A/N : Thank you for the readers who spend their precious time to review my last chapter. I hope You'll review this too.
Chapter 4 :Sweet Memory
"Crane from Lee da, I presume?" the red panda stroked his beard at the sight of the avian in front of him.
"Yes master Shifu. The name's Crane. Second grade master of the Crane style!" the waterfowl adjusted his straw hat and bowed.
"Follow me!" the red panda named Shifu ordered and walked without turning back. Crane gulped and followed "Remember Crane…Don't panic, don't panic…"he muttered to himself.
"I heard you mastered Confidence?"
Crane shook his thoughts and turned to Shifu "I have some confidence, but I didn't master anything." He said humbly without lifting his head from the bow.
Once they reached the training hall, Shifu stopped "Students!"
Suddenly, out of nowhere, a green pit serpent landed in front of them and bowed "Master Shifu…"
"Viper, where is Tigress?" Shifu asked raising a brow.
"S-She's meditating with master Oogway!" the serpent answered.
Shifu nodded and turned to crane "Master Crane, this is master Viper and likewise…"
Crane noticed the serpent named Viper looked absolutely beautiful. The tattoo on her body gave her a unique look. And the flowers on her head "Wow!" he thought in his mind.
Viper looked at Crane for the first time. He was tall and…handsome. She noticed that the straw hat gave him a stunning look.
"Ahem!" Shifu cleared his throat.
That brought both of them back to their senses. Crane shook his head and bowed to the serpent"It's a honor, Master Viper"
Viper bowed back "The honor is mine"
"Now…" Shifu interrogated and looked at crane "I have to see your combat skills for myself. You must spar with master Viper; to the arena now!"
The avian and the serpent quickly bowed and took their stances at the arena.
"I'll try to be gentle!"
Crane smiled under his hat "Trust me, you don't have to."
"…begin!" Shifu said and at once the two warriors lunged at each other.
Viper fought ferociously. Crane was surprised at her speed and subtlety. He realized that if he attacks too, he may lose the match. So he remembered his training and remained at the centre of the ring and only concentrated on his defense.
Shifu was impressed at Crane's strategy to defeat Viper. He realized that Viper was growing tired at her continuous attacks and lost most of her energy.
Crane smirked under his hat, noticing the snake's loss of accuracy and begins his assault. And after a few seconds, viper was thrown out of the ring.
"Win goes to Crane!" Shifu declared.
Crane bowed to the red panda. Viper growled and lifted her head from the ground "uh, what just happened…" she muttered.
"That's enough training for today…for both of you!" Shifu ordered and turned to crane "Master Viper will show your room. Take your time to settle. We will begin tomorrow!" he said and walked away from the hall. Crane turned to viper and bowed "I'm sorry master Viper. I forget to inform you that I too know some kung fu…" he stated and adjusted his hat.
"You're lucky that Tigress is not here." Viper huffed "Follow me master crane, I'll show you your room!" Viper said and slithered towards the dormitory. Crane took his bag and followed her shortly "There's no need for formalities master Viper. You can call me Crane!"
Viper smiled "and you can call me Viper!"
"Crane?"
He came back to the reality and turned around "Viper?" he shuffled his feathers "Come in!"
The snake moved closer and stopped beside him "Lost in thoughts?"
Crane smiled at his wife "Just…remembering the first time I came to the palace. You lose a spar to me!"
Viper smiled back and leaned even closer "Yeah that was a sweet memory. That was the only spar you won against me, remember?"
Crane chuckled "yeah you beat me every time!"
"Why now?" she asked and climbed to his head.
"Just wondering…" he sighed dreamily "Where is Li hua?"
"She's helping her uncle Po with cooking" Viper replied "Let's go. I'm starving!"
"Okay!" with that, the couples left the room and headed towards the kitchen.
A/N : Please please please review