Part 4- Mountain Training
First Week - Balance
Coco felt her breath still in her lungs as she stepped forward carefully. The log below her bare feet was wet and slippery, but she continued to step without falter. One misstep and she would be plunging into the stream below. If she did fall it wouldn't hurt, but it was still just the principle.
"Don't let your concentration rob your lungs young one." Coco's Teacher called from the land. "To fully let your mind adapt to different situations, you must let your breathing remain steady."
Coco understood, and released the breath she was holding. She continued to breathe and focused more on the expansion of her chest then of the log beneath her. Although she wasn't in full control of her inhalations yet, she continued to step forward, feeling confidence as she persisted. Just as she stepped, she felt her foot slip from the smooth bark of the log. With a cry of surprise Coco tumbled over the side of the natural bridge, and splashed into the water. She stood up in the shallow stream and coughed the water out of her mouth. She shook her hair and squeezed out what water she could. Then she scurried back onto the bank, not bothering to stand as she waited for her Teacher's words. He looked at her with a mix of calculative emotion, before his thoughts were concealed by an unreadable mask.
"What happened?"
Coco took her lip between her teeth in discomfort. "I, uh, fell."
"From the splash I'd say that was apparent. Do you have any idea why your concentration was broken so suddenly?"
Coco shook her head.
"Rarely can an accident be avoided without knowledge and ability. If you work hard to remain at your peak, any missteps or accidents are mere acts of fate. There is a very slight difference between accident and fate, but it is there just the same. You must be sure that you conquer your breathing before attempting to continue on with a task. Complete one step and the rest will fall into place."
Coco nodded. "Yes Teacher."
Second Week - Observation
"Now that you have familiarized yourself with the basic tests of mental and physical balance, you must next begin to put that knowledge to the test."
Coco stood in a part of the jungle rich with foliage and impossibly large trees that scraped the sky. She had to crane her neck just to catch a glimpse at the leaves above. Her Teacher stood passively beside her, his hands clasped behind his back.
"Your task is to bring me back a lunar flower. They are normally hidden during the sunlight hours, but you will notice that they are the only white flowers in this area. Take whatever measures are necessary."
With those words, her Teacher turned on his heel and strode away, most likely to wait at the camp for her return. Coco took a deep breath and focused. She expected that she was brought to this place with the incredibly large trees so that she could climb one and obtain a lunar flower. That seemed like a challenge. Coco placed a tentative hand on the bark, and swallowed back her nervousness. This tree was higher than she had ever climbed before. She exhaled sharply.
"Alright Coco, get at it."
Following her own advice, Coco reached for a branch and began the monotonous climb to the top of the tree. She had barely risen six feet from the ground when her foot slipped off a thin branch and she slid back to the ground. She landed on her feet, but not without an embarrassing lack of grace. Immediately she tried it again, using the claws on her hands and bare feet to assist her this time. She thought she was doing pretty well, before her next branch snapped and she went plummeting back to the earth. This time she landed on her backside, and she felt the impact shutter up into her teeth.
"This is ridiculous."
Despite her annoyance, Coco kept trying. She spent close to an hour attempting to scale that tree. On her twelfth fall she gave the tree a frustrated kick and collapsed on her back, completely exhausted. Her forehead was wet and sticky with sweat, and small twigs and leaves were tangled in her hair. Her palms were red and raw from sliding down the rough bark so many times, and her muscles were tired and useless. Coco looked up as a figure stepped into view. Coco grimaced.
"I can't do it Teacher."
Her Teacher nodded solemnly. "Do you remember the task I asked of you, young one?"
Like I could forget.
"You asked me to bring you a lunar flower, and I tried to."
Her Teacher looked as though he was trying his hardest not to smile. Coco got up into a sitting position to see what had him so amused. She gasped when she saw them. A few feet away, nestled pleasantly in a bramble bush, were dozens of sparkling white flowers. Coco groaned.
"The task was to bring me a lunar flower, by any means. You were correct in assuming that lunar flowers grew at the top of this tree, but that is not what I asked."
