Disclaimer: Kung Fu Panda and all related characters are property of DreamWorks productions. Some characters were created by Rudyard Kipling, and some are owned by Walt Disney Productions…see if you can pick them out…
The Berserker Saga reading order:
Daddy-Daughter Issues – One-Shot – Shifu and Tigress have a discussion on the events of KFP2… (Completed)
A Completed Collection – One-Shot – Tigress notices something missing from Po's action figure collection… (Completed)
Father's Day – Two-Parter – Mr. Ping helps teach Shifu to be a better adopted father for Tigress while Tigress goes to Po for help with a gift for Shifu… (completed)
Confidence and Courage – multi-chapter – A horrible "accident" shakes Po's confidence in himself and his Kung Fu… (Complete)
Today is a Gift – multi-chapter – An ancient artifact sends Tigress on an amazing yet horrifying adventure… (Complete)
Mist of Pandaria - multi-chapter - The Heroes of the Jade Palace receive a call for help that will lead to Po learning far more of his history than he ever thought possible… (In Production)
The Claws of the Berserker – multi-chapter – The Dragon Warrior and the Furious Five face their greatest enemy yet, a monster, a Berserker that does not want power, wealth, or rule, but to watch all of China burn… and why is Master Shifu determined to keep Tigress out of the fight? (Coming soon!)
After the Storm – multi-chapter – the Masters of the Jade Palace and the Valley of Peace try to heal the physical and emotional wounds left by the Berserker… (Coming soon!)
The Mist of Pandaria
Chapter 2: In Law
I can't fight this feeling any longer
And yet I'm still afraid to let it flow
What started out as friendship has grown stronger
I only wish I had the strength to let it show
I tell myself I can't hold out forever
I say there's no reason for my fear
Cause I feel so secure when we are together
You give my life direction
You make everything so clear
Even as I wonder
I'm keeping you in sight
You're a candle in the window
On a cold, dark winter's night
I'm getting closer than I thought I might…
And I can't fight this feeling anymore
I've forgotten what I started fighting for
It's time to bring this ship into the shore
And throw away the ores forever
Cause I can't fight this feeling anymore
I've forgotten what I started fighting for
And if I have to crawl upon the floor
Come crashing through your door
I can't fight this feeling anymore
"I Can't Fight This Feeling Anymore" - Air Supply
-KFP-
Po took two steps away from Tai Lung, having trouble finding his breath let alone speaking words as he stared at the snow leopard. "Don't you dare…" Tigress bared her fangs on her adopted brother, "Don't you even dare play mind games with him, Tai Lung…" she warned, stepping between Po and the leopard.
"Must we go through this again?" Tai Lung sighed, giving the angered tiger a withered look.
"I warned you, Tai Lung…" Tigress growled, "One toe over the line, one hint of danger toward Po…"
"You what?" Po asked, frowning deeply.
Tigress stiffened, and her eyes widened as Tai Lung gave a triumphant smirk toward his adopted sister, and mouthed 'busted'.
"Po…" Tigress turned toward her friend, "I can explain…"
"I can take care of myself, Tigress," Po narrowed his eyes, with a hint of hurt in his angry emeralds. "I took him down once, you know, and you don't think I was stupid enough to just lower my guard around him because he says he's changed sides, do you?" Po shook his head, "Yeah, he did some damage when we met last, but he deserves a second chance."
"He did some damage? He almost killed us! He almost killed Shifu… he tried to kill YOU!" Tigress replied hotly.
"You did more damage with your words when we met then he did to me with his fists," Po shot back, "If he doesn't deserve a second chance, what does that say about you?"
They settled into firm glares that lasted for several minutes. "Are you two finished glaring? Cause, ya know, I'd like to find out more about this country of pandas…" Mantis spoke up, breaking them out of their own little world. They looked up to see everyone staring at them, and stepped away, busying themselves: Tigress inspecting her vest while Po rubbed his arms.
"Still, how do we know this isn't a trap," Tigress chimed back in.
"If I wanted revenge on Po, Shifu and you, I'd have killed you in your sleep NIGHTS ago," Tai Lung countered, "And I don't care if you come with me or not. She… They need me. I'm going with or without any of you."
"She?" Tigress questioned with a raised eyebrow.
"What are we waiting for?" Po asked, a mix of hope and fear in his eyes.
"Po…" Tigress turned to her friend.
"Tigress… my Mom and Dad… Shen might not have… they may have gotten away…" Po nodded with a confident smile toward Tai Lung, "Let's go bring the thunder!"
"Any time anyone needs help," Monkey spoke up, "You know we're there." Mantis Viper and Crane nodded.
