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It has not been a good week, to say the least.
It was not every day that you find out that the person you have known for ten years and called your best friend is actually a martial arts prodigy trained by his thousands of years old bad guy of a dad who is set on traveling to his mother's home located in this otherworldly place with magic and mythical creatures in order to release her because said father believes she is speaking to him from beyond the grave. But in actuality it is a soul-sucking ugly-looking creature luring him, trying to trick him into breaking it free from his eternal prison.
Oh and apparently, he also has a fighting ring-owning sister who is totally badass.
Yeah, life kind of just flipped itself on its head for Katy Chen. But she thinks she is handling it very well.
She did have multiple internal breakdowns but overall, she's doing great.
After Shaun's, no, Shang-Chi's aunt gave them a brief history of their dimension, Tao Lo, they were informed that they were all preparing for battle. Everyone looked like they knew what to do and split up to do their tasks and training.
Blacksmiths started forging weapons from dragon scales. The ones who looked strong enough were sent off to the outskirts of the village to train and prepare themselves for battle. Some women who couldn't fight were sent to prepare the armor and clothes for everyone. Even the children were tasked to prepare the armor for the giant lions and protect the infrastructure.
Everyone here had their place where they knew who they were and what they wanted to do.
Seeing the old grandma drop a bunch of dragon scale arrows, she couldn't help but go to help her. But she wasn't expecting to be whisked away to the edge of the forest and to be trained to shoot arrows with the village's leader, Guang Bo.
The sound of arrows flying through the air and planting themselves in the targets with a loud thud with the very rare outliers who missed or not hit the target properly, falling down on the grassy ground.
Most of the outliers are Katy's doing. Not having much archery experience, aka none at all, she was the worse one out of them. Her arrows would hit the target but only the perimeter of the circular target.
"Shoot," Katy mumbled under her breath when her sixth arrow fell on the ground. Her fingers were stinging from the tug at the bow and her arms ached to her inexperience withholding a heavy bow for a prolonged period. It was her first day, darn it!
The sun was starting to set with the glow of orange painting the sky. The others had headed back to the heart of the village to prepare for a full meal before they were to go into battle with Wenwu, Shang-Chi and Xialing's father, and his army of trained assassins.
Katy knew she was in over her head. But there was a part of her that did not want to be left out of this. If not for Shang-Chi and Xialing's sake, then a part of her is saying this was also for hers too.
Katy drew another box that was on a pile next to her. She had the whole shooting range to herself so she can hog all the unused arrows, okay?
She aligned the delicate but strong arrow along with the bow. Fixing it to the string, she began to slowly pull back, her eye locked onto the target. She released a breath she didn't know she was holding and a moment later, she let the arrow go.
With a whoosh, it smacked itself to the target...right on the edge.
"Damn it!" Katy cursed and her frustration caused her to toss the bow down as well. But after that short tantrum episode, she immediately sank down to pick it up from the ground and dust the dirty. It would suck if someone caught that.
She apologized internally to whoever may be listening like maybe that Great Protector they have been talking about.
"You are not ready." A demanding voice rang into the quiet forest. Katy froze for a moment before the voice had processed in her brain. She closed her eyes and sorted her thoughts before she stood up without turning to the person behind her. She should've known he was somewhere hanging about. With how sucky her archery has been, Guang Bo had his eyes on her like a hawk, constantly correcting her posture and her arm placement.
She should've known this was a mistake.
She could've just passed out food or something but something made her stick around the archery range.
"I know, I know," She turned around to meet the old man. "I'm trying."
Despite only meeting for a day, Katy could tell Guang Bo is one of those grandpas who speak very little. He never smiles or shows any emotion besides the forever scowl etched into his face.
"You are not trying hard enough." He responded matter of factly and it kind of stung to hear that.
His tone was harsh and Katy could see why they picked him to be their leader. He definitely has a stern presence that demands to be listened to. But that doesn't mean he can't soften his blows though.
"Ouch, Guang Bo," Katy said sarcastically with a smile. "Tell me how you really feel." She turned around and her smile disappeared as she walked over to the targets to gather the arrows, pulling them out from where they were embedded on the stand like a scatter plot on a graph. Guang Bo stood at his spot with his hands behind his back, watching her as she did this. Again, like a hawk.
Katy told herself that it's okay because it's only temporary. Right?
Katy's eyes met with Guang Bo's ones. Much to his overall demeanor, his eyes told nothing. And Katy thought of herself as a good analyst of behavior.
"We're starting dinner soon."
"Okay, got it." Katy nodded as she carried the arrows over to the pile. Despite being told that she needed to go, she couldn't help but sit down on the ground. With a huge sigh, she felt some relief in resting her feet.
"I sense a great sadness in you, child," Guang Bo started. Katy turned around to face Guang Bo, who was still standing on his feet.
Katy looked at the old man with skepticism. "What is this? Some kind of Master Shifu thing?" The old man only arched his brow at her. Katy keeps forgetting that they don't know about the real world. No, her world.
