The Jade Warrior
By Mutitoon90
Chapter Seven: Bad News for All
"So, had a good night's sleep?" Po asked Chi as she entered the kitchen with a ragged look on her face.
"Do I look it?" The vixen asked, sounding more tired than sarcastic.
"Dumb question, huh?"
"Huh?" Chi responded before saying, "Sorry, Po, but I didn't get much sleep last night."
"Bad dream?" The panda asked.
Chi wished it was just a bad dream, but it was really because she really could not sleep after having that dream.
"Yeah." The fox answered, trying not to worry Po.
"That's good to hear." Po said with a relived smile on his face.
"Breakfast!" Mr. Ping announced while carrying two noodle bowls.
"Time for work." Chi said getting ready for work, but Mr. Ping stopped her.
"You need the food; you didn't get much sleep."
"But I have to work." Chi protested.
"After breakfast." Po spoke, agreeing with his father, "You didn't get much sleep, so you need to get some rest before you start."
Seeing it is two against one, the vixen gave up and sat down to start eating her noodles.
Later that day at the Jade Palace, Chi was napping, while Po was teaching a group of bunnies in the "Introduction to Kung Fu" class. The vixen had another dream.
Vixen was playing with some pieces of wood. Each piece had one side painted a lustrous gold, while the other side was painted yellow. She always played this game by lining up the wooden pieces. She was almost done.
"Just one more piece." The fox said to herself, while reaching for another piece. She could not grab anything, so she turned her head and saw that there were no more pieces.
"Do you need some help?" A tiny voice asked.
"Hmm?" Vixen turned around and saw a very young Tigress with a smile on her face. The smile comforted the fox a little.
"I don't know." Vixen answered, "Do you know how to play?"
"Yes, Shifu taught me." The cub answered.
"Shifu, huh?" The fox asked, "Do you have a piece?"
"Uh-huh." Tigress said, pulling out a piece.
"Thanks." Vixen said, taking the piece from the cub and placing it in the row.
"What is it?" The cub asked.
"Why don't you find out?"
"You mean-?"
"Sure."
Tigress was so excited about it and pushed the piece, starting a domino effect. It continued until the last piece fell.
There was only one word Tigress could say: "Wow!"
Vixen chuckled as she said, "You can say that again."
The fallen pieces had revealed a picture of a dragon.
"So, Vixen, I see you meet Tigress." Shifu's voice announced itself.
"Master Shifu!" The fox exclaimed as she turned to her master.
The red panda saw the finished product of Vixen's work, and asked the fox, "What's wrong?"
Vixen saw that Shifu knew, but said, "Nothing."
The master sighed and responded by saying, "Can you tell me?"
"No."
"Who said you can't tell?"
"I told her not to speak it." Oogway announced, saving Vixen.
"Master Oogway!" Shifu announced as he showed his respect to the tortoise.
Po was out of the class he taught and saw Chi taking a nap.
"That nightmare must've scared her that bad." Po said to himself.
"Po." Tigress spoke, spooking Po.
"Whoa!" The panda said as he turned to her, "Oh! Hi, Tigress."
"Po, Shifu wants us to meet him in the Hall of Heroes." Tigress announced, "He also said to bring her along."
"It's Chi, and we'll be there." The panda answered.
"Fine." Tigress said coldly as she started walking away.
In the Hall of Heroes, the Furious Five was waiting for Shifu when Po and Chi entered.
"Did we miss anything?" Chi yawned out.
"No." Tigress answered coldly, turning away from Chi.
"Boy, and I thought one had to be a reptile to be cold-blooded." The vixen said, just loud enough for Tigress to hear her.
Turing towards Chi, Tigress was furious.
"You think I'm some pushover?"
"You said it, not me." The vixen snapped.
Tigress was about to pounce when Po stepped between the feuding females.
"Stop this, okay."
"Only if she stops taunting me!" Tigress roared.
"What in the world did I do to upset you!?" Chi asked loudly.
"Stop it now!" Shifu's voice echoed throughout the fabled hall.
Chi walked away from Tigress and Po as Shifu approached the Furious Five.
"Master Shifu, what's wrong?" Viper asked, seeing the worried look of the red panda's face.
Chi looked at Po, but saw Tigress showing concern about her master as Shifu answered.
"I've heard some rumors about sightings."
"What kind?" Crane asked next.
"Of rumors?" Chi asked Crane.
"No, Chi." Monkey answered, "Of sightings."
"The sightings were of…Tai Lung." Shifu announced.
The martial artists gasped, while Chi became very confused.
"Excuse me for my possible stupidity, but who is Tai Lung?" The fox asked.
The others were shocked about Chi's question.
"What?" The vixen asked.
Po was the first to explain.
"Sorry, but it's not everyday that we hear someone asked that question."
"I guess it's a dumb question?" Chi asked.
"No, it's not." Viper answered next, "It's almost impossible to meet someone, who doesn't know about Tai Lung."
"Oh!" The fox finally realized what was strange about her question.
"But Master Shifu, how is it possible?" Po asked.
"Not likely, but not impossible." The red panda answered.
"What?" Chi asked again.
Po sighed before he answered.
"The Wuxi fingerhold."
"Forgive me, but I've never heard of it." The fox admitted.
"It's the thing that any kung fu warrior would fear." Po explained to a not very convinced Chi.
"Really?" The vixen asked sarcastically.
Then, Shifu stepped forward to help Po with the explanation.
"Let me put it this way: the hardest part about it is the clean-up."
Chi thought for a moment before saying, "Now, I believe you. But what does that hold have to do with Tai Lung?"
"I beat him with it." Po announced, partly bragging.
"That's good." The fox commented.
"But if Tai Lung is still around, it's not!" Shifu yelled.
"If." Chi said.
"What are you talking about?" Po asked.
"Well, Shifu said that they're rumors, meaning that there's a possibility that Tai Lung might be gone." Chi explained.
"But there's still a chance that he's not gone." Tigress countered.
"Good point." Chi admitted.
"So, we're agreed." Shifu announced, "We'll act as if we've heard nothing about this, but take heed, if you see Tai Lung, don't confront him."
"Why?" The vixen asked.
"Because, he might kill you." The red panda answered before walking out of the Hall of Heroes.