Chapter 14: Sonic's Training Pt.2

After what seems like a tire week for the hedgehog, the excitement doesn't stop. It was once again another calm afternoon for another day of training for the Dragon Warrior. But this time, instead of an intense training like any that Sonic endure throughout the entire week, it was something different. After witnessing how far the hedgehog has come, Espio knew it was time to reward him. The chameleon sets up three bowls and two pairs of chopsticks on a rock that acts like a table. Two of them are empty and the third is full of fresh and hot dumplings.

As the hedgehog who was standing a meter away in front of the table, the master picks up his chopsticks and gestures to Sonic. "After you, hedgehog."

Sonic couldn't help but be a bit surprised. He has been training for a week with no rest and now, they are having dumplings. Espio mention before they started, he would eat once he has trained.

"Wait? Just like that?" Sonic asked. The only reply that Espio gave him was a nod. The confused hedgehog steps forward. "No sit-ups? N-no… no, no ten mile hike?" Does this mean he has finished? But usually it would take years to become a master like Espio did. Something's up.

"I promised Eggman that I would train you to be the Dragon Warrior... and you have been trained," Espio explained the deal from before. "You are now free to eat."

Ok, now the hedgehog was very suspicion. Something's definitely up. He looks at Espio, to the bowl of dumplings and back to Espio. He quickly sits down opposite of the chameleon. Without taking his eyes of him, Sonic cautiously grabs the chopstick, drags them across the rock and picks them up. With his utensils in hand, he quickly grabs the first dumpling. He was hoping Espio would grab it but for some reason, Espio did not move from his spot. Just sits in his spot and smiles.

"Enjoy," the chameleon said. Sonic pictures a smile. Guess he has earned his meal and Espio wasn't planning anything. He rises the dumping to his mouth…

WHOOSH!

Sonic's dumpling was snatched just before he took the bite. That sneaky chameleon took his dinner. "Hey!" he barked at Espio. When he took his dumpling, the master quickly returned to his seat, rapidly devour the dumpling in a second and act like nothing has happened.

"I said you are now free to eat. Have a dumpling," Espio said while giving him devious smile at the end.

Yep. Something is definitely up. Or maybe Espio was playing. Sonic just glares at the chameleon before he reaches for another dumpling again. Just before takes a bite, Espio whacks the dumpling out of Sonic's grip and flings it up in the air.

"Hey!" Sonic barked again. Espio did it again! The cheeky chameleon grabs the second dumpling and eats it as wells. Sonic scowls at his master for snatching his meal – twice! What kind of game is he playi—

Wait a minute.

This isn't a game. It's a test. No, make that the final test. A test where students put their skills to the ultimate test and earn their title. Or for Sonic's case, to earn the title of… the Dragon Warrior.

Espio gulps his food down and gives Sonic a devious glare as Sonic returns one back. Everything that Sonic has learned all week was finally put to the test. And looks like Espio is not going to go easy on him.

"You are free… to eat!" Espio sneers at his student; hoping to get him fuel up for the battle. And how right was he.

"AM I?!" Sonic exclaimed.

"ARE YOU?!" Espio cried out. As a skilled martial artist, he spins the chopsticks with only one hand with the help of his fingers.

Taking noticed that was his "come at me" motion; Sonic holds his chopstick at ready. "Let's do this."

And it is on!

Using his fist, Sonic slams down on the rock; causing the bowl of dumplings to airborne due to the impact. He was hoping that Espio wouldn't get them at a high reach. But the chameleon proved him wrong. He jumped high in the air and eats every single one of them.

All except for one.

Now was Sonic's chance. He jumps up; ready to gobble up the dumpling that he has been starving since Day 1. But once again, Espio beats him to it. The chameleon quickly grabs the food with his chopstick before Sonic can even lick it. The hedgehog losses altitude and falls to the ground. Espio lands gracefully on the ground. He glances at his student; picturing his sly look again while holding the dumpling. But the hedgehog was not down yet. He flips up and pulls the dumpling out of Espio's hold before he could eat it. But Sonic wasn't quick enough to grab the dumpling once it has landed in the same bowl from before because Espio beta him to it.

The chameleon used his chopsticks to grab hold and move it around while Sonic tried his best to grab the dumpling. A few more evades and Espio tips the bowl upside down; trapping the dumpling inside. Espio gives a look to Sonic before flipping the other two bowls over.

He then begins to shuffles the bowl around; hoping for Sonic to lose where the sole dumpling. But during the training process, Sonic has managed to gain good eye coordination. After picking up where the prize is as Espio went at lightning speed, Sonic grabs the chosen bowl and flips it up.

He has found the dumpling! But the fight isn't over.

