Chapter Seven- Tai Lung's Family
"No way!" Tigress exclaimed. "There is no way we're going to ask Tai Lung for help!"
"That's another line in the prophecy." Lin said. "'To defeat the evil that will show, the heroes must be aided by their foe.'"
"Well, I'm not saying a word to him!" Tigress said.
"You don't have to." Shifu said. "Let me do all the talking." Shifu stabbed the air with the dagger and gave it a quarter turn to the right. A portal opened; a large circle about five feet in diameter. Shifu tucked the dagger carefully in his sleeve. "Let's go." Shifu jumped in first, Lin on his heels. The Five and Po followed, and the portal shut.
On the other side of the portal, the group found themselves next to a creek. In front of them was a large garden overflowing with vegetables and flowers. On the other side of the garden was a simple two story hut. Shifu, Lin, Po, and the Five made their way around the garden as to not step on any plants or future food. They got to the door and Shifu knocked.
"I still think this is a bad idea." Tigress muttered.
"Shh!" Viper hissed. Shifu knocked on the door again.
"Who is it?" a young girl called warily from inside.
"I'm Master Shifu." Shifu called. "I need to speak to Tai Lung."
Suddenly, the door burst open. Standing in the doorway was a small cheetah cub, about seven years old. She had bright, fiery eyes like Tai Lung's and wore purple pants like his and a brown top like Mei's old servant dress.
"You're Master Shifu?!" the cheetah cried. Shifu smiled and nodded. "Oh, I can't begin to tell you how long I've been waiting to meet you! Come inside! Who are your friends?"
"These are my students." Shifu said, gesturing to Po and the Five. "And this is Lin; she's like a daughter to me."
"Cool." The cheetah said. "My name's Kiki. Tai Lung's my dad." Tigress almost said something, but Crane put a wing in front of her mouth. "Mom and Dad are in town, getting groceries. You're welcome to stay here until they return."
"Thank you." Shifu said.
"Oh, I think I know someone that would like to meet you." Kiki said. She stuck her head out a large window. "Daiyu! Shifu's here!" Kiki backed up quickly as a large, black dragon stuck her head thru the window.
"Shifu!" Daiyu cried. "I don't believe it!"
"It's good to see you, Daiyu." Shifu said. The black dragon had grown a little, and her horns were longer. Lin marveled the great black dragon. They could've been twins if Daiyu had fur. Daiyu stared at Lin with surprise.
"You?" she asked. "I thought you were dead."
"What?" Shifu asked. Before Daiyu could answer, the door opened again. A lioness and a snow leopard walked in, the lioness carrying a basket of assorted fruits and veggies. The snow leopard carried a sack of rice.
It was Mei and Tai Lung. But they were different.
Mei's fur seemed brighter, and her brown eyes shined. Instead of her simple servant's dress, she wore a bronze colored kimono with a golden sash. A thorn less rose was tucked behind her ear.
Tai Lung stood straight and tall, looking proud, as usual. He still wore his same purple pants, but he also wore a black T-shirt with it. His fur was combed and he looked quite handsome. His fiery eyes, which used to be full of rage and hatred, were now full of kindness and love, a look nobody had seen in Tai Lung except for Shifu.
When Tai Lung and Mei saw their guests, they almost dropped their food.
"Master Shifu?" Mei asked. She quickly set the basket of food down and bowed to her former kung fu master. "What a surprise! We weren't expecting you." Tai Lung was speechless, but he, too, bowed to Shifu.
"I'm sorry for the unexpected visit." Shifu said. "But we're in a bit of a situation, and we need your help."
"Well, sit down." Mei said, gesturing to a table. Everyone sat down and Shifu explained the house, the ghosts, what Kivu had said, and Lin's prophecy.
"How am I supposed to help?" Tai Lung asked. It was the first time he had spoken since they arrived.
"Kivu's supposed to tell us." Shifu said. "But that all depends on whether or not you come with us."
