The sun rose on the valley the next morning without knowledge of what a special day it was shedding light on. Liàng remained on the Plateau Oogway had left him on, sitting beside the Sacred Peach Tree and meditating as he had been doing all night. Oogway hadn't yet returned for him, but he was patient, willing to wait however long as was needed within reason. As soon as the sun peeked over the mountain, a gong sounded and was heard throughout the palace. Although its purpose was unknown to Liàng, every other occupant of the palace knew. Within the barracks where the Furious Five slept during the night, all five warriors emerged from their rooms and spoke with one unified voice.
"Good morning Master."
This was routine. Every morning, the quintuplet would emerge at the sound of that gong. It showed discipline that not a single one of them was ever late, but four of the five found it hard to suppress their shock when Tigress appeared without any sign of injury.
"After breakfast, see yourselves to the training hall to begin training for the day. Your focus this morning will be on your abilities as a team. You fight together, understand?"
"Yes Master," they replied.
Without another word, Shifu left them to their own devices. He walked slowly with his cane in hand, limping from an old injury but moving all the same. It took him but a few minutes to reach his destination. Cresting yet another set of stairs, a peach tree came into view along with a white tiger dressed in common clothes. His approach didn't go unnoticed by Liàng, who took a deep breath before standing. He was surprised that it was not Oogway who arrived to greet him first, but he did his best not to show it. Instead, when he turned to face the red panda, he bowed. Shifu did not return the gesture.
"You're here, even though you were told you were not welcome."
Liàng's ears folded down, feeling discouraged once again. "I'm sorry, Master. I know I-"
"I wasn't finished," Shifu said, cutting him off. "Viper told me what you did. You defended the valley and apprehended two of China's most dangerous criminals. You also saved the life of one of my students. You defended Tigress against impossible odds, and through a power none of them could describe, you were victorious. For everything you've done, I owe you my gratitude."
Then, Shifu bowed and the young tiger's eyes went wide. For the first time since he had arrived in the valley, Shifu was giving him hope for his acceptance.
"Come," he ordered, turning and walking back down the stairs. Liàng followed eagerly, soon finding his place at Shifu's side as they traversed the palace. "Now, to be clear, I still don't believe the story you told us. But for all that you've done, you are welcome to stay."
"You mean…?" Liàng trailed off, not sure if he was hearing Shifu correctly or not.
"You will be an honored guest," he clarified. "I'll host you a fortnight, and no more. You will be fed, rested, and supplied for whatever journey is ahead of you. You will not be a student of myself or Master Oogway."
The tiger thought hard about what he was hearing. He was disappointed that he wouldn't be a student, but being allowed to stay was a step in the right direction. "Thank you, Master Shifu. With your permission, I would also like to use the grounds to conduct my own training."
Shifu nodded. "You will have the courtyard and sparring yard at your disposal. For now, join the five in the training hall. After they have shown you its tools, you may also train within. Stay out of the courtyard for today; I intend to use it for my own peace, this afternoon."
"Yes, Master," he replied, bowing respectfully before running off towards the training hall.
Needless to say he was excited to resume some form of training, while Shifu was ready to begin a relaxing session of practice in playing his Dizi Flute. When Liàng arrived at the training hall, however, he found that not a single one of the Furious Five was within or even nearby. The hall was occupied only by a collection of the Geese who served as the palace's workforce. Most of them were standing on platforms in the rafters, waiting to activate any of the hall's stations. Others were on similar platforms armed with crossbows, evidently primed to fire at whoever might want to train against such weaponry. And others still were simply sweeping the floor, making sure everything remained nice and clean. All of the workers stood at attention when he entered, as if they knew a training session was about to begin. Liàng scanned every contraption within the room and recognized almost none of them. One station, however, was familiar to him.
A collection of wooden dummies, each armed with rotating dowels decorated in iron rivets and spikes. They were many in number, and arranged in a fashion that made it impossible to navigate without having to defend oneself against their attacks. Liàng had no memory of any interaction with them, but they were still strangely familiar. He eyeballed them as he walked around the rest of the stations, soon locating a small set of stairs that led down into that area. Intrigued by the wooden army before him, Liàng took a basic stance and moved forwards into their ranks.
