Humble
I glanced at my friend painting another story in the works when I asked. "What would humbling Tai Lung look like?"
Demi shrugged. "I guess you'll have to write it."
****F*****
"Again!" Tai Lung launched at his opponent, swiping and grunting to get a clean hit. His claws would nearly scrap the teacher, but the swift slap to his back leg reminded him one thing.
Smack!
"AHH!" He wasn't anywhere near the panda's level.
"Again!" The snow leopard growled and raced after the panda. He ducked back, nimbly dodging each punch and kick Tai Lung offered. The snow leopard kicked forward, and the panda twirled around and pushed his student down to the ground from his back.
Tai Lung ate the dirt, grunting heavily as he struggled to get up. "I think that'll be it for today," said the panda, holding his stick behind his back. "You are dismissed, Tai Lung."
"But I-"
"It's alright," Po smiled a bit. "You did a good job. Now rest."
Tai Lung grumbled under his breath and stood up, bowing to his master. He took a seat next to his co-fighter on the sideline. Rolling his shoulders back, Tai Lung watched the panda train the next fighter. The snow leopard growled at the remembrance of his defeat. "I don't get it," Tai Lung grumbled to the person next to him. "Why can't I land a punch on him?"
"You and everyone else," said the female tiger next to him. "He's gotten good since the last time you fought him."
"I'm older than him," Tai Lung grumbled to the feline. "And I have more experience than he has ever had in his life. I know I should be struggling, but I feel like I'm a kid again." He huffed much like a kid, leaning his face on his fist. Glancing at the feline only made his growl louder. "I can tell you're smirking, Kitten."
"The great and mighty Tai Lung training under the Dragon Warrior. Not many people have the opportunity," the tiger smirked.
"Your compliments always sound like insults," Tai Lung muttered. The panda quickly shot back from his student's kicks. He dropped his shoulders back with each punch, grabbed their torso, and swept the student's long legs.
"Much better Crane, but you'll have to do a lot better with your speed, buddy," Po smiled, letting the bird go. Crane crashed onto his butt, chuckling both out of embarrassment and nervousness.
Mostly embarrassment.
Tai Lung snarled under his breath. "Careful, Tai Lung," Said the tiger. "You wouldn't want Po to send you away for being a bad student, would you?"
"And you're different?" Tai Lung glared as Crane sat next to the tiger while Po trained the next student. "You can't let go of the past."
"And yet you can't beat Po."
"I can," Tai Lung said more determinedly, "I just have to find a weak point."
"And if there is none?"
"There's always one."
The tiger shook her head. "You're hopeless."
Tai Lung snarled quietly, "And you're better?"
"You're never going to learn, are you?"
"What? That Po is the Dragon Warrior? I've already accepted that."
"Barely," came a cough from the bird. Tiger and snow leopard glanced at Crane who only smiled sheepishly. "What? Something was caught in my throat."
"Make sure that you keep it caught there," Tai Lung grumbled.
"Don't threaten my friends, Tai Lung," the tiger grunted. The snow leopard gruffly sighed. Dealing with Tigress was a completely different kind of game that he didn't feel up to the task to do right now.
"Alright!" Po shouted, clapping his hands together. "That's enough for today. Everyone gets a break until evening, alright?"
"Yes Master Po."
"Good!" Po smiled widely and patted his belly. "Because I'm starving." The Furious Five and Tai Lung groaned. The snow leopard lifted his eyebrow. Po's seriousness always changed when they were done training. As Po disappeared to the kitchen, Tai Lung stood back up and headed for the Training Hall.
"Going to hone your skill?" Tigress asked, crossing her arms.
"Unless you want to learn from the best-"
"Second-best."
"Then I suggest that you keep out of this. I'm going to figure out a way to beat the panda," Tai Lung marched into the Hall and slammed the doors behind him. Tigress grumbled under her breath and walked over to the barracks where her friends were eating at the table.
"Where's Po?" She asked.