"Tigress?" Po turned to the leader of the Five with pleading eyes. She sighed and made the mistake of looking into his eyes and could almost hear him begging her.
"Fine. If it is a trap, Panda, you'll need me to pull you out…" She shook her head and crossed her arms.
Po instantly broke into a grin. "And we both know how much you love to tell me you told me so," He added, lightly punching her shoulder.
"And when the time comes I'll probably want to…" She returned the punch, sending him bouncing on one foot sideways. "Probably."
"Then let's go, Pandaria's in danger," Tai Lung growled, turning toward the exit.
"Fight bravely and safely, my students," Shifu bowed to them. Po and the Five returned the bow; before turning and following Tai Lung out. For once Tigress wasn't leading the charge… instead she followed slightly behind with a worried expression on her features.
-KFP-
Tigress' eyes snapped open at the sound of the morning gong. With practiced ease she dressed and was outside to greet her master before the chiming ring ended. "Good morning, Master!" she said, and was surprised to hear only her own voice. Po and the Five weren't there, and neither was Master Shifu. Tigress tilted her head in confusion and exited the barracks and made her way to the training hall.
To her surprise she found her comrades, Tai Lung, Po and Master Shifu cheering for someone in the obstacle course.
She walked in and found a female panda dressed in a very similar outfit as her own flying through the course with ease. "AWESOME!" Mantis cheered as she flip jumped to the finish.
"She just beat Tigress' record by half!" Shifu applauded.
"What's going on?" Tigress demanded, "Who is she?"
"Oh, Mei Ren," Viper said, "this is our new leader, she's taken your place in the Furious Five."
"She's fully mastered the Tiger Style," Shifu added, "And can do a much better jumping split kick."
"Isn't she beautiful?" Po asked as the female panda hugged him, "That's my wife!" He said kissing her cheek.
They were suddenly surrounded by panda cubs dressed in smaller version of Po's shorts and this female's outfit. "Our kids have already mastered different styles of Kung Fu, aren't they awesome?" Po asked.
"I better go prepare dinner," the female smiled beautifully, "Po not only showed me how to prepare Secret Ingredient Soup, but we improved on it together!"
Tigress tried to follow behind, but in spite of her running, she was quickly left behind by the joyful group.
Tigress' eyes snapped open and she glanced around to see that she was seated lotus style by the camp fire while the others were sleeping. "That will serve to teach me to eat tofu too late in the evening…" She shook her head, and glanced to where Po laid on his side away from her. Her eyes softened and her frown deepened as she stared at his softly snoring form.
She didn't know how long she sat there, mesmerized by how the fire light gave his white fur a yellowish tint. "You know, Master Tigress, when one is keeping watch, they're supposed to be watching out, not in…" a voice whispered with a hiss.
"Master Viper," Tigress turned to see her friend smiling at her. "My apologizes… I was just…"
"Watching Po sleep for five whole minutes?" Viper slithered to her side, smiling up at her, "I've been enjoying the show, too."
"I… I…" Tigress stammered, flattening her ears to her head as she glanced anywhere but at Po and Viper.
"Tigress, it's ok," Viper smiled softly as she settled beside her friend. "I know you care for him. I've known for a while now."
"I don't… I…" Tigress deflated, "What gave me away? Does anyone else know?" She asked then she glanced at Po in alarm, "Does… does he know?"
"I'm pretty sure everyone knows except Po and maybe Master Shifu," Viper said, smiling at the snoring panda, muttering something about bandits not getting away with his noodles. "And what gave you away? I'm pretty sure you falling to pieces when he got blasted by Shen's cannon gave us the big hint, dear sister."
Tigress frowned deeply and looked at her lap, and Viper was sure if it wasn't for the fire and the color of her fur, Tigress's blush would be visible. "Would it really be a bad thing for him to know?" Viper asked, touching Tigress's hand with the tip of her tail.
"I don't know…" Tigress muttered, her features softening. "It could get in the way… we work well together… what if things got awkward… what if we got in each other's way…"
"And what if it makes your teamwork even greater?" Viper offered with a comforting smile. "We got lucky in Gongmen City… what if something else happens… what if we lost him and he never knew that you really care?"
Tigress said nothing, but glanced away. "It's obvious you two are made for each other," Viper continued, "I don't see why you're fighting so hard… I don't see anyone who could suit him any better than you."
"Tried looking at your reflection?" Tigress said with a small growl.
"What?" Viper looked up at her friend in confusion.
"Never mind, forget it," Tigress whispered quickly.
"Mei Ren, what are you talking about?" Viper pressed, glaring hard at her friend.
"There're things I learned in the future that I haven't told any of you about… not even Master Shifu," Tigress whispered.
