Chapter 9
Disclaimer: I neither own the rights to DreamWorks, Kung Fu Panda, the Kung Fu Panda cinematic universe nor any of its associated media, derivatives or products. I do not profit from this work.
TRIGGER WARNINGS: This chapter will have several potentially triggering episodes in it; since the trigger warnings contain spoilers for the chapter, if you would like to know them ahead of time, please scroll to the bottom of this chapter.
A/N: One of my reviewers pointed out to me last time that the dates and numbers in the story don't quite match up; as such, I've edited the story so that the war went on for fifteen years. Many apologies!
Also, as regards the small song Tigress sings: this is set to the tune of Oogway Ascends; hence the description of it as a "familiar tune."
[The door to the bar bursts open as she flees the establishment and into the red dawn. The shot pans up as snow starts to fall from the sky, and two war-hawks arch overhead as the flakes drift down.]
[Transition shot: snow drifting down over the Palace's offices of the Imperial Guard, lighting on the red tile roofs. It's now about midday. Inside the offices, Wu is reading a small handwritten note, surrounded by Po, the Four, the Emperor and Shifu. A messenger hawk is resting on a perch near the desk.]
WU: "I am safe and have left the city. I will not be returning to the palace; do not attempt to follow me." Grandmaster Shifu, are you sure this is from Master Tigress? It could be a forgery.
SHIFU: That's her handwriting, I'd know it anywhere. (Frowning pensively) She must have left before dawn when we were still asleep.
PO: (Fretting) What if the Ten Thousand have her? What if they forced her to write that!
WU: There's a postscript: "Po, I have not been taken, and nobody is forcing me to write this." (Po frowns.) "I repeat: do not attempt to follow me." (Looks up at the messenger hawk.) This is everything she wrote? Can't you tell us anything else?
MESSENGER: When she left she was heading west, out of the city. That's all I know.
VIPER: (Curled up anxiously) But why would she just leave like this…
MANTIS: Yeah, obviously we have to follow her.
SHIFU: (Abruptly) I do not think that's a good idea. (His students and Wu look at him in surprise.)
PO: But Master Shifu– we have to go after her. Obviously something bad happened; how are we gonna finish the mission without her?
WU: Grandmaster, I agree with the Dragon Warrior; this does not bode well to me. The Den of Claws may be gone, but Zhong is still very much alive. If Master Tigress has abandoned the mission–
SHIFU: (Firmly) If Tigress felt the need to leave so suddenly, I am sure she had a good reason. As for the mission, the Dragon Warrior will lead it, as he has been charged.
PO: But Master Shifu–
EMPEROR: (Speaking up) I agree with the Grandmaster. Perhaps this is for the best. (His word immediately shuts everyone else up, but Po doesn't look happy about it.)
WU: (Folding up the letter) As your Majesty wishes. Dragon Warrior. (Po straightens up, startled.) What are your orders moving forward?
PO: Orders? Uh…
WU: I interrogated the captives we took last night; they were…unusually willing to share information…
(Flashback to a bewildered Wu in an interrogation room, watching the two croc guards sobbing all over each other about how "we made a mistake" and "please don't kill us" and "his mom and I were gonna finally have something real!")
(Flashforward again. Wu looks mildly disturbed as he continues:)
WU: …And they said that apparently, Zhong didn't spend too much time in the Den of Claws. That confirms there's another hideout in the city, someplace that ordinary Ten Thousand soldiers don't have access to.
MANTIS: You mean wherever they're keeping this supposed heir. (Shifu and the Emperor share an awkward look.)
WU: Exactly. You said they were stockpiling cannons; that means they have a supplier somewhere outside the city, which could suggest they have more supporters in other provinces. (Grim looks all around at this.) Destroying the Den will have made a huge dent in their operations, but groups like this are like weeds; if you don't get at the roots they'll eventually grow back, sometimes stronger.
PO: So what you're saying is, we're staying here until we find Zhong's hideout.
WU: I'm afraid so. I suggest you all prepare to be here at least until spring.
SHIFU: Then it's settled; we will spend New Year's in the capitol. (The city gong rings in the distance, pausing the conversation.) It's noon, and we've all had a very long night; I suggest we take the rest of the day to recuperate our strength.
(They break for lunch and rest. As they do so, the Emperor and Shifu hang back.)
EMPEROR: Wu, I'd like a word with you and the Grandmaster.
(Wu is surprised but holds back. Po tries to do the same, but Shifu gives him a look that tells him to go, and he reluctantly does, watching the trio vanish as the doors to the guard office close behind him. Together he and the rest of the Four leave for the barracks, subdued.)
VIPER: But I don't understand; where could she have gone?
MONKEY: And why did she not tell us?
CRANE: This is super weird; I don't know how Master Shifu expects us not to worry about it.
PO: (Grimly) Because they know something we don't. (The others look at him in surprise; Po is rarely this dour.)
MONKEY: Po?
PO: They take her off leading the mission for no reason, and then she just, like, leaves? No way, that's not a coincidence. (The others are nodding or shrugging like they agree, but don't know what to do about it.) Just… I don't know what's going on, guys, but I don't like it. We need to keep our eyes open.
VIPER: (Consoling) Well… there's nothing we can do about it now. Why don't we have some lunch…?
PO: (Vaguely, looking exhausted) Not hungry. (The others share looks; Po's never not hungry.) You guys go on ahead; I'll… I'll catch up in a bit.
MANTIS: ...Okay, buddy.
MONKEY: See ya…
(They head off. Po waits a moment, looking up at the snow, and then sighs, rolls his shoulders and follows them into the barracks but takes a left instead of a right, heading for his room.)
(When he gets there, he opens the window and looks at the action figures and Dragon Warrior Scroll spread out on his dresser, brow furrowed and mouth pursed, and then reaches into his pocket and pulls out a piece of paper. He unfolds it to reveal the now-waterlogged promotional poster for Mr. Ping's he stole from Zhong's office at the Den. Although its ink is now running and somewhat subdued, the image of Po and the Five is still visible. He looks down at it, worried, as the clouds outside the window begin to gather and block out the sun.]
[Transition shot: two shapes move across the sun, vanishing into the clouds. The camera follows these shapes, which reveal themselves to be eagles as they break above the cloudline, their feathers wet with moisture. One eagle looks nervous, the other determined, as they fly silently over the shifting clouds.]
[Eventually the clouds thin, revealing through the ribbons of mist below them the mountains outside the city. They bank to the left and begin to arch downwards. As they approach the mountain, we see that there are actually windows and a gate cut into the stone of the mountain, invisible at a distance but rather ornate, if gray and unpainted, when seen up close.]
(From the windows we see two young tiger girls, about fifteen years old and dressed like noblewomen, watch the eagles descend and then withdraw back into the windows.)
(The eagles drop the last few feet of altitude and land in front of a large gate with hip-roofs jutting straight out of the mountain face. Above the gate below the sloping tile roof is a stone placard bearing the emblem of a tiger holding a sword and several characters spelling out a family name. A slot opens on the door.)
GUARD'S VOICE: Password.
EAGLE 1: Loyalty and honor.
GUARD'S VOICE: This had better be good news. (The doors open revealing a leopard who usher them inside.) The general's had a long night. So has the commander, for that matter.
