A Challenging Hope
Po and Tigress trained under Master Tarnak for three years on the planet Kartak, growing stronger in the force. With her bond in the force growing, Tigress senses a darkness swirling around her master. Meanwhile, the Empire's reach grows. As Po prepares for the future, he also senses great trouble on the horizon. One that will shake his faith in everything he's trained for.
The inky cold vacuum of space carried a ship of death and destruction along its route as quietly as it demanded. The starship moved over a shining desert planet subjugated to the Empire. The gray Star Destroyer sailed on by, coldly looking at the desert planet. On the ship's bridge were busy identical white faces reporting to several superiors. One admiral walked up to a dark-clad figure standing at the bridge's panning window. "Master Zhixiang, Darth Vader has opened a channel. He wants your presence immediately."
The dark figure wore a black helmet with a red visor glaring at the admiral. The human shivered in his polished black boots. Master Zhixiang noiselessly stepped past him, flexing his black gloves. His ink-black cape fluttered in his fast-paced march. Dark boots clacked with a totalitarian authority against the metal floor. Through a hissing door, Master Zhixiang marched into a large empty room where an all-too-familiar respirator-masked man made his appearance through a hologram. Master Zhixiang knelt low.
"You summoned me, Lord Vader?"
"I have orders from the Emperor. You are to go to the planet Kartak, on the Outer Rim. There is word of a Jedi temple of interest to the Emperor. Find it."
"It will be done, my lord."
"Our spies mentioned possible Jedi Survivors. If there are any, destroy them."
"Yes, my master," Master Zhixiang stood up as the hologram disappeared. Marching out of the room, his boots sharply clacked along the grate as the admiral followed close behind. "Set a course for Kartak."
"Yes my lord," said the admiral. Zhixiang stood at the bridge, watching the shining lights start to zoom past.
Meanwhile, on the small green patch overlooking the forested temple sat a panda, cross-legged and deep in meditation. He breathed slow, struggling to focus.
"HIYAH!"
The distant sounds of a fighting tiger made Po open his eyes. "No peeking," said an aging lion in mostly white and cream robes.
"It's kind of distracting."
"The world is distracting. Remember where your center is."
"Hmph," Po grumbled, closing his eyes. The old lion walked around the panda, a little more labored than before.
"Remember, the dark side's results are fast, but not sustainable. It uses passions, that is its catch. The Force flows. Watch the flow, know when to flow with it or against, or when to get out of the water entirely," Tarnak instructed. Nearby rocks started hovering around the panda. Soon, he started to float among the rocks. "Good. Good. Remember, fear is of the unknown. Be aware of what is in front of you. Allow the feeling to run its course and then let it go."
Po breathed out.
Suddenly, his eyes opened and the rocks around him fell, one landed on his head. "Ow! Gah! What was that?"
"What is it?"
"I... I... I think I saw an Inquisitor. I... I saw you. You tried to protect us. I was hurt and you protected us. But... you died," Po panted, sucking in air. His heart beat faster and louder in his throat, in his mouth, in his tongue. "Master I-"
"Shhhh, calm down Po. Breathe," Tarnak said. He placed a hand on the panda's shoulder as he sat down in front of him. The lion smiled warmly, "You and I have been preparing for this, remember?"
"But... I thought we had more time."
"You will. Remember, the light of the Force offers knowledge, hope, and balance. The old Jedi strictness made it hard to see that. It lead to too much hesitation. The dark side uses passion and strong emotions like fear and rage. It appeals to our selfish nature with a mighty cost, yourself. One is a mountain, the other is a raging fire. "
"Which one is right?" Po asked.
"One is not good or bad. Both can be used as tools. The Dark side appeals to our egos much more. But the Jedi thought that using the Light meant sacrificing everything that made them... people," Tarnak explained.
"So... attachments, emotions, ambitions?"
"Exactly. But the way of the Force is balance. Acknowledge the fear. Do not deny it or be consumed by it. You can not kill it off like an appendage," Tarnak warned. "The light isn't good if it doesn't reach the people that it's supposed to protect. The dark isn't powerful if it consumes us to nothingness. Balance. Recognize the balance. Now, go back to meditation. Remember what I taught you about seeing your visions?"
Po nodded. "Accept the bad can happen and you'll see the good at the end of the tunnel. Through acceptance, there are multiple ways."
