Twin Dragons
The Awakening
"I wish all of you the best of luck," Grandma told the White Lotus Society as they stood at the edge of town.
"We'll do whatever we can to keep this village safe," Li Shan promised her.
"Yeah, Pai Mei won't be laying hands on this village," Po agreed. "We'll make sure of that."
"Hey Bao…"
Bao looked up as Tseng came out of the crowd of pandas to greet him.
"Uh," Tseng looked embarrassed. "I just wanted to say… thanks for saving my life. And sorry about all those times I bullied you."
Tseng had been among the panda cubs who got held hostage by the Lin Kuei and that harrowing experience had scared him senseless. And the person to thank for having gotten him out of that situation was none other than Bao, the same cub he tormented.
"It's alright," Bao told him. "What matters is that you and all the other cubs are alright. I'm going to be going away for a while. Just promise me you'll watch the other cubs and keep everyone safe while I go into training with Master Tai Lung."
"I promise," Tseng nodded.
The two cubs finally shook hands and hugged, making their peace.
"Alright everyone, you ready to get this going?" asked Po.
"Ready when you are, son!" Mr. Ping grinned.
oooo
After having made their journey to Mianyang, the White Lotus Society stopped at the edge of their location to have a look around.
"This is where that messenger goose told us to meet," Po looked around.
The newly named Dragon Master led the group into the streets.
"Something's not right here," Tai Lung commented.
The snow leopard was correct. All the inhabitants of the city from the pigs to the rabbits to the buffalos looked depressed and low in spirits.
"It's not us, is it?" Po frowned.
"It looks to be something else, son," Li Shan told him.
"So will I see any action on this trip?" asked Bao.
"For now?" Tai Lung replied. "Let's hope not. We're still in the process of learning the basics."
"Hmm, I think I see the welcoming party," Mr. Ping looked into the distance.
Before long, the group was surrounded by a party of Komodo dragon soldiers. They were similar to the ones who worked under the Chameleon, except this party wore a different banner on their armbands, one with a symbol of Northern Wudang.
"Hey guys," Po told them. "So, uh, we were supposed to meet someone here."
Suddenly, the earth below them began shaking.
"Earthquake?" Bao looked around.
"No, footsteps," Tai Lung realized.
From out of an alley came a gigantic crocodile, one so massive that he towered over everyone.
"So this is the legendary Tai Lung," the giant croc sneered.
"Wow, this guy is bigger than Scott," Po noted. "Much bigger..."
"I see all of you have met Lidong," a familiar voice rang out.
Hui flew down, landing in between the Komodo army with Lidong and the White Lotus Society, positioning himself between both opposing sides.
"We came as you requested," Po told him. "I take it you'll leave the village alone now?"
"Yes, for now it will be our little secret," Hui promised.
"So what is it that you want with Po and I?" demanded Tai Lung, getting straight to the point.
"Heilang already gave you the details before his untimely death," Hui reminded him. "Both of you will join Pai Mei's forces and after that, we will sweep across this land, taking full control of China under the banner of Northern Wudang."
"Yeah about that," Po told him. "You see, Tai Lung and I were already offered this by the Emperor and he resorted to hunting us when we refused. You guys are kinda doing the same and we don't really take well to that."
"Yes, well," Hui cleared his throat. "Unlike the Emperor and his forces, we of the Northern Wudang have the power and the ability to make you see our side of things."
In an instant, Hui created a giant chi construct of a battle axe, holding it over the White Lotus Society's heads menacingly.
"Even Pai Mei's messenger goose has abilities beyond that of most kung fu warriors," Tai Lung stated plainly. "It's no wonder this entire city has been abandoned to Pai Mei's forces."
"Hahaha," Hui finally made his giant chi construct disappear, noting that Tai Lung realized the truth of the matter. "Indeed you are correct. Imperial forces have left this city because none of them could deal with our might. If this isn't a capitulation or a surrender of Mianyang to Pai Mei, then I don't know what is."
"It also explains why all the citizens of this city look on the verge of despair," Tai Lung pointed out additionally. "Your troops have been running amuck in this city and spreading misery. That giant crocodile probably doesn't inspire confidence in most people to stand up for themselves either, I bet."
"Ah yes, I really should let Lidong introduce himself," Hui nodded as the giant croc stomped forward. "He's one of the most recent additions to Northern Wudang."
Whoever he was, this Lidong was clearly a mutant and a freak of nature even compared to the other crocodiles in the country. And while Scott had a unique coloration and abilities, not even he was the sheer titan that Lidong was.
"I heard stories about both of ya," Lidong glared at Po and Tai Lung. "Heard you guys were legends. Well, you don't seem so impressive now."
"Would you like to find that out for yourself?" Tai Lung growled.
