"What's taking Otsuki so long to get Tigress?" Po groaned, doing his best to keep the meal warm.
Mr. Ping wasn't about to let anyone eat until all were at the table. Otsuki had been sent out to retrieve Tigress a good while ago after he claimed to have seen her going into the bunkhouse.
"For all we know he could have been seeing things. Probably went around the palace grounds looking for her." Crane sighed, his stomach rumbling.
Everyone was seated at the table, all but Po, who was tending to the food, Tigress, Otsuki and Mr. Ping. The old goose insisted that they sat and enjoyed themselves while he went out to find his apprentice.
"You should have sent me; I would have found her faster. Now we have three people to wait for." Mantis grumbled. "I'm starving; I don't know how much longer I can hold out."
Monkey chuckled, "You've gone longer without eating, nothing wrong with waiting a while longer."
Mantis glared at his comrade, but soon laughed as he heard Monkey's own stomach growling with hunger too.
"Why don't we sing a song to pass the time? We haven't done that in such a long time, it would be so much fun." Viper requested merrily. The snake looked around the table waiting for someone to agree.
"What song should we sing?" Shifu spoke up after a few moments of silence.
He thought Viper's request was nice, and knew none of the guys would please her in agreeing to sing. The red panda wanted to keep things light and enjoyable so he reluctantly stepped up to the plate. "I would choose one, but it's been a while since I've sang anything."
Po's face lit up, almost as if he didn't hear the request until Shifu agreed to it.
"Oh I know I song! My dad sings it all the time when he's preparing the noodles. I've pretty much memorized the whole thing…well not pretty much…more like totally memorized heh."
Viper twirled in her chair and giggled, "Please tell us the song. Or better yet start it off for us and we'll join in!"
The rest of the gang looked at Po and smiled, well Mantis and Monkey seemed to be holding in some laughter. Po blushed, not knowing that he'd have to sing alone for an audience in the beginning.
"Well ok, I am sure you've heard it before. If not, just follow along after I am done, the lyrics are pretty simple." Po set down his spoon he was using to mix and coughed.
Taking a breath he looked at the ground and began to sing softly. The others listened inventively and Viper was the first to join in, her beautiful voice soon over powering the panda's. Po looked up now and started to sing a little louder to match Viper's, his smile growing wider. Soon Monkey joined in the chorus and nudged Mantis to join too, which he did with some hesitation. Shifu eyed Crane who was just listening silently, Crane noticed this and gulped as he saw the raised eye brow of Shifu. Soon enough he joined in the song, Master Shifu soon adding his own soothing voice to the chorale.
The entire kitchen was eventually filled with the pleasant sounds of singing and laughing. Everyone was having a great time, all coyness aside now. As they sang and laughed they seemed to almost forget they were waiting for the other party members to arrive. Po went back to attending the food as the chorus continued, sneaking in small bites calling them taste tests. Shifu sat calmly as he listened to his students sing joyfully, it was quite soothing to his weary ears. His mood was at peace right now, and he longed for it to stay that way. At least for tonight, he didn't want personal issues getting in the way of this congenial occasion. His happiness would be short lived however as his ears caught the sounds of something in the distance. At first it didn't alarm him too much, but after a few more listens the sounds began to sound distressed. As much as he hated to, he knew he had to silence his students if he was to get a better hear.
"May I please have a moment of silence!?" Shifu called out over the singing voices.
His voice was firm, but not harsh, the group growing silent after a few short seconds. Their smiles seemed to fade a bit too, sensing urgency in their master's voice. Shifu flexed his hear towards the distant noise and listened closely. Fear was bubbling up in the old master's stomach as the sounds became clearer. For reasons he did not know the vision he'd been having lately popped into his mind. Clenching his fists he shot out of his chair and ran out the door.
"It's coming from the bunkhouse! Hurry!" Shifu yelled out, wanting his students to follow him.
The gang looked bewildered, but knew that they should follow their master hastily.
