It took several nudges from the green tree viper until I woke up, but still I refused to get out of the bed. It was too comfortable. And what with it being a Sunday, I could have stayed here all day if I wanted to. However Viper had other plans.
"Come on Mike. Rise and shine". She yawned as she nudged me over and over again, not realizing that I was awake just yet. I gave a small grunt to inform her of that. But still she kept at it.
"Come on Mike. The early bird gets the worm after all".
"Maybe but it's the second mouse that gets the cheese". I countered earning a sigh from Viper. I continued.
"Besides, first time we slept together, you were the one who wanted to lie in a little longer didn't you"?
"Ugh, alright have it your way". She complained before sitting back down. I gave a small smile with my victory and turned round to see Viper looking right at me with her blue eyes. She looked a little moody about my stubbornness but I looked past it and kissed her neck, noticing the two teeth marks that I had made yesterday. I bet if I told Po about how a vampire had attacked her at some point during the night, he would have believed it. It was humorous to have a scenario of it play in my head but I forgot all about it as I brought my head back to my side.
"So is there anything you want to do today"? I asked.
"I can't think of anything special that comes to mind. Perhaps later we can take a walk near the river at the side of the village"? She replied.
I nodded and enjoyed the rest of the hour relaxing. At least I would have if Viper hadn't brought up something else.
"I just wanted to say... thanks. A-about last night".
I smirked.
"Yeah, thank me for biting you why not". I joked. "And you for biting me".
I stroked my tail over my neck, flinching from the sting I got whenever I dragged it across one of the two skin punctures.
"You know what I mean. You knew how important it was and didn't put it off, so the least I could do is thank you". She smiled.
"I guess. You're welcome". I smiled back and closed my eyes once again.
Even though I could no longer see her, I could hear her eyes rolling about as a way of dealing with my attitude. I didn't have much longer to wait as Viper slithered a little closer to me and pressed half her body against mine. At least her skin was soft and smooth. Again I opened my eyes and saw hers looking innocently at me before giving her a small kiss on the lips, getting a small giggle out of her. Though when I broke it, she went for one herself. Instead, I leaned back a little knowing that she was going to make it last, this confused her a little.
"It's too early. Let's just enjoy this moment while we can". I suggested.
She smiled and nodded before snuggling underneath my neck as it had quickly become her new favorite teddy bear. Everynow and then she just gave a small happy moan when she tried to re-position herself. My tail just wrapped itself around her back almost automatically and we just sat in that position until the hour passed.
"Right. I suppose that's late enough. Ready to get up Vipes"?
"Sure. Whenever you're ready Mikey".
"Mikey"? My face blushed slightly.
"Hey, you keep calling me Vipes don't you"?
I suppose so.
After another small kiss the pair of us rose from the leather bed and got a head start into town.
Five minutes was all it took for us to reach the river. I looked at the water and chuckled, reminding myself of when I fooled that gorilla into jumping straight into the river to defuse his bombs. Now, the tenseness of the situation had been replaced with a more positive emotion as I saw several different animals either swimming or fishing with home made rods. At least there were very few clouds in the sky that threatened to block out the sun so they were able to do what they wished in peace.
I watched the snake slither past me and laid down onto the soft grass, facing the river and viewing a couple of red and black fish swim by. She patted the grass next to her, gesturing for me to sit down next to her. I did what she asked and chose to coil myself up next to her. She quickly spoke up.
"Beautiful isn't it"? She referred to the scenery around us.
"Indeed. I always looked down from the Jade palace to admire the Valleys beauty. Up close, it's easier to see every single detail".
I took another look at Viper while she stared into the water. An evil smile appeared across my face as an idea appeared into my head.
Pretending to mess around, I put my tail around her back gaining her attention. She raised her head and looked to me, wondering what I was smirking for. In a second, I shifted all my strength into my tail and hurled Viper straight into the river!
A few seconds passed until her head popped up from underneath the water, glaring angrily at me while I cackled with laughter, falling onto my back unable to breath properly.
After calming myself down, I slithered back over to help Viper out until I realized she had disappeared. Where did she go? She was right there ten seconds ago, now she's vanished! I suddenly froze after feeling something tap my shoulder.
Oh dear...
I regrettably turned round and got pushed into the water by a soaking wet green snake. My whole body got swallowed by the water and I twisted round trying to get back to the surface. I quickly found myself breathing oxygen again and I looked up to see Viper smirking at my misery.
"Feeling cocky now"? She laughed.
"Oh be quiet". I hissed, being a sore loser.
She extended her tail and I wrapped softly around it before being pulled off. She was certainly stronger than she looked.
