G'day!
Welcome to another strange idea of mine.
Some of my earliest followers might recognise the scope of the story. Whether you do or don't, the idea behind this story was included in my original version of Eye of the Tiger as the eighth chapter. At the time, the idea had a plausible concept that forced me into writing it before the idea was forgotten, but after deciding to revise Eye of the Tiger, this idea no longer belonged in my main story. Rather, it needed to be taken away and restructured into a one-shot. That was all decided back in November 2021 when I made the decision to revamp Eye of the Tiger. Yes, it has taken me close to two years to get this finished for many reasons. In fact, I had to put my short-story Anything But Mine on the backburn for the past six months to get this completed. But now it's here, ready for you to indulge yourselves.
WARNING! Before you read ahead, I must forewarn that this story gets fairly intense and angsty. It may trigger some PTSD for those who have lost family or friends in the natural disaster that unfolds in this story. I won't mention what disaster it is exactly, to not spoil the story, but do proceed with that in mind. This story has no intentions of causing harm or grief, so please don't feel anxious about proceeding forward, but if you feel as though it becomes too much, please do not hesitate to back out. Perhaps it won't be as bad as I'm making, but the warning is there so you are not surprised.
Given the nature of this story, there will be no end notes, so I will thank you now for taking the time to read this story. As always, I would encourage you to leave a review. They're always a pleasant surprise to receive. You don't have to leave long-essay like reviews, breaking down every aspect of my writing (but you're more than welcome to do so). If there was something you liked about this story, let me know. Constructive criticism is also welcomed. The only way I'll know your thoughts is if you tell me. If you'd rather send me a PM, that is also fine. My PMs are open anytime. All reviews (or PMs) are welcomed (as long as they're acceptable), whether it is constructive criticism or positive feedback. Do not be afraid to share your thoughts with me. I'll respect your opinions and the time you took to leave a review.
Anyway, that's enough dribble for now.
Disclaimer: All characters and settings used in this story are property of DreamWorks (except for the characters/settings randomly created by me)
Without further ado,
Please Read, Review & Enjoy
The Storm
There was no better time to be in the Valley than during the warmer months of the year. Argue all you want, but imagine yourself wondering through the Valley, with the warm rays of the sun beaming down on the lands you were walking upon. The sound of the villagers' chatter filling your ears, bolstering the vibes that surrounded you. Could you imagine a more invigorating atmosphere? Not only was summer the Valley's most productive and busiest time of the year, but it was also the wettest and hottest period. That was expected when the Valley experienced a monsoon-influenced humid subtropical climate. Often, the Valley would endure several days of heavy rain, followed by prolonged spells of blistering heat.
Some days, the mornings would begin warm and humid, but as the day progressed, thunderstorms would develop and manoeuvre their way through the kegelkarst topography that surrounded the Valley, often bringing intense downpours to the surrounding landscape. On this particular sunny and humid day, there was an abundance of moisture in the atmosphere, feeding into the development of some impressive cloud structures occurring in the far distance. That didn't concern the villagers fulfilling their day. Why would it? It wasn't like a villager would look at the clouds many miles from them and scream for no reason. Fluffy clouds exploding high into the blue skies, fuelled by the saturated atmosphere, was quite a common thing to observe this time of the year.
While these towering clouds continued growing high into the atmosphere, there was one ingredient, unknown in the ancient times, that could turn these billowing clouds into the worst nightmare imaginable. Wind shear. In simple terms, wind shear occurs when the speed and direction of air currents changes over a vertical or horizontal direction. These changes in air currents can create a turbulent atmosphere. For thunderstorms that develop in an environment absent of wind shear, once the updraft within the storm cannot support the weight of the precipitation, gravity takes over, causing the precipitation, in the form of rain or hail, to fall towards the ground. This cool downdraft collapses on the warm and moist updraft, killing the thunderstorm from inside out.
When a thunderstorm becomes affected by wind shear, the updraft within the thunderstorm can become displaced from the downdraft, allowing the updraft to continue feeding the thunderstorm, sustaining, and even strengthening it, for an extended period. Under the right conditions, this wind shear can cause the updraft within the thunderstorm to start rotating, forming what is known as a mesocyclone. If this rotation becomes strong enough, the entire thunderstorm can also rotate, giving rise to a supercell. From there, the conditions can continue spiralling down a dangerous precedent until giving birth to a fatal phenomenon. Unaware of the developing dangers, the masters of the Jade Palace were currently running through their afternoon training session, guided by none other than Master Shifu.
Panning across the Training Hall, Tigress was crouched on the spinning serpent logs, beneath the Seven Swinging Clubs of Instant Oblivion, though the swinging clubs were inactive at the moment. Beyond the spinning serpent logs, on the Jade Tortoise, Crane and Monkey were engaged in an intense sparring contest. At the end of the training pit, flames continually erupted from the Field of Fiery Death as Viper and Mantis were embattled in a heated sparring contest. But where's Po, you ask? Well, at the far end of the Training Hall, was the mighty Dragon Warrior. Though he wasn't feeling so might after copping a powerful flying sidekick from Tigress, explaining her crouched position, that sent the Dragon Warrior flying across the Training Hall.
Now, he was sprawled across the floorboards, clutching at his side, just below his ribs, where Tigress struck him, while trying to regain his breath. This wasn't an unusual sight, but it was a sight that Master Shifu watched unfold one too many times today.
"You aren't concentrating, Po," Master Shifu said, providing his observations to the Dragon Warrior. "That is the sixth time Tigress has thrown you off the training equipment this afternoon."
Po groaned, sitting upright as he looked at Master Shifu. "Sixth time? Man, it feels more than that. You sure?"
