Hey again, everyone! So yes, I've decided to do a sequel to Eternal Flame! This idea just wouldn't leave me alone and I was like "why not?" So I went with it! I just can't put KFP down yet, lol. Also to let you know, I've come up with new dividers for scene changes. I realized that the site eats the normal ones sometimes. So to be safe, I made my own! Hope you enjoy! =D I suggest reading Eternal Flame first as well if you are new so things make sense :)
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"We were trapped by Kai, but then this huge golden dragon came out of nowhere, like this! Grrr!" a little panda cub said in excitement as he held a brand new action figure in his paws, waving his arms. "But it was actually Po!"
The Dragon Warrior himself stood close by, unable to stop a smile from forming, as Bao told the story to a group of little, fluffy bunnies who turned their heads towards him with wide eyes. Some were fearful at the thought of a dragon, some were amazed. Others looked doubtful. It was show and tell at the school that Po had been assigned to teach at, and Bao was showing his action figure and sharing the story of how he had returned to the Mortal Realm as a dragon to defeat their enemy.
"That's impossible," one bunny piped up with an unbelieving gaze as she stared at Po. "He's still a panda."
Bao was about to come up with an explanation when he suddenly realized...he didn't have one. He looked from the bunny to Po, trying to come up with at least something. But his mind drew a blank. How did Po go from being a panda to a dragon in the first place? He hadn't asked until now.
"Master Oogway sorta helped me out with that," Po explained as he moved to stand next to Bao in front of the class. It was a beautiful day outside with not a cloud in the sky—perfect for storytelling!
"Oooh," the bunnies chorused at the familiar name.
"But isn't he...dead?" Another little bunny couldn't help but ask. It was all so confusing! How could a panda turn into a dragon...and then back into a panda?
"...Not exactly," Po decided to say, awkwardly rubbing the back of his neck. "I don't exactly know how that works."
Oogway did have the power to go from one realm to another, according to what Tigress had told him about the tortoise visiting. So didn't that mean Oogway was only half-dead? He didn't really want to think about that. The Spirit Realm was also bit of a touchy subject ever since Kai had first defeated him. "But anyway..." he laughed nervously, inching away and giving the spotlight back to Bao. He didn't want the kids to get too wrapped up in that subject. The bunny looked as if she wanted to say something more, but kept quiet.
"So then Po took Kai back to the Spirit Realm and turned back into a panda!" Bao finished excitedly. "And he's never coming back again." Thankfully the cub had left out the part where the dragon had gotten shot by an arrow, just barely managing to make it.
"Who was this Kai person, anyway?" A gray bunny questioned. "I've never heard of him."
"Me either, but he sounds scary," another bunny added, looking as though he were about to faint. "I'm probably gonna have nightmares now..."
"Well, you don't have to worry about him ever again," Po reassured. He was surprised that none of the kids had ever heard of Kai, especially after his recent visit. But that didn't really matter. A bell suddenly rang, signaling that it was time for the bunnies to go on lunch break. Po had only been scheduled to teach until noon, and with Bao's help, the time had gone by quick.
"Alright little dumpling kicker, time to go," Po said fondly, ruffling the fur on Bao's head.
"Aww. Bye!"
Bao waved to the bunnies as they went back inside of the school to get their lunches. He turned to follow Po back to the Jade Palace—his new home. The little panda cub couldn't believe that Master Shifu had actually allowed him and his family to stay!
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Po took a deep breath, closing his eyes and appreciating that he was even able to do such a thing. It was a simple, every day act that most took for granted, but ever since he had lost his Chi to the evil spirit warrior, he cherished every moment that there was to cherish.
Especially as he served dinner—a helping of his father's newly created secret ingredient soup. The Furious Five sat around the table, a few other pandas joining in. There was Bao and Lei Lei, as well as Li as the giant panda helped his son serve.
First it was lunch and now supper...the day had gone by so fast!
"I think I finally got the hang of it," Li told the group in excitement as he and Po began handing out the bowls. Mr. Ping had even taken the rest of the night off from the shop to attend the historic moment; he'd given Li his secret ingredient just before Po had taken off to fight Kai as a dragon.
"Uh huh, this is great!" Monkey said with a forced grin as he took a spoon in his hands and dipped it into his soup, soon afterwards taking a sip. Mantis nodded just as forcibly in 'agreement.' Crane was able to cover a grimace with one of his wings.
Tigress smirked. "You should make more," she told Li. Viper would have facepalmed along with the others if she had hands, but instead she just settled for shaking her head.
Li smiled widely at Tigress's compliment, completely unaware of the others' reactions.
"Too bad Shifu couldn't come. He had some serious meditating to do," Po said as he took the last two bowls for himself and Bao.
But just before he was able to sit down, Lei Lei had suddenly started waddling towards the counter where the plates and bowls were kept. Tigress was about to get up and grab her when she accidentally knocked herself against the counter.
Po's eyes widened, realizing what was about to happen. Before he was even able to think, he concentrated hard on the falling plate, catching it just in time before it was able to hit Lei Lei.
But he hadn't even reached his arms out to stop it from falling, keeping hold on his own bowl of soup.
The plate floated in midair, leaving the group to stare on in shock and amazement. Lei Lei looked above her head, giggling when she saw the odd spectacle before her. She reached her arms up and grabbed the plate, taking it back to the dinner table.
Po gaped. He'd just done the one thing that he promised himself he would never do, something that Kai had done to hurt others when the spirit warrior had possessed his powers—it didn't matter if he'd used it on an inanimate object, something that couldn't get hurt.
He suddenly felt sick.
"I—I gotta go," he said quickly, putting his plate back on the counter as the Five watched his frantic expression.
Why was he so afraid?
But Tigress knew exactly what he was thinking and why he reacted the way he had, remembering their conversation at the noodle shop after he had woken up.
"You would never hurt me. You would never hurt anyone."
"Po, wait!" Tigress called, reaching a hand out. But he was too quick, and by the time she had started moving to follow him, he was already gone.
"What about dinner?" Mr. Ping asked in confusion.
