The Panda and the Turtle (Book 1)

Chapter 18: The Dragon Scroll

Later that day, Shifu, Vee, and Po returned from the mountains, as they entered the palace courtyard. Po had an easy spring in his step.

"You have done well, panda." Shifu said.

"Done well? Done well?!" Po questioned. "I've done awesome!"

He swung his belly around and knocked Shifu off balance, though he quickly regained his dignity.

"The mark of a true hero is humility." Shifu said. "But yes...you have done..."

Shifu playfully punched Po in the side hard enough for him to stagger.

"...awesome." Shifu continued.

The trio chuckled, but they faltered when they heard an approaching flapping sound. An indistinct figure appeared in the clouds behind them... it was Crane.

"Crane?" Vee questioned.

"Huh?" Po muttered.

Crane carried the five to the palace grounds, before he crashed in a heap. His paralysed comrades were scattered in the middle of the courtyard. Shifu was speechless.

"Guys? Guys!" Po exclaimed as he threw his backpack aside and ran over to them. "They're dead?! No, they're breathing! They're asleep?! No, their eyes are open..."

"What happened?!" Vee asked, worriedly.

"We were no match... for his nerve attack." Crane replied, in exhaustion as his feathers were ruffled.

"He has gotten stronger..." Shifu said as he pressed some pressure points on Mantis's chest, that freed him.

"Who? Tai Lung? Stronger?" Po questioned in fear.

Shifu started to free Monkey while Po leaned over them. Monkey was released suddenly from his paralysis... and delivered a punch to Po's head.

"He's too fast!" Monkey exclaimed as he slowly realized where he was. "Sorry, Po."

Shifu knelt before Tigress and worked to free her. She revived with a gasp.

"I thought we could stop him." Tigress explained, ashamed.

"He could have killed you." Shifu said.

"Why didn't he?" Mantis asked.

"So you could come back and strike fear
into our hearts. But it won't work." Shifu replied as he freed Viper.

"Uh, it might... I mean, a little. I'm pretty scared." Po said.

"Po, you can stop him." Vee reassured.

"Are you kidding? If they can't..." Po said as he looked around him, the Five were exhausted and beaten. "They're five masters. You're a sorceress. I'm just one me."

"But you will have the one thing that no one else does." Shifu said.

Po's eyes widened.

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Inside the Hall of Warriors, the Dragon Scroll rested in the mouth of the golden dragon on the ceiling. Po stared at Shifu... then looked up at the Scroll. Then back at Shifu...

"The Dragon Scroll." Vee breathed out.

"You really...believe I'm ready?" Po asked Shifu.

"You are...Po." Shifu replied.

The trio looked at each other. This was a big moment.

Oogway's staff hung in a rack surrounded by candles. Above the staff was a portrait of Oogway who performed his usual Tai Chi beneath the peach tree. As Po, Vee, and the Five stood by, Shifu carried the staff over to the reflecting pool. Shifu bowed his head, then, eyes still closed, he raised the staff up above his head. Po and the others watched, expectantly. Then Shifu whirled the staff. The peach blossom petals rose in a flickering, spinning cloud up from the pool. The gentle tornado rose up around the ceiling carving that held the Dragon Scroll. The petals loosened the scroll from the dragon's mouth and it fell. At the last second, Shifu reached out with the staff to catch the scroll on the end of it. He turned to Po, as he held it out.