Hope everybody's having a great Valentines Day! In this chapter we'll be catching up with Po and Master Shifu as they make their way toward the Sacred Cave of Sorrows. Enjoy!

Chapter 5

The Path to Enlightenment-Part 1

"The path to peace is not always a straight and sure track, for the warrior must face many obstacles."- Grand Master Kai-Shek Fu

"S-S-Shifu can we please take a break….I-I can't keep going without lunch?!"*Pant* Po struggled to keep up with the agile red panda as the two masters hiked up hill along the jagged surface of Wushi mount. "PLLLLEEEEASSEEEE SHIFU!" The panda struggled to stand beneath his hefty girth coupled with his inadequately sized knap sack filled with non-essential items. Shifu glanced back at his floundering student adjusting his sedge hat to block out the suns blistering rays. "No panda, we must keep going until we reach the Xin Xao Forest if we hope to make the cave by mid-week." "But-but-but….master I haven't had a thing to eat in hours! The Dragon Warrior needs to charge his batteries now and again!" The red panda knew this journey would be test of his ability to deal with Po's irratating tendencies. "Very well….we shall stop here for a moment to charge your "batteries"…but only a moment then it's on to Xin Xao." Uhhhhhggggg! Po face planted on the ground with a thud as he struggled to catch his breath, this aerobic activity was much too taxing on his bodacious physique.

"Three hours into our journey and he's already whining….why you picked him I shall never understand Great Master." Shifu murmured to himself as he looked upwards toward the cliff face and cobalt skies above. He could almost see Oogway smiling down , taking delight in his displeasure. The familiar smell of burning paper snapped the master back to the present. He looked back to discover Po struggling to start a fire with…his prized scrolls. "WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?" Po looked innocently at his master, mouth filled with bean buns. Muffled. "I'm trying to cook us a meal." "THOSE ARE MY PRIZED SCROLLS PANADA! THEY CONTAIN CENTURIES OF TEACHINGS!" "Oh, these things?" The panda held up a smoldering scroll burnt beyond recognition. Shifu began to twitch with rage at the Po's nonchalant demeanor. "YES THOSE!….DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW LONG IT'S TAKEN ME TO COLLECT THEM?!" Muffled. "I thought they were some flash paper so we can cook our meals. You should really label things better." Uncontrollable rage boiled up through the masters small frame, each and every nerve screaming to reprimand his inconsiderate student. "I-I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU!" Muffled. "You want a bean bun? There my dad's special recipe." Po waved a steaming plate of bean bun's in front of his speechless master. "NO, I DO NOT WANT YOUR BEAN BUNS!" Gulp. "Jeeze, okay, you don't have to get all angry about it." Shifu kneaded his temple trying to calm himself. "I need to be alone for awhile Po, find me when your ready to continue our journey." Shifu walked out of sight leaving Po with his pot of boiling bean buns.

"Looks to be two of them Lei." The mid-day sun glinted off the jaguars binoculars as he lay behind several boulders spying on the two masters below. "Excellent, easy pickins for today huh Ru?" The vulture smirked as he signaled to their comrades to initiate their ambush. Several snow leopards, oxen, and wolves peered over their concealed positions in the rock face above.

Man what's with Master Shifu? You'd think I just destroyed the Jade Palace or somethin'. He's always angry, the guy needs to loosen up and relax for a change.

Po thought as he laid back against a rock to take a much needed power nap. Swoooosh! Ccccllllinnnk! What the heck was that?! Eh, probably just Shifu training again. The Panda reassured himself as he began to nod off. Clink! Clink! Clink! "Ok, I understand training is important Shifu, but the Dragon Warrior needs some shut eye for a bit." Po opened one eye to see what all the commotion was. About twenty or so bandits were hastily sliding down the cliff above on ropes. "Oh, that's nice." Po adjusted himself as he closed his eye's to sleep, the image taking a moment to register. "Wait? Those are….BANDITS!" The Dragon Warrior jumped up from his position assuming a fighting posture. "YOU GUY'S PICKED THE WRONG PANDA TO STEAL FROM TODAY! GET READY TO FEEL THE THUN-" A small dart struck the unprepared panda in the neck. "BRING IT ON YOU CREEPS…." Po struggled to remain standing as his world began to spiral in and out, he tried to talk but his mouth felt as though it were full of gravel. "Y-O-O-U- C-A-H-N-T B-B-B-E-A-T M-E…" The Panda sputtered as he fell to the earth like a newly cut tree. "That was easy." Ru placed his dart gun back in it's holster as he looked down on the unconscious Dragon Warrior. "Let's see…. what do we have here…" The vulture looked through Po's knapsack as the other bandits went through Shifu's belongings.

