Author's note: Hey people! Long time no see! I know I left you guys with a pretty rough chapter last time, so now its time for things to get truly interesting! I won't prattle on for long this time, I'll just let the chapter explain itself.
Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN KFP!
Enjoy.
Nothing is Impossible
Jade eyes crack open, greeting a golden sky as they are thrust out of their short, forced slumber. They look out at the cloudless splendour of the radiant sky as their owner places his paws on the ground. He retracts them in an instant, soaked in some liquid that he prays is water. Yet, he's not floating or sinking. What? Placing his paws on the damp ground again, Po pushes himself up, his eyes widening in shock at the sight of a golden sea beneath him. If only his face dropped for the shock alone. No, he's seen this sea, this sky before. His body runs cold as he turns around, seeing a glorious tree on a sandy island. The peach tree of heavenly wisdom brimming with far more majesty than before, than even the one at the Jade Palace.
"No." This whisper is quickly overpowered by his hurried footsteps, splashing in the golden sea as he reaches the tree's tranquil island. Giving the tree a closer look, a sense of familiarity kicks in. One that he had hoped was just a mistake.
If only he were wrong. "Po." A gruff voice greets him, his ear twitching as he instantly recognises who this voice belongs to.
"Master." A grave digs itself in Po's tone as he turns to face master Shifu, who appears from behind the tree. His dead master. This… this can't be happening. Not now. "Did I… are we both…?" He stutters, the dragon warrior pleading for his old master to correct or chastise him. Maybe this is all some weird dream or hallucination. Something, anything to dispel the truth.
A morose frown is given in response, "I'm sorry."
Despair pulls at Po's face until it falls into its abyss, panic setting into his jade eyes as he looks to the island's plentiful sand. Ke-Pa really did snap his neck. He really did die.
Now, there is no-one to stop Ke-Pa.
"No." This sharp refusal bursts out of the dragon warrior the moment this realisation makes itself known. "No, this can't be it." Shifu watches on with pitying eyes as Po rushes back towards the realm's golden sea. Sliding down to his knees, he looks close at the shining waters beneath him, paying close attention to the world he's now left behind. A cold chill crawls up his spine as he sees his own lifeless body. This chill, however, is warded off by Tigress yelling out to the villagers.
"Everyone! Use your chi on Po! Hurry!"
With this, a gigantic grin fills Po's face as he realises what his tiger is trying to do. "Yes, c'mon guys." Though an excited warmth fills the dragon warrior's soul, Shifu lets out a deep sigh of resignation. The majestic gold glow of chi reflects itself in Po's pupils, the panda glowing in an overpowering golden aura. "Alright, let's do this." With a cheeky grin, Po cracks his knuckles and begins to draw a yin-yang symbol in the sand. What he doesn't notice however, is that his own corpse remains devoid of this same light. As he finishes drawing this symbol, he closes his eyes and thrusts his right paw towards the symbol. He waits and waits, certain that he will be enraptured by chi and taken back like last time.
Yet, nothing happens.
Ten seconds pass before Po opens his eyes, seeing only the spirit realm once again. "Huh?" Darting his head back, Shifu's sympathetic stare meets him once more. With his heart sinking further down into that abyss, he tries to draw the symbol again until he notices the chi trail dissipate before he can finish drawing it. "What? N-no." A pained gasp exits his maw as he tries again in vain, "Why isn't it working?" Attempt after attempt and yet the symbol won't form. "Why isn't it working!?" It isn't long before his drawings become desperate, panicked scribbles. Scribbles that have a diminished golden glow. "No. No, no, no! No! This can't be happening!" Anxiety swallows his body whole as he dashes away the sand in front of him, banishing away the image of the valley in the sea. His eyes shooting open, Po rushes to the golden sea once more, praying that he can still find them despite his own foolishness. His frantic steps force ripples to form in the majestic waters below him, distorting the window to the mortal realm that tries to reform itself. All that he can see are misshapen blurs and blobs, unable to make any sense of them. "Dad! Tigress! Someone! Anyone!" Though he screams out for them, even in his panic he can't explain why. They've already tried to help and its done nothing. What else will they do? The blurs in the sea do not respond. Po tries to speak again but his words come out in in a lost, baffled croak.
