Tai Lung – The Journey

Epilogue

Two weeks have passed.

After we left the tree house, the goons were waiting for us. But they surrendered. Then the first time I saw how many we have beaten up.

I took a torch and inflamed it. Then I threw it against the tree house. I and Cien did this several times until the house begin to burn. We stayed there until it burnt down.

The next two weeks I was back again on the island, where Thorn had cared for me. I sat there without doing anything. Someone could think that I mediated. But I thought only.

About my past. About my mistakes. About my life. It had changed so drastically after the fight against Po. Po? He seems so far away now.

"Still mediating?" Cien asks me. He was the only one, who visited me, although only to bring me food until now.

"I am surprised that you are still here, Cien. Nothing different to do?" I say a little annoyed.

"I have something to do, but…but…"

"But what?" I demand to know.

"But I think, I owe you something."

"You owe me?" I chuckle, "I owe you. Without you I would be dead already for four weeks."

"Yeah, but you couldn't save him."

No amusement. Only seriousness. Did he change also cause of this?

"I couldn't save him that is right. But that is not your fault like I said already." I hesitate, "And even not my. You heard him. It was his destiny to die. So that I could carry his duty."

"It is not satisfying. Am I right?"

"You can bet your life on it."

I hear like he is coming closer. My back was turned to him, but now he looked at my face.

"I thought your eyes are healed?" he wonders, after he saw my closed eyes.

"They are not. I see only few things. I think the healing process isn't complete yet. If it ever be. Not that I care."

I think he smirks. "So what will you do now? Mediate for the rest of your life and stay in this swamp like he had?"

"No.", I say and think. This was clear from the start, but what I want to do now?

"I think…I will go to the roof of the world."

"To the Scroll? Shouldn't you hide the secret only?"

"In this way he had accomplished his duty. But not me. He said me once that I will see my destiny, before it comes. I don't see my destiny in doing this in his way. I want to see what the reason for all this trouble was."

"Hmmm…And you know how you get there?"

"If I had a clue I would had already left you here." I admit and smile after this.

He chuckles. It is somehow easier to smile now. Another thing what changed.

"Then I can give you a clue. The roof of the world is a country called Tibet. Far to the east and south from here. It is located on very high mountains."

"That has to be it. So Tibet it is."

"And you know how to get out of this swamp?"

With this he caught me on the hop. "I don't even know how I got here."

He chuckles again. "For someone, who should guard such a big secret, you know rather not a hell of a lot."

"I am fighter. The improvising guy. Not the planner or the brainy."

"Then you have luck. An odd merchant by the name of Feng Sheng – a duck – came to the City and is planning go to the east. He hires every bodyguard he could get."

"Feng Sheng? I thought he would be back in around three months?"

"Really? So this was it. I heard that he had rather much trouble in the next city western of here. And now he is on the road to the east and hires bodyguards."

I think about this. Thorn wanted that I accompany him. As the last wish maybe I should go. Not that I will benefit from this…He He.

I stand up. "Good. Then he has hired someone."

"He had hired two."

"You too? Have you no own life?"

"I have and I think it is much happier without you. But I need to get to the east, too. Have to do some business there. So in the end you are following me."

"In your dreams." I chuckle.

So I hired by Feng Sheng. Said goodbye to Swampie and Liu and wished them good luck with rebuilding their saloon. I travel to the east. Back to my once life…Maybe better than that. I hope so. I don't want to land here again.

Loud breathing in and out.

So the journey begins only just.

The End

….

"Kung Fu Panda" (c) DreamWorks Animation

I own nothing except for the written word.

So this it. The12 End. The Final End9. I like open ends7. Most often8 when they are so20 undefined. What will1 happen with Tai Lung further is part14 of your imagination now. I think4 it is not too difficult to19 think how it8 should go further1. I think4 all is15 possible. But for23 me it is the end.

I say goodbye to Tai Lung and Cien.

….

:-P

No I am kidding. There will be a sequel. So be patient. :)