Master Fuqin, late master of the Amber Palace, protector of the village of Cǎiyòng, father, husband, teacher, stared into the village as pandas scurried about repairing the damage done to their village and tending to the wounded. His paws shook and his eyes remained wide. Po placed a paw on his back, smiling. "Y'know, this is how I felt too."

His students had taken this last chance to see their old friends of the Furious Five, while Master Ying stood not too far away, giving Fuqin his moment. His lips quivered and tears welled up in his eyes. "Po." The panda smiled at him. "Before I met you I thought all pandas had been wiped out. I was relieved that there was just one . . . this . . . is a dream I've had many times come true."

"I'm relieved not to be the last panda." Po chuckled to himself, "I have my dad— both of them. I've convinced panda dad to move to the Valley."

Fuqin looked down at him, "I wish you luck. To your renewed family."

Po nodded, "About you guys— "

"What's done is done, Po. Just be grateful for what you have left." He smiled down at him. It was a pained smile. "You and I are both aware that the Furious Five will look to you for emotional support."

"I'll be strong." He looked ahead. "Oh! Hey! Dad!" He waved a slightly taller panda over. Fuqin's eyes widened as soon as his gaze landed on him. He couldn't believe it.

Li Shan made his way over, his gaze landing on the tiger. At first, his eyes were wide with shock, but then they returned to a natural position and he smiled. "Fuqin? Is that you?" He entered a slight jog to end up next to them. "It is!"

Fuqin smiled wide and Ying's arms dropped to her side in disbelief. "Li Shan. You're alive?"

"Li!" Ying walked over, her shoulders low and her eyes misty. "It's been too long."

Po eyed the three, "Wait. You three know each other?"

Fuqin's smile widened, "I trained in Gongmen City uner my master. Ying and I both. That's where I met Li Shan and . . . " His smile dimmed, "Is . . . Mei-Xui . . ." His smile dropped upon seeing Li Shan's pain expression. "I'm so sorry."

The elder panda shrugged half-heartedly. "It's been years. I've . . . come to terms with it now. As much as I could, anyways." He stared at him for a moment before looking at Ying and then back to him. "You two are dead, aren't you?"

They simultaneously nodded and Li Shan's shoulders sunk. "How?"

"The wolves." Ying began, "they got us."

Po looked between the three. Never did he think Master Ying or Master Fuqin would know his panda dad. The three continued to conversate, despite the loss hanging over their shoulders they still smiled, if only for the other's sake. Po turned around and walked towards portal, thrashing and writhing against the air. He waved at the three before walking through. He had someone to see. Something to do.

Tigress sat on the cliff, her legs gangling into the abyss. Shifu sat next to her, both admired the golden sky, streaks of golden chi rushing and shooting by. It had hit them both that this would be the last time in a long time that they wouldn't see each other. Likely until she died of old age.

Even the topic of Kai hadn't been brought up by either Master or Student. It almost seemed that they would sit there in silence for eternity— that is, until Shifu broke through the silence. "When you were a child I never treated you like my daughter."

At first, she was startled. Then, she shook her head. "Shifu, you don't need to— "

"Please. Just let me speak my mind." He waited for a moment and she became silent. "I never told you goodnight, I never tucked you in. I walked around as if the floor was scattered with eggshells. I was afraid that if I didn't become cold towards you that you would turn into Tai Lung." He sighed and his ears flattened against his head. "I told you that I was proud once. Once!" He clenched his fists, "I'm not trying to redeem myself, Tigress. I just need you to know that I do view you as a daughter and I am proud of everything you've ever done. You make me proud to be a father."

Tigress was silent for a moment. Her paws shook, tightening against her pants. "Shifu . . . I'm going to miss you." Her raised her left paw, staring at it. "For days now, I've been able to feel in my paws. It's . . . strange. All of that damage I've done to them has been healed completely." She scoffed, "And now Po can't. Forever damaged by chi." Shifu looked down at his own hands. Tigress shook her head, "What I'm saying, Shifu, is that I want to know what you feel like. I want to know before I cast you off to the dead."

"I understand." He held up his right hand so she could grab it.