Coco's jaw dropped slightly. All she needed to do was take one lunar flower from the bush below and she would have been finished the task! Without any aggravation.
"There are usually multiple ways to complete a challenge set before you, young bandicoot. You must examine your surroundings before you act."
Coco was getting quite annoyed with this, and she hid her hands to hide the scratches. "So you're saying I need to make sure I pick the easiest path?"
Her Teacher shook his head. "Not easiest. If I had asked for the largest lunar flower, you would have had to scale that tree to complete your task. Sometimes the answer to your problem is staring you in the face. Observation is the key."
Coco was finally beginning to understand. Her Teacher was not telling her to take the easiest path to achievement, but to be aware of her surroundings so she could pick up vital details. It stood to reason.
"Now," Her Teacher continued with a small smile. "Let's get those hands of yours tended to."
Coco couldn't restrain an embarrassed smile, and slowly got to her feet to follow her Teacher back to the camp.
Third Week - Inner Calm
It was strange, but when Coco first considered the concept of meditation she had her suspicions that it would be simple. Being in complete control of one's mind sounded a little tricky, but she didn't have any immediate problems with clearing her mind. Her Teacher had given her a few pointers before she went on her hike, explaining many methods of achieving total peace of mind. Now she was wandering through the jungle again, not too far from camp, looking for the perfect spot to find her relaxation point. It didn't take long for her to find it. In a secluded alcove, surrounded by shady trees and concealed by long wispy branches, sat a beautiful lagoon bordered by waterfalls. The sound of the water wasn't a thundering sound, which would have been expected, but only pleasantly rumbling, a movement of life.
Coco felt something about the gentle movement of water to be very relaxing, and she made her way to a smooth stone partially submerged in the crystal water. She sat down, and remembered the words of her Teacher. He had told her that before attempting to fight a battle one's mind should be completely clear and unshakably focused. This was not just a rule for combat, but for seeing the world as it truly was. To fully be at peace with everything around her she needed to accept the everlasting movement. She needed to feel the commotion that surrounded her and move past it, achieving serenity and calm.
Coco took a deep breath and closed her eyes. At first, all she could hear was the water, and distant jungle sounds, but she didn't feel particularly relaxed by the tranquility. She furrowed her brow and concentrated. She focused on her breathing, as her Teacher said, but was still having trouble finding a centre within herself. Her mind kept teetering, one way and then the other, with no evidence that it would settle any time soon. She kept her eyes shut, but she felt her eyelids begin to twitch, and she felt the slight jolts of a headache. What was going on? What was so hard about this? Soon the noises around her became unbearably loud. They were a distraction to her task of achieving total calm. Her posture began to tense out of frustrated irritation, and her hands began to clench unconsciously. Finally, she lost it.
Her eyes snapped open and she released a gnarled shout of aggravation. Her breathing pattern was slightly ragged, since she must have held her breath as her frustration rose. She shook her head in dejection. She wasn't expecting this to be hard at all. Yet as she began to calm down she began to realize what she was doing wrong.
I can't possibly block out all the sounds around me. I don't think Teacher meant that to achieve calm my mind needed to be silent. I just need to find a balance. Feel the fresh energy alive around me.
Coco slowly closed her eyes and tried again. This time, she welcomed the sounds of the rumbling waterfalls and the cawing of nameless birds from far away. The rustling of leaves against the sky was as calming as wind chimes. She was utterly still, but her mind remained in a tranquil motion. Inside her mind's eye, she could see her home by the beach. The thatched roof and oddly proportioned construction of the house her brother had built a long time ago. She could see Pura, rolling in a field of bright yellow flowers, his glossy rust coloured coat glistening in the morning sun. She could see Aku Aku, hovering over her with nothing but calm affection dancing off his bright golden eyes. Then she saw her brother, half asleep on a branch while attempting to harvest some of the more luscious wamba fruit. He glanced up at her, and offered a warm smile that made the inside of Coco's chest glow with comforting affection. Why did she want to fight? To protect this world, and everyone in it that she cherished. She wanted everyone to be safe from pain and sorrow. She wanted to know that anytime she felt sad or lonely, that she could look to her brother, and see that infectiously cocky smirk that was so comforting.
