"Are you absolutely sure you don't want to stay?" Po asked Cobra, his voice filled with genuine concern as he, Shifu, and The Five stood at the foot of the stairs.
"Positive. It's been a thrilling journey, but it's time for me to return to Serpent City. I have a lot of apologies to make," Cobra replied, his tone tinged with a hint of remorse.
Master Shifu, now holding Oogway's repaired staff, approached Cobra. "I misjudged you from the very beginning, and for that, I apologize. Thank you for assisting in the protection of the Valley of Peace."
Cobra nodded gratefully. "It was the least I could do to repay the debt I owed to Oogway."
They exchanged bows as a sign of respect before Shifu walked away, leaving The Five and Po with Cobra.
"I never really considered myself a social creature until I met all of you," Cobra remarked, a hint of sentimentality in his voice. "And I have to say, I don't regret nearly dying and being saved by Oogway just to end up here."
Laughter filled the air as Viper approached Cobra. He extended his tail towards her, as if offering a handshake. She took his tail, but instead of shaking it, she pulled him into a gentle embrace.
"Whoa, whoa, attachment issues?" Cobra quipped, eliciting giggles from the group.
"Don't worry, Cobra. I'll visit you guys whenever I can," he assured her, rubbing his tail playfully against her head, only to receive a playful slap in response. "I hope so," she replied with a smile.
"What are you going to do now?" Monkey asked him.
"Im going out to stop any bandit in China. Make criminal records and blah blah blah. So it can be easier for ya'll to catch some of them. So if you guys need any info on a specific bandit, just write me."
Po raised his arms and lunged at Cobra, enveloping him in a tight, almost bone-crushing hug. "Thank you, Cobra... for believing in me," he managed to say through tears, while Cobra groaned in discomfort. "There's quite a difference between your hugs and Viper's," he added with a breathless chuckle, earning more laughter from everyone.
Finally released from Po's grip, Cobra coughed lightly before casting a final glance at his companions. "Farewell," he said, bowing respectfully. They returned the gesture before he began his descent down the long staircase, disappearing into the distance as he made his way back to Serpent City.
Time Skip
Cobra had finally arrived at Serpent City and slithered up to the grand gates. However, his presence immediately caught the attention of two vigilant guards who pointed their spears at him.
"Stop right there!" they commanded, but upon recognizing Cobra, their stances softened. "C-Cobra, where have you been? Everyone has been worried about you."
"Let's just say I went on a little trip," Cobra replied nonchalantly.
The guards exchanged glances. "Very well, we will inform your parents immediately."
"No need," Cobra interrupted, confidently passing them. "I'll let them know myself."
"As you wish," the guards acquiesced.
As he slithered through the city, his initial plan to head straight to the palace was interrupted when he spotted Aurora among her friends. Deciding to approach her first, he tapped her on the back, causing her to gasp and her eyes to widen.
"Surprise!" Cobra exclaimed, but before he could finish his sentence, he received a sharp slap on his face.
"Where were you?!" Aurora demanded, her voice filled with frustration.
"Uh..." Cobra began, trying to find the right words.
"You promised to hang out with me and my friends, and then you just disappeared!" Aurora continued, her anger evident.
"Well..." Cobra tried to explain, but was quickly interrupted.
"Five days?! Seriously, Cobra?!" Aurora exclaimed, her voice filled with hurt.
"Can I talk—" Cobra attempted to speak, but was cut off again.
"You have no idea how worried I was for you!" Aurora said, her voice trembling. "Have you let out enough steam?"
"Yeah..." Aurora replied, still panting, before feeling Cobra's tail on her back. "Aurora, I'm so sorry for leaving you. But I had quite the journey, and I'm ready to start over."
Cobra then glanced behind Aurora and noticed her friends awkwardly staring at them. "Uh, not exactly how I envisioned our first meeting, but hello," he greeted them.
"We'll do the introductions later. Right now, we need to bring you to Mom and Dad!" Aurora declared, grabbing Cobra's tail and dragging him away. However, their progress was halted by another snake standing in front of them.
"Aurora, are you alright? You seem a bit stressed," Peng, the snake, inquired.
"Not now, Peng. This is important!" Aurora replied, brushing past him, with Cobra reluctantly following behind.
