A/N:This AU is going to be put into a separate story, The Silent Dragon. I'll leave these three parts up on 100 Drabbles for a month or so, then I'll delete them.
Tigress wasn't sure what she expected when she greeted Shifu the next morning, but she wasn't very surprised to see the panda's room empty and unused. She wasn't quite sure how she felt about him being gone; a bit disappointed, perhaps. He had taken the title from her and from the others, and hadn't even tried to stay and honor it; but she couldn't exactly blame him, since leaving was exactly what both Shifu and herself had tried to make him do.
The crisp edge of the card he had slid under her door poked against her stomach, tucked into her vest with the others. Something like guilt stained her thoughts, but she brushed it aside. The panda had not been more worthy of the title of Dragon Warrior than her. How was he even to take on the roll? It had been made perfectly clear that, though he may have been a fan of kung fu, he didn't know it himself. What was he going to do, stand in front of a charging hoard of bandits and wave a polite card at them?
As the Five and Shifu made their way to the training grounds, she forced herself to forget any pity she might have had for the panda. With him gone, now she had an opportunity to try again; Oogway would have to choose someone else, and it wasn't too far off the mark to assume that she was the best candidate.
Although a little bit of her burned and soured at the thought of being second choice to the panda.
Second choice as Dragon Warrior, second place as Shifu's child…
The urge to punch something grew stronger, and Tigress was glad they were almost at the Training Hall. She would show Shifu that she was capable of handling the challenges that would surely face any chosen as Dragon Warrior.
Her plans, however, were dashed into the ground when Shifu opened the doors leading to the training grounds and revealed the panda struggling to get himself out of a split.
"What are you doing here?!" Shifu yelled. The panda turned around and bowed briefly, then drew out three cards, freshly written by the look of the paper and less carefully-drawn characters.
Good morning, Master.
Warming up
How shall we train today?
The panda withdrew the cards and turned away, trying to look as though he was actually stretching.
"Just stop," said Shifu angrily. "You're stuck."
The panda tensed, but nodded, head down.
"Help him," said Shifu to Crane.
"Oh, dear…" Crane stepped forward and grabbed the back of the panda's breeches. He flapped his wings as hard as he could and pulled, and the panda tipped over the side and landed on his back. He stood quickly and drew another card.
Thank you.
"Don't worry about it," Crane said, rejoining the group. Shifu limped toward the bear.
"You truly believed that you could learn to do a full split in one night?" He grabbed two stone discs and threw them into the air; Tigress's eyes followed them and she crouched, ready to spring and show the panda what he was really up against.
"It takes years to develop one's flexibility…"
As the discs reached their peak, she jumped and spun before kicking out and breaking both discs simultaneously.
"…And years longer to apply it in combat."
She landed on all fours, the panda staring at her with a dumbfounded look. A chunk of stone hit him on the head and he carefully picked it up, trying to hide it behind his back.
"Put that down!" cried Shifu. "The only souvenirs we collect here are bloody knuckles and broken bones."
The bear dropped the rock, eagerly nodding.
Excellent!
I am ready to train.
How shall we train today?
He hesitated, and then drew out a fourth card.
Please don't kill me and make it look like an accident.
Mantis howled. Monkey clapped his hand over his mouth, turning away to laugh, and even Crane and Viper chuckled. Shifu clenched his hand around his flute, nearly breaking it. He smiled rather cruelly.
"No promises," he said. "Let's get started. Move this out of the way."
He waved at the equipment the panda was using to 'warm up'. Monkey and Tigress started forward but the panda was already there, dragging the equipment to the side. Shifu gestured for the Five to go to the middle of the sparring grounds.
"Viper, you first, then Monkey, Crane, and Mantis. I want him to realize exactly how difficult this is going to be."
Tigress didn't argue when he left her out. She was angry enough to cause some serious damage to the bear, and she didn't want to risk losing her temper, perfectly happy to watch the others teach him his place. The panda jogged over from the side and stood where Shifu gestured, Tigress and the others off to the side. Viper slithered in front of the bear.
