AN: (Cross-posted on AO3)
Hello readers! I suppose my inspiration decided to come back (at least for now), and for that I'm very thankful.
Another thing I'm thankful for is the support I received on my last work in my one-shot collection; Starless echoes left a very thoughtful and kind review on Reading Face and because they are a very talented writer and someone I've collaborated with before, I very much value their opinion. So, Starless echoes, thank you very much for the review.
Another thank you to AceCards, who left a friendly comment (also on Reading Face). It was very much appreciated.
I plan to write while I still feel motivated and inspired. With that said, please enjoy the (kind of holiday-themed) story and happy holidays!
PRE-KFP1
The air is cold and crisp with the touch of a winter breeze. The Valley of Peace, in its winter months, receives generous amounts of snow, and with it comes the chilling winds brought down from the summits of nearby mountains. Frost curls around door frames and the edges of roofs.
As white flecks of snow descend from the clouds in a steady rhythm, a young panda— a young Po, maybe ten years old, stands dead-center in the middle of an eerily empty street. The cobblestone path is covered with a solid blanket of snow; it sparkles and it's beautiful.
It's like a melody of nature. A youthful Po thinks that if the falling flakes of ice were a song it would sound soft and light, perhaps a bamboo flute with a high tune and an affectionate melody. The song would be one of sleep and comfort, he thinks. A song of peace, even. With a chorus of erhu music, he ponders, maybe it'd even be a song traditionally played around the holiday season.
On late afternoons such as this, when there isn't a soul in the streets because it's simply too cold and the snow is too white. This kind of moment is when the song would be played, he likes to think. A band would gather under an overhang and they'd play the song; the melody would flow in a current around the town, wrapping its ribbon-like form around the homes as if it were dancing. In a way it would be.
The song wouldn't have lyrics, he decides as he looks into the sky and his jade-green eyes squint as the music notes drift to his eyelashes. It'd definitely have more meaning if it were an instrumental– without lyrics the tune could be interpreted as joyful, melancholy, or anything between and beyond the two. The notes would be arranged in such a way that they could be perceived in any way; the song would exist for all to enjoy, no matter their mood.
The young Po shivers as the music begins to quicken its pace, and he says goodbye to the melody of winter as he retreats to the back door of the noodle shop. He opens the door and a wave of ambient warmth washes over him and the music stops.
A new song will start as he closes the door behind himself. If it's possible, this song feels warmer; while the last melody was chaste and featherlight, this one is much more loving and flowing. The notes have a lower pitch and the young panda thinks the sweet smells of the kitchen fit the tune quite well– they're akin to a chorus. A father's undying love for his son is what creates this song, and it's showcased as the goose lifts the dampened coat from Po's shoulders and sets it aside. A feathered hand affectionately cradles the boy's face and he leans into the touch.
He's loved so dearly and he couldn't be more grateful. He knows of other children in the valley whose songs are not as bright and as lighthearted as his own. Some of their homes have melancholy melodies radiating from the windows as he passes by them with his father when they leave the shop to gather ingredients, and some of their houses have no music coming from them at all.
The young panda scrambles up the stairs to catch a glimpse of nature's orchestra; he pushes his window open and his jade-green eyes sparkle because winter is beautiful in the Valley of Peace. The softness of the snow and the fluidity of his room combine into something to marvel at, and the young Po couldn't be more content with where he is. As his father suddenly calls for him, he closes the shutters and returns to the ground floor.
A soft melody is being played in the back of the young panda's mind as he aids his father in the kitchen; the two of them have composed a song of perfect harmony as they make food together in celebration of the winter holidays. It's grown familiar over their years together, but it's a little bit different each time. An extra note will be added when there was once silence– the song, as years go by, has grown from a light erhu composition to an orchestrated soundtrack, one to forever play in the background of their lives when the time is right.
The light is golden yellow and it shines from the lanterns that are strung upon the overhang of the noodle shop. They have the drawings of a child on the papery film that wraps tightly around the wire framing; a small flame burns hot and bright as music coats the atmosphere in a blanket with a softness and lightness so unyieldingly profound.
The song of winter plays and the snow falls and the wind blows.
And everything is perfect.
AN: Woah, another story? And it's not TiPo? Crazy! (Sense my sarcasm,)
I had a pretty good time writing this story. I especially liked the extended metaphor aspect, which is something I'd like to experiment with more in the future.
Also, there's something I'd like to address: I more than likely won't be reviewing/commenting on anything in the fandom anytime soon. Reviewing everyone's stories within a certain time frame was something that used to cause me a lot of stress (for whatever reason), so I'm going to refrain from it for now. Still, I may favorite or follow a story here, give a kudos to another there, etc. This doesn't mean I'll never review anything, but it may not be a frequent thing for a while. The reason I'm saying all of this is because I don't want anyone to think I don't care about their writing, because I definitely do. Just because I don't review doesn't mean I haven't read and loved your story. :)
Thanks so much for reading, it means the world! Leave a review/comment (constructive criticism is fully welcome) if you feel like it!
And for the holidays, here's a message:
Over the past year I've received so much love and support from readers, and for that I couldn't be more thankful. Kind reviews like the ones I've received brought me happiness during times when I felt there was nothing to be happy about. This fandom is a community that I truly love and care about and I'm so glad I joined it. I love you all, have an amazing holiday break and transition into 2022. :)
