Ch. 25 - The Great Pretender and the Dragon Warrior

After finishing his set of draws, Leo yawned and decided to go to sleep. Tomorrow will be a big day as their training would go harder than usual because the choosing of the Dragon Warrior will be held a few days later.

However, Leo who was laying on his bed, suddenly woke up when he heard the sliding door to his dormitory open.

Quickly getting up in a defensive stance, Leo looked at the 4 shadows outside and gulped his saliva, preparing to fight the invaders.

"Leo?" Soon, the shadow revealed themselves to be Monkey, Mantis, Crane and Viper. Tigress is nowhere to be seen.

"What are you guys doing in my room and so late at night!?" Leo sighed in relief and released his defensive stance.

"Well, Viper is having her phase again." Mantis said while casually entering Leo's room, ignoring manners.

"Phase? What phase?" Leo was confused and asked.

"A phase where she's unable to sleep and needs someone to talk to, it usually happens whenever she's nervous or something." Monkey explained, mimicking Mantis and also entering the room.

"That's not a phase, she's just nervous." Leo stared at Monkey and Mantis with a monotone expression.

"Still, we want to be here. You know, get to know each other more." Viper smiled nervously and said, Leo could take a guess from her face that she's afraid of rejection.

'What is this? A sleepover with friends?' Leo chuckled and could only sigh and accept them.

"Fine. Take a seat wherever you like." With that being said, the Furious Four went to their respective sides around the room.

A few seconds later, Leo was waiting for the conversation to start, only to be met with silence and embarrassed expressions of the Kung Fu masters.

".....You know. When Master Shifu first took you in, I couldn't believe my ears after hearing it from him. So I began to wonder.....maybe you're the...."

"The what?" Leo said, wondering what Viper was saying.

"...." Viper looked around first as if scared that someone would hear her.

"The Dragon Warrior." She whispered and the other three masters looked at her in shock and betrayal.

"Viper. How could you say that? Master Shifu has been training us for years to prepare us to become the candidate for the Dragon Warrior title." Crane, who was usually quiet surprisingly spoke.

"What? No! What I meant is that I feel like Master Shifu taking Leo in is not a coincidence even if Master says that Master Oogway was the one who told him to take him in." Viper said, shrugging her nonexistent shoulders.

"Wait, Master Oogway told Master Shifu to take me in?" Leo was surprised and shocked at the revelation.

All this time, he thought that Master Shifu only took him out of sympathy for being troubled by his students.

"Of course, you've already seen Master Shifu's personality, you think he's the type to apologize and make amends?" Mantis stared monotonously at Leo.

"He's not, I guess." Leo sighed and answered.

"Let's not dwell on them anymore longer okay? Let's just have a casual chat." Viper smiled happily.

'But you're the one who started this topic though.' Although Leo wanted to say this to Viper's face but he doesn't want to hurt the poor snake's feelings.

"So, what are your plans these upcoming days?"

"I plan to go back to the Noodle Shop and get my friend so we can watch the Choosing of the Dragon Warrior event together." Leo said, remembering that in the movie, Po was late and it became the reason why he was chosen as the Dragon Warrior.

"That's sweet of you. It's rare to have friends like you." Viper remarked.

"Thanks, I guess?"

*Yawn!*

"Well, I'm quite sleepy now. Thanks for having me, Leo. If you want, you can also enter my room whenever you'd like to chat." Leaving with those words, Viper slithered out of the room..

'Thanks but no thanks. I don't want to go in a room with a snake. No offense.' Leo said to himself in his mind as he shudders slightly.

With that, the Furious Four thankfully went back to their rooms and everything returned to normal.

***

[A few days later]

*Cheers!*

Inside the training grounds, the stands on the sides were brimming with different audiences such as rabbits, geese, and also pigs.

Today is a very special day hence why it is full of the Valley's citizens.

The day a new Dragon Warrior gets chosen!

It is said that the Dragon Warrior is a Kung Fu Prodigy who would Master all kinds of Kung Fu styles and the one who will know about the secrets of the Dragon Scroll.

By reading this scroll, the Dragon Warrior would then gain 'Limitless Power'.

Unfortunately, there wasn't a capable individual who can bear and shoulder the responsibility and burden of being the Dragon Warrior.

There was indeed someone who was close to becoming the Dragon Warrior years ago.

His name is Tai Lung!

Tai Lung not only wasn't chosen as the Dragon Warrior but was also jailed in the most secured prison in the world after throwing a 'tantrum' by wreaking havoc across the valley.

