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Inner Peace was a hard thing to accomplish. Who knew how long Master Oogway took to gain this mastery of the mind, body, and soul.
But neverminded that, Shifu was determined he would get it eventually. After all, many things troubled him, and having some peace of mind wouldn't be such a bad thing.
Shifu can down beneath the tree and began playing his musical instrument. The tune was one he made in his younger years to help practice precision with his fingers and to calm his mind.
He felt the vibrations flowing through the flute and out into the air and back into his ears. These ripples in the air were calming and precise, they were a disturbance that was meant to be there. A disturbance that brought enough distraction to calm the body and calm the mind.
The notes flew out, sending waves into the courtyard and to the leaves above him. As the note drew out, he felt new ripples attacking his ears and body.
BAM. Eyes were open and Shifu was up and moving. Viper was already in the air, but he was alerted too soon! A quick block with the pipe as he turns around and Tigress was there! He uses her body to flip off of her and glide above crane just enough to smack him down. Monkey strikes to strike him but alas no! Shifu easily dodges his attack and as ducks under as crane one more loops back around. Mantis tries to land a hit but is blocked easily but Shifu's hand. Monkey could have landed a blow but Shifu turns just in time to block his kick. He pushes the three away as he turns to face Tigress second attempt. He blocks an overhead strike and as she kicks he moves slightly and then uses his position to flip over. Shifu turns to face his next opponent but quickly glances and sees them all in a passive fighting stance.
He had expected a bit more from them.
"Well done students, IF you were trying to disappoint me"
He goes around their circle, quickly analyzing their brief fight for feedback:
"Tigress you need more ferocity!" If she wasn't so predictable he would not have been able to move so easily around her.
"Monkey greater speed!" If he has been slightly faster then he would not have been able to block his punches and kicks while he was fighting Crane and Mantis
"Crane-Height!" After flipping off of Tigress, he was easily able to get above Crane and push him down.
"Viper-Subtly." The few micro seconds at the beginning had allowed Shifu to get moving and block his opponents.
"Mantis -"
"Master Shifu"
"What!?!" Shifu points his stick at the messenger bird, as he was surprised to hear his name. The bird squawks and jumps back.
"Awdak! It's Master Oogway...."
Oogway? Master Oogway!
"...He wants to see you."
Oogway wants to see me?
"Dissmissed! I will see you all later."
Shifu keeps his cool only momentarily before running to see his old Master.
Master Oogway went to go meditate a while ago and Shifu hasn't seen hasn't seen him since. What could his Master have seen that was so important? Why was he calling him? What went wrong? As Shifu runs to the great hall, the ducks open the door for him to skid in.
Master Oogway. There he was. In his shell, on his stick. Meditating.
Shifu calms his breath and centers himself before bowing.
"Master Oogway, you summoned me? Is something wrong?" Shifu looks up to his mentor, unsure if the great Kung Fu Master will respond. It has been so long, Shifu is unsure of what to expect. But then and arms pops out and the still shells starts to move once again. As the old tortis climbs down he looks at Shifu and replies "Why must something be wrong for me to want to see my old friend?"
Shifu's heart warms up. He trained under Master Oogway for a long time, and he has called many people 'friend,' but this one feel genuine.
"So, nothings wrong?" Shifu hopefully asks. Anytime with Oogway is good time tbh, and it is a privilege to spend time with the Grand Master once again.
"Well," Oogway looks over at Shifu, "I didn't say that."
Shifu heart kinda drops. I guess the valley of peace can't go one decade without some looming threat. And I guess Shifu can't spend some enjoyable time with his mentor :(
The old tortis starts blowing out candles and Shifu is confused by what his master is doing. Whether he is blowing out all the candles or...? Oogway looks at Shifu as he blows out another candles and Shifu is in disbelief/confusion shock.
Wanting to find out the what he was summoned for, Shifu sends a blast of wind down the candle rows, making all the flames flicker out.
"You were saying?" the Shifu starts as he gestures with his hands.
"I have had a vision..."Oogways looks a little sad, but not for himself. He turns to the red panda and finishes his vision, "Tai Lung will return."
:0
Stuck with shock but also loss, sadness, anger, fear and denial, Shifu's heart and breath are racing, "That is impossible!" He wants to believe his master but "He is in prison!"
Oogway looks compassionate but sorry for Shifu, "Nothing is impossible."
Shifu trusts his master but he refuses to believe that Tai Lung will escape, "Zane!" he calls the messenger, "Fly to Chorh - Gom Prison and tell them double the guards, double the weapons, double everything!" Shifu will make sure that "Tai Lung does NOT leave that prison." What was he going to do is Tai Lung escaped!? He cannot have that happen!
The soothing voice of his master reaches Shifu's ears and he turns to listen to what the tortis has to say.
"One often meets his destiny on the road he take to avoid it."
But Shifu cannot let this happen, "We have to do something! We can't just let him march on the valley, and take his revenge!" If Tai Lung comes back "He'll..." [he would have to deal with all those repressed emotions.] "He'll..." [I mean....deal with Tai Lung].
"Your mind is like this water my friend"
Shifu is captured by Oogway's words, and looks at the the water and Oogway as he speaks.
"When it is agitated, it becomes difficult to see. But if you allow it to settle, the answer becomes clear."
Shifu watches the water as the ripples from his masters stick pushes the flowers in the water to the edges. The reflection of "The Dragon Scroll" :0
Shifu has seen many people lust for the power of the scroll, but all have been deemed unworthy by Oogway.
"It is time"
"But who? Who is worthy to be trusted with the secret to limitless power. To become the Dragon warrior?" He awaited an answer from his master. He had been training the furious five and Tigress was an obvious choice, but perhaps Oogway was thinking of someone from previous training. Shifu was excited to be alive and around to see who would get the honor of being the Dragon Warrior. To see who Oogway would choose.
"I don't know"
What??? He doesn't know? But it's Oogways job to pick the Dragon warrior!?! *sigh* This is typical of Oogway. I should have expected it. I just have to trust him. Time to get the five prepared!