A/N: Here is part 2! While the first chapter was more about Shifu and Tigress, this one is more about Tigress and Mei Ling. While I had the idea of Mei Ling, I didn't realize she'd be such a prominet character - but, hey! I surprised myself, I think it turned out nicely. What do you think?
...is that it? Wow. A short A/N - this must be a first! :D
Disclaimer: I dun' own KFP (nor Dr. Quinn)
Changes
Part II
"You'll be great."
Crane turned to smile at the mountain cat and her kind words. "Thanks again, Mei Ling. I owe it all to you."
Mei Ling simply nodded her head. The two were silent for a moment before she said, "So, what do you think he wants with me?"
Crane shrugged. "Not sure. Remember, the scroll only asked for a smart female student for a simple mission – nothing more."
"And you chose me?" She asked with a smirk.
"Naturally." He replied with a smirk of his own.
Half an hour later, they arrived at the Jade Palace, and at once they were greeted by Master Shifu. When the two students had finished their bow, Shifu spoke.
"How was your journey?"
"It was well, master." Mei Ling answered, and Crane nodded.
Shifu turned to Crane. "I'm glad to hear this. Crane, I am your new master – tomorrow we will begin your training. Tonight, you are free to relax from your journey."
Crane bowed his head. "Thank you, master."
"And me?" Mei Ling asked. "The scroll spoke of needing a smart female student for a mission. Is everything alright?"
"Hmm? Everything's fine." Shifu said a little too quickly. "I have to apologize; this mission is smaller than it seems and may not be what you had in mind."
"Oh?"
"You're smart, hmm? What much do you know about the body?"
"Master?"
"Answer."
"Oh, well, a handful of things, I suppose."
Crane shook his head. "She's too humble, master. Graduated at the top of her class – she's a wiz."
Mei Ling glared at him, but the smirk on her face told him she wasn't angry.
Shifu went on. "How well are you are explaining things?"
"Well enough."
"She's great." Crane interrupted, causing another glare on Mei Ling's part.
"Forgive me, master, but why does this matter?" Mei Ling asked.
Shifu sighed. No matter how many times he had to explain, it didn't get any less uncomfortable. "My student, Tigress, just recently became a woman." He said as simply as he could.
"Oh." Mei Ling said. "I see."
"Yes," Shifu said, giving a quick cough to break down the awkward air (or at least to try). "And, it goes without saying, that a, uh, female is best to explain it."
"I understand, master." Mei Ling said, giving a small bow. "Where can I find her?"
"Training Hall." Shifu answered, giving a nod in the direction. She bowed and then left, leaving Shifu to give a tour to Crane.
Mei Ling stepped inside the Training Hall cautiously, looking around for the tigress. Mei Ling located her fighting an adversary, and the young girl reminded Mei Ling of herself when she had been her age. Right off the bat, and as cheesy as it sounded, she felt a connection to the tigress for that reason.
When Tigress had finished, she turned around and noticed Mei Ling. Tigress bowed.
Mei Ling chuckled as she walked over. "No need for that. I'm still a student, just like you."
Tigress continued her bow anyway, showing respect and wisdom beyond her years, then said, "I am Tigress, student of tiger style, pupil of Master Shifu."
"So precise." Mei Ling said with an approving nod. "Shifu must be a good master."
Tigress gave a nod but was quiet.
Mei Ling went on, trying to make Tigress comfortable. "I came with Crane – he's joining you now, huh?"
Again, Tigress nodded.
"Are you excited?"
Tigress shrugged. "There are ups and downs, like all things in life."
Wow, she's genius. "How old are you again?"
"Twelve."
Mei Ling once again gave the tigress an approving nod. "Well, enough of the simple chit-chat. You know why I'm here, don't you?"
"I have a guess."
"And that is?"
Tigress suddenly looked uncomfortable. "You're here to explain…"
"Explain what?" Mei Ling asked with a raised eyebrow.
Tigress was silent.
"Come on, young one, there's nothing to be ashamed of." Mei Ling said, bending down to the tigress' level. "Becoming a woman is something to be proud of!"
