Six Months Earlier
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU'RE LEAVING?!" Shifu roared. He and Tai-Lung were in the Dragon Grotto after Tai-Lung asked to speak with him. Shifu was a small and fluffy ball of frustration, with the most menacing look on his face. Tai-Lung on the other hand, was pretty nervous and wanted to flee, but refused to show it and stood his ground.
"Where is this foolishness coming from?! You have no reason to leave!" While Shifu was having his mini episode, Tai-Lung politely waited for him to calm down before continuing. Geez, I knew he wasn't going to like my decision, but I didn't think he would freak out THIS much.
"Master," Tai-Lung sighed, "I have to go. I can't stay here. You heard what Oogway said." he spoke softly. "I have darkness in my heart and if I don't stop it from growing now, then–." He paused and exhaled slowly. "Master, I beg you to please grant me permission to go."
"Is that what this is about? Oogway's denial?" Shifu questioned. "Tai-Lung, nobody's perfect. We all have our flaws, but that doesn't make us terrible people." He spoke with understanding. "And even if you do have darkness, you don't have to leave to rid yourself of it. You can stay here and we can fight it...together."
Tai-Lung was really touched by his master's words, but it only gave him more conflicted feelings.
Which is exactly what he wanted. Damn it.
"Master, I understand how much you want me to stay, but no amount of pleading or manipulation with my feelings can will me away from my intentions." Tai-Lung said with a stoic expression.
Gods damn it, I thought I was getting to him. "And why can't you stay here? It'll be no different from going out there." Shifu said with agitation.
Tai-Lung was just as annoyed as Shifu. "If it's no different then, let me go."
"No."
Tai-Lung began to growled in frustration. "Ugh, Shifu, staying here will be no help to me! If anything, it will only be holding me back."
"By the gods, you were always such a dramatic child." Shifu muttered while rubbing his temple. "How can the Palace be holding you back when we made you the man that you are today: a strong, and dedicated warrior with best of intentions."
Tai-Lung looked at his master in controlled anger. "I do not have the best of intentions. Never say that." His face began to soften into a sad frown, avoiding Shifu's eyes, "I am corrupt." Tai-Lung then looked his master in the eyes. "Before yesterday, I thought I knew who I was and what I was meant to do and be in this world. I was going to be the legendary Dragon Warrior, and nothing was going to steer me away from my goal. But now, ever since Oogway's denial, I don't know why I'm even alive anymore." He sighed. "Master, I need to, to go find myself and the only way for me to truly achieve that is if I say good bye and go."
Shifu stared at his son in contained anger. How could Tai-Lung do this to him? How dare he leave like this? He loved him like no other and this was how he repaid him; by abandoning him. Well good luck with that. "It's always about Tai-Lung and what Tai-Lung needs, isn't it?"
"Master, that's not–"
"You need to leave. You need to go find yourself. You need to not be held back." Shifu said while walking closer and closer to Tai-Lung.
"You know that–"
"Well, what about what everyone else needs!?" He exclaimed while pulling Tai-Lung down to his level and looking him dead in the eye. "The valley still needs their protector, Tigress still needs her brother and I!" he paused. "I still need my son." He finished softly as he finally let Tai-Lung go. There was a long moment of silence between the two. "You are to train until the setting of the sun. After that, you may do as you please. We are done talking of this matter." Shifu said as he began to walk away.
"Master, you can't just–"
"I said we're done!" Shifu said in vexation.
If there was one thing constant about Tai-Lung, it was that he was stubborn and never knew when to stop. So, you could already guess that Tai-Lung damn well wasn't about to end it with Shifu right then and there. "No Shifu," he said with a slight smirk, voice filled with determination, "we're not done here, only taking a break." Then he bowed with a fist in an open palm. "Master," and walked away.
Shifu closed his eyes and inhaled and exhaled deeply. He could already feel an oncoming migraine and was not too excited about it. "What am I to do master?"
Oogway slowly walked into the room with a small grin. "That was some confrontation, wasn't it?" he said jokingly.
"I don't understand how he has this-this-this mindset of leaving and abandoning us?" Shifu said while turning to his master with a look of misunderstanding. "And it's all because he gets denied the scroll. He acts as if everything has changed and will never go back to how it once was."
"Maybe we need change."
"What?" Shifu said. "I'm sorry master, and I don't mean to sound juvenile, but are you taking his side in the matter?" he asked with narrowed eyes.
Oogway gave a long sigh. "Really, what I should be saying is that I'm on nobody's side, but if I were to be honest, then yes, I am in agreement with Tai-Lung." When Oogway saw Shifu's look of hurt and slight betrayal, he put his hand on his shoulder. "Maybe we should let go of things and let nature take its course." While Shifu and Oogway were talking, Tigress came into the room and appeared to be looking for something. "And start worrying about more important matters." Oogway said while turning Shifu's attention over to Tigress.
