Chapter 10

The Jade Palace…Training Hall…

Mea leaned against the railing and watched as Tai Lung and Tigress sparred. She smiled at the sight of her husband fight. She recalled how he fought to ensure the safety of her home back when they first met, but never like this. Back then he had only fought with his fists, here he fought with a more define sense of style and power, spinning and kicking, flipping over the female tiger and dropping low to ground to avoid an oncoming attack. Looking away from the match, Mea could see the Grandmaster on the other side of the Training Hall, watching the same bout with keen eyes, though instead of smiling, he looked on with a stern expression.

The two kung fu masters had been fighting ever since Shifu and Tai Lung's return from the valley. Neither of them had said much, other than the red panda swiftly order the two adoptive siblings to beginning their daily training.

Shifu had seen enough and brought a small wooden harmer against a small gong forming a loud boom to echo throughout the room. Mea looked on in shock and awe as Tigress stood rigid, her leg raised high, posed to deliver a solid kick to Tai Lung's face whereas Mea's husband had brought his right fist ready for a powerful up cutter to the tiger's waist. The look of anger upon Tai Lung's face is what deeply bothered Mea and sent a shudder down her spine. She had never seen him look so angry.

Shifu waited for his two students to relax their stances before coming to stand before them. They bowed before the red panda calmly waiting for him to speak. When he finally did, his voice was level and stern. "Tigress, you attacks are sluggish and ill place, and Tai Lung you're attacks are far more fierce than normal, remember this is sparring match to sharpen your skills. Had you been fighting anyone other than Tigress or Po for that matter, I fear would for their safety. I sense that your thoughts are trouble with other matters. Would you care to explain?"

Tigress was the first to answer as she took a step forward and said, "I'm sorry Master, but I'm worried about Po."

Shifu released a low groan. "Tigress, Po will be fine, he is the Dragon Warrior after all. I'm sure there's nothing he can't handle."

Tigress turned slightly away from her master and whispered in a voice low enough that even Shifu's massive ears couldn't pick up. "I truly hope so, he's never be out in the open before and I'm worried how he'll react."

Shifu rested his gaze upon Tigress for a moment before glancing at Tai Lung, who in return drew his gaze away from the red panda, an expression of shame and fear covered the male snow leopard's face. "Tai Lung," Shifu said in a calm voice, "what's wrong?"

"I don't want to talk about it," he said in a low voice.

"But—"

"I said I don't want to talk about it!" Tai Lung snapped cutting his master off. "Don't you understand? Nothing you say or do will ever change what the villagers think of me. I thought I could make amends for what I did in the past, but so long as the people only remember the bad things I did, they'll never really accept me for the person I am now."

Mea released a heavy sigh and came to stand beside her mate, and calmly placed her arms around his waist. "Oh my beloved, I wish there was some way I could help."

"It's alright Mea," Tai Lung said returning the hug.

"Say how about we go for a picnic," she paused, turning to face Shifu, "so long as that's alright with you Grandmaster Shifu."

Shifu calmly stroked his beard. "I don't see any problem with that. We can use the open plains behind the palace."

"Great," Mea said tightening her grip around Tai Lung and gave him a playful kiss against his cheek, "I'll whip something for us to eat and…" her mood shifted as she glanced around, "say has anyone seen Lilly?"

"Oh," Tigress said in a plain tone, "I think I saw her heading down to the valley."

"You what?" Tai Lung snapped.

Down in the Valley of Peach…Mr. Ping's noodle shop…

Mr. Ping was filling rather down. His profit for the morning rush was far lower than it normally should be, and it was all thanks to that cursed Tai Lung. Early that morning, before Ping could even open his shop, Grandmaster Shifu appeared at his door, requesting a table. At first Mr. Ping was overcome with joy at the idea of one of the greatest kung fu teacher coming to eat at his store. What a way to rank in a handsome profit, Ping had thought at the time. That was until the aged goose saw that Tai Lung was with him. He had asked Shifu why the snow leopard was with him, but all Shifu replied with was that he felt rather offended by the people's resentment toward Tai Lung and wished too made clear that the snow leopard was here to stay.

The two kung fu masters stay for the entire morning rush and because the people were still unwilling to trust or accept Tai Lung's return, most of the noodle shop regular customers refused to enter and even went as far to insult Ping for allowing the snow leopard to be let inside the restaurant. Toward the end of the morning rush, Shifu motion for Tai Lung to follow him, though before the two drifted out of sight, the red panda had declared in a loud hard level tone, "I truly enjoy your soup Mr. Ping. Perhaps we will return next morning, and the morning following that."

"Oh this is awful," Ping said eyeing his money box; sadden by how empty it was. "I don't know if I can last much longer what with Shifu and that Tai Lung creep coming here and ruin my morning rush."

"My father is not a creep!"

Mr. Ping turned around to gaze into the blue eyes of the young snow leopard he met with Tai Lung and Tigress yesterday. She wore a light green short sleeve shirt with matching slacks and a pair of brown sandals. She bore into the goose with narrows that sent a chill down his spine.

