Repentant Heart
Seven days passed and Po never saw the guard. He assumed they left him there to die. Xiwang, or Xiang as Po nicknamed him, came during those days to help him deliver messages to the people of Bol-Lat. The message basically said that the Master would forgive those and spare those who left the city before the last day. Tigress kept Po company and helped make sure he was mentally okay. A closed space like this could affect a person. Though Po did enjoy the company, he was still a little nervous around Tigress, being this close to her. Tai-Lung regularly visited to make sure they were fine. "Po?" said a voice. Po mumbled around in his sleep. "Po?" Po slowly woke up to see a lion in a dull white robe. "Po, it's time to go. Get Tigress and let's leave." Po was too tired to ask who it was. Po, instead of waking her, decided it was easier moving her. So, he lifted her in his arms and carried her out of the prison. They finally got out of the prison gates and out to the outskirts of the city. Slowly, Po's head was beginning to wake up. Before he could ask the lion his name, the lion said, "Wake up Tigress now, and go back to the campsite." With that, the lion disappeared. Po gently laid down Tigress and shook her awake.
"Tigress, wake up," Po said. Out of reflex, Tigress punched Po in the nose. "OW!" Po exclaimed holding his nose.
"My apology, I've developed a particular reflex to people waking me up," Tigress said, fully up.
"While that is painfully cool, why didn't you do that when I was carrying you?" Po asked. Tigress took a look around. How did they get outside the prison? "That's a question for later. Come on, we better get to Tai-Lung." They ran over to the campsite where Tai-Lung was resting on the ground. "Tai-Lung?" He said shaking him awake. Out of reflex, Tai-Lung punched Po in the nose. "OW! The prison was better than this!" He exclaimed.
"Sorry, a force of habit," Tai-Lung said. "Wait, how did you two get here?" Po told both of them what happened.
"So what's changed since we've been gone?" Tigress asked, finally talking to him. Tai-Lung pointed to the tents surrounding Bol-Lat.
"That," Tai-Lung said, "The Mongolians have arrived. Some people from the city have surrendered to them. They haven't placed a siege yet, but I don't think they're going to. Sieges aren't the Mongolians way of fighting. The real question is why they aren't attacking yet."
"Because the Master is holding them back until it is the right time," Po said. The sun began to rise. "Come on, we must go back to the city and give the message."
"What about Xiang?" Tigress asked.
"We'll get him on the way," Po said.
"Please, Xingfu, turn from your wicked ways. You're causing the people to go against the Master and to separate themselves from him," Po said in the court hall.
"Fine then, what is this Master's price so we can appease him?" Xingfu asked.
"Your loyalty and obedience to his will," Po said.
"No, I mean money-wise. How much will we have to pay in order for this to go away? Our priests received money and it worked with them," Xingfu said. Po narrowed his eyes.
"We aren't like them," Tai-Lung stated. "The Master doesn't work like that. He doesn't care about money."
"Of course, he doesn't," Xingfu said sarcastically. "Listen, every man has his price. So what's yours? Money is no object." Po gritted his teeth.
"We're not here for money," Tigress replied. "The only way the Mongolians will leave you is if you stop doing your harmful and selfish ways." The ruler laughed.
"You know that I can get princes and emperors wealthier than I am. So what is your-" Po banged his jade staff on the ground and an earthquake shook the floor.
"You can not play around with the Master of the universe!" Po shouted. "You can't buy him out, you can't make him compromise his laws and standards, and you can't bargain with him! He may be master of mercy, but he's also a master of war! You're guilty of a deed worse than Shin-Go. For you knew about the Master, yet you kept the knowledge to yourself. Now you see death upon your door and you want to wish it away. The Master is not a genie! His law is law whether you like it or not! It's either you obey him or suffer the consequences of your willful ignorance. The Master's grace won't always be over you, for the Master will not reside in a place he is not wanted. The time for you and your entire kingdom to change is now! Don't put this off like Shin-Go's ruler did. I do not want to see all these people brutalized!" The room was silent as Po calmed down. "You have one week left. Turn from your wicked ways and leave the city, or everyone inside this city will die." With that, Po, Tigress, and Tai-Lung left the room. When they made it out of the gate, Xiang came running towards them.
"What will happen to my father?" He asked. Po didn't answer, but he quickly took the teen underneath his arm.
