The Jade Palace is rebuilt, Huo has made his entrance, but there is still one thing left to resolve! Let's read on and find out...
phetiamwantip: Huo was so much fun to write! I got all warm inside just typing out his description.
StoryWriter2015: There will certainly be more of that in the next story!
Guest: Thank you so much! Tigress will certainly look out for the little guy!
FeatherPen2019: Wow that really means a lot to me! Be ready for a lot of action in the next story!
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The sun shone bright the day that work was finished. The birds sang their joy and the flowers seemed to bloom in unison when the town was rebuilt.
The Valley of Peace was finally complete. Every citizen had a home for their family to live in. Every shopkeeper had a shop to sell their wares. Men, women, and children alike rejoiced at their brand new homes.
The four months after the birth of Huo whirled by faster than Leo Lung could've imagined. Homes and stores were rebuilt on their foundation. Where there was enough space, more buildings were built. Any animal who could work worked. The number of tents and canvases outside the Valley decreased as each animal moved back into their home.
The homes themselves were beautiful. Even the farmers, who couldn't afford a two story home, were given a beautiful farm house. The homes in the center of the Valley, where the wealthier animals lived, were just as extravagant. Leo knew- he helped build them.
A European-style town square, suggested by Milu, was built at the base of the Jade Palace stairs. In that square was a beautiful fountain, complete with beautiful trees and benches surrounding it. Any time the Jade Palace occupants entered the Valley, the first thing they were greeted by was the town square, which seemed to be the new hot spot for anybody wanting to get a taste of fresh air.
There was also the business street, where many stores and production lines were created for many of the shopowners of the Valley. Many of the shops, however, still had enough money stashed away to restart business. Many foreign and exotic goods- such as African garments, Korean furniture, and Indian jewelry- were imported and sold at the brand new stores.
Mr. Ping's noodle shop was built bigger than before to accommodate new customers; of course, having an adopted son who was the most famous warrior in China was a big boost for business. The kitchen was high enough for Po to stand up straight in, and featured a Roman-style aqueduct with running water to wash produce as it arrived. The dining room, which was still open air, had more space between the tables- perfect for a certain large panda- and now seated almost 100 customers. Mr. Ping was absolutely ecstatic when he saw the new shop.
One evening, when Leo Lung and the Furious Five visited the shop after a long day of helping the Valley rebuild, they found Mr. Ping and Po talking and laughing in the kitchen. The dining room was empty- the sun had already set and many animals were turning in for the night. The Furious Five sat down at a large table while Leo went to the counter. The two cooks saw him and Po smiled eagerly, "Hey Master Leo! Hey guys!" He waved happily to the Furious Five, who waved back.
"We'll just have some soup tonight, Po." Leo nodded contently, "Have you been cooking all this time?"
"Mostly just prepping for tomorrow's crowd. A lot of hungry workers, you know?" He said, gesturing to vegetables in front of him, which had just arrived several hours earlier.
"Ah, I bet. Will you be staying here tonight, then? We won't mind if you have to." Leo smiled.
"Yeah!" Po perked up, "My new room has all sorts of new posters and action figures and-" The panda stopped himself suddenly when he realized the Furious Five were listening in with amusement, "I mean, yeah, it's pretty cool."
Everyone laughed and, after Leo payed a generous sum to Mr. Ping, sat down to eat dinner. Leo Lung gulped a spoonful of the soup and grinned, "Po, I must say you've done it again. This is delicious."
"Yeah! Your soup is really good."
"I wish I knew the secret ingredient!"
"You have to show us how to make it, Po!"
Po beamed at the compliments, and Mr. Ping, who was watching from the kitchen, felt his whole chest swell with pride. The friends talked and conversed until the moon had nearly reached its peak. They talked about how hard reconstruction was, about different stories from their past, and just how glad they were that Shen and his drama was behind them.
Mr. Ping left the lantern on for them, but had gone to bed several hours earlier. Leo himself was tired, and knew he had a long day of rebuilding ahead of him. The lion took a great yawn and stood up. The rest of the Five followed suit, realizing it was time to go home. Po saw them to the entrance of the shop.
"Thank you for the dinner, Po. We really appreciate it." Leo bowed his head. Po nodded sleepily,
"Your welcome, Master Leo." The panda turned and shuffled to his room, while Leo led the Five back to their own beds.
It seemed everything could now be back to normal.
However, one problem remained: where the wolves would now live. Shui, who was working two jobs by caring for Huo and leading her pack, had had the wolves sleeping in tents outside the Valley. Many of the wolves were opposed to her traveling; Huo was four months old now, and Shui, although she insisted otherwise, would be in no state to travel with such precious cargo.
