Tigress stood in shock. "What?"
Shifu nodded solemnly. "A threat from Tai Lung must be considered valid, and it must be treated with the upmost caution. The Anvil of Heaven cannot make it to the Valley of Peace in six days. If he has already spoken of an attempt to escape or the possibility of being broken out of his cell by others, we can only assume that the attack will come in at most six days. It is Tai Lung or the Valley of Peace, and I am willing to do what is necessary to protect these people."
Her face twisted with fury. "He is your son! How could you even think of doing this?"
The red panda's voice grew more menacing with each word he spoke. "You have hated Tai Lung your entire life. Why...defend him...now?"
She nearly returned with half of what the snow leopard had told her, but thought better of it in the last moment. With as much control as she could muster, she replied with an edge to her voice that had never been directed at her father. "I believe what Tai Lung told me. He is not here to bring destruction. He is here to accept his punishment for the things he has done in the past."
The rest of the Jade Palace's residents had remained silent through the exchange, listening uncomfortably. At this, however, Crane spoke up. "Tai Lung held you captive less than a week ago! Do you honestly think that he doesn't have any ulterior motive for coming here?"
Shifu raised an eyebrow at the remark. "That's an...interesting point, Master Crane. But, I'll pass over it for the moment. Tigress, if it helps you to accept my decision, consider this Tai Lung's punishment that he came to receive."
Tigress shook her head in bewilderment. "He rotted in prison for twenty years!"
"Yes. Twenty years of a life sentence. During his escape, he killed nearly two hundred guards, and who knows what he's done since then. When Oogway decided that imprisonment was the solution to Tai Lung's betrayal, many in the Valley disagreed. They wanted his head, and he has done much since then. So let me ask you this: what exactly do you propose that we do instead?"
Careful, careful! Still, she was growing desperate. Tai Lung, I have no idea what you think you're doing, but you are not allowed to die. Not yet. "Keep him incarcerated, at least through the six days. If nothing happens, we know that his threats are empty. Is it possible that he could be brought back?"
Mantis decided to enter. "Tigress, I won't even pretend to understand your change of heart toward Tai Lung, but what if his threats aren't empty? I looked him in the eye, and I fully believe every word that he told me. He. Is. A. Threat!"
Viper took to the leopard's defense. "What if he can be changed? Bring the good out in him, and maybe one day he could work alongside us!"
Shifu shouted over his students' debate. "Enough! This is not your decision to make! You will follow my ruling, and I will not hear another word of protest!"
Tigress' mouth formed into a snarl, but she eventually lowered her head in submission. "Very well. May I be the one to tell him?"
"Why?"
"Because I don't think he'll take the news well from anyone, but especially not from you."
Shifu sat silent for a moment before nodding. Bowing stiffly, she marched out of the kitchen, only to return for a bowl of noodles, a kettle of tea, and a cup. Leaving the barracks, as well as the others, she walked slowly, feeling the cool air of early spring on her fur and savoring the smell of cherry blossoms on the trees around the Palace. Knowing that she was lingering, Tigress tried to make her way to the dreaded task that lay before her.
She sighed upon reaching the Training Hall. How am I going to do this? She had killed countless times during her time at the Jade Palace, but never a prisoner, let alone one that had turned himself in. Taking a deep breath, she nudged the door open with her foot, and stepped inside.
Tigress debated working out some of her anger on the obstacle course, but decided against it. Just get it over with, waiting won't make it any easier. At the door to Tai's cell, she set down the bowl and kettle and unlocked the iron door. The spotted cat looked up at Tigress, his gaze quickly moving to the meal she'd brought with her.
He grinned. "Oh good, did the Dragon Warrior finally get around to making dinner?"
Noticing her somewhat anguished look, his smile fell instantly. He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "I see. You're not here to bring those, are you?"
Tigress tried to meet his eyes, and found herself unable. "Shifu's going to have you killed."
