Chapter 10

Rethinking

Tai Lung slowly walked towards Shifu, as he breathed hard. "You're... my master! The one who banned me from the Jade Palace!" He clenched his fists, as he was still staring at the red panda. "Do you not know how much damage that did to me?" He ground his teeth. "I was sent to a high-security prison, and once I could finally break out, I was just left to be defeated by a panda. A panda!"

Shifu didn't say a word, for it would just make Tai Lung more angry, plus, Shifu knew this was all true, and he felt for his student. The red panda slowly walked towards the snow leopard, as he softly squinted at him. He didn't know what to think. He wasn't angry, but he wasn't glad either.

"Well, why don't you speak? Too afraid, or have you already forgotten to speak?" Tai Lung growled, as a surge of adrenaline raced through his body.

In a split second, the snow leopard bolted towards Shifu, and before he could take his first strike, he fell to the ground. Shutting his eyes tightly, he looked down to his stomach, as Shifu slowly backed away.

"What... what did you do to me?!" Tai Lung cried, as he clawed at his bandages, finding his stomach a bloody mess. Slowly looking up at his old master, a flash of anger took his vision.

Blinking, he got up quickly, and in great rage, he rushed for Shifu.

Master Shifu braced himself, as he soon jumped up, and hit the ground hard, making a massive chunk of rock fly up, to block Tai Lung's strike.

Tai Lung squinted in mid-air, brought his foot forward, and smashed through the rock with a massive BANG! Landing, he looked at his paw which was now keeping him steady on the hard-rock ground. He looked up, to find Shifu was gone. "Ah, so now you're using my own trick on myself, hmm?" He turned around, eyes closed, and rapidly kicked at something that was flying for him in the back: Shifu.

The red panda went flying to the ground, and landed hard. He almost lost his breath from the landing. Slowly staggering up, he looked up at Tai Lung with a greatly blurred vision. Tai Lung was angrily sprinting for him, and-

BAM!! Another blow that took Shifu's hip. He went storming into the ground, while Tai Lung looked at him with great anger. "Bastard..." He slowly turned around, as he began to think about Po, and the furious five. He needed them dead, for he was Shifu's only, true student, and he knew Shifu knew it. He also needed to get to the Dragon Scroll, for even though it had nothing in it, it was still a legend to atleast have it on him. Maybe... someday he will figure it out... and... Tai Lung closed his eyes.

Master Shifu brought his head up in great pain, as he breathed extremely hard. It would seem like he was panting, but he wasn't, for he was just a little out of breath. A little... It just depends on how much strength you have... Shifu got up, and rushed for his student. He needed Tai Lung to be out before he reaches the Jade Palace.

Jumping out of the crater he made by Tai Lung, he looked around, to find Tai Lung wasn't there.

Oh no... He slowly walked around looking for Tai Lung, while he tripped over something. Shif blinked. "Tai Lung?" He looked down, finding Tai Lung was out, laying on the ground. The pill... it worked! Shifu softly smiled, as he looked at Tai Lung's wounds all over his body from the recent fall. He was almost as good as new, now.

Shifu thought, as he looked at the snow leopard. He needed to get him somewhere where he thought he would have landed from the recent defeat. Like... in the forest. The master looked to his right, as he found a deep, dark forest. This was good... all he needed to do now is get Tai Lung somewhere in there, far away, and somewhat tied up... by maybe... branches, or vines. Yes. Vines.

Shifu quickly went over to Tai Lung, picked him up, and began to transport him to the forest.

BOOOM!!! Viper gasped once again, as she woke up in great shock, in freight from the booming thunder. She noticed the rain stopped, and the storm started to leave the valley. Thank god... She looked over at Tigress, who was asleep next to the scroll she was just recently staring at a couple minutes ago... or a couple hours ago possibly.

Viper slowly slivered over to Tigress, as she looked at the scroll. It was all scratched up. Squinting in confusion, Viper took the scroll.

Repairing all the scattered pieces, she read.

Seconds of silence passed, as Tigress slowly awoke from Viper's shuffling. "...Viper... what are you.." Opening her eyes, she gasped.

Viper finished reading, as she looked at Tigress. "This... this is nonsense, Tigress!"

Tigress rushed over to the ripped up scroll. "Well that's why I ripped it up!"

"No, no... it was a great poem, I mean... you can't think that about Po!" Viper looked at Tigress and shed a bit of comfort from her gaze. "I mean look at me! I'm close to Crane, and you don't think our relationship is hard to work out? Look at you two!"

Tigress slowly messed with her ear, as she began to get into the habit of it. "What about it?"

"You, you say your love for him is only something to be dreamed about? Come on! Crane and I aren't holding back!"

"Well this isn't about you and Crane, now is it?"

"I didn't mean to put it that way-"

"Then why'd you say it at all?" Tigress grew impatient.

Viper sighed, as she looked back down at the scattered scroll. "You guys are a perfect match; a perfect couple. I would agree on loving such a guy like Po! He's nice, funny, straight-forward, and a great cook..."

"Don't get me jealous."

"Well what I'm saying is... go for Po! Even when you think it's a love that could never be, still, go for it!" She slowly made her way to Tigress' door, relieved that the thunder stopped. "Think about it."

It's always the 'think about it' that captures me... Tigress thought.

"It's always possible to shoot for the moon, even when you know you'll miss it, you'll always hit something even greater, like a star."

There Viper went, with her words of wisdom... she could be the next Oogway.

The door slowly shut.

BOOM! A slight yelp came from behind the door, then silence.

Tigress looked down at the repaired scroll. Squinting, she went into deep thought. She's right! I should love Po no matter the consequence... besides, her and Crane are getting along perfectly... why can't I get along with Po perfectly? She thought again, as she soon corrected herself. I do get along with him perfectly... She collapsed to the ground in thought, as she looked up at the ceiling. Huh. A dent in the ceiling. Never saw that before...