This chapter is now switched from 16 to 15! There needs to be building tension for the next chapter after this one. Hopefully, you'll understand how I improved the editing scenario. Chorh-Gom Break will be handled this September!
Updated this chapter on 8/31/2023
Episode Three: The Top Three
Chapter XV
Lady and Prince
I. (XXIV) The Soothsayer
"Here we all are! Soon, we will face each other at the Tournament with pure awesomeness!"
The Dragon Warrior volunteered his role when the Emperor of China wished for Po to partake in his speech. The panda stood behind the bamboo podium, surveying all the delighted souls of warriors, guests, and honorable masters next to Emperor Huangdi. Several observers before Po amplified their hearty chuckles as he spoke more of his inspirational tone. "Before we dismiss, I'd like to say a few words! The Masters of Jade Palace honor our new allies and contestants: The Nine of Prosper Valley and the Righteous Seven of Wugu!"
The waves of cheers leveled to a high spirit, bringing their claps. "Warriors honor their masters. Warriors admire their contestants. Warriors encourage people. We are Grandmaster Oogway's descendant students — the knowledge and wisdom shared by our teachers, Grandmaster Shifu, Master Ming, and even Master Sheep," Po beckoned his paw to their teachers, who showed their respectful smiles with gratitude. "With succession to all the houses, Kung Fu guides our success to manifest inner peace and tranquility; Wing Chun presents the most mobile ways of hardcore discipline and virtue, showing encouragement and love. And for Tai Chi, Liu Bong Shien's chi philosophy reveals the body of water we flow with energy and their ways of empowerment, seeking kindness to one another."
His feline colleague, Chen Xing, stepped in. "As for the Dragon Warrior, who he likes us to do: Let's kick our butts and admire opponents!" Xing fisted in the air.
Audiences cheered as if plenty chuckled across the Shui Palace courtyard. Beside the peacock was Tigress, blinking her amber eyes with her grin. "Let's see what you can do to spar with me at the Tournament," Tigress smirked.
"Hmm! That's the spirit," the peacock grinned, glancing at the feline's garb. "You look ravishing, by the way, Master Tigress."
"Mei Mei's clothing design is appealing," Tigress said, her claws clasping her waist with determination. "Since the Tournament will start next week, you take on Crane, and I fight your brother."
"Fair enough. I highly look forward to competing with Master Crane's strategies in the Arena."
The feline's silvery hums throbbed in satisfaction. "Here's one condition you must know."
"And what's one condition?"
"You hurt Crane; I will eat you in your sleep."
The peacock's crests fell, and his eyes and long neck drew away from her. "I'm joking," Tigress chuckled.
The Dinner Party was over when several guests departed the palace to their homes, and the Righteous Seven were dismissed early for the training preparation across Guangxi before Kong Bai Stadium. With help from the Nine, the Masters of Jade Palace wrapped all the decorations and the musicians' instruments as these warriors decided to give aid packing for them. Neither of the artists worded but accepted with kindness. The Nine, bestowing farewells and granting good luck, bowed to the Masters of Jade Palace near the entrance; Tigress was outside before the Xing joined her. She began to pat her claws on his own.
"After the Tournament, Xing, we will discuss your wishes. I promise."
Emerging her presence towards the two felines, Chen Ming walked from the Fighting Square, where Master Storming Ox hugged his son and wished Niu to fight well in the Tournament, win or lose. The elder feline and the Furious Five alpha presented their bows.
"Goodnight, Masters," Tigress said.
"Goodnight, Master Tigress," Ming nodded.
The two looked upon the Jade Palace trekking towards the tributary port, their junk boat waiting for their customers to sail to the Valley of Peace. The expectancy for the teams' preparations was three days to depart and two days to arrive at Kong Bai Stadium. The sixth day marked their final time to review their studies and training before the three teams could compete on the seventh — the official Tournament day.
Good luck, my niece.
Chen Ming last sighted the Furious Five alpha turning towards the port with the Dragon Warrior and departed.
"Is that all the guests, Nana?" her grandson asked, walking back into the courtyard with Ming.
"A few more to go, my sunzi," she answered, simpering. "I have a special guest you three must meet."
The Nine's Brilliance, the peacock, strolled near the felines before he could hear sharp wings flapping from the sky, nearing from the stretches of Guilin ridge.
