The next morning, as Crane made his way to Viper's room, he saw an unusual sight. Princess Haoxin and Mr. Ping were strolling down the corridor towards the kitchen side by side, exchanging compliments and arranging what sounded like a dinner date. They passed Crane with a polite "hello" and continued on their way. Crane blinked, decided that he would ask Po about this later, and approached the door to Viper's room.
Contrary to Mantis and Monkey's claims, when he had first met Viper it hadn't been love at first sight. Such a thing was easier said than done when they were completely different species, after all.
He had met Viper for the first time in the Hall of Warrior, the day she had first come to the Jade Palace to train under the tutelage of the infamously strict Master Shifu, That day he had been putting his skills as a former janitor to good use by sweeping the floor, and when Viper had slithered up to him, nervous at meeting a new face, the exchange that followed had been cordial. Crane's first impression of her had been bang on the money; as they began training together she proved to be a compassionate opponent, always worrying that she had hurt him whenever she won a spar and pummeled him to the ground. Crane had supposed that because birds usually had hollow bones she had assumed that he would be more susceptible to injury. That was before he saw her beat Monkey and then Mantis, and both times she feared that she had face planted them too hard. It had soon dawned on Crane that Viper was simply exactly what he had initially thought of her- a sweet woman who valued her allies' well being more than their fighting ability. Soon they went from being fellow students to friends, but it wasn't until three months after her arrival that he had begun to fall for her, and that was the day he'd gotten poisoned.
It had been a cold winter's afternoon. The palace chef had caught a cold, so Mantis had had to go down to the village and retrieve take out from one of the restaurants. When he'd returned, precariously balancing a tray carrying several bowls of different flavored soup, Crane had been given onion soup. What came after was a horrible night of vomiting and other digestive problems, for as it turned out onions were very bad for birds. Tigress had been unsympathetic, as he should had realized the danger before eating the soup. Monkey and Mantis had thought the situation hilarious. Shifu had the healer confirm that he would soon recover. But it was Viper who truly cheered him up. When he had been confined to his room with nothing but a bucket, she'd burst into the room in hysterics, fearing that he had been fatally poisoned. It had taken a lengthy explanation from the healer, that only prolonged exposure to onions would have been fatal and Crane was simply unlucky to have had such a bad reaction, to calm her down. Once she did, she had taken on the dreaded duty of acting as Crane's nurse. She had spent the night watching dutifully as Crane heaved and heaved and heaved, trying to take his mind off his predicament by chatting about training and how the stars looked pretty that night. To experience such kindness, especially when he was having one of the worst nights of his life, it was… touching to say the least.
Crane lifted one leg, hesitated, checked to make sure no-one was watching him, and then knocked.
"Come in!"
Crane stepped into the room to find Viper lying on her mat, perusing an ancient looking scroll.
"What's that?" Crane asked. The scroll didn't look like it belonged with the thousand scrolls of kung fu.
"It's Oogway's account of his travels in Japan." Viper said. "You remember that secret room Su mentioned? She showed it to us this morning."
Crane had spent this morning having his healing injuries examined by the palace doctor. His wing was still strapped to his side and the bite Tujiu had inflicted was wrapped up, but the doctor assured him that he would be able to use his wing again by next week.
"So…" Crane paused, not liking small talk. He remembered Viper's brief breakdown after witnessing Tujiu's horrific demise. "How are you feeling?"
"Fine." Viper said. "Hey, in this scroll Oogway recalls a Jujutsu tournament. Looks exciting, would you like to read it with me?"
"Y-Yeah, uh, in a minute…" Crane took a deep breath. He wished Mei Ling was here. This was scarier than the kung fu tryouts. "There's something I need to tell you."
Viper looked up at him, waiting patiently.
"Back at the fortress, while you were disabling the first trap, Xian and I had a little talk." Crane spoke. "And, well, he kinda ordered me to do something."
"What?"
"Something… concerning you."
Viper's eyes went wide.
"It's something I wanted to tell you for a while, but never… really… had the…"
"I like you too, you big birdbrain."
