Volume Four: Snow and Fire
Chapter III
Royal Seal
The panda did not mind his tiredness as he and Crane ascended to the Jade Palace. How could this happen? Every day, the Masters of Jade Palace saw the Dragon Warrior getting panda asthma (as Po discovered one of his weaknesses) while walking toward the top of the stairway. Not once or ever the Masters had ever caught sighting their panda friend triggering his minor episode while walking towards the bottom of the Valley of Peace to the top of the emerald ridge. Neither the group thought they could mention Po's strength but realized he had a healthiness improvement. It was a good sign. At least, the Masters of Jade Palace followed this routine with such priority: every student comes to the class and does warm-ups before training with the master. Crane was stupendous but kept his mind clear and concise when they entered the Hall of Heroes and saw their striped feline companion at the front of the moon pool. Tigress knelt and braced her serpent friend dearly as Viper curled her whole body around her stomach, her head drooping over the feline's shoulder, weeping.
"I am very sorry, Viper. We are here for you, anything you need to be condolence," Tigress comforted her, hushing. "You will not be going alone to see your family there."
Arriving close to the pool, Shen was further away from Po's left side, fiddling his feathers in his long sleeves. The panda cleared his throat and checked the female masters before Monkey and Crane embarked to join Viper by her side. "Is Viper alright, Tigress?"
Viper unfurled her body and slithered away when Tigress stood up to the panda. Clearing her throat and wiping off her tears, the striped feline master answered. "The news from Viper's home is important, Po. Great Master Viper needs his daughter."
"How bad?" Po asked, his tone drawing to a shock as Tai Lung approached Po's right side, watching the group gather close to their serpent sister across the temple's threshold. The feline's ears dropped to the side as Po read her sorrowful expression, and she spoke with a despondency tone.
"He doesn't have much time left."
Po sighed in dismay, staring at the moon pool as the water ripples reflected and projected their lights on his head. "I mourned for Shifu. . . really missed him. And now, Viper's dad is. . ."
"I know. . ."
"Master Po," Shen cleared his raspy throat, his voice returning to silvery richness. "I believe it is wise to read the gold scroll that Zeng has."
"It is," Tai Lung agreed, patting Po's right shoulder. "We grieve later, panda. We need to read what's that scroll important."
Po soothed his sigh of depression when remembering their red panda teacher performing his acrobatic motions with Oogway's root staff, raising the blossom foliage in wavy curves before one reached the Dragon Scroll and dropped it down. Finding himself looking forward to grieving more, Po nodded and turned to Zeng.
"Let's see the scroll."
As soon as the goose handed the gold scroll to the Dragon Master, the four of the Furious Five aided their serpent sister. Crane, how tall he was, needed his wings to bowl and helped Viper get carried, letting her curl under his neck, giving Crane patted her with his ebony wing. His mind was washed with loving meeting with her and her serpent parents in Great Viper's cottage outside of the village, the horizon bathing with dark orange and ember red clouds. The avian was not the only warrior having dinner with Viper's parents as the Dragon Master and Furious Five. Grandmaster Shifu hacked his spiritual laughs with Great Viper, who mentioned his mild jokes around the table and most chuckled with respective teachers. Crane sipped his noodles with his long beak before finishing the soup, beginning to grab a pair of chopsticks with his talon, eating a steamed dumpling with Monkey and Mantis.
"I am so sorry, Viper," Crane sympathized with her.
Giving another turn to aid the serpent after she slipped down, Monkey embraced and held her close to his head, patting her lengthy back. A few Hungry Ghost Festivals ago, he trekked across the Valley of Peace road with Viper when checking out a few people respecting the ancestors nearby. Beside the tree, instead of being a jester or not willed to scare off his companion, Monkey presented himself with fake fangs ahead of her, elaborating the serpent that he admired her father for knowing the fangs were lethal from his Poison Fang ancestors — among one ancestor from the blue sky before the reptiles without wings dominated the land was a spiritual dragon with fangs.
