Chapter 1: A day that you want to forget, but can't
I DO NOT OWN KUNG FU PANDA
The valley of peace, a place where you can find a home that will welcome you with open arms and will always have a place in your heart.
As morning came upon the valley, citizens would begin their daily chores and chat with familiar faces as they walk by each other. Along with the citizens of the valley of peace there were others that weren't just doing chores but training their bodies and minds. Those others were the heroes of China: The Furious Five along with the Dragon Warrior and Master Shifu.
Master monkey was doing his usual somersaults attacks with his bamboo staff and easily landing on the tall podium placed in the middle of the room ending his form with his staff hanging behind him while being held by his tail. Across the room, Master Crane flew easily dodging and deflecting arrows that were being shot from servants placed around the training ground.
Master Tigress was in a corner continuously hitting what seemed to be a thick trunk from a tree about three feet in diameter but only after two hours it was starting to lose its bark and split apart.
As for Master Viper and Master Mantis they were trading blows with each other. What seemed to be Mantis winning the match would soon be Viper gaining the upper hand. One minute Mantis would have Viper in his deadly grip to knock her out it would soon turn over to Viper easily slipping out of his hold only to return with a whip-like attack and to wrap her body around his to entangle and trap him.
But the most toughest of all fights in the training ground was with the Dragon warrior, Po. Who ,no matter hard he tried, he couldn't seem to block the multiple attacks coming from Master Shifu. Soon ending the fight by catching Po in the Legendary Wu shu finger hold, but only to let go and start over again.
After several hours of training one by one each master began to leave. Either to grab something to eat or to go clean themselves but Master Tigress stayed. Which never surprised anyone, but today everyone noticed that not only did she stay past lunch. She wasn't seen and it was almost dinnertime, yet there was no sign of Tigress.
" Does anyone know if Tigress is going to be joining us for dinner" asked Po " She's been go for almost the entire day."
" Well you know Tigress" said Monkey " She likes to stay prepared."
" Ya" agreed Po " But we haven't had any bandit attacks, no searching for missing people or even chores requested from any citizens. I'm going to go ask if she wants some of my fathers secret ingredient noodle soup."
At the training compound
As he approached the training compound, he could hear pounding of Tigress's fists hitting the trunk from earlier.
" Is she still hitting that trunk from earlier?" Po thought " I wonder what it looks like."
Upon entering the compound, Po was shocked to see the trunk on which was once three feet in diameter , was now beaten almost half way in with many splinters sticking out. But what also shocked Po was on the ground was not only chips and splinters but blood. He stared for a full minute in awe to see Tigress still punching the wood but suddenly snapped back to reality that she was bleeding.
" Umm Tigress?" Po said as he approached Tigress
She still punched the wood completely oblivious of Po's presence.
" Tigress...Hellooooooo" Po waved his hands near her face but carefully not to get in the way of her fists.
Suddenly Tigress pulled back her fist all the way and struck the trunk. With enough force that the trunk seemed to explode as it flew across the training compound. Only to land in the form of saw dust and chips of woods, then turning to face Po with a face of pure rage.
" WHAT!" She yelled
Startling Po into a state of fear, he quickly pointed and barely managed to form the words to speak.
" Y-Your b-b-bleeding and-and I was...uh wondering if you would like...uh dinner" he stuttered, slowly regaining his composure from the sudden scene of aggression.
At this Tigress's face of rage turned into irritation as she looked at her fists. To see small pools of blood forming around her feet. She looked back at Po only seeing him waiting for her response.
Regaining her composure, she calmly walked by Po heading to the exit
" I'm perfectly fine Po, I will tend to my wounds but I'm not hungry." she said calmly " but thank you for your concern."
And with that she closed the door behind her leaving Po standing in the compound shaking from fear that he could of ended up like the trunk, which was now all over the compound floor.
" I have to remember, never to get in the way of those fists or I'm so dead." Po said to himself and headed back to the kitchen.
Back at the kitchen
As Po entered the kitchen, he began to prepare all the ingredients for dinner while others talked about the events in their training.
" So Po, is Tigress joining us?" asked Shifu
" No I think she wants to be left alon.e" he said assuming it was the best thing to do.
" What happened?" asked Crane
" She made quick work of that trunk from earlier and seemed like she might turn on me next" Po said shaking as he recalled and explained how the trunk literally explode from just from one punch.
