Chapter 6:
A Dragon Warrior shall rise

“Let the tournament begin!” The pig announcer announced as he saw that the Galapagos Tortoise was heading right for him with the Red Panda by his side. After hearing that the festivities were about to start they all cheered, but unknown to them was that there was one turtle struggling to get to the step of the stairs.

‘Oh, man, having Hisomi-Shisho’s speed would have made that a shell lot easier.’ Michelangelo thought after reaching the top and his body was panting for air. He then rolled from belly to shell and decided to celebrate a little bit for his success. “Yeah!” He shouted with both fists to the sky before adding some laughter. The young turtle then leapt from his shell to his feet and then stretched his inner thighs. “Dude that was…” He started to say until he heard the sound of creaking hinges and that was when he turned to the doors and saw that they were closing. “No, no, wait!” He shouted while trying to race for the doors, but his body was still trying to rest. “Wait! I’m coming!” He shouted at the closing door, but as soon as he got to the doorway - the wooden barrier closed on him which sent him all the way down the stairs. Unfortunately no one heard the sound of a domino style fall because of the drums.

‘Hmm, the drums sound a bit off today.’ One of the pig drummers thought not knowing how right he was. The turtle on the other hand was still falling, and the bad news was that he did not stop until he reached the base.

“Huh? Oh, come on?!” The youngest turtle thought after looking up and saw that he was back at the bottom, right beside the tea cart.

“My son, why are you not back at the top of the mountain like your brothers?” Splinter questioned to the turtle.

“I think that is pretty impossible, sensei. I mean I was up there just a couple of seconds ago; maybe I should just stay here.” The orange masked one said to his father while looking at the dirt.

“Perhaps all you need is a little persuasion, Michelangelo.” The rodent said before adding, “Take a look at what I have.” He requested and the young one obeyed which caused his eyes to grow wide with fright.

“That’s my Viper figurine. What are you doing with it, Master?” He exclaimed and questioned. That was when he saw his father figure pull out a match stick, which with a flick of his fingers, was lit.

“Climb up the mountain or the Viper figure gets it.” He said and at that instant Mikey took off running almost as fast as when he challenged the bald one. ‘Now, if only he could be that quick back home.’ The rat thought before looking at the cart. ‘I will take this with me. Best if the contents stay in a safe place.’ He thought and began to roll it back home. The young turtle made it back to the top of the mountain just in time to hear Shifu say.

“Citizens of the Valley of Peace, it is my great honor to present to you…Tigress! Viper! Crane! Monkey! Mantis! The Furious Five!” The Red Panda said to the ones that were there; not noticing the green and orange face looking at them through the circular window. The five in question preformed for the crowd a great display of the skills that they each had ending with each of them in a pose and the winged one giving the audience a flap from his wings.

“Yeah! The Furious Five!” The humanoid said in praise, grateful that the rope that held the widow open didn’t budge otherwise he would be out of luck. It was then that the teen looked around and saw his brothers in the corner of the large area. “Guys, hey bros, over here.” He said to them, and was surprised that one of them turned their heads in his direction.

‘Weird thought I heard Mikey.” Raphael thought before looking along the wall and saw a piece of green at the open circle. Curious the second oldest went over to see what he thought he saw, and when he got close enough he saw the problem.

“Raph, could you do me a favor, open that door so I could get a closer look.” The brother said to the other while pointing over to the door.

“Sure, be glad to bro. Just as soon as I fix one little thing.” He answered back which now peaked the slacker’s interest.

“Which is what?” He questioned back since he really was quite interested what could be more important.

“This.” He answered back and used his sais to break the rope holding the window cover open, and the moment he did the circular chunk hit his fellow turtle right in the face.

“You are so not getting anything for your birthday.” Mikey said while rubbing his nose after falling to the ground.

“Warriors, prepare!” Shifu said to the five, so they could truly show to the crowd what they were made of.

“Wait. No. Oh, peaky-hole.” The hybrid of human and amphibian said while looking for another window and saw the right thing. The ninja ran up to the door and tried to look into an open slit in the door.

“Ready for battle!” He said to the audience, wondering if they were ready to see the sight.

