Chapter 4

Quan's eyes were laced right to the ground, staring at each of the stone steps that would lead right up to the Jade Palace. Quan's movements were slow, but with an analyzing purpose. To him, each of these steps seemed to represent a memory during his times at the Jade Palace, making him take ages to get to the top of the flight of stairs. One particular memory that popped into his head while perusing down memory lane was when Oogway tried to teach Quan the important of a calm mind. How did that go? Well, you try and teach a 6 year old, Coyote pup how to be calm. It's practically in their nature to be rambunctious and unaware. Quan seemed to have kept Oogway's teachings in his mind though as it was one of the first things that Quan wanted to try and master when he set off on his journey. His wants would eventually lead him to a Zen Temple in the mountain areas of Japan where Quan was able to meditate inside a chilling temple for over a week, giving him the basis of what he needed before his inevitable reality check when he eventually traveled over to Thailand.

Well, some of you may be wondering, what exactly happened in Thailand? That story is still on hold as the sound of intense training seemed to have been going on behind the front entrance of the Jade Palace's training grounds. Almost as if he was filled with nostalgia from his days with Tai, Quan ran as fast he could before opening up the front entrance to see the, currently occupied, front courtyard where most of the outdoor exercises took place. Before Quan's eyes were these martial artists who would perform kung fu that he's never seen before. A tiger, a viper, a monkey, a crane, and a, "A mantis?" Quan's sudden out loud thought echoed through the courtyard as now the five fighters' eyes were fixated on the Coyote. Emerging from the five was the female tiger who had a beautiful coat of fur, that Quan could've swore had light glistening off of it. She was also wearing a long, white gi with black outlines and black training pants. "Um, can I help you?" She asked Quan with a slanted look of curiosity, but her eyes also teemed with a glint of cautiousness and carried an intimidation that made the hair on Quan's tail stand up straight. "Um, yes, I am looking for the Head Master of this place. Could you tell Oogway that Shamo Quan has returned?"

What happened next, Quan wouldn't have been ready for. The tigress's eyes bore a twinge of sadness as her eyes averted from Quan for a brief moment, "I'm sorry to inform you, but Master Oogway is no longer the head master of the Jade Palace…he has passed years ago." Quan's stomach felt like it had a boulder dropped inside of him, but at the same time his thoughts had rationalization to them. Even when he was young he thought the old turtle would keel over at any second. He shouldn't have been surprised that Oogway would pass away during Quan's lifetime. "I-I see…" Quan stammered as he took the news.
"Um, pardon me for asking," Quan looked around for the new voice before he looked down to see a green, female snake with yellow markings on her back and well-groomed eyelashes, almost like that of Japanese Geishas that Quan met during his times in Kyoto, Japan. "But how do you know Master Oogway?" The viper finished.

As Quan was about to answer, his speech was quickly stopped by a voice he hasn't heard forever, "Quan…?" Quan looked over towards the wooden temple that stood within the front courtyard as he would see the now old, Red-Panda, "M-Master Shifu!" Quan ran over to the old teacher as he get on his knees and bow his head to the ground with his hands placed down to the side. Shifu kneeled down and placed his hand on the back of Quan's head, "You've finally decided to come back."

"I'm sorry, Master, it's just I've been away for so long, I had to come and visit once again." Quan's entire body shook as he was almost on the verge of shedding tears of happiness for seeing someone from his past.

"Now now, there there…" Shifu's hand slowly started to rub the back of Quan's head now as Quan's tail suddenly began to wag, making some of the Furious Five snicker from how adorable it seemed.

Quan sat back up to his knees, looking his Master in the face, "Master Shifu, I heard about Master Oogway…" Shifu sighed out, "I'm sorry Quan, I wanted to send you a letter about his passing, but of course," He then, in a way only Master Shifu could do, thwacked the top of Quan's head with his staff, "You never wrote to us, telling us where you were!"
"Ow! Hey, that hurt!" Quan held his head in slight pain.

"Oh, come on, after all these years don't tell me you still haven't toughened up!"
"And don't tell me that after all these years, you turned into a crotchety old fool!" Quan lashed back, making the Furious Five all gasp in shock. They've never heard ANYONE talk like that to Shifu. But what happened next would only baffle historians in the far future…the two began to laugh, almost maniacally, "Oh, I've missed that rebellious foolishness of yours, Quan. It's always been a breath of fresh air."

"And I've missed your constant nagging and nut-busting personality, Master." Quan laughed back, but there was still one more question he had that was unanswered. "Master…what of brother Tai's fate?"

"…He…eventually escaped from Chorh-Gom Prison." Shifu started.

"Kind of figured…he's not one to stay in a single spot for so long." Quan commented.

"But, I'm happy and proud to say he was stopped." Shifu smiled since Tai Lung's actions has always been the biggest ghost of his past.

"And how was he stopped? Was it Oogway? These five here? You?" Quan continued questioning.

"Oogway passed before Tai Lung escaped. The Furious Five tried to stop them, but they were beaten…rather easily, might I add." Shifu gave the five quick, scary looks, making all five of them look away in wide-eyed, comedic terror. "And I…well…I loved Tai Lung like a son. I could've never beaten him."

"Then who?" Quan continued. Shifu paused for a moment before answering, "The Dragon Warrior."

"The…panda?" Quan said almost in complete shock and awe.

"Yes, the pan- wait a minute, how did you know the Dragon Warrior was a pan-" Before Shifu could finish his interrogation, a loud shout came over from the stairway leading to the training grounds, "Hey everyone! I got the stuff to make dinner tonight!" Running through the gates was that same panda that Quan encountered back at that amazing noodle shop. "So it is true…" Quan smiled lightly, "You ARE the Dragon Warrior."

"Weeeell, I don't like to brag about it, but, yes, I'm Po, the Dragon Warri-" Before Po could finish his introduction, he had to stop a quick and claw bore attack from Quan himself…