VIPER POV
It had been three days since Mike had vanished. Three days I spent worrying of what had happened. Everybody had searched the Valley and the areas that surrounded the small town, I putting in just as much effort but still nothing. Even through the reality of it, I did what I could to keep my composure. I had to. It's one of the things I'm best at. But still, I felt doubt creeping around in the back of my mind. I didn't know how much more of I could take, not knowing what had happened.
I had spent minutes, maybe hours at a time looking over the Valley, hoping for any sign or even a rumor on Mikes whereabouts. Then at last, during noon, I had gone down into the valley for some peace and quiet and saw a grey snake round the corner a few blocks away. Given the idea of the strong possibility that it was who I thought it was, I bolted down, ignoring the greetings of the villagers and turned the corner to see the python himself.
"MIKE"!
...
MIKE POV
TWO MINUTES LATER...
Three days of running and hiding and I felt like the skin surrounding my stomach was about to peel itself off. I had to tell Yinshen to keep her distance from the Valley of Peace seeing how, no doubt, some villagers would remember her from the winter feast incident a while back. So she had to remain back at the miniature prison area where I had first been taken until I could prove she was on my side.
I slithered into the town, looking tired. The first thing I felt I needed was something to eat. The Mongolian wastelands didn't exactly provide much of a five star meal so I turned left towards the apple cart nearby, unaware of a familiar green snake that had seen me. Sure enough, the sight of stacked apples on a cart was a sight to behold. However, before I got the chance to buy or even get close to the cart...
"MIKE"!
I spun around and saw Viper herself! Before I even dared to say hello, she had already wrapped around me and pulled me into a bone crushing hug, almost literally. Can't say I've missed these...
After much too long, Viper let go and I wheezed, gasped, trying to suck in as much air as I could, not caring about making a scene as the villagers around stood watching. After I had been more or less sorted out my windpipe, I found myself bombarded with questions.
"Where were you? What happened? Are you okay"?
This, and many other questions followed, threatening to never end until I made a rash move and wrapped my tail around her mouth gently, keeping her from talking.
"It's good to see you too". I joked, letting go of Vipers mouth as I was sure that she was done for now.
"Sorry, it's just- after three days, I was beginning to worry".
"Putting a long story short, I was captured, taken to the Galadriel gates, broke out, endured days without food or sleep and came back just in time for lunch". I explained simply as though it was all in a days work. "Speaking of which, noodles? I'm buying".
I felt much chipper and calmer than I had done for a while, as though all my energy had built itself up over a small period of time and was being released all at once. So why had I chosen the noodle shop when I was hungry and the apple cart across the street had been forgotten? Because back at the gates, I remember that I had something I needed to say to Viper. Something important. And I wanted it to be some place quiet.
I took Viper to the noodle shop, bought two bowls, asking Mr. Ping to put it on a tab seeing how I didn't have any money at the moment. He accepted after I promised to throw in a couple extra yuan and I got Viper to sit down, passing one bowl to her and let her talk first. Her needs before my own.
"You seem happier than you used to be". She commented.
"I suppose when someone nearly dies and lives to tell about it, they appreciate life that much more. Right now, I'm living proof, no pun intended".
"You nearly died"? Viper asked, nearly dropping her spoon into the bowl. I remained calm.
"Mhm, almost had my head cut off. But I escaped, with maybe a little help".
"I- I don't know what to say. It's a lot to take in".
"Indeed. But during that time, I realized something important. Something that came to me in my moment of fear".
I took a second, calming down and breathed in through my nostrils and out my mouth.
"I discovered that if I had never come back, if I died. Then I wouldn't have had the chance to tell you something important. So I suppose the best time to speak is now, while I still can".
I took the few seconds of silence to grab Vipers tail with my own. It was hard to describe what I felt but my mind raced itself inside my head and my heart was beating like a drum. A cool wave of air washed over me and I felt my throat dry up. But still I pushed myself to say three little words that had been trapped in my head for the last three days.
"Viper"...
The suspense was incredible, really it was. Here goes nothing.
"I love you".
To none of my surprise, Vipers eyes widened and seemed like she had just frozen up, not moving for the next few seconds like a statue because of what I had just said. It made me that much more nervous, just unsure about what she may have been thinking until at last...
"You... love me"...?
"Yes. I do". I smiled.
