Disclaimer: Like the usual and yada yada yada. Getting kinda redundant if you ask me. Then again, why'd I do the disclaimer, I don't know why.

Okay, here's the next chapter and please, I beg of you, don't kill me with this. I've instilled an ancient China ritual for Po but this method is long gone with the wind as time passes on. Thank you all for your great enthusiasm on previous chapter.

Chapter 21

The first rays of the sun started to peek over the horizon, slowly warming the land as it leant its light to the world for another day. A cock crowed, indicating that morning had arrived and the villagers should start to attend to their chores of the day.

As the villagers started to pour in on the streets, they started to notice the kung fu warriors standing in the village square. Residents who had lived nearby the battle arena started to examine the damage that had been done in the surrounding area and tried to salvage the remains of their properties.

Murmurs and whispers were heard as they looked up curiously at the warriors. They gasped in fear when they saw the shadow of Tai Lung but wasn't scared much when they saw Shifu with him.

The snow leopard's body was getting colder and colder by the minute as his blood drained from his body. Oxygen was insufficient for his lungs to operate as his heartbeat started to slow.

"Po…" Tai Lung grabbed at his friends paw hard as he trembled violently. "I'm so proud of you. You've become a great warrior. I was glad that you were my friend. Thank you."

"No," Po said as he held on the snow leopard's icy paws. "You can't die here, no."

"Please, don't talk like that," Tigress pleaded with him. "We find an herbalist so that she can mend your heart," she offered as she tried to lift her lover.

"No," Tai Lung stopped her. "I want to stay, here, with my friends. Besides, my heart is already mended, it's…good…."

This is not happening, Po thought as tears welled up in his big eyes. I must do something.

The Arcanas, said a powerful voice.

Kohryu?! Po blinked in surprise.

Transfer the seven Arcanas. Tai Lung will be free but, at a price. You might die. The risk is too high because during the battle, you summoned two personas at the same time. That was your mistake.

Po didn't even answer back to Kohryu in his mind as he quickly concentrated on his power. The seven cards of the Arcana flew in midair around Tai Lung and Po's paws started to draw energy from within him. Everyone was surprised by Po's actions and Leo was the first to take command.

"Stop it!" Leo grabbed his paws and tried to break it free from Tai Lung. "You are the Dragon Warrior! You can't die as well!"

Shifu quickly pushed a pressure point on Po's body to stop him but nothing happened; the red panda silently cursed, realizing the fat deflected the nerve attack, just like it had for Tai Lung. The light grew brighter and hotter as Tai Lung's body started to heal by the panda's paw. The snow leopard's eyes widened as he looked at Po. The panda had finally finished the process and he flopped heavily on Tai Lung's body.

"Po? Po!" Tai Lung turned his friend to face him. "No, not again. I sacrificed to save you! You can't do this. No!"

"Stop shouting man. Geezz…." Po's eye lids started to drop. "Can't a guy get some sleep around here? I'm tired. Wake me up when breakfast is ready. Or maybe lunch. Dinner perhaps."

"Oh no, don't you dare…wake up!" Tai Lung slapped the panda's face.

Everyone shouted in unison to wake the Dragon Warrior but all was effortless. The panda didn't move a muscle. He stayed there, on the ex-convict's chest, eyes closed, not breathing and now; the Dragon Warrior was no more.

Once again, peace had returned to China and the Valley of Peace. Another time would come again when the next Dragon Warrior would be revealed: Po, the Dragon Warrior…

Afternoon had already risen but everyone still stayed in position as before where Po had died saving Tai Lung. Mr. Ping came running in as he hugged his son with utmost sorrow.

"My son, why do you have to die? Why? Why are the gods punishing me?"

Tai Lung felt guilt surging through his mind. It was me; everything. All this is because of me. Tigress was right from the start. I should have left this place long ago. My black heart isn't welcome here at all.

Stop blaming yourself for this! Byakko shouted in his mind. Could you predict that this would happen? Could you? Could you?!

No! I couldn't…he trailed off.

Then stop beating yourself up and move on. You can't stay here forever, holding Po's body as you cry on his shoulder. He has given you new life, another chance. Don't waste it.

Tai Lung started to carry Po's big weight on his arms and he stood up.