“Yeah!” Michelangelo said as he looked through his backup window. “The Thousand Tongues of fire!” The teen said in awe after seeing a dragon holder with several fireworks in its ‘mouth’, and the starter standing on top.

“Whoa, look at that!” A spectator on the inside shouted while walking in front of the hole; blocking Crane’s show from the outsider.

“Hey! Down in front! Get out of the way!” The lone turtle shouted while shaking the door which both did little help. He then heard the fireworks go off along, so he took a few steps back. When he did he saw the bird in the middle of a missile barrage, but before he saw the finish he tripped on the stairs, but this time he was able to get a foot hold. The problem was when he looked back up in the sky he saw nothing but crystal blue which caused him to sulk. ‘I can’t quit now.’ He thought and tried to open the door like his brother - with force, but that ended poorly. “Ow.” He whimpered after his fist hit wood which caused him to remember the Ninja Tribunal’s Mokusei-no-Bushis.

“They’re made of wood.” Donatello exclaimed on that fateful night.

“That explains the lack of weak spots.” The angered one added.

“And why my hand hurts when I punch `em.” The youngest one said while shaking his hands. Back at the present his hands now felt the same as at that moment.

“That bamboo pole will do.” The present day Mikey said and grabbed said pole, and tried to use it to pole volt, but it only sent him straight into the wall. He heard the crowd cheer for the insect, so he tried again. In this attempt he tried a cartoon catapult, but after tying down a bamboo tree with some loose rope from his belt and moving it from the rock, which was used to weigh it down, with his chucks nothing happened. ‘I’m not that heavy.’ He thought and tried to get off, but as soon as his body left the plant it chinned him, then hit his head. “Ow. So, plants don’t like me.” He muttered and decided to wait it out by sitting at the top of the steps…that was until he heard the last one’s name.

“And finally Master Viper!” Shifu said which caused the turtle’s eyes to widen. The teen turtle looked around and saw a standard tree.

‘I’ll climb up the tree ninja style and…’ Mikey began to think but soon came up with, ‘Where are most of the branches?’ He noticed that the branches that spread out to the valley and the temple were missing. After some searching he saw them nicely cut in the shadows along with a note. ‘Why do I know that the note is bad news?’ The orange one thought before reading it:

‘I just want to see if you can get in using only the tree limbs that grow to the sky.’ The note was written in blue so he knew that it was the training turtle, but he continued to read. ‘By the way I told Donnie to give you one tool.’

‘I hope it’s a gas powered grappling hook.’ Mikey thought before looking around and saw one simple rope with a paper on top. ‘Please tell me this isn’t it.’ He thought before reading the note.

‘Sorry, Mikey, I knew that you were expecting something cooler, but this will help…when used correctly.’ The frustrated him, but it didn’t take him long what they had in mind, so he made a lasso, and was able to nail one of the taller branches.

“And believe me, citizens; you have not seen anything yet.” Shifu said to them not noticing that one of the local trees was starting to lean.

“I know!” The comical one shouted in anger since to him it sounded that the Red Panda was rubbing it in. He continued to use all the ninja might he had to move the tree while trying not to think who easily the oldest and the smartest ones would be able to do this.

“Master Viper! Face Allirog the impervious and his Fists of Fury.” The fluffy tailed one said and the others watched as the passive Green Tree Viper took on a wooden monkey like creature. As soon as she was ready to fight the tree beyond the wall went back to normal stance and sent the holder off to the side.

‘Ow, that hurt. Ow, that hurt.’ He thought after hitting two points of the right side of the beautiful gate before crash landing on top of one thing that he needed. For the one moment that he was visible for the others to see the Galapagos one felt something.

‘Hmm, I felt three great presences and now I felt the whole package.’ The elderly turtle thought with wide eyes. He wanted to show to everyone that he was ready, so he raised his right hand. Which caused a collective gasp among everyone. “I sense the Dragon Warrior is among us.” He said to his old friend who gave his students a nod to stop all attacks. They did and stood in a shoulder to shoulder formation before the two elders.

“Citizens of the Valley of Peace, Master Oogway will now choose the Dragon Warrior!” Shifu shouted to all of them while thinking, ‘Good thing to since one of them will need to learn the secret of the scroll fast.’ Unknown to the Panda was that the outsider heard his comment.

