In the final moments of “The Tiger’s Apprentice,” Tom, having harnessed the power of the Phoenix, defeats Loo and saves the world. By touching the Phoenix egg and connecting with the magical bird, Tom gains the strength to vanquish Loo when she attempts to retrieve the egg from him. Using the Phoenix’s power, Tom restores all the humans who were turned into stone by Loo’s actions.
However, using the Phoenix’s power drains Tom and nearly kills him. In a desperate bid to save him, Tiger asks the Empress to merge their souls, similar to what Mrs. Lee did for Tiger years ago. The magic works, and both Tom and Hu wake up surrounded by Rav and the other Zodiacs, safe and victorious.
The movie concludes at the temple, where Hu and the Zodiacs officially name Tom as the new guardian. Hu also gives Tom a spare key to his antique shop, and Tom decides to move in, considering himself part of Hu’s family now that they share a piece of his soul.
Before the credits roll, there is a short scene of Hu training Tom, accompanied by the song “Eye of the Tiger.” To everyone’s surprise, during the training session, Tom undergoes a transformation and turns into a tiger himself, a side effect of sharing a soul with Hu. This final moment signifies Tom’s acceptance of his role as the new guardian and his connection with Hu and the Zodiacs.