This journey will truly be a test of my abilities…though I can't help but feel guilty. Does he suspect we've been concealing things from him? Then there's the matter of Tigress…does she know what truly happened to her village, to her family? Being Grand Master is proving more taxing then you made it look master…much too taxing. Shifu tried to silence the chorus of inner thoughts that relentlessly bombarded his conscious. *Sigh* Several minutes of meditation should do the trick. The red panda assumed the traditional lotus position quieting all outward and inner distractions. Two oxen bandits quietly approached the meditating master from behind preparing an ambush. One of the bandits silently signaled the other to flank Shifu. *Mouthing* "ONE-TWO-THREE" Both oxen fell to the ground paralyzed. Master Shifu looked around for any other assailants when a familiar noise came whizzing by his head. "Hmm…looks like they weren't alone." The red panda easily caught an incoming arrow near inches away from his face. "You'll have to do better than that to stop me!" *Clapping* "Bravo, bravo, you're a lot smarter than your fat friend." Lei stepped into sight followed by 15 other bandits all pointing their weapons toward the unarmed master. Don't tell me they've captured Po?! Shifu's frustration toward the Dragon Warriors lax attitude began to boil up once more. How could he let mere mountain bandits get the better of him? "What do you want?"

"Everything you've got geezer." Lei stepped forward unsheathing a small dagger. "Let the panda go and it's all yours!" The vulture pondered the grand masters offer. "Sorry geezer but you two will probably fetch us a healthy ransom, especially that fat panda…not too many of them still around these parts." Shifu crouched into a fighting stance. "I see. Well then you leave me no choice." The red panda jumped into the air quickly dodging the flurry of arrows showering above then gently landing behind the vulture and his goons. Several bandits tried a futile attempt to slice up the master with their varying blades. Shifu stood atop one of his attackers swords eyeing it's wielder who comically tried to shake the bantam master off. "I'll only say this one more time! Leave us and be on your way or suffer the consequences!" "Ha, your little tricks don't scare me geezer!" Lei motioned to the others to continue with their attack. One by one each bandit fell to the earth with a sickening thud as the red panda made quick work of them. Finally there was only one bandit left, Lei. Shifu slowly approached the now cowering vulture backed up against a nearby boulder. "Come on geezer…you didn't think I was serious now did you?" The red panda stared down his cowardly opponent not feeling the least bit of remorse. "They'll just eat you up at Chorh-Gom." "Come on geezer let-let-let's make a deal? I'll let your tubby buddy go and me and my crew will be out of your hair! Now doesn't that sound good?"

"It's too late for that vulture! The time for making deals has passed. I promise this technique won't hurt a bit, that is until you wake up again ." Shifu raised his paw preparing to knock out the spineless bandit. "Come on geezer, I promise I'll turn a new leaf, become a traveling potions sales man or a street performer, please let me go!" "What's your name?" "L-L-LEI!" "Good I can inform the authorities of your little operation here at Wushi Moun-Uh-uh-" The red panda reached for the vulture before collapsing at his talons. "WHAT TOOK YOU SO LONG RU!?" The jaguar from earlier approached the unconscious master and Lei, looking at his colleague with contempt. "What a pitiful excuse for a bandit you are Lei. PLEASE SPARE ME! Ha, your all squawk and no bite! Where as me..*examining his blow dart gun with a smirk* ….I'm all bite."

Po's Dream POV

It was a beautiful morning in the panda village, the sound from nearby stream stirred the fearless Dragon Warrior from his sleep as he woke to the succulent aroma of breakfast. "Mm-mm-mm something smells awesomely delicious!" "Good morning my love." A familiar voice caught the Dragon Warriors attention. Master Tigress smiled toward the flabbergasted panda as she continued cooking over a coal fire stove. "Ti-Ti-Tigress are you cooking?!" The south china tiger looked troubled by the panda's question. "Of course, my beautiful husband deserves a proper warriors breakfast." "HU-HU-HUSBAND?!" Po nearly fainted at the tigers statement. "Are you ok dad?" "Dad?!" The panda was jolted back to the kitchen as a worried panda cub looked up toward him. "He always get's like this before grandpa and grandma visit." Po turned to see a spitting image of tigress seated at the kitchen table, except younger and wearing a green vest. "Who are you?!" "Are you serious?! It's me you your daughter, Yue! You've only know me like my whole life!" The Dragon Warrior tried his best to remain calm at strange and escalating situation.

