The Panda and the Turtle (Book 1)

Chapter 22: Victory/Epilogue

Sometime later, the villagers returned to the village, which had been englulfed in a cloud of golden dust. Then one of the pig villagers spotted two figures in the distance.

"Look!" The pig exclaimed. "The Dragon Warrior and the Turtle Sorceress."

As they approached the crowd as onbscured figures who one looked very much like the warrior from Po's dream. When they were near, they were revealed to be Po, whose hat is an upside down wok with a a torn apron, and Vee, whose hair was a bit poofy. Po coughed and removed the apron, while Vee pat her hair down. The villagers stared at Po and Vee for a moment... then they cheered for the Dragon Warrior and Turtle Sorceress. Po's father emerged from the crowd as the villagers tried and failed to lift Po on their shoulders.

"That's my boy!" Mr. Ping cheered. "That big lovely kung fu warrior is my son!"

Vee smiled as father and son ran to each other and hugged.

"Yes!" Mr. Ping smiled.

"Thanks, Dad." Po said.

The wok fell off Po's head and rolled on the ground until Mantis appeared and stopped it. The rest of the Five were with him. They no longer stared at him with disdain and Po took notice.

"Hey, guys." Po greeted.

Tigress stepped forward.

"Master." Tigress saluted as she bowed and then smiled at Po.

Her comrades and then the villagers followed.

"Master." Everyone saluted.

Po was modest, but secretly pleased. Vee smiled for Po.

"Master?" Po questioned, but then his eyes widened. "Master Shifu!"

"Uh, we'll be back." Vee gasped as her eyes widened.

Po and Vee raced past the villagers toward the Jade Palace. Po and Vee climbed the steps and then more steps. Po arrived breathless at the Jade Palace while Vee breathed out in exhaustion. Shifu was still in the scroll room, as his eyes closed. Po and Vee rushed to his side.

"Master!" Po exclaimed.

"Shifu!" Vee gasped.

"Shifu, are you okay?" Po asked as he lifted Shifu's head on his paw.

Shifu weakly opened his eyes.

"Po... Venus...you're alive..." Shifu smiled. "Or we're all dead."

"No, we didn't die." Vee assured. "We won."

"I defeated Tai Lung!" Po added.

"You did?" Shifu asked, astonished.

Po smiled and nodded. Shifu smiled as he became filled with inner peace.

"Wow... It is as Oogway... foretold." Shifu said. "You are... the Dragon Warrior. You have brought peace... to this Valley... and... and to me. Thank you... thank you, Po... thank you... thank you... thank..."

Shifu closed his eyes and became still. Po and Vee stared at him for a long moment and Po started to freak out.

"Is he...?" Vee asked, slowly.

"No... Master!" Po panicked. "No, no, no! Don't die, Shifu, please..."

Shifu's eyes snapped opened.

"I'm not dying, you idio... ah... Dragon Warrior." Shifu said before he closed his eyes and smiled serenely. "I'm simply... at peace. Finally..."

"Dude." Vee said.

"Oh..." Po replied, in relief. "So, um, I should... stop talking?"

"If you can." Shifu said.

Po lied down and meditated next to Shifu. Vee lied down next to Po and meditated. Master and pupil lied next to each other. Then Po fidgeted and tried to keep from saying something to Shifu, but found it difficult. He opened his mouth as if he was about to say something, but he stopped himself. He fidgeted for a moment before eventually...

"Want to get something to eat?" Po asked.

Shifu opened his eyes and sighed deeply. Vee opened her eyes with a small chuckle. For a long moment both of them said nothing. And then...

"Yeah." Shifu replied.

"Same." Vee agreed.

Mid Credit Scene

At the peach tree, Po was enjoying a bowl of dumplings with Shifu and Vee. Po offered dumplings to Shifu and he accepted. Vee pulled out her picture, which was revealed to be her four older brothers and herself when she was young. She smiled at the picture with a hint of sadness and placed the picture in her pocket before Po offered her a dumpling, to which she accepted. The trio ate their dumplings as a new peach tree sapling sprouted next to the peach tree.