"Master Lao!" the Nine's Messenger, the goose, landed before the avian. Kong regained his wing's strength. "There you are. Your mother wishes to see you three."
"Wonderful. Someone is summoning us first, Kong," Lao said, fiddling his feathers in his long sleeve. "After we meet the visitor, we will see her."
He watched Kong present his nod before the goose soared away to Lady Xia's cabin.
Waiting long inside the Meeting Room, watching the goose servants untie ropes with lantern lights one and the other, Lao and Lotus sat on their chairs as their feline brother leaned his back against the table corner near the beverage pots and cups. The tiger took moments to reflect on Tigress and her kung-fu style to learn well, and most of her skills had him practice primary forms before the complexity levels — advanced and expert. Chen Xing was quite a quick learner compared to Monkey and Po, as Grandmaster Shifu anticipated his cleverness, unlike Lao and Lotus.
The peacock, clearing his long throat, contemplated the first meeting of his fellow competitors, willing to see them again on the Tournament day. Once entering his thought, Lao could observe his avian mentor, Crane, soaring beneath the clouds as the two birds hovered above Jade Palace and the Valley of Peace. Unlike other peafowls, Lao was the only avian that could fly the longest distance from their temple to Shui Palace; Crane thought the boy had a special gift.
Lotus, gently brushing her digits on the table, regarded moments of her serpent companion Viper twitching her ruby sash across the Jade Palace arena, dancing with Pandiva dancers along Mei Mei. Her inspection of those warriors grasping the stick with a sash made the wolf thrill with anticipation, pleasing for her to modify her dancing strategies to advantage.
Something inside her had Lotus dug into consideration of these visitors. Not only concerned about her kind like the girl but far gentler and spiritual than the aggressors, Lotus sensed a lost presence that was barely recognized, as she could not ever think of an old scent coming back to her ever since she was so small and curious. The smells of the Dragon's Blood and fading sulfur were familiar, and the scent was near.
Coming from the Nine's Barrack entrance of the door's whining woods introduced their teacher coming in. After Ming followed the old goat in intricate patterns of colorful robes and large round glasses, tapping her root cane in delight and oddly pleasant.
"There, they are," the goat crooned with silky water, chuckling. More visitors arriving behind the goat were three wolves — one in sleeveless gray tops and black trousers, one white wolf in a dark blue ocean robe with gray trousers, and one with an eyepatch in a black scathe armor with a belt pair of two ropes.
"My haizimen, I'd like to introduce you to the caretaker and the wolves," Chen Ming gesticulated kindly with her claw to the group. "My old friend Mali, the Soothsayer of Gongmen City. And her trusted allies, Master Wolf and his son Leo of Hunan. And Zhong of Gongmen City."
"Ni hao, Masters Chen Xing, Lao, and Lotus," Master Wolf, the snow canine, presented his bow to them as they returned the same with kind and respect. "Your Wing Chun inspiration thrills my temple and my fellow students."
"Yes, they are," the old goat with round glasses stretched her smile.
"My pleasure to meet you, Soothsayer," the tiger stretched his grin.
The goat's sight met before the peacock herself, broadening her eyes with bright and vivid. "You've grown up bigger than me. I used to know someone like you before," Soothsayer pointed her cane at Lao. "You must be Master Lao. I am very honored to meet you in person, my dear."
Lao greeted with a nod. "Nice to meet you, sir."
His feline brother burst out his suppressing guffaw, clearing his throat. "Lao," he leaned his head close to Lao. "Could you not recognize the goat with a beard is a lady you are speaking to?"
"Oogway's blessing!" the peacock gasped, lowering her brows as he pressed his wing on his chest. His adoptive siblings hid their grins behind their palms. "My apologies, ma'am. It was such a misunderstanding."
"Apology accepted, my dear," the Soothsayer chuckled. "You're not the only one who considered me a male."
"Probably the panda," Lotus, Xing, and Lao guessed simultaneously with a sense of amusement, strengthening their chuckles.
Once filled into silence by a throat clear, their feline teacher spoke next to the goat. "In our early days, Soothsayer and I journeyed in China as we both were formerly the fortune tellers to manifest any soul's destiny," Chen Ming said, caressing the goat's hoof. "As of today, my children, with only limitations, Mali wishes to foresee the fortune in all three of you."
