Chapter 5: Plans and the Dragon Guardian
They reached the noodle shop in less than ten minutes flat. Mr. Ping was happy to see his children wanting to help cook the special dinner he was making. While he was making his famous Secret Ingredient Soup, Po and Star were making dumplings along with an apple pie for desert. Po kneaded the dough as Star was gathering ingredients for the pie. Then it was time to make the pie. Po cleaned the apples off and stood before Star. "Ready Star?" he asked. Star popped her neck as she got her claws out and prepared for the apples.
"Ready," she said giving him a sly grin.
"One, two, three," Po said and threw the apples in the air as Star jumped and swiped at them with her claws. Po caught them in a bowl and they were diced into mouth sized bites. "Who needs knives when we got you? Thanks sis for the help," Po said with a smile.
"Anytime Po," Star said licking the apple juice from her claws. Then Star made the pie crust as Po added cinnamon and sugar to the pie. Placed the apples in the pie crust and covered it with the outer layer and Star using her claws to cut the dough hanging off the side and added the holes in the center so they steam could escape through and the pie was placed in the oven. "Alright everything is cooked go Team Ping," Star said happily as her and Po high fived each other. They began to set the table as Mr. Ping closed the restaurant and within 30 minutes The Five and Shifu came in just as Star and Po were placing the food on the table.
"Boy it smells good in here," Tigress said as Po offered her a seat.
"Wait till you taste it Kitten," Po said kissing her cheek. Soon everyone sat down as the dinner began. Mr. Ping sat at the head of the table with Star sitting to his left and Po to his right. Tigress sat by Po and Monkey sat by Star. Crane sat next to Monkey and Viper sat across from Crane. Mantis sat by Crane and Shifu was at the other end of the table.
"So, Star what do you plan on doing while you are here?" Shifu asked curiously.
"Well, sir I have been meaning to open up my own art academy and last month I earned the money I needed to buy the place. It is just around the corner from the Black Jade club that little vacant building," Star told him.
"That place is a dump," Mantis muttered and Po along with everyone else besides Star glared at him. "I mean nice choice," he said nervously.
"I think it shows true potential," Star said smiling.
"Potential to be torn down," Mantis muttered and was flicked in the head by Monkey.
"So, you finally bought the place. Awesome what is your plan Star?" Po asked smiling at her.
"Well I have a bit of money left to start making repairs and I plan on working on it tomorrow. Fixing things, seeing what it needs you know the basics, but I won't have any money to hire teachers yet till I win another dance contest and that won't be until next month. So, I was wondering if you and your friends would be my teachers." Star asked them. "Po, you and dad are the best cooks I know and it will be awesome if you could teach future chefs to cook," she said.
"Sure sis it would be fun," Po told her.
"Anything for my baby girl," Mr. Ping said causing Star to blush.
"Thanks and Viper again you are a great ribbon dancer mind being one of the dance instructors?" she asked her.
"I would love too," Viper said blushing.
"Crane, Po says you are a great painter mind being an art teacher?" Star asked him.
"Uh well I don't think I am that good but I would love to help," Crane said nervously.
"Monkey, Po says you are very funny and a good actor mind being a drama teacher at my academy?" Star asked.
"Sounds like fun," Monkey said.
"Mantis, Po tells me you a great sculpture mind being another art teacher?" Star asked.
"Sure I would love too," Mantis said smiling. Then Star looked at Tigress and Shifu.
"Po says you Tigress, and Shifu are amazing at Kung Fu would you mind teaching at my academy?" she asked them with hopeful eyes.
"I may be a bit busy my dear but I will try," Shifu said politely.
"It would be an honor," Tigress said politely. Star smiled for now she had a staff of teachers till she could afford more teachers.
"Thank you everyone I am truly grateful," Star said. After that they began to talk about when Po and Star were kids. Sharing funny stories that made everyone laugh. Then Star remembered something she read in one of the scrolls and wondered if maybe Shifu could tell her more. "Um Master Shifu mind if I ask you a question?" she asked politely.
"Of course ask away," Shifu said.
"While I was reading one of your scrolls about Kung Fu Masters, one mentioned the prophecy of the Dragon Guardian. Who is the Dragon Guardian was that another name for Po's title?" Star asked.
"Uh no my dear the Dragon Guardian was a different title for a different warrior. Master Oogway a wise old turtle and my Master told me about the Legend of the Dragon Guardian as well as the Dragon Warrior," Shifu began.
"Cool I never heard of this legend please tell us Master Shifu," Po said excitedly.
"Well according to legend the Dragon Guardian would help the Dragon Warrior defend the Valley from evil. By protecting the light of the innocent and would be the Dragon Warrior's equal in strength and spirit. Together they would be an unstoppable force against evil that once together evil would forever be vanquished, Shifu told everyone.
"That sounds awesome so who is the Dragon Guardian oh I know Tigress right?" Star asked with a smile as she looked at the female tiger but Tigress's sad face removed Star's smile.
"Ah actually Star there is no Dragon Guardian for Master Oogway only announced who the Dragon Warrior would be and you know it was Po. Oogway said the Dragon Guardian would arrive soon and told me to have faith but he vanished before he could reveal who the Dragon Guardian was. But there was hope he said he would return once the Dragon Guardian arrived and he himself would reveal who the Dragon Guardian was. And I must trust in my Master and pray he will return to tell us who the Dragon Guardian is," Shifu said with a small smile.
"Well whoever this person is better take care of my brother," Star said firmly. Tigress along with the rest of the Five knew of the Dragon Guardian and she hoped she would be the Dragon Guardian. Being Po's equal in strength and spirit and being an unstoppable force against evil would be her ultimate dream. When everyone was eating their pie a strange wind blew around them and the Five, Po, and Shifu prepared for an attack. Yet, a string of blossoms circled around them and they swirled together forming a figure. The blossoms disappeared and revealing an old green turtle wearing a light blue tunic carrying a staff, wearing a wise but kind expression on his face.
"Master Oogway is that you?" Shifu asked in disbelief.
"Yes Shifu I have returned as I said I would to announce who the Dragon Guardian is," Oogway answered in a soft and gentle tone.
"Please Master tell us who is the Dragon Guardian," Shifu said in an excited tone. After all these years they would find out who the Dragon Guardian was. Oogway smiled and pointed and at first everyone thought he was pointing at Tigress. But as they looked closer he was not pointing at Tigress but at someone else. "You are the Dragon Guardian my dear," Oogway said as he looked right at an extremely surprised Star.
Author's Note: Hope you all enjoyed this chapter and please review.