The Final Part of the Lian Wu backstory! Perhaps the shortest but most warm of them all!
That's all! Let's get this started, readers!
"She's ready for this, isn't she?"
"Of course she's ready. We're the ones who trained her."
"I want something yummie."
Wing, Su, and Wan said one after another as they were watching a certain event that they're semi-participating in. 'Semi' because they were wesring shady cloaks that hid their faces, with only their glowing piercing eyes looking through the darkness of said cloak. Su in particular was paying close attention, because she knew she'd be the one who'd be cloest monitoring what may or may not happen before her.
They were currently watching an underground fighting ring, with them having the seats covering the most distance, being as far back as they can, lest they be discovered. Of course it didn't matter much that someone saw their faces, they could easily kill anyone and everyone in here without breaking a sweat. But they really didn't want to have to do that. Blood isn't exactly easy to get out of their fur.
As they were thinking this, the crowd around them cheered as they could see a rather tall gorilla stepping into the ring, roaring loudly and and pounding his fists with the cheers. He them slammed the ground with said fists to show some display of dominance and power. He lifted himself up and looked across from in towards his opponent.
Said opponent was a fifteen year old snow leopard. She was slightly roughed up already, with bloodied bandages around her paws, her shirt and pants slightly torn, and a slight welt on her forehead. It looked like she was completely miserable...but the smile on her face said something completely different.
Thanks to five years of training with the Wu Sisters, Lian was combat-ready.
"You...you're just a mere kitten. What can someone as small and weak and pathetic as you do?" The gorilla taunted, hetting in her face for emphasis.
Lian paid it no mind. In fact, she smiled.
"Your head's emptier than your future."
"PFFT!" Wing almost burst out laughing.
"What did you say?!"
"I said you're a dumbass, dumbass.~" Lian smirked.
"Why you...you think you're better than me?!"
"The fact that you felt the need to ask that is answer enough...dumbass."
"WHY YOUUUU!" The gorilla roared, slammkng his fists down upon Lian with all his strength.
Lian avoided the slam effortlessly via jumping backwards with an elegant flip, then coming back down with an axe kick that sent his head ringing and made him fall to his knees. Lian then flipped over him, grabned him by his right arm, jumped again, this time all the way around his back with a little bit of muscle into it.
Snap.
Most onlookers were baffled, but others cheered as the confident gorilla was suddenly reduced to growling pathetically over his now limp noodle of an arm, which was caused by a fifteen year old snow leopard. Lian lets go of his now limp arm and focused on his still intacr arm, already in the process of grabbing it snd pulling it back a bit, causing another pained growl, which soon turned into whimpers.
"Are you ready to give up? Or should I go ahead break your other arm?" Lian asked as casually as speaking about the weather. "I dunno...I'm leaning more towards the latter."
Creeeaak...
"NO, NO! I GIVE UP, I GIVE UP!" He shouted in a panic. He couldn't even tap the ground to surrender with his broken arm. All he could do was cry out for mercy and hope that it would be considered. He was completely helpless prey at the whims of the predator playfully contemplating whether to kill or spare, teasing the former to the point of being convincing.
..Su was SO proud of her.
"Nicely done, Lian! You showed those suckers who's boss!" Wan chirped as she was holding several bags of money around her hip, skipping rather cheerfully. "We've earned enough to last us a good long while in terms of food and supplies!"
"I still think that since we're not doing the whole 'take over China' thing anymore, that we might as well just not buy any combat equipment. I mean, we're plenty capable of fighting and killing without them." Wing huffed. "I mean, we can kill a lotta things just with our bare paws. Sometimes even without them!"
"I know. I once strangled a pig to death with nothing but my tail." Su mentioned casually. "Still, the currency will at least hold us over for a while when it comes to food. We already agreed that stealing it outright is more trouble than it's worse." She turned to Lian. "How are you doing, child?"
Lian sniffed a bit, then spits at the ground in a rather unladylike manner, wiping her mouth and doing a cheery thumbs up. "Never better!"
"Very good. You're becoming a woman who truly resolves herself. And what have we kept sayinv to you?"
"Nothing is as powerful as a woman who has resolved herself."
