Let's Race

"Are you ready," Crane smirked. Zan stretched his legs and wings. He made sure his back was relaxed, and he cracked the bones in his wing fingers. Ai looked worried as she stood by Tigress and Viper's side. Tigress patted her on the back.

"Don't worry, Ai," Tigress smiled. Ai nodded nervously, but she was still worried.

"Alright, this is how the race is going to go," Po said. He pointed to the next snowy mountain over. "First bird to make it round the mountain and back crossing the doors of the Hall of Heroes wins. No rules. Are you ready," Po said. Crane and Zan got ready. "Get set! GO!" Off they were out the door and into the clouds, where the windy skies rolled. Shifu was very concerned.

"I don't like it," Shifu said to Po.

"You wanted to do it," Po restated.

"I know, but I didn't think this wind would come," Shifu said grasping his robe tightly as he tried to keep it on.

The two birds flew through the fierce wind, but the wind was blowing them down the mountain. "Might as well go with it," Crane said diving down the mountain. Zan eagerly flew after him. That was one problem, however. That meant they would have to go through the valley. The two birds dive-bombed down the mountain; the wind hissing pass their ears. The ground quickly approaching, Crane pulled out and flew over head, but Zan kept going. He opened his wings just as he was about to hit the ground. He was blasting past the stands, counters, and people through the village.

"Excuse me! Pardon me! Sorry! My bad! Look out," Zan screamed and shouted as he zoomed past everyone. He barrel rolled through the stand, and quickly ran across the roofs of the shops. Crane looked down from above and could only snicker. Zan could see Crane from above. Then Zan noticed that the wind was behind him. Zan pulled up and wind carried him up very quickly. Zan zoomed up in front of Crane, making Crane unbalanced long enough to get a head start. Crane grumbled and quickly flew after him. They were flying leveled and Crane thought he had the advantage. Hawks and falcons have a high diving speed, but not a fast level speed. Since Zan was half falcon, Crane thought he had the advantage. But he soon found that he could just barely get past Zan.

They came to the mountain. Zan flew close to the mountain and Crane got the lead. "Not so knowledgable when it comes to races, are you? See you at the finish line," Crane said as he flew ahead. But Zan could only smirk his cocky smirk. He finally flew completely around the mountain and headed up in the clouds. Crane looked back and couldn't see Zan. "Must have quit," Crane said as the Jade Palace came into view. Tigress looked out.

"I can't see Zan," She said. Ai was worried. Then Crane noticed a shadow breeze over him. He looked up to see Zan diving out of the skies heading straight for the Palace. Zan breezed past Crane nearly hitting into him and flew straight into the palace. He had won the race.

"And Zan wins," Po declared as the palace cheered. Zan and Crane gently touched down on the marble floor. Crane was still a little sore of losing to a kid. Zan gave him an outstretched wing.

"Good race," Zan said with a smile. Crane smiled back. He couldn't stay mad at him. However, Crane was still wondering something.

"How is it that I couldn't catch up with you when we were flying level?"

"You forget, I'm part goose," Zan reminded him. Crane nodded. Geese can fly very fast at level.

"That was a great race," Monkey said energized.

"Well, it does prove one thing," Crane sighed as Zan bowed down before him. "You have earned the title for mastering air. You now shall be called, Master Zan." He gave him a different headband. When Zan stood back up, Ai rushed him with a hug. Everyone in the palace clapped and cheered. "You've done very well, Little one." Zan grumbled.

"Oh come on, you gave me the title and then you call me Little One again!" Master Shifu laughed as Zan pouted.

"It's alright, Za- I'm sorry, Master Zan. You have grown very quickly," Master Shifu said. Zan smiled cockily. Ai rolled her eyes as she nudged him in the ribs.

"You still can't beat me when it comes to dancing," Ai smirked. Zan chuckled embarrassed.

"Anyways, thank you Master Crane," Zan bowed.

"You deserved it," Crane replied.

"Now," Shifu announced, going to the meditation hall, "it's time we get back to our usual schedules. Zan you may socialize with your friends now. You've earned a break. I will be meditating." With that, the red panda went away as the victory procession went down the mountain.

"Think of it. Three days you've been here and you've picked up just where you've started," Mantis said.

"Yeah, I'm surprised too. I really wish the others could have seen me," Zan frowned. Ai laid her hand on his shoulder.

"You know that they wanted to be here," Ai replied.

"Why didn't they come," Monkey asked.

"O and Vick are on vacation and Ruby had to visit her sick mother," Zan answered. "But it was a nice race."

"You say that like it wasn't difficult enough," Crane smirked. Zan picked up on this.

"You want to have another go at it," Zan replied smugly. Tigress grabbed both of their robes by the back of their collars.

"Another time you two. Let's just put this to rest. Got it?"

"Okay Okay," They hollered in choked pain. Po shook his head smiling as the tiger released the two birds.

"So, what do you want to do for the rest of the day, Grand Master Zan," Po said very dramatically. Tigress rolled her eyes. Zan smirked as he whispered to Po.

"Watch this," He said discreetly. Then he talked out loud, saying, "Well, I actually wanted to just go on a hike with you and Aunty Tigress."

"Okay! I have to go down to the dress shop. Song's waiting for me there," Viper said.

"Yeah and Monkey and I need to finish some other business with villagers," Crane said. They hurried and left leaving Mantis there.

"I...need to be not here," he said quickly hopping away. Zan and Ai laughed as the two other warriors were standing there clueless.

"What was all that about," Tigress and Po questioned.

"Oh nothing," Zan said brushing it aside. "Come on, we know this great secret place that no one knows about!" Before anything else was said, they followed the lit...er...the duck and crane down to the secret place. They came to Gardner's lake. The lake was actually very special to the kids. It had a sandy little beach where the kids dug up old bones and the water was so clear their feet could be seen. It had a small little cliff about twelve feet high where the kids could dive into the seven foot deep end. The lake's depth was from one foot to seven feet. It's a small lake, about 400 sq. feet. People didn't use the fresh water there because it was stagnant but it was still clear for the kids to play in. The lake also had a great view of the sunsets, and the light would shine beautifully against the waters when they were calm. "CANNONBALL," Zan shouted as he splashed into the water off the cliff, near where Ai was swimming. Ai splashed him in the face when he came out of the water. Tigress and Po were on the small sandy beach watching the kids play.

to be continued.