A/N: So, now we're starting to get a few answers. Not necessarily good answers though...
They had walked in silence for over half an hour before the thick foliage began to thin slightly. A few minutes after that and they came across an even less dense area where the trees thinned even further, allowing a more reasonable amount of light through. And there, in the center of the small clearing with rays of light shining down around it, was a rundown palace. Or what Po assumed used to be a palace.
It was only half standing. Parts of the walls were crumbling and most of it appeared to be leaning at odd angles. Vines were twisted all around it, and it almost seemed as if those vines were the only thing keeping it together at all. It had obviously been abandoned by the original owners long ago, but even in its disarray Po could easily believe that at one time or another it had been a beautiful palace.
Po leaned over to Tigress while keeping his eyes on the old, crumbling palace. "Did you know this existed?" he asked quietly. He couldn't help but to be a bit awed by the sight.
"I highly doubt there are many still alive today who know of its existence," Tigress answered just as quietly.
The pig turned to look back at them upon realizing they'd stopped to stare at the remains of the palace. "Follow me. Inside," he urged.
"Uh, are you sure it's actually safe to go in there?" Po asked as they began walking towards a large stone door.
The pig snorted. "Safe enough."
"That's encouraging," Po muttered to himself.
They stopped again just long enough for two of the robed figures to slide the heavy looking door open. Once open the pig led the way inside.
"Wow," Po muttered upon stepping inside.
At another time the room may have resembled the Hall of Warriors at the Jade Palace, and he could imagine it would have been awesome. Now it looked as rundown as the outside, but yet it was still beautiful in a way. Vines snaked up the walls and stretched all the way to the high ceiling. These vines had light pink flowers instead of spikes though, giving some color to the otherwise dull gray walls. The ceiling looked as if a mural had been painted on it at some point in time, but now the paint had chipped away in most places. A few blotches of color still existed though. In the center of the hall stood what looked like a large solid gold fountain, but only a thin layer of unmoving water stood at the base.
"This way," the pig instructed.
Po tore his gaze from the fountain to where the pig was pushing aside a much newer looking rice paper wall, revealing an archway off to the side of the grand hall. He exchanged glances with Tigress again before stepping through the archway, Tigress following right behind him.
"Return to your posts," the pig instructed, addressing the robed figures, before stepping through the archway as well.
The room they entered was much smaller, lit mostly with candles and torches along the walls. Near the wall opposite the entrance was a throne that appeared to have been made of marble. Tiny pieces had chipped away and it was lined with cracks though. It looked more like it was being used a table than a chair now. A vase of flowers sat in the seat and scrolls were on the armrests. In the middle of the room was a simple wooden table that, like the paper wall, looked newer than the rest of the palace.
Po was so occupied with studying the room that it took a moment longer to notice the people standing around watching him and Tigress. There was a ram, a goose, and two owls. All of them were watching them closely with suspicious looks. Po waved and tried to smile. "Hey," he greeted.
The pig walked over to the ram and whispered something that Po couldn't hear. He leaned over to Tigress as he watched. "Think they're talking about us," he whispered.
Tigress shot him a 'seriously, Po' look before turning her attention back the still whispering ram and pig. Finally they stopped talking and the ram walked over to them with a cane in hand and his crimson rope belt dragging along the stone floor.
"I have been told that you have been marked by the Bai Yin Stone," the ram began, looking directly at Po.
"Uh, yeah, I guess," Po replied uncertainly. He'd never heard of anything called the 'Bai Yin Stone' before, but the ram seemed to know what he was talking about.
"What do you know about the stone?" Tigress asked.
The ram paused before answering. "It was recently stolen from us."
"Um...You know that wasn't us, right?" Po asked. He really hoped that he and Tigress weren't about to be held responsible for stealing the stone.
"We are aware of that, yes."
Tigress took a step forward. "Who are you?"
Po thought it was a pretty fair question.
The female goose was the one to answer. "We are the guardians of these woods and the protectors of this palace," she answered. "We and those before us have resided here for many years, living in peace and keeping outsiders away from where they should not tread. The Bai Yin Stone was under our protection."
"Until it was stolen," the dusty gray owl commented with a scoff.
"By a monkey?" Tigress questioned.
"Yes," the same owl answered. "He tricked us. Our forest watchers, the ones who found you and brought you here, discovered him. He was supposedly injured, so was brought him here so we could help him. We rarely bring outsiders this far into the forest, let alone to the palace, but he seemed truly ill."
"Ah, man," Po said with a groan. "And he stole the stone from you? That sneaky little monkey. I knew I didn't like that guy."
