Hey there readers I would like to start by first of all doing to Obligatory that I do not own nor do I clam any form of owner ship of any intellectual property referenced in this story.

Now that is out of the way I hope you enjoy this rewrite of my original story Happyness takes many forms which I posted from the profile 13th Dragon.

Chapter 1: Reconnect

It has been years since the fall of Kai the masters of the Jade Palace have fallen into the calm rhythm of defeating bandits and keeping the peace among the citizens. Viper, Crane, and Monkey all took on students which are becoming Kung Fu warriors in their own right. Mantis who was tiring of Kung Fu has settled in the valley below with his own acupuncture clinic. He does help fend of bandits from time to time but for the most part doesn't fight anymore. The only ones of the six masters unable to accept this melancholy state were Master Tigress and Po.

At first Tigress seemed content to train without interruption but even that lost its pleasure. After that she began to go out and hunt bandits and criminals every week or so only being gone for a day or so. She continued to bring in criminals for the better part of the year then she just disappeared. Shifu had sent out messengers to every temple, out post and friend he could think of asking if they had heard any news of her but there was none. Resigning himself to the worst he finally had come to terms with the loss of his only daughter. Life was beginning to dull and fall into the poor comforts of monotony when a panda in green kung fu robes could be seen climbing the stairs of the Jade Palace. Despite all the trouble he had been as a student he couldn't help but smile at the return of Po.

Po reached the top of the ridiculous climb without losing his wind for once. Resisting the urge to loudly exclaim his accomplishment he smiled at Shifu and bowed. "Hello Master I've finally returned from my travels."

Shifu smiled back up at the now very large panda. "It's good to see you Master Po."

Po almost lost his composure hearing Shifu address him with the honorific, almost not noticing the small panda walking away from him he took several long strides to catchup following Shifu through the training grounds where Monkey was leading a small group of students through stretches.

Finally making it into the old kitchen Shifu looked up at him. "Would you mind making us some tea while we talk. There is much I need to tell you about."

Po sat at the table now joined by the other three masters having just been told about Tigresses disappearance. It was a shocking idea that she was most likely dead. Worst of all was this sensation of guilt that if I hadn't been wandering the world for the past three years, I could have dome something. Looking up to Shifu I gave him as serious a look as I could. "Master I promise, I will find Tigress and if she still lives, I will bring her back."

Shifu nodded to Po. "Thank you, Po. It will mean a lot to me to know what has become of her.

A restless ness took over Po having made that promise he excused himself. As he made his way back down the stairs he wondered over the changes in Shifu. Never had he seen the old panda in such a state. Taking a deep breath he made his way to Mantis's shop in hopes of finding some clues.

Po stood in front of rather ornated store front feeling odd meeting the former master here like this. For some reason he thought the palace and its masters would be almost just as he had left them, clearly time thought that a good joke. Finally walking in he wondered at the decorations as and the large tables for his patients.

"Po! It's been too long. Need me to fix something or maybe you're after some lady help." The old Mantis still moved around as quickly as ever as he talked.

Laughing dryly Po replied, "I guess a woman problem. When was the last you heard from Tigress?"

Po watched as he lost the playful demeanor. "I told Shifu that as soon as you heard what happened you blame yourself and go after her. Did he try to stop you? Nooo… 'Sigh' Well I guess I can try. You know she got reckless I've had to stitch her up so many times that I was starting to wonder if she wanted to replace her stripes or something. Well I'm sure you're not going to listen and go after her so I will tell you what I can. Last I saw her she came to me for a restock of her usual herbs and supplies. When I asked her what her target was this time, she only told me 'This time I may have found a worthy fight' and she left."

The worry was clear on Po's face. "Is there anyone else she gets supplies from?"

Mantis gave him a pitying look, "Your dad is the only other person that I know she would always see before leaving. After you left she would go there order the secret ingredient soup and swear it gave her good luck till she returned."

Po had to fight the tears back that formed when he heard about this. It's true he knew how much she loved his cooking but to miss it that much it made him wonder. With a warm smile he bid fair well to his old friend and turned to make his way to his father's noodle shop.

It greatly calmed Po to see it hadn't really changed. The only real difference was that, according to the picture on the sign, his father now had a white mustache. Walking in he decided to have some fun with him and walked up the counter, "I would like a Po sized helping of the secret ingredient soup please."

A grin grew across Po's features as his father automatically replied. "Right away that will be twenty wan."

"So, the Dragon Warrior doesn't get his discount any more then Dad?" Po smoothly quipped back. There was a clatter as he dropped the pan on the floor and spun around.

As soon as Ping saw Po he launched himself at the panda giving him a big hug. "Oh Po, I've missed you. You must tell me all about your travels I heard that you went to Greece and Egypt and even across the Great Oceans themselves."

Unable to stifle a laugh Po told him of his adventures some were more painful than others but by the time he was done the sun was just setting and they were just finishing dinner Taking a deep breath he looked to his father and asked, "So how are Tigress and the others doing?"

What Ping told him of Shifu and the others I already knew but when he got to Tigress he was surprised. "You know son she came here every time before she would leave on her little adventures and reminisce with me about you. I'm not sure what happened to her, the poor dear but she really did miss you know. I think she was going out and looking for you but was too shy to admit it."

The last comment made Po blush profusely but at the same time made him happy, "Well did she say where she was going this time?"

Ping stared at the now empty bowl lost in thought before looking up. "Actually, she did, right before she left she asked if I would like her to bring me anything back from a place called Thai Land."

When Po heard that his blood froze. Thailand had been the one place he was too scared of to stay for long. Almost all of the people and villages there were war like and loved to fight he couldn't stand it. Silently praying she had just been passing through he took a deep breath. Thanking his father for the meal he quickly left to return to the place and figure out the most likely route she would have taken to get to that forsaken place.

Tigress stood atop one of the tall spires that looked over the edge of the valley of peace. Moon light lit up the beautiful village as well as the Jade Place above it all. It had been a years since she had felt the need to return to the Valley of Peace but this time she needed the help. Gathering her nerves she remembered how different their way of life was. Even so it didn't mean they couldn't fight, she hoped.

Two days later Tigress approached the southern gates the large doors thrown wide in welcome to all travelers. The leather vest she now wore over her normal clothes draped down over her hips somewhat hiding the two short swords now sheathed behind her hip. As the gate drew closer she noticed a large figure wearing a Kung Fu robe and carrying a large stave. It stood their apparently lost in thought as she approached. When she got within ten feet the figure looked at her revealing an all too familiar face in morning light, Po. Preparing for an overly energetic greeting she braced herself as she approached, wondering if he would even recognize her beneath the scars and her new coat.

Po watched the beautiful tigress approach him as he tried to decide on which fork he would take first on his epic journey to find Tigress. It had taken him almost a week to realize there was no real way to predict which way she was going to go. That's when he recognized her. Walking up to the calm tiger he caught her up in a big hug exclaiming. "Your alive!"

As his grip began to suffocate her Tigress pushed her way out of his arms recognizing he was much stronger and probably tougher going by how mild his reaction had been. "It's good to see you too Po."

Smiling at Tigress, Po quickly reached out and took her paw dragging her to the palace as he rambled on about how worried everyone was because of her disappearance.

Tigress admitted that it wasn't the most honorable thing she'd done, not even saying good bye. In truth she hadn't really noticed how long she had been gone. As they reached the top of the stairs, she prepared to renter the world she had left behind.

As Po lead her through the palace she was filled with nostalgia, the memories bringing a slight smile to her face. Finally bursting into the kitchen Po announced "Master Shifu, She's back."