"Okay... if that was a sacrifice of flesh or something, I hope that's all that's needed.", Jason took another deep breath before he reached forward and started to open the door by turning the nob. Please don't be something like Wonderland... he thought to himself. Last thing he really needed was to question his sanity at all times while doing this.
He stepped inside, seeing lanterns of rainbow candles everywhere above him, seeing cave drawings of dragons, seeing a hollowed tunnel up ahead, and startled at a thud behind him, and looked back to see the door closing up behind him.
"Just magic.", Jason spoke to himself, and walked onwards through the tunnel, exhaling, "At least I ain't falling down a rabbit hole.", keeping his senses high, watching for movement when he heard someone calling for help. He ran, seeing light up ahead, and ran out into a sort of ravine, seeing a young boy on the other side of the ravine, up high in the rocks and cowering from foaming, snarling, crazed-eyed xenomorph-bulls, trying to get at him.
Jason, when he was a pre-teen, almost a teenager, he saw Alien, and well, the xenomorphs terrified him, and then when he was on duty, he was trying to stop a trio of kids interrogating a bull, and made him mad, and went nearly murderous on Jason.
"Great...", Jason groaned at the sight. "As if being gored by horns of a rushing bull was bad enough... now they swarm like bugs and can spit acid... or bleed acid... please just be bleeding acid.". He took a deep breath, knowing he was going to have to save the young boy being chased by the horde. He made his move and headed straight towards them.
He was glad that he brought his crossbow with him. He knew Aslan said that he was forbidden to use the ring, but he didn't say anything about the crossbow.
He yelled, "Hey, hey, here's some easy bait for you, freaks!", and upon hearing the shout, the xenomorph-bulls halted in their craze, and looked straight at Jason, hissing and licked their horns with their tongues, acid on the horns, not destroying them, but like moving like flames.
"Okay... well, at least got their attention now.", Jason sighed as he started to move, though not before taking one shot and impaling one of them in the face, killing it instantly. "Heh... not too tough, are we?". He was going to eat those words as the horde charged straight for him.
Jason narrowed his eyes, "I ain't a coward, starting now!", running straight at them with a yell, causing the horde to stop and stare in confusion and shock to see that their prey isn't running, and Jason used the momentum distraction to kill two more in the head with his handy crossbow, and Jason dodged their tails with a close call here and there, slides under their bellies, and even jumped upon a head, landing on the ravine cliff, grabbing a rock, and climbed into the ledge where the boy was at, and spun around to keep shooting at the horde.
He kept up the firing as the horde continued to come; seemly endless almost as he was killing more but losing track of just how many there were. He soon reached the ledge after killing a few more and looking to the boy.
"You okay?", Jason asked in concern. The boy smiled at Jason almost fatherly-like, "Better than okay, considering the fact that I am already dead, son.", before changing size and shape, revealing to be Jason and Logan's biological father, Brian. He has black scruffy hair, clear blue eyes, and tan skin.
Brian smiled at his gobsmacked son, "I'm so proud of you, Jaybird.", using the nickname he used to call Jason when he was a child, all the way up to when he was seven years old, before his death in the car accident, "Well, are you gonna say something?", with a teasing smile.
Jason couldn't say anything; he was just completely in shock from the revelation. That and his mind suddenly caught up, not in terms of saying anything, but killing a few more of the bullxenos.
Brian rolled his eyes slightly with a calm smile, "Persistent. Aslan, if you please.", and the bullxenos vanished like smoke, disappearing, "There, that's better. Jason, you have passed the physical test the moment you defended and saved me. Changing size and age ain't easy, I can tell you that.", as Jason realized that he is safe now, alone with his father as the ravine changed shape, flattening into a floor.
"I don't... I don't know what to say right now...", Jason panted as he started to calm down, and he dropped to the ground to try and catch himself with everything that had just happened.
Brian smiled softly, "Breathe, son.", rubbing his son's back, "I'm right here.", as Jason looked up with tears in his eyes, "Dad...".
"Come give a hug to your old man, Jason.", Brian grinned, and Jason reached out, hugging him tightly, "Dad!", smelling his father's familiar scents of his old home..The lawnmower scent, the leather scent, and the spicy scent of his favorite chips...
"You... you and Logan... you two make me so proud.", Brian told him as Jason started to tear up in the hug.
