Wait, what? That can't be right. Did he... Did he really just upload a new chapter after months of nothing? :O
"Ahhh," Crane sighed happily. "There's nothing like Po's noodle soup on a cold winter's day."
"You can say that again," Monkey confirmed.
"If you think this is good, then you'll love what my dad and I cook up tonight!" Po smiled and sat down with his own bowl while Crane, Mantis, Monkey, and Aden devoured theirs.
"I'm pumped to spend my first holiday season here," Aden added excitedly. "Thanks again for letting me join you guys."
"Are you kidding? It wouldn't be the same without you." Mantis replied.
"You got that right, buddy!" Po added. "Plus, you're going to make this holiday even more awesome-er with all those human traditions you told us about."
"Crane and Viper especially like the mistletoe one," Mantis laughed, giving Monkey a fist bump in the process.
"Oh hardy-har-har, guys," sarcasm dripped from Crane's beak. "Why don't you tie some to your head and see how far that gets you."
"Don't need to," Mantis retorted, jumping to the center of the table and rotating his miniscule abdomen in a circle. "I can steal hearts with looks that are all nat-u-ral."
The table erupted into a cacophony of laughter at Mantis' display, Monkey going so far as to almost spilling his bowl of soup all over himself.
Crane spoke in-between laughs "I'm pretty sure Aden is the only one who could steal hearts that easily."
Aden coughed up his last spoonful of soup. "I could do what now?"
"Don't try and play dumb," Po batted a paw in Aden's direction. "We all saw you flirting with that lioness at your party a month ago."
"She's cute, too," Monkey gave a thumbs up.
"First of all, she was flirting with me," Aden punctuated. "And second, I don't know if you guys forgot, but I'm a human."
The males tossed each other confused expressions before glancing back at Aden.
"So what?" Po questioned.
"So what?" Aden repeated incredulously. "How would that even work?"
"Well, typically," Mantis chimed in. "It starts with a date, then maybe a kiss. And, if you're really lucky, you'll get to-"
"You know what I mean," Aden folded his arms, a crimson glow appearing on his cheeks.
"Uh, Aden, I don't know if you forgot," Crane emphasized. "But, I'm dating a snake."
"Yeah, but... You.. Uh… Well that's… I mean…" Aden tripped over each word as his face ripened like a tomato.
The remaining warriors shot each other knowing glances and chuckled at his struggle to argue. Aden finally accepted defeat and remained quiet as the sound of slurping overtook the room. Minutes passed before Aden finally spoke again.
"Gah!" He exclaimed getting up from his chair. "I have some shit to think about."
The room was enveloped by laughter once more as Aden made an exit.
"Don't think too hard, or you might hurt yourself!" Mantis shouted back.
The human shook his head, ambling down the hall towards the nearest exit, away from the round of laughter at his expense. Pushing the door open, he was whipped with the rush of cold air. Luckily, he had mentioned months ago that humans don't have a natural adaptation to protect against the cold, so he was already well prepared with some cosy wool clothing. On top of that, the villagers who fashioned the garments were very resistant to receive any payment from him, so his wardrobe size kept growing while his wallet remained the same..
He stepped out and felt the crunch of fresh snow being compacted under his feet, while the winter sun hung lazily in the sky. Making his way over to the Sacred Peach Tree, Aden slowly breathed in the odorless atmosphere. It was calming for him. This was his first winter in the new world, and the season couldn't have reminded him more of the unforgiving Wisconsin weather.
He plopped down on the snowy cliff and leaned back against the trunk of the barren fruit tree. His mind sifted through the tangled mess of emotions from the recent breakfast discussion.
'It'd be too weird, right?" He asked himself aloud. "Right?"
A grunt escaped his lips as his head thunked against the tree's thick waist. Closing his eyes, he repeatedly tapped the trunk with the back of his skull hoping some sense would be knocked into him, but nothing came.
"Are you attempting to give yourself a headache?"
Aden momentarily stopped pounding to find Tigress waiting at the top of the white blanketed steps.
"Maybe," Aden chuckled. "You want to try?"
"I think I'll meditate instead," she giggled back.
Taking a seat, she leaned her back against the opposite end of the trunk. She closed her eyes and exhaled slowly, her mind drifting to a blank canvas where her mind could find serenity in nothingness.
"Hey Tigress," Aden spoke. "Have you ever been in love?"
