One last time
Chapter 8
By now the rain had fully stopped and the big yellow sun was giving off it's comforting and soft warmth on the world.
"Come on let's go say our goodbyes before we leave." Said Po in a happy yet sad voice.
"You guys go ahead, I'll be there shortly" Jin said, looking at Viper. She smiled at slithered off behind Po. Well to the first rock and hid behind it. She had a terrible feeling that something bad is going to happen, so she stayed hidden and peeked from behind the rock.
Jin stood up and walked to the edge of the cliff. A few moments had passed and Viper was about to ge to Jin and ask him what's wrong. But her intentions quickly changed, when a flash of bright light appeared next to the dragon. When the light was gone, something else took its place. A stunning lioness stood there. She was radiating this ethereal light that made her seem even more surreal.
"Jin. I fear this was unwise. You coming back here. She may seem happy now, but it will crush her when you die. And this time, you won't come back." The golden lioness said with a soft echoing voice.
"WHY DO YOU THINK I CAME BACK HERE? I HAD TO SEE VIPER FOR A LAST TIME! I just don't have the heart to tell her." Jin lashed at the ehteral being standing next to him.
The lioness sighed "Jin. I told you when i sent you back. Your destiny is to prevent the death of the Dragon Warrior. You will die in the arena."
At that moment Vipers world grinded to a halt. Everything seemed to stand still, even her heart refused to beat at the time. Jin was going to….die. he came back only to say his final goodbye…
When the lioness dissapeared, Viper slithered from behind the rock without hesitation. Her eyes were filled to their brim with tears and some were already falling down, caressing her scales. Her world was crushing down around her and yet she did not have the courage to speak to him anymore. When Jin turned around, his face had a stone cold expression. Like he did not even care about his death.
"Jin…. " was the only thing Viper managed to choke out. This was too much. She finally awaited the day when he came back only to find out he was going to die. She turned around in disbelief tears now running free down her face. In the blink of an eye she slithered down the steps towards the palace.
"Viper wait! Please… come back! Viper…" Jin whispered her name. It was pointless to get mad now. All he could do was try to repair the damage he had done by coming back home.
At the Jade Palace
Viper slithered into her room and slammed the door behind her leaving looks of confusion on the faces of the five she slithered by. When Tigress saw this she slowly walked towards her door and spoke softly.
"Viper is something wrong?" There was no reply, only the sound of a breaking heart and quiet sobs was coming from her room. Tigress opened her door and found the snake curle up on her bed crying her heart out. Somehow she knew the feeling all to well. The feeling of loosing someone you finally fell in love with.
"Viper… What's wrong?" Tigress asked again, her voice trying to calm the snake down.
Master Viper the always loving and caring snake, was a mess. She always cared for others, putting their need before hers. And now it was time for Tigress to do the same. She walked to the snake and gently put a paw on her back reasurring her that all will be well.
"He's… He's going to die Tigress." Viper choked out inbetween her sobs. When she heard that Tigress stiffened up and thought about Po.
"I know Viper. But i'm sure Po will give his best next to me in the arena." Tigress smiled weakly at the thought that even in death they would be together.
"Not P-Po… Tigress…. Jin will d-die there too…" Viper finally broke down, her burden was too heavy to bear alone. Tears falling freely the poor snake cryed her heart out next to the tiger. Not knowing what to do Tigress stayed next to her still in schock at how she knew that Jin of all people will die too. He wasn't called out by Shanxi. He had nothing to die for now.
And then his words echoed through her mind. Let's just say i wasn't meant to die just yet.Jin knew something he didn't tell them before. He knew he had to do something. Otherwise he wouldn't be alive right now.
With Jin
The sad dragon walked back to the palace with sorrows in his heart. I have to at least try to fix this. I can't bare to see Viper like this because of me.He thought to himself while walking towards the barracks.
When he got there he saw the group of warriors standing infront of Vipers door. His accute hearing could pick up the sound of her crying. Well here goes nothing. He thought while taking a deep breath. A soft voice filled the hall making it's way to the group they turned around and smiled when they saw Jin starting one of his infamous songs.
