"Reality"


It took a while for both Po and Alf to fully process everything. The major issue was that the festivities took much less time than expected - perhaps because of Shifu hurrying everything along, or perhaps because Oogway had thought it wise to cut celebration short given the precarious choice of Dragon Warrior. Although Po had no doubt Oogway was unilaterally loved in the Valley of Peace, there was certainly a healthy skepticism over the past few hours. Surprisingly, things went to normal in the Valley quite quickly - citizens merely went back to their homes, tended to their shops, and organized their daily lives. Shifu and the Five however - weren't as easily returned to normalcy. They stared pure daggers at Po as the ceremonial geese carried him into his newly-appointed room, centered in the heart of the dorms no less. They spent another few minutes staring the panda down as he struggled to fit in the small cot, leaving only after they were sure Po felt thoroughly unwelcome.

From a visitor's perspective, the Jade Palace was amazing. Po had dreamed about one day stepping foot inside these green, gold-trimmed walls and pillars - yet being inside it, the true architectural beauty was obvious. Rooms were organized in such manic precision and purpose, with paintings and gifts carefully and strategically placed throughout the Palace. The floor looked reflective and deep, the walls were politely tinted and strong, and entire halls were dedicated to the training, weapons, and of course - the Dragon Scroll. Po had tried to step inside once - only earning a harsh rebuke and a forced exit from Shifu. And now, in the fresh moonlight just filtering through the Dragon Warrior's room - both Alf and Po sat in silence for a while, completely at a loss for words. There were only the idle sounds next door, outside Po's room - bamboo creaking as Crane moved around in his own room, and quill scratching against paper as Monkey copied scrolls.

"Your breath doesn't smell," Alf implored. "Trust me."

"Utter disregard, for personal hygiene," Po mimicked, still angered. "Totally uncalled for - some Shifu he is…"

"How did the Wuxi finger hold feel?"

"Shut up Alf."

Alf smiled, leaning back onto rightward wall. "What've you been doing for like - the last 24 hours?"

"Literally everything," Po replied, sighing as he flopped back onto his cot. "Had to finish the festivities, had to work with the supercool Oogway, had to meet the supercool Five, had to learn how to be a tenant of the Palace…"

Alf grinned. "How were the Five?"

"Great great great," Po cut across. "But dude - where were you all this time?"

Alf frowned, tilting his head down again. He silently grew jealous of Po's new ceremonial attire - green-golden trims with dragon symbols, and a long coat still draped across that furry frame.

"I was in a holding cell for a while," Alf slowly mentioned. "They had to um, question me."

Po shot him a confused look. "What? Who? Where? Wh - "

"Listen I didn't know much okay?" Alf responded immediately, a bit weary. "I woke up with a bruised lip and my mouth hurt - and then some rhino douches interviewed me for hours."

"In the holding cell?"

"Yeah - it was some jail cell, I'm guessing… have no freakin' idea where it was."

"Did you mention the water boy thing?"

"YES OF COURSE!"

"Why didn't it work?!"

"Maybe because um - why the FREAK WOULD A DRAGON WARRIOR NEED A WATER BOY?!"

Po guffawed, shaking in his hilariously undersized bed. "Sorry man - first thing I could think of. You know what they would have done otherwise…"

"Probably not anything in public," Alf noted. "But thanks anyway."

Po nodded, letting out a repetitive sigh.

"They let me stay after a while," Alf ended. "I'm sure they're keeping an eye on me though."

Po snickered. "Dude - what's really happening right now?"

Alf smiled and shook his head. He was, if it was possible, having even more trouble processing this than Po did. He had never before felt such a flood of conflicting emotions: amazement, fear, anger, worry, happiness...

"Isn't Oogway like - over a hundred years old?" Alf queried, confused. "I mean - isn't it possible that he - you know… is getting senile?"

Po shot up with mild anger. "Dude - we're in the freaking Jade Palace - surrounded by the greatest kung fu masters in China! Who cares what Oogway thinks?"

"Do you think they're gonna find out eventually?"

"Duh," Po denoted. "Shifu isn't an idiot. But let's try and milk it while we're here. I wish I would have brought my drawing pad - so many autographs to get…"

Alf's gaze drifted to the moonlight filtering in through the thin walls, just able to make out the outline of the Valley's distant mountain peaks - just barely able to hide a large, rock-shaped structure.

Chor Ghom.

"Dude, you should have seen Tigress' face when she realized Oogway was pointing at me!" Po squeaked with enthusiasm.

"Uh no," Alf quickly responded, waving hair out of his eyes. "I was too busy getting my arm torn off."

"She's always been like - my favorite, yanno?" Po continued, relaxing back onto the bed.

"Sure, just skip over the whole getting my arm twisted like noodles thing…"

"To be honest - I'm sort of thinking of - well, yanno…"

"Do something that stupid? Yeah, I know what you're thinking…"

Po grumbled, folding his arms behind his head as he stared up at the sloping paper ceiling.

"Yeah I was just joking, I guess - but don't you think she's so cool?" Po attempted.