Master Shifu was not fazed by Po's confusion, but it increased his curiosity towards Po's behaviour. "You have been distracted all afternoon. What is disturbing your mind?"
"Huh? Distracted? I'm not distracted. My concentration is as awesome as ever."
"If that is so, then why are your defences weak today?"
The question caught Po scrambling for words. He stared down at the floorboards for a few seconds, thinking of a response, before shifting his attention back to Master Shifu. "I … I don't know. I guess Tigress is just in the zone today, you know."
"Perhaps, but that doesn't explain why you cannot focus today. Something is clearly bothering you."
"Really, Shifu. I'm fine. Nothin's bothering me. I'm just a little tired. There's nothing to worry about."
Observing the conversation between Po and Master Shifu, but remaining unaware of the topic being discussed, Tigress jumped off the serpent logs and walked over to where they were. During their sparring contests, Tigress sensed something was affecting Po's ability to concentrate, but given he voiced no concerns, she dismissed those thoughts. She simply believed it was her own mentality which brought those thoughts to mind. It wouldn't be the first time her doubt caused her to think along the wrong path. Despite Po's best efforts to shrug off Master Shifu's suspicions, Po's responses only caused Master Shifu to suspect Po was not being honest.
"You might think that is the case, Po, but you know you're not being honest with yourself." Master Shifu's comment raised Tigress' curiosity as to what was being discussed. "You must express what is troubling you." After hearing what Master Shifu said to Po, Tigress thought that maybe her instincts were right. Perhaps something was troubling Po, but what, nobody knew.
Po sighed, knowing Master Shifu wouldn't stop pestering him until he shared his inner thoughts. And with Tigress observing the conversation, he knew she would support Master Shifu if he were to keep denying their claims. "Well … I mean, I dunno. Something just doesn't feel right. Like, I don't know what, but … it's difficult to explain."
"Are you sensing something may endanger the Valley?" Tigress asked, hoping to figure the cause of Po's troubles without wasting too much training time.
"Maybe you ate something bad for lunch!" Mantis shouted from the Field of Fiery Death, gaining the attention of Master Shifu, Tigress, and Po. Mantis and Viper were still engaged in a sparring contest on the fiery platform.
"Nah, there was nothing wrong with the food," Po said, tapping his belly. "It's just … I dunno. It's like, I'm feeling this weird energy, you know, Like, something is making my bones tingle, but I cannot figure out what."
"Maybe you ate too much for lunch," Viper said, before lashing out at the distracted Mantis with her tail, launching him off the Field of Fiery Death. Viper slithered off the platform, joining the three masters. "You did eat three servings of your noodle soup, and so many bean buns I lost count."
"Oh, that's nothing. You guys know my body is a bottomless pit." Viper and Tigress exchanged a knowing smirk at Po's comment, while Master Shifu huffed a resigned sigh, well aware of the panda's insatiable appetite. "Ah, it's probably nothing to worry about. Just my head playing stupid tricks on me."
"There is no point further wasting time if you cannot pinpoint the cause of this feeling, Po," Master Shifu said, regaining control of the conversation. "We will remain vigilant in case your inner feelings come to fruition, but for now, you must ignore this feeling and focus on your training."
An orange paw slid into Po's peripheral vision, making Po look to his right, seeing Tigress offering her paw to him. Po grabbed onto Tigress' wrist, allowing Tigress to interlock her wrist with Po's, pulling him onto his feet. While Viper resumed her battle with Mantis, who recovered from his earlier defeat, Po and Tigress recommenced sparring on the spinning serpent logs. Despite trying his hardest to focus on sparring with Tigress, the strange feeling never subdued in Po's mind. This resulted in Tigress defeating Po multiple times within a thirty-minute period. It came to the point where neither Po nor Tigress were benefiting from the training affected by Po's troubled mindset. Tigress knew something still bothered Po, but never wanted to differ how she trained.
Both were becoming frustrated for different reasons, but his strange behaviour was not a figment of his imagination. As the six masters continued training inside the Training Hall, outside, the conditions were beginning to appear ominous. Those clouds that were once billowing over the distant mountains drifted towards the Valley, gathering in strength and size. Soon, heavy rain started falling across the landscape, with the occasional rumble of thunder rolling across the Valley. Those rumbles of thunder fell deaf on the ears of all but one warrior inside the Training Hall. That one warrior being none other than the struggling Dragon Warrior. Each rumble his ears detected brought a tingling sensation to his body, but he couldn't understand why.
He had lived through countless thunderstorms, but there was something different about today. Something didn't feel right. Po tried ignoring these inner feelings, as Master Shifu suggested, while sparring with Tigress, but something kept grabbing his attention. As Po launched an array of punches and kicks at Tigress, thunder rumbled in the distance, but this time, it was closer than all previous rumbles of thunder. A clear sign of an approaching storm. It distracted Po, giving Tigress an opportunity to counterattack, delivering her signature double palm strike into the centre of Po's chest. Tigress expected Po to brace himself, or even avoid her attack at the last millisecond, but before he could react, Tigress connected with Po's body.
The impact sent Po flying across the Training Hall, with his back colliding into a supporting pillar in a bone-crunching impact, before he fell onto the floorboards, motionless. Surprised by his lack of defence, Tigress jumped off the serpent logs and raced over to the motionless panda. Master Shifu also rushed over to Po's aid, seeing the whole thing unfold in front of him. Thankfully, the impact only stunned Po, but Tigress was still concerned for his wellbeing, helping him sit upright. Just as Tigress pulled Po upright, a massive bolt of lightning struck nearby. Its sonic boom rippled throughout the Valley, shaking everyone, including the Five, who stopped training after the explosive noise.