"Mr. Ping, is it alright with you if Po was…" Tai Lung paused. He didn't like the word one bit but he needed to say it. "If Po was buried in the Jade Palace, near the Sacred Peach Tree."

Mr. Ping cried harder but he nodded in agreement.

"Very well," Tai Lung heaved the panda's big body on his strong arms. "Can I…start um, a traditional b-bur…" Tai Lung couldn't even bring himself to say the word. A simple word that brought a whole lot meaning to everyone present here: Shifu, the Five, Mr. Ping, the villagers and….to him. All the snow leopard wanted in his heart was a perfect and traditional burial ceremony for his best friend but, he wanted to do something more.

Tai Lung bit his lips and held up his eyelids, he spoke melancholy. "Can I give a traditional burial service for Po? A very old one…"

Mr. Ping hugged his son tightly, and nodded once again for his approval. "I want nothing more. Please…Please do…" the old goose cried.

Tai Lung's eyes looked far ahead of him as he held his friend in his arms. His fist clenched upon the panda's disheveled fur he slowly walked to the front gate of the Valley of Peace. The blazing hot sun of the afternoon scorched the very ground they were standing on but Tai Lung shoved the torment away. Within fifteen minutes, the snow leopard warrior stood in front of the gateway leading to the valley as he heaved the panda up once more.

He looked upon his friend's face as the panda slept in peace, oblivious to his surroundings.

"I'm sorry for everything I did," Tai Lung told the panda. "I'm truly sorry. I should have just gone away and never returned."

Tai Lung took a few steps forward and stopped; he landed on his knees and laid Po's body in front of him.

Shifu's eyes widen in disbelief and ran towards his student but were stopped completely when Leo grabbed on to him.

"Let go off me!" Shifu struggled free.

"No," Leo replied. "He's going to do something that only he can do, and you shouldn't stop him."

Tai Lung knelt on the ground and slowly bowed his head on the graveled road three times. He got up once again and carried Po on his arms.

"The first step is always the hardest," Tai Lung said and took a few more steps forward as his feet stood on the hot and burning ground. The snow leopard kneels down again and bows three times on his head as he laid Po in front.

"He shouldn't be doing this! I need to stop him!" Shifu pounced on Leo's body but the injured lion didn't give in.

"No, just let him do what he wants."

Shifu looked at the first student that he had ever trained as he did the same process of moving forward a few steps, kneeling down, laying Po in front of him, and kowtowing.

The snow leopard's forehead was stained with earth but he didn't care. It also hurt him, and if he continued his process of redemption for his guilt, his head would bleed.

"This is not a burial procession!" Shifu exclaimed.

"It is to him…" Leo retaliates back.

Mr. Ping didn't want the snow leopard to continue his actions as he feverishly ran towards him.

"Please Tai Lung. Don't do this. This is an ancient way and ritual of showing that you are very sorry for all the deeds you have done in the past and you have awakened to a new light. This is not what I wanted Tai Lung." Mr. Ping said.

"But I do," the snow leopard replied.

He walked forward, passing Mr. Ping and did this routine. Everyone in the village sobbed and murmured to themselves.

"What is he doing?"
"Why is he doing that?"
"What a disgrace!"
"The Dragon Warrior is dead."
"Tai Lung is back again."
"He's redeeming himself?"

Tai Lung heard every remark; everything from the most hurtful comments to the most heartfelt. He didn't care about them or anybody else. All he wanted was to be with Tigress and stay best friends with Po. Was that so much to ask? Never before had the snow leopard had so much life in him when Po and Tigress came into his life. A simple gesture can change everything.

Mr. Ping continued to stop Tai Lung on his foolish act but the warrior ignored the old goose. It took a total of an hour to reach to the base of the stairs, leading to the Jade Palace.

Tai Lung's forehead was bleeding and his soft spotted fur was drenched with sweat from the heat. His arm and leg muscles were trembling, sore from the weight of the panda. However, the strong warrior of the leopard fighting style showed no mercy and fatigued towards his fragile body.

You are tired, Byakko spoke.

None of your business, Tai Lung spat at his persona.

Tai Lung lifted his right leg to climb the stairs but he was weak; he fell on the ground with Po.