"I remember you," Ping said, "you're Tai Lung's daughter."

"Yes, and I've come down here to ask you not to be so mean to my father." Lilly said, "Yes he may have done some bad things in the past, but if you just took the chance to get to know him, you'll see he's not the same person he once was."

Ping released a low scoff. "Oh please, a leopard can no more change its spot than a snake can fly. Now kindly leave me be, I have to get ready for the lunch rush," he paused as a look of dread covered his face, "and with Po away cooking meals for the Furious Five, I'm going to be swamped."

Lilly thought about it for a moment then smile as an idea came to her. It was risky, and knew that her parents would have trouble with it, but it just might help her father. "Wait, would you like some help?"

"What?" Ping said with a confused expression,

"Yeah," Lilly said with a smile, "I could help out by serving meals to the customers. I use to work for the inn back in my home village for about year before Mom decided to come here to be with Dad."

"I don't know," Ping said stroking his bill, "my noodle shop is one of the busiest restaurants here in the valley. It could be rather stressful."

"Oh please," Lilly said with a smirk, "try working in an inn up in the freezing tundra and you have to carry trays loaded up with six or more boiling hot soup. I can keep up with you on the best day of your life."

Ping couldn't help but chuckle. "Alright little lady, go grab an apron and—"

"Wait," Lilly said hold up a paw, "I have one condition though, for helping you out in the shop, you have to be nicer to my father whenever he comes down to the valley."

"What?" Ping snapped.

"You heard me," Lilly said then glanced over her shoulder and smirked before adding, "and you might want to make you choice soon because…" she paused and pointed behind her.

Ping looked past her and gasped to see a crowd of villagers already beginning to form, and they look hungry. He turned his attention back to Lilly to see she had her arms placed across her chest looking rather smug with an evil grin on her face.

"Well," she said in a level tone.

Realizing that he had very little choice in the matter, Mr. Ping tossed his feathery arms into the air and cried out with, "Fine you win. Whenever I see Tai Lung in the valley, I'll try to be more kind and open to him," he groaned as he turned toward the kitchen but not before glancing over his shoulder and said, "you know you're really are your father's little girl."

Lilly smile as she rushed after the goose. "I'll take that as a good thing."

Tai Lung made his way through the market place, ignoring the harsh looks and rude comments he was getting from the villagers. He had to find Lilly, she was still new to the valley and could easily get lost and he shuddered to think if of what someone looking to settle some score against might use her as a means to an end.

He was about to turn down the next corner when he caught sight of her spotted tail inside Mr. Ping's noodle shop. What she's doing in there?

Approaching the archway where upon a look of confusion formed on his face. Lilly was serving bowls of noodles and dumpling to the waiting customers.

"Lilly," Tai Lung whispered hoping his daughter would hear him without drawing attention.

Sadly once Lilly turned to face the entrance she jumped for joy crying out for her father. The villagers looked up and gasp at the sight of Tai Lung. Harsh whispers flow from several customers and some of them narrowed their eyes upon him.

A nerves expression formed on Tai Lung's face as he slowly backed away. He couldn't stand to be under their gaze. Some of these people he had remember before he was cast into exile. They praised him as a hero, loved and respected him, and he had betrayed them in his mad purist of glory. He was about to leave when all of sudden, Mr. Ping rushed out of the kitchen. The old goose smile as he cast his gaze upon the snow leopard, and calmly strolled past the tables to stand before Tai Lung and spoke in a friendly tone, "Welcome Tai Lung, would you like to have a bowl of my Secret Ingredient Soup?"

Tai Lung's nerves expression change to one of confusion as he looked about the room. The people still look at him with narrow eyes, but some of them had gone back to eating their meals. "Uh no…" the snow leopard said, "I was just looking for my daughter. I have no wish to cause any trouble."

"Oh it's no trouble," Ping said in a cheerful voice, "and your daughter here has been a great help," he paused as Lilly passed him to stand beside her father. "I hope that you can come back again for the morning rush."

"Well only if Dad agrees to," Lilly said glancing up at the adult snow leopard, "so Dad, can I work here for Mr. Ping?"

Tai Lung didn't really know what to say. He was still baffle by the cheerful tone by the aged goose. It was clear that Ping was forcing himself to be nice, but regardless of that, it was a worthwhile effort on his part and made him feel there might be some hope after all. "Of course Lilly," Tai Lung said his mood more upbeat sense coming down to the valley. He then rubbed his hand against the top of his daughter's head causing her to giggle and said, "Maybe you can even find some other children down here in the valley to play with as well. Now come along, you're mother and grandfather are talking us out for a picnic."

Lilly cheered and jumped up on her father's shoulder as the snow leopard turned around. As they left, Lilly glanced over her shoulder to wave back at Mr. Ping crying out with, "Thank you Ping, I'll be back in the morning for the breakfast rush."

Tai Lung smile as he glanced up at his daughter. Leave it to her to try and find some way to brighten his mood.