Old friend, Old love

Chapter 5

As the panda and his tiger slept under the starry sky next to the Sacred Tree of Heavenly Wisdom, dreaming of a happy future, a cloacked figure appeared at the entrance to the Valley. He slowly made his way through the silent town, towards the 1000 steps that led to the Jade Palace.

When he reached the beginning of the steps he sighed deeply, looking into the sky, the moonlight shining on his face revealing a little green muzzle covered in scales, razor sharp fangs and deep, lush green eyes that much resembled Po's. He slowly began to walk up the steps whispering to himself "I'm finally back home.".

The rest of the five made their way to bed a while after Po and Tigress had fallen asleep under the tree. Each of them having said goodnight to the others, they slowly made their way to their rooms for the night. One snake in particular looked up through the window and sighed at the sky.

"When are you coming home Jin?" she said with a hint of sadness in her voice. Slowly Viper began to drift off to sleep, thinking of the happy times her and Jin spent together.

When the cloaked figure reached the top of the steps, he gracefully jumped over the front gate and landed without a sound. He smiled happily and went towards the barracks, hoping he could surprise someone very dear to him. When he walked through the hall he stopped infront of Master Vipers door. But instead of opening it, he remembered a song that he sung to his snake before he was banished from the Valley of Peace.

You are not alone tonight

Imagine me there by your side

It's so hard to be here so far away from you

I'm counting the days till

I'm finally done

I'm counting them down, yeah, one by one

It feels like forever till I return to you

But it helps me on those lonely nights

It's that one thing that keeps me alive

Knowing that you wait for me

Ever so patiently

His voice softly echoed through the barracks reaching a pair of ears that have longed for his voice for so long.No one else knows the feeling inside

We hang up the phone without saying goodnight

Because it's the sound of your voice that brings me home

It's never been easy to say

But it's easier when I've gone away

Knowing that you wait for me

Ever so patiently

Yeah, you're everything I've ever dreamed of having and

It's everything I need from you just knowing that you wait for me

What I'd give

What I'd do

Knowing I'm not there for you

Makes it so hard to leave

What I'd give

What I'd do

Anything to get me home to you

And this time I'll stay

And you wait for me

Ever so patiently

Yeah, you're everything I've ever dreamed of having and

It's everything I need from you just knowing that you wait for me.

He softly finished the song, soon after the door before which he stood slowly began to open and a teary snake leapt into his arms happily twisting around him in a hug.

"Jin! You're finally home!" Viper exclaimed with joy in her voice, which in turn woke up the rest of the five that were sleeping in the barracks this night. When Monkey, Mantis and Crane came into the hall, they all prepared for a fight when they saw a cloaked figure, but when they saw a happy Viper coiled around him they soon realised their old friend has come home.

Monkeys face lit up when he realized that Jin, his pranking buddy had returned from his banishment.

"Jin. So you're finally home huh?" Mantis said still surprised by who was standing before him.

But something was different about this Jin. He was taller and more muscular then they remembered their feline friend to be. And then it hit them all, even Viper. Their friend was FELINE. This was not a cat, it had scales and razor sharp teeth. They soon got into their battlestances again, and pulled Viper away from the stranger that presented himself as Jin.

The cloaked figure sighed when he realized what they were thinking. He slowly stepped into the moonlight that seeped in from the window of Vipers room. He took off the cloak almost in an instant, faster than a blink of an eye. What was reflected in the light was thought to be impossible for the past 1000 years. There infront of the Five stood a dragon. About as tall as master Tigress, covered in green scales, black talons and a long green tail. His eyes shine brightly, a trait of the feline race which was the only thing he had to convince his friends that he truly was their buddy Jin.

"Guys i know what you're thinking right now. I know i used to be a tiger and now im a dragon, but just hear me out okay?" Jin said in a soft voice.

"Monkey you hide your cookies on the top shelf in the kitchen. Or at least you had 10 years ago." He smiled at Monkey and continued.

"Mantis you were so mad at me and Monkey when we played darts with your accupuncture needles." Mantis glared at Monkey who in turn giggled silently.

"And Crane you are probably still mad at me when i accidently plucked your tail feathers on the night i was drunk for the first time" Jin said sheepeshly.

"DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW LONG IT TOOK FOR THOSE TO GROW BACK?" Crane yelled at him but soon smiled for this was their long lost friend come back.

Viper frowned "What about me? Didn't we do anything worthy of remembrance?" Viper said almost in a hurt tone.

Jin just smiled and took a deep breath.

"Oh i remember all those summer days" he bagan and grinned mischievously making viper beam in return.

I remember all the summer days drinking wine in the Sunshine

I hope it never leaves

And I remember all the summer nights staring at you in the moonlight

I hope you never leave 'cause baby you're so good to me

You have all that all that I ever need.

It's easy to love you

So easy to love you

You know it's true

The best part of being with you is to know you are with me

It's not so hard to say

It's easy to love you

I remember all those winter days frozen in the cold tryin' to get you home

Should I be moving in?

We can be together then

Remember spending all those winter nights stayin' inside by a warm fire

Ya you gotta know: I can never let you go

You and I have the rest of our life to say:

It's easy to love you

So easy to love you

You know it's true

The best part of being with you is to know you are with me

It's not so hard to say

It's easy to love you

Can anybody else see it?

Oh, can anybody else see what I do?

Can anybody else feel it?

Oh, can anybody else feel the way I do?

Now I'm with you

Jin smiled in the moonlight making his fangs reflect it at the five who just rolled their eyes at his showing off.Hard to forget all the moments

When we'd be sitting there hoping it would never end

'Cause this is meant to be

Baby, will you marry me?

It's easy to love you

So easy to love you

You know it's true

The best part of being with you is to know you are with me

It's not so hard to say

It's easy to love you

You and me will be together

I know our love will last forever

You and me will be together

I know our love will last forever

You know it's true

The best part of being with you

You're easy to love

Viper jumped at Jin and gave him a deep kiss, paying no ming to the gawking and snickering coming from the three boys behind her.

"I'm finally home" Jin said looking into her loving eyes.

"But how in China are you a dragon?" Crane said still in disbelief.

"That my feathered friend is a story for the morning when everybody is present. The Five and Shifu." Jin smiled at them.

"You forgot Po" Mantis butted in.

"Who?" Jin asked surprised there was another warrior in the Palace.

"The Dragon Warrior." A stern but calm voice sounded from behind them all.

"Welcome home Jin" Master Shifu said smiling for the first time after he saw Po and Tigress in a kiss.