Note: This chapter is a little bit detailed, unliked the two, but it is far more amazing than what you guys have previously read! Hope you'll love this one too!
Chapter 03: Beginning Of the End
Many days had passed. Most of the things were recovered by now; the Furious Four that once used to be the Furious Five, would train in the training hall under the eye of the Dragon Warrior who still had some minor faults in his training techniques, and would sometimes giggle, sometimes being sorry for those mistakes, while the rest of the four would be there, glaring at him. Shifu, just like he used to, would meditate quietly and peacefully in the cave or anywhere where there would be no one around to disturb him.
The rest of the valley, just like its every day, was peaceful. Ping would be selling noodles, bean buns, dumplings, tofu, while Li would be there, either helping him in serving the customers once or twice where he would cause trouble sometimes spilling the soup on the table of the customers, burning some food items while cooking, spoiling the whole kitchen while learning how to cook, or would be there peacefully taking a nap in Po's room on the bed that once belonged to his son.
Also, there was Bao who had a lot of fun with the villagers, playing with fireworks, teasing an old man here, asking loads of questions from a wise stranger over there, and getting love from the elders around. Like the rest of his kind, after playing so much, the little panda would take a nap for hours wherever he felt himself at ease.
In the valley was also the most beautiful panda covered in pink Mei Mei, amusing everyone, sometimes with her ribbon dance, while sometimes with those nun chucks tricks of her that would really spark the desire in others to learn Kung Fu as well! Most of the time, she'd spend in showing her wonderful and gorgeous dance. Also, she would teach, in her spare time, different ways of applying the makeup, making herself beautiful, and others as well! She was really charismatic among the young ladies!
Little lei Lei would also be there, playing hide-and-seek with Bao and the rest of the young ones of the valley, having tea party with Po where Tigress' action figure would be standing among the two, and she would then pick it up, and would gently touch it with the panda's cheek, imitating a kiss, leaving Po with no word for a while, but as the name 'Stripey Baby' would escape those cute lips, it would bring Po from the memories of her best friend, back into the present.
The whole valley had its peace returned again just the way it was days ago. Everything was happy and prosperous once again! The grandeur of the whole valley was drenched in the glory of the sun that would reflect how happy the valley was!
It was just another day in the Jade Palace where the Furious Four and the Dragon Warrior were training in the great training hall.
"Monkey!" order the Dragon Warrior, "Constant hits and blows at the flaming dummies with 'Iron Tail' technique! 500 times"
"Yes, Master!"
"Viper! You do the 'Death Bite' at the blades of bladed dummy!" "I'm on it, Master!"
"Crane!"
"Yes, Master?"
"'The Thousand Palms' technique on the flames! Do it 200 times!"
"Got it, Master!"
"And Mantis!"
"Yes, Po- I mean, Master?"
"'The Diamond Pinches' 1000 times on the wooden dummy! Get it done as fast as possible!"
"Yes, Master!"
Those orders were bouncing in the air while the difficult training was going on, obeying all the commands of the panda. The panda seemed responsible pretty much; giving perfect order at perfect timing, unlike his previous stupid acts that would lead to everyone's disarray, and so does the remaining four! Days ago, some new Kung Fu training items and equipments were introduced that made the training even real hard, but for what they all have lost, they had to go through such a harsh training for not letting that happen ever again.
The day was busy as everyone was training. The giant door creaked from which appeared with Oogway's old wooden staff the wise Master Shifu. It was really odd for everyone there to see Shifu suddenly appear for Shifu never skipped his meditation during the day. Behind his sudden appearance seemed some reason that made everyone really curious.
"Master?" mumbled Monkey in curiosity as he saw the grand master. Watching the wise master there, everyone paused the training in the middle, and rushed to Shifu, including Po as well, bowing in respect.
"It seems that the training is going on well!" said the old voice.
"Well... I guess yeah!" giggled the panda.
"I'll have to say Po is getting better on this, Master!" remarked Mantis as he crawled on Monkey's shoulder.
"Uh-huh!" Shifu was really pleased to know that, but again, he turned solemn with a sigh. "I guess now is the time."
"Time?" asked Crane. "Time for what?"
"Time to bring back what was lost a long time ago." His half answer left everyone in curiosity, but the panda was the only one who understood. "You mean, the Revival Stone, right?"
"Mm-hmm." the red panda nodded. "Tomorrow, all of you will have go to the territory of the hyenas again, and will have to bring back the stone and the rest of the artifacts, because the stone is still as destructive as it was before. The one who has the stone can revive the dead, threatening villains again, making them a part of his force, and if that happened, not even China but the whole world will be destroyed."
