Over in the Valley of Peace, many new aspiring Kung Fu artists were gathered at the Jade Palace to learn their favorite martial art. This group consisted mostly of guests of all ages and some minor Epic Universe characters. The last one to arrive was a certain Koopa with a red shell and a cap on top of his head.
"There... We finally...arrived...," Alex panted, resting on his knees and trying to catch his breath. "Man, Po and the Five are really strong to get up and down those steps all the time..."
"I don't understand what you're complaining about; it wasn't so difficult," Cappy pointed out as he got off Alex's head.
"Yeah, easy for you to say, all you had to do was sit on my head while I did all the work," Alex replied with a little glare. Once he recovered his energy, the young man stared ahead and realized he was standing outside the Jade palace. "We're actually here..."
Cappy put his little limb on Alex's shoulder. "I'm really glad you decided to take Master Viper's Kung Fu lessons. It's important to do the things you like with the characters you've grown attached to."
"Let's just hope I can learn something about Kung Fu before the end of my vacation," Alex mumbled to himself before moving forward.
The Koopa walked around the palace and opened the doors to the training courtyard, where many guests and minor characters were gathered, talking about their expectations for the class and also expressing their excitation. He recognized this place as the one where Po trained the young bunnies in Secrets of the Furious Five.
"Is this your first time?"
"Yeah. My parents think doing some outside activities would be good for me."
"I wanna become strong and punch hard, like Master Tigress!"
"And I want to be able to bounce all around and return my enemies' attacks, just like Po!"
Things calmed down when a certain snake entered the courtyard. Everybody stopped talking and went to sit down in lines before Master Viper, Alex doing the same after dropping his backpack in a corner. "Greetings, everyone, and thank you for coming to today's Kung Fu class," the master said with the traditional bow of respect, which the others all quickly mimicked. A smile formed on her face when her gaze landed on Alex. "Before we begin, I'd like to introduce the new student in our class, Alex Russo."
The students all turned to look at the young Koopa, who went red in the face and nervously waved. "Hi... I'm Alex Russo, I'm 20, and I work in a coffee shop, back in the Real World. I honestly have no experience whatsoever in Kung Fu..."
"And that's why you're here today," Master Viper said. "Kung Fu is a martial art that requires concentration and a lot of training, as much on the physical plan than the spiritual one. In its simplest description, it's a form of unharmed combat to defend yourself against potential threats. In its more complex definition, it's a way for one to reach his or her full potential as an individual and find balance in the process."
"When do we get to the fighting part?" an excited student asked, causing the others to chuckle.
"Very well," Master Viper chuckled with a roll of her eyes. "Since you're so impatient to start, we'll do just that. All of you, continue the warm-up exercises we did last week while I talk with our new friend." The students did just that, getting up and taking position as they began throwing punches forward. The Master of Snake Style then slithered over to Alex. "I'm glad to see you again, Alex. I was really hoping you'd come."
"You have Cappy to thank for that; he did most of the convincing," Alex responded, pointing at his little hat friend. "But I'm still really glad to be here and see you again, too, Master! So? What's the first thing I'm supposed to learn in Kung Fu?"
Master Viper tapped her chin with the tip of her tail. "That's not a very simple question, Alex. When it comes to Kung Fu, everybody has a different starting line. In my case, I had to overcome my insecurities and find the courage to fight despite not having venoms like my father. Monkey had to learn compassion and to use his little prankster's tricks not to tease people, but rather to help them. As for Tigress, she-" The Master of Snake Style interrupted herself when she noticed Alex was not looking at her anymore. "Alex, are you listening?"
"Huh? Oh, sorry, Master! I was just looking at your students and the moves they're doing," Alex explained.
Seeing that her new student clearly had lots of energy to spare, she decided to forget the philosophy lessons for now. "Don't worry about it. We'll kick things off with a few Tai Chi exercises."
Alex tilted his head curiously. "Tai Chi? But I thought we learned Kung Fu here."
