Wow! It has been a while since I last log on to this website. School's been kicking my ass lately. I never had the time to catch up on my story. "Red Dead Tiger" (for the ones that don't know.) After writing a few chapters and going back to read them. It surprised me how bad it was turning out. So I've decided to rewrite the story. But in the mean time I'll be writing Kung Fu Panda Oneshots. So here's a little taste with Chapter One of my series of oneshots. I'll try to update daily or maybe weekly depending on how it turns out.
A Second Chance.
We all are given one life to live. And with this one life we decide ourselves how we must live. Which includes the burdens we carry and the mistakes we've made to remind us that we are far from perfect. Sometimes our mistakes brings shame. Or degrades our reputation along with the opportunity to be trusted again. But the universe has its mysterious ways of giving those that most would say won't deserve the right to change the wrongs they have committed. Now given a second chance to make some good in the world.
A gentle cool breeze from north made its way through the hillside. The trees began to dance in wind with their branches that swayed in their own unique fashion. High up above the clouds, a full moon could only watch as the trees performed their routine. Not too far away a lone figure stood proudly at the hilltop, unwavered by the wind. Covered with a dark hooded cloak and tattered purple scarf wrapped around the neck, flapping against the wind. The darkness of the night concealed the physical features of the figure. Only thing visible were the ominous glow of two yellow eyes. The pair of eyes seem to be lost in something off in the distance. The sound of a heavy sigh that could be heard. As the pair of yellow eyes that were opened now were closed.
"Why me?" The figure spoke.
"Why not you?" Another voice replied.
"Why someone like me?" Looking down at a pair of paws wrapped in a black cloth.
"Because you still have good left inside you. Even in the darkest of places there will always be a hint of light." The voice was feminine and almost angelic.
"The horrible things I've done, why do I deserve a second chance. I should have stayed dead!" The figure finished with hint of anger.
"I've failed everyone who believed in me..." The figure's voice was shaky.
Then there was silence. Only the sound of leaves rustling against the wind broke the eerie silence.
"You still have a chance to change your future. Don't dwell in the past and events in the past."
"Oh really?" Laughing dryly. "What makes you say that?"
"Because, I sensed deep within you the urge for a purpose in this world." The angelic voice stated.
The figure growled in annoyance. There was no denying that...
But for sure the universe could have clearly pick someone else far better than he. This opportunity, this chance given was certainly a mistake. It made no sense why he was given this chance. What will people think? What will they say? People would never accept this and probably would react just the same as before...in fear.
Pulling away the dark hood, to reveal a face slightly beaten by age and experience. The silver fur shined brightly in the beautiful light of the moon. Black and brown leopard spots covered the all over. A pair of jet black ears twitching ever so slightly listening to the sounds of the night. Then there were those two yellow eyes. They once held a look of darkness and vengeance but now they were different. As if they were missing something, longing for a purpose.
"Tai Lung?" The angelic voice called out.
"Yes."
"Have you decided on what path you will take? The choice is yours."
"Yes I have. I must return to the very beginning. I must journey to the Valley of Peace." A look of determination now filled the snow leopard features.
Returning the hood over his head, he now finally had a goal to complete. Turning back on his heel toward a path headed toward the entrance of a dense jungle. But as he walked memories of before began to flood his mind...
Flashback
GYAAAAAH!
The last thing he remembered was being blinded by a golden light. Then a long silence.
Moments later waking up to vast room of white. There were no ceilings or floors. His body was drifting in an endless void.
Was this a dream within a dream? He questioned himself.
Was he dead?
Where was he?
He was too weak to move, even to think as he began to fall in and out of consciousness.
For hours he laid there...motionless. Having no idea of what time of day it was or how long he had been there for. His consciousness began to give once again. He caught a glimpse of his tattered pants and the severe bruises that cover most of his body. Whatever had happened moments before must have injured him severely. Strangely enough there was no pain from his injuries.
Hours Later….
Waking up again which seemed like an eternity only to see himself was in the same place as before. Frantically, he tried to move his body but to no avail. With no feeling in his arms or legs and none of his sensory nerves responded. Trying every possible way to gain to movement in his arms or legs. But nothing would budge. He laid there absolutely defeated. With no movement or way of escaping he became desperate; crying out to anyone for help became his last resort. Something he thought he'd never do in his life...
"HELP!"
As he cried, but there was only the echo of his voice. Once again he tried. But it was the same result as before. That same eerie sound of his voice. Then complete silence. This was madness, complete madness! There was no way of escaping and there was no one there to aid him. He was alone. Anger and Frustration began to build.
"What did I do to deserve this? This isn't fair!" He yelled.
His chest rose and fell quickly as he caught his breathe. Rage, anger and frustration fill his mind he could no longer think clearly. He could only just stare into the vast room of emptiness. Thoughts began to run through his mind. The anger and frustration began to disappear and replaced with something else. But strangely something began to hurt. He couldn't feel anything so it couldn't have been physical. Something deeper than physical pain. Something much more painful than broken bones, bruises or an illness. An emotion deep within his heart, an emotion he hadn't felt for so long. It felt almost foreign...
It was Guilt.