"What has worked once may not work again." An ancient voice pulls the despairing panda's gaze away from the crazed puddle, one that he recognises immediately. Oogway stands still amidst the rippling, anxious sea, his staff held above the water's surface with one arm behind his back. His golden sash shimmers with the same splendid gold as the rest of the spirit realm, his archaic eyes gentle and encased in sorrow. Characterised by a grave frown that neither Po nor Shifu had ever seen on the turtle before. Ancient jade eyes refuse to look away from the young jade in front of it as the sage turtle lifts his staff up before bringing it down with the lightest of taps along the sea's surface. A soft wave emanates from the point of impact, banishing the sea's anxious ripples until its reflections are crystal clear once more. Until the dragon warrior's corpse and his family's agony stare him dead in the eye. The breath freezes in Po's lungs as he hears Tigress' tormented roar, as the cries of his dads rain upon his heart without mercy. "There is one fate that none of us can avoid."
Teardrops dive into the heartless sea of gold, banishing the sight of the grieving valley of peace as Po chokes on shallow breaths. His paws begin to tremble as the weight of the world forces his body down to the ground. A world that is no longer theirs. Denial is reduced to cinders by a burning realisation, one that spreads throughout his soul like a raging inferno.
Ke-Pa has already won.
The floodgates burst yet the dragon warrior remains silent, curled up on the sea's surface. Too much has happened too fast. Not enough time to grieve the lost. Not enough time to cherish who remains. Each breath he takes ignites another fire in his lungs, refusing to let him talk let alone scream out in anguish. Neither Shifu nor Oogway say a word to him as he covers his head, the elder masters exchanging a pained, knowing look. It isn't long before Po feels Oogway's comforting hand on his back. Yet even in its caring tenderness, his touch runs cold. A numb reminder. He had a family down there. Friends, fans, colleagues, teachers, students even. All of it… now gone. In a few measly seconds. A sympathetic grimace fills Oogway's face as muffled sniffles turn to full blow sobs, Shifu's ears falling at the sight of his panda student overwhelmed by despair.
"W-why?" The dragon warrior's voice quakes with guilt, marred by defeat. "Why did this happen? Why did he do this!?" Steely blue eyes shift to the side for a moment, noticing several figures approaching from the distance as Po's paws clench into a fist. "Why am I stuck here!?" Though Oogway opens his mouth to answer, he is swiftly interrupted by another elder voice.
"Because that's life, kid." Po peeks his head out only for his eyes to widen at the source of that voice. Master flying Rhino, joined by his son, master Elephant, the later master Porcupine and the badger twins. All legendary masters gazing at him in a conflicted mosaic of pride and sympathy. Though master flying Rhino's words seem nonchalant, his tone was anything but. "Good, bad, young, old, master, student and so on. It's fair and yet… it never is."
Jade eyes gaze back down at the clear window into the mortal realm, at the valley of peace now mourning yet another loss. This can't be the way things end. He raises his paws up, tears falling upon them as his gaze shifts. "It worked before. I… I made it back." His attention moves to Oogway once again as he takes his hand off his back. Both Rhinos join Po's side whilst Porcupine and the badger twins join Shifu, leaving master Elephant stood on his own with arms crossed.
"Yes, when you used the Wuxi finger hold on yourself. But that hold does not kill the person it is used on." Oogway's voice remains collected and delicate, his explanation offering a guiding hand rather than a cold truth. "It banishes them to the spirit realm."
"Body, soul and all."
Master Elephant adds, receiving an affirmative nod from the elder turtle in response. Though Po's expression is the very essence of confusion, Oogway can see a realisation forming in his eyes. "When someone dies, their spirit is severed from their body. Chi means nothing to a spirit without a body to give it to." Po's face falls yet again, turning to see a desolate affirmation on the countenance of every master around him. "That is why you and Kai could return to the mortal realm, you still had bodies to return with." Jade eyes gaze back down at the valley below, despair overcoming his features as the realisation runs through his heart with viciousness akin to a steel blade.