"You sure he's ok mom?" Tigress glanced over toward her children. "Of course Quon. Your fathers just been hit in the head a bit too many times is all." Po, now completely dazed, managed to pull up a chair at the table, staring absently out a nearby window. "Dad, dad…dad?!" "Huh?" The Dragon Warrior turned to face the panda cub from before now sitting across the table. "Yeah what's up…son?" What the heck is going on here since when do I have kids, and Tigress is like a completely different person. What is going on here?! "Can you show me that secret kung fu move you promised? PPPPLLLLEEEEAAAASSSSEEEE!" The panda cub looked at Po with an adorable sad face. "Uh, sure thing, what was it again?" "Oh, come on it's only like the most awesomest move you know!" Po struggled to find the right move to satisfy his eager son. "Is it-" "THE WUSHI FINGER HOLD! Come on dad, Quon's only been going on about it for the past month!" The small tiger snidely remarked as she crossed her arms growing irritated with her little brother. "Way to go Yue, he was just gonna say it and you ruined it!" "Hmph, it's not like I care. Mom's clearly the better kung fu master." "Nu uh!" "Yeah huh!" "Nu uh!" "Yeah huh!" "Nu uh!" "ENOUGH!" Tigress roared from across the kitchen. "Now let's have some breakfast." Tigress leaned over placing her paw to Po's ear. "It's your favorite… bean bun's." The tiger laid out an unimaginable spread of bean buns, noodles, and countless other cuisines fit to feed a small legion then placed a soft kiss on the giant pandas cheek.

Po melted into his seat after Tigress's display of affection, though it was short lived. "Ewe…gross!" The panda cub stuck his tongue out in disapproval, likewise the young tiger looked just as displeased by her parents display. "Seriously guy's?! We're about to eat…save that stuff for when we're not around." "Now, now you know how crazy your father makes me kids. Ppppuuuurrrr." Quon shook his head in disbelief while Yue placed her paws to her ears muttering. "Not listening, not listening, not listening!" Just when the situation couldn't be anymore bizarre a sudden knock at the door caught the families attention. "I'll go get it." Tigress left the trio at the table in awkward silence. "So… uh how are things Yue?" The young tiger looked rather surprised by her fathers question. "Thing's were fine until you decided to wake up!" "Wha-what did I do?" The tiger just sat there silently turning away from her father. "Ya, know you remind me an awful lot of somebody…" Po continued trying to pick the young tiger cubs brain for any answers as to what exactly was going. "Don't mind her dad she's just upset you won't let her go to the winter feast with Peng." "Peng, you mean the snow leopard?!" "Yea, that's all she ever talks about, Peng this, Peng that." "Shut up pipsqueak!" The tiger growled as Quon continued.

"Ohhhh Peng your soooo dreamy!" The tiger began to twitch with anger. "I said to quit it dork!" "Do you think Peng will like my pretty flower top, is my fur shiny enough?" "I'm gonna kill you-you little fat fluff ball!" "Guy's that's enough! Quon show your sister a little respect! And Yue learn to control your anger better!" The two children looked stunned at by their fathers comments. Did I just say that?! Great now I'm beginning to sound like Shifu?! What'll happen next. Both: "Sorry dad." On queue Tigress returned to the kitchen, but she was not alone. "Guess who decided to stop by and say hello?" "TAI LUNG?!" Po immediately jumped from his seat ready to unleash his fists of furry. "Po, what's gotten into you, it's your brother in law!?" Tigress looked on disapprovingly at Po's outburst. "M-M-M-my brother in law?!" "Hey don't worry about it Tigress, I mean I can be a pretty scary guy sometimes ha, ha, ha!" There was no mistaking that sinister smile that dark tone, it was definitely Tai-Lung, but he looked much different than Po remembered. The snow leopard was dressed in a dorky sky blue hanfu and was wearing a pair of inadequately sized spectacles which magnified his pupils. "Still see your as bodacious as always Po." Tai Lung jokingly punched the panda in the arm only to cringe with pain as he hid his swollen fist behind his back. "Yeah it's uh nice to see you to Tai Lung." I..I must be going crazy this can't be real. "Hey-hey did we miss all the fun?" Another voice cut in from behind Tigress, this one unfamiliar. Both Quon and Yue ran from the table with huge smiles plastered on their face's. "GRANDPA! GRANDMA!"

