Author's note: Hi there people! I know this isn't the next chapter of fragile hearts (And don't worry, I'll keep updating that story) but I've been wanting to play around with a story like this for a long time and I've felt that it just wouldn't fit within my current story. Speaking of which, this doesn't take place within the fragile hearts story at all. This is just a little one shot that I felt would be a good break from the giant story I've been working on for the past few months.
This is gonna be quite a bit angsty (as you've probably come to expect from me) but don't worry, it has some nice stuff in there near the end.
Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN KFP!
Enjoy.
Spiritual Guidance
Luminous stars shine brightly within the night sky, not a single cloud around to block their watchful lights. They accompany the intensely bright moonlight, a guardian to the slumbering citizens below. Tranquil, sweet dreams occupy the tired minds of each person within the Valley of Peace. Ever since the dragon warrior and the furious five battled Kai, the bandit threats of old had practically faded into a mere memory. Those usually egotistic, and often foolish, criminals being too fearful of these warriors to even set foot within their village.
Jade eyes gaze upon the sleeping huts and houses below, these eyes belonging to none other than the very hero destined to protect his home. Po, the dragon warrior, now fully adorned in his white master's top but still maintaining his modest patchy shorts. For the past hour he has remained seated in a lotus stance underneath the pink petals of the peach tree of heavenly wisdom, and it wasn't just for the beautiful view, though it is always a plus. His eyes hold a melancholic stare at the valley far below the peach tree hill, focusing particularly on the noodle shop he was raised in. I started off as a noodle boy… Now I'm 'the most bodacious warrior in all the valley.' A small, quiet chuckle escapes his mouth but the smile on his face barely remains for doesn't take his eyes away from there, as if the mere act of blinking would cause his home to suddenly vanish.
Part of him wanted to head directly there but knew well enough that this spot would help calm his mind more. For once however, his peace wasn't disrupted by some nightmare or some random sound within the night. It had instead been a thought that had infested within his mind for quite some time now. For over an hour he had attempted to sleep it off to no avail. Unbelievably, he had managed to leave the almost completely repaired barracks without making a single sound. Perfect for the alone time he needed. Or so he thought. The second he had begun mulling over this by himself… It had only grown into something worse. Po lets out a despondent sigh, completely at a loss on what to do.
"You seem troubled, my friend." A gentle, elderly voice ripples through the air. Its tone so wise and ancient that it seems to have originated from the very beginning of time. A tone that Po could recognise instantly.
"Master Oogway?" The panda master asks into the air, his head darting around in search for the founder of Kung Fu. "Um… Where are you?" His question is immediately answered by the turtle tapping his right shoulder. Po looks right behind him to see the wise turtle master sitting down in the same lotus position, his shell touching the dragon warrior's back. "Oh." He blurts out before chuckling in embarrassment of not noticing him there.
He tries to swiftly stand up so he can bow in respect to the great master, only to be stopped by said turtle elongated claws. "There's no need for that, Po." The ethereal grandmaster slowly rises from his spot before turning around, revealing the long, flowing green sash draping his form and the delicate smile that would practically never leave his face. "I come here not as your master, but as a friend." Oogway takes time with each step he takes as he patiently walks over to Po's right side. As he places his claws upon the archaic bark of the peach tree, the grandmaster admires the gorgeous gradient of white and pink perfectly placed onto each peach blossom petal. His aged eyes then shift their focus to the previous centre of Po's attention, the soothing view of the valley blanketed by a peaceful slumber. "A lovely view, wouldn't you say?" He inquires to the panda as he sits beside him.
"Yeah." A smile briefly forms upon Po's face until the distressing thought he had earlier burrows back into his mind and his lips soon melt into a depressing but subtle frown.
"So, what is troubling you, Po?" The turtle promptly asks, his eyes still focused on the darkened valley below. Young jade orbs widen in confusion, the panda completely mesmerised by his perception. This surprise is quickly shrugged off however, after all, it is Oogway. If anyone could do that, it would be him.
The panda master looks down to the floor, contemplating on if it would be a good idea to tell the grandmaster. Or rather if he could handle the turtle's confusing and complicated riddle of an answer. However, after having gone through his dilemma on his own for so long, the dragon warrior realises that out of all people, Oogway would understand his worries the most. "Well…" He starts but pauses for a long time, trying to get his words together. Oogway continues cherishing the peacefully sleeping valley, patiently waiting for Po's response. "Well… I… *sigh* Y'know how I'm your successor, right?" Oogway's face morphs into an expression of slight confusion as he gives a small nod. "And… You've… Like… Lived for over a thousand years… Right?" Po asks, hoping that the turtle would understand what he is trying to say.
