KFP - Origins - Chap. 17

Rated "PG" for violence and some frightening situations.

Kung Fu Panda: Origins
Chapter 17: Foolish Cub

The grandmaster really wasn't sure whose rear end to kick – Po's or his own ring-tailed posterior.

The red panda had found a secluded crag that reminded him of his personal spot under the peach tree. In this case, it was a bare-branched Dragon Spruce overlooking the vast mountain range, high above the tea village. Viper was going to drag him off if she found him up here…yet it was where he needed to be right now – alone with his thoughts and the silence.

That poor panda… That poor, stupid, hopeless boy. Wanting freedom for his father so badly, he'd throw everything away to gain it. What's all the more dangerous, with a weapon he didn't even know how to use…

The next part of his training – if such existed – would have been to start teaching the boy to realize his strength and to obtain full control of it. Po had abilities, even a talent in kung fu that had been hidden until Oogway had encouraged him and Shifu to bring it out… But his actual strength only really came out when he was distracted – when he didn't even know he was using it. Distracted by anything, be it food or the desperate urge to protect his murderous father.

Now that that power was out, Po – simple-minded, genuine Po – had every ability to seriously injure someone if he wasn't careful. He was still a bear… And in being so, he had all the inherent ferocity and sheer strength of one. Now that Shifu thought about it, Po technically wasn't just fat and out-of-shape. Out-of-shape, he genuinely was, but not fat. He was just as big as any young male panda of his age. And through his training – through his gradual realization of his hidden abilities and wisdom – he was looking more and more like a Dragon Warrior each day.

And now, now he'd learned everything in the worst possible time to do so. He knew that he had been recruited into this quest of hunting down and defeating his own blood. He knew that his master had lied to him when he said that Izo had killed his parents, and now probably hated him for it.

It wasn't all a lie, Shifu growled in his head. He closed his eyes and leaned his forehead against Oogway's staff. Chang did die trying to save you, you foolish cub… Were he not so determined to protect you, he wouldn't have gone with Ju-long… And Izotakeshi did kill him…when he made the decision to give up the fight…

Opening his eyes once more, he gazed out across the snowcaps. His students would be waiting for him, and they had to move within the next couple of hours if they were planning to reach Ju-long's base by the next sunset.

It took a faltered step and a bit of balance help from his master's staff, but Shifu was soon making his steady way back. Upon returning to the camp, he instantly felt a restlessness in the air. He'd expected his students to be back in their tents sleeping, yet every one of them – minus one – were gathered outside. Once he realized who it was that was missing, he was instantly alert. His students quickly turned to face him upon hearing the crunch of the snow under his feet.

"I thought you would all be sleeping," he frowned, looking around. "And where's Po?"

"…W-We don't know, Master…" Crane lowered his head meekly.

"What??"

"H-He's gone…" Viper's brow was in its worried crease. "Just up and left."

"…Wh-Where? When??"

"H-He put on the hot water a-and prepared the tea the doctor prescribed for you… W-We looked away for just a moment and next time we looked, he w-was gone!"

The grandmaster thought quickly, immediately fearing the worst. "Crane," he turned to his avian student. "Scout a circle around the mountain to see if he's…" He took note of the wing that was still wrapped deftly in bandages. "…Ah, I forgot…"

In the confusion of the moment, Viper was the only one to notice Tigress's stoic gaze towards the ground.

"Did he leave a note? Some clue as to where he's gone?"

Crane glanced down at the knapsack and bedroll at his feet, the only proof of the panda they had left. "Well, considering he left his bags, I think we can assume he's not headed towards home…at least, unless he's dumber than we thought."

Shifu shook his head, looking around and noticing that there weren't even footprints to follow. "He may be foolish, but he's not dumb."

"We must reach Ju-long's base by sunset, Master…" Tigress spoke up for the first time that night.

"Yes, I know… We'll give him a few more minutes. If I know Po, he'll be back to eat. For now, let us at least prepare to go. He'll be along…"

Acknowledging their master, the Five saluted and turned to roll up camp. Shifu cast a glance across the mountains, scanning about for any trace of black and white. For your own safety, Po…don't make any more foolish decisions…

The utter silence that had fallen over the camp didn't nearly amount to the eerie air and wind that Po had found himself in the middle of. While traveling with the group, there had always been something of an ambience…the crunch of fellow footsteps, the occasional navigation or scolding from Shifu to keep up. It wasn't until now – in this strange solitude – did the young Dragon Warrior realize how vague and lifeless these mountains were.

