"MANTIS!? CAN YOU HEAR ME!? PLEASE—HELP!"
"Viper!?" The bug exclaimed, puffing more figures with more stride, feeling a sense of motivation take over him. 'Viper... she needs me. She needs me! I'm coming, Vip!'
With a small smile of triumph tugging on his lips, and a new feeling of determination giving him strength, he knocked out most of the illusions with his tiny force until he was able to see his dear serpent friend at the other side of the stampede. His joy was short lived, however, when he got a good glimpse of the Viper's mental and physical state.
She was curled up and bashing herself into the wall to deafen herself from the screams and chants of the twisted figments of their friends, who kept circling her as the illusions of his and Crane's dead bodies littered the ground. She seemed to have given up on her call-outs to the seemingly empty abyss, thinking no one will come help her get out of this dreadful nightmare given by how she limped and cried.
Mantis cringed at the image of his own dead and crushed body, and felt his heart shatter seeing Viper in such a predicament. 'All of this must've scarred her...' He thought sympathetically as he put on a brave face and crawled under the shrieking figures of Po and Tigress quickly to get to his friend.
He saw Viper sobbed to herself as he calmly approached her.
"O-oh who am I kidding... he's gone! They all are... a-and it's my fault.." She cried into her tail feeling herself give up on all hope.
Mantis swallowed the pain he felt for his companion and, slowly yet surely, reached out to her slithering body to gentle caress her.
Viper understandably flinched and got ready to slap who or whatever is trying to touch her, only to pause once she saw a familiar bug quickly dodge her hit in his comedic manner.
"Whoa whoa whoa, easy! It's me!" Mantis assured, gently inching towards the snake.
"M-Mantis? How could that be I—I thought—"
"I know... but I'm here now!" The bug, for the first time in a long time, went to hug the crying snake as she continued to look on in disbelief.
"...A-are you real...?" She quietly asked, making Mantis' heart break even more as he moved back to softly cup Viper's face and wipe her tears, letting her actually feel his presence.
"I'm the realest you're gonna get!" He assured, easing the reptile with his snobby personality shining through.
Yet, despite the sweet moment, the illusions that swarmed Viper still prevailed, making both Mantis and Viper freak out as they huddled more in the corner.
"What are these things anyway!?"
Viper trembled as she answered, "I-I don't know! B-but all I keep seeing are images of our dead friends, and these shadow figures won't stop taunting me!"
Mantis winced in his spot, "Yeesh, now that's creepy! A lot more creepy than what I..." He stopped as he felt a lightbulb brighten in his head. "Viper, you are aware these are illusions, right?"
"W-well I suspected it but.. I-I wasn't so certain until you finally showed up! I-I thought it was all m-my fault that you all ended up l-like... well... THAT!" The snake pointed to the chanting shadow figures, but Mantis was more focused on that last part Viper mentioned.
"Your fault?—Viper, what do you mean 'your fault'?" He asked with a level of sincerity not even Viper has seen before.
"T-that's what they keep telling me! That I-I let you all p-perish and it's all my fault! A-and the worst part is... they're right."
Mantis' eyes widened at that comment, "Vip, what are you talking about? This is just that crazy dragon playing with your head! None of this is your fault!"
"Isn't it!? I'm not strong like you and Tigress, I'm not agile like Crane and Monkey, and I'm not even powerful like Po! I-I'm useless no matter how much I want to help! And I was the stupid one who suggested to Po, Crane and Tigress, who were rightfully suspicious about this place, that we should still go in!"
"Viper, is that what this is about?" The insect cut in to interrupt the snake's vast and anxious pacing. "Are you... afraid of letting us get hurt?"
"YES! Okay!? I am! I'm scared of not being strong enough to save you all! I mean what purpose do I uphold anyway!? I add NOTHING to the group and all I do is let us all FALL! MAYBE YOU ALL WOULD BE BETTER OFF IF I NEVER EXISTED!" At that last drop, Viper felt all strength in her body pass as she limped to the ground and wept.
