Chapter 40 : See Eye to Eye

"Arghhh!"

That male tiger roared very out loud at the top of his lung, breaking the silence amid the darkness of the daybreak in a bamboo forest. He had never felt this angry before. The feeling of being betrayed by his own father really made him not able to control the anger buried in his mind.

His chest rose and fell rapidly. Eyes showing rage. He bopped a bamboo rod near him … only to hurt his palm.

He groaned.

Yuan Sheng took a breath deeply and exhaled it slowly. He did it several times, trying to make himself relax. The cool breeze at dawn soothed his mind, helping him re-think serenely.

He sat on a rock next to him. And for the first time since his brief confrontation with his father, he felt all alone. No one beside him in that forest but bamboos.

'How?' He thought all out. 'How could my father kill my mother … his own wife? The world must be crazy and his father had been completely insane.

He clenched his fist again and banged it against the rock he was sitting on, distempered.

After discovering all evil deeds his father did, the prince instantly lost everything. He was nothing now. His father had disowned him and indeed, he could never return to Darknest Land.

But wait, it seemed that he had encountered a situation like this before. Yes. It had occurred once but it was not him who experienced that familiar fettle. It was Tigress who did.

Yuan Sheng recalled their first day when he and that tigress was on sampan boat towarding Darknest Land through Chojiang River, pondering what he had said to her.

"You've just lost everything you need to be a warrior: a palace, a master, comrades, your people…"

"Clearly, you're nothing now …"

He told her that she was nothing, saying that she had lost everything. Now, the same thing was happening to him.

He sighed. Is this what they call Karma? Everything might had started from his mistake. So, who's the one he should blame? Himself?

.

If only he had a power to turn back time.

.

He was not supposed to bring Tigress to Darknest Land back then. If only he had never found her, perhaps his father wouldn't have gotten a hope to continue his forefather's ambition to rule over China and his mother possibly would have been still alive until now.

The only reason why he did that was because he wanted to make his father become proud of him. That despite of his disability, he still could be entrusted to inherit his father's throne. Ha! Now he found it funny.

And now, as the result, he had put Tigress in danger. His psychotic father and general Luo were now planning assassination on that tigress.

He swallowed his pride and admitted his mistake for being the one who brought Tigress to Darknest Land in the first place and it was him who asked her to avenge his mother's death thus that tigress was determined to fulfill her destiny. But he could never forgive himself if something vicious happened to her.

Yuan Sheng growled in peeved. He was terribly confused, totally at a loss now.

He stood, folding arms on his back … pacing back and forth as he tried to find a way from his big problem and an idea as well to save Tigress.

He had to see her now no matter how. But of course, it wouldn't be as easy as it sounds. If he didn't move fast, most likely his father and the army would have left for another valley to conquer.

Something snapped his mind suddenly.

Could that person do it? Could that person help him? The relationship between The dragon warrior and himself might not be good and of course, he would never be willing to give him a help. However, that panda certainly would do anything to save his former comrade at any cost.

Cracks

That sound made Yuan Sheng realized that he was being watched over by someone. He sharpened his hearing and eyesight. Cats can see in darkness and have good ears.

"Who's there!" He yelled into the air, hiding the fears that he was feeling. "Show yourself!"

A sound of a footsteps could be heard approaching the prince. Yuan Sheng stood still, watching a dark mysterious silhouette walk over him. That one had a hunched back and walked supported by a staff.

Then Yuan Sheng's mouth became wide open, surprised as he recognize that mysterious person.

TLoTDaTT

Morning finally came.

Mr. Ping looked completely worried. "How's he?" He was asking about Po. That panda was currently still unconscious, lying on a mattress and surrounded by his father and the four.

Monkey was bandaging Po's wound around the belly. "After a blood transfusion an hour ago, Master Shifu said that he would be fine."

Viper took a glance at Mr. Ping. A worry was written upon that middle-aged goose's face. "Po is strong. He'll come through it."