Soon, Crash's image faded from her mind. Now she could see nothing but a calm constantly moving sphere of serenity. From inside it, music from the outside world created a rhythm so intoxicating that Coco desired to abandon her task to dance. The air around her moved with the beautiful chords of the jungle around her, and as she let it absorb into her mind as she felt completely at peace.
Coco opened her eyes. The sun had gone down, and she was surrounded by darkness. Yet the moon in the sky was bright, and cast a pale ivory shaft against the water below her. Coco leaned toward the water, and could easily see her reflection in the calm crystal surface. Her face was content, and all the lines of furrowed muscles and juvenile frustration had disappeared. Coco smiled. She had never felt so peaceful before, and the enlightenment was absolutely glorious. She scratched her head absently, and then yawned. She had been at this for a couple hours at least, and yet it seemed as though a lifetime had gone by. She let her eyes flutter closed again as she took a strong inhale of fresh night air. Then she rose to her feet gracefully, without even the slightest ache of tight muscles, and strode back to the camp with a bright smile on her face.
Forth Week - Hand-to-hand Combat
Finally!
Coco had been waiting for a long time, and she had learned many useful things but now she was about to begin the training she looked forward to. Her Teacher had decided she was finally ready to learn to physically fight. Coco stood in an open clearing opposite her teacher. Coco opened and clenched her fists as she waited anxiously for what her Teacher had to say. The latter looked quite calm if a little sluggish, but he was smiling.
"You have completed nearly three weeks of training without lifting a hand to strike. I know what lessons you should have learned in those weeks, but only you know if you truly learned them. Now we begin the part of the training that you have been so eager to attempt."
"I'm ready Teacher." Coco put forth, impatiently eager.
Her Teacher raised an eyebrow, silent for a moment. Then he shrugged with a slow lift of his shoulders.
"Very well."
Coco secretly wondered if this ancient ape really knew any fighting techniques. He seemed more of a mellow, patient being only interested in calming the mind. Coco was youthful, and she could feel her energy pulse with excitement. What she didn't expect, was what instantly occurred next. Her Teacher leapt at her with a remarkable speed, and a second later he was right in front of her. He thrust his arm out and prepared to chop at Coco's shoulder. In response, Coco dropped to the ground and somewhat clumsily attempted to back away to gain more ground. Her Teacher didn't let up, closing the space between them and knocking her flat on her back. She coughed at the impact, and when she stopped sliding she looked up at him with a shocked expression.
"If you are impatient, young one, you will always be taken by surprise."
Coco got back to her feet, her pride far sorer than her backside. She slowly nodded her head in understanding.
"Sorry Teacher. I am ready for any advice you have for me."
Her Teacher smiled in approval, and then nodded in such an ancient way that Coco was astounded at the transformation. He was an ancient soul at one moment, and at the next he was sailing though the air faster than her eyes could follow. Just as quick as he moved he could mellow down again and offer the appearance that he was a defenseless old man. Coco made the connection that she may be able to use such misunderstanding to her advantage in her own situation, when she learned the basics of fighting of course.
For the next few hours Coco's Teacher taught her many different sequences. At first, he taught her only to defend, which instantly confused her. It had seemed like a lifetime of blocking and evading attacks, but she supposed they were lessons she needed. She remembered again to be patient, and struggled to stay focused on her defensive tasks. They had begun in the morning, and it was late in the afternoon now and Coco still hadn't made one counterattack. Sweat matted the fur on her forehead, and ran down her arms making her forearms and palms annoyingly sticky. Still she continued to defend, gritting her teeth in ultimate impatience. Finally, her Teacher broke away from the fight. His calm and relaxed countenance contrasted strongly with Coco's hunched, panting form.
"That's enough for today, young one." Something in his voice seemed somewhat disappointed, and it jabbed Coco's heart to hear it. "Get some rest."