"Not in this profession!" Tigress said quickly, then looked away, ashamed of speaking up.
"Go on." Mei Ling said. "Please, I want to hear what you have to say."
"Let's be honest," Tigress said as she looked at her feet. "I won't be…making babies any time soon – any time at all, really. I'll be too busy, well, kicking butt."
Mei Ling chuckled. "While that's true, you're still a woman. You're different from men, and hey! That's something to be proud of."
"Maybe," Tigress said. "I mean, if I was a normal girl – woman – perhaps, then, yes. I'd be making babies, giving my husband some sons, making my family proud – but I'm not. I'm going to be Tigress, master of tiger style, one day – and that's not exacting the most appealing thing for a man."
Mei Ling couldn't help but smile; she loved this girl! "Well, you've come to terms with this rather quickly. It took me awhile – I still have my heart set on getting married someday. Don't you?"
Tigress shrugged. "Not really. I've lived without a man for this long – what'll change that?"
Mei Ling laughed. "I never thought of it that way."
Tigress nodded. "It's true."
"I guess it is." Mei Ling said with a smile. "But at the end of the day, you're still a woman. And every month, you'll be reminded."
"Every month?" Tigress exclaimed.
Mei Ling sighed. "I'm afraid so."
"Will it always…hurt?" Tigress asked awkwardly.
"You have your good weeks and your bad weeks. And after awhile, you kinda get used to it." Mei Ling said with a shrug. "Any other questions?"
Tigress' eyes darted. "Um…everything?"
"You know…nothing?" Mei Ling said, somewhat confused as she stood back to her height.
"Nothing." Tigress said, then began to blush. "I thought I was going to die…"
Mei Ling laughed, but then quickly said, "Hey, it's a good guess. But no, you're perfectly fine. But seriously, you know nothing?"
"I know I can make babies." Tigress said quickly, then awkwardly finished, "But I don't know, uh, how."
Mei Ling sighed. "Well, I guess that's where we'll begin. Let's see if I can explain this as simply and non-awkwardly as possible."
"That last part isn't going to happen." Tigress said casually, causing Mei Ling to laugh again.
"You know what, kid? I like you!" Mei Ling exclaimed with a laugh.
Tigress didn't respond, but a shy smile lit up her face.
"So how did it, uh, go?" Shifu asked awkwardly as Mei Ling sat at the table with Shifu and Oogway, the three waiting for Crane and Tigress to arrive.
Mei Ling nodded. "It went well, actually, master. Tigress is a clever girl. You've got a great student."
"Yes…but I meant about the, uh, discussion."
"I know – uh, master. It went really well."
Shifu relaxed. "Good, I'm glad to hear."
When dinner had finished, each master and student went to their appropriate rooms for the night. However, Crane and Mei Ling spent a few moments his new room, talking.
"Do you think you'll like it here?" Mei Ling asked hopefully.
Crane nodded. "I think so. But it's no Lee Da, that's for sure."
Mei Ling shook her head. "Not at all."
"Um…I'll miss you…" Crane said, giving her a cheesy smile.
She laughed. "And I'll miss you! But, hey, I'll try and visit often. I now have you to visit and Tigress."
"How is she?" Crane asked, curious about his new teammate.
"Extremely clever." Mei Ling explained. "A little quiet and very serious, but if she's comfortable, she's hilarious – and genius, too."
"That's good to hear." Crane said, relaxing a little. "And, uh, how did the, um…conversation go?"
Mei Ling nodded. "Well, actually. Sure, a bit parts were awkward, but I couldn't imagine if Master Shifu had had to explain it to her."
Crane shuddered. "Yikes."
"Yikes indeed." Mei Ling repeated, shuddering herself. For a moment, they were silent, and Mei Ling was lost in her thoughts, before saying, "Be good to her, Crane. She needs a friend. I mean…when she 'became a woman,' she thought she was going to die. She knew nothing at all!"
Crane sighed. "Wow. I mean, if you really think about it, it makes sense."
"What do you mean?" Mei Ling asked.
