Tigress and the Masters of the Black Lotus
By EDT
Disclaimer:
Kung Fu Panda and its characters are owned by Dreamworks SKG. The following material is intended to entertain free of charge and without profit.
Prologue:
Night time in the Valley of Peace, the full moon illuminated the landscape with its serene splendor. Beneath the quiet gaze of the stars, sinister motives are afoot. On the rooftop of the Bao Gu Orphanage, a figure dressed in black robes with a large round hat stood and waited. The figure was a black bear with a chest of fur shaped like a chevron.
Behind him was a large cage and perched on the metal cell was a flock of vultures, four and all each sporting a breastplate with an emblem of the Black Lotus. His ages old blue eyes gazed at the moon and wondered how many more of these forays into the mortal realm he had to partake to satisfy the Lady Black Lotus.
Moments later, three figures ascended the roof top each with a small child in hand. They were jackals they donned armor also marked by the Black Lotus emblem. Their maws wore a sinister grin and their presence would intimidate just about anyone.
"Master Suon," the first jackal said and snorted through his nostrils. "We have the children."
The black bear looked over his three young captives who were restrained from escaping and screaming. One of them was a pink male piglet, another was a black furred rabbit, and the third was a brown duckling. All were of the required age and health for the Black Lotus's ritual.
"Very good, put them in the cage and head back to the realm. I will personally deliver the challenge decree to the Kung Fu Master."
"Understood, Master Suon," the head jackal said and bowed. The subordinate looked over to his canine colleagues and placed the frightened children into the cage. When the cage was latched and locked, all three jackals seated themselves on to the container. The vultures flapped their wings without any hint of labor and lifted the cell into the twilight. Under the moon's light, a jade colored portal illuminated the night sky and the flock of vultures, the jackals, and the cage entered the opening and vanished.
Suon watched as the green portal closed in on itself and turned his attention across the Valley of Peace. He jumped off the roof and landed. He walked down a path towards his destination at a steady pace, the Jade Temple; where he will deliver the Black Lotus's decree.
Chapter 1: Morning Spar
Atop the mountain that overlooked the Valley of Peace stood the Jade Palace, home of the Dragon Warrior and the Furious Five. It was a mild spring day and within the walls of the training hall, the feral Master Tigress was ready for her sparring match. Her opponent, the Dragon Warrior and friend, Po. The Panda gave her a martial salute and went into a battle stance. Tigress grinned and returned the gesture. On the side lines of the sparring mat were the rest of the Furious Five with all of their gazes fixated at Tigress and Po's match.
Since after their battle with the mad peacock Lord Shen, Tigress and the five wanted to explore Po's Inner Peace technique to see how it complemented their individual fighting styles. For Tigress, she was curious to see if her attacks could penetrate his defenses.
"Po, are you ready?" Tigress asked.
"Ready!" the black and white warrior replied.
"When Monkey rings the bell, that's the end of the match, alright?" Tigress said, "If I land three blows, I win the match."
"Got it! Let's rumble!" Po said with a big smile as he moved his right foot in a graceful circular motion upon the sparring mat.
Tigress felt a wave of serenity that emanated from Po. No doubt the same sensation that aided the panda against the cannonballs fired from Shen's weapons. For Tigress, Po's performance was phenomenal and a far cry from his novice days as a dragon warrior. She gained a new level of respect of the panda's growing mastery of kung fu. Above all else, Tigress felt fortunate to have met such a talented warrior whose heart was pure and full of life.
Tigress shook the thought from her mind and focused on the present. Deflecting projectiles was one thing but how effective is it in hand-to-hand combat? That was the question that piqued her curiosity since Po's demonstration of Inner Peace.
At a blinding speed, Tigress jumped at Po with a flying kick. She felt Po's hand briefly catching her extended feet and then allowed her momentum to slip along his chest. She landed next to him on all fours limbs and attempted a leg swipe against the panda.
Po lifted his left leg to avoid getting swept. The tiger twisted around to attack the dragon warrior with a series of punching combinations. Despite her flurry of fists and attempts to land a blow on her opponent, Po continually reversed Tigress's momentum against her.
For the next ten minutes, she tried every offense to her knowledge and could not find a way past the dragon warrior's defenses. Her attacks were either deflected, bounced, slipped, or reversed. Throughout the match, she noticed that Po didn't seem to struggle against her attacks. His defensive moves seemed effortless, fluid, and easy.
