The Oogway Before
It was done. Finally done. As the tortoise looked at the remnant golden dust that spread across the land, the pandas around him cheered and celebrated. The horrible Qi-sucking yak Kai was gone and disaster finally came to an end on this tranquil mountaintop. Oogway watched as the pandas, great and small, cheered and hugged each other before they stormed over to Oogway.
"Thank you!"
That was the main point that the tortoise could understand from their shouts. He watched as smiles of relief swept over their faces and felt their warm soft hands vigorously around his shoulders and his shell while some shook his scaly hand. Their grin, much bigger and wider than the tortoise could even imagine, could rival a river in their size. Petals from nearby mountain flowers speckled the sky, casting a pink curtain around the air.
It must have gone on for a minute, maybe two. The tortoise liked the warm embraces and kind appreciative words the pandas gave him. But a small panda that came to his hip saw the tortoise as the crowd of big pandas dispersed. Oogway saw her, but he simply continued greeting and welcoming their warm embraces. After which, he sat down on the stairway of the mountain steps to the panda village and stared down into the misty lands below. His back to the village, he figured everyone would be gone and celebrating his victory.
But was it a victory? No. He lost his friend. His brother. If there was any other way to solve the issue, he would've done it. But Kai was persistent. He refused to see things differently. Oogway did all he could. All he could. Or did he?
The tortoise sighed. His mind spun with doubt and dread. What happened next? "Mr. Turtle?"
Oogway looked behind him and saw the young little panda girl, clutching a toy panda in her arms. "Is something wrong?" She asked.
Oogway offered the kindest smile he could muster. "No, little one. Nothing's wrong."
"Then why are you sad?"
Oogway stared at her and then sighed. Leave it to a child to see through him like a glass window. She sat next to him, watching with big wondering eyes. Oogway couldn't help a thought of envy entering his brain. To be young again. To be innocent again. "I guess," Oogway finally started. "I'm sad that I had to banish Kai. Even though what he was doing was wrong, he was still my best friend." He frowned. "I'll miss him." He stared at his hands, clenching them. To simply turn back time right now. To undo everything. If he had never gotten so hurt or injured, would things had been different? Would they have learned the secret of Qi? Would Kai be different? Would he stand next to his side again?
Each question that wracked Oogway's brain brought one more cloud to his darkening mind.
But then, a soft gentle hand slowly landed on his. Oogway looked at the smiling panda. "It's okay." She said with confidence that Oogway didn't know a child could have, "I know everything will be okay. I promise!" Her grin must have been as big as her heart. "And I know that things will be better. Mama says that good things come to those who wait. I don't know what that means," She said in a cute voice. "But maybe it helps?"
Oogway sat quietly. Then he smiled. "It does little one. Thank you."
"Where will you go?" She asked as the tortoise used his wooden staff to get up.
"I don't know. I don't think I'll be a soldier in the army anymore. I don't know if the commander will like that," He said with a light chuckle. "But I don't know where to go."
"Oh! I know! You can go there!" The panda child pointed to a mountain that pierced the misty sea of sporadically dotted mountains that were just high enough to breach the clouds. The peak was taller than the rest. It was hard to miss. It looked like it sat between two mountain ranges that span from north to south; they were looking toward the east.
"What's there?"
"I don't know, but the elders say it's a special place. Maybe you can go there."
Oogway looked down at the excitedly smiling panda and offered a small smile in return. "Maybe." He'd have to check with the elders.
It turns out the panda child was right. The elders mentioned great spiritual energy on the mountain to the east. It was named the Valley of Peace. "Ironically," said the lead panda.
Oogway perked up his head. "Ironically?"
"It's home to one of the fiercest bandit hovels in China. I wouldn't necessarily recommend it."
Oogway looked at the panda's grimace but smiled. "I think it'll help. In one way or another."
"Hmm, then go in peace. And be careful."
"Heh, I don't think safety is something I can ever have again on this plain," Oogway said cryptically. The lead panda tilted his head, but the tortoise simply smiled and headed on his way, waving goodbye to the rest of the group of pandas. Oogway traveled down into the lowlands, past green valleys and rocky ravines. Several times, his foot slipped on the loose pebbles that combed the riverbank of the nearby river and when he left the river to climb another hill or incline, soft grass met his feet.
But his mind wasn't on the trip. Where was he going again? Oh yes, the Valley of Peace. But who cared, really? His mind was still on his former friend. Would he be different in the Spirit Realm? Did the tortoise do the right thing?
He'd sigh after a long walk when the night sky was overhead. He remembered how he and Kai would talk about the stories that each star had and what they probably saw. He could still hear his voice sometimes, joking about how Oogway needed different favorite color other than jade.
He missed him. He missed him a lot, but the tortoise didn't know whether going to this 'mystical' place was the answer to peace. There was a whole new world before him that he had never considered before and he had just recently learned about Qi. What else could be before him?
And what would he leave behind? All of these thoughts tumbled through the tortoise's mind as he walked on.
Finally, he reached the beginning of the Valley of Peace. A tiny village sat at the foot of the large mountain centered in the valley, and the tortoise slowly walked into the village.
The one thing that caught his attention was the smell. Oogway's face twisted.
It wasn't... dirty or smelly. Something smelt... nice. Tasty.
Oogway looked around. Shady shifty gorillas and wolves were around each corner, but mixed with the bunnies, goats, deer, and pigs, it was hard to figure out who was who. But as he traveled further towards the mountain, the faces on these animals turned kinder and friendlier, even on the animals he was sure were bandits. And the aromatic smell grew stronger.