Her Teacher turned his back and began to stride back to the camp. Coco realized what she had done in a moment, and her eyes widened in embarrassed surprise.
"Wait Teacher!"
Her Teacher turned around slowly, meeting her eyes with a cool gaze. Coco grinned and straightened.
"May we try it one last time?"
With a slow smile, her Teacher bowed his head once. Before Coco could consider if her Teacher was nodding or not, he lunged at her. She blocked the attack effortlessly, and danced to the side to gain more ground. She had almost blown her chance to be taught what she really wanted to learn. The few weeks she had spent with her Teacher had taught her that every task was aimed to teach a lesson. She needed to retain those valuable messages or learning them was useless. Her Teacher had been telling her to remain patient, and despite his urging she had not heeded the lesson. She had not been putting every ounce of effort in her lesson because she her heart wasn't in it. Obviously her Teacher saw this.
Coco ducked as her Teacher's leg sailed over her head, and as he came around with his other foot she was already off the ground and spinning through the air. She landed in a crouch, and used her slight frame and speed to fluidly move in and out of her Teacher's defenses. She didn't attempt to attack once, but continued on the course she had been on since the morning. As Coco moved she felt her exhaustion fade away. She felt as though a great weight had been lifted off her shoulders and now she was granted the power to push off the ground and fly through the air. She leapt, and although she did not remain airborne for long she was able to twist her body so that she landed behind her Teacher. She planted her feet, widening her stance and threw her arm toward her Teacher's neck. She stopped a hairsbreadth away, and there the two of them remained for a long moment. Finally, her Teacher smiled.
"Very good. You have conquered your agility. That is the most important step of your combat training."
Coco dropped her arm, breathing heavily.
"Why is that Teacher?"
"Many if not all of your enemies will be larger than you, and being so small in frame you cannot triumph with strength alone. Your greatest strength, as well as your brother's, is speed, movement and quick thinking. Once you elaborate these talents, no foe will be a match for you."
Coco understood this. She silently followed her Teacher back to camp, not once mentioning about when she would learn to attack. If she put all her focus in each task he offered her, she would soon learn.
Fifth Week - Weapon Training
Coco had been away from home for nearly a month now, and although she missed her family, she took comfort in them knowing she was safe. Crash probably wouldn't believe it until he saw her, but Coco was thriving on the knowledge she was receiving up here in the mountains. Now she stood at the base of a rocky cliff, armed with a long shaft of wood in one hand. Her Teacher was nowhere to be seen, but Coco had practiced this drill many times already. After sailing through her hand-to-hand fighting, Coco had been permitted to train with weapons. She had been expecting to be working with a blade or other dangerous weapons, and was surprised when her Teacher handed her a stick.
"What am I supposed to do with this?"
"Fight."
And that's what Coco did. For three days straight she learned to twirl and strike, she learned to extend her body out through her limps and into her weapon. Now, she was waiting patiently for the inevitable attack to decent toward her. She was prepared to deflect the blow at any angle it came at her, but to her surprise it came from below. Coco leapt high into the air as a plank of wood identical to the one she was armed with sailed beneath her. Coco twirled, landing on her toes in a stance facing her opponent. Her Teacher recovered from his failed attempt to bring her to the ground, and soon had his staff in the air and chopping downward. Coco saw the attack coming, and stepped to the side as the staff struck the ground with a staggering amount of force. Coco realized she didn't want to be in the path of that stick.
Coco's strong combat skills were based on speed, not strength of force. If she was going to win this match, she needed to focus on her agility. She continued to step back, offering the illusion that she was on the defensive. Her new strategy was something she had not tried yet, in any of their matches, and she was hoping that she would be able to draw her Teacher into the ploy. Yet despite his size, her Teacher was remarkably fast. He had quickly covered the ground Coco had been so careful to keep between them, and his weapon was far too close a range now for her to attempt her strategy. A clacking of wood against wood sounded in the clearing, and it was repeated over and over as Coco and her Teacher exchanged blows. Coco used both sides of the staff, deflecting one attack with her weak side, and then spinning on her heel to deliver a strong offensive strike. The longest match Coco had fought against her Teacher had lasted an hour and a half, and she suspected this one would take a fair bit longer. Yet she was prepared. Although she had only been training for a month, her limber anthropoid body was naturally quick and adaptable. When her logical thoughts and reactions failed her she could always rely on her animal instincts to keep her out of harm's way.