"True, but Tai Chi and Kung Fu aren't that different from one another. Tai Chi can be considered like a way to prepare the body and mind for Kung Fu, as the practitioners are taught to perform slow and precise movements with the goal being to develop a good physical and mental health," Master Viper explained. "Master Oogway taught us Tai Chi, when my friends and I came to the Jade Palace and started our Kung Fu training. It helped a lot, so much in fact that we still keep practicing it to this day. It's a perfect starting place for beginners."
"Alright! How do we perform Tai Chi?" Alex asked with excitation.
"First things first, you need to take the appropriate position. Spread your legs as far as you can, like you're sitting on a horse, and make sure you keep the exact same amount of weight on each of them. Then, bring your arms by your sides with space beneath your armpits and close your hands into fists." The young Koopa followed his teacher's instructions, assuming the basic Tai Chi stance. "Make sure your spine is straight, your tummy pulled in and your groin open." She slithered over Alex's body and made sure every part was in the right place, causing him to blush as she did so.
"So? What do I do now?" the young Koopa asked, still in his Tai Chi stance.
"For now, I just want you to focus on your breath."
"... My breath?"
"Yes," the snake confirmed with a nod.
"... I don't understand, isn't Kung Fu supposed to be about learning combat techniques to defeat bad guys and reach your full potential, as you just explained? How's breathing supposed to help me?"
"Quite a lot, actually," she responded. "Believe it or not, but there are as many different breathing exercises for Kung Fu as there are styles of Kung Fu - and that's saying a lot. Remember that Master Oogway and Kai discovered Chi, a long time ago? Well, after Kai's defeat, Po, the others and I all studied this form of energy to find the best way to master it. During these research, we discovered that the breath is the bridge connecting us living beings to the universe and its energy." She couldn't hold back a little giggle. "I guess that's why Master Oogway always told us :'Breathing is living, and breathing well means having a long life on this earth'."
"So... All I have to do is stand like this and breath?" Alex questioned.
"Yes, developing a good breath is the best way to develop your inner power." Master Viper turned around. "I'll go check on my other students and come back to see you later. Come and see me if you have any trouble."
As the Master of Snake Style slithered away, Alex maintained his position whilst inhaling and exhaling in a soft, controlled way. Things were going well at first, but eventually, he couldn't stop himself from looking all around him, at the other students, at some birds flying by and at Cappy, who was playing on Alex's cellphone in a corner of the courtyard. No matter how much he breathed, Alex didn't feel a difference of power within him. "... I think I'm bored."
Some of the students showed their Kung Fu talents by performing certain moves or by displaying agility with the non-lethal training weapons of the Jade Palace. Master Viper watched them all in action with a smile, until she felt someone tap her long body and turned around. "Alex? What's wrong?
"I was wondering if I could stop my breathing exercise now," Alex said.
"What? But you've only been doing it for two minutes," the snake pointed out.
"It's getting boring. Can I move on to the more exciting part?" the Koopa excitedly asked.
Master Viper sighed and placed the tip of her tail on Alex's shoulder. "Alex, I know this part isn't fun, but it's important for your Kung Fu training. Tai Chi relies on knowing the appropriate change in response to outside forces as well as on yielding to and redirecting an attack, rather than meeting it with opposing force. You need to get a good grip on Tai Chi to have a solid base for Kung Fu, do you understand?"
"Okay...," Alex replied without enthusiasm.
Wanting to cheer him on, Master Viper added: "Guess what, keep doing it for ten more minutes, and after that, I'll come to teach you a few Tai Chi moves followed by a Kung Fu offense. Sounds good?"
The young Koopa's cheerful expression returned instantly. "Okay!"
Alex returned to his previous position and assumed his Tai Chi stance to take deep, controlled breaths again. True to her word, Master Viper came back to check on him about ten minutes later. "Alright, Alex, it's time for the next part of your Tai Chi training. Keep this position; you're going to learn the first movements. Are you ready?"
