The Tournament

Xiwang looked at the tournament brackets on the arena wall. 23 vs 54. He turned around and saw a large rhino flexing his bare chest as his opponent. "Wow, there are a lot of strong people here."

"Out of my way punk!" Xiwang got knocked flat onto his butt. "Aw man, I've got to deal with weaklings first. Hmm. At least I get another round with the white kitty."

"Hey! Watch where you're going!" Xiwang grunted up from the ground.

"You want to go, little guy?" A big snow leopard stood in front of the black panther. He was bareback, save for his black forearm wrappings, with black pants and a studded belt around his waist.

Xiwang held his ground, "No, but you don't have to shove your way in."

"Heh, I do what I want, punk."

"Leave him alone, Egun," said a stern voice from behind the young snow leopard.

"M-Master Peng." Egun bowed. Xiwang's eyes shot open as a taller, older snow leopard stood before him. His eyes scowled at Egun but smiled kindly at Xiwang.

"I apologize for my pupil. He's been having an... unrealistic confidence boost ever since he defeated Ai in the last tournament."

"But I did-"

"That's enough," Peng ordered. The young snow leopard held his mouth. "I'm sorry for his bad behavior."

"Um... It's okay," Xiwang said. Egun glared at the black panther and fumed away. Master Peng sighed and shook his head, pinching the bridge of his muzzle. "You're Master Peng? The nephew of the infamous Tai Lung?"

Master Peng rose his eyebrow. "I am. Though I don't share my uncle's views, I try to erase his effects."

"Wait! So you knew the Dragon Warrior!"

The snow leopard widened his eyes. He gave a long sigh before looking up into the clouds. "I... I did... before he left."

"Where did he go?"

"No one knows," Master Peng sighed. He looked towards the stair landing that lead to the Hall of Heroes. Grandmaster Tigress stood on that landing. Looked like the tournament was about to begin. "But this place has never been the same since Po left."

"Po?" Xiwang's jaw dropped. "You... you mean... wait, what did the Dragon Warrior look like? What was his name?"

"Oh, his name was Po Ping. A panda... a good friend," Master Peng smiled, resting his hand on Xiwang's shoulder. The black panther couldn't really register the feeling. "I hope you do your best at the tournament, um... what is your name?"

"O-O-OH! I'm... uh... Xiwang?"

"Are you sure that's you're name?" Master Peng smirked.

"Yes! Yes! I'm sorry I was just... daydreaming."

"Hehe, you remind me a lot of Po." Suddenly, they heard a commotion, and and Peng sighed at the sight of his pupil causing more trouble. "Apologies, I have to go. I hope your fighting skills are enough to go against Egun in the Tournament, Xiwang. He can be... crafty."

"O-Okay," Xiwang bolted for the entrance just before the Jade Palace steps. His back hit the wall. Heavy breaths tumbled out of his mouth. Xiwang slid to his butt, slowly breathing easier. "My... My master is... the Dragon Warrior? Why the heck didn't he tell me?! And why is he in a nowhere place like my village?! I can't believe this. All this time, I thought Master Yin was just a weird Kung Fu teacher, but... how is he... This doesn't make any sense!"

"Who are you talking to?"

"WHAAAHH!" Xiwang looked up. On top of the courtyard wall was a familiar black and white tiger. "Ohhh uhhh ummm. Just... a little nervous."

"Worried that you'll lose?" Ai said, crossing her arms. "Seeing how clumsy you are, I understand why you would be panicking."

"Hey, I'm not that helpless," Xiwang stood up. "I'm just... learning some things, that's all."

Ai jumped off the wall and slowly walked closer. "Like what?"

"Ummm..."

"My boy! There you are!" A new voice came over and wrapped his feathery arms around his torso. "It's good to see you."

"Huh?" Xiwang looked at a white goose with a straw hat and a flimsy beard disguise around his bill.

"Don't tell me you don't remember your Master Yin already. What? Has the fame already gone to your head?"

"Ummm... No, no, it hasn't," Xiwang slowly said.

"Is this your Master Yin?" Ai asked.

"Indeed I am, young miss. And who are you?" Quacked the goose. "And why are you bothering my boy before his tournament?" He pulled out a wooden spoon and dangerously waved it around. "Are we gonna have some problems?"

"Calm down, sir," Ai backed away. "I was just... never mind."

"Master Yin, this is... Ai... Master Tigress's daughter."

