Hi readers, here we are with a new update to the story…enjoy!

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Chapter 7: The Inciting Incident

"Strengthen up!"

I quickly got into the correct posture as Chameleon circled me to inspect my stance, "how many times do I have to tell you? An incorrect form has been the undoing of many students in Kung Fu!"

I nodded, curling my pink hands into fists as she stood beside me. She took the form of a wolf since they were the animals closest to my height (and she knew about my fondness for them.) Being a fifteen-year-old I was about halfway through adolescence, and I was still making such small mistakes!

"Focus ahead, remember…control!" Wolf-Chameleon instructed as we both began to recite Hung Ga. About halfway through I forget one of two strikes and my instructor gets irritated. Even imitating a wolf, she could shoot her long tongue and she did so to grab a hold of my arm. She brought me to her and said, "you'd be dead for that little mishap!"

I whimpered, mostly from failing to remember such a simple task! I nodded repeatedly to get her to let go and she finally did.

Just as I rub my arm, she growls to me as I straighten up, "again!"

After a while, she pulled away…and stood next to a brute reptilian who was wielding a pike, "let's hope you didn't forget what we just recited" she snapped her claws and the guard rushed for me!

My eyes widened just before I was forced to dodge a stab. I try retaliating by disarming the foe, but they manage to smack me away every time. I retreated as they continued their relentless assault on me.

"Control…" Chameleon instructed as I heard her.

As he slows down…marching toward me, I look around and find something I can use. Sure enough, I find something, and inside…I smirked. He made one last jab at me, and I rolled away, picking up a pair of bolas and threw it at them: entrapping them! I jump toward them, smacking their pike away, successfully disarming them. Soon, however, they use all their strength to break free from the bolas, destroying them. Now, they rushed for me with fists. I dodged and evaded every swipe and soon I used my foot to target their knee once they overextended. I brought them down on one leg and I used my fist to target their throat. In response, they fall on their back and squirm in pain.

I look toward Lady Chameleon, who walked toward me. She had some other reptiles carry the injured beast away. She looked up toward me, grabbing my arm and inspecting it. Soon, her eyes glowed bright blue as I felt her invading my mind…

"I see you took inspiration from how wolves hunt. Target the legs and the throat as weak points. Impressive. Perhaps…there's another method of training you, Mei."

She let go and her eyes returned to normal before I bowed to her.

"Wolf style, a niche concept you seemed to have invented for yourself. You bring down your target…deliver a fatal blow to their throat. Perhaps it will be useful should you continue to develop it, Mei. Let's hope it doesn't ultimately get you killed someday."

I nodded. In some ways she was right. For some time, I have been developing a fighting method that is optimal for my size and speed against a range of animals. Although I hadn't entirely came up with the method...I took most of my technique from reading scrolls by Master Wolf. They, themselves had simply taken moves and forms from different styles and put their own spin on it. Also, the problem with my "wolf style" seems to be with smaller or much larger opponents...they would be harder to use the style against since targeting their legs or throat would be a challenge.

Even so, she bid me farewell for the day and I went to rest on the terrace for the day.

…

A few years went by, and Zhen and I were now in our twenties…officially adults. By now, our training was nearing completion, and we became infamous in Juniper City once again as well. To me, life seemed to make the most sense at this point: Zhen and I did what we loved, and we had a sense of duty serving the Chameleon. Granted, she never told me about my past, but I dared not question it…or even have a thought of betraying her.

On this particular day…sometime during the Spring (the year of the Rat) Zhen and I were in the courtyard practicing.

By now, she is wearing a bluish tunic with a darker shade of trousers. She also had a hood and face covering for when she needed to use stealth.

I had a similar outfit, but my shirt was a dark shade of gray and I also had brown trousers like her. I also managed to get a mask in the shape of a wolf to hide my identity (it certainly was an upgrade compared to things I wore in the past!)

Anyway, we both near the end of our session: we jumped in the air (each striking the soles of our feet in midair before falling to the ground.) Most of our fights now ended in stalemate…I could never truly win against Zhen. She knew all my moves and the style that I had adopted (thank you Master Wolf.) As always, the vixen was just too quick and agile for most of our sessions, and I usually resorted to adopting a defensive tactic to gain an advantage against her.

After we finished, we bowed to each other in respect and joined each other's side soon after. Not too long after, we hear a call for us…it's one of the servants: our presence is requested!

We made our way to the main chamber and there we could see Lady Chameleon…she had a distraught look on her face…

Zhen stepped forward, with a slight look of confusion on her face, "master, what's wrong?"

The reptilian stood up from her throne, setting the scroll she had read to the side, "Tai Lung is gone…"

Zhen and I were certainly surprised by this revelation. Tai Lung was a well-known Kung Fu legend…a master of his craft, a person whom the Chameleon greatly admired. Immediately, a thought crossed our minds, who defeated him?