The bell chimed and both opponents ended their spar and bowed to each other. The rest of the furious five quickly gathered around Tigress and Po.
"That was really something!" Mantis said while perched on Monkey's shoulder. While monkey gave Po a thumbs up.
Viper was all smiles and nodded in agreement.
"I'm impressed Po, I couldn't land a single hit," Tigress said.
"It wasn't easy, I was beginning to slow down abit towards the end. You were really fast!"
"You could have fooled me. You made it look easy. I guess you were saved by the bell. Otherwise, had I persisted. I would've gone through your defenses." Tigress said and softly punched Po on the arm and smiled at him.
"Yeah well..." Po said in a sheepish manner, looked away, and chuckled.
Then Tigress heard the rest of the furious five snickering quietly and she noticed that all of them wore a mischievous expression. Mantis, Viper, Monkey, and Crane didn't do a very good job of hiding an inside joke to which Tigress wasn't privy.
"What are you all snickering about?" Tigress said.
"Oh nothing," Viper said and turned her gaze away.
"Tell me! I want to know what's so funny?"
"It's something that we noticed," Monkey said in a teasing manner.
"Which is?"
"Well..." Crane started to explain but he was interrupted when the doors to the training hall suddenly flew open. A large bear dressed in a black robe and round flat hat took four steps into the building.
"What's the meaning of this intrusion?" Tigress said as she and the rest of the kung fu masters jet across the hall to confront the trespasser.
"Master Tigress, I presume?" said the bear with the white chevron chest.
"Yes, I'm Master Tigress."
"I'm Master Suon of the Wandering Realm, I have a message from the Lady Black Lotus." The bear held out a balled fist which immediately put Tigress and the masters into a defensive posture. The stranger smirked and opened his fist to reveal an onyx handled scroll. He simply handed the rolled up document over to Tigress.
When she took the scroll from Suon and pulled it open. Tigress read the document.
By Decree of the Ruler of the Wandering Realm, The Lady Black Lotus. You, Master Tigress, have been chosen to participate in the Trials of the Black Lotus. By reading this decree, you are permanently locked into this commitment until you render your decision to participate. Refusal to participate will automatically forfeit the lives of three orphan children as well as the forfeiture of yours. You are allowed one companion to accompany you to witness your participation, no more and no less. Further details will be divulged upon your arrival.
Suddenly a black aura suddenly surrounded Tigress and she was caught off guard by a sharp pain that overtook her heart. She screamed and clenched her chest and fell forward on her knees.
"Tigress!" Po and the others screamed. Without hesitation they all launched at Suon only to fly through him. His form became translucent and almost vaporous.
The black-robed master chuckled in a low grave tone. "I will return again tonight at the foot of grand stairway. Contemplate your decision by then."
With that proclamation, Suon created a green portal beside his form, he stepped through the magical opening, and disappeared into thin air.
Tigress felt Po's arms around her shoulders. "Are you alright?" he said.
"It's okay I'm fine, I can stand," she said.
"Who was that weirdo?" Po said. "I've never seen that kind of kung fu before."
"What you witnessed wasn't kung fu."
"What was it?"
"Black magic."
"Tigress, what was in the scroll?" Viper asked.
"I'm not sure what to make of it, I think I should to talk to Master Shifu."
A few minutes later, at the Sacred Pool of Tears, Master Tigress and the rest of the Kung Fu masters gathered around Master Shifu. The red panda twitched his ear as he read the decree of the Black Lotus. From what Tigress could tell of her teacher's expression, he looked very concerned.
"Have you ever heard of anything like this, Master Shifu?" she asked. "Who is this Black Lotus?
"Yes, a very long time ago, back in the early days of my training with Master Oogway. The Black Lotus is a witch. That's all I know for certain."
"What's the Wandering Realm?"
"The Wandering Realm is a plane of existence between our physical world and the spirit realm. Every fifty years, when the moon is at its fullest and the tides are at its lowest. The Wandering Realm overlaps our plane of existence. Roughly over a hundred years ago, a female master of your same skill level participated in the Trials of the Black Lotus. She was accompanied by Master Oogway to play witness to the event."