His smile tried to return, but it was barely a shadow of the one he had worn moments before. "Yeah, I...ah...kind of assumed something like that."
"Why? It's because of what you told Mantis and Crane, but...why do this? You're not here to
attack the Valley, are you?"
Tai bit his lip, and his voice barely came above a whisper. "No, I'm not."
"Then what are you doing?"
He let out another shaky breath. "I'm trying to get you away from this place before it destroys you."
Stunned, her response was more harsh than intended. "You're what?"
Flinching, he nodded. "Tigress...in every Furious Five since the first, the strongest member
has turned on the Palace. You're in a dangerous line of work, and one day, someone close to you will fall. When I said that we are similar...I see a great possibility that you will attempt to avenge them when that day comes. You'll...forget everything you've been taught to protect those you care about, even if it means that you'll lose everything else. I can tell you firsthand that that is no way to live.
Tigress couldn't speak. I've worried ever since the Five formed that I would continue the tradition. But how can any of this help me to escape it, and why does Tai Lung need to die in order for it to happen?
He never stopped speaking. "You need to see that there's more to life than this place. That you can be more than Shifu's second try at being a parent."
Tai leaned in toward her as far as his bindings would allow. "Tigress."
She looked up from the ground toward him. Not trusting her voice, she nodded for him to continue.
"When is Shifu going to have me killed?"
Biting the inside of her lip, Tigress responded quietly. "I don't know. Sometime within the next six days. I would assume sooner rather than later."
His eyes screwed shut. "Alright. The night that...it...happens, my ship and everything on it becomes yours."
"But-"
"Not done. The night that I die, I want you to take the ship and leave the Palace. It doesn't have to be forever, but...at least for a while. There are enough supplies on board to last a single person for at least six months. There's a chest hidden in a drawer at the foot of my bed with coin for a couple of years.
"It's impossible to sail with one person. Along the outside near the rail, there are push poles. They connect, and you can use them to move and steer. It's draining, but it will get you a few cities away from the Valley after a short while. Hire at least four men, not from the Valley. Explore life, enjoy yourself for a while. If you decide that you want to return here, well, I won't be there to argue with you."
Tigress was bewildered. Not only was Tai giving her everything that he possessed, he was asking her, no, begging her to leave her home behind and pursue other aspects of life. I've always wondered what would have happened if I'd been adopted by a farmer, or a merchant. Could I still have that? Do I really want that? What about the others? I have Shifu to thank for everything, and I'm supposed to walk away?
Seeming to sense her caution as well as her thoughts at the same time, Tai continued.
"Tigress. Have you ever wondered why I was able to defeat the five of you on the Thread of Hope?"
"Tai..."
He shook his head. "No, do you want to know just how confident Shifu is in his students? How much he trusts you compared to how much you trust him? I was taught in six styles during my time under Shifu. Leopard, Tiger, Crane, Snake, Mantis, and Monkey. You're all trained in one, correct?"
Tigress felt an odd sense of fear as she responded. "Yes..."
"Each style is designed to best at least one other, and each style is designed to be bested by at least one other. Shifu's Furious Five only works because it holds such variety. But if you take one and pit it against the rest...the one possesses no chance."
The realization hit her, and she felt herself pale. "If one of us turns...the others, as a group, are guaranteed to defeat them."
Tai nodded sadly. "Shifu knows that one day you will turn against him, and he has made sure that you won't survive when you do."
Tigress paced around the cell. "He can't be...he wouldn't..." Her words faded as she began to accept the reality of the snow leopard's words. Sliding to a sitting position in a corner of the cell, she buried her face in her paws.
Tai looked down at her with sympathy. "Tigress...this life is a wonderful one, but it's not the only one. Promise me that you'll be sure this is what you want before you walk down this path."
She nodded, her voice a whisper. "I promise. But Tai...why do you have to die to show me this?"