No one knew, rumor was the only effective communication we had. Soon, Lady Chameleon began to speculate. Lord Shen? No, why would that bird do it? Besides, Tai Lung was imprisoned…he was no threat to Lord Shen as far as anybody knew.

Then who could have done it?

The only bit of information that was given to us all was talk of a great warrior…from a distant valley: strong enough to split mountains…able to use the faintest energy to survive starvation…and able to defeat even the mightiest armies.

Again, just pure speculation.

It would remain that way…until just a few years later. We got word that Lord Shen himself was next to fall…

Then, that was when we learned the truth: the person who defeated Lord Shen was also the one who defeated Tai Lung.

A person that would come to be known as The Dragon Warrior.

It sent shivers down our spines.

In the weeks and months that followed, Lady Chameleon came up with a scheme…one that could put an end to the "Dragon Warrior" problem. The plan was to find this warrior and obtain the Staff of Wisdom, which would allow the sorceress of Juniper City to open the "Spirit Realm."

In doing so, she could summon any deceased Kung Fu master she wanted. Zhen and I believed that Chameleon planned to enlist the aid of the fallen warriors against this so-called "Dragon Warrior." No one knew if the staff actually did this, we were just going by sources…we didn't even know what the Staff of Wisdom looked like.

It wouldn't be until MUCH LATER that Zhen and I would discover Lady Chameleon's true intentions.

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A few more months went by as scouts sent by the Chameleon came back with important information. They traced the Dragon Warrior's footsteps from a place known as the Valley of Peace. Rumors circulated that the warrior was a large beast in the shape of a bear, and soon it became apparent to Lady Chameleon what it was: a panda. It would explain why they went after Lord Shen…the latter wiped out a village of pandas in the past. Still, the reports weren't entirely accurate. Still, we were told not to ignore them.

Who was "we"?

As luck would have it (though, no surprise actually) the sorceress gave Zhen and I a momentous task: we were instructed to go to the Valley of Peace, steal the staff, and bring it back here to the palace. If necessary, and if the opportunity arises, we will bring the Dragon Warrior here to face the Chameleon.

The preparations for the plan neared completion…and it was time to set everything in motion.

The day we were told to pack and begin our long journey, a mission that would have us travel across China to get to our target, Zhen and I were in our bedroom. We were putting what we needed in our small bags…double checking that we had enough provisions and items for the trip.

The gray fox looked at me, she was certainly ecstatic about everything…and she was hyper (really, really hyper…)

The thirty-one-year-old vixen asked me, "you got your mask?"

I gave a "really" expression to her.

As if I'd forget it…

"I'm going to laugh if you somehow forget it, Mei!" She laughed, slinging her bag behind her. I stood up to join her side, "I can't believe it, we're leaving Juniper City…there's a whole world of suckers out there for us!" I nodded, also putting my bag around me.

"Road trip!" Zhen said with her raspy voice: jumping up and down…grabbing my head with both paws afterward.

I made a slight befuddled grin, man…how much tea did she have today?

Sure enough, we left our room and headed through the palace…greeting the reptilian guards and soldiers we passed by. We both soon entered the throne room and we are met with the sorceress, who turned and faced us.

"Are you two prepared?"

Zhen and I nodded simultaneously before the former said, "we are, Lady Chameleon."

"Remember, use any method you must use to get the Staff of Wisdom."

"What will you do, master…if-if you don't mind me asking?" Zhen's ear twitched as Chameleon smirked a bit at the question asked.

"I will spring a bait for the Dragon Warrior" she suddenly transformed into Tai Lung…but she had a few minor alterations because of the mimic (such as some scales and small spikes.)

"Tai Lung" looked down toward us and laughed, "you will tell the panda about me…if the Dragon Warrior comes, we will be ready for them" she explained before reverting to her true form. Zhen and I bowed in response.

"We won't fail you" the fox finished. Without anything else to say, she and I began leaving the chamber to be escorted by a reptilian entourage; however, just as we were leaving, I looked back and saw the Chameleon.

Her eyes turned cyan, and I felt the same itch I felt when she used her sorcery on my mind. Time seemed to slow as I suddenly got tunnel vision and all I could see was her. I just stood there; my brown eyes were the same color (cyan) as Lady Chameleon.

"If you accomplish your mission, Mei…I will tell you everything about your past…this I promise."

I thought about what she just communicated to me: tell me everything? So, this is it…by the tone of her voice, she sounded genuine with her intentions.

The reptile knew just how loyal I was to her cause…there shouldn't be a reason for her to lie to me. I simply nodded and she smirked back with a toothy grin, "have fun you two."

As soon as she said that our eyes returned to normal, and our telepathic communication ceased. I bowed one last time to her before I ran off to join Zhen's side.

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That's it for this chapter! As you can see, we are now officially in the events of Kung Fu Panda 4, and now things are kicking off! I hope you enjoyed this recent chapter, take care!