Tigress' eyes popped open. "I believe I love all my fellow warriors and people of the valley."
"No, not like that. Like, have you ever thought about starting a family with someone?"
Tigress hesitated briefly. "I… hadn't thought about it, no."
"Well, do you think you'll ever want one?"
Tigress sat quietly mulling over how to respond, but with every passing moment no words came to her. Luckily, Aden gave her an easy out by responding to his own question.
"I know I want one," he sighed, thunking his head once more against the trunk. "I just… Don't know how I could ever have one. Crane and Viper are proof that love comes in all shapes and sizes in this world. But, I'm not from this world. I just occupy it."
Tigress turned to face Aden and softened her gaze. His eyes remained closed, but she could see the frustration in the way his eyelids twitched. She desperately wanted to comfort him, but she didn't know how, which irritated her beyond belief. She's helped him a thousand times before on everything from physical pain to emotional discomfort, so this was nothing. But this time, she had nothing to say, and she couldn't for the life of her figure out why.
Suddenly, Aden lifted his hand and stretched it over and rest on Tigress' idle paw. He gave it a friendly squeeze and opened his eyes to meet hers.
"I'm sorry to bug you about this," he exhaled, chuckling lightly under his breath. "I know you're not my therapist, but I do appreciate the discounted sessions."
Tigress' expression of console developed into a smirk. "I believe you are quite far behind on your payments, then."
Aden gave a deep laugh and turned his entire body to face her. "Look at you! Cracking witty comebacks like a pro! I wonder what else of mine has rubbed off on you?"
"I hope none of your strange human germs did," She pulled away her paw in fake disgust.
"Hey! That's not very nice." He pouted sardonically before a wicked smile took its place. "Maybe you're just saying that cause you don't want me to know how much you actually want this."
Aden gestured to himself and tossed Tigress a playful wink. However, something about that wink felt different to her. Never has a wink made her face feel flush.
Then, for whatever reason, her heart began to race, and almost instinctively she leaned her body towards his. "Maybe... you're-"
"Hey, guys!" The voice of Po stopped Tigress in her tracks. "What are you doing all the way up here? We're heading down to my dad's in a few minutes, so you better pack your snacks now or you're not going to eat until we get there."
Aden and Tigress stared blankly at Po for a moment before slowly turning their heads to face each other. Then, the snickering started.
"Alright, Po," Aden said between laughs. "We'll be right behind you."
"Awesome!" Po exclaimed with two thumbs up trailing behind him as he walked down the steps.
Tigress was the first to rise from the ground and extended a paw paired with a warm smile. Aden happily returned both.
The walk down to the village was like any other except delayed by 15 minutes from the snow. Trudging through the white blanket standing a foot off the ground was nothing short of an average winter's day back where Aden came from. All members of the Jade Palace chatted amongst one another, as they neared the glowing light emanating from Mr. Ping's Noodle Shop.
The group entered the doorway to find Po's goose of a father precariously standing upon wooden ladder hanging the last few paper lanterns. Upon seeing them enter, Mr. Ping's eyes lit up like the candles bathing the room in light.
"Po! Friends! Welcome!" He exclaimed atop the wobbly ladder. "I was just finishing up- Wah!"
Suddenly, the webbed footed waterfowl teetered a bit too much and slipped from his perch.
"Dad!" Po shouted, sliding into action.
Po aligned his body perfectly under his father as he fell. The goose landed with a thud sending a soft ripple across the panda's stomach.
"Phew! I knew overfeeding you would save my life someday!" Mr. Ping exclaimed sliding off the mountainous belly.
The room shared a laugh and the holiday greetings began. Po's father made his way around the room welcoming the Jade Palace residence making sure to give Aden an extra mirthful shake with both of his feathered hands.
"Master Aden, I'm so glad you could join us this year! And…" The goose motioned for Aden to lean in and whispered the rest. "I don't do this for just anyone, but I'm giving you a 'buy one get one free' coupon on all noodle combo meals for the day."
"Wow, that is too generous of you, Mr. Ping." Aden chuckled. "Also, it's just Aden right now. I'm not a master yet."
"Oh, nonsense. Anybody who saves all my loyal customers from an ugly maniac has earned it my book!"
Aden blushed in response.