Don't let it end
Don't let it end
Don't ever let it end
Well I got two tickets to the game
It'd be great if I could take you to it this Sunday
And I'll walk you home when the whole things done
And if you're there I don't even care which team won
We can stop at the coffee shop
And make fun of the cops in the parking lot
We can laugh as we both pretend that we're not in love and that we're just
Good friends
Well I'm tired of pretending, but I'm terrified of it ending
I know if not for you there's nothing I could do to ever let it end
And I know you feel the same way, cause you told me drunk on your birthday
And as you pulled to me whispered in my ear "don't ever let it end"
Don't let it end
Don't let it end
Don't ever let it end
Saturday I'm going to take her out because her favorite band is gonna play
Downtown
Gonna sing the song we've all heard of
Bout those two good friends that shoulda fell in love
Later on we'll cut through the park and she can hold my hand cause she
Hates the dark
We can laugh as we both pretend that we're not in love and that we're just
Good friends
n/nickelback/dont+ever+let+it+end_ ]
Well I'm tired of pretending, but I'm terrified of it ending
I know if not for you there's nothing I could do to ever let it end
And I know you feel the same way, cause you told me drunk on your birthday
And as you pulled to me whispered in my ear "don't ever let it end"
Don't let it end
Don't let it end (Please promise me that this won't end)
Don't ever let it end
The greatest time we've ever had
It's crazy now just looking back
You never know where life's gonna go
Cause we're the only ones who'll ever know
About Sunday night just her and I
Sitting side by side in the full moonlight
I pull her close just to hold her tight
And the both of us could tell it just felt right
She looked at me in the sweetest way
Like she could tell what the hell I was about to say
Musta took a while just to find the words
Cause she cut me off and finally said it first
Well I'm tired of pretending, but I'm terrified of it ending
I know if not for you there's nothing I could do to ever let it end
And you know I feel the same way, cause I told you drunk on your birthday
And as you pulled to me whispered in my ear "don't ever let it end"
Don't let it end
Don't let it end
(Please promise me that this won't end)
Don't ever let it end
Don't let it end
Don't let it end
Don't ever let it end
After he finished the songs Vipers sobs could no longer be heard. Yes it was official, Jin's heart was as soft as Po's and made from pure gold. Jin made his way to Vipers room only to be tackled by the snake as she coiled herself around him in a hug.
"Please don't leave me again…" Viper squeezed out in a whisper, looking at his loving eyes.
"I won't ever leave you. That's why i wanted to ask you this: Would you come with me?" Jin said hugging Viper close.
"Ofcourse." Viper said in a happy tone her sadness finally subsiding, giving way to much happier emotions.
Tigress walked out of the room and stood next to Po in the hall leaning on him slightly. Her face held up a genuine smile this time.
The four friends packed their travel packs and a few of their belongings, as the rest of them gathered at the palace gate. When they came out with their stuff Master Shifu and the three boys – Mantis, Monkey and Crane – were waiting for them.
"So this is the final goodbye huh?" Mantis said in a crushed tone.
"Wait what? We're not going?" Crane said in shock.
"No. Someone has to protect the Valley just in case." Master Shifu told them, his voice shaking and cracking with every word.
"Don't worry Shifu. We'll be back. I promise." Po said in a comforting tone, but in the back of his head a voice was telling him to stop fooling himself at least once in his life. Tigress felt him tense up and grabbed one of his paws with her own giving him the comfort he needed.
"Master. I promise the safe return of Po, Tigress and Viper." Jin said bowing in respect.
"Wait. What about you? You plan on staying there or what?" Po said looking at him. Viper winced at the question her heart wrecking at the painfull thought of Jin dieing in order for them to live. When Tigress saw this she jabbed Po in the side with her elbow. Po yelped in pain but soon understood what she meant and fell silent.
"Good luck my students. And you too my daughter…" Shifu said looking at Tigress with a smile on his face.
Finally after 20 years he was showing her how proud he was, how happy he was to be able to call her his daughter. The tigers heart warmed from his words a few tears falling down her cheek.
"Thank you… father." Tigress replied. The four warriors turned around and started walking towards the exit of the Valley of Peace. Leaving their home to protect China for one last time.