"What are we doing...?"
"Hush now, child. I really don't want either of us getting in more trouble for this than necessary."
Shen muttered to Lu Kang as the two of them were taking a step out of the arena area for a moment, mostly out of hearing range. He was already able to tell that Lu Kang wasn't very bright, and that was already beginning to frustrate him. Though he realized that it didn't really matter too much, this was something he could easily block out at certain points, because all that mattered is that he discussed something important with the young prince. Being a fellow Prince himself, he might actually learn a thing or two himself, though the chances were highly unlikely. This is brought into consideration when he remembers that unlike Lu Kang, Shen can be considered a bad person overall, and was going through rehabilitation.
Against his will, might he add. But then again, it's for the pure state of...why not?
Once he was sure that they traveled a far enough distance from the arena, which was closer to the courtyard itself, they both stopped right around the center. Shen nodded as he turned and looked up towards Lu Kang. "Alright, child. We've got something to discuss, and we needed to do it out of prying eyes and judging minds."
"Huh...?"
"Yeah, we've got things to talk about, you and me." Shen muttered with a brief roll of his eyes. "I shall be quite blunt an hones with you...you are a moron. I don't even need to go into too much detail to tell you why, I'm just able to tell from how you speak, and how you look."
Lu Kang blinked. "Whaddya mean...?"
"Apparently the kind and compassionate ones are the moronic ones. They'll do whatever they believe they must in the means of good. Bloody fools really know how to make things difficult just by being kind to everyone they bloody meet..I honestly cannot stand it sometimes. I understand it. But it's rather infuriating that I cannot immediately grasp it, even though it's been surrounding me for a while now." He shook his head and rubbed his forehead with a slight groan. "I'm getting off track. Look, Lu Kang. Like I said before, I'm going to be blunt and honest. I have to say, I find this entire tournament to be rather foolish."
"You do...?"
"Quite so. I mean, I'm all for watching those buffoons beat the stuffing out of each other, but the reasoning behind it seems rather desperate. Your grandfather has absolutely no idea who to choose as your teacher, so he's set up this entire thing in order to decide it for you. Complicated, isn't it? Though I guess he wasn't the one who was organizing the entire thing, was he? No, he's got too much to worry about. Someone else planned this, did they?" Shen asked, narrowing his eyes a bit. Lu Kang was quick to nod in confirmation. "Yes, indeed. Going through all this headache just to pick someone to teach you? I don't believe that's very practical use of time and resources...but then again, I'm a failed tyrant. My ideas of practical might not be accepted by nearly everyone here."
"How so?"
"I would have had them fight to the death instead of just knocking each other out of the ring." Shen deadpanned as Lu kang blinked in shock. The Peacock didn't really blame him, he was slightly disturbed by how casually he said this. He has a pretty sinking feeling that he's been very sadistic for far, far too long if he can say such things so easily. He had to stay focused, though. This wasn't about him. "Anyway, it's just an interest idea behind a moronic reason. Does he not realize how easy it might be to simply choose a teacher without all of this hussle? But even more importantly for me to bring up, is the matter of choice."
"Huh?"
"It's quite simple, really. Your Grandfather says how imperative it is for you to learn Kung Fu in order for you to be considered the very next Emperor. Is it truly necessary for you to know Kung Fu to become the next Emperor?" Shen shrugged. "I personally don't care either way, it just seems to be rather desperate of him in order have his successor come forth as soon as possible. Does he not fully believe in his ability to maintain his position as Emperor? When even you, a young and naive grandson, might prove to be a much better ruler than he is? His confidence must be dwindling quite rapidly." Shen continued as he rubbed his beak slightly while gazing towards the sky. "He seems to be too much in a hurry to do so, in my opinion. Far too hasty and desperate. I'm beginning to think that there's something deeper going on here that we're not seeing. you especially won't see it. You're far too close to him to call him out on it."
"I am...?" Lu Kang pouted a bit while he tilted his head a bit. Though he didn't wonder over it too much as his mind shifted somewhere else. "Do you think that Po might know what's going on with him?"
"What? How can the panda possibly even grasp what might be going on with the Emperor?"
"Because out of everyone, he was the most hostile towards him. He doesn't have any qualms with calling out how dangerous this idea is and how dangerous it might be. But then again, he's also has no qualms with participating anyway. He might know in his heart that something was amiss...but his mind isn't really focused on it too much."
"Yes, I suppose he does act like that a majority of the time...the moron." Shen rolled his eyes. Though he did agree that he needed to be vigilant for any strange happenings, stranger than usual. His thoughts were interrupted as he heard someone shuffling behind him. He narrowed his eyes as he prepared his throwing knives, briefly confusing Lu Kang. Shen snarled at the presence. "Who's there...?" He demanded. Soon, the goat known as Fai Suan appeared seemingly out of nowhere, as well as another figure he didn't recognize. There were glowing blue eyes under said cloak. "Who are you...?"
"...The eclispe will be starting soon..." The cloaked one stated ominously. "I must say, thank you for separating Lu Kang from the others, Shen. You've made my job much easier. Snatching him away from the attention would have proven difficult."
