December came really quickly together with the winter festival. Since august there had been many events like the kidnapping of the emperor's youngest nephew by the crocodile bandits, Tigress taking care of him till his mother came, Po bringing a girl dance team called 'The Ladies of the Shade' that proved to be thieves that stool the Dragon Challis and Po together with Crane and Viper had to go after them and some other things.
Harry wasn't too much allowed to go in missions with the others so he had to stay and do the usual: training, learning and cleaning the destructions after the battle with the ladies that day. Meanwhile, there have been several supernatural things going on, for example: when Shifu, Po and the other five were caught and Harry went to save them, receiving a punishment to clean up the archives, the Hall of the Warriors or to clean up and water the Peach Tree for leaving without authorization or unaccompanied before, he sniffed and something like a hurricane passed through out the palace cleaning everything and the only thing he had left to do then was to water the peach tree.
Together with the others, Po was preparing for the celebrations. Before the arrival of Po to the Jade Palace, all the celebrations had to be really strict, ceremonial, masters from all kung fu palaces were coming according to the tradition and everyone had to follow the code of good conduct: everyone had to eat in the same time as master Oogway and stop whenever he stopped. Crane was bringing Harry some food that was left from the dinner, to try till he was allowed to participate, at the age of eight.
Two weeks before that, asides from training, Crane thought him how to behave properly in important situations, it wasn't a problem but when he didn't have time, Tigress was teaching him and when he wasn't doing correctly she was giving him a pock with a fan.
But since Po arrived, he officially changed everything and now instead of having a giant strict banquet they were enjoying each others` company between friends and family.
While working at the preparations everyone began to talk about what presents they will give.
"Hey, Crane, what you will give to Harry?" Mantis asked.
"It's a secret." Crane said not wanting to tell.
"Come on, I promise I will not tell anyone." Mantis said.
"I bought him a set of fake training stars for him to practice throwing without injuring himself and a book about fighting techniques in the air." He said while putting his presents in his room.
"Oh yeah I noticed that he truly loves flying, especially when he is out of training, he would relax flying rather then walking." Mantis said with a smirk.
"By the way, where is he?" Crane asked.
"He is with Viper in town to get your present." Mantis answered.
"Do you know what he will take?" Crane asked.
"Sorry, I couldn't say even if I knew, but keep it between us, even he doesn't know what to choose." Mantis said.
"I will not be bothered what present he will take, it doesn't matter." Crane said.
In the mean time, Viper and Harry were in the village, Harry was still searching for a good present for his master, he didn't exactly know what could be appropriate.
"Ah, if only I knew what can be better?" Harry said complaining to himself.
"Harry, what you bought yesterday was very good. I mean spending almost all the savings during this year to buy different kinds of colored ink and put them in a full set is something not too many do." Viper said trying to calm him down.
"I know but I want something special not just ink, since he found me, he did so much for me, I just want to repay him with something really special." Harry said.
"I know, but you don't need to repay him so much, the fact that you are really grateful means a lot to him." Viper said but he was still a bit stressed. "Let's walk for a bit, maybe you will find an idea and calm down." She said kindly making him to think a little and say.
"All right." And they began to walk through the village till they went into the bamboo forest, during that trip Harry was beginning to feel a bit calmer and Viper noticed maybe this was what he needed after all.
"Feeling better now?" Viper said.
"Yes, maybe this is what I needed after all." He said.
"I'm glad that you are feeling better, let's return." Viper said and they began walking back to the village. But while they were walking, two crocodile bandits went out from a bush and said.
"Time for revenge!"
"Stay behind me." Viper said and began to charge at them, she knocked out one of them but the second one tried to reach Harry, who hit him with his wing in the stomach before placing one of his legs under him making the crocodile fall. The other threw Viper away and tried to charge at him but Harry hit him with his wing, this time in the neck making him fall and throwing both of them behind him, before they woke up and began to run away.
"Wow, you truly improved." Viper said impressed.
"Thanks." Harry replied before adding "Maybe we should go."
