Author's Note: Hey guys! Here is Chapter Five; I'm sorry it took sooo long to update but here it is! Hopefully I won't take over a week next time - hope you're still following! Thanks for sticking around, and I hope you will continue to enjoy how the story progresses. Anyway, Po and Tigress have had their wounds bandaged and now they have to convince the rest of the valley to fight for their freedom. How will it go? Keep reading and find out!
Meanwhile, the villagers were still in a panic, even after hearing what the masters had told them. Indeed, they weren't warriors nor had combat experience of any kind, but the masters believed in them.
"There is power in numbers." Tigress spoke up, turning back towards the villagers with a painful jolt. "If you all work together, you can take them out. There aren't very many of the wolves left; this advantage alone should allow you to overpower and defeat them." she stated simply, taking a step towards Po.
However, it was more of a limp of pain due to her leg, and Po - thinking fast - quickly caught her by wrapping an arm around her upper body before she could collapse.
"T-thanks, Po." she whispered as she wrapped an arm around the panda to stable herself.
The panda nodded to her with a faint smile before he too spoke up, "She's right you guys! You just... have to believe in yourselves..." the wounded master said looking around at them and Tigress turned her head towards him with a smile. "As you believed in us... so we now believe in you."
When hearing this, the villagers seemed to be more encouraged than before, and after a few moments of silence, they began to nod in agreement.
"Awesome!" Po exclaimed. "Now let's do this!" after this, the villagers in the noodle shop cheered excitedly.
Meanwhile, the wolf scout who had eavesdropped on the earlier meeting approached the noodle shop with the few dozen remaining wolves, having informed his comrades of the brewing rebellion. With the elites dead, they weren't as strong as they'd been before, but the wolves were determined to snuff out this insurrection before it got out of control. They agreed and planned one final attack against the villagers; to remove any hope that remained amongst the them.
Back inside the shop, Po was still holding onto Tigress, and he helped her sit down at a table to rest. The tiger very much appreciated this from him, and he even pulled out another chair for her to prop her injured leg on. She smiled at him in thanks, before Po began to organize the villagers inside the shop.
But a moment later, they heard the sound of rapidly approaching footsteps outside the shop. Soon it became painfully apparent that the wolves had discovered their location, and the villagers were terrified, running in all directions inside the restaurant.
"Guys, remember the plan! Lead them to the place we told you!" Po shouted above the crowd, and the villagers heard and remembered what they told them.
Not another second later, a massive impact at the barricade of the noodle shop sent the small inner courtyard into complete chaos.
"No survivors – no mercy!" one of the wolves screamed.
The wolves rushed in with spears and war-hammers, and the villagers who weren't immediately dropped to the ground scattered between the larger animals and over the walls to divide the attackers. Jumping up from where she was sitting, Tigress grabbed Po by the arms and launched him out to the street, knocking over many wolves in the process; he landed on his feet and Tigress began closely following the panda on all fours. The citizens of the valley immediately began leading the wolves out of the shop, and with Po and Tigress's help, down small streets and alleyways in all directions; the brutes pursued the brave villagers along with the injured masters with a determined ravenousness. But unbeknownst to the lupines, they were all being led to a single point – a large central courtyard in the merchant district.
Po and Tigress immediately went to the center of the open area and engaged the first few wolves to reach them – eventually taking up all the attention and luring the attackers into the open space where they had no cover. As the villagers regrouped, the trap was sprung, just as had been planned. From above, on the rooftops, the determined citizens began to throw bricks and fairly large rocks and other projectiles at the wolves below. Many of them tried to dodge or avoid them, but they had nowhere to go and this soon began thinning their numbers drastically; all the while, the two masters at the center of the action fought with complete desperation, having to avoid some of the friendly fire from above.