"Shifu . . . one more thing." She smiled sheepishly, as if she was ashamed of what she was going to ask next. "I know I'm a bit old for it, but . . . could you tell me a bedtime story— I mean, if you know any?"

Shifu was surprised at the request, but he smiled. His eyes watered, tears of joy streaming down his face. "Of course."

The panda, clad in gold energy, shot through the air, his eyes burning with rage. His chi stormed around his body like golden flames. Taunting him. Seering the air. The tiger's chi clung to her body in a thin layer, flickering off just enough to heat the space around her. Her eyes harsh and judging, filled with an unmistakable hatred.

Shen's eyes twitched as he stared into the distance. A cold chill rushed by him, making his feathers shift and struggle to remain still. His battered robe twitched from the winter wind. His red eyes trembled with fear, uncertainty, and pure hatred. Those two had shown levels of power he only hoped he could one day achieve. Power that had been fruits of their raw emotion to protect and serve others, or so he gathered.

The raging waters of the gongmen bay rocked the ship, causing it to slightly sway with the current. He narrowed his eyes, completely baffled at the sight. The wolves across his army gasped and he heard the strung-up Kung Fu warriors say something among themselves. There was no way, he had to be imagining things.

The panda had survived.

A smile graced Shen's face. Granted, it was an uneasy smile. Those warriors had a knack for coming back from near death, it was what had saved the day for them all. It had stalled Kai long enough for him to throw Kai's own weapon at him, finally landing a hit that mattered. Before he had only managed to scrape Kai with his own blade, stabbing him with metal did nothing, but that attack had impaled him. A jade blade had saved them.

Shen let out a long breath, staring at his breath as it dissipated into the chilled air. No more jade. No more Kai. No more. He closed his eyes and chuckled to himself. He raised his chin and took a deep breath, Finally. He was truly and utterly free.

The panda and the goose had arrived on the battlefield to aid their effort against Kai. The very same that were present at his resurrection. He narrowed his eyes,

He shot his wing forward and his tail feathers flexed outwards. "Get them all!" Despite the target being a child, they lunged forwards. His wolves. Suddenly, without warning, a larger panda wielding a gardening rake slid in front of the child and swung his rake into the wolves. He heard his soldiers cry out in pain and scream as they flew back.

"Take our son and run away!"

That panda was the same one. Shen hadn't pieced it together at first, but it was the same panda who had wounded his Officer when he had attacked the panda village near Gongmen. He knew there was a reason he had seemed so familiar. That child he had almost killed would grow up to be the panda that defeated him.

He chuckled lightly to himself, despite all his hatred and contempt for the panda, despite all his fear for him as a warrior, it was because of the panda and tigers ability to crawl back from near death to do battle one last time that he survived— that any of them did.

His thoughts snapped to a mere hour ago,his last conversation with the panda,

"I'm surprised you stuck around, Shen, I thought you'd run the first chance you got." The peacock heard the heavy footsteps in the snow and he frowned. It had taken the insistence of the Dragon Warrior to get him healed, not that he was grateful, he told himself. "Almost as surprised I am that you didn't kill us in cold blood when Tigress and I were unconscious."

"I couldn't kill you. You still have yet to give me my pardon. I'll be sticking close by until then." He scowled, feeling the pandas gaze burn into him. "Listen! We are not friends. We are not allies! I merely agreed to help you for my own gain. My own desires. I did not help you out of the goodness of my heart."

"I know. It would kinda be strange if you had a change of heart now, even after the fight with Kai." There was a pause as a gust of wind rushed by, rustling Shen's feathers. "Do you remember Gongmen, Shen? Our conversation?"

"Which one?"

"On the boat." Of course he remembered. "I gave you a second chance and you refused it. I just can't see you reforming as much as I'd like to see it."

The panda was strong, unbelievably so, especially if triggered into a state of rage. His allies were just as strong, if not stronger and every single one of them had a resistance far beyond his own. Even if he hated them, even if he despised them, he could say it. He respected the panda.

Po had been walking through the Spirit Realm for a few minutes now. He had come for one thing and one things only. He knew Tigress was in here, conversing with Shifu. He would give them their space. No he was looking for— the fur on the back of Po's neck stood up, cutting his thoughts short. He turned his head up as he jumped down. " . . . Oogway." He turned to fully face the turtle. "It's been a long time."