"He wanted to eat in peace. Tough day working with Tai Lung, I guess," Monkey shrugged. Tigress sighed and quietly sat down to eat her small meal. Two maybe, three moments later she was done and got up from the table. "Wait, you're done? That's less than you usually eat."
"I want to train some more," Tigress replied.
"Are you sure that you're not doing all of this training because of Tai Lung?" Viper asked.
Tigress snapped her head back and glared, "What's that supposed to mean?" She asked, furrowing her eyebrow.
Viper's bluish eyes darted to Crane. The bird shook his head, but a warning hiss caused him to gulp and talk. "Tigress, we can't help but notice that you're training yourself pretty hard. Especially since Tai Lung has been back."
"You know why, Crane."
"I know, but Po-"
"Po has made mistakes before," Tigress interrupted. "And I don't want to put the village in danger because of it."
"So you're training your soul out because you don't think Po can beat Tai Lung a second time?" Mantis asked.
"I have faith that Po would find a way to finish Tai Lung once and for all if the situation called for it. Either way, I have to train," Tigress finished and walked out of the kitchen.
"So that's a no," Monkey sighed.
Tigress marched over to the Training Hall where Tai Lung's kick sent a wooden dummy flying into the sidelines. The panting snow leopard growled at the decapitated warrior. He marched over to the sidelines where he sat with a rueful look. "Having trouble fighting the dummies?" Tigress said too sweetly to be sincere. Tai Lung didn't bother look at her.
"There are other people you can annoy. Leaving me in peace would be the merciful thing to do," Tai Lung grunted. Tigress walked to the spot where the proud warrior sat, glaring down at the snow leopard. Amber eyes burned into amber eyes while the tiger's growl threatened to rise above her control.
"And why would I show you mercy?"
"Hmm, maybe you are a warrior after all," Tai Lung smirked.
"Guys!" Exclaimed a voice. "I told you guys to take a break." Tai Lung and Tigress wound their heads back and saw the panda munching on a bowl of food. Or at least finishing the bowl as there were only crumbs left. "Whoops. Hehe, Monkey's going to be mad."
"Ah," Tai Lung stood up, smiling wide. "The Dragon Warrior. Just the person I wanted to see."
"Hm? Why?"
"I want a rematch," Tai Lung said.
Po groaned and sagged his shoulders. "Tai Lung. Seriously? Can't I just relax? It's bad enough for your ego that you can't beat me. I'm really getting tired of these rematches."
"It's the principle of the matter."
"No, it's because you're too stubborn," Po muttered under his breath.
"What was that?"
"Guys, look," Po sighed, holding his hands up. "I know that BOTH of you want to have some extra time learning from me, but I can't teach you everything you need to know in a day. Can't you just... you know... relax and just be satisfied with the stuff you've done?"
"No," Tai Lung and Tigress both said.
"Of course not," Po sighed.
"Po, a master's goal is always to improve. To keep learning," Tigress said.
"Huh," Po muttered. "That's one thing you two haven't been doing." Tai Lung watched as the panda's jovial laid back nature slowly evaporated as he headed for the sandpit.
"What do you mean?" Tigress asked as the panda jumped into the arena.
Po rolled his shoulders back and sighed, "I was hoping not to workout just after eating, but you two are really stubborn and some thing tells me that if I don't take care of this now, it's reeeeeeally going to be a pain in my butt later on." He motioned them to come into the arena. "Fight me."
"B-Both of us?" Tai Lung asked. Po nodded. "Are you that confident in your abilities?"
"Fastest way to figure out how high you are is knowing how low you've been," Po said. Tigress and Tai Lung glanced at each other and then at the panda with confusion. "I don't know. It's something that Shifu said before he left. It sounds cool though."
Tai Lung and Tigress shook their heads and sighed. They took their stance at either side of Po; it would be harder for him that way, they thought. Tigress darted for the panda's side while Tai Lung took to the air. Tigress kicked but the panda leaned back and let Tai Lung's double fisted punch clobber her to the ground. Tai Lung rose out of the dust launching at Po. Po ducked, and the snow leopard crashed into the headless wooden dummy. Tigress got back up and punched the panda. Po ducked and dodged each attack she gave, quickly jumping over her and kicking her into Tai Lung.
