20 minutes earlier…

"Maybe we should go in pairs. That way if one pair finds him, one can stay with him while the other goes to warn the others." Albion says, his stoic gaze looking directly at me, waiting for my decision.

I mull over the plan.

On one paw it is quite dangerous breaking our numbers, on the other paw the more time we waste looking for the bandit leader the bigger the chance that we are discovered.

"Hmm… We'll go with Albion's idea." I finally assess. I quickly make the pairs, putting Albion with Viper. Viper is a good choice to take care of him.

I put myself with Crane.

We quickly divide and choose a direction to look.

"You think they'll be fine?" Crane asks me as we keep sneaking around, looking for our mark.

He clearly means Albion and Viper.

"Yes, even if Albion has just begun his training, he is competent." There is no need to say anything about Viper. We know her well enough.

It's not long before we stop our search, due to an unforeseen sight before us. Viper slithers at full speed at us, Monkey and Mantis right behind her. Albion is not in sight.

"Tigress! It's an emergency!" Viper quickly addresses me, barely managing to stop her run before colliding with me "We have to hurry!"

"Wait, calm down. What happened? Where is Albion?" I quickly ask back, taking note of the urgency in her tone.

"It was a trap! Albion is in a sealed room, fighting the leader right now. We have to hurry and find a way in to help him." Viper resumes to me the situation in a fast, concise manner.

So they knew we were coming, or at least had the suspicion that someone was.

Without any more delay, I follow Viper, with Monkey, Mantis and Crane right behind me.

We arrive at a spacious room with a single door to another room. Some kind of waiting hall.

That must be the door that trapped Albion in. I can hear some conversation in the other room, before some fighting sounds ensue.

I quickly prepare myself to break the mighty wooden door in a singular strike, but an arrow misses my head by mere centimeters and strikes the door.

"Tigress, we have company." Crane warns me in a serious tone. He is ready for battle.

I turn back and see the horde of bandits awaiting us. The worst situation possible has come to be.

I can't focus to break the heavy door with so many enemies at my back. We will have to defeat them first.

Let's hope Albion can hold on until then.

We quickly join battle with all the bandits, Crane diving fiercely and without mercy against all the archers at the back, while I and the others quickly dispatch with thundering strikes all the bandits that come against us.

But no matter how many we strike down, they keep coming fearlessly against us. Or rather they probably are more afraid of the punishment if they don't fight.

Little by little, we start to get surrounded by more adversaries.

Viper is constricting a big crocodile with her body, making him hit himself with his own weapon.

Monkey is dancing around the battlefield, bamboo staff in hand, striking, dodging, and blocking with agile acrobatic tricks.

Mantis is quick as lightning, hitting all the nerve points in a bandit in mere seconds, leaving him paralyzed on the ground before going after his next victim.

A bandit suddenly comes to me, swinging his weapon wildly, a crazed expression on his face.

I hit the handle of his weapon, shattering it and stopping him dead cold, a confused look on his face.

I give him a single kick to the head, leaving him unconscious, and look for my next opponent.

"This is taking too long… Albion may already be…" My thoughts start going in a dark direction.

Suddenly, a thundering sound is heard.

Both the bandits and all of us stop what we are doing to look at the source.

We can see the solid wooden door bulge outwards to us.

One thundering sound after another is heard, before the door explodes suddenly, making it rain fragments of wood towards us.

A form is seen flying through it, making a direct trajectory to the center of the room.

It is an unconscious jackal.

We look back at the door, what is left of it, and see Albion using the hole he apparently made with the abused body of the jackal bandit.

He cuts an intimidating figure, his silver hair is now down, the tie for it lost in the battle, and his clothes are mostly torn, letting us take a peek at his injuries, which are not few.

"Who is next?" He asks, eyeing the bandits with cold gray eyes. His tone is full of blood thirst, making everyone's fur stand on end.

A moment passes, and then every single bandit flees the room, throwing away his weapons.

With their leader defeated, they realize they no longer have a chance nor a reason to fight.

We stand there in shock for a moment, processing what we have just witnessed.

"Albion! You did it!" Monkey is the first to recover, making me snap out of it.

We quickly approach him.

He looks terrible, with cuts and bruises everywhere. His left arm especially looks bad, looking like the jackal took a tearing bite at it.

"Wow man, you look like shit. You okay?" Mantis asks him, an undertone of worry in his voice.

