Kung Fu Panda Fanfic - The Rise of a Hero

(IX) You are not alone

The fact that Po had told Viper everything he saw in his nightmares... or visions, didn't change anything. But at least the panda could feel a little relieved. In the next few days, when Po began to have nightmares, Viper would come up to him and hug him without waking him up, and as surprising as it was, Po managed to calm down and get a good sleep.

Eight nights have passed since Po had his last encounter with that strange being. The record that he read did not contain much information, since it was very old, and many parts were worn or the characters were blurred. Either way, Po knew that it was a very powerful entity. More powerful than Kai, or any other foe he had ever faced.

Po was very worried. The entity, which called itself Sun Wukong: The Monkey King, told him that he was looking for his blood. Which Po interpreted that he wanted to end his life. That worried him, of course. But the fact that he could threaten the life of Víbora or his students was something that really terrified him. Po knew that he had to face him at any cost, even if such a decision cost him his life. Life... that he was willing to offer without resistance if the demigod left his legacy alone.

It was a cold afternoon in the Valley of Peace, something not very common in those summer months, a clear warning that something bad happened. Po was alone, trying to find Inner Peace under the solitary peach tree that rose above that remote rock formation where he liked to meditate. The wind was a bit strong, and it was shaking the branches strongly. The slight noise was enough to distract the nervous Po, who was unable to calm himself down.

There were eight long days of waiting. Eight long days in which Po barely ate and slept with difficulty. The teacher stayed away from his students, who constantly asked Viper about his health. In order not to spread fear, Viper simply told them that Master Po was sick and weak, and that he could not teach. Even so, many of the students had a hard time accepting the idea. For more than ten years, Master Po stood in front of everyone, without wavering for a single day. Under the rain and the sun. Under the strong hurricane wind (in Asia it is called a typhoon or cyclone; depending on the region), or the cold winter snow, Po was always present.

Even the new Furious Five approached Master Viper in solitude and asked to see their master, but she preferred not to. Viper did not want his precious students to see his beloved Po in these conditions. Something that was too strange, considering that they could sometimes see him from a distance meditating under the peach tree.

However, on that same cold afternoon, Po had his gaze lost on the horizon. The setting sun radiated in his eyes and his mind was blank, but a very familiar voice snapped him out of the state he was in.

Tigress - You see worse than I thought. -

Po turned around in surprise. He just couldn't believe his eyes. Behind his back there were his old friends: masters Tigress, Monkey and Crane together, and master Viper who followed them sadly.

Po: - Guys... What a joy to see you. But... What are they doing here? -

The three masters preferred not to answer his question, and stood aside to let Viper approach with his head down.

Viper: - It was me. I called them. -

Po: - What? Why? -

Viper: - I... I... I'm sorry. It was too much. I couldn't I couldn't help you And that broke my heart. -

Viper couldn't hold back her tears at that moment. The fact that Po could disappear from her life, it was so painful that barely let her eat food, but she didn't tell anyone. Only Tigress, Monkey and Crane were able to notice how emaciated both teachers looked. Po hugged Viper sadly, to try to calm her down. And right after, the other masters joined in the hug.