"Oh, you must be Peng. We'll have a proper introduction later, and you and I will have a serious talk, mister!" Cobra called out to Peng as he was being dragged towards the palace.
Inside The Palace
Kiara sat at the kitchen table, her head resting on her arms as she dozed off. Exhaustion had taken its toll on her, as she had barely slept in the past few days. Hydra entered the room and noticed her slumbering form. With a sigh, he slithered over to her and gently shook her awake.
"Kiara," he called out softly, and her eyes fluttered open as she slowly raised her head.
"Sorry... I fell asleep on the table again, didn't I?" she mumbled, rubbing her eyes.
"It's alright. I understand how worried you are for Cobra," Hydra reassured her, his voice filled with empathy.
There was a moment of silence as Kiara's thoughts drifted to Cobra's well-being. "Do you think he's okay...?" she asked, her voice tinged with concern.
"Definitely," Hydra replied confidently, trying to ease her worries.
Just then, Aurora's voice echoed through the doorway, interrupting their conversation. "Hey, guys!" she exclaimed, her face beaming with excitement.
Kiara and Hydra turned to see Aurora standing there, a glimmer of anticipation in her eyes. "Guess what?" she asked, unable to contain her joy.
"Aurora, did Peng propose to you?" Hydra blurted out, a mischievous grin on her face.
Aurora's cheeks flushed with embarrassment. "What? No, not that!" she exclaimed, shaking her head.
With a playful slither to the side, Aurora revealed that she was holding Cobra by the neck, his eyes wide with surprise. Kiara and Hydra were taken aback, their hearts leaping with joy at the sight of their long-lost son. They lunged forward, pulling both children into a tight embrace.
"We thought we lost you, Cobra..." Kiara whispered, tears welling up in her eyes.
Hydra, his voice filled with a mix of relief and exhaustion, managed to utter, "You've got a heck of an explanation to give, mister."
"Yeah...I guess I really do don't I?"
A sense of warmth and love filled the room as the family reunited, their hearts overflowing with gratitude for this unexpected miracle. They knew that there would be much to discuss and many stories to share, but in that moment, all that mattered was that they were together again.
Several Years Later
Cobra sat alone in his office, surrounded by scrolls containing information about various bandits. Time had passed since his epic battle with Tai Lung, and much had changed in his life. He had earned the rank of Kung Fu Master, but his days were mostly spent tracking down and bringing justice to dangerous criminals. The ones he couldn't handle alone, he saved up and meticulously documented in scrolls, hoping that the information would prove useful in the future.
His contact with the Jade Palace had become infrequent. He would occasionally visit, but his main interaction with his old friends was through Viper during Snake Season. As he sighed and laid his head on the table, he couldn't help but feel a sense of frustration.
"Frustrated?" a voice suddenly broke the silence, and Cobra looked up to see Hydra leaning against the doorframe.
"Father! Uh, I'm good, really," Cobra replied, trying to hide his inner turmoil.
Hydra slithered over to him, curious about what Cobra was working on. "Which bandit deserves to be added to your list this time?" he asked, his eyes scanning the scrolls.
"Some croc bandits. The Furious Five should eventually give them lifetime sentences. They keep getting released after just a few days," Cobra explained, a hint of annoyance in his voice.
Both father and son chuckled at the absurdity of the situation, and Cobra stood up to place another scroll inside a large cupboard.
"While we're on the topic of bandits, how is your pursuit of Snape going?" Hydra inquired, genuinely interested.
"Not that great, to be honest. The guy is skilled at hiding his tracks. But he can't hide forever; he will eventually reveal himself," Cobra replied, his face showing frustration.
Hydra's next words caught Cobra off guard. "You know, I should have told you this a long time ago," he said, pulling out a scroll and placing it on the table.
Cobra looked at the scroll, his curiosity piqued. "What is it?" he asked, his voice tinged with anticipation.
Hydra hesitated for a moment before revealing the shocking truth. "Your connection with Snape... it runs deeper than you think," he said, his words hanging in the air.
Cobra's heart skipped a beat as he processed the information. "What do you mean? How can it be deeper? He killed my parents and is now after me, and..." he trailed off, unable to comprehend the revelation.
"He's your brother, Cobra," Hydra finally said, his voice filled with a mix of sadness and concern.
Silence enveloped the room as Cobra struggled to process the truth. "Say that again," he whispered, his voice barely audible.