There was a solemn, terrified silence for a while, but the panda broke the silence. "Don't worry, Master. We'll not let things happen the way they want..." Crushing his own fist out of anger, the panda mumbled with himself, "... the way he wants!"
"But remember everyone," continued the grand master, "The topmost priority, even more than the stone, is your life because I don't want to lose any of my student again." and the grand master then quietly left, leaving his students with the mumble of 'Yes, Master.'
Early in the next morning, everyone was about to leave, standing outside the giant entrance door of the Jade Palace, waiting for the wise words of their grand master. From the giant door appeared Master Shifu.
"Master..." in respect bowed everyone.
"All of you know what to do, but I'll say it again: The mission is just to bring back those old artifacts again, especially the stone. Try to be as stealthy as possible and try not to alarm anyone or engage in any type of combat. Unlike the previous result, bring back the stone, but if not possible, try to destroy it and make it out alive. During this whole time, I'll be here protecting the valley. Mantis, Monkey, Crane, Viper, Po, and Tigress-" but suddenly, those uttering words stopped, leaving a weird silence behind for Tigress had already left them days ago, but Shifu never overcame that previous habit of calling her name. After a brief moment of silence, he continued, "The five of you, be careful... and good luck." With a silence filled with some distress, the Furious Four and the Dragon Warrior left the Jade Palace.
Unlike their previous adventures that would be filled with loads of fun, jokes, laughs and goggles, this one was filled with coldness, solemnity, and silence. Even if they would talk, they would talk about the plan and finding ways of stealing that stone. Monkey would throw a joke, the rest would laugh a little while Po would just giggle, and then complete silence... Across the same fields, the same mountains, the same green lands they passed. Before, it was all fun, but now, everything seemed dull and dead.
Finally, they all reached where they were meant to reach; the territory of the hyenas where death would always be lurking around, bound to those giant stone walls. Altogether, reaching the top, the five hid somewhere in a mountain of bamboo trees nearby from where the whole area could clearly be viewed. Peeking from behind the trees, the panda found out that there was no one around; neither a single soul nor a shadow to be seen! It was really strange and totally unexpected! The rest of the four saw that too.
"There's no one around?!" remarked Viper.
Watching something that strange, Po was really surprised. "What! This-This can't be! Last time I came here, the place was growing with wild hyenas everywhere!"
"Where do you think they're gone, Po?" asked Monkey.
"I don't think so they're gone anywhere. They might be hiding. We can't let our guard down."
Crane asked, "How about I fly and check from above?"
"We can't take that risk." answered Mantis, "Master Shifu told us that our life come first." and then moving to Po, "This can be a trap too, Po. We better stay alarmed!" and then mumbling, "Or we better stay aside."
"What should we do then?" Viper asked.
"Guys, we can't just sit here and do nothing! I know how much witty those hyenas are! Although, they can't be seen from here, but judging by the terrible silence, it can be judged quite easily that they are hiding in the territory. I do have a plan in my mind, but it is as good as letting yourselves die."
Mantis gulped with fear, "Okkayy…"
"Just the way we went into Shen's palace by surrendering, we can do that here too!
"Po," shouted Monkey, "Are you serious? We can't let ourselves die like that! It's dangerous!"
"Monkey is right, Po." added Viper. "It is not like a suicide. This is a suicide!
"You'll have to trust me, guys. Last time when we were peeking at them, those hyenas were standing right behind us without us having any idea!" The panda then got up. "Look, if you guys are not coming, stay here. I'll go on my own." and he started walking down the mountain. How could his friends leave him alone? So they too, after a sigh of frustration, followed him as well.
Soon, the five were standing bravely in front of the giant gate that seemed barely opened. Mantis peeked slightly through it. A surprising thing was that the whole territory was empty, with no one around!
"What! Are you kidding me! There's really no one inside!"
"Speak slowly, Mantis!" whispered Viper.
"Well, if that's the case," remarked the panda, "let's barge in!" and they all then suddenly entered inside. For sure, as they walked, they found no life around! It was quiet, but the silence was a normal one!
"Hey, hyenas!" shouted Po in a musical tone. "We're here to surrender! Come catch us!" but no one appeared
"Surely, there's no one around. The whole place is dead silent!" Monkey said.
"Strange! Why would they leave like that?" Crane asked.
Mantis replied, "It has been many weeks after that incident. You still think they'll stay here and rest?"