Jason choked up, shakily spoke, "I really m-missed you, Dad. I thought I wasn't going to see you again until my death someday...", and Brian shushed him, rubbing his back, "I am really sorry that we left you at such a young age, but you strived to live, and you protected each other...I and your mother have watched both of you your entire lives from the heavens...I never took you to go for the army along with your brother as you were clearly interested in either being an airplane pilot or a car mechanic when you had time with me...I never imagined that you'd be an incredible shooter with that sniper gun, and now with that handy crossbow...", with a impressed chuckle.
"Well, lots of training and all.", Jason admitted. "Military more or less is the main reason why Logan and I are still alive throughout all this.".
"So, we've seen, but we're both proud of the men that you and your brother have grown into.", Brian chuckled warmly.
Jason smiled, looking at Brian before remembering what he said earlier, "So, those bullxenomorphs were part of the physical test?", and Brian nodded, "Indeed. Those fears were physical in nature, growing from the trauma and nightmares you had. Now, the mental test is next, I do not know what is there up ahead, but I can tell you that once you pass the mental test, you shall meet your soul dragon guide, and she/he will take you to the spiritual plane where you will meet someone important, someone who was in the past of the one you have feelings for.".
"Shang? Well, jeez, thanks for telling me that... I get an honest feeling what he might say and all, but I doubt I would be able to convince Mulan about that.", Jason sighed.
"You think he'd approve?", Brian asked. "Well, it's 50/50 of either he says that I can, that he wants her to be happy and all and move on or upset at me for what I've been trying to do.", Jason replied with a slight wince.
Brian smiled reassuringly, "Do you remember what I used to say, son?", and Jason smiled, "Family sticks together no matter what.".
Brian nods, "I am glad you remember it by heart. I couldn't mind it if she's part of the family, Jaybird. Fa Mulan is a great match for you. You are my son, and you are persistent. You stand up, say all you can to Li Shang. Do not blame yourself if it fails, for one way or another, you can know that you have tried your best.".
Jason sighed as he nodded, "I understand, Dad." He gave a small smile as he hugged his father once more, "I miss you so much...".
Brian hugged him back, smiling and sighing as he ruffled the back of his son's hair, "I have missed you too as well, Jason. Now, I must get going. You still have a long way to go.", pulling back with a kiss to his forehead, "Goodbye, my son. And this isn't forever.".
Jason smiled, "I know. Goodbye, Dad, and hug Mom for me, okay?", and Brian chuckled, "Will do, son.", standing up and saluting him as he vanished in a beam of light, leaving Jason alone.
Jason took a deep breath as he was left alone once more. "Okay, now mental testing... what exactly is in store for me there? Am I nearly going to lose my mind before I reach Shang?"
Jason nodded as he got up, "Well, go forward, I can find out.", looking around, and seeing a colorful door in the distance, he walked on, heading to the door, and once he got there, he blinked in surprise to see that the door was made of Rubik's cubes, colors scattered everywhere.
He then saw a pedestal with writing on it, and walked to read it, glad to see English on it, "To enter the second phase of the mental test, you must make the entrance exact to order in place to open. The order is a four-pointed rainbow star from red at top to purple on bottom, with white surrounding it. It will take patience and time and wits. Are you willing to do it, newcomer?".
"Yeah, I guess I have no choice... but I have no idea where to start with this thing... ugh, I've always hated puzzles.", Jason cursed as he took a few breaths and tried to think. He was sure he couldn't brute force this or there might be fatal consequences.
He then touched a Rubik's Cube that is facing white in the middle, and removed it, taking it to the bottom right corner, and blinked in surprise as he placed it, it glowed gold, and suddenly, there was a diagram hologram floating an inch from the door, the shape of the star in the hologram, showing the place it's supposed to be.
Jason nodded, "Okay, I can start with the whites. It's like puzzles. You sort the colors!", a smile forming before seeing the Rubik's cubes that is like well, a lot-lot, "But it will take time. That pedestal writing wasn't kidding.".
Thankfully Jason knew patience and slowly was working his way through the puzzle, but it certainly was taking quite some time, but hopefully he could get it done soon and keep moving on; if he could finish all the tasks, he would become a dragon similar to his compatriots.
Jason figured that the last test, the physical test was at least 30 minutes, and this one was an hour and a half when he finally finished, holding one last Rubik's cube of purple, and placing it in the bottom top under the blue, the door glowed gold, and appeared a black doorknob.
Jason grinned, and took a deep breath, walking forward, taking it in his hand and turned the knob, opening the door, and saw a flash that blinded him momentarily before refocusing, realizing that he was upon a rooftop, holding his sniper rifle, in a pose that made him realize that he was reliving one of his missions back on Earth, Iraq to be exact.
