Author's note: Hello people! Yes, it's an update! I can just feel the anger emanating from you for this so late update. Well, life has been getting busy. I've been having a lot of homework, even on a holiday, and I am currently directing and writing a script for a drama. So bear with me guys, hahaa.
Also, thanks to the people that reviewed my story so far! Thanks to BatmanRules256, Tigergirl713, DipperPinez(Bruh), the many Guestsand a very special thanks to VioletAssasin1124! I thank you for the lovely threats that scared me to death especially since they were from an "assassin", so I hope you will continue to read this story ^^. (Your threats/reviews actually made me write faster)
So without further hesitation, WTSP!
Dawn broke on the Valley of Peace. The morning sun's light, which would have shown on the valley if it were on any other morning, was not visible as rain drizzled down still. Thunder echoed across the valley, frightening many villagers for the weather.
The small the Grand Master of the Jade sat by himself within the halls, meditating in the lotus position. All of his students were trying to find ways to pass the time within the palace. Crane was partaking in his favourite past time, calligraphy. Mantis and Monkey were assigned to check on supplies and such. Tigress was training in the training halls, and Viper was taking advantage of the storm to read her… "Romance novels".
Master Shifu breathed in, and then slowly exhaled, trying to calm his nerves. There was a troubling sensation within the pit of his stomach. It frustrated Shifu not to knowing what it was, but he felt a disturbance in the atmosphere, and it was not just the weather. The worst part, though, was that it was only growing.
Shifu was getting more anxious. Po had still not returned, and although it has barely been a day since the Dragon Warrior left, and Shifu knew the panda was more than capable of handling himself, he still worried. Was the hectic weather just making him paranoid? He truly hoped so.
Shifu hoped it was only because of the memories the drops of water brought with it. "Baba!" A small smile. "Look, baba! It's raining! Hahaha!" A beautiful snow leopard cub danced around in the rain, warm golden eyes gleaming. No.
Shifu stood from where he sat and made his way deeper within the palace, as if hoping to block out the thundering rain and the painful reality. It's too late. Everything is gone. The old master slumped visibly against his staff, ears drooping as a tear rolled down his cheek.
Too late.
Creak. Creak. Creeaak.
Stormy clouds covered the morning sun as Po tried his best to sneak towards the room where Tai Lung and the children stayed as quietly as possible. Of course, nothing seemed to be going his way lately. Po tip toed slowly, reaching out towards the door. He wanted to check on them and make sure Tai Lung really wasn't hurting those children. Or better, sneak them out if he can. I just hope Tai Lung is still sleeping… Po hoped for the best as he reached for the door knob.
…That was a mistake.
"EEEEEEEK!" Po screamed very unmanly while literally jumping a couple of feet off the floor when the door was suddenly thrust open. Tai Lung stood at the door, looking unimpressed, though with a twinge of amusement.
"What. Are you doing?" Po was at a loss. He fidgeted nervously under Tai Lung's glare and stumbled for words. "I-I-I w-was just…" Po swallowed hard and tried to compose himself, though it was still visible to Tai Lung that he was afraid, if his shaking knees and twitching fingers were any indication. "I…I thought you would need, ya know, a wake up call coz… you know how it's always raining and cloudy, and you really can't tell if it's morning or not, so you know! Just thought, I'd help…" Po trailed off, finishing off with an awkward smile.
Tai Lung raised an eyebrow. He can't be serious with this. "Please tell me that wasn't the best excuse you could come up with," Tai Lung said blankly, while Po was wishing he had learned a disappearing technique so he could escape this embarrassment.
"Big brother?"
Po looked behind Tai Lung to see the small boy pup from the night before, rubbing the sleep from his eyes, obviously having just woken up.
The pup stood behind Tai Lung's leg, holding on to his purple pants as he looked up sleepily at Po. Tai Lung looked down at the little pup and gave a small warm smile. "It's okay, Fang. The panda just thought he would," A pointed look at Po. "…give us awakeup call, that's all." The pup's, or Fang's, lips formed a silent 'oh', giving Po a weird look. Po just chuckled nervously and tried to make some rooster noises.