"Now now," Hui smiled. "We're not going to resort to fisticuffs… yet. There's still so much to discuss"
"So, uh," Bao finally spoke up, asking the question that was one everyone's minds. "Lidong, right? How'd you get so big? No other crocodile is as massive as you."
"Heh," Lidong chuckled. "I was born this way. Came from a family of croc bandits. But there was a problem, you see."
"And that is?" Po asked.
"My family are a buncha idiots," Lidong told them. "The whole lot of them are useless! Especially my cousin! I was going nowhere in life under my bandit family. But then one day, I was scouted by Pai Mei who admired my size and strength. Decided I would be his special enforcer. And I knew a good deal when I saw it so I grabbed it and never looked back on my deadbeat bandit family again!"
"Yeah, he's got the ambition to match his size," Po whispered to Mr. Ping.
"And you know the best part about working for Pai Mei?" Lidong asked.
"Great pay and free weekends?" Po suggested.
"No, I get to bash in some heads!" Lidong grinned, revealing a full set of teeth.
oooo
In the Valley of Peace, Zhen and Monkey were walking side by side.
"So, I know you're not familiar with the entire Valley just yet," Monkey told her. "But let me show you this watering hole Po and I used to hang out at every Tuesday."
"Did you and Po hang out often?" asked Zhen.
"Yeah, he and I were always best buds," Monkey told her. "We did everything together."
"Did Po face a lot of challenges when he was the Dragon Warrior in his early days?" Zhen inquired.
"Well, uh, yes," Monkey admitted.
"Mmmhmm," Zhen noted. "I think I heard an 'uh' in there."
"Well, let's just say Po and I didn't get off to the best start," admitted Monkey. "After Oogway declared him the Dragon Warrior, Shifu and the rest of us Five really made life difficult for him for a while."
"Wow, what changed all that?" asked Zhen.
"Tai Lung broke free and Shifu had to find some way to train Po," Monkey told her. "And all of us in the Five got beaten by Tai Lung."
"So Tai Lung fed you some humble pie," Zhen realized.
"That about sums it up," Monkey agreed.
"Hello!"
Both Zhen and Monkey looked up. It was a gazelle lady walking through the town with some luggage. On her shoulder was a rat.
"What can we do for you?" asked Monkey.
"My business partner and I are new in town," the gazelle told them. "I was wondering if the Valley of Peace was a safe place to set up shop. My name is Madam Zhou by the way."
"You can all me Ju-Long," the large brown rat smiled a crooked smile.
"Well, you're in luck, the Valley of Peace is called that for a reason," Monkey told them.
"I hear there's a new Dragon Warrior in town," Madam Zhou said with a dramatic flourish. "Is this successor to the original Dragon Warrior up to the task?"
Zhen frowned. She did not like the tone in Madam Zhou's voice.
"Yeah, who knows when this newbie might be in over his head," Ju-Long added.
"You mean her head," Zhen corrected them.
"Oh, so you're the new Dragon Warrior," Madam Zhou looked surprised. "Pardon me, dear! I had no idea! Well, in any case, I wish you the best in your Dragon Warrior duties! Come, Ju-Long, we must be off to explore this quaint little place!"
"Be seeing you soon," Ju-Long waved at Monkey and Zhen.
"That was awkward," Monkey shook his head.
"I didn't like the way they talked to me," Zhen frowned. "But they're right. I am new at this and I do need to be ready. Monkey, can we go back to the Jade Palace to train some? I want to feel like I'm at least up to the task of replacing Po."
Monkey agreed and the two of them walked off. Meanwhile in the alley, Madam Zhou set down her suitcase and opened it up. The inside of the suitcase was teeming with rats who all resembled Ju-Long.
"It's time to set up shop," Madam Zhou smiled.
"Alright, my Lao Shu!" Ju-Long told them. "You all ready to have some fun?"
oooo
"As you can see, there is no standing against the tides of history" Hui told the White Lotus Society. "Either join Pai Mei or enter the dustbin of history like the Emperor will soon be joining."
"I think we've made our answer pretty clear by now," Po told him. "None of us are interested."
"It's such a shame then," Hui told the gang. "I was hoping for a positive answer right now but there's still time for you to decide since I still have some messenger rounds to make before I go back to the master. In the meantime, I was hoping to test out your skills."
"Let me take 'em both," Lidong stomped forward.
"Seriously?" Hui looked surprised. "You wish to battle both Po and Tai Lung?"
"Hey, Pai Mei wanted muscle on his team," Lidong told him. "And what's the point of keeping me around if you ain't ever gonna use me to squash people?"
"Hmm, you bring up a good point," Hui acknowledged. "Very well. Lidong, you may have your chance. I have been wanting the chance to see what Po and Tai Lung can do against an opponent of your caliber."
