The Return (Part 4)

Chapter 19

Just The Beginning

The snow leopard had his heavy eyes closed, as the sensation of warm wind brushed against his fur. His hand was on his wrist, where this green wrist band that that damned wolf; Skyler, dropped right after his defeat. He stroked it ever so slowly, as he breathed in and out with his them. So many memories... held in this simple item...

"Tai Lung." A voice echoed through the dark valley.

The leopard opened his eyes, as he slowly stumbled to his feet. The heroic Tai Lung; the slayer of Skyler: The wretched traitor, turned around.

It was Tigress.

A soft smile took Tai Lungs face, as he let go of the tight grip that he held in his hands. "Hello, Tigress." He blinked his eyes to hers, as he began to walk towards her, also.

"You've been thinking, haven't you?"

"Well, who doesn't think." He was now inches away from her, until he stopped getting closer.

"I know you, Tai Lung," She looked up into his eyes, as she continued. "You don't think."

The snow leopard just smiled sincerely, once again, as he leaned in to kiss her on the lips. He kept his head close to hers, as his lips slowly moved with hers.

Tigress slowly pulled away, and placed a hand on his tight chest. "So, what have you been thinking about? Preparation for our marriage?"

Tai Lung looked beyond her, as he nearly rested his head on her right shoulder. He silently sighed, as he looked up at the star-filled sky. Hesitating and stuttering his voice, he managed to speak a lie. "Yes, I have."

"You still need to get a suit, you know. The day is only two weeks hence." Tigress stepped back, so that she could look back into his saddened eyes. She softly squinted in reaction. "What is it?"

Tai Lung slowly brought his head back up, as he shook his head. "It's nothing. Just," He scratched his ears. "Reminiscing."

"On what?" She brought her paws up, to hold his hips.

He set his jaw, as he blinked a couple times to keep the tears away. "You remember what happened just two months ago?"

Tigress' face quickly changed, as she took her hands off of Tai Lung, and turned to look at the lush, green grass beneath them both. "How could I not. You... told me that we weren't going to talk about that, though."

"That was for my own good." He went behind his lover and wrapped his arms around her shoulders. "I still remember everything that Po told me, on that day, when he..." He closed his eyes. "When he gave me his life, and how I had to destroy it to... to save you all." He hesitated, as a lump formed in his throat. "Sometimes I get really regretful about it... Like, it wasn't supposed to be." He paused. "Sometimes I wish this never happened."

Tigress nudged away from his grasp. "What are you saying?"

Tai Lung blinked in confusion, soon figuring what she was thinking. "I'm saying.. nothing, Tigress, I'm... just thinking."

The feline slowly replaced her feeling of concern with a feeling of happiness. A smile sapped her lips. "Anyways, what I came out here for, is that Master Shifu made Koy for dinner."

A smile quickly washed over Tai Lung's face. "Just like old times!"

Tigress kept her smile, as she turned around, and began to make her way to the Jade Palace. "Yes, exactly, like old times..."

The mighty yet scarred snow leopard followed at least one-hundred meters away from Tigress, as she opened up the doors to the hall of warriors, as the newly made kitchen was now connected to it. She kept the doors open for Tai Lung.

Once inside, he walked past the armor that was repaired, the swords and knives, and the....

He quickly looked away. The vase that Shifu once said Po broke. It brought back too many memories. Too many to handle. Although Tai Lung has stood through many emotional and physical pains, this would totally out rule all of them. Po could never be brought back, and they all knew it. Although the Furious five and Master Shifu have not had much concern for Po's death, it still lingers in Tai Lung's heart. He just couldn't get over the fact that that one day, when he woke up to the Furious Five and Master Shifu, that Po wasn't there. He couldn't get over that last day with Po, as he looked deeply into his eyes, and fell, ever so slowly, into the volcano. He was dead, and could not be retrieved... and it was all Tai Lung's fault.

