Chapter 12 is up! Thanks a lot for the reviews! I hope you guys like the next chapter, so enjoy!
Chapter 12
Reunion…Sort of…
Tigress was out in front as she led the Group of guards up the mountain path with Monkey just behind her. The Captain had said that it would be no more than five hours to walk the distance between the docks and the mountain village. But what he never counted on was them having to stop every hour for 15 minutes for the rhinos to take a break. They weren't used to this mountain terrain and it was wearing on them greatly which only annoyed the tiger. If it was only her and Monkey, they could have made it to the village in three hours at the most. But thanks to these guys it was taking them more than six hours just to make it to the village.
As the sun was now beginning to set, the group had finally made it to the village gates where they were greeted by Master Ming herself, as she stood at the gates her arms crossed as she watched them approach. Once the travelers approached her Ming bowed as she greeted them "Master Tigress, Master Monkey, it is good to see you both once again. Thank you for coming so quickly." Tigress and Monkey both bowed as Tigress greeted her "Master Ming…Apologies for the delay…we'd have been here sooner but there were…complications." as Tigress looked behind her to the group of Rhinos who all merely stared ahead. They knew they were the reason for the delay, but they dared not say anything to Master Tigress. She may still be a teenager, but she was a Kung Fu Master, therefore, when their Captain wasn't around, as the leader of the Furious Five and prized pupil to Master Shifu, she was in charge...
Monkey then stepped forward saying "Nice to see you again Ming, maybe after we deal with these bandits you can show me around your town here? Maybe even grab a bite?" as Monkey raised his eyebrows slightly. Ming smiled as she nodded "Perhaps…for now…allow me to take you to a place your comrades can rest and get a nice meal. I have arranged for you all to have rooms at the Inn. The guards will have to share two of them and the Masters will also be sharing a room. I am sorry but the other rooms were already occupied, but at least everyone will have a bed to sleep on." Ming finished with a small smile towards the guards who all nodded their heads in thanks while Tigress merely said "That is more than enough Ming, thank you." Ming bowed again as she began to lead the travelers to the village inn. "This way…" Ming called as they made their way through the village streets.
As they walked Monkey and Tigress both noticed the old house up on the Cliff side, high above the village. Monkey was the one to ask. "Say Ming? Who lives up in that house up there on the cliffs overlooking the village?" Ming was silent for a long moment. According to Po, these two were two of his closest friends, and Tigress was his best friend, but she gave Master Brycen her word as a Master, that she would reveal nothing about her knowledge of the Panda in anyway shape or form regarding his presence in the village to anyone at all. So she decided to say. "That house has belonged to a family for six generations now. The current members of the family merely use it as a vacation home now for during the summer. They are very nice people, but mostly keep to themselves." Tigress commented "It looks like the view up there would be breathtaking to say the least. It would be nice to see it at least once before we leave." Ming merely shook her head no saying "Unfortunately the owner does not care for visitors…I am sorry to disappoint you." as the Leopard continued walking down the street leading the party to the inn.
Once Ming brought them to the inn she turned and allowed the guards to enter before looking at the other Masters. Tigress then said "I'd like to discuss a plan of action for how we are to deal with these bandits of yours as soon as possible." Monkey sighed a bit, he was clearly hoping to get a quick meal in and maybe spend some time with Ming before they got down to business. Ming shook her head no saying "Please, get yourselves something to eat, afterwards feel free to explore the village and tonight we can discuss a plan once my associate arrives." Monkey raised an eyebrow "Associate? We were told you were by yourself up here." Tigress was also confused as she eyed Ming suspiciously. Ming then explained. "After I sent word for help, I still hadn't received word yet that you were coming, when this person showed up and started to help out. He's watched my back on a couple of occasions and I honestly will accept as much help as I can get. It was also thanks to his help, that I was able to learn the location of the Bandits hideout. He's to be meeting me above the inn tonight on the roof. Once he arrives we can form a plan and stop these bandits once and for all."