(The eagles share uncomfortable looks as they follow the Guard into the building. Once past the gateway, we get a shot of the inside.)
(A full-blown Siheyuan courtyard house has been hewn into a cave; parts of the roof of the cave are jagged with stalactites, while others further-in show excavation to make room for the buildings. The walls of the cave form the walls of the complex; inside, the four main buildings of a traditional noble household ring around a courtyard which is finely decorated with stones, moss, short trees with luminescent flowers and cave-growing plants. The sloped roof-gutters catch dripping water from the stalactites instead of rainwater and deposit it neatly into stone drain troughs, which carry it in little trickling rivulets out of the cave.
Notably, the layout is reversed from a traditional courtyard-house: as the main building is honored by having the most sunlight, it is positioned not at the traditional far end of the courtyard, but rather just above the entrance gate, where the outer wall presumably receives sunlight on the mountain face. The courtyard, itself not receiving any natural light, is lit by torches. On the whole the atmosphere is that of a peaceful cave grotto, or a garden owned by a wealthy family.)
(The shot shifts. Inside the main building above the gate, the shot focuses on an office, well-illuminated with sunlight. General Zhong is working at the desk, looking exhausted with patches of soot and ash staining his face and forepaws. Although he's no longer in his armor—dressed instead in a simple military-style tunic and breeches—it's clear he hasn't had time to rest or bathe.
The office, on the other hand, is a far cry from the crude provisions of the Den of Claws; although relatively spartan in the way of personal comforts, the room communicates a sense of military grandeur, with a darkwood writing desk and dais, a shelf of records, an unlit taper on the desk and a wire mannequin holding Zhong's armor in the far corner near the window. His sword is resting on a horizontal stand on a table along the wall, its position for both display as well as easy access. Behind his desk the wall is uncustomarily bare, but a rolled-up scroll sits on the floor beside him.)
NOISE: (A knock. The door opens, and Zhong looks up. The Commander enters with the two eagles shuffling along behind him, and Zhong sets down his writing brush.)
COMMANDER: (Bowing) Forgive me, General, but important news has just been delivered. (He gestures behind him.)
EAGLE 1: (Nervously stepping forward and giving a bow that looks more like an anxious peck) G-General. (He hesitates, feathers ruffling.) I– that is, we–
ZHONG: Soldier, I have had a very long night. Out with it.
EAGLE 1: Well, I– I was patrolling my territory, when I saw s-someone suspicious going into Captain Láng's restaurant. I-I followed protocol and allerted my partner, and we waited for them to leave…
ZHONG: (Tired and ill-tempered) And?
EAGLE 1: And, well– well, General, it was Her Majesty.
ZHONG: (Considers this, tilting his head.) So, she visited Captain Láng? Interesting…
COMMANDER: (Cutting across) There's more, sir. (Gestures irritably for the Eagle to do so, who looks reluctant.)
EAGLE 2: Well– she left in a hurry, General, so we followed her as far as we could. It seemed like she was leaving the city.
ZHONG: (Suddenly growing tense) "Seemed like?"
EAGLE 2: Yes, sir.
ZHONG: Where is she now?
EAGLE 2: W-we don't know, General; we lost her somewhere around the canal. I don't think she saw us, but she was frightened and seemed to anticipate being followed. She was wearing a cloak, General…
(He trails off as Zhong rises to his feet, walking over to him.)
ZHONG: (In a testy voice) Soldier, I have just watched the masters of the Jade Palace, the Dragon Warrior and the Empress herself destroy the Den of Claws, losing many good men and a number of expensive cannons in the process. Do you mean to say that after so many disappointments tonight, you have come here to tell me that you saw Her Majesty leaving the city, alone—and you lost her?!
EAGLE 2: (Shaking) W-we didn't mean to! Honestly, General, we–
ZHONG: (Snaps; snarling) Do you not understand?! Without her, we have nothing! (The soldier cowers; we've never heard Zhong raise his voice before, and it is truly terrifying, practically shaking the pillars and wracking the bones.) She could be heading anywhere in China by now! Our allies will abandon us; the war will die before it is even born! All of our sacrifices, the sacrifices of your comrades, will have been for nothing!
EAGLE 1: It wasn't our fault!
(This is the wrong thing to say; with a snarl, Zhong unsheathes his claws, as if about to strike. The eagle flinches and squawks, cowering.)
(For a tense moment Zhong waits and the soldier trembles, not daring to move. Finally, Zhong huffs out an irritable sigh and sits back in his chair, waving his hand angrily.)
ZHONG: Get him out of my office. (The other eagle gratefully takes the opportunity to flee, taking his comrade by the wing dragging him out with him. As the door shuts, the Commander turns back to Zhong.)
COMMANDER: Was that really necessary?
ZHONG: (Still furious, growling) She is our only way forward, Commander, do you not see that? Or do you have another heir hidden somewhere that you would like to tell me about? (The Commander, chastised, bows his head. Zhong rubs his furrowed brow as if he has a headache, his voice descending again into a, comparatively calmer, growl.) We cannot hope to have the support of the other generals without her. Some of them still regard her as a myth. If she's left the city, then we need to find her.
COMMANDER: So what do we do?
(Zhong is silent for a long moment, thinking. At last he tilts his head.)
ZHONG: Your man said she looked frightened, and she was wearing a cloak to hide her face... (The Commander nods, just once. Zhong sighs thoughtfully.) Hnn… (The other tiger raises his brows, and Zhong gives a small, ironic smile.) All is not yet lost, Commander.
COMMANDER: My lord?
ZHONG: Last night it was clear she did not understand the true importance she holds, and yet this morning she flees the city in fear? Something has changed. (Calculating) Either someone realized the truth and she's been banished, or Láng told her what those fools at the palace were too blind to see and she's running away. (Suddenly clipped.) Rally your men. There's work to be done.
COMMANDER: I don't understand…
ZHONG: The "Emperor" (he says the title with irony) may be a soft-hearted weakling, but his advisors aren't so naïve. A threat to the dynasty like that needs to be dealt with. Once word gets out of who she really is, one way or another, someone will be sent to bring her back in chains.
COMMANDER: (Realizing) And they will lead us straight to her. But what if the palace doesn't know who she is?
ZHONG: Then we will have to jog some memories. (The Commander nods, looking impressed.) Have your men start causing chaos in the city. Real chaos, Commander, not mere terror attacks. Punish dissidents, destroy temples. Stir up the old grudges. (Seriously) Show the "Emperor," and our allies, that the war has entered a new stage.
COMMANDER: (Inclining his head) My lord. (Zhong waves him off, and the Commander exits through the carved hardwood doors.)
(They swing softly shut after him, and Zhong is left alone. After a moment of deep thought, he lets out a sigh, stands and goes to the wall. He picks up the scroll of cloth and hangs it on the wall, and then lets go.)
(With a flourish of scarlet and gold, the scroll unfurls into the dusty sunlight, displaying in glittering thread the upper three-quarters of the cinder-burned silk painting of the Tiger Emperor, which had hung behind Zhong's desk in the Den of Claws. It's clear that his going back for this is the reason Zhong is covered in ash, while the Commander is not.)