"That … was close," Monkey said, being the first to speak up. "Did anyone else feel their body vibrate?"
"I certainly felt it," Crane said, answering Monkey's questions as the rains continued tumbling down across the Valley. Despite the rapid deterioration of conditions, none of the warriors knew what was brewing outside.
"Are you okay, Po?" Tigress asked, regaining Po's attention, sensing his focus was disturbed for unknown reasons. Po could see the concern in Tigress' eyes, but his thoughts were scrambled, leaving him in a state that amplified the concern in Tigress' mind. "You need to block out whatever's bothering you."
"I'm trying, Tigress. I really am." Po sighed, glancing between the concerned faces of Tigress and Master Shifu. Neither knew the solution to Po's troubles, but neither did Po. "I just need five minutes to figure out what's twisting my head into a tangled mess. Maybe the rain might wash away whatever's bothering me." Po chuckled, but quietened, seeing neither Tigress nor Master Shifu react to his comment. "I'll be back in a minute." Po stood up and left the training grounds, mindlessly walking to the Peach Tree. The rains soaked his fur, but his mind was still unsettled. No amount of rain seemed to wash away the feeling, but when Po stepped onto the cliff the Peach Tree resided on and looked out towards the Valley, time almost froze.
The strange feeling finally made sense. Those rumbles of thunder and the lightning strikes were warning of what was developing. It wasn't just an ordinary thunderstorm. Mother Nature was creating something Po couldn't comprehend, but he knew one thing was certain. The Valley was in imminent danger. Po sprinted back to the Training Hall, bursting through the open doors. "Guys!" The sudden outcry surprised everyone, causing them to cease training and snap their attention towards the panting, soaking wet Dragon Warrior. "We need to evacuate the Valley!"
"What?" Master Shifu asked, approaching Po with Tigress following, both confused about his sudden pronouncement.
"The sky! Something's happening! I dunno how to explain it, but we need to go now!"
"What are you talking…" But when Master Shifu looked out of the Training Hall, he fell silent. He realised Po's strange behaviour was a forewarning of the disaster developing unbeknownst to them, and now that disaster was beginning to reveal the true magnitude of its powerful nature. Soon, the sound of the gong began echoing through the gushing rains, warning the Valley's inhabitants of the unfolding emergency, but this was unlike any emergency they had ever faced before. Master Shifu turned back to his students in the Training Hall. "Students! Get to the Valley and ensure all villagers are sheltered in their homes! Nobody is to be outside!"
"They won't survive by sheltering, Shifu," Po said, in an almost pleading tone. "We have to evacuate the Valley."
"There is no time, Po," Master Shifu said, snapping his attention to Po. "Our only option is to ensure they are protecting themselves as best as possible. Now go!" Despite remaining doubtful about Master Shifu's advice, Po bolted for the Valley alongside the Five. No amount of kung fu training could prepare them for this. Lives would be lost, but they needed to do their best to preserve as many lives as possible. Even at the expense of theirs.
"So, what's the plan, guys?!" Viper asked, shouting through the torrential rains smashing against them as they were sprinting down the thousand steps.
"Mantis and Crane, you focus on the farmlands!" Tigress shouted, answering Viper's question, having to raise her voice to be heard through the rainstorm. "Viper and Monkey, you focus on the southern half of the Valley! Po and I will focus on the rest! Once the villagers have taken shelter, we'll shelter at Mr Ping's! Are we clear?!" Tigress received responses of different sorts. "Good! Let's move!"
Crane flew into the air, with Mantis holding onto his straw hat, disappearing into the torrential rains, heading for the farmlands that surrounded the Valley, while the remaining four warriors continued racing down the thousand steps. The closer the warriors drew towards the Valley, the stronger the swirling winds became, but no one understood the dangers these swirling winds were forewarning. They couldn't see it, but hidden inside the rain bands was a rain-wrapped funnel cloud, yet to touch down. Upon reaching the Valley, the four warriors found themselves amid an empty village. Not because the villagers abandoned the Valley, but because the torrential rains forced the villagers into their homes. Homes that were not built to withstand a force of nature this ferocious.
Not long after setting foot into the Valley, the four warriors begun hearing this thunderous roar through the rains, akin to standing next to a waterfall. Little did they know, the thunderous roar indicated the funnel cloud had connected with the ground and was now shredding the land beneath it, gaining strength by the second. With a tornado barrelling towards the Valley, time was running out for the warriors. Despite the imminent danger they were facing, the four warriors begun scouting the Valley, ensuring no villagers were outside. As Po and Tigress sprinted for the northern reaches of the Valley, towards the tornado, the winds became so powerful it was near impossible to stay upright, let alone run against.
The winds blew dust and rain in every direction imaginable, further reducing the visibility. Small objects began shifting from their spots, with some items becoming airborne, adding another hazardous element to the situation they were facing. Despite the destructive beast that was bearing down on them, Po and Tigress frantically searched every crook and cranny in the Valley, ensuring nobody had been missed. The northern farmlands were now being impacted, with the deadly twister tearing through the landscape, obliterating everything in its path. While Po was clearing one side of the northern end of the Valley, Tigress was on the opposite side when she caught a glimpse of the ferocious twister through the rain.
She was not expecting to be standing face-to-face with such a destructive force of nature. Its sheer beauty and power mesmerised Tigress to the point where she couldn't take her eyes away from it. She felt powerless, having no ability to stop it. Here she was, within arm's reach of this killer twister, yet, from her perspective, the twister appeared to be rotating on the spot. It didn't appear to be moving in any direction. Unfortunately, it was an illusion. The twister was so close that its sheer size made it appear stationary, when, in fact, it was getting closer. Tigress wanted to run, but fear paralysed her body. She couldn't move, but if she stayed here any longer, her chances of being struck by one of these projectile objects increased as each second passed.