Mantis, on the other hand, felt completely crushed. He would have never assumed that Viper had such a burden hanging over her like this. The thought of it alone almost brought him to tears.
'What kind of jackass would get a kick by hurting and breaking such a sweet creature like that?' He thought as he crawled slowly towards the face of the reptile. He picked up her fallen face in his... claw-thingies, and awkwardly pet her head in comfort.
"W-what are you doing..?" The snake asked cautiously, hiding her blush as she noticed the loud screeching from the shadowed figures suddenly went quiet as Mantis broke a sweat.
"Uh... I'm not sure... I think this is petting?" He answered unsurely, causing Viper to giggle through the tears. "Listen, I... may not exactly know what you are feeling, especially to this extent but... I can relate."
"Y-you can..?"
"Unfortunately... I, too, feel like you guys would have been better off without me... I thought I don't really do anything in the group instead of anger you guys when I try to fill the air, heh.."
"What?" The snake lifted her head in shock as she looked down at the surprisingly timid preying mantis.
"Yep, believe it or not, that's the truth on my part. I know I'm not normally... one to stand out. I kinda always had this hidden fear of being... forgotten by you guys, and... stuff.." The bug awkwardly coughed.
"Mantis, that couldn't be further from the truth. We would never forget you! You're strong, funny, snarky, you're even Monkey's best friend! You add so much to the group, Mantis. You even completed our group, remember? When Tigress was looking for the last member of our team when we were teens? I am so sorry if we ever made you feel any less than what you deserve.. I swear I would never leave you forgotten." The snake nuzzled her head against the bug, causing him to blush and continue to clear his throat.
"A-and that's what reassured me! That... even if the whole world would ignore me, forget who I was... I would be certain that at least you would see me. And that's what helped me get through my fear!"
Viper brought her head up again in shock as she wiped her tears, attempting to hide the blush on her own face as she did so. "M-me?"
"Of course, Vip! I mean, I may be Monkey's best friend, but you're everyone's best friend! You're so kind, compassionate and empathetic, you never make anyone feel left out! Even when Po arrived and we all made fun of him, you were the only one who showed decency when we should've. And that is strength all on its own! Honestly..." Mantis went as far as to grab and hold the tip of Viper's tail, making her face heat up evermore as their surroundings began to fade away.
"You're one of the strongest creatures I have ever met... and if the one of the strongest, bravest and kindest creatures in the world was able to make someone like me feel remembered... then that makes me feel worth remembering."
Finally, the snake smiled. She smiled in her childlike manner that showed off her toothless gums. And it warmed the bug's heart.
"I... didn't know I meant so much to you.." She bashfully answered after such a heartfelt pause.
"You kidding me? You mean so much to all of us! And hey, you know you don't have to carry the burden of saving all our asses. We're a team remember? We look out for each other. And nothing is going to change that. You're stuck with us, toots!" Mantis cocked his eyebrow in amusement, causing Viper to softly laugh.
"Yeah... I know that now.." She beamed, finally looking at how her former chaotic surroundings were replaced with a satisfying silence and calmness.
"The nightmares! They're gone!" She exclaimed in excitement, making Mantis hyped and relieved as well.
"That means you faced your fear like I did! Aww~, does that mean I helped you fight your demons~?" Mantis cooed as he smirked at the snake, who simply rolled her eyes in delight.
"Save your cocky comments for when we actually find a way to get out of here."
"Oh yeah—definitely. Let's go!"
The avian frantically flew to each place of the cage, noticing the walls of it close in on him ever so steadily as he continued to take sharp breaths.
"PLEASE—PLEASE! SOMEONE! ANYONE! HELP ME! GET ME OUT OF HERE—" A sudden clang from the ceiling of the cage clanked down on the soaring bird, making him collapse to the ground in a heap of fear and despair.
