AN: Hello everybody. Thank you for always being so patient for the new chapter. My life has been... one pain after another I suppose. That's to say that I am constantly being buried in work. I am going to be finishing my undergraduate degree this upcoming year. I am currently working with three professors in order to prepare for Masters (Graduate school). For the past 4 months, I've had to research, write and submit 9 papers? 10? Each had to be 10-12 pages more or less and the longest paper ended up being 15 pages long. It's not easy, but I am definitely enjoying my academic life. It just means that I have no time for a social life, or creative writing. I suppose this is what happens for studying 4 languages at the same time. Let's just say that my life simply juggles: work, study/research, and health while trying to have a relationship... not that's working out so well.

I am on a very short break for the next two weeks. During this short period, I am still having to read four books (French and Spanish) while studying Portuguese and Italian. Nevertheless, I will try to write as much as I can. Thank you for your support! Even though I take a millennia to post one chapter, please keep in mind that I am still thinking about you guys. Enjoy the new chapter!

A Promise to be Kept: Chapter 10

Although there hadn't been a sound, a small puff of dirt and dust clouded around Tai Lung's paw as he gently landed in front of the entrance of Jade Palace. During the silent journey back home, Tigress had lulled into deep sleep on his back, which was understandable as the girl must have been exhausted from the horrible ordeal. Tai Lung peeked a short glance to her relaxed visage. It was reassuring to see her sleeping in peace. However, in seeing the deep, jagged wound that marred her right cheek, it made him frown as if he wore the same wound on his heart. She didn't deserve anything that happened to her tonight. It wasn't fair.

He would have continued to stare at her face, but Tai Lung turned to face the solemn looks of Master Shifu and Master Oogway. It was clear that they had been worried for them. Despite the fact that there were numerous questions to be asked, only silence filled the heavy air. The leopard was very grateful that Master Oogway didn't ask him anything as he silently carried Tigress into his arms back into the palace.

"What were you thinking?" Unlike Master Oogway's calm demeanour, his father fumed upon his arrival. Master Shifu's voice was stern and his eyes were ablaze with anger and concern all the while a frown was worn heavily on his face.

Normally, Tai Lung would have flinched whenever he found his father upset with him, however, tonight was different. It involved Tigress's safety and it had dawned on him during his way back that nothing existed in this world to compromise her safety. He knew that his father was concerned over his safety as much as he was concerned about hers and thus, understood where his anger was flaring from. Yet, this was the same reason for which he would not flinch over his father's raw anger and hurt, but instead stand his ground. This acknowledgement gave him to strength to walk past his father even though, Tai Lung's name was ringing loudly at the entrance of the palace.

The leopard closed his eyes and his golden eyes fluttered open as he turned to face the baffled red panda. Tai Lung calmly asked, "Father, you've always stated that it is my fate to become the Dragon Warrior, right?"

Master Shifu's anger and concern dissipated as he stared into his son's eyes. They glowed brightly like the flaming sun, even though the two of them were shrouded with darkness. His eyes burned with emotions and he could clearly see them burning from within, however, his eyes looked like the ones of stranger's. It felt as if the leopard's usual volcanic temper had been condensed and moulded into something different. They were cold, but searing like the white and blue fire, and calculating as if everything within Tai Lung had been sharpened to a new degree. He had known that he had always wished for his son to control his anger, but this was frightening. Something felt eerily detached. An unfamiliar being, clad in his son's appearance, was standing in front of him.

"Father?" A shiver ran down his spine as Tai Lung's eyes continued to pierce through him like a sword.

"Yes." An automatic response escaped from his lips, as if it was forced from his throat.

"What is the role of a Dragon Warrior?"

"To enforce justice," Shifu responded.

"Justrice?" Only a faint whispered lingered in the room as the snow leopard faded into the darkness, walking further and further away from his father.

Justice? What is justice?

Tai Lung wished to be alone with his thoughts as he climbed onto the roof and peered his tired face towards the cold and nonchalant look of the moon.

Isn't it a word that demands fairness?

The memories from hours before plagued Tai Lung's mind. Even though he didn't want to hear it and wanted to pretend that it didn't occur, he heard the faint screams and cries of Tigress as he entered the ominous mountains. When he was hiding in the shadows, he smelled the blood which slowly cascaded down from her cheek as if it was a teardrop. From his hiding spot, he saw Tigress trying to be as brave as she could be even though it was still evident that she was terrified. He tasted the disgusting taste of weakness and uselessness- a taste that made him want to puke. He was even afraid. How was anything from tonight, fair?

Then why is there injustice? Why isn't this world just?

This knowledge carved a fresh wound in his heart.

Why couldn't the world be fair for her?

She is innocent.

She is bright.

She is kind.

She is warmth in this world... In my world.

What wrong has she done?

Why did they target her?

If they hated me... why not me?

Why her? ... If they attacked me, it would have been just... no... it was have been logical, but still not just.

Why am I hated by others?

I worked just as hard as any other pupil.

I trained daily.

I followed the same path as every other Masters... so why do they hate me? What wrong have I committed?

Tai Lung clenched his right fist with enough forced to draw blood.

Ah. Is it power that they want?

Do they lust for power that much?

Tai Lung's steely golden eyes pierced the night's darkness. It made sense, in their time and in their world of battles, power justly pointed towards who could dominate and who would be subjugated. Power meant authority and control. Tai Lung had power and so did his opponents. He never used power to subjugate anybody except during fights because that's what competition meant. It meant duels. That's why everything within the match was considered fair and just. There were rules and guidelines to follow in a strict manner. It demanded absolute discipline from the fighters. However, that's all it was a duel. A fight.

However, it wasn't the same in the real world. It was evident that not everybody followed rules like the way they did during matches. They showed no mercy, not to the weak nor to the innocent. They were using power unjustly... and if it was true that he was destined to be the Dragon Warrior and the Dragon Warrior's role was to enforce justice, that's exactly what he would begin to do.. and it would start tomorrow at the competition. However, unlike the past, Tai Lung would be the one to continue enforcing power outside the competition. If his opponents wanted to battle simply by using power, he would do the same until they would submit themselves before justice... and that meant, he would now discard mercy when facing his opponents.

Yes, no more mercy.

As he made up his mind, Tai Lung witnessed a sliver of the golden sun rising from the darkness. Unblinkingly, he faced the heat of the sun. From today on, he would embody justice. The Dragon Warrior. He would use his strength to take this title and embody justice. A feral roar awoke the new day from the tiled roof of the Jade Palace as a large shadow enveloped the rousing city.

I had to write a paper recently on the theory of power and I found a lot of misinterpretation of it. Somehow I wanted that to reflect on Tai Lung. I know that not all of us may like the sign that he is beginning to darken in nature, but I am trying to stay on script as the original movie. I don't think that he was perfect (as none of us are) and I truly believe that this imperfection will enrich his character. It is going to give an opportunity to grow... hopefully. Next chapter will entail his battles. Cheers :) I hope you all enjoyed it. Please review and give me your ideas. If I like them, I will try to incorporate them in the future chapters. Thanks.

- IB