Hui raised his feathered hand and gestured for the Komodo dragon soldiers to stand down and to leave the battlefield. As the soldiers left the area, Lidong cracked his massive knuckles.
"This is going to be the most fun I've had since leaving my family behind," Lidong grinned as Tai Lung and Po readied themselves.
In the instant, Lidong swung his tail down at them, smashing the ground as the two leaped aside. Lidong turned to Tai Lung, punching at him. The snow leopard avoided the hit and came in, hitting the giant croc with multiple nerve strikes and punches. At once, Lidong grabbed for him but Tai Lung flipped away.
Po then noticed Tai Lung shaking his two hands. From what the panda could tell, Tai Lung's hands were stinging just from punching and striking the titanic croc.
"You okay?" asked Po, holding his staff.
"That was a field test," Tai Lung confirmed. "Nerve strikes have no effect on him. He's far too big and built like a steel war tower."
"I've fought crocs before," Po frowned. "But never one as big as Lidong."
"You're afraid," Lidong grinned. "I like that."
Lidong charged, smashing through a pillar and grabbing it as a weapon. He swung it at Po who dodged and then at Tai Lung who ducked underneath. The two them leaped up at him, kicking and punching the giant croc multiples times to no avail.
"Whoa, he's really tough," Po acknowledged.
At once, Lidong knocked Po aside with the pillar. Tai Lung came in, kicking Lidong across the face and making him stagger back a little. The croc hurled the pillar at Tai Lung who leaped on top of the flying object briefly, running towards the giant crocodile. Then Tai Lung leaped off the pillar and kicked Lidong square in the chest, knocking him down this time. The snow leopard got on top of the croc, punching down at his exposed throat but Lidong quickly smacked the snow leopard off of him.
"You're gonna need more than that," Lidong snarled.
Po twirled his staff around and blasted Lidong with a powerful burst of chi similar to what he had used on those bar brawlers with Zhen at his side. The move hit Lidong, knocking him through a building.
"You alright?" Po asked Tai Lung.
Tai Lung nodded as Lidong burst through the building and attacked them again.
The giant crocodile swung his tail, knocking both fighters back.
"Impressive, is it not?" Hui asked Li Shan, Mr. Ping, and Bao. "If Lidong wins, this it only proves that Po and Tai Lung were never fit to begin with. If your companions win, then Lidong was never truly good enough. And speaking of weeding out the weak..."
Hui created a giant sword in mid-air with his chi.
"While I wish to bring Po and Tai Lung before the master, I see no need for the three of you," Hui told them. "The three of you will just take up space, time, and resources. So I'm going to thin the herd."
"Bao, get behind us," Li Shan realized what Hui was intending to do.
"We'll hold him back," Mr. Ping raised a kitchen knife.
At once, Hui's energy sword sliced through Mr. Ping's knife, cleaving through the blade cleanly in one stroke.
"We're screwed," Mr. Ping realized.
"Run!" Li Shan grabbed Bao as Mr. Ping followed him.
Hui smiled and enveloped himself into bright crimson energy. Soon, he was clad in a giant dragon-themed armor and stomped after the three.
"Dads!" Po cried.
"Pay attention to me!" Lidong grabbed Po.
Hui chased Bao and Po's two dads throughout the streets, cornering them in his massive chi-based energy armor in an alley.
"Guess we have no choice, Ping," Li Shan said to his friend.
"Bao, run away when we attack," Mr. Ping told the panda cub.
The entire time, Bao looked at the scene helplessly, not knowing what to do.
Inside, he felt something restless grow inside and gnaw at him.
The two charged at Hui who looked amused as the two non-fighters who charged him with such boldness.
With a single backhand, Hui knocked the two back.
"Ow, my back!" Li cried.
"I don't just create constructs, armor, and weapons for myself," Hui told them as his armor disappeared. "I can also create other things with my chi."
Suddenly, Hui raised his hand and created a red construct of Pai Mei with his chi. The monkey kung fu master began to perform multiple kung fu moves before the three.
"This would be impressive if we weren't going to die," Mr. Ping shook his rattled head.
"And die you shall," promised Hui. "You shall be beaten to death by the master's likeness. I cannot imitate every power he has but I can imitate his movements."
The Pai Mei construct flipped through the air and knocked both both Ping and Li Shan. The two tried to get up but the construct Hui created continued to beat and pummel them from all sides.
"Stop this!" Bao cried.
"Worry not, child," Hui promised. "Your turn will come next. In the meantime, wait patiently."
"I said," Bao told Hui as his eyes suddenly glowed purple and the Pai Mei energy construct continued to beat down Ping and Li Shan.
Meanwhile, Hui ignored Bao until it was too late.
"STOP THIS!"