"Oh, would you mind putting these up for me?" Mr. Ping waddled over to a table and handed Aden a crate filled with various green and red shapes. "Po asked me to have decorations made to help you feel more at home. Think of it as what you'd call a 'christmas gift' for this year… And next!"
Aden balanced the crate in one arm while sifting through the box of nostalgia with wide eyes. Tinsel, ornaments, garland, and stockings rolled about the box with his handing guiding the path. Everything in there only bared a small resemblance to the items from his past, but Aden knew exactly what all of them were. From the wooden balls with hooks painted an array of colors to the socks soaked in red ink, Aden's smile grew wider the longer he stared.
Overwhelmed with emotion, Aden set the crate down and snatched the startled goose up in a tight hug.
"This is incredible!" He squeezed. Thank you!"
"Awww, of course, Aden," Mr. Ping cooed. "Now, put me down and start putting these up! Guests will be arriving in less than an hour!"
Aden laughed and released the restaurant owner.
"Guys!" Aden called out to his friends. "Come help me set these up."
The others quickly made their way over to Aden and ogled the crate of goodies.
"Oh, sweet!" Po grabbed a long strand of makeshift garland from the box. "Dad actually came through on this!"
"And, he couldn't have been more spot on," Aden replied, patting Po on the back. "Thanks for doing this for me. It has to be one of the greatest Christmas gifts I've ever received."
Po chuckled and began walking away with a handful of decorations. "Oh, this isn't your present…"
Aden cocked an eyebrow at his response but was quickly interrupted by Viper before he could question it.
"Ooo, these are stockings, right?" She asked, dangling the red socks by her tail.
"Yep!" he jubilantly replied. "As a young kid, we were told to hang these, so a fat guy dressed in a red and white suit would sneak into our home and leave candy in them!"
"So, it's like breaking and entering, but they leave stuff instead of take it?" Mantis cocked his head at Aden. "Human traditions are weird, man."
Monkey chuckled at Mantis and grabbed a few items from the crate. "I still can't get over the 'egg laying bunny' one."
Aden grinned and sarcastically rolled his eyes while shuffling through the decorations once more. His hand stopped when it felt a clump of small leaves brush against it. Pulling the item from the wooden container, Aden let out a tired sigh. Homemade mistletoe hung between his fingers, and his mind grew increasingly frustrated as he fiddled with it.
"Still don't know what to think, huh?"
Aden looked over his shoulder at Crane.
"Yeah…" Aden sighed again.
"I honestly don't blame you," Crane consoled. "Interspecies dating is so ingrained in our culture that I've never thought anything of it. I can see why it might be a bit weird for you."
"Does that make me a racis-... uh… Specist?"
Crane laughed wholesomely. "I wouldn't say that. I think you just prefer human women. Though, you might need to adjust that mindset a little if you still plan to find someone someday."
Aden huffed in response to which Crane planted his feet and forced him to make eye contact.
"Alright, you've given me a few pep talks before, so I think it's about time I return the favor. Stop stressing yourself out about this, Aden. You encouraged me to ask out Viper without hesitation. You saw right away that my heart wasn't set on my own species. I know you're not judgemental about dating other species, but I understand you're nervous. There's nothing wrong with that, though. A great friend once told me: 'You're overthinking it. Start small.'"
Aden looked Crane over like it was the first time meeting him. The human held a neutral expression while opening and closing his mouth repeatedly, as if he was going to say something but decided not to. Finally, Aden released a final sigh that could've expelled the frustration deep within his bones.
"Who are you, and what have you done with Crane?" Aden grinned slyly. "Thanks, man."
"Anytime," Crane chuckled. "By the way, I recommend maybe starting with a date."
"A date…" Aden repeated walking over to the noodle shop's front counter, the mistletoe still dangling between his fingers.
He looked up at the stockings that hung in a line from the top board of the ordering window. Removing the center sock, Aden gently placed the clump of mistletoe on the temporary nail that previously held the stocking in place. He took a step back to appreciate the symmetrical layout.
"A date would be nice," he smiled.
A high pitched squeal suddenly rang from the restaurant entrance. Aden quickly turned to find Po dancing like little girl, both of his paws covering his mouth.
"Master Croc! Master Storming Ox!" Po squeaked. "Protectors of Gongman City and two of the greatest Kung Fu Masters of all time standing mere feet in front of me!"
Master Storming Ox shook his head at the panda's outburst. "Dragon Warrior, we attend this celebration every year. There's no need for you to announce our presence like an official gathering."
