Secrets 4:
Discipline

The sound was that of their brother’s stomach growling. “OK. All this training is making me hungry. Let’s break for lunch.” The one in orange said to them and was heading out to the cafeteria of the building until…

“Hold it, Mikey. We haven’t told them all of the secrets of this Martial Art.” The field leader pointed out with a raised hand to stop the party animal.

“I will have you know bro, that we have.” The chucker countered, but was denied again.

“Actually bro, we’ve only covered three not five.” Donatello pointed out causing the eager member to count on his finger, and when he saw that he stopped on one hand he realized that they were right.

“I got this.” The angered one said before cracking his knuckles as a show of ‘you talk - I punch’ before starting up the story. “It all started years ago at the Bau Gu orphanage.” The angered one started to say before starting his tale.

“Children.” A motherly tone said to the kids of the orphanage.

“Every month, the children of Bau Gu were given a chance to find a family.” The second oldest commented so casually as if it was nothing knew to hear. “It was a happy time…I guess.” The angered one commented with a shrug since he was raised by a great man from the get-go. “At least that’s what the nanny wanted the parents to think even though they had a power house of a monster living with them.” He added with a look of excitement on his face.

‘If it’s so deadly then why is he smiling.’ One of the bunnies thought as they listened to him explaining how the caretaker tried to use a butterfly net to catch the beast.

“All their screaming was because the monster of that orphanage was only Tigress.” The one in red commented in a casual tone. “Only reason those poosers were scared of her was because of her fangs and claws that could tear through anything - so what. I say she’s better than those weakling ducks and rabbits…no offence, at least she could actually fight.” He added to his earlier comment.

‘A born fighter thinking about fighting a power house: now it makes sense.’ One of the bunnies thought before listening to the rest of the tale. It was at this time the turtle became a bit more serious.

“Poor Tigress had no idea how strong she was.” The warrior in red said before telling them what the caretaker said to an elder.

“Nobody will come here to adopt a child because they’re afraid of her.” The motherly figure said to the elder not knowing that the creature in question was peeping through the little hole in her door and listened to the whole thing. “She’s a monster. A monster.” The female added not knowing how much she was hurting this…monster.

‘So, that’s what she thinks of me.’ The young tiger thought before journeying to her bed.

“This orphanage needed help, even though that if I were at the orphanage there wouldn’t be a problem, after all I love a good scrap.” Raphael said to the children, but after feeling a glare from Splinter junior the angry one went back on the subject.

“Tigress?” The elder stated to the young one in the feedle position in the far corner of the room. “I am Shifu. I am…” The fighter said to her in a calm tone but the young one in question cut him to the quick.

“Afraid?” She questioned with an edge in her tone which was not there after her release and said to two children, “I just wanna play.”

“No.” The red panda said to her after entering her stone room and slammed the door behind him.

“Well, you should be.” The tiger warned to him before adding, “I am Tigress. Tigress the monster!” It was then she heard herself and added one last thing - this time with more sorrow, “A monster no one wants.” He saw this sort of self loathing and decided to help her with that.

“You are not a monster.” The small mammal said to her in collected tone to get her attention and pulled out some wooden tiles from his robe. “You are a little girl.” He added causing her to turn and saw that he was placing wooden dominos on the ground. “Let us play?” He offered to the cat while offering one of his tiles to her.

‘Okay.’ She thought as she went for the offered item, but it shattered in her paw.

“You must learn to control your strength.” The elder informed her after catching a blown apart piece and showed it to her.

“Their training started, and she was determined to do as he said.” The sai carrier informed before going back to the story.

“This game requires discipline, precision, a still hand and a steady heart.” Shifu said to his latest student who punched a hole in the closest wall, scaring the eavesdroppers, but the teacher was unaffected. “Focus. Again.” The teacher instructed - not bothered by what he just saw.

“Whiskers tried her best, but she still couldn’t control her temper. Personally I don’t see the problem with that.” The angered acolyte informed while telling them of the various domino tricks that Shifu used and that Tigress tried to mirror. “After a few months she finally learned how to control that sweet rage trait.” Raphael said to them and spoke of her final domino stunt which ended in the form of a yin/yang.

‘So it all worked out after all.’ One of the rabbits thoughts with happiness as he spoke of how the Bau Gu orphanage was the happiest place in China again, but the thought ended when he continued with…

“But Tigress still had one more challenge to meet: will she finally find a family…” He said and paused to explain how a great many others had been taken - except for her. “No. Those pinhead parents still feared the cat. So after all that hard work those adults back then still saw her as a monster…all but one I should say.” He said to them while showing his anger toward the civilians but lighted up at the end.

“Shifu.” Tigress shouted with joy at the mammal before her.

“Come. Let us go home.” He said to her and with that the two of them headed to the Jade Palace - Tigress’ true home.

Copy Rights:
TMNT, and the others, are owned by Eastman/Laird and Fox Box.
Kung Fu Panda, and the others, are owned by Dreamworks.