Next thing I knew, the grip of her tail tightened and with no warning, I was pulled forward and received a kiss on the lips, catching me off guard but even so, I accepted it with no resistance. Once it broke, I leaned back to my side of the table to see Viper smiling happily as she said the same thing back to me.
"I love you too".
I couldn't help but smile back and blush. Seems it was worth the three day wait indeed.
TEN MINUTES LATER...
Relationships put to the side for the moment, I had to get myself up to the Jade palace and inform everyone that I was still in one piece and also share what I knew about the Galadriel gates.
The instant I had rushed inside and into everyone else, I had been asked many questions, welcomed back, even a hug was exchanged from Po and it hadn't been a minute.
I explained to them the story of what I had been through, careful to keep Yinshen's identity a secret for the moment. I explained how I had to find my way back here after three days of nothing but slithering on hot sand and with no food or sleep. I suppose, like any other story, I may have over exaggerated at some points, but the message got across.
"It seems you were lucky indeed python". Shifu spoke up as he stood behind the cheerful students. His face was unreadable but I could imagine the reason behind it.
"Thank you master Shifu". I bowed.
"After you disobeyed my orders and still went searching for any sign of Fennu's forces".
I smiled sheepishly as Shifu's face tightened. God only knows what he was going to say next. Thankfully I beat him to it.
"True, but at least we now know more on what Fennu's forces consist of". I tried to cooperate. Shifu raised one of his rather bushy eyebrows and a small smirk.
"And I suppose you expect your punishment to be lightened, correct"?
I nodded slowly.
"Very well".
I gave a sigh of relief.
"In that case, you are to run up and down the Jade palace stairs a hundred times. That should make up for the absence of three days training".
I almost wanted to slam my snout on the ground. Running is the only thing I've done for almost half a week, now I have to do more? Still, I knew better than to argue against my master and began. Before I did, I saw the sympathetic looks from not only Po, but Crane as well. I guess they had to deal with this sort of torture as well at some point in their lives.
100'000 STEPS LATER...
The second my fangs had scraped across the top of the staircase, I collapsed. My chest expanding and deflating at great speed as all the oxygen in the world wasn't enough to help me in my state of woe. I couldn't even move another inch as I was sure my heart would explode from its rampant beating. Sweat poured off of my head and I felt so tempted to just sit in the zigzag position I had placed myself in for the rest of time. Even so, after five or ten minutes of just lying there baking under the sun doing nothing, I regained enough energy to slither into my room at the barracks and threw myself into the bed. At least training didn't start for another hour and a half so I was safe to assume that I would be allowed some time to myself.
Half an hour passed slowly and I got a quick shower, scarfed down a quick meal and rested again. I felt fully restored once more and I waited patiently for something to happen. As though my prayers had been answered, I heard a couple of knocks from my door.
"It's open". I called out and watched as the paper door swung outwards showing Viper. I got off from my bed and slithered over to her.
"Hi Viper. Everything okay"?
"Yeah, I'm fine".
I raised an eyebrow. Every time Viper came to find me, it was either something good, or something bad. Only problem was I didn't know which one it was until it was too late.
"But"...? I pressed on.
"I just wanted to see how you are". She smiled.
I suppose after three days of thinking I was gone, she was just wanting to check up on me. Can't say I blame her as I would have been the same. Especially after our little talk back at the noodle shop.
"I'm good, thank you Vipes. Just sitting down while I still have the chance". I smiled back. At that point, I noticed she seemed exhausted herself.
"You seem a little tired Vipes. You sure you're okay"?
"Of course. Just, haven't been sleeping properly lately".
At that moment, she chose a good few seconds to yawn to strengthen her point. I shook my head.
"Here, perhaps you should sit down for a bit". I offered as I brought her in and pushed in front of the bed. The reaction she gave was funny as she blushed and turned to me.
"What about you"?
"I'll take the floor. It's much more comfortable than you'd think".
In truth, it was. At least it was when compared to being chained up for hours in a dark cold dungeon.
"Mike, I can't just kick you out of your bed for my own sake".
"Viper, I insist. You need the rest more than I do".
"You need the rest, you've been gone for three days remember".
"Viper". I hissed, in a gentle warning tone, for her sake. She sighed.
"Very well. I've an idea".
"What"?
ONE MINUTE LATER...