The wolves that remained, the masters did their best to handle despite their severely injured states; some of the villagers who were armed with sticks and metal woks came in to help. A brutal close-quarters melee ensued, where it would take several villagers to drag one of the brutes to the ground, often by slicing at the backs of their knees. When the masters could no longer fight due to their injuries, these villagers began to knock out the last wolves with their skillets, beating and kicking the others as hard as they could with their sticks.
Finally, the last of the wolves were taken down, and the remaining citizens of the valley cheered happily over their costly victory. The villagers then began to drag the dead and unconscious wolves down the streets and out of the valley, throwing them down the steep cliff next to the bridge. The other villagers then began to work on clearing away the rubble, initiating the imposing task of rebuilding the Valley of Peace from the destruction.
Having collapsed from exhaustion, Po and Tigress did not stir from unconsciousness for almost an hour after the victory; a few villagers who'd thought they had died prodded them with twigs – only to discover they were in fact alive.
Leaning on each other for support, they started back through the streets, passing some buildings that were still burning. Before the masters could enter the shop again, Tigress stopped and noticed something out of the corner of her eye. Something dripping. She saw on the ground red drops forming and as she looked up, she saw the source of blood dripping from Po's injured arm. It ran down his arm and fell at the tips of his digits. Her eyes widened in concern, but he didn't seem to notice.
"Po, your arm!" she shouted concerned and the panda looked over at it.
"What's wrong, Ti - ah! It's bleeding…" he exclaimed in shock and a somewhat high-pitched tone.
"Yeah and we need to fix it now or else..." she started, but then Po continued.
"Like the hearts of a thousand wounded warriors in the heat of a bodaciously awesome battle!" he continued fanboyishly, and Tigress just stared at him for a second, before quietly shaking her head with a small chuckle, pinching the bridge of her nose. She couldn't hope to understand how the panda stayed so upbeat at times like these.
"Well, let's tend to that arm 'oh mighty wounded warrior' before things get worse." she added with a weak smile, playing along with his antics.
The panda chuckled but the ash in the air caused him to start coughing. He nodded, and the two helped each other back into the shop. Mr. Ping then led them into the kitchen to a place where they could sit down, and he could change Po's bandage. Po and Tigress sat down next to each other on a bench and the three began to talk.
"You should be more careful, son." the goose said, removing his now blood-soaked bandage with Tigress wrapping the new one tightly over the wound and biting off the end gauze. Po whispered a 'thank you' to the tiger, who smiled with an assuring nod, before his father spoke up again.
"If you don't you could bleed out. You should not have fought so soon after being injured." he stated in a worried tone.
"I know, dad, but we needed to do something to take back the valley – we couldn't just leave it to those wolves." he pointed out with a sigh and a small groan of pain.
"And you have well." the goose said, placing a wing on his shoulder with a concerned look. "But you could have been killed."
The three then grew somberly quiet, reflecting on the unfortunate string of recent events.
After a while, Mr. Ping had an idea to change the subject and lower the tension they all were feeling by lightening the mood – and what better way than by embarrassing his son?
"Ah, this reminds me!" the goose chimed up excitedly. "I've recently found some old family portraits..." he said as he turned around and began to dig through some items under the counter.
After hearing this, Po groaned in annoyance, knowing the horrors he was about to see. "Daaad!" he whined. "Please, not those! They're really embarrassing." he mumbled, not wanting to go through this now or Tigress to see them.
Mr. Ping chuckled, "And that's exactly why I want to show my Xiao Po. Now where did I put them?" he said as he began to search through various boxes.
A tint of red came to the panda's white face and he pouted, while folding his arms with a groan – no Kung Fu warrior deserved this. Meanwhile, Tigress couldn't help but laugh softly especially after hearing Po's father call him little Po.
"You're not exactly 'Xiao' Po anymore." Tigress said teasingly with laughter still in her voice causing Po's cheeks to darken even more. Immediately she was starting to feel regret at her little joke and tried to apologize.
"I'm sorry, Po; I was just teasing." Tigress said gently with a look of guilt over her face. "I didn't mean anything by that."
