Darkness Within

After Order 66 brought its devastating attack on the Jedi, many survivors fled to distant parts of the universe in disguise or exile. Branded enemies of the Empire, Jedi Knight Po took residence on the small green planet of Kartak in the Outer Rim, a bustling place for unlicensed pilots and merchants. The Empire's reach grows, yet not to Kartak where Po forsakes his Jedi ways to become a cook under a kind goose named Mr. Ping. Though Po tries to hide his past, the tragedy of his fallen Master Tai Lung haunts him as does the thoughts of two felines.

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Clashes of sparkling energy flashed before his eyes. He ran, only to have blasters halt his progress. A fleet of white armored men stood in his way. He jumped over, running faster and faster. A laser shot his shoulder.

"RUN PO! ARRGGGGHHHH!"

The shout of his master rang in his ear. He ran, further and further, ducking under a fallen Jedi. To the side, there was a cliff, and the white armies drew closer to the panda. He looked down over into the great dark abyss, yet he felt something push him over. He fell down, down, consumed by the darkness until

THUD!

"Waaahh!" Jade eyes scanned and searched the small basement. A few pots and pans stood near the clothes rack. The bear rolled upright out of his bed and sighed. "Another day, another nightmare." Po rubbed his eyes and sighed loudly. He stared at the floor, trying to rid himself of this new reality. "Master Tai Lung."

He shook his head. He couldn't be worried about a dead past. He had to focus on the present mission: survival. Po grabbed his apron from the smooth stone wall and walked up the stairs into the light. His eyes blinked the bright sun away and adjusted to the sight of a dirt road filled with vendors, cooks, pilots, and advertisements across the galaxy. Scurrying laughing children waved to the big panda as a hover cart carried the normal supplies for Po's employer. "Hey, Po!" Called a simian, jumping off the hover cart. "I got the goods for Mr. Ping. Where do you want them?"

"Just here is fine, Monkey. I'll carry them to the kitchen."

"You okay, Po? You look tired," Monkey asked.

"I am. Rough night."

"Oh, sorry about that. Anyway, here are the papers for Mr. Ping," Monkey promptly said. Business as usual. Another sigh exited Po's lungs as he grabbed the papers and brought in some of the supplies for Mr. Ping. A middle-aged white goose, giving another alien his soup, turned around to see the panda walk in.

"Ahh! The supplies are here! Thank you, Po. I don't know what I'd do without you," The goose grinned.

"You would find the next person to hire," Po smiled.

"Ah! That's not true. You're a great employee and resident. Eh, but you are a bit clumsy."

"Heh," Po chuckled lightly. One would think that training as a Jedi would cure that, but alas. Po focused on putting the boxes in their place while giving Mr. Ping the records.

"Lots of pilots today on Kartak. Must be good business happening among the stars. Hmm, you ever wonder if business would be better somewhere else, Po?"

"Mr. Ping, I've told you a hundred times," Po grunted, bringing in the last box, "Business is good here. Just because you're not making as much money as your brother on Xops doesn't mean anything. You're comfortable and safe here. And you don't have to worry about high Empire taxes."

"Ahh, I guess you're right." The bird shook his head and returned to the orders. The shop was comfy and quaint. It held a comfortable 90 or so customers under its wooden pergola. Or as many as Mr. Ping could fit. The goose chatted up with the customers as the bear worked in the back, but Po could still remember that fateful day after surviving his fall from that cliff. Clutching his bruised arm, he managed to find a stray Separatist ship. He randomly managed to punch in some coordinates and found himself on Kartak.

Mr. Ping glanced at Po's arm. "Are you sure your arm is okay?"

"Mr. Ping, it's been three years since that crash. I'm fine. I told you."

"I'm just saying. That was a nasty crash. I thought you were dead by the time I fished you out."

Po muttered under his breath, "Maybe things would've been better if I was." He shook his head, staring at his hands. His master would say not to give into despair. That could lead to the dark side. Po clutched his hands and scoffed. "I'm going to get the Nuna bread. It's too expensive to go bad."

"Good, good, son. You're thinking like a chef now. Ha, ha," Mr. Ping laughed. Po put on a brave smile and went to the back. His mind wasn't on the hundred or so boxes in front of him. Even as he got the bread in hand, he couldn't stop thinking about his master. Lists of Jedi deaths from Order 66 were broadcast shortly after and Po saw his master's name after he got settled on Kartak. The bear sighed at the memory, grabbed the bread, and went back to Mr. Ping, handing the bread off.

"Ahhh! Oh no! This isn't good!"

"What's wrong?"

"Monkey is short an order!"