"Good, I must talk with Tigress for a moment." His long side eye stayed on the panda before the lion clambered down the small hill. His feet touched the grassy ground surrounding the Force temple they inhabited for the last three years. Tarnak could hear the small grunts and shouts of well-executed swings in the decreasing distance.
A red saber hummed through the air as its wielder jumped and rolled before swiping her blade down to the ground. "Much better, though you could work on your height and ferocity," Tarnak said.
"I thought you said no more angry grunts?" Tigress smirked.
"Sometimes it's necessary," Tarnak replied. The striped feline frowned. Her master had a pensive, steady stare. The muscles in his lips tensed, and she was sure his shoulders were higher than normal.
One didn't have to use the force to see something was off. "Is something wrong, Master?"
"Am I that obvious?"
"Did something happen?"
Tarnak took a deep sigh. "Po has foreseen my death. If he's seeing it, that means it's quite near."
"I...see," Tigress sighed.
"But there's more. It seems like he'll be injured in the process and a dark force user is going to attack me. That may mean that the Empire is closing in."
"Should we leave then?" Tigress asked. "We have the supplies, and we can leave now."
Tarnak stared at her for a moment and shook his head. "I've stayed here because Po needs more training. The longer you two are here, the stronger you grow in the Force. I fear that our enemy will grow stronger with the Force Temple here."
"We could destroy it. We could go into town and get some explosives," Tigress proposed. Tarnak closed his eyes for a moment and sighed.
"Destroying it would only put us on the path towards the event we want to avoid, but leaving the temple here WILL make our enemy strong enough to annihilate this world... including himself." He took a pause. "We have to destroy the temple. That would be the best option. Either way, action or escape will seem to ensure my death. But I just wanted you to-" Two striped arms were wrapped around him in a hug. The lion fell silent. He struggled to speak only to hear the tiger speak softly.
"Thank you for being my master."
Sighing, Tarnak slowly wrapped his arms around her. Several years of training would've told him to not get emotionally attached. But his eyes watered, nonetheless. Tears streamed down his aged furry face as his hugging grip tightened. He sniffled, cleared his throat, and wiped his eyes. "Wow, you really know how to make a grown man cry."
"I'm sorry," Tigress smiled.
"No, I... I needed that," Tarnak sighed with a smile. Just then, both felines narrowed their eyes, looking to the skies. "You feel that?"
"Yeah. Let's get Po and get the detonators," Tigress darted through the woods. Tarnak started after her but stopped. His eyes squinted up at darkening clouds. A presence moved through him. It raged and growled for a fleeting moment in front of his form.
It felt familiar.
"No, it couldn't be," He whispered. He ran between the tree trunks and raced after Tigress. He looked over to where he left Po, but the panda wasn't there. They ran towards the ship parked in a clear patch of the wide depression. "Where is Po?"
"I think he's on the ship!" Tigress replied as they quickly boarded. Almost immediately, the vessel roared to life, closing the entrance and soaring into the sky. "WHOA!"
"Why is he in a hurry?!" Tarnak yelled, losing his balance. The two felines clambered over to the control panel where the panda sat. "Po, what are you-"
"You felt that?"
"Huh?"
"That presence. I'm almost sure it's an Inquisitor," Po replied. His glare was set as he steered the ship towards the village. Tigress sat next to him.
"You're angry."
"I'm scared."
"No, you're angry," Tigress said firmly. "What's wrong?"
Po turned to her and took a deep breath. "I... I think this is the guy who killed my master."
"No!" Tarnak harshly shouted. "Po, we're not doing this out of revenge."
"But it's him. I can't explain it."
"Yes you can. You're just afraid to say it out loud," Tarnak argued. "We can't do this out of revenge."
"Either way," Po said, "We have to face him. It could-"
"Don't worry about what could be. Focus on what is," Tarnak said. He stretched his arm around the panda's shoulders and brought his head close to his. "Remember, don't get consumed by the darkness. See the emotion, acknowledge the feeling, and let it go."
"GRAAH!" Po growled, shooting up from his seat. "Why is it always let it go!? Why can't I hold on to something?!"
Tarnak simply stared at the glaring panda before resting his paw on his heart. "Because it's hard to hold onto a growing plant. Things change. That's why. If you don't change with them, you'll find yourself in ruin. It's only when we accept that change that we gain some control over our lives."