The old turtle smiled, but that only made Po feel uneasy. He leaned heavily on a jade staff. "Young Po, it is great to see you." Po grit his teeth, he knew precisely why his presence unsettled him. It was the question looming over his heart that he had come to ask.

He bowed sharply, "Master, I am sorry." Oogway's eyes widened at the sudden movement. "I know I should be excited to see you, but . . . I'm not. You are the reason I am here. You chose me and yet I can't say a simple thank you when I see you next? I'm sorry for being ungrateful."

Oogway placed his paw on Po's shoulder and the panda titled his head up to look at him. "Your heart has always been in the right place. Thanking me isn't a concern you need think of, nor is it your first priority." His eyes were sad, full of grief. "Kai will no longer bother you or anyone."

Or anyone. Po stood back to his full height. "What do you mean by that?"

Oogway sighed, "When a warrior dies they become a Spirit and walk the Spirit Realm. Kai, as a spirit, traveled to the mortal realm and once again faced defeat." He closed his eyes, "When a Warrior dies, they come here. When a Spirit dies, they cease."

"Cease?" Po took a step back, letting Oogway's claw fall from his shoulder. His fingers twitched and horror was cast in his eyes. "What do you mean cease?"

"Kai doesn't exist anymore. Not as a Spirit, not as anything. He's gone."

Po knew it was necessary for the safety of the world, but his gut told him that eternal death itself was wrong. "He was your friend, wasn't he?"

Oogway's eyes widened and he looked off to the side.

Oogway, battered and broken, fell to the ground. Blood trickled down his skull and and his arm fell limp alongside him, shattered. He writhed in pain, gasping lightly. His head twitched to the side as a volley of arrows descended towards him. His eyes widened, finally realizing his mistake. This was it. This was the end.

However, fate had other plans. A large form dashed inbetween him and the volley, effectively shielding him off from mortal danger. "Kai?"

The yak's body shook from the pain, Oogway could see his wavering smile. "Don't ever think for a single moment that I would ever forfeit your life." His eyes watered. From his pain or emotion, Oogway never knew. "You are everything to me, Oogway." His fists clenched and he coughed, "Everything."

"Once." He looked back at Po. "That was before he was corrupted by the power of chi, before he became a mere shell of what he once was." He was silent for a moment. "You'll have your work cut out for you. With Shifu's time cut short and Shen's life renewed, not only will change have to be brought to the Jade Palace, but you'll have to watch your back while doing it." Oogway's grip on his staff tightened. "You and young Tigress have reached new heights of power. You must train yourselves to control your chi to the utmost potential." He stopped leaning on his staff and held it out to Po. "Take it."

Po looked at the staff and back to Oogway, "Me?"

Oogway nodded, "You are my true successor, Po. You must choose the next Grandmaster of the Jade Palace." He shrugged as Po took the staff, "I would tell you to become the next Grandmaster, but I sense uncertainty and a lack of faith in your heart. You still believe yourself to not be capable for this responsibility and therefore you are not ready."

Po held the staff in his paws. "Are you sure I deserve this?"

"You are my true successor, Po. Look at everything you've done. Your mastery over Inner Peace, Chi, surviving the battle with Kai, you've even made a hard decision with brining back Shen." He smiled, "Your path is your own and you've carved it well, young panda. You've grown."

Po's eyes started to water and he chuckled. "You saying that . . . it means alot to me, Master Oogway. I promise I won't let you down."

"No." Oogway titled his head up, "Don't let yourself down." He smiled slowly deflated. "Excuse me, we have some company. I must converse with Shifu and find out how this all came to be." He seemed to float up as Tigress jumped down. The two old Grandmasters of the Jade Palace walked away, leaving the two warriors.

"Tigress." Po smile uneasily. "Hey."

"I still can't find my chi." She raised her fist and clenched it. "It's just something we'll have to work on." Her eyes darted from her fist to his face. "Are you ready to talk? To really talk?"

Po looked down at the staff, "Before we get into this, there is something I need to say. Something important." Tigress crossed her arms, letting him speak. "When we get back to the Valley, we need a new Grandmaster, a teacher. Tigress, I want that to be you— it has to be. You're so much smarter than me and your knowledge of Kung Fu is far more vast— a lake to an ocean. I know you can teach the five and I, I just know it."

