And here we go. Chapter 17 is done and now so is Part Two. Thanks for reading this story, I know it had it's ups and downs but That was intentional. Thanks again, and Enjoy the Read!

Chapter 17

Ready To Go Home

Brycen was sitting in a dark chamber. The only source of light being the five torches that were lit along the walls of the secret sanctum. The walls were lined with shelves of scrolls almost 400 of them to be exact, each filled with many secrets: techniques, healing remedies, historical diaries of the Masers of the past, you name it. Many weapons lined the walls as well, such as long spears, shields of honor, swords, staffs, some armor, and even a Black Masters robe with the Chinese Character for "Bear" Written on its back, was adorned on the far wall, said to have belonged to the first Master of the Bear style. This place was known only to the Masters of the Bear style…Brycen's ancestors…as the chamber held every single secret, every single technique, and every single skill and piece of knowledge that the warriors of the Bear style would ever learn. In the center of the room sat an ornate table, which like the Masters robe, also had the Character for "Bear" drawn on it as Brycen was finishing writing in a scroll.

He had been coming down here more and more during the past week, writing away in several scrolls, as a silver chest sat just to his right on the table. He had made many trips down to this room over the summer; looking through the scrolls, as he would decide on what to teach Po next. Truth be told…Po was such an amazing talent, that what he had learned in only three months…took most warriors before him about three years…The Razor Rebound, a skill that took Brycen months to master and those before him even longer…Po learned in a few hours…"Every bit his father's son…and his mother's…" Brycen thought to himself, as the Black Bear paused while he remembered the two Panda's "Chong…Xiu…If only you could see him now…You would both be so proud of your boy…He has his father's skills…and his mother's heart…"Brycen then went back to finishing his writing in the scrolls. After a few moments he signed the last scroll and placed it in the chest. Six scrolls in all, lining the bottom of the chest."There...that's the last of it all..." Brycen then stood up and walked over to a white banner hanging on the wall. Brycen then lifted up the Brush as he wrote a single name on the Banner in giant print. Po Ping. At the bottom of the name Brycen drew a symbol…the Yin-Yang Symbol. The symbol of Po's people, also indicating Po as the first Panda to learn Bear style. All the other names lining the wall upstairs had a black paw print underneath…but not this one. As tradition The Master of the student would write his students name on the banner when he thought the student was ready to take on the roll of Master. Po of course was not ready yet…but Brycen had no idea when he would ever return to these mountains again…or…"No…can't think like that…"Brycen scolded himself as he finished with the banner.

Once it dried Brycen folded it up and placed it inside the silver chest. Brycen then closed the lid to the silver chest and placed it in the center of the table. He then pulled out a piece of paper and wrote a message on it. Once he finished, he folded the paper over and wrote a single name on the back. Po. Brycen then placed the paper on top of the chest, the name facing outward, as he placed the silver key to the chest on top of the message, so that it wouldn't blow away from a draft or anything of the sort. It was only a precaution…and he hoped Po never had to come looking for this spot before Brycen could show it to him. Another part of the tradition was that this room, was meant only for the Masters…Students…were forbidden to enter, so declared by the first Master of Bear style…the one whose statue guarded this hidden chamber in the Dojo...

Brycen then walked around the table and stood before an altar in the back of the room. An altar…that he himself had built. Sitting on top of the altar, sat a large hammer. It's edges rounded with a long staff like handle. On the hammers head were four Yin-Yang symbols, one on each side. Brycen stared at the hammer for a long time. he then lifted the hammer off its pegs and held it in his hands as he continued to stare at the artifact. "Chong…"Brycen thought to himself as he gazed at the weapon. By birthright, this weapon belonged to Po, and one day Brycen would pass it on to him, as he knew Chong always intended. But Brycen knew that only happened when Po was considered an adult. The Black Bear then brought the weapon over to the table where a large blanket was. As Brycen wrapped up the hammer he was thinking to himself "Why do I get the feeling…that bringing this along…is an absolute necessity…?" As Brycen began to tie up the covered hammer from both ends and along the center. Once he was done Brycen picked up the hammer and began to snuff out the torches. When he came to the last one Brycen took one last look at the room, and then he snuffed the final torch as he closed the heavy doors placing a large wooden lock down on the door, as Brycen then made his way up the stone steps.

Once Brycen reached the top of the steps he lifted up the floor panel behind the statue and checked to make sure no one was inside the Dojo. Once he saw it was empty, Brycen climbed out and closed the panel shut as he walked over to the statue and pulled the bears head back so that it was now straight up. Instantly Brycen heard several locking mechanisms and then a quiet "Latch" and Brycen knew the room was secured. Brycen then made to leave the Dojo as he turned and bowed to the room one last time and went to meet Po and his family.

With Po…

Po had just about finished packing up his last few things into his travel pack. All that remained was his Dragon Tunic. He then pulled the floor board up and grabbed it. Brycen had given it back to him a few days ago and it was freshly cleaned and patched up. Those past two weeks were absolutely brutal on the Panda. with the summer winding down Brycen hammered so much training into Po that he wasn't sure how he managed to survive it. Po had mastered the Hammer Strike in only a few hours as well as several new combinations. sometimes it was difficult, but Po never gave up, and Brycen never gave up on Po. When Brycen told Po they were going to be leaving the mountains to go back to the Valley of Peace, and arriving about a week before the new school term began, Po couldn't write to his dad fast enough. He spent that week counting down the days till he could see his dad again, his friends, and his home. As Po was about to close his pack he remembered his dream scroll and the Jujube seeds. He went over to his drawer and pulled them out. He had only had the dreams twice in the past two weeks, even with the help of the seeds…but he never saw that Panda again…or the mysterious woman who sang that melody.

