Chapter 26
Sapphire stared straight ahead as the Alpha kept a firm grip on her arm, and the sword that was inches away from shortening her life close enough to brush over the tips of her fur. No one else had her gaze but Tai Lung; there he was, the previously bruised side of his face now throbbing with the pain from the punch, but his eyes gave way the thoughts and panic to make up a plan to stop her from getting skinned.
Shang had a sword pointed in Alpha's direction, eyes on the prize, while Lok's balled fists were against his frame, mouth slightly ajar while Mantis and Crane froze in their stances. Shifu fought his way out of Jun's hold, and hit the ground with a grunt. Jun knelt by him, taking in sharp, vicious inhales of air, his body shaking like a leaf in the high winds. "LET GO OF HER!" He bellowed, making the Alpha cackle inhumanely.
"Make me little cub!" He mocked, twisting his head to face him. Jun's eyes narrowed into slits, but Shifu raised a paw up to him.
"Don't move." He hissed, before his limb hit the ground.
"Better listen to him boy..." A few wolves recovered from their unconsciousness, and they moved towards their leader, smiling and laughing evilly as they limped along. "This little jewel's life will make you talk. How is demon still alive?"
"You ask him," Sapphire muttered, which made the Alpha smirk down at her.
"Alright then-" he brought the blade close enough to touch her skin, and her was close to letting out a whimper. "Talk." He added, boring his eyes into Tai Lung, who stood rigged.
"Your guess is as good as mine." The snow cat replied, slowly moving into a stance. "Let go of the girl, she doesn't need to be harmed..."
"The girl? Is that what you call her? Tell me your name sweetheart..." he hissed the last part into her ear, and she could feel her body fight off the shivers his voice sent through it.
"Sa-" she wasn't replying fast enough, so he went to hold the sword, and her arm, a little tighter. "Sapphire!" She spoke quickly, trying to mask the pain through gritted teeth, which Tai Lung's ears flickered at in agitation.
"How pretty... not the name I'd think the notorious Tai Lung would name his daughter but..." Tai Lung inwardly gasped with the rest of the males, while Sapphire felt her heart sink so low she was close to vomiting or passing out, which she could thank Alpha for holding her up. "I guess you never really know one's preference."
Tai Lung took in an inhale so deep his nostrils enlarged almost as big as his lungs. "How'd you know-" Jun began, but Alpha stopped him.
"Simple; ones we hold so dear tend to distract us from even the most stressful situations... that, and the fact I can see the resemblance." Sapphire and Tai Lung both shared a puzzled look, which only justified the Alpha's point. "I'm sure the Valley was more than surprised about her existence, let alone his revival..."
There was a dead silence. Everyone just stared at one another, trying to formulate the perfect excuse. "Ooooooh," Alpha's mouth stretched into a tight, knowing smile, a signature for any villain knowing their enemies weaknesses. "They don't know about either, do they? Well then my dear," he started moving, barking at Tai Lung to move ahead of him. Tai Lung growled at him. Pressing the weapon tighter to her skin, she could feel it cutting in, and that was when she released a whimper, and her eyes shut tightly to keep the tears back.
That did it.
Tai Lung's eyes opened to the sound of a soft melody... a baby's cry...
"Get moving, or she gets it." Tai Lung started moving. The other Masters did too, but Alpha threatened them an abrupt exit to the afterlife if they moved, so they forced themselves to stay, while Jun's heart was ready to leap out of his throat while the two snow leopards were shoved along. Out the door, and down the steps, the Wolf whistled in delight. "This is going to be a very interesting stroll." The door slammed closed, encasing the Masters, and the former orphans from the outside world.
Tai Lung kept his eyes ahead, but where they were going wasn't what was on his mind;
With a hip brace weighed by two boulders off the ledge, and immobilized legs, kept in place as he stared on bewilderment. "Mine..." His whispered.
"Yes..." Luna whispered tearfully. "She's yours."
The little paws, the tail... the teeth, the ears... everything was perfectly designed for her, with the eyes .. they were so beautiful; if it were possible, the gods plucked a bit of the night sky from above, and descended to this little baby, like they must of done had to her mother before. There was a beautiful gleam in them; a flame, the blazing glint that burned in his. "Luna." He said.
Luna blinked slowly. "What?"
