Chapter 2

Questions and Concerns

Master Shifu sat at the newly sprouted Peach Tree that he planted just after Tai Lungs defeat. He stared at it, while the older peach tree started to ware away, for all of its leaves were gone, because they contained the soul of his very master, Master Oogway. Master Oogway was the founder of Kung Fu, as when he was first born, he figured out each and every style of Kung Fu: The Tiger, a simple, strong, and overpowering technique. Crane: A non-aggressive, smart, and elegant style. Snake: Precision, knowledge, and speed consists in the fields of this mastery. Dragon: Consisting of four different types of species, making it one: Mantis, Lion, Baboon, and Leopard. It needs speed, agility, and power. And lastly, the art of the Monkey: A stubborn, quick, and clumsy type.

Shifu blinked, as he looked back up at the golden-red skies. He recalled what he saw just this morning, along with many other mornings. Every day he would tell the Furious Five to train themselves, as he would go on an errand. He knew it was a horrible lie, but he had to tell it, to hide what he was really up to. He felt he couldn't hold in his secret any longer, for it was tearing his students into separate beings. He didn't know what they could be mad about, nonetheless, why they would be mad at all.

"Master Shifu?" He heard a weak voice come from behind him.

Shifu turned around to see the panda slowly walking up to him. "Yes, what is it, Dragon Warrior?"

Po panted. "Just call me panda, like you use to?"

Shifu just grunted, while he turned away, to stare at China upon his mountain top.

The panda walked up to him, and collapsed to the floor in a criss-crossed sitting stance. "Look, I know things have gotten worse and all, but I think we should just take things less seriously, ya know? Like... why do we even meditate, if we have so much on our mind?"

"Meditating is to go into the state of being at peace, or to try to. You're supposed to get everything off your mind when you do it."

"Then... then why is everybody so stubborn!" The panda yelled angrily.

Shifu shifted his head to where Po was. "It is because they're not meditating!"

Po squinted at Shifu. "You're stubborn, also."

The red panda thought for a while, as he looked out among China. "I am, but it is for a different reason."

"And what reason should that be? You need no reason, we're supposed to be happy when someone like Tai Lung is defeated, but instead you all just sit around and hate!"

"Is it just us, panda, or is it you, also?" Shifu squinted, and continued. "Monkey's soup was bad because of you, you used the power of the scroll to control something that was not as important as defeating someone like Tai Lung."

"Well.. so! He was annoying me!"

"And yet you released your anger on him."

Po sighed, and rubbed his forehead. "I just wanna know what's wrong with everyone..."

Shifu got up, and took his gaze off the view. "Figure it out yourself, because it's a sure fact that I do not know." He left the panda to sit there, as his words lingered in his head.

Tigress looked over at Crane, who was now attempting to eat his soup. Once his beak touched it, he shut his eyes tightly, as he tried not to show his displeasure in this soup of Po's. He ate it all in silence, while Monkey and Mantis got up from the table. Viper looked over at him. She was shocked at his silence. She was also the same, for he and she had somewhat the same personalities and reactions.

Tigress finally looked up with a sigh. Rubbing her neck, she spoke right before Crane got up. "What do you think happened to Tai Lung after Po defeated him?" She looked at Crane, who was now lifting his bamboo hat to her.

"We're not supposed to talk about him, remember?"

"Oh, come on Crane, Master Shifu isn't here!" Viper finally spoke weakly.

"Yeah, but even when he's not here, it doesn't mean that we should just automatically disobey him." Crane pushed out his chair.

Viper ignored him, while she turned to Tigress, who was now trying out the soup. "I think he's still alive."

Tigress set down her bowl with a slam. "Why would you think that? He's a deceiver, and should never be respected beyond the valley."

"Well, I was just bringing it up. I mean..." She slightly squinted her eyes, as she looked away. "It just wouldn't be right if he was... dead. Po wouldn't do such a thing, right?"

Tigress lowered her shoulders. "Well... I guess so. Shifu never told us how much damage the Wuxi Finger Hold would do to an enemy, so... I guess he could still be... around."

Viper played with her tail. "Remember when Shifu took you out of that orphanage? Remember how gentle and kind he was?"

"Yes. I do remember."

"Do you remember how Tai Lung reacted when you came? He was..."

"Tai Lung, meet our new student, Tigress." Shifu smiled courteously, as he nudged the nervous tigress forward.

"What? Master! I thought I was your only student!" Tai Lung hissed, while the little Tigress stared at him in shock.

"No, I never said that. Here at the Jade Palace, I will train and raise whoever comes by; whoever needs a hand and has no where to go."

Tai Lung looked at Tigress in pity. "So you brought home a worthless tigress? What, you found her on the side of the street, begging for yuans?"

"Tai Lung, respect your new sister. No worries, she won't take much out of your training."

"Take much? Take much? I don't want her to take any of my training away! Master, I am close to mastering all of the thousand scrolls, and you come home with this rat? She might take the role of the Dragon Warrior herself! And take away the chance of me getting it!" Tai Lung growled, as he walked off, leaving Shifu with Tigress, shaking his head...

Tigress shook her head from her flashback. "Yes, I do remember. Why?"

"Well... now that we all think Tai Lung is dead... Master Shifu is starting at act differently."

"How so?"

"You saw him just earlier! He's keeping secrets even when he promised not to! He's breaking the role of being apart of Kung Fu! I think something's wrong..."

"And... I think, you're over thinking." Tigress pushed out her chair, as she picked up Mantis' and her own bowl.

Viper stared her down. "Just think! Maybe Master Shifu thinks his old student is dead... and is too depressed to do anything about it! That's probably why he's off somewhere every morning!"

"Viper, please!" Tigress turned to her. "He hates Tai Lung for who he turned out to be. Tai Lung nearly killed him back in the Hall of Warriors just a week ago, and you think he has pity on the dear snow leopard? I think not."

The snake sighed, as she slithered to Tigress. "Put questions and concerns in your mind. What if he's still here, but Shifu doesn't know about it?"

Tigress turned, and walked off to her room, while she went over Viper's question over and over again in her mind. Maybe... it was true? Maybe Tai Lung was still alive... and we just don't know about it? Tigress sighed, as she closed her eyes. "It's nothing Tigress... just thoughts... just questions... just concerns..."