"I know," Po emphasized."But, you're just too cool not too!"
Slowly but surely, the noodle shop began to grow crowded with Kung Fu Masters, friends, and family from all over China. Aden was introduced and spoke quickly with as many people as he could, but the conversation never lasted more than 10 minutes, as he was pulled away to meet the next individual. He shared a starstruck gaze with Po as he met each new master, them briefly giving their life's accomplishments, and some even congratulated Aden for his heroic actions. With so many new faces, it was beyond difficult for Aden to remember everyone's name, but the impact that each story had on him he would never be able to forget.
An hour had passed since the arrival of most of the guests when a certain asian golden cat passed through the entrance.
"Mei Ling!" Crane exclaimed, rapidly flying up and wrapping her in a tight hug. "I'm so glad you could make it."
"Thanks for inviting me," she hugged back. "Sorry I'm a bit late, though."
"Oh, no need to apologize. Please, come in and join the celebration. I have somebody I'd like you to meet." Crane glanced around the room until he found his target. " Aden!"
The human peeked over his shoulder from where he was standing to see Crane waving him down. He noticed the feline standing next to him, smiled, and made his way to them.
"Aden, I'd like you to meet Mei Ling," Crane introduced. "She's the current senior master at the Lee Da Kung Fu Academy and the reason I started training in the first place. I wouldn't be where I am now if it wasn't for her."
"Ah, so you're the heroic new creature I've heard about," Mei Ling shook his hand. "It's nice to finally meet you."
"Likewise," Aden returned. "Thanks for pushing Crane to become a professional 'butt kicker'. I don't know what I'd do if I didn't have this goofball around."
Mei Ling giggled at a now blushing Crane. "Of course. You should've seen how nervous and awkward he was back then."
"Oooookay," Crane placed his wings on Aden's back and began pushing him away. "That's enough teasing from you two."
"Awww," Aden fake whined. "But, I want to hear funny Crane stories!"
Mei Ling giggled more. "Don't worry. I'll make sure to tell you all the details before the end of the night."
Aden chuckled back and tossed her a thumbs up as he was whisked away to his next introduction. Mei then turned her attention to another feline in the room.
"Master Tigress," she approached her.
"Master Mei Ling," Tigress returned a small nod and faced her.
Tigress extended her paw and Mei Ling shook it earnestly. They stared at each other momentarily with paws clasped before they both grinned widely, laughed, and wrapped each other in warm hugs.
"No more formalities, please," Mei Laughed. "How have you been, sister?"
"Though we aren't related by blood, I'm honored to receive that title from you," Tigress and Mei Ling released each other. "I'm well, thank you. I hope the same is for you?"
"I could be better, but I'm glad I have some time to relax during the holidays. There's just been such an influx of new students at the academy, so I've been a bit overworked. I see the Jade Palace has had a rather unique addition as well."
Tigress glanced over at Aden chatting with Master Antelope, a smile plastered to her face. "He's been the most wonderful addition to our team."
"Is he that good a fighter?"
"He's alright... But, he's much more than that. He's sacrificed himself in a world that isn't his own, brought our team closer together than I ever thought possible, and plays the most beautiful music."
"A hero and musician? Impressive. He sounds pretty cool."
"Cool as ice."
Mei Ling didn't reply right away. Here face was frozen with a bemused look, as if she'd forgotten who she was talking to.
"What did you just say?"
"I apologize, it's a phrase Aden's used before. He has quite the array of expressions."
"Is that so?" Mei Ling's eyes brightened with fascination. "It seems like he's had quite an impact on you."
"It's strange. Ever since he mysteriously showed up here, I've grown… calm. As if my world has eased from its hazed state, and I can clearly see the road ahead of me."
The golden cat's interest had peaked. For the entire time that she's known Tigress, she had never once heard her speak so openly. Sure, Po had chipped away at her tough exterior and opened her mind to deepening friendships. But, a mere friend doesn't have this kind of change one someone.
"And, do you know where that road leads?" Mei Ling's smirk grew with each passing second.
"No... But, I'm excited to follow it."
Mei Ling suddenly burst out laughing much to Tigress' chagrin. The tiger's annoyed scowl bore deep into the golden cat's jubilant chuckles.
"I'm so sorry for that." Mei Ling wiped a tear as her chuckles died out. "I have no intention of insulting you. In fact, I'm ecstatic for you!"