"Indeed." The ram seemed momentarily amused as he leaned on his cane. "My name is Ru Jian. What are your names, strangers?"
"I'm Po. This is Tigress," he added, pointing to the tiger next to him.
"We're masters from the Jade Palace," the feline added. "We have come seeking information regarding the stone."
"Yes," the ram commented thoughtfully. "Your friend has been marked. The monkey's doing, I suppose."
Po nodded. "Yep."
"What do you know about it?" Tigress asked.
"It is unknown just how old the stone is," Ru Jian explained. "The legend of the Bai Yin Stone says that a warrior with great wealth, the same one who built this palace, discovered two halves of a stone in this very forest. He brought the halves together, holding them in place with a ring of gold, and discovered that the stone seemed to possess unique properties. Legend tells of how this warrior sought power and respect above all else, so the possibilities of the stone tempted him greatly. He summoned a sorceress to perform dark magic on the stone, bringing forth its power."
Po nodded as he listened intently, enthralled with the story. "What happened?"
"The warrior banned anyone else from touching the stone. He waited until the sorceress was finished and then used the stone for himself. After that he was able to defeat his enemies with a mere touch. He became greatly feared instead of respected. This angered the warrior," the ram explained. "Soon however he realized it was not just his enemies he harmed with a mere touch, but those he cared about as well. It wasn't long before the shame and guilt became too much. He disappeared, leaving the stone behind in his palace. Some say he fled to the mountain, never to be seen or heard from again and to live the rest of his life out in seclusion so he could harm no other living being."
Po stared blankly at the ram for a minute. "Well that's depressing."
Tigress glanced sideways at him before addressing Ru Jian. "Is there a way to return those touched to normal?"
"There is no definite answer in any of the scrolls which I have read," Ru Jian answered. "Though it was once said that victims of the Bai Yin Touch could be returned to normal if the one who is marked dies before his or her time, of unnatural causes, then the damage may be reversed."
That didn't sound good. Po rubbed his right paw without noticing he was doing so. "So, basically...I have to sacrifice myself to fix my friends?"
"There must be another way," Tigress stated. She sounded almost more determined than ever. "You mentioned there were scrolls about the stone?"
The goose nodded. "We have well over two thousand ancient scrolls here. The stone is referenced in several of them."
"May we see these scrolls?" the tiger asked.
Ru Jian looked them both over as he thought over the request. Po shifted from foot to foot under the scrutiny as they waited. "Do you have the stone in your possession?" he asked in return.
"Umm..." Po shifted uncomfortably again. He'd last seen the stone just before handing it over to Master Shifu. After that he'd been too concerned about his dad to keep track of what Shifu had done with it. He hadn't even thought about bringing it along with them.
Before he could actually answer, Tigress reached for the bag still hanging from his shoulder. He watched her with a slightly confused expression as she sat the sack down and began rifling through it. After a few seconds she removed the scroll from the bag and began unrolling it. There, inside the scroll and still wrapped in the cloth he'd given it to Shifu in, was the stone.
Po grinned as Tigress straightened and carefully moved the cloth from over the stone enough for everyone to see. She was careful not to touch the actual rock with her paw as she walked over to Ru Jian and showed him the stone.
The ram nodded in satisfaction. "If you agree to leave the stone with us than you may study the scrolls all you like. I assure you that we will not allow it to be taken from this place of safety again. It will be safe here," the ram promised them. "You may also stay the night and rest, but Master Po will have to stay secluded. We cannot risk any accidental contact."
Tigress glanced down at the stone and then over at Po. He could practically see her weighing the options in her head. Finally she nodded and placed the stone on the table. "Agreed," she stated.
Ru Jian gestured at the robed pig. "Bing will take your friend to a room where he will not be at risk of coming in contact with any of those residing here, while you are taken to the Hall of Scrolls." He turned towards the table as the goose walked over to join him.
"I have another question." Tigress waited until the ram turned back to face her before continuing. "How is the Bai Yin Touch taken from one who is marked?"
Po turned his paw over so he could see the brand and frowned at the sight. Ru Jian's answer might just dictate how his future went. Was he destined to be separated from everyone else for the rest of life? He closed his paw into a fist and held it against his chest before looking up at the others again.
Ru Jian didn't answer right away. He turned his gaze to Po and a brief flash of regret crossed his features before it was gone. Po felt the hope he'd been clinging to begin to deflate. "I am afraid there is no way that I know of. I am sorry to you both."
Po stared blankly at the ram.
Well that sucked.
