Long Live the Dragon Warrior

by Tracey West

  CHAPTER ONE

  Only by achieving inner peace can a true kung-fu master unfold like a lotus flower,” Master Shifu said in a calming voice.

  Tigress, Viper, Mantis, Monkey, and Crane posed in a circle around him, their eyes closed in deep meditation. It was part of the Furious Five’s daily training.

  The sound of Po’s voice interrupted the peaceful silence.

  “Aaaaaaaah! Is that all you got? It’s gonna take more than that to defeat the Dragon Warrior!”

  Master Shifu and the Furious Five burst out of the Jade Palace, ready to help defend Po. Who was attacking him? A powerful warrior? An army of ninjas?

  “Come on, you,” Po whined, trying to stretch a hammock between bamboo poles. “I just want to take a nap!”

  Then he looked up and saw the others. “Oh, hey, guys. How goes the meditating?”

  “It was fine until we rushed to save you from your ‘attacker,’ ” Mantis replied.

  “Yeah, sweet hammock, huh?” Po said, sitting in it. It pulled back like a slingshot and catapulted him across the courtyard, causing him to knock down the Furious Five on his way!

  Tigress jumped to her feet, her eyes blazing. “Master Shifu, can we head into the Training Hall? Suddenly I’m in the mood to hit something.”

  Shifu nodded and then turned to Po. “Will you be joining us?”

  “Um . . . I kinda pulled my gluttonous maximus wrestling with the hammock here, so I think I’ll just chill a little,” Po replied, settling in for a nap.

  Master Shifu shook his head. Po had forgotten what it meant to be the Dragon Warrior. Shifu had to find a way to make him remember.

  Suddenly, he had an idea. . . .

  The next morning, Shifu gathered Po and the Furious Five together.

  “You’ve all been working very hard and deserve a day of relaxation,” he told them. “I’m sending you to the Xiu Xhan Hot Springs.”

  “Yes!” cried Po as he followed the others.

  But Master Shifu stopped him. “You’re staying here.”

  Po frowned. “I really need a break. I was dreaming all night that I was awake, and it was exhausting.”

  “I have urgent Dragon Warrior business for you to handle,” said Shifu. “I need you to go to the village and get me . . . an apple.”

  “An apple?” asked Po.

  “An apple,” said Shifu.

  “An apple?” Po asked again.

  “An apple,” Shifu replied.

  “Seriously?” Po asked. “ ’Cause I could do more than that.”

  “I know,” said Shifu. “Just an apple will do.”

  Po had no idea why an apple was so important. But he made his way down to the village just the same.

  He stopped in front of the first apple cart he saw. He was trying to decide which apple to choose when he saw a small pig staring up at him. Then, suddenly . . .

  “Aaaaiiieeeeee!”

  The pig leaped up and attacked Po!

  CHAPTER TWO

  The pig knocked down Po, and Po’s foot got stuck in a bucket. But once Po was back up, the pig was no match for the Dragon Warrior. Po scooped up the little guy with one paw.

  “Had a bad day?” Po asked, and put down the pig. Then Po turned back to the apple stand and reached for an apple.

  Muh Lin, the goose running the stand, slapped his paw. Po reached again, and Muh Lin slapped him again. Then Muh Lin dove across the apples, knocking Po on his back.

  Po stood up, and turned to see a group of villagers behind him, staring in his direction. They all looked ready to fight.

  “Something weird is going on here,” Po realized. He quickly ran out of the village—and right into Master Shifu and Zeng, the palace messenger.

  “I’m still waiting for my apple, panda,” Master Shifu said.

  “Master Shifu!” Po cried, relieved. “I’m having that nightmare where everyone attacks me while I’m naked.”

  “Po, you’re wearing pants,” Shifu pointed out. “And besides, you’re awake. Anyway, I forgot to tell you. Today is Dragon Warrior Challenge Day. On the hundredth day of being Dragon Warrior, anyone can challenge you. If you’re defeated before sunset, the victor takes your title.”

  “What? I could lose my Dragon Warriorshipdom? That’s terrible!” Po cried.

  “You’re not up to the challenge?” Shifu asked.