"TIGRESS! COME ON!" Po shouted, startling Tigress while grabbing her arm, pulling her away from the approaching twister. Tigress snapped out of her trance, realising the danger they were in. The situation was dire. It was only through some miracle neither had been killed by the debris that was flying everywhere. Despite their best efforts to flee back to Mr Ping's, Tigress knew they wouldn't make it. They needed to shelter now. The longer they remained unprotected, the greater the risk they were putting themselves in. Tigress grabbed Po's arm, abruptly changing his direction. "Woah! Tigress! What are you doing?!"
"We won't make it to your father's, Po! We must shelter here!" Tigress pointed at the small gap between the buildings she was leading Po towards. The small alley would provide some protection, but it wouldn't guarantee their survival. Nothing guaranteed anyone's survival. Not even kung fu masters of Po and Tigress' calibre were immune to the mercy of Mother Nature. Just as they were approaching the alley, a large piece of mangled debris crashed in front of them, causing both Po and Tigress to skid to a halt. It missed them, but it now partially blocked the alleyway.
"Quick! Quick! Jump over! I'll be back in a sec!"
Tigress climbed to the top of the debris, with the intentions of helping Po over, but looked at him confused after hearing what he said. Po was already on the other side of the street, grabbing a few woks for reasons unknown to Tigress. "PO! GET OVER HERE! THERE'S NO TIME LEFT!" She watched as Po battered through the powerful winds, using the woks to shield himself from the dust and eye-watering winds. When she saw Po stumble on the ground, she jumped off the debris with the intentions of assisting him back to safety. Po knew he made a terrible decision, but if Tigress were to come out into the street, they'd both end up dead.
"TIGRESS! CATCH!" Po threw one of the woks towards Tigress. The misdirected throw forced Tigress to backtrack to catch the wok, preventing her from reaching Po. Upon catching the wok, Tigress looked straight back at Po, but the second their eyes met, something flashed past Tigress, crashing into Po. Just like that, he was gone. Tigress stood there, stunned. It happened before she could react. No time to even attempt to save Po. Before Tigress could comprehend what had occurred in front of her, another chunk of debris flew past her, missing her by inches. She needed to shelter and protect herself now, before losing her life. Her mind was blank, but her body acted on instinct, getting her into the alleyway, somewhat protected by the narrow gap between the walls, but not out of harm's way.
There she remained, huddled, but she wasn't paying attention to the destruction occurring around her. All she could think about was the scene that had just occurred before her eyes. She couldn't believe she witnessed the greatest individual she knew disappear from her life. The look in Po's eyes never failed to fade from her mind. He knew his time in the mortal realm was over, but he distracted Tigress with the wok, preventing her from suffering the same fate. His last courageous act saved her. Tigress wasn't ungrateful for Po's bravery. She always admired his unselfish nature to risk his life for anybody, but she would have rather died alongside him than suffer through the pain of losing her best friend. Life without him was unbearable to think about.
A cracking sound snapped Tigress from her internal shock. The deadly twister was pushing deeper into the Valley. Though Tigress remained unharmed so far, without warning, the walls on either side of the alleyway collapsed, failing to withstand the ferocious winds ripping through the Valley. Acting on instinct, Tigress held the wok above her head, preventing herself from suffering any direct head trauma, but the weight of the walls came crushing down on Tigress, burying her beneath the rubble. A large block landed on her right foot, causing her to roar out as intense pain radiated through her leg. The force of the weight collapsing on Tigress squeezed the air out of her lungs, but miraculously, the wok protected her head, most likely saving her life.
She couldn't move, nor think, but somehow, despite being trapped with her right foot in excruciating pain, the collapsed debris seemed to have created a protective dome over Tigress. All she could do was wait for the storm to pass, knowing that those who relied on her protection were most likely losing their lives. She was failing her people. Hell, she couldn't even protect the one person she vowed to protect with her life. What hope did the villagers have? There was no hope for them. Or so Tigress thought. After several minutes of terror, the tornado began to weaken, and after another minute passed, it thinned out and disappeared. Just like that, it was over. Heavy rain still fell across the Valley, but soon that eased back to a light drizzle.
The storm had passed, leaving behind a trail of sorrow and despair. Of course, Tigress couldn't tell the storm had passed, but given everything went quiet, she sensed the worst was over. She could only hear the distant cries for help from those trapped in their homes. Knowing villagers needed help caused Tigress to attempt to free herself, but when she moved, her leg throbbed in excruciating pain. She wanted to get out, but the condition of her leg gave her two options. Either wait for the others to find her, or even a villager, and free her from the rubble or to free herself despite her leg. With villagers in desperate need of help, she needed to free herself, even if she further injured what felt like a broken ankle. She couldn't sit here and do nothing while villagers' lives were slipping away.
A little further south in the Valley, villagers began emerging from their mostly intact homes. Although some buildings sustained minor damage from debris being flung everywhere, through some miracle, the tornado spared this section of the Valley from its destructive wrath. One of the fortunate places that sustained zero damage was Mr Ping's restaurant. With only light drizzle falling across the Valley, everyone who sheltered at Mr Ping's began inspecting the aftermath. Nobody knew what to expect once they passed through the restaurant's moon gate opening, but they were certainly not prepared for the twisted ruins that confronted their eyes when they entered the streets of the Valley.