Po sighed, "I'm sorry. I don't know why I've been dealing with this so much. Wait, the ship!"
"I've got it!" Tigress said in the pilot chair. Po exhaled, relieved.
"It's okay. You should've seen Tigress when I first trained her," Tarnak said, hearing an embarrassed growl from the tiger.
"So what's the plan?" Po asked.
"Get to the village, get explosives to destroy the temple so it doesn't end in the wrong hands, get out. Tigress and I will focus on that. I imagine you'll try and find Mr. Ping."
"Would it be bad?" Po asked.
"Don't worry about that. Right now, try to steady yourself. This is going to be very difficult," Tarnak said. The panda nodded and went down the ship's back corridor while the lion collapsed into the seat next to Tigress.
"You wouldn't think a panda like Po could be this mad," Tigress mentioned.
"You wouldn't think a tiger like you would be this calm," Tarnak smiled, "Nothing is as it seems." The lion took a deep breath and covered his mouth with his paw in thought. "When all this is done, I'll put in the coordinates of the next planet to go to. It's on the very edge of the Outer rim, right around the Unknown section. You might find something there that suits you."
Tigress raised her eyebrow at the smirking lion. "What do you mean?"
"Don't worry about that. We're here." The ship slowly descended onto the plain just outside of the village.
What was left of it.
The three of them stepped out and saw the shrunken ghost town among the browning grass. Dirt paths held weeds where feet used to be. "People are leaving," Tarnak whispered.
"I need to find Mr. Ping. I know that stubborn goose is still here," Po rushed down the hill.
Tarnak sighed and looked to the tiger, "Take care of him. He's gonna be a handful." Tigress only smiled.
Po raced down the dirt path. Grassy rebels sprouted at house edges that once held life. A few people waved hurriedly at Po before darting into their homes. The panda could hear the dirt smoothing and packing underneath his feet. There was no wind. Each step dragged the panda's heart to his feet.
"This place is dying," Po muttered. He finally came to the small shop. Going through the small alley he always complained was too tiny for him, he walked into the sitting area underneath a pergola. No one was there. Crates and boxes were stacked in the back kitchen. One of those big crates grunted and groaned as it moved. Po looked in and saw a familiar white goose struggling to carry the box. He smiled, "Here let me help." Mr. Ping felt the box lighten until it floated into place. His aged eyes fell upon a smiling panda waving his hand.
"Po! You're alive!" The goose jumped over the counter and hugged the panda's big waist, sniffling. "I thought you were gone! What are you doing here?! You need to go!"
"Go, what's wrong?"
"Didn't you hear? Everyone's leaving before the Empire comes."
Po narrowed his eyes. "Who told you?"
"People saw some scouts on the edge of the village. They're trying to find a temple or something."
"Oh no. Will you be okay?"
"I'll be fine. My cousin has a ship here. I just need to get my supplies."
"Here let me help. For old time's sake."
"Po, they'll be after you!"
"It's okay, Mr. Ping. I can't avoid them forever," Po sighed, still smiling. "And I'm... little hungry."
"Hehe, well, you should've said so," Mr. Ping chuckled.
Meanwhile, Tigress and Tarnak quickly put the detonators into their ship. "That's the last of them. We have to get Po," Tigress said.
Nodding, Tarnak suddenly looked at the growing cloud cover. "They're here."
"Wait, do you feel that? Oh no. They're in the village. I'll get Po, you keep the ship running," Tigress ordered.
"Wait, is it because I'm old!"
"No... a little," Tigress cheekily said. She darted down the hill before Tarnak could get too mad.
The panda finished putting the last box onto the ship, blowing a sigh of relief. "Thank you so much, Po. I couldn't have done it without you."
"Heh, I'm sure you could've," Po smiled. "It was good to see you again, Mr. Ping."
The goose beamed brightly.
Then he looked behind Po. Turning around, the panda saw what he was staring at.
At the edge of the city where Mr. Ping's swan-like ship stood, the panda and goose saw a black-clothed figure with ink-black cape and helmet. Po's heart sank, and his face paled. Dust flew up into the air as the wind whooshed around them. "Is that-"
"It is," Po said with a slight smirk, "And he's ruining a tender moment."
"I see the reports are true. There are Jedi here," The masked figure said. His helmet's red visor scowled at the panda. "I never thought it would be you."
"Mr. Ping. Get out of here," the large bear ordered.
"Be careful, Po."
