Tai Lung glared at Shifu,, tossing the little tiger aside again. "You all betrayed me. Give me the Dragon Scroll," he growled. His amber eyes were glowing with anger and although he stood quite still, the red panda could easily see that it took him a lot of effort not to attack. He wanted revenge and Shifu could understand that, after all, he had raised his son to believe he was the Dragon Warrior for years, only to disappoint him. Still, that was no excuse for Tai Lung's actions, was it?
"If I thought you deserved it then, I am sure you do not now. You have shed the blood of the innocent," Shifu growled. Many of the villagers had been severely injured or their belongings ruined, and Tai Lung was lucky that Shifu and Oogway's words were enough to keep the villagers from klling the snow leopard themselves.
"But I deserved it then. The past means everything. What was all the training for if not that? I worked for years and everything I had is gone," Tai Lung protested.
"No, you are wrong. The present is what truly matters," the red panda stated. He had learned that a long time ago. People had to let go of the past to be truly free. It was hard and even he hadn't completely mastered that task, but Master Oogway had taught him to try so long ago and he trusted his master. The snow leopard's last words had hurt him even more though. He had not lost everything. Yes, he had lost the respect of the villagers, the purpose of his preserverence during training, and his freedom. But didn't he undertstand? There was more to life than power. So many people had taken their families for granted.
"Then let me be like you," the snow leopard stared hungrily at him and Shifu twitched an ear. What? Was he actually asking something or trying to insult him? "I want to be a werewolf too." The red panda stared at his son and froze, feeling a chill of dread. He had never shown the snow leopard his wolf form and maybe he had been right to do so. He had so much potential for protecting others, but he used it entirely for the wrong reason. Shifu could not and would not add power to the already enraged feline Tai Lung had become. The cub he had raised and loved seemed to be lost inside the adult that raged at him. "My power would be glorious," his eyes shone, "for I would be both Dragon Warrior and ancient wolf."
"You are not and will not be the Dragon Warrior! You shall not have either. They are not my gifts to give," Shifu growled. It was true. He believed his werewolf form was more of a curse than anything. Even if it was a gift, why had it brought so much suffering and death to him and his friends? It seemed to be both a curse and a gift, but he was sure Tai Lung could not handle it, especially because he had not been able to handle not being the Dragon Warrior. Besides, Master Oogway was the only one who could choose the Dragon Warrior and he had chosen no. So far, Master Oogway had always been right, even if his motives did not seem right in the beginning. It was aven wrong to call them motives because he simply did what he believed was right, and it had always ended up being the right thing to do.
"I've killed before. I can kill again. If you won't give me what I deserve, I'll take it!" Tai Lung hissed. Shifu shuddered. Did that mean Tai Lung would have killed both him and Master Oogway if he was given a chance? How had he failed to see what his son was becoming? Had he been blinded all these years by what he saw as perfection? If so, he would never raise another child again.
"Fine, I'll give you what you deserve," Shifu felt the fury at his son overwhelm him, accented by guilt. He had spoiled his son beyond belief and whatever he had become, he realized was because of him. Flattening his ears angrily, Shifu backed up and leapt, as fast as he could. He aimed to knock his son out with one kick. That was all he needed to win this battle. But then, as he stared at Tai Lung's face full of fury, he remembered how the young cub would leap gleefully into his arms. He couldn't hurt his son. He had been wrong. This was not Tai Lung's fault, it was his, and the cub should not pay the blame for his master's mistakes. Desperately trying to stop his blow, Shifu paused. That pause he might have regretted for along time to come.
With a snarl of rage, Tai Lung swiped Shfu sideways and gave a hammering blow that sent the red panda rolling. The old red panda lay on the ground feeling numb. It had all happened so fast, it felt like a blur. In shock, he paused and watched helplessly as Tai Lung leapt up high for the Dragon Scroll. Tryint to jump to his feet, he fell back with a sharp hiss of agony as the pain finally hit. He had been injured in battle before, but this was like nothing else. The pain in his heart that his son hated him enough to do this, overwhelmed him, but the new pain in his leg made him feel the despair all the more. He couldn't move his left leg and his hip hurt worse than anything he'd felt. He had broken bones and torn flesh in training and battles, but he had never felt the pain this bad. Almost as bad, was the fact that he felt so helpless. He hadn't even been able to stop his son. It was his duty to stop him. His son, meanwhile, was easily leaping for the Dragon Scroll, as his jumping skills were impeccable. He could do nothing while his son betrayed him, kung fu, China, and Master Oogway.
