Disclaimer: I do not own any Kung Fu Panda characters
Recipe for Love
Chapter 1: Trouble at the Palace
"That is it! I had it!" shouted a pig man with a red turban. He was in the kitchen gathering up all of his expensive, cooking equipment and placing them in a cart. His face was red as a cherry tomato. With a final huff, he stormed out of the Jade Palace doors.
"Chef Jang, please don't leave!" begged a red panda named Shifu. His fur was grey and wore red robes.
"Sorry but I have had it! I don't need to take such abuse!" Chef Jang yelled.
"I will double your salary, you can have weekends off!" Shifu yelled, with begging eyes.
""No money is worth this!" Jang shouted getting closer to the steps.
"Please the Furious Five need a chef and you are the best!" Shifu cried.
"They can learn to cook for themselves, I refuse to stay when that tiger, not only abuses me but my food. Throwing my Egg Fu Soup in my face and calling my Bean Buns, moldy bread! I am beyond outraged!" Jang shouted. "I wish you luck Master Shifu, I do," he said softly and left the Jade Palace for good. Shifu watched him leave and then formed two fists.
"Tigress," he hissed and headed back to the training hall.
In the training hall, five warriors were furiously training. One was a green snake named Viper. She was zig- zagging through an obstacle course of swinging blades. A green bug named Mantis was lifting boulders, fifty times his size. An orange monkey named Monkey was swinging through the rafters perfecting his speed and agility. A white bird named Crane was soaring around avoiding spiked clubs and in the center beating up wooden dummies was an orange tiger named Tigress.
"TIGRESS!" Shifu bellowed, as he burst into the training room. His face turned into a menacing scowl. All of his students flooded to him, like bees would pollen.
"Master Shifu," they all said bowing with respect. Yet, Shifu only glared daggers at Tigress.
"I hope you are happy," Shifu snapped.
"Master?" Tigress asked not knowing what he meant.
"Chef Jang just quit," Shifu said angrily.
"Ha, told you he wouldn't last the full week, pay up," Mantis said as Monkey and Crane handed him some gold coins. Yet, their laughter was cut short by Shifu's stern gaze.
"How many times must I tell you Tigress, food is the essential to being a warrior. It gives us strength, allowing us to stay focused. Without food we cannot do our jobs well. I know times we had to cut short when the village was having depression and food was scarce. Yet, now the valley is flourished so care to explain to me, why is it that we had five chefs here and they all ran for the hills?" Shifu asked.
"It is simple Master, I didn't like their food. Chef Con's food was greasy and his stuffed fish rolls still had bones, Chef Quail's seasonings were nothing but salt and pepper, very bland. Chef Zu was I don't know what it was. It looked like someone ate a bunch of food and threw it up, Chef Xing's was always burnt, and well I bet Chef Jang told you what I didn't like about his food," Tigress explained calmly.
The others looked at each other. Tigress was known for being a picky eater; in fact all she ate was tofu. When that ran out she had to eat the other chef's food. Now Tigress often mentioned her distaste for their food, as politely as she could. Yet, every time the chefs would grow insulted and angry. Finally Tigress grew tired of being polite and just became flat out rude.
"Look Tigress, no chef is perfect but I will not have my student and daughter act in such a way. I am going to find another chef and if you run this one out. Then, then you will not train for six months, one month for each chef you ran out is that clear?" Shifu asked firmly.
Tigress's ears flattened but she said, "Yes Master". Then Shifu left the palace to find another chef. As he walked the clouds were beginning to darken, as if to fit the anger he had. The village normally so joyous was oddly quiet. The employment office was ahead but once he appeared the doors were shut and everything was locked.
"Ms. Dee, this is Master Shifu, I need to find another chef," he called tapping on the locked windows.
"Go away, we have nothing for you!" shouted a voice.
"Please Ms. Dee, we need a chef," Shifu pleaded.
"I am sorry but our chefs heard of Master Tigress and they would rather work for Attila the Hun!" Ms. Dee shouted. Shifu knew it was hopeless and headed back to the palace. The rain began to pour and Shifu whispered, "I wish to find a chef that Tigress would love." Rain fell on him as, he came into the palace. The five had set down to a dinner of cold tofu and some dry rice.
"Man I knew you didn't like Chef Jang's cooking but he wasn't so bad," Mantis said.
"Yeah, Tigress. Why do you have to be, so picky?" Crane asked.
"To me food is a delight not something jumbled together and shoved down your throat. It may sound silly but once on that mission, I went to a small restaurant and was going to order tofu. Instead a wonderful smell entered my nostrils and it was some noodle soup. The chef was a goose named Ping I think served me. He said his son made it and it opened my taste buds again. I asked him if I could meet his son but he said his son was out gathering herbs. By then I had to leave but I swore to find this chef and have him cook for us. I tried to give the others chances but their cooking is nothing compared to this unknown chef. And one day I will find him and taste that wonderful soup," Tigress said.
"So, you mean to say a simple chef that you don't know. Opened up your taste buds with noodle soup?" Mantis asked. Monkey and Mantis exchanged glances and burst out laughing. Tigress growled silencing them as they prepared to eat. Shifu came in cold and hungry.
"Master any luck?" Viper asked.
"No, no one in the whole valley will work here as our chef," Shifu said.
"Gee, I wonder why?" Crane asked eating his rice. Tigress shook her head and began to eat. Just then a knock was heard at the door.
"Who could that be?" Shifu asked and headed to the door. He opened it and revealed a male panda. His fur was a dark black mixed with white. The panda's belly was plump and he had jade eyes. On his face was a kind smile, he wore yellow pants and wore a brown cloak. In his wet paws was a brown bag. "Can I help you?" Shifu asked in a confused voice.
"Good evening sir, my name is Po and I heard you needed a chef," the panda said smiling.
Author's Note: Hope you enjoyed this chapter and please review.