"Achoo!" Sneezed Tigress as she got up in the morning. Falling asleep in the tub left her with a slight cold, but she could handle it. The night's previous events still lingered in her mind, but she tried hard not to think about it. Looking out her window she noticed the sun was just about to rise over the horizon. Knowing Master Shifu would be down any minute she got up and quickly got dressed. She looked down at her chest as she buttoned up her shirt. The scar that had been there for as long as she could remember looked nothing like a Chinese Character. It was just a scar baring no significance. She traced a claw along the flesh that showed. Could it have once been a symbol she thought?
"Tigress!" A strict, yet familiar, voice called from outside her room.
Startled, Tigress finished buttoning up her shirt and immediately shot out of her room.
"Master!" She acknowledged as she stood in front of the cross red panda.
Shifu huffed and held his head up high as he spoke to his student. "Where is your mind this morning? Even the panda reported immediately after my morning announcement. Are you still pouting over yesterday and feel you can continue to test my patience?" He whacked her thigh briskly with his thin staff once.
Tigress did her best not to wince, but she did gulp slightly.
"Forgive me master!" She bowed in respect. "My mind was elsewhere this morning. If I may be so bold to decline your errand…I mean mission, to retrieve Mr. Ping, for a day of heavy meditation instead? I feel I am in dire need of it presently."
"If you would not have disobeyed my orders yesterday Tigress and went to see Po then maybe I would have approved your request. However since you felt it not necessary to listen to orders then I am afraid that you will still be needed to complete my task. Then you will have one thousand laps up and down the Palace's steps once you return. Is that clear?" Shifu instructed his student sternly.
Tigress couldn't help but sigh as her master made her go through with his mission with an added bonus at the end.
"Yes Master, I understand." She replied despondently, still in her bowing position.
"I certainly hope so for your sake Tigress! I allowed you to set me straight yesterday evening for acting too leisurely lately, though you showed sassiness doing so I let it pass. If I knew you'd take advantage of my lenience I would have punished you right then and there. When I tell you to do something you will do it! I will not be disrespected by you anymore!"
Shifu was laying it on thick, scolding his student more than he normally would. He felt he needed to be strict with her though, since this wasn't the first time she's disrespected him by not following orders.
The others tried there best not to look shocked at what was happening. It was rare that Tigress ever been late during roll call, in fact they weren't sure if she's ever reported late. To hear that she got cheeky with Master Shifu previously was also a shock. It was clear that she was not herself this morning, and they secretly wished Master Shifu would grant her wish to meditate. They also wondered what happened to Master Shifu's happy-go-lucky attitude. It was kind of a bummer that it was gone, that meant no more slacking off for them either. It remained quiet for a while as Tigress glumly remained in her bow with Master Shifu glaring at her like an angry and disappointed father. Po gulped a bit and wondered if he should speak up or not. He certainly did not want any of what Tigress was getting.
"Uh Master Shifu? With all do respect, don't you think you're being a little hard on her?" Po stammered as she spoke, laughing nervously a bit as well. Shifu tried his best to ignore the panda for now.
"I mean it's clear that she is not herself this morning. It's probably that time of the month…if you know what I mean heh, heh." Po looked around to see if his comment got any giggles, which it didn't. Feeling stupid Po continued, "I am ok with retrieving my father on my own."
Shifu's eye twitched as the panda continued wishing Po would have known better to keep silent.
"It's no big deal; I don't see why two of us are needed…" Po reasoned, but was promptly cut off by Shifu.
"Silence! I will not have any outbursts from any of you!" Shifu yelled, pointing his staff at the panda followed by the remaining Furious Five.
Po swallowed, "Well…it wasn't really an out…OW!" Po shook his hefty paw and licked it gently in hope to dull the sharp pain. Shifu was quick to swat his staff swiftly on his mouthy, fat student's paw. Whimpering, Po decided to stay quiet and let Master Shifu finish his business.
"I am sending you and Tigress for a reason." Shifu walked along the corridor with his staff held firmly behind him. "Is there anything else that needs to be said?" The red panda looked at each of his students indignantly. They all shook their heads and continued to look forward. "Good. Now I want everyone except Tigress and Po report to the training room immediately. As for you two, I do not want to see you back here until noon, is that clear?"
"Yes Master." Po and Tigress said in unison. Shifu nodded and departed. Tigress stood up and looked over at Po who was still nursing his paw.
"How is it?" Tigress asked as she rubbed the sore spot on her thigh.
"Oh it's alright, just stings a bit." Po tried his best to laugh it off. "Master Shifu seems to really be in a bad mood today. I guess we'd better get a move on. I know we have until noon, but I am not about to lollygag."
Tigress nodded and followed Po out of their bedroom chambers. Stepping out into the cool morning air helped her shake off her grogginess and wake up some more.
She took a deep breath of the sweet air and stretched her muscles as she walked. The two walked slowly down the steps of the Jade Palace knowing they had plenty of time to kill before they had to return. After getting to the half way point Tigress wondered why Po was being so quiet. It certainly was not like him.
"I'm surprised you've managed to keep your mouth shut for this long. Is there something wrong?" Tigress asked, though kept her eyes from looking at Po.
Po looked over at Tigress and smiled, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Well I figured you didn't want to be disturbed. I mean yeah I really would like to talk and stuff, but I don't want to upset you anymore than you already might be."
