Here we go, this ought to be a fun chapter! Enjoy!

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Chapter 9: The Dragon Warrior

By the time I had entered the Jade Palace, the mysterious person was searching all over for my partner, Zhen. When I saw where they were from above, I could see the gray vulpine stealing several artifacts as I mentally facepalmed, why am I not surprised she is doing this?

I mean come on girl…we are on a very important mission! This can't wait for another time!?

I saw Zhen put her paws on a rather large blade that sat on an illustrious stand, but unbeknownst to her…she was about to get caught…

An encounter seemed to be inevitable. I am forced to prepare myself for combat.

"Dagger of Deng Wa…you've got excellent taste; I'll give you that…" She managed to see his reflection on the weapon. The fox snapped her body around to face the culprit…now they're face to face with the stranger.

"But I can't give you that…so uh…give it back…"

My best friend smirked under her mask, saying with cold vigor, "if you insist" she threw the dagger at the man. I wasn't expecting her to perform such a deadly move, but I also didn't expect the "bear" to just stand there confidently (especially since she gave him so much time to dodge that.)

I was flabbergasted when I saw the strange animal redirect the weapon toward the ground flawlessly with such perfect execution! I gasped under my mask…this was no ordinary person…I knew right then and there that this is a skilled combatant.

This might be a problem.

Then, I saw they had accidentally dropped the staff they were holding to perform the move. I was silent afterward…this just got awkward. Zhen below me probably thought the same thing…she just stood there, unimpressed after all that. Once the "intruder" picked up the staff and held it toward her the vixen threw her paws at him in mock surrender, "oh no! He's got a walking stick! What are you going to do…stroll me to death!?"

The man reaffirmed his stoic pose as he brandished it toward Zhen again, "this is not for the strolling! This is the Staff of Wisdom!"

Suddenly, everything changed. Zhen's eyes barely widened, but the subtle change showed that she had become interested in him, and so was I.

I was right above them, squatting on top of an animal statue, letting what he said sink in.

JACKPOT!

Now we just got to take the staff from them! Still, Zhen loved to sometimes marinate her heists…

She put her paws on her hips and promptly snapped back at them, "The Dragon Warrior is going to be mad when he finds out you took his stick!"

As if they were a pouty child, the black and white creature returned fire, "I am the Dragon Warrior!"

Zhen just couldn't take him seriously. I was more cautious, but I was starting to place my doubts on this guy. Maybe all we've seen from them was nothing more but a show…like they're a true exhibitionist.

"I'm just going to say it: nothing about you says dragon or warrior…"

The man had enough: he ran towards her to officially begin the battle. That was his first mistake. It gave Zhen ample time to prepare and retaliate. Maybe she's got this…

Zhen grabbed some torches and made her way up a statue before elegantly jumping off. I watched in awe as she "glided" through the air, the action caused her mask and hood to unfurl…revealing herself to them.

As this happens, the grayish vulpine sprays the oil from the torches down all over the floor where her adversary is, and they slip and fall in response.

While sliding through the ground, the foe just kept valiantly telling her off…as if she would care, "how dare you desecrate the Hall of Heroes!"

Zhen just started messing around with all the treasures in the hall as if to make him angrier. I rolled my eyes…what has this turned into?

The fox managed to use some chains to bind her opponent's arms, yet the latter managed to prevent anything she threw at him from breaking.

Okay…Zhen is the bigger problem now…I ought to just leave by this point. This isn't a fight, it's an acrobatic festival! This is the Dragon Warrior…the person who defeated Tai Lung and Lord Shen? No, this must be a ruse…a decoy of sorts…

"The Urn of Whispering Warriors, which I've already broken twice!"

Zhen was certainly taken aback by this, and she couldn't help but make a scrutinizing remark in response, "why would you keep an urn of souls…feels kind of creepy" she smirked, turning around and carelessly hitting the urn with her bushy tail. It fell but it was saved by the "warrior" across from her, yet my best friend continued taunting him.

This is your opportunity to take the staff…take it!

But it was too late, the male beast managed to recover and had kicked Zhen across the room! I gasped silently; it was the first time I'd seen him retaliate…actually hitting her! She hit several pillars before "passing out."

Her crash somehow led to the urn breaking and the man growled to my companion, "you're going to pay for that!"

Enough was enough…we've overstayed our welcome…

I soon jumped in from above, grabbing the staff and kicking him back a bit. I landed beside the fox who had been pretending to be unconscious. I tapped her with my naked foot, and she sprang to her feet in response, "you know I had this, right?" She murmured before I rolled my eyes to her.

"There's two of you!?" The warrior across from us retorted in surprise.

"You weren't expecting that? I bet you weren't expecting that" Zhen smirked proudly. I nudged her as she looked at me quickly, I was displaying the green staff in my hand to her…gesturing my head to the exit. Now's our chance!

We started making our way out as I handed the Staff of Wisdom to Zhen.

"Not fair!"

"What, the Dragon Warrior can't take two opponents at once? Maybe you'll get another chance someday." She just had to make a grandiose exit from the Hall of Heroes. The vixen threw her arms out to the stranger and said, "catch 'ya later, Panda!"

We continued making our exit; however, when we were almost out, I sensed him recovering…now using the chains he had wrapped around him as a weapon! I gasped when I saw him try to use the pillars to block the doors.

With haste, I pushed Zhen out the door before they became blocked…sealing me in with the panda. My friend recovered and stood up…trying to re-enter the palace, but was unable to, "Mei…Mei!"

Now I had to face this strange warrior alone…it became the ultimate test for me.

The good thing is that Zhen has the staff with her, and if I were her…I'd run as far away from here as she can…

Focus, I told myself…holding my ground as the man came walking toward me…spinning the chains around, "now I'd say it's fair."

Very shortly after, he kicked some more pillars that had fallen toward me…and I was forced to dodge them as best as I could. The very last one I evaded I saw he had cunningly wrapped the chains around two pillars and hid them from sight. They were almost about to hit me when I realized the chains were on them. They almost hit me, but I quickly slid across and avoided getting ensnared.

We met head-on…blocking and parrying each other's attacks with our fists. I tried to go for his knees, but he'd always anticipate it! I couldn't use my wolf style in this fight, he's too big and too agile!

I couldn't believe it, it's like he knew what my style was…every attack that I had planned for him.

Inside I felt dread, and I soon became desperate. I feel we may have underestimated this panda! With one last ditch effort, I tried going for his neck with a jump and a palm thrust to stun him, but he grabbed me with both paws and ultimately threw me down. I got the wind knocked out of me…and I ended up being the one getting stunned!

He immediately held me down in place as I struggled.

"Who are you people!?" He demanded as I tried breaking free somehow, but it was futile. When I refused to answer (not that I could anyway) he grabbed my gray wolf mask and pulled it out.

He looked just about as confused as anybody who'd never seen a person like me would. His hold on me loosened slightly, but it was just enough for me to break free! I kicked him in the face and jumped to my feet.

I can't win this fight. I must escape!

I tried making my way to the exit…even though it was blocked. I can jump on the pillars and climb the statue to get back the way I came…sounds like a plan! What could go wrong?

A lot.

I forgot that there was candle oil all over the floor, so I slipped and fell hard…hitting my head.

I lost consciousness.

…

Oof, looks like Mei is in trouble! I call that irony on Zhen's part for throwing all that oil on the ground, heh.

Anyway, I hope you all enjoyed it. Take care!