"Come on, Xiang, we have to leave quickly," Po urged him. They rushed out of the city gates and ran to their campsite. Po peered at the large city surrounded by tents.
"Po?" Po looked around to see who was calling him.
"I'm here, Master," Po said, "What do you need me for?"
"Po, are harsh words good to give to a young child on a wayward path?" the Master asked.
"No, no words should be given in anger," Po answered.
"When you speak my message, be careful that you don't speak out of anger. I never give the truth in anger. I give it in love," The Master explained. Po bowed lowly.
"I'm sorry. I didn't know," Po said.
"Remember that I am also a Master of love. As such, my message must be given in tender loving authority. You can speak with my authority, but never give the message in anger."
"I didn't know," Po repeated.
"In the times of ignorance, I do not hold transgressions accountable, for how can one be punished for that which he does not know is right? When knowledge is given and people still do wrong, I must remove my protection, for they know better," the Master replied.
"What should I do about the city?" Po asked.
"Stay away from it. Those who are righteous have already left the city, and those who are wicked still stay in the city. You have done your part, my good and faithful servant," The Master said. Po sighed as Tigress came up next to him.
"They've sealed their own fate," Po shook, trying not to cry. Tigress rested her hand on his shoulder. Po always had the ability to empathize what people were feeling, but he could feel the emotions very strongly, to the point that it feels like he's the one experiencing it.
"I'm sorry," was all Tigress could say.
The burning rubble lit up the night sky. Screams were heard, echoing all around the valley. The streams exiting the city of Bol-Lat ran red. Po stood there, gazing at the horror. He was still trembling. Then he heard a different kind of sound amongst the others. He looked to his left to see Xiang crying as he looked at the city as well. Po covered Xiang's eyes and hugged him as they both cried. Three hours after the fires stopped burning and the screams stopped ringing, Po rested on his side, his staff loosely in hand, still gazing at the smoldering city in the night. The thing that scared Po most was the future. Would every city be destroyed? Would anyone turn away from their wicked ways? How many people would stubbornly cling to their petty little selfish evils to the death? Tigress came to him, resting a hand on his shoulder. Po sighed.
"We must leave," Po simply said, getting up. "There's nothing more we can do here." He looked at Tai-Lung, who was standing next to Xiang.
"I... I just had a dream from the Master. He's told us to go to the Mongolian capital," Tai-Lung informed. Po nodded.
"Let's get moving then," Po said, still depressed.
The Mongolian capital was not that far from the ruins of Bol-Lat, about ten miles away. When they went into the capital, it was almost similar to the behavior of Bol-Lat. Po, Tigress, Xiang, and Tai-Lung didn't really pay attention this time to the evil the people did. Lying, cheating, stealing, doing most of the things Bol-Lat did. However, they didn't do all the evils of Bol-Lat. The group went to the palace and to the ruler, who was surprisingly a wolf with a daughter. The guards brought Po and the others in because they said they had a message for the whole capital. "I am Weiwu, emperor of the Mongolian empire. What message do you have for me?"
"This is a message from the Master of the Universe," Po said, "'People of Mongolia, stop your wicked ways. Stop lying, cheating, stealing, killing, and fighting. Stop all of your hidden and unhidden selfish acts. Your wickedness has reached my ear. If you do not turn from your evil ways in thirty days, I will overthrow your entire kingdom, just as you have overthrown Bol-Lat.' says the Master." Everyone froze. Po, Tigress, and Tai-Lung all stood itching to move if someone came running at them. But then, the emperor got up from his throne and inquired of his magicians and wise men. They used several things to see what would happen.
"What if they get a different message then the Master's?" Xiang asked.
"Then some unknown force is deceiving them," Po said, but when the wise men and magicians came back and confirmed that what Po said was true, Weiwu dropped to his hands and knees, ripped the top of his royal clothes, and cried out, begging for mercy.
"Please, let the Master who sent you have mercy on us," He cried. The whole court was crying as well. Before Po could say anything, the wolf shouted for a scribe. "Have every man, woman, and child cry and pray to the Master for mercy and grace. Who can tell if the Master will fulfill his promise of mercy." So before the day was out, the word of the repentance screamed through the town. Exiting the capital, the tone was much different. People cried and wept. A big pile of things they used for their wicked deeds was discarded outside the capital. Po was surprised.
"Wow, I didn't think an entire city would change just like that," Po commented. Then Tigress asked something.
