A/N: For those who thought the Oogway part was like rated M, I swear it's supposed to be funny. :))))))) Look at it in a funny perspective. I can't stop laughing when I get to that part. :)))) I got the idea from 's "Counter-Strike for Kids" video. Glad you guys are enjoying. I hope I won't disappoint in this next update. Sadly, the next update after this might not come soon, though I already finished chapter 3... oh suspense :P. Sorry for the informalities, now on with the story...
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The Strangeman
Anyway, the panda had such an unusually unlucky start. The incident early morning with the midnight snack, the odd yet meaningless nightmare and his tardiness to greet his master. But that was only a taste of what is to come. Buwahahhahaha!
The morning proceeded like any other morning. They ate breakfast, they took a bath, then they trained with their master. They all did what they usually did until…
Knock. Knock. Knock.
The five plus the panda wondered as their master left the training hall and approached the door. Once he opened it, he saw something that he had never seen before. He has not seen this kind of animal in his life or if it really was an animal. It had an unusual white skin or if it was skin that appeared that it would be soft to touch, he had a white scarf on his neck, he had blue eyes and was very plump. The master dazed at his appearance.
"Hello sir." The visitor greeted with kindness.
The master stopped his daze when he realized that he had been staring too long. "My apologies, please forgive my rude behavior…"
The visitor just stood there smiling facing slightly upward to look at the red panda. The red panda just looked there. He was feeling awkward. Something did not feel right about this man. This was the strangest man he had ever met. "Can I help you Mr…."
"Bury."
What an odd name, the red panda thought. "Mr. Bury."
"Oh please, just call me Poppin." He said.
"Why don't you come in and I will show you around." The red panda said.
Poppin blinked. "That would be swell."
They both walk toward the great training hall where the students are training. The red panda did not notice that Poppin had been looking at him for quite a while as they walked through the garden.
They finally reach the training hall and when the red panda opened the door, Poppin was just amazed to see six characters training at different obstacles. They seemed to have mastered the obstacles… all except for one.
"These are my students. Master Tigress, Master Crane, Master Viper, Master Monkey, Master Mantis and Master…"
"Whoops." The panda suddenly tripped at one of the course, triggering a chain reaction that eventually led him to go for all the courses.
"… Po."
Po crashed to a bunch of weaponry. A round shield passed by Poppin and the red panda. Poppin giggled at the panda's mishap.
"I'm okay." The panda said.
The six soon approach their master.
"Students, I would like you to meet Mr. Poppin Bury."
The students looked at the man with such curiosity. They had never seen anyone like him.
"Poppin Bury? What kind of name is that?" The panda said.
"Manners Po." The red panda said.
"It's okay Mr… I did not actually catch your name." Poppin said.
"Oh pardon me, I am Master Shifu."
The tall crane then approached Poppin who was looking from his feet up to until he reached his eyes. Crane was about to bow when Poppin reached out his right hand. Crane, as well as the others, did not understand this gesture.
"Nice to meet you." The small man said.
Feeling that he did not know what the hand meant, he did the most logical thing to do. He reached out right wing. "Nice to meet you too." The crane said. Poppin was suddenly shaking their hands. The man looked at the crane straight in the eyes with an eerie smile. The hand shake took a long while with Poppin still looking at him straight in the eyes. Crane felt the man's hand. It was as soft as dough. He then let go to greet the other students.
"Nice to meet you." Poppin said reaching out his hand to the female tiger.
"Nice to meet you too." The tiger greeted.
He then reached out to the other masters, then Po.
"You're a funny man Po. You're master must have taught you good jokes as well."
The red panda sighed as he looked up.
"Uhmmm… yeah, you can say that." The panda said.
"I don't mean to be rude, but I'm famished." Poppin said.
"Ah yes. I guess it's time for lunch." The red panda said.
They were now in the kitchen. Poppin and the masters sat in the table while the panda cooked a delicious batch of noodle soup.
"So you're not from here are you?" The giant panda asked.
"Obviously not." The tiger replied.
The man just smiled at that. "Master Shifu, I'm impressed at how your students have become. They look so young, fresh... and healthy." Poppin said.
"Thank you Poppin. It really means a lot." The red panda said.
"So Poppin, what do you do for a living?" The monkey asked.
The man giggled. "Interesting question. Well, I love to cook."
"Really?" The viper asked.
"Sure do." Poppin replied.
"Well, Po here is the best cook in town." The monkey replied
"Possibly in all of China." The mantis added.
"Don't flatter me guys." The panda said.
"Yeah." The mantis said. "Looks like you got some competition Po."
The man giggled again.
"So, what exactly do you cook?" The tiger asked.
"Well, you guys might not actually enjoy the food I make." Poppin said with a smile.
The giant panda then approached the table with those delicious noodles. "Order up."
Everyone was quietly eating… well everyone except for Poppin. What do you expect? Oddly, the man who asked for a meal had not touched the giant panda's delicious bowl of noodle soup. Poppin was just sitting there with the delicious noodles untouched, looking at the others who are contently eating. Po noticed that Poppin had not touch the delicious bowl of soup.
"Is there something wrong? You have not touched your noodles." The giant panda asked.
"Nothing's wrong. Your noodles are just fine."
"Just fine? They're the best I've ever tasted… possibly in all of China." The mantis said.
"Please forgive me. I know they are. It's just that… I'm not a big fan of noodles." Poppin said.
"I don't understand how anyone cannot be a fan of noodles, but if you don't want to, it's your loss." The panda said. "I could eat it up if you don't want it, but I'll just leave it there just in case you change your mind."
"Thank you." Poppin replied.
They had now finished their meal and everybody toured the guest of the Jade Palace. Then, they went back to training. Poppin watched them train as they do what they do best. It did not take long before it was already dinner. They all once again sat on the same table. Oddly, the delicious bowl of noodle soup was still there at Poppin's place. The giant panda thought that it was wasted noodles and was about to throw it out but oddly, Poppin did not want him to yet. Once again, they sat and ate and Poppin was watching them sit and eat. He did not touch the delicious bowl of noodle soup given to him earlier.
The red panda noticed it was getting dark and wondered if Poppin had a place to stay. "Poppin, I don't mean to be rude but do you have a place to stay?"
"Well not really. I don't really know anyone here until I met you guys." Poppin replied.
"Poppin, would you like to stay here?" The giant panda asked.
"I gee I don't know. You've done a lot for me already. You've been very hospitable but I would asking too much."
"No please, not at all. You can stay here as long as you want. We wouldn't want our guest to sleep out in the cold streets of this town." The red panda replied.
"Really, thank you guys. You've been super." Poppin said.
They went to the sleeping quarters and showed Mr. Bury to his room.
"This is where you'll be staying tonight." The red panda said.
Poppin looked around the room and looked at the red panda and his students with a smile. "I love it."
"Thank you. I hope you get a good night rest." The red panda said as he closed the door.
It was midnight. Mantis suddenly woke up with that craving for that delicious noodle soup. He got out of his room and instantly wondered why the giant panda was still at his bed. It was so not like him to not have a midnight snack.
"So much for the noodles." The mantis thought.
He was about to return to his room when he remembered the noodles Poppin did not touch. He then thought that it was still there and decided to go for it. As he was nearing the kitchen, his steps slowed down. He heard someone sobbing in the kitchen. He carefully tiptoed to the kitchen not making a sound. When he neared the door, he peaked inside. The mantis was shock to find Poppin. That cheerful guy that they had met earlier was crying and oddly hugging those delicious noodles.