"Yep! That's what makes us so charmingly beautiful in substance." Wan chirps again while jumping and spinning once before landing on her feet. "I kinda feel cheated that you didn't just break that gorilla's arm. I"d bet that would make yet another wonderful sound.~"
"Yes, I think it would have, but Lian has her mercy to keep with her, it keeps her better than the three of us." Su mentioned, which Wan accepted with an understanding pout. "Besides, less attention on us. Lian did good today."
"Yeah yeah, our kid's great. Can we go eat now?" Wing grumbled, which is exactly what her stomach did after several moments.
"Of course. I do believe that Lian has earned herself a break, and we can afford to spend a bit of good food for her excellent performance." Su hummed as she lightly patted Lian's head. "...So long as Wan doesn't gouge out the eyes of any male that tries flirting with her."
"The eyeball landed right in another guy's soup...it was pretty funny how he freaked out and pissed himself. The terror on his face...Heh." Wing chuckled darkly.
"...My life has come to a point where that's a somewhat normal subject in a conversation...I honestly do not know how I feel about that." Lian said blankly.
"There's no need to feel about it. Let's not talk about me tearing a guy's eye out when we're going to go out to eat, alright?~" Wan beamed brightly as she continued skipping. Wing smirked as she held her foot out and tripped Wan. "WAGH!" She yelped as she fell over and fell on her face. She picked herself up and glared hard at Wing.
"Whoops. You should really watch where you're going."
"You're a total bitch!"
"Takes one to know one.~"
The result was Wan pouncing upon her and both of them tumbling along the ground, snarling, growling and shouting very colorful words at one another. Su shook her head a bit as she turned towards Lian, with one of the bags of yuan in one paw. "Let's allow them to sort out their differences while we get something to eat. They'll catch up at their own pace."
"Yeah...sure."
Su and Lian took up a calmer and more orderly tavern as they've picked out noodles and bean buns, with hazelnut wafers for Lian. Lian was downing about as many noodles as she could, already on her third nowl and slurping noodles in no time at all, then munching bean buns with childlike glee. Su isn't very good at admitting it, but seeing this side of her gives her a certain joy in her heart. And that's why she found it needed to speak to Lian about a certain something.
"Lian. Something has come to mind lately. And I believe that it's important that I discuss it with you." Su asked as she lightly swirled a cup of wine in her paw. "Have we been doing well as your mothers?"
Lian blinked as she swallowed her food, setting her plate aside and looking Su in the eyes. "Of course you have. You three have taken me in when I've had nothing and no one to go to. I dearly cherish all three of you in my life." She lightly reached out to touch her paw. "Is...is something wrong?"
"No, it's nothing like that. I personally just wanted to hear how we stand with one another, without the noise of Wing and Wan to distract your thoughts." Su hummed.
"Oh, okay." Lian hummed as she scratched the back of her head. "I mean...I hope I'm not causing any issues between you, or anything. I really do having appreciate all you've done for me, and I do my best to repay you for that kindness, and I keep pushing myself to do even better than yesterday. Because...well..." Lian looked to the side as her eyes lowered halfway. "All three of you gave up your big ambition, something you've worked on for years, some you've spent on prison TWICE for...you gave up all of that effort, planning and sacrifice of time with each other...for me. And I guess...a part of me just wants to prove that I was worthy of that."
Su blinked a bit at Lian, then sighed as she set her drink down and slowly pawed her face. This was...this was quite a thing Lian has opened up to her about. By the tone of her voice, this wasn't something recent, it was built up. Probably since the day they took her in. It might have been a small fleeting thought at first, since she was only ten. Intelligent for her age, but still ten. But now that she's fifteen, she's had more developed thoughts about it, and has only now begun to understand just how much the Wu Sisters have given up for a mere girl like her. All of their evil ambitions, their planning, sacrifice via their years apart...all of that was thrown away...for her.
She might have been feeling insecure about this and chose to keep quiet.
Tch, foolish child.
"Lian. Come here." Su Wu requested. Lian blinked, then shrugged as she stood up from her seat and takes the one right next to her, looking into her eyes. Su raised her paw and gently patted her head. "The three of us have made our choices in life. We will live with them. Survive and thrive no matter what the world says or does, because that's what a Wu does." Su stated strongly. "We made the choice to sacrifice all of that hard work to take you in as our own. That is not a choice we regret, nor sill we ever regret it. Please understand one thing, Lian."
"Yeah...?"