"My death...I need you to see that Shifu teaches forgiveness, and failing that, mercy, while performing the opposite. And as I've said, I might as well have died when you found me on my ship, because the hunt wouldn't have ended until I'd been killed. I would rather it be here, and I'd rather try and repay you for giving me a chance over walking away from the greatest act of kindness that I've ever seen.
"Tigress, no one will miss me if I die tonight. I'll just...disappear. And I'm...so damn tired of running. Of lying, of simply surviving. I don't want to survive, I want to live. Failing that, I'd rather meet my end."
Tigress felt a lump in her throat, which had been missing for years. "If you die tonight...someone will miss you."
The room was silent for an eternal moment. Tai Lung turned away from Tigress in an effort to mask his rising emotions. Finally, he spoke. "Please don't make this harder than it has to be."
She nodded, once again not trusting her voice.
His voice cracked slightly as he continued. "Well then, that's that. When you're ready, could you fetch Shifu? I...have a funeral to plan."
The red panda stood rigid at the cell door. Shifu was still baffled by both Tai Lung's request to speak with him, as well as the bitterness in Tigress' voice when she made him aware of it. He eventually managed to undo the lock and swing open the door. Silent for a moment, both warriors looked the other over. Noticing for the first time just how much the snow leopard had aged since he was sent away to Chorh-Gom, Shifu felt a sudden pang of guilt. No, you cannot afford to think like that. You must not let emotions cloud your judgement. Shifu found his son's eyes and was stunned to see nearly no trace of the hatred that had filled him two years before. He was perhaps more surprised to see the briefest glimpse of Tai Lung, the one he knew before he gave in to the darkness inside him.
Tai offered a small smile. "Promised myself the moment that I got out of Chorh-Gom that I would never spend another day in chains. What was it that Oogway always used to say, 'one often meets his destiny on the road he takes to avoid it'?"
Shifu tore his eyes away. "Yes...you still remember, after all this time?"
The snow leopard chuckled. "Oh, it hasn't been so long. I had twenty years to reflect. Do you honestly think I forgot everything I was taught?"
Bitterness crept into Shifu's voice. "All things considered...I hadn't ruled it out."
Tai clutched his chest, ever sarcastic. "My heart." His voice slid from dull to the comfortable confidence that Shifu had grown so used to over the years. "So, you're having my head, then?"
"You haven't left me many options."
"Haven't I? Oh damn, my mistake. When will my time come, then?"
Shifu shook his head. "You'll never change, will you?"
Tai suddenly grew serious. "I never did. Besides, I don't have much time to now. May I make
a few requests?"
"Requests?"
"I assure you, it's nothing too difficult. You won't strain yourself for my sake, if that was your concern. I would like to be buried in a simple wooden coffin on Palace grounds. I would like to go tomorrow at sunset. And I would like to be hanged."
Shifu's eyes widened. "What? Tai, there are ways that are quicker, and painless! Why would you want that?"
Tai smirked. "Because, sweet Father, I don't want you to sleep well after murdering your son. You said it yourself, I am no warrior, and I have no right to a warrior's death."
His voice filled with malice as he cocked his head to the side. "I want you to reduce your pride, sorry, former pride and joy to a common criminal. I want you to prove to me that you feel no shame in taking my life." Showing your students that couldn't hurt either.
Shifu could barely breathe. "My son.-"
"Do not call me your son if you are going to kill me. I accept my fate, but do not call me your son if I am to die at your word. If you agree to my requests, I will go willingly." He gave a wicked grin. "If not, I intend to fight my way out of this place. And I'll be sure to go straight through you."
Shifu stood speechless. Finally, he nodded slowly. "Very well. If that is your wish, I will do what I can."
Seeing Tai's nod of thanks, he left the cell sick.
When he heard the doors to the Training Hall close, Tai took several deep breaths, trying and failing to relax. For the first time in over two decades, the snow leopard allowed himself to weep.