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Enjoy this new chapter :)
In love?
"You've had dreams about your...real dad and never told me about it?" Mr. Ping sounded hurt.
Po pleaded with his eyes. "Don't change the subject dad," he said softly. "I know that if I tell you about it you'll probably get hurt."
Mr. Ping sighed and decided to leave the matter.
After a little pause, Po spoke again. "When we got back, she was still in my mind! I think about her all the time, even while I'm training! For two days straight Tigress always invade my thoughts. I can't eat. I can't sleep. It was..." he let out a frustrated sigh, and then he continued. "I try my best to act normal and I even tried to ignore it! But...nothing's happening! Something's changed between us and I don't know what!"
Po looked at his father with a lost expression. "What am I gonna do dad? I don't have a clue why I'm suddenly having these feelings for Tigress!"
Mr. Ping chuckled. He patted his son's paw with a knowing look on his face. " Oh, son. This is really quite simple! You are simply developing a certain admiration /affection to Master Tigress."
Po furrowed his eyebrows in confusion. "But I have always admired her! And yeah, I do love her like I love you, Shifu, the rest of the five, the Valley of peace, China and Kung fu!"
"No, Po." Mr. Ping shook his head, a very proud smile stretched across his bill. "I think this sort of love is deeper than what you feel to me and the rest."
Po stared at his dad's beaming face. What did he mean by deeper? Deeper than what he had felt towards her before? What sort? What was the new feeling?
Then like lightning, it hit him. Po's eyes shot open and his entire body stiffened at the realization that dawned on him. "Wait...you think that I love, Tigress? As in...love, love?"
Ping laughed softly, nodding once.
Po's eyes looked like they were going to burst out of their sockets. What? He what?!
Then the panda threw his head back and laughed uproariously. "Oh you've got to be kidding me!" He snapped his head to the Master Tigress poster hanging on the wall then whirled to face his dad with an amused expression on his face. He pressed a paw on his chest. "I...love Tigress?! HA HA HA!That's got to be the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard!"
I've heard much more ridiculous things from you, Po; especially in your sleep. Mr. Ping wanted to tell him that, but thought better of it. He looked with confusion at his son. "Why so, Po?"
Po held up one finger. "Well, for one thing, she's a tiger and I'm a panda. How can I possibly fall for her when we're two completely different species?"
"Is there a rule that in order for one to love another they have to be the same species?" Mr. Ping asked rhetorically.
Po felt a slight tingle when his dad uttered the word 'love'. He held up a second finger, pretending to ignore his dad's question. "And we're practically best friends."
"Po, a girl and a boy can never be just friends forever," Mr. Ping said softly. He chuckled when Po dropped his paws and slumped his shoulders, giving up on denying what he was feeling. The goose's eyes roamed all over Po's room; then bowed his head and sighed. "My little boy has finally fallen for someone! Ah, what joy! I can finally have the grand kids I always wanted."
His dad's last statement nearly gave Po a heart attack. He sucked in a breath as he clutched his chest, his eyes as huge as dinner plates. "Geez, dad!" Po squeaked. "Don't say that!"
"What?" the goose raised an eyebrow. "I can hope, can't I?"
"How can you talk about grand kids?!" Po panicked. "It's not like Tigress and I are an item?"
Mr. Ping gave him a knowing smirk, leaning closer to Po as he propped his wings on his waist. He winked. "Not yet, you aren't. Ah, Po, why are you so worked up about this? So you like Master Tigress? Big deal!"
"Daaad!" Po whinned.
Mr. Ping feigned shock."Oops. Did I say you like her? Sorry, I mean love her."
"Dad!"
Mr. Ping laughed at Po's flustered state. "Come now, son, I was just teasing. But really, Po. What's wrong with it? You should be proud!" He leaned closer to him again and jerked his brows up and down mischievously. "And I do say son. You have excellent taste. Master Tigress is a very lovely woman!"
Po blushed madly.
"This you have finally become a full-fledged man!" He beamed.
Po was about to protest, but the last thing his father said cause his mind to a halt. "Wait. Full-fledged man? Are you saying that I wasn't already a man before?"
Ping gave him an apologetic look. "Um, forgive me. That came out wrong."
Po sighed exasperatingly, and flopped back to his bed. He stared at the ceiling. "This conversation went just like when you gave me 'the talk' when I was fifteen."
Mr. Ping suppressed a laugh.
After the talk with his dad, Po went back to the Jade Palace. He mounted the stairs and maintained a slow, but steady pace.
Shifu would probably be mad because he didn't show up for morning greetings. And he surely would need to explain himself to Tigress for him sudden departure earlier that morning.
Sighing tiredly, his concentration shifted to his thoughts about the said Tigress.
Po drew his brows together. He loves Tigress? Seriously? He loves her? How did that happen?
She was his friend, his best friend in fact. And yes he had always admired her. Who didn't. She was a great warrior, an excellent leader and a great friend.
And she's beautiful, his thoughts wandered. Especially the way her lips curl into a smile and her eyes glow...
"AAAAARGH!" Po threw his paws in the air. "What is the matter with me!"
"Po?"
Po stared at the one who called him. He blanched. It was Master Shifu. He hadn't even noticed that he had reached the top of the stares. He was too preoccupied with thoughts about Tigress.
Shifu gave him a very stern look. "Where have you been?" he asked, calmly yet strictly. "You weren't present at early morning greetings nor did you join us for breakfast."
Po was frozen stiff while Shifu scolded. But he managed to compose himself. He scratched the back of his neck, laughing awkwardly. You better come up with something before you face Shifu's wrath! his inner voice told him
"Yeah. Um.I came down to see my dad to talk about...stuff," Po answered lamely.
Shifu arched an eyebrow. "What did you talk about?"
Po gulped. "Stuff." He answered with a shrug.
"What kind of stuff?"
"Guy stuff."
Shifu narrowed his blue eyes at the panda. Both of them stared at each other. Po was trying his best not to flinch, any move would be considered a confirmation to what Shifu might be suspecting.
Shifu finally closed his eyes, releasing a breath through his nose. Po smiled in relief. "Fine. I'll let you slip just this once. Proceed to the Training Hall. You will be sparring with Tigress today."
Po stiffened. He bowed to Shifu and marched straight for the Training Hall. "I'm sparring with Tigress. Great." He muttered.
As Master Shifu approached the Hall of Warrior, he heard flapping sound behind him. The old master already knew who was approaching
Zeng landed carefully on the floor with one foot, his other one holding a wooden cylinder.
"Master Shifu," Zeng bowed.
Shifu nodded as he acknowledged the gesture. "A message, Zeng?" he said as the goose handed him the cylinder.
"Yes, sir. The sender didn't name himself to me when he gave me the scroll. But he said it was important - very important - and should be read immediately."
"Hmm. Very well. You may go now, Zeng."
Shifu walked towards the Moon Pool, eyeing the wood vessel curiously. He opened the lid and pulled the scroll out. He read it.
Shifu dropped the letter and it clattered to the floor. "What?"
Did you like chapter 3? I know it's short, but please let me know.