"Cock-a-doodle-doo, hehe…"
Now both leopard and pup gave him 'are you crazy?' looks. Tai Lung shook his head and spoke again. "Fang, go and wake up Xue, before he does." He whispered the last part. Fang nodded tiredly, before walking off, but not before giving Po one more 'you're crazy' look.
Tai Lung and Po turned back to each other before Tai Lung shook his head disbelievingly, looking away. "See? Even he things you're nuts." Po laughed nervously, rubbing the back of his head before he remembered something.
"Okay Tai Lung, look," Po stopped the convict as he tried to go back into the room, the latter raising his eyebrow. "What on earth are you really doing with those kids? What, why? How? …" Po trailed off as he noticed the glare Tai Lung was giving him. The ex-master sighed before turning around to look Po straight in the eye.
"Look, Dragon Warrior," Tai Lung started, spitting every word like foul venom. "If you think for a split second that the only reason that I'm not destroying this valley or you," Po couldn't help flinching at the harshly said words as the infamous criminal started stalking towards him, a shadow crossing over his eyes. "Is because I've done a heel-face turn, then I'm sorry to break it to you, you're dead. Wrong."
By now Po was doing all he could to stop himself from breaking down in fear underneath the snow leopard's murderous glare. Tai Lung went on, seemingly lost in his own darker thoughts. "I still hate this valley. I still hate him," he hissed. Po knew he was referring to Master Shifu.
Tai Lung opened his mouth to say more, but his ear then flickered, hearing a sound.
"Tai?" Tai Lung stopped his berate and turned to see a slightly scared kitten standing next to Fang, who looked a bit worried but not as frightened.
Tai Lung's expression immediately softened. He turned to the small girl and, bending down to her level, offered a gentle smile. "Xue? Are you alright? Is something wrong?" Xue grew easy as she smiled back and shook her head.
Tai Lung's smile widened as he seemingly forgot Po's presence as he turned his attention to the two youngsters in front of him.
"She had a bad dream," Fang spoke up. "But I told her not to worry 'cos I would take care of her," Fang said proudly, before adding bashfully, "'Course I also told her that you would take care of us too," the pup said, beaming up Tai Lung who in turn smiled back warmly.
"See? There's no need to worry about with Fang taking care of you, eh?" Tai Lung chided Xue teasingly while rubbing the top of Fang's head, messing it up, much to the pup's amusement.
Po could not believe what he was seeing. Right there, in front of his very two eyes, was a moment of genuine care between two children and a man he never thought or even dreamed in his wildest dreams (and that's saying something) would ever feel anything other than hate and anger. Po resisted the urge to pinch himself as he looked at the scene in front of him. Tai Lung, Tai Lung, one of the most dangerous threats to China and the Valley of Peace, the convict that broke free out of what was supposed to an inescapable prison made just for him that had 1000 rhino guards, the feared master of the 1000 scrolls of Kung Fu, and the man that had not only tried to take his life, but also master Shifu's.
Po had struggled all night on how he was to know if Tai Lung truly was who he was made out to be. He had finally come to a conclusion.
"Tai Lung." Tai Lung visibly tensed at the mention of his name. He slowly turned around to look at the panda that now stood with a more determined stance and resolve.
"We are going to talk. Now." Tai Lung's lips twitched. He hated the panda, but he'll admit it, the panda's got guts after all.
"Fine." Po couldn't help looking surprised. He hadn't expected the leopard to agree so smoothly. He was accepting some kind of angry respond or sarcastic remark, but not easy cooperation.
"But don't accept me to be entirely cooperative." Ok, maybe cooperation was a too big of a word.
"Good enough." Tai Lung only huffed in response as he walked past Po, the two kids following closely behind. Xue stopped to look curiously at Po, who gave an unsure smile. She smiled back widely, before skipping after Tai Lung and Fang.
Po shook his head with a small smile. This what my life has come to. These were my choices. Loving leopard convicts and adorable puppies and kittens. What's next?
BOOM!
Po now sat across from Tai Lung on the dinner table while his dad and the two youngsters were in the kitchen. Electricity built in the house as the two glared daggers at one another. Finally, Po cleared his throat. Tai Lung tensed.