"Brother?"
"Yes?"
"Can I ask you a question?"
"You just did, but sure."
"Why won't you let me go get lunch by myself?"
It was almost three hours since Tai-Lung and Shifu's confrontation. When Tai-Lung left, he went out with what appeared to be a calm attitude, when in reality, he was fuming. For three hours, he, yet again, tuned the training hall into shambles. Nothing was saved from his wrath, much to the chagrin of Zeng. Now both he and Tigress were walking down the thousand steps to go get lunch in the valley. It was taking them a while, but they really didn't mind. Of course, Tai-Lung could have easily jumped from the top of the steps and land in the valley without breaking a sweat, but he didn't like the idea of leaving Tigress alone to walk the entire stairs without any company. Plus, the walk helped him clear his head and relax.
"Shifu lets me go, but whenever I'm about to leave, you always appear out of nowhere and claim that you need to go with me. Why?" Tigress asked with a pouty face.
"Because, I don't like seeing you go to the valley by yourself."
"Why?"
"Because it's not safe for a child your age to be alone in a public area."
"Why?"
Tai-Lung smirked. "Because If I'm not there then boys will see just how pretty you are and will wanna kiss and hug you." He teased while giving his sister a nuggie. The real reason why he didn't let Tigress go by herself was because he was often plagued with thoughts of bandits raiding the valley while she was by herself or getting kidnaped. Of course, he voiced these concerns to his master, but Shifu honestly didn't see what the problem was.
Tigress made a rather disgusted face. "Eeeewww. Kissing is disgusting and nasty and boys are the worst. They'll do nice things for you, but it's never sincere, they only want one thing in the end."
Tai-Lung made a face. Only want one thing in the end? Where is she getting this from? He rose an eyebrow. "And what would that one thing be?"
Tigress shrugged her shoulders "I don't know, they never tell me what it is."
"And who is they?"
"Mistress Mei-Ling of course!" Tigress said cheerfully.
Mei-Ling was a "friend" of Shifu's that would come to the palace on occasions (like once every other month) to talk of important business. She was an attractive fox with quite the diva attitude. She was often a bit vulgar and quite seductive, but it was often times unintended. Mei-Ling adored Tai-Lung and Tigress. Both before and after Mei-Ling and Shifu's conversations, Mei-Ling would always spend time with Tai-Lung and Tigress. She would ask them how they were doing, bring back gifts for them and would even spend "girl time" with Tigress. She'd stay for a maximum of five days until her departure, with promises to come back (and a mysteriously red faced Shifu).
Tai-Lung sighed. So much for having a good womanly role model. "Tigress."
"Yeah?"
"No more girl time with mistress Mei-Ling."
Tai-Lung and Tigress finally made it down to the valley after another ten minutes. The valley was crowded with people all walking to different destinations. Soon, the feline duo arrived at the entrance of a courtyard of a restaurant, with a huge sign saying 'Noodles, Dumplings and more'. The courtyard was filled with people eating lunch and chatting with each other and in the middle of all the commotion was a small, middle aged goose rushing back and forth from each table, looking like a chicken with its head cut off. It wasn't too long until the goose saw the two at the entrance.
"Why, if it isn't my favorite customers!" the goose exclaimed.
Tigress ran up to the goose with open arms and a big smile. " !" She said as she tackled the poor goose and practically crushed him in the biggest hug she could give. "I'm so happy to see you."
"I'm happy to see you too Tigress." he managed to wheeze out.
"Tigress be mindful of your strength. Don't kill the poor man." Tai-Lung smirked.
"Oh, it's no problem at all; in fact, I welcome it!" responded. The hug may have been a tad bit uncomfortable, but he was big on hugs and children, so he didn't mind. Mr. Ping soon led the two to a table near the kitchen where they sat down to eat. "So, what will it be today? The usual?"
"Yeah." Tai-Lung responded with a slight grin.
"Two bowls of noodles and one plate of dumplings coming up then!" said cheerfully as he walked off.
The feline duo sat down with Tigress (unsurprisingly) asking a question.
"Tai?"
"Yep."
Tigress continued with slight trepidation in her voice. She didn't know whether or not for she would get scolded for asking, but she was curious. "What were you and Shifu talking about this morning? I was walking past the Dragon Grotto when I heard you and master yelling."