(The general peers up at it in almost grieving reverence, his single eye fixed, his mouth set but with just the slightest downturn at the corners. He drops to his knees, and then bows prostrate, his forehead touching the floor. When he rises, his face is set.)
ZHONG: (Quietly) I will find her, my lord. I promise—(he looks up) I will not lose her again.
(The Tiger Emperor looks back motionlessly, his fierce orange eyes demanding the loyalty Zhong willingly lays at his feet.)
[Scene: montage. As the snow heaps higher in the city, Po and the others help Wu's men take down petty criminals, stop some thefts, conduct some investigations. One after another the interrogated criminals—a lynx, a pig, a mongrel—shake their heads, indicating they don't know anything. Every morning Po adjusts his Tigress figure on the dresser and props up the water stained poster. Every evening, he leaves dinner early and studies one of the Thousand Scrolls of Kung Fu he's brought with him, seeming more dour and reserved than normal—much to the concern of the other Four.]
[Time passes. As the snow drifts grow the city edges on towards New Years, the citizens sweeping their houses and hanging lanterns. One evening, as Po is walking back to the palace after some basic detective work, he stops in at a noodle eatery. The door clicks behind him as he enters the yellow-tinged atmosphere, clouds of steam wafting from the kitchen and the sound of patrons talking filling the air.]
PO: (Shivering and sniffing the air) Oh man, I could kill for a bowl of noodles right about now. (Sees a pig giving him a concerned look.) Uh, metaphorically. (Sits down at the bar, rubbing his forehead and holding up two fingers.) Two bowls of radish noodle soup, extra garlic, hold the ginger.
YAK OWNER: Two bowls of– (turns around and gasps) The Dragon Warrior…
PO: Huh? (Opens his eyes to see that the entire restaurant is staring at him.) Oh. Uh– yeah, hey. (A beat of silence.)
KID: (Loudly) Can I have your autograph?
MOTHER: Jun, that's not polite! (To Po) I'm so sorry; we'll let you eat in peace.
PO: (Chuckling) Nah, it's fine. (Looks around at the other eager customers and rolls his eyes good-naturedly) Okay, okay, one at a time.
(As he signs autographs, the owner serves his noodles.)
PO: Thanks. Aaaand there you go! (Finishes the characters for his name with a flourish.) Po Ping, Dragon Warrior.
KID: Hooray! (Scampers away. Po watches him with a chuckle, and then catches sight of a piece of paper tacked on the wall.) Hey, what's that?
YAK OWNER: Hm? Oh! (Nods proudly to the certificate) That's our award!
PO: Award?
YAK OWNER: Yes; the shop won "Best Eats" at the Temple of Earth's new year's fair last year.
PO: The New Year's Festival! Man, I've been so busy I totally forgot!
YAK OWNER: Here. (Reaches behind the bar and pulls out a poster, which he passes to Po. It shows a basic watercolor of a temple and a parade, and an announcement of the festival dates.) The city temples always host amazing fairs to celebrate the holiday. (Bows) I'm sure they'd be honored to have you in attendance.
PO: (Excited) Perfect! (The owner looks surprised.) This is just the sort of pick-me-up we need! Hey, can I get this to go? (As the owner takes the bowl away Po looks down at the flyer, with its brightly colored festivities.) Oh man, Master Shifu is gonna love this.
[Transition shot: the poster in Shifu's hands. When the camera pans up we see Shifu looking annoyed.]
SHIFU: Absolutely not.
PO: What? But Master Shifu, this is a great idea! (They're in the Imperial Offices with the rest of the Four and Wu. Po continues:) Street food, sightseeing, folk dancing! Come on, when are we gonna see New Year's in the Capitol again! We've gotta go! Besides, you know we need a little R&R.
SHIFU: (Unimpressed) "R&R?"
PO: "Rest, and Really Good Food."
VIPER: Master, he has a point.
CRANE: Yeah, we haven't had a break in months.
WU: (Approving) The temple fairs are very popular with the common people; there are performances of craftswork and folk dances from all over the empire, and the fireworks are spectacular.
SHIFU: (To his students) Have you all forgotten where we are? This is the Forbidden City, the home of the Emperor! I'm sure they already have many important traditions, which we will be expected to follow!
WU: (Chuckles, much to Shifu's surprise) To tell you the truth, the Emperor hates the palace celebrations; he finds them stuffy. (Po looks delighted; Shifu exasperated) He doesn't have a choice whether to attend them, but I'm sure he won't begrudge any of you for excusing yourselves.
SHIFU: But surely the Jade Palace will need to represent itself…
MANTIS: (Hopping up to swipe the paper) Cool, so you can do that and we can go have fun. (Shifu does not look amused.)
PO: Come on, Master Shifu, we've been waiting for weeks now and nothing's happened! We're going crazy here, we need a night off!
(Shifu looks around at his students, who all look both exhausted and hopeful, and then sighs, relenting.)
SHIFU: I know Tigress's leaving us has been difficult on all of you. Perhaps a break would be...good for morale.
PO: Yes!
SHIFU: But! I expect all of you to be on your best behavior.
VIPER: Of course, Master.
PO: Yeah, Master Shifu, we won't let you down!
[Smashcut: the Four and Po are wandering through the streets on the evening of New Year's; snow is drifting down overhead, and Po is turning a map over and then rightside up again.]
PO: It's gotta be around here somewhere.
MANTIS: (Flatly) We're lost, aren't we.
PO: I swear, it was just around that corner! Or… maybe that other corner? Huh. (Turns the map upside down again.) Wait a minute, hold on…
VIPER: Po?
PO: Just a sec, Viper, lemme see– is this thing broken?–
VIPER: (Giggling) Po. (She points with her rattler at a restaurant just ahead, the same one Po had visited before.) Is that it?
PO: (Looks up and brightens) Oh yeah, that's it! C'mon, guys!
(Shot shifts ahead to Po and the Four walking through the door into the busy, cheerful restaurant. The Yak owner looks up.)
YAK OWNER: Ah, Dragon Warrior! (Sees the others behind him.) And the Furious Five!
(There are excited greetings and waving-off of fans all around before Po holds up his hands, quieting the room.)
PO: Listen, guys, we're far from home, far from our families… (Looks back at the Four behind him, and the noticeable absence among them. Adds:) And loved ones. (Back to the crowd) We need a little help. What do you say? Can you show us a Northern Capitol New Year's?
(A small cheer goes up from the customers. Po chuckles, and then looks down as someone steps forward out of the crowd.)
MOTHER GOOSE: (Pointing gobsmacked at Crane) You!
CRANE: (Blanches and quickly swipes off his hat, trying to cover us face.) Uh– Me?
MOTHER GOOSE: But you– that means you're really Master– (Turns to the wincing Qiu-Li at her side, ruffling her feathers:) Qiu-Li!
QIU-LI: Umm...
PO: (To Crane) What's going on?
CRANE: (Still hiding behind his hat, peeking an eye out) You remember that kid I said interrupted the mission?
MOTHER GOOSE: (Squawking at her son) You did what?! (The rest of the restaurant bursts into laughter, clearly used to Qiu-Li's antics.)