"Okay, first of all… Are those two your kids or not!" exclaimed Po. He had been wanting to get that off of his chest for a while.
Tai Lung bit back a retort. Is this guy serious?
"Look, panda. If you really want to know what the actual deal is between me and those two, it's my business, not yours. All you need to know is that I took them in when they needed me, but they are not my offspring." Tai Lung huffed in annoyance.
Po sighed quietly in relief. Good, so he wasn't their actual father. For a minute there, he was having trouble imagining Tai Lung…
Po mentally shook his head. He is not going to think about it.
"Okay, next question," Po regained his composure. "How are you still alive!?"
Mr. Ping gave Po a look he waddled past the two adults. "Po, you don't just ask people why they're still alive."
Po went on. "I mean, come on! How? Even you thought it would kill you."
Tai Lung growled annoyance. "I'm just as lost as you are, panda. One minute my life was flashing before my eyes, the next, I wake up in the middle of nowhere!" He calmed down a bit. "But you're right, I am supposed to be dead. Oogway himself said that the Wushi finger hold immediately sends a person to the spirit world, yet…" Tai Lung trailed off as he appeared to be thinking deeply.
Po suddenly felt the weight of Tai Lung's words on him. Dead. Tai Lung was supposed to be dead. He killed Tai Lung. Po held back a shiver as he realised that he nearly, supposedly, killed another person. Even though Po knew that Tai Lung was evil and had to stopped, that still did not stop that bit of guilt blooming inside of him. He had gotten lost in the moment. He got cocky and…
Po shook his head. No, he had to do it, there was no other choice. But as Po looked up at the seemingly killed snow leopard, he mentally berated himself. Why on earth is he scowling himself for killing someone when that someone was right in front of him and not dead? Idiot.
Suddenly a small Bengal kitten and Husky pup bounced on Tai Lung, giggling all the while, the two completely covered in flour.
"Surprise!" "Look Tai Tai! We're covered in warm snow!" The two giggled. Tai Lung laughed out loud at the two's antics. "Oh? Well, a snow leopard can adapt in either snow! Ha!"
Tai Lung suddenly stood with the two cubs still hanging onto him. He grabbed the closer of the two, which unfortunately was Fang, and started tickling him, burying his muzzle in the pup's tummy.
"Hahahaa!" the husky started laughing uncontrollably while his cousin laughed, dangling from Tai Lung's head. When the older leopard grew tired of amusing the two, he stood back and straightened his back. "Okay, that's enough fun for today. Go back and help Mr. Ping in the kitchen. I'm sure you two made a mess in there."
"Awwe." Xue whined as Tai Lung removed her from his shoulder and set her next to her cousin. "How do you even know we made a mess in there?"
"Because…" Tai Lung crouched down and rubbed some of the flour off Xue's head. "You are covered from head to toe with, warm snow. Now skedaddle with you." Tai Lung said laughingly, watching the two then run back into the kitchen, giggling the whole way.
Tai Lung suddenly remembered that a certain panda was still in the room. As he looked back at said panda, he immediately turned away when he saw him grinning back like a moronic fool.
Trying to hold at least a bit of dignity, the leopard started back into the room he stayed in. "I was pretending." The leopard said before disappearing upstairs, trying to hide his embarrassment.
Po merely smirked in amusement. "Suuuuuuure…" Maybe he should stick around and keep and eye on the leopard. Actually, now that I think about it…
Po now stood with a new resolve. Maybe the snow leopard was not what he claimed to be. Whether the criminal wants it or not, Po was going to change a few things.
Okay, is it just me, or are my chapters getting longer and longer? Huh. Anyways thanks again to you guys for reading my stories. I love you all and I know you all love me(Psh, as if). And, you guys should know the rules by now, 6 more reviews for the next update. Again, sorry for the late update but LIFE. Man, you can't escape it. So I'll try to be more diligent with this so I can also stay in touch with school.
Also, check out my website on Devianart here , and if you guys want a clear picture of the two adorable fur balls, check them out here /d9wulwr
Anyways, Chao and stay tuned for WTSP.