Dazed, he watched as Master Oogway jumped quickly to meet the snow leopard and stopped Tai Lung by rendered him motionless with the nerve attack. He had not seen Master Oogway use such dangerous moves in a long time, but seeing as he had trained his son all too well, they were perhaps necessary. Shifu lay on the ground, panting, and stared at his son. He felt hated, betrayed, and yet he had set impossible goals for his son and maybe this was all his fault. But if he could just wake him and speak to him, everything would be all right, he convinced himself. What else could he do? They couldn't, after all, leave Tai Lung in his state of paralysis forever. Dragging himself painfully closer, he reached out.
"This was his decision," Master Oogway softly murmured, and Shifu dropped his hand. Yes, but decisions were made through experience and the old red panda had directed Tai Lung through all his experiences.
"But I was his master. His father. I should have foreseen…everything…but now it is too late. He has brought great suffering upon the valley and for that, I am sorry," Shifu sighed. But being sorry was not about to help anything and if Tai Lung was to live the rest of his life in anger, that would be just as bad as staying paralyzed. They would continue training after Tai Lung had fixed the wrongs he had done and Shifu maybe could convince the snow leopard to forgive him.
"You realize he cannot stay here after this?" Master Oogway quickly asked, but the red panda paused. He would never see his son again? But he had been too careless with his words. He had let his anger control his actions and his last words to his son had been hurtful. He had to apologize to him. Before his son was banished from the Valley of Peace, he had to let his son know that he still loved him.
"Yes," Shifu murmured, making a decision, "And I will keep him company."
"You would give up your life here, The Furious Five, all for a murderer?" Master Oogway sighed.
"He is my son," Shifu simply replied.
"I forbid you." The old tortoise calmly stated.
"What?" he yelped. He had never expected that of his master. Why? He had to apologize to his son, and if Tai Lung was to spend an eternity in jail for Shifu's mistakes, the least he could do was keep him company.
"You are needed at the Jade Palace. I need you to be my successor, The Furious Five need you to be their guide and mentor, and the valley needs you to keep it safe," Master Oogway affirmed.
"And look how it's gone so far. Besides, they have you. You're not going anywhere for a long time," Shifu stared at his master, "Are you?"
"A time of change is coming…your destiny is here, my friend. Stay," the old tortoise said. It was clear he would not share all his secrets. Master Oogway was the last of the ancient giant tortoises and he had lived for over a thousand years. That would never change.
"At least let me say good-bye to him," Shifu pleaded, but Master Oogway shook his head sadly.
"I cannot wake him up until he is imprisoned. If he escapes…" the old tortoise trailed off, shook his head, and changed topic, " Chor Gohm prison can be emptied and used to contain Tai Lung. I have some older weapons that will retain him, but we cannot risk him being let loose on the valley again," he said.
"Then I will come with you," Shifu tried to stand, but although he was very nimble, it was hard to balance on one foot in such pain.
"No, you are injured. I will send a message to Chor Gohm prison to clear out their prisoners to new destinations. You are to stay here. I will accompany gaurds who will bring Tai Lung there," Master Oogway told him sternly, and Shifu bowed his head.
"Yes Master," he murmured. He would listen…for now.
Master Oogway did as he said and Shifu rested, although refusing a doctor. He wouldn't be able to travel or shift with a cast. Tigress had wanted to help guard Shifu, but she was badly injured too and the rest of the Furious Five cared for her. Shifu had refused their help and they had been hurt. They thought he didn't like them anymore, but he had to see his son. Boding his time, he remained alert for his chance. If he apologized and promised to visit, maybe Tai Lung would find the imprisonment less lonely. When the gaurds and Master Oogway set off, Shifu, glad for once of his werewolf form, decided to follow. The Furious Five were injured, but being taken care of by the servants of the palace and the doctor. Alone in his room, Shifu shifted. He would always love his son. They traveled nearly a day at a high speed, but in his werewolf form, Shifu could easily follow them, even on three legs. His thick fur helped keep out the cold and he marveled at his master, who walked steadily on without shivering. Shifting back into a red panda, he sneaked his way in behind a guard and hid in one of the corridors from one level to the next, laying on the stairs.
"Where am I?" Tai Lung growled, looking around. He was chained up and immobilized with acupuncture needles and cuffs.
"You are in Chor Gohm Prison for killing citizens who did you no harm and attacking the Jade Palace," Master Oogway told him sternly.
"But…I wasn't thinking…and I never killed anyone," Tai Lung stared at the old tortoise, clearly confused.
"In your rage, you did. You are stronger than you think," Master Oogway reprimanded him and Shifu knew the multiple meaning for those words suddenly. And by the look on his face, so did Tai Lung.