"Are you ready," she asked. The panda nodded enthusiastically, drawing his arms up in a mockery of a battle stance. Viper's tail smacked him in the face, threw him into the air, and then slapped him back down again, where he landed upside-down on his shoulders, wincing in pain. She slid toward him, a hint of concern in her voice.
"I'm sorry, brother, I thought you were ready-"
The panda waved her off, a huge grin on his face. He righted himself and saluted, looking extremely happy for someone who just got beaten to the ground. Shifu's ears angrily twitched and he snapped his fingers; Viper retreated and Monkey stepped forward. He gave the panda a long bamboo staff, and then stood back, ready, waiting until the panda smiled and nodded. Monkey instantly started forward, swinging his own staff with whistling speed, hitting the panda in every unprotected spot. The bear winced with every hit, though he looked rather excited when one accidentally connected with his staff, but he fell over when Monkey smacked him on the head. Monkey stood his staff on the panda's stomach and balanced on top, grinning down at the bear, who grinned back.
"Had enough," Monkey asked. The panda shook his head and tried to slap the staff from under Monkey, but the simian jumped off, ready to resume the fight, until Shifu snapped his fingers again. The red panda pointed to the Training Hall.
"We will work on your balance," he said quietly, his teeth grinding. Tigress could almost see him burning with rage, having expected the panda to give up when he got hurt. The Five followed Shifu and the panda into the Hall, where Shifu gestured to the Jade Tortoise of Wisdom. The Masters watched for a few sad minutes as the panda struggled to get up onto the bowl; Crane finally had to grab him under the arms and fly him to the rim. The panda wobbled a little bit as Crane touched down, but found his balance.
"Go," said Shifu. Crane peeked at the panda from under his hat, a wry grin on his beak, which faded when the panda lost balance and fell in to the bowl, bouncing around again. Shifu looked like he was about to scream; he raised his hand to snap his fingers, then paused, head turning. Tigress followed his gaze:
The Field of Fiery Death.
A cold shiver washed across her at the look Shifu gave the panda then. Although she wanted the panda gone as much as he did, surely making him face something he that had given him such a horrible reaction was overkill?
"Panda," Shifu called, a smile in his voice. The panda hooked his arms around the rim of the Tortoise and peeked over to Shifu, who pointed to the Fiery Field.
"No warrior can be crippled by fear," Shifu said sagely. "Go."
The panda looked at the Field with trepidation, but scrambled over the edge of the Tortoise, falling gracelessly to the ground. He righted himself and hesitated; he gestured to the Field, then to himself with a questioning look.
Shifu walked across the floor until he was in front of the Field.
"If you are to be the Dragon Warrior, you must overcome this fear you have, and no better way to do so than by confronting it directly. Now get over here."
The panda stepped around the Jade Tortoise and cautiously made his way up the stairs of the Fiery Field. The ducks operating the fire began their work, flames shooting out from random poles across the platform. Shifu impatiently tapped his flute against his hand.
"We're waiting, panda," he said. The panda took a deep breath and then stepped onto the mass of poles, shuffling around nervously. A flame shot off to his left and he jumped back, right into the path of another, getting a burn on his breeches. He clenched his eyes in pain and quickly began to step around, trying to avoid the unpredictable fire. He got several mild burns but didn't look about to jump off until a flame shot up less than half a foot in front of him; the panda stumbled and fell, getting another burn on the back of his right arm. His face was in a rictus of fear and he seemed frozen in place, the fire dancing in his wide, watery eyes. Crane swooped down into the pit before Shifu could say anything and grabbed him up, a trail of smoke following them as he set the bear safely on the floor, where he curled into a ball, face pressed against his knees. Shifu angrily limped toward them and Tigress had the odd urge to hold him back before he could damage the panda further. Angry at the bear or not, their job was to protect the villagers, not traumatize them, even when said villager took away the greatest honor that could have been given them. It would be different if the panda was a Master and could protect himself, but an innocent civilian was not fair game.