The bear's eyes narrowed. Monkey was never short an order.

Suddenly, Po turned towards the eating area under the pergola. Among different creatures and aliens bustling about and eating the delicious soup Mr. Ping cooked. He felt something. He looked towards the skies. Bright blue with a few specks of cloud.

Nothing. What was it he felt?

"Something wrong, Po?"

"Hm? Nothing. Just... felt something... familiar. Anyway, what did you say about the order? Monkey doesn't usually get orders wrong."

"Well, he did. I'm short on rice."

"We can get that from Mr. Opon."

"Hmm, I don't know. He charges a lot. I don't think he likes me. "

"Come on, Mr. Ping. You're the best cook on Kartak! He just sells rice," Po said. "Of course, he's going to be jealous."

"Ahh, now you're just buttering me up. Alright, alright. Maybe you should go. He might not be that... stubborn with you. Make sure to use your cute charm."

"Uhhh how do I activate that?" Po chuckled nervously.

"Just... be you," the goose smiled. Po smiled back and went out through the back. But his grin quickly disappeared as he searched the streets for any potential danger. Even on the dirt roads with nothing more than a few speeders and hovercrafts darting past, Po felt his fur stand on end. He pulled up his hood. He wore a dark gray shirt underneath a dull green Pancho. He burned his Jedi robes; they would be a dead giveaway.

Kartak was a slightly humid planet with its rainy season. Good for the crops that interrupted the seas of grassy plains and forests. A field of mountains in the far distance showed icy-capped peaks. There was a large mound overlooking the town. Near sunset, Po would find his way up the grassy mound and see the mountains in the far distance. Their bluish-gray color somehow called Po, though he never knew why. "They're just mountains, Po." Mr. Ping explained one time, "There's nothing special about them."

But they were to Po. He couldn't explain it. Maybe it was a Force thing?

Po shook his head and focused on the present mission. Lifting his belt a bit, he walked down the street and to Mr. Opon's shop.

After he crossed the street, he felt something again. He looked around. Nothing. But something was pulling at him. Something familiar.

Po shook his head. Ever since the Great Jedi Purge, the panda tried to distance himself from the Force. When he saw images of Darth Vader, hope left him and his goal changed: Distant himself from the Force and survive.

But that presence he felt. It felt so...

Rice. He was here to get rice.

Meanwhile, a scowling face flew in a gray arrow-like spaceship through the stars. The old master was starting to show his age with the graying fur in his mane, even as his eyes grew sharper with each moment they stayed in hyperspace. "You're doing very well, apprentice."

"Doing what?"

"Flying the ship, of course," The old master smiled. "We haven't crashed into anything yet."

The apprentice stared at her master with a neutral face. She sighed and swung her seat towards him, "Master, what's wrong? You've been pensive ever since we started this trip."

The tan-furred master sighed greatly, "I was hoping to avoid this trip. It's one that... I've seen before in my..." He took a deep breath and faced the tiger he called an apprentice. "Tigress, you remember I told you how the Force displays the future, right?"

"Yes, Master Tarnak. You said it's like lines and nodes. Some parts of fixed while others show different routes."

"Well, this route we take passes through a node that... guarantees my... death," Tarnak said.

Tigress blinked. "Oh."

"Oh? That's all you can say?"

"Well, to be perfectly honest, Master, I thought you were going to die a long time ago. Especially when you woke up that wombat nest."

"UGGGHH! Please don't remind me," The lion shivered. "I will never feel safe again in a cave."

"But we have to get supplies, Master. You know that the settlement we're on isn't enough anymore. And this is the only planet left in the Outer Rim where we can easily escape the Empire's grasp. And you refuse to go to Tatooine."

"Absolutely not," Tarnak muttered. "Tatooine is just... I've had enough of desert planets. And I hate desert sand."

"You liked the beach on that water planet we were on."

"Beach sand and desert sand are different, young apprentice," Tarnak smiled. Tigress chuckled. "But I'm surprised you're okay with this."

The tiger said nothing for a while. Then she sighed, "I've... had dreams about you dying. Probably around the time we felt that major disturbance in the Force. The... purge." Her hands trembled as she mentioned the words. Tarnak reached out and steadied her. "But... I've tried to see past it, secretly wishing it wouldn't happen but... over time, I've grown to accept it. And... accept that... if I were to lose you in the future, I should spend as much time in the present with you."

"Ahh, I wondered why you became so attentive to me," Tarnak smiled. "Well, I appreciate it. And I think your reasoning helped you in the long run."

"How so?"

"You managed to learn more than most because you accepted it as a possibility. And you helped me possibly find a way around this whole problem."

