Unspoken - Tai Lung's Past

Chapter 1

Something New

By:Skyyler


"Tai Lung! Come here, my student!" That same old voice came for me, as I slowly raised my ears from my pillow.

"What?" I sighed with anger. "The bell hasn't rung yet!"

"Just come here!" He called my name once again. His voice seemed a little tense and disturbed with his yelling.

It was still the dim of the night, and the simple glow of the candles lit up the palace. It was like this all the time; just me, my master, and Master Oog staying at the Jade Palace. Yeah, we had visitors, but they were normally just rabbits, birds, and pigs trying to get in, to learn Kung Fu just as I was. But forget them, they weren't worthy enough, right? I could never get why I was picked to be apart of the Jade Palace; to be a student of the greatest Kung Fu teacher in all of China; to be the soon to be Dragon Warrior. I didn't get who I was, but all I knew of, was who I wanted to be, and who I needed to be: The Dragon Warrior. It was all pretty simple and straightforward. But, I needed to be trained up enough to even get close to that type of destiny. That's why I am here. To be, the Dragon Warrior.

I walked across the hall, creaking the floorboards along my way. Every time I walk over them, I try to be as cautious as I can; to be a true samurai and make not a sound, for I am the all mighty warrior! No floorboard will creak when I step-

Creeeak!

"Damn..." Whispering to myself, I looked back down at my feet, and went back to my sneaking. Once at the front hall, I walked across the kitchen. I never actually got the time to look at everything that was situated within this space. Some pots, some pans, you know, the usual kitchen stuff. I began to wonder how they could have made those pots... off of metal? But how did they make the metal? By going into the volcano itself and brewing it? That question always made me wonder.

Creak... creak creak... creeeak...

"Shut up, floorboards!" I growled, eying my feet, knowing it was me who should be doing the shutting up. Everything now just annoyed me. The scenery, the sounds, even my own personality angers me. I don't know why, but I guess that was just me.

"Tai Lung!" Shifu called out again.

"I know I know..." I stopped crouching down, and stood tall. Slowly walking into the sunroom, where my master was located, I looked at him. "What is it? What's so important that you had to wake me up for?"

Master Shifu brought his head up, and stared at me with that same glare that he always had when in need to confront me. His fur was ruffled back to his skin. It almost looked greasy. Someone needed to take a bath... "Don't be shy..." He whispered, looking to the side.

I blinked. What was he doing? "Master, I'm not shy-"

A small figure slowly stepped in behind him, as it kept its eyes down at the ground. It was somewhat shivering in fear. It was a little tiger! What, he got a pet or something? "Who is this?" I asked, not knowing how I, he, or even it would react.

"This..." He nudged it forward. "Is Tigress." He smiled at it, as its sorrow-filled eyes caught his.

"Master why'd..." I looked at it in confusion. It slowly turned its head to me. Its eyes locked with mine. They were like saucers, staring me down. I thought it was going to beam me with its lazer eyes. But yet... they looked somewhat appealing, like, pulling... seductive... I shook my head. "Why'd you bring it here?"

"She's a her. And her name is Tigress." He looked at her. "Come on, introduce yourself. He won't bite."

The feline slowly walked up to me, as she looked me in the eye. "My name is Tiress."

"Tigress." Shifu said.

Tigress turned around in reply.

Shifu shook his head. "Your name is Tigress, not Tiress."

Tigress slowly turned her head back to me. "My... my name is Tigress." She slowly bowed. Bringing her body back up to see me, I didn't bow back.

"Tai Lung..." Shifu beckoned me to shift.

I sighed, and bowed. I looked at her in confused eyes. "Why are you here?" I asked in a low manner.

She blinked. She... blinked. "I... Mister Shifu-"

"Master Shifu." Shifu came in again.

"Master Shifu brought me here from the orphanage."

My eyes shot open wide. "What??" I bolted over to my master. "What the hell, are you saying that..." Thoughts filled my head. I looked back at the tigress. "And she..." I pointed, looking back at my master. "And you..." I looked into his eyes. "No... no you can't do that! I'm your only student!"

"Tai Lung, I never said you were only going to be my one and only student."

I slapped my head. "But, she's like 6 years younger than me! What, you think she is going to be the Dragon Warrior? That place is taken!"

"Shh, animals are sleeping!" He scolded at me. "You will grow up to be the Dragon Warrior, don't worry. This tigress is just going to stay with us until she's old enough to live on her own."

"Oh what, so now you think this-" He held my hands out to indicate the Jade Palace. "This, the one and only Jade Palace is like, some kind of orphanage? You think that? Master! I'm your son! Your..." Thought began to fill my head. I wasn't his son... that would be lying. I was never his son... and I can never be his son... "Your orphan... son..." I blinked, realizing the same was with Tigress. She has the same story as me. She has no need to back anything up. I was just being the jealous brother. No.. no, I'm not her brother now!

"Yes, this is your new sister, Tigress. She will be training with you, as well. She may need to sit aside for some of your training units, but all in all, she will be on the same level as you." Shifu held his hands behind his back with no regret.

I began to turn, and look back at the Tigress. Sorrow filled my heart, while jealousy took my mind. I couldn't let this happen! I began to growl, as I made my way back to the Sleeping Hall. Walking past Tigress, I winced at her. "Oh, I'm sure, Master Shifu..." I just wanted to push her away right then and there, but I wouldn't want Master Shifu to scold me about it. Anyways, I had to learn to control my emotions.

I walked across the halls, making the floorboards creak as much as possible, but not on purpose. In anger, I threw my fist to the ground, and hit the boards. I felt a crack in my knuckles. The board didn't break. Instead, something else did. "Dammit!" Tears filled my eyes, from the physical and emotional pain I felt towards myself, and towards that new, father-stealing student, Tigress.

Tigress... what a stupid name, anyways... I went back to my room, and slammed my doors shut. Goodnight.

...