A Better World?
Chapter 1- One Bad Day
11 Years after Lord Shen's defeat
"So what did you drag me up here to talk about Po?" asked Tigress with a soft smile on her face.
Her and Po were standing by the Sacred Peach Tree of Wisdom after a long day of hanging out, they had gotten a meal and trained for an hour before Po suddenly wanted to come up here and tell Tigress something.
In the past 11 years much had changed, Po was no longer the flabby panda, he was now taller and much more muscular, the many years of intense Kung Fu training had also matured him and he was now the true leader of the Furious Five, he also now sported a scar across his right eye which he gained in a battle with bandits.
Tigress had also changed she was nowhere near as stoic or serious as she had been and had loosend up extensively, her face and figure hadn't changed that much though, she was still as graceful and elegant as she had been. Since Shifu's passing six years ago she was also now the Grandmaster of the Jade Palace, it had been offered to Po but he had turned it down.
"There's something I want to tell you Tigress, something I've wanted to tell you for years, but I've only found the courage to do so now" explained Po "It's finally time I told her how much I love her, and how much I can't live without her, I'm willing to give up my title if that's the rules of the Sacred Rules of the Onyx Xiaolin state".
He sat down next to the tree and gestured to the spot next to him, Tigress saw this and took her place.
"What is it Po?" Unbeknowst to Po, Tigress held her breath in anticipation "Is he?.. no he couldn't really feel the same way".
Po fidgeted nervously, being able to lead the greatest group of Kung Fu warriors of all time, and saving the Valley on a regular basis still didn't make him great at talking to girls..even Tigress who was his best friend.
"Come on Dragon Warrior say it!" both of them thought at the same time.
"Well Tigress... the thing is, I've always Lo-" Po was interrupted by Crane who landed on top of the Sacred Tree.
"Po, Tigress there's bandits attacking the village, and Po you might want to know that they are robbing your Dad's old shop".
TIgress gasped, Mister Ping had been killed by a arrow that Po had deflected during a raid on the village, Po had never forgiven himself for that day and closed the shop down in memory of him.
A look of hatred flickered across Po's face "Let's go" he said simply before leaping off of the cliff with Crane and Tigress in pursuit.
It didn't take the trio long to reach the village where the rest of the five were busy finishing off the intruders in the square.
"Mantis, Viper you take the bandits attacking from the west, Monkey and Crane you handle the east" commanded Po.
The Five headed off to complete their objectives leaving Po and Tigress.
"What are we doing Po" Tigress asked placing her paw on his shoulder.
"We're going to protect the restaurant" Po replied stoically.
Po and Tigress quickly found it, but to their horror it had been burned to the ground, the embers were still fresh.
"No" murmured Po, he fell to his knees in despair "I can't believe I failed him again" Po wailed, he started to strike the ground in frustration.
"This must of been what they attacked first, knowing full well what it meant to Po" Tigress thought sadly.
She glanced at Po, tears were running down his face at an alarming rate.
Tigress walked over to him and helped him up "I'm so sorry Po" she said sadly. Tigress hugged him with as much love as she could.
"We're going to finish this now Po, then we can mourn and eventually rebuild it".
Po looked at her and nodded, a fierce determination was in his eye.
The rest of the Five had thinned out the bandits and pushed them towards the center of the village, Tigress and Po arrived there to a huge battle.
Po charged in determined to finish it.
xxxxx
The courtyard was littered with the unconcious and injured bodies of the bandits.
Unbeknowst to the Dragon Warrior however one last bandit was taking cover in a building.
"Goodbye Dragon Warrior" he chortled while lining the panda up in his sights with his last projectile.
xxxxx
Po was complimenting the Five on there teamwork and their honour, he didn't notice the archer hiding in a building about 30 yards away. He was a bit...distracted.
"Good work Po, your leadership skills have improved" said Tigress while sidling up to him.
Po turned to face Tigress beaming at her praise, they stood for a second just staring into each others eyes.
Tigress's ears twitched like she had heard something.
She gasped.
"PO", before he knew what had happened he was on the floor.
He stood up angrily with his back to her.
Po turned around and glared at Tigress "What did you do that f-", he stopped glaring.
Tigress was laying face up with an arrow firmly planted in her chest right where her heart was.
"TIGRESS" Po yelled, he ran over to her and cradled her, "No, it can't end like this" he pleaded.
Tears started to form in his eyes, "Please don't leave me" he pleaded.
The five gathered round mourning their friend.
Their hearts broke at Po's next words.
"I love you Tigress, that's what I was going to say" he started to cry silently.
After a minute, the only sound being Po's grief, he stood up not facing the others.
"Monkey go and find the one responsible and bring him here" he said, his voice was surprisingly calm and collected.
Monkey was naturally conflicted "Are you sure Po?".
Po looked over his shoulder before bellowing "NOW!". Monkey ran off to find the culprit.
xxxxx
The five were gathered round Tigress's body weeping, Po was just gazing silently into space.
Monkey suddenly reappeared with the warthog bandit.
Po calmy gazed at the bandit "Hold him there Monkey and don't let him go".
The bandit merely laughed "What's the matter panda lost yer' girlfriend" he said while sneering at Po.
Po ignored him and picked a sword that had casually dropped during the skirmish.
When he walked back towards the prisoner, Monkey noticed a foreign look in his eye.
He had never seen Po so angry.
Po raised the sword above his head "This is for Tigress...the love of my life" he swung.
The five turned their heads away from the execution.
Po kicked the corpse away from him "Crane and Monkey, take a weapon and finish off every scumbag here" he snarled.
Crane looked worridley at Po "But Po...what abo-".
Po in surprising show of speed grabbed him by the neck and looked him dead in the eye.
"That wasn't a request Master Crane, it was an order,this is how we do things now, we show no mercy" he threw Crane to the ground "Now get to it, or would you like to be the second volunteer to show the new order", Po gestured towards the warthog.
Crane simply stared in horror at Po.
Po walked towards Tigress's body and knelt beside her "I'm so sorry my love, I couldn't protect you and I was too much of a coward to say what I needed to say. Well no more being weak".
Po gently kissed her on the lips and left her side, he walked towards Mantis and Viper "You two take Tigress's body back to the palace, she will have a proper burial there".
Po started to walk off into the distance, "Wait, Po where are you going?" asked Viper, she was concerned with how quickly he'd changed.
His voice was cold, calm, collected yet powerful "To spread the gospel".
xxxxx
Present Day
A much younger Po awoke with a gasp.
He looked around his room at the Jade Palace nervously.
"It's still night time, oh man I've got one-on-one training with Tigress tomorrow", he hastily tried to get back to sleep.
He had already forgotten about the vision.