"What was the master's name?" Tigress asked.
"Her name was Whirlwind Wolf."
"So what happened when Master Wolf and Oogway went into the Wandering Realm?"
"I asked Master Oogway the same question and the odd thing was that he didn't remember. He said that going into the Wandering Realm was like living through a dream. He could only recall emotions but not the actual memories that explained those emotions. Nevertheless, he returned with three children that were kidnapped."
"But what happened to Master Wolf?" Po asked in a quick manner.
Shifu looked at Tigress and she noticed sadness and a hint of fear entered his eyes. "She never returned."
Po's mouth was agape and he grabbed hold of Tigress's shoulder with a fearful wide eyed expression. "Tigress you can't go to the Wandering Realm! It's sounds like one of those weird places that could mess with your head! There's no way you're going!"
"I don't want to go either but I don't have a choice! If I don't go, those three children will die!"
Po suddenly quieted down with realization in his expression. "Oh. I didn't know that. Since I haven't read the contents of the scroll yet." Po didn't know what else to say to Tigress's predicament and crossed his arms in frustration and went into a deep contemplation off in the nearby corner of the plateau.
"So who are you going to choose to accompany you?" Shifu asked of Tigress.
"I'm not sure. I wished everyone can go but it seems that I can only pick one."
Shifu stroked his long beard. "Then I will suggest you take the Dragon Warrior."
Po suddenly turned around with enthusiasm and wrapped his arms around Tigress with a confident fervor. "Yeah! I will go! You and me! The totally bodacious Master Tigress and the Awesome Dragon Warrior will go to the Wandering Realm and kick some black magic bootay! Don't worry Master Shifu, I will watch Tigress's back! I will serve out some justice if anyone dares to try anything sneaky with her! Plus, I'm a good cook and oh! Oh! I have to go get some food stock and supplies from the kitchen before we leave! Not sure what they serve in the Wandering Realm but I'm sure it's nothing of this world. Don't want Tigress to get some weird illness just because she ate something there."
Tigress and the others watched as Po made his way back to the Jade Palace for supplies.
"The rest of you go back home and see to anything that might help Po and Tigress for their journey to the Wandering Realm," Shifu said to the rest of the Furious five. "Tigress, you stay here for a moment. I need to have a talk with you."
"Yes, master," Tigress said.
Shifu waited as her colleagues departed. When they were out of sight, Shifu's shoulders dipped slightly, he gripped his walking staff harder, and his large round ears relaxed downwards. Tigress knew from this body language that her master was deeply troubled. For a long moment, he didn't speak a word which only reinforced her deduction of Shifu's state of mind.
"Please sit," Shifu instructed.
Tigress sat on her knees and relaxed against her calves.
"Master Shifu?" She said to break the silence. "Are you alright?"
"Tigress, I am deeply worried."
Never before had Tigress seem worried about her well being. She didn't know how to to react so she chose not to say anything and only listened to her master's unexpected lamentation.
"When Master Oogway told me of his experience of the Wandering Realm, there was a detail in his story that I didn't want Po and the others to hear."
"Which is?"
"Since Master Oogway only remembered emotions from his journey into the realm, the most significant emotion he felt were strong feelings of loss, helplessness, and sadness. Feelings that are strongly associated with a tragic death. The thought of losing you troubles me greatly."
Tigress looked down, she didn't expect Shifu express his fears. "Don't worry about me Master, I won't allow myself to fall for the same fate as Master Whirlwind Wolf. I'm gonna do my best to break the bonds of Black Lotus's stupid spell."
Shifu did a sad grin, "I see a little bit Po's influence in your statement."
Tigress didn't quite understand what Shifu meant by that statement so she kept quiet and listened instead.
"Nevertheless, it would be in your favor that Po accompanied you on your journey. He might help you in ways that are either obvious or subtle. I want you to survive this ordeal and I want you to implement everything I've ever taught you since the day I met you. Understood?"
"Yes Master Shifu."
"Also, since you're going into a realm with rules that are alien to our own. You may have to unlearn what I've taught you in order to succeed."
Tigress felt her eyes fell wide open and monetarily confused by his statement, "I'm not sure I follow."
