The Panda and the Turtle (Book 1)

Chapter 19: There is No Secret Ingredient

That night, the Five arrived at the base of the stairs, where the villagers were already scrambling to get out of the valley.

"We've got to get them out safely." Tigress said.

Monkey picked up a small child.

"Come, little one. Let's find your mama." Monkey said, before he leapt away.

"Viper, gather the southern farmers." Tigress ordered. "Mantis, the north. Crane, light the way."

Tigress passed Crane a lantern; as they split up and began to help the villagers evacuate. Po and Vee were by themselves as the turtle sorceress sat on Po's shoulders as a piggy back ride.

"Come on, buddy." Vee said, softly. "Let's go find your dad."

Po smiled sadly before he slowly made his way through the bustling town. Two pigs, who tried to carry a stone dragon, spotted him as he passed.

"Look, it's the Dragon Warrior." A pig said, skeptical.

Po glanced at the pigs as he approached the Noodle Shop. He set Vee on her feet to the ground. Inside, Mr Ping prepared to leave.

"Hey, Dad." Po greeted.

Mr. Ping widened his eyes and turned to see his son.

"Po!" Mr. Ping exclaimed.

He hurried over and wrapped his arms around his son. Po bent down to reciprocate the hug, as Po's dad pulled away, and had fastened an apron around Po's waist. Mr. Ping looked over at Vee.

"Oh, you must be the turtle sorceress." Mr. Ping smiled as he extended his wing. "I'm Mr. Ping."

"Venus De Milo." Vee introduced as she shook his wing.

"It's nice to see that Po made a friend." Mr. Ping said before he turned to Po. "Good to have you back, son."

Mr Ping went back to packing things up.

"Good to be back." Po replied, listlessly.

"Let's go, Po." Mr. Ping said.

Mr Ping struggled to pull the cart full of belongings. Po took the burden for him, and the trio left the shop, possibly forever. Po and Vee glanced back at the palace.

"So for our next shop, it's time to face it... the future of noodles is dice-cut vegetables, no longer slices." Mr. Ping said as he walked off, unaware that Po and Vee slowed down.

"Also, I was thinking, maybe this time we'll have a kitchen you can actually stand up in." Mr. Ping continued as he turned to Po. "Hmm? You like that?"

He noticed that Po and Vee had stopped following. Vee looked at the picture from her room as she held onto it with a sad face. Mr. Ping walked back to his son sympathetically.

"Er, Po... I'm sorry things didn't work out." Mr. Ping said. "It just... wasn't meant to be."

Po slumped against the cart.

"Po, forget everything else." Mr. Ping said. "Your destiny still awaits. We are noodle folk... broth runs deep through our veins!"

"I don't know, Dad." Po replied. "Honestly, sometimes I can't believe I'm actually your son."

Mr. Ping was taken aback.

"Po, I think it's time I told you something I should have told you a long time ago..." Mr. Ping said.

"Okay." Po said as he looked up as Vee did the same.

Mr. Ping paused dramatically.

"The secret ingredient of my Secret Ingredient Soup." Mr. Ping answered.

Po feigned excitement.

"Oh." Po said.

Mr. Ping looked at Vee, as she placed her picture in her pocket and covered her ears with her hands.

"C'mere!" Mr. Ping whispered to Po. "The secret ingredient is... nothing!"

"Huh?" Po questioned, as he taken completely by surprise.

"You heard me. Nothing." Mr. Ping said. "There is no secret ingredient!"

Vee uncovered her ears as she understood what had happened.

"Wait wait wait...it's just plain old noodle soup?" Po questioned. "You don't add some kind of special sauce or something?"

"Don't have to." Mr. Ping said. "To make something special, you just have to believe it's special."

Po looked at his father with dawned realization. He picked up the Scroll and looked down at the golden reflective surface. For a moment, Po stared at his reflection on the scroll, then his eyes widened. He understood it now.

"There is no secret ingredient." Po said.

Vee looked at the reflective surface on the Dragon Scroll and widened her eyes in realization. Po looked at his confused father, before he turned to Vee and they turned back to look at the palace as thunder clouds gathered.