QIU-LI: (Cringing) Aw come on, mom, don't be mad at me! It's New Year's!
CRANE: (Stepping forward, holding his hat awkwardly to his chest) Ehm, ma'am– really, it was fine, nobody got hurt.
MOTHER GOOSE: (Looks exasperated at her sheepish son before sighing) Well… since it's New Year's… (the Qiu-Li brightens) But you had better never do anything that dangerous again, young man, do I make myself clear!
QIU-LI: (Bobbing his head in relief) Yes mom! I promise!
MOTHER GOOSE: (Steps forward, bowing to the Four and Po) Please forgive my son; he is… very excitable.
PO: (Laughing) It's cool.
MOTHER GOOSE: (To Crane directly) I am eternally in your debt for bringing my son home safely. I insist you and your fellow warriors spend New Year's with my family, to show my gratitude. Chongyun! (The Yak owner lifts his head.) Master Crane and his friends will be eating with us tonight; anything they want, put it on my bill.
CRANE: (Flustered) Ma'am, really, that's too generous–
MOTHER GOOSE: Nonsense! You wanted a Northern Capitol New Year's, didn't you? (Shelters Qiu-Li under her wing, smiling at them.) What better way to see the city than with a local?
PO: (Elbowing Crane) C'mon, Crane, a local! Besides, look at the kid! (Qiu-Li looks just about catatonic at the idea of spending the holiday with his hero, his eyes almost bugging out of his head and beak open in awe.) You can't turn down a face like that!
CRANE: (Sees Qiu-Li's thrilled expression and smiles, ducking his head) Well…if you all insist.
QIU-LI: (Gasping) You mean it! (Doesn't wait for an answer, dashing forwards and hopping around Crane's legs as his mother ushered them towards a table) You're gonna love it! We eat a hu-uge feast here at Mr. Chongyun's, then-then-then we go home, and we make dumplings, and then we watch the fireworks, and then in the morning there's the temple fair, and- and-
MOTHER GOOSE: (Fond scolding) Breathe.
QIU-LI: (Wheezes, catching his breath, to the amusement of the masters.)
[Montage of scenes: Po and the Four sharing noodles and sweet ricecakes with Qiu-Li and his mother at the restaurant, laughing and toasting; then to the geese's house, where Crane and the other three entertain Qiu-Li with kung-fu stories while Po and the Mother Goose roll out dough for dumplings, chatting late into the night. The Mother Goose gives Qiu-Li his new year's gift money in the form of several gold coins tied together with red string, and the group surprise Crane, who is thirty-six that year, with a pair of red trousers.
Shot shifts to the group watching Qiu-Li playing with sparklers with the other children out in the street. As they do so, the Mother Goose comes out the front door, holding out a bowl of leftover dumplings to Crane.]
MOTHER GOOSE: There's still plenty of dumplings left. Qiu-Li and I won't be able to eat them all!
CRANE: Oh, no– I'm stuffed.
MOTHER GOOSE: Please, I insist.
CRANE: (Amused) If you say so. (Accepts the proffered pair of chopsticks with his talons and pops a dumpling into his beak. Slightly muffled, he teases:) I can see where Qiu-Li gets his persistence.
MOTHER GOOSE: (Sheepish) Well, I don't know about that.
QIU-LI: (From the street) Master Crane! Watch this! (He twirls the burning sparkler around, much to his mother's chagrin.)
CRANE: (Calling) That's pretty good!
QIU-LI: Thanks! –Whoa! (Drops the sparkler onto the cobblestones as it almost burns his wings.) Mom, can I have another?
MOTHER GOOSE: Yes, but be careful– (Qiu-Li grabs one out of the supply and immediately lights it on fire, rushing back to the other kids. She sighs fondly and shakes her head.) One of these days…
CRANE: He's a good kid.
MOTHER GOOSE: Oh, he's a dear. (There's a beat while they watch the boy play, and then she comments faintly:) Thank you so much for your kindness to him.
CRANE: Really, i-it wasn't any trouble.
MOTHER GOOSE: Even so… (looks embarrassed. Crane tilts his head, confused, and she admits, quietly, so that the others can't hear:) Ever since his father passed, well…he needed someone to look up to. I-I hope it's not too much to tell you that he really is a big fan!
CRANE: (Dryly, but not unkindly) I can tell.
MOTHER GOOSE: People like us, well, we're not usually fighters. (Flutters her wings, embarrassed.) But hearing about the Great Master Crane, who helped stop the Siege of Gongmen City with his "Wings of Justice–"!
CRANE: (Covering his face with a wing) Eheh, yeah. I forgot about that…
MOTHER GOOSE: It really made him believe he could be, well, whatever he wanted to be. Even a warrior like you. (Crane lowers his wing, and she gives him a grateful smile, before suddenly pointing her forefeathers at him:) Although if you could try to take a few less risks during your fights, it would certainly make my job with him a lot easier!
CRANE: Uh– I-I'll certainly try, ma'am.
MOTHER GOOSE: (Primly) Well, so long as you try. (But there's a twinkle in her eye to show she doesn't mean it.)
[Their conversation is abruptly cut off by the "boom-crackle" sound of fireworks exploding overhead, and the group looks up to see the rain of harmless sparks falling around the roofs of the houses.
The mother goose ushers the warriors and her son up onto the roof of the house, where she passes around oranges to eat as they watch the display. The visitors peer out in awe and contentment as the fireworks begin to explode in red and green and gold over all the households of the city, from every neighborhood and every street.]
[Transition shot: the group, yawning and rubbing their eyes, helping tidy up from the night before; Po helps the mother goose with dishes, while Crane and the others sweep up the firework debris outside the street. Then everyone gathers together and heads down the road in their scarves and hats.]
[Shot: a city temple in the center of a large and beautiful park, alive with the festivities of the New Year's temple fair even in the early hours of the morning. The temple itself is relatively small, laid out in a square format, but with several halls with red walls and sloped gold-tile roofs. In the center courtyard of the complex, behind two rows of triple stone gates, is an altar bearing an iron brazier, surrounded by a moat of water. At the moment the temple is quiet, maintained by a few duck priests preparing for the large influx of devoteés later in the morning.
The park, on the other hand, is far from quiet. The Four and Po look up in awe as they enter the park behind the geese; the trees are strung with hundreds of red lanterns, creating a path into the main thoroughfare, which is lined with shops and stands selling food and folk-crafts—fans, silks, toys and games, pottery and woodcarving and everything else.]
VIPER (In awe) This is incredible. There's so much here!
PO: (Rapturously) And the food! Oh man–I can't even tell what I'm smelling, that's how much I'm smelling!
MOTHER GOOSE: (Proudly) People come to our fair from all across China to show off their work at the Temple of Earth. I don't mean to brag, but I think our neighborhood has the best fair in the city. (Ruffles her feathers cheerily.) The temple rituals will begin in a few hours, and the parade after that, but there's so much to do, I'm sure you won't be bored!
MONKEY: (Spying a colorful stand further down the path) Oh man! Joke shop! (To the mother goose.) Can I?
MOTHER GOOSE: Oh my! Far be it from me to tell a great Master what to do–
MONKEY: (Gasps and dashes off the moment he has permission. Mantis shrugs and hops after him.)
