Still the remanence of Lord Shen remained on Po's fractured mind. Tigress no longer knowing whether he was safe to be around the Jade Palace. Worse, Tigress feared Po had become a threat to the entire village. Still not seeing sense, she exclaimed. Master Shifu hid away from Tigress; a comedic gesture, making off that he was on vacation. Po oblivious to everything going on around him, still just thinking of Lord Shen's past. He hadn't forgotten what he had been through, but couldn't understand why his parents had to pay the price of death in order for Lord Shen to restore the Valley of Peace.
Tigress stepped towards Po; he looked shook up, slightly panting from the fear of Lord Shen's memories. "It's not what you think, I understand you, Po." She smiled.
The Jade Palace standing tall and brave; the lighting in the room had been dimmed due to nightfall approaching. "It's getting late, Tigress. I don't think you should stay here."
Biting her bottom lip, her tail moved in a patterned motion; "It's not for you to decide, Po."
He turned to face her with his eye looking bloodshot, feeling sleepy as ever. "A Panda needs to rest let alone the Dragon Warrior."
"Sounds like something Shifu would say," she thought. "Maybe it's time you give it a rest, Po."
"Lord Shen was a saviour to the Valley of Peace, I can prove it Tigress!" He managed to hold back his excitement.
"Never mind the countless attempts of him trying to ruin the peace here, Po?" She placed her paw on his left shoulder.
"Reassurance is nothing without guidance." Po pushed back her paw, trying to escape the comfort of Tigress.
"What about you, Po? Do you feel like you are happy with yourself? Happy with what you are doing here?" Tigress gave him for to chew on.
He stood up looking away from Tigress. "It's not my decision anymore, Tigress. I've got nothing more to say to Shifu, or any of the others for that matter!"
"A stubborn panda, I never would have thought." Tigress smirked.
"It's getting late, Tigress! I think it's time we all catch some shuteye." Po left the room as Tigress stood in her own shadow.
'Could Po actually be right? Is Lord Shen really someone misguided?' SNAP OUT OF IT TIGRESS! 'Lord Shen is still a threat even with him out of the picture.'
The Next Day . . .
Sleeping soundly on a pile of bamboo, Po had decided to catch shuteye in a less-deserving bed. His thoughts were with Lord Shen, on how a bamboo bed is worth more than some honourable mention, some honour given to him by Master Shifu. Sleeping on the Dragon Warrior bed was out of the question.
Master Shifu had returned, the others were pleased to see him- all except one. Two eyes looking quite angered, furious at Master Shifu. He didn't notice due to the others making him feel more than welcome. 'I should have stayed there longer, ha, ha'
"Master Shifu, I had no idea you were coming back so soon!" Crane swept the mess behind Po.
Shifu looked on acting like he didn't see anything. "Well, Crane, sometimes I don't even know when I shall return. Usually, it's up to the peace. I go by the wind, or air for that matter."
Po watched on feeling ashamed for the trouble he had caused Master Shifu. 'Did I really cause Master Shifu, the greatest master of all; all this grief? Is it my fault for why he had to get away?'
"Feeling perplexed Panda? Po, I don't see why you haven't welcomed me yet. I thought above all you would be the happiest to see me- maybe not."
Po ran over to Shifu hugging him tightly, "I am happy to see you Master Shifu!"
Master Shifu pushed Po off him, "not quite what I meant, Po." He brushed himself off with his tail moving his ears back into position after them flopping down in disturbance.
"I-I can't believe that Po, the Dragon Warrior wishes to give the good-for-nothing, the bandit. Never-mind, we are all thinking it!" Crane laughed nervously, "Lord Shen! – How could you, Po?"
Master Shifu looked on in fear that the Dragon Warrior had chosen the wrong path. "It's quite a disservice, Po. Whether you meant it is still out of the question."
Po looked at Tigress feeling confused on why she hadn't said anything. Her arms crossed, her tail looking quite pleased. Did Po misread the signs? No, he just couldn't have done that. He thought to himself, waiting for Tigress to make the next move. To his surprise, Tigress stayed quiet.
"The Jade Palace, that's where we can bury Lord Shen!" Po jumped for joy, thinking he had come up with the perfect place for a burial.
"Need we remind you, Po? That your battle with Lord Shen ended his very life. It's not something I wanted to say. I'm sorry, Po." Crane walked away with his head down.
Master Shifu could feel the situation getting out of hand, tears would surely fall. Stepping in, he placed his tiny paw on Po. "Panda… sometimes the truth hurts. Other times, we may be wrong about you." He smiled.
Po accepted his reassurance, Master Shifu was right. Tigress still not saying a word, this caused the panda to feel quite tense. Her fists held tight, there was no way Tigress was going to say anything at this point. Crane had left the room with Po & Master Shifu picking up the pieces.
"Po, I understand that Lord Shen may be misunderstood. I just can't see it, Po." Master Shifu sighed, as he walked by one of the tall pillars in The Jade Palace.
"It's not just you, Shifu- Master, sorry." Tigress knelt down, "I feel that Po, I feel that he is a danger to the Valley of Peace!" Tigress couldn't hold it in.
Po with a wide-open mouth gulped back as Tigress had surprised him. 'I thought she was going to silent, I never expected this.'
"Is this true, Tigress? Do you really feel that the panda… is a danger to the Valley of Peace?" His ears started to droop down afraid. "Panda, I hope you have an explanation."
Po stepped back feeling unsure on whether he wanted to confront Master Shifu so soon after thinking about it.
"I-I, I have no idea what Tigress is talking about." Po raised his eyebrow at Tigress above Shifu's back. Tigress stuck her tongue out at Po, "Um, I may be mistaken, Master." She scratched her head.
"Perhaps, Tigress. But I see no reason to put Po on a fair trial. If the Dragon Warrior is a threat, then surely he wouldn't mind proving so." Master Shifu looked Po in the eyes standing on his tip toes to look taller than Po. Yet in reality he was still small.
"You know what Shifu, I don't need this." Po stepped outside feeling disappointed, as he headed off into the sunset down the many stairs that he dreaded on climbing back up anytime soon.
Master Shifu watched on as Tigress stood her ground. Po looked upset, he held his arm up feeling limp as he couldn't believe the betrayal by his best friend. Tigress stepped forward feeling quite guilty, she spoke to Master Shifu hoping to cool her nerves.
"Master, I'm sorry if I have displeased you." She put her hands together as a symbol of peace.
"It's not your fault, Tigress. Po, that panda is always up to something, a troubled panda no doubt." He looked down as he sighed, "I feel like I love the panda for the fact he tries."
Tigress spoke under her breath, "me too, I love Po."
The sun had left the Valley of Peace, leaving behind a trail of a spiritual Po walking down the many steps as a memory to both Tigress and Master Shifu. Moonlight soon appeared, and all was thought to be peaceful.