A bold idea indeed. Apparently she had gotten us both to sleep on the bed at the same time. It felt... awkward. Even though we were back to back there was no shaking the weirdness behind it. I just stayed as close to the edge as I could, not even daring to touch Viper as though her skin was coated with poison.
I couldn't help but turn and look at Viper. She had taken off her lotus flowers on the top of her head. Without them, she looked like a completely different person. It was stunning, how she looked without her accessories. Still I turned back round and waited for the hour to pass. I wasn't sure what to feel. Now that I thought about it, why didn't I take her back to her own room? Oh well, the damage is already done.
"Mike? You asleep"?
I gave a small chuckle. I never understood why people asked that question because the answer was always going to be no. And even if they were asleep, they would be woken up anyway because of the same said question.
"No". I answered somewhat ironically. "You okay"?
"Yeah, I just wanted to say thanks. For offering half of your bed to me".
Technically I didn't but I played her game.
"Of course. You needed it more than I did".
I turned round to see that Viper had already done the same. For a moment, I was distracted with how very different she seemed without the two pink flowers. Viper noticed this.
"Are you okay"?
I smiled.
"Yeah, I just...". I tried to find the right words to describe what I thought. "You look incredible".
Viper blushed from the comment.
"So do you".
Now it was my turn for my face to turn crimson.
After a minute of smiling at each other, the pair of us were brave enough to lean in at the same time and, instead of kissing, this time we rubbed snouts. It was... cute and silly but fun. Afterwards, she just snuggled up beside me, resting her head on my neck. None of us moved for ages until I kissed her on the head.
The hour passed by and we both stayed in our positions. Just as though neither of us wanted to be seperated. But everything has its time and Viper lifted her head off of me and we both left the room. Training was bound to be underway soon.
I didn't realise it until it was too late, but Viper had forgotten to but her lotus flowers back on. I pointed it out and suggested we went back for them but she told me to wait until training was over. I rolled my eyes and we headed into the training hall where everybody else had already started. Mantis was first to notice our arrival and hopped on over in front of us.
"Hey guys". He greeted. "Where's your flower thingies Vipe?
"I forgot to put them on". She responded truthfully.
Mantis looked to me and laughed.
"Yeah, whatever you say".
I badly wanted to punt the little pest across the training hall room but I knew better and dropped it.
After training, I needed to talk to Shifu about an important matter involving a black cat. I don't know how he's going to take it, the red panda can be unpredictable sometimes. But... this is something that needs to be done. Especially when she knows more about Fennu and the Galadriel gate than any of us combined.
2 MINUTES LATER...
"Master Shifu, may I speak to you"?
I had followed Shifu out of the training hall and away from everyone else. We were now in the hall of heroes which seemed like an appropriate time to speak.
"Yes python"?
"I... have something to tell you... regarding my incident with the Galadriel gates". I spoke a little nervous.
"Yes"? The red panda asked, raising an eyebrow.
"I... didn't return alone. There was another... victim of Fennu who played their part and helped me out".
Shifu seemed angry.
"What"?
I flinched from the sudden outburst.
"Yes. She helped me out and I decided to wait until the right time to tell you, which happens to be now".
"And where is this... victim now"?
I heard a small creak above us. I found it hard to believe it came from just the building.
"If I were to guess, I'd say she was right above us".
My guess turned out to be true as something big and black dropped from the ceiling and landed right next to me on all fours before rising up on her feet. What amazed me was that she was still wearing her dark robes.
Shifu did not seem surprised, as though he had known about this routine. But that was very much doubtful. He looked at the panther before him who stared back. I, waiting at the sideline, thought best to break the tension.
"Master Shifu, this is Yinshen. Yinshen, Master Shifu".
...
Hey everybody, quick note. I thought seeing how I've been gone for a week, I might as well post one chapter a day for the next five days. It's a little annoying having the chapters hanging around on my laptop without doing anything about it so why not kill two birds with one stone? Okay, so this is the second day and the next one will be posted tomorrow and so forth until Thursday. Hope you enjoy.
Now onto a couple notes about this chapter. Yup, Mike told Viper he loves her. It may seem a bit early but it was the best fitting for the story in general as it may get a little more serious in four chapters time. You'll understand why ;)
And Yinshen finally comes forth at last. Wonder how everybody's going to deal with that? You'll know soon enough. But for now, cheerio!