I stood in the snowy mountains from before. A strange energy hovered in front of me.
"A portal to another world," Diastasi explained.
"Is it dangerous?"
"No, with your teleportation you can enter and return at will," she replied.
Not dangerous and no risk of getting stuck. This seemed like a great adventure. Should I bring Igneel with me? No, I should check it out first.
I passed through the portal and suddenly appeared in the sky.
"What the hell!" I exclaimed.
While in the air, I turned and looked down. My eyes widened—I was falling right into a crowd.
I was falling too fast and wouldn't be able to stop in time. I tried to deploy my wings, but it was futile since I was already so close to the ground.
Booom!
Dazed, I slowly stood up. As the smoke around me dissipated, I realized I was surrounded by... animals? Looking closer, I saw that all the people in this place were actually animals.
"Who are you?" a tiger demanded.
I didn't answer and kept staring. They all looked different—tigers, pigs, monkeys, and even a mantis. This was a strange world indeed.
The tiger grew impatient and rushed at me. She punched me straight in the chest, but I didn't even budge. I raised an eyebrow, then flicked her away.
She was sent flying back but caught herself and landed on her feet. Suddenly, information flooded into my mind.
Yes, I remember. This was Kung Fu Panda. Those years spent in the secret realm really fried my brain. But what was the premise of this movie again?
A small animal walked forward.
"Who are you?" the red panda demanded.
"Sorry about that," I coughed. "My name is Erik, and I somehow appeared in the sky."
He narrowed his eyes. As the tension rose, a turtle spoke.
"Calm down everyone. I sense no malicious intent from him."
Everyone relaxed a little but remained on guard.
"You may call me Oogway. Have you come here for training?" He smiled.
Training? What would I need that for?
"I recommend you send Igneel to train here. It will help with his control over his urges," Diastasi commented.
Really? That's perfect. I shook my head.
"I myself am not here for training. I plan to send my son here. He cannot control his emotions well."
The turtle nodded.
"But Master—" the red panda tried to say.
"Shifu, remember we help those we can," Oogway said.
Shifu sighed and nodded.
"So where is this son of yours—"
Boom!
A panda fell right in front of me. I didn't flinch since I had felt his presence for a while.
Oogway pointed at the panda.
"He is the Dragon Warrior," he announced.
Everyone gasped.
"What? But the Furious Five," Shifu protested.
Shifu didn't get to say more as multiple animals lifted the panda into the air and celebrated.
I excused myself from the celebration and teleported back to the imperial city of China. Not sensing Igneel nearby, I frowned.
I hadn't even been gone a day, and he was already missing. I used my senses to detect the mana I had placed on him.
He was in the village where we first arrived. I teleported to the entrance and walked around. The village was lively, probably because the men had returned safely.
I came to a small house. I entered without knocking and searched until I found him.
Igneel was sitting and drinking tea with Mulan and an old man. He sensed me and turned.
"What is it?" he asked.
The other two looked confused before I answered.
"I have something for you," I said.
He didn't even turn back.
"Not now, I'm busy."
"Brat, is that how you speak to your father?" I said with a hint of anger in my voice.
This kid was growing bolder by the day.
"It's because he's an adult now and his dragon side is acting up," Diastasi explained.
I sighed. That's even more reason for him to train in that place. I walked toward him and knocked him out before he could react.
"Well, he'll be back in a week or two," I said before disappearing.
Fa Zhou POV
I sat in the ancestral shrine and lit some incense.
"Please ancestor, bring Mulan back safely," I prayed.
I slowly stood up and walked away with my walking stick. What was this girl thinking? It had been months and she still hadn't returned. Other men from the village had already come home, yet she remained absent.
"Husband,"
I turned to the source of the voice.
"Is something wrong?" I asked.
"M-Mulan, she has returned," she said.
My eyes widened and I smiled, hurrying to the entrance. Seeing her, I rushed in for a deep hug. We embraced and stayed that way for a few moments before separating.
"Stupid girl, why did you do that? Do you know how worried I was?" I blurted out.
"I'm sorry, father," she cried.
As I scolded her, I noticed a person behind her. The man was huge. Looking closer, I recognized him—the young man from that day.
If I remembered correctly, his name was Igneel. I turned to Mulan and waited for an explanation.
She took a deep breath.
"T-this is Igneel. He is my fiancé."
My eyes widened. I felt shock and surprise, then happiness. This young man looked strong and powerful. Such a strong young man could definitely protect my daughter.
"Hahaha, young man. I didn't think anyone would fall for my daughter with how clumsy and unladylike she acts," I laughed.
The young man smiled.
"That's exactly the reason why I fell for her," he said.
I laughed again.
"Come, come, let's have tea," I suggested.
I led them to a table and we sat down. As we drank tea, I watched their interaction. He seemed gentle with her—too gentle.
"Young man, you two are still not wedded. Make sure not to be too touchy," I reminded him.
"Ah, my apologies," he replied.
I nodded. This young man was also understanding. Suddenly, I saw Mulan take out something from thin air.
My eyes widened.
"W-what was that?" I exclaimed.
"Ah father, this is a magical ring," she said, showing me her hand.
"Igneel gave it to me as a promise. It can store things inside," she added.
"Such a powerful artifact," I muttered. "And what do you have in there?" I asked.
She smiled.
"It has gold and treasure that can fill our entire mansion," she whispered.