"You know me."
"That's why I'm worried," Mr. Ping muttered. The goose quickly boarded the ship and took off. Po and the dark figure carefully circled each other, glaring the other down.
"I'm surprised you're still alive," Said the man.
"You know me?"
"Of course, you're the padawan of the great Master Tai Lung. Before he was killed."
"And you're the man that killed him, I guess?" Po asked.
"Yes. I am Master Zhixiang. An Inquisitor," The man's bell-like helmet tilted. "And yet I feel anger boiling inside of you. You struggle with the dark side."
"Yeah, I do," Po smirked. "But I'm not the little scared panda from before. You won't kill me like you killed my master."
"We'll see." Zhixiang ignited his red blade, poised for the strike. The panda's green blade came to life in an upright stance. "Hmm. You've been training."
"What's it to you?!" Po shouted, rushing towards the Inquisitor. Their blades clashed. Zhixiang swung low to the knees, making Po jump back. The bear ran forward again, striking the red saber. Swinging again, Po tumbled forward after the masked man pulled back. A shove to his chest pushed the panda down for a brief moment. He scrambled up and quickly blocked the Inquisitor's downward strike before jumping away. Po took a breath and centered himself. Smirking, he lunged forward and smashed into Zhixiang's saber to his right. The masked man was forced back into the open plain towards the forest.
Zhixiang slowly got up. "Hmm, your power has improved. I'm almost impressed. Though I wonder if this has more to do with the dark side than your training."
"It can be both."
"Why fight it then? Why fight the pull?"
Po sighed, briefly glancing over his shoulder to the empty town, "Because I really don't want to be like you."
Zhixiang chuckled under his helmet. "Then you're fighting the inevitable."
"But you're fighting the unpredictable."
"Oh? And how's that?" Zhixiang asked. Po force pushed him again, this time a greater distance, right over a small hill. The dark figure rolled down to the bottom. Zhixiang quickly recovered and stumbled back up the hill to see the panda gone. "Unpredictable indeed." The masked man gave chase.
Po scurried through the empty streets, racing towards the ship. Along an open dirt road, he saw, out of the corner of his eye, Zhixiang's quick feet hopping across the rooftops. "Oh come on! I'm not that fast!"
"Then you're running from your fate!" Zhixiang jumped and swung at him. Sliding to a stop, Po ducked and ignited his saber again. The two repeatedly struck each other. The bright buzzing of their blades echoed in the town. Po jumped back and actually pulled Zhixiang towards him. The masked man dug his feet into the ground, resisting. He threw his saber at Po, but the panda simply ducked and pushed the saber away. Po suddenly pushed him back and ran faster toward the ship.
Zhixiang grabbed his saber and moved some boxes into the panda's way. Po stumbled over, groaning at the pain, and quickly found the red saber at his neck.
"I'll have to admit, you're very resourceful and skilled in the force. But your desperation leads to your downfall," Zhixiang said. "Your saber skills are much... different than before."
"Before?"
"What about mine!"
Zhixiang looked up and blocked the red saber of a familiar striped cat. Po quickly got up from the ground. "Po, get to the ship. I'll take care of him."
"Don't kill him! I have a plan."
"If it's your plan then I'm very scared about following it," Tigress muttered.
"Just don't die!" Po grumbled, darting towards the ship.
"Well, this is interesting. I didn't think to find you here," Zhixiang said.
"Something tells me you did," Tigress growled. She jumped at him, wildly clashing her red blade with the masked man. Zhixiang whirled around her and swung at her back. Tigress blocked it and swung her foot at his knees. He leaped back, knocking into the same crates that he used to trip Po. Tigress jumped over him but stopped, not of her own power. Something held her in place like a clammy cold hand around her body.
"You're very gifted. And yet, I feel almost no trace of the dark side in you. Perhaps we could change that," Zhixiang threatened, tightening his hold on her.
"Blasters."
"What?"
"Blasters!" Tigress struggled to point up. Zhixiang looked just in time to see Tarnak's ship firing at him. He jumped and ducked into an alley. The arrow-like vessel hovered low enough for Tigress to jump into the loading hub. Po grabbed her hand and pulled her in. The ship darted off among the clouds with Zhixiang's menacing red visor staring at them.
"Are you okay?" Po asked.
"Yeah, he's strong, but I think we're okay."
