A Better World?
Chapter 10- Crane vs Po
The Present
Crane stood standing on the roof of the training hall waiting for everyone to wake up, he wanted to take Po out but he didn't have the heart to do it in the night right after he had talked to Tigress.
"Maybe I can beat him without ending him" he thought.
He stood for a bit longer until he heard the morning gong "It's showtime" he thought and lept off of the roof.
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"Good morning Master".
Master Shifu observed everyone bowing him, he almost gasped in shock when he saw Po was also among them.
Shifu smirked "You're learning panda".
Po straightened up and smiled "Thank you master".
Shifu then turned on the others "Now I know what we heard yesterday may have disturbed you, but we have to remain united and try to prevent those events from happening".
He looked around "Where's Crane...the older one I mean?".
Crane suddenly appeared at the mention of his name
"Sorry it's been a while since I've used the training hall so I took my opportunity" he smirked to reassure them all.
Shifu nodded "I understand, we were all just about to get breakfast then we could talk more about planning for the arrival of the evil Dragon Warrior
Crane glanced at Po a plan formed quickly in Crane's head, "Okay Master but before you do that could I have a quick word with the Dragon Warrior I want to ask him something".
Po looked at him in surprise, Crane refused to make eye contact with him so he wouldn't give anything away.
Shifu nodded again "I don't see why not".
Crane walked off outside and Po followed him.
The whole time Tigress had been looking at Crane suspiciously "All of that information that he told us and he suddenly wants to speak privately to Po, it could be nothing and Po can handle himself, if I hear anything I'll make my move".
With that she followed the others into the kitchen.
As they all sat down Shifu asked the present Crane something.
"You've been surprisingly quiet Master Crane is everything alright?".
Crane looked at him "Yeah I'm okay, I guess I'm still digesting it all really, I can't believe that Po would do that" he looked determinedly at Shifu, "Though if I could prevent it I would do anything".
xxxxx
Po and Crane walked out to the courtyard, when they stopped Po put his hand on Crane's shoulder.
"So future buddy what's up?" Po asked cheerfully.
Crane pushed Po's hand away "Po before I talk to you properly I need to know, are you in love with Tigress?".
Po started to fidget nervously "Ummmm is this important?".
Crane nodded "It could be yes".
"Yes I do, more then anything", Po blushed heavily it was the first time he had admitted it aloud.
Crane raised an eyebrow in surprise "I didn't expect you to be so flippant about it".
Now it was Po's turn to look confused "Well you just asked me, so in your world was I so bitter and lonely that I couldn't trust my friends?".
Crane nodded again "Yes, like I said yesterday you would only talk to Tigress, ok onto what I was going to say".
"I may have put on a kind face yesterday Po, but let me tell you the truth, I don't trust you and if it meant saving everyone here today then I would gladly put an end to you".
Po gasped in shock "You can't mean that, I'm your friend...right?".
Crane glared at him and shook his head "You are not my friend, as far as I'm concerned you are my enemy".
Po looked glumly at him "Look Crane", Crane sneered at Po's use of his name, "I know that I must have done terrible things to y-".
He was cut off by Crane who kicked Po to the ground "It's not just that Dragon Warrior it's also things you made me do, you made me kill for you and I'll be only be to happy to show you personally what I learned that day".
Crane looked deeply into his eyes "I will protect Tigress from you, in my time she has suffered the most because of you, you've desecrated her name and memory by killing".
Po roughly pushed him off stood up and got into a fighting stance, "You know I would never do anything to hurt Tigress, I love her Crane why would I hurt her?".
Crane got into a stance "I don't know why you hurt any of us , all I know is that you will cause the ruin of the valley".
"Don't make me fight you Crane" pleaded Po.
"I'm taking the choice out of your hands Dragon Warrior, I'm going to finish this now before it starts".
Crane launched a kick at Po.
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The Future, One week after Crane's disappearance
Po was standing on the roof of the Jade Palace gazing out onto the Valley, there was an eerie feeling in the air maybe because of the silence or because you could feel the tension of the village.
It was early morning, the sun was only just beginning to rise.
Po hadn't slept all night he had just sat on the roof talking to the locket and fantasizing about killing Crane.
"It's been one week, now I make my move", Po lept off the roof and made his way into the Hall of Heroes.
"I should recharge the stone before I go, you never know what I might find", Po walked down into the cells which were full of people that Viper, Monkey and the guards had been ordered to put there.
Po randomly picked a door and unlocked it using a set of keys that were hanging on the wall.
A young male sheep was chained to the far wall, he looked malnourished and poorly looked after.
"WAKE UP" yelled Po.
The sheep jolted awake and cowered in fear at Po's presence.
"I'm going to need your help with something" said Po while closing the cell door behind him.
There was silence until a red light shone out of the bars.
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Po walked out of the cell block and into the barracks which had been moved into the Hall for ease of access.
He knocked on Viper's door and waited for her to answer.
She opened the door sleepily and rubbing her eyes with her tail to get the sleep out of them.
"What time is it Po? she asked groggily.
Po scowled at her for using his name but decided to let it slide.
"I'm going away for awhile to search for Crane so I'm leaving you in charge".
Viper woke up immediately "Wait what, why?".
"I'm going to finish this personally" Po answered patiently.
Viper looked at him worriedly, she sighed knowing whatever concerns she voiced would be shot down very quickly.
"Ok, just be careful we can't afford to lose you" Viper smiled at him to try and get more of an interaction.
Po wasn't fazed and just looked blankly at her, "I should be gone about a week, if anything urgent should happen send a messenger out for me, repeat all of this message to Monkey and the guards".
Po went to leave but stopped when he remembered something "Watch Mantis more closely while I'm gone, I'm sure he has a plan and he might be able to escape with just you and Monkey here".
Viper nodded and watched him walk away.
"How much longer before you come back to us Po?".
xxxxx
Po walked through the deserted streets of the Village, he saw a rabbit looking out the window of the florists shop, Po glanced at him, the rabbit saw this and hastily closed the window and darted back inside.
Po walked up to the shop and took a bouquet of flowers that were by their self.
He walked through the village until he came to the spot where Tigress had died, the remains of other flowers still remained there.
Po pushed them away and laid the bouquet he had on the exact spot where she had been taken from him.
"I miss you everyday Tigress, if I could go back then I would gladly take that arrow for you".
He sat for a while before getting up, he looked to his left towards the ruins of his fathers old noodle shop, he hadn't rebuilt it.
Po began to feel the urge to let his emotions out, he ignored it and carried on.
He eventually reached a forest, Po looked around to see if he was followed.
When he had made sure that the coast was clear he pulled the stone out of his pocket and started to make Tai Chi movements.
"Ok, I can feel some of Crane's residual chi in the stone maybe I can use that to follow him".
Po took a deep breath and searched the contents of the stone using his chi.
Two hours passed until Po finally got it.
He smirked in victory, "Finally! Now to rid myself and the world of Master Crane".
Po pointed the stone's gaze at himself and let the floodgates of his chi loose.
He felt himself start to disintegrate, leaves were rising around him because of the raw power of the stone.
After he had completely disappeared the leaves fell back down to the ground.