Po stepped out into the cold dark night. A single lantern hung outside, giving off just enough yellow light to illuminate his large figure, but not enough to show the pained expression on his face, layered with shadows. He stood in a slumping position, with his neck hanging forward. With his eyes, he scanned for something durable that he could use as a punching bag. Nothing presented itself, so he sat down.
The Dragon Warrior had just been inside the emperor's palace, where the city council had been working with him, the furious five, and Master Shi-fu, discussing the best course to take in the aftermath of Lord Shen's destruction. There were buildings to fix, pots and pans to return, and many other technicalities.
And then there was the whole "famous" thing. Sure, he was the Dragon Warrior. The Warrior of Black and White. The savior of China. But did that mean he had to sleep in a palace? Even if it was only a short stay, it was already getting to him. Signing posters and action figures. Posing for kung fu portraits. Having servants who assumed and attended to his every need.
Now that they were in the city, things were different from the valley of peace. Po was not used to being treated like some celebrity, or low level god. But the five seemed perfectly okay with it. Like they had long ago grown accustomed to the fame and attention. But Po didn't like it one bit. It wasn't him. And it made him feel sick.
And so he sat alone at the side of the street, wondering whether he was even cut out for this kind of thing. The five were enjoying themselves back at the palace, talking and reminiscing, enjoying fine drinks and platters, and making bringing wise points up to the council.
Of course Po was expected to do the same thing. But he couldn't bring himself to. After so much of pretending that he felt perfectly fine, smiling like everything was ok, and hanging in the back stuffing his face with fine delicacies because he had nothing to say, he found he could take no more. He felt he was trapped in an environment by expectations that were set up for him.
The five were a team. An elite force, and inseparable friends. Did he really fit in with them? The idea was hard for Po to believe, given the situation. Not one "friend" said a single word to him. Po worked with them on a regular basis now, because he was the Dragon Warrior. But were they really his friends? If not, then what friends did he have?
It wasn't hard to sneak out of the palace building. All he had to do was walk casually to the door. Everybody was enjoying themselves, talking heartily in the middle of the room, and he was already hanging back from everybody. So nobody noticed his casual escape. Or even noticed that he was feeling out of place and hadn't said anything the entire night.
Though now that he thought about it, Po HAD received a couple of wide-eyed looks and worried glances from…
"TIGRESS!" Po shouted in surprise.
Po had glanced up to find Master Tigress standing right in front of him, bathed in the golden light from the lantern. She was looking down at him with a concerned expression on her face.
"Panda," She said.
"Whoaahahahahoooaa" Po stammered in surprise, while he scooted clumsily back on his butt. He kept scooting until his back reached the wall.
Tigress' eyebrows shifted into a confused expression. Then she padded up to where he now sat against the wall, and lowered herself to an arch-backed crouch until she was at his level. She looked at him with those glowing yellow eyes.
"What's bothering you Panda?"
"Nothing. Nothing at all. Wha-what would make you think that there's something bothering me?" Po said very quickly.
Tigress adopted a serious, disbelieving expression, looking him in the eye. Po's face began to look guilty trying to lie to his friend. Finally he looked away from her and said, "Fine. Everything's not okay. Okay?"
Tigress sat down next to him, and sat close. "What is it panda? You can tell me."
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