"Master Shifu, what is it?" Po asked as he ran next to the smaller red panda.
"There is no time to explain! We must get there quickly!" Shifu exclaimed speeding up his running.
Everyone was still utterly confused about what was going on, just a moment ago they were having fun. Even Shifu seemed to be enjoying himself greatly, but now he seemed alarmed and determined to get to that din of distress. Shifu soon reached the bunkhouse and slid inside almost slamming into the wall. He could no longer hear what was making those sounds, but he knew it was coming from here. The rest of the gang had yet to arrive, but not too far off from their destination. Shifu kicked the first two bedroom doors open and checked inside them, nothing. Kicking in Crane's door he soon stopped in his tracks and slowly turned his head to look in the direction of Tigress' room. The door was open, and a rather unsettling scent wafted through his nose. If he wasn't in such a rush he would have noticed it the moment he entered the building. Silently praying that he wouldn't find anything in that room, he slowly crept over to it. Keeping his eyes low as he approached the room he slowly looked up to view what was inside. He instantly feel to his knees as he witnessed the gruesome sight before him.
Covering his maw to hold back a loud gasp of shock. It was at this moment that his students entered the bunkhouse. They stopped at the far end of the corridor and stared at the pale red panda. They knew something terrible had happened, but what? The begin to walk over, but Shifu held out his paw and ordered them to stop.
"Be still…" He spoke just above a whisper.
"Master…what is it?" Po asked again, his body starting to tremble with fear.
The other members of the Furious Five looked over at Shifu intensely, wanting to know what happened too.
"Po…" He looked over at the large panda gravely.
Po could see Shifu holding back his emotions and he was growing more frightened by the minute.
"Master…" He started to walked towards Shifu again.
"Please don't come any closer, Po. I beg of you." Shifu pleaded, somehow knowing the panda would grow curious as to why he didn't want him near.
Po couldn't take it anymore, whatever was in the room had to do with him or else Shifu wouldn't have said his name. He ran over to the door, practically pushing Shifu out of the way. The sight before him almost made him faint, and it certainly made him want to retch. Po entered the room cautiously, his paws trembling before him as he reached over to turn the feathered animal on the floor. Seeing the face of the man he loved so much, lifeless and caked in blood made his mouth gape and jaw quiver. His legs shook and he soon feel to his knees from the shock of the horrid sight before his eyes. As much as he wanted to, he just couldn't scream. Trembling fingers trailed over his father's battered body, examining the damage that had been inflicted on his small body. He could see a few claw marks caked in blood as well as numerous bruises and felt broken bones. Tears filled his emerald eyes and began to fall profusely. With a few choked whimpers, Po finally bellowed out in anguish and anger.
"DAD!" He cried, lifting his father in to his arms to cradle the limp body. "You can't be dead! You can't! Wake up, wake up please!"
Shifu sat in silence, not even trying to comprehend what may have happened here. The sounds of Po's wailing causing his own body to quiver in sympathy. The Furious Five all standing in silence, stunned and baffled from what happened. Shifu allowed Po to take his time, seeing the panda curled up on the ground weeping as he held his father close. He also noticed the other body in the room, the body of the noodle apprentice. The red panda couldn't help but flinch at the sight of the poor foxes crushed face. Despite the rather grotesque image, Shifu imagined the fox probably had much quicker death than the goose. The room was filled with feathers and splatters of blood, furniture broken and the walls torn apart. Mr. Ping had been found lying on his stomach, apparently beaten to death.
"It can't be…it couldn't…this is not happening." Shifu whispered holding his head in his paws. The old master's paws quaked as they held his head, but Shifu soon clenched them tightly. With a sigh he stood up straight and faced the four present members of the Five. He opened his maw to speak, but the sound of Po's weeping stopped and he could see the large panda getting to his feet.
Po held his father in his arms as he turned to face the others. His eyes were still dripping tears, but his sad expression had turned into one of vehemence.
