Amazing Accomplishment
By: PointyEdgesofaSign
Note: This is the sequel to Magnificent Mistake: Uncut Version, so read that first or this won't make any sense.
BTW, Awerewolf, if you're reading this, I love you so much it hurts, and I really wish you would PM me or something. I want confirmation that you're alive! Please, big brother! I'm as lost as Po in a fitness center (really bad joke) without you! I love you, Awerewolf, please talk to me!
--
Ch. 10
--
Po could hear the joyful laughter of the village children ringing in the summer air as he trudged past it, keeping himself hidden in the fringes of the forest that surrounded the place he had once lived.
He ascended the mountain side in silence, mourning the death of beauty, the death of Crane. He did not take the stairs to avoid being seen. Reaching the top, he froze. What would he say? What would he do? If he were to leave Crane there, on the ground, would they recognize him?
He knew what he had to do, though it pained him. He had to tell the truth. He had to accept the consequences. He had to, for Crane.
Mind set, Po slipped into the Palace's courtyard through the rear entrance, ignoring the sickened feel in the pit of his stomach. He did not look down at the charred remains within his arms, couldn't bring himself to even pretend to breathe for fear of smelling the rot that had grown accustomed to Crane's body.
Po braced his mind as best he could, knowing and fearing the anger that was certain to arise from the remaining Four. He feared the sounds of their voices, feared their angry limbs finally ending him, but most of all, he feared losing their trust.
Dropping his head down a saddened look flickered across his face for only a moment before vanishing behind a veil of indifference. Crane deserved a real funeral, and Po would be certain he got one.
Walking around to the front of the Palace, Po tossed the doors open to see the Four kneeling before the reflective pool at the front of the Hall of Heroes, being instructed by Master Shifu. When Po arrived, they all turned toward him and gasped.
Viper was frozen in place, tears welling in her eyes as Mantis placed a shaking foreleg on her svelte body. Monkey raced over to Po, Tigress not far behind him, as Master Shifu simply stood, a knowing frown marring aged features, unrestrained tears flowing freely from cerulean orbs.
"What happened?" cried Monkey, trembling hands hovering several inches over Crane's mutilated chest.
"Lightning. There was nothing I could do. By the time I found him…" Po broke off, refusing to cry and dishonor the avian warrior's memory.
Tigress crept over to Po's side and choked as her nose was assailed by the scent of Crane's rot. She fell to her knees, paw over her mouth, body heaving as she tried, futilely, to keep her breakfast and lunch down. Greenish chunks of partially digested food poured from her open mouth and onto the tiled floor, swimming around in thick, stench-ridden stomach acid. The sight provoked another round of heaves as her empty stomach contracted, trying to dispel something, anything at all, though it was to no avail as bile was the only thing left to exit.
Monkey's understanding hands were upon her back as he held the shaking female in strong arms, rubbing her hunched form as she knelt, slouched, on the floor.
It was Shifu who finally came and took Crane from Po's hands, whispering a soft apology before carrying his student away from the room to be prepared for his funeral. Po allowed himself a sigh of relief as the hideous form disappeared from the room.
Po wished he could have stayed, could have been there for everyone else, but as the dancing rays of sunset flickered in the corner of his eye, Po knew what he had to do, and took action. Silently, he apologized for all the pain he was about to cause and for the lies he was about to speak.
Fixing each remaining member of the Four with a blank look, Po walked to the door and turned back, nonchalantly stating, "Y'know, I actually thought he was smart. I thought he was reasonable. I thought he was honest. I thought wrong about him, and I'm glad he's gone! He got what he deserved and nothing less! I know you all would argue with me, but you won't get the chance, because I am leaving this damned awful place, and all the irrational, lying, sanctimonious idiots that live here!"
And with that he left, not daring to look back at the startled expressions on their faces. He was going to be dead by that evening, anyway, and it would be easier for them to get over him if they hated him then if he was loved. Besides, it wasn't like he was going to see them on the Plains of Enlightenment, or anything. He had blown his chances there, might as well not drag anyone else down with him.
Maybe, thought Po, making his way to his father's restaurant, recalling Buddhist teachings of life after death, if I'm lucky, I'll be reborn as a slave and I can have the giant, muscled look I always wanted.
He reached the doorway and knocked, watching his father scramble over the countertop to grab him in a hug that, had they been the same size, would have been potentially crushing. Mr. Ping sobbed into his son's fur as Po cupped the back of his head. Using his pointer finger to lift his father's gaze to his own, Po knelt and whispered, "Dad, I… I want you to know that I love you, and that people are going to be talking about me here real soon. They're not going to say very nice things, but I need you to ignore them. Tai Lung is in the woods, past the Thread of Hope. He's got amnesia and needs someone to look out for him, and teach him right from wrong. Dad, please, for me, go and help him. Think of it as my… my last request."
The look on the old goose's face spoke of questions unasked, but the finality on Po's features closed his mouth and nodded his head for him.
"Alright, son, if that's what you want, then I will, but just know that no matter what happens, you can always come home. I love you, Po, and I wish you nothing but the best," Mr. Ping murmured, burying his beak in Po's soft chest as the panda held him close for the last time.
Standing, Po smiled at his father, turned, and walked away, breaking into a mad sprint as he reached the city's edge. He had to reach the Thread of Hope before nightfall, or there would be too high a chance of his body being found. If his body was found, people would mourn him, and he had caused enough suffering.
The ropes of the bridge were in view as the last ray of sunlight fell from the sky, making way for the starry blanket of night.
Po ran faster than ever before, pushing to make it to the chasm. He was mere feet from it when all energy seemed to race from his legs and he fell to the ground.
Panic clouded his mind as he dragged himself forward, determined to reach the edge. His right arm gave out and Po became more frantic, inches from gripping the edge when it seemed all power left his body.
Po laid there, trying to scream, yet lacking the strength, for bordering on three hours. It seemed that was his punishment, doomed to watch for the rest of eternity from the view of a rotting corpse. He would lie there as his limbs were eaten by hungry wolves, as his eyes slowly decayed until all he saw would be the dark abyss of the inside of his skull, listening until his ears were gone and-
A flash of orange and umber had him in the air and plummeting down into the chasm even as he caught a glimpse of his 'killer'.
He looked up at her as he fell, her eyes glaring down at him with the utmost hatred, and found the strength to utter three words up at her, leaving him wondering if she heard him as he whispered, "Thank you, Tigress."
And then, the world was dark.