"I am sorry. Your dad's a noble warrior, Viper. I love him too," Monkey folded his limbs around her, soothing. "Know that I am with you — We eat bananas together for your dad."
"You are too kind, Monkey," she stretched her quivering lips, her tears pouring out more. Monkey could see Po continue reading the parchment with Tigress, Tai Lung, and Shen before letting the serpent go. Slithering towards the bug, she looked down at Mantis, whose insect wings vibrated.
"Viper. Come down to me."
She did while wiping off the flooded tears on her cheeks, laying her whole body flat before her face held up a little. "Look," Mantis began, finding words to be as sympathetic. "I know I have been the most annoying friend with whom I made fun of each other most of all. But hear me on this one, Viper. The news from your dad is grieving, and I am really sorry. I mean it. Great Master Viper genuinely inspired us all, not only a legend, but his fangs passed from his ancestors from the serpent dragons are always haunting and impressive."
Viper's cherry lips curled, understanding the bug well. The insect reached out his pointy limbs and patted her head. "I want you to know that I am here as your insect brother, anything you need here at Jade Palace, your home. You will always be my sister."
"Thank you, Mantis. . . Your words mean a lot to me," Viper wept and leaned her head forward, lying flat.
"Come here. You are going to be okay."
Tigress could see the insect hugging his limbs on the serpent's side of her head, recalling the two warriors in the Great Viper's village across the uneven intersections before the large courtyard, crowded with villagers who praised the serpents and Masters of Jade Palace as their honorable guests. The striped feline master reflected Viper twirling her ruby sash when motioning her agility, dancing ahead of the crowd. The people's faces filled with glee, finding the female serpents persisted in revolving their ribbons. And what found Tigress so satisfied, she could see Great Viper being delighted at his daughter next to Grandmaster Shifu. The red panda master, whose grin was pulled back to his ears, reached out his tiny paw to his feline daughter's paw and watched the view together. Somewhere amidst the courtyard's platform interfered with a green insect. Mantis attempted to grab the stick and round the sash, filling the people's laughs and applauses with high encouragement.
Waiting for the Dragon Master's answers, Tigress looked upon the gold scroll. "What does the message say, Po?"
Finding the silky black ink characters written well, the Dragon Master wrapped the scroll and looked into their eyes. "This message is from Lin'an," Po informed. "These words are from the Emperor of China."
"Emperor Huangdi?" Shen broadened his narrowed eyes.
"I have not heard how Huangdi has been doing in all of China," Po put the scroll in the gold scathe shell, handing the message to Zeng.
"How has the Emperor been up to since. . . Gongmen City battle?" Tai Lung asked.
"He has been rebuilding the Song Dynasty provinces and now has been collaborating with my son Lord Dongji to rebuild these catastrophic damages in my city," Shen determined, drumming his feathers on his sleeve. "The Emperor's gold scroll with a buffalo sigil marks the true legacy of his royal bloodline."
Considering the Emperor's priorities from the scroll, Po asked the whole gang. "Would you guys like to know the mission he likes for me to do?"
"Like what?" Most asked Po simultaneously.
"He expects me to meet his daughter in the Jin Dynasty."
Shen flickered his train behind his neck, gulping at the panda. "I beg your pardon?"
Crane stepped in before querying. "Isn't that land much of a hostile, Po?"
"The Song and Jin settled their peace treaty three years ago, Crane," Tigress elucidated. "This has said that our country has been praising them for respect rather than giving a sour taste against a neighborhood continent."
"What is the Emperor's daughter's name, Panda?" Shen arched his ink brows.
"Her name is Princess Mu Jin. Huangdi requests the Dragon Master to meet her with support along with the people of the Jin Dynasty," Po explained, his flabby arm bridging under his chin before his eyes locked on his peacock student. "But you are traveling with me together."
Shen puffed, hesitating before he strengthened his tender voice. "Po. Do you realize I still have a bounty on my head?"
