My mind almost went numb and I grabbed the shiftstone tightly, nearly wanting to break the stupid object. I took a good long look at it. This little stone was what would change everything everybody knew about me. For better or for worse. A minutes passed and I looked up to the group of Kung fu masters, seeing their eyes masked with confusion. I then turned to Shifu and spoke.
"Master Shifu, if you recall some time ago, I spoke about meeting Oogway in the spirit world about two months ago"?
"Yes, indeed I do".
"Well, it seems that there was more to it than just a simple talk. Oogway"...
I took a second, unsure of the right words to use.
"I'm more than just a simple python. I'm also what's called a human".
Everybody raised their eyes, though I doubted they had any idea what a human was supposed to be. I guess they would need... visual aid.
I concentrated and closed my eyes, worried of the outcome. In seconds, a bright light came and went. The room suddenly filled with gasps and awes. I opened my eyes and saw the looks of surprise and horror on each of their faces.
"This is what I... used to look like". I filled them in. "Until I died and got given a second chance by Oogway to live again but... as a snake".
Silence still loomed over everyone. Most were too shocked from the sight of the "old" me to speak. It was... depressing, unsure whether they would now see me as a lyer and a monster. I lowered my head.
"Per- perhaps I should give you a moment to gather your thoughts". I proposed before slowly walking round them, feeling their judgemental eyes on me. I remained quiet and left, not bothering to drop my human appearance. I could hear the chattering behind me, I didn't really know, or care, what they were talking about but it still left me depressed.
I traveled back to my own room in the barracks. The mirror within the corner stood in front of me and I just stared at the reflection. In my own eyes, whenever I looked down at my body with my own eyes, I could still see my python self. The mirror, a human with short hair and dressed in clothing that would be classed as unusual in China.
*Knock knock*
"It's open". I barely muttered, not taking my eyes off of the reflection. I listened as person sat down next to me close enough to see their own reflection.
"Hey Yinshen". I muttered as the panther looked at me curiously.
"You know, I'd always thought you'd be taller as a human". She smiled. I was only a little smaller than Po so it wasn't like I was tiny. Still, I took it as a compliment but it didn't keep me from reminding myself of the strong possibility that I had basically ruined five friendships in five minutes flat.
"What do you want"? I asked with a sigh.
"Look, I can't say I fully understand what you're going through but maybe you should go back and talk to them".
I chuckled.
"Why? So they can continue to just stare at me? As far as I know, I may have just broken my friendship between them all".
"Mike, you know it's not like that. Besides, what are you going to do, keep your distance from them for the rest of your life"?
"It could work. Just have my stuff transferred to a hotel and problem solved".
In the mirrors reflection, I could see Yinshen rolling her eyes.
"Well, look at it this way. You still have me and Viper at your side".
"Two against six? Not exactly the best of odds, is it"?
"Better to have someone than noone".
"... True".
A moment of silence passed until Yinshen reached out and put a paw on my shoulder. This made me flinch slightly. I could feel her paw resting on my non existent shoulder. It felt soft.
"Would you like me to leave"? She asked sympathetically. I shook my head.
"No need. I'll come with you. I'll need to eventually right"?
Yinshen said nothing but nodded and sat up. I mimicked the action and walked out with her, looking down at the torn part of the shirt I wore. I shook it from my head and followed.
I agreed that while I would check in on everyone, I would do it with each of them individually. That way, I would be sure to have a proper one on one talk instead of having a small group raining hell on me.
I suppose I should start with someone who trusts me the most. I suppose Crane would be the first on that list.
"Any idea where Crane is"? I asked Yinshen.
"He's still in the hall of heroes sweeping the floors".
"Let's go then".
I headed straight into the hall of heroes. Indeed, Crane was right in the middle of the room with a broom in wing. This is most likely going to get worse before it gets better. Here goes.
I quickly transformed back into my python self and approached. Cranes attention was caught by the glow of the shiftstone the moment I had changed back and looked down to the ground nervously. That just put me off wanting to go anywhere near him but Yinshen was persistent enough to literally drag me over until I was close enough to talk to him.
"Hey Crane". I began, unsure how exactly to break the ice.
"Hello". He muttered, not even looking at me.
"Look, I was hoping to talk to you about... well, you know. Earlier on".
Crane stopped sweeping and nodded to show that he was listening.
"I'm... I'm sorry I've had to keep something like that secret from you guys for so long but... I didn't mean for it to be held against you in anyway. It's been"-
"Mike, I get it. Really. I'm not mad at you but... did you have to keep it from us for so long"?
I looked to the ground for a second.
"I didn't know how everyone would react. What if someone thought I was some kind of monster or something? Maybe one of them do right now as we speak".
"Still, I suppose you did come clean in the end. I can't vouch for everyone else but even so".
"So... you forgive me"?
Crane smiled.
"Of course".
I felt so much better. I thanked him but before I could leave...
"Can I ask you something"?
I turned back round to the avian.