"Watch it, Kitten!"
"You're the one getting in my way!"
"I'd expect a second-rate warrior to mess me up," Tai Lung growled.
"And you're a pathetic outlaw that can't even defeat a panda!"
Tai Lung snarled and barreled down at Po. The bear shuffled away at the last moment. Tai Lung made a slash, trying to get something. Po grabbed Tai Lung's hand and kicked his balancing leg, knocking him down. Tai Lung gritted his teeth at the panda's smirk. Suddenly, Po moved out of the way, only for Tai Lung to get kicked by a tiger who thought a sneak attack would work.
As the dust settled, the snow leopard pushed Tigress off of him. He crawled to his hands and knees and saw Po standing before him, looking down with his hands folded behind him. Panting and huffing, Tai Lung bowed his head. "How," He weakly grunted. "How are you so much... better... than me? Why... Why am I... not enough?"
Po sighed, "You two really don't get it, do you?" The panda offered his hand. Tai Lung stared at it for a while, debating what to do. His hand tentatively stretched out to grab it but he shook his head. How could he do such a thing? He pushed himself up only for Po to knock him down on the shoulder.
"AHH!"
Tigress, who was struggling up to her feet, suddenly got sent back down when the panda kicked her feet from beneath her. "URGH!"
"Let's try this again." Po held his hand out to Tai Lung. Tai Lung looked at Tigress who was on her back looking back at him. The snow leopard gazed at Po's hand and warm smile. Tai Lung took a deep breath and grabbed his hand. He waited for a moment, feeling like he just had to kill a part of himself, waiting for the next blow.
Suddenly, the panda lifted him up to his feet before offering Tigress the same. She grabbed his hand and was helped up as well. Dusting both of them, Po sighed with a small smile. "That is why you fail."
"I... I... I don't understand," Tai Lung croaked. For a moment, he couldn't believe how weak he sounded. Like a kid trying to solve a riddle his uncle gave him.
And Po's smile only made the snow leopard feel that more profoundly.
"You two have been getting in your own ways," Po explained. "You two don't learn well. That's because you two are very stubborn and prideful."
"But I-"
"Ap," Po interrupted Tigress. "There's that word again. I. You guys have probably talked more about your way, how I compare to you, and just... yourselves than anyone I know. Your pride is preventing you from learning." Po shrugged. "Sure you've learned from the Kung Fu scrolls and stuff like that, but have you learned from bandits, from kids, from people who aren't even kung fu warriors?"
"What do kids have to teach us?" Tai Lung asked.
"Humility," Po replied. "You can always learn something from someone. There's just as much to learn from an expert as from an idiot. Heck, I'm a prime example of that."
"True."
"That's fair."
"Hey, don't agree with me too much," Po grumbled. "My point is you two are so caught up in what you know that you don't realize there's still a lot to learn. But learning," Po said after a pause, "Doesn't have to happen from an expert. You choose to learn from anything and anyone."
"What if you learn the wrong thing?" Tai Lung asked.
Po's smile widened. "Then you learn to unlearn it." Tai Lung rolled his eyes. It sounded like something Oogway would've said. "If you want to always be right, you have to know when to change your mind. You don't know everything. The only thing you do know, should know, is that you know nothing."
"Then... why did you kick us down so you can help us up?" Tai Lung asked.
"The fact that you two didn't want help up is a prime example of pride. You're too concerned with looking like you're weak. In order to be humble, you have to know how prideful you are. It's a big step, especially for you two."
"Why her?" Tai Lung asked, causing the tiger to look at him. "She doesn't strike me as the prideful type."
"Pride is always a comparison game. It's not just being a show-off, it's also striving to be like someone else instead of trying to make yourself better. You're always comparing yourself with someone or something. Or wanting something that you don't have."
Tai Lung and Tigress blinked.
