Kung Fu Panda: Po Pilgrim vs. The World by

Mitchicus

Chapter 23: Life or Death Lessons

Rocks fell down the cliff as the panther faced the victors. The demons were defeated. Inferno grinned, never accepting defeat…knowing that this battle was not his last.

The monster's eyes were bright, fiery red, as if it was the devil himself before the masters. He was cut and bruised, for he was only able to possess mortal bodies. When his body would be destroyed, he would simply be sent back to the underworld, learning from his mistakes and planning his return.

Inferno laughed. "Master Oogway, you may believe that I am defeated, but you must remember that only my body dies. I will return again, and next time I will have a stronger host to possess, thus ensuring my victory. China will bow to me, and my kingdom will last until Judgment Day."

A Snow Leopard, one of the original Furious Five, stepped forward and growled.

"But that's not today." He said, and Oogway moved his arm in front of him, stopping him there.

"You may rise up again, but we will defeat you once again." Master Oogway said, and Shifu smiled at his master, trusting him.

Inferno smiled. "Remember the prophecy; no one will be able to defeat me with power or force. I will return, and China will be mine."

"Until that time, have fun in hell." Fenghuang the owl said and kicked Inferno in the chest, sending him over the edge.

The panther fell over the edge, slamming into jagged rocks before falling into a fire below from a forest fire.

Oogway saw Fenghuang's action, and this is when he realized that she was beginning to turn to the darkness.

"What will we do now, master?" Shifu asked.

Oogway turned to him. "We must return to our normal duties, and hope that the one to defeat the evil Inferno will rise up."

Evening came, and Po led Brandon to the Peach Tree of Heavenly Wisdom. From a five year marriage with Tigress, Po had learned to be stricter and focus discipline on his son, while still keeping his humor.

Brandon looked up at his frowning father, and Po sat on a rock under the tree, not facing Brandon, and looked down at the valley.

"Dad, I'm so-"

"You deliberately disobeyed me." Po said, still not looking at him.

"I just wanted to see you and mom in action!" The White Tiger reasoned.

"You decided to disobey my orders, and thus put Michelle and Mason's lives in danger! Not to mention your own!" The panda said, facing him with angry yet worried eyes. "If Mason or Michelle was hurt, how could I have explained it to Mitch and Nera that my son got them hurt or even killed? I cannot, Brandon!"

Brandon tried to defend himself but said nothing.

Po shook his head. "If I cannot trust you with staying at the palace, how can I trust you with anything else?"

"You can trust me because I have learned my lesson." Brandon reasoned.

Po bit his lip. "And how do I know that you have learned your lesson?"

"I promise that I will never disobey your orders ever again." Brandon said.

Po, still being a relaxed person, let in. "Alright. I trust you, Brandon."

"Really?" The tiger asked, jumping up.

Po nodded. "As long as I can trust you, you're not in trouble. Consider this discussion a warning."

"Thanks dad!" Brandon said and hugged his father, the panda chuckling.

"I love you dad." Brandon said, hugging him.

"I love you too, Brandon. I just don't want to see you hurt." Po said.

Meanwhile, a different conversation was beginning.

Mitch sat on a rock on Wu Dan Mountain, and Mason stood nervously before him. The White Tiger had a long frown on his face, his blue eyes saddened.

"Mason, do you know what you have done?" Mitchicus asked.

Mason nodded. "I took the life of a bandit to save Brandon and Michelle."

Mitchicus nodded. "That is the problem."

"Dad, you've killed entire armies! Why is it that when I kill someone to save my friend and sister, you get all upset?"

"You are five years old, Mason!" Mitch said in an angry tone. "You are just a cub, and you brutally killed a living being!"

"I saved them! You have raised me saying that I would one day fight glorious battles and kill the wicked!" Mason said.

Mitch sighed. "You are too young, Mason."

"Father, if you do not wish me to kill in all of the rest of my life, then I will gladly obey you!" Mason said, still loyal to his father.

Mitch sighed, shaking his head. "I made the mistake of choosing your path for you. It should have been you that chose your own path."

"But I want to be a warrior, father!" Mason said.

Mitch sighed again. "Then I am happy that you have chosen my path. I will train you in Kung Fu, but you will not go into combat until you are fourteen, do you understand?"

Mason bowed. "I will do whatever you wish, father."

Mitch gave a light smile and stood up, beginning to rub Mason's head with his paw playfully.

"I have put too much pressure on you. I keep trying to send you down the path of the warrior too soon; ignoring that you need a fun and happy childhood, something that I did not have."

"Dad, you have given me plenty of fun with just enough focus on being a warrior. I couldn't ask for a better father." Mason said hugging him.

Mitch laughed. "Thank you, Mason. I couldn't have asked for a better son."

The White Tiger turned to see Master Shifu, giving a fake smile to not show that anything was wrong to Mason.

Mason broke the hug and turned to Master Shifu.

"Hi Uncle Shifu!" Mason said.

Shifu smiled. "Hello, Mason. Could I and your father have a chat for a few minutes?"

"Sure!" Mason said.

"Why don't you go down to the courtyard? Michelle is probably done with her conversation with mom, and Brandon will be there too." Mitch asked.

"Ok, dad!" Mason said and ran from the two masters, heading back to the palace.

Master Shifu's smile faded and he sighed. "I bring great sorrow, Mitchicus."

Mitch's smile faded. "What is it?"

"I had a vision. Raksha and his demons will return."

Mitch's eyes widened, the tiger knowing the story of the demons during Oogway's day.

"Is that the worst part?" He joked. "We can take them I'll bet."

"That is not even close to being the worst." Shifu replied. "Inferno will also be with them. But that is not why I came to speak to you." The Red Panda said solemnly.

Mitch nodded, gesturing him to continue.

"In the vision…I saw you, Mitchicus, and I regret to tell you…you will die by Raksha's hand."

Mitch stood still, letting the fact sink in. Mustering his courage and pride, he shook out of his stiff posture.

"Do I die in a worthy battle?"

Shifu nodded. "I believe so, sadly."

Mitch nodded. "If I die with honor, then I am fine with death. However…" The tiger turned and looked to the valley, seeing Mason and Michelle laughing and smiling as they played in the courtyard. "Will my children see me die, or mourn for my loss?"

"I do not know, unfortunately." Shifu said.

Mitch sighed. "I will be leaving them fatherless. And Nera I will live husbandless. If only there was another way to stop their mourning to come."

"I sadly do not know of anything that we can do." Shifu said.

Mitch nodded. "I am not afraid to die, Master Shifu. However, I fear for my children and wife as they deal with my loss."

Shifu nodded. "They will get through it, I assure you."

Mitch nodded again.

"There is another problem on our hands." Shifu said.

"What is that?" Mitch asked, turning to him.

"In order for Inferno to return to this world, he must have a mortal host to possess. He said that he would find someone much stronger than his previous host, and this would give him the key to victory. I believe that Inferno is planning to use Po as his key to victory."

A/N: A new fear arises. What will Mitch, who is soon to perish, and the others do to stop Inferno from claiming Po? Next chapter: Raksha's Plan. The evil demon Raksha plans the glorious capture of China, readying a strike against the Kung Fu masters. Two more chapters to Mori Enim! Please review, share, comment, and please, no flames!