Po then smiled softly at her, "It's ok, Ti; I know you didn't." he said, assuring her he wasn't mad. "I'm sure you meant 'grown-up' right?"
Tigress nodded, "You have grown, Po. That I can say for sure." she said with a smile which the panda returned as their eyes met.
"Oh, I found them!" the goose spoke up interrupting their gaze as the two turned their heads to face him.
"Oh, no." Po thought with a sigh as he began to mentally prepare himself for what he was about to endure.
All of a sudden, Mr. Ping pulled out one of the pictures from the box, and it was revealed to be a young Po sitting on top of Mr. Pings back. The cub seemed to have a very excited expression while the younger goose appeared to be in pain with the panda on his back.
"Look at baby Po, when I tried to give him a piggy back ride!" the goose gushed showing the image to the pair.
Po rubbed the back of his head nervously wishing he could just disappear in that moment. Tigress, on the other hand, trying to be respectful, simply turned her attention to her claws - extending and retracting them every so often as she watched the black smoke rising from the valley.
Mr. Ping tried to show one to Tigress, but she just gently looked away. "Master Tigress, you should see this one!" he said holding up a different picture.
The tiger shook her head, "It's ok, Mr. Ping. I prefer not to intrude on your privacy."
"Oh, but Master Tigress, you might like this one. I insist!" he said excitedly.
"Please, Mr. Ping I-" she was saying but cut herself off when she caught a glimpse of the painting.
The artwork was one of a teenage Po who had hair down to his eyes and a big happy smile in his face, holding his Tigress action figure. It was the day he made it and he couldn't put it down from the looks of the painting.
Seeing this, Tigress now couldn't hide her smile that was forming on her face. At this point, Po looked over and when he saw that portrait, his heart skipped a beat in fear.
"No, not that!" he whined nervously, obviously embarrassed as he tried to grab it, but it was already too late - she saw it.
"Ooh! Let me see that one." Tigress finished with a grin, snatching the image before Po could grab it, to his dismay.
Tigress took the image in her paw and admired it with a fond, warm smile. Po's face felt like it was on fire and he desperately tried to grab it, but Tigress moved the paw away from his reach and held him back with her other paw on his forehead while he squirmed like a child and tried his best to grab it but to no avail.
"Well, someone sure likes their Tigress action figure, huh?" she said teasingly; her smile turned into a smirk as she looked at the panda who had ceased struggling.
Po sat straight up, chuckled, and then looked away bashfully, "Yeah I-I made that one myself." he said looking at the floor. "But I like the real thing a million times better." he thought to himself in his head, taking a good look at the striped feline before him.
The tiger chuckled, "You're very creative, Dragon Warrior. But tell me... what happened to the long hair? It suited you well."
Po now turned back around and rubbed the top of his head, "Ah, I don't know, just decided to cut it for some reason. Maybe I'll grow it back one day." he said thoughtfully with a shrug, and Tigress nodded with a small smile.
"I remember that hair." Mr. Ping spoke up with a chuckle as Tigress gave the picture back and he put it back into the box with the others. "I also remember you wanted to get a nose-ring too!" he said, putting the box down and turning his attention towards Po, placing his wings on his hips.
The panda cringed at the memory; he recalled how Master Storming Ox used to have a nose-ring and he thought that if he got one too, it would make him look tough. Shaking it off, he sighed, "Yeah, but that phase is waaay over, dad. I'm glad I didn't." he said, gently rubbing his nose with his pointer and thumb digits.
The goose scoffed, "Me too. I simply couldn't allow my son to do that. It just wouldn't look right on you and you were being bullied enough already." he stated, putting the box back under the counter.
Po's face dropped when hearing the last part – this didn't go unnoticed by Tigress. "I know that now dad." he mumbled.
Mr. Ping then gave them a few dumplings and noodles to snack on which they thanked him for graciously - especially Po - who was naturally hungry. While they ate, Tigress decided to change the subject, realizing some time had passed and it was almost noon.
