Kung Fu Lucario

Chapter 3: Hidden Dragon Warrior

Lucario nodded. He couldn't exactly argue against her points.

"Fair enough."

The South China Tiger then every-so-slightly softened her stern gaze and glanced at him.

"Look, I get it. Back when I lived at the Bao Gu Orphanage, I was the only tiger cub there. They called me a monster and all sorts of mean, hurtful names." She recalled in a soft voice. "But once the other kids got to know me better, we ended up getting along just fine and became friends."

The Aura Pokémon regarded her in a new light. That change in her life must have been a result of Master Shifu's influence.

"Understood. I'll wait to see if the villagers can learn to accept me one day."

"For what it's worth, Ms. Shānyáng and the orphans seemed to really like you. I've especially never seen little Túlip warm up to anyone that fast. She used to be terrified of me a few years ago."

Lucario grinned at the thought of Tú and everyone else. Her full name, Túlip, fit quite well, from his perspective.

"They were just grateful that I helped save their lives and secure the money you gave them. That's all."

Tigress rolled her eyes. "If that's what you want to believe, then go right ahead. You'll see what I mean once Túlip ends up seeing you again."

"Right. We'll see then."

They then passed by a local noodle shop. Halfheartedly serving some tables was a large, overweight panda wearing some patched-up burlap shorts. He had green eyes and white bandages wrapped around his feet.

The panda, upon serving a few orders, caught sight of both Tigress and Lucario. Although excited to see his kung fu idol in the flesh, he also shared direct eye contact with the Aura Pokémon and gasped in sheer awe.

"Woah. He looks awesome..."

This awestruck gaze caused him to drop a few bowls on the floor and accidentally pour fresh noodles all over a customer's face.

"Oh shoot! Sorry, sorry, sorry! I'll clean that right up, sir!"

A gray and white Chinese goose then came out of the shop with an angry look on his face. He had brown eyes and wore red-gold robes with a noodle-shaped-bowl hat atop his head.

"PO! What in the world do you think you're doing?! I raised you better than this!"

"Sorry, Dad. It won't happen again..."

Lucario took one last glance at the panda before following Tigress once again. He couldn't understand why the animal was looking at him like that, but the whole situation almost felt... predetermined somehow.

"That creature at the noodle restaurant. He was staring at me for some reason."

Tigress paid little attention to figuring who that panda was or what he was doing. She simply didn't care at all.

"Who cares? He's just an idiot. The village is full of them, unfortunately."

"If you say so." The Fighting/Steel-type said with a shrug.

Together, both of them walked up the stairs leading toward the Jade Palace's front entrance. They, thankfully, managed to reach it in a matter of minutes.

"We're here."

Tigress then opened two large red doors, revealing the Palace Arena. It consisted of a large stone platform where the Furious Five, Shifu, and other kung fu masters would compete in official tournament-based matches. Two golden dragon statues were situated in front of this platform while blue-roofed buildings surround it on either side. This was where spectators came to watch these tournaments take place.