"It's over."
Pity pulls down the expression of the founder of kung fu as the dragon warrior's soul rings hollow. Master thundering Rhino places a hoof on the defeated panda's shoulder, "We can't say that just yet. Your friends can still pull through. There are plenty of masters lef-
"Don't be ridiculous, you saw what happened down there." Master Elephant butts in, his unflinching baritone timbre demolishing Rhino's calm tone in an instant. "Over 50 kung fu masters and it meant nothing to him."
Steely blue glares daggers into master Elephant, "Even so, there is still a chance."
"A chance of what?" The late Gongmen master can't seem to catch a break as master Elephant interrupts him again. "That somehow some legendary warrior will do something never seen before? In case you forgot, our miracle maker is up here with the rest of us!" He points at Po whose ears fold at the master's harsh words. Yet, it is the truth. Almost all of the remaining masters were beaten with ease and if the legendary dragon warrior couldn't do it, who could?
Master Porcupine steps towards the agitated master, brandishing his own disapproving glance as he reminds him, "The battle may be lost, but the war has only just begun."
"No, it's ended and it ended the second the seal of that vile thing was cracked." Though he glares Porcupine dead in the eye, Po knows that jab was aimed at him. His bottom lip begins to wobble as he thinks back to that moment. That stupid plan of his that nearly got them all killed. It's all his fault.
Shifu notices his student's head sink down further in shame, igniting a searing disgust that embeds his glare. "That's enough, master Elephant."
A humourless scoff is given in response, "Oh, what? I'm expected to lie to the kid now? To pretend everything is just fine and we'll have a nice feast once the clouds have gone away? Get a grip!" Stepping past master Porcupine, master Elephant gets close to Shifu as they stare each other down, unaware of a pair of aged jade eyes sending their own stare of disapproval his way.
Stepping to the sides of the two heated masters, the badger twins have their own reprimanding to do. "I thought we were here to honour the efforts of our esteemed dragon warrior, not belittle and lambast him. What exactly do you gain from this? You act as if he broke the seal intentionally."
"None of us knew he would return, hell, some of us still thought he didn't exist in the first place."
"Hm, I wonder who was responsible for that?" This barely veiled accusation brings a venomous scowl to Shifu's face.
"You have the audacity to disrespect your own master!?"
Master Elephant refocuses his attention on the red panda master, his irises shrinking to infuriated slits. "Oh, go ahead! Stand on your pedestal while the man you worship leads us to our deaths!"
"Enough!" To the surprise of all masters, the found of kung fu commands in a grizzly voice that none of them have heard before. His body zipping in front of the two bickering masters in a split second. Though none of them had seen him move, they know better than to question the extent of his mastery.
Except for master Elephant himself, who gives the ancient master a smug grin. "Too scared to face your own mistakes?" Aged jade glares into his soul, sending an unexpected shiver down the master's spine.
"Too full of yourself to realise what you are saying? Who you are saying it to." Though his eyes shift over to the panda master still crumpled on the sea's surface, Oogway's eyes remain fixed on him, disappointed and disgusted beyond measure. "You shouldn't blame the fuel for igniting a fire when it is others who struck the match."
Though a hint of guilt creeps its way into Elephant's eyes, he stands his ground, "So who did strike the match? Master?" The hold a stare between each other until master flying Rhino bolts up and places a hoof on Elephant's shoulder.
"Oogway, Nuba, Zhongcheng; there were a lot of damn matches. Matches that have already burnt out, may I remind you." He looks between the two of them, irked by the fury present in the eyes of his old master. "What use is there in finding the match when the fire continues to spread? It doesn't matter who lit the damn thing, we need to extinguish it."
"How?"
All masters gaze at the hopeless dragon warrior, his sight still glued to the grieving valley contained in the spirit realm's near endless sea. His croaking voice strangled by despair. They look to each other only to remain speechless, Oogway walking off towards the island of the golden tree. What exactly could be done when the strongest China has to offer has been incapable of doing anything. Shifu looks to his master only for the turtle to remain facing away from him. If only they had an answer that wasn't 'I don't know'.