“Oh, no! No, no, wait!” The orange clad one said while looking around in desperation about someway to get inside. It was then that the big fan discovered what he was sitting on. ‘This has to work.’ He thought after picking up one firework, and when the idea hit him he stuffed one in his mouth and stuffed as many he could carry in both arms along with luck used one of his feet to kick a idol chair which sat by the stand on top of the pile.

‘I hope the ones I sensed approach soon.’ The old master thought while walking down the stairs.

‘This is beautiful.’ The nunchucks handler thought after seeing that the one chair had enough fireworks on it to make the best 4th of July firework displayers look like novices.

‘Those three have not yet moved and the fourth is still out there.’ Oogway thought as he neared the end of the staircase that led to the arena.

‘This is gonna be good.’ The crazy one thought after taking a match that they all had hidden on their belts in case of an emergency, and lit it, but as soon as it was lit a voice was heard.

“Michelangelo!” The father of the boy in question shouted which caused an uneasy quake in fear over came his body. “What are you doing?” He questioned calmly to the green one.

“Uh…me?” He questioned and then saw that the fuse was almost at the end already but he was able to stop it with his own fingers. “Nothing father, really.” He said back, but then made the bad call of looking into the rat’s eyes which instantly caused him to confess. “I’m wanting to see the Dragon Warrior, but all of my ideas didn’t work, so now I’m just desperate.” He confessed, but was surprised that it didn’t phase the gray furred one.

‘Just have to keep up this show until they arrive.’ Oogway thought not knowing that they were all going to come, but for different reasons.

“Now, let me see if I got this right, my son.” Splinter said as he paced back and forth in front of his student/son. “You and your brothers have been curious of the Furious Five and their need of a Dragon Warrior almost since we got here?” He questioned to the only one there.

“Yep. Sorry, Master Splinter.” The teen turtle said back and then added, “But if you don’t want me to I can always get off this chair.” He said back and was about to until he was pushed by down by Leonardo’s gift to him.

“Nonsense, Michelangelo, I knew that you four can not say no to danger, so I’ll let you do that.” The mouse man said back which eased the chucker a bit.

“Really? Thanks, sensei.” He said back and saw that his dad was about to go until he looked over his shoulder to say something.

“Just one thing, son, why do you want to?” He asked calmly while looking at the black fuse.

“I guess because I…love kung fu!” He shouted and after he said that he heard the sound of wood hitting wood, and when he looked at his chair he saw that the cane of his father figure was there. “Wait! Master, what…what did you…” The turtle questioned, but as he sat there trying to ask that the chair fell forward and he then heard the sound of the fireworks start to go off.

“Farewell, my son.” He whispered before getting some distance to watch the show. The show consisted of slamming the belly first turtle into the wall, grinding his face a bit, and shooting him skyward. While in the air a few of the fireworks went off, giving the others a show, but after that happened the chair fell apart.

“Uh-oh.” The airborne one said before finding himself falling straight down to what he could only guess would be twenty feet, or so, up. The shellback slammed the ring hard, but that moment also forced the other three out of the shadows.

“Mikey!” The blue masked one said and ran over to the ring with red and purple right behind him. As soon as the three made it to the ring they saw that the youngest of the four was already starting to come around.

“What’s going on?” Michelangelo questioned after a groan and saw the five with his favorite looking worried at him. He then saw his brothers standing there as well which caused him to add, “What…” He scanned around him until he saw a long finger pointed at him. “What are you pointing…?” He questioned, his head still trying to sift through what was going on around him. “Oh. Ok. Sorry. I just wanted to see who the Dragon Warrior was.” The orange one said in a pleading fashion before he was helped up with his brothers.

“Good thing ya got a hard head Mikey.” The red one said in a sarcastic way with a smirk on his face.

“What do you mean bro?” The one in questioned asked and then saw that his brother was pointing at a small crate which he went over to get a closer look, and when he did he noticed that it was an imprint of his face. “Cool.” He said and as they talked the older turtle of the five there was astounded over what he sensed.

“How interesting.” He said while still keeping up his pointing pose. The feline among them watched the show as well, but also decided to get on as to why they were all there.