Po could hardly believe his eye's, standing in the doorway were two older giant pandas both with warm smiles and open arms hugging their overjoyed grandchildren. "Mom…Dad?" The older panda turned toward Po, wearing a jade sash identical to Oogway's and Shifu's. "There he is, the man of the hour!" The panda approached the speechless Dragon Warrior, firmly embracing him. "It's good to see you son!" "Uh…it's-uh good to see you too…dad." "AWWW THERE'S MY LITTLE SUGAR PUFF!" Before Po could muster up the courage to ask "that question" the other giant panda bolted into the kitchen nearly toppling over her bewilder son. "OH IT'S SOOO GOOOOD TO SEE YOU." *Whispering* "You look so thin, is she starving you?" Tigress, with her ever acute hearing, cut short the family reunion. "How's about we start making the winter feast Kiew?" "You got it sweetie…is that a new vest?" Tigress blushed a little as she looked down to her garments. "Why yes it's courtesy of your gorgeous son." *winking at Po*. This-this can't be real where are furious five and my parents, tai lung…their all dead, this is…it can't be real? "What can't be real Po?" The Dragon Warrior was snapped out of his mental monologue as that familiar voice spoke softly over his shoulder, her whiskers tickling the back of his neck. Those two amber orbs melted all the confusing and troubling developments away. "Uh it's nothing Ti-Tigress…wait where did everyone go?" The daylight had turned to evening, their guests and children had vanished as he felt the tiger gently wrap her arms around his portly frame. "Oh, your parents, Tai Lung, and the kids? They went to the Winter Feast Parade." Po looked puzzled for moment as he tried comprehending how the time changed so suddenly. "But that means we're-." "All alone." The tiger purred in a sultry tone.

Despite this reality being unimaginably awesome, he couldn't help but feel some crucial pieces were missing. "I finally have you all to myself great Dragon Warrior!" Tigress grabbed Po by the wrist before he could react and threw him toward a nearby wall. "You don't know how long I've been waiting for this Po!" "But Tigress I…." The pandas misgivings were soon quashed as tiger stalked up to him. "Dah…" He could feel his heart racing a 1000 beats a second as she approached stopping at his feet. "It's time to wake up Po!" "Wh-what did you say?" "You've been asleep for far too long." "Wait…what…who are you." Po could feel his romantic fantasy quickly slipping away into a nightmare. "I've trained you better than this Panda…" There was no mistaking Shifu's voice but it was coming from Tigress's ashen lips. "Shifu? Is that you?!" On queue the pandas question was answered as the tiger pulled back her face like a latex mask to reveal that all too familiar irritated glare. "I've trained you better than this, your such a disappointment!" "I've got to get out of here!" Po scrambled from down the hallway toward the kitchen, where his parents, children and Tai Lung were now seated. As with Tigress before each revealed themselves to be Master Shifu in disguise muttering the same phrase over and over. "I've trained you better than this, your such a disappointment! I've trained you better than this, your such a disappointment! I've trained you better than this, your such a disappointment!" The panda cuffed his ears as he ran out of the small cottage only to discover the street lined with identical red pandas all shouting the same phrase in unison. "Ah please make it stop! Please!"

"We trusted you Po." "How could you let this happen Po?" "I never thought my own son would betray the Valley of Peace." Mr. Ping the Furious Five and the army of Shifu's encircled the collapsed Dragon Warrior. "Please…I don't know what I did! Go away! I-I can't take much more of this!" The crowd began to suffocate the distraught panda. "AHHHHHHHHHH!" Po opened his eye's to discover he was chained against a large Ironwood tree in a darkened forest. The only light was coming from nearby camp fire where the hoots and hollers of bandits were echoing throughout the forest. "Good your finally awake." Po turned to see Shifu chained directly next to him. "AHHHHH! I'M SORRY I DON'T KNOW WHAT I DID…JUST PLEASE GO AWAY!" "PANDA! PANDA! CALM DOWN YOU WERE HAVING A NIGHTMARE!" Nearly on the verge of tears Po regained his composure for a moment. "Wait so you're the real Shifu….this isn't a dream?" "OF COURSE I'M THE REAL SHIFU! We've been captured by mountain bandits who've taken us for ransom."