"There's a room here belonging to that devil!" said Po. "We might find something useful there. Scatter, everyone, and find the room with a giant map of China on it!" and after that, they all scattered, searching the room of the dark soul.
After some tiring effort, Crane found the room, shouting, "Guys, get over here!"
The rest suddenly appeared, but what they saw there only froze their bodies! In those jade eyes was reflecting that huge map of China in which was written in Chinese, "I hope you find my message as soon as possible because by the time you read this message, I will be waiting for you in the Hall of Heroes, in the Jade Palace. Come as quick as possible."
The eyes widened more and more as they read the message. "It means that they were at the Jade Palace this whole time!" exclaimed Mantis with surprise. "That was all a trap!"
"We don't have enough time!" Po shouted. "Mantis and Crane, fly to the Jade Palace before us!"
"Got it!" and the two left to the Jade Palace as Mantis sat on Crane's hat.
"And you too, let's hurry up!" and the rest of the three galloped as fast as they could! During their way back to the valley, Po was the one stressing the most about Master Shifu, about his two dads, about little Lei Lei and Bao, and about the rest of the valley. Different negative thoughts were going through his mind that were not resting one bit.
From far away, from where the valley seemed all glorious as they left, the same valley was now under the shadow of the dark clouds, thundering ferociously, telling that dark times had already fallen upon them. As that view glimpsed in the eyes, the three hurried to the Jade Palace. Soon, at the bottom of those limitless stairs, the three finally made it! Po, panting, fell on his knees but Monkey supported him, trying to pick him up.
"Are you alright, brother?" asked Monkey."
"Go..." Po was all exhausted. "Go on... I'll catch up with you. Go!"
For Po was a giant panda, it was really difficult for him to keep up with them. The two then left. After breathing some fresh air of his valley, the panda continued again on those harsh stairs. After loads of struggle, the panda finally made it to the top; to the Hall Of Heroes.
Before him stood two of his friends completely frozen because so much terrible was the scene that froze not only their bodies, but their souls as well! Their bodies turned numb.
"How... Just how can this... be?!" Hardly were those few words spoken by the panda.
It was late... so much late! Everything there was scattered and wrecked. On one of those jade pillars was the dead body of Crane brutally pierced with the claws, wings torn off, and a sword stuck into the pillar running right through his sternum! Instead of one of those artifacts was lying the little green head of Mantis apart from his body nowhere to be found! And finally, in the Moon pool, in which once reflected the statue of the golden dragon, was now floating, drenched fully in red, the body of the wise, grand master; Master Shifu who's blood turned the whole pool into terrifying red!
Monkey and Viper had their heart shattered by that bloodcurdling scenery! Watching their friends gone through such a terrible death, they both could no longer hold, and that's why they let all their feelings shed into the stream of tears as they fell before the two dead bodies, but Po, he had no feelings at all! All of his feelings, his emotions were dead! That poor panda was in a state of trauma. He could think nothing, feel nothing, say nothing! In just a moment, he was so much broken... so much that he had never been like that ever before! It was just so much for him to go through for unlike the rest of his warrior friends who were emotionally stronger than him, he was a panda with a lovely heart, like a gentle glass easily broken!
Those trembling steps went closer and closer, and he then reached the body, picking it up and putting down aside. The body was slashed from everywhere, with the claws of that violent beast; the dark soul.
"M... M... Master!" A broken, mournful voice finally came out from those trembling lips. Shaking that body that had no soul in it, the heartbroken panda murmured again, "Master! Get up! Master...! Get up...!" Hardly could he speak, and yet he spoke! "The Palace needs you...! The valley needs you...! Everyone needs you, Master!"
While Po was trying to wake up the dead, suddenly appeared a band of hyenas in the hall, and the two remaining warriors, leaving the dead ones behind, engaged into the combat, fighting to the best! The two would get hurt by the claws and the weapons, but the pain inside was far more than the injuries outside so they both could hardly feel anything!
Meanwhile, the panda, repeating the same words, burst at once into the tears of grief! "What has happened to you, Master?! Why did all of this happen?! Why?! Why don't you get up?! Everyone needs you! Please, get up!" but no matter how many tears he shed, those tears just couldn't undo what was already done.
"So, you've finally arrived!" Among those mournful cries, a voice so familiar from the past, echoed! As the panda turned around, that figure covered in pitch-black reflected once again, choking Viper to death from one hand and getting his other bloodstained hand out of Monkey's stomach! Yes, It was him! The pitch-black soul! He had already killed those two as well before the panda could realize! Throwing the two bodies out of the hall, that merciless beast said, "It seems that you arrived pretty late! Is Shifu dead already?"