"Yes, Master!" Alex beamed, excited to do something other than breathing.
The snake took position next to her student. "First off, I want you to reach your hand forward and move it as if you were stroking the mane of a horse." She moved her tail in said pattern to give an example.
"Right hand or left hand?"
"Any, it doesn't matter." Alex followed her command and reached his hand, moving it as coordinated. "Now, take a step back with your leg of the same side, like a crane retreating." She slithered a bit back and watched Alex doing as she instructed. "Good. To end it all, step forward with the same leg again and push your other hand forward, as if you were stopping someone running at you." She shoved the tip of her tail like a spear.
With an exclamation, Alex pushed his left hand forward whilst keeping it open, as if going for a palm strike. "Like this, Master?"
"Excellent!" the master praised her student. "These moves are called 'Horse pat', 'White crane's retreat' and 'Brush knee push'. They are three of the twenty-four Tai Chi moves that can be learned and mixed into all sorts of orders to form combos. The one you just did is actually the very first one Master Oogway recorded in the Thousand Scrolls. Got all of that?"
"Huh... I guess," Alex hesitantly responded.
"Good. Just keep practicing these moves in the same order I just showed you. Start slowly, then go faster as you get more confident. Also, try to alternate between your hands and legs instead of always using the same."
Alex nodded and let his master go check on the other students as he kept pulling the 'Horse pat, white crane's retreat and brush knee push combo' over and over again. Eventually, Master Viper granted a lunch break to her students so that they could rest for a bit. Once it ended, Alex resumed his practice until Master Viper came to check on him again, surprised by the lack of energy in his moves.
"You're not putting a lot of heart in the training, Alex," she remarked, giving a worried look.
The young Koopa sighed and looked at her. "It's just that... I don't feel like I'm doing Kung Fu right now. I came here, expecting to do all the flips and cool moves you and your friends did in the movies, but at the moment, it just feels like I'm doing random moves for nothing..."
Master Viper stared at Alex in silence for a few seconds before turning around and slithering over to another one of her students, a young, muscular man. She mumbled something in his ear before they went back to Alex. "Alex, take your stance again," she instructed, Alex doing just that, the other student taking place before him. "Now, horse pat."
"What?"
"I said horse pat!" she suddenly exclaimed. Alex did the gesture with his hand just in time to block a roundhouse kick from the other student. "White crane's retreat!" Alex pulled his leg back just in time to avoid a foot stomp. "And now, brush knee push!" Alex pulled his leg back forward and planted his palm straight into the student's chest, though not with enough strength to make him move. "Again! Horse pat! White crane's retreat! Brush knee push!"
Alex repeated the gestures as instructed, blocking and dodging his opponent's attacks before striking his chest, every time with a little more strength and confidence. By the sixth time, he struck so hard that the student actually fell on his bump.
"Thanks. You can go back to your practice now," Master Viper told the student, who immediately left. She then looked at Alex. "The body's capable of pulling hundreds of different moves and not a single one of them is useless, Alex. Even small a gesture as bending your knee or swinging your arm can make a difference between life and death in Kung Fu. Look at me; I have no limbs, thus have a limited number of body moves. But that never stopped me. Do you understand?"
Alex stared alternately at his master and down at his hand he used to knock the student back. "Yeah. I think I do..."
"Good, and make sure never to forget it. Now, it's time to move on to the Kung Fu offense move I promised! Are you ready?" Master Viper asked.
"What is it? What is it?" Alex excitedly asked.
The Master of Snake Style slithered away and returned with a long wooden log, on top of which she pulled a training ball. "I'm going to teach you how to deliver a roundhouse kick to the level of your head. It's the most widely known and used kick in martial arts for its simplicity and powerful nature. Heck, Muay Thai was originally based upon the roundhouse kick, giving you an idea of its utility."
"Roundhouse kick? Is this when you swing your leg and kick the side of someone's head?" Alex questioned. "Like in MMA?"