Master thundering Rhino pats Po on the back as he lets out a tired sigh. Why is it that peace is so fleeting? Why is it that darkness is so desperate to silence the light of the future? Questions that not even Oogway has an answer for. As the rest of the masters assist him in comforting the remorseful dragon warrior, master flying Rhino leaves Elephant to the twinge of guilt building up within him to stand next to Oogway. After glancing at his solemn yet light expression, he follows the direction of his gaze. To the vast, endless horizon.
Too calm, too levelled. Especially after what has happened. Which can mean only one thing. "The universe works in strange ways if this is its will." Oogway doesn't respond. "Is that will worth following if it leads to darkness?" Again, Oogway merely stares at the shining sky of the spirit realm until his lip quirks into his usual gentle smile.
"There is one way." Master flying Rhino's eyes widen. Guess he doesn't know him that well. The rest of the masters mimic his expression in kind as Po gazes at the ancient turtle with reddened eyes. "A legend that has been passed on for longer than my own life."
After a few moments of contemplation, it is master Porcupine that questions him, "Master, surely you aren't suggesting what I think you are." Soon the badger twins take on concerned expressions, with master Elephant 's eyes darting between both Po and Oogway with utter seriousness. It is only Po and Shifu that seems to gaze at the masters with confusion.
Oogway's smile does not falter at their concerns, his irises brimming with faith for the dragon warrior, "The legend of Shangdi's* gate."
An immediate scoff is let out by master Elephant as the rest of the masters lay into him with incredulous looks, even flying Rhino gives in to his shock. "Why am I not surprised you'd cling onto a useless myth." Shifu and Po look to each other, aware of the great Shangdi, yet unsure of what exactly it is they are speaking of.
"What is Shangdi's gate?" Master flying Rhino's expression begins to dig a trench as his son kneels to both Shifu and Po's level.
"Many believe that somewhere within the spirit realm lies a gate that grants them passage to the realm of the Gods. Where Shangdi, the highest of all deities, resides." The eyes of both pandas burst open at this, how is it that neither of them had ever heard of this? "It is said that only he can truly bring someone back from the dead without leaving a hellish mark on their soul."
Wiping the tears from his weathered eyes, Po chances a smile as a sliver of hope reignites itself within. Until master Elephant opens his mouth again, "It's fairy-tale nonsense. Fool's gold that has never been proven to exist." Steely blue gazes at him, the contrarian master's arms folded as he glances at Oogway with an unimpressed countenance.
All that Oogway responds with is, "Yet, it has never been disproven either."
Worry begins to seep into Po's eyes as everyone aside from Shifu stares at kung fu's founder with genuine concern. "Forgive me, master, but what is this lunacy?"
"Are you seriously suggesting the dragon warrior to resign himself to damnation?" The badger twins interrogate the archaic turtle, their tone bordering on reprimanding.
Po's heart drops at this, "Damnation?"
Immediately, regret swirls around the badger twins as master porcupine shifts his attention to the now fear-stricken panda. "Those who have gone searching for this elusive gate have never been seen again. Not by the spirit realm or the mortal realm." A tad harsh it may be, but he won't mislead him by bending the truth of the matter. This idea of Oogway's is foolish, no, downright insane.
"There are fates far worse than death, dragon warrior. His suggestion is a one-way ticket to them." Elephant's dismissive condemnation only adds to the weight that pushes Po's soul back down to despair.
His heart aching for his student, Shifu gazes at his master, noticing the disbelieving glare taking hold of flying Rhino's face. "Is this meant to be another cryptic riddle? Or some kind of twisted joke? You can't do this; the boy has suffered enough."
"You're right, I can't do this. It is his choice after all." Oogway's smile falters slightly, perhaps a crack in his calm shell or is it simply pity for Po's predicament. For China's predicament. "His peace to find."
"Is… is this the only way, master?" A beckoning plea leaves Shifu's lips, catching the eye of master flying Rhino as the elder turtle gives a sombre nod in response.