"Like what?" Viper asked softly, "It can't be that bad…"
"Well… after I… disappeared… had I not came back…" Tigress said, glancing away again. "You and Po… marry… and eventually have a child… you adopt a lion cub…"
After a few moments of silence Tigress glanced back toward Viper, and the expression on her face was almost comical. Her eyes were wide as saucers and her lower jaw had dropped, leaving her mouth gapped completely open. "Viper?"
"Po and I? Married?" Viper squeaked slightly, struggling to keep her voice low, "I mean… I admit he's got a really cute smile… and gorgeous eyes… funny… can cook wonderfully… and so soft and cuddly…" Viper ducked and smiled bashfully when she noticed Tigress's glare.
"Despite that, I would never do that, not knowing that you have such strong feelings, Sister," Viper said, shaking her head, "And we all know he only has eyes for you."
"You've always over-romanticized things, Jai Li," Tigress sighed, "But… what if he finds someone new… someone his own race…"
"It all depends," Viper nodded glancing to the sleeping panda.
"Depends on what?" Tigress blinked.
"On what type of love it is," Viper nodded.
"There's… different types?" Tigress gave Viper a perplexed look.
"Is it Love, Big Love, or Great Love?" Viper nodded.
"What's the difference between them?" Tigress narrowed her eyes.
"Well," Viper began, glancing to her friend again. "Love you get over in about two months, Big Love you get over in about two years, and Great Love… well… it changes your life. So which is it?"
Tigress gulped and glanced away from both Viper and Po. "Oh gods, its great love… Lay your claim now, Sister!"
"Lay my claim?" Tigress quirked an eyebrow.
"Lay your claim," Viper nodded firmly, "You are Master Tigress, leader of the Furious Five! In the years we've fought side by side I have never seen you once back down from a fight. Yet, here you are giving up before anyone even throws a first punch; Afraid of some imaginary, weaker panda girl."
"You're right," a fire lit behind Tigress' ruby eyes.
"You bet I'm right," Viper smiled brightly, "Now get your panda first thing in the morning!"
"Right, I will!" Tigress nodded firmly.
"Now get some rest, you have a big day tomorrow," Viper instructed, and Tigress bid her good night and went to her mat. "What would these guys do without me?" Viper chuckled before settling in for her watch.
-KFP-
Morning came quickly, after a quick breakfast and packing up, the warriors were on the move yet again along the mountain path. The group traveled in mostly silence, except for the occasional joke and small talk from Mantis and Monkey. "Po…" Tigress spoke up with a still, controlled tone.
"Yes, Tigress?" Po turned his excited, smiling face to the tiger, completely unaware of the nervousness clinching her insides.
"I was hoping to talk to you…" Tigress said, avoiding eye contact. She took a fleeting glance back to Viper who gave her a smile and quick nod.
"You know better than to even ask, Tigress," Po beamed, "I'm just so excited!"
"I understand, and I'm excited for you as well," Tigress started walking just beside him. "But… there's something I've been needing to talk to you about for quite some time now…"
"I am so very pumped," Po continued with a laugh in his voice. "Don't get me wrong, the Valley and the Palace is home but I never really fit in, even with you guys. My real family might still be alive, Mei Ren, my mom and dad… at least someone related to me… It's so very awesome! Folks who actually understand me and what I've been going through and stuff… I'm not going to be alone anymore!" He hadn't even noticed she had stopped walking beside him, and had he looked back he would have seen a hurt expression cross her face.
"Sorry, Tigress, I'm rambling, what was it you were needing to tell me?" Po turned toward her, and she had recovered her normal emotionless expression.
"I… I think it's time you started dressing to your part, Dragon Warrior," She said in a tone he hadn't heard from her since he had first came to the palace. "The patched shorts do not say Defender of China."
"But… they're comfy…" Po said looking down at his shorts.
"It is but food for thought, and food is all you tend to care about anyway," Tigress stated, walking past him.
"Wha?" Po blinked in confusion.
"I'm scouting ahead, don't drag behind too far," She said to the group before going down to all fours and running ahead into the wooded mountain side.
"I say something?" Po asked, glancing toward Viper, who just glared back.
-KFP-
"Stupid panda…" Tigress growled to herself as she ran along the path. "Folks who actually understand him? What am I? I TOLD him I understand. I TOLD HIM! What part of the Hardcore do understand didn't sink in? I thought he KNEW I understood… I thought he understood me… I can't believe I actually thought he'd care… I even gave him my name, MY NAME! I'm so stupid," She grumbled, so focused on her anger and hurt feelings that she missed the eyes in the bushes tracking her every move.