Just before he grabs it, Epsio was there first. The chameleon uses his chopsticks as weapons to hopefully smack Sonic's chopsticks away with the help of his fingers like their little feet kicking their tall opponents away. After a few whacks from the sticks, Sonic decided to take this match off the table. He slaps the bowl away from the rock and just before it hits the ground, Sonic kicks the bowl; causing the dumpling to fly up right out of the bowl. He was only a reach away from grabbing the dumpling but Espio takes one of his chopsticks and spears it. It hits the food before the hedgehog could even grabbed it and sends it into a branch of a tree; high above them.

Espio then leaps up for it but wanting the dumpling more, Sonic used his chopsticks to grab Espio by his tail and sends him to the ground. They both looked up to notice the dumpling was slipping from the chopstick's grip. Espio skilfully gets out of his grip and puts Sonic in his grip but even the hedgehog knows how to get out of it. The chameleon manages to flip him over; sending him to the ground once again. Right above them, the dumpling manages to slip out of the stick's grip and begins to descend to the ground. Sonic quickly looks at the falling dumpling and then at Espio who has took his eyes of his attacker.

Now's my chance!

With the help of his legs, Sonic manages to get up, pushes Espio away and stands there with his mouth. Finally, he was just only seconds away from having his snack…

…if only Espio didn't jab him under the chin with the second chopstick. The dumpling itself bounced off Sonic's nose and down onto Espio's right arm. Sonic quickly opens his eyes and smack the dumping in the air again and delivers a sweep to Espio's legs but the chameleon manages jump in the air in time and kicks the dumpling in the other direction. Sonic forgets about Espio and runs after the dumpling.

Time to take it up a notch.

Espio ditches his chopstick and grabs his bamboo staff nearby. He attacks Sonic from behind but the hedgehog sees him coming and blocks his oncoming attacks. During the little brawl, the dumpling was about to hit the ground but Sonic kept it flying by kicking it in the air while still blocking Espio's attacks and sending his own. After blocking the staff on his right, Sonic slams it down with his foot before jumping in the air and rebounds the dumpling away from Espio with the help from his stomach. The chameleon could only watch it with his mouth hanging out. Once Sonic has gained his ground, he looks up to see dumpling soaring towards him. With his chopsticks in his hands, he nabs it's with one reach.

The battle is over. The final test has concluded.

Espio couldn't believe it. Sonic has beaten him. His new student has improved so much for one week and he has passed his final test. He couldn't help but… smiled about it.

Sonic was catching his breath while lowering his arm and looks at Espio. His master closed his eyes and gestures silently… Sonic is now free to eat.

Relived that he can finally eat, Sonic looks at the dumpling. But for some reason, he raised an eyebrow…

…and tosses the dumpling into Espio's open hand. Surprised, Espio opened his eyes and looks up to him. He won but why wasn't he eating his prize? He went one week without food so he should be hungry.

Sonic shrugs his shoulder and gave him the simple answer. "I'm not hungry."

Espio couldn't believe what he has just heard from someone who eats for a living. By declining to eat the dumpling, it proves that Sonic has overcome his psychological dependence on food. The chameleon smiles at his answer and tosses the dumpling away.

Sonic stands up straight and salutes. "Master."

Espio does the same thing. The master and the pupil bow to each other.

The chameleon has finally trained Sonic into a skilled and capable warrior; maybe more skilled than any of the Five. Not to mention that Sonic's senses grew sharper and had achieved tremendous improvements in body, mind and spirit.

He knew then that Sonic was ready.

Ready to receive the Dragon Scroll and revive the unlimited power that came with it.

Author's Notes: Alright! We are getting close to the final. Next, we have the fight between the Five and Shadow. This turned out to be a good fight. Can't wait to starting writing up this one.

First off, I have been fights lately with my sister and it was starting to get worse like to the part when we don't talk to each other anymore and she thinks I care more about my younger cousins and taking their sides more than her. I may be an expert on coming up with FanFics but I'm just having trouble with dealing with my siblings and the relationship we have. If you guys have any advices on what to do with her, send a PM. I would really appreciate the help.

Lastly, news from Down Under would have heard about the death of TV Personality Charlotte Dawson. I'm sure most of you would pretty much know about the online death threats and abusive messages that were made on her Twitter account back in 2012 which sends her into depression. For the people who send her those death threats, I just have one thing to say:

Shame on you.

For what you said to her, you are partly responsible for her death. I don't know what she has done to you but I bet most of you were a bunch of nobodies who are jealous and have nothing better to do but put the hate on someone who has suffer depression many years ago. People like you should have thought twice. But now that she's gone, you guys would felt bad right now. Normally, I would keep on going with the criticism but right now, I would like to say R.I.P to Charlotte and hope you are in a better place right now. You will be dearly missed.

Well, enough about me. Time for me to get started on the next chapter and so, in the meantime, don't forget to review, favourite me or this story and PM me and enjoy this instalment.

Until we meet again,

TheDragonLord2912

I do not own any Kung Fu Panda or Sonic related characters. They are property of Dreamworks and Sega. Other character who appeared in this FanFic belong to me.