"What...?"
"China will need a new Emperor soon...I wholeheartedly agree with him." She declared with a strong voice. "China needs a new master...and it will be ME."
The last thing Shen remembered before being knocked unconscious was a double blast of mystic purple flames from Fai Suan and blue mystic lightning from the cloaked woman...
(Meanwhile...)
"It appears that your friends are up next again." Master Bear commented as he was sharing noodles with Po within the audience. Indeed, the new incarnation of the Furious Five was currently making their way onto the arena, with Tigress up front and adjusting her scarf, which the others instinctively copied as best as they could. Up across from them, who would soon be their opponents for the current round. "I do wonder what might happen when it comes to these new opponents. l...much different than the others. Not too much, but certainly enough to matter."
"Hmmm...yeah. I do sense something odd about them." Po mumbled as he munches on a few bean buns, his cheeks being briefly filled with them before swallowing. "I definitely sense something about them...wonder what they know? Wonder how the others will fare...and I wonder if Dad has more bean buns..." Mr. Ping immediately placed another bowl of bean buns on Po's belly, in which he gleefully picks it up and begins helping himself once again.
Tigress and the rest of the new generation Five stepped up to the arena so they could see their apparent competition. Needless to say, they were a bit surprised. They could see a tigard, a flamingo, a crocodile-something Fung silently took note of-a tarantula, and a gorilla. Considering the kind of group setup they themselves have, they knew they were in absolutely no position to judge them for it. Still, their interest was piqued for the entire time they stared at them. Though they also had a feeling from the looks on their faces...they weren't necessarily pleasant people. To know for sure, they would have to proceed on with their battle, which Meng Tao loudly proclaimed has finally started.
So...these are our opponents... Tigress noted quietly, adjusting her wrist a little, narrowing her eyes. Listening to my instincts...there's definitely something off about them...we'll have to keep cautious so we can keep the surprises to a minimum. "So. What do the rest of you think of them? Any of you getting a strange feeling? Like something isn't as it seems?"
"Now that you mention it...there might be something going on with those guys. I can't put my finger on it, though." Monkey shrugged.
"It's making me feel quite uneasy. not in the 'I feel threatened' kind of way, either. More like...we can't trust these guys." Crane muttered, tilting his hat. "I hope this doesn't mean that they'll be a serious trouble...but I've learned by now that trouble follows us regardless of what I hope for."
"That's the spirit, Crane!" Mei Ling cheered from the audience, which caused Crane to blush slightly, hiding his face.
"Though I still reserve my right to complain about it..."
"Never thought that snarking would become a right for someone to have." Mantis rolled his eyes.
"Careful, guys. here they come." Viper said with slight anxiousness as the five mentioned opponents approached them, meeting them up to the center. The tigard seemed to be gazing at Tigress with curiosity and a hint of smugness. Tigress was completely unimpressed with him, folding her arms and narrowing her eyes. Viper blinked a little. The uneasy feeling just rose a little, making her a bit more anxious.
"Ah. What do we have here? A fellow feline?" The tigard smirked as he leaned downward to meet Tigress face to face. She barely moved an inch. "What was your name again? Tigress? Seems like a pretty boring name, doesn't it?"
"I really don't think you're in any position to criticize my name. What's yours?" Tigress said with a raised eyebrow. "And if you're not going to attack, I suggest you not stand so close to me. Doesn't really end well for my opponents."
"Really? I sincerely doubt that."
"Your doubts matter less to me than Monkey's puns...which are painfully stale to begin with."
"Hey! The opponent is over THERE! Why are you taking shots at me?!" Monkey shouted with a comically irritated glare.
The tigard chuckled while folding his arms. "Well then, we can get on with introductions. I am Earth. My simian comrade is Metal. The flamingo is Fire. The tarantula is Wood. and the crocodile is Water. With these specific names in mind, we are known as the 'Five Elements'!" He stated proudly, then elaned closer to Tigress again with a smirk. "And you...you lead the new Furious Five, don't you? And those are supposed to be them...? You could do better."
"Uh...can we just fight?" Mantis offered sheepishly. He was worried about the tigard known as Earth...he was getting far too close to Tigress, deliberately breaking her personal space when the match clearly started and he's not attacking yet.
"What's that supposed to mean...?" Tigress asked with a raised eyebrow.
"I'm simply saying that you could have had more fierce allies to form the Five. And yet you chose a tiny mantis, a skinny crane, a fangless viper, and an unimpressive monkey?" Earth scoffed, not noticing each of their faces darken and their hesitation quickly vanishing. Then he made his biggest mistake: He pushed himself against Tigress and cupped her chin with one paw and an arm around her hip with the other, lowering his eyes. "I think you're potential would be further explored if you were in more...capable paws~"
BAM!
Earth gasped as he felt intense pain in the center of his chest, causing him to step back and drop to his knees. The other Elements were shocked as they saw Tigress with her fist outstretched, and not looking like she cared at all for that interaction. She simply pulled her fist back and smirked. "Oops. Sorry. I was just SO interested in your offer, that I forgot we were in the middle of a fight...my paw must have slipped trying to get me to refocus~" She lost her smirk and growled. "I suggest you not insult my family again, if you wish to lose with some sort of dignity intact. And by the way, I also suggest you never touch me like that again, unless you wish for me to shatter your ribcage."
