Long Live the Dragon Warrior Read online

  “Ready, Uncle,” he said in a deep voice.

  “Your ‘little’ nephew?” Po asked in disbelief.

  “You should see his sister!” Temutai said.

  “Okay, so I guess we should match him up with . . . ,” Po began, but all the other kids fled in terror.

  “Get that guy from the next valley!” Lam the rabbit called out. “Peng can fight him! Peng can beat him!”

  He pointed to a young leopard pushing a merchant’s cart. Everyone looked at him.

  “No, Lam,” the young leopard said.

  Jing Mei jumped off the platform.

  “Yaaa!” He swatted at Peng’s cart, knocking it over!

  “Well, if you put it that way, okay,” Peng said calmly.

  Peng and Jing Mei climbed onto the stage and faced each other.

  “Are you sure about this?” Po asked Peng.

  “I am, Dragon Warrior,” Peng replied.

  “Okay, good luck then,” Po said. That kid was gonna need it! “Fighters . . . begin!”

  Jing Mei charged across the stage and started aiming punches at Peng. Peng took hold of Jing Mei’s hand. He used the huge water buffalo’s own force against him, easily tossing him across the stage.

  “Ooooh,” the crowd gasped.

  Jing Mei got back on his feet, and Peng moved quickly, tossing him across the stage again. Angry, Jing Mei got up and charged Peng. Peng hit him with a series of quick, spinning kicks.

  Jing Mei went down—and this time, he stayed down.

  “The winner is Peng!” Po announced.

  Temutai glared at his nephew. “I knew I should have brought your sister!” he growled.

  “He’s amazing!” Po said. Then he noticed Peng trying to slip away. “Hold on there, genius! That was some awesome kung fu. Where did you train?”

  “Nowhere,” Peng replied. “I have no formal training, except in pottery.”

  Po couldn’t believe it. “You totally have to train with us at the Jade Palace!”

  Temutai stomped up. “Nonsense! A warrior such as this needs to train with us in the Qidan!”

  “Peng here needs to learn to do things the right way . . . at the Jade Palace,” Po said.

  “Sure, if he wants to be a do-nothing who postures and poses,” scorned Temutai.

  “Do-nothing! I’ll show you nothing!” Po yelled, poking Temutai’s belly.

  The villagers gasped.

  “You dare to poke the Warrior King of the Qidan with your finger!” Temutai fumed. “You have challenged me! For this you will pay!”

  CHAPTER THREE

  Temutai and Po struck battle-ready poses. Master Shifu quickly pulled Po away.

  “Gentlemen, please! This is the Peace Jubilee!” Shifu reminded them.

  Po and Temutai sheepishly looked at each other.

  “Sorry. Our bad.” Po and Temutai apologized to the crowd.

  Peng stepped between them. “Please, I am not worthy to be fought over!” he pleaded. “But if I have to choose one, I choose to train at the Jade Palace!”

  The villagers from the Valley of Peace all cheered. The visiting water buffalo did not look happy.

  “I will be in my tent!” Temutai roared, and he stomped away.

  Since there was a break in the festival, Po brought Peng up to the Jade Palace.

  “And this is where the magic happens,” Po said, throwing open the doors to the training room.

  Inside, the Furious Five were making their way through the mechanical obstacle course. When they saw Po and Peng, they all leaped off the course to greet them.

  “Nice job today, kid,” Tigress told Peng. “Wanna take the Training Hall for a spin?”

  “Easy, sport,” Po warned him. “It’s a wee bit tougher than it looks.”

  “Aaaaaaiiiiieeeee!” With a battle cry, Peng jumped right in. He destroyed spiked weapons with some hard kicks. He defended himself against spinning fighting dummies. Then he jumped in front of Po and the Furious Five and bowed respectfully. They stared at him in awe.

  “Excellent job,” Tigress praised him.

  “Kid, you’ve got a future!” added Monkey.

  Po suddenly felt very grumpy. He headed for his favorite spot, underneath a cherry-blossom tree on top of a mountain peak. As he munched on peaches, he thought about what he was feeling.

  Peng was good—really good. A lot better than Po had been when he first came to the Jade Palace. Was the kid going to replace him? Nah, that was a silly idea, right?

  Suddenly, he realized it was dark. He had to get to the Jubilee Feast! Po hurried down the mountain.

  “Without my sparkling Dragon Warrior banter, these feasts can be so boring,” he mused as he walked up to the jubilee site. But as he got closer, he saw everyone laughing and having a great time. Peng was standing at the head of the table, telling stories. Everyone was laughing so hard, they didn’t see Po walk up.

  “Hey, what’s so funny?” Po asked. “I’d like to know. Tell me.”

  Still, nobody noticed him.

  “TELL ME!” Po yelled, a little too loudly.

  That got everyone’s attention. They all stared at Po.

  “Uh, tell me, how are you all enjoying the feast?” Po asked.

  “It’s great! Grab a seat!” Monkey replied.

  Po walked to his usual seat at the head of the table, where Peng was sitting.

  “Sorry, Dragon Warrior. I’m in your chair,” he said.

  “Nonsense,” Master Shifu said. “Po doesn’t mind finding another seat. Do you, Po?”

  “Uh, well, I guess—” Po began, but Mantis interrupted him.

  “Peng! Do your Po impression again!” he yelled.

  “Oh, I don’t know,” Peng said modestly.

  “No. Really. I’d love to see it,” Po said in a flat voice.

  “It’s really more of a tribute,” Peng said. He jumped up on top of the table and started talking in a voice like Po’s. “Behold! The awesome power of the Dragon—are these dumplings?” He picked up a plate and pretended to chow down.

