THE COST OF WAR

KFP owned by Dreamworks.

Prepare some tissue paper :-) This going to be a ride!

Everyone was sitting, rather distressfully around the kitchen table, in front of them, laid an important looking scroll bearing the Emperor's seal, sprawled its content for everyone to see.

Coinciding the current critical situation, and protecting the national interest. Hereby, the Emperor requiring every Man who had Sons capable of bearing arms, who are between age 15 to 50 years, to send all of them immediately into the Emperor and gave them leave to enter into Imperial Army, to assist the country in the conflict at hand. Please understand the urgency of such message, and for the respective, potential soldier to make their leave promptly to each closest Imperial Army post - The Emperor would like to extend his voice of gratitude for such selfless action.

Everyone had a forlorn, afflicted stare. Each of their mind enslaved by the daunting possibility, the worst of expense the war might have demanded.

"Master Shifu, what's the meaning of this?"

"Tomorrow, Po, you... Monkey, Mantis, and Crane would be leaving to Chang'an to join the Imperial Army, as requested. The country is at war, and your service as kung fu Master, as a soldier, and as a defender of China is much needed. Tigress and Viper would fend the Valley as usual."

"I would like four of you to write to your respective parents, as soon as possible. Also, write, one more set of letters - as your final letters to anyone you wish, should the worst happened to you at war. I shall be responsible for the safe-keeping of the second letters, and would only be disposed discreetly to the intended recipient upon confirmation of your death. Now, all four of you are dismissed, take heed of what you are going to write... In my own selfish hope that each one of you returned, unharmed,... just take this as mere precautions."

"Be a warrior, and not a worrier. I bid four of you the very best, the greatest pleasure in life is to do, accomplish, and to win what people say you can not do."

Po looked at the letter in disbelief. Was this a prophecy of the future? Suddenly, a prospect of tomorrow had become uncertain as liken to the rain that threatened to fall. Would he live to see another day? When would he return? Would they succeed stopping their adversary? Who would take care of his goose dad should he die in the battle? And... would he see Tigress again? As the voice inside his head harkened, he landed his worried glance to the striped warrior sitting opposite him. Her eyes were gleaming with tears, her heart was heavy, her countenance was stricken. But this was no time for comfort and ease, it's time to dare and endure, for this was a chance that every man would stand for their dignity and proof the love to their country. And there was no love with no sacrifice.

Before this, Po had never given too much thought about dying. To an extent he was much aware, in his line of job, there was always a certain element of risk... to be killed. But nothing would outwit the feeling of demise to be part of war.

The next day, Po and three other male warriors were bidding their final farewell to their family. There was a lot of teary exchange, as the warriors readying to leave. He cradled his dad light feathery form, let himself once again soaked in the sentiment, the man that incessantly took care of him day in and out, showered him with his unconditional love, and had transformed him physically and mentally from a cub to a man. He stood and curtsy respectfully to his Master, thanking him for all the valuable parting wisdom and guidance he had bestowed. Lastly, he stood in front of the striped feline, his idol, his rock and his comfort. He started at her glassy amber eyes, gleamed with loads of emotion threatening to fall. He reached her paw, and he tugged her firmly in his arms as if he did not want to let her go. Both of them intertwined in a melancholic embrace, as their souls silently lamented their farewell. Her voice dropped along with her eyes, as she loosened up her grip.

"Po... it's time to go. Promise me... never let fear decide your fate. I am always proud of you... Dragon Warrior."

He felt his heart broke at that instant, but instead, he put his brazen facade on, smiled firmly and nodded to her. "I'll be back Tigress." Although he knew no one could guarantee that, his own word affirmation felt elating his spirit, sending a new wave of courage and earnestness. Tigress looked immensely proud, wiping the forming water in her radiant ruby eyes, as she watched him disappear into the horizon.

After seven years of intense battle, he found himself standing on the bottom of the thousand steps. The war had finally ended, and Dragon Warrior once again staved off the ugly oppressor from the shore of China. Watching friends and enemies rise and die, witnessing war brutality stole many fathers, brothers, and friends from their loved ones, did engraved mark on the panda's form and his soul. In peaceful time sons would bury their fathers, and in the war, fathers buried their sons.