Tigress' glare eased into confusion. "What do you mean?"
"I never thought I'd see the day."
"The day when what?" Annoyance crept back into Tigress' voice.
"You have a crush on someone!"
Tigress didn't react. To be more precise, Tigress didn't know how to react. A look of surprise was plastered to her cheeks, and her typical quick reaction time had vanished. Her heart pumped in her chest that flashed her back to this morning. Once the words finally came to her, she found herself face to face with her friend's smug expression.
"That's a completely absurd notion. What brought you to that conclusion?" Tigress stated as neutrally as she could muster.
"Oh, you know. Feline instinct." She winked back.
"Well, I'm afraid you're Feline instinct is way out of calibration. The bond we share is purely platonic, which bolsters our group's strength as protectors of the valley." Tigress vainly defended.
Mei Ling rolled her eyes at Tigress, the use of another one of presumably Aden's expressions only reaffirming her accusation.
Suddenly, a mischievous idea popped into her head. "I guess you're right."
Tigress folder her arms and smirked triumphantly in response.
"Good thing too," Mei continued, a devious smile working its way onto her face. "I think he's pretty cute myself. I wouldn't mind a date and maybe a serenade from him."
Once again, Tigress wasn't sure how to respond. Unfortunately for her, her body decided to react before she could find the words this time. The smirk she previously held was wiped off her face in an instant, and the beating in her chest grew so loud she became nervous the other holiday patrons might hear. Every last hair on her body stood on end, and a low growl involuntarily rose from her throat. She opened her mouth to respond, but every word would've been futile. The jealousy pouring from her eyes had solidified the truth.
The golden cat simply giggled and whispered in a sing-songy voice "Got-cha!"
Tigress's surprise turned to frustration and she stomped away in defeat, much to Mei Ling's amusement. She glanced over at Aden to see if he had heard, but found him across the room preoccupied in a conversation with the two masters of Gongman City.
"That's incredible!" Aden admired. "I can't believe you two went from lowly street fighters looking to make some quick coin all the way to Masters of the Kung Fu Council!"
"It wasn't an easy journey," Master Storming Ox returned. "But, it was an important one."
"We probably would still be fighting for chump change to this day if it wasn't for Oogway." Master Croc added.
"Honestly, I don't know what kind of person I'd be today if I'd never spoken to him either."
Master Ox and Croc exchanged confused glances before Ox spoke up. "Master Oogway died years ago. You couldn't have met him."
"That's true," Aden chuckled. "I guess I never met the real Master Oogway. He came to me as a spirit instead; Freaked me out at first, I'm not going to lie. But, if it wasn't for him, I'd still be sulking in a lonely room of the Jade Palace."
"You must be pretty special then, huh?" Master Croc pointed out. "That crazy turtle doesn't travel back from the spirit realm for just anybody."
Aden stammered slightly and momentarily avoided eye contact. "Oh, I don't know about that. You guys save lives every day."
"Well, I do, at least." The ox laughed and winked at Aden.
Master Croc rolled his eyes. "Here we go again…"
"It was a joke, Croc." Master Ox returned plainly.
"We've talked about this. Jokes are supposed to be funny…"
"It's not my fault you don't have a sense of humor."
An uncomfortable feeling grew in Aden's chest as the 2 large animals began to bicker like a married couple, which seemingly manifested out of thin air.
"H-hey, it's cool g-guys," Aden awkwardly interjected. "No need to argue."
"I have a sense of humor. I'm just tired of the disrespect!" Master Croc ignored Aden.
Ox briefly faced Aden. "Aden, please give us space. We'll work this out ourselves. It was a pleasure meeting you."
"Don't ignore me!" Croc gripped Ox's shoulder.
Aden quickly shuffled backwards as the Crocodiles tirade was let loose.
"Yeesh," Aden muttered as he ambled towards the kitchen.
"Tell me about it," Po appeared beside him. "This is early for them too."
"What do you mean?" Aden's raised his brow.
"Those two argue at this party every year. And I mean every year. They're bodacious kung fu fighter but also a bit whiny..."
Aden laughed as they passed through the kitchen door, the sound of his friends' voices quickly reaching their ears. Monkey, Mantis, Viper, and Crane sat in a circle around a mess of tiles while Tigress watched. Surprisingly, the kitchen was fairly quiet considering the massive serving window was the only thing separating them from the rest of the party goers.