“Master, are you pointing at me?” Tigress questioned while moving in between the orange and red ones.

“Them.” The Galapagos one said while never losing his pointing positions.

“Who?” The fourth one questioned while moving around only to see that the one pointing at him was following him.

“You.” The long necked one answered back.

“Me?” The comic reader questioned with excitement starting to form in his voice.

“The universe has brought us the Dragon Warriors.” Master Oogway said while raising the teenagers left three fingered hand into the air.

“Wahoo! First I became the Battle Nexus Champion, and now I am the Dragon Warrior.” The orange masked one shouted so all could hear him.

“I think your getting a little ahead of yourself, bro.” Raphael said which caused the proud turtle to turn to face him.

“What do you mean?” He asked only to watch that the other three were having their arms raised too. “What?!” He shouted in surprise, but he was not the only one.

“What?!” The five warriors said after seeing that four turtles were chosen by their turtle master.

“What?!” The master of the five shouted as well, but the only one that was not surprised was that of their father, who simply pushed the door open to get a better look.

‘First they are awarded to be Acolytes, and then awarded the position of Chunnin, and now all have been dubbed the Dragon Warrior.’ He thought with a smile since he was always proud over anything that they do since he knew that they knew the first rule was to be together as a family.

‘Well, the decision has been made, so it is my part in this.’ The pig above the ring thought before dinging his gong only to find that his hammer was gone after one hit. The pork bearer turned and saw the angered face of the Shifu.

‘Don’t make me hurt you.’ The red robbed one thought, and as everyone cheering and the turtles, with the five, wondering what was going on several geese in blue suits came down to the ring; some even had a small hanging basket built for one person. “Stop, wait! Who told you to…?” The Red Panda wanted to question as the basket zipped by him.

“From a structurally speaking standpoint: I don’t think that thing can hold us.” Donatello said to the others when the cart approached them.

“Come on, Donnie. This is one of the perks of being the Chosen One!” Michelangelo shouted in happiness and was about to hop in, but the red masked one yanked him off.
“Forget it, Mikey. Besides you’re probably the heaviest one here.” He shouted in a sarcastic tone. All of them unaware that the Panda was coming downstairs to try to intercept them.

“We’ll carry them since that is the least we could do of them picking us as the Dragon Warriors.” Their field turtle said to them, and knew that the fellow turtle said ’Dragon Warriors’. The four of them stuffed all of the geese into the basket before each took one side of the two poles.

“Master Oogway, wait! Those four teenagers can’t possibly be the answer to, our problem.” Shifu said after the transport had left. You were about to point at Tigress until those things got in the way. That was just an accident!” He said to his master, trying to change his decision to one that he; himself has trained, and keeping the real reason away from the general public.

“There are no accidents.” The older turtle said back to the smaller creature, and it was at that time that all the small birds in the carriage that caused the base to fall through.

‘Are you serious with them, now?’ Shifu thought as he gestured to the four and their crazy idea. The five would have agreed, but they were obligated to bow their heads in honor of the Dragon Warrior

“Now what, oh fearless leader.” The aggressive turtle said while holding the lower right side of the cart.

“Donatello put your bo-staff under them, and Michelangelo you do the same.” The one holding the upper left side of the cart said. The two did not know what he was planning, but they did it anyways. Donnie, who was at the upper right stayed on his side and did as asked. Mikey, who was on the lower left stayed on his side and did the motion as well.

“I get your plan, Leo. I take the other half of Mikey’s nunchucks and he takes the other half of my bo-staff, and while we are doing that you and Raph carry this thing by it’s ends.” The bookworm turtle said to the leader.

“That’s pretty much it.” He answered back and the four did as the plan was said, but unknown to them their new ‘friends’ didn’t like this one bit.

“Forgive us, Master. We have failed you.” Tigress said, after the four had left, to her adoptive father with a gracious bow, and prayed that he was not truly upset with them.

“No. If those turtles have not quit by morning then I would have failed you.” The Red Panda said back to them after giving off an open palm gesture. He prayed that Zeng came back with a good review.

Copy Rights:
TMNT, and the others, are owned by Eastman/Laird and Fox Box.
Kung Fu Panda, and the others, are owned by Dreamworks.