Chapter 5 Awkward Conversations

Faith was glad Master Oogway was standing between her and the two other masters in the room. While Chao looked at her in fascination, Faith was lucky that the phrase 'if looks could kill' was just a phrase. Because Shifu was giving her dagger looks. Chao meanwhile, was surprised not only by the sudden appearance of a new strange creature, but by the blunt and forceful way in which Shifu was speaking to Master Oogway. For everyone who was anyone knew how loyal the red panda was to the tortoise ever since Oogway had taken him as a child. Chao just stood there to see whatwould happen. He had left his home the Onyx Temple at Master Oogway's behest because Oogway hadn't wanted to leave an injured Shifu alone in The Jade Palace to take out his anger and frustration on the Palace staff. Oogway had noticed that whenever something went terribly wrong, Shifu took it out on the staff. Zeng seemed to be a favorite victim of Shifu's wrath. While Oogway wasn't sure of why Shifu chose to pick on him in particular, but right now Oogway was angry at Shifu. For a few reasons.

"Shifu that is no way to talk to me, and you shouldn't speak ill of our guest. She will be invaluable in the near future and I would think that by now you would know now not to judge a scroll by the outward appearance." Oogway's voice was still calm but you hear the frustration in voice.

"Well I have never seen a creature like her before." Shifu said his voice low in obvious frustration. He could never hide it whereas with Oogway was it harder to tell when he was angry.

While this uncomfortable exchange Faith was marveling at the Grand scope of the Jade Palace's interior. To say that it was amazing was putting mildly. The ornate Golden Dragon statues were breathtaking and as the very last rays of sunlight hit the Jade Palace Faith could see why the villagers of the Valley of Peace cared about it so much. Then she turned her attention to the lizard known as Master Chao.

He was younger than depicted in the show Legends of Awesomeness. Though he still had a serious expression on his face. Faith guess that it was partly because of the time he had had to spend with Shifu while Oogway was away taking care of the problem with Tai-lung. But even in Chao's stern expression, she could also see the curious expression on his face directed at her. He wondered what the curious creature was doing here and why she was at the Jade Palace with Oogway.

While Faith and Chao seemed to be taking each others looks in, Oogway spoke surprisingly stern at Shifu.

"You shouldn't be moving around so easily yet." Oogway remarked eyeing Shifu suspiciously. "You haven't been using the techniques that I have forbidden you to use, have you?"

Shifu didn't answer that question. But it was was obvious that he had. Oogway looked at Master Chao for confirmation. The lizard just nodded which was all Oogway needed for an answer.

"Come along Shifu," Oogway said using his stick to guide Shifu away from the Hall of Heroes. Shifu didn't like being taken to Grandmaster Oogway's room for a lecture.

"I'm not a child Master!" Shifu said in pretty much a shout. "Why do you keep treating me like this?!"

Both Master Chao and Faith rolled their eyes. despite his protests Shifu was certainly acting like a child. But after Master Oogway and Shifu left the room Master Chao turned his attention to Faith. He didn't have an evil look in his eyes. He looked at the young lady eyeing her outfit (Faith was glad that Oogway had brought her an outfit so she could fit in) and her instrument that she was carrying.

"You are a curious looking creature." He said circling Faith and wondering why young creature lacked the normal built in defenses. Mainly fangs, claws, a lot more fur, or even a tail. But in his opinion these factors just made her even less of threat than most creatures. "Who are you? What are you doing here? If you carry an instrument do you know how to play it? And Where are you from?"

"Well actually..." Faith started to say.

Oogway's room was nothing special. In fact, if he never said it was, you would think that it was a servant's or a student's room. For it just had a mat to lay on and a pillow. Though neither Shifu nor any of the servants had seen him use it.He just stood there for a few minutes in looked at Shifu sternly. When he spoke, his tone of voice hadn't changed but his words conveyed his anger.

"Shifu you have not yet mastered Inner Peace, and yet you are using Chi on yourself?!" he exclaimed. All the while gesturing with his cane to show how upset he was. "Do you actually know how dangerous it is to use Chi to heal your own injuries?! I sent for Master Chao so you wouldn't have to worry yourself while healing. And of course, while I was away."

"You mean imprisoning my son!" Shifu shot back. "And then you bring back the strangest creature I have ever seen! I wouldn't be surprised if at this point you say she's destined to be the Dragon Warrior!"

"That young lady is not the Dragon Warrior!" Oogway beginning to lose his temper. "But I have it on good authority that she will be a help.Even if to you she seems like nothing much. She's had a hard life which is part of reason she is here!"

"How do you know that?!" Shifu demand to know. Then a sudden realisation hit him. "You haven't been talking to that GOAT again have you?! Need I remind you she's the reason Lord Shen wiped out the Giant Pandas?! And come to think of it, hadn't you just visited Gongmen City before you said Tai-lung was unworthy of the Dragon Scroll?!"

Before Shifu could say anything more that he might regret, he was hit on the head by Oogway's staff. When Shifu was able to clear his head and got a good view of Oogway again, he saw anger blazing in the old tortoise's eyes.

"You should be grateful that I am not like I was in my early years." he said the anger now evident in his voice."While is it true that I had visited Gongmen City, saw the Kung Fu Council, and saw the Soothsayer, nothing said there and then had anything to do with Tai-lung! All the time you were raising him I warned you about building his hopes up too high. You didn't listen! And as for what happened to the pandas, she had no control over that! Shen's parents asked what would happen if he continued with his experiments with the powder they used in their fireworks. Soothsayer could only tell them what she saw. But she can't see every outcome that will happen from her fortune telling! And in case you're wondering, since Chi is connected to your life source if you use too much at once, it can kill you! I don't want to lose you old friend."

Shifu was shocked. He never looked at any of the things Oogway said in the way Oogway put them. And he was actually beginning to wonder how useful the gift of Chi and being a seer were if they caused so much trouble.

Shifu was about to leave the room, when Oogway said:

"There's a young tigress in the Bao Gu Orphanage. You and Xinyang will both go together to help the child out."

"Are you serious Master?!" Shifu blurted out without thinking."My son is in prison and you want me to help another cat?! With a stranger I don't know?!"

"This is not up for debate Shifu." Oogway retorted."And Xinyang will go with you. Now come, I want you to properly meet her. She really is something special."

With that both masters left the room. Shifu wondering all the while how much weirder life was going to get.

A/n special shoutout to Footrot Flats, Heart of demons and Starless echoes. You have been awesome in your support. To everyone else thank you for favoriting/following or just reading. But please review so that I know what I need to work on. Next chapter things go to a whole other level stay safe everyone.