The first strike he received was easily blocked, but the farther inside he got, the more difficult that station became. It seemed that every step Liàng took in any direction put one more wooden dummy around him that he had to worry about. He could see how this would be a good way to train, even for a Kung Fu Master. He was doing well, for it being his first time in such a contraption that he recalled. The motions he went through within were fluid, allowing him to flawlessly avoid almost every dowel. His record of avoidance was perfect, until one unseen attack from behind struck him in the back of the head. It was hardly painful, and dazed him for only a moment.
"An attack can come from any direction!" A deep voice shouted.
Liàng looked around, searching for the source of those words, but he couldn't find anyone. It was hard to tell who might be around, especially while still avoiding being hit by wood and iron.
"Be aware of every enemy! When you're fighting an army by yourself, you can't be caught off guard. They can hit you from anywhere, even from above!"
Hearing that, Liàng glanced upwards just in time to see another warrior draped in orange. It was fast, too fast to make out any fine details. He barely maneuvered himself out of the way in time for it to dive down between the wooden warriors, striking and destroying the one that was previously behind him before vanishing amongst the remainder. While distracted, Liàng was struck multiple more times. He had no idea who was barking those words at him, nor who the person was that was attacking him. Every so often, that warrior would reappear and strike him again. He was beginning to grow frustrated by how easily this person was wiggling into every opening. He was being thoroughly beaten, and it left him feeling useless in combat. After only a few short minutes of this treatment, the warrior slid beneath the dowels of a warrior in front of him, and from the ground planted a firm kick on his chest. That kick launched him up into the air and out of the training area. He landed painfully on the wooden walkway beside it, and soon after, the mystery warrior landed beside him, it's arms in a position to attack once again.
"That's enough, Biyu," the deep voice said, signaling for his assailant to stop.
"Yes, Master," it replied, in a female voice.
Liàng looked up to finally get a glimpse of her. She was a jaguar, classic in color. Her eyes were orange, like blazing embers from a fire freshly lit. Though she had just thoroughly beaten him, she seemed friendly, and furthered this facade by offering a hand to help Liàng up from the ground. Angered, he swatted that hand away and stood on his own.
Biyu was taken aback by his behavior, exclaiming quickly, "what is your problem?"
"I don't have a problem!" Liàng replied, his voice sounding far younger. "You're the one who has to keep humiliating me! We get it, you're better than me in every way."
"Liàng, that's enough!" The deep voice ordered. The young tiger turned to face him, seeing the shape of a wolf. "It's part of your training."
"Training for what? I'm not one of you!"
Suddenly, all that Liàng was seeing and feeling faded away. He was left standing before the station of wooden warriors as if he had never entered their ranks. Not a single one of their arms was rotating, and no part of his body felt any pain. He reached out and placed a hand on the nearest one, greatly confused. The training hall was silent. Silent, until an elderly voice spoke up.
"You have had a vision," it said. Liàng turned to see Master Oogway standing on the wooden walkway beside him. "A vision of your past. Tell me, who are you?"
Eyeballing the old turtle quizzically, he replied, "I am Liàng, disciple of Master Guang under the Order of Light."
"So you have said, but who is Liàng? What do you truly know of yourself?" He gave no reply. "Look also to what you carry."
Liàng knew what he was referring to; his staff, still strapped securely to his back. He removed it and held it out, taking a close look at it himself. "A weapon used by my people," he stated.
Oogway seemed disappointed. "A weapon, or a tool? Capable of great power and destruction, certainly, but what more?"
The tiger was confused. "I don't..." he trailed off.
"Like your chi, this staff is more than just a weapon. More than what it seems at first glance." Oogway waved his shaking hand over the staff to accentuate his point. "The wood, completely petrified. Ancient in its make, but containing a far greater power within." He then placed a finger to Liàng's chest. "Your Chi mirrors it. More than a weapon; it can rebuild just as easily as it can destroy, heal as easily as it damages."
Liàng then remembered the previous night, when Oogway had entered Tigress's room. "Like you healed Tigress," he said.
Oogway nodded. "All of this is connected to who you are, and who you once were. So tell me again; who are you?"
He lowered his eyes, and his brow softened. Defeated, he replied, "I don't remember."
His answer didn't surprise Oogway; he expected it. Smiling and placing a hand on Liàng's shoulder, he spoke kindly. "That is why I cannot train you."
"What?" He asked, clearly not expecting those words.
"To master Chi, you must first master yourself. Your own inner battles must be won, and you must know yourself in the purest and truest of ways."
"And I can't," Liàng finished. "Not without knowing who I was."
Smiling, Oogway turned and walked away without a word. He passed through the doorway soon after, and disappeared beyond its wooden construction. Liàng had little time for any reflection, as only a few moments later, Master Shifu burst through the door.
