The Phantom of the Snow Leopard 2: The Return
Chapter 9: The Celebration & The Map's Reveal
Later that night, we see all of the snow leopards having a celebration for Tai Lung's return to the village near the mountains while Tai Lung, Leona, and Tigress are too busy watching them happily dance with each other.
"Isn't this great, Tai?", said Leona, "All of these people are now happy to see you. Seeing as how you're a prince to the king and queen of this village, all of the other female snow leopards will be delighted to see you, don't you think so? You could attract them with all your might. Wouldn't that be wonderful?"
"It would be", said Tai Lung and the snow leopard looks at his parents watching him with smiles on their faces, "But I don't think any of this is important now. I need to speak to my parents about something."
"It's a miracle, my love", said Queen Mei Hu.
"Yes it is, my queen", said King Tai Han.
Tai Lung, knowing what to do, gets out of the table that he and the others happen to be sitting on and talks to the rulers of the village.
"Mother, father", said Tai Lung, "How are you doing?"
"We're doing fine, son", said Queen Mei Hu.
"Yes, I can see that", said Tai Lung, "Um..."
"What is it, Tai?", asked King Tai Han.
"Can I speak to all of you about something?", asked Tai Lung and King Tai Han looks down before he got up from his throne.
"Citizens", called King Tai Han, "Our prince Tai Lung will like to speak to all of you, including us, something important. Go ahead, son."
Tai Lung gulps, feeling nervous, but had the strength to overcome the nervousness and clears his throat.
"Villagers", announced Tai Lung, "I want all of you to know that... I'm... I'm... I'm a kung fu master of the Jade Palace and..."
"A kung fu master?", asked Queen Mei Hu, now shocked.
"You don't mean...?", asked King Tai Han, now also shocked.
"Yes", said Tai Lung, "Someday, I'll be a grandmaster of that palace and I'll train some students as they will train their new students. But that's not the point."
"Then, what is it?", asked one of the villagers.
"Well...", said Tai Lung, "I'm on a quest from Master Shifu himself."
"Shifu", said King Tai Han, "I've heard of that red panda before. Tell us more, Tai. We're still listening."
"Me, Tigress and the others here are looking for three sapphires of Kudoha, our ancestors", explained Tai Lung, "They've created them by Kudoha, the leader of the clan and I've found two of them so far. Shifu told me that right from the beginning and I'm here to ask you, father, one important question."
King Tai Han looks closer at Tai Lung.
"Do you know where the third sapphire is?", asked Tai Lung.
King Tai Han looks at Queen Mei Hu for a while before he spoke, "Yes, son. I do know where it is. We have a map and we'll prove it."
"When?", asked Tai Lung.
"Right now", said King Tai Han and called to the villagers, "All of you can continue your dancing, citizens! I must go forth with my son to the map!"
The citizens of the village continue their dancing while King Tai Han walked with Tai Lung to a room where he himself put the map someplace safe. Meanwhile, far away from the village came Ryshu with only his left arm scratched from the battle he had with Tai Lung a few days ago before he hears a celebration far away from here.
"Can it be?", asked Ryshu and sees the footprints of Tai Lung and the others before chuckling evily.
We see two of the guards guarding the gates before they hear a growling noise not too far.
"Who's there?", asked the first snow leopard guard.
"Show yourself!", said the second snow leopard guard.
Suddenly, as the two soldiers walked slowly to see what was going on, Ryshu appears and pins the two to the ground.
"Intruder!", shouted the second snow leopard.
"Shut your mouth!", shouted Ryshu, "Now, tell me where the Phantom is!"
"What Phantom?", asked the first snow leopard.
"The cat who looks different than me!", sneered Ryshu.
"You mean, Tai Lung, the son of the king and queen?", asked the second snow leopard.
"A prince?", asked Ryshu and finally realizes it now, "His ancestor?"
"Yes", answered the first snow leopard guard.
"He has parents", said Ryshu and smiles evily.
"What are you going to do to him?", asked the second snow leopard.
"Oh, nothing", said Ryshu, "I have something that's even better than that!"
He lets go of the soldiers and asks them quietly, "You two won't tell anyone about this, will you?"
The two soldiers shook their heads "yes" and the panther ran off as quick as he could. Meanwhile, we see Tai Lung watching his father opening a portal to reveal a map room where the king himself had made to find himself to other places while he was away.
"I've made these maps to help me make peace with other places in all of China", explained King Tai Han, "The only place that I haven't went to is the Valley of Peace, even though your mother went there to make sure you're safe there."
"Then, why didn't you send me there to begin with?", asked Tai Lung.