Disciplined into unfailing obedience, Tigress did not step forward, but she prepared herself to if Shifu went too far. The others clearly shared her thoughts, because they tensed also. Crane stepped away from the panda and stood between him and Shifu, saluting respectfully.
"Master, maybe confronting this fear directly isn't the best course of action," Crane said cautiously. Shifu motioned him aside with his flute, and he reluctantly stepped between Tigress and Monkey. Shifu prodded the panda in the arm and he looked up, still breathing heavily. The Master opened his mouth to lecture him but the bear turned away from him and pulled out a pencil and a blank card, scribbling on it with a shaky paw.
"Panda, there is no time to deal with your…deficiencies," said Shifu impatiently. "You must face the Field and overcome this fear, or you must leave. No warrior can be afraid of mere flames," he said harshly. The panda angrily screwed up his face, crumpled the card, and wrote on another one. He held it up between him and Shifu, who slapped it aside.
"Cease with the cards, you-"
He stopped, looking at the card that he had smacked onto the floor. The panda carefully stood up, towering over Shifu. After a moment of tense silence, the Master waved his hand to the door.
"You are more than free to leave," he said, voice tight with anger and something Tigress could not identify. He looked over at the confused Five, then began to walk away.
"You are dismissed," he said shortly, limping past the panda and calling down to the ducks who operated the machinery of the hall, telling them they could go home for the day. The panda absently rubbed a burn on his arm and nodded to the Five as he passed them on his way out the door.
After a few moments of silence, Mantis hopped onto Monkey's shoulder and broke the quiet.
"Well, that was interesting," he said. Crane stepped over to the fallen card as Monkey scratched his neck, looking over at the door Shifu left from.
"I wonder what made him stop," he said curiously. "I thought he was going to get real nasty."
"I've never seen Shifu like that," Viper said quietly. "Tigress?"
Tigress silently shook her head, not wishing to comment. She knew how antagonistic Shifu could be when he wanted, but had rarely seen him openly malicious, more often settling for a cold cruelty or disregard.
"Yeah…I think this would do it," said Crane solemnly; he held the fallen card up.
"Oh," said Mantis quietly.
Tai Lung's attack was the reason I have these 'deficiencies', it read.
The panda didn't make it as far as they thought he had, his burns and various aches slowing him down, not that he was particularly fast-paced to begin with. Tigress left the others to unwind in their rooms, opting to meditate on the terrace behind the Palace, where she could see both the Training Hall and the barracks. It wasn't a particularly special or sacred place, or even very private, but she could see far across the fields and mountains to the east and south, and if she truly wished to not be disturbed she could easily climb onto the roof of the Palace and meditate there.
She remembered the first time she had gotten caught doing just that, fortunately by Master Oogway instead of Shifu. She had been through a very long, hard day of training, every move of hers an apparent disappointment to the man who had given her a home, and she had slunk away in the falling evening to her favorite spot. She had thought that she had kept it a secret, and so was very surprised to find Master Oogway, of all people, slowly picking his way across the brightly-painted wood of the rooftop. Even though she had seen him fight, it never failed to amaze her when he did something other than walk exceptionally slowly or cheerfully agitate Shifu with a choice piece of wisdom. He was so bulky, his limbs so heavy, his movements so slow, that any feat of speed or agility always surprised her. However the old tortoise had gotten onto the roof of the Palace, he still moved as slow and deliberately as usual to reach her. They had spent ten, maybe fifteen minutes talking about everything but the horrible day Tigress had just been through, and when Oogway jumped down from the roof with the agility of a cat, she felt…perhaps not much better…but less twisted in the gut than before. Just to have someone care enough about her being upset that they climbed onto a roof and talked about nothing had helped.
As she watched the night approach she noticed soft footfalls, accompanied by the tap of a staff. She opened her eyes and rose to bow, but Master Oogway waved a clawed hand at her, gesturing that she should remain seated. She settled back down and he slowly sat at her side, laying the peach staff between them.