QIU-LI: (Tugging on Crane's wing) Come on, Master Crane! The games are this way!
CRANE: (Laughing) Alright, alright! Slow down! (He and the mother goose follow Qiu-Li into the crowd.)
VIPER: (To Po, flickering her tongue) I want to go watch the folk dancers. Want to come with me?
PO: Maybe in a while. First– (grabs a pair of chopsticks out of a passing bean cart and clicks them with a determined smirk)– breakfast!
[Short montage of Po trying, well, pretty much everything: fried gluten balls, stir-fried gourd and glass noodles, glazed sweet-potato, hot-and-sour noodles, crunchy rice with tomato, syrup-drenched lotus seeds, vegetarian lor mee, and finally stinky tofu, which he sniffs, recoils, and then shrugs and pops into his mouth, only to melt with delight as he has with every dish.]
(Now full and happily patting his belly, Po starts to make his way towards a stage set up for folk-performances, waving off fans and wishing them a happy new year. When he reaches the stage he looks around the crowd for Viper, but she's nowhere to be seen, and for once everyone is too busy focusing on the performances to notice him. A troop of red pandas, in traditional indigo-and-scarlet Yao Tribe clothing, is performing a folk dance with long-drums. Po sits down on a bench to watch them, growing a little wistful.)
FEMALE VOICE: (Echoing) Hey.
[Flashback to the Valley of Peace, where a similar group of folk dancers, also red pandas and dressed in the indigo-and-scarlet garb, is performing the same drum dance in the falling dusk of evening. Po, who is sitting on a bench in his scarf and hat to watch the folk dances, looks over. Tigress has just sat down next to him, wearing her silver New Year's jacket and a comparatively incongruent red-and-yellow scarf, probably a gift from the panda himself.]
PO: (Cheerfully) Hey, Tigress. (Looking back at the folk dancers and nudging her.) They're pretty good, huh?
TIGRESS: (Chuckling) I wouldn't know. I'm sure Viper would have an opinion, though.
(They watch the dancers in silence for a moment, listening to the upbeat tune and appreciating the graceful movements, before the music slows. The other dancers leave the stage, and the single remaining performer retrieves a flute and begins to play a very familiar melody. Tigress straightens up, growing pensive.)
TIGRESS: That's why I've never seen them at the festival before; they're visitors from the Southwestern Mountains—outside the Valley.
PO: Really? How can you tell?
TIGRESS: Their clothing, it's very distinctive. (Pauses briefly.) Also, Master Shifu is from that region. He plays that same song sometimes on his flute; it was one of Master Oogway's favorites.
PO: It's a song? Are there words to it?
TIGRESS: I never asked. (Opens her mouth to say something, and then hastily shuts it again.)
PO: (Noticing, nudges her) What? (Tigress, embarrassed, shakes her head dismissively, and he grins.) Wha-at?
TIGRESS: It's silly. (Po raises his eyebrows as if to remind her who she's talking to, and despite herself Tigress chuckles.) When I was younger, I– I heard him play that tune so many times I made up words for it myself. I never told him, of course.
PO: What? No way; you have to tell me!
TIGRESS: (Amused) Absolutely not. I was an angsty teenager, it was very melodramatic.
PO: Come on! Please? (Gives her his best puppy-dog eyes. Tigress eyes him, and then eventually sighs and relents. As the chorus begins again she starts to hum, and then quietly murmur the words, clearly not wanting to be overheard.)
TIGRESS: (Singing half-under her breath:) There is a road which every warrior goes.
It's long, and it's cold, and we must walk it alone…
(Her voice is rough and not very skilled, but Po looks fascinated anyway)
It is brutal, yet worthy—
Honor our destiny.
For in us their hopes are trusted,
Our lives a sacrifice, and not our own...
(She trails off as the flutist continues; Po looks thoughtful beside her. After a pause she coughs and looks away)
TIGRESS: I told you it wasn't very good.
PO: It's not bad. Kinda hardcore, actually. Just…do you really believe that? (She gives him a confused frown, and he elaborates:) You know. That this– (he gestures vaguely) –is something you have to do alone? I mean, kung fu is hard. Life is hard. I think it's better to face that kinda stuff as a united front, you know?
TIGRESS: (Smiling faintly) I did believe that once. (Looking skywards; the first evening stars twinkle coldly above them.) But since the others joined us, and then you…I've come to think differently.
(Po grins at her; she looks back at him, still smiling, and then they turn to watch the dances again.)
[Flashpresent: the Yao dancers are done, and they bow and thank the cheering crowd. They move aside for a group of lynx women who begin a ribbon dance.]
FEMALE VOICE: Hey.
(Po looks over, surprised and momentarily hopeful, before deflating a bit as Viper slithers up onto the bench.)
PO: Oh. (Trying to hide his disappointment.) Hi, Viper, how's it going?
VIPER: (Sympathetically) Were you hoping I'd be someone else?
PO: (Shrugs and looks back at the dances.) It's not the same without her here. She loves the folk dancing. (Frowns a bit) ...Is this how it feels when I leave to go do Dragon Warrior stuff?
VIPER: (Giggles) The Palace is quieter for sure. (Pats his arm with her tail.) But not as fun. (Looking back at the dancers, whose plum-colored ribbons twirl in cyclic spirals.)
(In the distance the city gong sounds the hour, and the crowd perks up and begins to move; it's time for the temple rituals to begin.)
[As they and the rest of the pilgrims begin making their way towards the temple, the shot zooms in on Crane, Qiu-Li and the Mother Goose, who are already close to the temple.]
QIU-LI: (Complaining) Mom, I gotta use the bathroom!
MOTHER GOOSE: (Sighing) There should be one inside the temple, Qiu-Li. But don't disturb the priests!
QIU-LI: I won't! I promise! (Dashes inside under the colorful archway, running between the legs of the crowds gathered on the outer ring of stone around the moat and towards the main temple building at the back. As he reaches the back temple, he ducks behind a low wall to hide from one of the priests, a snooty-looking duck in bright green robes. The attempt is unsuccessful, however, as the duck spots him.)
HEAD PRIEST: What are you doing here! This is a sacred space!
QIU-LI: Um– I-I gotta use the bathroom–?
HEAD PRIEST: Well they're not here, they're in one of the administrative buildings, over there! (Points towards one of the buildings far away, along the side of the complex.) Now shoo! (Qiu-Li jumps.) Shoo!
(The gosling squawks in fright and flies away, though not far. The head priest passes on, and Qiu-Li sighs, looking dejected. As he raises his eyes skywards again, he notices something, and frowns.)
[Shot cuts to on top of the roof, where a tiger is hiding behind the back-slope in a dusky yellow cloak, presumably to blend in with the tiles. He scans the area with narrowed eyes. In the distance, the camera focuses briefly on a series of dragon- and lion-dance puppets at the head of the ceremonial parade. The tige retrieves a small mirror from inside his cloak, which he flashes in the direction of the parade; a moment later, seeming to come within the mouth of the dragon dragon-puppet, a light flashes back.]
TIGER OPERATIVE: (Nods briefly as if everything is going to plan and puts his mirror away. He rolls his shoulders and crouches down further behind the roof.)