"My god," Mantis said, speaking his thoughts. "The place is levelled." Everybody just stared at the ruined Valley, minds numb, not knowing how to react. None of the warriors ever trained, or were prepared, for the catastrophe that unfolded in the Valley. Regardless, this was the situation they now faced. Every second that passed could cost someone's life, and with pleas for help echoing across the Valley, they needed to act fast.
"Where are Po and Tigress?" Mr Ping asked, distressed about the two missing warriors, particularly his son, as one would expect. "Why haven't they come back yet?"
"We'll look for them, Mr Ping?" Viper said, before shifting her attention to Crane. "Crane, can you scan the Valley for Po and Tigress? I'll follow you from the ground." As Crane lifted himself into the skies above the Valley, Viper turned her attention to Monkey and Mantis. "While we're looking for Po and Tigress, can you two start rescuing trapped villagers?" Just as Viper was about to leave, she glanced back at Monkey and Mantis. "Just … be prepared." The thought of what they may uncover sent shivers throughout the bodies of Monkey and Mantis, but they had no choice. Without another word, the warriors spread out around the Valley, with Monkey and Mantis heading one way, while Viper slithered towards the very northern tip of the Valley with Crane flying overhead.
From the ground, the further Viper travelled, the worse the damage became, but from above, Crane was able to obtain a broader understanding of the devastation the Valley suffered. Everywhere Crane looked was nothing but tangled ruins, with the odd smoke plume here and there. It was like a bomb was dropped on the Valley, levelling it in every direction. Though the damage was confronting from the perspectives of Viper and Crane, their uttermost concern was finding Po and Tigress. Given their unique size and appearance when compared to the rest of the inhabitants of the Valley, one would presume they would stand out, but even with Crane's immaculate eyesight, they never appeared. The longer the search went on, the more concerned Crane became for his two friends.
He cursed himself for even thinking it, but part of him wondered whether something far more sinister happened to them. They should be somewhere, but whether they were dead or alive, Crane couldn't answer that. Like Crane, Viper was also becoming increasingly worried as each minute passed. Every corner she turned was nothing but mangled ruins. No signs of her friends. Unbeknownst to them, both overlooked where Tigress was trapped, not realising she was underneath one of the many piles of rubble in the area. Now at the end of the Valley, with neither finding Po nor Tigress, panic started settling in the minds of both Crane and Viper.
"What are we gonna do?" Crane asked after landing on the ground near Viper. "There's no sign of them anywhere."
"We have to keep looking, Crane." Though Viper tried to remain hopeful in their search, her anguish was showing through in her voice. "They have to be somewhere."
Crane didn't know what to think, let alone say. Well, he did, but he sure didn't want to voice his thoughts. Two of their best friends were missing, but there were hundreds of villagers who needed their help. "We have to start rescuing the villagers trapped inside their homes."
"But we can't give up on Po and Tigress, Crane."
"I-I'm not saying we should give up on them, Viper." Seeing Viper's eyes glisten with tears made his own eyes water, but he needed to remain strong. "For all we know, Po and Tigress could be trapped somewhere, too, but we can't ignore the villagers' cries for help. The longer they remain trapped, the more likely they'll be dead before we find them." Viper didn't want to agree with Crane, for it felt like she was giving up on her friends, but she had no counterargument. What Crane said made sense. They needed to treat this situation like a triage, but with every house flattened in this area, neither really knew where to start. Everyone needed the same urgent care, but standing here shellshocked wouldn't improve the situation.
It was far from their favourite job, but they needed to start somewhere. With the help of some villagers who escaped harm, they managed to rescue dozens of villagers buried within the ruins of their homes. Most villagers rescued suffered a variety of injuries, but not everybody they pulled from the wreckage of their homes survived. They experienced some horrific things during their time as kung fu masters, but this made their stomachs weak. Each deceased villager they discovered brought fear to both Viper and Crane that the next individual they uncovered would be the deceased bodies of their two missing friends. A sight neither ever wanted to imagine. Little did they know they were only a few turns away from where Tigress was trapped.
Still alive, with her determined mindset, Tigress managed to free her trapped leg, but still needed to claw herself out of the rubble. The enclosed and darkened space provided zero assistance, but as Tigress felt her way around the rubble, attempting to find a weakness, a small pinhole of light formed after she pushed the debris, causing it to shift. She now had an escape plan. Even with little room to move, it only took a single punch from Tigress for the debris to give way to her strength. Now she could breathe fresh air and not feel so claustrophobic. Tigress took a few deep breaths, preparing herself, before mustering all the strength she possessed, pulling herself through the hole and out of the rubble, remaining careful of her injured leg.
After a minute of struggle, she was free. There she laid, resting against the rubble, battered and bruised, but alive. Although, being alive wasn't what she cared about. Seeing the Valley flattened around her brought a sickening feeling to her. Everything was destroyed. The two houses, on either side of where the alleyway once was, were levelled. Gone. As were most housing blocks wherever Tigress looked. Never had she seen such destruction. In a single hour, her village was reduced to piles of wood and stone. It almost didn't seem real.
"Tigress! The shouts of Viper almost startled Tigress. She looked up, seeing Viper and Crane following a villager towards her. Viper slithered across the ground as fast as she could, wrapping herself around Tigress' torso. "You're alive! We thought we lost you!" Despite being one who would usually despise all forms of affection, after enduring such trauma, Tigress found herself wrapping an arm around Viper's body. Nothing would ever replace the loss of her best friend and companion in battle, but she couldn't afford to lose another friend who cared about her. As tragic as today had been, it made her realise how important these people were in her life. If only she realised that sooner.
"W-Where's Po?" Crane asked, almost fearing the response from Tigress. One look from Tigress told both Crane and Viper what they were fearing the most.
"No," Viper said, looking at Tigress in disbelief.
