A/N: I saw part of Secrets of the Furious Five on youtube. I wish someone, though it is wrong, could post a complete version on youtube. Anyway, I noticed the plot and figured that I couldn't resist but put its very essence of the plot of that short flick as an addition in here. Of course, it's just light addition and has not affected the real ending of this fanfic.
On the other note, I made a new fanfic called Mike and Antoine: That Damn CD Player. It's loosely based on the multi-award winning game, World in Conflict and can be found in the Miscellenous- Misc. Games Archives. Now on with the show…
[∞]
Second Victim: The Perfect Couple
The mantis quietly went back to his room with inner panic. What did he just see back there? What was Poppin doing? More importantly, what in the world was his fellow crane doing there. Confused, he lay down and rested back at his bed and dreamed.
"Where am I?" He found himself sitting in a bench at the side of the courtyard. There he could see the other student masters training with the red panda. There was someone beside him. It was the giant tortoise he knew. Those training seem to be unaware of their presence.
"Master Oogway, what are you doing here?" He asked.
He looked at those in the courtyard. "Oh, you know. Just hangin' out. It's a lovely day." The tortoise said simply.
"I didn't know you like to hang out."
Together, they watched his colleagues and his master do their forms.
"Mantis?"
"Yes Master Oogway?"
"Promise me, don't freak out."
"Of course master, but why?"
The tortoise suddenly got his clawed hands and dug deep in his ear. He unbelievably removed a brain and held it in his hand.
"Master! Is that your brain!" The mantis freaked out.
"Totally not." The tortoise then broke the organ to bits of pieces and started throwing the bits to shoot on the crane's head. When he ran out of bits, he sighed. "I'm not as young as I used to be." He then looked to the mantis "Can you spare me a brain?"
"What?!" The mantis said with a heightened tone.
The mantis woke up. "Whoa, that was weird." He then noticed Poppin going back to his own room. The crane soon followed. But before they went to their respective beds, they eerily stopped in front of the mantis' room. Did they see him? He thought. The mantis thought this to be creepier than what he had witnessed earlier. To his relief, they continued back to Poppin's room before the crane went back to his room. "That was close." The mantis took a deep breath and went back to sleep.
Upon arriving to the dream realm once more, he found himself in the same bench with the tortoise still beside him.
"Huh… Who… What…Where?"
"Oh good, you're back. Now quickly, spare me a brain. I know you've got one in you."
"Are you serious?! I like to keep it thank you very much."
"Not your brain. The one you have for a spare. Just do what I did."
Mantis had faith to the grand master tortoise and so, he used his hand and dug deep in his cranium. Finally, he got one out. Oddly, it was larger than this entire body. Due to the size however, he dropped the brain on the floor and for some reason, it made pig noises as it walked away.
The tortoise sighed. "These things… how they come and go."
The brain neared the viper when it burst into pieces. Oddly, those training did not notice. "Didn't see that coming." The mantis commented.
"I know. It never fails to surprise me." He then looked at his watch. Master Oogway has a watch? "Oh look at the time, it's almost morning. I'm afraid we'll have to meet some other time."
"But master, why did you want to hang out with me?"
"Funny thing... I thought you knew." The giant tortoise then removed the clock on his watch to which it replaces a button in his presence. He then presses it and for some fantastical reason, a lightning struck the mantis and oddly turned him into a brain. The tortoise picked the organ and threw it directly to the crane. It missed but for some strange reason, it walked away and headed straight for the giant panda to which it burst in front of his face. "That was fun."
The mantis got up. He looked through the window. It was a bright and sunny morning. Then, the gong sounded and the masters got out greeting the master red panda.
As they were walking toward the kitchen, the mantis noticed the crane's motion. It was slightly off-sync and something did not feel right. The mantis could see that the crane still had the smile of yesterdays. When they arrived at the kitchen, they were again surprised to see Poppin up already but since it was the second time he did this, it was less of a shock.
"Good morning, did you enjoy a good night sleep?"
"Sure did." The crane replied without expression.
"Yeah… right." The giant panda and the mantis said simultaneously. They looked at each other for a brief moment. The viper just looked at the two.
"Glad to hear it." Poppin replied.
Po prepared some of those delicious noodles and served it. They were all eating those delicious noodles with the exception of poppin and the crane. Poppin this time did not smile to everyone. Poppin focused his smiles on the crane. Mantis watched from a less suspicious point of view, though, he felt as if Poppin and the crane have some kind of spiritual connection. A few moments later, the crane started slowly eating those delicious noodles. What just happened, the mantis thought. Oddly, the crane's bizarre behavior continued when they were all training in the great training hall. At training, the mantis was able to near one of his colleagues. He could not resist but ask the question.
"Don't tell anyone, but is it me or Crane's been acting not like himself lately?" The mantis asked.
"I think I like the new Crane. He talks a little but smiles a lot." The viper replied. She then looked to the crane that had just left the training hall. "Although, I am a bit worried about him. I hope he's okay. I think I'll check out on him." She then left to find the crane.
