Chapter 20: Alarming Message

Minutes later, Splinter and Musaki were walking back from the Sacred Peach Tree and headed to the front of the Sacred Hall of Warriors, where they saw Shifu standing there. He hears them talking and laughing and at that point, he can tell that they were having fun bonding with each other.

Shifu turned around and saw them walking towards them and that made him smile at them. He walked to them and asked, "Hey, so how'd it go?"

"It went great. You've got a pretty good student." Splinter said.

"We did everything together. We meditated, talked, had some peaches. Overall, it was a pretty good day for us." Musaki said.

"Well, I'm glad you two had a great time."

"So are we."

"What you doing now?"

"Waiting for you both, so I can see how it's going." Shifu said.

"Well, we had a great time."

"I knew you two were gonna have a great time."

"How did you know that?"

"I kinda snuck around to see if you two were getting along. I watched you both behind the tree and then I left when I heard you having a great time."

"Were you spying on us?" asked Splinter.

"I wouldn't call it spying. Just...observing."

Splinter and Musaki looked at each other and knew that they weren't buying it and then turned to Shifu and said, "Spying."

"Okay, you caught me. But I could've been seen."

"Well, you're seen now."

Splinter started laughing loudly and Musaki joined in too. Shifu chuckled sarcastically and said, "Very funny."

All of a sudden, Shifu spots his messenger coming in for a landing and then, plopped himself on the ground, panting very quickly. Splinter and Musaki looked at him and wanted to know what he wanted.

"Zeng, are you okay?" asked Shifu.

Zeng tried to get up and only panted heavily, cause he was losing breath. Splinter looked at him and asked, "Who is he?"

"This is my messenger, Zeng. Zeng, Splinter. Splinter, Zeng."

Zeng looked at Splinter and got him startled quickly. He looked at Splinter and asked, "Who are you?"

"My name is Splinter."

"What kind of name is that?"

"My master gave me that name."

"Really? Oh, I didn't realize. Um...my sincere apologies."

"Accepted."

"Just where are you from, anyway?"

"Japan."

"Oh, I see. Japan."

"Any news, Zeng?" asked Shifu.

Looking at Shifu, he completely lost sight of what he's here for. He turned to Shifu and said, "Well, I just got some news from Chor-Gom prison. Tai Lung has been breaking out of prison again and is coming back here to get revenge."

Hearing this made Musaki's heart drop, because he dealt with Tai Lung before and that he defeated him already. He started shaking and wanted to back away really slowly. Splinter turned around and saw Musaki backing away and asked, "Musaki-san, you okay?"

He lost focus and got startled. Shifu and Zeng turned around and saw a nervous Musaki in front of him. He panted heavily and said, "Hunky-dory."

"You seem nervous." Zeng said.

"What makes you say that?"

"I see a nervous person when I see one."

He wanted to deny that he's nervous, but there's no use hiding it. He sighed heavily and asked, "Tai Lung's coming back for me, is he?"

"You did come to his mind."

Musaki's eyes widened and knew that Tai Lung was coming back for him. He quietly said, "I knew it. I knew he would come back for me. Even after I defeated him, he's still coming back for me."

Splinter could tell that he's really afraid that he's gonna come back to bring serious harm to him, because he recalls that Tai Lung killed his parents when he was a kid and that he was afraid that he's coming back for him. Musaki sat down on the ground, covering his face, like he's really scared to face him again.

He walked over to him and puts his hand on his shoulder. Musaki looked at him and said, "Do not worry. We will not let Tai Lung bring any harm to you."

"You don't even know the dude. He's quicker than a Chinese throwing star, only living and sharp. One blink and he'll knock you out like a tree falling down on your head and a 'timber' is not cutting it this time, cause it's lights out...permanently."

"Musaki, you have defeated Tai Lung before and you can do it again, but you have to put your fears aside and fight him again." Shifu said.

He looked at Shifu for a minute, then turned to Splinter and Splinter petted his shoulder to know that he's here and that he is invincible. All of a sudden, feeling Splinter's grip suddenly made Musaki's fears fade into confidence. He blinked one time and suddenly said, "I guess I gotta fight him, right?"

"Yes."

"It is time to put your kung-fu and ninjitsu in good use for this one." Splinter said.

Musaki nodded his head and asked Zeng, "When's he coming?"

Hearing this made Zeng go in panic-mode and asked, "You're seriously gonna fight Tai Lung?"

"Uh, she-yeah!"

Zeng was seriously gonna lose it and started running around, saying, "Are you crazy? He's gonna kill you and all you can say is that you'll take your chances and put your life in risk to get him? Do you know what you're up against here? He's gonna kill you! He's gonna harm you! He will do worse things to you and you'll never...gonna...live to see...another...DAY! You're doomed! You're doomed! You...are...doomed!"

"ZENG!" Shifu shouted.

He came to Zeng and slapped him in the face and said, "Forgive me, but you have to keep it together! You're getting too hysterical, so snap out of it!"

"Yes, master."

"Thanks for the message."

Zeng flew away for a while, but turns to Musaki and said, "I hope you know what you're doing."

Then, he flew away again further away in the sky. Shifu sighed heavily and asked, "Well, what are we to do?"

"I think we should alert the others." Musaki said.

"Smart choice."

"I think Musaki is determined to fight him again." Splinter said.

"Yes, he is. And with my students and your students, we'll stop him together." Shifu said.

"As it should be."

Shifu and Splinter gave each other a high-five, and after that, Shifu was confused about how they do that. Splinter said, "My sons always do that back at home. Just for support."

"Huh, I see."

"I think I've been involved in this for too long."

You wanted a villainous fight scene? You've got it! That was just the appetizer and the enxt chapter will be the main event! Stick around!