Ghosts of the Mountains
I don't own Kung fu panda or get any money from it. I also don't have any money for commissions.
Another story just begun.
Another skit, another pun
Stories change, then die.
Like little lithe light flies,
Two felines and a great bear.
The bear crushed with great care.
So let's begin, with a story's thrill
On lofty soaring high hills.
This story's change is not new,
These three bridge ideas we knew
But enough talk and wail,
Droning on like fountains,
Let's change the tale:
The Ghosts of the Mountains
The tortoise peered at three peaks in the far distance. A thin-lipped line formed on his face as he leaned on his staff. The gentle breeze swooped around small crevices in his shell and scales. He took a deep breath, standing on a cliff, and sighed, "Hmm, quite the change. Yes, quite the change."
His apprentice ran up to him. A small red panda in a rusty red robe bowed at the shell of his master. "Master Oogway, you summoned me?"
The tortoise's silence grew heavily on the red panda's twitching ear. Oogway turned to his friend with an enigmatic face. A worried smile or a cautious intrigue? "I think we're in for a trip, Shifu."
"Are we? Where are we going?"
"I don't know," Oogway said, turning his long protruding head towards the mountains decorated with white slow-moving clouds. "But the winds have changed. And with them, the story."
"The... story, master?"
"Yes," Oogway smiled. "This should be fun." The red panda's deep confusion froze his body as the great tortoise walked back down the cliff.
Days and evenings flew in the sky in their usual dance. But evil fell on one fateful night. The starry sky was blacked out by billowing smoke. A growing malice raged with fire, demolishing homes. The screams of innocents were taken away either by the hand or the sword. A mother clutched her baby in her arms and ran away from the choking smoke and dancing flames. She ran to the throat of dark trees while flashing shadows from racing torches quickly crept behind her.
The mother looked back for a brief moment. The attackers on her spotted tail. She stumbled over a tree root and quickly rebalanced. She had to keep going. She ran, she didn't know how far. The smoke and fire of her village climbed to the black canvas above. In the distance, she could make out something reflecting the full moon's light. Her eyes focused straight ahead until she came to a clearing.
He squinted. Was that a house upon a mountain? No, not on that scale. A palace, maybe?
"JIU!"
Her name was shouted behind her. Her eyes spun around. The chasing torches disappeared, and a new one came. The familiar eyes of her husband broke through the darkness, scratched with blade marks and brimming with the scent of smoke. He panted and grunted above the baby's cries. "Jiu, this way! Come on!"
Jiu gave one last look at the palace in the distance and darted away with her husband. The torch's lit their path, but the enemy could see them. The pair raced further and further, towards drier and rockier areas. Then, out of the corner of her eye, Jiu saw flickering lights.
"Pingjing!" She called her husband. The spotted leopard saw the flickering lights. His heart sank. They were sitting ducks here, even in the forest's cover. He growled and grunted as he moved to cover his light.
But just as they made it to the clearing, there was a change. "Wait. It's our neighbors!" Jiu cried.
"Jiu! Pingjing! This way! The bandits are heading east!"
East. Where that palace was? If they had gone east, they surely would've been cut off and who knows what would've been.
That was in the past. They needed to move on, running and clutching the baby tightly to her chest. More lights shone through the darkness and ran with them. Their friends and family, some lost, others wounded joined their flight. One in the valley could see a trail of little lights traveling to the west like faraway lightning bugs. The line of lights ran over the western mountain range and disappeared from the valley's sight.
Their frantic run slowed to an anxious walk, alert to the dark edges of plains and forests. Some stayed a little closer to their former home. Others traveled further and further. Always they looked back to ensure their safety. Jiu and Pingjing traveled past lowlands of valleys and moved up and up and up.