"Where is Shifu?" he stared at Master Oogway.
"He could not come. His injuries were too great," Master Oogway told him and Shifu let out a low growl. That was only part true. His master wasn't telling the whole story…how he had forbidden Shifu to go. He made it sound as if Shifu had refused to see his son. He held his breath as Tai Lung paused and then called, "Shifu?"
Mentally, he cursed. He had not wanted Master Oogway to know he had come. "Tai Lung," Shifu limped through the door and stared at his bound son.
"What are you doing?" Tigress snarled at the doorway, the rest of the Furious Five stared from behind her. Shifu gaped as well. She should not have made the journey. This was not her problem. "He nearly killed you and you're walking right into his paws?"
"Tigress, go home!" Shifu growled.
"No," she hissed.
"Sound like someone else I know," Master Oogway stared pointedly at Shifu and glared at him.
"I'm sorry master, but I came to say something to Tai Lung. I-" Shifu started, but Tai Lung's furious yowl echoed around the walls.
"What makes you think I want to hear anything you have to say? Your master took away what meant everything to me. And you let him!" Tai Lung hissed.
"What meant everything to you…so it's true. You really never cared anything for honor, for the valley, for me," Shifu stared sadly at his son. He truly had come for nothing. If Tai Lung didn't care about him, he certainly wouldn't want his apology or his offer to stay with him.
"I did, I do..but.." Tai Lung protested.
"But not as much," Shifu finished.
"I love you," Tigress mewed, padding over and hugging him, despite her cut stomach. Shifu winced as her hug jarred his injured leg.
"Not now," he told her, but a look of hurt dawned on her face and he was startled to see that she clearly thought he valued her over Tai Lung. It was not that he thought Tai Lung was more special. It was just that they had had a closer bond. Tai Lung had turned away, his lip curled in disgust at the small tiger.
"You are banished here for the rest of your life," Master Oogway told the snow leopard and he gaped at him.
"What?" he snarled. "You took the meaning from my life and now you take my life?" Shifu winced. He wasn't sure if his son was trying to be hurtful on purpose, but it was definitely succeeding.
"Come," Master Oogway commanded Shifu, but he took a few unsteady paces towards Tai Lung. Even if his son no longer loved him, it hurt to see him in so much despair.
"Come on daddy," Tigress tugged at his arm and he growled.
"Don't call me that," He was not fit to be a father. He had fathered Tai Lung and so many people had been hurt because of it. Tai Lung smirked as the little tiger dropped his hand and stared at him sadly. Turning from his son's glaring golden eyes, he shifted back into his werewolf form.
"I will escape one day," Tai Lung snarled, "And when I have, I will bring vengeance on you all." Shifu doubted his son would escape his bindings and the thousand guards and giant crossbows, but the snow leopard had certainly done harder things.
In the years since then, he still remembered Tai Lung's threat, but it had been a long time since, many years past, and Tai Lung had not even attempted at escape. There would have been something suspicious about that if applied to another person, but from Tai Lung, he was not one to bide his time. Tigress became his favorite out of the Furious Five and although he trained all of them well, she was his star pupil. Shifu knew the Dragon Warrior had not been chosen in a thousand years, but perhaps he could train the Dragon Warrior before his life was over. His life had been one with much loss and he dreaded the day that the rest of those close to him departed. He didn't want to be alone anymore. Over the years, he had gone out more on his lone missions, although the Furious Five seemed determined to follow him whenever he least wanted them. He began roaming further and further from the Jade Palace, and finally, he found something worthwhile.
"Aarrroooooooooooooooo!" the loud howl rose from the mountains and Shifu tipped his ears, feeling the fur along his spine bristle. Those were werewolves, and it sounded like a large pack. They were normally gentle creatures, upkeeping the peace in China. This howling sounded beautiful, but an ugly note rose through it, that got caught up by the others, so that it sounded like a dreadful wailing. Then, he recognized one of the voices.
Liumao. She was in trouble. The leader of the pack was projecting howls that spoke of threats and death, and the rest of he pack, reluctantly followed along him. Well, he would have to do his duty then and rescue them from the evil at the heart of the pack. He hadn't shifted into a wolf in years, and his body itched for the sensation again of power and freedom.
Arching back, he let out a long, rising howl that spoke of judgement day and a challenge to the alpha of the pack. With a low growl, he shifted into his wolf form, feeling himself slip easily into the new skin of his and his howl became more and more wolf-like. Racing up through the mountains, bounding from stone to stone, he snarled, tearing past the trees and into the heights of the stony peaks. Arriving there, he spotted the beautiful she-wolf standing slightly behind a bristling dark grey wolf. The rest hung back, eyes shining with hope. Liumao was clearly reluctant to stand with this alpha male, and Shifu would protect both the pack and her. The large male was glaring at him and it began a contest of wills. He could not avert his gaze or falter.