"You mean... dying?"

"I'll... hopefully be able to explain later," Tarnak cheekily grinned. Suddenly, they came to their destination. A green planet with a large ocean surrounding the land mass. A noticeable mountain range caught Tarnak's eyes. "While we're here, hide your presence. Even with the Empire not here, we have to be mindful." Tigress nodded. Their flat arrow-like ship gently landed on pastures just outside of a town. The bay door opened, and Tigress jumped out and looked around. The long stretches of deep flowing grass bending in the calming breeze made her sigh. "It reminds you of the Jninks' planet, doesn't it?"

"I know it's been a while, but I still miss them. I wonder how Jeebe is."

"Hopefully, he'll be fine. He had a great teacher," Tarnak smiled.

"Master, why don't you discourage me from having relationships or attachments? I thought the Jedi weren't supposed to-"

"You are not Jedi," Tarnak interrupted. He put on a grayish cloak that hid his Jedi clothing. "I trained you in the way that you're to be trained, not in the way of the Jedi. The Jedi and Sith share the same training. They discourage relationships from focusing strictly on the light and dark sides of the force. But they forget that they form bonds with each other as well, which can equally cloud their judgment. Emotions sway us, both from and to either side of the Force."

"Is that why you wanted me to control my emotions?"

"Not control them, see them. Observing them and feeling them. Even fear and anger can be used for good. It's our actions that make them evil. This is how fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, hate leads to the dark side."

"So... there's no way out."

"There is. Each Jedi and Sith are either pulled by the Light or the dark side. Like the waves, they pull and push. I taught you how to get out of the water by observing. Not just using the Force like the Jedi or being used by the Force like the Sith. But to listen and watch the Force. Let it truly be a guide," Tarnak shook his head. "Alright, that's enough educational lessons. We're here to get supplies."

Tigress nodded. Then she looked at her clothes. "Do you think what I'm wearing is too much?"

Tarnak laughed, "I'm actually more surprised you changed outfits at all."

"The dark attire wasn't suiting me," She said. The tiger wore a very dark reddish linen shirt underneath a black jacket. Her charcoal pants hung from a belt where she had a blaster and lightsaber hidden by the jacket. The dark red lines that covered her eyes were gone; she felt they were a little too brooding.

"Let's get going. Hopefully, we'll have enough money to get supplies from those pirates that tried to kill us."

The two walked passed the placid pastures and down a great hill. Before them stood a town with just enough room by the nearby lake to house a landing pad for ships and carriers. Not one house looked to be over two stories tall. Tigress could see her master's face twist a bit. "Master?"

"Nothing, just still looking for a way around this node... but maybe this won't be as bad as I thought." The lion looked at the mountains in the far distance. "When we're done here, I want to go there."

"To the mountains? Why?"

"I... have a feeling about them," Tarnak smiled as they crossed the edge of the town.

Then they felt it. A momentary jolt. "You feel that?"

"Yeah," the lion sighed, "Didn't think he'd be so loud."

"He?" Tigress tilted her head a bit.

But they felt the presence again. Her amber eyes widened. "Is... is that?"

Before Tarnak could even say anything, Tigress ran at top speed down the streets. The lion sighed, "So much for quietly getting in and out."

Meanwhile, Po ran, trying to get away from the men after him. "Get back here panda!"

"I said I was sorry!" He shouted as a large multi-tenacle man ran after him with a horde of other creatures by his side. Po turned down an alley and jumped onto a rooftop, only to crash right through where a woman was bathing.

"AAAAHHHHHHHHH!"

"SORRY!" Po shut his eyes and stumbled right out of a window, falling to the ground floor. "Ugh! Why do I have this stupid luck?"

"There he is!"

"Oh man," Po shot down another street and ran at top speed. "Come on, Po. Think, think! Wait!" He turned down a road and squeezed himself right through a small narrow alleyway. How he managed to fit, he couldn't say, but the man and his goons lost track of him. Po stumbled onto another narrow back alley and put up his hood.

Hopefully, Mr. Opon would get the rice to Mr. Ping while he lay low. "Why do I have such bad luck! UGH! I swear if this is-"

He felt it again. That presence. This time it was stronger. "No... it can't be." Po looked all around. Searching for it. It grew stronger and stronger as he found himself running towards it. He turned a corner on another alley, jumping over trash and crates, stumbling to his knees.

Then he stopped. He looked down a small empty road between two large houses. Someone skidded to a stop on the other end of that road. Someone who looked straight at him, panting from her run. She covered her mouth.