"Po, why does the Master have to destroy the entire kingdom? Why not just destroy the people who are wicked."
"But that's why he has to destroy the entire kingdom. The whole town is wicked. The Master doesn't destroy entire peoples and kingdoms because of the level of wickedness, but how many people are doing wickedness," Po answered.
"Will he forgive the people?" Tai-Lung asked. Po sighed.
"Only time will tell," he said.
Thirty days passed very quickly and after the 31st day, Po was immediately taken away that the city had not burned down, been washed away, or a disease had gone through. Po spoke with the Master. "Master?"
"Yes, Po?"
"Did you forget to... I don't know, destroy the city?"
"Why should I destroy it?" The Master asked.
"Because you said in thirty days you would destroy it."
"I said if they didn't turn from their evil ways in thirty days they would be destroyed," The Master answered.
"So, they're forgiven?" Po asked.
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Po, I forgave them the moment they asked with a sorrowful heart. If people come to me truly sorry for what they did, I forgive them. Why then are you so surprised?"
"I'm just surprised that you forgave them so easily."
"I forgave them on the first day. The thirty days was a time for them to get in the habit of obedience," The Master said. "I understand your genuine surprise about this."
"Yeah, I didn't expect them to actually turn around. I guess a surprise is good for a depressive heart," Po said, smiling a little.
"Go to the town and tell them that I have forgiven them. I shall send another servant to them to teach them about me. As for the son of Xingfu, have him marry the daughter of Weiwu and go into the family of Weiwu. And let Xiang call Weiwu father and Weiwu called Xiang son," the Master said. With a great big smile on his face, Po turned back to the campsite.
"You look happy," Tai-Lung noticed.
"I am. The Master has forgiven the people. Anyone who asks for forgiven with a truly sorry heart will always get forgiveness from him. Come on, we must go to the city," Po said. They went in and a celebration was in progress. The cry was heard, "The Master has forgiven us!" Po and others walked to the palace where Weiwu was sitting on his throne, both relieved and glad.
"I have come to tell you that the Master has forgiven you. In fact, the moment you begged for mercy he forgave you. You showed something that shocked me, though."
"What's that?"
"Obedience. So far, I've seen nothing but people rejecting and refusing to do the Master's will. You did it the moment you heard it and led your kingdom to repent as well. You are a true leader and you shall die in your very old age peacefully. And your name will be remembered for eternity," Po said. Then he smiled. "Your highness, I would like to introduce someone to you." He presented a surprised Xiang to the front. "This is Xiwang, but we call him Xiang. Anyways, he was the prince of Bol-Lat but he was among the few who were good and pure. The Master would like him to be included in your family," Po said. The great wolf smiled at the terrified teenage wolf.
"Of course, he shall be my son and I will be his father, for the Master's sake. He shall marry my daughter, Jun," Weiwu said, gesturing to a beautiful young girl wolf. Po chuckled as he heard Xiang gulp and reddened in the face.
"Then it's settled," Po said, guiding Xiang over to Jun. Xiang nervously held Jun's hand as Jun giggled at Xiang's nervousness. "The Master will send another person in my place to teach about him and for you to follow his words." Weiwu stood up and bowed.
"Thank you, servants of the Master," he said as the whole room bowed with him.
Po, Tigress, and Tai-Lung exited the capital with the people waving them good-bye. They walked to the campsite, packed up their things, and went away from the city. When they finally got to a divide in the road they knew it was time to say goodbye to each other. "I thank you, Dragon Warrior, for helping the people in any way you could. I see now why you were chosen to be the Dragon Warrior. Your love for the people is something unique, something I will try to learn myself," Tai-Lung smiled. Then he turned to Tigress. "I know no amount of 'I'm sorry' is going to fix what I did. So I'm just going to thank you for not killing me in my sleep." Tigress smirked.
"Trusting you is probably something I'm not going to do until I'm older. But If I learned anything from this trip, it's that we should always forgive each other. So, I truly forgive you," Tigress said. Then she bowed, "Master Tai-Lung." Tai-Lung bowed as well. Po sniffed, wiping away a tear.
"So touching," He said. Tigress and Tai-Lung shook their heads. Po surprised Tai-Lung with a hug. "Take care, my brother." Tai-Lung hugged back and went his own way. "Come on, Tai-Lung has gone home. Let's go to our home as well."
Continued...