"I was... to afraid of doing it by myself and even if I did...", said King Tai Han, "It would've been a mistake I will have to live with."
Tai Lung understands this as King Tai Han continues.
"I've made a map that has the secrets of a cave not far away from the village", said King Tai Han, "It has the paintings of our ancestors, but when we had to find the location to where the sapphires are at, it was said that only one of us would try to find them. You're that person, are you, son?"
"Yes, father", said Tai Lung, "and there's something I have to tell you about these sapphires. The first one shined on me and I had these flashbacks when I was a cub when my mother left me at the Jade Palace. The other sapphire made me had visions of the time mother prepared to take me far away so that I won't become a monster. I hope the third sapphire doesn't have visions about me as well, does it?"
"We're not sure, son", said King Tai Han, "We'll be sure to find out soon once we find it."
"Oh, that reminds me of something", said Tai Lung as we cut to Ryshu seeing all of the villagers without being seen by most of them, "There's someone else searching for the third sapphire."
"Who is that person, son?", asked King Tai Han.
"It's a treasure hunter named Ryshu, father", explained Tai Lung, "He wants to get all three of them so he could use them to take over the world. That's why we came here. And if I succeed in finding all three of those sapphires, I would save it. After that, I'm..."
"You're not staying here, are you, son?", asked King Tai Han.
"I'm sorry, father", said Tai Lung, "But, my master needs me and I'm his only student he appreciated ever since."
"Well", said King Tai Han sternly, "If Shifu still wants you, then I won't bother trying to follow you!"
"Father, you must understand", said Tai Lung.
"No, you understand!", said King Tai Han angry, "We've waited a long time for you to come back and this is how is suppose to happen? You're just giving up your reputation as a prince and abandon your only family?"
"I'm a kung fu master, father", said Tai Lung, "What do you expect?"
King Tai Han weighs his head down in sorrow and finally finds the map that has the secrets of a cave near the mountains far away from the village.
"This is the map to the cave", said King Tai Han and gives it to Tai Lung, "Here, use it and it will help you and your friends find it. Well, I'm afraid that makes you happy now, does it, son?"
King Tai Han turns back, still upset at what Tai Lung had said.
"Father, I...", said Tai Lung, but is now speechless and has no words to say to his father except weigh his head down in sorrow, "I'm sorry, father. I really am."
"Just go, son", said King Tai Han, "Or should I call you Master Tai Lung."
Tai Lung then leaves the map room and goes to where Tigress and the others are at.
"What happened, Tai?", asked Tigress.
"It's nothing, Tigress", said Tai Lung now upset, "Let's rest for the night and we'll make our way for the cave tomorrow."
Later that night, we see Tigress watching Tai Lung and Leona sleeping next to each other and goes over to see King Tai Han practicing his sword-fight with Queen Mei Hu.
"You're doing well, honey", said Queen Mei Hu.
"So are you, dearest", said King Tai Han.
"Excuse me, your majesty, your highness", said Tigress, "May I speak with you two for a while?"
"If you may", said King Tai Han.
"I want to know what happened to Tai Lung today", said Tigress.
"Trust me, tiger lady", said King Tai Han, "Your husband and I had a misunderstanding."
"What did he say?", asked Tigress.
"That he does not want to stay here with his only family", explained King Tai Han.
"Staying in the Jade Palace was his decision, your highness", said Tigress, "He didn't know that since he was born."
"Well, he has now", said King Tai Han, "Ever since he was a cub, we've wanted to live up to his expectations as king, but when we realized that we will soon raise a monster and destroy everything, I had a choice for my queen to bring him somewhere far away where we'll be safe from his rage when he grows up. Now, that he's grown up and hasn't any rage, he still doesn't want t stay here. With you along, I suppose you've came here only to dishonor me? Because if you are, how can you expect me to trust him on his so-called "quest"?"
"Your highness", said Tigress, "That's not why I'm here. I'm here because... I'm asking you to make your own choice the same way he did."
King Tai Han now becomes confused, but now understands what Tigress had said just now.
"If what you're saying is true", said King Tai Han, "Then, I shall do... for Tai Lung's sake. But, how should I do that?"
"By coming with us to the Jade Palace", said Tigress, "and all of you could stay there. What do you say?"
King Tai Han looks at Queen Mei Hu, who puts her paw on his face.
"They have no choice now, my love", said Queen Mei Hu and King Tai Han looks into her eyes before they kissed each other. They broke their kiss and King Tai Han nods his head at Tigress in agreement.
"Alright, Tigress", said King Tai Han, "You have spoken. I will venture with you and your husband in case we lose hope."
Then, Tigress and King Tai Han shook their paws now that had made their deal.
Next chapter coming up!