  “Uh, sure I am,” Po replied. He launched into a series of kung-fu kicks and spins. “Bring it!” he cried, and he ran back into the village.

  Zeng looked at Shifu. “But, sir, it’s a lie,” said the gray goose. “There is no Dragon Warrior Challenge Day.”

  “It’s a lesson,” Shifu said. “This is just the thing to make Po take being Dragon Warrior seriously. And with the Furious Five gone, there is no one in the village strong enough to beat him.”

  Master Shifu was right. There was no one inside the village strong enough to beat Po. But there was one outside the village.

  Hundun the rhino had faced Po before—and lost his horn. He spent his days in Chor-Ghom prison, carving new horns in his cell and attaching them to what was left of his broken one. That’s where he was when one of the guards told him about Dragon Warrior Challenge Day.

  “Too bad you’re locked up in here instead of out there fighting your sworn enemy,” the guard taunted him.

  “Yes. Too bad,” Hundun replied. “Care to look at my latest horn? I just finished it.”

  He slipped the horn through the bars of his cell and stepped back.

  Boom! The horn exploded, knocking the prison guard off his feet and blasting away the cell bars. Hundun stepped out into freedom.

  “I will crush the Dragon Warrior and pluck his title, like I pluck a yam from a tree and squeeze its squishiness, the way one would squeeze a squishy yam of revenge!” he roared with an evil laugh. “Ready or not, Po. Here I come!”

  CHAPTER THREE

  Back in the village, Po was busy defending his title. Every duck, goat, rabbit, and pig wanted their chance to become the Dragon Warrior. Mrs. Yoon, a sweet, elderly goat, whacked Po with her cane. Even his own father tried to take him down with a wok!

  That’s how it went all day. Po jumped from rooftop to rooftop as villagers chased him with rakes and pitchforks. One by one, he fought them off.

  Fang, a young rabbit who idolized Po, even wanted to take a shot. He jumped on a chimney.

  “Time for . . . ,” he shouted, and then the chimney cracked underneath him.

  “Aaaaaaaaaaah!”

  Po looked up and caught the falling bunny just in time. Then he protected Fang’s body with his own as the heavy stone chimney tipped and began to fall toward them.

  “This is gonna sting,” Po said, cringing.

  Boom! The stone landed on Po. Fang was okay and quickly hopped away. But Po had hurt his left leg.

  “Everybody okay?” he asked in a daze as he tried to stand. Then he fell flat on his face. He had taken a big hit!

  “No more fighting,” announced Mr. Liu, a goat. “You saved Fang and proved once again the reason why you are our Dragon Warrior.”

  “You mean was your Dragon Warrior!” someone with a deep voice thundered behind Po.

  Po turned around to see Hundun standing there.

  Pow! The rhino hit him with a powerful punch that sent him sprawling.

  “You didn’t think I’d miss out on a chance like Challenge Day, did you?” Hundun asked.

  Pow! He punched Po again.

  Po slowly stood up, trying to not put pressure on his hurt leg. “Hundun, do you really want to say you only beat me ’cause I’m hurt and exhausted?”

  “I’m good with that,” Hundun replied.

  Pow! Another punch sent Po flying.


  Bam! Hundun followed up with a kick.

  Po tried to sit up, but he was dizzy.

  Pow! The next punch knocked Po out cold. Hundun triumphantly put his massive foot on Po’s chest.

  “All hail me!” he thundered. “The new Dragon Warrior of the Valley of Peace’s Dragon Warrior!”

  CHAPTER FOUR

  Hundun stomped up to the Jade Palace.

  “Bow to your new Dragon Warrior!” he announced. Master Shifu and Zeng were stunned.

  “You defeated Po?” Master Shifu asked.

  Hundun merely growled in reply.

  “No matter,” said Shifu. “There is no Challenge Day. I made it up. You are no more Dragon Warrior than Zeng there.”

  “What?” Hundun cried.

  Hundun smacked his hands against his head. “Stupid, stupid, stupid! Why do I keep thinking good things can happen to me? A stupid rhino with no horn.”

