Chapter 11

Just the Beginning

Master Shifu slowly trudged into the Jade Palace. Nightfall was just now starting to fall, as the sun steeply rose above the beautiful mountain range. Getting to his room, he gave up all his muscles, as he collapsed to the floor. Frowning, he was depressed that he had to leave and let go of Tai Lung, his most favorite student. Oh, what a pain it was getting his student tied up in the vines of a massive tree... He wanted it to look like Tai Lung fell from Po's blow. He had no choice than that of doing what he just did, for no prison would take Tai Lung, due to the curious and frightened guards.

Shifu rolled over, as he quickly dozed off from his thoughts. Tai Lung was a great student, and... and son. It is, a great shame that I have to let go of him, but no worries Shifu... he will come back. He... he always comes back... Tai Lung will... wake up...

"...wake up..."

"Master Shifu, wake up!"

Shifu blinked his eyes open, as he gasped at the sudden noise. Seconds passed of thinking, as Shifu picked himself up. He was staring at Monkey. He sighed, as his eyes kept blurring up every once in a while. "What... what is it, Master Monkey? It's early!"

Monkey stared at Shifu in confusion. "The sun is already out, Master, and we were wondering where you could have been."

Shifu gave Monkey an apathetic-looking, half smile. "I'm here."

Monkey bowed. "I see, Master. What shall we work on, today?"

The red panda slowly made his way over to his student, who was somewhat towering over him. Shifu was still extremely tired, but the whole night was already wasted. And hopefully, there will not be another one wasted like the one he just experienced.

Shifu rubbed his head, as he was still a bit unconscious. "We will... work more on staffs, for you, Tigress, and Po... as for everyone else," He walked past the monkey, thinking. "...they will just be working on flexibility."

"Master?"

"What, what is it?" Impatient, Shifu turned around to his student.

"Well, we already finished in all the fields of staff-handling. We finished it about a month ago!" Monkey was still bowing, as he was ordered to, ever since he joined the Furious Five.

Shifu didn't realize what he was missing, for his mind was still wrapped around Tai Lung. "Well... we will work on.." He looked at Monkey's waving tail. "We will work on flexibility, then." He quickly walked off in search for Tigress, not giving the monkey a chance to talk back.

Shifu walked to the hall. Standing in the middle of it, he stomped his foot, hearing a gasp from Tigress. Or was it, Po?

"Good morning, Master." Tigress, Po, and Mantis all spoke at the same time, as they stood at their doorstep.

Shifu looked around. "Where's Viper and Crane?"

"They're early risers, remember? I'm sure they're over at the Peach Tree, as usual." Mantis spoke.

Shifu just grunted. "You may go back to your sleeping." As they all slowly turned back around, Shifu perked back up. "Tigress, I need to talk to you."

The tigress walked over to her master. "For what reason, Master?"

"Don't ask." He escorted her to the kitchen, where he slid its door shut silently.

Master Shifu turned to look at her, while she went to sit. "Tai Lung has found himself again."

Tigress gasped. "What...? What do you mean?"

"I mean, he regained all of his memories, for who knows what reason. I... had to get rid of him before he did any damage."

Tigress shot an innocent glare at her master. "You killed him?"

"No! No, I did not! His room mate, Song-"

"Who is this, Song?" Tigress seemed angry. Angry... or jealous?

"I will tell you later. His room mate told me in a letter that Tai Lung figured out who he really was... She said that once he woke up, it would be a sure shot that he would know everything about himself."

"So... you're saying she just... left him?" Tigress said with a bit of sass in her voice.

"Tigress, focus!"

Tigress blinked. "Sorry, sorry. What did you do to him, then?"

"Well since all his wounds are healed, I've decided to tie him up, and when he wakes, he won't be able to escape."

Tigress seemed dumb-founded. "Shifu!"

"Master!" Shifu quickly corrected.

"Master! How foolish can you be? He'll break out of whatever you tie him up with! And... and he'll come back to the Jade Palace..."

"I know! I know, but we can handle him, remember? We have the Dragon Warrior."