"NO, NO, NO!" Crane cried out, crawling to the corner of the cage and holding himself tight as he felt the ever-closing surroundings start to take over him. "Please! Someone... help! I-I don't wanna be trapped here forever... please..." He kept begging to what seemed like nothing but the abyss, feeling defeat take over him as the cage he lied in went from vastly inching closer to him to slowly moving in.
"Please... get me out... someone..."
"Crane!?"
The bird suddenly popped his eyes open once he heard the familiar primate's voice.
"MONKEY!" He yelled happily and was even more thrilled to see that very same monkey face on the other side of the cell bars. "OH MONKEY, THANK GOODNESS YOU'RE HERE! I-I THOUGHT I LOST YOU WHEN YOU WERE SO ENTRANCED BY THE IMAGE OF YOUR—"
"Shsh, it's okay. I know. I'm sorry I left you here. I'm here now." Monkey calmly caressed the side of Crane's face, making the bird happily sink into his touch, unaware that this action would make the cell bars slim down in girth.
"Well— that's new." Monkey remarked, making Crane just freak out more. "WAH!" He retracted from Monkey, making the cell bars widen in girth again and the walls to just further move in a quicker pace.
"T-THIS PLACE IS GONNA DRIVE ME INSANE! MONKEY, YOU NEED TO GET ME OUT OF HERE! PLEASE!"
Monkey stuttered, "I-I don't know how!"
"URGH!" Crane groaned in anger, making the walls around Crane shield him more and only push Monkey away.
"Whoa, whoa whoa! Crane! Just breathe! Calm down! I'll get you out of this!"
"HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO CALM DOWN WHEN I FEEL LIKE I'M GONNA BE TRAPPED AND CRUSHED IN HERE FOREVER! INSIDE AND OUT!"
"'Inside and out'?" Monkey inquired Crane's choice of words at this moment. He took a step back and thoroughly looked through the bigger picture. Crane was holding his head in his wings, acting out irrationally and with his emotions, with the jail cell literally coming down to crush him in such a violent and vast pace. He then remembered how his touch to Crane and his relief when he saw the ape made the cells do the complete opposite. It was almost as if...
Monkey snapped his fingers in realisation. "That's it!" He said quietly to himself before calling out to Crane. "Crane! Seriously! I'm going to need you to calm down—"
"Monkey, I love you, but if you tell me to calm down ONE MORE TIME—"
"NO! CRANE! I MEAN IT! LOOK AROUND YOU!" Monkey interrupted, making Crane do as he said with confusion. "I think this cage symbolises more than your fear of closed in spaces! Think about it! The more stressed you get, the more erratic the cage gets! I think its supposed to represent your mindset!"
The avian, for the first time in the establishment, finally took a look at his surroundings critically, and vaguely noticed how this outlook caused the cage to slow down it's pacing. It seemed that Monkey... could be right here.
"Okay... so what do I have to do? I-I can't think or work well in closed in spaces!"
"I think it's Hàipà's test! You gotta face your fear! The more you go about this calmly, the more likely chance you can get out of here!"
"But what if I never get out? What if that doesn't work!?"
"Crane, listen to me," Monkey approached calmly, gently touching the cells separating the two. "I know I'm not the most reliant in the group, but trust me when I say you can do this! And if it indeed doesn't work, then we'll find another way to get you out of there together!"
"T-together?" Crane felt himself lighten up and his heart pound, but in a more peaceful manner as the cage cells began to slowly but surely decrease and expand.
"Yes! Together! I told you before, I promise I'm not gonna leave you trapped in here! I'm gonna do everything in my power to help you out, bird brain!"
Crane felt warmed by Monkey's declaration and finally rose up to calmly walk in his direction, bit by bit watching the ape come into view as the weight of the cage felt lighter. The bird may have been scared of the outcome of his entrapment, but Crane at last had some hope that no matter what happened, he knew he would be okay with Monkey by his side.
