Chapter 8

Visions Come Clear

"Tai Lung... I will tell you it all later on! I promise!" Song stammered, as Tai Lung was yelling and begging at her for answers.

"Why won't you tell me now? I know I'm missing something important, and I need to know now!" Tai Lung almost stood up, as Song quickly pushed him back down onto his resting place: the bed.

Song blinked, as she softly squinted at him. Thoughts of guilt filled her head, as she slowly got up, and stood in front of him. "Okay. I will... tell you. Everything." She slowly looked up to him, as she took one step back, and turned her body.

In a split second, Tai Lung's vision went blurry, as it soon turned black. The last thing he could see was Song, bringing her fist away from his temples.

"I'm sorry, Tai Lung." He could hear her, as he collapsed to the ground, knocked out.

Shifu opened his eyes in a quick flash, as a jolt of adrenaline shot through his body. "Tai Lung!"

The master quickly got to his feet, and shot out the front doors from the Jade Palace.

...

Wind blew through Shifu's fur, as his arms hung behind himself. He bolted across the Valley in a matter of minutes. Squinting, he knew Tai Lung was in trouble. He didn't know how or why, but he wanted to keep his student alive, due to his blurred vision of him. Shifu wasn't even sure if Tai Lung was the one who would save the Valley of Peace from this... Skyler; the seeker of the Dragon Scroll, but he knew no one else that had the exact same eyes as Tai Lung.

Looking at the rapidly passing buildings, flashes of light hit him. Blackness filled his vision, as he saw a white wolf off in the distance. Shifu wasn't running anymore; instead he was standing on top of a mountain, which was located close to the Peach Tree of Heavenly Wisdom, in which the wolf was standing next to. The white wolf looked at the tree, as he got into stance. Blinking, the white wolf sprinted up to it and kicked it hard, as it fell over; cut into two pieces.

Shifu gasped, as he shook his head. The passing buildings came back into his vision. Was it another vision? He quickly breathed out, as he knew the slaying of the Peach Tree was nearly impossible to do. If it was done, then it would basically be the end of the world. Kung Fu would be no more, as every single master in the any art of it would lose their talent, and stagger hopelessly in the soon-to-be black world. The Peach tree represented freedom of mind, thoughts, and memories. It is the mind of all Kung Fu. If the mind part of Kung Fu is lost, then all Kung Fu is lost. First, all would turn red, as they all knew, and start waring away. The red represents blood from the mind: The bleeding of a death, the death of Kung Fu. All will be lost, as all will soon turn black, and will soon rot. Snow will turn black, water will turn black. The one being who holds the life of the Peach Tree will truly be possessed, and will turn dark him/herself. They will- wait...

Shifu stopped, as he panted. The wolf... that was the same wolf! How foolish and selfish of him... he will be destroying himself! He will turn dark, and end up either dying a horrible death... or... Shifu raised his eyebrows. Or he will destroy all whom he wishes to kill... his darkness will overtake him, as it uses its power to take over all.. not just Kung Fu, not just China.. but... the world.

Master Shifu looked over to the village he was just headed for. Sky is that wolf! I need to get Tai Lung's attention about this horrible vision... for Oogway said he is the light in the darkest of caves...

He rushed over to Song's house; where the snow leopard was staying. "I need him to save our skins!"

The door came swinging open, as cold air filled the house. Master Shifu came bolting over to Tai Lung, who was sleeping.

Shifu saw the snow leopard was still alive and breathing. Shutting the somewhat heavy, hard wooden door, the master walked over to Tai Lung. What could have possibly happened to him? Shifu sighed, as he walked up to the snow leopard.

Remembering he needed to tell Tai Lung about Sky, he quickly jumped on him. Tai Lung didn't wake, due to his knock out by Song, which Shifu didn't know about.

Shifu slapped Tai Lung's face softly. "Tai Lung, son, wake up!" He slowly slapped it harder, as he soon figured it was no use. Tai Lung was fast asleep.