Master Shifu had sent letters to all the nearby cities, explaining their situation: the wolves, who had proved to be loyal carpenters and workers, needed a home. When the letters had been returned, the red panda read all of them at once, hoping for good news. The leaders of the cities, however, whether they were kings, Kung Fu Masters or even the emperor himself, all denied the wolves. Even though Shen was dead and gone for good, the fear associated with young prince still lingered.
The night after receiving the letters, when all of the wolves and citizens had gone to sleep, Leo Lung, Po, Master Shifu, and Shui, who had left Huo in the care of Ri Chu, gathered in the Main Building. In a brand new conference room, complete with a round table and a large window looking out over the city, the four animals discussed the future of the wolves.
"I don't want to sound like a bad guy, but it might not be a good idea to stay here." Leo Lung said. His elbows were folded on the table and his hands were locked together in front of his muzzle, "There are still many villagers who associate you guys with Shen. Although we are thankful for your work rebuilding the town, there are those out there who still hold a stigma."
"We can't just wander around homeless." Shui said, "I have over a hundred wolves out there, my child among them, expecting us to come up with something. Imagine what they would think if I walked down there and said we don't have a home. They'd be devastated." She sighed while looking out the window.
Po sat up, "What if they stayed here in the Jade Palace? We could teach them Kung Fu." He said, hopefully. Master Shifu, however, shook his head,
"While I am all for the idea of more people learning Kung Fu, we don't have nearly enough room here, even with the new dorm rooms. Shui and Huo, maybe, and a couple others."
Shui pinned her ears to her head stubbornly, "I'm not splitting the pack up. As cliche as it sounds, we are a family. We are all we have. Some of us have been born and raised in the pack."
As the deliberating continued, Po sighed in disappointment. They had spent hours collaborating, and no deal was yet in sight. Shifu explained that none of the surrounding cities, including Gongmen, Shang Hai and Bei Jing, were willing to grant the wolves entry. It seemed no standing city was willing to accept the former minions of Shen. Shui remained strong, however. Even though she never grew angry or upset, she remained confident that her pack needed a home.
That was when an idea formed in Po's head. No standing city would accept the wolves, but what about a fallen city?
"Hey," Po interrupted, "what if the wolves lived in the abandoned panda village?"
Everybody looked at him, surprised and confused. Shui, although she was not present for Shen's desolation of the panda village, shook her head, "Although I am desperate for a home, I don't want my pack living in a ghost town."
"Wait!" Po said, "Hear me out! We can rebuild the panda village just like we rebuilt the Valley of Peace so the wolves can live there! They can have a village of their own!"
Shifu nodded, "I see. It's not very far from here- only a day's travel by boat."
Leo smiled, "I think it's the best idea we've had so far. Great thinking, Po." The lion praised. Po smiled and looked to Shui for her reaction.
The wolf pursed her lips. She remembered back before the battle. Alpha had promised her that they would raise their child, Huo, in a village of their very own. Now, here the village was, "I have never been there. But if there is enough space for my people, then we will go."
"We will help you build it, too!" Po exclaimed, "I mean, I kind of want to see it again in it's glory."
Shui smiled at Po, "I appreciate your enthusiasm, Po, but I think we can handle it. The wolves in our pack are proud. They will help others, but emperor-forbid someone help them. But, once the village is rebuilt, we shall send for you. We shall send for all of you! How does that sound?"
Po, Shifu, and Leo shared relieved glances with one another. The wolves finally had a place to live.
The next morning- after receiving directions to the abandoned village from Po- Shui, Huo, Ri Chu, Wan and the rest of the wolf pack set off in several boats down the river. The wolves borrowed five large boats. They managed to fit the majority of the pack in two boats, while the other three carried food, wood, and stone. The Jade palace masters saw the wolves off on the docks.
Shui, who was on the lead boat, called back to them, "Thank you! For everything!"
"You're welcome!" Po waved back.
"Be sure to write, Tigress!" Shui called to Tigress.
Tigress smiled and waved. Over the past six months, Tigress and Shui had become good companions. Tigress would often watch Huo while Shui dealt with matters within her pack. Huo absolutely loved being with Tigress. He would follow the pattern of stripes on her body, then giggle when he reached her eyes or her muzzle. Shui thought it was the most adorable thing. Although she would never admit it in a million years, Tigress enjoyed spending time with Huo.
As the last boat turned the corner around the mountain and disappeared, Leo sighed. The wolves had become part of their lives over the last year and a half. It almost pained him to see them go, but to know that they were starting a new life just a day's voyage away made the goodbye all that much easier.
The walk back to the Jade Palace was uneventful and quiet. The villagers quietly and gratefully went about their day. The streets almost seemed empty without animals hauling stone, chopping wood, or wolves overseeing construction. Leo sighed. The past fourteen months had almost become routine. It would be hard going back to normal after everything the past year and a half had thrown at them.