"Whuh-what?"
"I've liked you since we first sparred together."
"R-really? Do you mean like me as a friend, as a comrade, or-"
Viper kissed him on the cheek, and then Crane was on cloud nine.
"You're serious?" He asked weakly. "I mean, I'm a bird and you're a snake."
"Have you seen Po and Tigress?"
"Good point."
Viper curled around Crane's body in a snake's version of a hug, looking like she was on cloud nine herself. Crane in turn wrapped his good wing around her, feeling like the luckiest big birdbrain in the world. Without a word he held up the amethyst choker, and Viper wordlessly smiled and put it on.
And then Monkey and Mantis saw them through the door. One dirty joke later and the palace doctor had his work cut out for him.
"Master Shifu?"
"Yes?"
"I want to ask you something."
"Go ahead. No-one's stopping you."
"Is Princess Haoxin De Nushi going to be my new mom?"
"You've got ten seconds to get off this hill."
"Now, now, Po has a right to ask." Di Tan scolded. "He is Mr. Ping's son, after all."
Shifu harrumphed and tried to clear his mind.
He had been trying to meditate and take his mind off his colossal mistake when Po and Di Tan and climbed up the peach tree hill to confirm the rumors they've heard. That Shifu had set Mr. Ping and Haoxin up on a date.
"It's just that, we've been hearing some-"
"I'm not a bloody matchmaker! I simply introduced Princess Haoxin to Mr. Ping. I did not expect Mr. Ping to ask her out! Has she and her family returned home, yet?"
"Well, Princess Zun Chunhua and her son have just left, but Princess Haoxin's staying for a little longer." Di Tan said. "It seems that they have arranged for another date."
Shifu's ears flattened against his head. So much for clearing the storm from his mind.
"Would you two kindly go away?" He demanded. "I'm expecting somebody else!"
"Oh, okay!" Po, along with Di Tan, quickly backed away, not wanting to anger Shifu further. "We'll just get out of your…"
When he turned around, he found himself face to face with Tigress.
"Oh!" Po gasped.
"Oh!" Tigress replied. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to startle you."
"Nah, it's okay." Po said. "We'll just be going now!"
Tigress, injuries now completely vanished and wearing her green long sleeved vest, moved past the panda and goose and respectfully bowed to Shifu.
"You wished to see me, Master?" She asked.
"Yes, Tigress. We need to talk." Shifu spoke calmly, but his eyes furiously indicated to Po and Di Tan that he wanted them gone. Po did not hesitate to make his way back down the hill, but Di Tan took a second to give Shifu the most subtle of winks before following.
Shifu gestured for Tigress to sit down. She obeyed, a little worried that she may have done something wrong.
Shifu stood up from his lotus position. This was going to be hard.
When they reached the bottom of the hill, Po turned around to look back up at the top. Shifu had stood up, and was now talking to Tigress in words that he couldn't hear. Was it Po's imagination, or did Shifu look a little scared?
"We should leave them be." Di Tan said.
Po nodded, and the pair made their way over to the main building of the Jade Palace where the hall of warriors was located. They stopped just outside the palace doors, and looked out over the Valley of Peace. The winter had thawed while they were away, and the valley was once more lush and green.
"What a lovely view." Di Tan mused. "The view of the city through my kitchen window has nothing on this."
"Do you think Shifu and Tigress will be okay?" Po asked.
"Of course they will. After all, they have nerves of steel and souls of platinum!" Di Tan eyed Po in amusement. Po chuckled, before his smile faded. Of course this meant that he would have to wait a little longer to ask Tigress out, and give her some time to deal with whatever happens after their conversation on the peace tree hill. But he could wait.
His thoughts turned to something a little more worrying, and he frowned as he gazed down at the village far below.
"Something on your mind?" Di Tan asked.
"Ember." Po said simply. Di Tan's smile vanished.
"Don't worry, I'm sure she will turn up soon, so you can make sure she can't hurt anyone else." The goose said.