"Yes," the goat tapped the floor with her cane again. "Yes, my old friend. Ming could never stop mentioning you three."
Of course, she does. Old nannies love mentioning grandchildren.
Lotus pulled her grin while not drawing her sight on the wolves, whom she was timid to. One of the canines keeping close to his master lowered his head to shyness, his crimson eye meeting the girl. "Master Lotus. You look like one of my children. I hear you are such a talent in your dancing characteristic. Are you?"
"I am, Madam Soothsayer," Lotus said.
"Let me come closer to you, sweetheart. So I can see your fortune."
Allowed to do so, Lotus held her paw forward and had the Soothsayer caress the palm. Closing her eyes before the blinding sights of the starry mountains and trees beyond the ridges, Mali could hear the distant winds muttering behind the green. "My dear child," the Soothsayer's voice heightened with care. "You are among the survivors of the Wolves Village. Master Chen Ming raised you since you were a cub, found at Bao Gu Orphanage. Your blood flows like wine among other wolves who have the blood of their ancestors. Yours, like your brothers and sisters of all the tribe, have the bloodline of the Tenshu. The Army of Whispering Warriors."
"By the Gods. . ." Lao was surprised, but his brother answered with his brows arching upward.
Lady Kasi is right. . . Xing thought.
A month ago, the Dragon Warrior once showed the Nine to feast their eyes on the Urn of Whispering Warriors in the Hall of Heroes — remade with patches as it was previously shattered to bits. The panda mentioned that when the great hall was surrounded by quietness, many warriors could hear the haunting breeze muttering from the pot. "Hold fast, brothers. . . Hold fast. . ." hissed the Urn. Most of the warriors wet their pants, but the wolf Lotus could not, as if she was entranced with a silky voice from the wind that blessed her ears.
"Yes, my dear. You are Tenshu's descendant, gifted by his blessing and vengeance. All the wolves facing the nightmare experienced the relationship of their ancestor, who presented judgment to your soul. Only half returned from the limbo, and the other half joined his side before their death. From your teacher's experience saving you from Tenshu, my dear, I am glad you survived."
"Thank you," Lotus smiled. "Will I be reencountering my ancestor, Madam Soothsayer?"
"No, Master Lotus, but spirit lives in you for a blessing, granted to speak with fellow wolves of the Mortal Realm," Soothsayer said. Lotus could hear her expression as the goat's eyes almost drifted to her left but focused on the girl instead. "One of the Master Wolf's students wishes to meet you after the Tournament."
Lotus's ears perched upward. "Who?"
"Someone very special, Master Lotus," Master Wolf simpered.
Her parent. . . Chen Xing figured, slowly arching his eyebrows.
When growing too fond of her adoptive brothers, despite the years of her training, loving her feline grandmother and Lao's peahen mother, Lotus could not remember the face of her biological parents. Her lily sigil on her qipao was the origin house where she was born — she only knew the sigil from the old garden was her mother's. Giving a brief sight towards the wolves before the last, whose lips tugged in from quivering, Chen Xing joined his sister's company and had the goat press and caress his claw with her hooves. Strangely to see the rain in the distance, the haze of silver swimming over the ripples before brief flashes behind the clouds, Soothsayer visioned the pool of tigers gathering in the forest.
"Hmm. . . I find the people of your kind, elegance, determination, and bravery," the goat said, vibrating her hums. "Master Chen Xing, the descendant of Qing Temple survivors, has a good heart, born with leadership. Your ancestor, Mui Tan Huang, would be proud of you for carrying her legacy, my child."
"I am honored," Xing smirked.
"Qing Temple is my inspiration to restore long-lost codex scrolls and temples from the shattered grounds, Master Chen Xing," Master Wolf said, patting his chest twice. "For a thousand generations, my forefathers before me have never forgotten the oath your ancestor shared her voice to rebuild the old to become the new temples."
Unable to answer, Chen Xing filled his type of honor and acceptance with fellow neighbors of the Song Dynasty's Kung Fu disciples. His grandmother filled her heart with blessing. "Thank you for your kind words, Master Wolf."
The elder goat's hum dominated in this chamber, unveiling the crescent of her amber eyes. "Among all the children so special, my dear Xing, you are. . . unique. Something prevents dark magic from the greatest enemies. You have—" She reflected deeply on the tiger's soul. Before she could attend to delivering her kindly words toward him, the goat could hear the raining sky's low vibration of the sheets nearing before her. Widening her eyes in stupefaction, drawing her cold breath in her lungs, Soothsayer retreated her hooves and head.
