Disclaimer: I don't own Kung Fu Panda. Kung Fu Panda and its characters belongs to Dreamwork.
Note: I love ghost story. :) I read a lot of them back when I am studying. Most like Goosebumps, Fearstreets written by R. L. Stine... Keeps me interested, you know? So I am ma add my own ghost story to the fanfic of KFP.
It's a Ghost Story
Po grinned. With much enthusiasm, he added a piece of wood into the burning camp fire. The dark surrounding forest light up more when the pieces burn continuously.
"You guys heard about the Ghosts of Jing Gong Temples?"
There was an exchange of look between his friends.
"No," Mantis replied, "might as well hear of it now."
"Oh no, please," pleaded Viper, "I am.. not very fond of hearing ghost story..."
Viper turned her voices in a whisper, "Especially not if we're now camping at the center of these temples!"
Viper was right. They ARE camping in the middle of Jing Gong Temples. There are a total of five temples around, various in size, and are separated by a few walks of staircase from each other, spiraling on the slope of a tall mountain. Even though the moss filled temples are sending creepy vibes to the gang, Po still decided to continue with his tale.
"That only means you believe in ghost," Po grinned again. Deem light of the campfire had made his expression much grim to look at, especially on where he is going with his tale.
"Hey, no worries, Viper. All we have to do is safeguards those archaeologies from bandits," Monkey points at a camp site set not far from theirs, "while they retrieve the artifact of the Sacred Thunder Blade."
"Anyway," Mantis put his hooks together in a sinister look, "what's the story?"
"Yeah, let's hear it, Po!" cheered Monkey.
Tigress was sitting at the opposite side of him, looking unimpressively bored as always. "If you're going to tell a ghost story, just get to the point of interest."
"Oh-ho-ho," teased Po playfully, "we got a non-believer."
Crane however, was busy setting up his own camp nearby, rather disconnected from the group. "Now where does this goes?" said the bird as he held up a string of rope.
Ignoring the mumbling Crane, Po took in a deep breath, "Okay, Jing Gong Temples was build in the rememberance of the places people go when they … you know, cuckoo."
"Awh, Po, pleeease," pleaded Viper in defeat, "I am going to let you guys scare yourself till the morning now… I am outta here."
"Crane! Need help?" The gang watched quietly as Viper slithered herself towards the mumbling Crane. Then, Mantis and Monkey turned their head towards Po.
"Continue, my good sir," said Mantis in a gentlemen tone.
"Wait," Tigress said, "I thought the temple is build for the dead."
"Yes," said Po as he stared off into the distance, "and no."
"It's for the places they go," he reassured, "see those gates?" He pointed at the doorless gates made out of red wood.
"Emmm… yes," sounded Tigress, "they are built in reference to some of the Japanese temple gates, Torii was it? After one of the architecture took his vacation towards the borders of Japan."
"Yes!" Po cheered excitedly.
"And ghosts?" Mantis sounded too excited for the best part.
"It was said, that only by passing all this 7 gates, will you be cleansed from the worldly sin," Po stated, "and finally be free to venture into the Heavens above."
"Ahhh.. very mysterious, Po."
"Yes, very," Po stated with much triumph, "one thing though, it was say that when you walk those stairs passing through those gates, don't ever look back."
The crowd fell silence now, pondering the reason behind this instruction.
"If you see someone whom you don't know walking in front of you," Po grinned above the fire, "don't call, don't say anything. Just proceed until you reach the main temple. And exit down the main stair."
"I see," Tigress said, "this is to prevent anyone from interrupting the dead on their way to Heaven, right?"
"Yes, that was it," said Po.
"But!" He shouted. As to set the atmosphere straight, the forest came alive as the breeze came, shaking the leaves and branches above them. They felt their furs chilled under the cold air. Everyone took a moment to scan the dark corners in the wood. When they find nothing of interest, Po continued. "Because of the draught, the villagers were force to migrate. Some were willing to stay and tended this temple, but it was not enough. Their foods and resources runs low, and as their age wears on, the temple's maintenance wears off over time, Soon….
Po paused, looking suspiciously at his friends, "one of the gates broke." Without hesitation, Po pointed to the distance. It wasn't clear from where they are, but from the gloomy darkness, they managed to make out that… IF there was a gate there, it's only a pillar standing now.
"Oh-ho…" sounded Monkey in disbelieve, "that can't be good."
"Oh yes," Po continued with much enthusiasm, "it was said that since the dead cannot complete their pilvermige, they are trapped in this world…. Forever.
After one of the gates collapse, things… started happening," said Po as he trying to sound mysterious.
the monks started hearing little girls crying at nights, cracking sounds of the opening doors, and footsteps of invisible men, sounds of children laughter down the hall, voices in the well, and most of all.. a looming shadow of a hanged-"
"Okay stop," Tigress lifted her finger at Po's mouth. "I think, I heard enough…"
"Oh," Po leaned towards Tigress, grinning, "Are you scared? Now do you believe in-"
"No," Tigress firmly said… though fear was written all over her face. Her mouth occasionally twitched as she speaks, "I'm just saying… this is a s-sacred old place, let's s-show some respect."
"Tigress, you're a bad liar."
"Great, how pers-septive of you," Tigress gritted her teeth, standing up straight, "I am going to bed."
"A stubborn bad liar," whispered Mantis to the boys when Tigress gone far enough.
"Still," says Monkey, "You really believe that this place is haunted?"
"Why won't I?" Po answered.
"If so," Monkey added, "Weren't you be scared?"
"Let's just say, you won't start laughing until you hear the jokes."
"That's a... rather ironic way of saying it," Mantis laughed.
Suddenly, they overheard voices of a little boy nearby. They exchanged look at each other for a moment, before scanning the surrounding sponteneously to find the source of the voice.
"I didn't know there was a boy in the group," says Monkey warily.
"No," Mantis added, "There wasn't."
Then, he pointed at a well nearby...
- END -
Note: Ghost or no ghost. Sometimes, you started to be afraid so much that you actually convinced yourself that something... was there at that corner. lol. Kidding. Anyway, Torii is a gateway found mostly in the entrance to Japanese shrine. Symbolically marks the transition from the profane to the sacred. They are often shown as part of a creepy atmosphere in anime. Normally with a lot of white Kamidana (strings of white paper thingy).
Let me know what you think. ;)