Chapter 13: Oogway's Ascension

Shifu rushed up the steps to the Sacred Peach Tree of Heavenly Wisdom, he saw Master Oogway standing at the edge of the cliff, calmly practicing Tai Chi as the blossom petals floated elegantly from the branches.

"Master! Master!" Shifu called, out of breath. "I have… it's… it's very bad news."

"Ah, Shifu." Oogway chuckled, turning to face his student. "There is just news. There is no good or bad."

"Master, your vision… your vision was right!" Shifu exclaimed, panicking. "Tai Lung has broken out of prison! He's on his way!"

Oogway looked shocked. "That is bad news…" He admitted before he smiled again, "... if you do not believe the Dragon Warrior and his guardians can stop him."

Shifu blinked before he sputtered. "The panda? And those turtles? Master, that panda is not the Dragon Warrior. He and those turtles weren't even meant to be here… it was an accident!"

"There are no accidents." Oogway said, shaking his head slightly.

Shifu sighed. "Yes, I know." He said. "You've said that already. Twice."

"Well, that was no accident either." Oogway said.

"Thrice." Shifu held up three fingers.

"My friend," Oogway said, "the panda and the turtles will never fulfill their destiny, nor you yours, until you let go of the illusion of control."

Shifu stiffened. "Illusion?" He asked incredulously.

"Yes." Oogway then looked up to the branches of the peach tree. "Look at this tree, Shifu. I cannot make it blossom when it suits me, nor make it bear fruit before its time."

"But there are things we can control." Shifu argued before he kicked the side of the tree, causing several peaches to fall from the branches. "I can control when the fruit will fall." He stated before a peach hit him on the head, much to Oogway's amusement.

"And I can control…" Shifu then grabbed a peach and tossed it in the air before jumping and chopping it in half, freeing the seed, "... where to plant the seed… hi-yah!" He punched a small hole in the ground as the seed fell into his palm. "That is no illusion, Master!" He then threw the seed into the hole.

Oogway nodded. "Ah, yes." He said, walking over to the hole. "But no matter what you do, that seed will grow to be a peach tree. You may wish for an apple or an orange… but you will get a peach."

Shifu paced impatiently. "But a peach cannot defeat Tai Lung!" He exclaimed exasperatedly.

"Maybe it can," Oogway countered, covering the seed gently with dirt, "if you are willing to guide it, to nurture it. To believe in it."

"But how? How? I need your help, Master." Shifu pleaded.

"No." Oogway shook his head. "You just need to believe." His smile then faded as he leaned in closely to his student and old friend. "Promise me, Shifu," He said, his voice almost pleading, "promise me you will believe."

Shifu hesitated, feeling uneasy with his master's tone. "I… I will try." He finally answered.

"Good." Oogway smiled softly before gazing up at the night sky, the petals rapidly falling from the tree as a light breeze began to set in. "My time has come." He then turned to a confused Shifu, handing him his staff. "You must continue your journey… without me."

"What… what, wait… what are you…?" Shifu sputtered before his eyes went wide as he suddenly realized what was happening. "Master! You can't leave me!"

Oogway walked up to the ledge before he turned to face his old friend one last time. "You must believe." He said, his body glowing a lovely blue light as the petals engulfed him.

"Master!" Shifu cried, looking like he was near tears as Oogway faded away with the petals, the breeze carrying them into the stars above.

As the winds settled, Shifu stood at the edge of the cliff, clutching all that was left of his master in his hands as he gazed down sadly at his master's staff.

His expression then turned determined as he knew what he had to do.

With great haste, he headed back down the steps towards the bunkhouse where his students no doubt were.

And this time, he would fulfill his master's final wish.

He would believe.

For Oogway.

AN: Sorry for the super short chapter.