"Oh, my. . ."
"Madam Soothsayer?" Xing was puzzled. "Are you alright? What did you see in me?"
"How interesting," the goat gaped, stretching her grin. "We will meet again, my child. . . Soon."
The tiger took his prolonged glance at his adoptive siblings before the wolves and his grandmother. Neither spoke after the unknown, but Xing regularly kept his composure before the old goat handed her hoof to his brother's wing. Knowing the history of wolves who formerly worked for Shen, the tiger regarded either of them to react seeing another peacock. Still, Master Wolf and his students were not precisely positioned on their wrong foot to intimidate him. Out of the two, the third wolf, a one-eyed student, gave a friendly smile sign.
"Master Lao. . . the Nine's Brilliance, raised by the hands of Master Chen Ming," the Soothsayer simpered. "Your heart fills courage, the strength of friendship; you keep your friends company long before the frays. You are the cleverest student, thriving in the complexities of your gifted abilities — Kung Fu, Cai Li Fo, and Wing Chun."
His siblings Xing and Lotus teased him as Lao arched his left brow, looking at Xing's claw flip this thumb up. "Oh, my dear child. . ." the goat broadened her eyes and lips. "Unlike your brother and sister, I find your bloodline so pure, the blood of an ancient family — Peafowl Nobles."
But. . . Lao cannot be. . . Xing feared, disappearing his grin as Lao did the same.
"And. . . the Mightiest Warriors."
"WHOA!" Lotus chirped.
I am not surprised. My brother is the descendant of Lord Li Han.
Chen Xing smiled at his avian brother, patting his back, which received Lao in return for his smirk.
Mali inspected the peacock's silk robe that Chen Ming presented the goat's gift to Lao. "You have elegant clothing you wear, my dear. It is a lovely garment," she touched the material close to the sleeve.
"Thank you for a gift, Soothsayer. It's exquisite."
Exquisite.
The haunting word in the goat's mind trespassed, the voice that seemed yesterday to recall the other she loved. "Of course. I knew you would love Lord Li Han's garb," simpered the goat. "My Pr—ahem—My child. Your master mentioned you to me so much, and you have my sympathies for one of your parents who sacrificed himself to save you and your mother from the village under siege."
"You are too kind, my Lady," Lao accepted her tenderness.
"You are a gift among your brothers and sisters," she continued. "They are your family, my dear. Look after them as I looked after my children half of my lifetime."
"And my adoptive grandson will," Chen Ming chuckled.
After having tea and a brief conversation with one another, Chen Ming wished to have Mali stay in Mrs. Yan's rental room rather than having the goat travel far, despite her strength becoming fragile with her blessing age. Mali thanked her feline friend before she let Zhong escort her out of the chamber.
"If I may, Master Lao. Would you like me and Zhong to walk with me towards the Shui Palace doorway?"
Finding his feline master bent her head with a nod, the peacock cleared his throat and went to her. "Very well."
Zhong and Lao used their appendages under the goat's arms and guided her to the nearest exit before the three crossed the road, heading for Mrs. Yan's shop nearby. The warmth sensation in the goat's reflection transpired, the memories of her walking on the uneven sections with the young wolf and a peacock prince who gave her company before they returned to the Tower of Sacred Flame. The bird's wing was impacted before the goat crooned her tone.
"Oh, my dear Shen. . . I hope you live in happiness. I missed you."
Neither the wolf nor the bird worded but exchanged their glances when they arrived at Mrs. Yan's, the flower scents of cherry and jasmine wafting. The store bore a single-story complex with four amber windows length. From the door, after hearing the peacock's word from Chen Ming, the neighbor agreed to bring the goat to her rented chamber after receiving a few yuans. "Thank you, Master Lao. You are too kind," the goat caressed the bird's chest.
"Anytime, Madam Soothsayer," Lao said.
"You can go to the apartment complex with Master Wolf, Zhong. I will rest here."
"Goodnight, Mali. And Good luck, kid. I hope we meet again," the one-eyed wolf Zhong grinned and joined his canine brothers.
Time to see my mother.