He could see some white fur began to grow among his black fur, he'd earned a few more heroic battle marks around his limbs and torso, he'd made some new friends, and lost some forever. And if war cruelty not enough, anyone who ever looked into the glazed eyes of a soldier dying on the battlefield, would consider long and hard before starting a war. How war had made use the best warriors, like him to do the worst to other, was beyond comprehension - but yet unavoidable. War had stolen his innocence, the way he used to perceive the world and his attitude towards peace. War, really did not conclude who was right, but who was left.

However, unbeknownst to him, his three other comrades had returned four years ago, they were assigned to a different battalion. Po, dutifully as Dragon Warrior, was requested to stay back and wrapped up the loose end, as much as bestowing his valuable insight and wisdom on various political matters.

He climbed the Thousand Stairs with feverish anticipation. The happy memory carved many years ago in this place, exploded into tiny sparks of happiness in his chest. How he missed his home, his friends, his family, his Master... and a certain Tiger. Finally, he arrived in front of the palace gate, and Zeng had taken notice of his arrival, dashed as fast as a rocket launcher, informing and preparing everything for Po's dramatic entrance. In a celebratory mood, everyone quickly gathered in the Hall of Warriors, while a few geese assist Po with his pack.

This is it. His heart hammered loudly against his chest as he pushed the door.

"Po...!"

"Man... you made it!"

"Panda, glad to have you back..."

"Wow.. Big Guy! We missed you!

Everyone half sobbed, half laughed, pinning him down forming a pile of stacked animal on the floor. His towering figure was wrapped, braided by many paws and wings (and pinchers! and..tail?) in unbidden group huddle... His vision blurred behind a blanket of happy tears, as they drew away, giving him room to breathe and moved away from him, he had a chance to see each of his old friends and some new acquaintances. He immediately turned to his Master.

"Master...you have a few new students." He bowed respectfully upon seeing Shifu.

"Indeed, I do Dragon Warrior. But... I am glad you are back. We thought you were...dead." He said soothingly. His azure orbs suddenly mellowed, even welled with tears. His skinny hand reached his plump furry arm patting it gently. "But I am glad you've made it... however there is one pressing thing I need to speak to you." He hastily dismissed the other students, leaving the panda in puzzlement.

"Po...I had news for you." He paused and averted his gaze to the floor ruefully, a line of worry dug deep into his skin.

"Tigress is getting married in two days time."

Po swore his heart stopped right there and then. He took a few calming breath, as the red panda looked at him - dejected, anguished and mournful.

"You see... none of us knew you'd survived the war. When the three had returned, none of them knew where you were or heard from you. It may be my fault to take the matter into my own hand, but I can't let my daughter wait indefinitely for you - her loss for you eating up her soul every day, I simply couldn't watch her suffer. So, a year after Crane, Mantis and Monkey returned, I bequeathed your final letter to each of the masters as we agreed in precedence. I don't know what exactly you wrote for Tigress. That's a private matter for her, but she had requested for me to look for a suitable man for her."

Po nodded understandingly. He knew what he wrote. In his last will, he asked Tigress to move on, to laugh and to be happy, and to live her life again.

"So... who is... this man?" He asked haltingly.

"His name is Yong Gang. He is a Siberian Tiger a few years older than Tigress. He was initially a Master at Gongmen Kung Fu Academy. Upon her request to look for a suitable suitor, I wrote a letter to various kung fu school, and I found Yong Gang was quite a fitting, his personality very much compatible with Tigress. He came as the result of my letter, a little rough start at the beginning, but within months, things seemed to fall into place. Both of them courting not long after. You can meet him. He'll be in the kitchen for dinner. He's a loyal, amiable man, also an excellent fighter with high nobility."

Po excused himself after that, he headed down to the Sacred Peach Tree and meditated for a few hour, just to confided his thought in a moment of reclusion. Suddenly, a gentle, velvety voice that he craved to hear called his name.

"Po?" The panda flicked his glance behind his shoulder to find his best friend stood there.

"Tigress... Hi." He deceptively placed a gleeful smile. But the tiger didn't buy his charade and immediately stomped out the truth out of him. "Po... don't pretend in front of me." She sighed heavily. "I take it Shifu has already told you everything, hasn't he?" The panda hummed a small agreement.