"Mahjong!" Viper sprung from her spot after placing her last tile. "I won again!"
"This game's rigged..." Mantis grumbled.
"Perfect timing, too." Crane added. "Aden's here."
"I'll go get it," Monkey scurried off to the backroom.
"What's he getting?" Aden questioned.
"You'll see!" Po sang.
Monkey emerged a few moments later with a long box wrapped in a simple white paper.
"Merry Christmas!" They shouted in unison.
Aden's face immediately brightened with surprise. "Did you guys actually get me a christmas present?"
"No, it's just a box Monkey likes to carry around," Mantis drooled sarcasm. "Open it already!"
Aden collected the box from Monkey and immediately noticed the weight. He began peeling away at the thin white sheets to reveal the sanded lid of whatever contained his gift. Setting the box on the ground, he lifted the top to reveal the wooden body of one of the most beautiful instruments he'd ever seen. It looked nothing like a traditional guitar, but Aden was baffled at the immense craftsmanship of the item. The light brown body cast small streams of light bouncing off the walls, as if a reflective varnish had been used on it. The neck was firmly mounted, well aligned, and each fret was perfectly spaced. The headstock glowed with the same color as the body, his thumb grazing over it, which revealed indentations that hadn't noticed at first. Removing his hand, his eyes welled up at the etched signatures of his beloved animal family.
"I-I can't believe this," Aden choked out. "It's beautiful."
"And expensive…" Mantis muttered, who received a sharp jab from Monkey.
Aden chuckled at Mantis' comment, as he wiped away the first batch of tears streaming down his cheeks. "This is the most incredible gift I've ever received. Thank you."
Po shuffled over and wrapped Aden in a tight hug. "It's well deserved, bud."
The rest of the group passed around an abundance of heartwarming smiles before joining Po, nearly strangling Aden with love.
"So..." Mantis spoke up. "About our gifts…"
"You really need to keep that mouth of yours closed, Mantis," Crane exasperatedly sighed.
Aden laughed and wiped the last remaining tears from his face, the crowd surrounding him slowly allowing him room to breathe. "No, he's right. It wouldn't be fair if I left you all empty handed."
Monkey and Mantis' faces brightened like a lightbulb upon hearing that.
"I'm glad you guys didn't decide to rummage around in here." Aden quickly made his way over to a cupboard in the far back corner of the room. "Your dad told me this would be the safest place to hide them."
Sliding the wooden door open, Aden revealed a small crate resting at the bottom of the cupboard. Grabbing the container caused a the sound of items clattering around inside to be heard. He then moved back to the center of the room and sat down, letting the box rest on his lap, his friends quickly gathered around.
"Alright, for you Monkey," Aden reached his hand in and pulled out a book. "I got you something to spice up your routine."
The primate collected the novel and scanned the cover, a smile slowly emerging on his face.
"1001 Dirty Jokes for all Animals!" He laughed. "No one is safe now."
"Mantis," Aden continued, flipping a coin-like object over to him. "I hope you like booze."
"Is that even a question?" He replied, barely catching it. "Woah! This is an All You Can Drink token for Huan's bar, and it's good for an entire week! How did you get this?"
"He gave it to me," Aden smiled. "But, I thought you'd appreciate it more than me."
"You got that right!"
Aden winked in response and turned to face Crane and Viper. "Now for the happy couple, I decided to kill 2 bir… I mean, combine your gifts into a single one."
Aden mentally patted himself on the back for not finishing the idiom, as he pulled out a single sheet of paper and handed it to Crane. "How does a romantic dinner at Qīngwā sound? Prepaid by yours truly."
"This place is usually booked for months!" Viper slithered up Crane to get a good look at the document. "That's incredibly thoughtful of you!"
"Yeah," Crane agreed, eyes locking with Vipers. "Thank you."
Aden nodded happily and dug into the crate once more. "Po, yours was not easy to find, but I think I got you something pretty special."
His arm raised from the box's edge to reveal a tiny version of Po.
"A Po doll?" Mantis questioned.
The room was suddenly engulfed in the loudest and longest gasp any of them had ever heard. Po's arm shot out and ripped the toy from Aden's hand faster than he could register.
"Is this the limited edition Dragon Warrior action figure with extreme power stance mode and exclusive chop action?!" Po shouted, pulling a small cord on the back of the toy.
