The Dragon Warrior

Far away, in a vastly different valley, inhabited by vastly different animals with vastly different desires, there stood a fledged village just before a gigantic sugarloaf mountain. The inhabitants of the village were fortunate to be guarded by security of the utmost capability. That security was none other than the Furious Five – the most heroic and valourous Kung Fu warriors in all of China. There was also Grandmaster Shifu – successor to the late legendary Master Oogway and the master who taught and raised the Five – as well as the final big bonus to top off the citizens' defense. The Dragon Warrior.

The Dragon Warrior is the pinnacle of mortal achievement. He would be your ideal knight in shining armour, the most prosperous fruit of the Earth, the face of Peace throughout the land. He would also be something out of a fairytale, if one would wonder the validity of these claims. Yes, the Dragon Warrior started out his heroic career as an underdog, the runt of the litter, the village disgrace. But ever since the Second Valley Crisis over a year ago, he had gone from pillock to pride, imbecile to idol. He had risen above his burdened shortcomings and transfigured into the light that shone through the darkness of Tai Lung to lead the valley to salvation.

So now, a year onwards, his story had amassed him many admirers and enthusiasts. They looked up to him to uphold the grace, the justice, and the benevolence inherent with the valley's title. The Valley of Peace.

This was a valley where Yin and Yang coexisted in harmony. Where fire and water, earth and air, light and darkness itself manifested themselves in disciplined forms. To maintain peace and goodness for all living beings who sought virtue in a world that could be draconian and fiendish.

The main village, where the Jade Palace was located, was at the center of the Valley of Peace, standing just before the tallest mountain of the slade. The Jade Palace, home to the highest masters of Kung Fu, was located at the top of the mountain, behind the Flight of the Thousand Stairs of Virtue.

Two young kids from the village – a bunny girl by the name of Tao and a pig boy christened by the moniker of Pumer – had raced their way up the steps with the youthful vigour of childhood after they had finished their morning chores and tea. They had brought their action figures of their two favourite warriors with them, and as they awaited to meet their heroes after they had finished their training, the two children began to roleplay, the bunny as the tiger lady of elegant devastation, and the pig as the panda of benevolent and nuanced wisdom.

"And then, the Dragon Warrior joined the Furious 5!" squeaked Tao, swinging her Po action figure around.

"And they became the most awesomest Kung Fu team ever!" concluded Pumer. His Tigress action figure was clasped in his hoof.

"Enough talk! Let's fight!" Tao said, deepening her little voice to mimic the heavyweight panda. She and Pumer locked their toys together in miniature model combat, before they heard the sounds of six certain martial arts masters undergoing hardcore drills in the hall before them.

"29! 30! 31! 32!" muffled voices screamed from the hall's private interiors. The two kids gasped silently in total delirium.

"Listen! You can hear the Dragon Warrior training right now!" squealed Tao, her little bunny feet hopping up and down excitedly on the spot.

This is Po.

A triumphant underdog. A glorious warrior. The definitive trailblazer in the uncharted ethereal territory of Kung Fu.

And yet, inside he feels like none of these things. He merely views himself as the redeemed village disgrace. A peasant pupil elevated to dignitary status by his beloved teacher. A compassionate and caring brother and son to his closest friends and kin.

Inside, he still sees himself as a humble panda servant, rather than a glorified martial idol.

Of course though, the rest of his friends, his family, and the citizens of the valley think otherwise. He's the freaking Dragon Warrior for crying out loud. Last month, an extensive and extravagant festival – organized by none other than the Father of Po himself – was hosted in the valley to celebrate Po's 30th birthday. Every denizen in the Valley of Peace joined in the exuberant celebrations. Po himself though, had felt overwhelmed by the people's awe of him. Tigress had found him meditating quietly next to Oogway's Sacred Peach Tree (of Heavenly Wisdom), and had persuaded him to join in, though his usual happy-go-lucky mood was subtly subdued, according to the gallant tiger lady.

But when the frenetic heat had eventually subsided, Po was back to his normal self. As of late, he had spent the mornings training hard and early with his 5 brothers and sisters. Every afternoon was spent scarfing down tofu, stew, and dumplings. And every recent night had been utilized for exercising his skills in a variety of social activities: painting, tea concoction, cards, jokes, writing from the heart – all that good jazz.

This afternoon, Po and his friends were busy hosting a private stuffing-your-mouth competition.

"33!"

"No! Stop him!"

"34!"

"It's too dangerous!"

"35!"

"Po, stay focused!"

"36!"

"Is he gonna do it?!"

"37!"

"How is he doing that with his face?!"

Two chopsticks slowly lowered one final spherical pastry into the panda's mouth.

"38 Bean Buns!" he declared with beaming pride. Well, as much pride one could display through a muzzle completely stuffed with baked goodies.

Mantis' antennae and appendages twiddled uncontrollably with excitement. "Yes! You did it! You monster!" the bug admirably chirped.

Viper, who had just momentarily fainted from shock, revived just in time to hear Monkey spur Po on.

"Keep going! Hit 40!"

"He'll never hit 40!" burst out Crane. Anymore unbelievable achievements from his friends and he'd die of amazement.

"You guys wait, and we'll get to 40!" Po said, yanking the bun bowl with both paws.

"Do it!" grinned Tigress in feverish anticipation.

"No problem!" shot back Po, utilizing two pairs of chopsticks to achieve the culinary mission. He howled madly in success as the two buns were lodged in the wet mass of slobbered pastries that filled his intake porthole. Now all he had to do was wait for 5 seconds and the record would be in the bag. He used each second to spend a moment studying his friends' faces. Tigress wore a look that sent fiery determination and encouragement to his heart. Poor Viper looked ready to faint again. Mantis continued gazing, eyes wide with childlike admiration. Crane's beak was widely split horizontally, his hat almost tipped to the point of falling off his knobbly head. And Monkey had folded his arms tight behind his head, and his teeth were gritted in tormented suspense.

The 5 seconds passed.

"Yeah! YEAH!" grunted Po, voice muffled behind his clogged jaws.

An extra moment passed before his friends exploded in energetic rejoice. Monkey jumped up and down in a jig.

"Well done Po!" whooped Crane, clapping his friend on the back, which involuntarily triggered the panda into spitting up.

"Two new records in one day!" squeaked Mantis just before a flying wet pastry bowled him over. Tigress used her paw to block several buns which bounced her way. "Your training has paid off," she remarked jokingly to the panda.

"Oh my gods! Anymore of that and I would have suffered a heart attack. Honest!" squealed Viper, looking rather squeamish and greener than usual.

Just then, a gong sounded in the distance. "Oh, Master Shifu's calling!" Po remembered suddenly, making his way to the doors of the training hall, "Gotta go, see you all later!"

Every afternoon, the grandmaster would tutor the Dragon Warrior in extensive lessons of Oogway's teachings to further broaden the panda's knowledge of the art. Talented as he was, Po knew he was nothing more than a temporal speck in the ongoing currents of Kung Fu's flowing river. To fulfill his role, and to become more than he was now, he had to extend himself. To push the limits. Exceed the boundaries. Learning to do just that was what constituted his every afternoon lesson with the elderly red panda. And Shifu could definitely say with great pride that Po was passing through every lesson so far with flying colours.

As his friends waved goodbye from the snack table, Po remembered one final errand he quickly had to carry out. For this task he had to act in-character, though this was more for the sake of his friends than for the self-satisfaction of his gut.

"You guys will save those for me, right?"

No way they would eat those buns covered in my spit. But I'm gonna make sure of that – just in case – for the sake of their hygiene.