"We have committed many evils, killed many, stolen more, have coated ourselves in the blood of the innocent and the guilty, and had ambitions to do worse. Aside from my sisters...you're one of the very few genuinely positive relationships I have with anyone. And even more than that, I truly believe you're the greatest good thing we've ever willingly acquired over in our history of crime...that should tell you how much you mean to me, and what you mean to my sisters. In the whole world, the only thing that mattered was each other, we mean the world to each other. And we've made you a part of our world...you've become our greatest treasure."
"Su..." Lian shook her head. "No...Mom..."
"Yes, my child?"
"I...I want to go out on my own." Su blinked at this. "I want to see the rest of China with my own eyes. I want to forge my own conclusions, start building my own strength, my own world. And maybe...have someone to share that world with. To be happy with someone special, to be with friends, to have my own adventures."
"Striking it out on your own?"
"Not out of malevolence." Lian shook her head. "I love you, Mom. I love all three of my Moms. But we both know that you can't be my shields forever. It's...you're all great, fantastic. But...someday I'll have to manage without you. And I want to build that experience sooner rather than later, before that time blindsides me."
"...I understand. We cannot remain your only shields against danger, your growth would only be stunted. And that's definitely not an experience fit for a Wu." Su agreed."So...you are saying you're ready to make it out there without us, that you're strong enough?"
"...I know I am." Lian said with a firm nod.
Su smiled. "That's good. VERY good. You're much more resolved about this decision than expected, and that makes me proud." She rustled her head fur a little. "We'll prepare you for departure. Wan and Wing are likely to have different opinions...but they'll agree with this decision without a doubt."
"We do agree, actually." Wing said as she made her way over to the duo, with Wan following right behind. "Can't believe you just left us fighting in the dirt like that. What kind of a big sister triplet are you, Su?"
"The kind who believes in letting you two tire each other out with your constant arguing and fighting. Then you'll fall into cat nap and I get peace and quiet for several hours." Su explained while turning towards them. "And if you slept for too long-"
"You'd throw us in a river, yeah. You've done so several times already!" Wing snarled.
"I do so to wake you up and get you moving as soon as possible." Pause. "...Also, it amuses me."
"YOU'RE IMPOSSIBLE!" Both sisters shouted.
"A Wu isn't required to be reasonable or fair. You should know this by now."
Wan pouted, as she turned towards Lian and pulled her for a close and smothering hug. "I just can't believe it! Our little girl has grown big and strong enough to attempt going out for her own! She's grown up so strong!"
"Yeah. We trained her pretty good, I think she'll make it out alright." Wing agreed.
"See, I knew my sisters would agree." Su smiled. "What say you, Lian?"
"I plead that Mother Wan not smother me with her knockers to the point that I suffocate." Lian muffled.
"Don't worry about it, Lian! Pretty soon you'll have someone of your own to suffocate with your affection via bosom smothers!~"
"Really? COOL!~" Lian muffle-cheered with her arms raised. Su and Wing facepalmed, but they couldn't help but laugh at how absurdly silly this was. It made things easier when it came to lighting up the mood, especially with what was just discussed, and what's about to happen.
With a resolved heart and a filled tummy, Lian found the time to pack any essentials she might need, as the Wu Sisters helped her throughout the entire process. There was a hint of hesitstion in each of their hearts, but they never let it reach their eyes for a fraction of a moment. If she saw it in their eyes, she would hesitate, and think about changing her mind. No, this is for the best. They have to keep their mind steeled. They're women who've resolved themselves, all four of them.
They would resolutely see this through.
It was just...a difficult and unexpected new experience for them. They've never had to say goodbye to someone on genuinely good and loving terms before. It would be...difficult for them. Probably not for Wan, but it would be doubly so for Wing. Su...it was unknown. Suppose that would be discovered now.
Lian was standing before the trio, who were still in their cloaks yet she could still see their faces and the glow of their eyes clearly. Lian herself had a satchel over her shoulder with plenty of essentials, food being very plentiful, and herself being strong enough to carry it all.
"Well...I guess this is it."
"I've never had to say goodbye to someone on good terms before...this is weird." Wing muttered with folded arms.
"Our little kitten is going out into the big bad world all by herself! It's enough to make any mother cry!" Wan whimpered while wiping her eyes due to the comedic river of tears flowing down her face.