"YOU...! I'll never forgive you for this!" How could the panda just sit quiet? He, at once, thrust at the beast, but that beast delivered a heavy blow in the face, throwing him aside. Getting up again, Po thrust again, delivering all the kicks and punches in his improvised style, but his Kung Fu was overwhelmed by his feelings so much that none of his techniques were working. The pitch-black would easily dodge any of his incoming attacks, having his own claws to the back!
"You are nothing, panda! You let your friends killed! You let your master killed! Soon, your valley will face the same fate, and after that, the whole world..."
"I will not allow you to do that!"
Soon, after getting bored of those constant dodgings, the beast punched the panda's fluffy face, hurling him at one of those pillars, saying, "Enough of this pathetic battle! You don't possess the strength that you once had, Dragon Warrior, or maybe I've become far stronger than you. I think, it's time for me to show you my real face!"
Getting up on his knees while holding those broken ribs of his, the growling panda was suddenly astounded on hearing those words! His curiosity rose at once to know that face!
"The beginning of the end..." said the black soul while removing the mask covering his face, "...will start with the end of this valley." and guess who was behind that mask?! He was the unexpected one! He was the rising from the dead ones! He was the who once turned agaist his own father and his own village! Those, golden eyes, those sharp claws, that muscular body, and that pride... That pitch-black person was no one but Tai Lung himself!
For a moment, the panda had forgotten all of his pain, all of his rage, drowning deep into astonishment! He could not swallow such a heavy fact! "This... This cannot be...! You were dead! This... This isn't the truth!"
"Believe it or not but it is the fact, panda! Before I was imprisoned in the Chorh Gom prison, I had a deal with those hyenas that after defeating you and Shifu, and becoming the Dragon Warrior myself, I'll handle this valley over to them, but who knew that everything would turn against me. After my death, they somehow found my remains, and with the Revival Stone, brought me back to life! In the Spirit Realm, I trained enough, becoming a deadly weapon of mass destruction! After defeating this valley and killing you, I'll conquer the whole world!"
With a shout, the panda ran towards him, planning a puch but Tai Lung clenched his fist, shooting way many sharp blows in the face at once, leaving not even a moment for the poor panda to breath! Right after he left the face, again did he deliver soany violent and deadly blows in the chest with his knees, throwing the panda into the air, with his blood drops floating everywhere! Before the panda could come down to the ground, Tai Lung, in the mid air, blew a charged kick on the left chest, hurling Po so fast, like a cannonball, that Po went right through the wall of that hall, breaking it, falling down on the ground far away from where the whole valley could be sighted, fitting into a bowl.
At the same time, with a roaring thunder, a strange feeling ran through the body of both Ping and Li. At once, they both looked at each other, wondering the same thing whether their son was fine or not. Bao suddenly hid behind Mei Mei who was looking at the strange behavior of the sky, worried about Po as well, and in her arms was little Lei Lei who clinged to her Stripey Baby, afraid of the thunder! Everything was telling that the time for everyone to meet their fate had finally arrived!
Having his ribs broken, leg twisted, face bleeding, and every part of his body severely damaged, Po was trying to get up, but his body had no strenyg enough at the moment. With those mournful eyes willing to help and save the rest of the valley, all he could was just see as the destruction was about to happen!
At the top of the Jade Palace was standing against the wind the dark soul in all his pride, looking at the whole valley with a smirk, wondering the future. "Finally, it all begins now." and then suddenly, from that hundreds and thousands of meters of height, he jumped like nothing, going down to the middle of the valley, falling down, like a bullet swishing through the air! Po could see something coming from above, landing directly on the Valley of Peace. He tried to move, neglecting his pain, tried to get up, but would fall every time! Although there was despair everywhere, he still was clinging to the dying hope, willing to save everyone, but before he could even get up again, Tai Lung landed so fast on the ground that it created a very intense shockwave, blowing away everything whether it was those houses and shops around, those living people, or the rigid mountains that were standing there for years! Everything in an instant was now gone, lost with dust that was now covering everything, spreading away!
Watching the widespread destruction being caused so easily, Po shattered on the ground, losing all of his hope! Everyone was dead! The only inhabitant now left was he himself, watching at the mist of destruction with those eyes having tears of grief hanging in them! There was nothing he could do! The valley had faced its fate. The end had finally begun! And Po...