  Then his eyes lit up. “Wait a minute. If no one else knows that you made it up, and they don’t find out, then the lie will actually work as truthfully as if it were actually the truthful truth! If everyone believes I’m the Dragon Warrior, then you’re the only one who can tell them different.”

  He tried to kick Shifu, but the kung-fu master expertly dodged and jumped up to hit Hundun’s face. Then he jumped down and spun his cane like a weapon. Hundun grabbed one end of the cane, struggling to control it.

  “You’ll have to do better than that, Hundun,” Shifu said.

  “Fine! How about this?” Hundun asked.

  The top of his fake horn flipped open. Three arrows flew out and struck Master Shifu. The poison in the arrows knocked him out cold. Hundun tossed Shifu into a wood box. Zeng was so frightened, he climbed into the box himself and shut the door.

  “I am the Dragon Warrior!” Hundun roared. Then he stomped down to the village. He smashed the musicians’ instruments. He demanded free apples from Muh Lin. He stole Mrs. Yoon’s basket of steamed buns.

  “This is my village now!” he announced, stuffing his mouth with stolen food.

  Over at the noodle shop, Po was recovering with the help of his dad. Mr. Ping looked out his window and saw Hundun bullying everyone.

  “Po, Hundun is wrecking our village! Help them!” he pleaded.

  “What am I gonna do, Dad? Huh? He’s the Dragon Warrior now,” Po said, defeated.

  Then little Fang jumped in the window, striking a kung-fu pose.

  “Yaa! I’m going to defeat the Dragon Warrior!” he announced.

  “Uh, hate to break it to you, Fang, but you’re a little late,” Po said.

  “I don’t wanna fight you. I wanna fight Hundun, the Dragon Warrior! There’s still time. The sun hasn’t set,” Fang said. Then he quickly hopped away.

  A wave of hope filled Po. He picked up his father. “I still have time, Dad! I can still beat Hundun!”

  CHAPTER FIVE

  Po grabbed a walking stick and made his way outside as quickly as he could. The sun was getting dangerously low in the sky.

  He found Hundun holding Fang upside down by one hand. The little rabbit kicked Hundun hard in the nose.

  Hundun growled. “After I crush you, I’m gonna crush this whole sorry village!”

  Po limped up to him. “You like picking on adorable, furry creatures, Hundun? Well I got your adorable, furry creature right here!”

  Whack! Po used the walking stick to take Hundun by surprise. Then he jumped up and used his good leg to deliver a second blow. The big rhino went flying.

  Po grinned at his success. He was winning. “Now maybe you’ll think twice before you—whoa!”

  Hundun charged at Po. Po grabbed the rhino’s head and pushed Hundun away.

  “You have no chance, Po! You taught me your kung-fu secrets long ago!” Hundun reminded him. He broke Po’s cane in half. Then he took off his fake horn and replaced it with a sharp sword!

  He charged at Po again, this time moving very surely and swiftly. As Po ducked to avoid the sword, Hundun landed blow after blow on Po’s face. Then he grabbed Po and hurled him into a stone wall. Po fell facedown.

  “Can’t . . . hold out . . . much longer,” Po said weakly.

  Hundun pressed a foot down on the back of Po’s neck. “Perfect. Now you can enjoy your permanent nap of permanence, which is long and without ending. Permanently!”

  As Hundun walked away, Po opened his eyes. “This can’t be happening,” he said, and then it hit him. “And I can’t let it happen.”

  He got to his feet. “I’ve had enough of this, Hundun. I hope you won’t be too sad about not being the Dragon Warrior anymore.”

  “Too late! The sun has set!” Hundun said, pointing to the sky. “I am and always will be the Dragon Warrior!”

  “No!” Po said firmly. “It’s not about the title. It’s about what’s right.”

  Hundun angrily charged. Po looked around. Then he saw just what he needed: a hammock.

  Po jumped on the hammock and propelled himself forward, like a stone coming out of a slingshot. He crashed into Hundun.

  “Aaaaah!” The force sent Hundun crashing through a house.

  He was down for the count.

  The villagers let out a cheer. Po would always be their Dragon Warrior.

