Chapter 2: Tai Lung and Shu Ai; A Possible Friendship-Rivalry?

Shu Ai, the lion of the orphanage, was now at the marketplace. He was not far from the Jade Palace.

Shu was greeted by many individuals. Some of them he knew while others he didn't recognize. Nevertheless he greeted them all with a grin that made him well-known.

"Shu, where are you off to at this time? You're usually working," Shu stopped at a stall to buy an apple and was greeted by Hei Tong, a foreigner wolf who only worked part-time in the Valley to make enough money to return home.

"Oh, I'm going to check out Tai Lung in the Jade Palace. It was a promise I made," Shu answered, buying an apple from Hei and eating it.

"Tai Lung? The Dragon Warrior?" Hei assumed too quickly and forgot that he wasn't Dragon Warrior yet.

"You forget, my friend, Tai Lung isn't Dragon Warrior YET. We'll see in a few days if he'll be the Dragon Warrior, though I expect him to be. Are you going to the ceremony?" Shu replied, asking his friend if he was going to the event of the announcement of the Dragon Warrior.

"Nah. I finally got enough money to go home. I'll be gone in two days," Hei replied.

"Awww, too bad. I'll miss you, friend. Anyways, I've got to go," Shu waved his paw that was holding the apple at Hei.

"Hey, Mr. Ping was looking for you. He wants to know if you'll pass by the shop. I'll be passing by soon," Hei told Shu Mr. Ping's message as Shu started to walk to the Jade Palace.

"Tell him I can't today. I'll pass by before the Ceremony," Shu replied, waving his apple-holding paw once more.

"I see. Good Luck with Tai Lung!" Hei replied with a grin.

"Congratulations on getting the money for the return trip!" Shu waved his congratulations to his friend.

It didn't take long for Shu to reach the steps that led to the Jade Palace.

"Stairs? No problem! Janitors face this everyday! I think..," Shu grinned, his confidence showing as he climbed up the steps.

As he reached the entrance, he was panting slightly and grinning.

He entered the Palace with no trouble until he ran into Shifu himself.

"Who are you?" the Master that Shu would never call asked Shu.

"Shu Ai, the lion of the Valley! I've come to see Tai Lung!" Shu's confidence overshadowed his respect.

"Ah, I see… Follow me then," Shifu already thought of having Tai Lung spar with Shu to see if he had any respect for those older than him.

Shu wondered why he hasn't been beaten up for his disrespect and still wondered as he followed Shifu. He looked around as he followed, admiring the place. He started to think to apply as a student but was unsure.

Shu was led by Shifu towards a more open area that looked like a garden. Shu guessed that this is where everyone relaxed. Or so he thought.

As soon as they arrived Tai Lung had landed from doing one of his high-flying moves. Shu was surprised instantly by his sudden appearance. He soon guessed that the students used this area for training as well.

"Interesting, Ping will have an interesting story from me tonight!" Shu thought, grinning slightly.

"Father, who is this?" Tai Lung asked, straightening and looking at Shifu and Shu.

"Father? You two are related?" Shu found himself looking at both of them, trying to see the relationship but failed to see it.

"He is Shu Ai, the lion of the Valley," Shifu replied shortly, looking at Tai Lung in a way that Shu couldn't identify.

"Ah, I see. The Lion of the Valley? I've heard of you, young lion. So you've started to grow your mane?" Tai Lung looked at Shu now. Shu noticed that Shifu had moved away from both of them and was watching both of them intently from a distance.

"Yeah. It's part of growing up! And, I've heard of you as well, Dragon Warrior." Shu replied, bowing to Tai Lung.

"Ah, I see my reputation knows no bounds," Tai Lung returned the bow.

"Overconfidence will be your defeat young ones," Shifu called to them.

"I see the old man loves to lecture," Shu noticed as both of them stopped bowing and faced each other once more.

"You're lucky you're not here. I have to listen to THAT everyday," Tai Lung replied with a grin.

"Sounds painful," Shu agreed as he grinned, holding back laughter. This would be short-lived as Tai Lung started laughing. Shu, unable to contain it, laughed with him.

"So, any reason why the old man… uh, whatever he is… is way over there while we're over here?" Shu asked as he stopped laughing.

"Oh, we're supposed to fight!" Tai Lung replied, going to his fighting stance as soon as he stopped laughing.

"Oooh, I get a shot at the Dragon Warrior? Sweet, I'm lucky!" Shu replied yet remembered he was no good with Martial Arts in general. But a shot at the soon-to-be Dragon Warrior was good news enough for him.

"Are you ready, my friend?" Tai Lung grinned.

"May Guan Yu smile upon me!" Shu replied with a smile, going into an unorthodox-like stance.

"Ping, you'll have your story tonight!" Shu thought.