"I don't know what MMA is, but yes, it works like that. Roundhouse kicks are precise and destructive, making it an excellent base to build a kick arsenal upon. However, you must always be careful when using it, understood?" Alex nodded to his teacher. "Good. The roundhouse kick is relatively easy to throw, but it can still take years to properly master."
"Understood. How do I pull it off?"
"Start by shifting your weight to the ball of the front foot - any of them." Alex changed his Tai Chi stance to better fit what the snake told him. "Now, open up your rear hip with your leg chambered at the knee, then swing your rear knee towards the training ball as you pivot on the front foot. Make sure your leg extends shortly before the kick connects and touch it with your shin."
Alex did his best to do as he was told and pulled off three attempts at a roundhouse kick. The first one saw him stumbling, the second, simply hitting the wooden log, and the third, falling on his rump. "Master, I don't think I'm flexible enough to pull it off," the Koopa sadly admitted.
"You're gonna have to make an effort and keep going at it, if you want to master Kung Fu," the snake kindly said. "Kung Fu requires time, patience, practice and dedication. It may seem hard now, but it's worth it, you can believe me." She turned her head to see the sun had started turning auburn. "I think that's enough for today. You already learned a lot for your first day of training."
Even though he felt relieved that he could rest for now, Alex was already excited for the next lesson. "When's the next class?"
"Next week, same day and same hour. However, if you wish, you can keep practicing what you've learned today at home. Just make sure you do it in a secured environment." Master Viper smiled and nuzzled Alex on the cheek, causing him to freeze and go all red in the face. "See you next week, Alex."
As the Master of Snake Style slithered away, Cappy alternately stared at her and Alex, having witnessed the scene. He then looked at the fourth wall. "What just happened?"
Alex and Cappy ended their day by going to Mr. Ping's noodle shop, hoping they could get a place, this time. But unsuccessfully. Instead, they simply took the bus back to the Endless Summer Resort, Alex once again telling everything he did that day to the driver, and headed to the Beach Break Café for dinner. After sharing a gluten-free BBQ pizza, they returned to Alex's hotel room, watched some TV together, and then went to bed.
Enjoying a good sleep on the bed's second pillow (Alex's bed was big enough for two), Cappy was soon wakened up by a soft noise. He slowly turned around to surprisingly see Alex out of bed, in his Tai Chi stance, taking deep breaths. "Alright... Horse pat. White crane's retreat. Brush knee push," the young Koopa mumbled to himself whilst repeating the Tai Chi moves he learned from Master Viper that day.
Cappy stared at his friend in silence...before smiling and going back to sleep.
Author's note: Alex has officially started his Kung Fu training under Master Viper! I must say writing this chapter was pretty difficult as Kung Fu's such a complex martial art that I struggled to precisely pinpoint where Alex should begin. Hope I did a good job here.
To kick things off, Alex must learn Tai Chi, which I learned is a great martial art to practice in order to develop a good health and concentration, thus being a good precursor to Kung Fu. As this chapter displayed, Alex's biggest weakness is no doubt his impatience and his difficulty with staying focused. If you've studied Tai Chi before, then you know it's an excellent way to develop patience and focus. Not only that, but the 24 traditional moves of Tai Chi can be used singularly or in combos for self-defense, meaning Alex'll be able to defend himself from certain attackers by mastering all 24 of these moves.
Unlike his Magical World counterpart and the other guests of the Epic Universe, Alex doesn't have any magic powers that we know of so far. Meaning he'll have to develop his talents and skills from scratch. While I'm not sure what his magic powers will be, the possibilities are endless, so it's pretty exciting!
With this chapter over, I have to announce it will be the last that I'll publish for a while, as I'm leaving with my parents on a vacation next week, and after that, I'll have to get ready for cegep. I made an effort and wrote as many chapters for this story as I could because I wanted to properly introduce Alex and show you who he was whilst also starting his relationships. It took a lot of energy from me, but don't worry; I'll still come back to publish more stories in the Epic Universe! Until then, take care, my friends!