Buffeted by the intermittent harsh winds, Po pulled the collar of his coat up a bit more and checked his progress. Between the sweep of a branch and his feet, he had so far managed to hide the brunt of his tracks. As he did this, he rubbed his throat a little. It was still a bit sore from getting hammered by Shifu.

But it had been nothing more than he had deserved. How was it that he didn't realize he was that close to killing Shifu? If Tigress hadn't stopped him…

That shiver ran straight down to the bottom of his bear spine. Part of him argued to turn around and return to his master, to promise that he was still loyal to their cause. But the better part of him, to some annoyance, pressed him on through the chill. I'm doing the right thing, he persisted. I am!

Pffft. I think that's what you want to believe. Review some stuff, dummy. You almost got your master killed and now you're adding insult to injury by dumping him and everyone for a guy you don't even know is as nice as you want him to be… Genius of the YEAR, Po.

Shut up, stupid voice! That "guy" saved my life!!

You shut up! And for the record, stop being so selfish!! Think about some of the other people you owe yourself to! What about Shifu? And the Five? And your own mom??

…His mother…she was probably so disappointed in him… She had laid down her very life to see that he lived his…and here he had pretty much thrown it away. But she'd understand…wouldn't she? She'd have wanted for her husband and son to stick together in her absence, to be there for each other endlessly, to be a family no matter what, right?

The young Dragon Warrior stopped to look at his bleached surroundings, letting out a cloud of breath.

I don't even know what I'm doing anymore…

Just then, a sudden blur of motion on the slopes above abruptly caused him to leap nearly a foot in the air and swerve into fighting stance. He blinked, striving to make out the small form.

It was a little gray fox. He was a soldier of Ju-long all right, based on the medallion around his neck, and he was studying Po with a suspicious yet calm glare.

Hey, it's just one guy… Shouldn't be too hard to handle…

"H-Hey, you!" Po tried for the authoritative edge. "Come down here, I-I need to talk to ya!"

At first, the fox seemed compliant. He quietly took a step forward down the hill – yet Po immediately sensed something was wrong. One, two steps the fox took before stopping. Then a second warrior, a wolf, came up into view beside him.

Then there were five of them.

Then ten.

Then twenty.

Then thirty-five.

Fifty. Fifty marauders now had completely encircled him, leaving no gaps for escape whatsoever. Po stood in the same ready stance with his paws up and ready to strike. But even he knew that he was facing the impossible odds here. He was determined, however, to not let them see his fear.

And he was failing miserably.

"If it isn't the prodigal son…" A certain large cat slunk into view like a snake.

"…A-All right," Po quickly put on his poker face. "I'm not here to play games, give us back the Sword of Heroes, Hei!" he demanded, cutting straight to the point.

Guh, hate that name!

"Mm…I'm awfully sorry, Dragon Warrior, I don't have it… It's at our…conveniently close base camp," the tigard gave a scheming sneer. "Commander Izotakeshi has reclaimed it."

Well…if it's with Dad, it should be easy…well, easier…to get back.

"Uh…okay…um…I-I request, uh…an audience…with your commander."

"Are you here alone?" Hei Long inquired.

"Um…yes." Po put no thought into what he had just said. "A-Anyways, I have a plan that'll be beneficial to both of us, Mr. Hei… If we plan accordingly, it'll work out so nobody can get hurt. I just need Da…er, Mr. Izotakeshi…to return the Sword of Heroes. If he does, I will personally convince Grandmaster Shifu to…uh, chill out. S-So…take me to your commander, my fine…uh…sirs?"

Incredulous eyebrows were raised about the gathering before they burst out in uproarious laughter. "I couldn't have planned this better if I tried…" Hei raised an eyebrow, his laughter subsiding and his smile bordering the edge of creepy. "The Dragon Warrior alone, vulnerable, not quite as smart as I thought… His allies far away, and our base camp practically next door. And to pull it all together, the opportunity to make the Grandmaster an offer he can't resist… A small trade in exchange for our right to keep the sword."

"…Trade it for what?"

A corner of the tigard's mouth crept up a little. "That's why we're not going to liberate you of your limbs…yet."

...Oh, snap.

"N-No, no, hey, whoa, wait! I jus—!!" Po gave a startled jump as a Ju-long wolverine dropped onto a rock by his head, grinning and snarling and flashing his hypnotically long fangs while his cohorts ascended on the poor panda.

"Gently, now…" Hei hissed. "Handle him gently… The commander has special plans for you, Dragon Warrior."

"…Which are…?"

"You'll find out…soon enough."

At that, Po again heard the spitting snarl of the wolverine behind him. Then everything happened so fast that he only had enough time to turn around and make out the colored streaks of the pouncing marauders.

"He's ours!!"

TBC...