"That's not it." Po said. "She's crazy, yeah, and she and that Yeti killed loads of people. But she saved my life. Twice." He turned to Di Tan, hoping for an explanation. "Why would she do that?"
"I'm afraid I have no idea." Di Tan said. "Why don't you ask her yourself if she returns? Excuse me, I have to finish packing."
The goose made his way down the stairs, leaving Po standing at the top.
All I know is… I feel like I know you.
But how? Po wondered. How do you know me? I never knew you.
Thunder rumbled overhead on a cloudless day.
Po looked up, his eyes for some reason turning to the roof of the building behind him. A dark figure gazed back through the black holes in her mask and disappeared in a crimson flash.
AUTHOR'S NOTE(S)
Before I begin, to the Guest who queried, yes, the relationship between Haoxin and Shifu is based on Castafiore and Haddock. I bloody love those comic books!
Now back to my Author's note: this page is the final chapter of Abode of Snow, but is by no means the end of our story; I have already begun plans on a sequel, one which will be shorter but more action packed than its predecessor.
However, said sequel will have to wait, for now I will proceed on two back-to-back fictions.
One is based on a request by a reader (who wishes to remain anonymous). The synopsis, too big to fit into the text box, is below. By the way all main OCs, with the exception of their names, belong to the reader who made the request.
Ginka is the only son of the head of the Silver Blade Clan, one of the most distinguished clans in Ancient Japan. Anxiously awaiting the day that he will have to replace his father and bear the weight of the entire clan on his shoulders, Ginka spends his days hanging out with his best friend Yojin and training with his Jujutsu teacher Master Masuta.
But one night Ginka's world is turned upside down when his father is murdered and he finds himself accused of a crime he did not commit. With no way to prove his innocence Ginka has only one option: flee across seas to the neighboring country known as Ancient China and build himself a new life. His journey will unexpectedly have him cross paths with the Dragon Warrior and the Furious Five.
Fiction number two will be the apparently awaited KFP: the Hangover Part III, but this time it will follow both the film storyline and my own writings. Synopsis is below.
After Po and Monkey's prank war leads to Po accidentally destroying the training hall (again), Shifu punishes Po by sending him and Tigress to accept a mission from the verbally abusive Superintendent Wu. Given three days to locate a stolen cargo or Wu will shut down the Jade Palace, Po and Tigress set out across the Valley, but a dark and stormy weekend strands the pair in the old cemetery. Monkey, Crane and Mantis are forced to join forces with the insane General Tsin to locate the cargo themselves before time runs out.
And finally, a synopsis for my sequel so you know just what to expect…
After Po and his friends' fateful mission in the Himalayas, the mysterious Order finally emerges from the shadows. In the terrible battle that follows, several of the Jade Palace's warriors' allies and loved ones are captured, and the rest are forced into hiding. Two months later, their respective journeys will lead them into life-threatening danger and reunite them with old friends and enemies.
Crane receives a secret message from his old friend, Mei Ling, who has infiltrated the Order and learned some important secrets. Without Tigress to lead them, the Furious Five set out into a war zone to rescue her and find out what she knows, and their journey brings them into conflict with the leader of the Order's mercenary army.
Shifu and a team of old masters devise a plan to infiltrate one of the Order's strongholds to learn their secrets and locate captives, if any. They succeed in both goals, and Shifu is reunited with the panda cub known as Su. As they journey through the Mystic Mountains in search of safety, Shifu slowly realizes that there is something very strange about Su, and that her genius intellect is not a gift, but a symptom.
After his capture two months ago, Po escapes an enemy stronghold, only to realize that Tigress is missing and he has become the target of the mysterious entity known only as Ember, the Dragon Empress. Embarking on a desperate search to find Tigress, Po crosses paths with an old foe who claims that he is now an ally. After their last encounter Po is reluctant to trust the man, but he doesn't have very long to make his choice: time is running out for the woman he loves… and Ember is closing in.
I hope that you've enjoyed this fiction, and please keep an eye out for more on the way!