Pingjing suddenly stopped. The sun's rising signaled the night's end. Jiu looked around. On a small plateau amidst the western mountains, the dry rocky terrain called to the snow leopards. "We'll have to stop here." Pingjing sighed, dropping the pack he grabbed from their home. Their former home. Looking around, the other pilgrims mostly consisted of goats, rams, gazelles, and snow leopards. Most of them were tending to their families. Weeping was heard on the air. The mountain's cool mist did little to dry their tears. Jiu only clutched her wailing babe tightly as she sat on the rocky ground. Pingjing came back from checking on everyone. "The Haos are okay. So there's our carpenter. And the Mings are sure that we can get some tools out of the rock here and... Jiu?"
The faraway look on her face gripped his heart. She stared towards the east. He could see fear scratching its long dirty nails straight down her face as she fought shivers to hold her crying babe steady. Pingjing dare not take the little one away from her. "They... they killed us."
"What?"
"They killed us. They destroyed our house. Our neighbors. Mother, father, and if I had gone east... They would've taken us too," Jiu said. That faraway look still froze her face in fear. "How could this happen? How could we let this happen?"
Pingjing squatted to the mother's side. "Jiu, there was no way for us to know."
"So we're supposed to always live in fear now? Because we don't know anything!"
Pingjing sighed and bowed his head. What could one say to the woman who almost lost everything? He stared for a moment before some kind of hope gripped his face, widening his eyes. "We'll learn more," He quietly said. Jiu finally turned her head towards the male snow leopard as he gently and carefully grabbed their son from her arms. "We'll learn as much as we can to remove our fear and the world's danger."
"We can't know everything, Pingjing."
"Then we'll learn as much as we can. We don't need to know everything. We just need to know enough to protect ourselves. Knowledge and wisdom will be our guards."
"Is that even possible?" Jiu asked.
"We can only tell with time. In the meantime, we'll learn to rebuild as our first order of business. A new clan built off of knowledge and wisdom." The snow leopard held his wife close to his chest while he carried his child. He looked at his son and lifted him against the rays of the rising sun. "And our young Tai Lung will be a beacon of light for all."
The little feline smiled at his father, knowing not what journey lay in front of him.
Seasons passed. The Western Mountains were slightly arid and with particularly snowy winters. One crisp sunny winter, a young boy jumped from his hiding spot among the soft snow and threw a ball at the laughing gazelle. Struck in the head, the child retaliated, launching his own soft projectile at the lithe snow leopard.
The feline jumped over the ball and slung his last snowball at the gazelle. The antlered child tumbled back, laughing. "HAahaha! You got me!"
"Heh, I win!"
"You're hard to hit, Tai Lung," the gazelle said. "You're the best snowball thrower on the mountain!"
"Heh, I know," The snow leopard said proudly. Suddenly, a white ball of snow knocked the snow leopard over. Tai Lung looked up from his icy faceplant and saw a smiling woman staring at him. "Mommy, no fair!"
"Pride comes before a fall, Tai Lung," Jiu smiled as she helped her son from the snow. "You should know that."
"I know, but I'm good at throwing snowballs."
"Just because you're good at something, doesn't mean there isn't more to learn. Never stop learning. Remember that."
"Yes, Mommy," Tai Lung sighed as his gazelle friend stood next to him. Jiu lifted her head towards the entrance of the small mountain village. A couple of yards stood a small wooden gate, marked with the sign of their clan. On the other end at the heart of the village was a large two-story house embedded into the mountain's rock; a library to store their clan's knowledge from both far and wide.
The warm smile on Jiu's face suddenly disappeared. "Mommy? What's wrong?" Tai Lung turned around and saw someone cloaked in a dull green fabric slowly approaching the gate with a staff.
"Tai Lung, stay here. I have to get your father," She said. The boy had heard that serious tone before and nodded. He sat down in the snow and watched Jiu quickly make her way to the entrance where her husband came from a nearby house.
"Is everything okay?" The gazelle asked. "Who is that?"
"I don't know."
"I'm going home. See you, Tai Lung."
"See you." The snow leopard watched from his little spot as the adults talked with the cloaked figure. He saw the man remove his hood. An old tortoise?