"Agree." She said, and they headed back to the village. The next moment Harry noticed a strange light coming from a bamboo. Making sure Viper will not see him, he flew to the bamboo where the light was and saw a strange round silver medallion with a small Safire in the center and two gold lines, one at the end and one near the Safire that was hold by some silver columns. There was also an inscription saying 'May The Wearer Protected be, from Black Evil that Souls Takes. Harry didn't know what to say about it, the medallion was really odd but it might be of great value, he will ask Constable Hu when he gets back to the village.
"Harry is everything all right?" Viper asked.
"Yes I'm coming down right now." Harry said and landed near her.
"Is everything all right?" She asked concerned.
"Oh Yeah, but I will need to ask someone something when we get back to the village." Harry said while holding the medallion hidden in his wing.
"All right then." She said and continued their walk to the village. Harry told Viper that he will come alone from there and he went to constable Hu's office, he knocked at the door and opened it.
"Ah you must be Crane's student I heard about you, Harry right?" The constable who was an elephant said.
"Yes." He said and the constable allowed him to enter before closing the door.
"So what brings you here?" the elephant asked.
"I was walking through the forest with master Viper and I saw a light coming from a bamboo and found this strange medallion." He said showing him the medallion before asking "Has a medallion being stolen or lost recently, like this one?"
"Hum, let me check." The constable said, taking the medallion and going to his desk. "You can wait on the chair." He said and Harry sat on a chair near the door, while constable Hu began to search in his documents about missing or stolen medallions, it took him an hour and 15 minutes to look into all of them till he finished.
"Well, there had been no stolen or lost medallions recently, especially not like this one." The constable said giving the medallion back to Harry.
"Really?" Harry asked.
"Well there had been some stolen but they were returned to their owners, but no medallions like this one." Constable Hu said.
"So what do I do with it?" Harry asked.
"Well if it wasn't stolen you can keep it or give it as a gift, it's the winter festival after all." The constable said.
"All right I will give it as gift to my master." Harry said a bit more confident after thinking better, the painting set and the medallion would be perfect.
"But I have to tell you, it is truly an odd medallion; it is like one that would be worn by a wizard or something." Constable Hu said.
"Yeah, it also has this inscription on it." Harry said showing it to the constable.
"Right, well, you heard about the MoShu market, haven't you." The constable asked.
"Yes, I heard they sell things for black magic." Harry said.
"Yes, but if this medallion is made for protection like what is written on it there is no problem, but if it was for dark magic I will then have to confiscate it." The constable said.
"Well then maybe I should go, thanks, constable Hu." Harry said before opening the door.
"No problem, enjoy the winter festival." The constable said with a smile.
"Thanks, you too." Harry said before leaving. The winter festival went very well, nothing too unusual happened, it was also a small family reunion as well with a girl whose father was blamed and unjust fully thrown in prison. At night everyone launched colored lanterns before exchanging gifts and then going home to sleep, the tradition was that everyone must open their presents the next day.
The next day came really quick and everyone opened their gifts; Po received a nun chucks from his father, mantis a new sword, Viper a lipstick, Tigress a bow staff and Monkey a new prank kit. Harry was near the door with the book about the fighting techniques in the air received from his master as present, the fake stars were in his room. After several minutes his master came near him wearing the medallion.
"It seems that everyone received what they wanted." Crane said.
"Yeah, they did." He said before asking "So, how is the painting kit I tried to make?"
"It's incredible, I can't believe that you spent almost all your money to buy different colored inks to put them together in a set, I will have a lot to paint from now on." Crane said smiling at him.
"And how is the medallion?" Harry asked.
"It's not bad, but it's a bit odd, I never saw a medallion like this, it looks more like an amulet." Crane said.
"It is said it protects the wearer from bad things." Harry said.
"I know I read the inscription, still it is very interesting, it is made of pure silver, must have cost a fortune." The older crane said.
"Well, in a way or another." Harry said before Monkey came.
"Hey, it seems that everything went really well." Monkey said.
"Indeed." Crane said and then Mantis noticed something.
"Hey, it seems that someone got another present a later one." Mantis said and everyone turned to see a box raveled in a red cover, with a yellow ribbon and a note.
"For whom is it?" Harry said and Viper began to read the note on it.
"Hey Harry, it's for you." Viper said.