"No we're not," Po sighed, marching up to the control panel. "He's tracking the ship. I'm almost sure of it."
"So what's this plan of yours?" Tigress asked.
"We're gonna use the Temple as a trap," Po explained. "Destroy it and cut him off in one blow."
"If he's following us, we may not have enough time to get the detonators in place," Tarnak replied, piloting the ship.
"We... could just use the Force to move the crates." Po said. Tigress and Tarnak looked at each other. "You guys didn't think of that?"
"We were distracted, alright!" Tarnak grumbled.
"Okay, the moment we land, we need to place the bombs before he shows up," Tigress said. "Are you ready for this?"
"Yeah," Po nodded.
"Po. The Inquisitor. You have a feeling you know who he is, don't you?" Tarnak asked. The panda nodded. "Is that why you came up with this plan?"
"I... I don't know."
"What do your feelings tell you?"
Po was silent for a moment. "It can't be him, can it?"
"If it is? Then what?"
Po frowned as the gray mountain range drew closer. "Then staying away from the Dark side just got a lot harder."
The ship flew to the temple's crater home, slowly landing in the lush jungle-like green patch. Po, Tigress, and Tarnak leaped out and started moving the crates into position right at the temple's sides. "Po! Hold on," Tarnak pulled him away from the tiger's hearing range. "If anything happens to me in this fight, please take care of Tigress."
"Of course."
"You know what I mean, Po," Tarnak smirked.
"Wh-What?! I... I wouldn't... what about attachment and stuff?"
"Given how this node in the line is going, I highly doubt we'll be disturbing the way of the force. But also, we need to talk about Zhixiang. Don't give into your anger if this feeling is true, Po."
"It can't be, right?" Po said, hoping to see some reassurance in the old lion's face.
Tarnak sighed, "That's not the important part. What matters is what we do next. Please, don't give in to your anger."
"I won't, Master Tarnak. I promise."
Tarnak breathed a silent breath before looking at the clouds. A spot among the fluffy specks started to darken in the shape of a ship. "I'll find the bug on the ship. You and Tigress deal with him."
"We'll yell if we need help," Po said.
"I KNOW you'll need help. It's just a matter of when."
"Master!" The panda and lion ran their separate ways while the dark spot in the clouds slowly landed on the grass. An icy Inquisitor TIE ship hovered to a chilling stop. Out from the bottom of the middle orb came the dark-clothed man. His black boots snuffed out the grass underneath his feet. The panda stood in front of him, right at the temple's entrance.
"You've made this temple your home," Zhixiang chuckled, "Ironic that it becomes your tomb."
"Okay, how are you guys always this 'poetically' dramatic? I mean, come on, is there like a Sith monologue training you guys go to?" Po remarked, igniting his blade. Zhixiang's red blade roared to life and lunged at Po. The panda blocked the devastating strikes, letting the dark figure force him into the temple's dimly-lit corridors. Po jumped to his feet and closed the temple door.
Zhixiang chuckled ominously, standing to his full height, "Hmm, you think this trap will work?"
"No," Po smirked. Suddenly, two red shots flew past the panda's head. Zhixiang ducked each and blocked a swinging red blade.
"A blaster?! No Jedi should-"
"I am neither Sith nor Jedi," Tigress grunted, forcing Zhixiang back. Grabbing her red lightsaber, she joined Po on the other side.
"Well then, it seems that I am outnumbered," Zhixiang said. "Let's even the odds, shall we?" He spread his arms out.
BOOM!
The ground quaked as one of the walls caved into the temple. Tigress quickly spread her arms out, holding them in place.
"He's setting off the detonators outside!" She shouted.
"You're very perceptive," Zhixiang complimented. Another blast blew out the back wall.
"Po! Stop him or else we'll be buried here!"
"Isn't this what you wanted Po? To trap me like a prisoner," Zhixiang asked. "Lord Vader may want this temple, but he wants Jedi exterminated more than anything else."
"Oh no." Po ran forward and clashed with the Inquisitor's saber, growling as sparks flew between them. "Why are you doing this?!"
"Oh I think you know why," Zhixiang pushed the panda flat on his back. "Search your feelings, Po. You know who I am."
The panda's eyes widened as he scurried back up. "No. It can't be."
Zhixiang pulled off his helmet and cast it to the ground. The man's grin was changed by a scar that ran from his right eye all the way to the left side of his upper lip.
But his gray spots were familiar.
