The Final Battle

Wong-Hu's breath immediately chilled in the air as he stumbled outside with the sword Tigress pinned him with to his side. He had an emergency exit that none of the soldiers knew. It was by the side of the mountain away from the village, so no one could see him. "That foolish woman," He growled, but only for a moment. Calm returned to him as he made sure that everything was alright. "Well, she's only delayed the inevitable." The snow and the north were before him, and a long smile spread across his face. "I'm sure the Mongolians will be useful." Wong-Hu walked forward when-

Sling

"DAHH!" He fell to the ground and clutched his bandaged arm. Something had cut right through the bandages and left another nasty cut on him. He looked at the blade that did it... and read the inscription. "Heh, heh, ha ha ha ha ha!" The white tiger laughed while Po stood with an emotionless glare. Wong-Hu unsheathed the sword by his side but spread his arms out in a wide gesture. "The first person I look for and the last I find. It is an honor to finally re-meet you, Zaber. Or should I say, Po, the Dragon Warrior?"

"This ends today, Wong-Hu," Po said firmly, having his sword at the ready.

"Just one question. How did you know where the exit was?"

"I remember the last time," Po growled.

Wong-Hu laughed, "Ah, yes... the last time. How is your arm from that?"

"This ends, Wong-Hu. One way or another."

"Yes. I guess it does," Wong-Hu sighed, holding his sword. Time slowly ticked as the two stared each other down. All of a sudden, Wong-Hu shoved his sword into the snow and flung a mist of it at Po.

"Not this time," The panda jumped back from the blinding mist. Wong-Hu came rushing from the side. Their swords clashed. Po swung right while Wong-Hu jumped back. The white tiger swung up, nearly cutting Po's fur from his chin. Their swords clashed again, but Po kicked Wong-Hu back and made a cut in his other arm.

"AHHH!" The tiger screamed.

"That's for Miwa," Po gritted. He parried the tiger's blade again and again. Each time moving back further and further. Wong-Hu swung down, but Po dodged left and sliced across Wong-Hu's abs.

"DAHHH!"

"That's for Leo," Po said as Wong-Hu clutched his belly. The tiger grabbed a fistful of snow and threw it at Po. The panda stumbled back, and Wong-Hu knocked his sword out of his hand.

"Let's see you get out of his one," Wong-Hu grinned wildly. Po dodged the tiger's swings left and right. Finally, Wong-Hu swung his sword down. Po grabbed the tiger's hands, directed the swing away from himself, and elbowed Wong-Hu back, puncg him across the face. The tiger tumbled down to the snow as Po quickly grabbed his sword back.

"That's for Tigress and Tiger," Po growled. Wong-Hu charged toward him and swung a strong lower right blow, but Po dodged it, spun around Wong-Hu's back, and tore a huge cut across the tiger's back.

"DAHHHHH!" Wong-Hu fell to his hands and knees. "AHHHHa HA HA HA HA HA HA! I'm guessing that's for Tigra?" He laughed.

"And the orphans," Po said emotionlessly. By now, blood had soaked the snowy plain. Wong-Hu was cut and bleeding all over his body. He panted heavily as he turned back to Po. But something happened. Po plunged his sword into the snow and left it there. "This is finished, Wong-Hu. You know you can't defeat me like this."

Wong-Hu laughed, "Since when did you become so serious?"

"Since I came back."

"Oh so pompous," Wong-Hu groaned, standing up, "You know that you can't finish the job. I know you Kung Fu type."

"You're right," Po said after a long pause, "I can't, as Dragon Warrior, kill you. Maybe others but not that Po." His eyes glared into Wong-Hu's. "But as a samurai," He uttered in a voice that made Wong-Hu's face fall and mouth drop, "I have to uphold the peace and justice. Whatever it takes." Po sighed and turned around.

Wong-Hu quickly bolted up and ran towards Po's back. "It's over Zaber!" Wong-Hu swung down. Po ducked and moved back as Wong-Hu's momentum kept pushing him forward. Po grabbed his katana from the snow and swung down on Wong-Hu's arm, cutting it clean off his body

"Yes, it is," Po sighed as Wong-Hu plopped his back to the snow. That unnerving grin couldn't come off his face. He hadn't screamed this time. Po shook his head. "I don't get it. What is it about fighting me that makes you smile like this?"

"Hehe. You really don't know? Hehe," The tiger looked at the milky sky. "You were the first one to challenge me. Japan should have been ours from the beginning. Everywhere I went, I was unchallenged. A prodigy, like that snow leopard you fought." Po tilted his head to the side. "Tai-Lung's primary goal was power. My ambition for power was only secondary. But then you came and frustrated every plan and strategy I had. For the life of me, I couldn't figure you out." Wong-Hu's smile softened. "There was a thrill of the unknown. Finally, something to give me... a deep-seated adventure. A challenge. When I heard that you were Dragon Warrior, I could only smile. My challenge got stronger."

"So I was just a challenge for you?" Po asked.

"No," Wong-Hu sighed weakly. "You were so much more. In a way... you gave me purpose. To defeat you, which I failed. And to force your hand, which I succeeded. It's the first time I've seen you give in to your hatred."

"No," Po said, "I don't hate you." Wong-Hu's eyes glanced at him as Po's sword hovered over the tiger's chest. "Maybe when we first met, but I hate what you did, not you. I wouldn't have been this calm if I purely hated you," Po said with the slightest smirk.

Wong-Hu sighed and smiled, "You're right. Then I failed twice." Po came to Wong-Hu's side. The tiger saw the panda's trembling hand. "Po," He weakly called out. "Don't be scared."

"For what it is worth," Po said, "you were a great rival for me and probably the greatest challenge to me I've ever known."

Wong-Hu closed his eyes. "Thank you. It means a lot to me."

"It doesn't have to be this way."

"No. It does," Wong-Hu strained. "You know that it's best for the world and me that I end this way. I'm at peace with it. Besides, you are the one that has to go back to the She-devil."

"True," Po sighed and raised his blade. "I'm sorry it had to come to this."

"It's okay. Thank you, Po. Thank you for giving me purpose," Wong-Hu smiled weakly. He closed his eyes. The blade sang through the air and sank deep in the reddening snow.

Continued...