Tigress then asked "This associate of yours…can we trust them?" Ming then looked at Tigress in the eye saying "He has had my back on multiple occasions and may have very well saved my life recently…I have also given my word to vouch for him if he agrees to follow my orders, so yes I believe we can all trust him." Monkey shrugged his shoulders, "Good enough for me, I'm gonna grab a bite to eat, you coming Tigress?" as the primate looked over at her. Tigress shook her head no saying "No, I'm going to go take a look around the village, get a good feel for the layout. I'll meet you back here later." She said, as Tigress leaped up onto a nearby roof as she began to run the perimeter of the village. Monkey just rolled his eyes saying "Always all business…Guess that's why Shifu leaves her in charge." As Monkey turned to Ming and asked "So, how about that meal?" Ming just smiled as she led Monkey inside the inn.
As Tigress was running along the rooftops she was taking in every single detail of the village below her, every street, every alley, the locations of all the shops and vendors, and memorizing the locations of the most iconic buildings. After about three laps around the village, Tigress felt she could walk it's streets while blindfolded as she kept gazing up at the house on the cliffs, when she noticed a lone figure walking up to the house. Tigress was too far away to make out any details for sure but the figure looked like he was watching the village as they sat down near the cliffs edge. After a moment, another figure emerged from the house, this one significantly larger as they ushered the shorter one inside. Slowly the first figure turned and entered the house and Tigress was left staring at the house again. "Hmph…" Tigress huffed as she continued finishing her rounds before running back to the inn.
On the Mountain top with Po…
Po had finished his dinner and was beginning to clean up his plate when Hua asked "Did you get enough to eat dear?" Po just gave her a smile as he nodded his head saying "Yes mam, thank you for the meal." as Po made his way outside onto the porch. Hua turned to look at Brycen who hadn't said a word all through dinner. "Brycen what's wrong?" But Brycen merely shook his head as he continued picking away at his noodles. Jing was in the boy's room and it was just the two adults in the kitchen. After a moment Hua tried again "You want to tell me now, or should I ask Po?" She said folding her arms, finally getting her husband's attention. "Brycen, the two of you have hardly said anything all night, now what's wrong?" Brycen sighed as he checked to see if Jing's door was closed. After a moment he said "Oogway stopped by today…and I overheard him talking with Po…"
Hua then encouraged her husband to continue, "And?" Brycen sighed as he said "The boy is getting frustrated with me…and to be honest…he has every right to be…" Hua then asked "What do you mean?" Brycen then gave her an odd look as he said "You know there are certain things that as a Master I cannot discuss…But…without revealing any details…Let's just say I've asked a bit too much of Po without giving him anything in return…" Hua then said "Well it sounds to me that there is an easy solution." Brycen shook his head no saying "If only that were true…the problem is Hua…If I tell Po what he wants to know…then I have to tell the boy everything…all of it…and I just don't know how he will react…or how it could possibly change him…"
Hua then sighed as she said "You're talking about his past…aren't you?" Brycen whirled his head around asking "How on earth did you know that?" Hua sighed again as she said "I don't have any details, really… but I overheard you and Master Oogway talking a couple of times...I swear dear, I wasn't snooping." She said as she held his paw. "Is it that bad?" She asked after there was a long silence Brycen turned to her and nodded his head "That…and I'm afraid that if I tell him…not only will it change him…but that he could never trust in me again…" Hua squeezed his paw as she said "Brycen… I'm sure Po would understand if you explained that to him… he's a good person, with a kind heart…I truly believe he'd understand." Brycen was silent for a long while before he said "You know…I am so not looking forward to the day Jing becomes a teenager…cause this is just too hard." as the two enjoyed a quiet chuckle. After another moment Hua said "Brycen…Po cares for and respects you, and I'm sure he's even so much as grateful to you…but dear…the boy has been nothing but a loyal student to you…you need to give him something…if nothing else…your reasons for hesitating…otherwise your fears may very well come true." Brycen was silent again as he thought of Hua's words to him. After a while he nodded his head "I know…" as the two just sat there for a while longer.