She shook her head, "No." He froze up. "Po, my head isn't clear, it's shrouded by anger. And that is why I can't accept that burden. I lashed out against Shen when you revived him, I couldn't see that it would be his actions that won the day." She scoffed, "Shen of all people and I just couldn't see it. But, you did. If anyone is suited to be Grandmaster, it is you."

Po's shoulders sunk, "Tigress . . . I thought I could beat Kai, but I couldn't. I was confident when we first faced off. I was rash and foolish." He held up his paw, eyeing the decayed, burnt purple skin. He looked back to Tigress. "I can't lead, I will just cause everything to fall. It has to be you, you have the experience, the temperment, the focus. You're literally perfect for this."

"You're the Dragon Warrior, Po. Oogway chose you!"

The two looked at each other, thousands of thoughts rushing through their heads. They were inadequate, the other was the one for the job. "Here's a thought . . ." They turned their heads to the new voice. Xióng and Meili, Bear and Leopard, strolled up, both smiling wide. Meili continued, "You could work together and both be Grandmaster."

Xióng nodded, "That way if either of you kicks the bucket you'll still have a leader."

Meili elbowed the bear in the gut, "Xióng! We are literally in the realm of the dead. Now is not the time!"

He chuckled, "Sorry, sorry." He turned his attention back to Po and Tigress, "Meili and I were going to tag-team the position when our generation inherited the Amber Palace, kinda late for that, though." He turned to look Po in the eye, "Just have a bit of faith in yourself and the two of you will be fine."

Po looked over at Tigress, "Are . . . you fine with this?"

"If you are, then so am I."

Meili smiled, "Well, it looks like we interrupted something, so be best be off. Xióng!" The bear nodded and started to walk away.

"Wait!" The two turned to see Po staring at them. "We won't be able to see each other again. This can't be our goodbye."

Xióng shrugged, "It isn't. We'll see each other when the next generation takes your place." He smiled warmly at Po, despite the death glare he was receiving from Meili. "Besides, if you meditate hard enough, we'll hear you loud and clear." He waved his paw and the two walked away.

Po sighed, holding tightly onto his staff and turning back to Tigress. "You wanted to talk?"

Tigress was staring off to where Xióng and Meili had gone. "I— " She growled to herself and then sighed. "I did, but . . . maybe now's not the time."

"I tricked you." The air grew cold around them as they stared into each other eyes. "I healed and I deceived you to do it." He set the staff on the ground. "It was wrong for me to do that, to manipulate you to further my own agenda." His shoulder sunk. "I . . . I am sorry for that. I don't want to wait to talk about this Tigress, it will just get worse and build upon itself."

Tigress folded her arms. "Po . . . we kissed. Not a peck on the check, not just talking about our feelings. We actually kissed. I just want to know one thing . . . did you mean it? When you said you loved me? When we kissed? Or was that all a lie?"

"I meant every word, Tigress. I do love you." He clenched his paws, feeling no sensation. Tigress's eyes darted down to his paws before back to his face. Her paws tightened against her arms. "It was the kiss that had ulterior motives." He sighed, "It's not that I wouldn't have kissed you, but I was so fixated on Kai and the danger he brought that I thought I had to heal you. And that . . . was the easiest way." He closed his eyes, tears building. "I'm sorry, it was— "

Tigress grabbed him by the shoulders, startling him. In an instant she had pulled him down just enough for her to kiss him. His eyes were wide from surprise. Tigress had been rough, both with basically slamming her face into his and yanking him down instead of the tiptoe technique she had used when she 'pecked' him. Soon enough, Po let himself fall into it, just as Tigress had last time. He placed his paws on her back and then she pulled her lips away, but she rested her forehead against his, keeping the proximity. Both of their eyes were closed and it was a moment before she spoke.

"I really am a fool."

Po's eyes twitched, "What?"

"Your paws. They're permanently damaged because of me." She grit her teeth and her paws tightened their grip on his shoulder. "You forcefully kept the portal open and now you can't ever feel again. I should've known you wouldn't lie to me, not on something like this."