"Quickly, make preparations for the Tournament of the Dragon Scroll!" He barked, calling his entire workforce into action. Each and every one of the geese present seemed almost to flee the training hall, edged to do so by the words they all knew they would hear some day.
The aforementioned preparations were swift and efficient. The main courtyard of the palace was armed to the brim with various forms of weaponry, training equipment, fireworks, and even stands to fit a slowly-but-surely arriving audience. Within a few hours, they were full and the courtyard seemed ready for an event that would've taken any other workforce days to prepare. All five of the famed warriors calling the palace home spent that time in the Training Hall, warming up and readying themselves for the test they had waited their whole lives to take. Liàng found it difficult to find a place to relax and wait; everywhere he thought would be peaceful only proved otherwise or exactly in the way of another group of workers. Eventually, he wound up meditating in the sparring square, but only for a short time before he was interrupted yet again.
"Hard to find peace, today," a female voice said.
"Increasingly," he replied, opening his eyes to see Master Tigress standing before him. "You're not going to hit me again, are you?"
"Hardly. May I?" She asked, motioning to the ground in front of him. He nodded, and she sat down with him.
"So, tell me about about this tournament. Why is all of this happening so suddenly?"
"This tournament is supposed to reveal to Master Oogway the identity of the Dragon Warrior."
Liàng narrowed his eyes. "And the Dragon Warrior is…?"
"A warrior prophesied to bring peace to the valley. He or she will be granted the sacred Dragon Scroll; the secrets written within that scroll are said to give any who read it limitless power and wisdom."
"I see. And I assume that each of the five, including yourself, compete to earn the honor?"
Tigress nodded. "Many expect it to be me, but Master Oogway is mysterious. Who knows who he will pick, and why he would pick them over the others."
"Well, I wish you luck," he replied. "I don't know a more capable warrior to be granted the title."
It wasn't long after that conversation that the tournament began. Shifu served as the leader of the event, using his powerful voice to announce what was happening. Liàng had found himself a place to stand closer to the hall of heroes, where he could see what was happening but not be a distraction in the crowd of spectators. He was too tall to sit amongst them without disturbing them, and looked too much like a warrior of the jade palace himself not to draw any attention. So he stood, out of sight and out of mind of the villagers.
"Citizens of the Valley of Peace," Shifu began, speaking with impressive volume over the crowd. "It is my honor to present to you Tigress, Viper, Crane, Monkey, Mantis, The Furious Five!"
Answering the call sent to them, the five warriors all could be seen leaping or flying high into the air from locations unknown. They all converged in unison at the same height and came crashing down, each landing with what seemed like devastating force to the ground. Even Liàng was impressed by their ability to do so without sustaining even the slightest injury. When each of them had landed and struck their final pose, Shifu went on to explain to the crowd what was going to partake during the tournament and why, as if they didn't already know. Before anyone had time to get bored, the tournament was underway. The first to display his skills was Crane, who's opponent would be a device many in the crowd identified as "The Thousand Tongues of Fire." It was a cannon in the shape of a dragon filled to the brim with fireworks. As each of the rockets within were lit and began hurling towards Master Crane, he expertly evaded and defended against them. It looked to be a truly challenging feat, however as a Master of Kung Fu, it was nothing for the skinny-legged bird. But to Liàng, the rockets seemed much more.
Like the wooden dummies, seeing each rocket fly through the air at Crane was a familiar sight. At times, it even seemed like they weren't flying at Crane. Occasionally, Liàng caught glimpses of a second figure flying around. It was large, and cloaked in darkness. It seemed to inhabit the body of an eagle, and though its identity was unknown, Liàng did know what kind of creature he was looking at.
"Crane, look out! It's a Spirit Warrior!"
The young tiger was quick to take his staff in hand. He didn't know what he would do to defeat the creature, but he knew he had to protect his friends and the civilians from harm. Leaping out of the crowd to stand in front of them all, he scanned the area to determine where his best position would be. What he saw horrified him. The ground was already littered with death and destruction. There was no sign that the palace had ever stood in that wasteland; only rubble remained. Those few who remained on their feet were all wielding some kind of weapon, including the two who had been with Liàng in the training hall, and stood ready to fight their adversary. Rockets were continuing to launch at the creature from every direction, all of which were almost glowing as they began converging on it in unison. They would never reach it. For in an instant, the dark eagle turned its head and its eye glinted a dark crimson, and when it spread its wings out, each of the rockets froze in the air. They were inches from striking it, but didn't move any further forwards.