They didn't move. Po slowly stood up and took in all of her. He wiped his eyes, trying to get rid of the illusion before him. But it wouldn't go away. Tears started streaming down her face. She took two tentative steps towards him, feeling hesitation. As if he was a mirage.

"Po?"

"Tigress?"

The tiger lunged at him, wrapping her arms around him in a tight hug. Po nearly fell onto his back. He gripped her firmly, sniffling. Even though they met briefly, anyone who survived the Purge was a welcomed sight. "I... when we felt the... I thought you were gone."

"I thought you were gone, too. Where's Master Tarnak?"

Tigress suddenly came to her senses and released him, looking around. "Oh, I must have left him. I came running when I sensed you. What's going on?"

"Heh, I... accidentally bumped into some thugs and... destroyed their speeders."

Tigress stifled a laugh, "I didn't think a Jedi would-"

"I'm not a Jedi. Not anymore," Po sighed.

"Is... your master..." The panda hung his head. Tigress hugged him again. "I'm sorry."

Po slowly hugged the tiger back, sniffling as his grip grew tighter. "I... I miss him. I... I know we're not supposed to..."

"Shhhh shhh, it's alright. It's okay. Let it be."

"I should've... I should've-"

"You did what you had to, Po. Your master would've been proud of you. Now, you get to carry on the legacy of your order, of your master, of the Force."

"No," Po grunted, snatching himself away from Tigress's arms. "The Force and the old ways are dead. It's what led us to the purge. I'm the last of my kind, Tigress."

"Where there is the Force, there are always others."

"Don't do a Master Yoda on me," Po grumbled, turning his back on her. "If the Force wanted the Jedi to die, then why do this? For balance? For control? Just so the Empire can rise up and make me, make all of us criminals? After everything we've done!"

Tigress reached for the panda but stopped her hand. She sighed and bowed her head. "I'm sorry," She whispered.

"It's... it's not your fault. I guess I'm turning to the dark side with all this anger," Po glared into the ground. He felt her hand on his back.

"You were hurt. You're going to feel pain. It's how you carry that pain that's important."

"Hmm," Po turned towards her with narrowed jade eyes. "Master Tai Lung said that the Dark Side was all about fear, anger, and hatred. Do you feel... that from me?"

"I... I do," Tigress swallowed hard, "But I also feel hope. You were betrayed and hurt. You can't deny what you feel. Observe what you feel. Don't feed it, don't fight against it. Let it flow."

His eyes fluttered shut, but he couldn't take it anymore. His body gave out and bent over, latching onto Tigress. He shivered with tears, crashing down to his knees. Each tear ripped another piece of his soul out, letting it air in the open breeze. The tiger held on to him. He would need someone to pick the pieces back up. Tigress shut her eyes. It was painful seeing him like this. She could remember how hopeful the panda was when they first met. Now the pounding despair drenched her senses as Po clawed his pain out. "There we go. It's okay. It's okay," She calmed. Po wept onto her dark jacket. Tigress rubbed the panda's back, encouraging the panda to let go of all his pain. Just to give him some kind of relief. Slowly his tears died down. The panda's body groaned and suddenly felt weak. Years of tension finally released, and small hiccups left his mouth. How many years had he held this in? "There you go. It's okay."

"It... still hurts."

"It will, but how do you feel?"

Po stared a bit at her. A small smile crept onto his mouth. "Warm. Peace. Stillness. More than I have felt in a while. Thank you. I... I always thought meditation was the only way to get rid of the dark stuff."

"You have to feel, but not get consumed or feed," Tigress replied. She helped him up to his feet. "So... would you happen to know where we can get some supplies? That's why we're here."

"Sure, I c-can definitely help you," Po smiled. "Where's-"

"Ahem." Tigress and Po looked down the alley to see a familiar lion, smirking at them. The panda jumped from Tigress's grasp, chuckling anxiously as he rubbed the back of his head. "Seems like the reunion is well met," Tarnak grinned. He bowed before the panda. "It's good to see you again and alive. I suppose-"

"My master is... gone."

"I'm deeply sorry."

"It'll be okay," Po sighed. "Come on, you two must be hungry."

"We are, especially for whatever you're cooking. You smell delicious," Tigress grinned. Po and Tarnak's eyes widened. "That... I mean... you smell like you work at a delicious... kitchen."

"Oh! Right. Uh... I'm sure Mr. Ping will help you."

"Will this be enough?" Tarnak said, giving him some of the credits.

"Maaaaaaybe. Don't worry, I'm sure I can work a deal with Mr. Ping."

The three of them strolled over to the goose's shop. They pushed through the large crowd of customers, and the white goose met them with a beaming smile. "Ah! Po, you made it back. Mr. Opon said you were in trouble?"