Po took a moment to digest his masters words. "So we've been taken hostage? But how, we could easily defeat any bandits with our epic kung fu fighting skills!" Shifu struggled to get through to his warm hearted but dim witted pupil. "It appears one of the bandits is quite adept with poison darts and sleeping elixirs." "You mean like scorpion with her poison thingies?" "YES LIKE SCORPION! Now let's try to get out of here before they come back." Grrruuunnnttt "I-I can't break lose!" "Just as I suspected these are acupuncture cuffs." "But that means we-" "Yes, we can't break free without the key. But why would lowly bandits have such superior equipment?"

"QUIET!" A leopard bandit approached the captured pair holding up a cloth soaked in what was hopefully water. "That'll be enough out of you! Lord Tung Tui should be pleased with our capture of two kung fu masters." Shifu tried to remember the name Tung Tui but it kept drawing a blank. "Hey buddy we're not just any masters, I'm the Dragon Warrior!" Po gloated to the intrigued leopard. Shifu tried fruitlessly to stop the panda's blabbering. "Po please quit while your ahead…" "The Dragon Warrior, wow wait till the boys get's a load of this we'll be swimming in yuan!" "You shouldn't underestimate my bodaciously awesome strength! Right now Grand Master Shifu and I are hatching a brilliant escape plan!" "Grand Master Shifu?! This must be our lucky day! Do tell about your escape plan." "First I'll use my fists of justice to break free and destroy this ironwood tree, then I'll-" "Po!" "Then I'll be like shakabooie and save master Shifu!" "Po!" "Then…I'm coming for you spots." "PO!" "Wait till I tell Lei and Ru know about you two they'll be even happier!" "Po you do realize we're trying to conceal our identities!?" The Dragon Warrior looked amazed by his masters comment.

"Ooh cool! You mean like super heroes….like the midnight stranger and his trusted sidekick the dark dumpling?!" "No Po what I'm trying to say-" "That'll be enough out of you two!" The jaguar from earlier approached the captured masters. "Seems I've might of skimped on the tranquilizers a bit. You get back to guarding the camp I'll take care of these two!" "Y-Yes sir!" The leopard hurried back toward the encampment. "So you're the Dragon Warrior?" Ru stood face to face with his captive, Po uncomfortably squirmed under the jaguars steely gaze. "Yeah…what's it to you?" "Well…this'll make our mission so much easier with you and that little geezer out of the way." Shifu's eye's widened as the jaguar revealed a large dagger from his side satchel. "Tell me panda…are all the rumors true? Are you really impervious to pain?" Po cleverly saw an opportunity for escape. "Why don't you free me and we'll find out." "Ha-hah you expect me to fall for that ole' trick tubby? Please I wouldn't be where I am now if I were that stupid!" "Have you no honor jaguar this is the Dragon Warrior?!" The red panda tried his best to assist Po in their escape attempt.

"Nah-whadda say we do a little science experiment instead?" "A wha-?" "A science experiment… I'll test out my new poisons on you and see how much pain the Dragon Warrior can really withstand." The jaguars muzzle twisted into a sickening grin as his listless eye's stared down the captured warriors. "Hey…why don't we just not do that and you can deliver us back after you get your ransom?" "Ransom…don't be ridiculous! With you out of the way the whole of China will be ripe for the picking." "Panda remember your training!" "Uh, Shifu I don't think that'll help us out right now." Ru dug through his satchel looking at vials then tossing them out. "Oooh this one will work nicely…hemlock and arsenic! Are you up for the challenge Dragon Warrior?!" "Why don't we think about this for a sec buddy." "Think…I don't think… I'm a man of action silly panda and your time is up…." Before he could administer his deadly concoction the jaguar face planted before the two stunned masters. A small hooded figure stepped into Shifu and Po's sight. *Clank* Both masters restraints simultaneously fell from their wrists. "Who are you?!" Shifu knew better than to trust strangers around these parts especially after their current predicament. "You'll find out soon." The mystery warriors voice was muffled under a small demon mask. "Now let's get out of here before his friends catch on!"

That was quite weird dream...think po might of had too many bean bun's before his forced nap. :)