Chen Xing, Lao, and Lotus crossed on the ridge hills before the moon's silver light emerged from the shadow web clouds, the trees whispering by the whining breeze. The Heavyweight students had their watch for the Shui Palace as Bao, Niu, and Shou could take turns while sleeping. Far down the small town, glittered lantern lights stretching from low to the outskirts and far to the ridges of Guilin Mountains laid with random dots of amber — one by one becoming the birth of stars. From there and to the East, the three could see Jade Palace in the distance.
That wolf. . . Have we met before?
Lao continued strolling with his siblings when contemplating brief moments of the canine with his left eyepatch. However, he could not remember those with battle scars but rarely had seen plenty of assailers with one eye and another in burnt wood and yellow. His last recall before Zhong's scar was a boar clanmate in Hajin Province who had his right eye mauled with a clean-cut cross through his right cheek.
"I can't believe it!" their sister clapped her paws on her head. "Tenshu's Army of Whispering Warriors! I like the sound of that!"
"Aren't you concerned about your ancestor who will haunt you again?" Xing asked.
"Don't know and don't care, my Cookie. Remember what the goat said back there? I am free from him, so I can befriend him if necessary."
Xing puffed his vibrant breath from his lips. "You're crazy."
"Hey, birdie!" her paw gave a hard pat on Lao's back, distracting the avian. "How the hell do you have the 'valuable' bloodline of the Mightiest Warriors and Peafowl Nobles?"
"I don't even know, sister," Lao said, flickering his wings. "But isn't that obvious we three had ever been in a big chamber and heard our Nana's nighttime stories about. . . warlords?"
"Of course we had," Xing answered, stepping on the thick steps before the thin path of bamboo trees. "Every night for a bedtime story, Nana had always been the voice of her teacher, our grandmaster from the Great War days."
True. The peacock thought.
"Are you serious, birdie? It's so outstanding to hear about your bloodline!" Lotus chirped, storming her way with the bird and the tiger.
"What about the Soothsayer's vision back there, Xing?" Lao turned to his brother. "She must have discovered something mystical — about unique and dark magic you can prevent."
"How should I know?" Xing commented. "Mostly, a fortune teller cannot lie about a soul's destiny. However, I may have to meet the Soothsayer again after the Tournament, see what she means by that."
"Do dark magics exist?" Lao asked.
"I know nothing of them but a few mythologies and supernatural beings. Maybe. . . Shui Gui?"
"That creature claims a soul who drowns but frees the last victim to become one," Lotus gestured with her paw.
I'm aware of that. Chen Xing determined.
"What about the dragon that flew in Hajin Province, Cookie?" the wolf mentioned. "Does the Soothsayer know who was involved and wet everyone's pants?"
"It's been a few years, Lotus — no one knows. It cannot be Po because he flew a dragon in the Spirit Realm."
The brothers could hear their sister's low hum in anticipation, yet wanting answers for discovery. Her idea was transpired to mention the old goat. "Isn't Mali so ravishing, boys? She's adorable," Lotus grinned with her teeth. "Her voice reminds me of Mrs. Yan's mother!"
"She seems. . ." Lao leaned his body to the nearest bamboo trunk when the two waited for him. "— oddly innocent. I want to meet her again."
"You could sleep with her and call the goat a sir next time," Xing jested.
Lotus gasped and threw her soft punch to Xing's arm. "You're so mean!"
"Are you mad?" Lao gaped in puzzlement. "For Oogway's sake, Xing, she is a lovely goat!"
"Brother, let me ask you, and be real with us," Lotus stepped ahead of the tiger in high spirits, her muzzle meeting his. "Is the Soothsayer more like a female or more like a male to you?"
The tiger reflected deeply, though his sense of humor was sometimes coming along, but not as gifted as the comedian. Either was born into something lighthearted, keeping in touch with one another instead of loneliness. Chen Xing glanced at the velvet blue sky of a thousand silver shimmers, and both Lotus and Lao detected his lips stretch to one side.
"Probably more like a sir to me," he sneered.
They all cried with boisterous laughs.