"He's gone, Viper." It had been many years since Tigress last shed a tear, but today, that streak came to an end. She could no longer withstand her emotions. "Nothing could have saved him. Not even me." Silence fell upon the three warriors. Viper rested her head on the shoulder of Tigress, while Crane placed his wing on the other shoulder of Tigress, lowering his head. Today, they lost someone irreplaceable. A son, a friend, a warrior, a master. A hero. Tigress closed her eyes and tried to forget the memory tormenting her mind, but it kept playing over and over like a broken record. She would never forget this moment, no matter how hard she tried.
"We're gonna have to tell Mr Ping," Crane said, breaking the silence.
"I'll tell him," Viper said, looking at Crane while uncoiling herself from Tigress.
"No." Both Crane and Viper looked at Tigress, frowning in confusion. "I'll tell him. I was there." However, when Tigress attempted to stand, she collapsed on the ground in agony, after her injured leg gave way.
"Tigress!" Viper said, showing great concern for her injured friend, noticing Tigress was grabbing her leg. "Crane, get Zhiliao."
"You need to assist the villagers. I'll be fine."
"We're not leaving you injured, Tigress. You need treatment. Crane, go!" On command, Crane left for the Jade Palace to find Zhiliao, the Jade Palace doctor. Viper knew Tigress was acting tough, but she wasn't going to leave Tigress. She couldn't. Not after learning about Po's fate.
"There are villagers who are in greater need. You need to help them, not me."
"I'm not leaving you on your own, Tigress. Not after what's happened."
Just as Tigress was about to dispute, Crane returned with Zhiliao, bringing their attention away from each other, and thus, ending the brief argument. Neither were being unreasonable. Rather, it was a case of one mentality against another. Zhiliao walked over to where Tigress was lying on the ground, carrying a case of medical supplies with him. "Hello, Master Tigress. Master Crane has informed me you've been injured and require some attention?"
Tigress sighed, hating the fact that everyone was directing their attention on her. "Yes, my ankle was crushed and can no longer bear weight."
Zhiliao gestured towards Tigress' right ankle. "May I have a look?" At Tigress' nod of approval, Zhiliao unravelled the wrappings around her ankle, revealing the wound. The fracture had not pierced the skin, but the disfigurement of her lower leg was indicative of a broken ankle that needed urgent treatment. There was also a minor gash just below her right knee that would require stitches.
"There's no need for you two to be here," Tigress said to Viper and Crane. "You need to help the villagers."
"Someone will need to assist you back to the Jade Palace," Zhiliao said, glancing at Tigress before shifting his attention back to her injured ankle. "This ankle of yours requires urgent treatment, but I cannot treat you here."
"I'll help," Crane said, before he looked at Viper. "Do you wanna find Monkey and Mantis? One of us needs to let them know what's happened."
Viper nodded, holding a desolate expression, before turning her attention to Tigress. "Please remember we're only doing what we think is best for you because we care about you, Tigress. None of us wanted this to happen, but we have to deal with it now." At that, Viper turned and slithered into the Valley to find Monkey and Mantis.
"Alright, Master Tigress," Zhiliao said, gaining the attention of both Tigress and Crane while he finished immobilising Tigress' ankle. "Here's what we need to do. We'll transport you to the operation room at the Jade Palace, where I'll perform surgery to repair the damage you have done to your ankle. Now-"
"Are you suggesting surgery is the only option?" Tigress asked, almost knowing the answer based on the condition of her ankle.
"Unfortunately, surgery is necessary to ensure your ankle heals without further complications. Without surgery, it would not heal properly, and if that were to happen, you would no longer be able to partake in kung fu." Those words sent a chill down Tigress' spine. She already lost so much. Losing the ability to continue kung fu might be the thing that broke her spirit. "But we will only perform the surgery if you agree to it." Even though Tigress was sceptical about the surgery, given it would reduce her mobility for months, it was better than losing kung fu altogether. She built her entire life around it. Retiring from kung fu was not an option. It never could be.
"I think it's best you get your ankle treated, Tigress," Crane said, drawing her attention to him. "It seems to be your only option."
Tigress sighed, knowing Crane was right, before she glanced at Zhiliao. "This will guarantee full recovery, correct?"
"Nothing is guaranteed," Zhiliao said in response to Tigress' question. "But it is the best option for the injury you have sustained." Again, Tigress sighed. She never enjoyed drawing attention to herself, no matter the situation, but especially now. There were villagers who, in her mind, needed greater help than she did. It didn't matter how injured she was, she wanted to help those around her, not be the one getting the help, but her condition left her with no choice other than accepting Zhiliao's advice. Besides, this wasn't the first time Zhiliao treated an injury Tigress sustained. His decades of medical experience were something she could trust. It would be foolish risking her future, thinking she knew better.
And so, with Crane supporting her, they slowly made their way back to the Jade Palace. Tigress wasn't even concerned about her ankle. All she could think about was losing one of the greatest individuals she ever knew, and now he's gone without knowing how much he meant to her. Could she even move on from this? Tigress didn't know. It certainly didn't feel like she could ever move on. When they passed Mr Ping's restaurant, Tigress couldn't even look inside. Everything about that place reminded her of Po, and those memories stung her where it hurt the most. She was glad Mr Ping didn't see them. He deserved to know about Po, but how could she explain what happened when she struggled to come to terms with it herself?
This morning, they were completing a standard training session. Now he's gone. Taken from their lives in a flash. Tigress knew how much she treasured his loyalty towards her. He made her feel like someone cared about her. Like she always had someone to seek for support, but now that he was gone, how would that affect her? Would she distance herself from the others? Protect herself from her emotions once again? Would this day cause her to revert to being her cold and distant self? She certainly hoped not, but without Po, she had nobody to provide her with the guidance she needed. The realisation of what she lost was beginning to engulf her mind, but those realisations were going to intensify over the coming days.
