:WHITE:
The snow continued to fall all over the village; the time of the Winter Festival had once again been the Dragon Warrior's responsibility. It seemed like the most obvious choice. The year before had been the most memorable one yet. People had actually been happy. One. It was a community.
Exactly what people should be around the holidays.
Po had finished cooking and passing out the noodles to the villagers, and had gone out into the snow with the children. Throwing snowballs, building snow-warriors, sticking their tongues out to catch the falling frozen orbs. All things that were normal of little ones in the winter season.
And the red panda couldn't help but watch, as he slowly enjoyed his meal.
Shifu grinned to himself as he focused on his pupil. The Giant Panda, though large, was able to blend himself well in the snow. His white fur being the perfect camouflage in the climate. White...The color suited him. Po was a lit candle in a dark world, purity in itself. A being that brought hope and light into your life, no matter if you wanted it or not.
White...
Master Shifu frowned as his gaze lingered on the snow; somehow the panda had gotten out of his sight many minutes before without him noticing. When the older being was brought into reality, he was torn from it once more; Shifu couldn't help himself when he lost himself to his thoughts again.
The snow, the white, the emptiness...It reminded the red panda of his own master. The only teacher that could train someone with a colder mind and heart than most. Oogway, who had faith in him when he didn't even have faith in himself, lost to time and the winds. His life and teachings were fulfilled.
"Shifu," Mister Ping suddenly chirped, waving his wings to get his attention. "These are happy noodles, happy times! No frowning at my table."
The old master took his eyes from the snow, blinking away his thoughts.
"I apologize, Mister Ping."
"You live in your head way to much...What were you thinking about?"
Po? Purity? Happiness? Master Oogway. Sorrow. Longing.
"Just the snow, Mister Ping...Just the snow."