"I think so." The grandmaster oddly replies, causing the panda's complexion to shift to one of befuddlement.
He shakes off this confusion very quickly however, chalking it up to the grandmaster's quirkiness. "Well… I… What I'm asking… Is… Would this apply to me too?" Po finishes, his eyes begging for some kind of firm answer.
Oogway turns his head towards the panda, a look of understanding now lathered on his wrinkled face. "I can't say for certain, Po. Though it is entirely possible." He replies, knowing well enough that this was exactly what the panda feared to hear.
Po looks down to the floor again, his mind completely distraught at this complete lack of an answer. That is, until his mind picks up on something else. "Well… What about with Kai… He returned from the spirit realm… And he was immortal… I couldn't send him back normally… And… Well… I did the same thing as him… I went into the spirit realm and… Came back. Would that make me immortal too? Or… Not?" He implores, his voice quiet but desperate.
His understanding expression now morphing into a look of concern, Oogway responds again. "I may know many things, my friend… But the spirit realm is something that even I have yet to fully understand." Po looks away, his eyes deepening in their despair. Noticing his sadness, the grandmaster's brows furrow with pity. "Why are you so concerned about this, my friend? As far as I'm aware most people would be happy to have even the possibility of prolonging their lifespan." He asks slowly, part of him already knowing the reason for the panda's mental battle.
"I… Well…" Po stumbles over his words, trying to find the best way he can possibly explain this. "I… I… Uh… Um…" His stutters seemingly don't end until he looks into the elderly jade eyes of the grandmaster, glazed in kindness and warmth but also layered with empathy. As if you could tell the master literally anything and he would understand regardless. This puts Po's mind at ease for enough time as he looks down to the ground and finally begins his explanation. "Well… Yeah, I… I kinda was… Y'know, psyched about the whole… Being immortal thing… At first… But…" He pauses briefly and takes a deep breath as the thoughts that were roaming around his head earlier stab into his mind again. "The more I think about it… The more I don't want it…" He explains sombrely as Oogway puts an assuring hand on his shoulder.
"Because… Um… Well…" He stumbles again, his bottom lip quivering at what he is about to say. "At the end of it all… It would be… Just me…" The panda sniffles as memories of his childhood with his goose father and the more recent outings with his panda dad play within his mind, "My dads… I'd… I'd have to leave them behind… Master Shifu…" He chokes on his words as tears threaten to escape his eyes, countless memories of him and the five going on adventures and saving the valley swarm his aching heart. "The five… Everyone… They… Everyone would be gone…" He whimpers as the floodgates open up and the rivers of tears begin to pour down his cheeks. "I would be… The only one left…" The dragon warrior breathes deeply, trying desperately to keep the tears in and appear strong for his master. These efforts are soon put to an end as soon as he gazes at the turtle's eyes again, seeing nothing but empathy within them, telling him that it is okay. The panda master breaks down fully as he quietly sobs, "I don't want to be alone, master… I… I don't want to be alone…"
Oogway brings Po into a soft embrace, the panda tightly gripping him instantly as he cries into the turtle's shoulder. Aged jade orbs close as a single, solitary tear drips down his eye. A thousand years of love, loss, fear, and pain all trapped within it. A thousand years of emotions he had never wanted to burden anyone with. A thousand years of feeling the panda's worst nightmare. He promptly ignores this tear as the sounds of the wailing panda breaks his heart so much more.
For a full minute, all that can be heard from the tree is the muffled sound of the dragon warrior bawling his eyes out. Though Oogway wants to step away from the panda's horrific vision, he knows that the panda needs to let it out. They hold their embrace until Po's cries finally cease, now replaced by deep breaths and sniffles. With a concerned glint still held in his face, the grandmaster gently calls to his despairing successor, "Po. Po, look at me." The sniffling panda look to the grandmaster with reddened eyes as he attempts to wipe the tears off his damp cheeks.
"I-I'm sorry, master. I couldn't contro-
"There is no need to apologise, my friend." Oogway promptly states as he wipes Po's left cheek with his index claw. "When I was younger, much younger, and I had realised what my destiny was… I was just as fearful as you are now. I was just as terrified of losing the people I love." Po looks upon the grandmaster with sorrowful eyes, the panda master mentally berating himself for acting like he was the only one suffering from this. "But. Over the years, the many lifetimes that I had lived. I realised that I was never truly alone…" Oogway's signature kind smile forms back on his face as Po looks to him with confusion, "I may have lost many friends, family, students, teachers… But I also met many more… Regardless of what happened, I always had someone by my side."