As they approached the Jade Palace, at the top of the thousand steps stood Master Shifu, watching Crane assist the visibly distraught and injured Tigress up the stairs. Seeing his strongest student in such distress brought a sickening feeling to his stomach. Whether that was because of his deep paternal instincts remained unknown to Master Shifu, but he knew Tigress would never display such emotional distress because of an injury. Something far more horrifying must have happened to induce such a response. A response Master Shifu didn't wish to enquire about, but he couldn't remain silent. The fact Tigress failed to acknowledge Master Shifu was the greatest concern for the Grandmaster. She would always address Master Shifu upon seeing him, but her mind was absent from her surroundings.
"Crane, what has happened to Tigress?"
In response to Master Shifu's question, Crane glanced at Tigress, whose focus was fixated on the ground, before looking back at Master Shifu. "Um, Zhiliao needs to perform emergency surgery on Tigress' ankle," Crane said, assisting Tigress up the last step. "But um…"
Master Shifu held his undivided attention on Crane, waiting for him to elaborate, but no elaboration followed. "But what?"
"Po's gone, Master," Tigress said, speaking up for the first time while looking at Master Shifu. Despite knowing something caused Tigress to be distressed, hearing her sound as distressed as she appeared brought a foreign feeling to Master Shifu. A feeling he couldn't describe, nor felt for many years, but it was a feeling that left him wanting to comfort his student. "I should be the one that's dead. Not him."
Master Shifu remained silent. What could he say? No words would ever heal the traumatic experience his students endured. They weren't trained to deal with situations like this. Few were. Master Shifu certainly wasn't prepared for what unfolded today. It would be unwise for him to expect anything greater from his students. After receiving no response from Master Shifu, the two student masters walked towards the entrance of the Jade Palace, with Zhiliao following them close behind. Master Shifu's heart ached, watching his two students' melancholic forms walk away from him. His heart knew he had to say something to bring some reassurance to the both of them, particularly Tigress, but his head didn't know whether that was possible.
"Nothing will change the past." Hearing their master speak, both Crane and Tigress turned to face Master Shifu. He walked over and, much to Tigress' surprise, grabbed her paw. "But you cannot blame yourself for what happened. Neither of you are at fault. None of us will ever heal from the pain this day has inflicted on us, but the last thing Po would want is for you to feel as though you failed him. You did not. Let that be clear. He sacrificed his life to preserve yours. That is the way he has always been. And it is how we will always remember him." Master Shifu paused, glancing between his two students, before fixating his attention on Tigress once more. "It is best you get yourself treated."
With neither Crane nor Tigress having anything to say, Crane took Tigress to the operation room, helping her onto the operation table. Neither said a word the entire climb up the thousand steps, and apart from their brief encounter with Master Shifu, that silence continued to the operation room. Crane didn't know how to handle Tigress' silence. He, like Master Shifu, had never seen Tigress in such a distraught state. And like Master Shifu stated, nothing he said would bring Po back. He was gone. Something Crane was still coming to terms with, but none of them were hurting as much as Tigress. She held the closest connection with Po, amplifying the level of trauma today's events inflicted on her.
"I, um … I'll wait outside," Crane said to nobody in particular as Zhiliao walked into the operation room. Before Crane walked out, he stopped and turned back to his comrade. "Tigress." Hearing her name, Tigress glanced up at Crane. "I … I know nothing we say will heal the pain, but just remember that we're here to support you, like always. You won't have to suffer through this alone." Though Tigress didn't respond, she was appreciative of his support. The enduring silence prompted Crane to leave, closing the door behind him, allowing Zhiliao to begin his treatment on Tigress in peace.
"Alright, Master Tigress," Zhiliao said, gaining Tigress' attention. "Hopefully, this won't take long, but before we begin, you'll need to drink this." Zhiliao walked over, handing Tigress a vial containing a special concoction for her to consume. "It is stronger than usual to alleviate the pain for such a procedure." Though Tigress didn't want to consume the vial's contents, given previous encounters with it, she did, regretting doing so because of its foul taste. This concoction anesthetised the nerve receptors, making the body feel numb, while also inducing the patient into a semi-conscious state. It only took a few minutes to take effect on Tigress' body, leaving her sedated and oblivious to her thoughts and surroundings.
This wasn't the first broken ankle Zhiliao operated on, but he sure hoped it would be the last. They were rather tricky to fix. However, without going into detail, after almost ninety minutes, Zhiliao finished stitching up the incision he made, before wrapping the wound with bandages, completing the successful surgery. Now all Zhiliao could do was pack up his medical equipment while waiting for the anaesthetic concoction to wear off Tigress. After ten minutes passed, Tigress started to rouse as the anaesthetics began losing their effects on her body. Despite her grogginess, her vision regained some focus, allowing her to observe Zhiliao packing up his equipment in the corner of the operation room.
Zhiliao peered over his shoulder, seeing the disorientated figure of Tigress attempting to sit upright. "Take your time, Master Tigress. Your body has been through a lot." He walked over and handed Tigress a glass of water. "This will help flush the remnants of the concoction from your body." Tigress took the glass of water and drank it before handing the empty glass back to Zhiliao. "How are you feeling? Any soreness or other side effects?"
Tigress lifted and straightened her right leg, observing her bandaged ankle, before lowering it to its relaxed position. "The intense pain is gone, but the ankle still feels numb."