Tigress stopped and placed her palm on a large tree and sighed. "Just like with Master Shifu… I'll never be good enough…" She whispered, closing her eyes tightly to cut off the unwarranted tears. Her ears perked up and she glanced back, and could see a familiar silhouette in sun light through the trees. "Po? If Viper sent you to apologize, I will not accept it."
Tigress heard something cutting through the air, and managed to duck her head as a hook-blade cut into the bark of the tree. "Po?" She turned and was surprised to see a hostile female panda with a pair of razor-sharp blades. "You're not Po…" She said taking a fighting stance.
"You get lost from your lil friends, Stripes?" the female panda scowled at Tigress, "too bad for you."
"I didn't come to fight you," Tigress began circling with the panda. "We're here to help."
"We don't need help from your kind, Stripes," the panda snapped, taking a testing swipe at the kung fu master. She smirked when she easily dodged the slash. "Oh you're a quick one… much more fun to fillet…"
"I don't want to hurt you…" Tigress narrowed her eyes.
"Please, you're gonna be the one on the ground beaten to a pulp in a few seconds, not me," the panda snorted.
Tigress made a sudden move, and rushed her, but was shocked when her attacks were blocked with ease. 'She's better than I expected… almost as good as Po…' Tigress thought to herself, launching a blitz of strikes, that couldn't get past her blocking arms and blades.
"Never seen a tiger fight like you before," the panda smiled, when a single blow made it through and struck her shoulder making her take a step back. Her green eyes lit up in excitement, "This fight is going to be AWESOME!"
The expression and tone of voice, higher pitch but familiar, caused Tigress to hesitate a moment. She was just like… "AH!" Tigress yelped as the blade slide across the side of her shoulder, slicing across the fabric of her vest and narrowly missing her flesh.
Tigress and the panda prepared for another rush when Tai Lung's voice sounded. "DAO MING! NO!" both turned to see the others rushing toward them behind the snow leopard.
"Wha… SPOTS!" She beamed, dropping her blades to jump into Tai Lung's arms. The two embraced in front of Po and the Five for a moment, before Tai Lung gasped for breath from the knee that went into his stomach. "You JERK! What took you so long?"
"…Spots?" Tigress blinked at her adoptive brother.
"These are my allies from the Jade Palace, Ming," Tai Lung motioned to Po and the Five, "Uh… this is Dao Ming…"
"How do you two know each other?" Mantis asked, jumping onto Monkey's shoulder.
"Oh… uh… she's… she's my…" Tai Lung shot Tigress an awkward look. "She is my wife."
"Wife?" Po gawked as Tigress' jaw dropped open with a 'creak'
"Are you that stupid, Tai?" Dao Ming smacked Tai Lung's shoulder, "I told you we had tigers invading, and you had this guy I don't even know with stripes just like the invading tigers wondering around close to the Pandaria boarders?"
"Ming…" Tai Lung glanced between the two females. "This is… Master Tigress… my sister…" Ming instantly made an "O" expression with her face.
"Oh… the big arms… flat chest… whiskers…" she bit her lower lip. "Misleading…"
Ming's eyes finally came upon Po and she tilted her head in confusion. "Hello… who are you?"
"My name's Po," Po said awkwardly as the female approached him, looking over him intently.
"Where are you from?" Ming asked, walking around him, "I thought all the pandas outside Pandaria were wiped out by Prince Shen."
"Yeah… yeah I know…" Po nodded, "my Mom got me away when Shen destroyed my village. I was raised in the Valley of Peace."
Her eyes widened as she took a step back, simply staring into Po's green eyes; the exact shade as her own. "….it can't be… Hu?"
"Who?" Po blinked in confusion.
"Tai Lung, you did it! You found them!" Ming hugged Po tightly. She let go and turned to Tai Lung as two sets of identical emerald eyes turned toward the Leopard, one set excited and joyful, the other completely confused.
"No… No, no… It can't be," Tai Lung looked visibly ill as he shook his head at Po. "You can't be him, not him!" he turned his attention to Ming. "Please, not him, anyone but him…"
"Tai Lung?" Po and Ming asked in unison, the similar voices clear even with different tones.
"Brother… in… law…" Tai Lung managed to mumble before his eyes rolled back and he fell to the ground in a faint.
To Be Continued…
Sorry for the delay, offline life has left little time to write. Yet, I'm pressing on and I hope you're sticking with me. I have caught in some of the reviews that a few have seen this lil shock coming, but I hope you enjoyed it. And while Dao Ming and Tigress's fight was short, don't worry, the sisters-in-law will have a bit of work to do before they get along… at all...
Next chapter: a family reunited, one of the Five faces a "ghost" from their past, and Tigress has to deal with a green-eyed monster... and not referring to Dao Ming…