"Eh, don't worry about it, Mr. Ping."

"And who is this? Are you Po's new girlfriend?"

"Girlfriend?!" Tigress and Po spluttered.

"New?" Tarnak asked and grinned. "There were others?"

"No!" Po exclaimed, "And no, she's not my girlfriend."

"Are you interested in Po?" the bird asked. "You know, we've gotten used to Po working around here. In fact, he's a son to me. Eh, but don't tell him he's adopted. He doesn't know."

"Wait, what?" Po mumbled.

"Anyways! Here's some food," The goose presented the bowls, and the two felines ate up.

"This is very good," Tigress said with a mouthful, slurping up more. After they were done eating, Tarnak chose to collect the rest of the supplies for the ride home while Tigress stayed with Po. The two clambered down to his room in the basement. Tigress sat on Po's sturdy bed wedged into the corner. The great bear blinked at her.

"What?"

"Nothing, just... never thought I'd have a woman sitting in my bed," Po chuckled.

"I can move if-"

"No, no, it's just... just a bad joke," Po smiled nervously as he sat next to her. "I'm really glad that you're here. And... I'm sorry for fighting you the first time."

"You didn't know. Nor did your master. I don't blame you. It was nice to have someone else other than Master Tarnak to spar with," Tigress sighed. "But... I am curious."

"About what?"

"Everything. Everything you've been through," Tigress said. Po bowed his head and sighed heavily. "It's okay if-"

"No, it's just... I've spent so much time staying away from everything that could show I was... am a Force user." As he sat quietly, Tigress bit her lip in anticipation. Finally, he stood up and pressed a secret stone in the wall. Pulling out a box, he grabbed out a strange lightsaber. It looked new to Tigress. It had golden edges and the normal gray metallic compartments of a lightsaber but had a small, strange symbol in the middle. Tigress tilted her head at the sight. It was a circle with white and black colors swirling with each other and small dots of the opposite color in each. "I saw this symbol one time when I was in an old Jedi temple. It's called the Yin and Yang. Symbols of balance and harmony. I thought I would... have that for a while before..." Po sighed. He ignited the blade. Its blue glow hummed in the room before he put it back in its case. "I keep it with me. Even though using it would send the Empire after me. I just... can't find the courage to give it up."

"Because it's a part of who you are," Tigress smiled.

"You're way too wise."

"I learn a lot from the Force. Did you manage to become a Jedi knight before-"

"Yeah, I did," Po chuckled lightly. "It's funny. One moment I'm cheering because I'm finally a Jedi knight. The next I'm denying that I am one at every turn." He shook his head. "But enough about me. How have you been doing?"

"Well actually. Of course... Master Tarnak says that he senses his end is near. He's been trying to delay this supply run for the longest but... this was the nearest place our ship could go without the Empire seeing us."

"Why don't you use that... weird force cloak you did when you fought."

"Because I'm not really... disappearing. I'm being transported to the realm between the Force. It's... hard to explain. You could still sense me."

"Hmm," Po smiled. They sat quietly for a moment before Tigress got up and offered her hand. "Whhhat are you doing?"

"I'm taking you from this place so you can complete your training."

"Tigress, it's bad enough with two Force users running around. Three is one too many. Besides I'm safe here."

Tigress crossed her arms, glaring. "You and I both know that's not true. You know that the Empire is near. And I know you don't want Mr. Ping to get caught up in the crosshairs."

"Don't you dare try to guilt trip me into this," Po firmly said, standing up to face her glaring eyes. "No matter what I do, Mr. Ping would be in danger."

"Yes, but he would be safer if you came with us."

"Why do you want me?"

The tiger crossed her arms and turned her back. For a moment, nothing was said until the panda heard a sigh. "If Master Tarnak is going to die soon, I... I don't want to be alone. I know that's selfish of me, but-"

"Okay."

Tigress turned around and broadened her eyes. "What do you mean okay? You were against this at first."

"Because... I'm lonely too. Sure, Mr. Ping is nice but... he doesn't understand my issues. Annnnddd I'd be lying if I didn't find you totally awesome to be with," Po nervously grinned. The tiger smiled just as Tarnak came down to see them.

"Po, we have to talk. Come with me."

Tigress and Po looked at each other and worriedly walked with the lion. Passing through the town and dirt street, they made their way to the large hill where Po and Tigress saw the faraway mountains. "You see that mountain."

"Yeah, there's nothing special about it."