"Sure".
"Can I see it? I mean the human you"?
I nodded and used the shiftstone to turn back to my human self. The instant I did, Crane moved over to me and looked at my stomach. He then used his beak to lift up my shirt making my freak out as I could actually feel the shirt being raised. I pushed the bird away with both fake hands before he could even think of trying anything else.
"What the hell was that about"?! I asked rather angrily.
"Yeah, don't you know the proper procedure is dinner and a play first"?
"Shut up Yinshen"!
Crane slowly stepped back over carefully in case I tried shoving him again. He gave a look of apology.
"Sorry, sorry but... you seem to be injured".
"Yeah, did you forget about the arrow that impaled me a couple of days ago"?
"I meant the other one, in the middle of your stomach".
I frowned. I knew well what he meant.
"That's from when I was stabbed".
"By a knife"?
"No, by a stuffed doll. YES A KNIFE"! I yelled angrily out of frustration. This was becoming irrelevant so I dropped my anger and the subject.
"Sorry. It's been a long day. I best find the rest of the gang".
Crane nodded and I set off with Yinshen again.
Mantis and Monkey were actually, and rather surprisingly, quite understanding over the case. They confessed that they probably would have done the same thing in my position. They too asked about the "wound" which ended in the same answer only I didn't become angry at them. In the end, they left saying they would see me at lunch. Despite their childish pranks and attitudes half the time, they were great friends. Truly they were.
At this point I chose to walk straight into the lions den. Or in this case, the tigers den. If I was wearing boots right now, I would be shaking in them. I decided to keep myself as a python for the time being and approached the training hall.
May God have mercy on my soul.
I entered the door. Tigress was right there on the spinning logs with her back to me. Yinshen closed the doors behind her, sealing my doom. I nervously slithered over and spoke in a barely audible tone.
"Hi Tigress"...
Tigress blocked one of the swinging clubs and smashed the thing into pieces before turning to me and jumping from the logs and right in front of me. The look on her face told me that I was in trouble.
"Hi"? She questioned. "HI"?!
I moved back a bit in fear as to what was about to go down.
"You have the nerve to speak to me after... after THAT"?! She almost yelled, scaring me to death.
"I only did it because of what may have followed. So far, you seem to be proving my point". I pointed out, though I knew the last thing I should have done was to try and argue back. Tigress raised her fist.
"Why I oughta"-
"You oughta what"? Yinshen challenged, stepping forward and defending me. "Beat him to a pulp? Especially after he takes an arrow for a friend"?
"Stay out of this Yinshen. You don't have a say in this".
"And what if I want to? You gonna stop me"?
Tigress lowered her fist and snarled.
"Maybe". She spat.
"Yes, I bet you would"... Yinshen countered and continued. "Then tell me Tigress, just answer the both of us this. Have you mentioned any of your own past to Mike"?
"... A little".
Granted I knew a little bit about Tigresses past. I knew that she once wanted to be the dragon warrior at one point and that she was an orphan. But that was all.
"Come on Tigress, I'd thought you'd have been smarter than that. After all, you trusted me enough to tell ME about your past".
"That was different". She glared at Yinshen who smirked. She was being remarkably calm about this. Both of them were as Tigress still refrained from leaving a mark on my face.
"Was it now"?
"Yes. It was"!
"Because I'm pretty sure there's still many important issues to raise on that subject alone. One example would be you dry heaving whenever you hear the word slurp".
And if on cue, Tigress gagged. (Yep, that's a real thing. Check the Jailhouse panda episode)
"Ooh-kay... ew". I added, slithering back. That was something I could have lived with without seeing.
"... A fair point"... Tigress muttered, not wanting anymore of her secrets spilled. Yinshen respected that and backed off. I then left with her leaving Tigress to train some more. With all said and done, I think she felt a little more at ease about me, but it was going to take her time to get used to the idea.
I looked at the shiftstone in my hand and something of an idea came to mind.
As we traveled, I made myself turn back into my human form. I wanted to try something and I stroked a nearby tree. I could feel the bark of it on my imaginary hand, just like I could feel Yinshen's paw on my imaginary shoulder from earlier on. I felt... more at peace as I closed my eyes and just forgot about my fangs, my tail, everything a snake had that made it a snake and just focused.
I closed my eyes and pretended to move my fake fingers. I could actually feel each individual one as they flowed through the wind! I imagined myself using feet to walk down one stair and I felt myself move as though I had just taken a step! It felt... like I really was human again. Just for that one moment.
I opened my eyes and looked to the shiftstone and saw it still being held in my tail. Enough was enough. I turned back into a python through Yinshen's eyes.
"Are you okay"? Yinshen asked. I just smiled and replied.
"Yeah. I'm doing just fine".
...
Poor Mike.
So, that's another chapter done. I'll need to slow down a little bit due to college, again, so the next chapter will take maybe four or five days to upload. Sorry guys. But in the mean time, I hope you enjoy the rest of your day. Cheerio!