"What are you doing here, traveler?" Pingjing asked, carrying a sword by his side. The tortoise lifted his hand.
"I mean you no harm, my friend. I'm simply here to learn of the ghosts that are inhabiting these mountains," said the tortoise.
"Ghosts?"
"A trade route runs along the bottom. Villagers have been telling tales of shadowy figures atop this mountain. They thought I would be the best solution."
"Who are you?" Pingjing asked cautiously.
"I am Oogway from the Jade Palace."
Jiu's eyes widened. "I've heard about that place. Are you the Kung Fu warrior?" The tortoise smiled and nodded.
"My wife nearly lost her life trying to go to that place when... " Pingjing trailed off and shook his head. "If you're here to find ghosts, why do I feel like you're here for something more?"
"To offer... my services."
"Services?"
The tortoise gave a heavy sigh, leaning on his staff. "Real threats have a way of finding the most remote places. The villages nearby may become... cautious."
"We don't bother anyone and we're high up on a mountain range, why would-"
"Fear drives many to do vile things. I did hear that you weren't originally from here. What happened?" Oogway asked. Pingjing and Jiu glanced at each other. Her husband quietly ushered the tortoise into their wooden home.
The little snowcat climbed up to his house's window sill to peek inside. Suddenly, a hand snatched him up from the sill and pulled him inside by the scruff of his neck. "WAHHH!"
"It's rude to eavesdrop, Tai Lung," Jiu frowned.
"I'm sorry," The boy said, hanging his head.
The old tortoise laughed, "Don't worry. I'm not here to harm anyone, let alone the little ones." Jiu still eyed the tortoise suspiciously before holding Tai Lung close in her arms. "So the raiders chased you to this place. And you've stayed hidden."
"As much as we could, but I suppose there's a limit to that now," Pingjing sighed.
"What have you done to protect yourselves?"
"Knowledge. Any information about defense or survival, we learn about it," Pingjing replied.
"So by knowledge, you tried to light the darkness that is in life itself," Oogway said. "Knowledge in anyone's hands can become dangerous if used improperly."
"Wisdom, knowledge, experience. Anything that we do to reduce the unknown," Pingjing said. "But there's still so much we don't know."
"Like Kung fu?"
"Shh Tai Lung," Jiu gently quieted.
"The young one might have a point," The tortoise gave a wiry grin. "What if I teach you and your clan Kung Fu, to defend yourself?"
Pingjing's lips tensed, unsure. He felt his wife's hand on his before she asked, "Would you teach Tai Lung and our young as well."
Oogway's smile widened. "Of course. Don't worry, my friend. I assure you that this will help you with your goal."
"I hope you're right," Pingjing sighed just as another snow leopard walked in. "Mai, could you please be a dear and take Master Oogway to the guest quarters?"
"Of course, Mr. Pingjing." The feline said. Pingjing waited until the door shut behind them to release his breath.
"I'm not sure about this Jiu," He said.
"If we guide Tai Lung the right way and Master Oogway teaches us, then we might be able to catch any deception."
"Might."
"If I'm right, Kung fu is a tool. What we use it for determines a good or bad use."
Pingjing sighed with a smile. "You're so wise. It makes me wonder why you aren't leading the village. Regardless, signing peace with the villages below us might prevent any future raids. That way they don't think we are... bad ghosts." Jiu smiled.
"Am I gonna learn how to fight?" asked the little feline in Jiu's arms. Pingjing smiled and lifted his son.
"Yes, you are. You're going to be a fine warrior, one raised in knowledge and trained by wisdom." His father's smile faltered a bit. "And maybe one day, we might learn the secret to be fearless."
Though the chill of the snowy village regularly swirled around their home, Tai Lung shivered at a cold feeling prickling up his spine.
The teaching began. The older ones were slower to learn Oogway's training, but the younger ones picked up much faster.
