Here it is! Here's how it all ends!

Chapter 25: Things Looking Up

A week has passed by since Musaki came home from the competition in Shanghai Secluded Valley and in the training hall, he began sparring with Arizona again. The young wolf looks at Musaki in the eye and all Musaki could do is just get ready for what's happening now.

And when Shifu snapped his fingers, Arizona began running towards him, kicking him at every punch, but Musaki grabbed ahold of his leg and threw him around the training hall, but Arizona landed on his feet and just stood there. Musaki immediately went up to him and both of them sparred with each other in every ounce of punch, kick, pounce or twists and spins. And when Arizona planned to use a corkscrew manever on Musaki, he could see that Musaki immediately dodged his effort and did his anti-gravity lean move to prevent himself from being punched out.

And when Musaki got himself back up, he did a twist kick to the jaw and landed on his feet and Arizona completely went out with a straight up package of flips and kicks towards him and both of them continued to spar for a long period of time and when Arizona was ready to shove him down, Musaki jumps up in the air, making Arizona miss his aim and landed on the wall.

Arizona comes back to punch him out and kick him to the ground and when he succeeded, he was able to pin him down, but Musaki had other ideas. He slipped out from under him and just kicked him directly in the shin.

As Shifu put a halt to the spar, Arizona got himself up and the two of them started panting heavily while looking at each other and Shifu comes forward and said, "I can see the tournament you participated has made your training more improved, Musaki. Well done. Arizona, as much as I can praise for holding your own, just be able to keep a sharp eye out for your opponent."

Both of them bowed to Shifu and to each other respectfully and then Arizona comes up to him and said, "Looks like I got my butt kicked again by you."

"Well, hey...it's all a part of the job." Musaki said, smiling.

Just then, Ruiz came over to him and he said to Musaki, "Can't believe you made me kiss the Dragon Warrior's butt last week."

The rest of the gang froze for a minute and had a disgusted look on their faces when they heard what Ruiz just said and Mantis asked, "Ruiz, you kissed Po's butt?"

Po was surprised himself to actually hear this and asked, "Wait, that was you?"

Ruiz nodded his head slowly and Po was completely mortified to hear that he got his butt kissed by Ruiz instead of Musaki and he quickly turned to Musaki and asked, "I thought it was you."

"Dude, if I were to kiss your boom-boom after your little boo-boo in the Peach Tree, I'd have nightmares probably for the rest of my life." Musaki replied.

Po sighed heavily at this and he said, "I'm sorry. I just thought that if I got like a little bump or something, I kept thinking about my dad kissing every sore spot to make it feel better when I was a kid."

Musaki couldn't blame for Po that and he said, "I understand. Just don't ask me to do that again."

Hours later, Musaki was sitting in the Sacred Peach Tree, just looking over the skies and feeling the wind blowing through his fur again and he began looking back on his journey in the competition and realized how far he came to make his journey where he learned a lot of things along the way and made new friends as well. That's a moment that he will cherish until the end of time or until the day he dies.

Just then, he seeks someone flying towards the skies and when he looks up, he sees that it's Mac dropping in and when he landed on the Sacred peach Tree, Musaki looks at him and said, "Hey, Mac. What's up?"

Mac gets himself up and he said, "Got some letters for you from Liu Shang and Taji."

That made Musaki more excited than anything to receive two scrolls from both of them and once he got them, he said, "Thanks, Mac."

Mac nodded his head and he said, "I'll say 'hi' for you when I get back to Shanghai Secluded Valley...and it's great to see you come back home to the Valley of Peace. And also...your grandparents told me to tell you that they're really proud of you."

To hear that Musaki's grandparents are proud of them is considered his greatest accomplishment he's ever had and he smiled and said, "Thanks. I appreciate that."

Mac nodded his head and flew his way back to Shanghai Secluded Valley and after that, Musaki opened up one scroll and it was from Liu Shang. He was anxious but happy to hear what he had to say on that letter.

Hey, Musaki! How's it going? It's your buddy, Liu Shang. Life's been going great here at Shanghai Secluded Valley and I have to say...this is considered a great home for me. The people here are really friendly and welcoming after I won first place. I think I gained a much bigger prize than a medal; since they praised both of us in the competition last week, they wished me the best of luck and made me feel welcome. I like it here a lot better than where I used to live. So how's life in the Valley of Peace? I haven't been there yet, but I am looking forward to come see you for a visit someday. I also want to tell you that you've been a really good friend to me since the tournament and we've become like friends than competitors. And you've given me something I could never gain on my own; you gave me courage, strength and even more...a chance to go after something I never thought in a million years would ever happen; to live out my dream. I'm still training though. Me and Taji are getting along great and we've become best buds after you left. I feel as if my journey has just begun and I can't wait to see where it'll take me...all thanks to you. I'll never forget that. Well, gotta go. Hope to hear from you soon. Your best friend forever, Liu Shang.

It sounds like Liu Shang is happy in Shanghai Secluded Valley and if it's good enough for him, it's definitely good enough for Musaki and he was happy to hear that he is doing extremely well there and that he's happy that he's starting a new life there and there is no doubt in his mind that they will meet each other again.

After this, he sets down the scroll and reads another one from Taji and when he opens it, he was excited to hear what Taji's better up to.

Musaki! What's up? It's Taji here! How ya doing? I'm doing really great! I have to say...Shanghai Secluded Valley is awesome! I'm gonna love living here. Everything's going well and you know...I think this is where my family's gonna live because I've gotten along with everyone here, including Shao and Shin Hai. I began thinking about the competition we participated in and each time I look at my third place medal, I think about how much I've accomplished, even though I didn't land in first place. But it's cool. As long as I'm proud of what I've done and my family supports me, that's all I needed. Also...Liu Shang is a new member of our family and since then, we've been tight with each other. I think we're more like brothers than former competitors or friends. But enough about me, how's life in the Valley of Peace? I bet it must be awesome to live in the Jade Palace with those freakin' awesome kung-fu masters. I hope we get the chance to see each other again soon. And maybe hook me up with Viper...just kidding. Anyways, hope you reply back and we'll talk later, okay? Later, buddy! Your friend, Taji.

"Looks like Liu and Taji are doing well." Musaki said, happily.

Musaki felt definitely lucky to see that there is life after competition and especially life after what happened in 14 years and how he's grateful to have everything he ever wanted; a family, great friends, a great life and a chance to be a great kung-fu master. Looks like the future is holding bright for him as he will remain a warrior on the inside.

Awesome ending, huh? Well, this is where it ends here! Congrats to everyone who have read and reviewed this story and for breaking into the hundred review mark I've set on my previous fics (most of which were on the hundreds as well). A new story is coming up soon, so AniUniverse syaing see yinz later!