QIU-LI'S VOICE: Whatcha' doin'?
TIGER OPERATIVE: (Jumps and snaps his head to the left. Qiu-Li is standing atop the main center-beam of the roof.) What the–
QIU-LI: (Conversationally) I don't think you should be up here. (The tiger stares at him) It's probably not safe; my mom always says that until I'm good at flying I shouldn't go too high on my own, and you can't fly at all–
TIGER OPERATIVE: You know, you're pretty annoying. (Stands up, though keeping below the line of the roof.)
QIU-LI: (Seems to realize suddenly that the situation is strange and shrinks down.) Um–
TIGER OPERATIVE: A little loud-mouthed gosling. (Advancing towards him.) How inconvenient.
QIU-LI: (Backing away) I–I think I should go back to my mom– sh-she's probably wondering where I am–
TIGER OPERATIVE: (Chuckles and pounces. Qiu-Li squawks and tries to flee, but the tiger's claws clasp around him first, caging him in.)
QIU-LI: (Struggles, panicking) Let me go!
TIGER OPERATIVE: Not a chance. I've got an important job to do today, little goose, and it won't be ruined by the likes of you. (Picks him up and turns him around; Qiu-Li gasps at the sight of the large, curved fangs in the leering smile.) You're not going anywhere.
[Cut to Po and Viper joining Mantis and Monkey in the temple. The mood is still festive, but now a little more serious as the gravity of the temple falls over the devotees.]
MANTIS: Anyone seen Crane?
PO: (Spotting the two birds) He's over there. (They make their way towards Crane and the Mother Goose, who looks exasperated.)
MOTHER GOOSE: He always wanders off at times like this; I'll have to go looking for him after the ceremony is over. Sometimes I'd swear he does it on purpose!
MONKEY: (Interrupting) Here we go. (The ceremony is starting, and the party quiets down out of revereance.)
(Inside the temple, the Head Priest duck ascends the steps leading up to the altar and brazier, and begins to chant a prayer to the earth god while his attending assistant priest provides him with the necessary materials. The congregation falls silent as the ritual, which seems to be very complicated and precise, proceeds. There is bowing at specific moments and to specific directions, and the use of musical instruments, and the clinking of cymbals. Unlike the rest of the pilgrims, who stand at silent attention, Po looks surprisingly fascinated.)
HEAD PRIEST: (Turns to his assistant priest to accept the materials for the next part of the ritual, which appear to be a bundle of incense-sticks. He lights them ablaze, and then returns to the brazier, where he holds them to his forehead and bows before placing them in the iron bowl.)
NOISE: Sizzling. (As the fire burns and Po watches, little flakes fall off the sticks of incense into the brazier.)
(Just as the incense vanishes into the pot, the world flashes gold and black.)
(Po sways and stumbles sideways, bracing himself against one of the gates. The others immediately notice and gather around, concerned.)
MONKEY: (Voice echoing) Po? Are you okay?
MANTIS: (Voice echoing) Y'alright there, big guy?
[Flash: a distant rural village. Snow in the air. A fringe of orange fur]
CRANE'S VOICE: Po?
[Po tries to steady himself against the gate wall, but the world is swimming. His vision wavers like a pitching ship, swaying over the heads of the crowd before his eyes fix again on the fire. Another few grains of incense fall, and as the flames below the pot flare the light from the blaze explodes across Po's vision.]
PO: (Pained) Agh!
VIPER: Po!
[The flame-light overwhelms him, and he's suddenly in a brilliant orange-and-red environment. Paper-cutout flames burn around him; he staggers, trying to stand, and looks down to find himself in a shallow pool of silken water, ringed on all sides by burning paper mountains which seem to hover in the sky.]
PO: What the–
[He blinks; the world flashes again, flickering between the blue-gray winter morning in the temple and the burning orange of the spirit world.]
(Back in the real world, his friends and a small crowd have gathered around him. The panda has braced himself against the gate wall, breathing hard.)
[In the spirit world, Po tries to squint against the blazing light. The brightest of the light seems to be coming from a mountain in the distance; the harder he looks the clearer it becomes, until he realizes he's looking at a spiritual version of the same temple.]
[A spiritual version which is very, very on fire.]
[Rapid-fire images: pitch black, then white, then whirling black and white, the snowy village again and a violent explosion of sparkling fireworks, and the briefest flash of a black Yin in which a gold dragon is standing in the sole white spot–]
PO: (Eyes snap open in the real world, and he heaves for air, stumbling back.)
MANTIS'S VOICE: Whoa!
MONKEY'S VOICE: Easy there!
(Po manages to stay upright, looking around dizzily.)
VIPER: Is he okay?
CRANE: He had a lot to eat; maybe something didn't agree with him.
PO: (Gasping) No. Not food. There's– (holds up finger, pausing) –something wrong. I had another vision.
CRANE: You had a what?
PO: Mhh. (Presses a hand to his mouth. Muffled:) Sorry. Feeling kinda– queasy–
VIPER: (Urgently) Po, you said something was wrong.
PO: Right. Right, um– (swallows hard and closes his eyes, trying to remember) –there were these lights, and– uh– sounds and… (He stops, his eyes opening. The others stare at him expectantly.) Fireworks. I-I saw fireworks. And the temple. (Snapping alert.) We need to get everyone out of the temple!
(Cut to Qiu-Li and the tiger operative on the roof; he chuckles as he holds the bird in one paw, enjoying intimidating him.)
TIGER OPERATIVE: Do you have family here, little goose? Don't worry, I'll keep you nice and safe when the time comes. (Amused) I wonder how you'll fare as an orphan.
QIU-LI: B-But– (Out of the corner of his eye, he sees Po rushing forward out of the crowd. He pauses briefly as his eyes widen, and then suddenly glares up at the tiger:) I'm not scared of you!
TIGER OPERATIVE: Oh? (Leans his face forward, coming into large-view for the comparatively tiny goose.) You really should be. (He begins to tighten his fist; Qiu-Li gasps, but his eyes flicker sideways and he screws up his eyes, squawking and trying to withstand the pain.) You're so small, I could crush you like a bug.
(Cut to down below, where Po is trying desperately to get the temple priests to listen to him.)
PO: –Look, you gotta get everyone out of here, right now! Something bad is going to happen, I'm sure of it!
LEAD PRIEST: (A duck; ruffling his feathers) How dare you disrupt the sacred ceremonies! Do you not fear the punishment of the heavens?!
PO: Look, buddy, I'm the Dragon Warrior, and I just got a vision from the same heavens you're sacrificing to! And they want us to get out of here!
ASSISTANT PRIEST: Master, If this truly is the Dragon Warrior, perhaps we should listen–
LEAD PRIEST: Absolutely not! (Sticking his bill in Po's face) Whoever you may think you are, Dragon Warrior, these ceremonies have never been interrupted in all the time this temple has existed, and they will certainly not be interrupted now!
PO: But everyone here is in danger; you've gotta believe me!
[Smashcut to the parade down the street: the people are cheering, children waving streamers and noise-makers as the dragon-dancers rear and shake the puppet's tassled head, weaving back and forth across the streets.]
