Okay, Chapter 3 is done. Anyway Enjoy the read!

Chapter 3

I Can Get Used To This...

One week later…In the Valley of Peace…

High atop of the Mountain, there sat a Magnificent palace. The Jade Palace. Home to some of China's greatest Kung Fu Masters, known as the Dragon Warrior, and the Furious Five, as well as the palace's Grandmaster, Master Shifu, and the Teacher of the six warriors. The Jade Palace was situated high above the Village, looking down upon it as a symbol of Protection. The Village of course, being located in the very center of the Valley of Peace. Home, to not only great Kung Fu Masters, but the Nation's, and the World's two newest Saviors. These two were known as Master Tigress of the Furious Five, and Master Po, The Dragon Warrior. Two completely seemingly opposite people, from two completely different worlds, yet now they found that one could simply not live peacefully without the other, and were also currently engaged to be married. The most powerful Duo in all of China, engaged to form the ultimate union.

The sun was just now beginning to rise, as Master Shifu, a small, older Red Panda, was making his way along the palace walkways on his way to greet his students, so that they may start their day of training anew. Though, since the defeat of Hei'an, a dark malevolent creature bent on shrouding the world in his Darkness, the Valley had remained a somewhat peaceful place. After all, the idea of the Valley being the home place to two of the world's most powerful warriors, tended to keep most trouble away…but not all of it. There was always the upstart bandit who always wanted to make a name for himself, or a thief who thought their skill were so great, that they could even steal from within the walls of the Jade Palace...Oh the poor, simple fools.

As Shifu approached the barracks, he stopped briefly to look at the rising sun. There were about five minutes before the Gong would sound thus starting the Master's day. "I finished my meditation early this morning…how unusual." The old Master thought to himself as he walked into the Barracks to greet his students. As Shifu stood waiting at the end of the hall, he noticed that it was unusually quiet. It took him a moment to realize that what was missing was the obnoxious sounds of the Dragon Warrior snoring. "Also most unusual." Shifu thought aloud, when the Morning Gong sounded, and four doors slid open, as four of his six students rushed out to greet him. "Good Morning Master!" they greeted, as Shifu looked at the four students who actually greeted him this morning. There was Mantis at the end of the hall on his right with Monkey across the hall from him, next to Mantis stood Crane with a clipboard in his wing as he was going over some notes of his, mumbling to himself, while across from him sat Viper.

Shifu looked at the two doors in front of him and was slightly confused. It was one thing for Po to oversleep from time to time, but never Tigress. Shifu then ordered to Viper, "Viper, go and see if Tigress is alright, I must wake a certain Panda yet again." the old Master said bitterly. But before Shifu opened the Panda's door, Viper stopped him saying, "Actually Master, Po and Tigress aren't here." Shifu looked at Viper slightly confused, asking rather sternly, "And why not!?" Viper then lowered her head saying "Well…you see Master. I don't think Po came back to the Palace last night after helping his father in the restaurant all day." Monkey then chimed in. "With Po and Tigress's wedding coming up, Po said Mr. Ping has been going on about how he'll never see his son anymore since he'll be a married man soon. My guess is Po stayed at the restaurant last night for his Dad's sake." Viper then added "And I heard Tigress wake up earlier his morning. When I came out to see what was wrong, she just said she was going to fetch Po for training."

Shifu relaxed a bit. Although he had approved of Po marrying Tigress, his daughter, giving the panda his blessing to ask for her hand, he had made it perfectly clear to the two, that until the day they exchanged their vows, his rules about their relationship still applied. So far, Po and Tigress hadn't given him reason to distrust the pair, and for that he was grateful, but with the big day only a few weeks away, he couldn't help but feel the two might be getting a bit anxious, as most young couples often did these days. Suddenly, Shifu was drawn from his thoughts as Crane was going over his Must-Do list for the day. Some people called it a To-Do list…but not Crane.

Ever since Tigress accepted Po's proposal, Crane had been put in charge of planning their wedding. Well...more like volunteered. Which was great, since neither Po, and especially Tigress, knew next to nothing about planning a wedding, and he was taking his role, Shifu thought, rather ridiculously serious. "Okay, so today I have to take Tigress to the floral shop to pick out the final flower arrangements, Po is going to help me find some chefs for the reception, and help hire some musicians from the musicians village to play during the ceremony and reception. Tigress is LONG overdue for another fitting, and Po still needs to get measurements again. I swear, can't that guy stop losing weight already!? We've already cut off 3 inches from last month's measurements! And then there's the-" But Crane was silenced as Shifu was now before him as he knocked Crane's notes out of his wings with his cane, resulting in Crane giving a surprised "Honk!?" Shifu then said rather politely yet everyone knew he was annoyed "Perhaps you can hold off on all of the planning until AFTER the morning training, Master Crane?"