And that's when it started happening. With the cage starting to feel lighter, it was now actually and literally starting to become lighter! The cell bars began to slim down again and the atmosphere in Crane's surroundings didn't feel so pressuring to his lungs anymore.
He wiped his tears and started to beam. "It's working!"
"I told you~!" Monkey smirked from his place, hyping Crane up from his side of the cage. "You're taking down your fear!"
"Haha! I am! Take THAT, creepy cage!" Crane called out into the air. "You may trap my body, but you will never trap my warrior spirit!"
"That's right, bird brain! you kick your fear in the butt!" Monkey whooped, watching as the cage started to thin down into non-existence!
"Oh I'm totally gonna kick my fear in the butt! And then I'm gonna walk out of this spooky cave with you and our friends, and never look back!"
"YEAH!" Monkey exclaimed as the cell was simply no more, making Crane ecstatic as he extended his wings and took to the highest points in the newly empty cave.
The snub-nosed monkey watched on fondly as his bird brain flew around with glee. "WHOOHOO! I'M FREE!"
"You are! I'm proud of you, buddy! Whoa—" Monkey called back, before taken aback when the avian warrior came soaring down and pulling the primate in his wings and twirling him into a hug. "Oh, Monkey, Monkey, Monkey! You saved me!"
The ape felt his face heat up until it was as red as a baboon's behind, modestly and awkwardly chuckling back as he patted the affectionate bird's back, "H-hey, I didn't do much. You're the one who saved yourself and faced your fear!"
"Only because you were there, I don't know what I would do without you..." Crane replied ominously, deeply looking in Monkey's eyes as they still held each other for a little longer than what was intended. Suddenly, noticing both their positions and how now wasn't the best time or place, they retracted from each other and nervously chuckled before looking away from each other in order to hide their blushes.
"So uh... we should... probably find a way out of here, yeah?" Monkey suggested with a cheesy smile, making Crane vigorously nod his head as the two headed down a path that suspiciously just opened up.
Mantis paced around in the grass with the sun setting whilst Viper anxiously sat on a rock that laid outside of the jaded cave. The two managed to find their way out thanks to an opening of light that they found at the end of the cave, fully concluding their entry in that little 'game' they were stuck in. And now they must sit through the dreaded process of waiting to see if their friends made it or not.
"Ugh! Where are they!? If we got out they should be here by now!" Mantis finally said in a fit of frustration and worry.
"I hope they're doing okay... I don't know what I'd do if we didn't have the whole group together! The peace that Po brings, Tigress' protection and responsibility that she holds on us all, Crane's reasoning, and even Monkey's goofy antics and humor.." Viper solemnly replied.
"Whoohoooo! Hey guys!"
"Man, I can still hear that crazy ape's howling.." Mantis remarked in reply of Monkey's exclamation, sobbing comedically into his claw-thingies.
"Monkey! Crane!" Viper piped up in relief when she saw the primate and the avian getting close to the exist of the cave.
"Monkey!?" Mantis replied in shock.
"Who you calling 'a crazy ape', crazy!?" Monkey smirked as the two finally left the jaded tunnel.
"You guys made it!" Viper said happily as she slithered up to Crane's embrace.
"BESTIE!"
"BESTIE!"
Monkey and Mantis exclaimed at the same, with the bug hopping into Monkey's hands as they held each other close.
"Wait—what about Tigress and Po? Did you see them?" Viper asked Crane, making his smile drop to a concerned frown.
"They... they're not here with you guys?"
"Oh no..." Mantis ominously whispered as they all looked back into the cave.
After a moment of uneasy silence, Monkey finally had the strength to voice everyone's thoughts at that instant.
"That means they're still in there."
The panda was at the floor at this point, kneeling down and trying to force the voices to quiet down by covering his ears as the bickering between Shifu, Li and Mr. Ping only continued to grow more and more into a screaming match between the three.
"HE NEEDS TO STAY AT THE JADE PALACE!"
