Chapter 2: Meeting the Matchmaker

"Greetings Dragon Warrior I am your humble Matchmaker Mrs. Long," said an elderly goat lady. She came up to his chest and walked upright with a wooden cane. Mrs. Long wore a brown dress that went past her ankles to the bottom of the floor. It was an old fashioned dress that was simple and didn't show any cleavage. Then again being an elderly goat Po was happy about that. Her only attractive features were her brown eyes and a sweet smile. Mrs. Long bowed to Po and he bowed in respect.

"I thank you for your help," Po said gently.

"Oh believe me Dragon Warrior this a great honor. Now please have a seat and I will ask you some questions so I can better help you find the girl of your dreams," Mrs. Long said. They sat in wooden chairs with a long table that had a silver china tea set. On small saucers were some cookies.

"Mrs. Long I appreciate your respect but please just call me Po," Po said as he sat down.

"Of course my apologies," Mrs. Long said sincerely. Taking out a small case she put on her glasses and held a scroll with a pen. "Now I just want you to relax and answer the questions truthfully. Fist I must ask you why you want a mate?" she said her face now being serious.

"Well I want someone to love me and I want to love them. To have a family and find my true love to be honest. Pretty stupid answer huh ma'am?" Po asked feeling embarrassed.

"There is nothing stupid about love Po. I was married to my husband for 50 years till he went to Heaven. But we were lucky to marry for love and back then people didn't believe in love but I did and I wanted all to know the joys of having the other half to your soul. Every girl or guy I helped has been married happily. For I knew who their ideal mates were and I know I can help you," Mrs. Long said firmly. "Now sine I know why you want to find a mate it will be easier. Most men just want to have a wife so they will be their mothers. I may be old fashioned but I believe in equality," she said.

"Trust me I don't want a mom I just want someone to relate to and share my life with. If I wanted a mom I would have gone to an orphanage," Po joked.

"Ah a man with sense of humor how refreshing," Mrs. Long said giggling. "Now onto the questions, first question what are some of your hobbies?" she asked.

"Well mostly Kung Fu, I do love to cook, um makes wooden figures mostly of the Five. One time when Tigress left the Jade Palace to train more seriously I made her a whole bag of action figures of me the other members of the Five and Shifu. She told me they helped her realize where she belonged," Po said.

"Oh yes I remember when Master Tigress left wonder why she came back? I mean she looked dead set on leaving then she came back. In my opinion it was for the best the village really missed her," Mrs. Long said.

"Well she was upset for Kung Fu was in her mind not being taken seriously so I offered to change and be more serious but she left and I missed her so when I went to visit I realized she was being held captive and I saved her," Po said remembering that day.

"Wow willing to change yourself for a friend, that shows loyalty a very good trait for a husband," Mrs. Long said. "Now what are some traits you are looking for in a wife?" she asked.

"Well um I want someone who is fun to be with, has a good sense of humor, is smart and keeps me balanced like when Tigress keeps me focused when I feel I can't achieve my goal. Someone honest and hardworking and brave, she doesn't have to be a neat freak but maybe someone who wouldn't mind a mess for I can be a slob. Tigress complains sometimes on how messy my room is so I clean it a little bit more so she won't be too upset," Po said.

"You mention Master Tigress a lot," Mrs. Long pointed out.

"Well yeah she is my best friend and helped me out a lot while I was Dragon Warrior. I know me and her didn't get started off on the right paw but we worked out our differences and she is just really important in my life. She is my best friend I would do anything for her," Po said rubbing the back of his neck.

"I see, um what about physical traits are you looking for in a mate?" Mrs. Long asked.

"Well I am more of a personality guy I guess; in all honesty I do like eyes that was the first thing I noticed about Tigress. She had the most beautiful shade of golden eyes and her smile is pretty even if she doesn't show it much. My mate can be tall I really don't mind or short is okay," Po said.

"Well I think I have a good idea now about raising children, I must tell you we don't have any single pandas. So, you will be seeing different species and you may have to adopt a child. Would you be willing to do that?" Mrs. Long asked.

"Of course I love kids and if me and my wife can't have kids I would adopt. And I would help raise them and teach them Kung Fu and how to cook. Like when I taught Tigress to cook it was a good try but her dumplings came out doughy but I still ate one for when she saw me eat it her eyes lit up with delight. And I told her if she kept practicing she would make a great chef and now she helps me cook sometime especially when we have guests over," Po said smiling.

"I see well Po let me look over the list oh and how old do you want your mate to be?" she asked.

"Well I am 25 so maybe have an age range from 21 to 25 I guess," Po said.

"Okay let me see the ones that match what you want and I will bring them by the Jade Palace tomorrow morning," Mrs. Long said.

"Thank you I can't wait to meet them," Po said bowing. Then he turned to leave and on his way home. His mind kept drifting back to Tigress and how unhappy he made her. "I need to make this up to her but how she looked so sad when she heard I wanted to quit being Dragon Warrior. Maybe I should talk to her again," Po said. He made his way up the stairs and soon came to the top. The others and Shifu must have gone somewhere for the place was empty. Po came to Tigress's door and knocked on it. "Ti, you in there it is me Po," he said.

The door opened and Tigress came out. "What do you want Po?" Tigress asked folding her arms.

"Look about last night I am sorry I upset you. I just want to find my true love Ti that is all. And I am not leaving you guys I will still stay on as your cook and I don't know if this matchmaking thing will be a success. But I have to try Ti, please don't hate me I really am sorry. If it will make you feel better you can hit me? Go ahead as hard as you can I won't cry unless you want me too," Po said.

"If you want to make me happy then you will stop this matchmaking thing and stay on as the Dragon Warrior," Tigress said firmly.

"Ti, come on I can't do that the matchmaker has some girls coming tomorrow to meet me. Maybe I will find my true love," Po said.

"Well I wish you luck then. Good night Po, I want to meditate before going to bed," Tigress said and shut the door. Po sighed and went to his room. Tigress sank to her knees as tears fell.

"Why can't I just tell him? I do love him but who am I to get in the way of his happiness. I need to quit being so selfish and let Po be happy. Even if it means seeing him with another woman, because I am just a monster and Po would never love me the way I love him. Tomorrow I will apologize to Po and hope he finds his perfect mate. But if any of those girls hurt him I will pound them into dust," Tigress said firmly. Then she went to bed and fell into a troubling sleep.

Author's Note: Hope you all enjoyed this chapter and please review.