"Mr. Ping, thank you for this but... we have to go find where our friends were taken to." she said, eating one last tofu cube.
The goose sighed sadly, "Ok, but... you just got back."
"That may be, but it is important that we find them. They were taken by the enemy, and we don't know what's become of them." the tiger explained as Po finished his bowl of dumplings.
The goose gave a conceding nod, and Tigress turned to Po, "Do you remember the one wolf who was beating me earlier – the one that you hit?"
Po nodded with a solemn expression, "How could I forget – do you think he'll know anything?" he asked, putting down his bowl and chopsticks.
"I'm sure he would – I think he was a leader of some sort. Let's track him down and find out, ok?" she asked, and he nodded as the two got up from where they were seated.
"We'll be back shortly, Mr. Ping - don't worry." she assured the goose with gentle smile and he nodded and ushered them out.
Once they exited the shop, Po led the limping tiger down the streets and alleyways until they arrived at the location where the fight with the wolves and then the elites had begun. They began searching for the first wolf who Po had beat down earlier before the elites arrived, and Tigress, noticing some drag marks in the mud, got down on a knee and began to inspect it.
"From the looks of it, he couldn't have gotten far." she said, getting up. "Let's follow it and it should lead us right to him." she stated, and the panda nodded in agreement.
The two then followed the skid marks a few blocks away to another alley where they found the same wolf crawling away pathetically. He was holding his head, obviously sore from the beating Po gave him earlier, and his maw was still red with blood. Po began to make his way over to him as he was still slowly crawling through the mud.
When he saw Po and Tigress out of the corner of his eye he scoffed. "You two again? What do you want – did the elites give you more than you could handle?" he mocked with a sneer when seeing their injuries.
Then Po frowned remembering all they did to him and Tigress. He then walked over to him, and roughly dragged him up against a wall.
"Ok buddy we can do this the easy way, the hard way, or... the semi-medium-easy-hard way." Po said with a serious expression, holding him up with a single paw and the wolf rolled his eyes. "Where's our friends, jerk?" he questioned as Tigress limped to his side.
The wolf laughed then glared at him, "You're too much, panda. Ya know… if I wasn't in the state I'm in now... and your stripy friend was tied up..." he was saying as Po glared at him. "I would happily beat her again."
Hearing this, Po simply let go of the lowlife, letting him fall back down to the ground – causing the wolf to groan in pain when his bruised head hit the mud. Tigress, after hearing what the wolf said, scoffed and rolled her eyes. "Yeah, like you could ever take me head on." she thought.
"Wrong answer. You're never gonna hurt her or anyone that I care about ever again. Now, let's try this again..." he said sternly as the wolf shook his head from the mud and sat up. "Where... are... our... friends?"
"You hit hard, panda – you know that? I've still got a headache." the wolf groaned spitting some blood from his mouth onto the ground. "As for your friends and the old red panda... might as well tell you… no use in hiding it now."
"Good." Po said putting his arm down.
"We're waiting." Tigress said folding her arms.
The wolf sighed then began weakly, "The army and our master are heading directly northwest from this valley with your friends. From the looks of it they've already got a day's start on you." he said with a chuckle.
"Ok but... where to?" Po questioned. But the wolf didn't answer as he began coughing up blood again.
Just then, Tigress spoke up, "It's ok, Po. I know where they're going." she said, for this was starting to make sense.
"Huh? How do you- where?" Po asked confusedly, turning towards her.
"They're going to the capital." she stated. "And I just do. Trust me."
Po then smiled with a nod, "Ok I do. It kinda makes sense. You're awesomely smart, Ti." he complimented to which Tigress smiled.
"Let's not waste any more time – we have a long journey ahead of us." Tigress said as she habitually went to put her paw in her sleeves - only to realize she didn't have any - causing her to smile slightly.