Shifu breathed in and exhaled in a calming manner for himself. He walked over to tigress and held her cheeks in his small twig like hands. For the first time since his adoption of her, he gazed at her like not as a master but more like a father concerned for his daughter's safety.
"Tigress," he said. "You have worked very hard to control your emotions and your ability to control your temper has helped you focus in your training and growth. You have benefited tremendously from your mastery of focus and discipline." He released her cheeks and turned away and held his hands behind his back. "However, your control over your emotions have also been a detriment."
"A detriment? How so?"
"You used much of your strength to restrain yourself emotionally and physically. Now that you are headed into a realm of unknown factors, you may need to let go of those chains in order to unleash your fullest strength and potential."
This didn't sit well with Tigress, she felt uneasy and afraid of her capabilities if her emotions went unchecked. "You want me to unlearn most of the things you taught me? To lose my temper? I don't want to lose control of myself."
"If its necessary," Shifu said. "I know it wont be easy. You have to overcome twenty years of meditation, exercises, and trained discipline. These have kept your emotions in check." He placed his small hand on her shoulder to re-assure her. "As Master Oogway once taught me, you must let go of the illusion of control. That's why I wanted Po to go with you. If you are to survive these trials, I feel that Po is the key to your safe return."
"But Master Shifu, if I don't check myself. I might end up hurting those closest to me."
The small master grinned at her with a sentimental yet patriarchal expression. "You can always think like a being of ice and behave as if you're a mountain of iron but you can never change the fact that you're a tiger. So promise me."
"Anything Master."
"Promise me you'll always have faith in yourself; trust yourself enough to succeed.
"I..." Tigress said and looked away briefly from her master's gaze. Then she allowed his words to sink in and looked into Shifu's warm expression. "I will do my best, Master Shifu."
Hours later, it was night time and at the main gate of the Jade Palace, Po was ready and wore his wooden back pack full of various provisions supplied to him by the furious five. Tigress was already at the bottom of the grand stairway waiting for him.
"Okay I've got everything, we need. Time to go meet that creepy bear and bust some Black Lotus butt!"
"Po, before you leave!" Shifu's voice shouted. "I have something to give you."
"Yes Master Shifu!" Po said as he turned towards the small master. Shifu handed the panda a small red silk pouch with a gold drawstring.
"This was Master Oogway's, he had me safe keep this item in case one of my students receive the Decree of the Black Lotus."
"What's in it?"
"It's grounded bark from the Heavenly Peach Tree. The only instruction he gave me was to give it to the participant when she's in dire need of it."
"What does it do?"
"Unknown," Shifu stated. "Not even Master Oogway was certain but he felt it could help in the safe return for the both of you."
Po didn't question Shifu and took the pouch and wore it around his neck. "Anything else, Master Shifu?"
"Yes, Po. There's one last thing that you need to do. Tigress's life could depend on it."
Po's eyes flew wide open and he jogged in place full of excitement. "Really? I'll do anything!"
"Figure out a way to make Tigress lose her temper."
Po froze in place as Master Shifu's words sunk in. "Say what?"
Tigress sat in meditation at the bottom of the grand stairway to await for the Suon's arrival. The day was full of unpleasant surprises and she wanted to stay focused before the journey. She could hear Po's arrival which sounded like a pair of careful footsteps. Perhaps in consideration as to not disturb her moment of peace. For awhile longer, she meditated and tried to focus on the flow of the universe.
Her ears perked at the sound of heavy footsteps headed towards their direction from the village. She opened her eyes, it was the Master Suon, the black bear strolled at a deliberate pace as if he was taking in the sites.
"Why don't you just step through that green hole thingy like you did when you left the Training hall?" Po asked of the visitor upon his arrival.
"I wanted to take my time and enjoy the sites of the Mortal realm. I only come here every fifty years, you know."
"Huh," Po said.
"Well, Master Tigress? What's your decision?"
"I will participate in the Trials of the Black Lotus," Tigress stated.
The black bear smiled. "My lady expected nothing less from a great warrior such as yourself." He said and lifted his hand and waved it in a circular motion to create the green portal. "You two, can go in first."
Tigress peered in closer at the portal. The opening was mired in a fog so she couldn't tell what was on the other side. She then gazed over at Po and looked into his emerald green eyes. In response, panda gave her an assuring and supportive nod. She went inside the portal first with Po following close behind her.
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