Maybe in the end he really did deserve this. He pondered
He wasn't perfect. He wasn't a saint either... And there were many things he had done that he wasn't proud of...
All his life he pursued only power. Nothing else mattered. To become the greatest warrior of his time was his number one goal.
Living a normal life like everyone else was a fantasy. He was an orphan. Never having the chance to know his mother or father. The life he had was set for him and there was no going back. He had a duty that was placed on his shoulder at such a young age. The only one thing that became the centerpiece of his life was Kung Fu.
He lived it.
He loved it.
He breathed it.
The art of Kung Fu flowed through his veins.
He was a prodigy, granted the name of Master at the age of sixteen. Along with obtaining many achievements under his belt: Completing the Thousand Kung Fu scrolls at the age of eighteen. Including single-handedly defeated an army to protect a village. He was buried under the praise, awards and accomplishments given to him.
Everyone loved him; he was a hero to many. To his foster father he was the greatest thing that ever happened. But in the depths of his heart the seed of darkness was beginning to flourish. He began to change and think differently. Praise and awards were soon nothing to him now. Becoming stronger, obtaining more power were top priority. His training became much more intense. He became much more interested in forbidden techniques then obtaining inner peace. Slowly the goodness began fade and replaced by his want for power.
His father was too blinded by his pride and happiness to see what began to grow in his sons heart.
Soon enough it was too late when the darkness that grew in his heart had taken him far beyond the point of return. As he began to look to new opportunities. That would set him above other Kung Fu warriors across China. The only thing that could satisfy that desire was the title and the power hidden within the Dragon Scroll. The title of the Dragon Warrior. It was music to his ears. But the universe had other plans.
There was that one night that would be the turning point in his life. Remembering it like it was yesterday.
One night, returning to his barrack after a hard night of training he could help but hearing Grandmaster Oogway and his adopted father Master Shifu talking about who was destined to become the Dragon Warrior. But that night was not a friendly conversion between master and student. He could faintly heard Master Shifu and the Grandmaster began arguing. Usually the Grandmaster and Master were in good terms with one another.
He careful placed his ear against the door to eavesdrop on their conversion.
"Master I-I don't understand why. How could you believe that he could not be the one?"
Shifu continued. "He has worked too hard. Gone through many trials to reach level he's at. And not many can do the same."
"Shifu." Oogway said with sadness in his voice.
"The universe has no master Shifu. It is like a leaf in the wind, which goes in the direction it wishes. Twisting and turning, flipping and spinning. The time for the Dragon Warrior has yet to come and he will not become the Dragon Warrior." The old tortoise finished.
Shifu face fell with disappointment, those last words burned into his ears. He was most certain that his son was the one. Everything he had done was a waste, the time and the effort. All was vanity. He had failed his son.
Without another word Shifu stepped out of his master's barracks to return to his own. Closing the door behind him with his head held low as he walked down the hallway.
Oogway watched as his student closed the door. He sighed heavily. "Shifu...only if you could see..."
Meanwhile, from the shadows he watched his father walking down the hallway with his head held low in disappointment.
Tomorrow morning would be the day that he'd find out if they spoke of him that night and if they did. He didn't care. The title was rightfully his. Not his father or the Grandmaster couldn't stop him from taking it.
Even if it meant tomorrow was his final day on earth.
Looking back now, he realized his life would change so much if he had just accepted his fate. But then what did he have to live for after that? Nothing. Absolutely nothing. He didn't choose to be a Kung Fu warrior. Kung Fu choose him and probably if he a chance to change all that, certainly he'd choose it in a heartbeat. Betraying everything he stood for. His father, the honor and reputation of a Master. And threw it all away for a scroll that never had any real power behind it. Including a title that never really was meant for him.
If only he could make things right again. A second chance to start anew. To say sorry to the love ones he disappointed and the villagers he sworn to protect. But he knew that was not going to happen. Accepting fate, he decided to do one last honorable deed. He would apologize to his father and thank him for everything.
"Father." His voiced cracked with sadness.
"I'm sorry for the pain I've brought upon you."
"I've put a burden not only on you but Tigress and the furious five." His eyes were brimming with tears.
"I just hope that you could find it deep within your heart to forgive me." The tears flowed down through fur on his cheek.
Feeling the weight of shame was immediately lifted off his shoulders.
He sighed heavily. Finally he had done some good in his life. That brought a smile of satisfaction to his face. His eyes began to feel heavy and fatigue began to take over. As he finally closed his eyes, unaware to the supernatural events that began to take place. His bruises and injuries began to glow a bright yellow. Soon enough they were healed.
Then his entire body became envelop in a light as soon as it had appeared it disappeared along with his body.
Moments later he remember waking up to the morning rays of sunlight almost blinding him with the smell of grass that filled his nose. Strangely enough there was a voice that called out to him. It sounded so pleasant...
End of flashback
Recalling the memories brought a smile to his face. He felt now he had a purpose. A second chance to right the wrongs he made.
But first he had to make things right with his Father.
Hope you guys like this Oneshot. Please let me know how you feel by clicking on that review button. I'll try to update frequently.
Well I'm out!