I wonder the same. He is swaying quite a bit, looking almost ready to keel over.

"Yeah, don't worry I'm… fine..."

The blood thirst in his tone is gone, his voice now sounds weak and fragile, like it could shatter at any moment.

It seems his challenge from before is a mere bluff.

Suddenly he starts to fall, making everyone shout his name.

I act fast and catch him before his head collides with the hard ground.

"Is he okay?" Viper asks, in a panicking voice. She probably is blaming herself for putting him in such a dangerous situation.

"We have to treat his wounds right now. He's losing too much blood. Secure the jackal while I do it." Monkey, Mantis and Crane go to bind the jackal with some rope, to secure him for the travel back home.

Meanwhile, I prepare the medical supplies I always carry with me.

Bandages, thread and needle, and some disinfectant.

Viper is by Albion's side, taking his 'hand' with her tail and looking at him with worry.

"Don't worry Viper. He just needs some patching up." I do my best to try and cheer her up, even if my skill with words is abysmal.

"I'll leave it to you, since I'm not that good in that part." She says, making allusion to her lack of appendages.

"That's right," I think to myself as I begin first aid on his worst injuries, "We all have weaknesses."

I have a few, but what I consider one of my worst qualities is my poor ability with words. I always find a way to say hurtful things or say something I shouldn't in anger.

Perhaps it comes from my stunted childhood when the other kids bullied me and treated me badly.

But that is no excuse to go around, hurting the others with my blunt words and speaking manner. That is why it's better if I stay distant from other people.

It's better in the long term, to save myself and others some pain.

It is a weak school of thought, but it is the only one I can follow for now.

Maybe in the future, I will be stronger. Maybe I will be like Albion, and become stronger in the face of adversity.


I slowly feel myself waking up.

The first thing I notice is the warmth of a fire to my side, slowly toasting the right side of my body.

The second, the pain all over me.

"Ugh…" I cannot help but exclaim, as I try to incorporate myself.

Before I can fully get up, I feel a furry paw press on my chest gently, making me go prone again.

"Don't move. You are still badly hurt." That is Tigress's whispering voice.

My vision finally adjusts, and I notice the sky is dark and full of stars.

Tigress is seated next to me, looking at the fire.

I turn my head and see everyone else asleep.

It is quite funny seeing Crane asleep, standing on one leg while he does it.

The jackal from earlier is tied to a tree with so much rope around his body to secure him it's almost comical, if he wasn't so dangerous.

"Hmm… What happened?" I ask, confused. My thoughts are still muddled up.

Tigress tends the fire for a moment before looking back at me.

"You defeated the jackal. Then you collapsed." She resumes the events rather concisely. "Your wounds were rather grave. If we weren't there, you would have died from blood loss."

A chilling prospect.

I fall silent, contemplating my near-death experience while looking at the beautiful starry sky.

"So… mission complete?" I ask after a while.

Tigress raises an eyebrow before answering.

"Yes, I suppose. We captured the leader and the bandit group is no more." Tigress concludes.

I can feel her observing me with her amber eyes.

"Is something the matter?" I ask, turning my gaze on her.

"You came close to death. Doesn't that make you feel... scared?" She asks, a curious tone entering her voice.

This is rather rare, Tigress making conversation instead of the other way around.

"When Master Shifu told me that I would go on a mission, I prepared myself for the possibility of death. As Kung fu warriors, we are supposed to fight threats and protect the valley, are we not?"

"Yes, you are right. That is why the others were so unsure of you coming along." Tigress brings up the topic I am still rather bothered with "You have been training with us for barely a month. It's true that you are a gifted warrior, but you also are someone who just started his training. You have become a good friend to all of us in little time. We don't want to see you die." Tigress says in a rare moment of sincerity and sympathy on her part.

It is truly rare for her to speak so much, and so warmly to me. Perhaps I have gained some respect from her after defeating a fearsome foe in combat.

"Do you include yourself as my friend then?" I intend the question to be in a joking manner, but part of me truly wonders.

"I… don't make friends." She answers, suddenly closed off.

"What about the others? Are they not your friends?"

"They are fellow students and masters of Kung fu. Nothing more." She stubbornly insists.

To me, it is clear the other members of the Furious Five see Tigress as a dear ally and friend. Even if she is stern and harsh, she has a kind and honest side she shows from time to time, like she is doing right now.