Very slowly the action figure's arm raised above its head, hesitated for a few seconds, then lazily dropped back down to its side. The panda let out a 'squee' so high pitched that Monkey had to cover his ears.
"Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you!" Po jumped up and down like a child. "This is the perfect addition to my collection!"
"You're all very welcome." Aden smiled, turning towards Tigress. "And last but not least, you."
Tigress smiled and took a step towards Aden, but he didn't reach his hand back into the crate. Instead, he gently laid it by his feet allowing Tigress to see its barren interior. Her smile faltered slightly, but Aden's never lost its glow.
"You're impossible to shop for," Aden commented, crossing his arms. "So, I decided not to buy you anything."
Tigress simply stared, while the rest of the room exchanged confused glances.
"And, instead," Aden stood up and reached for his newly acquired gift. "I'm going to play you something."
Tigress' eyes immediately lit up like a christmas tree, her smile snapping back into place. She slowly lowered herself to the ground and awaited her performance, refusing to break eye contact with him. The rest of the gang followed suit while Aden tuned the guitar. A gentle cough escaped his lips when he was ready.
"Tigress," the words came out almost timidly. "Thanks for being my best friend in the literal universe."
Her eyes beamed with joy as he strummed the first chord and let it ring.
"I don't want a lot for christmas…"
He struck the second chord, taking liberties with his lyrical timing.
"There is just one thing I need…"
The third chord rang, spinning theatrically before singing the third line.
"I don't care about the presents...
He increased in volume as he ended the phrase, making his way slowly towards the audience.
Underneath the Christmas tree…."
His strumming began to accent every other beat, his eyes gazing around the room at each of his friends.
"I just want you for my own.
More than you could ever know.
Make my wish come true…"
His eyes slowly made their way back to Tigress, a radiant smile blooming on his cheeks.
All I want for Christmas is you."
There was a brief pause before his strumming gained a rhythmic intensity that shook the room with excitement. Suddenly, the Kung Fu warriors grew wide eyed at the spikes of yellow that peeked their heads out from the sound hole. All the Kung Fu warriors except Tigress that is. She was too busy dreamily staring at Aden's lively expressions.
"I don't want a lot for Christmas.
There is just one thing I need, and I
don't care about the presents
Underneath the Christmas tree.
I don't need to hang my stocking
there upon the fireplace.
Santa Claus won't make me happy
With a toy on Christmas day."
Aden's eyes were tightly shut at this point, as he let the music take over his body. The yellow beams had already began probing the room, circumventing each person and leaving a trail of shimmering light in its wake. His small crowd "ooo'd" and "aah'd" at the magical sight, except again for Tigress who was completely lost in thought.
He's incredible. She thought to herself, leaning her cheek on her right fist. I've never met somebody like this before. A fighter with a heart of gold, a phenomenal ally, and an unbelievable friend... Friend… He's a friend. Nothing more. Mei Ling was mad to suggest that I have an immature 'crush' on him. We're warriors and have no time for such nonsense.
The beams of light had now showered the room in a sun-like shine and had begun filtering their way out of the serving window unbeknownst to everyone in the room.
"I just want you for my own.
More than you could ever know.
Make my wish come true.
All I want for Christmas is you."
Another wave of golden streams shot out of the instrument as he finished the chorus and started to wrap themselves around the Furious Five and the Dragon Warrior.
He's my friend. He's my great friend. Tigress internally repeated. He's my very talented, kind, and trustworthy friend. He's my extremely handsome friend… There's nothing wrong with thinking that. He's attractive. So what? That doesn't imply anything. I simply enjoy being close to him. Sharing our thoughts, feelings, and desires with one another. Maybe even letting his soft hands gently pet my fur while I rest my head on his chest and listen to his heart beat. You know, normal friend stuff.
Minutes passed and Aden had sang his heart out, the song nearing its climax. The ropes of yellow light had wrapped their way up the length of each warriors body, but nobody seemed to care about themselves. They were all too awestruck at the sight of Aden and Tigress. Both were completely engulfed in light to the point that it was almost difficult to look at them. There were beams connecting their bodies, almost as if they were being pulled towards one another.
"I don't want a lot for Christmas.
This is all I'm asking for.
I just wanna see my baby
Standing right outside my door."
Aden's eyes slowly raised and were magnetically drawn to Tigress'. Their hearts began to beat intensely and nearly in sync.