II. (XXV) Lady's Cabin
Lady Xia was the three's best mother; Lao had known his own ever since he came from an egg. Chen Xing sought one that he wished to have a mother when his late biological parents aided their son before their deaths, and Lotus granted to accept her brothers' adoptive parent without being alone in the woods. Despite the gossip rumoring about the last known peacock lord who ripped all of the pandas' hearts, neither of the three knew who Lao's father was, and Shen was not the parent. Lady Xia reminded her son of her great husband, who perhaps died from the heart of darkness — died from hate? Their mother never lied about the cause of Lao's father's death — the power of hatred in his clouded thought. Instead of beyond themselves, they only regarded Lao's father sacrificed to stay behind in the Summit Village where the Nine's Brilliance was born.
Lao had a family of his own, the Nine, raised together in unity. When the avian was fifteen, their feline master wanted Lao to remain close to his mother after Lady Xia's sickness discovery. Most of the servants searched for remedies as Chen Ming and her bunny student Hong recommended treatments to slow down the ill. Every week, Lao had to check on his dear mother and keep her company as long as needed.
According to Chen Ming, neither of the students mastered their healing chi yet, though the potential to learn the experience would take at least thirty years to unleash. And if by doing so again, another period would occur. But now, after Chen Ming met her brother-in-arms again, she and her students could have the advantage of mastering their chi from the Masters of Jade Palace.
Chen Xing, Lao, and Lotus arrived at the place they built together with their teacher and a few goose servants. The cabin's exterior was dominated by large and braided roots, blooming lavender with silky white jasmine flowers, the roof slightly tilted to the left, and on its valley stood a chimney. All the moons later had the roots grow, blanketing the clay as Lady Xia preferred living within the forest. Reaching for the door, they entered the small hall of painting portraits. Lotus caught her favorite pink lily perching on the large pot of mud in the living room with a rose lantern. From their left was the broad chamber with a firepit; mostly during winter days, the Nine could come to the cabin and serve themselves almond cookies Lady Xia made. Passing toward the end of the corridor and to the left was their peahen mother of pink and turquoise laying in her bed.
Lady Xia wore light violet with blue edges on her neck and sleeves, detailed with roots and thorns. The chamber was lit with crimson candles, the scent of cherry blossoms blooming as the students entered, finding her and the servant Kong, who was speaking.
The Nine's Messenger stood up. "Master Lao, Master Xing, and Master Lotus," Kong came close to them. "You're mother is having a great time remembering the dream."
"What kind of a dream, Kong?" Chen Xing asked.
"Lady Xia rode on the sailboat towards the calming seas."
"I am glad to hear her well, Kong," Lao smiled when Xing and Lotus sat on Xia's bed, comforting their mother. "How is my mother doing?"
"She's thriving well, Master Lao," the goose smirked. "So far, Biyu and I have treated her with healing remedies. Your sister Hong, whose list we brought plenty from her cousin in Heilongjiang Province, deserves credit for eradicating your mother's disease. More of her list of supplies will be delivered in two weeks, which will be enough for Lady Xia to maintain her health throughout half the year."
"Thank you, Kong," Lao patted the goose's shoulder. "You can go and rest now."
"I'll see you in the morning, Master Lao. Goodnight."
"Goodnight."
The goose stretched his beak to the side before closing the door, and his short wings vibrating in the air became less and less in the distance, only now the peacock's surroundings conquered by his wolf sister's titters.
"Mommy. You know your son has the Mightiest Warriors bloodline?! We met the goat at the Shui Palace, and she visioned all three of us into who we all are!"
The peahen's silky voice from heaven chuckled. "My dear child," Lady Xia held her wing on her daughter's side of her head. Her grated voice was slightly sore but gradually improved from her throat medicine. "I am certain you and your brothers have a bright future ahead of you."
"Indeed, Mom," Xing rested his claw on her heart, and her other limb palmed his. "How are you feeling right now?"
"I am blessed, my kitten," the peahen simpered. "Where is my son?"
"Lao's right here," he tilted his head to his right.
Showing himself forward, the peacock could hear Lotus's nostril sniffing throughout his mother's chamber; Lotus swam her head wildly, widening her yellow eyes. "I smell cookies."
Oh, no.
"Oh, yes. I think it's time for some almond cookies," Xing smiled.
"Whoa, now!" Lao intervened, which caused Xia to soften her titters. "If Master Monkey is here, he'll trip you with banana skins all over the floor!"
"Boo-hoo, Monkey's not here," Lotus gave him a witty glare. "Momma asked me earlier that I would want cookies. So I said, 'Yeah!'"
"Did not," Lao squinted his eyes.