"Is this the best your people have to offer?" It asked in a deep sinister voice.
"You haven't seen anything yet!" Master Shifu shouted.
The crowds were going crazy as they watched Master Tigress squaring off against a large wooden ox which wielded a good many weapons. Liàng was more than confused as he looked around himself, finding that he had never moved from his place in the crowd. "Another vision?" He wondered. His thoughts were interrupted when everyone fell silent; Master Oogway had raised his hand into the air.
"I sense the Dragon Warrior is among us."
Shifu looked to his five students and, with a simple nod, signaled them to line up before their master. "Citizens of the Valley of Peace, Master Oogway will now choose the Dragon Warrior!"
A chorus of deep drums and harmonizing Erthu strings began as soon as Shifu spoke the last word, and it wasn't a moment later that Oogway began approaching the five. He walked with a swaying motion, his eyes closed as his hand waved about before him. Most in the audience pinned it down as showmanship on Oogway's part, but still enjoyed it as if it were a ritual. Each of the five stood static in their line, eagerly awaiting his choice. They appeared stoic, but in their eyes one could see their excitement. All but a few in the audience suddenly had their attention pulled away as a large cluster of fireworks shot up into the sky from behind the front gate. It was the most dazzling display yet since the start of the tournament, and many in the crowd were pleased. Liàng felt the same, until he noticed Master Shifu's look of surprise.
The small red panda clearly was not expecting this final detonation, and that was enough to worry the young tiger. Turning his eyes back to the cluster as it peaked in the sky, he watched closely. The moment the last of the fireworks had gone off, he saw what remained. A large figure, blackened by the many explosions, came falling to the ground screaming with fear. That figure impacted the ground with great enough force to be felt even on the highest seat in the stands, and it landed directly between Master Tigress and Master Oogway, whose finger was pointing directly at it. Everyone in the crowd fell dead silent. Four of the five moved to check on the person who had fallen from the sky, while Tigress, in her surprise and mistrust, took an aggressive stance against it. Liàng only needed to take a few steps forward to realize who the barely conscious creature was: Mr. Ping's son, Po. As he began to stand and shake the daze from his head, his eyes fell upon Oogway and he realized what he had done.
"Oh, oh g-I'm sorry. Sorry, I just wanted to see who the Dragon Warrior was," he said, scooting away slowly as he hadn't yet stood.
"How interesting," Oogway stated, eyeballing the panda curiously as he began standing up. His finger followed Po wherever he moved.
"Master, are you pointing at me?" Tigress asked, a hint of hope in her voice.
"Him," he replied, never breaking eye contact with Po.
"What?" The panda then began making quick movements from side to side, all the while observing as Oogway's finger followed him.
"You," the tortoise clarified, shortly before using his staff to raise Po's arm into the air. "The universe had brought us the Dragon Warrior!"
The shock throughout the entire palace was audible and for the most part simultaneously. Nobody expected Po of all people to be chosen, but surprise was left behind by the uproar of celebration when one of the palace keepers struck a gong. Suddenly, confetti was fired from cannons on all sides of the courtyard and came showing down on every present person. Geese came flooding down from both sides of the plateau where Shifu remained, some of whom carried with them a palanquin chair. Though he was awkward, Po sat himself down inside it and allowed the geese to unsuccessfully attempt to carry him further into the palace. Shifu attempted to intercept them, but found it too late. With the assistance of some larger pigs, Po was carried out of sight. Shifu was left standing beside Oogway and the five remained where they were, still looking shocked and also very ashamed. Liàng approached the group, but only to listen. He did not engage with them.
"Master Oogway, that flabby panda can't possibly be the answer to our problem," Shifu said. "You were about to point at Tigress when that...thing fell in front of her! That was just an accident."
Oogway smiled. "There are no accidents."
The furious five then approached Shifu from behind, bowing to the ground.
"Forgive us, Master. We have failed you," said Tigress.
"No. If the Panda has not quit by morning, then I will have failed you."
Liàng was worried by Shifu's statement as he listened in. If destiny had chosen Po to be the Dragon Warrior, none would be wise to interfere. Shifu then left the scene, following Po's direction toward center building of the Jade Palace and leaving the Furious Five and Liàng behind, all while the hoard of spectators continued to chant for their Dragon Warrior.