Silence permeates the campfire, the calm even breathing of the others sleeping barely audible over the crackling of the fire.

"Then how about being my friend?" I ask her gently. Maybe if she opens up to me, she will admit her friendship with the others.

A person can't go their entire life without bonds, only focusing on their objectives. It's not healthy.

Her silence is telling.

She hasn't refused my offer, but she also didn't accept it yet.

Finally, she speaks, in a hesitant slow voice, rather unusual in her.

"You would still want to be my friend? After all the things I have said to you?" She asks, with an incredulous tone.

It's true, she has said her share of hurtful things to me.

"Don't remember our deal? We would leave all that behind and start anew, in exchange for me to forgive the terrible beating you gave me on my first day of training." I say in a light manner, making it clear that I am joking.

She still seems unsure about the prospect.

"I don't do… friendship. I'm sure you have noticed that I am not good at that kind of thing." Today is a surprising day alright.

Maybe I have truly died and I am imagining this.

Foolery aside, it is strange for Tigress to admit that kind of weakness, to leave herself vulnerable to judgment.

After a moment of contemplation, I choose my words carefully.

"Tigress… Let me say this. One can't make his way alone in life. It's important to grow your bonds, to have allies and friends you can rely on in your times of need. I'm sure the others would be there for you, as you would be for them, even if you don't admit it." I tell her seriously, looking at her eyes the entire time "You have already helped me many times. That is why I want to be your friend."

I smile and prop myself up a bit despite the pain, so I can look at her face properly.

"And if you don't want that reasoning… The truth is that I want to be able to say that I am friends with the awesome Master Tigress." I say in a joking manner.

She looks at me after my stupid monologue, a small embarrassed expression on her face.

"Fine, if you insist so much, then I guess we can be friends. Don't be surprised later, I already told you I'm not good at this kind of thing." Tigress warns me, her ears pressed against her head in embarrassment.

A smile fully blooms on my face, feeling delighted at finally gaining some of Tigress's trust.

I offer her my hand to shake, and she takes it after a moment, giving me a firm shake with her soft paw and a small smile on her part.

"Well, this has been rather… interesting, but you should rest. Your wounds are not healed yet and tomorrow we must make our way back to the valley." Tigress tells me after a moment of silence.

I am feeling more and more exhausted by each passing moment, so Tigress's suggestion sounds appealing.

"Yes, you are right. I'm really tired." I voice my thoughts, going back to a more comfortable position to sleep as I do so "Goodnight Tigress. We'll speak tomorrow."

After a "Rest well" from her, I close my eyes and start recounting my recent conversation with her as I drift to sleep.

I know Tigress doesn't like to show her soft side, so it must have taken a lot of courage on her part to speak about this topic with me.

She is truly admirable. Always challenging herself and growing as a person.

I wonder, has something happened to her in the past to make her so… distant from relations with other people?


Morning comes earlier than I hoped, since I wake up feeling rather exhausted.

I take a chance to look back at my own body, which I should have done the moment I woke up, but I am too distracted with my talk with Tigress.

I'm shirtless, the clothes Luna gave me destroyed in my battle with Nyx, but my torso and abdomen are almost all covered in bandages, along with my left arm.

It seems I collected more injuries than I can remember in the haze of the battle.

Tigress tells me that my injury in my left arm is especially important to take care of since it may be prone to infection.

She gives me a cream, one similar to the one she gave me some time ago, and tells me she would help me change my bandages later if I have difficulties.

She is being strangely kind to me, even with our new state of friendship.

Maybe she is still feeling bad for what she has said to me before? Or maybe she still wasn't sure what friends are exactly supposed to do, so she is overcompensating for it.

I actually think she is just that kind, but doesn't usually show it.

"Damn Albion. You really got thrashed." Monkey says with a laugh, making Mantis laugh along with him.

They have been giving me grief since it is clear that I will recover from my injuries without too much problem.

"Yeah yeah… Laugh all you want. I know I saved your asses back there." I helpfully remind the both of them who made all the bandits flee.

That part I can perfectly remember.

"Bah… we have had worse. I was about to fully unleash my might and defeat them all in one strike." Mantis boasts without a hint of shame.

"This guy…" Crane comments, covering his face with his wing.

We are making that kind of talk as we make our way back to the Valley of Peace, our prisoner, bound and gagged, trailing right behind us.