Mr. Ping tried to put a smile on his beaks. "Thank you, Master Viper."

"Well, I'm done." Monkey said after he finished bandaging Po's wound. "Just give him a few hours to sleep and recover."

Mr. Ping came near to his son and put a wing on that panda's left cheek, stroking it softly. "My poor boy," he mumbled to himself, almost crying. "Responsibilities as a dragon warrior must be too big for you to carry."

Crane looked to the right and to the left, upset. "Does anyone happen to know where Master Shifu is? I haven't seen him since we arrived here."

"I guess I saw him sitting by a temple near the abyss." Mantis replied.

"Huh? What is he doing out there?"

"Nothing. Just sitting there and musing. Oh, don't go meet him." The bug quickly added. "Apparently, he doesn't want to be distrupted."

TLoTDaTT

Flashback,

After their brief fight with Tigress last night, Master Shifu directly led his students and Mr. Ping away to Musicians' Village, the only nearest village that hadn't been touched by the tigers. The villagers there accepted them with open arms after Shifu told them about the tigers' invasion and one of those villagers gladly gave Shifu his house for them to stay until the dragon warrior got his consciousness back.

At this moment, though he didn't mean to fake Po's death, but Shifu sensed it would be safe for him and his students as long as he let Tigress think that Po had died, at some future time, it would keep the panda safe from being targeted again therefore and Shifu would get a plenty time to map out a new plan.

TLoTDaTT

"Man. I'm hungry." Mantis groused. "Can we at least have something to eat?"

Mr. Ping stood from his sitting position. "How about noodle?"

The primate gasped in amazement. "You wanna make some for us?"

He opened his wings widely. "I'll make noodle for everyone." A bright face was set on his face as he announced. "And for every villagers who have kindly accepted us to stay a while here."

Viper slithered towards the goose. "You need an assistant, Mr. Ping?"

Mr. Ping chuckled, rubbing the back of his head. "Well, actually, yes." He said doubtfully. "But maybe it would be better if I got a help from Master Monkey since … you know …." He waved his wings nervously, attempting to show them off to Viper but a little afraid of insulting her. "We need them to cook."

Monkey laughed, walking over Mr. Ping. "Sorry Viper." He said before he and Mr. Ping entered the kitchen. "We need hands to cook."

The snake just set a scowling face seeing the primate laughing at her. It was true that snakes don't have hands but at least, her tail would be useful enough to convolute a ladle and stir the broth.

TLoTDaTT

Shifu was sitting by a temple alone in the same morning, legs crossed. A flute was on his grip. At this moment, everything still looked safe and sound. The tigers wouldn't find their whereabouts easily.

The red panda master let out a sight lightly.

He hated hiding. But only for his students' salvation, he must.

He spun his flute like a windmill in his brown skinny fingers, not interested in playing any song though.

"Master Oogway," he whispered softly into the thin air, lowering his shoulders and ears. "If only you were here."

He rubbed his flute softly with a blank stare, hoping every gentle caress of his fingers on that musical instrument would bring his mind at ease.

"Master Shifu." A voice addressed him from behind him. The red panda turned his head and found a pig holding a guitar made of metal smiling at him. That pig was the one who had borrowed the warriors his house.

"I am sorry if I interrupted your meditation." The pig apologized politely.

"No, you didn't. I am just … doing nothing." Shifu said, smiling back. "Something I can do for you?"

"Actually, there is no, Master Shifu. I just wanted to tell you that Dragon Warrior just woke up a few minutes ago."

Shifu's face slowly melted into bright. He went at the double to the losmen. He even forgot to say thank you to the pig.

The red panda master slid the door open and sprinted fast to the room where his students were in.

"Panda!" He shouted that name loudly as he reached the door leaf.

The four peered at Shifu in shock, a bit surprised by his big voice. Mr. Ping was seen feeding Po a meal.