"That is expected." Zhiliao closed his case of medical equipment before looking at Tigress. "But that is great the pain is gone." Silence followed, but seeing the desolate expression on Tigress' face prompted Zhiliao to motion to the door. "I'll fetch Master Crane to assist you to your room." Outside, Crane had been waiting for Zhiliao to finish operating on Tigress before helping her to her room. He could have returned to the Valley, and probably should have, but part of him knew somebody needed to support Tigress post-surgery. Despite how critical things were in the Valley, he felt as though somebody needed to prevent Tigress from spiralling down a darkened mindset. "Master Crane."
Crane looked to his left, hearing his name, seeing Zhiliao approaching him. "How is Tigress?"
"The surgery was successful, but she needs rest now. Could you take her to her room?"
"Of course." Zhiliao turned around and walked back into the operation room, with Crane following. Upon walking into the operation room, the first thing Crane noticed was the regressive posture of Tigress. Her shoulders were slouched, her head was looking down at the ground, lost in her own thoughts. It was the complete opposite of how she would usually present herself. Crane had never seen Tigress so depressed and ill-confident. He didn't know how to approach her dispirited demeanour. "H-Hey, Tigress. How are you feeling?" Tigress didn't react. She remained unresponsive, staring into the darkened abyss of the ground. "We, um … we n-need to take you to your room. You need to get some rest."
"Why?" Crane tilted his head, frowning, unsure whether he misheard the word Tigress whispered. "Why did this happen to me?" Tigress asked, with a croaky voice, glancing at Crane. "To us." Her ears flattened on her head as she shifted her eyes back to the ground in front of her. "To Po." There were a few seconds of silence before Tigress glanced back at Crane. "What did we do to deserve this?" Crane's mind went numb. Nothing could ever justify today's horrific turn of events, nor would it undo what happened, but now he was facing an ever-increasing rage-fuelled Tigress. "It's just unfair!" Tigress slammed her fist on the operation table, spooking Crane from his thoughts.
"Easy, Tigress. Getting angry won't undo anything."
"I was there, Crane." Tigress glanced at Crane with a mixture of anger and dejection. "I was there. And yet, I failed to protect my friend. What does that make of me?"
"It doesn't make anything of you, Tigress." Another silence broke out between the two. Both hurting for different reasons. Crane placed his wing on Tigress' shoulder. "Come on. You need to get some rest." Tigress signed, knowing she had no choice. It was best for her health to rest, but the thought of being bedridden for weeks, trapped with her thoughts and nothing else displeased her in every possible way. The Valley, and its inhabitants, needed urgent help, but it wasn't like she could provide any assistance in her current condition. She couldn't even stand without someone, or something, supporting her upright. It didn't matter how much she hated it, her only option was to rest while her ankle recovered. No amount of arguing or self-denial would change that.
After ten minutes of struggling through the Jade Palace, they arrived at the student barracks. It was far less effort than travelling up the thousand steps, but the jagged nature of the Jade Mountain didn't provide any assistance. Crane could have flown Tigress to the student barracks, but he thought Tigress would disprove of that idea. He needed to leave her with some respect for herself, although he was concerned she already lost faith in herself. Once inside Tigress' room, Crane assisted Tigress onto her bed, being careful not to hurt her. He didn't want her to suffer any more than she had today, but he knew her thoughts would not allow her to escape the pain. Despite knowing the battle ahead would be tough, Crane was more than glad Tigress survived.
Losing Po will be hard enough to deal with. To have lost both, that may have fractured the team apart. With Tigress now settled on her bed, sitting up, Crane glanced at the open door, seeing Zhiliao walk into Tigress' room, before he looked back at Tigress. "I, um, I'm going to return to the Valley. Make sure you rest. You'll do more harm than good otherwise." Just as Crane was leaving Tigress' room, he turned to Zhiliao, who had been busy preparing some other concoctions. "Thank you for your time, Zhiliao. We r-really appreciate everything you do for us."
Zhiliao looked up and bowed his head to Crane. "This is the least I can do, Master Crane." Crane nodded to Zhiliao in appreciation, glancing at Tigress one last time before leaving to return to the Valley. With Crane gone, Zhiliao brought over a case containing half a dozen concoctions he created. "Now, Master Tigress. These concoctions will relax your body and help you get some much-needed rest. You will only need to drink one per night before resting. Before I leave you to rest, is there anything you need?" Tigress didn't answer, but shook her head instead. "Very well. I will make some regular visits to assess the condition of your ankle. In the meantime, I will seek a makeshift device you can use while your ankle is recovering. It is important you remain active to ensure your body does not seize up. I will leave now. Please get some rest."
The surgery would keep Tigress bedridden for many weeks, but that was the least of her concerns. She didn't even care about the state of her ankle. Or her mindset. This day inflicted so much trauma on her, she didn't know whether she possessed the strength to pick herself up and resume being a warrior. To dedicate her entire life towards kung fu, only for this to happen. Where was the fairness in that? In her lifetime, she experienced many days' worth forgetting, but this truly was the worst day of her life. The Valley was destroyed. Villagers were dead, but above all, she lost the greatest person in her life. She didn't know what she wanted in life anymore. Part of her wished she were killed alongside Po.
Soon, the sun began to set behind the distant mountains, drawing the end of a day nobody predicted. Those who survived would remember this day for the rest of their lives. Some never made it through to see the day out. We tend to forget that happiness doesn't come from getting something we don't have, but rather recognising and cherishing what we do have. Too often, we become so engrossed in our lives, we forget to treasure what we love until it's gone. And when it's gone, we become exposed to the psychological pain of our emotions. For some, it provides a painful reality check to cherish what they love before it disappears. For others, it becomes too much. Even the strongest can lose their will to fight.