Po's befuddled complexion soon turns thoughtful as Oogway continues his reassuring message, "As for the people I could no longer see. I learned that we have to cherish the times we've had with them, to be thankful we had ever met them to begin with, rather than only mourn for their loss." As the grandmaster continues, the dragon warrior only further realises just how right he is. Po nods, a small smile beginning to form on his face. "Now, Po. Though there is the possibility you could be immortal, there is also the possibility that you may not be. So, I wouldn't suggest worrying about the future so much. Not when there is so much left to do right now."
At this, the dragon warrior's smile widens significantly as he deciphers exactly what Oogway had meant all those years ago. "The past is history. The future is a mystery, but today is a gift." He looks Oogway directly in the eyes as he finishes the grandmaster's saying, "That's why they call it the present." Oogway gives the panda a broad smile as he nods curtly. "Thanks, master." Po hugs the aged turtle again, with the ancient grandmaster gently hugging him back. "I needed that."
"Anytime, dragon warrior." Oogway patiently gets up off the ground as the panda does the same, "Before I leave however, there is something interesting that I've learned about the spirit realm." Po's eyes magnify in child-like wonder as they silently beg for the grandmaster to tell him. Oogway chuckles at his enthusiastic nature before informing him, "I've found that the people who have been with you from the very beginning, will stick by you until the very end, even if you don't realise it." The panda master tilts his head in complete befuddlement, yet another one of Oogway's puzzling phrases. "And I know that this is true for a particular person in your life. Someone who will be by your side, regardless of pain, fear, illness or even death." He warmly states, intriguing the dragon warrior even more.
"Who? Who is it?" Po whispers, curiosity absolutely coating his voice.
"Po!" Before a response can even be thought of, a female voice pierces through the night's air. Po darts his head over to the sound emanating from the bottom of the peach tree hill, immediately knowing who the voice belongs to. He looks back to the turtle only to see… Nothing. The panda master can barely even ask where he had gone as the voice yells out again, "Po! Are you up there!?" He hears the sounds of hurried footsteps coming closer and closer to his spot until the source of the voice finally reveals herself to be non-other than master Tigress, dressed in a crimson silk, sleeveless night gown that reaches down to her knees. Amber orbs look upon the dragon warrior with a sense of relief, "There you are. You had me worried." She states, her voice ever so slightly irritated.
"I did?" Po mutters out, somewhat baffled by the panic in his confidant.
The tiger master gazes at him with disbelieving eyes, "Yes, you did." She shakes her head before explaining, "I woke up in the middle of the night to get a drink of water until I noticed you weren't snoring."
Po chuckles and proceeds to ask in utter embarrassment, "I still do that?" He quickly shuts his mouth however, as Tigress shoots him a glare that screams 'shut up and let me finish'.
"Anyway, I checked up on you and I found that you weren't there. I thought something bad had happened to you, so I woke up the rest of the five and we split up to search the palace for you." As she finishes her explanation, Po's eyes practically bulge out of their sockets.
"What? Y-you didn't have to do that for me." He stutters slightly, absolutely shocked that they would do so much to keep him safe.
"Of course, we did, Po. Something horrible could've happened to you." She stops herself short of a lecture as her eyes pick out the dragon warrior's reddened eyes. In an attempt to see if she wasn't imagining things, she steps closer towards the dragon warrior. Po doesn't move, as she stops just short of touching him. As she looks deep within his eyes, she confirms her suspicions. "Were… Were you crying?" A deeply concerned tone paints Tigress' voice as she stares upon him anxiously.
At this question, Po uncontrollably babbles and stutters with a fake smile of reassurance on his face, "Uh… Wha… Well… Um…N-no… No, I wasn't…" Amber orbs narrow at this unconvincing answer, instantly telling the panda master he had been found out. With he a deep sigh, he admits, "O-okay. I was… But... could we talk about it once we regroup with everyone else?"
She stares at him for a bit, seemingly pondering on what to do until she softly replies, "Fine… But… Are you okay?" She asks again, her voice sincere and heartfelt.
"Yeah. Yeah, I'm fine now." He immediately answers, his usual confident and happy self beginning to return. Tigress gives a curt nod, seemingly satisfied with the answer. As Po is about to walk the way down the stairs, he feels the tiger master grab his paw. Though he certainly wasn't expecting it, he links his paw with hers regardless, cherishing her warm and soft touch. She leads him down the peach tree hill, with neither party wanting to let go of the other.
Yeah, I wanted to make Tigress' and Po's relationship more tame at the end so you can interpret it however you want. As for the main bulk, well, the idea of being immortal when no one else is can be legitimately scary so I hope I highlighted that well. Please review, I'd love to see how I can improve. Don't be afraid to tear me a new one btw. :) Anyways, see you next time.