"Did yes. I—" Her sense had gotten stronger this time, her ebony nose intensifying the smell, and she let her paws cover her muzzle. "I can't stop my nose! The sweet of awesomeness is calling to me! That's it — I'm going for it!"
Quietly storming out of his mother's bedroom, Chen Xing chased after his sister. "Master Monkey!"
Monkey could swallow a whole cookie jar from them if he's here.
"My children are gorgeous," Lady Xia chuckled. "I love you all."
"We all are," her son simpered, his wing meeting his mother's heart. "How are you, Mother?"
"You know me well, son. I have been swimming into the heart of the ocean," she replied, touching his wing. "The sea is real, Dongji. . . I saw it in my dream."
His birth name from the inheritance was sometimes called by his mother respectfully and sometimes by his siblings. Lao was not bothered by what he could be called either way. "What's it look like?" Lao asked her.
"Magical. . ." she described the dream. "Blue waves slammed. . . Into the loving storm, the sails billowed, and the clapping clouds guided me to the serenity. I had no fear of loneliness, my dear. Would you want to know how I got out of there alive?"
"How?"
"I swam with dolphins, son. . . They are lovely creatures," she answered, simpering. "Instead of the storm, I went into the depths and found another realm. . . The realm where I met. . . a giant deer."
"Deer?" Lao gaped.
"He is real. . . He calls himself the King — the King of. . ." Lady Xia coughed, worsening her grated throat as Lao reached for the silver cup with a red liquid — the blossom brew blended with strawberry flavors. Sighting the medicine with silvery steam escaping, the peahen took a sip before the minor ache from her throat gradually softened, relieving her with a long sigh.
"I'll never forget his face. . . He's almost like. . . like. . ." Xia lowered her soft grunt, giving up the description of the majestic Cervidae creature with a thorn crown. "I hope I'm not insane, son."
"I believe you, Mother. I find your dream enjoyable," Lao commented, pleased to hear about her experience. His mother could describe her dream that touched her sensation, the feeling of mysticism from another realm, merging with dolphins. The peacock wished to ask one of the Masters of Jade Palace to know how Master Dolphin's armor came by in the Hall of Heroes; the armor was useless in ground areas, but within the seas, it was useable, unknown for certainty. Master Shifu could not comprehend what this armor was for. Still, he mentioned that the Grandmaster Oogway used to trek on sails and encountered Master Dolphin in the East China Sea, and thousands of dolphins fought across the rough seas, fighting off pirates. Several wore their armor, which automatically parries swords when aquatic creatures engaged from leaping and diving, reeling their tail flukes.
"The Tournament is near, Mother," Lao reminded his mother, leaning close to her. "The Nine will be out of town for a couple of days. With that inspiration from Kung Fu masters and Tai Chi competitors, we will be fighting for worthiness. The competition we will be facing is extremely challenging."
His mother softened her hum. "Kong told me," Lady Xia simpered. "My dear Dongji. Would you like to tell me about your panda friend? The one who craves aiding you?"
The sound of droplets from the stalactites showering towards the ripples at the Dragon Grotto, and outside of the cave raining the falls were flourishing to hear when Lao inspected the Tai Chi movements from the panda, who gradually settled his motions after the bear caught a tear. Learning too well that anger could cloud judgment and unsolve the situations, Lao needed to alleviate his temper. Once the peacock attempted to soothe his thoughts from overthinking and go for the flow with Po, concentrating on the surroundings, he achieved his ninth try without falling on the water, balancing his weight while motioning his wings and talons.
WOW! YOU DID IT, LAO! Po threw his fist in the air with spiritual encouragement.
The peacock's chuckles intensified before answering with his mother. "The Dragon Warrior is enthusiastic, Mother. He helps me meditate, but no offense, Master Ming."
"The panda is a treasure, son," Lady Xia said.
"He is. I promise you, Mother. The Masters of Jade Palace will meet you after the Tournament. I want to surprise them with their own eyes."
Of course, you will.
Lady Xia lay her whole neck on the silky round pillows for comfort before listening to the crackling whispers of the forest's branches beside her. Her son Lao had his thoughts flooded with the Soothsayer's words, reminding him of his inheritance.
If my mother is a Lady, and I am a Prince, then who is my father? The Lord?
