A/N: Sorry guys, this update was supposed to be on Thursday evening before 12 a.m. Southeast Asia Time. Unfortunately, in a surprise twist, my groupmates from this term report of ours suddenly called saying he wanted me to check those damned calculations. Of course, school work is a higher priority than leisure work, so I slept to 3:30 a.m. only to find out he did not even use it. I'm like why did you even tell us that day. I was supposed to update yesterday evening before 12 a.m. Southeast Asia Time. Unfortunately, in a surprise twist yet again, to think it was all over, I'm asked to do the calculations... again because the report had apparently not been passed on the due date. I had slept again at 3:30 a.m... figures. At least that's somewhat over now and I'm finally able to do this update. Enjoy.

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Noodle Soup for the Soul

It was about 4 p.m. in the afternoon. The two walked back to the Jade Palace. The mantis always had this feeling of being at home when he came back. Not anymore. The moment he was at the gates of the palace, he felt like it was not his own home anymore. From the outside of the gates they could hear total silence, but that was just it. It was too quiet.

"You know, I'm getting the chills." The panda said.

"Me too. Let's just hope we're not too late."

They soon made a small opening of the main gates and entered the Jade Palace and walked to the court area. Inside, the quietness was amplified. They went to the gardens toward the peach tree. The winds were still and the trees were not waving. They reached the peach tree but the red panda was not there.

"I have a bad feeling about this." The mantis said.

"Let's go to the Hall of Warriors. He's always meditating you know." The giant panda replied.

They then left for the Hall of Warriors. This time, they cannot help but feel that they are being watched. The mantis suddenly heard a twig snap.

"Did you hear somethi…?"

The mantis gave him sh… to cut his sentence. "Just keep going." The mantis whispered. The quietness of the environment could make any slight noise a loud one. They continued toward the Hall of Warriors hearing occasionally hearing something move on the background. They finally reached the Hall of Warriors. The mantis tried to open the door, but he soon realized that it was locked.

"It seems to be locked. Po, give it a good punch."

"Seriously? Master Shifu might get ma…"

"On normal times yes, but these times aren't normal, are they?"

The giant panda thought that the mantis had a point. He then gave the door a good smack. The door broke apart and they immediately entered after the dust settled. To their surprise, the red panda was not there.

"This is odd. He usually spends his time here." The mantis said.

"Uh… Mantis."

"What?"

The giant panda pointed his fingers near the pond. The mantis looked and saw his worst fear. Could it be? Beside the pond was a string of noodle.

"He was here." The giant panda deduced.

"No doubt." The mantis replied. "And it looks like he had company brought with him." He said as he found a straw of some stick coming from a hat.

They came back to the Sacred Peach Tree. At this time, the sun was setting and it was the only place they felt was safe. They had a view of the valley and a partial view of the palace. The mantis felt sad. There was no other person to go forward to. What were they to do now? The panda knocked down a fruit from the tree and approached the mantis.

"Here." The giant panda said as he gave a part of the sacred peach.

"Thanks Po." The mantis said with a frown on his face.

"Hey, smile a little. For all we know, Master Shifu got away."

"I don't know about that." The mantis said as he took a bite from the sacred peach.

"So what now?"

The mantis was silent for a moment. He was thinking how to answer that question. He obviously had no idea how to answer it because maybe it was pointless to answer. Still, doing nothing is far worse than doing something. He finished his sacred peach, stood up and faced the panda. "We're finishing what we've started. Find Poppin and work our way from there."

"Sounds like a plan." The giant panda smiled.

They headed off to the one place they have not checked: the place where they usually stay. They were now just looking from the outside.

"O… kay." The giant panda just said plainly.

"Should we split up?" The mantis asked.

"Isn't that what he wants us to think?"

"Right."

They entered and slowly headed toward the kitchen. The sun had almost set and the halls were hardly lit. Each step was an effort to keep quiet as who knows who is watching. Apparently, the place had undergone some subtle changes. The halls were clear but when they entered the kitchen, it was a complete mess. Someone had been trying to cook and by the looks of the place, it seems that the food being cooked was no guess. The kitchen was filled with noodles. There is noodles scattered on the table, noodles stuck on the wall, noodles stuffed on the sink, noodles scattered on the floor, noodles wrapped around in noodles. With the cap gone, they could see even the monkey's secret stash of cookies was filled with noodles.

"What happened here?" The mantis said in surprise and horror.

"Looks like he's already starting to redecorate the place." The panda just said.

"I am never going to eat noodles again."

"I can't believe that's coming from your mouth." He then noticed something changed from the mantis. "Are you alright?"

"I need to go to the bathroom. I think I'm gonna throw up."

The mantis was now throwing up the bathroom. The giant panda stood just outside just in case anything happens, he would just knock on the door so that they could make their move. The mantis had been in the bathroom for a while now. It was taking him so long that the panda wondered if he was still there. He suddenly heard a familiar sound, one that gave him hope. It was the song of a bamboo flute. The panda then realized that the red panda was near. This had given him hope. Knowing that the mantis would not go anywhere for a while, he left his post and carefully followed the sound of the flute. He made a few twist and turns on the halls and corridors. As he went closer and closer, he noticed that the song was not as beautiful as it was as if a note was missed every few lines. When he was near enough, he realized it was coming from none other their master's room. The panda could see from the outside of the room the red panda's silhouette. He gently slid the door open. To his horror, the red panda had been wearing a familiar hat. The panda slowly crept back.