Po got up and chuckled seeing Tigress do this. "Alright let's go, and... I saw that." he teased with a smirk.
"Hush, you." she teased back. "Just a habit. We should get going." she added, changing the subject and then the two started to head back to the noodle shop but then the wolf spoke up from behind them.
"You gonna leave me alone here with all the people with pointy sticks?" he whined as he tried to get up but couldn't.
Tigress sighed, "Yes. We will leave you to the mercy of the villagers."
The wolf groaned before passing out face first in the mud with a splat.
"Welp, the pointy stick brigade should be after him in no time." Po joked, and Tigress couldn't help but chuckle and smile hearing this.
"Yeah sure, Po." she added, amused.
"How is it Po that you manage to make me laugh even at times like this?" Tigress thought to herself as she shook her head.
The two then continued their walk back to the noodle shop to prepare for their journey. Once they arrived, Mr. Ping was at the entrance waiting for them of course.
"Did you two find out where Shifu and your friends were taken?" he asked, and Po nodded.
"Yes, and we need to go after them immediately." Po replied.
A worried look came over the gooses face, "Now? Where are you going?"
"Nanjing." Tigress answered. "The army is already a day ahead of us and we don't have time to waste." she stated, and the gooses head dropped.
"Oh." he whispered sadly knowing a trip to the capital was a long journey – especially considering their wounded state.
"I'll go pack up some supplies – be ready to leave in a few minutes, Po." Tigress said before departing in the other direction.
Mr. Ping then turned his attention to his son with a worried look while the tiger ran off.
"Do you really have to go, son? This trip is dangerous – not to mention you both are seriously wounded! You need rest!" he pleaded, but Po's face remained solemn and sincere.
"Yeah… I have to, dad. The fate of China and the whole world could be at stake… again. Not to mention Shifu and the others could be in extreme danger and we need to get to them!" Po replied, placing a paw on his father's shoulder.
The goose bowed his head trying to hold back a few tears. "O-ok... But why is it that you always have to go on these dangerous life-threatening missions!?" he complained as his vision started to blur and his thoughts began to race. "I don't want you to die, Po." he choked.
Po sighed sadly as he himself was trying not to shed tears, "Because I'm the Dragon Warrior - it's my duty to fight this threat to China. And I won't, dad... I'll come back to you." he said softly as he gave the goose a hug which he returned.
"You better come back, son. Safe and sound." Mr. Ping whispered as a few tears slipped from his eyes.
"I will try." Po said releasing him and setting him down.
Just then Tigress spoke up as she made her way towards the entrance of the shop with two large backpacks filled with various supplies: food, extra bandages, a bottle of sake, some rope, flint rocks, a map, and some other things. "Don't worry Mr. Ping; I'll keep him safe." she said gently with a kind smile.
The goose nodded slowly with a sad expression. "Be sure that you do. He's the only son I have." he said with a fearful expression. This unfamiliar look of dread in the goose gave the tiger a feeling of unease, but Tigress nodded and bowed to him, nonetheless.
"You ready, Po?" Tigress asked gently handing him one of the packs.
The panda hesitated for a second, exchanging looks with his father before he nodded, "Yeah. Let's go." he whispered, finally breaking the gaze and taking the pack in his paw.
Tigress placed a paw on his shoulder and gave him a comforting smile, and then the two began to walk away from the noodle shop, leaving the goose behind as they made their way towards the exit of the valley. As they walked down the dirt streets with the sun on their backs, a breeze began to pick up, swirling around the warriors as they set out on their journey – all alone, an army comprised of only two.
And that's the end if Chapter 5! I'm sooooo sorry I didn't update sooner! Forgive me for keeping y'all waiting so long; I'll try to update more frequently. Anyway, this is the beginning of the journey for Po and Tigress to find their friends in this Crucible. Fires are burning - will they make it? Find out in the next chapter. Thanks for reading and following! And thanks again to Dragon Chronicle for beta-reading. Let me know your thoughts if you liked it!