Thankfully, a wise old turtle put a stop to his madness, bringing peace to the village once again.

*Drums!*

On the high platform, Master Shifu and Master Oogway were looking down at the huge crowd that is slowly filling up.

On the sides of the training ground were the Furious Five Tigress, Monkey, Viper, Mantis and Crane.

All of them bear serious faces as they knew that their performance today would determine who among them is the most fitting of the Dragon Warrior.

Especially Tigress, who almost can't hold herself from showing off her skills and strength that she worked hard and shed blood for years.

She wanted to prove to the entire world that she's the Dragon Warrior and better than Master Shifu's previous and favourite student, Tai Lung.

All these years, she has been living under the shadow of Tai Lung, constantly failing to meet Master Shifu's expectations just because everything she did, Tai Lung did it better.

*Thud!*

With the final slamming of the drums, the crowd also went silent as the doors slowly closed.

'Where is that doofus now.' Master Shifu's eyes started twitching out of anger that his latest student is actually late for such an important event!

'Doesn't he remember that I'm supposed to introduce him as the newest member of the Furious Five?'

***

*Snore!*

Snoring on his bed, Po was having the best dream of his life, where he became the greatest Kung Fu Master and defeated several foes, getting that respect that he wanted the most and becoming the most famous Kung Fu Master throughout china.

It was the best dream he had and if possible, he doesn't want to wake up from it.

That is until someone kicked him out of the bed.

*Thud!*

"Po wake the fuck up! You're gonna be late!"

"H-huh?" With saliva dripping from his mouth, Po wiped it off and looked at the perpetrator who ki kicked him out of his bed.

It's impossible for it to be his father as he's too small and weak to even lift his entire arm.

"W-who kicked me!" Po angrily growled and went on a poor Kung Fu stance that he just saw from a poster.

"Me, Po." Leo showed his face right in front of Po, who was stunned to see him before shifting to a happy expression.

"Leo! You're back!" Without caring for his appearance, Po pushed himself back to his feet just so he could hug his friend.

"How are you doing, fatso." Leo grinned and called him by the nickname that he made for him just to annoy the panda.

"Geez, seriously? I just stole your dumpling weeks ago. I already apologized didn't I?" Po pouted.

"Fine. I'll stop calling you fatso....for now." Just as Po's face beamed up in happiness, the said expression was short-lived upon hearing Leo's next words.

"Anyways, are you gonna stay here or miss the biggest event in history? Hint, Dragon Warrior." Hearing Leo's words, Po's eyes widened in surprise and without responding to Leo, Po jumped and rushed downstairs.

Meanwhile, Leo followed Po and prayed that he didn't change much of the event and Po would still be chosen as the Dragon Warrior.

He doesn't want to fight those despicable villains like Tai Lung or General Kai.

***

"Hurry up Po!" After 'escaping' from Mr. Ping, Leo and Po rushed towards the long stairs that almost made Po pass out.

Due to his slow speed, Leo was also affected and now he can only help Po by pushing his ass up whenever his knees gives up.

"We're almost there, Po!" Leo gritted his teeth as Po was on the verge of passing out and rolling down the long stairs.

'Looks like I have to use the cheat code!' Leo said to himself with determination, as both of his index finger were pointing upward along with each other.

'Thousand years of death!' Staring at Po's ass, Leo's index fingers rushed towards it in a steadfast manner.

*Poink!*

"AAHOOO!" Po's face turned red and white as his back arched and his feet unconsciously and instinctively moved on its own, finally reaching the top of the stairs in no time.

Unfortunately the doors has already closed.

"Noooo!" Po yelled out in despair, running towards the door to try and push it open.

"Po! Come with me!" Grabbing Po's shoulders, Leo pushed him towards the cart full of fireworks.

"Here, sit here and let me help you." Leo said before looking for any lighters or items that he could use to kickstart the fireworks.

Thankfully, Leo soon found a matchstick and didn't hesitate to light the cart of fireworks.

"Uhm, Leo. Are you sure about this?" Po nervously looked at Leo.

"A hundred percent." Leo smiled and watched the fireworks soon lit up and flew up to the sky along with Po.

*Whisshh!*

*Snap!*

That's when he felt something grabbing his ankles.

Looking down, Leo saw a rope wrapped around his feet.

Tracing where the rope is connected with his eyes, Leo soon traced it back to the flying cart of fireworks.

"Oh fuck."

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[Next Chapter: Ch. 26 - The Great Pretender is more than just a Pretender]

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