(Shot from inside the mouth of the dragon, where a Ten Thousand leopard operative is controlling the mouth of the dragon, wearing a large number of explosives hung around his shoulders or otherwise tied to his person. Other leopards operatives him are likewise armed, hidden from the oblivious festival-goers outside.)
LEOPARD 2: How far?
LEOPARD 1: Half a block. Keep up the act; it won't be long now.
(They advance, bobbing and weaving. The crowd is cheering; the temple draws nearer.)
LEOPARD 1: (Back over his shoulder) We're almost at the gates. (Smugly, under his breath) It's gonna be a bloodbath.
(He turns back around—only to stop as the nose of the dragon bumps into something and bounces back.) What the–? (The dragon's mouth is pointing down towards the ground.)
LEOPARD 3: (Calling) What's up?
LEOPARD 1: We hit somethi–
(The mouth of the dragon is violently ripped open, letting in bright beams of winter sunlight and temporarily blinding the felines.)
LEOPARD 1: Agh!
VOICE: C'mon. You didn't really think we'd fall for that, did you?
(The leopard shields his eyes, and the face of a panda comes into view through the mouth of the dragon.)
PO: (Smugly) Oldest trick in the book. Skadoosh!
(His sucker-punch sends the Ten Thousand operatives domino'ing back into each other, the group collapsing in a heap under the costume, which is immediately yanked off by none other than–)
MANTIS: Man, it's always weird seeing what's under these things. Hyah!
(He side-kicks one of the agents who is just getting to his feet, and the fight is on. Four other lion-dancers throw off their costumes to attack; the crowd screams. Monkey, chattering, flips himself by one arm off the aforementioned joke cart with a massive Chinese finger-trap in one hand, probably for elephants and the like, and uses the other hand and his two feet to fight off one pair assailants before shoving both their fists into opposite ends of the finger-trap.)
(As they struggle to escape, Viper launches into the battle against other foes with a ribbon-baton from the dancers, entangling her enemies in a plum-colored cloud of destruction.)
(Cut to top of the temple building. The tiger operative is still distracted by tormenting the gosling, as the priests, apparently having listened to Po, hurriedly usher people out of the temple.)
TIGER OPERATIVE: You know, when I joined the Ten Thousand they told me I'd finally have my chance to take my revenge on those who had stolen what was mine. (Chuckling) But I never imagined it would be so satisfying. (Squeezes harder; Qiu-Li gasps.) Who knows? Maybe by the time the temple blows, you won't be an orphan after a–
NOISE: CRASH! (The tiger operative's head swivels to see Po throwing a leopard into a fair stand.)
TIGER OPERATIVE: (Snarling at the upset) What?!
(Qiu-Li spots his chance, steels his will and remaining oxygen, and gives the hardest peck known to chick or man on the tiger operative's paw.)
TIGER OPERATIVE: (Yowling) OW! (Drops the gosling.) Why you– (Scrambles for the goose, probably intending to smash him against the roof.)
QIU-LI: (Screaming) MASTER CRANE!
CRANE: (Looking over from where he's been fighting an assailant just outside the temple gates and spots Qiu-Li launching himself off the roof—and the tiger operative swiping at him.) Oh, heck no. Viper!
(Viper, choking out an enemy, sees his meaning and spring-shoots herself at her comrade, wrapping around his neck as Crane flies to the temple roof, flaring his wings in the enemy's face. The sunlight flashes off them in dazzling white.)
TIGER OPERATIVE: (Reeling in the brighteness) Agh!
(In his distraction, Viper tail-whips himself across the face, the force spinning him a whole three-hundred and sixty degree around. As he reels, Crane sweeps him up in his talons and lifts him far, FAR above the temple.)
CRANE: (Wind roaring over his wings) Think you're a big man picking on a little kid, huh?!
TIGER OPERATIVE: (Incomprehensible screaming)
(They reach the zenith of their ascent. There's the briefest of pauses—and then Crane drops him into thin air.)
(The tiger operative screams and wheels his feet as he plunges towards the ground–
NOISE: SPLASH!
(–and crashes into the water around the altar.)
(Smashcut back to the others.)
VIPER: Take that! (Launches off the roof and snaps her baton, ribbon-twirling one operative into another.)
MONKEY: (Fighting a leopard with a knife) Aw, no fair! (Twirls the knife out of his hand and chokes him out with his tail.) Didn't anyone ever tell you it's wrong to bring a knife to a fistfight!
MANTIS: Kyah! Hah! (Pin-balls off two opponent's skulls, knocking them unconscious and landing in a cool pose.)
CRANE: (Swooping down) Po! (Po punches a snow-leopard in the face and looks up.) There was another one of them on the roof; there might be more hidden around the temple!
PO: On it! (Rushes towards the temple, where civilians and priests are, thankfully, fleeing the scene.)
(The inside of the temple is empty; Po sprints through the buildings, checking behind statues and pillars for any enemies. There are none. He returns to the main courtyard and stops in front of the gate for a moment, heaving for air.)
PO: Aghah. Hold on– guys– I'll be there in a mo–
NOISE: (Behind him; sudden splashing as the tiger Crane dropped sits up out of the water, gasping for air.)
(Po turns as the tiger staggers upright, looking infuriated, and then stops upon seeing the Dragon Warrior. He and Po look at each other in surprise for a moment—and then that moment is gone.)
TIGER OPERATIVE: (Snarls, unsheathes his claws and lunges; Po gasps and immediately snaps into defensive position, fighting the operative with almost preternatural anticipation.)
TIGER OPERATIVE: (Swiping at Po, who dodges) Will you– (swipe, dodge) just– (swipe, dodge) stay still?! (Swipes.)
PO: (Blocks instead of dodging, grabbing the operative's arm and belly-bumping him back into the middle of the courtyard) Hah!
NOISE: Wham! (The tiger hits the stone altar bearing the burning brazier, which rattles and settles. Across the pool, Po resettles into a ready stance.)
PO: Nice try, pal, but you aren't the first tiger that's tried to kick my furry behind in a fight.
(The tiger struggles to his feet, seething—and then his eyes flicker to the brazier. Po follows his gaze and frowns, confused.)
TIGER OPERATIVE: (Looks at the fire, a strange look settling over his face. He reaches to his collar and loosens the ribbon on his cloak. It falls into the water with a ripple.)
PO: (Eyes go wide as he sees the round powder-bombs tied to the tiger's chest, at least a few of which still look dry. The tiger is staring at the brazier fire as if in a trance.)
TIGER OPERATIVE: (Under his breath) For the empire.
PO: (Realizes what's about to happen and sprints for the gates. Behind him, the tiger operative stretches one of his bomb-clad arms towards brazier.)
NOISE: BOOM.
(Po is thrown bodily from the temple in an explosion of red and gold flame; there are quick glimpses of the sky, the temple gate, the street–)
NOISE: CRASH!
(Snap to black.)
(Silence and darkness, for several long beats. Then, faint, muddled noises which turn into voices and sounds:)
MONKEY'S VOICE: Po…
MANTIS'S VOICE: Don't touch him, he might'a broken something.
VIPER'S VOICE: (Concerned) Is he going to be okay?
MANTIS'S VOICE: Hold on… (A pause. Then a sudden explosion of gold in the center of the screen.)