He blinked, looking around before his breath caught in horror, "Oh, no.", realizing that this was one of the missions he failed yet won at the same time. He remembered this too well. This mission was about disposing of a murderer, but he didn't shoot because of a hostage situation the murderer was involved in, holding a hostage. The murderer shot the hostage and himself when his team crashed into the building...
Jason's hands went cold as he instinctually just went into his snipping position, his hands wrapped around the rifle like he had done so many times in the past; the previous events replaying exactly as he remembered.
He had the murderer in his sights, he remembered, and then the hostage was grabbed, it was literally a pregnant female teenager, and he had frozen, stuck, unable to shoot the murderer in the hostage's way as the hostage was innocent, and so was the baby!
The murderer was raving angry as he waved that gun of his, the hostage crying, trying to protect herself and her baby, with the other hostages staring at them helplessly...He tried to look for any other way possible to kill the murderer without hurting the hostage or worse, but it was short-lived as his team crashed in, shouting as they aimed at the murderer, telling him to give up, but the murderer didn't give up, but shot himself and the hostage with one gunshot.
The baby didn't survive as it was only four months old, unable to breathe without lungs...Jason was guilty, so guilty of what he didn't do. He didn't save the teenage mom or shoot the murderer when he had a chance. All of that running through his mind as he clutched the gun, not wanting to relive his worst failure of his career ever...He had to go through therapy, with everyone telling him that it wasn't his fault.
Jason was frozen as he kept watching, wondering if he could indeed do things differently... would it matter if he took the shot this time? He knew what the outcome would be if he didn't fire... but did he trust himself enough to essentially make a perfect shot?
Jason then remembered his father's words, 'Family sticks together no matter what'. Logan was supporting him all through the therapy sessions...and he didn't want to lose someone else who is truly protecting someone innocent, family to her.
Jason then took a deep breath, watching the right moment when the team crashed into the building, causing the murderer to be off guard for a few precious seconds. He saw the gun in his hand, and exhaled, and shot, the bullet flying true as an arrow, his heart beating in sync as he watched, and then the bullet came into the wrist, causing the murderer to scream out in pain, losing the gun from the shock as it fell to the ground, and his other hand free from the hostage's neck.
He didn't hear, but Jason saw the team order the hostage to duck, and he saw Logan shoot the murderer point blank in the face. He saw the body of the murderer fall to the ground, the hostage crying and thanking, due to her gestures and expressions as she checked her baby bump. He saw Logan's face, with Aslan's eyes, nod to him with a proud smile before vanishing into smoke, and before Jason knew it, he was in a field, with a door in the distance, with no gun or anything.
"Pity I couldn't have done that in reality...", Jason gave a small sigh as he looked at the door. His mind racing with the regrets that maybe, now that he pulled it off, he could've done that originally. He already went through the trauma and all before, but now, he felt even more guilty at the moment.
He exhaled as he pinched the ridge in his nose, brushing his hand through his hair, and got up, remembering the words at the stone door...The past is the past, what's done is done...He knew it was a mental illusion test of sorts, and he passed. At least he knew that the original hostage and her baby is together in heaven, and that's another way of saying that family sticks together...He started to feel better as he realized that, but he will have to slowly get over the fact that he would have done that for gods' sake!
Jason shook his head, "Focus, focus, it's all over. Shang is waiting...Oh, what if he saw that?...Gods...No, no, positive thinking, Jason, positive thinking.", taking a deep breath as he then walked on, getting closer.
He saw a large wooden door with a metal full dragon sculpture on front, with writing on it, and he stepped closer, seeing Chinese symbols on it. In the army, there were language classes, and it was required to choose one of them next to training and all, and Jason chose Chinese because of two reasons; he wanted to explore China one day, and he wanted to have connections with any people in the army who was raised in China or somewhere else related to China for better ease into exploring and knowing China.
Carefully, he translated the symbols. 您已通过第二次测试。现在是时候继续前进并发现你是谁了。尊重你所忠于的一切，用心相信自己。
"You have passed the second test. It's time to move on and discover who you are. Respect all you are loyal to and believe in yourself with heart.", Jason spoke, and the metal dragon glowed gold-orange with the sound of the door unlocking and opening up to reveal a shining orange gemstone floating above a podium in the middle of the room.
"Okay...", Jason glanced around. "This is interesting..." He admitted as he looked at the sight. He wondered, was Shang's spirit or something related to this gem? Or was this his connection to his other form that would come to be soon?