"Still… I feel bad for leaving you alone against him Albion. I'm sorry..." Viper says, a regretful tone in her voice.

"Don't say that. It was a trap, we couldn't have expected that." I tell her, trying to convey that I don't blame her at all "And you saved me. If you didn't bring everyone else so quickly, I probably would have died without Tigress's treatment."

Everyone nods along, and Viper smiles, giving a "Thanks guys!" back to us.

Soon the steps down into the valley can be seen in the distance, making us move a bit faster, eager to return home and rest.

After leaving Nyx, who has glared at us hatefully the entire journey back with the guards, we start making our way to the stairs that ascend into the Jade Palace.

As we walk, all the villagers, pigs, bunnies, geese, and more, cheer for our successful return.

I think I even see Xuebai, the owner of Mighty Feline, for a moment among the crowd.

"We should hit the bar as a reward for a job well done!" Monkey says cheerfully, his thoughts already drifting to take a well-deserved break.

Mantis is right up there with him, going by his cheering.

"First we must report back to Master Shifu our success." Tigress reminds them in a stern tone, leaving no room for argument.

Their mood now depressed, they just follow along.

After climbing up the unending stairs, we reach the gates, where Master Shifu is waiting for us, clearly already notified of our arrival.

We bow in greeting.

"Hello students. I'm glad to see you have returned… mostly safe." He obviously directs that last part at me, seeing the bandages all over my body "Come inside."

We follow him into the barracks, and shortly after into the kitchen.

There, a meal is already prepared for us by the servants of the palace, waiting to be eaten.

"Eat and rest. Come later to the Hall of Warriors to give your report." He says, leaving us after we thank him.

We devour the food with gusto, enjoying the difference in taste of a meal well-prepared at home and a meal hastily made on the road.

It's not that the food we make while traveling is bad, it's just that a meal prepared at home with a nice kitchen is that much better.

Finally finished, we pile the dirty plates in the sink, to be washed later, and make our way outside, to the Hall of Warriors.

We enter and find Master Shifu and Grandmaster Oogway there.

We give a deep bow, showing our respect to both masters. Now that I think about it, maybe I should have made myself presentable while I had the chance.

I am still in nothing but trousers and bandages.

"Hello everyone. Please raise your heads, I just want to hear how the mission went." The gentle tortoise says, a genuine concern in his voice.

"Tigress make your report." In contrast, the stern voice of the red panda commands Tigress.

"Yes Master! We successfully defeated Nyx, the bandit leader, and disbanded the rest of his lackeys. They will terrorize the valley no more. Albion suffered some injuries in battle." Tigress quickly summarizes the important points of our mission.

As she explains the events that lead to our victory, I can feel Oogway's gaze inspecting me.

"Hmm… Good job. All of you have done well." Master Shifu gives us a rare compliment "Take this day to rest. Tomorrow we will resume training."

After dismissing us, we bow again, and make to depart the room.

"Wait Albion. I wish to speak further with you." Master Shifu once again stops only me from leaving.

"Ah, he is going to get scolded for messing up!"

"He didn't mess up!"

And once again, the idiotic banter from some of the members of the Furious Five is heard as they exit the room.

"Master?" I ask, uncertain if this time he truly would scold me.

"Don't worry, you did well for your first mission. Don't let it go to your head." Master Shifu warns me "Keep being diligent in your training."

With that, he makes for the exit.

Now Oogway, who has remained a silent observer, approaches me before speaking.

"Your mind has become clear. You have overcome this trial." He says, cryptically as always "I feel your heart lighter of doubt and frustration."

"Yes master, after talking with Tigress and the others I have understood that they just worry about me." I explain my experience while traveling "They truly are good friends. I aspire to be their peer in that regard."

"Hmm… Good, we must grow from our experiences, both our failures and successes." The gentle Master says wisely "I can also feel growth from the other members of the Furious Five."

"Well, yes… Tigress and I managed to reach an understanding. Maybe in the future, we will look with fondness and laugh at the early days when we were at each other's throats." That is but wishful thinking… for now.

Maybe our new friendship will continue long into the future.

"Speaking about the future… Tell me Albion, do you believe in fate?" The tortoise poses a rather philosophical question.

I take my time to think about my answer, the old master telling me with his eyes to take all the time I need to reach it.

"While I believe that we mold our own future with our actions, I also think there are some events that already have a conclusion before they started." Noncommittal answer, but it's truly what I believe.