"That doesn't make it okay for me to deceive you."

"Maybe not. But, it's obvious if I had just got out of my own head. Besides," He could feel her smirk. "You're going to make it up to me."

Po opened his eyes, seeing that she was now looking at him, a playful glint in her eyes. He felt nervous, "And how is that?"

"We're going to fight when we get back to the Valley. I need to let out some aggression, after all."

"Perhaps we should go, then?"

She shook her head,rubbing their foreheads against each other. "Just a moment longer, Po."

Shifu watched from above, smiling. Instead of interrupting, he backed off, leaving the two be. Oogway shared a warm smile with him before they walked off, to really have their conversation. Their conversation on Shifu's suicide.

It had taken a few moments before they were able to leave the Spirit Realm. Po and Tigress gave their goodbyes to the warriors they passed on their way, but the portals time ran short. The barrier between the Spirit Realm and Mortal Coil would need to regenerate before it could be punctured again. Upon exiting the rest of the Furious Five, Mr. Ping, Li Shan, Jun, Mei-Mei, Kuen, and Cuòwù stood by awaiting their arrival.

The Furious Five smiled at them and Po nodded to them, telling them to wait just a moment. The first person he turned to was Kuen. "Thankyou."

The elder panda stared at him for a moment, almost guilty looking. He turned to Tigress, "When we last spoke, you told me I was no warrior. You were right. Not even against Kai have I redeemed myself." He chuckled, "When you first arrived I wanted you gone, as an outsider, but in the end it would be because of you that we survived." His face scrunched up, "I will not give Shen the win, no matter his contribution." He was silent for a moment. "My children, Mei-Mei and Cuòwù want to travel to the Valley of Peace alongside you and the others." He turned his head to his children and nodded, "They have my blessing, but I can only thank you for even giving them this chance in survival."

"What about you?"

He shook his head, "I must stay here. I must atone." He turned his head to Li Shan, "Keep my children safe, for old times sake?"

Li Shan nodded, "You have my word."

Kuen nodded to Tigress before walking away, off into the village. Cuòwù placed a paw on Mei-Mei's shoulder. "We'll visit him, don't worry."

Po and Tigress turned to the Furious five as they approached. Po held up his paw ina greeting, "Hey, guys!"

Mantis hopped onto his shoulder, "I can't believe it! You guys actually beat Kai."

Po nodded, "It was a group effort. Even Shen was fighting hard."

Monkey walked up, "You're pardoning him, though. Are . . . are you sure about this?" Po looked at him, "Not that I don't trust your judgement or anything, but he hurt you. Are you sure you can do this?"

"A promise is a promise." Po nodded slowly, "I may not like it, but he did help win this thing for us. Besides, I already talked to him earlier. He's not going to leave until he gets that pardon." He smiled, "Enough of Shen, though! I see you guys are healed up!"

Viper nodded, "My tails not broken anymore, so that's good." She turned her head to Jun, "He help us out. He's real nice."

Po turned his head, smiling at the elder. "Thanks for healing my friends, it means alot to me."

Jun frowned, "Po, I'm not here to be social. I need to talk to you on something important."

Po nodded, "Yeah, what is it?"

"Alone."

Po's eyes widened slightly and he looked over at Tigress. She nodded and he turned back to Jun. "Okay. Lead the way." The walked away from the group, turning around a corner. Jian was waiting for them. Po looked between the two. "What is it?"

Jian sighed and motioned for Jun to speak. "We need to talk about her. About your tiger friend. About the rift."

"I already know she somehow absorbed part of the rift." Po could feel the tenseness of the air. It worried him. "She was able to damage Kai because her chi was changed."

"Her chi wasn't changed, it was tainted." Jun narrowed his eyes, "The rift is connected to the Spirit Realm, if only barely. Since she had been connected to it, her soul itself has been morphed into one like mine. As such, when she dies she won't be able to cross over to the realm of the dead."

"She'll be immortal? Like Kai?"

"No." Jun shook his head slowly, "Her body can still wither and age, but when she dies her soul will be stuck here, as a ghost trapped in the world of the living." Po's eyes widened with horror and he took a step back. "I wish I had known when it first happened, it was strange that she could smell the battle of old." He sighed, turning his head away. "I could have prevented this, like I did with you."