She didn't look at him, but she knew he was smiling.
"I have always enjoyed this view of the Valley," he said softly. "The other side is vast and grand, but from here I can see the mountain on which our home is built, and the foundations below. When I look across this view…"
He motioned to the mountain to their left, rising high above them.
"…I am reminded that we are not as lofty as we may think."
Tigress glanced to where his hand was gesturing; in comparison to the mountain, the peak on which the Jade Palace stood was tiny in comparison, just a small outcropping of the main mountain.
"So no matter what we do, we will never be as great as we hoped," she said, her words harder than she had intended. Oogway sighed softly, shaking his head.
"Now, I didn't say that. Our home may be on a smaller cliff, but it is still a part of the mountain as a whole." He placed a hand on one knee and pushed himself up. Tigress expected him to leave, having doled out another indecipherable bit of wisdom, but she was surprised with the pressure of a hand on her shoulder.
"You believe that I made the wrong choice," he said. It was not a question, but a statement. Tigress turned away, not answering as guilt welled in her. She heard Oogway chuckle.
"You are allowed to question, Tigress, even question me. Believing that I made a mistake is not sacrilege."
He was quiet for a moment, looking out to the hills and fields and the tiny lights in distant buildings. Night had fallen around them, calm and clear. Below, she could see lights in both the Training Hall and the barracks. After a minute Oogway patted her shoulder, before turning to leave.
"Though you may not be at the top of the mountain, do not forget that you are still a part of it, young Tigress. I do not believe the Universe is quite done with you, yet."
She watched him walk around the side of the Palace, undoubtedly going to the peach tree for his evening tai chi. What, exactly, was that supposed to mean?
Her thoughts were too jumbled to continue her meditation, and she leapt off the terrace, landing softly on the stairs below. Her mind buzzing with Oogway's words, she walked down the stairs to the barracks.
The other four of the Five caught up with Po just before he reached the barracks. Though he had a head start, his injuries had slowed him down, and when Master Mantis offered to try some acupuncture on him he readily agreed. Monkey and Crane continued to their own rooms, but Viper and Mantis joined Po in his.
I forgot to thank you for helping me out yesterday.
Mantis waved away the card Po presented them, as he quickly drew a panda over his picture of Tigress's acupuncture points.
"Don't mention it, buddy," he said. "Shifu can get a little harsh sometimes."
"Very harsh," said Viper quietly. She took the picture from Mantis and watched as he gathered a few needles into his claw-thingies. "I honestly haven't seen him that nasty in years."
"What, like from the White River Valley mission? Yeah, he was mean then."
Po bounced around a bit, furiously writing on a blank card.
He got mad at you for that mission? But you did fantastic! You stopped the warlord from hurting the villagers and saved everyone!
Viper smiled at him.
"How did you know that?"
I've been a fan of kung fu since I was eighteen, he said with a card.
My whole life I've dreamed of learning kung fu!
He hesitated, then wrote Never really like this, though.
Mantis chuckled as he hopped onto Po's shoulder.
"Guess it was as big a surprise for you as it was for us, huh?" Po began to nod, but the movement was aborted when Mantis jabbed a needle into his arm, making him flinch.
"Oops. Sorry. Lemme see that chart again…"
Po absently rubbed his shoulder.
It's enough of an honor to be here at all.
"I dunno," said Mantis, climbing down the panda's spine. "We weren't exactly welcoming."
Scribbling on another card from his dwindling supply of blanks, Po shook his head.
Even if it didn't go so well, I still got to meet the Furious Five.
"You got beat up by the Furious Five," muttered Viper wryly. Po shook his pencil at her. Furious Five. Worth it.
Besides, it wasn't that bad. You guys helped me out when Master Shifu got too rough.
"If you don't mind me asking…" said Viper quietly. Po nodded to her.
"That card you showed Shifu in the Training Hall. What it said."