Yet another incredulous look is sent his way by master Porcupine but before he can say anything, master Elephant butts in, "Or you could stay here and help us fight Ke-Pa. Y'know, instead of ending up like Kai." Though Shifu gives some thought to this, his steely irises drift to Po, his body still hunched over the spirit realm's sea.
Damnation or eradication. Which is worse? What would it matter when both could face him in the search for this gate? What does the difference matter when both rip away everything from him? At the very least as a spirit he can still see his loved ones. The valley he has tried so hard to defend. Yet, as he looks upon his bleak, grief-stricken home again, a question forms. When will Ke-Pa come to fight them in the spirit realm? When will he decide to claim the heavens themselves as his? After he has laid waste to China. After he destroys everything he has ever known. By then, not only he will have lost everything. The world will have lost everything. They may join in him in the spirit realm, but even if they win, what will they have saved? The valley of peace warps into that memorial garden once more, yet the statues venture far past the memorial garden, enveloping the entirety of China in their haunting stone visages.
Is it worth living as a spirit to watch over a world of graves?
No. He can't wait for that to happen. He can't sit by and watch as his world collapses in front of his very eyes. Fear, vengeance and love all ignite within him at once. The dragon warrior's eyes adopting an intense, burning resolve as he stands tall. "How do I get there?"
Shock and resignation fills the features of each master, with master Elephant seeming the most surprised of all. "Hmph, you've really got a death wish, kid." He is merely ignored by Po as he gazes at Oogway.
Yet, the founder of kung fu finds himself hesitating for the first time since… huh, he can't even remember. There is something within his jade irises, something fierce and… dark. Something desperate. His smile vanishes with his explanation, "The gate lies past what we know of the spirit realm, buried deep within its darkest depths. Steeped in the sins of damned spirits."
Jade eyes widen for a moment before master flying Rhino interjects, "So who's going to guide him exactly? It's not as if any of us have been there."
"None of you, perhaps."
Oogway's smile returns as a voice filled with power bellows from the trees, the turtle being the only one to keep his eyes on Po whilst everyone else shifts their focus onto the tree. Watching as a white-robed figure leaps from its branches and lands on the sea, sending ripples across its surface as the other masters back up in an instant. Golden irises gaze up from beneath the white hood, Po and Shifu's flashing in recognition the moment he stands up to full height.
"Tai Lung?" They say in unison, the other masters quick to get in their stances only for Oogway to step in front of them, his focus shifting to something else for a brief moment. A black lotus floating on the surface, eyeing them from afar.
Yet again, looks of shock and surprise fill the masters but they stand down as they note the snow leopard's lack of a defensive stance. He hasn't come here to fight, so why-
"So, this is what you had planned for me. Isn't it, master?" Before anyone can even finish the thought, Tai Lung is quick to dash away their doubts, only adding to their confusion.
Steely blue eyes remain fixed on the snow leopard as everyone gazes at Oogway, demanding an explanation. "It isn't in my nature to plan. Only to listen, for the universe is quite a chatterbox." Silent sighs of irritation leave the nostrils of Elephant and Porcupine. Typical of him to dance around their obvious questions.
Though Tai Lung crosses his arms at this answer, master flying Rhino intervenes with a sceptical expression. "This is the universe's will? To do away with our strongest warriors when we need to fight against Ke-Pa?"
"Seems to be." Rhino's face drops at Oogway's simple answer, his nonchalant tone a mockery to this seemingly unwinnable situation.
"You've lost your mind."
"Assuming he hadn't before." Master Elephant adds in a childish jab, drawing Po's eye for a moment before he looks within Oogway's calm, ancient irises.
Eyes that brim with an immovable faith despite Porcupine's questioning, "Rhino's right, master. This mission is suicidal at best. Without the likes of the dragon warrior, we'll be condemned to the demon king's twisted world." Faith that he had seen a mere 2 years ago, when he was up at the peach tree. When he was on the precipice of giving up.
"Ke-Pa is already ahead of us." Faith that shines just as brightly when he turns to Tai Lung, who steps forward. "We're running out of time and options. Besides…" His golden eyes shift to Po, "As warriors, we are to give everything we have to protect those dearest to us. Our strength, our love, our fears. Our blood." Po's eyes match the snow leopard's intensity, prompting him to motion to the panda. "It is his life to give. Not yours or anyone else's."