"I for one, am not worried in the slightest. You are a Wu. Wu's do not cower from the world, they take it by storm. I have no doubt you will follow that belief." Su said confidently with a smile.
Lian chuckled as she shook her head. "I know you all aren't the ones for long and sappy farewells, so I'll just keep it short and sweet. Wing, you're kind of a witch, but you're also really understanding. Wan, you're pretty hard to read, but you're also really easy to get along with. And Su...you're not nearly as cold-hearted as you see and try to make yourself. You can be kind."
"Oh stop, child." Su huffed while waving it off with a paw. "All this doesn't change one thing. You were raised by killers, assassins, terrorists. In the eyes of the world around us-not that we care what the world thinks-we are sinners of the highest order. We are monsters, plain and simple."
"You can try and play it off like a stoic badass, Su. It won't change how I feel." Lian said. "No one ever said that monsters can't be kind. And no one ever said that monsters can't protect things they cherish. I don't care what the world says. I don't care what the word 'monster' truly means. You 'monsters' took care of me, raised me, cared for me me, when no one else would. I had nothing, no one, nowhere to belong. You didn't have to take me in, yet you did. You abandoned your ambitions for me, even though you had nothing greater to gain from it. You thought I worth all of that...and...that makes me really happy."
"I thought you weren't gonna make this long and sappy." Wing smirked.
"You're right. I'll simplify this further." Lian smiled. "I don't care that you're monsters. All three of you are my mothers. And I love you all." Lian finishes up hy moving up to the sisters and wrapping them in a hug. Obvious she couldn't wrap her arms around all three, but they were able to return it. They leaned down slightly as they returned the hugs, with all four of them gently purring. Lian slowly released them and turned around and ran while waving to them. "Until we meet again!~"
They all waved back, waiting until she was out of sight and earshot, before Wing sighed. "Geez. It was pretty short and she STILL made it sappy. Shitty brat...and yet...it felt nice."
"Our precious baby is gonna kick the world's ass." Wan chirped softly. "What do you think, Su...Su?!"
"Sis, what's wrong?!" Wing caught what had Wan worried. They could see their sisters face when she turned away frok Lians direction and didn't say anything. And they quickly caught on tonwhat was causing the phenomenon.
Su was crying, much more than Wan was, yet she kept it silent with a paw over her muzzle and her eyes gently closed. She was lucky Lian simply jogged off so quickly. She didn't think she could have kept a straight face much longer, not after that.
I don't care that you're monsters. All three of you are my mothers. And I love you all.
Su sniffed, holding her head back up as she began walking in the opposite direction, quietly biting her lip and tightening her hold on her cloak while holding her head down.
"...N...Nothing...nothing at all..."
(Present)
The tale being finished, Su was wiping tears from her eyes from the surprised people in the room, mostly Rhino, Ox, and Croc. Wing and Wan were sitting by her side, while Peng was still sitting on Peng's lap, who gave her a cuddly hug she gladly returned.
"After that, I traveled for a bit, and bumped into Peng." Lian said with a smile. "And we've been more than capable of holding our own against many that tried to mess with us. Then two years after that, we met up with Po and Tigress and the others. The rest is history..."
"Wow..." Crane said, his beak dropping open.
"That was such a sad and heartwarming tale!" Viper cried while cutely wiping her nose.
"Seriously, man-or women-why did you have to go and do that..." Mantis sniffled.
"I guess the Wu Sisters weren't nearly as bad as everyone thought they were." Monkey said in surprise.
"Lian grew up to be strong and brave. You certainly did raise her well, despite all odds." Shifu noted with his paws behind his back.
"And she met up with my nephew and made him happier. That earns a plus from me as well." Tigress said with folded arms. Tai Lung observed from afar, yet still said nothing.
Su turned to Po and Mr. Ping, who have been listening intently and were in the midst of helping the others wipe their tears. Su hummed at Po especially. "You seem to remain unsurprised. Did you really have so much faith in our true story having us appear sympathetic?"
"Lian said you all took care of her, and she turned out to be a good person. That already won me over, story or not." Po stated calmly. "She's my friend. All three of you are my friends. It all worked out for all of us, didn't it?"
"...You really do intrigue me, speaking from the heart like that."
"I'm just a guy who appreciates people who look after their own."
"And I am a man who appreciates those who take care of their children, no matter how rough things get." Mr. Ping smiles.