Meanwhile Po was out sitting on the porch as he watched the sun setting into the west, his mind whirling around what tonight would bring when he heard the door sliding open behind him. Po turned to see Brycen now leaning up against the post as he crossed his arms while he looked out over the village "You know? When I was growing up out here…I used to sit over on that cliffs edge like you do a lot and just watch the village in the evenings." Po was silent for a moment but he then said "You know…I always wondered what you were like as a kid…" Brycen chuckled a bit as he said "Boy, if my mother was here, she'd say I was the Devil's child for sure." Po raised an eyebrow as he turned his head and asked "Really? You!?" Brycen nodded his head as he said "Whenever I wasn't training with my father I was always causing her trouble as a cub. Tracking mud through the house, tearing the rice paper walls, I'd even pull a few pranks here and there just to watch her reaction." As Brycen smiled at himself, he remembered one instance in particular, when he hid his mother's cooking apron on the roof. "But you're so…not like that now." Po said as Brycen sat down next to him and chuckled "heh heh, you can thank my father for that. Once I turned twelve Every time I pulled a prank on my mother I had to run the mountain Path….12 times…" Po's jaw dropped "T-Twelve times!?" Brycen nodded "Yup…once for every year old I was…between my father and Master Oogway…I straightened out REAL quick." as Po smiled a bit and the two sat in silence.
Brycen sighed then as he spoke "I overheard you and Oogway today…" If Po was surprised he didn't show it, as he continued to gaze out over the cliffs. Brycen continued "You have every right to be frustrated Po…But I do have my-" "-You said you would be honest with me…" Po interrupted as he looked over at Brycen. "You said you would be completely honest with me…" Brycen nodded his head as Po continued "So…since you're going to be honest with me…Why won't you tell me why I'm here…Why I've left my life to come up here and train with you just because you pretty much said so…Why am I the one who has to learn all this Kung Fu, and prepare for a destiny that no one is willing to even tell me about? Why I have to hide away and can't even walk down to the village without changing my appearance or wearing large cloaks? And what are you trying to protect me from?" Po never once raised his voice, but he might as well have. Brycen sighed as he sat there in thought for a moment. After a while he was about to say something when Po got up to his feet and said "You know what? Just forget it…I'm going to bed…Goodnight Master." As Po got up and went into the house, leaving a bewildered Brycen on the porch as he said to himself "So no more Coach… huh boy? *Sigh*" As Brycen remained on the porch as the sun had now set completely. "Mother… I am so sorry for the Hell I put you through…"
Two Hours later, Po was lying on his bedroll listening to Jing snore as he concentrated his hearing on the other room. Brycen and Hua had gone to bed an hour ago and Po was making sure they were both asleep before he snuck out to meet up with Ming and the other Masters. Finally he heard the two snoring and Po climbed out from the covers as he grabbed his Dragon tunic. Without even realizing that he tore a small piece of the fabric off on a loose splinter from the bottom of the tunic, as he stuffed his pack and clothes under his blankets. He then quietly snuck out of the house and made his way down to the Village.
In less than an hour, Po had made it down to the village and began making his way over to the Inn. He was hoping Ming wouldn't be mad at him for being late, but it seemed to take Brycen longer to fall asleep tonight. Probably because of what Po had said to him. "Whatever… I can't worry about that now. Gotta focus." Po thought to himself as he saw the village inn coming into view. About two rooftops away though, Po stopped dead in his tracks as he looked ahead at the Inn rooftop to see three figures with their backs to him. One was Ming, but the two next to her were two of the last people Po was expecting to run into, as Po ducked behind a chimney "Monkey!? Tigress!? What the heck are they doing here!?" Po asked himself as he tried to think of what he should do next.
He Looked around the chimney and saw Tigress leaning against the building now looking straight ahead. Po wanted nothing more than to rush up and give her a big bear hug. He had missed Tigress so much that summer, and it was taking every ounce of self-control not to call out to his best friend right then. But he wasn't Po right now…he was the Dragon Warrior, and she thought he was in a completely different location. How was he supposed to explain his presence in the village? Plus, he had literally no idea how she was going to react to seeing the Dragon Warrior all the way out here in the Mountains. Suddenly there was a loud "clank" as a shingle wedged loose from under his weight and rolled off the edge of the roof "Crap." Po mumbled, as he knew Tigress was going to hear that.