"Her name... can be Luna too." He looked up, rising the child up so she was filtered in the natural moon light that touched the platform he sat on. The infant gurgled and sang another set of vowels. "I can't think of anything better..."
Luna laughed, and knelt down in front of him, their eyes penetrating the curtain of darkness that suddenly descended upon them. "I have a better name... Sapphire." He though about it, and then he held her closely.
"Perfect..."
When Tai Lung came out of his trance, it was too late to run and hide if he wanted to.
Everyone in the street, nobles and peasants alike, have remained rooted on the spot they stood on, gasping. Children unknowingly stared at him in confusion, while the adults had paws/ wings/ hoofs to their mouths, shaking their heads in disbelief. "Come closer everyone... I'll make sure he won't bite." Soon a sea of reluctant animals surrounded him. A few pandas came around, including Mei Mei, who was curious about this tall handsome stranger. She had been out of the Valley after the festival, preforming in a neighboring village, oblivious to everything that has occurred in the Valley. "Behold..." Alpha cried, keeping a tight grip on Sapphire, who relaxed slightly when she felt the blade pull away from her throat, and pointed towards the former criminal. "Tai Lung, back from the dead."
A wave of gasps swam around him, while Mei Mei looked on with wide eyes, before jumping behind a wall when the Alpha moved his attention in her direction. She heard of Tai Lung from her chats with Viper... but she said he was dead?
"How is this possible?"
"How can this be?"
"Trickery is all that it is! Tai Lung is no more!"
"Shoot away your doubts my good man, it is him..." Alpha made a grab for Sapphire's wrist, and held her by said body part, raising it up so high in the air she dangled a few centimeters off the ground. "The Jade Palace has hidden another dark secret..."
"But that's the Orphan the Master's helped..." A duckling corrected, before the Alpha shook his head.
"No my child, she's far from an orphan." He grinned at Sapphire, whose hissed at him in both anger and pain. "Mind telling us who you are?" He said sweetly. Tightening his grip, her face stiffened up in pain.
"She's my biological daughter." Tai Lung spoke abruptly. Alpha smirked at him when everyone gasped again, while Sapphire turned her head away from him in embarrassment. The villagers took turns in staring at Tai lung in shock, whispering about her. He leaned his weight on one leg are his hips slanted to the left, frowning his arms as his eyes casted to the ground. "Who never knew about me... she was never in my care." This caused a ripple of questions, which bid Mei Mei time to move around to stand in the crowd... behind Alpha. "I wish no harm."
A pig moved forward, despite his elderly mother's plea not to. "How would we know that?" He asked, arms also folded.
This made Sapphire turn back to watch Tai Lung unhook himself, and kneel down to the pig's level, fist in palm. "On whatever honor I have left, I've been gifted a second chance to find what I have lost, and in order to do that, I had to seek redemption. I came to the Dragon Warrior.. and he helped me." Everyone kinda shrugged at that; the Dragon Warrior was always something... different, compared to the other Masters. He had a different approach to battle; he had tried to make the evil see another path... but to no avail it seemed... until now? "It took a long time..." Tai Lung stood up once more, before facing the Alpha, glaring at him menacingly. "If i wished to attack the Valley, I would've done at every opportunity I had." The villagers nodded at one another approvingly, as if to agree with that statement. "But I came back for my daughter..."
Their staring contest was cut off by other questions;
"How come her existence was hidden away from us?"
"How do we know that she isn't going to do the same thing you did to us?"
"My existence was hidden away from everyone, including the Masters at the Jade Palace." All heads turned in her direction. Alpha smiled sickeningly, throwing her to the ground roughly, while she swallowed slowly, trying to find the right words. "I found out while the Masters were at Bao Gu. Only then I was given a box that concealed everything. There I had the opportunity to come to what I thought was a dark prison... to come as a student under the Dragon Warrior and Master Tigress; teachings... coming here to visit the Master's fueled me with anxiety, in case they someone how latched onto the idea of it being possible, let alone the truth..." everyone was staring at her during the first few words that spilled from her mouth, but then they transferred their eyes to Tai Lung, who slowly, but surely, fell to her level, a frown on his demeanor, with saddened eyes, and ears across his head. He reached for her paw, and she allowed him to help her up. "I never knew he was still alive... until now," she pulled away from him, holding herself up by the elbows, "and I've dealt a seven year battle, unsure what would become of me..." Inhaling shakily, she whispered something, loud enough for only Tai Lung to hear.