"Did you forget the Emperor pardoned you? For helping him, me, the Five, the Nine, and everybody else saving your city?" Po reminded him. "You know I will not let every soul tear you apart. I'll make sure of it."
The snow leopard's rich chuffs lowered in consideration. "You traveled before to Gongmen, Shen, and neither of the people are bashing you, at least," Tai Lung said, crossing his limbs with determination. "I say you and Po get along well. I expect nothing less from you."
The peacock's grunt of discerning heightened, quite a bit annoying, as Shen noticed his absence of adventures for a few months living here in the Valley of Peace. "Very well, then. I will not be against this decision-making," Shen said, his sight getting sharper towards his teacher. "What does the Emperor propose?"
"The Emperor expects us to accompany his daughter and perceive her reasons for us to be there," Po clarified. "During Huangdi's timing with the people in Lin'an, he sent his daughter to one of his colleagues in the provinces of the Jin Dynasty. Her last known place is somewhere in Juyong, northwest of Zhongdu."
I wonder why. For either hospitality or to have the Emperor's daughter be saved there from this new war.
The Great Dragon pulled down his sleeves and crossed his limbs with novelty, reflecting his thoughts on the peacock's knowledge. "You reckon the Emperor better than us, Shen. What do you know of the buffalo?"
All eyes were on Shen as he began to bring to mind the gentle giant, his childhood companion who saved him from drowning at the Gongmen Harbor. He was too kind to me, and I shared the same with him. He thought of him dearly, regarding the boldness and caring in Huangdi's character. "His eyes are never part of deceiving all the subjects, like his father. Huangdi is permanently the cure of his encouragement that he admires every individual," Shen expressed. "I have never seen his daughter before while I was in exile with my army."
"You know of political experience?" Tai Lung padded his paws behind his back.
"As I was before, Tai Lung."
Tigress's throat buzzing had her finding the comprehension. "While the Emperor has his idea of wanting Po to meet his daughter, the Masters of Jade Palace must act now," she spoke, her amber eyes meeting them all. "As for the Hajin Province going to get raided again soon and Viper's father needing to see his daughter one last time, we will be separating in groups."
"How will Viper travel back home? She needs her company," Crane said.
"While she has her important role to be with her family, Crane, Viper will be traveling with our friends — The Nine," Tigress commented.
"Great," Po agreed. "Viper's brother can travel with her. They were raised together."
"Zeng," she turned to the goose. "Fetch me the brush, ink, and a scroll. I will send a message to my aunt."
"Right away, Master Tigress." Zeng soared away towards the other hall.
Monkey stepped in on fours and asked the feline. "What shall we do, Masters?"
"Tai Lung and Tigress will lead their journey to Hajin Province to cease another bandits' invasion," Po said. "Since the Nine were the only ones who saved the city, the mayor promised to have defenses and most of the guard forces. I heard recently that Master Eagle and his aces are occupying close to the town."
Mantis hopped on Monkey's upper shoulder, wavering his limbs high. "Monkey and I will go with them," the insect said. "We'll be teaching those goons some more lessons."
Drying her eyes, Viper queried. "Do our friends from the Nine know about this?"
"We'll let them know, Viper," Tigress assured.
Discerning the matter of uncertainty to join either of the groups, Crane had other wishes to decide where he could go. The avian regarded most of his companions evolved a team to assemble in missions but rarely had seen a few, unlike the Masters of Jade Palace, who could go alone to do the quests. Some might be back, and most would not; ever since the incidents occurred, remembering the fire drake that shot Po from the Fireworks Factory, he would not want to see his friend obliterated as avian would have caught Po at an instant than putting off the flashes and slowing down Shen's forces.
As for the Jade Slayer's incident, the cause of losing his friend Mantis when Kai claimed the bug and Master Bear's allies had Crane frightened, not expecting the encounter that the yak had the capability of devouring souls. But he and his friends survived most occurrences — the Weeping River, Tai Lung's rage, Lord Shen's conquest, General Kai's return, the pirate invasion outside of China, the Second Gongmen Battle, and Deng Wa's army of jombies.