"HE NEEDS TO COME HOME AND BE WITH HIS ACTUAL KIND!"
"NO, HE NEEDS TO STAY AND RUN THE NOODLE SHOP WITH ME!"
They all shouted whilst Po grew more and more sick of the whole affair. "You guys, please! Stop!" He pathetically called out to them, which only succeeded in them ignoring his presence even more. He groaned and pounded his head in frustration yet again, admittedly annoyed with how, just as usual, the most important people in his life can't even bother to address what he might want.
He felt just as he did on various occasions before.
He felt unheard.
That is, until, he felt his spine tingle with a chilling feeling when he heard one more voice. One that was, again, very familiar, but if the presence of his dads and master wasn't unsuspecting enough, the presence that he would feel loom behind him certainly would.
"Come now, everyone, you're really senselessly contending each other about this endeavor?"
Everyone within range turned their heads towards the voice, yet Po was the only one to express any form of surprise as his eyes widened his eyes and felt his jaw fall limp.
"What the..." He gasped as before him was the sight of the supposedly ascended tortoise master.
"Oogway!?"
But there was something definitely wrong with the form of Oogway in general. Instead of his presence bringing calmness and a welcoming feeling, it brought upon a feeling of unease as he, for the first time to the panda's eyes, glared down menacingly and intimidatingly at him. Making Po feel belittled just by the glance alone as the grand reptile master stride past him to join the other elders.
The monochromatic bear was rightfully confused, slowly standing and finally taking a good look and really thinking about the whole venture in front of him.
"You... you all are just Hàipà's illusions... you're not real." He narrowed his eyes at them all as the mirage of Oogway hummed.
"Maybe so... but then again... are you even real?"
"What are you talking about?" The panda asked in a quiet, bitter tone that he had never expected to use on the great Oogway, who just scoffed in reply and turned to his faux companions.
"Well just take a look at your, supposed, 'parental figures'. The men who taught you, nurtured you, and guided you, all tearing themselves limb for limb all for your safety. Your job as the Dragon Warrior was to keep the peace within your surroundings and yet, you only ever caused trouble, pain and stress to the people who mattered most to you, did you not?"
Po was taken aback, looking down in reflection thanks to Oogway's words. "N-no... y-you don't mean that.."
"Actually, now that Master Oogway's mentioned it, I have noticed how difficult you made all of our lives..." The panda sprung his head up to his goose father, feeling his heart completely destroyed at such cold words leaving Ping's mouth.
"The Tai Lung incident when you first became Dragon Warrior..." Shifu exampled in.
"The Lord Shen and you being adopted debacle..."
"The Kai situation..." Li piped in, with all of them just adding more emphasis to Po's inner turmoils and intrusive thoughts.
"S-shut up..." The young panda pleaded under his breath with his eyes watering.
"You see, Po?" Oogway calmly and coldly piped in. "All you've done is cause trouble where ever you go, and everyone else around you has to take the fall."
"Shut up."
"I shouldn't have gone looking for you."
"I should have kicked you out of the Jade Palace when I've had the chance."
"I shouldn't have taken you into my care and left you on the streets to starve as a cub..."
"And I... shouldn't have believed in you in the first place and trust you as my successor."
"SHUT UP! SHUT UP, SHUT UP. SHUT! UP!" Po exclaimed in tears, breaking down completely to the ground as the voices within him and surrounding him kept ringing at his ears. He continued to thump his fists at his own head but the voices only persisted. Trapping him in a mental and physical despair.
"You only ever cause trouble..."
The words kept repeating, beating itself into Po's mind, making him feel more emotionally weak and vulnerable, until he finally voiced it himself.
"I... only ever cause... trouble..."
He finally stated quietly, feeling his tears drop to the ground, one by one, just as he voiced the thoughts plaguing his mind... one. By. One.
He knew this was all just a mind game from the great Hàipà dragon; and he knew what the casualties are if he let the fears get into his head. He would be lost in his own darkness forever.