Po placed a paw on his chest, "Me?"

"When we restored some of your memories, you could have become infected, but I prevented it by healing you."

Po clenched his paws, "There has to be some way we can help her! A life like that isn't worth living!"

Jun put up his paw, issuing silence. "We've thought about that. We'd have to destroy the rift itself, turn it back to the way it was before. The links to both her and myself would be cut . . . but, the process would be too much, killing us both."

Po shook his head, "No, there has to be another way."

Jian nodded, "Perhaps, but not one known to us." Her eyes were filled with sadness. "I am sorry. I wish I could help."

Po placed a trembling paw over his mouth. He had no idea what to say or do. If the elders and healer had no idea how to reverse this . . . curse then what hope did he have to help her? His paw tightened around his mouth. Anger flooded his being, aimed directly on himself. How could he give up, especially on something like this. He would cure her.

"I have some files on the Rift. I'll send them with Li Shan as to be convert."

That ended their conversation and Po found his way back to the group. Despite his best efforts to keep himself from appearing distraught, Tigress knew something was up. He promised her to fill her in once they were back in the Valley. It was the only way to keep her quite as well.

The next morning Po, Tigress, Monkey, Mantis, Crane, Viper, Li Shan, Mei- Mei, Lei-Lei, and Cuòwù left for the Valley of Peace. Mei-Mei had taken the young Lei-Lei under her wing. Shen followed the group from afar, hissing at Po when he dared approach the peacock. It wouldn't be until they arrived in the Valley of Peace would Po finally give Shen his pardon, both in paper and a speech to those who had returned to the Valley. He reassured Shen that Masters Croc and Ox would be giving their speeches soon, as well.

The world would soon pardon him.

They started construction as soon as possible and Tigress stated to Po that their match would have to be postponed until a later date. Funerals were planned for Shifu and the fallen warriors of the Amber Palace. The world itself was healing from both the rampage of the wolves, wiping out nearly half of the Kung Fu world, and Kai's hungry path of power. While it would heal, China would forever be scarred.

The Resurrection Stone shards would soon be scattered once more after a small collection team retained them from the chamber where Kai was brought back from the dead. The Jade Palace would bury one, in a hope they would never be touched again. Any official records of the shards would be wiped.

Days after their return to the Valley, Po and Tigress would meet at the peach tree. Po stood behind the Tiger as she sat in a meditative posture. "It's time we talked a bout your chi." The sheer amount of dread in his voice started her and she turned her head to him. That night she would learn of her impending doom. If she died, her soul would remain.

Po entered the hall of Heroes. Most of the artifacts had been moved out for repairs, but he carried one with him. It sickened him to touch. Even looking at it sent shivers down his spin. A Jade Sword that had belonged to Kai, the Spirit Warrior. He set it down on the ground, where it would eventually be immortalized in the Jade Palace.

Their battle had been long and hard, it had taken a fatal stab through the spin to bring him down. He turned his head to Tigress, who nodded. Po backed away from the artifact. "Do you think it was luck that saved us? I almost didn't know about healing. I would have never learned if I had never asked what my dad wanted to do when he was younger."

"Your overthinking things, Po. We won. That's all there is to it."

Po nodded, "Maybe, but we have a long road ahead of us. Learning about chi . . . rifts."

She smiled, "And we'll walk down it together." Po smiled along with her and both turned to stare at the Jade Sword. "It's truly over."

Authors Note: Tigress is right, guys. It's over. Icy Recovery is "Officially Done". It was a fun ride, interesting in a way. Although, it did have problems. I will admit that.

Fun Fact: The Final Fight was Originally only going to be two-three chapters, instead of the six you got.(Probably would have been better if it was Three and not Six. I have no idea what happened.) Also I forgot to write a scene in chapter 23. I don't even remember what it was.

Talk about getting carried away.

In fact, Tigress's power up was not going to originally happen in this story.

Anyways, the Icy Recovery journey isn't yet over. "What?" You ask, "I thought it was done!" And you would be correct if I wasn't somewhat insane. I am writing a bonus chapter about the fight between Oogway and Kai.

So, yeah. Got that to look forward to.