Nearly flooded with awesomeness and unfortunateness, Crane could see the Po's digits planting on his muzzle, shaking his head. "Now my dads are gotta figure out what to do for me looking after my restaurant. I can't handle two things at once everywhere."
"Po," Crane stepped ahead beside the felines. "You have been through most of your tight schedules to help villagers and train here. The scroll with the Emperor's Seal is more important than Jade Palace and the Valley of Peace."
"It is, Crane," Po regarded. "Dads are not going to like it after I tell them."
"They will understand, Po," Tigress said. "You have to speak with them before you depart."
For a moment, Po regarded his thought of his fathers worrying a bit too much. Though one had lost his son for almost two decades, and the other would not like to see Po starving and may never return. Two fathers needed to see him in one piece without getting hurt. As a parent, the ordinary part of life, you worry about a child more than your soul. Now, on a different cycle, a child grown to adulthood must do the same to a parent with all the necessities before the passing.
After the Emperor's quest, I must stay with my dad longer — watch over him as long as I am alive.
"Okay," Po nodded. "When I read the P.S., the airship had started taking a flight yesterday. Our ride will arrive tomorrow morning, Crane. You can come with me or go to Viper; it's up to you."
"I will go with you and Shen, Po," Crane said. "If your dads are going to ask who will be traveling with, it'll be me. You know I got your back."
"Who will be looking after the Jade Palace while we will be absent?" Mantis queried the group.
"How about Zeng?" Crane determined.
"Zeng and our servants handled the palace well last time when we left China," Tigress said, nodding. "At this time, it's their turn and our students. Bao and Lei Lei."
"Very well then," Po nodded. "Their friends may come here to watch our home, but they must know Lei Lei is in charge before we return."
"Granted," the stripped feline accepted. Tigress beckoned her head to the Masters of Jade Palace. "Gather your belongings. We move out later."
Most of the warriors departed to the Garden of Masters, and Crane was the first to soar towards the trees after he bounded from the palace's ridge. Having only moments for Shen to see if Po would like to keep him close, the peacock deemed to know the panda who wished to reflect on the Hall of Heroes as far as Po had been ever since the Grandmaster's Will. The avian strolled away to the moon pool, the water ripples mirroring the sight of the old Shen, who thought about himself and how his age started from being young to old. How did I end up like this that fast? What happened to me? Time showed no mercy, as one of the civilians from the outskirts of Gongmen who used to speak to Prince Shen about the days and nights exhibited how short the years could go.
Quick flaps approached Tigress's corner, and Zeng handed her the roll of parchment and the ink brush with a bottle. "Here are the items you requested, Master Tigress."
"Thank you, Zeng."
The messenger flew off and joined his fellow disciples outside the Arena, beginning to inspect the works and repairs on all the types of machinery inside the Training Hall. Finding bored browsing around the Hall of Heroes and the paintings, Po walked and looked at the latest portrayal next to the one and only Grandmaster who invented Kung Fu in the days before the Desolation of the Qing Temple. Tigress was close to Po, who leveled his head upon his shoulder.
"Po?"
"You go ahead, Tigress. I'll be here."
Sensing the acceptance of the Dragon Master for his privacy, Tigress nodded and headed into the narrow passage before the Library. She gave a last sight on Po, who looked up to the two legendary paintings as one of them next to Oogway had her changed. Tigress had changed because she thought she would have more time for someone, like a parent, to be loved and more confident than ever. Staring at the red panda painting, which had Shifu balanced his foot on the root pole, sipping tea next to the Sacred Peach Tree with billowing shrouds of the pink blossoms that hovered close to him, Po reflected the last moments with his master, meditating into the night before the farewell.
Author's Note:
— The next chapter begins this week and will reveal our old friend from Po's perspective. Bring some tissues with you when Chapter 4 arrives!