"Of course we'll go." Mei said.
"Yeah!" Kiki agreed. "Right, Dad?"
"No." Tai Lung said. Everyone stared at him. "I will go with Shifu and the others. Mei, you stay home with Kiki and Daiyu."
"But I want to help!" Kiki said.
"Darling, it would be safer if we helped." Mei said.
"I won't risk you all getting hurt." Tai Lung said. "It'll just be better if I go alone." Mei was sad, not wanting her husband hurt. But Tai Lung just smiled reassuringly and followed Shifu and the others outside. Mei and Kiki stood in the doorway to watch. Daiyu stood next to the house.
"Will Daddy be alright?" Kiki asked. Mei sighed. But then, she glared with determination.
"Daiyu, take care of Kiki." Mei ordered. "I'm going with them." With that, Mei took off, pulling off her kimono to reveal pants and a tank top underneath. She jumped thru the portal just as everyone disappeared into it. Kiki stared at the spot that used to occupy her parents.
Kiki was young, yes. And she was an orphan. But somehow, she was like her parents. Like Mei, she was beautiful and kind. But like Tai Lung, Kiki was strong and sometimes cold. Kiki was a warrior-to-be.
"Daiyu, we have to help." Kiki said.
"I agree." Daiyu said. "There's something Lin needs to know."
"You remember where the Valley of Peace is?" Kiki asked.
"Of course." Daiyu said. Kiki grabbed a slender bow and a quiver of arrows, slinging both of them over her shoulder. She hopped onto Daiyu's back and gripped her spines tightly.
"Then let's fly!" Kiki cried. Daiyu roared and took off.
*****
Back at the haunted house, in the kitchen, the nine warriors dropped in from the portal. When Mei joined them, Tai Lung was horrified.
"I told you to stay home." He said.
"Daiyu can take care of Kiki." Mei said sternly. "Besides, I haven't had any action for too long." Tai Lung smiled and laughed.
"So, where is this Kivu?" Tai Lung asked.
"Here."
Everyone turned and saw the zebra standing near them.
"So glad you could get Tai Lung." Kivu said. "Now, for the next part."
"Which is what?" Tigress asked.
"You must find Dai." Kivu said. "You needed Tai Lung here because he can sense any ghost's presence from quite a ways away."
"You can?" Shifu asked his son.
"I used to be able to." Tai Lung said. "But twenty years in prison has made me forget a little. But I'm sure I can find this Dai person."
"Ghost." Kivu corrected. "And this is where I leave you. Good luck, fellow warriors." With that, Kivu galloped off, past the ten warriors. When everyone looked after him, he had disappeared.
"That guy really creeps me out." Monkey said.
"Well, at least we know how to find Dai." Shifu said.
"But how do we kill him?" Viper asked. Everyone was silent.
"Let's worry about that later." Tai Lung decided. "I think I can sense where Dai is."
"How can you tell?" Lin asked.
"It feels……evil." Tai Lung said.
"Like you?" Tigress hissed. Tai Lung growled, but walked off, the others following. They wandered around for what seemed like a few hours, stopping now and then as Tai Lung tried to pick up the sense again.
Then, he stopped.
Tai Lung stood perfectly still for a long moment.
Then, he screamed, "Panda! Duck!"
Po obeyed, and it was a good thing he did, because an ax was stuck in the wall next to where his head was.
"Run!" Tai Lung yelled. Everyone did so, and they heard the noises of ghosts chasing them. Everyone kept running until they all fell into a giant trapdoor.
At a three way fork in the tunnel, the group split up once again.
Tai Lung, Po, and Lin went one way and landed in an indoor garden.
The Five and Mei went another way and landed in a trophy room.
Shifu fell the third way and ended up back in the bedroom where he, Viper, Mantis, and Lin first met Dai.
"I HATE THIS HOUSE!!!" Screamed Mantis.
A/N: Funny ending, huh? Just wait until the next chapter! I'm aiming to blow all my readers away!