The snow leopard kept his pace. Once returning his gaze back to his feet, he looked straight forward. Then, up. The Dragon Scroll. The thing that caused this mess in the first place. The disease, yet, the cure. The damnation and the redemption. The Black, and the White.

He looked closer at the Dragon. Its mouth was shut. What? He took a step closer, and squinted his weary eyes closer to the dragon. Not only was his mouth closed, but the Dragon Scroll was not in its mouth. How could this happen?

Tai Lung took a step back, as he looked down at the pool, where the peach tree petals lay on top. Only, they weren't petals anymore. They were instead at the bottom of the white water, black. Black petals, in white water.

The snow leopard blinked in shock in what he saw. This, he knew, meant something he could never have thought about. Something magnificent, yet horrifying. Something incredible, yet nerve-wrecking.

I am returning, Tai, Lung. The voice came. It was of a male and female put together, high and low pitched, and perfectly in tune. It was the voice from heaven, but wait...

Tai Lung hesitated. It was also the voice from hell.The snow leopard quickly backed away, as his eyes scanned the area. What, what is this? He began to think to himself, as he fell to the ground in confusion and terror.

Tai Lung... Tai Lung...

"Tai Lung?"

He twitched his head behind himself, as he saw Tigress standing there, hands on hips, staring him down.

"What are you waiting for? Fish is your favorite food!" She giggled, as she beckoned him inside.

Tai Lung was breathing hard and fast, as he turned his head back to the pool, picking his body up. The blue pool was perfectly settle, as the pink peach petals slowly floated around it. He looked up. The Dragon Scroll was in place. What the... He slowly turned back around, and shook his head. Just thoughts Tai Lung, just... thoughts.

BAM! Another blow. Black blood flew from his face, as he screamed again from the pain.

"I'm returning, Tai Lung? That's it? That's, IT?" He screamed at the black wolf, as he raised his fist.

"What else.. did you want me to say?" He cried, as he staggered back down to the ground; the worst spot to be in a major beating such as this.

He growled. "Go to hell!" Another blow.

The wolf got pounded into the ground, as he used his claws to stop his rolling, soon stopping. "You bastard, I'm already IN hell!" His vision went blurry for a second, before he shook his head back on focus. Two months in this pit... and he's finally allowed to get out.

ROAAAAAAR! He flew over to the black wolf, as he soon began to place his claws on his chest. A thought then popped up in his head. Grunting madly, he turned around, making his back face the wolf. "You need to get that wrist band back. You hear me..."

"I... I thought you wanted the Dragon Scroll, Master..." The wolf couldn't keep his eyes open from the fire.

"I don't need the Dragon Scroll any more... I just, need that wrist band! Essentials, first!" He thundered.

"The others are dead, how would you expect me to get it off of that snow leopard?! Who knows, by now, he might already be possessed by it!"

"I know! I know, just trust me, I know everything about Tai Lung." He breathed. "Get the damn wristband, and I'll make sure you'll get Song back."

The wolf looked up at him with doubtful, yet agitated eyes. "You're bluffing. Song is dead, because of you! You can't bring her back..."

"I know I can't, but, I know someone who can. Trust me."

"I don't think I can trust you, anymore..."

"Do you want me to resurrect you, or not?" He growled.

The wolf sighed, as he shook off the blood from his arm. "Fine. But don't expect to get a thrill out of this. I'm getting Song back, and you better promise that."

"I do not keep promises." He blew fire from his nostrils, as he growled at the black wolf. "Now, go, Skyler!" He whipped his tail to the black wolf, as a flash of light filled the dark room.

Part 4 has come, and the only thing that will keep it going to part 5 are reviews! Press the button. I mean it. :P

Yes, right when we all thought this story was over, it comes back. This will surely be the beginning of the finale. Ask questions, have concerns, ask for scene selections, stuff like that. Don't freak about the story, you know how it goes. Review please. PLEASE.

-Skyy.