"Mantis, please follow me to my room. Monkey, take the foxes' body to the infirmary. Report back to me when you are done." Po spoke solemnly, trying his best to be strong. Mantis and Monkey silently acknowledged Po's request and stepped forward to retrieve the bodies. Monkey looked over the lifeless body of the fox and sighed. He didn't know the fellow that well, but that didn't mean he didn't feel bad for the poor soul. Lifting the limp body into his arms, Monkey made his way out of the room desperately wanting to leave it behind him. Mantis crawled over to Po slowly, not looking up at the hurting panda. He wanted to ask why Po needed him, but knew it was better not to. Po chose him for a reason.
"Crane and Viper…I…" Po choked back a sob and took a few breaths. "I need you to search for Tigress. One of you report to me when you have found her, the other should stay on her trail."
Shifu's eyes widened, he knew Tigress was suspect and he at least hoped Po didn't think of her as an enemy just yet. The avian and insect bowed in agreement and went off to do their search. Po exited the room and made the short trip to his own room. Mantis followed him in and immediately lit his lantern for light. Po placed his father's body down on his bed gently and knelt down beside him. It took him a short while to calm his tears, and when he finally did he looked over at Mantis and beckoned him over.
"His heart is still beating…I can sense it. It is very weak though…maybe even too weak to even try to save him, but I can't allow myself not to try." He looked over at Mantis pleadingly, holding back his tears.
"Is there anything you can do? I trust you above all else to nurse my father…I know I am asking for a lot. Can you please…please try and save his life?" Po clasped his paws together as he begged.
"There is no need to beg Dragon Warrior. I will do all I can to save your father. As long as his heart beats in his chest, no matter how weak, I will not give up." Mantis spoke firmly, letting Po know that he accepted his plea. Po would have given the insect in a firm hug if he could.
"Thank you…" Getting up he turned to Shifu, who had been standing silently in the hall.
He didn't know why, but Po felt a little upset with his master and it showed. Shifu's ears folded back as he noticed Po's stern stare.
"Po." Shifu decided to speak up. "I suggest you take your father away from here to be treated, we don't know…"
"We don't know what?!" Po asked angrily balling his fists in frustration. "What don't we know Master Shifu? What secrets have been plaguing your thoughts these past few months? Do you think news of your vision hasn't spread throughout the palace? I did my best not to bug you about it, but I will not keep quiet anymore! You knew something like this might happen didn't you?!"
Shifu was shocked at Po's outburst, but knew he had to tell the truth.
"Po I did not know this would happen! You have to understand that this vision I have been having has not been clear. Even though Tigress is a part of it, I cannot say that she is the reason behind this tragedy!"
"But you knew something tragic was about to happen! Yet you did nothing! You never went to Tigress, and you never came to me! I may have asked you to treat me as you do the others, but in the end I am still the Dragon Warrior. A vision as deep as this needs to be examined, I may not have been able to help you see it clearer, but I would have helped you with Tigress. I am not going to stand here and automatically blame her for the events that took place in that room. Because if I were absolutely certain she was the culprit I would be out there looking for her, not Crane and Viper! I do know she was a part of what happened in there, whether she was attacked too or…" Po stumbled his words not wanting to say what he was about to. "Or whether she was the one who attacked my father and Otsuki…" With a heavy sigh Po looked back at his father's body on his bed.
He stayed quiet for a short while, still trying to gain his composure. Blinking out a few more tears the panda turned back to face his master. "Please Shifu…what have you seen in your vision. What has Tigress done?"
Shifu turned and grunted, Po was right to be upset.
The red panda was upset with himself as well, he allowed this to happen. "I procrastinated…you are right to be cross with me. Perhaps I was allowing myself to cloud my thoughts, just because I wanted everything to stay as it was. I didn't want to believe Tigress was capable of doing this…" Shifu shuddered. "It is my fault, I waited too long to try and stop it. In my vision I heard Tigress calling for help, and I didn't do enough in this reality to help her. I still don't know why or what would make her do this…I don't want to, but I suppose I can say that she was the one who made the attack. She attacked me in the vision without hesitation. Clear vision or not, I know what much. She was not the Tigress I know, she was angry and vicious."