"It's good to see you, Po."
"M-Master Tai Lung?"
The panda gritted his teeth and wildly swung his saber at the snow leopard. "Po! No!" Tigress shouted, still struggling with the temple. The panda's sword clashed with the snow leopard's red saber again and again. Tai Lung nimbly ducked and parried the panda's saber, watching his face twist in rage.
"Why? Why Master?" Po rasped.
"Good, good. Embrace your anger."
"Anger? ANGER!" Po pushed him back. "You HATED the Sith, Master! You hated everything about them!" The snow leopard tried to get up, but sparks of electricity tumbled out of Po's hand. Tai Lung buzzed to the ground with smoke rising from his form.
Small patches of light crept in through the top, but Tai Lung hadn't set off all of the detonators. Tigress quickly tried to establish some stability to the temple. Tai Lung coughed and grunted as he got back up. "I'm surprised Tarnak would teach you that," He muttered.
"He didn't," Po grunted. "I figured it out."
"Through the dark side no less?" Tai Lung smirked. The frown on Po's face didn't move. "Interesting. You seem to have a very small layer of control. I'll have to see if I can't strip that away."
"Why?" Po hissed. "Why did you betray us?"
"I never betrayed you, Po. I was betrayed." Reigniting his blade, Tai Lung stared at its red hue. "While you escaped, I saw everything that we ever stood for destroyed in a matter of minutes. There was no creed, no Jedi, no honor. No way out. No choice. I hoped that becoming what I hated would help me find the truth. Some way to end the Sith. And then I found something else. Power to end all of this. To end the Sith and the Jedi so there would be no more fighting. I saw a way to use the dark side to finally put an end to the Sith. And I can feel the dark side in you, too, Po."
"SHUT UP!" Po's saber clashed with Tai Lung so hard that the snow leopard flew straight into a still intact wall. "The truth is you gave up hope! You don't believe that the Sith or Jedi can bring peace anymore, so you gave up on both. You're just wandering the galaxy lost and afraid! You gave up on EVERYTHING you taught me! Peace, kindness, hope! You gave up on the things that are beyond the Jedi!"
"YES!" Tai Lung shouted as he forced the panda straight into the tiger. Tigress's body caught Po, and the temple started to crumble above them. Rocks and blocks tumbled down. Tigress quickly stood back up and held the temple together. "I did give up. But I know that you're giving up too. Such a hard sight to see your once strong master corrupted by the same thing you struggle with day in and out. It must hurt like a blaster to the heart. Speaking of which." He moved his hand, and Tigress's blaster slowly hovered to his side. "I would think a warrior like yourself wouldn't use such crude weapons. But no matter. They have their uses."
PEEWWW!
A shot fired right through the bear.
"Po!" Tigress ran to the panda and cradled him in her arms. The shot had torn right through the chest on the left side, dangerously close to his heart. Even then, she tried to make sure the wound didn't get worse as the temple crumbled around them.
"He won't die. But he'll be introduced to suffering. A very good teacher for one joining the dark side," Tai Lung grinned.
"Po would never join you," Tigress growled.
"Oh, and you? You've always had the stench of the dark side close by you. Po's resolve about the Force has faltered because of your influence."
"You're wrong."
"Am I?" Tai Lung slashed through one of the temple's supports. Tigress quickly stretched out her arms and held the temple up. Straining and growling, she barely held the temple together as Tai Lung calmly walked up to her. "If it weren't for you, Po wouldn't be here. He'd probably be with that cook, safe and sound."
"No one is safe with the Empire around," Tigress grunted. "And you won't win."
"You're so sure? Is it that special training from your lion friend, Tarnak?"
Tigress gave a mocking chuckle and looked up at the snow leopard's proud smirk. "No, it's just that you suck at the Sith mind games."
"She's right you know." Tai Lung spun his head and was suddenly sent flying through the air straight into a wall. Tigress quickly reinforced some of the temple's sides. The room was still dark and shadowy, save for a few streams of light bursting in through the wall cracks. Tigress flopped her arms to her sides, groaning in relief as a familiar lion approached them. "So much for using the temple as a trap."
"Po!" Tigress knelt and checked the panda's wound.
But the wound had shrunk. "What the-"
"GRARAAAHH!" Tigress and Tarnak saw the snow leopard glaring down at them.
"I think he's mad," Tarnak said.