"For me?" Harry asked confused.
"Your name is on the note, come and open it." Viper said and he went to the box and began to unravel the cover slowly not knowing what could be inside.
"Wonder what could it be?" Po asked excited. And then Harry opened the box and inside was a black and red robe with a cloak and the symbol of a lion on the right side of it.
"Hey, it's a robe." Monkey said while Harry took it on.
"It doesn't look bad at all." Viper said.
"So, how is it?" Mantis asked.
"To be honest I truly like it." Harry said.
"You almost look like a wizard." Crane said.
"Yeah, maybe." Harry said then Tigress put one of her paws on the sleeve, for her there was only one problem it was too large.
"Nice, but don't you think it's a bit too large, Harry?" She asked making him realize.
"Oh, yeah she is right, it's a bit large." Viper said.
"I noticed, but I think it will fit in one day." Harry said.
"Strange; no name, no address." Monkey said while reading the note.
"What do you mean?" Harry asked.
"There is no name or address written on this note. It only says Hope you like my present. Maybe we will meet one day, till then, happy holydays. Signed. A close friend of your parents." Monkey said.
"A close friend of my parents?" Harry said shocked.
"This is what is said." Monkey said.
"A person who knew his parents, I wonder who it is." Crane said.
"I wonder that as well." Tigress said.
"Who ever it is, he surly made a nice present for him." Viper said.
"Yeah, but still who is this person?" Mantis asked.
"We will think a bit later about this, till then let's continue what we have to do today." Tigress said and everyone went back to what they had to do. Harry went to his room wearing his robe, carrying the box and the note; he was still thinking about who could be this friend of his parents. When he opened the door he saw some odd books on his bed and something like a wooden box.
"Where did those came from?" he asked himself and went to see what were the books. He began to open them one by one. They were magic books and potion books, where did they come from and how, he didn't know, but he noticed a parchment note on a book about transfigurations and began to read it.
"When a white light will appear it will always leave another thing what a wizard will need for training, it will be more of what you see now and sometimes if you will have to confront something supernatural, a helpful thing you will receive."
"What could that mean?" He said to himself confused before realizing that the writing on the parchment is changing "Try something if you don't believe."
Harry didn't know what to do, should he try or not, he didn't believe what was written on the parchment before the message changed, if there is something that will appear next and if this note has something to do with the books, maybe he should give it a try at least.
He put the parchment down and went to a book about charms; he opened it and began to read before choosing a spell of levitation. He put the book down and prepared himself to do the spell and said with his wing extended in front of him.
"Wingardium Leviosa" Nothing happened and said again with more concentration."Wingardium Leviosa." And the book began to go up in the air and move wherever he pointed his wing, shocking him a little and quickly went a step back making the book fall on his bed.
This was unbelievable for him, he really could make things levitate in the air but he heard that even some kung fu masters could do that and decided to try something took a look in the charm book before opening the window, ripping a small piece of paper, and leaning on the window and said.
"Incendio." The piece of paper caught fire and he threw it immediately in the snow.
"So, I am a wizard." He said shocked before realizing that every single unusual or odd thing that happened came from him, from his magic that he didn't know he had.
What could he do now? should he tell his master about this or to master Shifu or anyone else, what will they think of him? what will they do to him? He then remembered how he was called when he was young and stayed at his 'relatives', he didn't want to be considered that again, especially not by his master who he sworn not to disappoint or to anyone in the Jade Palace. He must keep this secret and officially practice magic in secret in order not to let his powers go out of control or burst out without knowing it. He then noticed the writing on the parchment changed again.
"You will know really soon what really happened to your parents; the ones that had you first didn't want you to know the truth. Great and powerful wizards your parents were, against an evil one that killed the ones who opposed him they stood up to protect you and you will soon find out who it is.
BE PEAPARED IN BOTH ARTS TO STOP HIM FOR THE ONES YOU CARE!
After reading that Harry knew what he has to do, if he will have to confront this person then he must be prepared in both Kung Fu and magic to stop him. He would stick to the Kung Fu training and between training he will practice magic and potions without the others` consent, even thought he doesn't like to lie to them or hide important secrets from his master it will be for the greater good of everyone.