Po's heart dropped as he listened, his stern stare soon dropping into a sad frown. Hearing that Tigress was indeed the mostly likely culprit to this crimes did not sit well with Po.
"Damn it! This makes absolutely no sense!" Po yelled. "There is no way she could have snapped like this, she is not a murderer! There has to be something more Shifu, there has to be." With a growl the panda gripped his head like he was having a migraine.
By this time Monkey had returned, but stayed quiet not wanting to disturb the already distressed panda. He looked over at Mantis who had already gathered his supplies to try and stop any bleeding the goose may have had. The same idea of getting Mr. Ping elsewhere to be treated came to mind and he knew he had to speak up.
"Po…forgive me for sounding forward…but we need to get your father out of here. An aura of evil still looms around this area and I don't think it is safe within the palace walls. I am not even sure the Valley is a safe place right now…" Monkey trailed off, the sense of dread becoming to much for him.
Shifu's ears perked at Monkey's comment on the Valley. He knows now wasn't the time to dispute over his vision, more important matters needed to be addressed.
"Monkey and Mantis, take Mr. Pings body to the Sacred Pool of Tears. It is a holy place, and perhaps his recovery may be more sure there." Shifu instructed briefly, not waiting for Po to intervene in his orders. "Po, we need to find Tigress now. No matter what our thoughts are on what happened, finding her is our first priority. We've wasted enough time as it is."
Mantis stopped working on the goose briefly to speak to his master. "Will do Master Shifu…I know I promised I'd do my best with Po's father, but I do wish I could help you find Tigress. I am worried about her…"
Po looked over at the insect in desperation, hoping he wasn't thinking about breaking his promise.
Mantis noticed this and frowned, "Don't worry Po, I will keep my promise. I'm just confused and worried about this whole situation with Tigress too."
Monkey placed his paw on Mantis' back and nodded in agreement, before lifting the goose's seemingly lifeless body into his arms. He knew Viper would have been a better choice to go with Mantis to help with the treatment, but he also knew Monkey was the only one of the two that could actually carry the goose. Mantis helped get all of his packed supplies onto Monkey's back and was prepared to leave.
"I'll do my best Po…" He looked over at the depressed panda, a sight he wished he'd never have to see again. The panda nodded silently and padded over to kiss his father's forehead. "I love you Baba…" It was all he could say without bursting into tears again. Mantis looked to Monkey and signaled that it was time to take off. Not too long after, he ran with Monkey and Mantis out of the bunkhouse and stopped at the entrance. Now only watching them travel into the distance and soon disappearing. Po choked down a sob wishing he could go with them, but knew he had to find Tigress.
"All we can do now is pray for him." Shifu spoke softly placing a paw on Po's leg. He wouldn't rebuke the panda now for crying so much, but now still wasn't the time to stand around and mourn.
With a deep breath, Po wiped the tears from his face and looked towards the Valley. He had no idea where Tigress could be, but he didn't believe she ran away. She had to be here somewhere and for some reason the Valley seemed more likely to be the place to find her, not the palace.
"Let's go." He said firmly, not waiting for Shifu to respond as he ran off. The red panda soon followed close behind, wondering if Po sensed something. While running down to the Valley, Shifu let his vision replay over and over in his head. There were of course plenty of details he left out when he told Po about his vision. The Valley in flames played in his thoughts which made him cringe and secretly hope that part of his vision didn't manifest itself. At the same time he berated himself for dismissing it at all, he should know better now than to do that.
"Po, listen to me." Shifu was now on the panda's shoulder, knowing it was easier to speak with him this way. "There is more to my vision I have not yet told you."