The viper had been walking around for at least thirty minutes. She could have sworn that she has already circled the entire palace. She wondered what where the possible places a crane can hide, but every guess she thought of, she could not find her. Where could he be, she thought. At one point, she stumbled upon the master red panda. She asked where the crane had gone. Unfortunately, he did not know and the search continued. She had finally given up hope and decided to get a glass of water as she was thirsty. As she entered the kitchen, she stopped. She thought she heard the crane's voice inside. Slowly, she approached the door and when she peeked, she was horrified at what she saw. Apparently, the crane was not wearing his hat and the viper could see that his head was cut open, leaving the upper cranium missing. What horrified the viper was what the crane was putting in his head. It seemed from afar that he was stuffing his head with lots and lots of… noodles to where his brain should be. Viper then remembered about the noodles Poppin bought yesterday. Could he have something to do with this? The viper stepped back slowly but unknown to her, there was someone else behind her. It was all too fast that the viper did not get a chance to react as she was hit the way the crane was hit. She fell to the floor and was knocked down cold.
The mantis was getting worried. The viper had not returned from the search of the crane and she thought something bad had happened to her. Dinner was fast approaching, the red panda and the students that trained at the training hall gathered immediately to the kitchen. When they did enter the kitchen, they were surprised not to see Poppin or the crane, but the viper as well sitting in their respective seats as if waiting for the food to come. However, when the noodles arrived, the mantis cannot help but wonder why all the three were simply smiling. Oddly, the viper was wearing a hat just like the crane. The mantis looked carefully to the viper to which she noticed.
The viper's eyes widened and her smile extended further. "Do you like my hat Mantis?"
"I… uhhh… uhh…"
The mantis was a bit surprised that she noticed his staring. He was unable to answer in time as the giant panda had cut in the conversation. "Hey, it looks just… like… Crane's."
The crane made an awkward smile. "I gave it to her." He was then breathing heavily. "Doesn't she look swell?"
The mantis was getting a little disturbed by the conversation. The crane's awkward smile was off and since when did the crane ever use the word swell. The viper, as much as she is fashionable, is obviously no copy cat.
"Are you feeling alright Viper?" The red panda asked.
"Yeah, you seem a little off today." The monkey added.
"Looks like you got Crane's sickness." The tiger replied jokingly.
The viper looked at her with a smile. "I'm fine. Thank you very much."
Seeing that the conversation was not going swell… I mean, well, the red panda thought of changing the subject. "Enough of this… What about you Poppin, how was your day?" When he turned around, he only saw in Poppin's place a bowl of those delicious noodles. "Where did he go?"
The crane stood up with the viper following. "Master, do you want us to search for him?" The crane asked.
"Fine, you and Viper find Poppin. I will be meditating for the time being."
The three soon left the kitchen, leaving the other four masters alone.
"Some day huh?" The monkey commented.
"Yeah, somehow, I can't help but feel that they would make a good couple." The tiger replied.
The monkey, the mantis and the giant panda all looked at the tiger. "What? It's just a thought."
At the Hall of Warriors, the red panda was meditating. The candles gave an orange glow at the dark. It was so peaceful…
A goose falls down at the presence of the red panda. The red panda opened his eyes.
… almost peaceful.
"What is it Zeng? Is there trouble?" The red panda asked.
"Master Shifu! I just visited the school down the village. The teacher was asking if the trip is still to push through." The Chinese goose asked.
"Yes of course. Anything for the children." The red panda replied. "Would that be all?"
"Yes Master, that would be all." The goose then flew back to the direction of the village.
Now that the goose has left, the red panda was now ready for some nice, cool…
The mantis opened the door with an audible bang as he approached the red panda as if in a hurry. "Master Shifu, Master Shifu."
The red panda was annoyed with another disturbance. "What is it now Manti…"
The mantis gave him a signal to tone down. He wanted to discuss something with him in confidentiality. He closed the door and began talking to the red panda. "Master Shifu, I want to talk about what happened earlier." He whispered. "Didn't you notice anything strange?"
The red panda was in deep thought. "Yes, I know what you're saying. Those two are acting somewhat similar."
"I know."
"If you ask me, those two must have a lot of alone time if you know what I mean."
"Exactly… No wait. That's not what I meant. I mean they've been acting strangely since Poppin arrived."
The red panda's eyes widened and when the mantis thought he believed it, he suddenly gives out a small hearty laugh. "Ha ha ha ha ha! Good one Mantis but you know that guy's got too much of a happy spirit to actually be threatening."
"Aren't you feeling a bit suspicious about him? The way he smiles and all that. For two straight days, I saw him actually cry to Po's delicious noodles every midnight. Ever since then, I saw Crane dancing in noodles and for some strange reason, viper is a little too off…"
"That's enough Mantis." He said in a serious tone. He relaxes his tense face. "Now I know he may be awkward at times. I mean I get creeped out every time he smiles, but it wouldn't be fair to him. Do you even have proof that he had something to do with Crane and Viper?"
"Well… uh…"
"I thought so. Would that be all?"
"Yes Master Shifu."
"Well then. I'll be seeing you tomorrow."
The mantis was about to leave.
"Oh and Mantis?"
"Yes Master Shifu?"
"You should take a break on those noodles. They are for everyone you know."
"Yes Master Shifu." The mantis opened the door and slowly walked away.
Unknown to them, someone was watching that very conversation. "Yes, for everyone indeed." His smile goes further out of bounds.