"I'm... not sure if that last one is true, Po," Tigress said.
"Yeah, isn't that jealousy?"
"Oh yeah right," Po facepalmed himself, breaking the serious teacher face. "I guess I meant like the story you tell yourself? Or... focusing on someone else for your own... self? I don't know."
Tigress smiled a hint while Tai Lung smirked.
"Just take a moment to think about it, okay?" Po said. "Why don't you two try to be... humble and think about other things for a while rather than figuring out how it relates to you."
"So we're supposed to think less of ourselves?" Tai Lung asked.
"No, you're supposed to not think of yourself at all," Po smiled. The panda walked between the two felines and headed for the door. He swung them open and took a long breath. "It's a lovely day. Why don't you two take a walk in the village? I'm sure you'll learn a lot of stuff."
"Shouldn't we train?"
"Some times it's best to take a break. Give your mind AND ME some time to catch some Zs," Po replied. "Besides, you two have been hitting this ceiling for a while. I think you two have earned a break."
"Are you saying this because you're tired or-"
"Yes!" Po interrupted Tai Lung. "Now get going. I'm already late for my second lunch."
The two felines groaned and walked out of the Training Hall. Silence stood between them as they descended the steps. For a moment, the thought of insulting Tigress came to Tai Lung's mind, but he grumbled it away with a shake of his head. Tigress stifled a huff of dignity before staring down into the valley.
They stopped half way on the steps and sighed together.
"This is going to be a lot harder than we think, isn't it?" Tai Lung groaned.
"I didn't think I would have this much of an issue. Why is it a problem now?" Tigress asked.
"Shifu?"
Tigress glared, "That's your answer for everything that goes bad." She sagged her shoulders, "but I think you're right this time."
"I think you'll have a much easier time with this than me."
"Why?"
"Because you seem to have an easier time admitting when you're wrong," Tai Lung said.
Tigress shut her eyes for a while and looked at Tai Lung. The stare wasn't filled with rage, but a somber steady lull in her energy as she said, "I've had to admit I was wrong since I came here."
He said no more as they climbed down into the village. The streets were filled with goats, pigs, and ducks* shopping, working, and bowing to the two warriors. "Notice anything different?" Tai Lung asked.
"About?"
"The village?"
"No, it's the same. It's always been the same," Tigress replied.
"Hmm," Tai Lung hummed in agreement. "I don't know how the panda expects us to learn-"
"STOP!" Tai Lung halted his foot as a bunny dove in and snatched up a stick from underneath his foot, barely getting stomped on. "You almost crushed this stick!"
"Oh, I'm... sorry," Tai Lung struggled to say. Tigress knelt down to the bunny's height. The bunny held the stick like a baby as he looked carefully at it. "What's so important about the stick?"
"You were about to crush it." The bunny boy said.
"We're sorry. Is that stick your toy or something," Tigress asked in a motherly tone.
"No."
"Is it special in any way?" Tai Lung asked.
"No, it's just a stick."
"Is it rare?" Tigress muttered, losing patience.
"No, there's plenty of sticks just like it."
"Then why did you almost get stepped on because of some random stick!" Tai Lung asked loudly.
"Just because there's a lot of sticks just like this one doesn't mean that a single one doesn't matter," the boy meekly said. "There's a ton of warriors like you two, but that doesn't mean you two don't matter."
The two felines looked at each other, lost, shocked, and with a new feeling that they weren't used to yet.
Humbled.
"I... I'm sorry," Tai Lung finally said. Tigress noticed his voice sounded new. Like the dignified glory inside of it was gone.
"It's okay," The bunny boy happily said. "You didn't see it. It's gonna be part of a collection I'm making. I'm gonna take it back home now. See you!" The boy ran off, leaving the tiger and snow leopard to think.
They stared at each other and then at the entire village. Tai Lung gave a great sigh that seemed to spill out his very lungs, though he had a small smile on his lips.
"We have a lot to learn, don't we?"
Tigress nodded in agreement.