"You and I both know that's not true. The Force is strong there. I want to go there, but something tells me once we do, you're not coming back for a while. I know it would take you out of your place here, so that why I wanted to ask. Will you go with us to train?"

Po stared at Tigress. Should he do this? She simply bowed her head. The panda took a deep breath and clenched his fist. "Alright, let's go."

"Good," Tarnak smiled, "And we'll begin your training again while we're there. I'm sure Tigress will love to have a new sparring friend." The bear couldn't help but smile shyly at the smirking tiger.

The goodbyes were harder than Po thought. Mr. Ping sobbed so much onto Po's large gut as he packed his stuff. He didn't have much stuff to begin with, but the goose demanded that he go with as much food as he could. "You've been like a son to me, Po. But I know... I know the path you go on is yours alone to go. Ahh, are you sure you don't want me to go with you?"

"I wouldn't want you to get caught in the crosshairs," Po replied. "Annnnndd I'm not sure if there's much... business where I'm going."

"Ahh, well," the goose sniffled. "I know you'll be okay." He glanced behind the panda, seeing the tiger talking with Tarnak. "Eh, and try to get closer to the tiger. I think she has a thing for you."

"Da- Mr. Ping!" Po hissed in a low embarrassed tone.

"Ahh, I'm sorry. I know your life is hard, but know that I'm very proud of you. You'll be stronger than you ever thought possible. Go, Po," Mr. Ping smiled, hugging Po one last time. The panda straightened up and headed for the door. "And Po?" The bear turned to the goose. Mr. Ping bowed, saying, "May the Force be with you."

Po's eyes and mouth dropped. "You... you knew?"

"I always knew, Po. But I knew you weren't a bad person. Take care."

"T-Thank you, Mr. Ping. For everything." With one final wave, the three left the cook's shop and boarded their ship. Po crossed his arms as the mysterious mountains came closer.

"You're distressed," Tarnak mentioned.

"I've stared at these mountains for years and there's always been an... uneasy feeling. I know it's the Force, but-"

"Are you sure about that or are you guessing?" The lion asked.

"Yes," Po sighed. "But why?"

"Don't worry about that for now. Right now, we have to figure out how to get to this place." The panda nodded and watched the grassy landscape quickly turn into a rocky gray mountain range. Peaks and sharply cut valleys covered the area with no end insight. "Hmm, there's a plateau. We can land there," Tarnak directed. Tigress gently placed the ship on a thin patch of flat land among the scattered heights of mountains. When Po's feet touched the gray rock beneath him, his eyes sharpened. "You feel that?"

"What is this place?" Po asked.

"It's filled with the Force, but it's hard to see where it is," Tarnak said, scanning the area with his binoculars. He stopped and tossed the set to Tigress. "We're not going to find it the normal way." Then they both looked down to see the tiger meditating on the ground.

"Uhhh, Tigress. What are you doing?" Po asked.

"I'm searching through the Force," Her eyes slowly opened. "There. At the end of that valley." She pointed to a dark patch of the trough-like valley. The sides were very narrow, only one of them could probably pass at a time. At the end of that gorge was a hole embedded into the rock.

"Heh, dejavu."

"Hmm?"

"Well, it's just... I met you in a dark scary cave. Now I'm going into a dark and scary cave to find... what exactly are we here to find?" Po asked.

"It's possibly a temple of the Force. Whether it's a Jedi or Sith temple, I'm not sure."

"I don't feel the dark side here," Tigress replied.

"Yeah, but I'm not exactly positive about this," Tarnak said. "Come on, there's a pathway here." The path was narrow, very narrow. They had to hug their backs to the wall at times. Each moment, climbing down the loose rock nearly sent them to their demise. "Careful!"

"WHOAA!" Tigress latched onto what she could find and thankfully it was Po's arm.

"I gotcha!" Po strained, pulling her back up. "Ugh, this is taking too long."

"Would you rather take the easy and dead way down?" Tarnak suggested.

"I just... if we keep this up, we're not going to have enough time to train," Po said.

Tigress and Tarnak turned to each other and stared. "Why are you worried about that?" The lion asked.

Po sighed, "I... I want to restart my training. I want to get back in tune with the Force."

"The Force has always been with you and always will be. But you must notice it. Just because you felt troubled and worried using it doesn't mean that it wasn't there," Tarnak said. "Observe your feelings. See the Force for what it is, not what you want it to be. That is your first lesson. Come on, we're getting closer."

Po sighed again as they journeyed on. Another near slip later, they finally made it to the bottom of the valley where the dark arching cave stood. Using their spare glow rods, the three traveled past the dry echoing cave, losing the light behind them.

