NEXT MORNING Instead of waking up at the gong, I found myself to be already up, thinking back to last night. Looking back, it felt more like a dream than anything else, but I guess it actually happened. I got kissed by a snake. A small laugh escaped my mouth as I got up from the bed and made my way into the kitchen before making myself some coffee with some jasmine in the cupboards above. I then sat down, wondering if Shifu knew of this new relationship going on. I could only imagine him giving me and Viper a lecture onhow and why it's a bad idea for two kung fu masters to be dating. Well, one kung fu master and a rookie. I never really recalled being given the title of master just yet. Even so, I guess it didn't matter too much. Besides, it wasn't something I wanted to think about right now. I took a sip of the coffee just before Tigress walked into the kitchen. She seemed quite calm this morning, you could have almost mistaken her for another tiger.
"Morning". I spoke, grabbing her attention.
"Morning Mike".
I then went back to my coffee, at least until she spoke again.
"I hear you went out on a date with Viper last night"? Really, is Tigress really needing to talk to me about this too?
"I'm guessing Po told you"?
"Told me last night".
"Well, it's true. We went to Mr Pings noodle shop for dinner". I admitted, looking back at Tigress who kept her calm composure, which actually scares me a lot more than it would is she was angry with me.
"Don't worry. It doesn't bother me as long as it doesn't interfere with protecting the Valley of Peace".
That was a little surprising. I expected her to be a little more-
"However"...
Ok. Nope, never mind. Here we go.
"...Viper is like a little sister to me, so I just wish to make this clear". Tigress put both paws on the table and leaned towards me with glaring eyes powerful enough to stop a rampaging bull. "If you do anything to upset her, you're going to regret it".
"Regret what"? Came a new voice.
Crane had now stepped in, joining the conversation.
"Nothing, just the usual death threat from Tigress is all". I replied calmly, despite my coffee mug, still being held by my tail, slightly shaking without me noticing. "Anyway, what are you doing up so early, both of you"?
"Taking a break from meditation".
" I need to sort out my allergies with my nasal irrigator".
Crane showed me the tool clutched in his right foot.
"Nasal what"? The heck is a nasal intergrator?
"Nasal Irrigator. It's a simple and useful tool for allergies". Crane filled me in. "Excuse me".
Crane then lifted the nasal whatchamacallit to his face.
"I'd advise you to look away". Tigress said to me before turning round. I shook my head.
"Don't you think you're being a little over dramatic"? I smirked before looking back to Crane just to see him put the thing in his nostrils.
FIFTEEN SECONDS OF DISTURBING NOISES AND SIGHTS LATER
Yeah... on second thoughts, maybe I should have turned round like Tigress. I have no idea what I just witnessed but it would certainly be playing in my head for a day or two. All the honking and snorting was disgusting to listen to, I don't even want to talk about what I saw! I then shuddered slightly before pouring the rest of my coffee down the drain.
"Told you so". Tigress said with a small smile, turning back to face me.
"Yeah, I guess you did"...
"Sorry about that Mike, I just need to do that every few days to correct my senses and allergies otherwise it could affect my kung fu".
"... Okay... I guess that's fine...". Perhaps I should change the subject. "Anyway, I take it that training starts after breakfast"?
"Yes, and according to Master Shifu, we'll be learning something different today, just to help bring you up to speed with the rest of us".
"Any idea what it is"?
"I don't". I just shrugged at the response, in perfect timing for the morning bells to ring. Instinctly, I slithered as fast as I could to the entrance alongside Tigress and Crane.
"Good morning Master Shifu"! We and the other students greeted to Shifu, who nodded at our greetings and after greeting us back and telling us that we have only ten minutes for breakfast, left as today's training session would be very important, especially for me. Just as well I wasn't hungry. Well, not anymore thanks to Crane and his nasal thingimagig. All I did was simply take a walk over to the training hall, telling everyone else that I would meet them there. Everyone just nodded or replied with half full mouths, AKA Po, not even paying attention to my words. Not that it bothered me. I was just busy thinking back to the events of last night as I left the barracks. I found it a little hard at first, the fact that I was going out with a snake, but then again, I'm a snake too, but still it's a little strange. Maybe it's because of the fact that I was once a different species? Technically I still am. She's a viper, guess the name's a bit of a giveaway, and I'm a python. Big difference there.
"Hey Mike".
Speaking of Viper... I turned round to see the snake of the hour approach me.
"Hi Viper. You okay"?
"I'm fine, thanks".
The second she was beside me, she put her head over me and hugged me.
"How about you"?
"I'm doing well, apart from watching Crane fix his nose with his nasal tool".
"Nasal Irrigator".
"How do you know what it's called"?
"It's hard not to after seeing what it can do first hand".
"No kidding. So I take it you're heading for the training hall as well"?
"Yes, but probably not for the same reason as yourself".
"How so"?
"I was going to see if I could talk to Shifu about, well, us".
My smile faded slightly as I imagined a scenario in my head of Shifu kicking me out of the Jade palace upon telling him of my new relationship.
"Are you sure that's a good idea? Perhaps we should wait until after training"?
I was glad to see Viper putting some thought into my idea, even though I was doing what I could to buy more time for myself. At least I didn't have to wait too long for a reply.
"I suppose that would be better. Otherwise it might affect our training".
"Exactly". I agreed.
TEN MINUTES LATER
Everybody had arrived inside the training room and were lined up in a single row. I watched as Shifu, the only guy Po hasn't told about me and Viper, stood in front of us, both his skinny arms hidden behind his back as though he was hiding something from us.
"Today"... He began. "You will be learning how to deal with the most unexpected of foes. Demons, spirits, any of these beasts can come in their own form and size, carrying both advantages and disadvantages over us. Which is why we will be practicing with these".
Shifu then brought his arms to the front of his body, showing a small orange box, containing two red like eggs causing everyone to give a small gasp. Even Po did so, leaving me to just stare blankly at the box, unsure what they were. Shifu caught onto this and gave a sigh in frustration.
"Python, do you know what I am even holding"?
"... A box"?
I recieved a glare from Shifu for being cheeky.
"Okay, I'll admit it. I don't know what they are". I lowered my head, mostly out of embarassment.
"These are shiftstones python. They have the ability to change ones pyhsical appearance".
... "uhh, okay... well I think it's clear that Shifu has lost his mind. A stone that can change what a person looks like? Who does he think he's fooling?! That's the stupidest thing I have"-
Before I could continue my thoughts, Shifu began to glow, slightly at first but within seconds, his whole body was engulfed in a bright glow, forcing me to close my eyes for a second until it died down. When I opened them back up... there was a second me? My God. There's a stone that can change what you look like. This caught my interest for two reasons. One being that something like this should be impossible to do. The second reason, maybe I can change my form to become human again. I couldn't help but smile just as Shifu transformed back into himself.
...
Sorry about the long wait as well as a short chapter. It's been hectic for me choosing accommodations for Uni as well as having writers block. I'll try to make it up for you guys in the next chapter. Cheerio.