Chapter 15. Don't Quit, Don't Noodles

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5 chapters to go... (look at A/N for context after reading)

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It was too quiet in the infirmary for any kind of comfort. Tigress hasn't said a word since Crane flew her up here. She simply hung her head low and rose her injured arm just enough for Mantis to perform acupuncture on her shoulder blade before wrapping up the wound. He nervously looked towards the avian friend who was pacing around the green-coded room while shaking his head.

"I just... I can't believe it. A random panda, the Dragon Warrior!? We don't know anything about this guy and yet he's just thrusted in one of the most prestigious roles in the history of kung fu just like that!?" Crane exclaimed, looking helplessly at the feline. "Did you have any idea this would happen!?"

"Do I look like I know the secrets to the universe, Crane?" Tigress stated bitterly. "I know just as much as you. But I don't think we should take this news as harshly as we should."

Mantis perked his head up curiously at her. "Says the one who dedicated almost her entire life just to get the title of the Dragon Warrior? What's happened to you since we last saw you?"

"Nothing," Tigress growled. "I'm just not as distraught over this as you all are. You're all thinking irrationally. Sure this is quite a shock to us all, including to Lotus, but it's simply..." She hesitated. She would be lying if she didn't feel at a complete loss of thought as her peers felt. "It's... it's..."

"It's completely preposterous is what it is." 

At the sound of the familiar voice, the three warriors stood stiff at attention and bowed their head, simultaneously saying "Master" towards the red panda. 

"I don't wish to speak ill of Master Oogway, but I know for absolute certain that the panda—this 'Lotus' that you speak of—is a blatant mistake!"

"You don't know that, Master..." Tigress muttered coldly, with the insect and bird jerking their heads towards her in fear, believing she's lost her mind. 

Master Shifu's ear twitched as he glared at his most trusted pupil, "Masters Crane and Mantis, you both are dismissed. Join Masters Monkey and Viper in the training hall."

"Y-yes, Master." They both whimpered as they scattered out of the room. The red panda walked up to Tigress as she still stood with her hands behind her back, firm but still as respectful as she could be. 

"I don't know what that blubbering excuse of a creature has put into your head, Master Tigress, but this is not how one speaks to one's superior mentor." 

"Well as a mentor myself, I have to say I do not appreciate the way you speak about my student." Tigress didn't move a muscle, only glancing down at her stone-walled master and parent who simply laughed at her face.

"HA! Your student, hmm? And who in the Mortal Realm gave you permission to be someone else's master?"

"Master Oogway, when he sent me away on the mission to the Panda Village in the first place."

Shifu huffed. His bitter grin turned into a furious frown. She was talking smart to him. For what reason, he would never know, but what he did know was that he would not give his student the upperhand in this situation... not again. 

He turned away from the tiger. "Well then, let's see how well your 'student' can last before I break him. I could not care less if you were his master or if the Emperor himself was his master, that panda is not the Dragon Warrior!" He took a deep breath. "You are dismissed, Master Tigress. Go back to training at once."

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