A/N: Read it before you kill me for killing off Shifu. I don't like it either, but I wanted to see what others could do with this. But since no one will do it, I'll fulfill my own wishes.

Told from Shifu's point of view until his death, and then it will be a normal story.

Starts out when Shifu just apologized to Tai Lung.

Death of a Master

I stared into Tai Lung's eyes, silently pleading forgiveness. I never meant to turn him into a monster. But that's what pride does.

For a moment, it looked like he would forgive me.

Then, he hardened his heart once more. Tai Lung snarled and lunged, slamming me into the Moon Pool steps and catching my throat in a death grip. My hands flew to his hand, desperately trying to pull away.

"I don't want your apology." Tai Lung seethed. He pushed off of me and raised me high, shaking me. "I want my scroll!" I gasped for breath, trying to pull away. The villagers had to be safe, but I had to make sure. Tai Lung's eyes went past me and to the golden dragon above.

"What?" he gaped.

I remembered how I had given Po the Dragon Scroll to protect from Tai Lung. Tai Lung was furious now.

"WHERE IS IT?!" he yelled. He slammed my body into the steps. I felt the back of my neck crack a little from the sharp step edge. My body cracked the marble around it. I gasped, knowing I would die soon. But I could at least reveal the truth.

I gasped out, "Dragon Warrior….has taken scroll halfway across…" Tai Lung tightened his grip. "….China…by now." I coughed, gagging a little. "You will….never…see that scroll…Tai Lung." Tai Lung unsheathed his claws and tightened his grip as tight as he could. "Never!" I gasped, desperate for air. "Never….." My eyes rolled back in their sockets, but I was fully aware of Tai Lung's fierce growl and his sharp claws slashing across my face. I cried out weakly, barely alive. Tai Lung let me go, but I hardly gasped. Tai Lung took a fistful of my head fur and pulled it back, revealing my unprotected throat. He lunged again, growling triumphantly.

He was ready to kill me.

And I, truthfully, was ready to die in the most agonizing way Tai Lung could think of.

He just barely cut my throat when someone yelled, "HEY!"

Po.

That idiot.

That loyal idiot.

I could hardly hear Po and Tai Lung talking before Tai Lung rushed over and attacked. My head dropped and hit the floor, but I couldn't feel any pain. I heard Tai Lung and Po's fight disappear into the Valley of Peace village. I just lay there, weak and in pain. I was also unconscious. But my head was swimming with thoughts; good memories I cherished, bad memories I dreaded, and all the things I regretted the most.

I thought of how much Po had grown in being a warrior. He came to the Jade palace as a clumsy idiot who couldn't do much of anything except cook. But he learned so fast. I prayed to the gods it would be enough to stop Tai Lung.

I thought of the Five, my own children that I never showed how proud I was of them. Tigress especially. I had always referred her as my daughter more than my student. But I never showed the fatherly love I should've. I had once promised myself that, before I died, I would tell her how proud I really was.

Would I get the chance?

I thought about Tai Lung last. He was a great son, but he grew to be a dark warrior. After he had gone to Chor Gom Prison, I kept thinking about what would happen if I had never took him in as a cub.

It wouldn't be the same.

I would've never met Tigress. I never would have taken her in when no one else would. Monkey might've been my only student considering Master Oogway took him in first. Mantis, Viper, and Crane wouldn't be here. Po would never realize his destiny.

In some ways, I regret taking Tai Lung in. He made my life living heck tonight. But in other ways, I'm thankful. I wouldn't have met the Five or Po if it wasn't for him.

"Master!"

I felt the vibration of hurried footsteps. Someone shook me gently.

It couldn't be.

Could it?

"Shifu! Shifu, are you ok?"

Someone's furry hand lifted my head up. I grunted and opened my eyes.

"Po." I whispered. "You're alive? Or we're both dead."

"No, master, I didn't die." Po said. "I defeated Tai Lung." My ears perked up a little and I stared into the panda's eyes.

"You did?" I asked. Po nodded a proud smile on his face. I smiled, too. "Wow." I said softly. "It is as Oogway….foretold. You are the Dragon Warrior." Po's smile disappeared. He knew I was weak. "You have brought peace….to this valley….and……and to me. Thank you." I sighed. "Thank you, Po. Thank you."

"Shifu?" Po said, worry etched clearly in his eyes. "Don't die."

"Take….take care…of the valley." I whispered.

"No." Po shook his head a little. "I won't have to. You'll live."

"Po….I'm….sorry." I said. "Tell the Five…..I'm…..sorry….." I gasped, feeling my final breath approaching.

"Master!" Po cried, tears springing up in his eyes. "Please don't leave me. Tell the Five yourself that you're sorry."

I heard more footsteps, and the familiar sound of a snake and a bird's wings. The Five came to Po's sides.

"Master?" Viper asked.

"I…." I gasped, weakening. "I…..I'm….sorry……"

My last breath came out softly.

My head went limp in Po's hand.

But I knew one thing.

I had died seeing my students one last time.

That was all that mattered.

*****

Po stared at his master's lifeless body. Hot tears sprang to his eyes and flowed down his cheeks. Viper cried silently. Mantis, Monkey, Crane, and Tigress bowed in reverence. But their eyes were wet as well.

Po never expected his greatest achievement, beating Tai Lung, to be followed by the disaster of his master's death.

"But Shifu, he'll kill you." Po had warned when Shifu stayed behind.

"Then I'll have finally paid for my mistake." Was Shifu's only reply.

When Po had returned, he was prepared for the sight of the Hall of Warriors. Weapons scattered about. Cracked columns. A hole in the roof. But worst of all, Shifu's limp body. Scorch marks were on his fur and clothes, indicating he had been fighting with actual fire. But what was hardest to look at was the scratch marks across Shifu's face. When Po came to challenge Tai Lung, the first thing he saw when he entered the hall was Tai Lung about to slit Shifu's throat.

Why couldn't he arrive sooner?

"What do we do?" Po finally asked.

"What can we do?" Tigress demanded angrily. "Shifu's dead." She glared hard at Po. "And….IT'S ALL YOUR FAULT!"

Po set Shifu's dead corpse down and stood up to look Tigress squarely in the eyes.

"Don't….you….dare….blame me for this." Po growled. "I had nothing to do with this."

"You're the Dragon Warrior." Tigress accused. "You were supposed to defeat Tai Lung with your great powers. You were supposed to save people." She pointed at Shifu's body. "You beat Tai Lung only on luck. And you didn't save anyone; you only caused Shifu's death."

"How?" Po asked.

"Does it matter?" Tigress asked. "He's dead and now we're master less."

"I didn't-"

"Don't lie!" Tigress yelled. She picked up Shifu's body and carried it off. Everyone followed her as she walked into Shifu's room and gently laid her father on his bed. Then she took a blanket and covered his body. Tigress bowed, staying kneeling by Shifu's side. Everyone only watched from the doors. Po sighed.

She's right. He thought. I should've come sooner. Or even stay and help Shifu fight. How could I fail so badly?

A/N: I was thinking about making this a one-shot, but I think I'll extend it because I got a really good idea. Read and Review! And please don't kill me! It gets better!