Mantis, crawling across Po's back, slowed slightly. Po wrote on the back of a used card, a determined frown on his face.
I know that how I am can get aggravating but if I can deal with it, so can he.
Viper shook her head.
"Actually, I meant what you said about Tai Lung. His attack really…?"
Po silently stared at her until she dropped her gaze.
"Sorry."
Mantis chose that moment to stick a needle into Po's back, making him jump.
I'm not sure that this is helping, he wrote.
"Trust me, it will," said Mantis, jumping down to get more needles.
"It's just not easy finding the right nerve points under all this, uh…"
Po gestured to his large belly. Mantis stuck a needle into his shoulder-blade, poking at the muscles in his back.
"Fur," he said archly. "I was going to say fur."
Po rolled his eyes, a small smile belying his annoyance. Mantis took another look at his makeshift chart.
"Seriously, though. Who am I to judge a warrior based on his size? I mean, look at me."
Po tried to turn, the needles making it difficult for him to look over his shoulder.
"I'm over here," mumbled Mantis from the opposite arm, sticking another needle in. He had to grab the panda's fur to avoid being thrown off when Po jerked.
Po waited until Mantis hopped down to grab more needles, then slowly wrote: I don't remember much about TL's attack, but I talked before then and couldn't after.
He paused, his back and arms starting to feel oddly numb, then wrote I'm not sorry I told Shifu that.
Viper shook her head. "I have to agree that he was…a little out of line," she said in a low voice.
"I know he can seem kind of heartless," said Mantis, poking another needle into Po's neck. "Rumor has it he used to smile, though."
"But that was before Tai Lung, too," said Viper. On the side of the paper wall, Crane's silhouette briefly appeared.
"Yeah, uh, we're not really supposed to talk about him," he said, before retreating.
"If he's going to stay here – "
The three jerked their heads to the doorway, where Tigress stood. "-He should know."
Po waved his hands at her, flashing a card between them.
I know about Tai Lung. He used to be a student here.
He was the first to Master the Thousand Scrolls of Kung Fu, before he destroyed the village and was imprisoned.
Tigress raised a brow, walking forward. Po dropped his arm and his gaze; Mantis retreated behind his back.
"He wasn't just a student," she said quietly. "Shifu found him as a cub, and he raised him as his son."
Po's eyes widened.
"And when the boy showed talent in kung fu," Tigress continued. "Shifu trained him. He believed in him. He told him he was destined for greatness. But it was never enough for Tai Lung; he wanted the Dragon Scroll – " Po looked down at his feet, brows furrowed over troubled eyes. He began to write on a card.
"- But Oogway saw darkness in his heart, and refused."
Is that why he destroyed the village? Tigress nodded.
"He was outraged at Oogway's refusal. He laid waste to the Valley, and he tried to take the Scroll by force…and Shifu had to destroy what he had created."
Her ears flattened. Po tensed at the sudden sadness in her eyes.
"But how could he? Shifu loved Tai Lung like he had never loved anyone before…or since."
Tigress looked up to see Po staring at her with unblinking eyes. She tempered her expression.
"He has a chance now to put things right, to train the true Dragon Warrior."
Po gave her a very knowing expression and held up a card.
He's stuck with me.
Tigress didn't answer, but he could see in her eyes that she agreed.
I know I am not exactly ideal.
I am sorry.
I will try my best.
Tigress stared hard at the words on the cards, her fists clenching softly. She seemed to be debating with herself.
"I suppose that is the only thing we can ask of you," she said slowly. Po gave her a wry grin.
I thought you wanted me to leave, he wrote. Tigress hmm'd, her eyes hard, but before she could reply Po felt a sting on the back of his neck and his whole body seized; he dropped the cards and fell to the floor, making Tigress back up in alarm. Mantis jumped on his face.
"Ack! My fault! Sorry, buddy, I accidentally tweaked your facial nerve…"
Po felt his face twitch slighty, an uncomfortable ache in his chest.
"Wow, I really hope I didn't stop your heart. You still with us?"