"I'm eternally in your shadow."
"Sapphire..." Tai Lung started to speak, but he looked around them, while Alpha copied him, only for the canine, he had a wicked sense of triumph. There were a few audible noises of doubt within her words, but they were abruptly stopped when Tai Lung pulled her behind him, and got into his stance, which made everyone jump back, including the pig he exchanged words with. Sapphire glanced at him questioningly once the Alpha crouched low to the ground. "You will leave this valley, and never come back. We can do this without hurting anyone."
The Alpha started to laugh, but before he could muster another syllable, he felt something crack across the back of his head, in which he cried out, and letting go of the sword to cradle his head. This was Tai Lung's chance to jump, igniting the villagers to run and take cover before he could call out for everyone to run to safety.
Sapphire leapt back too, to find Mei Mei swinging her nun-chucks hurriedly as she ran for the leopardess, while the sword swept across the ground, out of focus. "Come on girl, we better get the other Masters."
"What about-" she turned to Tai Lung's direction, but he spoke over her.
"Get Mantis and Crane, after getting everyone to safety!" He yelled, before tackling Alpha to the ground. Sapphire stood there, unsure what to do. But the wolf flipped him over, holding him by the neck against the ground. "Go!" Tai Lung's legs swiped up, his left hooking Alpha's neck while the other touched the ground. Alpha gave out a choked 'ahk!' while Tai-Lung threw him to the side, sending him flying into a near-by building, embedding his body mass to make a vast crack. Hitting the ground, he rolled over, and coughed, blood trickling down one side of his mouth. Tai Lung was just peeling himself off the ground, slightly out of breath, preparing for another attack, when he heard a whistle. He, Sapphire and Mei Mei looked up to see where the whistle came from, and they saw Crane swooping down.
"Need a wing?" He said invitingly, before a small green thing leapt off his hat, hitting a ground with a loud 'FEAR THE BUG!' Tai Lung blinked almost dumfounded while Mei Mei and Sapphire smiled when Mantis scuttled across the ground towards the snow leopard, who was just jumping to his feet as Crane landed.
"Wait for us!" Sapphire rolled her eyes, raising a brow at Jun and Lok jogging their way, as if to say 'Seriously? You told us to wait for you... in a fight?'
"Don't leave us out!" Villagers peeped their heads out from the corners of buildings, windows, and doors as Monkey and Viper came rushing in, ready for a fight. Each got into their battle stance, which only confused Tai Lung more.
"How did you-"
"Message from someone we know." Monkey stated, raising his arms in defense when the Alpha stirred. "Where are the boys?"
"Safe." A slow paw placed itself on Tai Lung's shoulder, which made him avert his gaze from the primate to Sapphire. "We gave you a hard time... I gave you hell... we need to trust you more than ever... can we?" The snow leopard just nodded, firming the paw's place on his shoulder once he placed his paw on tops of hers, seeing those eyes glow...
The moment was short lived; Alpha came running, and so did they. Alpha howled as he clashed with Tai Lung, and Mei Mei could hear a noise behind her. Slowly turning, her eyes widened in horror, her paws collecting her jaw to stop it from breaking off... instead making her eat the chain on her nun chuck. "Oh no..." Mantis and Crane turned their heads, and groaned. The wolves they just tackled in the palace were scampering down the steps. On a brighter note, Tigress and the others were safe, although this meant more trouble; and with Shifu down... they had to put in some elbow grease.
Crane, Mantis, Jun, Lok, Monkey, Mei Mei, Viper, and Sapphire stood their ground towards the Wolves rushing down the steps, while Tai Lung turned his attention back on Alpha, who was struggling to get up after several more fatal blows to the stomach. When Tai Lung went to grab him by the scruff, Alpha unleashed his claws, and dragged them deeply across the snow cat's chest.
Tai Lung let out a ferocious 'RAH!' and he threw him back into the wall, this time he went right through it. While dust and bits of bricks hit Alpha in various places, Tai Lung placed a stiffened paw to the injury, reeling it back to find four streaks of blood across the length of his paw. That was just another injury; the side of his mouth was bleeding a thin stream, and the bruised side of his face was more noticeable than ever.