Crane immediately bowed saying "Apologies Master, There's just so much to do, and I've hardly had any help with any of it! Tigress has been the worst! Every time I try to get her down to that tailor shop, she always finds some way to get out of it at the last second! And Po! Between all the letters he's constantly getting from people either thanking him and Tigress for saving us all from Hei'an, or some random Lord or Lady, politely asking to be able to attend the Dragon Warrior's wedding, I can't get a head count for the reception! AND this isn't just ANY wedding but the wedding of the Dragon Warrior! One where afterwards, he gets to keep his title! Who knows when an event like this will ever happen again!? Everything has to be perfect and It's driving me absolutely craz-"*Smack* Shifu had literally just struck Crane across the beak with his cane, as Crane muttered "Thank you Master…I needed that." Shifu sighed as he said "All of you to the kitchen for breakfast, then straight to the Training hall. I shall go to the palace gates to wait for the Dragon Warrior and Master Tigress to return." And with that, his students bowed as Crane walked over to pick up his notes, still holding his beak with his free wing. Once alone, Shifu sighed saying "…I hate the weeks before a wedding." It was moments like that that made him thankful he never tied the knot himself. And with that Shifu turned and left the barracks to head over to the palace Gates.

Meanwhile less than an hour earlier down in the village, above the noodle shop…

Up above the Dragon Warrior Noodles and Tofu restaurant in the center of the village, a Panda could be heard snoring peacefully in his childhood room, as he continued to swim in the sea of dreams. His name was Po, and he was the Dragon Warrior, Hero of the Valley of Peace, and two time Savior of China. Most recently though, he was given the honor as China's Savior, alongside the girl of his dreams and fiancé, Master Tigress. And although Po was happy to serve his country, recently, the extra attention may have been a bit much for even the Panda to endure. Even Tigress was getting praised wherever they went and Tigress didn't usually do well around so many people at once. Not that she hated being around the citizens at all, it's just usually she had somewhere to be, and being stopped every 20 seconds by a passing villager really took a toll on her patients, which was why she never went down into the village alone these days, unless she had either Po or one of the Five to keep her from losing her head.

As Po continued to snore in his old room, he turned over on his side in his sleep, only to realize he was now lying up against something. As Po slowly opened his eyes he saw Tigress lying down next to him, her eyes wide open from watching him sleep, with a small smile on her face. *Yawn* "I can get used to this." Po greeted, his face forming a smile of his own, as he stared into the amber eyes of his fiancé. Tigress smiled as she leaned forward and briefly kissed the Panda saying "Good Morning Dragon Warrior." Po grinned, and then his face fell as he asked, "Oh Gods…am I late for training!? Master Shifu is so gonna kill me!" But Tigress merely shook her head no saying, "Not yet, But if we don't hurry, I fear we might be." Po then raised his eyebrow whispering in exaggerated shock, "Master Tigress late for training!? Say it ain't so!" as the two chuckled quietly. Po then whispered "Thanks for coming to get me…My dad's been laying it on real thick with the whole, "My baby boy is leaving me forever" thing…He's happy for me, but at the same time he's not. Honestly, I don't see how he thinks I'm going anywhere." Tigress then nuzzled up to Po placing her head against his chest saying "He's your father Po, and you're his only child, cut him some slack." Po nodded his head saying "Your right." The two then laid there for a moment before Po started changing the subject "I so don't want to be anywhere near Crane today. If I have to sit through his stupid checklist one more time…I don't know if I won't be able to keep myself from hitting him with the Heroes Chi."

Although Tigress knew Po was kidding she still reminded him "Po…don't talk like that, he's going through a lot of trouble planning this wedding…it means a lot to him." Po then smirked as he countered "Fine, then how about you actually go with Viper to the Tailor Shop this time?" Tigress immediately scoffed "I will, once Mantis grows 10 feet tall! Honestly, I hate wearing dresses, robes, all of it!" Po chuckled as he said "You know I'd marry you even if you wore your training clothes." Tigress smiled as she said "I know…but like I said…our friends just care…and it's only for one day I suppose…Plus." She said as she leaned in closer, "It's not every day a woman gets to marry the Dragon Warrior." Po smiled as the two rubbed noses together. After their moment Tigress sighed saying "We should go, before the village wakes up, and we really are late." Po chuckled as he got up and Tigress climbed out his window, not wanting Mr. Ping to see her in case Shifu were to find out anything, while Po walked down the stairs listening to his dad snoring in the opposing room. All the while he was thinking of how he woke up today, as he thought to himself "Definitely gonna get used to that!" as Po met Tigress outside the restaurant, and the two began to make their way over to the Palace steps as the purple sky slowly grew brighter with each passing moment.