"Po... I am sorry. I wished I knew you'd return." Po smiled inwardly at her confession. May be... just may be, Tigress did wish both of them to be together. But her action was intelligible. None of them grew younger, and in his final scroll - he did ask her to move on with her life, and she did exactly as he wished.

"That's ok Tigress... you are just... following my wish." Immediately one question bade his mind. "Are you... happy with Yong Gang?" His jade orbs were pleading for reaction.

"Very..." The tiger smiled sullenly, as she took a seat next to the panda.

"He makes me very happy... just the way when you are with me..." Those words stung his innermost being. A twinge, insufferable pain crept to his heart knowing how much Tigress had endured waiting for him, missing him... loving him. But the same way his heart washed over with a warm sense of relief witnessing the love of his life had found comfort she deserved - even when it was on the arm of another man. There were tears in both of their eyes, gold meet jade, and they could only see regret reflected back. Then he knew that he loved her so much that he couldn't even hate her for breaking his heart. His finger quickly wiped the forming tears in her eyes, as he fought back his, even though uncontrollable eruption of heartache and sorrow strangled his being, choking his soul.

"Shh... Tigress, don't cry. I hate to see you sad... especially over me." His voice sounded raspy.

He took liberty to glance again into her beautiful eyes, the window of her being, reminding him again this was Tigress - the girl who took no order from anyone, the platinum souled warrior, the master of hard-style that he had grown to love. Yet, Po had seen the softer side of her, the vulnerable, affectionate and passionate woman that he was very much in tune with. She let him wiped her tears away and nodded obediently.

"I understand if you don't want to be there at my wedding. But I wanted you to know, you are always welcome, and you owned a special seat in my heart. When you crash landed in front of me years ago, I just knew... you will be such a special friend to me."

Moved by her earnest confession, the panda abruptly pulled her into his arm, girded his large paw on her small frame, securely inside his protective embrace, giving himself time to accept with his heart, the fact that his mind already knew. She belonged to someone else. Some people meant to fall in love with each other but never destined to be together. And Tigress would be the one person he always loved, no matter how much pain it caused him.

He quickly loosened his embrace, not wanting anyone to speculate things unseemly. He smiled.

"You are too... I am happy for you Tigress."

He trudged heavily back to the student barrack, slid the door that covered a lot of cherished memory. Concealed behind those paper walls, he and Tigress had spent countless nights, comforting each other's nightmares, confiding their insecurities, exchanging words of consolation, or simply gazing into each other's eyes. He was greeted with his empty room. The creaky wooden floor that normally screamed an excruciating creak while pressed by his immense weight. His slightly crooked bamboo bedroll that had followed the exact curve of his frame, and a collection of his action figures, faithfully waiting for his owner black arm to play with them or took them on missions. He cautiously picked Tigress' action figure, held it in his paw as he began to weep openly.

Suddenly, he heard a sound.

"Po... po... wake up!"

Gathering all his consciousness and in between blanketed blurry vision he saw indistinct silhouettes, voices and moving forms. He closed his eyes for another blink, and his vision improved, shapes became tangible, shadows revealing itself as his surrounding, and silhouette as some familiar face.

It was Tigress.

And he was laying down on his bed, in his room.

"You had a nightmare, don't you?... you were... crying in your sleep." She sat by his bedroll, tugged a small sympathetic smile on her maw. A note of concern entered her voice."Are you okay? Want to talk about it?"

Po thought long and hard, maybe those dreams were there to teach him something, may be urging him to do things to be done, deeds to be said before it was too late. He looked into her beguiled golden eyes. Sure, admittedly he fell for the striped feline, rather badly - in fact, this was his first and hopefully the last. But heavens, any man with eyes had knowingly admitted to themselves that seeing her in person... she was beautiful, strong yet delicate, and it wasn't just physical, the more he heard about her act of bravery and selflessness, the more he found her endearing. Totally and utterly, drop dead stunning.

He gathered all the courage he could muster, leaned forward, and gave her a gentle kiss on her lips. He smiled and stared at her enchanting amber eyes, held her paw gently and earnestly confessed.

"Tigress... there probably one day, I might have to let go of my life..., but I would never let go of you."

This is my idea of Ti-Po love was like... And should they ever confess to each other, I like it... the hard-style way.

Aren't you glad it was just a dream? Please leave me a comment if you do.