The Force That Connects Us All {Kai x OC}

Book 2 : Chapter 3

The four Masters turned their attention to the opened gates. The tinny sound of metal against stone hit their ears. Walking towards them was a white peacock, his light grey robes flowing down over his tail. "Hello, gentlemen," he said, his voice sending a slight chill up Shai's spine. "What are you doing here, Shen," Master Rhino questioned. "Well," Shen began, ignoring the actual question, "Now that we have the formalities out of the way..." He gestured back toward the gates, "Please leave my house."
"Your house," Rhino asked. Shai could feel the dangerous tension in the air rise. She knew one wrong move could escalate the situation. "Yes," Shen answered, "Did you not see the peacock on the front door?"
"What do you want, Shen," Master Rhino questioned. "I want what's rightfully mine," Shen replied simply. While Shen continued walking towards the Masters, a group of wolves came through the gates, pulling a large wooden box on wheels. Master Ox took a step forward, protectively standing a little in front of Shai. She looked at him, a little confused. "What's in the box, Shen," he questioned, gesturing towards it. "Oh, this," Shen asked, "This is a gift. You're parting gift - in which it will part you." He motioned to random parts around the walls, while he continued, "Part of you there. Part of you here. And part of you way, way over there, staining the wall!" His red eyes wideneding in a crazed madness. "You insolent fool," Master Ox raged, swinging his axe as he and Master Croc jumped at Shen. Before Shai could stop them, they were already locked in a fight with Shen. She had a horrible feeling that this would not end well. All she could do was watch the two Masters - her new friends - get thrown to the side. Master Rhino was then the next one locked in battle with... Tai Lung? Shai shook herself out of it, both utterly confused and frightened at who she swore she just saw. She witnessed Rhino send a final blow to Shen with his warhammer, sending the peacock sliding backwards a few feet as the force of the hit broke Shen's thin blades. "Show off," Shen panted, standing to his full size. "You're no match for our Kung Fu," Master Rhino said. Shen slowly nodded, eyes wide in agreement. "Oh, I agree," he gestured behind him towards the box. "But this is." Master Ox and Shai Lung locked eyes. He could see the fear begin to well up inside her. Shen flew backwards as the box opened to reveal a strange, cannon-like weapon. Shen swiped his metal claws across the fuse, a spark igniting the weapon. Shai's fear became too much to bare - she knew what was coming. She knew what she was about to do was useless, but she tried to run to Master Rhino to get him out of the way of his inevitable demise...
But she was too late.

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The remaining Masters - Shai, Ox and Croc - sat in the huge room in a stale, saddened silence. Shai stared at the floor, not wanting to look anywhere else. The fresh memory repeated itself over and over in her mind. The sound of dark laughter came from beyond the sealed doors. "That guy never stood a chance," one of the guards hollered. The other laughed again. "Yeah," he replied, "I can't believe he thought he could actually stand up to the Weapon." Shai squeezed her eyes shut, making a tear roll down her face, and held her breath to stop herself from crying. She hadn't known Master Rhino for very long, so she couldn't even begin to think how the others felt. Master Croc sighed. "We should discuss our options," he said.
Before Shen had them thrown into this room, he gave them a choice:
1. They could surrender and be left to rot in Gonmen Prison, then no one else would get hurt;
2. They could join him in taking over China - another option where others wouldn't be killed; or,
3. They could stand against him - fight him - and everyone they know, love, care about, and protect would die... just like Master Rhino.
The sudden weight of a hand on her shoulder made Shai flinch. Her eyes snapped open as she grabbed whoever it was by the arm. Master Ox's brown eyes stared into hers, a look of sympathy on his face. "What do you think we should do," he asked softly. Shai let go of his arm and sighed. She knew what she had to do. She also knew the others wouldn't like it - that they wouldn't understand... but she couldn't just sit by and do nothing, knowing that she could've done something. She glanced between Croc and Ox.
"I know what I have to do," she replied, slowly shaking her head. "And I know you aren't going to like it."
"What do you mean," Ox questioned, exchanging a confused look with his fellow Gonmen Master. Shai gave them a look of pure determination. "You do what you think is best... but, I'm going to join Lord Shen."