Bao was surrounded by a purple energy as a tortoise construct seemed to cover his body. The panda cub leaped forward, shattering the Pai Mei construct before it could strike a fallen Mr. Ping.
"Bao?" Ping looked up.
Bao was now clad in a purple tortoise armor with eyes that glowed deeply.
"What in the name of heaven is that?!" Hui cried. "No one, except for Sanzu and Master Pai Mei himself, has ever smashed through one of my constructs! Impossible!"
Bao looked at Hui angrily and unleashed a blast of purple chi from his paw. The blast struck Hui and knocked him a few yards back.
"No, this can't be," Hui got up. "A child like you could not have such unfathomable power!"
The goose created a giant battle axe out of chi and swung it at Bao. Bao leaped up at it and smashed it to pieces, surprising Hui yet again. Bao leaped at Hui but the goose created a mace made of red chi energy and knocked Bao back down to the ground.
"This is a fluke," Hui told him. "Even if your powers are similar to mine, you are still a child. I am a master with many years of experience!"
At once, Lidong's massive body was sent crashing through the building right behind Bao and Hui's fight.
Po and Tai Lung leaped out, punching Lidong with everything they had.
Tai Lung leaped over Po, kicking Lidong back with a kick as Po came in, punching Lidong back yet again with a powerful blow to the stomach. Lidong then returned fire, punching both Po and Tai Lung at once, sending them flying back to the ground.
"Excellent Lidong," Hui smiled. "Finish these two off and prove you're worthy of being Pai Mei's newest disciple."
Hui decided to fly onto a nearby building to let Lidong finish his work.
"With pleasure," Lidong stomped towards the pandas and snow leopard, cracking his knuckles.
"Po, I got an idea but I'll need you to give me a boost," Bao told Po. "I think I have what it takes to beat this giant."
"You do?" asked Po.
"Yeah," Bao powered up with the armor of a purple tortoise surrounding him. "I do."
"Whoa!" Po looked amazed, as did Tai Lung.
"After this is done, we're going to talk about how you got this power," Tai Lung told him.
Bao leaped onto a cart right in front of Po as he powered up.
"Alright then," Po said, realizing he could count on Bao.
The Dragon Master twirled his staff around, stirring until he gathered enough energy.
"SKABLAM!"
Po unleashed a powerful blast of chi that resembled a dragon. The golden dragon struck Bao from behind, carrying him in its maw.
Lidong now looked stupefied. A powerful blast of dragon chi in addition to what looked like a purple tortoise shell brimming with energy was sent flying towards him. Before Lidong could even react, the giant croc was struck in the stomach by Bao in his armored tortoise energy in addition to the dragon-like chi energy which came from Po.
"Aaaaahhhh!" Lidong screamed.
Bao and Po's combined energy sent Lidong flying into a storage building as the gigantic croc screamed in horror, destroying the building in a single blow.
By the time the smoke cleared, Bao stood over the unconscious body of Lidong.
"You did it, Bao!" Po cried.
"Indeed, how did you manage to acquire such a power?" asked Tai Lung.
"It's... it's not really clear to me how," Bao told them. "But when Mr. Ping and Li Shan were in trouble, I felt something stirring in me and the next thing I know, I have the power of chi come back to me and I can form this new tortoise energy armor."
"Bao really saved our lives!" Mr. Ping said, coming out of hiding with Li Shan.
"If I didn't know any better, I'd say that was the energy of Master Black Tortoise," Tai Lung pointed out.
"Yeah, he was a legend in the Four Constellations," Po nodded. "I don't know how you inherited his gift but somehow you did."
"Yes, this is very interesting," Hui told the White Lotus Society as he looked down at them from a building. "This power Bao has is very potent indeed. You may revel in your victory on this day but know that the war is not over. I must soon report back to Pai Mei so just know that I'm giving you a week's time to show up at Northern Wudang."
Hui tossed the group a map.
"My threat still stands," the goose warned. "Surrender yourselves to Pai Mei or he'll most assuredly send someone to destroy the Panda Village. I'm personally betting on either Sanzu or the Lightning General. You have been warned."
At once, the goose flew off into the distance like a rocket.
"Oh great, he's gotten away again," Li Shan groaned.
Po picked up the map and read it.
"Maybe not," Po said.
The rest of the White Lotus Society gathered around to read the map.
"Hui gave us a map that shows us the location of Northern Wudang," Po pointed out. "However, on this map is also the location of Southern Wudang. With this, we can go down to Southern Wudang instead and find allies to help us defeat Pai Mei."
"That's not a bad idea," Tai Lung had to admit.
"Good thing Hui didn't think this through and just assumed we'd do what he says," Po smiled.
"That goose and I have a score to settle," Bao clenched his fist.
"Not without more training first," Tai Lung had to remind his pupil.
"Alright guys, let's roll out!" Po declared.
To be continued.