Tai-Lung had no idea as to what to say. How could he tell his six-year-old sister that he had planned on leaving without her? Ever since she came to the Jade Palace, Tigress and Tai-Lung had loved each other like the siblings they literally never had. When Tigress would cry about how much of a monster she was, her big brother would always be there to dry the tears and treat her to mooncakes. When Tai-Lung felt inadequate or insecure about his training, his baby sister would always draw him a picture of him being the greatest Kung-Fu master. He knew how selfish it was of him to leave her behind, but what other choice did he have? He knew very well that no matter how much he wanted to, he couldn't take the young child with him.
"Tigress, what species are you?" Tai-Lung asked, while leaning forward on his arms.
"A tiger of course!" She responded proudly for knowing the answer. "I have sharp claws and teeth and orange fur with black stripes. Everyone can see that."
"And how long have you been aware of this?"
"Since I was born!"
"Ok, so you're a tiger. You know it, everybody else knows it; you have no doubt and are absolutely sure that you are a tiger. You've been knowing this fact since the day you were born."
"Yep!"
"But what if someone told you that you were actually a panda?"
Tigress gave a look of confusion. "A panda? But that's impossible! I'm obviously a tiger." She said with confidence.
"I know!" he exclaimed. "How could anyone say that you're not a tiger; that person must be a liar."
"But what if they were actually telling the truth?" Tai-Lung questioned.
"Me? Being a panda? I wouldn't know what to think; what to say. It's hard to explain." She responded a bit troubled.
"Try."
"Well, I guess I wouldn't feel like, well, me. Like I'm not Tigress." She explained.
Tai-Lung looked Tigress in the eye. "Well Tigress, that's kind of what I'm going through now." He said softly.
"You're a panda?!" Tigress exclaimed with surprise.
"Nooooo, no, no, no, no, that's not what I'm saying." Tai-Lung responded with widen eyes. "I'm saying that I don't know who I am anymore."
"What do you mean you don't know who you are? You're Tai-Lung!" Tigress said as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. "And you still didn't answer my question." For a six-year-old, Tigress was pretty smart.
"I'm getting there, hold your horses." Tai-Lung smirked. "But there's something I need to tell you that's related to what I just confessed."
"Okay, what?" Tigress asked in curiosity
He took a deep breath, "Tigress, I'm leaving." He said slowly.
Tigress gave him a unimpressed stare. "O…k? You leave all the time." she said matter–of–factly. "How is this any different? When do you think you're coming back?"
Tai-lung took another deep breath. Please don't over react like Shifu. "No Tigress, I'm leaving as in not coming back. Well at least not for most of the year, I'll come see you during holidays or on your birthday." Tai-Lung explained, hoping that it made things better for her to understand.
Tigress looked at Tai-Lung as if he grew a second head and was having a hard time comprehending on just what he just said. "You're...leaving?" she asked in disbelief.
Tai-Lung looked his sister in the eye and reached for her hand. "Look Tigress, I know you're not excited at all about this, but you have to understand–"
"NO!" Tigress shouted while yanking her hand away. "So this is what you and master were talking about!?" Tigress asked with a look of betrayal and anger. "Why would you want to leave me like this!?" Tears were developing in her eyes with a snarl on her face.
"Tigress you're beginning to make a scene." Tai-Lung said calmly but sternly. Tai-Lung knew that his sister wasn't going to be happy with the news, but he expected her to be more of a sobbing mess than a pissed off force of fury.
At this point the entire restaurant was quiet with all eyes on them. Some people stayed to watch the show while others, being mothers, began to leave, not wanting their children to be exposed to such drama.
"I don't care!" she all but screamed. "I-i-is the Valley not good enough for you? Are the people that l-l-love you not good enough for you? Am I not good enough for you?!" her anger boiling over.
"WHAT?! Noo! You are more than enough for me Tigress." Tai-Lung responded in a desperate attempt to calm her down. He walked over to his sister and took hold of her face while drying the tears. "I'm just not good enough for myself." Tai-Lung said in a gently voice.
"Don't touch me!" Tigress yelled as she pushed her brother away and backed from him. Soon, she began to sob. "You're the o-o-only one I have that doesn't…hate me. You t-t-told me that we would always be brother and sister and that you would never leave me." Tigress was rubbing her face every which way to try to stop the tears, but of course it didn't work. "You're a big fat lier!" She said before running out of the restaurant.
"Tigress!" Tai-Lung yelled as he ran out of the restaurant, chasing after her. When he couldn't find her in the crowd, he stopped himself to calm him of his nerves. "What have I gotten myself into now?"
Author's note:
I don't know Tai, what have you done? I guess we'll just have to find out in the next chapter (that may or may not take another three months to write (^_^)* hehehe)
I know this has nun to do w/ the main plot of the story, but don't worry, I'M GETTING THERE DANG IT!
Hope you enjoyed. Shows over.