But the tortoises' eyes were on Tai Lung. The snow leopard had grown skilled in his lightning-fast technique, even besting some of the adults. Blitzing through the training, Oogway taught the little snow leopard as much as he could. During that time, Oogway's apprentice and friend, Shifu, came to help with teaching the small clan.
Of course, he had to get used to Tai Lung. The snow leopard child grew fond of the red panda. He'd follow him everywhere when he wasn't training, mimicking his moves as best he could. At first, Shifu was annoyed, especially when he had most of the children playing with his fluffy tail already. But Tai Lung was different, he couldn't quite explain it.
One time, when the moon was full in the night sky, Tai Lung woke up and wandered to the window where he saw a figure sitting at the mountain's edge. The boy quietly walked out of his parents' house and approached the figure. "Master Oogway, what are you doing?"
"Nothing, young one. I'm just looking at the stars."
"Why?"
"Because I want to," The old tortoise smiled. The child tilted his head and sat next to him. The wind brushed up against the leopard's fur. Though he was used to it, Oogway threw a blanket around him. "What is on your mind, little one? You seem troubled."
Tai Lung stared at the tortoise for a moment longer before saying, "Will my parents be happy?"
"What makes you think they're unhappy?"
"They're scared. They think I'll get hurt by learning Kung Fu. And... they're always scared or worried about me," Tai Lung sighed. "I wish they wouldn't worry so much."
"Parents naturally worry about their children. And I'm sure they are proud and happy of you."
"I know," Tai Lung smiled. "They tell me a lot."
"Hmm, that's good," Oogway sighed. Another moment of silence stood between them. "Tai Lung, if you continue your training and continue learning Kung Fu with an open mind, you will become one of the greatest warriors in the world."
"Really?" The tortoise nodded. Tai Lung looked down at the valley where small dots of lights slowly went out as the village went to sleep.
"What will you do with that power when you become a great warrior?" Oogway asked.
Tai Lung rubbed his chin, visibly thinking. "I want to protect everyone. I don't want everyone to be scared."
Oogway chuckled softly, "Well, that's something you can't control, but once you've grown in tune with the universe, you will find what you're looking for."
"What am I looking for?"
"Ah... that is the question."
"Master Oogway," Tai Lung groaned, rolling his eyes. He hated it when the tortoise didn't make sense. The old master only smiled and returned his gaze to the sky.
"Once you've learned to be in tune with the universe, you will find me again. But... you may gain some... unlikely friends along the way."
"What do you mean?"
"You'll see when you're old enough," Oogway smiled.
A full year had passed before Oogway and Shifu finally left the clan. Pingjing and Jiu bid them farewell with warm gifts.
"You came in as a stranger and you leave as friends. Please come back anytime. You've proven your trustworthiness," Pingjing bowed.
"And you've proven to be a great friend," Oogway bowed. "I've told your son what he needs to know for his future. He will become a great warrior one day."
"I know it," Pingjing smiled, holding the child next to his side. Tai Lung ran up to Oogway and hugged him before hugging Shifu.
"Ah! Uhh-"
"I'll miss you!" Tai Lung smiled widely.
Shifu let out a defeated sigh and gently patted his head. "And I you."
"Take care, you two," Jiu smiled.
"We will." With that, the two Kung Fu masters left, trekking down the tall mountain range and into the valley below. It wasn't until they were far enough that Shifu looked back and asked the tortoise,
"Master Oogway, are you sure it was right to train those people? What if they use their power for evil?"
"And what if they use it for good?" Oogway smiled, "The way of Kung Fu is for everyone. No one has privileges to it. We don't know who will use it for good or evil. We must trust that the universe will keep things in balance." The tortoise's smile faltered. "Besides, regardless of who I teach, evil will always find a way to make any tool a weapon."
The ominous lesson rang louder in Shifu's ears than any of the crunching leaves beneath his feet. He glanced back at the mountain covered in clouds, wondering the future of the small mountain clan.
Continued...