"Tai Lung!" Tigress screamed and many of the villagers shouted as they gasped in horror.

"He dropped the Dragon Warrior!"
"He's weak."
"You bastard!"
"Don't give up!"

Comments and shouts echoed through the valley as they screamed in approval and disapproval. Shifu held up his paws and everybody was silent. The red panda had power and authority towards the villagers. Everybody obeyed his arm gesture and continued to stare at the weak snow leopard.

"Tai Lung," Tigress lifted him up. "I'll help you."

"No!" Tai Lung pushed her away. "I-I want to do this myself. Please, just give me a chance."

Why do you subject to this hardship? Byakko asked his owner of the Persona Temperance.

Because I now know the past is the past and I'm beginning anew, Tai Lung spoke to it. I will not leave the panda alone as he has shown me great things and accomplishment.

The ways of the mortals amazes me, the serene white tiger replied.

Tai Lung breathed deeply and hefted the big panda as he mustered up his remaining energy.

One step at a time, there's no need to rush.

The snow leopard gained another step, then another, and another. His hands were trembling and his legs were about to give in but he persevered.

This is just a small act compared to what he did for me, Tai Lung told himself. Po, you will be up in the heavens. I promise you that.

Tai Lung finally reached the Jade Palace entrance and fell on the ground. Shifu had already closed the entrance before any of the villagers could come. It was better off that none of them seen what just happened or the burial.

Mr. Ping was invited in and he rushed to Tai Lung's aid.

"Boy, please. You have come this far. Let us do the rest," Mr. Ping said and asked one of the Five to help him carry his son. Monkey offered his help and grimaced at the sight and thought of his friend, who was now lying dead in front of him. The primate couldn't believe that his friend died in a battle! Now, he had nobody to share his cookie recipes with, or trade jokes with, or fight beside.

They took Po to the Sacred Peach Tree of Heavenly Wisdom and lay him there. Tai Lung followed suit with Leo's help, but he managed to gain back his strength again when they found the perfect burial spot. Crane and Viper had fetched some tools for digging but Tai Lung threw them away.

"I want to do this myself," Tai Lung dismally said.

"Hey," Tigress answered, annoyed with his act of self pity from the beginning. "You're not the only one that's devastated by his death alone. You think by doing this, you have shown that you have fully changed? Is that it? Tell me."

Tai Lung ignored her remark and started to dig the ground with his sharp claws. He shoved the dirt away on one side and continued to push it another. The deranged snow leopard dug deeper and deeper into the ground so that it could fit the panda. He was dirty, caked with mud, fur out of kilter, tired, sweating, and…crying.

Tigress went in the readied hole to help Tai Lung but the stubborn snow leopard roared at her and hefted her up back to the top.

"What is your problem?" Tigress screamed at the top of her voice. "Why can't we do the same? Why?"

"Because I don't want you to," Tai Lung spoke without looking at her. When he was satisfied with it, he asked anyone of them to bring Po to him.

The rest of them didn't know what to do but Leo offered his help. The lion brought Po to Tai Lung's arms and he laid the Dragon Warrior on the ground.

"Po," Tai Lung stroked his friend's fur softly as he caressed his belly with sadness and grief. He cried on the panda's head, tears dripping from his tired eyes as he held on firmly to his body.

"I will miss you, forever," Tai Lung choked. "Please, guide me in my life. I will never forget your help with everything…everything."

Everyone stood still and cried upon Po's funeral. Tai Lung shoved himself up and started to push the loose soil down to the panda. Each stroke of dirt covered the Dragon Warrior. With each stroke of dirt, Tai Lung was reminded of his past. With each stroke of dirt, more tears flowed out. With each stroke of dirt, flashbacks of memories engulfed each and everyone's mind. With each of stroke of dirt, the Dragon Warrior was no more.

The snow leopard stood his ground and looked upon the distance after the burial. Petals from the peach tree wafted through the air as it acknowledged the death of the Dragon Warrior. Tai Lung took a step forward, and passed out from fatigue.

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There, I'm so sorry Po... And guys, don't kill me for this. I've got this on my mind since the day this whole story even started. PM me if you want any changes to anything. R&R. If you want to flame this chapter, please do. I know I deserved this... Thank you Luna for your advice and everything.