An incredulous scoff bursts out of the badger twins, "What more blood can he give?"
Jade irises gaze back down to the sea as a silent, frustrated sigh wrings its way out of him. "He's already dead!"
"Shut up!" A sudden, vicious yell silences the masters, irritation creasing his face. Though most are shocked, an impressed expression fills in for master Elephant's befuddlement. Oogway's grin seems to grow. Tai Lung doesn't even flinch, his expression an unbreakable wall. Yet, even so, Shifu notices that he hasn't looked at him in the eye. For shame or hatred? It doesn't matter, Shifu's soul wilts either way. Taking a few steps forward, Po looks at the snow leopard dead in the eye, searching for something. A will, a motive, a reason. Yet the golden gates remain shut, refusing to give away even the slightest hint of an emotion. Not dissimilar to another feline he knows. "You're really gonna help me?"
Golden eyes look away for moment, digging for words and explanations that are unearthed in mere seconds. "I may not be the dragon warrior."
"Sorry."
A twitch of a smile threatens to brighten Tai Lung's face as he continues, "And I may be stuck here."
"Sorry… again."
Po gives him a creasing, awkward smile before Tai Lung places his paw on his shoulder, the golden gates opening up just a crack. "But I will not sit and watch as everything comes to an end. Not while my spirit is still here."
Though he finishes talking, Po, Shifu and Oogway can feel something left unsaid. Before his eyes can speak, the gates shut again, silencing themselves for good. But Po doesn't need him to say it. All he needed was the certainty present in his voice. With a nod, his attention shifts to Oogway. "So, we need to find a place that no-one has ever seen or come back from." Nodding at this, aged jade eyes ask their own question. A question whose simplicity weighs it down the most.
Are you ready for this?
Po's heart shivers at this, reminding himself what this journey could entail. What he could truly lose. But a spark of hope ignites his eyes, roaring alongside the fury still burning bright. Hope that lifts a smile to his face as he looks back to Tai Lung, "Well, the world won't save itself."
Nodding once more, Tai Lung turns to face the endless golden horizon and begins to make his way. Po follows on in his footsteps, feeling an audience of eyes watching him. A weight of fear, pain, doubt, sorrow, worry and faith. This weight spurs him on, making Po's walk turn to a jog as the spirit realm's golden skies shine with a brightness akin to the sun. Tai Lung follows suit, aware of how little time they really have.
"Be careful!" Shifu's gruff voice erupts from the group of masters, prompting the dragon warrior to turn his head back.
His smile growing ever wider, Po pumps his fist in the air, "Don't worry, master! You'll see me tumbling back down the thousand steps in no time!" Soon he will get another chance to stop Ke-Pa. Soon, he will be back with his family, blessed with a peaceful life.
Tai Lung's head tilts a tad, but he doesn't dare look back. A sudden warmth bathes his soul, tempting a ghost of a smile on his lips. A warmth that he hasn't felt in decades. The black lotus' petals twitch, desperately wishing to present its majestic colours, but it cowers itself away. This warmth is banished away by his heart mere seconds after it had come. His eyes remain fixed upon the horizon, praying that this journey will not be for nothing.
As the two legendary warriors shrink into the distance, the rest of the masters begin to head back to their respective homes. Paying heed to when they will be needed. Only both Rhinos remain with Shifu and Oogway, certain that this time may approach sooner than they'd like. They stare on at their potential saviours, pouring all of their trust into them. "Do you really think they'll make it?"
A hint of concern lingers in his gaze, but Oogway erases it with his signature gentle smile. He shrugs, "Who knows?" Flying Rhino chuckles at this, not taking his eyes off that golden horizon as it shines brighter than it ever had before.
1* Shangdi = Supreme Deity/"Lord on High" in Chinese mythology
Oh yeah! It's time for an adventure across the spirit realm! I've been itching to write this for ages! And who better to have as a "tour guide" than Tai Lung? Anyways, from this point onward things will only get more crazy, fun and intense all at once! So stay tuned, until next time :)