As they walked, the streets were emptied since it was still early, and so, Po grabbed Tigress's paw and held it as they walked, earning himself a small smile from Tigress. Ever since defeating Hei'an, the two practically hardly ever got a chance to be alone, Between the citizens crowding them whenever they went down to the village, Crane and Viper constantly bugging the two about wedding details, or Zeng delivering constant mail to the Dragon Warrior and Master Tigress, whether it be words of thanks, or congratulations on the engagement. Although, one of the few letters Po was happy to receive was a letter that had the imperial seal on it from Emperor Jiajing, telling Po when the new addition to the law regarding the Dragon Warrior's marriage would take effect. It was thanks to that bit of mail, that he and Tigress were able to pick a date for the wedding, which was now three weeks away.

All too soon, the pair had made it up to the top of the Palace steps and were just making it through the doors when the Palace Gong sounded "Phew…that was close." Po stated as he and Tigress made their way over to the barracks. As they neared, Master Shifu approached them while exiting the barracks, and the two immediately bowed saying together, "Good morning Master." Shifu nodded saying "Good morning students. Po, I trust you and Tigress will be joining the others for breakfast before training?" Po nodded as Tigress began walking away over to the kitchen. Po was about to follow her, when Shifu stopped him saying "Po, I realize the coming weeks will be taking much of your time away from being the Dragon Warrior, but I must urge you to remember that the people you've sworn to protect must come first." Po nodded his head saying "I understand Master Shifu." Shifu nodded and said "Good, now you may eat breakfast and then it's straight to the training hall." Po nodded his head, but before leaving he stopped and asked "Wait…does Crane have his notes again?" Shifu closed his eyes in annoyance as he nodded his head while Po just grumbled sarcastically "Awesome…" and with that, the Panda went to go and make breakfast for his friends. Already Po could tell this was going to be a long day.

Breakfast went by rather quickly, even with Crane going through his check list with Po, who was constantly hitting his head on the table after each item on Crane's list, earning him a few snickers from Monkey and Mantis, while Viper was talking to Tigress about going to the tailors that day for her fitting, and it was taking all of Tigress's self-control not to just break the edge of the table that she was gripping. After Breakfast, the Warriors all went over to the training hall and began to train. While the Furious Five were working on the various training equipment's available, Viper maneuvering through the Fiery Field of Death, while Monkey was swinging through the hanging spiked rings. Mantis and Crane were sparing on the Jade Tortoise shell, and Tigress was running along the spinning logs while also avoiding the swinging clubs. Po had stepped into the center of the sparring arena and began to practice his Inner Peace, while Shifu watched him carefully from above, as he dipped his cane into a bucket of water and flicked water droplets over to the Panda off the end of his cane.

As Po had brought his arms around for the third time, carrying a single water droplet, he heard an ancient voice deep within the depths of his mind "You seem strangely calm after your frustration with Master Crane this morning." Po smiled as the Great Golden Dragon that resided within his soul had made his presence known. His name was Gladir, and he was the being who embodied the Heroes Chi within Po. "Yeah, but Tigress is right, He's just trying his best to give us a great wedding…I really shouldn't get mad with him. I just need a bit of a break, you know?" Po thought as he brought the single drop of water Master Shifu had flicked at him around for the fourth time. "Besides, it's easy to forgive and forget when you have inner peace, and right now. Nothing can ruin my peace."

Just then, Zeng burst through the training hall doors shouting, "Master Po! Master Tigress!" this of course resulted in startling Po, "WHA!?" as he jumped forward and slammed his head into a wall, resulting in him falling backwards onto his back with a "Owwww…ugh." As he sat up and rubbed his now sore head, he grumbled "Except that!" Gladir then chuckled saying "So much for your inner peace, I wonder what the duck wants with you this time that's so urgent to have him bursting into the training hall? I believe the last time he did that, Tigress said he got hit in the face with part of a spinning club." Po just stood up turning to Zeng as Tigress landed next to him. "He's a goose, not a duck. And with any luck, it's a mission and not-" Zeng had then just approached the two Masters saying, "I have an urgent Message for you Masters!" as Po finished his thought "-That." As Tigress then said rather sternly, "Zeng, if this is another letter of congratulations or thanks, we told you before, we don't want you interrupting our training with it!" Po then added "Yeah pal, Training is like the one time of day when I'm actually NOT feeling stressed out lately."

Everyone turned to look at Po who was now wide eyed as he said "Whoa…did I just say that?" Zeng then shook his head no saying, "I'm sorry Masters, but this IS urgent. Look it's the Emperor's Seal!" Immediately Tigress took the scroll and unrolled it as Po read over her shoulder while the others had now gathered around, including Master Shifu. Finally, after several long moments of silent reading, both Tigress and Po's eye's shot wide open. "Unbelievable…" Tigress whispered while Po could only exclaim, "Whooooaaaa!" as Gladir also added, "That…is unexpected…"

What does the Emperor want? Guess we just find out in the next Chapter. Thanks for reading and remember...

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