An hour passed, and then another. Coco had hardly noticed despite the fact her brow was sweating heavily from the constant movement and searing heat. Yet she noted with quiet satisfaction that she was remaining on the offensive, and her Teacher was slowly starting to tire. His movements were still sharp and his attacks crisp, but there was a distinct clumsiness in his footwork that Coco knew she needed to exploit. She feinted an attack to her Teacher's right, and when he took the bait she twirled instead, and plunged her quarterstaff into the dirt. This was a risky move, but she was confident she'd be able to use it before her Teacher recovered. And she was right. Coco used the leverage from the ground to spin into the air and deliver a hard kick to her Teacher's side. The latter lost his footing only for a second, and in that time Coco was back on her feet and attacking with relentless strikes. She was unable to break through her Teacher's defenses, yet she still continued to force him back. Finally, her Teacher thrust his staff out to intercept an attack, completely exposing his right side. Seeing nothing but an ample opportunity, Coco lifted a foot off the ground to attack with another fast kick. Suddenly, her Teacher shifted and blocked her foot with his forearm. She was so taken aback that she didn't even see the staff sail toward her left side. She ducked, and felt the wood clip one of her ears as it sailed over her head.
She was now completely off-balance, and her Teacher used that immobility to his advantage. He slammed his weapon into her staff, striking it hard enough that it twirled out of her weak grip. She didn't see where it landed, focusing instead on gathering her balance and dodging away. Now she stood still and tense, hands twitching empty air as if feeling for the weapon she had lost. Her Teacher's quarterstaff remained strongly raised before him.
"Yield?" He asked her, offering a chance to surrender.
Coco had yielded many times in the past, knowing she did not possess the necessary skills to take on her Teacher any farther. Yet this time she was ready. She had enough knowledge and practice that she could continue, and even if she failed she needed to know that she stood a chance. She smiled and shook her head.
"Not yet."
Coco lunged at her Teacher, and put all her energy into a furious attack of kicks and chops. Her Teacher lifted his staff to deflect her bare-handed fighting tactics, but Coco already knew where the hardest and toughest parts of her forearms and calves were. Her Teacher could not damage her unless she made a mistake, and she didn't intend to. After a fierce battle of unrelenting attacks, Coco used her Teacher's consistent imbalance to break from the fight. She used her slight body to flip through the air, touching her hands briefly to the ground in a handspring. As she executed a sober cartwheel to slow her momentum, she could feel a blunt object at her palm, just as she had planned. Her hand wrapped around the quarterstaff, and she whirled it to gather speed just as her Teacher charged toward her. Coco knew she would never be able to block his attack, especially now at the velocity he gained. So she waited until the last possible moment, and then shrunk to the ground. The only response she would get in attempting to trip him would be an unpleasant smack on her back. However, that was not her plan. As he skidded to a stop, Coco slunk out of his path and came up behind him. She thrust her staff between her Teacher's legs, and as she dove into a roll she felt her Teacher's balance fail.
He toppled to the ground, landing on his back. Coco rose up and pointed her staff downward. Her stance was strong, and she was on her toes in preparation to leap into any direction. Her Teacher was beaming from below her.
"I submit." Her Teacher acknowledged, and Coco let out an exhausted breath.
She reached down and helped her Teacher to his feet with a glowing smile on her face. She had done it! She had applied every skill she had learned, and she won! Coco realized that reveling in her victory was juvenile, so she slowly bowed her head in respect to her Teacher. With a strong clasp on her shoulder, her Teacher's voice was soft and full of pride.
"Well done."