ARC 5: ECHOES OF FATE
In the last part, we saw that Po had finally realized Tornado is not a mortal. This part begins exactly from where we left off...
So ladies and gentlemen
Let us begin with Part 8: The Destination.
Tornado: You fool.
Po: No... no, not again!
Tornado instantly punched Po hard in the face, knocking him far away from where he was standing.
Tornado: You know what? I won't kill you... yet. These aren't the people who've been with you forever. You've only had them for what... 10 or 11 years? But the people of that valley your stepfather all those who watched you grow... they'll see that their so-called Dragon Warrior... the one they worship like a god... also bleeds like a mortal.
Remember this foolish one you are only alive because I find your stupidity... funny.
Tornado then rushed towards Po, grabbed him by the throat, lifted him high into the sky... and kicked him.
So hard—
That Po flew through a mountain behind them, creating a hole straight through it.
Po was heavily injured. He wasn't even able to stand properly. He fell to the ground in front of his friends.
Tigress (sobbing): Po... no... you'll die... he's going to kill you...
Po (weakly): Sorry guys... I didn't expect this... I didn't know... he's not a mortal... I'm so sorry. You guys... run. Run...!
Tornado walked closer.
Tornado: They can't run from me. You're all alive right now because I'm not in the mood for bloodshed. But I will kill you but not now. Till then... live your little lives.
Mr. Ping (yelling): My son! Po! Who are you behind that mask?! Hey! Who are you, you monster?! What do you want from us?! Why are you after my son?! Tell me!! Tell me!!!
Tornado paused.
Tornado (calmly): Mr. Ping... oh, I really want to tell you... but I can't... not yet. But when the time comes... I will. The only question is will you live long enough to hear it? Haha...
And with that, he slowly began to walk away.
Po (weakly shouting): WAIT... where are you going?! Who's next?! Tell me!
Tornado: Well... well... I'm going to the Valley of Clouds. I'm after the sword Uriken. And I will get it... at any cost.
Tornado left.
Tigress (to Po): Po... look at you. You're badly injured. You can't fight anymore...
Po (gritting his teeth): It's... it's not that bad... I'll be fine... but if he's after that sword... that means... he's going after Tai Lung...
He looked up to the sky.
Po: God... please... keep him safe.
Now, the scene shifts to Tai Lung and Tigor.
They had completed most of their journey, while Tornado was wreaking havoc elsewhere.
Tigor: Now that we're close to the place... I want you to understand I'm going to take Uriken. Right? You get that?
Tai Lung: No way. I came here with you to help my people... I'll be the one to take Uriken.
Tigor: Okay. I can understand your situation... after all, we do share similar pasts.
Tai Lung: What?! Don't you say that. We don't have the same backstory we just share an uncanny similarity. We both fell into the trap of trying to become Dragon Warrior. But your story was still less painful. You don't know what I've gone through.I loved Shifu... but he... ah... forget it. I don't even want to talk about it. If I do, my wounds will start bleeding again. You're lucky... you're not remembered as a villain. Me? That's all I am. A villain.I just wanted to make Shifu proud of me. Worst of all... I died.
Tigor (seriously): No... Shifu loved you more than anything in this world.
Tai Lung (angrily): You know nothing about me and Shifu. If he loved me after what I did... he would've at least visited me once in prison... just once. My soul might have had some peace. But no... he didn't.
Tigor: What if I told you... you were always meant to be the Dragon Warrior? That scroll it was nothing more than a test. Oogway... he just wanted to see if you had balance within you balance of emotions, and patience. But you failed that test... that's why Oogway never gave you the scroll...
Tai Lung (furious): SHUT UP! Do you even know what you're saying?! And how... HOW do you know this much about me?! Who are you? Huh?! Some kind of imposter?! Who's behind this?!
Tigor (calmly): I'm your friend, Tai Lung. That's all. When you opened the scroll... wasn't it empty? Answer me. Wasn't it empty? It was just a flexible mirror. And what did that panda what's his name oh yes, Po what did he say? "There is no secret ingredient. It's just... you."
Tai Lung (completely shocked): Wait... how... how in the world do you know all this...? The village was empty. Shifu was injured. Po was in front of me... but there was no one else there. How the hell do you know all this?! How?!
But you're right... you're right...
But... how?
Tigor (taking a deep breath): Sit down. Now. You might pass out if I tell you the next part standing up.
Here it goes...
You remember... I told you how Jindiao's people found me... and took me to him.
That night... the darkest night of our lives... Shen burned the village of snow leopards and destroyed the village of snow tigers. But there was one leopard... who survived. He took his cub and ran far, far away. But Shen sent wolves after him.
On the other side... there was a tiger family that also survived. They hid their cub. But that cub saw his parents die... with his own eyes.
That cub... was me, Tai Lung.
Tai Lung (frozen): Wait... what... happened to that leopard? Did he survive? What about his cub?
Tigor: I wasn't sure... until now. But after meeting you... I'm 100% sure.
That leopard? He died. But before he died... he placed his cub right outside the gates of the Jade Palace... in the Valley of Peace.
That cub... was you,Tai Lung.You were... the last snow leopard.
Tai Lung (speechless): ...
I... I can't... this... this can't be...
AHHHH! NO... NOOOOOO!
I almost killed the one who gave me a new life... I'm not this evil! I'm not this evil!
The hate in Tai Lung's heart twisted violently.
Tai Lung (weeping): Oogway was right... I will never get inner peace... not until I get rid of the hatred inside me...Everyone has a breaking point...I've reached mine.
Tears streamed down his face, as he broke down Finally.
Tigor (softly): We don't have time to cry... but as your friend... I'll help you whenever you need it. But there's one question I can't answer for you... You'll have to find it yourself.
Who... are you?
Tai Lung (softly): I... I don't know yet. But I will find out. I promise you.And now... I truly trust you, my friend... Tigor.
Tigor (smiling): Thanks for trusting me.
Let's keep going. We're almost there.
Tai Lung: By the way... where exactly are we going? Sorry for asking so late...
Tigor: The Valley of Clouds.
Tai Lung: Oh...
They continued. After another hour of travel...
They reached their destination.
The Valley of Clouds.
Here is what it looks like
(Images provided in the discord server)
Tai Lung was stunned.
Tai Lung: What in the world is this place...? It feels unreal... it's like something I used to see in my dreams... and you... you grew up here?
Tigor (smirking): Yeah, yeah... I know, I know.
Voice (in the distance): STOP right there! WHO are you?!
Keeper (approaching): ...Tigor...? Is that... is that you?
Tigor: Keeper?! You're still here...
Keeper: Of course. Jindiao ordered me to protect this village from anyone. But who... who is this guy?
Tigor (placing his hand on Tai Lung's shoulder): He's my friend. And we're here for Uriken.
Keeper (shocked): WHAT?! I can't let you take it! You'll have to Beat me first!
Tai Lung (sighing): I'm not in the mood for this drama. If that's how it has to be... fine. I'll fight you. And when I do—I'll free you from this duty of yours. You know exactly what I mean.
Keeper (tense): You... you're going to kill me?!
Tai Lung (coldly): No. I won't kill you. I'm not a fool. But I will take Uriken with me at any cost even if I have to beat someone for it.
Meanwhile...
Tornado watched from afar, standing in the mist.
Tornado (thinking to himself): Once this Keeper gets defeated... I'll kill Tigor... and take Uriken. They're making my work easy.
To be continued...
The fallen
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