"You don't think he'll hurt the Panda, will he?" Viper asked.
The first to respond was Mantis, who said as he chuckled, "well, I definitely wouldn't want to be in his oversized shoes right now."
"We must trust in our master," Tigress cut in. "Let's resume training until he gives us further instruction."
Without awaiting an argument, Tigress led her four counterparts to the training hall, all of whom followed suit. Liàng however didn't follow their lead. Instead, he stayed where he was. He was hardly concerned with Oogway's selection, and was instead contemplating the visions he had experienced twice already. Visions that were the key to his past, and the key to mastering his Chi. It didn't take him long to understand that the mystery would not be unraveled with glympses alone. As the sun began to fall from the sky, Liàng knew: in order to unlock his power, he would first need to unlock his mind.
As the young white tiger came to that conclusion, he saw Master Shifu and his new, much larger counterpart exit the hall of heroes together. Po looked quite discouraged, as if his entire being had just been attacked, while Shifu looked determined. The two of them walked together deeper into the palace, towards the training hall. Liàng, curious as to how the Dragon Warrior would fare in the hall which produced the Furious Five, however he did not enter. The sun was setting on the horizon when the door closed between them, leaving him on the outside only to listen to the chaos which would ensue. Not fifteen minutes after they entered, the large wooden doors opened again. The first out the door was Shifu, who looked maliciously amused. He was followed by the five, who only looked either frustrated or grossly unimpressed. The last out the door was Po, who walked with a partial limp. His fur was burned in many places, and the top of his head was still simmering. He looked up at Liàng from his defeated posture and looked broken. All the tiger could offer was an encouraging smile, and though the smile was returned by the panda, his spirit remained the same. He walked away and never looked back. Clearly, he hadn't fared well.
Liàng's attention was pulled away from the smoldering panda when another figure appeared in the corner of his eye: Master Oogway was watching the same way he had been. Taking in a deep breath, the young warrior approached his would-be master and bowed before voicing the question which taxed his mind.
"Master, how do I remember who I was? How can I become one with myself?"
Oogway smiled warmly, his wrinkled chin shaking due to his age. "Ah, the path to inner peace is one not traversed easily. Many try, and few succeed."
"But how? How can I find peace? How do I remember?" He asked again. And though he asked, in his heart Liàng knew that Oogway could do little for him. His desperation was clear in his voice.
The aged turtle, without speaking, turned and began walking away, only confirming Liàng's belief. He paused for a moment, though, and spoke three last words before continuing on into the palace. "Time, or pain." With that, Oogway was gone again and Liàng was no closer to mastering his inner power. His frustration wasn't hidden in the least. The young disgruntled warrior went to bed that night in a spare room in the barracks, one less day in his time at the Jade Palace. His sleep was anything but peaceful.
…
"Haven't you embarrassed me enough?" A young white tiger screamed from the ground at a young traditionally colored Jaguar who loomed over him, breathing hard and offering a hand to help him up.
"I'm trying to help you, Liàng! Why is that so hard to understand?"
"I don't need help! Not from you or anyone else!" He replied as he tried to stand, however he fell back to the ground in pain, clenching his abdomen, whereupon he felt a warm and viscous liquid trickling down.
The jaguar was quick to the ground, moving to tend to his injuries, but was forcefully pushed away by the injured tiger. "Liàng," she insisted, moving forwards again but again being pushed away. "You'll bleed out if I don't heal you!" A third time she tried, but this time was knocked away by a frantic fist.
"Then let me die!" He cried out, but not in anger. No, the tears which fell from his face made it clear what he was feeling. "Master Guang should have let me die the day he found me." The blow dealt by Liàng dazed the spotted feline. As she sat up from the ground clenching her cheek and hearing his words, all she felt was pain. She could see he was growing weaker by the moment, not only in body but in spirit as well. His chi was fading. "If he had...then maybe he would be alive now."
With a look of determination overtaking her face, she crawled over to him once again. Blood dripped from her lip as she moved, but she took no mind. "Liàng, I'm not going to let you die," she stated. When she was close enough, the tiger attempted again to push her away, but he had grown too weak.
"Why? Why won't you let me die a warrior's death? Why do you insist on shaming me by-"
"There's no shame in allowing others to help you!"
…
Liàng woke from his sleep at the sound of a gong, followed by the unified greeting of the furious five. Another day, and a new mystery to be solved. Liàng sat up from where he lay on the ground and asked himself one solitary question: "who am I?"