Crane, Monkey and Mantis took a leap together in one direction, Sapphire, Mei Mei and Viper in another, while Lok and Jun stood awkwardly in the circle. Jun was looking around for a vulnerable target. His ears picked up on one that was sneaking behind Lok, and in a swift movement, and before Lok could acknowledge the presence, Jun pulled the wolf close until they were muzzle to muzzle, the chain of the nun chuck tight around the back of the enemies neck. "How about we go out sometime?" He asked, making Lok stare at him like he was completely mad. The wolf was shocked, but almost blushed at the offer- if he had the time. Jun punched him, letting the chain run along the wolf's neck as he went flying into the trio of wolves that were about to pounce on Lok, who just looked at him in utter shock.
"Is that your preference?" He asked slowly.
Jun shrugged before he swung another punch out of Lok's peripheral. "The element of surprise my dear friend." He flashed his signature grin, before turning around and charged for the oncoming group a few feet away.
Through the pain, Tai Lung pulled himself towards Alpha, who was just dragging himself out of the wreck. Before he had time to react, Tai Lungs tight grip was on his neck, at an area that with one squeeze could end it all. "I'm telling you to leave now before I have to end it for each and every one of you."
Alpha laughed, which came out all wheezy when Tai Lung's grasp became firmer on his neck. Glancing to the side, he continued. "And you said you changed... you're-" his paws swiped the ground. "going- to change..." Tai Lung pulled the wolf up, keeping his focus on the eyes of the man he was about to kill. "For her." A metal slinking sound was heard, and Tai Lung heard a scream when it met flesh. Sharply turning, he saw Sapphire kneeling on the ground, her weapons fanned out away from her body. Her left paw was glued to the upper area of her right arm, her face contracting in pain as Viper and Mei Mei fought off the attacker.
Sapphire looked around for a spot of opportunity, but instead she turned to him, and watched on her horror as Alpha, managed to grab hold of his primary weapon; the sword. "LOOK OU-"
SLEASH
Metal met the soft flesh at his muscled torso, twisting in with one swift, deep motion. The words hung off her tongue as she heard the other Masters gasp, Jun and Lok sprinted straight for Alpha, who unhooked himself from Tai Lung's suddenly softer hold, watching him hit the ground triumphantly, before Lok grabbed the sword out of his grasp, ad Jun tackled him to the ground, yelling for cuffs.
"Retreat! Retreat!" Another wolf yelled, before there were cries and howls echoing through the air as they made a run for it. Alpha was tied down, beaten, defeated... yet victorious.
Sapphire scrambled to her feet and ran for Tai Lung's hunched form, a dark crimson pool growing out from beneath him. She fell to his side, her knees landing in the ever growing edges of the blood. "He's good for the worms now!" Alpha cackled as Crane and Mantis came to her side. "I saved us all from that venom!" Sapphire was trying to ignore everything Alpha was saying. Instead, she moved Tai Lung's head in her direction. His eyes were half opens, eyelids heavy with the temptation of going for a permanent sleep... but he was breathing, and whispering syllables.
"Saph.." he managed to say, but she tried to hush him.
His head swayed side to side weakly as two villagers came rushing in with carts, large enough to carry a family. "We can treat him at the local hospital until he's stable enough to go back to the Palace." It was Shang, who came to the scene, and the rest of the Valley started coming out of their hiding spots, and stared on ominously. Mantis nodded, while Crane and Monkey hoisted the Snow Cat up, and placed his heavy body onto the cart. A village woman came with an overthrow for him, while another pulled Sapphire along to aid her wounds.
Alpha was still laughing while he was put on the separate cart, and was being pulled away. "No point in trying!" He kept saying, his volume growing louder every meter he was further away from the cluster. "He's better off dead! AND SO IS SHE!" Sapphire stared at the cart that carried Tai Lung away as the lady who was nursing her wounds bandaged her up.
"We can save him can't we?" Mei Mei asked, helping the voiceless young leopardess up on her feet, draping a shawl around her shoulders.
Mantis turned in their direction. His face and tone were bleak. "All we can do is try." He turned to the village people, whose eyes watched on, all baring the one question. He knew what they were looking for. "Let us try save him... and then we will answer every question you have."
Sapphire's eyes teared up at the thought. "After that, we will explain everything... I promise." Monkey pleaded. Everyone looked at one another, and nodded.
"We will wait." The pig that spoke with Tai Lung stood to attention, bowing to them respectfully. "He did help you after all..."
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