"Well, she's living here, the only female really here at the Jade Palace with Grandmaster Oogway and Master Shifu. And ever since, well, Tai Lung…"
Mei Ling sighed. "Yes, I've heard about that. Just awful."
Crane nodded. "And from the orphanage, too – "
"Wait, what?"
"She was adopted by Shifu from the orphanage."
"How do you know?"
Crane shrugged. "You piece things together."
"No wonder." Mei Ling breathed. "Excuse me. I think I'm going to go talk to her."
With nods of goodnights, Mei Ling left Crane's quarters and walked across the hall to Tigress'. Mei Ling knocked on the door softly. "Tigress? Are you still awake?"
"Yes, come in."
Mei Ling opened the door to find Tigress reading a scroll as she sat on her mat. "Is everything all right, Mei Ling?"
"Everything's fine. I just wanted to see how you were doing."
Tigress shrugged. "I'm fine…" She looked skeptically at Mei Ling, who chuckled as she stepped inside and sat on the end of the mat.
"Anything you want to talk about?" Mei Ling asked. "I'm all ears, I swear."
Tigress raised an eyebrow and repeated, "Is everything all right?"
Mei Ling sighed. "I understand why you didn't know anything."
"What?"
"Being adopted…"
"Oh." Tigress said. There was silence, but then she shook her head. "Listen, my past is my past. I don't like to talk about it freely around…well, strangers. Forgive me."
"No, you're fine! Forgive me." Mei Ling said with a sigh. "I guess I'm just being nosy. I just supposed it's better to tell a stranger, since I can't judge."
"I guess so." Tigress said with a shrug, but didn't add anything; until finally, she said, "I'm here now. That's all that matters."
Mei Ling nodded. "That's right. And, well, I'm glad I could meet you."
"I'm glad you could help me." Tigress said, suddenly becoming more comfortable. "Could you imagine Shifu explaining all that to me?"
"I'd die!" Mei Ling explained, and the two started laughing.
"That's the first I've heard you laugh, Tigress. I like it. Do you laugh often?"
Tigress shrugged. "Not really. There's not much to laugh at. Kung fu is serious."
"Yes, but life doesn't have to be."
Again, Tigress shrugged.
"Well, I'm about to turn in. Anything else you'd like to say?" Mei Ling asked.
After a moment of silence, Tigress sighed. "This a bit weird, but, uh, I feel…different now. Am I always going to?"
"Nah. After awhile, it'll become normal."
"Thanks, Mei Ling. For, well, everything."
"Thanks for letting me. I know how…awkward it can get." Mei Ling said with a smirk, and after goodnights said on both parts, she left the room.
"Goodbye, Mei Ling," Crane said, giving the mountain cat a hug. "Visit soon!"
"I promise!" Mei Ling said to her friend, giving him a huge grin and wishing up good luck on the next chapter of his life. She then went over to Tigress.
"Bye, Tigress," Mei Ling said, leaning down and hugging her.
Tigress blinked, confused on how to react. She couldn't even remember the last time she'd been hugged. But after a moment, she slowly wrapped her arms around her new friend, and the hug seemed natural.
"I hope to see you soon." Mei Ling said with a smile.
"Me, too." Tigress replied, giving a smile of her own.
Mei Ling then made her way to Grandmaster Oogway and Master Shifu. She bowed in respect to them, and they both gave a nod.
Shifu stepped forward and whispered. "Thank you, Mei Ling."
The conversation she had had with Crane the night before came to heart; she thought about Tigress and, well, her father. "Master, forgive me if I overstep my boundaries, but Tigress is a wonderful woman – make sure that she knows that."
Shifu didn't respond. He seemed shocked at first, then his face went emotionless, and he simply nodded. But Mei Ling knew that it wasn't going to happen – at least not for a while anyways.
So Mei Ling bowed again, waved goodbye to Crane and Tigress, then marched down the steps, determined to visit again soon. She had made it her goal to help Crane discover his potential. Now she made it her goal to help Tigress discover her worth; and she would be back soon.
Hopefully on her own choice, and not to explain Mother Nature's monthly gift.