"Wise words. See, when I first saw you I had a vision." The tortoise says something incredible to me. "An immovable object colliding with an unstoppable force. Which one are you? And… who or what is the other?"

I have heard from others that Grandmaster Oogway could really predict the future to some degree.

But to hear a prophecy from him related to myself is quite shocking.

"What are you saying Master? Will I be involved in such a serious fight in the future?" I ask, uncertain what he means.

"Hmm… Indeed, that is what I believe. And in that fight, your true self will be revealed to you." Shock eclipses my being at his words.

My past will be revealed to me? Will I know who I truly am?

"Albion!" The unusual stern tone present in Oogway's voice takes me out of my thoughts "Keep yourself anchored to the present. Don't lose yourself in the realm of possibilities."

He is right. I must not lose sight of what is before me.

"I only told you this so you can prepare yourself. Train, study, meditate. Ready yourself and make sure you don't have any regrets when the time comes." The old master wisely advises me.

"Yes Master, I will grow strong, so I can confront the truth when the time comes." I reassure, both him and myself.

"Good. Then go, tomorrow will be another day. Make sure to take care of your injuries." Grandmaster Oogway leaves me those kind, gentle words as I bow and make my exit.


I'm in the kitchen, sipping on some tea, trying to calm myself after Grandmaster Oogway's words.

The others, except Tigress, have gone down to the village to celebrate a successful mission.

I debate whether to go or not, but I finally decide that it would be better if I stay home this time, given that I would not be able to focus on enjoying the celebration after my talk with the old master.

I use my wounds as an excuse, and tell the others to go this time without me. There will be more occasions.

Tigress simply says she doesn't want to go. It seems it will take more time before she opens herself some more.

Speaking of her, she enters the kitchen.

"You are still awake?" She asks, surprised at seeing me in the kitchen at this hour.

It is rather late, but I can't make myself sleep.

"Yup, got some things on my head still." I touch my head twice to make my point, which I regret immediately given that I do it with my left arm.

Tigress looks at the gesture, as I give a small hiss of pain.

"Now that I think about it, you haven't changed your bandages yet, have you?" She asks, her sharp gaze on me.

"Oh… I was planning on doing it later."

"That won't do. If you are not careful your wounds are going to become infected." She scolds me, taking my right arm and pulling me out of my seat.

She takes me to her room and makes me sit down and wait while she reaches for medical supplies.

"I can do it myself, really." I don't want to bother her.

She ignores me and starts to take off the dirty bandages, some of them having some blood on them.

I inspect the stitching while I have the chance.

It looks truly well done, almost professional.

"You know your stuff." I praise her.

She stops for a moment to inspect my wounds too.

"I have to. Training in Kung fu is dangerous." She says seriously, making me wonder how many times she had to treat her own wounds.

Her words take me back to my walk with Grandmaster Oogway.

Tigress seems to notice that I am lost in thought.

"Want to share what is keeping you up this late?" She asks as she works on putting the fresh bandages.

I decide to divulge my talk with the Grandmaster, trusting in her discretion.

I explain to her the prophecy he saw, and that my true self would possibly be revealed to me.

She is silent as I speak.

Finally, I finish my explanation, just as she finishes with her treatment.

"So, once you know your past, what will you do?" She searches my eyes for an answer, getting to the heart of the matter.

She only finds doubt.

"I… don't know. That is one part of my dilemma."

"What is the other part?" Tigress asks again, as she starts to put back the medical supplies.

"Who is it I'm supposed to be fighting? An immovable object? Or an unstoppable force?"

We sit there in silence, contemplating.

"What I know with security..." I start, gaining her attention back "No matter the resolution, whatever memories or knowledge I regain, I'm now Albion, student of Kung fu at the Jade Palace. My place is here." I put my entire resolve in my voice, my eyes and entire being reflecting that.

Tigress just gives me back a small smile, which means more than whatever words she could have said.

She approves.

"Then let's prepare you for this future. Let's meditate. Calm your mind and ready your spirit."

We both spend some time meditating in silence in her room, the smell of incense in her room helping me forget and relax for a time.

It smells of jasmine.

Afterward, I go back into my room, where I prepare myself to sleep.

Winter is finally ending, which could be noticed in the temperature, making for a more comfortable sleep.

I slowly drift into the dream world, thinking about how lucky I am to have friends and mentors that help me so much.