  And Po would never forget it. When he got back to the Jade Palace, he freed Master Shifu and Zeng.

  “Oh, Po, you succeeded. Thank goodness!” Shifu said.

  “No, I failed,” Po admitted. “The sun had already set before I could beat Hundun. I never should have taken being Dragon Warrior for granted. It was a gift I was given, and I ruined it.”

  “Well, Challenge Day was a teeny-weeny bit made up,” Shifu confessed.

  “You lied to me?” Po asked. “That’s . . . awesome!”

  That meant Po was still the Dragon Warrior.

  And he would never take it for granted again!

  CHAPTER ONE

  From then on, Po spent less time napping and more time training.

  Of course, that didn’t mean that he stopped napping. In fact, one afternoon, Po fell asleep while training with Master Shifu. He was snoring loudly as Shifu tried to play calming music on his flute.

  Then Po heard a noise and woke with a start. He grabbed the flute and went into attack mode—but it was only Zeng. He was carrying a crown made of green leaves.

  “Your crown for the Peace Jubilee, Dragon Warrior,” Zeng said.

  Po’s face lit up. “The olive-branch crown, for me! Yay!”

  He took the crown and put it on. It looked tiny on his giant head.

  “Po, this is the Peace Jubilee, not the ‘Attack Zeng with a Flute’ Jubilee,” Shifu reminded him.

  “Just trying to stay ready in case Temutai tries to squish my head,” Po explained. Temutai was a big, strong water buffalo warrior and king of the Qidan Clan.

  “Nonsense,” said Shifu. “Hostilities are strictly forbidden during the Peace Jubilee, even with the warriors of the Qidan. They are our guests.”

  The Furious Five walked into the palace courtyard. Tigress raised her eyebrows when she saw Po.

  “Wait, Po’s wearing the olive-branch crown?” she asked. “Traditionally, one of the Furious Five leads the ceremony.”

  “C’mon, Tigress. The jubilee needs some new blood—a fresh face!” Po said. “Plus, I get to wear the crown!”

  Tigress grinned. “Po’s right.”

  “I am?” Po asked, surprised.

  “Yes. Because it also means he’ll have to judge the children’s kung-fu matches.” She walked away smugly.

  Po wasn’t sure what Tigress was getting at, but he was too excited to worry about it. He and Master Shifu went to the top steps of the palace to greet their guests.

  “Presenting the Warrior King of the Qidan, Temutai!” announced a water buffalo.

  A huge water buffalo three times the size of the first one came up the stairs, huffing and puffing. Temutai had an olive-branch crown perched on top of his horns.

  �
��Thank you for accepting our offering of peace on this day,” said Shifu.

  Temutai’s eyes blazed red. “I have only one thing to say about this so-called Peace Jubilee!” he said. Po’s eyes narrowed. Was Temutai looking for trouble?

  Then Temutai broke into a grin. “Are these crowns awesome or what?”

  “I know, right?” Po agreed.

  “Have you tried it at a jaunty angle?” Temutai asked.

  Po pointed to the top of his head. “Livin’ it!”

  They walked down into the village. Po and Temutai took seats on the judging platform. The crowd cheered as Po stood to start the festivities.

  “Thank you, citizens!” Po called out. “I now declare this Peace Jubilee open!”

  CHAPTER TWO

  The excited villagers cheered.

  “And to start the festivities, the annual children’s kung-fu matches!” Po cried.

  The villagers groaned.

  Po frowned. What was so bad about the children’s matches?

  He quickly found out.

  The kids were well . . . still learning. A pig and a bunny got into a slap fight. A goat and another bunny accidentally bonked heads together. A tiny goose was too afraid to use his kung fu. Before he knew it, Po was dozing off—and so was Temutai.

  Shifu nudged them awake.

  “You guys are awesome!” Po said as the young future warriors lined up in front of him, with hopeful smiles on their faces. “It’s gonna be real tough to pick a winner.”

  “Wait,” Temutai cried. “I have one more competitor. My little nephew, Jing Mei!”

  Thump! Thump! Thump!

  The platform shook as the young water buffalo stomped toward them. He towered over the other kids and was as wide as all of them put together.