"I just want you for my own"
I don't have a crush on him. Tigress told herself.
Aden's strumming began to slow along with the pace of his vocals.
"More than you could ever know."
I DON'T have a crush on him. She tried repeating.
His strumming turned to accenting every other beat.
"Make my wish come true."
I DON'T like him. She shouted internally.
Aden strummed a single chord and sang each word while gazing deeply into Tigress' soul.
"Baby all I want for Christmas…"
Tigress' heart skipped a beat, a feeling she had never experienced before. And in that split second that her heart had misfired, it had taken over her mind.
I don't like him…
"Is you…"
I love him.
Then in a flash, the room shook with a shockwave of immense proportions. light permeated through every nook and cranny, bathing everything in an extraordinary blanket of gold. 15 seconds had passed before the magical aura began to fade back into the natural candle light. The silence leftover was so thick the flicker of the candle wick could be heard. Aden and Tigress had never broken eye contact. Their faces held an almost neutral expression, but their eyes were engrossed in each others with an unparalleled intensity.
Suddenly, an eruption of cheering could be heard from beyond the serving window, breaking Aden and Tigress from their spell. Aden turned his body towards the door and gradually pushed it open to reveal the entire restaurant shouting his name and whistling in his direction. Aden was dumbstruck at the sight and didn't react, his eyes moved left and right scanning each person he'd met tonight clapping for his performance.
"Master Aden!" The booming voice of Master Storming Ox startled Aden from his stupor. "That was fantastic! I didn't know you could harness that kind of magic."
"Ah, well, thanks. I still don't particularly understand it either." Aden rubbed his neck uncomfortably. "Still not a master, by the way."
"With that kind of ability?" Master Croc walked up and wrapped an arm around Ox's shoulder. "You're far beyond master!"
Even though Aden had played musical shows before, he was still not used to the praise of Kung Fu masters and made a quick attempt to steer the conversation elsewhere.
"Ugh, thanks again... It's nice to see you both made up from before."
"Oh, yeah," Master Croc acknowledged. "I don't even remember what we were arguing about in the first place."
"Same here," Master Ox agreed. "Why bother arguing when you have the best Kung Fu ally in the entire nation. Come on, let's get ourselves something to eat, brother."
The two of them turned around and gave Aden a quick wave goodbye, a yellow spark briefly flashing from both of their fingers and connecting to one another. Aden raised a brow at the sight.
"Ahem…" The voice of a familiar chubby panda came from behind him.
Aden turned back around to find his private audience full of smiles and all of them clapping lightly except for Tigress, who stood completely still at the front of the group. Her arms remained by her side while she stared him down, an abnormal expression that held equal parts bashfulness and conflict rested on her cheeks. The corners of Aden's mouth raised into a comforting smile, and she slowly returned the same.
Before Aden could speak, Tigress launched herself into Aden's chest and wrapped him in a suffocating hug, a purring sensation reverberating throughout his body.
"Thank you," Tigress quietly spoke, her head nuzzled under his chin. "Not just for the gift. For everything."
Aden chuckled and trapped her in an equally suffocating hug. "I should say the same for you."
They steadily pulled back just enough so their eyes could meet, the feeling of each other's hot breath dancing on their lips.
"Aden…" Tigress whispered, a small shakiness to her voice making itself present. "I think I..."
"Help!" A small cry echoed from the noodle shop entrance. "Please, somebody help!"
The crowd that was was previously entranced in holiday festivities had now turned their attention to the doorway to find a horrified female rabbit.
"The Jackals!" She squeaked. "They're back!"
Howdy partners! Fancy seeing y'all round here ;)
Thank you to everyone who's been patiently waiting for me to update. As I said previously, I'm unable to guarantee an upload schedule, and since chapter 9 my life has gone bananas. Loads of traveling and work needing to be done that take precedence over this story.
With that being said, I wasn't lying when I said I WILL finish this story. I've been working on this chapter for almost 2 months now, writing and rewriting parts to make sure it's done right,. On top of that, every time I traveled or work got busy I had to look over everything again to make sure I didn't fuck up the continuity. This chapter is especially important for few reasons, so I had no interest in doing a half-assed job just so I got release it sooner.
Thank you again to everyone who's continued to support my work, and don't forget to favorite and review or else I might have to grief your Minecraft home.
Love,
Dad