A Better World?
Chapter 5- The Resistance
The future
Six hours after Tigress's Death
Crane, Viper, Mantis and Monkey were standing in front of Tigress's grave, only Po and the rest of the five had buried her and held a small service for her.
Po didn't say a word the whole time, he just glared into space, Tigress's blood was still stained into his fur. After they had finished he walked back to the palace alone.
"Did Po tell you where he went after she was killed?" asked Crane.
"No he didn't, but I think he found the bandits who got away and..." Viper couldn't finish her sentence, it scared her to think about Po's state of mind.
"Is this the end of us ?, because if this is what Po is going to do we need to stop him...if he carries on he is going to become the greatest threat that China has ever seen".
It pained Crane to think about putting Po down, but as far as he was concerned the fact that he had forced Crane and Monkey to murder defenceless foes proved there was no going back.
Viper turned on him angrily "How can you say that?, he's grief stricken, heartbroken and he's your friend, we have to support him no matter what".
Crane was stunned "But Viper he's gone against everything we were ever taught by Oogway and Shifu , it doesn't matter why he's doing this, he's got to be stopped".
"But what if Shifu and Oogway were wrong all along and this is the way that we can finally stop evil, by beating them at their own game" said Monkey finally joining the conversation.
Mantis gasped "No you can't believe in this madness", he hopped off of Monkey's shoulder and stood next to Crane.
"I don't know if I do" Monkey became angry "But what I do know is that because of what Po did today the Lin Kuei will never hurt anyone again and we won't lose another friend because of some punk with a bow".
Monkey sighed "I'm going to help Po at the palace, he's my best friend so I will stick by him no matter what".
Monkey walked off back to the palace.
Viper began to follow him but was stopped, "Viper please don't go" pleaded Crane.
Viper look conflicted for a moment but then slapped Crane in the face with her tail.
She looked around "I can't believe that you would betray him like this, I lost someone I considered a sister today and I'm hurting...bad, but that's nothing compared to what he's feeling and Monkey was right, maybe this is the way".
She slithered off after Monkey.
Crane's heart broke at her words, he lowered his head and muttered "I'm not the one that he's betrayed" he glanced at Tigress's grave, "I'm sorry Tigress, for not protecting him like you made me promise".
Mantis hopped up on Crane's shoulder.
"So what do we do?"
Crane sighed "We have to protect the villagers from Po's wrath", Crane never thought he would hear those words not least from himself.
Mantis nodded "I can't believe this is how it ends, the Furious Five and the Dragon Warrior, all of the good we've inspired is going to come undone by what happens next".
Crane looked at Mantis "We're going to form a resistance".
xxxxx
Po entered the Hall of Heroes and walked over to what he had come for.
The Sword of Heroes lay gleaming on it's stand until Po's shadow was cast over it.
He picked it up and waved it about before strapping it to his waist.
Po made his way to his room, when inside he reached into a drawer and took out a locket that he was going to give to her.
He opened the locket, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a snippet of her fur that he had taken from her body.
He put the fur in the locket, closed it and held it to his heart "So I will never forget you or the promise that I've made to you".
He turned around to leave and saw Zeng standing in his doorway.
"Master Po, what are you doing here?" asked Zeng, he looked worried and almost...afraid at the fire in Po's eye.
Po just ignored his question "Get out of the valley while you still can Zeng".
"Why?".
"Because I don't want you to get hurt", some of the old Po was apparently still in there.
Zeng looked at Po for a moment before nodding and leaving to pack his things.
xxxxx
Po went to the barracks to gather what remained of the five.
When he entered the kitchen he was surprised to see only Monkey and Viper present.
"Where are the others?" he demanded.
Viper answered "They refuse to help you".
Po slammed his fist into the table "Damn them", he sighed "Oh well, they don't matter we can convince them that this is the way of the world later".
Po turned towards Monkey "Gather all the villagers at the bottom of the Thousand Steps, I have an annoucement to make".
Monkey nodded and ran off.
Viper looked at Po and put her tail on his shoulder, "Po are you okay?".
Po just looked at her "I've never been better".
Viper didn't believe him but just decided to go along with it, "If you ever need to talk to someone Po you can talk to me, I know what you're going through".
Po merely snorted "I doubt that highly".
His face softened "But thank you though".
xxxxx
All the villagers stood in front of the steps wating for Po.
When he finally arrived they became tense because they knew of the loss he had suffered.
"Listen up" Po started.
He began to pace "There's going to be a few new rules put in place".
"Number one - "You Kill, You Die".
"Number two - "You Steal, You Die".
"Number three- "Any previously small crimes such as littering will now have more...advanced punishments".
"And finally number four - "You shall no longer call me Po. My name from now on shall be my title, you are all to address me as the Dragon Warrior".
The auidience was petrified of this colder, harsher Po.
Po stepped down from his "Podium" and walked back up to the Palace with Monkey and Viper following him.
"Monkey go to Chorh-Gom Prison and bring all of the Rhino guards here, we need an army to enforce this".
Monkey nodded "Ok Po".
Po turned on him angrily "I told you all to call me the Dragon Warrior, no more Po, it's a name and a person associated with weakness".
He left Monkey and Viper on the stairs.