"You think?!"
"Take care of Po. I'll deal with this," Tarnak darted past them and faced off with the rage-filled snow leopard. A calm smirk graced the lion's face as his green saber struck Tai Lung's red blade.
"Enough with the surprises!" Tai Lung pushed the lion back and furiously struck at each side. Tarnak blocked and ducked as much as he could, but the snow leopard's fury was too much for him. Jumping back, Tarnak tried to electrocute him, but the snow leopard blocked with his blade.
"Well, that didn't work. How's Po doing, Tigress?"
"I... I think he's okay."
"You think?!"
"It's hard to tell. His wound is healing by itself!" Tigress rallied back.
"Hehe, that kid is something else," Tarnak chuckled. He ran towards the snow leopard, ducking the quick high swing. Tarnak jumped over Tai Lung and blocked the snow leopard's upswing. Landing and shuffling back, the lion felt the coldness of the wall behind him. "You know, I'm surprised you didn't want me to come to the dark side," Tarnak smirked.
"I know better," Tai Lung growled. "You've always been... elusive with the Force. Something prevents you from being easily swayed. I see your apprentice has similar characteristics to you"
Tarnak laughed, "That's the problem with you Sith and Jedi. You think the force can be used for order or freedom, peace or power, life or control. But the Force is just that. The Force. You Sith and Jedi all think that there is more to learn from your side, and then you're surprised to find that it's two halves of a whole. You all were blinded by its power, its capacities. Look at the whole and the details."
Tai Lung slowly lowered his lightsaber. "But the will of the force-"
"With what's happened to both Sith and Jedi, it seems to me that neither of you know the will of the Force. Your emperor kills so many Jedi. But he will be killed. Then there will only be one Jedi who will try to train more, but then more Sith will come. They kill each other again and again. Whatever the force is saying, it must not like to be used by the likes of Sith or Jedi."
"What do you use it for?" Tai Lung asked.
"I don't. I watch the Force. Accept it. It's you Jedi and Sith that simply use the force. I accept all of it. Those who use the Force often get used by the Force. It's not a tool, but a guide."
Tai Lung's face softened.
Only for a moment.
He lifted his hand. The wall behind Tarnak clattered onto him. The lion struggled to pull his bruised body out of the pit. "It doesn't matter who gets used," Tai Lung muttered, raising his blade. "What matters is who wins."
"Heh, then you really have lost all hope," Tarnak weakly chuckled. Then he looked to his apprentice still clutching Po's body in her hands. "Tigress, take care of Po. Take care of each other. And... May the Force be with you."
"NOOO!"
The red blade slashed right through the lion. His body disappeared under Tai Lung's blade. All that was left were his whitish-gray robes.
"Hmm."
"GRAAAAAAHHH!" Tai Lung quickly blocked the swing of a red blade. Tear-filled amber eyes made him grin wider.
"Ahh, yes. This is the anger I was hoping for."
"I'm not angry," Tigress snarled. She pushed him back against the wall. "I just don't have anything left to lose." She force-pulled Tarnak's lightsaber to her. Putting her other one away, she ignited the green saber.
Tai Lung laughed, "You think a color change will change things."
"No. It keeps me calm," She said. She kept the blade low to the ground. Tai Lung prepared for defense but narrowed his eyes. She didn't attack.
Something was moving behind her.
From the corners of the barely standing temple's darkness grew something like an orange and red drawn outline of two large tigers standing two men above Tigress's form. Their flaming eyes pierced through Tai Lung's black suit.
"What is this?" He murmured.
"This... is the true power of the Force," Said a voice behind Tigress. She looked back and saw Po slowly getting up from the ground. She ran to him, leaving the large creatures to jump onto Tai Lung.
"NOOOOO!" They pushed Tai Lung into the darkness of the temple, knocking more of its structure to pieces. Tigress quickly helped Po onto his feet, and they struggled out of the crumbling temple.
"Tigress, I'm sorry I-"
"No, no. It's okay," Tigress sighed. They stumbled out of the falling building. Tigress moved some of the remaining detonators over to Tai Lung's ship. The tiger carried Po into their space vessel and placed him in the passenger seat. She crashed into the control seat, mashing as many buttons as she could. "Let's hope Master got that tracking device off." Soon, the ship roared to life and hovered above the ground. She pressed a button on the control board and all the detonators blew up. Shattered black smoldering ship pieces sprinkled down to the grass while the remaining detonators sent the temple into flames. "That should take care of him."