The goose gasped and dropped his spoon. "O-O-O-Oh... I'm... I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to... um... Excuse me." The goose turned away, but both felines could hear his sniffles. Xiwang was still trying to process why Mr. Ping had come all this way to the Jade Palace disguised as Po.

Maybe he wanted to make sure that Xiwang was alright.

"Sir," Ai spoke kindly for the first time since Xiwang met her, "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine. I'm sorry, you just... reminded me of my family... well, the broken part of it."

The white tiger frowned, "I'm sorry."

Mr. Ping cleared his throat. "Well, I hope everything is okay here. If you don't mind, I have to have a word with my pupil."

"Of course," Ai bowed. She gave a sympathetic look to Xiwang, but the panther didn't know what that meant. As Ai disappeared beyond the doors, Xiwang looked at Mr. Ping wiping his eyes.

"Mr. Ping, what are yo-"

"Don't call me that around here. Too many people might recognize me."

"Okay, uh... Master Yin, why are you here?"

"My son couldn't sit still and wait for you to give him the details. And he wanted to make sure you were safe," Mr. Ping smiled but sighed as he looked longingly at the gateway. "She's so big already."

"Master Yin... why didn't you tell me Master Yin was the Dragon-"

"SHHHH!" Mr. Ping quieted him with his feathers. Xiwang fought against his sneeze. "Look, Master Yin wants to stay hidden for a reason. Yes, he was the Dragon Warrior, but... things have changed."

"Why?"

Mr. Ping sighed, "I don't know. Hopefully, you won't have to worry about that."

"But I still-"

"All contestants must come to the platform. The Tournament tryouts are about to begin!"

The black panther sighed, "Alright. I have to get going."

"Do your best, Xiwang."

"I'll try."

"Don't try it, do it. Trust me, with this stuff, there is no try."

Xiwang looked back at Mr. Ping and sighed again. Over on the elevated podium, Xiwang could see the original Furious Five, lined up in a row. Grandmaster Tigress stood in the middle while Master Shifu sat down. "Each of you will go through an elimination round. The best eight will go on to the tournament tomorrow," Tigress announced.

"Uh oh," Xiwang muttered. "I don't have a place to stay. Darn it! I didn't know the tournament was over two days."

"Number 24 vs 56!" Called Zeng. Xiwang watched as Ai stepped onto the stage in the courtyard with a mammoth-sized yak. "Fighters who are down for more than a count of 10 are out and if fighters are flung out of the ring, they are out. There is to be no cheating or weaponry. Understand?" The contestants nodded. The yak's sweat was apparent to everyone. "Fight!"

Quicker than a flash, Ai punched the yak right out of the ring. "Number 56 is out."

"Well, I tried," Groaned the yak. "I'll get you one day, little girl."

The white tiger smiled. "See you later Kai."

"Isn't Kai the yak that terrorized China?" Xiwang asked a fellow contestant.

"Yes, but this isn't the same one. This Kai is the descendent of the original. Thankfully he has better spirits than his ancestor."

"Next up, number 23 vs 54." Xiwang slowly climbed up to the stage and faced off with a big strong rhino.

The rhino grinned, "I know I'm not supposed to judge an opponent's strength by their size, but you don't look the warrior type, little kitten."

Xiwang crouched into a stance and readied himself.

"This is the panther you wanted us to look at?" Whispered Master Monkey to Tigress, "He doesn't look like much."

"You know better than to judge a book by its cover by now, Monkey," Viper replied.

"But what exactly did you want us to see, Tigress?" Master Crane asked.

"Just... pay attention and tell me if you see the same thing happening that I do."

"Fight!"

The rhino charged toward the panther. Xiwang stood his ground. Just as the horn was about to pierce him, Xiwang jumped over, slid down the rhino's spine, and bumped his butt against the rhino's. "WHOOOAAAAA!" The rhino plummeted off the ring.

"Number 54 is out!"

"That's what you get when you mess with the thunda," Xiwang laughed.

Ai, who stood with her friends underneath the podium, rolled her eyes. Li laughed, "HAHA that was funny!"

"Finally, you and I agree on something," The buffalo chuckled.

"He's uh... very... different," Nu Wuya struggled to say.

"I think weird is the word," Zhang remarked. The gorilla looked up at the podium. "Hey, why do the masters look like they've seen a goblin?" Ai looked up and saw all of the Furious Five, her mom, and Shifu with dropped jaws.

"That... That move," Master Mantis stuttered. "I haven't seen that move since-"

"Po," Tigress finished.

Continued...