Chapter 2: The Secret of Lightning
"Well, that was random." Zhen commented once they had returned to the Jade Palace. It had taken longer than expected, since Mr. Ping and Li Shan kept stopping Tigress to thank her for protecting their son.
"I think we've gotten too used to peace." Tigress said. "It's been a while since we've fought someone like that…someone who could use such powerful chi…" She paused and turned to Shifu. "That was chi, wasn't it?"
"A small form of it." Shifu replied. "But still dangerous all the same. Po almost got hit by it." He gave Tigress a scowl. "And you…you almost got hit."
"I was protecting the Dragon Warrior." Tigress argued. "I was protecting my friend."
Shifu's eyes narrowed, but he sighed and turned to enter the Sacred Hall. "That's beside the point…what's done is done." He said, almost more to himself than Tigress. She, Po, and Zhen followed him in. "Feng will come back, and when he does, we must be ready for him."
"Am I going to learn how to strike lightning?!" Po asked excitedly.
"You will do more than that." Shifu replied. "You must learn how to redirect it. You must become immune, then Feng will have no hope of taking over the Valley." He approached the shelves holding the thousand scrolls of Kung Fu. He began to rummage through them.
"Liu…Liu…ah! Here it is!" Shifu grabbed a scroll from one of the shelves. "The Temple of Liu…it is a sacred place where Oogway discovered how to use the elements in Kung Fu. You may have noticed you already use these skills, Panda. But with the right teacher, you will improve your abilities. I doubt you'll have problems learning- you being a fast learner and all."
"So…you can't teach me?" Po asked.
"Not without the right scroll, which is why you must go to the Temple of Liu. They will have the right scroll for you." Shifu replied. "But alas…even then I couldn't teach you. Redirecting lightning wasn't discovered by Oogway…"
"Really?" Tigress asked.
"There is only one who discovered it…and only he knows how to do it…" Shifu hesitated.
"Okay, does he live in the Temple of Liu?" Po asked.
"No…" A sad look crossed Shifu's face. Po wasn't sure why, but Tigress instantly picked up on it.
"You can't be serious…" She whispered before raising her voice. "No…no! Absolutely not!"
"What?" Po asked.
"He's talking about Tai Lung!" Tigress growled. "Of all people…"
"Po, you must travel to the Temple of Liu, summon Tai Lung, and learn how to redirect lightning." Shifu insisted.
"W-wait…I have to bring Tai Lung back?" Po asked, clutching his staff.
"At the Temple." Shifu repeated. "I'm sure he'd be more comfortable there…instead of the Valley. Then send him back once you've learned how to redirect lightning."
"I'm not sure about this…" Zhen said. "He told the Chameleon he doesn't share his skills with anyone…and I don't think he'd be happy with us bringing him back again…can't we just…cut him a break?"
Po hesitated, fidgeting with the jade staff. "Maybe…but we only need him to teach us how to redirect lightning…what other choice to do have…we have to ask at least."
"Very well," Shifu nodded in approval. "And take your student with you."
"What? Why me?!" Zhen asked.
"It's because you are the next Dragon Warrior." Shifu replied. "You would do well to follow your master's lead, and learn where you can."
"Ugh, but why not Tigress?" Zhen argued.
"The more the merrier." Po said.
"No, Tigress will stay here." Shifu replied.
"Master, please." Tigress growled. "I can't let them go alone."
"Not only do I know you, but I know Tai Lung." Shifu said sternly. "You going along isn't a good idea."
"Fine." Tigress growled and left the hall.
"Now, you best get ready." Shifu turned back to Po. "The journey is long. It's best you leave as soon as possible."
A/N: I'm glad we can all agree as a fandom that if Tai Lung gets a redemption arc, Tigress would be the most hesitant. I guess it's fannon now. XD