"Maybe... that doesn't sound so bad..." He solemnly smiled in defeat.
"M-maybe... everyone would be better off... without me."
"Yeah, no, sorry, I can't really let that happen."
Po's eyes snapped open as well as his mind whilst the voices suddenly stopped at the sudden sound. A sound he thought he wouldn't hear again after feeling her seemingly vanish. He finally felt the courage to glance up, only to feel a subtle moment of relief when he saw the familiar tiger stand over him, paw on her hip as she grinned down at the bear in amusement.
"T...Tigress..? You're not—you're not an illusion, right..?" He asked innocently as he poked the foot of the feline to see if she would poof, which only made her roll her eyes.
"Yes, Po, I'm real. Though I assume with the grim mirage of a infamously dead grandmaster can rightfully make you question your reality."
"Yep, fancy words, definitely you..." Po muttered and sat up, sniffling and wiping away his tears. Tigress sat down next to him, elbow to elbow.
"Seemed that the voices have quietened down..."
The panda nodded. "Yeah. Usually Hàipà's illusions and mind games get neutralised when his 'victims' are in contact with what makes them happy and at peace..."
"Are you saying that I make you happy, Dragon Warrior?" Tigress turned to him with a smirk, but Po simply shrugged.
"I'm not ashamed to admit that you do..." He said monotonously, making the tiger master frown. "So... what gives with you? I mean, you suddenly vanish and then return with a grin on your face? What did Hàipà do to you?" Po asked honestly.
The feline looked to the ground. "He... enlightened me... in his sick, twisted ways... I eventually got to face my fear."
Po's eyes widened again. "But you said—"
"I thought I didn't have one," Tigress interjected, side-eyeing her ursine companion, "But it seems you start to believe your own facade after faking it long enough..."
Po looked down in his saddened matter again. "I get what you mean... doesn't that make you feel like... a fraud, though?"
Tigress had to nod to that. "Sometimes... but I guess it's not as based on me being a fraud than it is about me being... defensive."
"Because gods forbid anyone seeing your vulnerable state, right?" The bear bitterly joked, personally hitting too close to home between the both of them.
After a moment of silence, Tigress shifted her seating to being in front of the panda, blocking his sight from the muted illusions formerly tormenting him. Now it was just them, and she was going to make sure Po saw that as such.
Just Po and Tigress; face to face, isolating themselves from all their doubts, bricked up inner walls, and defences.
"So..." Tigress at last piped up, "you're afraid of your dads and Masters Shifu and Oogway?"
Dropping his head low, Po finally sighed.
"I'm afraid of letting them down..."
Instead of prying, Tigress simply sat there and listened. She was more so the listening type anyway, so she decided it was best to stay quiet as she let Po expose his vulnerability to her.
"I'm..." The Dragon Warrior choked on his breath, feeling his lip quiver as the tears ran down yet again, "W-what kind of Dragon Warrior am I!? I-I mean, I'm meant to be a protector of China, Oogway's successor, a teacher AND still try to put family first! But i-it seems everything I do I just—" Po growled and smacked his head again, clawing at the sides of it with his dull nails. "It's like everything I do is just such a MESS up! I'm ALWAYS getting everyone into trouble, giving them stress, all because I just MESS. UP! I just CAN'T seem to do anything right and I hate it! H-HOW DO YOU ALL PUT UP WITH ME AND MY MISTAKES EVERYDAY, AND STILL CLAIM ME AS DRAGON WARRIOR!? I-I'M SUPPOSED TO UPHOLD ALL THESE RESPONSIBILITIES AND YET I CAN'T SEEM TO DO ANY OF IT RIGHT!? I JUST FEEL SO—SO... PATHETIC AND USELESS! AND I HATE IT!"
Finally, after getting all of that out of his system, he took a deep, shuddering breath as he lowered his voice.
"I... I hate it so much, Tigress.."