Their craft slowly rose into the sky and pierced through the clouds. As blue sky turned into black space, Tigress found coordinates punched into the computer. She gave a small chuckle. "You really thought of everything, Master. Thank you," She tearfully smiled. She punched in the hyperdrive coordinates and zoomed far away from the planet.
Meanwhile, at the flaming ruins of the temple, a spotted hand emerged from the rubble, scratching and clawing his way out of the wreckage only to see the temple completely destroyed and his ship in flames. Tumbling onto the grass, he stepped on something metallic. It was the tracking device he threw onto their ship.
He lifted his head towards the clearing sky and scoffed, "Hmph, I guess I should be proud. My apprentice has grown stronger."
As their ship sailed through the hyperdrive route, Tigress's body finally released all tension. Then she remembered Po's wound. She frantically looked him over but only the blood stains and the faint smell of burning fabric remained. "I was trying to heal myself," Po weakly said. "I knew I couldn't face off Tai Lung like this. But I did... that is I didn't mean to let Tarnak-"
"No, no, Po," Tigress gently soothed. "Don't blame yourself. Tarnak saw this coming a long time ago. I know it doesn't make it any easier but... but..."
Po's shut eyes suddenly widened when he saw the tiger's tears streaming down her face. He clung to her, holding her tight. Rivers of pain streamed down her face. "I'm sorry I-"
"Shhh, don't worry. It's okay. It's okay." He didn't say a thing. The creed of both Jedi and Sith forbade them from getting too attached to emotional ties like this. Or at least experiencing them this strongly.
But they were people with feelings. There was no way around it. She grieved for the man who was like a father. Po gently ran his paw over her back. She cried loudly, shaking in Po's grasp. A tear streaked down the panda's face quickly joined by others.
They were alone, and the dark bleakness of the future loomed over them like a choking smog. They hadn't lost just a master. They lost a dear friend.
Slowly, Tigress's breathing calmed, and she let go of Po, wiping her eyes.
"Thank you, Po. I'm sorry you had to learn that-"
"Don't be. I know how hard it was to see... well to think that my master was gone. It would've been better if... no, I'm not gonna be vindictive," Po sighed, leaning back into the chair. "So where are we going?"
"I don't know. Master Tarnak punched in coordinates for us to follow. A planet named...Yousif. Hm. Master Tarnak talked about this place a lot when I first met him."
"Let's hope it's outside of the Empire's reaches until we're dead," Po groaned.
Tigress's eyebrows turned upward. "Does it still hurt?"
"Yeah, but... I think I'm getting better. I'll be fine in a moment."
The ship suddenly came out of hyperspace, silently sailing to a planet of green and orange hues. Po could see canyons and rusty red deserts saddled next to lush lime-green plains with emerald mountains in the distance. "This place looks beautiful," Po smiled.
Tigress nodded and sighed, "I just wish Master Tarnak could see this."
"Why do you think I sent you here?"
Po and Tigress spun in their chairs and saw the unmistakable bluish figure of an old Jedi Master.
"Master Tarnak!" Tigress burst up from her seat but stopped herself. "I'd hug you, but..." She chuckled. The lion smiled and gently touched his apprentice's hand. "You... I can... what is this?"
"A... Force Ghost?" Po stuttered. "I've heard rumors about it, but I never thought it was true."
"It is. I was just as surprised as you. I'm just glad it worked," Tarnak chuckled.
"You weren't sure?"
"One can not be too sure of everything, my apprentice," Tarnak smiled.
"Master Tarnak," the panda sighed, "I'm... sorry for-"
"It's okay, Po. There was nothing you can do. But there is something you can do now." The blue figure pointed to the world before them. "Yousif is a Force-rich planet that you can learn a lot from. There we will learn more about the Force, together."
"So much to do, so much to learn," Po sighed, sliding back into his chair. Tigress laid a hand on his shoulder, smiling.
"We'll get through this, Po. Together."
The panda couldn't return her smile. "Tai Lung won't stop until we're dead, even with the Jedi temple destroyed."
"But you won't be alone for that fight. In either case, we have to train," Tarnak said. "But you'll be ready, Po. The Force is with you. Both of you."
The three stared at the planet with a brand-new feeling brimming among the flood of emotions swirling around them.
Hope.