" Jeez sounds like its someone needs to get laid." Mantis joked
" Mantis!" yelled Viper while whipping him on the back of the head with her tail
"owwww...it was a joke" he muttered rubbing his head
" Oh ya and what if I mentioned that your still a -?" Viper said, but Mantis interrupted.
" ok ok I get it I'll stop" said Mantis while putting his claws up in defeat.
" I'm going to bed" Viper angrily declared, while heading for the door.
As the door slammed behind Viper, All the guys stared at each other and shrugged
" Looks like someone needs to get laid as well." muttered Mantis.
And just as Mantis was about to take a bite of the meal, a fist-sized rock flew in from the window literally crushing him.
" I HEARD THAT YOU ASSHOLE!" yelled Viper
Outside
As Viper slithered away fuming. She knew why Tigress was acting so aggressive today, for she was feeling the same. As she made her way to the sleeping chambers she saw Tigress's room candle was still lit, heading over to her door, she decided to confront Tigress.
" Tigress?" asked Viper " Can I come in?"
Viper could hear from the door that Tigress was awake, for she heard shuffling sounds and footsteps coming to the door. The door slid open slowly to reveal Tigress with slightly swollen red eyes. Which silently conveyed that Tigress was crying or was about too.
" Come in" Tigress muttered
As Viper slithered in, she settled by Tigress's bed and waited for Tigress to close the door and return to her bed. Once Tigress settled back into her bed she laid back down and pulled out a orange medium sized ceremonial fan. On the fan were gold letters that spelled out the word ' Beautiful' on the wood. Upon opening the fan, was a drawing of a tiger in the lotus position meditating.
" You love that fan don't you?" smiled Viper knowing how she got it, for she had one as well. But instead of the word ' Beautiful' it was ' Wise and Kind', as well instead of a tiger it had two snakes intertwined. One green and one brownish gray and the delicate paper was a light green.
" You have one too" replied Tigress with a sad smile.
" Yes, we got them the same day" agreed Viper, wishing she was holding her's as Tigress was.
After what seemed hours of silence. Viper decided to bring up the subject both, considered to be extremely sensitive and wished she didn't have to start it.
" It's been nearly seventeen years since we've seen 'them'" said Viper
Tigress stiffened and shut her eyes, as if she was going to break down but Viper continued while looking out the window.
" Seventeen years of not hearing their voices and watching them train while we practiced literature with Master Shifu."
Viper looked over to Tigress seeing tears on the verge of spilling over her face, yet Viper spoke again.
" Seventeen years since we last held them near us, only to never touch aga-"
" STOP!" Tigress screamed, while tears poured from her face and her body shaking from both anger and sadness " Can you not see your words are hurting me, I thought we would never speak of 'them'."
" DO NOT THINK YOUR THE ONLY ONE SUFFERING, TIGRESS" Viper snapped back, while tears slowly forming in her eyes.
They stared at each with looks of rage and sympathy for the other. Both shaking and ready should the other attack out of anger, yet both did not move so much as an inch.
" You have to accept the facts, Tigress" Viper spoke again " You made a decision and so did I and now we suffer the consequences."
Tigress stared down to the floor and sat back down on her bed shaking.
" But why?" asked Tigress staring at Viper " It was as if by leaving we torn 'them' apart. Now history only knows 'him' as a traitor and for the other 'he' lost all status he worked so hard for"
" Yes, they both worked hard to get to where they were. Its a shame that by us leaving they became vulnerable, but who were we to know back then that people would abuse such a personal issue to their advantage only to gain power." explained Viper, trying to make Tigress understand
" True" agreed Tigress even though apart of her still felt guilty
Viper seeing Tigress miserable made her feel terrible but then an idea popped into her head making her smile.
"Listen how bout tomorrow, no training. Just you and me go out and do something." Viper said " Just like the old days, we have plenty of time since there's nothing to do."
Tigress looking up at Viper and could see she meant no ill will. Standing up she sighed and smiled/.
" Why not" Tigress said
" Alright then" Viper said, glad to have lighten the mood " Meet me by the front of the Hall of heroes after breakfast."
" Ok I'll see you then, Goodnight Viper." said Tigress as she opened the door for Viper.
" Goodnight Tigress" replied Viper as she slithered out the door and into her room.
As Tigress returned to her bed and lied down, she picked up the fan she was holding early and opened it again to stare at the tiger in the middle and then back at the word etched in gold letters. She let out a long breath and thought of what happened that day she received the fan she held in her hand.
" If only I could hear him call me beautiful one more time." She wished and with that last thought she let her dreams take her.