His icy blue eyes burned into the other wolf's sharp amber ones, and they bristled, growls intensified. Finally, Shifu caught a flicker of fear in the other's. Bursting forwards in a great spurt of speed, he lunged at the wolf's neck. This as not the time nor place for the rituals of clawing and leaping in strategic kung fu moves. This was an all-out wolf attack. Snarling and barking, they slashed at each other with their teeth, guarding with their wide, furry heads, and clinging for grip with their sharp claws. Shifu felt a thrill in his heart at the weakening of the other wolf, their blood both flowing from their wounds as they panted with vigorous tongue-lolling.
Suddenly, a strong shoulder bowled him over and Shifu barked in surprise to see Liumao standing over him with her tail lifted. What was she doing? He was trying to save her. But then, he saw in her gaze that it did not matter. She must be loyal to her leader and pack. This male had obviously killed the past leader and taken control. As the others saw her grip on him, they advanced with rumbling growls, flashing their teeth and pawing at the ground. He would have to fight all of them! Whiirling out from Liumao's claws, Shifu leapt for the alpha male, dodging through wolves to his target. They slashed at each other and Shifu bucked and bit to rid himself of his many attackers, but slowly and through sheer number, they were wearing him down.
With a howl of triumph, the male sunk his teeth into the soft muscle between his neck and his right shoulder. Yipping with pain, he struggled to get loose, thrashing back and forth. If that bite had gone any further towards his throat, the vital blood-pumping vein that pulsed in his throat. Finally, the wolf let go and lunged quickly for his throat, but Shifu tucked his head and met him head on. Slamming him in the head with his paw, the white wolf slammed his opponent further. Diving between the wolf's legs, he risked a move. Flipping onto his back as the surprised wolf reared up, he kicked him in the stomach, sending him flying into a tree. Leaping after him, he parried blow for blow before snapping his tail in his jaws.
The alpha male yowled with agony and chased Shifu, but the white wolf had a grip in his careful molars that would not let go, and when he began spinning faster and faster, Shifu stopped with a sudden jolt and head-slammed the other wolf. Its legs gave out beneath him and Shifu pinned the wolf down quickly, letting out a hoarse howl of victory. The challenge was clear in his howl. The other wolf must accept his domination or die.
A clever look shone in the wolf's eyes and before Shifu could leap off of him, the other wolf kicked out at his bad leg, tripping him, and sinking his teeth into the Shifu's throat. Hie body spasmed with pain and blood began to drip down his neck. Instead of feeling like he was choking, he felt a slow dizziness that took over his body from nose to tail tip. For a moment, he froze. He did not know what to do, for if he moved to slow or too fast, the other wolf would crush down into his soft throat and he would die. Before, he could move, there was a silver blur in the air, and Shifu was sent reeling, bowled away from the other wolf.
Liumao let out a low yowl that was a clear threat and she stood defensively in front of the white wolf, her fur bristled so that she appeared twice as big as she was. Snarling, the other wolf tried feinting to get her to move, but she stood quite still. Staggering to three paws, Shifu snapped at her and she whirled away in surprise. He would not have another one of his family killed for him. The other wolf immediately dived under his belly and he growled in fear. If the wolf got close to his unprotected belly, he would easily spill his entrails. He leaped away, expecting the wolf to miss his intending target, but he had obviously been expecting this and when Shifu landed, he swept under his left foreleg and the wolf stumbled. That was all he needed. With a great burst of speed, the other wolf Leapt on to his back, one forepaw planted in the wound by his shoulder. The white wolf, stained with his own blood, let out a howl of fear and pain. With his bad leg and the new injury to his arm, he could not scrabble free. With a howl of victory and certainly no qualms about killing, the wolf lunged for his neck. Liumao let out a plaintive little cry, beggin for his life, and Shifu closed his eyes. The wolf bit down.
With an explosion of blue chi, the white wolf shot up to his feet. The other wolf was thrown clear and blue chi crackled around Shifu. Snarling, tail up and hackles bared, he let out a furious and immensely loud roar. The message was clear. You are defeated. Go now!
Liumao moved closer to Shifu and let out a little woof. Did he accept her as his mate? After all, he was alpha now. No. Sinking to the ground, he rolled his belly up in the ultimate submission pose to her. She was alpha now. He could not stay with the wolf pack. No matter how much he wanted to. He had duties and why give himself happiness, when Tai Lung had lost his. No. He left. No.