Po, now sitting on his mattress, gave a smile to his teacher. "Hi, Master Shifu." It was difficult to greet someone with his mouth full of noodles.

Shifu's smile was getting wider. "How's your feeling now?"

"Hungry," Po replied cheerfully. He opened his mouth again as an another proffered spoon of noodle was ready to devour. The panda now looked as if he had forgotten the challenging moment they had last night.

Shifu stepped into the room. It could be seen that Mr. Ping was really enjoying himself treating his son like a five years old little boy and Po seemed pleased to be treated so by his father.

Po wiped a sauce that was splattering around his lips. "Dad. Can you hand me that water?"

"Of course." Mr. Ping, with a happy face, reached a glass of water beside him and handed it to Po. "Here you go, my boy."

Po emptied the glass in the twinkling of an eye. "Thanks."

To be honest, Master Shifu was glad to see his students a little more relaxed this way. But he hated to break it up.

The red panda cleared his throat. "Hm, very well." His eyes met Mr. Ping's. "Could you please leave us for a moment?"

Mr. Ping's face became a frown. "Can't you just let me stay here with my son?" He wrapped his wings around Po. "Just five more minutes?"

Po put a hand on his father's shoulder. "Come on, Dad." He pleaded with his puppy eyes.

Mr. Ping sighed in defeat. "Okay," and with a half-hearted, he put the bowl he was holding and hugged Po. "Call me anytime when you need me, Son."

"Now," Shifu started after Mr. Ping left. He stared at his students one by one, which stared back at him. When he set his eyes on Po –

"Okay, okay, I know." Po said quickly just when Shifu was about to open his mouth. "I suppose you're angry with me for disobeying you last night."

"And of course, I am." The red panda master replied with his piercing eyes laid on the giant panda. "Now you know the consequence, don't you? Tigress almost killed you and you nearly died."

"Yes, she did but I'm still alive, right?"

"Will you stop thinking that you can do anything?!" Shifu started raising his voice. "Have you ever learned from any lesson?! Why are you always doing a such stupid and dangerous things only to prove the world that you are the dragon warrior?!"

"It's not like what you said." Po argued. "It's just for Tigress ; my best buddy."

"I've told you to leave the dungeon and the rest to me. You are yet ready to face her, Po. Don't you know about it?"

Po hung his head in shame. After all, it is not right to counter your own teacher. Plus, Shifu was just worried about him. "I am sorry, Shifu. I … I just really wanted to see Tigress."

His master put his palm on Po's, patting it gently. "I didn't mean to make you feel regret." His voice changed into soft. "I just can't let myself lose any of you anymore. And what you did last night almost made you lose your own life."

"I know … I know."

"Just for this time." The master added, looked straight into the four's eyes. "Stay away from this battle."

The four automatically hurled a protest. "Master!"

"I've made up my mind. Do not against my final decision." And he turned to Po. "I don't want to hear about you dealing with Tigress anymore. And for you," he eyed at the four again. "The safety of this villagers now become your current main priority."

"But Tigress –"

"Is not your business anymore." Shifu cut off. "You have broken my plan up, Panda. And now I order you to not intervene in this matter. Did I make myself clear?"

"But –"

"Did I make myself clear?!"

"But—" The panda trailed off as his master shot him a glare, realizing that it was useless to guff more. "Yes, Master."

Shifu's glare now turned into a suspicious view. Part of him said that this panda would disobey him again.

"So … what's your new plan, Master?" Hesitancy was on Crane's voice as he asked his master that question.

"I will send a letter to Master Croc and Master Ox of Gongmen City and tell them about our current emergency situation." Shifu informed. "And soon, they'll send us reinforcement to help us fight for our valley … and for China." He glanced at Po. "As you said, Po ; we need a strategy to vanquish those tigers and this is my strategy. So don't ever have a hope to mess it up."

The giant panda did not say any word against his master this time.