Chapter 3

Quan slowly walked through the familiar streets of the Valley of Peace's village, seeing the people walk about, carefree and the children about without fear. It reminded Quan of his own childhood, spending it up at the Jade Palace with Tai Lung. They would spend most of their day, running around the courtyards and Tai Lung would even let Quan practice with him, whenever Shifu wasn't around to nag them. Quan's life wasn't really the best before he came to the Jade Palace. Out on the street, he was a beggar at the mere age of five, having been orphaned from ravaging wars. At that point, he has known no shelter warmth or even the pleasures of having a stuffed stomach after a large meal. It wasn't until the fateful that the boy was come across, on the brink of death by cold and starvation, by the young Shifu and not so old Oogway. They treated him back to health and Shifu was going to send the young pup on his way, but at the concerns of Master Oogway, Shifu allowed Quan to stay in exchange for work, since sheltering never comes for free, the first lesson that Quan has learned at the Jade Palace.

He would cook most of the meals and clean not only the living quarters, but also the dojo and the walkways of the palace. Quan never complained one bit though, because after that point he has never known a chilling cold or empty stomach while living there. One fateful day, he snuck to the dojo and watched as Tai Lung went through one of his training regiments and the young coyote was completely astonished by the wonderment and flowing grace of kung-fu. After the training regimen was completed, Quan revealed himself and bowed his head on the floor to Shifu and Oogway with an observing Tai Lung on the side. Having most of his efforts on training Tai Lung, Shifu didn't bat an eye when he refused Quan's request for Shifu to teach him. With Oogway, however, he offered to take Quan under his wings, much to Quan and Shifu's surprise. It was then that Quan's path towards his mastering of Kung-Fu has started, until the fateful day when Tai Lung was imprisoned…

Quan's reminiscing was cut short by the sound of his stomach growling and coincidentally enough stopped right in front of a noodle restaurant. Walking into the outdoor seating area, the smell of the food immediately hit his nostrils, "Whoa, th-that's new." His tail straightened up as he went over to what he believed to be the order desk which was the little hut in the back that had steam coming out of it from the cooking food. The place was rather packed as Quan was hoping he could get a seat after ordering. "Hello?" Quan peeked his head through the open window of the hut, wondering if the host was there.

"Hello!" Quickly jumping in front of Quan's face was an old goose wearing a red gi and has on a hat that's knitted like a bowl with noodles in it. "AH!" Quan jumped back, immediately startled by the goose's sudden gesture. "Oh, no need to be startled. Welcome to Ping's Noodle Restaurant. I am your host, Mr. Ping. What can I be able to get you?"
"Um…" Quan looked up at the menu, not having hometown food in a while. He wasn't sure what he should start with. Dumplings, ramen, soup, "It just all sounds so good." Quan drooled slightly.
"Well then, how about I make you Dragon Broth Noodles?" Mr. Ping offered.
"Heh, sounds enticing. Are you sure it's not cause it's the most expensive dish here?" Quan raised an eyebrow, smiling, making Mr. Ping laugh in return, "Seems like you've got attention. You have no idea how many people will just accept an offer without knowing the price."
"Well, when one's been around places, like I have, you learn to always be cautious." Quan admitted. He learned this lesson back in Singapore when he was almost conned out of all of his hard-earned fight money from an attractive vixen. "So, an outsider huh?" Mr. Ping looked up at Quan while preparing the dish in the back.
"Actually, I'm a local. I've just been gone for a long…long time."
"Oh, well what brings you back? Homesick? Sometimes that happens with my son while he travels." Mr. Ping conversed while chopping up some vegetables.
"I guess fathers always know, huh?" This made Quan chuckle lightly, thinking about Oogway and Shifu, making him want to eat quickly so he can head on up to the palace. From inside with Mr. Ping, a loud clang sound could be heard followed by a, "Ow!"
"Oh my." Mr. Ping narrowed his eyes as Quan looked over to see a massive Panda who's head just came into contact with a hanging frying pan, "Dang, Ping, maybe you should warn me when you hang this in the middle of a walkway." The panda wore a wool vest overtop a green robe. "Whoa…" Quan looked at the creature as he's actually never seen a panda before. "Hm?" The panda looked at Quan, who was still staring, "Um, can I help you?" The panda asked.

"Oh, Li, I already took his order while you were probably slumbering in the back on top of the stock boxes." Ping ridiculed as Li yawned and chuckled out. Just then, Ping placed the order on the wooden counter between him and Quan, "Well, here you are."
"Thank you very much, Mr. Ping." Quan bowed before giving out the gold pieces to pay for the meal and taking it over to a table. Taking a slurp of the noodles, his eyes widened before he started to slurp up more like there was no tomorrow, making Ping laugh out, "Another satisfied customer."

While Quan was eating, some people were gasping out, "It's the Dragon Warrior. The Dragon Warrior's here." Hearing the title "Dragon Warrior" made Quan accidentally spit out some of the broth, "Wh-What? Dragon Warrior? They finally gave that title?"

"Hey pops!" A loud and care-free voice shouted from behind Quan as he slowly turned to see yet another panda, but this one just wearing a dark orange pair of fabric shorts and cloth shoes. "…What?" Quan was indeed surprised to see that it was this panda whom people were eyeing at as "Dragon Warrior" were slipping through their lips.

Amazed, yet baffled at the same time, Quan couldn't help but stare the entire time. "Ah, son, did you forget something?" Mr. Ping called out, making Quan do a double take from what Mr. Ping proclaimed this panda as. "Yeah, I forgot my pans, promising the Five and Master Shifu that I would make dinner tonight." The young panda replied.

"That's just like you, my son, always forgetful." Li spoke out with a hearty laugh afterwards, making Quan's head tilt even more in confusion, "T-Two fathers?"

"Also, dad, be ready for your lesson tomorrow, okay?" The panda reminded Li.

"Ok, ok, I will." Li responded before handing the other panda cooking pans.

"Alright, later!" The panda then ran on off, making Quan run over to the restaurant entrance as he watched this strange panda run straight in the path towards the Jade Palace. "…What the heck happened while I was gone?"