I dried my scaly skin with a purchased towel after we had made our way further along the river bank. Viper just let herself fry out under the sun as she refused to use the towel when I offered it to her.
After a little while the pair of us sat down on a nearby bench. Viper was right. It was beautiful, the sun reflecting off of the water below.
"Can I ask you something Viper"?
"Of course. Is something the matter"?
"No, it's just that, I've always wondered. Why did you choose to fall for me"?
"What do you mean"?
"Please don't take it the wrong way but, you're a green tree viper snake and I'm a python. How come you never chose a snake of your own species"?
"In truth, back in my village it was rare to come across any species of snake including my own. I didn't want to, as you put it, fall for someone, who would just seem right for me. Besides, I didn't care much about dating while I trained at the Jade palace".
She took a moment to smile at me and continued.
"It's like I said some time ago, about different species dating each other. That sort of thing is not an issue in any part of the world. Well, not every part. But here, it doesn't matter. If one chooses, they can go so far as to marry another species like Po almost did".
I almost fell off the bench.
"Po almost got married? How did that happen"?
"It was supposed to be a cruel trick to get Po to step down as dragon warrior. I'd rather not go into details for Po's sake if you don't mind".
"I don't. But that does raise another point. Say if any one of the furious five were to marry, would they have to step down as warriors"?
"Not unless they choose to. Some of the greatest Kung fu masters have chosen to step down in their older ages from kung fu masters to another profession".
"Ah. That does sound nice".
"Why, what would you wish to do if you stepped down as a warrior"?
"That's easy. Drawing and painting. It was what I wanted to do back in Leeds remember? So I suppose that is where my life might take me. At least that's what I hope".
"Then maybe you should when we settle down. You'll have my support on it".
"When WE settle down"? I grinned.
"Yes. I know that even if we were to break up, we'd still be great friends".
"Of course we would. After all you were the one who helped me throughout most of my training".
"So, may I ask you a question this time"?
"Go right ahead".
"What if"-
"Hold on"! I raised my tail up to her lips and listened out. I swear I could hear something off in the distance. Like a high whistling noise that grew louder with each passing second. It sounded like it was heading this way. I looked up in the direction of the noise. To my left and up high in the sky. Something was heading our way, as though it was a...
Oh no.
"LOOK OUT"! I yelled grabbing Viper and throwing both her and myself off of the wooden bench just as the object smashed into the ground at great speed causing an explosion behind us, engulfing the bench we were just sitting on and turning it into nothing but black ash.
Screams were all I could hear as several villagers ran past me. I quickly slithered up to the nearest one before he could pass me, an old goat with small horns.
"Sir, can you please explain what's going on"? I nearly had to yell just to get his attention.
"Some kind of gorilla warriors are attacking the town! A grey one is leading the assault"!
My eyes narrowed upon hearing the last of the report. I spoke back to the villager.
"Alright, thank you sir. I suggest you head back home or find a safe location while you can before the fighting spreads. Do you understand"?
The goat could only nod frantically as a second explosion sounded off much further away. I allowed him to pass and turned to Viper as she slithered over to me.
"Viper, warn the others. I'll need to try and hold them for as long as I can, understood"?
"I will".
Being in a dangerous situation such as this, she knew that there was no time to argue back. But she did have enough time to pull my head forwards enough so that I could hear her speak.
"But if you dare die on me, I'll have Crane fly me up to heaven just so I can drag your spirit back down to earth"! She hissed.
"I might just hold you to that".
I broke her grip and made my way through the small sea of villagers. I couldn't even see five feet in front of me until I made it into the village on a wider street. Another bomb exploded to the left of me on the roof of a building. Not too much damage was created which was rather lucky considering. I sped in the direction it came from and turned left into another street where I found a group of gorillas. Some still swinging down from ropes from a single airship positioned above the town. Thankfully it wasn't dropping bombs otherwise it would have been horrendous to try and stop it AND the bandits at the same time.
The gorillas were carrying crossbows specially made to equip bombs instead of arrows. They were about to fire until I heard a familiar voice growl.
"Hold your fire. This one is mine".
If Fennu really was here then he must not have been toying around with us any longer. I guess he finally wanted to finish this once and for all by himself. I could make out the group of gorillas in front parting to the side so that the grey monster could make his way forwards. His trademark hammer already gripped in his hands. No words were exchanged, only a growl from the brute himself as he readied to try and wipe me off the face of the earth.
I've been waiting a long time for this. I twisted my head a little, releasing a small crack from my neck as Fennu walked forward.
"Alright then. Now we're talking". I smiled.
...
Okay guys, next chapter is going to be big. Who will win and who will lose? You'll find out soon enough. Cheerio!