On top of the Inn…mere moments before
Tigress, Monkey, and Ming were all standing on the rooftop waiting for Ming's "Associate" and Tigress was getting frustrated "For crying out loud Ming, I thought you said this guy was coming." Ming just stared ahead saying "Patients Master Tigress…He will be here, he gave me his word." At that Moment Tigress had walked over to the edge of the building and leaned up against the wall, as she began thinking to herself. "This is stupid…We could have already formed a plan by now and be on our way to the bandits hideout. Instead we're stuck waiting for some idiot who doesn't even have the decency to show up on time. Ming said we can trust him, but I'm starting to have my doubts."
At that moment Tigress's ear twitched and she spun on her feet. She could have sworn she heard something just now. Her ears up and focused, she then heard a barely audible mumble off to her right. "Crap." Immediately Tigress sprung in the direction of the voice as Monkey called after her "Tigress!?" Ming also whirled around and shouted at her, "Tigress wait!" But Tigress didn't listen to either of them. They weren't alone up here above the village.
As Tigress neared a chimney she vaulted over it and looked down to see a large figure hiding behind it in a red hood, his head bent forward. "No way…" Tigress thought to herself as she landed and spun back on her feet as she entered a fighting stance "YOU!?" Tigress roared as the figure stood up, his back to the chimney, and Tigress could just make out the color of his eyes through the Moonlight…they were Jade Green…just like in her dream. The Dragon Warrior then spoke "H-Hey there Whiskers…fancy meeting you all the way out here…heh heh" Tigress growled at the Dragon Warrior, as she delivered a fierce spin kick aimed right for his head. To her surprise, the Dragon Warrior ducked and rolled out from under her; as her foot smashed the top of the chimney clean off, as he rolled out into a crouch shouting "Hey! I thought we were past all this!?" Tigress the spat "What the heck do you think you're doing here!? Where did you go!? Have you been up here in these mountains this whole time!?" The Dragon Warrior shook his head no saying "No, it's not like that! Just listen to me." But Tigress lunged at the Dragon Warrior again, and the two began to fight.
Ming and Monkey showed up then and Monkey was utterly shocked "Is that the Dragon Warrior!? What the heck is he doing here!?" Tigress was delivering strike after strike at the Dragon Warrior while he merely blocked and knocked her attacks to the side. Ming then shouted "Master Tigress! Stand down, now!" Tigress eyed Ming like she was crazy but did as she said and leaped back as she eyed the Dragon Warrior suspiciously, while he held his fighting stance. Tigress's thoughts were racing. "His stance…it's different than before…I don't recognize it…and his form…it's more focused…more precise…and he's definitely stronger than the last time we fought…just what the heck have you been up to Dragon Warrior?" As Tigress turned to Ming asking "Do you have any idea who this red lunatic is?" The Dragon Warrior then spat "I'm right here you know, seriously I thought we were past the whole you hating my guts part." Tigress growled as Ming stepped forward "That's enough, both of you!...Dragon Warrior, you've kept us waiting…" The Dragon Warrior then lowered his stance saying "I'm sorry Ming, I got held up a bit…But I'm here now, and I'm ready to help." At this he looked over at Tigress as realization dawned on her and Monkey. "You have got to be kidding me!" Tigress spat as Monkey asked "You mean, he's the one we've been waiting for all this time?"
Ming then stepped forward gesturing to the Dragon Warrior who now stood behind her. "Masters Monkey and Tigress, I believe you are already familiar with my associate, The Dragon Warrior…" Tigress and Monkey exchanged looks while Tigress began to glare at the Dragon Warrior as she muttered once again "You have got to be kidding me." The Dragon Warrior then looked her in the eye saying "It's good to see you too..."
Oh this can't be good. Will the group be able to work together to get through this mission? We'll see.
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