"He's your..." Hydra began, but Cobra quickly interrupted him. "I take that back. Don't repeat it," he said, his voice laced with disbelief and denial.
"Cobra..." Hydra tried to reason, but Cobra's emotions were running high.
"You choose now to tell me this?" Cobra exclaimed, his frustration evident.
"Well, you're much wiser now than you were before," Hydra replied, trying to calm his son's anger.
Cobra wanted to argue back, but he couldn't find the words. "...Touché," he muttered, realizing that his father had a point.
"And what will you do now?" Hydra asked, his voice filled with concern.
"Nothing has changed. I'm still going after him," Cobra declared, his determination unwavering.
"I don't think you should do it alone. Not even with the members of the Jade Palace will you be able to bring Snape to justice."
"Are you telling me, the dude can defeat 7 skilled warriors at once?"
"He can't. But Snape is part of a group that shouldn't be messed with. Ever," Hydra warned, his eyes filled with worry.
Cobra's curiosity was piqued once again. "And what group are you referring to?" he asked, eager to uncover the truth.
At An Unknown Location
We find ourselves deep within the heart of a dark forest, where the shadows dance and the air is thick with an eerie stillness. In this mysterious and foreboding place, a black cobra with intricate red striped tattoos slithers stealthily through the undergrowth. Its sinuous movements guide it towards what appears to be a hidden village, teeming with venomous reptiles. As it approaches the largest house in the center, two frog guards stand sentinel at the entrance.
"General Snape, it has been quite some time. Lord Typhon eagerly awaits your presence," one of the frog guards announces.
Without a word, Snape glides past the guards and enters the grand structure. Inside, he finds himself in a colossal bar-like setting, with tables scattered throughout the room and rowdy bandits indulging in their vices. The clamor and chaos of the place are precisely why Snape rarely visits this establishment.
"Well, well, if it isn't Snapey," a black and orange lizard sneers. Snape's gaze shifts to the table where the lizard sits, accompanied by a purple and black avian and a black and yellow snake.
"Ah, the trio of children," Snape retorts, his voice dripping with disdain. The lizard hisses in response, but the avian swiftly intervenes, delivering a sharp slap to the back of his head. "Sun, stop picking fights with everyone!"
"Toxin," Snape calls out to the snake, who sits quietly, seemingly lost in thought before glancing up at Snape. "Lord Typhon summoned me. He is not seated on his throne, so where might he be?"
Toxin, the snake, gazes at Snape for a moment before responding. "He is in his chamber."
"Much obliged, little mamba," Snape chuckles, making his way out of the bustling room and ascending the stairs to meet Typhon.
"I can't stand that guy," Sun grumbles.
"But you must still show him respect, Sun. Like Toxin, he is one of the few esteemed generals," the avian explains calmly.
"If he wants respect, he should try to earn it," Toxin interjects, taking a sip from his glass.
Snape slithers up the stairs until he stands before a door. He knocks, and a voice from within beckons him to enter. Snape opens the door, revealing a Komodo Dragon seated at a table, diligently writing on a scroll. Snape enters and immediately lowers his head, bowing in deference to the powerful lizard.
"Lord Typhon, you wished to see me?" Snape inquires respectfully.
"Indeed, I have," Typhon replies, his gaze still fixed on the scroll. "How is your quest with your... siblings progressing?"
"Not particularly well, and just to clarify, they are not my siblings," Snape retorts.
"You three share the same blood and emerged from the same mother. It is an undeniable fact," Typhon chuckles, seemingly amused by Snape's response who hissed. He rises from his seat, clutching the scroll and crossing his arms behind his back as he approaches Snape. "I have forgiven you for your initial failure in bringing them to me. However, it has been years since you eliminated your own parents," he whispers into Snape's ear, his words sending a shiver down Snape's spine. "And your brother has garnered quite the reputation since then. He could eventually overthrown us."
"Don't worry about him my lord. I will take care of him."
"You will."
Snape feels a weight settle on his chest as Typhon hands him a scroll. "But now is not the time." he said standing up and walking to the door.
"You will embark on a mission beyond the borders of China," Typhon declares, stepping back and beginning to leave the room.
"What would you have me do?" Snape inquires, causing Typhon to pause at the door. "Simply pay a visit to an old friend of mine," Typhon replies cryptically before departing.
THE END