Mantis began systematically pulling out his needles, and he paused when he crawled past Po's ear.
"Sorry about that, but things were starting to get a little heavy," he whispered. If Po could have moved he would have smacked him. Several dozen needles later, he could shift his limbs, though they tingled unpleasantly and his hands shook.
"Well, at least you're not in pain anymore," said Mantis cheerfully. Po glared at him as Tigress left the room. He shook his hand a little bit, then drew out three battered cards.
Your food will be ready shortly
I'm cooking
The special tonight is Secret Ingredient Soup
He waited for his feet to stop tingling, then stood, shaking his shoulders. Mantis hopped up onto his arm.
"Wait, you didn't say you could cook. We're invited, right?" Po rolled his eyes, but nodded. He looked to the room's side wall, where Crane and Mantis were peering through the door, and gestured that they could come along.
In the hallway, outside her door, Master Tigress stood quietly. At a look from her Mantis jumped from Po's shoulder to Monkey's, and the other four of the Five slowly walked down the corridor, glancing back at the two. Po nervously scratched at an aching needle site as Tigress stared at him.
"I…appreciate that you are taking this seriously," she said quietly. Po looked at her in surprise, and she held out a small stack of cards. He took them, and she nodded, leaving him to join the others as they walked toward the kitchen.
They were his apology cards, the ones he had dropped in the Arena. On top of the stack, facing up, was I am sorry/ a thousand pardons.
Po smiled to himself and stuck the cards back into their corresponding pocket, then followed the Five down the hall.
A/N: I like angry Po. He has to take a lot of shit from the villagers, and he's not about to take it from Shifu, who really should know better.
Oh yeah, Grandpa Oogway for the win. I like the idea that Oogway knows how much of an ass Shifu can be and though he doesn't often interfere unless Shifu's about to royally mess something up, he'll go out of his way to make sure that Tigress has what she needs to teach herself to power through whatever Shifu or the world throws at her. This is evidenced by his actions in Secrets of the Scroll, where he allows Shifu to be an ass but gets him to give Tigress chances to prove herself, then helps her out when she's upset. Let me know if Oogway doesn't sound like Oogway, because I had a terrible time trying to figure out his dialogue.
Fire is definitely going to be a trigger for Po in here; not little fires, but the big, sudden ones? Yeah. His fear of Tai Lung on top of that is going to be a big part of his training, and he'll overcome it, but it won't solve the underlying traumas. Tai Lung's attack is just a small part of Po's fear, though it's the one we'll focus on here because he's not going to remember anything about Shen's attack until the second movie. It's like having a house with broken windows and an unsteady foundation. You see the windows and fix them, but you can't see the cracks in the foundation and although your house isn't drafty anymore, it still is not in good condition. TL's attack is the windows. Shen's is the foundation.
Again, Shifu is going to be more of a dick than he originally was. He likes perfection, and having a mute on top of a panda be the Dragon Warrior is going to feel like an insult to him. Po, in here, has significantly more difficulty in expressing himself, which sucks for someone who is so expressive. Having to force himself to be less exuberant and excitable, as well as being a little more introverted and less prone to dramatics, makes him a bit more approachable to the Five. He's still cheerful and amiable, but his silly side has had to be pushed back. He can't verbally defend himself or argue back like he did in the first film, which would trigger the Five's sense of duty in protecting someone who couldn't protect himself. I don't want them to pity Po or imply that he's weak, but he's a little more vulnerable here.
Although the Five took just about any shit Shifu threw at them in the first film without complaint and didn't stop him when he was an ass to Po, we saw that they weren't above disobedience when they felt it was necessary, such as Tigress arguing with Shifu over who was to stop Tai Lung and she and the others going off to fight him, against Shifu's orders.
I don't care what they're actually called; Mantis's claw thingies are claw thingies and shall be forevermore referred as such, or at least until I get tired of it and Google up what they're actually supposed to be named. I just like that he himself called them 'claw-thingies' in the third film.