"I know you're back there Po." He said lifelessly as he looked back. The red panda gave the most unusual smile yet.

The giant panda stepped back but was surprised that someone was behind him. He looked back to see it was the tiger. She had been standing there. He had hardly seen the red panda and the tiger smile, which is why he found it very strange to see them smiling now. Her smile grew larger and her eyes wider as she slowly approached the giant panda.

"Don't be afraid." The tiger just said.

The mantis had finally gotten out of the bath room and was surprised to not see the giant panda there.

"Po?" He said as he looked around to search for him. As he passed by the quarters, he noticed Poppin's room. It was not open or anything but he wanted to see for himself. When he got in, he realized that the giant panda was not kidding. The place was a lot worse than the kitchen.

"Whoa." He commented.

Noodles as far as the eye can see, stretching from the four corners of the room. He carefully went further inside the room swimming through the sea of noodles. He did not know what he was looking for but he knew there has to be something else other than noodles. The noodles were starting to smell but the mantis continued to dig deep through the piles of noodles. Then, he struck something. The mantis tried to remove it from the piles of noodle strings and what he uncovered was an item out of place. He held with him a crumpled-up medium-sized painting. Being covered with noodles, picture was a bit erased but it was only subtle. Inside the picture were a group of people in a market place doing all kinds of things. There were people doing business, children playing and many more. Most of the folks had happy faces, some content. The theme was bustling, vibrant or alive. The mantis wondered why Poppin would hold such an art. Okay, happiness was definitely in his character but the rest did not seem to quite fit.

"An artist gave me that picture."

The mantis slowly turned his head. Poppin had already been behind him, watching him watching the painting. "It was such a lovely picture. I had kept it since I was…" The strange man paused and smiled. "… well, let's just say that I've had it since I was a loafling… and I've kept it since then."

The mantis did not move. He did not speak. He stood still not wanting to alert his company.

Poppin came closer as he continued. "It reminded me of happy things… of happy times. I envied the people in the painting. It was so… happy. The way they gave happiness to one another, I wish I could give that kind of happiness. When I saw this picture, I couldn't help myself but get it."

Poppin, the little loafling, stood at the shop's front. He was looking at a painting so beautiful. Everything about it was good. He wanted to buy it but the wolf did not want to sell it to him for his social status and appearance in society.

The mantis thought something. "I thought you said an artist gave this to you."

"He could've just given me the painting, but no. He persisted that I was an outcast in society for what I looked like. That I was… different." For the first time, the mantis felt in him a tense expression. Poppin took deep breaths to maintain his composure to which he smiles again. "He was an uninspired artist. So, I showed him the way."

He went in the bedroom of the wolf who just awoken from his presence. The wolf demanded what he was doing in his home until Poppin drew a knife and approached the wolf.

"You… killed him."

"No… even better."

Poppin just paid for the item as he left the shop to the wolf who is now smiling and wearing a hat.

The mantis realized what he had done to him. "You've been doing this before."

Poppin smiled at that. "I figured you've known about this before." The man then approached him. "Give me the painting."

The mantis took small steps slowly reaching the door while looking at the man who is at the center of the room.

"You can't run from me Mantis. Give me the painting and I will let you go."

The mantis was now outside the room and started to run. Poppin just stood there. The mantis took every twist and turn in the corridor. He then came by a room that apparently had been decorated recently. Poppin had brought more noodles in the palace than anyone, and even Po in history. He passed by the room unknown of the lurking danger. It was evening. The room was dark and he slowly made small steps but noticed slight movements on the noodle pile. He knew he was not alone. As he continued toward the other end of the room, he noticed the noodle pile movements were more frequent. A figure then slowly rises from a noodle pile behind. The mantis looked behind and was in the shock of his life. In front of him was his master red panda with his head not covered with the hat, the mantis saw what Poppin had done to him. The mantis took a few steps back.

"Good heavens." He whispered.

"You look hungry Mantis. Shall I interest you in some noodles?" The red panda said with a smile.

Soon other figures rose from their respective noodle pile each with their happy expression.

"What's the matter Mantis? Looks like you've seen a ghost." The crane said.

"It's just us, your friends." The monkey said.

"Are we not friends, Mantis?" The viper said.

Then he looked to the tiger. "Join us Mantis. Don't be shy. I won't bite."

He sprinted as he reached for the door. The door opened itself, to which he sees a familiar yet comforting figure.

"Po. Thank goodness I've found you. We need to get out of here."

The giant panda did not budge.

"Po…" The mantis finally had a clear picture of Po. His head was apparently open with noodles dripping down. His smile was… well he smiles a lot so that did not disturb him.

"Sorry, I'm late guys."

"Oh... figures." The mantis said plainly.

"There's nowhere to run Mantis."

The mantis looked to see Poppin had entered the room.

"Give me the painting Mantis and I will spare you this fate." He said calmly with a smile.

Feeling that he had no choice, he slowly approached Poppin and gave the painting to him.

"You win." The mantis quietly said as he gave the painting.

Poppin got the painting on his hands and smiled. "Thank you, Mantis." He carefully crumpled the painting up until it became small enough. He places the crumpled up ball placed it within his scarf. He then clapped his hands twice. The red panda suddenly gave one of his very hard punches to the mantis to which the mantis is knocked out.