Slowly, after a moment of silence that felt like an eternity to the panda warrior, he felt a pair of familiar arms wrap around his shoulders as well as a sudden shift of weight on his body. Tigress still didn't say a thing as she held him close, letting his emotions run loose as he sobbed into her embrace. Po clung to her back, and cried into her shoulder, all whilst she rubbed his back and spoke in hushed, reassuring tones.
"Why... didn't you tell us any of this? Or at least me.."
Po scoffed into her shoulder, "You already have to put up with me everyday... I guess I didn't wanna bother you—"
"Po! Please! Enough!" Suddenly, Tigress pulled away, still holding Po's shoulders. "We don't have to put up with anything—I don't have to put up with anything! There's nothing for you to be ashamed about with sharing something as trivial as this! You may be the Dragon Warrior and have proved to accomplishing anything but even you have your limits! That doesn't make you pathetic, useless or a fraud, it just gives you humanity! And that's nothing to feel guilty about. You're not a god; everyone makes mistakes!"
"Yeah, but to the extent of mistakes I make!?" Po retaliated.
"Yes and more!" Tigress insisted, "And I can give three different examples of that."
"Like what?"
"Tai Lung, Shen and Kai."
Po felt himself wince. As much as he hated to admit it; those names alone were enough to make some good points.
"But even those mistakes don't make you who you are! It's what you do with them and what you choose to be that matters! So what if you have made a couple of mistakes, or a couple hundred of mistakes? Did they ever outweigh the good you have done for us all?"
Po looked up curiously at Tigress, "The good I've... done..?" He asked with disbelief. "What do you mean?"
"Hmm, let's look at the analogue here..." Tigress sarcastically stated as she turned and sat her back against the panda's belly. "Saving China on numerous occasions, assisting with the Valley of Peace in more ways than one could ever comprehend, making the people around you, including your dads, Master Shifu and all the residents in the Jade Palace better and happier people thanks to your influence, all whilst keeping your humble and aloof attitude, looking out for others before yourself to the point where you have selflessly sacrificed your literal life without another thought, you know, simply the basics..."
Po was admittedly taken aback by Tigress' sassy and casual demeanor when listing out his good deeds, but never the less it did help in making him feel a little bit lighter thanks to it.
"You... really think that of me, Master Tigress?"
The feline simply tilted her head up at the ursine holding her from behind now. "I and the very universe, Po. Besides... I don't think there's any point of doubting Oogway's decision at this point. You truly have proven yourself righteous of the title of the Dragon Warrior..." She reached up to caress Po's cheek as he melted into her touch. "But that doesn't mean you have to bear the same burdens of that title on your own... You're not alone, you do know that, right? The Furious Five and I, we're all on your side... we're a team. And no intrusive thought you have will ever change that, alright?"
Po smiled softly through his tears and placed his paw against Tigress'. "W-wow... that was... pretty deep, Ti... you've really grown as a creature from when we first met."
The tiger simply hummed and sat up in front of Po again, "Well, I had a good teacher..."
"Really? Who?"
"You, you big oaf." She replied with endearment in her voice before helping Po up to his feet with her. "And you've grown as well."
Her smile—that damn, perfect smile Po could never get enough of—made him feel at total peace with himself as he couldn't help but pull her into another hug, letting the last of her tears fall on that same shoulder he wept on.
"Thanks, Tigress..." He sniffled. Tigress reciprocated his embrace and rubbed his back.
"Anything for you, Po..."
After a moment of just holding one another, Po finally released and wiped his nose. "Uh... sorry, I made your shoulder pretty gross now, heheh.." He pointed to the wet, gooey patch on Tigress' hanfu, at first making her cringe before she smiled with gritted teeth. "It's fine. I'll live."
Po chuckled, making Tigress feel her own moment of peace thanks to the joy Po was able to fully express. Suddenly, he looked up past the feline. "Oh! Hey! The scary illusions are gone!"
The feline turned to the direction Po was looking, delighted herself when she simply saw... nothing standing there.