When the Jade Palace residents reached the town square, they saw an unfamiliar sight. A wapiti- just like Milu- was looking around. She wore a dark green dress that flowed down to her hooves, and a travelling cloak thrown over her shoulders. She had no antlers and standing next to her was a little fawn, glancing at the fountain curiously. The mother turned and saw them,
"Где Милу? Ты знаешь где он?" She asked.
The Kung Fu masters shared confused glances. None of them spoke Russian. Viper, however, picked up on her appearance,
"Are..are you Milu's family? Milu?" She asked slowly.
The female wapiti's ears perked up, "M-Milu.." She tried her best Chinese, "Milu..is..my..husband." She said slowly, as if trying her best translation.
To say everyone was stunned was accurate. Milu had often talked about his family, but he never said anything about a wife or child.
"We can take you to him." Viper said slowly. Leo was still in awe that these two animals would travel all the way from Moscow, or where ever Milu said he was from.
Viper led the way up the stairs. The mother took her toddler's hooves in her own. The rest of the Kung Fu Masters escorted them from behind, listening as the child- who couldn't be more than four years old- babbled in mixed Chinese and Russian. Some of them shared glances- how would Milu react to his wife and daughter showing up after him being gone from home over two years?
When they reached the courtyard, Viper headed into the main building while the mother and the child waited with the rest of the masters.
Viper entered the main building and went to the infirmary. She felt joy bubble up in her; it would make Milu so happy to see his family! She used her tail to knock gently on the infirmary door before sliding it open. Milu was sitting at his desk, writing in his medical journal. He looked up. Upon seeing Viper, he smiled, "Ah, what brings you here, my friend?"
"Milu, someone is here to see you. They are waiting in the courtyard." She said, trying to hide her excitement. A look of confusion fell over the doctor's face, "Is it a patient?" He mumbled to himself, standing up. He strode past Viper. Viper, now behind him, grinned. She followed Milu as he exited the main building.
When the doctor saw his wife standing there, surrounding by greenery and Japanese Cherry trees, his jaw fell open. His eyes brightened significantly, "E-Elena? Is that you?"
Elena nodded, smiling gleefully, "Я прошел весь этот путь, чтобы найти тебя."
Milu beamed. The toddler, finally noticing Milu's appearance, cried out, "Papa!" She ran to him. Milu knelt down, "Принцесса!" The child leapt into Milu's arms, and he hugged her tightly. Milu, with his daughter still in his arms, stood and hugged Elena. The three stood like that for what seemed like a long time. Milu whispered to Elena,
"You've come such a long way, my darling. такой долгий путь для меня?"
"Да, моя любовь." Elena smiled, kissing Milu on the cheek, "When..." Elena tried her Chinese again, "we received..your letter..Klara and I left...to find you. We missed you."
Milu felt the tears running down his cheeks as he embraced his wife and daughter. Viper smiled, "Does this mean you can stay here, in the Valley of Peace?"
Shifu stepped forward, "It would be nice to have a permanent doctor." Then Shifu added quietly, "A doctor who knows what he's doing." He gave a sideways glance to Mantis, who chuckled quietly.
Elena and Milu shared a glance. Elena spoke, "I can..work here. I can cook..."
"I'm sure my comrades here have never tried pirogi," Milu pressed his forehead lovingly against Elena's, "And I think Shifu is ready to take on another student." He looked at his daughter, Klara, then at Shifu.
Shifu sighed, feeling very old all of a sudden, "I'm not, but I think Master Leo Lung is."
Leo laughed, "I think it's time Po took on an apprentice!"
"Woah, hey! Where'd all this responsibility come from?!" Po said. Everyone laughed. Shifu spoke up, a smile on his muzzle,
"Milu, you and your family are more than welcome to stay in the Jade Palace. Your daughter can learn Kung Fu, and we would love to try some Russian dishes from your wife."
The doctor beamed, hugging his family tightly, "We would be more than honored to accept your offer."
As everyone cheered at the doctor's words, Leo Lung smiled contentedly. He looked at his group of friends. No, not friends. As Po had said right before Shen had died, they were family. They had survived a jealous leopard and a power hungry peacock. They had survived it together.
That's how they would move forward.
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Где Милу? Ты знаешь где он - Where is Milu? Do you know where he is?
Я прошел весь этот путь, чтобы найти тебя - I went all this way to find you
Принцесса! - Princess!
такой долгий путь для меня - Such a long way for me?
Да, моя любовь - Yes, my love
There you have it :) Get you someone who will spend a year travelling across Asia just so they can be with you. Keep on reading for the epilogue!