Alf huffed. "Yeah - I think she was smiling at me on the ground. So cool."

"Remember that thing that happened with that giraffe four days ago? In my bedroom?"

Alf narrowed his eyes, trying to remember what Po was referring to.

"That is nothing like that!" Alf quickly shouted out.

"Is too!" Po hastily responded.

"Is not!"

"Is too!"

"Go to sleep - Dragon Warrior."

Po let out a hearty laugh, throwing a spare blanket to Alf.

. . .

"Master Oogway - you summoned me? Is something wrong?"

The seemingly ancient turtle, balancing perfectly on his staff while upside down - leaned forward and rotated himself - seeing his considerably smaller former student, stubbornness painted across Shifu's aged features.

"Why must something be wrong for me to want to see my old friend?" Oogway noted slowly.

"I don't know," Shifu replied quickly, keeping his arms folded respectfully in front but his head defiantly away from staring at Oogway. "You've been giving me a lot of accidental wrongs recently."

Oogway smiled, watching Shifu struggle to avoid eye contact. He gracefully descended from his staff, tucking it into his hand.

"There are no accidents."

Shifu fought the overwhelming urge to slam his head into the nearest pillar.

"Yes, I know Master." Shifu noted.

"You say Master…" Oogway started. "...yet you don't seem to be really treating my wishes like that."

"You picked - a panda, to be the Dragon Warrior!" Shifu immediately protested. "Or wasn't that evident all this time?"

"Pandas can master kung fu," Oogway conceded. "Anyone can."

"He's not even a warrior!" Shifu spat. "Much less the Dragon Warrior - and if it weren't for the respect and love I have for you, Master…"

"Kung fu is not about being a warrior.. It is about mastering what is within…"

"Yes of course, but what happens when he needs to actually defend the Valley? Then there's that fleshling water boy running around with him…"

Oogway kept his stare at Shifu, trying to somehow catch his reluctant gaze.

"Never mind that," Shifu finished. "I've said my piece. You picked a complete newcomer - someone with zero kung fu experience - over my students, who trained their entire lives for that moment."

Oogway frowned in sympathy. "They feel - they have failed you?"

Shifu shook his head almost instantly. "It is I who has failed them."

There was a moment of silence between them. Shifu finally returned his stare to Oogway, who noted that the small master's aged eyes were angered, yet obedient. Oogway privately respected Shifu even more for this kind of dedication.

"I've had a vision," Oogway began. "Tai Lung - will return."

A flurry of images ran through Shifu's head, accompanied by heavy, irregular breathing.

Flashing. Ripping. Claws. Blue fire. A powerful roar. The sound of fear.

"That is impossible!" Shifu immediately returned. "He is in prison!"

Oogway shook his head gravely. "Nothing is impossible."

Shifu's fear was gripping him almost lethally. He ran behind, finding an aloof bird dressed in Palace attire.

"ZENG!" Shifu shouted at the trembling bird. "Fly to Chor Ghom prison! Tell them to double the guards! Double their weapons! Double everything! Tai Lung must not leave that prison!"

The bird squawked at Shifu confusingly. "Yes Master Shifu!"

Zeng flew into a pillar, squeaking before flying out the Palace gates. Shifu turned his attention to Master Oogway behind him. Both of them stared at the golden dragon statue pinned to the ceiling, cleverly possessing a shining scroll in its jaws.

. . .

"This has got to be some kind of joke."

"The poor guy's just gonna get himself killed!"

"Fell out of the sky in a ball of fire… I mean come on…"

"Master Oogway, all respect, but - "

"Don't."

The four masters rounded their collective gazes at Tigress, standing against the central pillar of the Training Hall. Her voice was even more quiet and serious than usual.

"Tigress, I wasn't going to - " Monkey began, idly rotating above a chained metal ring dangling from the ceiling. " - you know, disrespect Oogway."

"We must follow Master Oogway's wishes," Tigress tersely reminded. "The Dragon Warrior has been chosen. We have to train hard to help protect the Valley."

"So you're saying we just follow it?" Viper asked. "Without question?"

"Yes," Tigress immediately replied. "Train even harder, actually."

"I heard he's going to come watch us train in a few days, after all the celebrations have died down," Mantis denoted. "You think that'll help solve this situation?"

Tigress snorted. "After one second watching real kung fu in action, that panda will run out of here as fast as his fat little legs can take him."


A/N

So I'm trying to follow the general storyline and key scenes from the KFP Universe - and obviously innovate a little and flesh out. One thing I feel was lacking in the KFP movies was more characterization for the Furious Five (sans Tigress) so I'm gonna try to do some more of that. There is still four main characters though, so the story will revolve around them the most.

Thanks for all the responses! (review/follows/etc.) Blown away by it - and I agree... my grammar needs some work. Will do better! And of course, I appreciate all the sweet comments. :D I agree, I'm deliberately leaving a lot of stuff in mystery... and yes, answers will come... in time... (vague hehe.. I know)

~TW