Soon, he heard why. "Thank you! Come again!"
"Food?" Oogway said aloud. He walked into a small shop with tables crowded with people around. He stepped inside. By the kitchen, there was a goose serving up a plate of tofu. Oogway grimaced a bit. He had tasted tofu before. How could anyone like the taste of something so... bland? He glanced at the customers. Everyone seemed to be enjoying his food.
GRRrrrooowwwlll
And he was hungry.
Oogway sighed and sat down at a nearby table. Before he even had time to look at the menu, the goose was right there with his order. "Ah sir! What can I get for you? We have a special on our special Tofu. By two get the third a quarter off!"
Oogway blinked for a moment. "I'll... just get the Special Tofu."
"Right away!" And the goose was gone within a second. Oogway sighed and looked around the shop. Everyone looked happy and cheerful. It wasn't the sort of "Peace" he was expecting. Then he looked up toward the high mountain. It would be a long climb, but if it was as mystical as the pandas said, it's worth a shot.
And why was he doing this again?
"Your order sir?"
"Huh?" Oogway woke up to reality and saw the plate in front of him. He paid the goose and slowly bit into the tofu.
His eyes lit up. "This is... this is marvelous!"
The goose seemed surprised, but then a smile of realization came to his face. "You must be new here. We do have a 10% discount for travelers."
Oogway smiled. The "salesman" goose could be a little quieter, but other than that, the food was exquisite. "So what are you traveling here for?" Asked the goose.
All of a sudden, the world crashed back onto Oogway. He frowned and set his plate down. "I'm... actually trying to figure that out."
"Hard life?" The goose guessed. Oogway slowly nodded.
"Someone said that that mountain over there was a place of great mystical energy. But... I don't know if that's what I'm after."
"Well," The goose said after a long pause. "What are you after?"
"Peace?"
"I don't think you'll find it here," The goose chuckled. "The Valley of Peace is... anything but peaceful."
"I noticed," Oogway muttered, glancing at some of the characters in the shop. "And yet everyone seems to love your food."
"Well, that's the secret isn't it," The goose winked. "My family has been cooking for generations, but I'd like to have something else to cook other than tofu."
"You don't like tofu?"
"Oh it's my life and soul!" The goose exclaimed. "But I've always wanted to try and do noodles, but maybe my son will have the chance."
"Hmm," Oogway murmured. The tortoise looked around the shop to find something else to focus on. Or at least for the goose to go back to his work.
"But," The goose continued, "You're not gonna get the peace you're looking for if the destination is what you're after."
"Why?"
"Because it'll be gone when you get there." Oogway tilted his head, silently asking several questions. "If your peace is active, it's not a place. It's not where you go but what you do that can bring peace. Hehe, why do you think I'm okay with cooking in one of the worst places in China? I'm at peace while I cook."
Oogway sat in silence with his mouth slightly ajar. He never thought of that. He glanced back at the mountain covered in clouds. The goose continued, "I don't doubt that place is where you need to go. You look like the warrior type. Maybe you can find something up there that'll make this place better."
"Maybe," Oogway said. "What about the mountain makes it so special?"
"Nothing."
"What?"
"Nothing."
Oogway narrowed his eyes. "You don't feel a certain spiritual energy or special aura there."
"Haha, I didn't say that. People go up there all the time and say the place is special, but it's not special because of anything there. In order for something to be special, you simply need to believe it's special."
"Can I get some more tofu here!" Shouted a customer.
"Coming. Anyway, I hope you like your stay here in the Valley of Peace. And if you're hungry, don't hesitate to spend your time and money here at Mr. Ping's shop."
"I'll keep that in mind," Oogway smiled. The goose left, and Oogway stared at the mountain atop the clouds. "Hmm. I guess there is no secret ingredient. It's just you." The tortoise left a hefty tip on the table and began his way up the mountain.
And, I'm told, the rest is history.
*****F*****
As Po read the final line in the scroll, his surroundings came back to him. "Whooaaaa! Cool!"
"It is impressive," Tigress said, "I didn't know Mr. Ping's ancestors sold tofu."
Po rose his eyebrow. "Really? That's what you're fascinated about."
"You were the one who told me that Mr. Ping thought it was a stupid dream. You told me that he thought 'broth flew through his veins' or something like that," Tigress said. Po couldn't tell if she was smirking on the inside. He simply shook his head.
"No, I mean, my goose dad was the one who gave Oogway the inspiration to write the Dragon Scroll... Wait, if it's blank did Oogway really write anything on it."
Tigress rolled her eyes as she took the scroll from him and placed it back in the tomes of ancient knowledge. "Whatever the case," She said, "it is interesting how... interwoven your family was from the very beginning. Both your ancestors helped Master Oogway become the person that he was."
"Yeah," Po sighed, getting up from the jade floor. "But that's not why I was looking for that scroll." Tigress continued to stare at him, waiting for the answer. "I was just trying to figure out how Oogway was before I met him. I mean, he always seemed like nothing phased him."
"Everyone has their moments, no matter what they appear to be doing on the outside," Tigress said looking at her hand. "There's a lot under the surface that many people don't want others to know about. Not even the people close to them."
"Tigress?"
The tiger shook her head, casting her inner thoughts away to see Po's concerned face. She smiled, resting her hand on his shoulder. "There's more similar about us than different, Po. And I'm sure that Master Oogway would tell you the same thing."
"Hehe, wow, throwing Oogway's confusing wise words at me huh?"
Tigress showed a small smile. "I dabble."
The End