Though she was quiet, I still heard it. My eyes widened. Not only was the man strong, he was also rich—absurdly rich.
"Mulan, you have such luck and ability," I smiled.
But my smile slowly faded. Such a powerful man would probably have more than one wife.
I sighed, hoping she wouldn't have to fight hard for love and affection from this man. I then smiled again.
"So, how did you two happen?" I asked.
Mulan blushed.
"Uh, I-it was in the snowy mountains. He confessed to me and promised to marry me," she stuttered.
I didn't know why she was stuttering, but it might have been because that was where the battle was. Perhaps after a near-death battle, he decided to propose. Such a romantic scene.
As we kept talking, Igneel suddenly spoke.
"Come out," he said.
I raised an eyebrow.
"What—" Before I could finish, I heard another voice.
"I have something for you," the man said.
What? Who is this man?
"Not now, I'm busy," Igneel said.
"Brat, is that how you speak to your father?" the man said.
Father? This giant man is Igneel's father. I wanted to say something, but before I could, the man moved and knocked Igneel out.
My eyes widened at the speed of his movement.
"He'll be back in a week or two," the man said before disappearing.
Mulan's POV
As Igneel was taken away by his father, I couldn't help but sigh. He had been treating me like glass ever since we left the imperial city.
"What happened?" Father asked.
I shook my head.
"I don't know, Father."
He sighed, then smiled.
"When do you plan to marry?" he asked.
I blushed.
"I-I don't know," I replied.
"Make sure to plan things well," he sighed.
He stood and left. Alone with my thoughts, I contemplated what to do while Igneel would be gone. I decided to visit the ancestral shrine.
Entering, I knelt down and lit some incense.
"Please ancestors, bless my future marriage," I prayed.
I kowtowed a few times before standing up and leaving. Though I wasn't sure why I felt compelled to pray, it seemed like the right thing to do.
The memory of when Igneel turned aggressive still haunted me. Although he didn't hurt me, the aura he let out was terrifying. As I walked back, I suddenly felt a headache.
I then threw up my morning's breakfast.
"Ugh, what's happening?" I muttered weakly.
Mother noticed me from a distance and ran toward me.
"Mulan, are you okay?" she asked.
"Mama, I feel sick."
She helped me up and took me to my room. My father heard the commotion and came over.
"What happened? Why is Mulan so pale?" he asked.
"Husband, I don't know, but she needs a physician," Mama said hurriedly.
Father nodded and went to find a physician.
An hour later
The physician checked my pulse and then placed my hand back down.
"She is pregnant," he said bluntly.
Sensing the tension, the physician quietly left. After he was gone, my father spoke.
"Why did you do such a thing before marriage?" he asked solemnly.
"I-I'm sorry, Father," I said.
He sighed.
"At least we found out in time. You must hasten the marriage process so the child won't be labeled illegitimate," he said.
I nodded. He sighed again and stood up to leave.
"I-I'm sorry," I repeated.
He shook his head.
"I understand. Men at that age cannot control themselves. And you, as a young woman, would want to please the man you love," he said before leaving.
The door closed behind him, and I remained silent.
"Mulan, it's okay," Mama said softly.
I cried into her arms.
"I-I should have been stronger and refused him," I muttered.
Mama continued to comfort me.
Erik's POV
I teleported back to the square in the Kung Fu Panda world. I threw Igneel onto the ground.
"This is my son. He is quite aggressive, so be warned," I said, then took out a golden flower.
"This is the sun-kissed flower. It can grant immortality and rejuvenation. It should be more than enough for my request."
Everyone's eyes widened. Only Oogway, Shifu, Po, and the Furious Five remained.
I put the flower into a small chest and threw it to Shifu.
As I planned to leave and look around, Igneel started waking. He slowly stood.
"Where is this?" he growled. "And where is Mulan?"
"Damn, is she all you think about?!" I shouted.
He growled and got agitated.
"Host, he might enter an enraged state."
What, an enraged state?
"Yes, similar to your berserk state. The best thing to do is either get Mulan or fight him until he tires."
I guess I know what I have to do. I teleported right in front of him and punched him. He was sent flying but caught himself in the air and landed on his feet.
His breathing quickened as he roared and charged at me. I blocked his incoming attack easily, though the ground under me cracked.
I threw another punch and he was sent flying again, but this time he face-planted into a wall. His body fell to the ground, but a moment later he got back up.
I then heard cracks and bones snapping. My eyes widened.
"How does he already have that ability?" I exclaimed as he slowly started transforming.
By now, everyone else was just sitting back and watching the show. They didn't know why we started fighting, but they didn't want to get involved.
"Such power," Shifu muttered.
But they became even more surprised when Igneel continued transforming.
"A-a dragon," they exclaimed.
What surprised them most was how Igneel's body kept growing until he was just a head shorter than my dragon transformation.
He charged at me. I leaped toward him and punched him to the ground so hard it caused earthquakes.
Igneel breathed heavily and panted from the damage but still got back up. Enraged, he charged a dragon breath.
I frowned and waited for the attack. Mana started condensing around his mouth. Before he could release it, I leaped again and punched his jaw skyward, causing the attack to shoot into the sky.
I then punched him to the ground again and again. This went on for a few hours before he tired and transformed back. He lay panting on the ground.
"Have you finally had enough?"
He didn't answer, just kept panting.
"I just need you to train to control your emotions and urges. After that, you can return."
He stayed quiet. I knew he accepted my command.