"You won't become good if you do not put effort."
"Yeah, yeah. That's what my mom says all the time. And Waigong. But at least he says it nicely. That's just how I am, I guess." She said, "I start something and leave before actually committing because what's the point of doing something when I know it'll never get anywhere, y'know?"
Katy looked at Guang Bo who was still standing there looking puzzled but she continued. "When I was younger, I tried a lot of things. Dance, choir, the piano, y'know the basics. Waigong was always the one who pushed me to do things I actually liked. Mom would always nag at me to study this and that, blah blah. But Waigong would always tell me that it's okay, life is too short to stay unsatisfied." At this point, Katy thought she was just rambling. "And then he died. And then people started dusting away days later and, I dunno." Katy looked down as she thought back to that strangely beautiful day.
Katy doesn't even remember what she was doing that was so important that she needed to leave the house in a hurry. It was probably something stupid. Her Waigong, frail in his old age, was seated at the family table with his bowl of plain congee. Despite his frail body, he still had the wit and spirit that she always loved.
As she dashed towards the door, throwing a simple goodbye behind her, her grandpa offered her a 'have a good day' and it almost made her stop in her tracks. She simply turned and smiled at her grandpa who also offered his own smile.
And then she got the phone call from her mom that he had passed, seated in his favorite chair.
Even as an adult, nothing really prepares you for the loss of a loved one. You kind of just zone out and the next days were filled with funeral arrangements and the actual funeral itself.
Just when she was beginning to move on, people started dusting away in the afternoon out of freaking nowhere. Including her mom and younger brother. Thankfully, she had dad and Waipo around and her friends like Shaun and Soo.
But it was hard to move on from the death of a loved one when you also have half of the universe wiped out. Everywhere you look, everyone is coping with the loss and grief. Being surrounded by such sadness makes it hard to move on and focus on yourself. So Katy thought to herself what was the point?
There were times she wished she could've stayed at home more, spent more time with him, and listened to more of his stories. All the regrets pile on each other and she wished they could've had more time together. She wished he could've seen her graduate, find a good job, find someone she loved and see her make her own family. Of course, it would be unreasonable for him to stay that old and meet his great-grandchildren but only one can dream, right?
After graduating from college, she worked as a valet driver because it was easy, and paid well enough.
"It's funny. I always tell my grandma that he would've wanted her to move on and live her life. But sometimes I think I'm saying it for myself like I'm reminding myself that he probably would've wanted me to be happy. I mean what would he say now? I graduated college and I'm still collecting cars for a living. Or doing whatever this crazy thing is which I am still trying to process. Oh my gosh." Katy groaned, putting her head in her hands.
She was definitely in overhead. There was a bird flying above her that was on fire!
"I guess I never really knew who I was supposed to be," Katy confessed. "Waigong would tell me it's okay and reassure me that I would find my way, somehow."
Katy looked over to find that Guang Bo had moved from his spot at the opening to the archery range to standing over her.
"I am not familiar with your customs in your world. But," Guang Bo sat down next to Katy. "Any loving family member would be supportive and proud. I am sure your grandfather is looking after you. Just like all the ones that come before us who watch over us, protect us, and guide us."
The idea that their ancestors are watching over them was something that her grandfather reminded her of often when he was alive. They have a shrine in their house and they would light incense and place offerings of fruit and desserts for the dead to enjoy in the afterlife. During the few trips to Mainland China, they would visit the graves of their family members and pay respects by burning money.
The tradition was passed down to her parents and they tried their best to keep it alive but she doesn't even know if they know why they do what they do.
But here, in Tao Lo, there was a whole building dedicated to the dead, and every day the villagers pay respects to them with the same offerings. Katy thought that they were much more hardcore than her family with their impressive shrines. Even though they were in a whole different dimension, it was kind of insane that they shared similar customs. Wait until she goes back home and tells her family about this!
"Do you remember what you were told when you first got here?" Guang Bo asked her.
Katy thought back to what the grandma said to her when she dropped her off at the hands of Guang Bo and the other archers who were clearly confused about what this confused other world girl was doing here. She bet Guang Bo was very confused and annoyed to have her stick around. Katy shook her head.
"If you do not have the target, your arrow will not strike," Guang Bo recited. "Child, there is nothing wrong with being lost. Being lost can help you find new ways you would have never thought of before. Failure is not scary. Never trying and regretting it is. Have faith in yourself."
Despite knowing him for maybe a full day, Katy smiled warmly. It wasn't every day that you get advice from an old Chinese man. It wasn't much and she doesn't think it will automatically solve her issues but it offered some comfort and she'll take it.
"Thank you," Katy said genuinely without any snark or sarcasm. Guang Bo gave her a stern nod. "Can I call you Guang Bo shushu?" Katy asked with childlike innocence and playfulness. Despite being ABC, Katy knew enough Chinese to get through a conversation.
"No," Guang Bo responded immediately and her playful smile dropped at the answer. But he continued. "Call me gege instead. I'm not that old."