As Po shook his head from the thoughts he packed away the last of his things, and he then rolled up his bedroll. "Not gonna lie…I can't wait to sleep in my own bed again…" Po said to himself as he placed the bedroll in the corner. He took one last look around the room he called his own for the summer. He may have had to share it…but he was gonna miss it. "I'm actually going to miss this place…" Po said as he hefted his pack up on his shoulder, his Amulet displayed proudly over his black tunic. "Just one more week, then I can see you for real Tigress…" As Po left the room and headed out of the house.

Po, Jing, and Hua had spent the morning closing up the house and packing their things. Brycen said he would take care of the Dojo himself and so Po hadn't seen him all morning. When Po made it outside he saw that Hua and Jing were waiting for him on the front porch. Hua handed Po the cloak he was to wear until they got close to the Valley of Peace. Po didn't question it but he wasn't going to put it on until they neared the ship. Just then Brycen was seen walking up the path carrying a large bundle. As he neared, Po asked him "What's that Coach? I don't remember you bringing something that large with us." Brycen merely smiled as he said "Just something to bring back with me. Is everyone all packed and ready to go?" Po nodded, his smile wide as he said "Yup." Jing and Hua both nodded as they all picked up their packs and turned to leave down the mountain path.

Once they got to the bottom Brycen stopped everyone saying "Aright Po, time to put that cloak on now…" Po nodded and was about to put it on when he heard a familiar voice. "Wait!" Po and the others turned to see Master Ming rushing towards them. As she neared, Po smiled at her while she said "Good you haven't left yet!" as she caught her breath. Po asked "What's wrong?" Ming just smiled saying "Nothing, I just wanted to see you off is all." Po smiled as he gave Ming a hug which she returned. Brycen then said "You got five minutes boy, then I want you to catch up." Po nodded his head as Brycen and his Family left the two be for a minute. Po then turned to say "So I guess this is so long." Ming just nodded her head saying "Yeah… Listen Po, take care of yourself. And about you and Tigress." At this Po looked her in the eye as she continued "It will work out…I know it will." Po smiled as he nodded his head. "Thanks Ming…Look me up next time you're in the valley." Ming smiled as she nodded her head "Absolutely, Hopefully before the next tournament arrives." Po and her shared a smile as Po said "Better get going…Don't want Brycen to come back looking for me." Ming smiled as she said in a low tone "Take care… Dragon Warrior..." Po smiled as he nodded and put on his cloak, pulling the hood up over his head, as he began walking down the path.

A few minutes down the path, Brycen and the others were waiting for him as Brycen called back "We got quite a ways to go before we reach the docks, let's get moving." Po nodded his head as he lifted Jing up onto his shoulders, with the cub laughing a bit, as the group made their way down to the docks. Back towards the Valley of Peace. Back to their home...

Meanwhile, Later that night, far away on the opposite end of the country…just past China's Border, in a small, run down, castle

A White Peacock stood before a large Fireplace in a white silk robe as he continued to stare into the flames, thinking to himself, as he heard the doors behind him open and then close. The sounds of padded feet making their way towards him grew louder until they stopped. He then heard the figure behind him drop to one knee as the figure spoke. "You wished to see me Lord Shen?" The peacock turned just then, as he stood tall above his subordinate "How is production proceeding General Wolfang?" The wolf raised his head revealing an eye patch on his left eye as he replied "We've just finished constructing the latest cannon sir…but I fear that we can no longer forge the cannons in this region, we've exhausted all of our resources here."

Shen then turned his back to the wolf as he returned his gaze to the fireplace. "Then perhaps it's time we moved our operation to a more... suitable... location…" Wolfang then asked "Yes sir…what did you have in mind?" Shen then reached above the fireplace as he picked up the large Guan Dao mounted on the wall as he said "I believe it's time for me to return home... General…Inform your men…that in two days, we march for Gongmen City…" General Wolfang bowed his head and he left his master to his thoughts. As the peacock left the fireplace, he made his way over to the window, as he gazed out into the distance where he could just see the border. "Soon…Very soon, I shall have all that was once taken from me…and very soon, China shall burn…and be rebuilt…in MY image…" as the peacock began to laugh manically out into the star covered night sky...

And there you have it. Training for Destiny has come to an end. Interesting inner sanctum...a secret box meant for Po... and Brycen had that hammer all this time...makes ya wonder... Now here we go for the summary to the Final Part of the story.

After almost 16 long years Po finally comes face to face with the man who has taken everything away from him. His home...his people...and his parents. In an attempt to help the Furious Five, Po sets out on his own, searching for more than just a certain city...but for answers as well, leaving only a note behind for his father. But when Po is faced with a difficult choice...one even the Soothsayer cannot predict an answer to. Will the Dragon Warrior walk the path of the Hero? or will he take his revenge? Can Brycen reach his student before Po reaches his goal? Will Tigress learn the identity of the Dragon Warrior? A Legend Is Born comes to a close as secrets are revealed...confessions are made...and the buried past connecting Brycen and Po all those years ago is finally unearthed in full. Part three brings this tale to a heartbreaking close in "A Legend Is Born: The Dragon Warrior...Hero or Avenger?"...DA DA DAAAAA!!

(Seriously, the summary boxes need to be larger...I mean, I need at least 600 characters here.)

I have been itching to get started on this part. Hope you like the summary and Remember.

REVIEW!

Also...If any of you are any good at drawing, I have a request. unfortunately I cannot Draw to save my life. But I was thinking for the cover image to Part three. an Image of Po in his Dragon Warrior Tunic with his hood up and back to us while he looks off to the left...What do you think? If you're interested in giving it a shot, shoot me a PM. One again, Thanks for reading!