PO: Aahh-hah-ow! (Sits up suddenly, looking around. The Four are around him; he seems to be lying in the street, covered in black powder, bruises and scorch marks.) What the– where the–
VIPER: (Sighing with relief) You're okay!
PO: "Okay?" (He looks at his arms, which are smeared with black soot, and then over at his shoulder as he feels something crawling up it.)
MANTIS: (Peeking around his fur; matter-of-fact) You got knocked unconscious. (Pressure-point-strikes the back of Po's neck, causing him to yelp.) Stay here; I've got other patients to get to. (He hops away. Po follows his path with his line of vision and goes slack-jawed.)
(Around him, the street is in chaos, smoke clearing in patches. People are milling about in shock or sitting on the sidelines; unconscious or injured civillians have been laid out in the streets; one or two local physicians are moving between them, bandaging wounds and assessing injuries. Nearby, Qiu-Li is crying, being comforted by Crane and his frantic mother.)
(Po starts to stand, but Viper lays her tail on his arm.)
VIPER: Don't. Mantis didn't want you moving too much.
PO: But I gotta help–
VIPER: You won't be any help to anyone if you pass out again.
(Not answering right away, Po leans back, and his paw brushes against something. It's a fragment of green clay tile. He picks it up, staring at it, and then looks beyond it to the temple beyond. Though the flames are minimal and quickly being put out by a goose bucket-line, the roof of the nearest building is caving in, and one of the gate walls has been blown out.)
VIPER: No one was seriously hurt. We were lucky you got that vision, Po; otherwise this could have been a lot worse.
PO: (Dazed) Yeah… lucky.
[Scene: Imperial Offices. Wu is pinching the bridge of his nose in exhaustion, shoulders slumped, as Shifu paces in front of Po and the Four. A map on the table has three bright red blocks placed on it.]
WU: Three of the city temples attacked on the same day, at the same hour. (Bitterly) No warning. No intelligence. Nothing.
CRANE: Casualties?
WU: (Lowering his hand to look at him) Several.
PO: What? But…
WU: Not every temple had the Dragon Warrior to protect it. (Shaking his head) A funeral is no way to start the new year.
SHIFU: I don't understand how they had the power to do this. They should have been severely weakened by the destruction of the Den—why aren't they laying low, regrouping?
WU: I don't know. There must be something we missed, something…
(As they continue discussing in low tones, Po steps forward and looks at the map.)
WU: Maybe this other hideout is larger than we thought…
PO: (Suddenly) The Battle of Weeping River. (Looks up from the map and back at the rest of the Four and Shifu, who have looks of comprehension dawning on their faces.) I mean, it would make sense.
WU: What's the Battle of Weeping River?
MONKEY: (Looking at the others) It was one of our first battles as a team.
VIPER: (Thoughtful) We were badly outnumbered and needed help. There was a beginners' kung fu academy nearby, but they were too afraid to fight with us.
PO: (Fanboying a little) It was incredible. They went all-out, attacking like there was nothing in their way! (The Four look a little embarrassed at the praise, and Po tones it down:) The point is, it scared the enemy so bad it made the school think they stood a fighting chance, and the students came out to help.
WU: You mean you think the Ten Thousand are putting on a show of strength to try to attract more followers, rebuild their base.
SHIFU: (Nodding slowly) That… would make sense.
WU: That is…very bad news.
PO: I mean, only if it works, right?
WU: (Grimly) There's every chance it will. I know it sounds obvious, but you must understand that this isn't the Valley of Peace. (Reaches into the box of figurines and pulls out a yellow square, holding it up to eye-level.) At the time the explosions went off, I was at the Red Snail Temple. It's in one of the older temples in the area; my family has worshipped there for centuries. You understand?
PO: Uh… no?
WU: The fair you attended at the Temple of Earth is well-known for attracting performers from across China—of every species. I don't find it accidental, Dragon Warrior, that the temple you visited for New Year's was blown to smitherines, whereas my ancestral temple… (he places the token on the map) was not. (Looks up at them.) The Ten Thousand have been traumatizing the city for months. Every time they do, it reignites the old divisions, ones that never fully healed. The people are growing frightened and mistrustful—and worse, there are some who aren't afraid. Shows of strength from the Ten Thousand embolden their sympathizers among the common people…and sympathizers often turn into recruits.
SHIFU: Do you believe it's likely there will be civil unrest?
WU: I practically guarantee it. (Sighs, looking down at the map.)
[Transition shot: a few older tiger men are sitting outside a shop in the Tiger Neighborhood, laughing and toasting under the dying lights of the old lanterns. Their families are nowhere to be seen. We hear the unruly whoops of young men's voices in the near distance—near, and growing louder and closer.
Across the street, Sun watches the unfolding "celebrations" with wary eyes. As Feng approaches, dressed in celebratory red and holding her broom to sweep out the shop enterance, her father holds out a hand, shaking his head. He takes the broom, finishes the sweeping for her, and then locks the gate tightly behind him with a last worried look out into the street. Behind him, the sound of hollering grows louder and more abrasive.]
WU'S VOICEOVER: This is not an auspicious way to start the New Year.
A/N: Trigger warnings: hate crimes, attacks on places of worship, suicide, suicide-bombings.
Cultural notes: (Preliminary disclaimer: I am neither Chinese nor Chinese-American, hence all of this information is coming secondhand):
-Temple Fairs: an important part of New Year's festivals in Beijing.
-The Ditan Temple (Temple of Earth): a Daoist temple in Beijing which hosts one of the best-loved Temple Fairs in the city. This temple is thematically paired with the Temple of Heaven on the other side of the city. In previous centuries, the Earth Altar in the center courtyard was surrounded by water, but the courtyard today is usually drained. In the modern day, re-enactments of an old sacrificial rite to the god of earth involving the emperor are put on during New Year's, but of course during the time the story is set this would not be the case, as those rituals originally occurred at a different point during the year.
-Red Snail Temple: also known as the Hongluo Temple, a much older Buddhist temple in the mountains just outside of Beijing. Its New Year's celebrations are more subdued and traditional.
-Red trousers: it is customary to give red underwear or socks, etc., to people whose year it is on the Zodiac. As Crane is thirty-six in this story, that would mean it is his year on the calendar.
-Coins on red string: the original version of the more modern red money-envelopes, given to children on New year's.
-Dumpling-making: usually occurs after dinner on New Year's Eve, but prior to the fireworks displays.
-Oranges: represent good luck and prosperity for the coming year.
-Fried gluten balls, stir-fried gourd and glass noodles, glazed sweet-potato, hot-and-sour noodles, crunchy rice with tomato, syrup-drenched lotus seeds, vegetarian lor mee, and stinky tofu: vegetarian versions of dishes from the eight main regions of Chinese cuisine (Jiangsu, Cantonese, Shangdong, Sichuan, Zhejiang, Hunan, Fujian, and Anhui, respectively).
-Daoist temple services: I found it incredibly difficult to find clear descriptions of what a daoist service might look like, so I did my best to cobble together some elements I'd seen described on various webpages. If any of my readers are Daoist and would like to provide information, I would greatly welcome it in the comments!