Katy laughed at that with some lightness on her body that she hasn't felt in a long time.
Guang Bo stood up and brushed some dirt off his pants. "Come, child. Let's go eat." He offered and Katy sighed, pushing herself up to follow him towards the center of the village for dinner.
"Oh! Guang Bo, did you see that?" Katy cheered when her arrow hit close to the red target. She pointed at Guang Bo who rolled his eyes at her antics. "That's tight!"
"Child, what are you doing?" Guang Bo shouted as soon as his eyes landed on Katy who was trying to cloak herself from sight. Katy was sent off with clear instructions to stay close to the other archers and away from much of the fight.
The sight of bodies littering the green field had not fully processed as she was so focused on helping or being of some use in any way possible.
The night before she found Shang-Chi sitting by the pond in deep thought and while she knew that he was currently in a stressful situation with his father coming to try to destroy his mother's village, she was not ready for the bombshell of information he revealed to her.
He confessed that he had assassinated his mother's killer and was set to do the same to his own father, at all costs. Katy wasn't sure how to react but before she had the chance to reason with him or convince him to find another way other than killing, Shang-Chi walked away. Even if she managed to stop him, she wasn't sure what she would say. She wasn't Captain America giving inspirational speeches. She was just some Chinese girl who was thrust into this strange situation. Actually, she thrust herself into this.
She had run into Xialing who was also looking lost in the chaos around them. Katy had hoped she knew where her brother was but she looked just as long as she was.
A swarm of god knows what ugly creatures were flying up in the air gathering light balls out of the poor villagers before dropping their bodies on the ground. Katy managed to sneak around and snatched a few arrows from one of the bodies. She felt horrible as she abandoned the person before her but she knew time was of the essence and she needed to help.
Screams, battle cries, and shrieks all around her, she hid in a small cabin before walking out the other door where Guang Bo caught her.
He looked furious and annoyed. "It was clear you were not ready!"
"I need to help!" Katy shouted back, her eyes fiery, daring Guang Bo to send her back in the middle of this chaos.
He sighed and gestured to her to come close. "Stay close. Aim. Deep breaths." He recited to her to which she nodded and followed him closely.
They had each other's backs as they hid behind walls and shot their dragon scale-tipped arrows at whatever the hell those flying Lovecraftian things were.
It was going okay, she guessed until they were shaking in the wake of the ugliest thing she has ever seen and what she can only guess was the Dweller-in-Darkness that was luring Wenwu to them.
She and Guang Bo were watching in shock as the Great Protector was in the grasps of the Dweller-in-Darkness and it was beginning to suck the soul out of the great beast.
"We must shoot it before it takes our Great Protector's soul!" Guang Bo exclaimed as he drew his arrow into his bow. Katy was almost out of arrows with maybe two left in her quiver and she was shaking. Guang Bo maintained his stoic, unwavering demeanor as he guided her through the mess of battle. "Aim for the throat!" Guang Bo pulled back his bow, readying it to aim at the ugly one's throat when he suddenly pulled away. Katy didn't have the chance to react when she looked up to find Guang Bo was lifted by one of the little creatures and its tentacles reaching down into his mouth, pulling what she believes was his soul. His body was then disrespectfully dropped on the ground.
Katy's eyes widened and her feet moved to his body and knelt down to him. She knew he was gone but she still tried to shake him for a bit, hoping by some miracle he was still with them.
But he was gone.
Her eyes stung as tears were starting to gather. It was not the time to cry, she reminded herself.
"Katy!" She heard and above her was one of the creatures coming for her. She raised her arm up and block despite it being fruitless. A red spear stabbed the creature through its torso and tossed away with ease. Shang-Chi and Xialing's crazily cool aunt, Ying Nan, stood before her, protecting her. "Get up! We have to fight!"
Katy took a deep breath and gave one last look at Guang Bo's lifeless body. His bow and arrow were thrown a foot (not meters because she's American) from him. She crawled over to it.
Deep breath.
She could hear him in her ear. Even though their time was short, Katy learned a lot from him in that limited time and found out something about herself that she was actually kind of good at. Maybe she would've been great with more of his guidance. Swallowing her pain down, she picked up the bow and arrow and stood.
Her heart was racing and she felt pressure as she knew time was ticking. The beast was going to steal the Great Protector's soul and it will be over for them.
Around her, people were trying her damn hardest. She needed to take this shot.
If you don't see the target in your heart, your arrow will never strike.
She drew the string back, relaxing her shoulder and her eyes never left the beast in the sky.
Katy could feel her hands shaking a little and she was starting to doubt herself. What if it doesn't make it? What if she misses? What if it hits the Great Protector instead?
Just take the damn shot!
Katy wasn't sure why she suddenly heard her mother's voice at that moment. But the nagging ringing in her ear did knock something into her.
What the hell was she waiting for? What was she so afraid of? Failure isn't scary but regret is.
Remembering to take a deep breath, Katy finally let the arrow go and watched as it flew with incredible speed and launched itself straight through the Dweller-in-Darkness' jugular.