Instead of wanting to know who was his biological father ahead of Xia, Lao found his way to asking her with curiosity. "Mom?" he patted her shoulder. "How come my father did sacrifice his life after we escaped the Summit Village?"
The peacock could hear her throat lowering, sighting her eyes that glanced downward. Never once could her son mention their old home in destruction, which involved unnecessary frays before the cloaks of fire wrapped around their cottage. Despite the years of hiding and living in Shui Palace, befriending the Nine ever since became the next chapter of another life. And now, Lao wished to discover the past.
"Oh, my baby," Xia softly gripped his wing, attempting to remember the calamity event. "In his life, your father had trouble before he decided to fight off the assailants. His loyal friend wanted us to save our feathers before my husband would try to drag us into complications. Your father knew his heart was endured with ebony heart because. . . he would not dare force you into manifesting the conception of ruling the kingdom and learning his creation in his laboratory."
I remember.
Lao was in the chamber where the fires cloaked and smoldered across the room inside the laboratory. He was a child in ordinary life, confused but curious about his father's creation. Neglecting random flashbacks of those haunting screams beneath the snow, he could hardly remember his mother strolling outside the ridge path before the night transpired. A warrior with a funny spike fur above his head was walking beside her.
"When I was meditating with the Dragon Warrior and my master, Mother," Lao began, "I remember you. You were strolling with someone close to you at our old home. I remember. . . a swan neighbor. She was there with her parents."
"Huiliang. . . She's a sweet little girl," Xia crooned, pulling her smirk.
Lovely girl, yes. I wish I could see her if she's alive. . .
Lao cast his head downward, drooping his crest to determination. "Do you know who was that guard? On the day you walked with him?" the peacock asked.
His mother coughed softly before she smirked at him. "My dear. . . I remember the wolf. He was steadfast to me. The guard was too kind to me. Not only loyalty, who defends his family's blood, but he also treated me and you well."
"Was he a good friend?"
"A very good friend, son. My guardian mentioned in his life that he could go home to his wife and his daughter, who waited for him," she said, her wing touching her son's head. "Every day, Dongji, Lotus reminds me of him."
Hmm. . .
"What was the wolf's name? Your sentry?" he asked her.
Lao took a deep thought into recalling the calm of the nippy breeze, watching the terrain, settled with over a thousand camps. The night sang the wolves' chorus, howling at the full moon. He never thought of the prime purpose of these 'guards' protecting one for their lives until their last breaths. Instead of the people claiming that the wolves were savages to antagonize town to town, Lady Xia met most loyal people; she mentioned they followed you as your protectors, and before you encountered the peril, they were the first to serve in fighting to death, saving your life.
The last moment Lao could ever think of a sentry was the one standing beside him, carrying the boy on his back. He could not remember the face of his guardian.
"I wish to remember who the name was, son. Forgive me. . . for not remembering him," Lady Xia said, frowning. "Hopefully, I'll remember."
"I am sure you will, Mother," Lao said, letting out a teardrop.
"Hug me."
The mother and son embraced before the whining breeze touched and swirled the leaves outside. Their embrace was longer than the last, unknown how long the peacock's mother could last if not treated to ward off the ill. The boy knew when and what to anticipate his journey, regardless of what he could do without his mother. His feline brother would always look after him, not only as a brother but as a family closer to home.
After blessing his mother, a clear throat escaped from the chamber's doorway, and both avians sighted the tiger wipe out his tears.
"My apologies. I was going to knock on a door for you, Lao," Xing said, alleviating his rough voice. "I'll be—"
"No. I am listening. We were having a good time," Lao spoke.
"Yeah," Xing simpered. "Anyways. Mom's cookies are about to finish."
Triggering with a brief puzzlement, the peacock broadened his eyes. "How many cookies did Lotus eat?"
Giving an innocent look, the tiger skimmed away before returning to the birds. "About thirty of them."
"What?!" Lao shrieked. "And you?"
"Uh. . . About twice over."
"GOOD HEAVENS! You two will be sweet rush soon enough!"
Xia tittered. "My beautiful children. . ."
Author's Note:
— After I rewrote this one for additional writing, there is a fun part where I rarely put one of my original characters in here, not from the KFP Universe. Maybe years from now, if I am done with the KFP, I may be becoming a novelist to write literature projects of my own.
— Hopefully, you have enjoyed this re-edited chapter so far! I am all ears reading your reviews!