They continued on until they found another light at the end of the cave. Slowly it opened up to a depression of patchy grass and trees and vines surrounding a strange temple in the middle made of the same gray rock as before. The temple stood like a large sculpted pillar with a wide square base. The three journeyed inside, but just as Po and Tigress crossed the threshold, the door started to close. "Ah! Wait!"

"Heh, looks like this is a journey that you two will have to take," Tarnak smiled.

"What are we looking for?"

"Nothing... and everything."

"WHAT?!" Po exclaimed as the door shut. "Ughh! Nothing and everything, what does that even mean!"

"Calm down, Po. We'll be fine," Tigress smiled, igniting her red blade. Po took a breath and ignited his saber as well. The blue and red lights illuminated the tunnel until they came to a dimly lit central room. The circular chamber held etchings of people lifting their hands up while the other side laid their hands down.

"Hmm."

"What's wrong, Po?"

"It's just... this whole dual stuff. Light and dark, good and evil. The whole thing about the Jedi is supposed to be about balance, not chasing after good or getting away from the dark side..."

"But?" Tigress asked after a long pause.

"That's not what the Jedi did. They were always trying to do the right thing, good things, and they always tried to wipe out the dark side," Po ambled over to the figure with their hands up. It was a weather-worn figure with its face twisted in an unrecognizable fashion. But the smaller people around seemed powerful, offensive, on the attack. He strolled to the other side where the figure with their hands down and also unrecognizable was peaceful, calm, gentle. So were the other people around them. They both had long flowing robes that covered their bodies. "What is balance?"

Tigress took a long breath and sat down facing Po. "I guess we'll have to wait and see."

"So we're just going to sit and do nothing then?"

"Do you see another way out?" Tigress asked.

He didn't. He sighed and sat across from Tigress, meditating.

The room fell silent. Each moment passed with Po opening his eyes and darting around the room. He heard Tigress chuckle. "What?"

"I can tell you're nervous."

"We're sitting in a dark temple with our eyes closed. And it's a Force Temple. Weird stuff always happens in a Force temple," Po said.

"Then let them happen, Po," Tigress suggested. "Don't be afraid of your fear. Know and acknowledge your fear."

The panda took a deep breath and sighed.

Moments passed until Po felt a light fall onto his eyes. "Tigress, I think I know what I'm supposed to do. I'll see you later."

"What?" Tigress opened her eyes and saw the panda was gone. "Where did he go?" The empty room had no answer.

Meanwhile, Po walked into a large meadow with a setting sun casting a completely red sky. Everything fell into a realm that seemed like blood. "What is this?"

"This is where you die."

Po turned around and saw a dark figure ignite his blade. He held a mask that seemed familiar. Po saw the red saber's hilt. "Are you an inquisitor?"

"What I am is of no concern. What matters is your survival." Po ignited his blade and the two clashed. Po's fighting form was rusty, but he pushed the attacker back. The figure jumped and brutally swung down on the panda, forcing him to the ground. Po rolled out of the way and went on the defense. Each strike of the figure's red saber sent the panda back further and further. Each powerful swing made Po gasp. He tumbled to the ground with the figure's lightsaber pointed at him. "You will fail. You and I both know that once Tarnak dies, there's nothing you can do to stop your death. Just accept it."

"NO!" Swinging violently, Po's saber knocked the attacker's weapon out of their hand. But the mysterious person grabbed hold of Po's body and forced him back into a dark red tree. "Ugh."

"You live in a world of denial. You know this is pointless," The attacker said. His saber flew itself to his hand and the sickening red blade ignited again. "You can't stop this. The dark side is victorious. You can not deny your passions, your anger, your fear."

"No! No! I will not!"

"Don't resist it," The figure muttered, putting his blade to Po's neck. "There is much darkness in your heart. You know this."

"What do you want me to do?"

"Give in. Give in to that anger, that rage, that fear. Let it flow through you."

Po's panting breath rang through his ear. The dark hum of the blade to his neck made him gulp.

Then he looked at the world around him. "Is this what the dark side is all about then? Just one color?" Po asked. The figure stared at him. The panda guessed he stared at him for he had a mask covering his entire face.

"Was your Jedi ways any better?" the figure asked. "Did you ever gain peace, stillness, balance?"

"N-No, but the dark side will never satisfy my passions," Po gasped, struggling to keep himself away from the red blade near his neck. "You're right about one thing. There is darkness inside of me. But I'm not caving to that."

"Denial is futile."