There was only one person who was allowed to do such a thing...but he didn't know what that was, because despite his wisdom he his cheerfully innocent and dense. And hogging most of the bean buns.
And given how Tai Lung and Shifu were watching, their restraint was definitely tested at that moment; murder in the Imperial City while right in front of the Emperor wouldn't really help anyone. Though unlike Shifu, Tai Lung might actually enjoy it, consequences or no.
"Tch...you filthy little...!"
Crane waved his wing in a fit of anger. "Tried to be civil about this, just needed to be a simple five-on-five battle. But NO! You had to make it about supremacy, and then got creepy about it! Forget the pleasantries for this one, we're going to kick your ass!"
"Oh! Crane did a swear! He's pissed!" Monkey snickered.
"Can you blame me? I was confronted by that attitude during my entire stay at Lee Da Academy, and even away from it, I can't fully escape it. Though spreading that disrespect to my friends is a different matter entirely!"
"Entirely good points, Crane! We'll show them what for!"
"Your funeral." Fire muttered as he immediately flapped his wings towards Crane. The avians eyes widened as a wave of flames accompanied the clapping wings, and he immediately jumps high in order to avoid it. Though his talon was slightly burned in the process.
"What the?!"
"Surprised you that much? We really shouldn't have. HAH!" Metal roared as his fist coated itself in metal and slammed it down towards Monkey. he swiftly backflips, briefly seeing the deep crater it made in the arena, before skidding backwards on free of his limbs. He sweatdropped slightly while rubbing his neck.
"Well...at least now we sorta know where they got their names..."
"Why else would we have our names?" Metal scoffed. Said alloy slowly shifted around his arm and shapes itself into a sword, and slashes it downwards upon Monkey. Monkey was quick to avoid the attack, then bounce back up and quickly kick him across the face, making him stumble backwards.
"I'll admit that you're big and your tough. But I'm faster and more evasive. It's just a matter of wearing you down effectively." Monkey grinned with a mischievous wag of his tail. "And if there's something I tend to be really good at, is wearing people down!"
"Through a terrible taste in jokes?" Crane added in.
"...And to think I tried defending you!"
"I think his jokes are worthy of a chuckle or two." Mantis supported as he swiftly moved through the splinters of wood that Wood sent his way. "I wouldn't really feel great about fighting you, ya know?We insects have to stick together, ya know?~"
The other insect simply scoffed at Mantis. "Hmph. You're much smaller than the usual mantis, aren't you?"
"...I'm going to break your face." Mantis irritably resolved himself as he shoots through the storm of splinters and kicks the tarantula right in the face, sending him skidding back. "Nope. No sounds of face breaking. I'll have to try a bit harder."
Viper was slithering fast around the croc known as Water. It was becoming quickly apparent that this specific match-up wasn't what he was expecting; trying to blast her with waves of water only made her adjust herself so she could slither more gracefully and swiftly, going with the flow. As soon as she found a proper flow, she shot out with speed enhanced from water flows and struck Water across the face, making him stumble back in aggravation and pain. She was swift to slither around his legs and wrapped them tightly in her tail, smiling sheepishly.
"Sorry...not entirely, though." She half-apologized before she lifted him up with zero effort and swung him around, slamming him into Fire, making them both skid away across the hard ground. They were still in-bounds, though. It didn't help them much, as Crane blew them away with a powerful wing clap that made them stumble across the stage ground despite their resistance. Mantis and Monkey attempted to join in on the onslaught, but were cut off by a large block of wood, as well as Metal's sword. The teams would be split for a while.
Earth roared as he admittedly handled his strength pretty well, always attempting to strike Tigress hard enough to knock her immediately off the stage. Though she was both strong and vigilant, going for a swift counter to divert his blows and then jabbing him in his arm, chest, sides, and cheeks. He was gravely aggravated as he stumbled back a few times, already littered with bruises while Tigress hasn't gained so much as a scratch yet. Though Tigress wasn't going to let that go to her head.
"So? How are you doing this, since it's been confirmed that any ability goes." Tigress said while staying focused on him.
Earth glared at her. "We're definitely special ones...we've released our latent abilities a long time ago. And it was brought out of us by a certain someone...someone who holds a particular hate for your Master Shifu." Tigress narrowed her eyes, but didn't interrupt. A lot of people around here didn't particularly like Shifu, so this wouldn't be too surprising if some of them lent a hand in their growth of elemental ability. "Tried to be nice with you, but you're forcing me to-" He was cut off from his sentence as he was punched in the nose, and a swift legsweep left him lying on his back.
"A bit more focus on the battle instead of running your mouth would do you some good." Tigress remarked.
Earth growled as he slowly stands up, his aura glowing yellow with anger. "You...you have no idea who you're dealing with!"
Tigress cracked her knuckles a bit and tightly clenched them, smiling a bit. "It''s more of a case of me not caring. But please, feel free to attempt humoring me anyway."