Rhino observed everyone talking with the Wu Sisters and Lian, now happy and impressednwith the story. Rhino lowered his head ane closed his eyes in wonder. They truly have changed. And all it took was coming across one little girl? The universe truly works in mysterious ways.
"MAIL CALL! MAIL!" Kweng kicked the door open unceremoniously, causing almost everyone to jump in surprise.
"Geez, geezer! Can't you see that we're in the middle of a moment?" Monkey grumbled.
"Apologies. But I think you all need to read this." Kweng said, ignoring the primate's annoyance as he held up a scroll. "There's something major going on at Jinzhou City. VERY major."
"Oh? Jinzhou City? That's where I was held in Jinzhou Palace." Su smiled at the memoties, especislly breaking out of the joint.
"Place is crazy. It's run-down. Citizens are seedy as hell. Kung Fu is more entertsinment than a noble martial art there." Wing smirked.
"Whoo! Sure takes us back, right boys?~" Wan turned to Rhino, Ox, and Croc, sticking her tongue out at them. All they could do was grumble.
"Whatever. What do they want?" Ox demanded, folding his arms with a glare.
"It's more of a notice than them wanting something." Kweng said as he opened up the scroll and began reading:
This is a notice from Chairman Qing to respectable Kung Fu Masters.
Due to multiple offenses and connections to notorious gang lords, one of our prisoners will be-in a week's time-subjected to a public execution as consequence, and to serve as an example to all others who wish to cause so much chaos in an already chaotic city. It is time we change things and rein the filth in, and dissuade the other filth. We encourage you all to support this and help prove that we do not condone this prisoner's continued offences.
"Oh? An execution? They didn't even do that for ME." Su blinked with interest and might even be impressed.
"That sounds pretty serious. Who are they executing...?" Viper asked with lowered, concerned eyes.
Kweng squinted his eyes a bit, adjusting his reading glasses, before looking up at the others:
Identification of Prisoner:
Wu Kong
Monkey's world briefly shattered, his eyes widened and a hitch in his breath so great he thought his heart stopped. He instantly jumped over to Kweng and and swiped the scroll from him.
"Give me that!" He shouted in almost feral panic as he reopened the scroll and read for himself. He quickly read it several times, at least ten, so he could try and fool himself into beleiiving that this wasn't real, that it couldn't be possible that the name that was read aloud could be the same person.
But no. No matter how much he wished it weren't true, it was right there in front of him. They even went through the trouble of painting a portrait of the subject to emphasize who they'd be executing to anyone who reads the scroll.
"It can't be. There's...there's no way this is real..." Monkey muttered in disbelief.
Kahahaha! They don't suspect a thing! What a bunch of losers!
Monkey she KNOWS what we're doing. What she WON'T like is that you got hurt while doing so.
Moooom!
Crap crap crap crap! He knows where our village is! Stay down and don't make a sound!
I always steal stuff...and I usually get away with it.
All I stole was some gold in order to help us. I...I didn't think he would come after her instead of us...
I'm leaving, Monkey. I can't stay here.
She wouldn't have had a funeral if I hadn't been so selfish!
I'll miss you. Though the next time you see me, I'll be a criminal.
I can't let you get hunted down along with me. You're staying here.
Monkey suddenly threw the scroll at the wall with a frustrated shout, startling everyone in the room. Po, Tigress, and Fung were especially shocked by the news and were in equal disblief, while Shifu and Fenghuang had their eyes narrowed, but the concern was clear. Monkey aomost fell to the ground, breathing heavily as he tried not to hyperventilate from the sudden stress on his mind.
But we're brothers...we're supposed to stick together, no matter what...
Sorry. But as long as I'm a criminal...we can't be brothers anymore.
"My brother..." Monkey muttered quietly, though it was audible enough for the Masters who didn't know Monkey personally to be shocked, and cause a new wave of understanding swept over them.
Wu Kong...I know you don't mean that...
Monkey slowly lifted his hear, the feral look of disbelief in his eyes gone, replaced with a dreadful, wide-eyed blank look of horror at the truth.
"They're going to kill my brother..."
Remember the Monkey backstory, WAAAAAY back in Chapter 9? Wu Kong? Brother of Monkey-at least in this story-?
...Well, now we get to see how he's doing! Right?!
...
...Except...he's not doing so well, apparently...huh.
This...took a turn.
Until the next chapter...