"Looks like you defeated your fear, Dragon Warrior."
"Thanks to you, Ti! I don't think I would have made it without you..."
The panda bashfully looked down and went to reach to hold Tigress' paw, but hesitated and silently waited for her permission, making her chuckle herself. She decided to play nicely and grab hold of Po's paw instead. "Well, like I said... we're going through this together."
Po smiled and squeezed her paw just as he did before.
"Well, looks like we won the 'game', are you ready to go home?" Tigress asked whilst taking a starting lead, making Po follow in her steps with a relieved sigh.
"So ready."
Crane flew out of the other end of the cave per Viper's instructions to look through it for the first few miles. "Well, did you see them, Crane?"
The avian unfortunately shook his head. "Nothing. And I am NOT going to go further from there."
"That's okay, bird brain," Monkey reassured, "I'm sure they'll come out soon. I mean, Po and Tigress are the strongest on our team! I'm sure they'll be okay!"
"Well," Mantis cringed, "They may be strong physically, but uh... Mentally? We all know those two definitely have the most... baggage."
Just as Mantis did, Monkey, Crane and Viper all cringed themselves, for they all knew Mantis had a point on that.
"I mean... there is a reason why they are the last to come out of there... if they're ever going to come out at all.." Crane fidgeted with his wings nervously, worrying the primate standing by his side.
"Guys, come on, give Po and Tigress a little more credit, I mean, for all we know, they could have been done with Hàipà's game a long while ago and they're probably just spending extra time to make out in there, hehe.." Monkey awkwardly laughed, trying to lighten the mood.
"You could not be more wrong."
"AAAAAAAH!" The gang all screamed and looked in the direction of the cave, seeing Po and Tigress standing at the exit paw in paw.
"Hey guys..." Po sheepishly waved in his sweet manner, making the rest of the team instead exclaim in delight.
"PO! TIGRESS!"
They were about to tackle them to the floor, but Tigress swiftly dodged their affectionate attack and let Po take the fall.
"WHOA! HEY GUYS!" Po, obviously, as the affectionate panda himself, pulled them all into a group hug they all needed.
"We were so worried you two wouldn't have made it out!" Crane stated, being the first to leave the hug.
"And Monkey was worried that you two were instead making ou—OOF!" Mantis suddenly exclaimed when Monkey flicked the bug in the gut to warn him.
"We're just glad you all are safe.." Tigress entered in, pulling everyone's attention on her. "All that matters is we're all together now..."
"Hey... you didn't get in on our group hug..." Monkey pointed out slyly.
"Oh no..." Tigress grumbled and before she knew it, she felt scales, wings, tiny claw-thingies, and furry arms wrap all around her body despite her silent protests. They all laughed in solace in their embrace as Tigress simply let a small smile and chuff slip through.
Unfortunately, their familial moment was suddenly interrupted as they all freaked out when the exit to the cave suddenly closed up, causing a loud thud to erupt.
"AAAAAAAH!"
As if it wasn't anymore creepy, they also heard the familiar cackle of the Dragon of Fear ripple through the cave.
After a moment of them all processing what the fuck just happened, Po was the first to leave the group hug. "WELP—That's our cue to call THAT quits! I personally have faced quite enough of an emotional rickshaw ride, thank you!"
"Yep, same." The Furious Five collectively agreed as they all broke from the hug.
"The sun is still up as well, surprisingly... how about we all head to Mr. Ping's Noodle Shop, hmm?" Tigress suggested.
"Oh yes please!" Po replied, "I really need to give my dads a hug—you guys in?"
"YOU KIDDING? AND MISS OUT ON MR. PING'S SECRET INGREDIENT SOUP AFTER THAT SHITSHOW!? LET'S GO!" Mantis exclaimed, hopping ahead and causing everyone to chuckle as they followed suit.
Followed suit on their way home, forever turning their backs from... the Cave of Bravery.
~THE END~
