Lotus

Chapter 2. Intruder or Protector?

The following day, Tigress hastily puts on her small travelling pack at the top of the Jade Palace stairs, with the scroll Oogway handed to her still in her grasp. Viper, (being the mom of the group that she is) was currently pestering Tigress into making sure she had everything she needed, much to Tigress' annoyance.

"...And a blanket?" Viper continued to interrogate.

"Yes." Tigress rolled her eyes.

"Extra clothes?"

"Yes."

"A scroll and pen to write to us?"

"Yes."

"Those romance scrolls I gave you in case you need advice when you meet a nice boy?" The reptile smirked.

"Viper..." Tigress grumbled sternly.

"You 2, that is quite enough." Shifu rubbed the temples on his head in irritation. He sighed and took a step forward, as his foster daughter held her breath, waiting for his response. It was an uncomfortable silence between them. Shifu cleared his throat awkwardly, "Ahem, yes, uh... Safe travels, Master Tigress." He bowed. Tigress sighed a bit in disappointment and bowed back.

"Good luck on your trip, Tigress!" Monkey said, much more enthusiastic to lighten the tension.

"Don't have too much fun without us!" Mantis added from his usual spot on the Monkey's shoulder.

"We really are going to miss you." Crane piped up with a warm smile on his beak. Tigress gave the smallest smile of her own. It didn't really matter how much Shifu was going to neglect her, as long as she has her comrades, she'll be okay.

Oogway came forward and caressed the feline's cheek with his claw, "Good luck my child. You've made us very proud." Someone could have sworn they saw Tigress wear the biggest smile on her face before composing herself.

"Thank you master." She slightly bowed before whispering to the tortoise, "But I still don't understand why you chose me. I don't know about chi."

Oogway smiled, "Don't just teach them. Protect them. Trust me, my child, in due time you will understand," He winked briefly, making Tigress shake her head with an amused grin. No matter how much she respects Oogway, he will forever confuse her. She bowed to everyone, and before anyone could ask questions on what the 2 were whispering about, she descended down the steps, at the start of her new journey.

4 days in time, Li Shan was walking along the fields next to the docks. Since he built his house at the top of the mountains, there were many hills and lakes of grass to fill one's delight. There was a particular reason why he chose to stay in this specific area, despite it being secluded.

Li Shan and his wife used to love going on adventures, and one day they just came across the mountains and camped there for a few days. He remembered his late wife planting a lotus seed in the earth, and he remembers that was the very day he proposed to his love. He smiled warmly at the memories, he still has flashbacks of that day as if it were just yesterday.

Shortly after 2 years, the seed grew into a glorious lotus tree, coincidentally on the very same day his son was due! His wife wanted to call him Lotus because if it weren't for that tree, the 2 wouldn't have made the decision of uniting as one. But ever since... Shen... It grew to a memoir for his wife, and soon a place of solitude for his son. Yes, that lotus tree was very important to the Shan family.

The elder panda caught his son reading a scroll next to his mother's tombstone, as the gentle leaves departed from the tree and flew gracefully around the jaded eyed panda. "...And Chang'e snatched the elixir of immortality, placing the curse upon herself as becoming the goddess of the moon! Never to see Hou Yi again!" Lotus said dramatically.