The Sacred Peach Tree of Heavenly Wisdom was an impressive sight to behold. High atop a cliff with a sheer drop ahead was where the tree sat. The pink leaves rustled gently as small breezes fell against them. Below the tree sat Oogway, meditating as he usually is, far too old for too much movement. His staff lay ahead of the old turtle as he sat facing towards the open air of the cliff.

Without opening his eyes, Oogway spoke. "I assume your reunion with Shifu went well?" Po walked up from behind the tree and sat down next to the master. "About as well as can be expected. He's still bitter over what happened." Oogway sighed, a frown marring his wrinkled face. "A shame. Shifu will never find peace in himself if he continues as he is." Oogway then turned to Po, eyes open and asked "Well, never mind that for now, how have you been? It has been many years since we last saw you, Po."

"I've been… okay. I travelled around China for the past seven years. I've met some of your old students, Master Rhino, Master Chicken, Master Bull. They all send their love and want you to visit someday. Seen hundreds of settlements: cities and villages, even dropped by Chorh-Gom when I was in the area." Oogway's expression saddened once more. "And, how is he?"

Po sighed. "He's… not good. I have a feeling he will always hate you and Shifu for what happened, especially since you designed that shell he is wearing. Were the needles really necessary?"

"I truly wish they weren't. The spines are attached to the nerves in his body, forcing him into a form of paralysation. If they were not included in the design, he would have easily broken out of the stone and left Chorh-Gom the moment he was left alone. And you know how easily he would have defeated his guards."

"Yeah," Po smiled sadly, then clapped his paws together. "And how have you been? Tigress has grown up quickly, hasn't she?"

Oogway's face brightened once more. "Indeed, she has. I could not be prouder of her. I truly was going to select her before you 'fell from the sky in a ball of fire!'" Oogway chuckled.

Po turned sheepish, rubbing the back of his head with his paw. "I'm never going to live that down, am I."

"Not until you're as old as I."

"So never then."

The pair laughed lightly. A comfortable silence washed over them as they watched the clouds below move in the wind. Until Po broke it.

"Why me?"

Oogway turned his head to Po once more, confused. "Excuse me?"

"Why did you pick me? I'm not worthy of the title, hell, I'm pretty much seven years out of practice! Tigress would be a much better pick than me!"

"Ah, I see." Oogway nodded, sagely. "When I descended down those steps, I was listening to my instincts, depending on them to lead me to who was worthy. When I pointed forward, I was expecting Tigress to be at the end of my finger. She would receive the title she had been working most of her life for. Shifu would never have been prouder."

Po snorted. "Proud of himself for finally getting a student with the title definitely."

Oogway ignored Po's comment. "And then you fell, directly in front of my finger. Your nose practically touching mine fingertip. The first time we see you in seven years and you appear now. That is certainly not an accident. There are…"

"'There are no accidents" Po interrupted with a joke-mocking sage tone. "I know. You've said that to me so many times."

"And I will continue to do so until you believe it as well." Oogway joked. "Have you spoken to Tigress yet? She hasn't been the same since you left."

"I'm waiting for a more private setting for that confrontation." Po rubbed his cheek with his paw. "Tigress clearly doesn't want to talk yet, so I'm waiting to get her away from the rest of her Five. That way at least I'll know if she still hates me."

"Oh Po, she has never hated you. Never. Tigress was devastated when you were gone. Threw herself into her training. I wouldn't be surprised if she could take you on at this point."

"I hope she can't. It'll make not getting killed a difficult scenario when we have our talk." Po stood up, noticing the sun setting over the mountain. "It's getting late. Is my room still open, or has one of the Five commandeered it?"

"The servants have left it as it is. Although the bed has been expanded to make room for your new wideness." Oogway laughed as Po flipped the old turtle off while walking to the dormitories.

The Five were making their way from the training hall to their rooms. It had been a long day for them all and they felt no need to fill their stomachs at all. As they made their way up the stairs, the group made small talk of what they thought of the new Dragon Warrior.

"He's so… Mighty! The Dragon Warrior!" Crane exclaimed, throwing his wings around with dramatic flair. "Fell out of the sky in a ball of fire!"

"When he walks the very ground shakes!" Mantis pitched in, causing most of the group to chuckle at the jab.

Tigress however remained silent clearly thinking on something. The others did not pay this any mind as she wasn't really the "laughiest" person in the palace.

"I hoped that Oogway would at least pick someone who knew Kung Fu as the dragon warrior," Mantis spoke up again, clearly irked at Oogways choice.

"Or someone who could touch his toes," Crane spoke up again.

"Or even see his toes" Monkey added.

The Five, minus Tigress, continued up the stairs laughing at the panda's expense, not noticing the very panda behind them on the stairs.

'Jeez, tough crowd'

A/N Thanks savageboss, FoxySkies and HarmonyCleopatra for favouriting/following the story+Me