  Everyone laughed—everyone but Po.

  Maybe this new kid was going to replace him after all!

  CHAPTER FOUR

  Po couldn’t sleep. He tossed and turned in his cot. Being the Dragon Warrior meant so much to him. Peng couldn’t take his place, could he?

  But Peng was a great fighter. And everyone liked him.

  Po jumped out of bed very early in the morning. He had to talk to Master Shifu about this! Po found him outside.

  “Oh, Po, there you are,” Shifu said. “I’ve been thinking about what you said.”

  “You mean no-pants Fridays?” Po asked.

  “No, what you said about a ‘fresh face.’ That’s why I think the closing ceremony Tai Chi should be performed by Peng.”

  Po felt like he had been hit by a brick.

  “Peng,” he said in a tiny voice.

  “Then we’re agreed,” Shifu said. “I’ll take him the crown.”

  “You know what? I’ll give it to Peng. I mean, after all, it was my brilliant idea to bring him here, right?” Po said.

  “Good,” Shifu said. “Be quick. The ceremony is tonight.”

  Po found Peng in the palace, signing an autograph for Zeng.

  “Hey, I’ve got some news from Shifu,” Po said. His paw touched the crown on his head. He knew what he was supposed to do.

  But he just couldn’t do it.

  “Is something wrong?” Peng asked.

  “Yeah, yeah. Well, no. Um, it’s Shifu,” Po said. “Yeah, you’re just not making the cut and he, not me, thinks it would be better if you just left.”

  Peng looked hurt—and then his expression grew angry.

  “I can’t believe it. You invited me here, and now you say I’m not good enough?” he asked. His yellow eyes blazed with anger. “I’ll prove to Shifu that’s he’s wrong! He’s wrong!”

  “Wait! No, Peng!” Po cried.

  “You’ll see!” Peng replied, and then he ran away.<
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  Master Shifu appeared behind Po. “Where’s Peng?”

  Po stammered. “He, um, said no, thanks. Can you believe it? He admitted he was just using us to get famous, so he left.”

  Master Shifu stroked his whiskers thoughtfully. “Using us? Hmm . . . I guess it was too much to ask him to be so skilled and to be honest and pure of heart, too. Like you, Dragon Warrior.”

  Shifu walked off, but his words stayed with Po. He hadn’t been honest and pure of heart. He had been awful.

  “I gotta find Peng!” Po cried.

  Peng knew exactly where he was going. He boldly strode into Temutai’s tent.

  “What are you doing here?” Temutai asked.

  “They threw me out of the Jade Palace,” Peng said angrily. “They think I’m not strong enough, and I’m here to show them they’re wrong.”

  “Ha! Yes! By training with me!” Temutai said triumphantly.

  “No,” Peng said. He grabbed a sword and pointed it at the warrior. “By showing them that I can destroy you!”

  Temutai’s eyes grew wide. “That’s different!”

  CHAPTER FIVE

  Peng lunged at Temutai, swinging the sword. Temutai picked up a table to shield himself from the blows. Then he pushed forward, sending Peng flying.

  But Peng was determined. He attacked again.

  “Ha!” Peng cried. He swung the sword again—and Po’s paw grabbed it. He stood between Temutai and the blow.

  “You are defending me?” asked a puzzled Temutai.

  “Yeah. Weird, huh?” Po replied.

  “Out of my way so I can finish him!” Peng demanded. He swung the sword again. Po quickly grabbed a small stool to defend himself.

  “Peng! Stop!” he cried.

  “I’ve practiced my kung fu with no plans, no dreams, until you gave me one—and then Shifu snatched it away!” Peng cried.

  He charged at Po, pushing him backward into Temutai. The two oversize warriors crashed to the floor.

  “Are you okay?” Po asked.

  “No, I am not, and it is your fault!” Temutai yelled, jumping to his feet. Po, Temutai, and Peng stood in a triangle. Nobody was exactly sure who was fighting whom. So they all started fighting one another!

  The fight spilled into the village—and right into the closing ceremony of the Peace Jubilee!

  Po tossed a wagon at Temutai. Peng kicked Po, sending him flying back into a food cart. The food cart knocked into Mrs. Yoon, who banged into the pig behind her. Angry, the pig shoved her, and she shoved him back. Soon, everyone in the village was fighting!

  The Furious Five jumped into the action to help Po, but Temutai’s water-buffalo guards stood in their way. Now they were fighting too.

  Po looked around. This was terrible, and it was all his fault!

  “Stop it!” he yelled as loudly as he could.

  Everyone froze.

  Po looked at Peng. “Peng, you don’t understand!”

  “Understand what?” Peng asked.

  “I lied, Peng,” admitted Po. “Shifu didn’t want you gone. I did. It’s just, like, all of a sudden everyone was digging you, and I was all jealous and mad and I wanted to wear this stupid crown. Peng, I’m sorry.”

  Po tossed the crown onto the ground.

  “And so am I,” Peng said. He picked up the crown and handed it to Po. “I apologize for my anger, Dragon Warrior.”

  Po put the crown back on and grinned. Temutai smiled down at him.

  “I like the jaunty angle!”

  Po laughed. “Let’s get this jubilee on the road!”

  It was time for the ceremonial Tai Chi. Po, Temutai, and Peng did it together. Po felt happy and at peace. After all, he was, and always would be, the Dragon Warrior!

  This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real places are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and events are products of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or places or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

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  This Simon Spotlight edition June 2015

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  ISBN 978-1-4814-2749-4 (pbk)

  ISBN 978-1-4814-2750-0 (hc)

  ISBN 978-1-4814-2751-7 (eBook)