Author's Note: Hey there! This may not be clouded minds, but don't worry, the next chapter is on the way. Instead, I got another chapter for this neat little Po character study here. And this is something I've always wondered about him. How does he feel about taking out his enemies after the fact? Does he regret it? Does he think he could've done things differently? I think he does, even if its useless to think so. You'll see what I mean after reading it. Anyways, enough of my ramble, let's get on with it!

Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN KFP!

Enjoy.

Regret

Was he right?

Three words, a single question drenched in so much meaning. Drowning in so many possibilities. Yet the well is dried up. These possibilities now presiding over an endless desert, begging for an oasis. The only green that meets these notions are the eyes of the dragon warrior, staring at a lifeless figure of stone, crafted to honour a life numbering in the thousands. Such a contradiction that life can only be honoured in something so devoid of it.

And this is for Oogway, someone who was loved across China. Nothing of the sort was provided to Kai, to Shen, to Tai Lung. All that's left of them is a legacy of fear-filled tales and the constant re-telling of how Po 'vanquished' them.

Was he right?

Strangely enough, even in this question he honours them. But is it honour or pity? Or regret? The wind tries to whisk these thoughts away on its comforting waves, knowing that his attempts at justification are as weightless as air. Once a life is taken, once a soul has been lost to their own vices, life itself cannot stop in the hopes of their return. Or their redemption. But his thoughts are as stern and immovable as his expression, mirroring the stone turtle in front of him. No-one is simply born a murderer or a vengeful tyrant or a paranoid outcast. Evil contorts and poisons the soul, it doesn't birth it. And it is no different for them. At one point, they had their own ambitions, hopes, dreams…

All put aside by temptations and dark whispers. All thrown away once they realised what they had done. All wasted by a naïve panda playing 'hero'. He can practically hear his master now, telling him for the hundredth time that he isn't to blame for their fates. That they had put themselves on this path. But it doesn't change the fact that they were still people, not monsters. Or at least, that's what he thinks. That same notion posed to the valley of peace, posed to Gongmen city, posed to the panda village; it would receive disbelief and venom in response.

But he could see what others hadn't, what many of their victims wouldn't care to see. When Tai Lung had opened the dragon scroll, looked inside and stared himself dead in the eyes, claiming that it had nothing. He could see himself within that snow leopard. He could see the disappointment of himself, the pain of being worthless, the lust to be something more. Tai Lung had felt lost, without a purpose, because he had been urged into one that was never his. So, what was his purpose? To get the real dragon warrior to appear? No, that can't be it. A whole life, full of dedication and heroism subsequently burnt to ashes, only to result in a single person getting what they want? That isn't fair. Not to him, not even to Po. But at the end of the day, he had eliminated the snow leopard.

But, what else could he do? He gave him a chance to figure it out, but looking back, it would never have worked. Tai Lung was filled with anger, betrayal, humiliation; no amount of convincing would've done anything. But what if he had calmed down? If he had actually listened? Oogway always says to never pay heed to what could've been, but it can't be helped. Especially when so much could've become better. Tai Lung could've had a purpose, Tigress would have a brother, Shifu would have his son back. But even then, he knows that wouldn't happen. If he had let Tai Lung live, the army would've stepped in and imprison him again, restarting a cycle of futility. A cycle of rage and bitterness bleeding into disappointment and loss. Yet even in this deliberation, one question persists.

Was he right?

He still killed someone who needed help, something a true hero would never do. But then, is being a warrior and a hero even the same thing? No, it doesn't matter. Even if they are different, he needs to be both. For his friends, for China. For his own conscience. If only he hadn't done so again. And again.

Shen was different, he justified many times. Yes, he was angry, burning with an unimaginable rage. But he had kept it in as much as he could. Because even in the peacock's madness, there was still someone who was wronged. Someone who was shunned for his deathly appearance. Someone who would forever have the burden of destiny chaining him to the ground. Someone who had believed he was unloved when the opposite was true. A slight smile crosses Po's lips as he remembers Tigress' shock when he had compared himself to the peacock. He really did, even offered his paw out to the very culprit of his mother's demise. Yet he didn't take it. Maybe he resigned himself to fate's merciless clutches or maybe he had lost the will to fight it anymore, regardless, Shen died that day. And Po could've saved him. He could've charged him out of the cannon's path or thrown him away, but no. Instead, he left the peacock to his destiny. Shen didn't want his help, that much was clear, but it didn't make it any less wrong.

Then again, what would saving him have done? Kept him alive long enough so the imperial forces could imprison him and the emperor sentence him to death? He did seek to overthrow him after all. It would've been useless, yet the question doesn't leave his mind.

Was he right?

Kai was probably the strangest out of them all, imbuing confusion into Po's mind at the very mention of the chi bending yak. They knew nothing about him, China knew nothing about him. The only person who had any information on Kai, was his 'brother' Oogway. And in his own scroll, he had barely given any information about him. Not even a story telling how they had become brothers. As much as he hates to admit it, the yak was right. He had been erased from history. Why? Well, it didn't take long for Po and the rest of the masters to understand who Oogway was when he was friends with Kai. His titles alone revealed far more about the turtle than they had ever realised. No wonder he would want to eliminate that element of his past. But was that all Po was to the turtle? A tool to fix his problems, a warrior meant to ward of his demons? Is that all that Kai was to the turtle, a demon for him to overcome? It simply isn't fair.

But that is life in general, isn't it? The furious five shouldn't be beaten, captured or possessed just so he can become a better dragon warrior. Shifu shouldn't have to lose a son, learn a painful truth about his master just so Po can be better than who he used to be. So many innocent people shouldn't have suffered just so things could go the way they have.

His mum shouldn't have died just so he could be the man he is now.

But whether he likes it or not, that is the plight of destiny, of fate. Of life. That is a painful truth he will have to accept. After all, he can't save someone he doesn't even know is in danger. He can't fight someone who he thinks is bad. Evil doesn't wait for him to be ready, nor does it care who it corrupts. Who it hurts. Who it kills. He can't save everyone. But despite this fact, despite knowing that he really couldn't have done anything differently, the question still persists. He still wishes he could save three souls who truly needed him. Jade eyes stare upon Oogway's lifeless, stone form, asking the air, asking fate itself.

Was he right?

Honestly, I got even more existential in this than I thought I would, but I genuinely think Po would think like this. Especially after all he's been through in the movies. I feel like he is one of those people who thinks very philosophically but just words it in a very simple way. Like, in a way that doesn't seem like its from a philosopher. This may seem a bit tangential, but its probably because I'm a bit tipsy (red wine, go figure). All funny stuff aside, this was an absolute pleasure to write and I hope you've enjoyed reading this oneshot as much as I have writing it. As for when the next one will come out... I'm not sure to be honest. Depends when I'll find an idea for the next one. Hope this will be enough until then. Have a great morning/afternoon/evening and until next time! :)