"I'm not denying it. I accept it," Po said. He looked at the saber in his hand, seeing the Yin-Yang symbol on it. "I've been living in denial of who I am. If I'm going to get stronger, I have to accept the light and the dark. But I'm not letting them control me. I will not chase the light to avoid the darkness. Like the waters, I will flow with the Force, but I won't be consumed. Doing and Being. Stillness and activity. Bravery and fear. Peace and anger. Light and darkness." He tossed his saber away, sat on his knees, and breathed. "This... is balance."

The figure's blade still hummed near his neck. It did not move until the attacker stretched out his hand and grabbed Po's saber. Using the Force, the saber hilt came apart into pieces. A blue shining Kyber crystal fell out. The figure pulled something out of his black cloak and placed it in the Kyber's spot. The saber slowly assembled, and the dark figure ignited it.

A beautiful green blade burst to life, changing the entire landscape. The red sun suddenly turned a bright blinding white. The red sky changed to pink, blue, orange, and red. The emerald grass and trees stretched all around them. A lake below the rolling hill they stood came into view. The dark figure gave Po his saber and started to walk away. A doorway shining brightly came into view beside Po. "Wait, what does this mean?"

The figure stopped. He lifted his mask off and turned. "It means that you are no longer running away from yourself. You've finally accepted the way of the Force and have avoided my route." Po was stunned into silence. There before him in the Inquisitor-like outfit was a clone of Po. "Go. And bring balance to the Force. Master Po."

The panda nodded and walked out through the portal of blinding light.

While this happened, Tigress sat in silence, trying to meditate. A prickling worry came to her body. "I'm... scared."

"Why?"

Tigress turned all around. She heard a voice. "I'm... afraid. For the future, for Po, for my master. There's so much that I want to do but... I'm supposed to only watch the Force, not use it like the Jedi or Sith. But... I don't know what I'm supposed to do."

"Not from being, comes knowledge always. A panacea, does not knowledge of the Force provide."

"So am I foolish for staying with Po? Is he an attachment?"

"Many things, reconsidered, I have. From tragedy and the Force. From watching you and your master, I have learned. Attachment can lead to jealousy, just as fear leads to anger."

"And if I turn around?" Tigress asked. "Pride leads to one's death. Humility may give one the power to change course."

"Hmmm, great insight, you have. Stronger than your master, you have become. But stronger the panda will be."

Tigress relaxed her muscles. "Relieved you are?" Asked the voice.

"It's easier knowing that I won't have to bear the burden of being the stronger one. If my place is to be his support, then I will do my best."

"Hmm, great power you have inside you. An example of what the Force is, you are. You and Po."

Tigress squinted her closed eyes. "Who are you?"

"A friend."

Tigress opened her eyes and saw the temple's entrance open up. That's when she also saw Po walking out of the shadows and towards her. "How do you feel?"

"So much better. And... more stiller, if that makes sense."

"I know what you mean," Tigress smiled as the two walked out of the temple. Po ignited his blade, showing off his green saber. "You're a master now."

"And yet I feel like I have so much more to learn."

"You do, but you'll become stronger with knowledge and experience. Even stronger than me," Tigress said with a smile.

Po smiled back at her. "I know the future is dark, but... I'm glad that you're by my side. I... I don't know if I should be attached or not but-"

"Attachment will happen no matter what we do. It's the fear of loss that should be avoided," Tigress sighed, "This is the way the dark side wins. Many stay on the path because of their pride, arrogance, and hopelessness."

Po rose his eyebrow. "You know a lot about the dark side."

"Yes, from past experience, and I can tell you this. The power of the dark side is no greater than the power of the light."

"It's a quick way to things. The faster something is made, the quicker it can be destroyed. I don't know if that applies to the Emperor," Po explained.

"We'll worry about that later," Tigress smiled, "For now, let's focus on the present." They walked out of the temple where Tarnak patiently waited for them."

"Ah, you're finally here," The lion smiled.

"Master Tarnak. I would like to learn more about the Force from you. I was tempted by the Darkside to give into my emotions, but you seem to know much more than any person I've known. Maybe even Master Yoda?"

"Yoda?"

"That master I told you that talks weird?" Tarnak said plainly to Tigress. "Fed, have I, many pigs in my day."

"Ohh!" Tigress's eyes widened, but she said nothing more.

"In either case, I think we should set up camp here. I'll bring the ship around and we'll start your training, Master Po."

"H-How did you-"

"There's always more about the Force to learn. Never forget that," Tarnak smiled. As the lion left, Po couldn't help but smile.

"Why are you smiling?"

"I can sense there's something on the horizon. Some dark force, but... for the first time in a while I don't feel scared about it. I'm... accepting it."

Tigress smiled back, resting a hand on his shoulder. "I'm glad."