Angry, the red panda slapped Tai Lung almost as hard as he could. Still no flinch. "Ugh!" Shifu jumped off of him, as he sighed greatly.

"Song!" He ordered, as he slowly made his way upstairs.

No reply.

Peeking around, he looked for her desperately. What happened to her? Shifu was at loss, as he searched the whole upstairs in a matter of seconds. She wasn't there.

Sighing, Shifu sat on the stairs. He didn't know what to think... and it would be foolishness if he went back to the Jade Palace. It would just be a waste of time. Where... could Song have run off to...? Resting his chin on his palms, he looked down the stairs, finding a small scroll resting at the bottom of them. He gasped, as he bolted down the creaky stairs.

Picking up the scroll, he quickly read:

Dear Shifu,

I'm sorry I'm not here to help you right now, but I felt I couldn't live with Tai Lung anymore. He has figured out about you, the Furious Five, and soon he will be wanting to get the Dragon Scroll. I do not want to stick around when he turns into his old self. Yes, I do know about Tai Lung: due to the tellings and stories my friend, Tigress told me. I'm sorry, but I have to leave you with him. I'm sure you can handle him, but if you can't, go to my kitchen, and take a pill I've made to erase memory, and knock out. Once feeding it to him, place him in a high-guarded prison, but not the one that he was in, for he is no longer trusted there. Once again, I'm sorry for his questions and his soon to be discovery. I hope your valley will stay safe. Besides, you have the Furious Five, and the Dragon Warrior. I trust in you, and before Tai Lung finds out about himself... Tell him, that I love him, and I want him to think of me when the worst of times come. You have been a great friend, Master Shifu. Good riddance.

-Song

Shifu's eyes went wide. Did she just... leave me to deal with Tai Lung? He sighed greatly, as he rubbed his forehead. Shifu understood she could do nothing about it, for she may be killed if she stayed. In deep thought, the red panda quickly listed what was wrong and that needed to be done in his head:

1. My vision told me that an evil wolf named Skyler will attempt to take over the Valley of Peace, and possibly the whole world. He will take out the Peach Tree, and cause all those who know Kung Fu to be at loss.

2. Tai Lung, the only hope to this terrible mess, is the only one we all can turn to at times like this.

3. My students don't even know about Tai Lung yet!

4. Po is worn out from the recent battle between him and Tai Lung just a week ago.

5. The one who wanted to help me in this time of desperation; Song, has left me.

6. Tai Lung will soon find out about his past, and I have nothing to do about it...

Master Shifu just remembered the pill that Song offered him. Perking up, he rushed over to the kitchen. "Yes, he will have to forget it all..." As he looked down, his eyes filled deeply with tears. "I will be leaving my son. I.. will be leaving... my son." Closing his eyes, he took hold of the pill. "Why did I even get so close to him.... to just leave him like this?" He soon turned to Tai Lung, who was sleeping deeply.

As Shifu slowly walked over to Tai Lung, he could hear him mumbling.

"Mmm... father? I missed you... is that a knife..? Mmm... mom, what are you doing? Where are you taking me...?" He rolled to the side, as Shifu remembered Tai Lung mentioning his real father's name was Master Jin. Shifu gasped. He remembered Tai Lung called Shifu, Master Jin. Does he think his father came back for him, and Master Shifu is him? "Why do you leave me down here? Pick me up...! You... you love me... don't you..?" Shifu could picture little Tai Lung... laying on his porch steps, staring up at him. Was this what happened to him...? His father... was one who abuses his children, but his mother took him away, and gave him to Shifu over at the Jade Palace?

Master Shifu held back his forceful tears, as he clenched his fists. Tai Lung has gone through much, and now...

Shifu slowly opened Tai Lung's mouth, as he dropped the pill in.

And now... things were about to get even worse. "I'm... I'm so sorry, son." Water fell from his eyes, as they touched Tai Lung's furry cheeks.

Tai Lung breathed in slowly at the touch of his old master's tears. This was... the end.