"Yes, but even when Po does defeat Tai Lung, what will happen next? He will just come back."

Shifu was in deep thought from Tigress' question. "You're right..." He squinted in thought. "You're... right."

Tigress sat back in her chair. "So how do you expect us to get rid of him?" She folded her arms.

"Well we can't kill him..."

The tigress hissed. "Why not?" She seemed stunned by her own words that just shot out of her mouth.

Shifu looked away, as he was still lingering on the thought of leaving Tai Lung. "Because! It just wouldn't be right... for one, this is a PG movie, and two, we are hero's of the Valley of Peace, and killing Tai Lung would cause great confusion throughout the valley. "

Tigress shook her head. "It would cause even more confusion if we defeat him without killing him..."

Seconds of lingering silence passed over the two.

"We will not kill him, and that is final." He fixed his tail so that it was rested to his side, by his hip. "I gave him a pill that would supposedly knock him out for an unimaginably long amount of time... possibly a couple months or so. We have that long to figure out an idea." He rubbed his forehead. "As for the other five... lets not tell them anything about this."

Tigress nodded.

Shifu thought, as he looked up at Tigress. "You are my most trusted student, Tigress. I know you can keep a secret."

"There's another one?" Tigress sighed, as she adjusted her position in her seat. "Shoot away, I'm sure I can keep it secret."

Master Shifu brought his head down, as he recalled upon his vision. "I had a vision..."

Tigress seemed surprised, for she never encountered someone who has ever had a vision before, except, of course, Master Oogway. He was unpredictable.

"It was of an animal slowly walking out of a great battle with someone... a white wolf named Skyler. The animal looked like Tai Lung... He won the battle, Tigress."

"What does this mean?"

"It means that if we kill him, this, 'Skyler' will just be a substitute for him! Also, if we kill him, then it won't even give him the chance to kill Skyler!"

Tigress blinked. "So what do you want me to do about it?"

"We don't kill him. We have to find a way to keep him away from the Valley of Peace, but still keep him alive." He gave Tigress a seductive glance. "And you are the only one that can do such a thing.

Tigress raised her shoulders, as she soon understood what he was saying. "You're horrible!"

"No, Tigress, this is our only plan! Try to figure something else that's better!"

Tigress thought, as she lowered her shoulders, and slowly closed her eyes. "What should I do?"

"Since he's a bit attracted to you, so, threaten him or something... make him good again... I don't know how, but something like that can happen, I just know it!"

"So you want me to keep him away from the valley all by myself?"

"No, no, I didn't say that. I meant you could do something that will drive him out of the Valley of Peace, and make him good again."

"How would you suppose-"

"I don't know, Master Tigress!" He released his clenched fists, as he opened his eyes. "I... I don't, know."

Tigress agreed to follow his plan, as she knew she could do something about Tai Lung. She started to grow depressed that he was now gone, but she knew it was going to happen. But not this fast... She sighed, as she nodded. "Okay... I will, try, Master."

The great tree held the passed out snow leopard tightly in its veins that Shifu tied up for him. His chest slowly rose and lowered, as his eyes were dimly shut. What a shame it was... that he had to start all over again. Hopefully he will not go on another rampage, once again. The Furious Five, Master Shifu, and The Dragon Warrior will hopefully slay him again, once he wakes... which will only be in a matter of months... And in the couple of months, Tigress and Shifu will be preparing for what they knew was soon to come, for this was Just the Beginning.

The Return, as they knew it, was soon to come.

End Part 0.

This is, Just the Beginning. Tai Lung will soon wake up and will attempt to take the Dragon Scroll from Po, once again. In the mean time, Skyler is coming for the same thing. What will Tigress do? How will this story turn out? Read The Return by me to find out! It is rated M, due to violence, suggestive themes, scenes, language, blood, and disturbing images.

Thank you for reading the beginning of it all. And please REVIEW. I could never write as good as I have due to your reviews! Thank you guys so much. And especially Telracs1994. Thanks once again for reading, and I hope to see you reading the next part of this story!

-Skyy.