where I belong..."
Author's note: There you have it, my friends. The conclusion of "The Frog Dojo". It was so emotional that I cried a little bit, I'm not afraid of admitting it.
As I said at the beginning of this chapter, it's not the end of the Frog Dojo; there will be a sequel in the future. It's just that we're gonna explore other parts of my KFP world before then. And we're gonna start with a story called "A Panda's Legend" which will follow Po, explaining how he became the Dragon Warrior, and also what he's gonna do after the Legendary Tournament.
I wanna thank all of you who have read this story until the end. To be honest, it hasn't exactly had the success I was hoping for, but hey, disappointment is part of life. Special thanks to Th3F4lcon-Bl4ckBlu3, The Grey Coincidence, TheDragonSaver, and DeadlyIce88 who reviewed and helped me make this story much better.
As always, constructive reviews are welcome, may the gods watch over you all, and see you soon :)
