More than a Dragon Warrior

[3rd POV]

In the courtyard of the Jade Palace which overlooked the Valley of Peace, there sat an aged Red Panda who was playing a flute. It was Master Shifu.

His form looked calm and peaceful, a martial artist would call it vulnerable. 

Five people, stalked his serene self as they awaited for a chance to attack. The chance came when Tigress, their unofficial leader, sprang into action.

Five people, five masters of martial arts attacked Master Shifu whose lazy eyes suddenly took a knowing shape, awareness glazed over them.

Then after that, in a show of martial prowess and expertise, Master Shifu instantly subdued the five people. 

Their attacks met their end as Master Shifu skillfully redirected them to the ground, to themselves, or easily stopped them even with his smaller frame.

The five people were known as the Furious Five. 

They were famous all over China and hailed as the prodigies of their generation. This was proven true when they claimed victory in the Battle of Weeping River against an army that outnumbered them by a thousand to one.

But their opponent this time was proven to be more formidable than a mere five thousand soldiers.

It was their master, the one who taught them everything they knew, be it about martial arts or about life.

Master Shifu, a name renowned all over China as the best martial arts teacher, for not only teaching the Furious Five and other masters, but a certain villain as well.

"Well done students...." Master Shifu started with a smile and a bright tone. 

"...If you are trying to disappoint me!" Master Shifu finished, his voice taking the tone of a stern and strict teacher who barely held back a disappointed scowl.

"Tigress! you need more ferocity. Monkey! greater speed. Crane! height. Viber! Subtlety." He told them while pointing at each and everyone as he addressed them.

Although famous all over China for their skills and respected by other masters, the Furious Five could never attain a satisfactory standard in their master's eyes.

They needed to do better.

But his teaching was cut short when a duck who worked in the Jade Palace, interrupted.

"Master Shifu!"

"What!!"

The duck stopped on his track, a bit scared in the presence of Master Shifu who was always closed off and unapproachable to others.

But orders came from a higher power.

"Master Oogway wants to see you."

Master Shifu paused, wondering why he was summoned so suddenly. But it didn't take him even a second to run towards the Jade Palace after that.

Just like he was a respected master to the Furious Five, Master Oogway was his master.

With his incredible speed, he reached the Jade Palace in mere moments. He was greeted with the sight of Master Oogway who was meditating near a pool.

"Master Oogway, you summoned me? Is something wrong?" Master Shifu asked while doing a respectful bow, with his fist meeting the palm of his hand.

"Why must something be wrong for me to want to see my old friend?" Master Oogway, was an old tortoise who looked like someone who could fondly recall the birth of the sun like a childhood memory.

His wrinkled body spoke of centuries of experience and his eyes held knowledge twice that. Yet he was still the strongest master alive today.

"So...nothing's wrong?" Master Shifu asked while looking at Oogway who was now blowing out the candles surrounding the pool.

"Well, I didn't say that." Master Oogway said, voice tinged with amusement.

Shifu awaited for Oogway to speak more and elaborate exactly what was wrong, but the tortoise was more interested in his candles as he blew them out one by one. They numbered in thousands,

Shifu's eyebrows twitched before he performed a technique that blew out all the candles at once. Again, displaying his incredible mastery over Kung Fu.

Oogway simply smiled fondly, impressed at the innovative action his disciple had taken. Then he turned towards Shifu and wet his dry mouth to speak.

"I have had a vision." Oogway started, you could see worry amongst the vast ancient knowledge in his eyes.

The world stilled for Shifu when he heard what came out of Oogway's mouth and his mind broke out in a fit of panic as bad memories surged.

The world also took a sharp turn as the previous clear sky darkened. Thunder followed as if the words spoken were lighting that struck change in the mortal realm.

.

.

"Tai Lung will return."

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[Tai Lung's POV]

It's been so long.

So long in fact that I have forgotten the sensation of sunlight blinding my eyes, the different tastes upon my tongue, or the playful wind caressing my fur.

It has been 630,700,000 seconds, or 20 years.

...

...

Seriously, it has been 20 years, let that sink in 20 FUCKING years.

20 years of darkness. 20 years of hunger. 20 years of isolation. 20 years of cold. 20 years of immobility.

It was 20 years of imprisonment.

Over what? A fucking scroll?!

Damnit. 

I didn't even kill anyone!!! I merely destroyed a few villages in my tantrum but that did not warrant a punishment like this.

20 years was a long time. It was a lifetime for many people yet here I am, rotting away in some cave, incapable of doing anything.

And the sole reason behind it was that I got a little mad when some old tortoise denied me something I had worked my entire for.

I swear if the annals of time had not claimed the life of that old reptile by now, I will when I eventually get out of this shithole.

But I wouldn't say my time spent here was a complete waste of time as I was able to recall my other life in another world due to the sheer boredom of this place.

Yes, as strange as it sounds, that was what happened.

As I was imprisoned here, left in the dark and incapable of even moving a single muscle, I got memories of another life.

A life where I was a 'human' and lived in a world where my current world was nothing but fictional.

Pretty crazy right?

At first, it was confusing, then it was scary as I felt myself changing and influenced by this other life I had.

My mindset, altered. My personality, influenced. And my heart, forever changed.

I was scared, I was alone and I had existential crises. But 20 years was long enough for me to settle every issue and find inner peace.

After a decade or so, I managed to find peace in myself and my identity. 

I am Tai Lung.

.

.

Anyways, those memories and changes proved to be beneficial in this isolation as they not only quelled my anger and hatred, they gave me a different perspective on everything and I was able to strike a balance between myself.

But most importantly, it gave me hope as with the memories, comes knowledge about my world which was fictional in my previous.

So I knew the time was coming near.

20 years had elapsed and now begins the canon. I will be freed from this prison

I just needed to wait some more and then I would be able to do as I wish and finally settle the scores.

Inner peace did not equate to forgiveness. I still have many grudges and an ambition to realize.

Just a few more days. I could hear the universe speak to me.

A few more days.

.

.

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[IMAGE]

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