She smiled calmly and shook her head. "Actually it would be nice if you did speak Master Po. I need someone to help keep my mind off things."
"Whoa, hey remember what I said about calling me Master? When I feel I am ready to be called such a thing I will let you know. You can still call me the Dragon Warrior though, if you want. Just because it sounds so freaking awesome! Yeah! Po the Dragon Warrior." Po amused himself balling up his fists to let out a few jabs.
Despite being the Dragon Warrior Po felt he has yet earned his status as a Master. Of course everyone begs to differ, well almost everyone. He defeated one of the most feared villains anyone in the Valley of Peace ever knew. He became a skilled Kung Fu warrior as well. Still ever since that fateful day defeating Tai Lung, Po found himself once again being a complete mess. His skills have gotten better, but he couldn't beat Master Shifu let alone anyone in a scuffle these days. That was most peculiar to say the least. How could the same person who totally dominated Tai Lung, lack the skills to defeat those who couldn't even overpower said villain?
"I still don't understand why you gave up your status in the Jade Palace. As the Dragon Warrior you are above the Furious Five. You very well deserve to be called Master. You even gave Master Shifu permission, to say the least, to treat you as he would us." Tigress couldn't help but sound a little annoyed. She would have loved to be in Po's position and she detested the fact that he gave that position up. She also found it dim-witted for Po not wanting to be called Master, but Dragon Warrior just because it sounded cool. Still she tried her best not to rebuke the panda too much at the moment. Although she didn't exactly have a friendship with Po, she didn't feel the need to be so coarse with him all the time. Po pondered silently for a while scratching his belly unconsciously. Clearing his throat he again looked at the female tiger next to him. She still kept her gaze forward, but Po didn't mind too much.
"Yeah I understand that, but come on. Ever since I beat Tai Lung my Kung Fu skills seemed to have gotten worse. I am sure you've noticed during our sparring sessions. I rarely win against any of you guys. You'd think that the dude who kicked snow leopard butt would be able to hold his own against the Furious Five. Not that I am belittling you guys in the slightest. I felt so empowered at the time; it was like some strange phenomenon. Like the planets aligned that day giving me special strength or something. I was filled with Dragon Warrior spirit! That's gone now, and I am just a mere student of Master Shifu's again. Or at least that is how I feel. Maybe being the Dragon Warrior was a one time thing ya know? Sometimes I even wonder if I still belong at the Jade Palace." Po spoke quietly as they continued to walk down the steps, though his steps became slower.
Tigress exhaled and looked down slowing down her steps as well to stay next to the frustrated panda. "If you feel that your only purpose was to defeat Tai Lung then you are wrong. I doubt your significance to this valley was just a one time event. The Dragon Warrior will always have a home at the Jade Palace and will be needed again. I can't say I know why you aren't exactly in the same league you were during your battle with Tai Lung, but don't give up on yourself. Stop second guessing yourself, it only causes unnecessary distraction. When the time comes you will be renewed as the Dragon Warrior, and filled with that power once more. I am sure the planets will have to align again sometime in the future." Tigress joked, getting Po to smile.
"Why not discuss your feelings with Master Shifu? I am sure he will be able to give you insight on your problem better than I can."
Po sighed and bit his lip. He did want to discuss this matter with Shifu, but he's been putting it off. Tigress did make him feel better though, yet he couldn't help but wonder why she was being so nice. It wasn't like her to be so conversational let alone be so open to give encouragement.
"You're right; I have wanted to talk with him for a while now. I am actually surprised he hasn't said anything either. I thought for sure he would have been just as puzzled as I am."
"Well he hasn't been himself lately. Though it seems he's back to his old routine today. Perhaps it was a mistake to chew him out like I did." Tigress mused chuckling lightly.
Po looked over at her and smiled. "So what did happen between you two yesterday? He seemed mighty peeved at you this morning. You must have done something wrong. Why were you late anyway?"
Tigress just growled good-naturedly and responded. "It's nothing really. I just told him he'd been slacking off too much, and that it wasn't good for him. I might have been a little harsh, but I felt he needed a wake up call. As for your last question I am going to have to decline answering."
"Oh so that's why he's back to being a pain in the butt again eh? I hope he is just laying it on thick to teach you, us I should say, a lesson. An angry Shifu is an unpleasant Shifu and I don't like that one bit." Po licked at his paw again, remembering earlier that morning.
Even though he was curious to know what kept Tigress from reporting immediately like she normally would, he decided to let it go for now.
"Yes, sorry that was my fault. I will have to apologize to him again after I do my laps." Tigress sighed not liking the idea of one thousand laps up and down the Palace's steps.
Po frowned, even for her that was a terrible punishment. "I am sure someone like you could get that done pretty quick huh?"
Tigress smiled at the friendly thought finally looking over at the kindhearted panda. "Much faster than you I am sure of that."
They shared a laugh as they finally made it down to the last steps.
Back at the Palace's training room Shifu lined up his students that stayed behind. He walked back and forth silently for a long while making his student anxious. Mantis and Monkey squirmed in place as they were getting tired of just standing around. Viper and Crane however found it easier to stay still and await their Master's orders.
"Be still!" Shifu chastised Mantis and Monkey for becoming restless.
They stopped squirming impatiently immediately and became as stiff as statues. After a while Shifu stopped mid way through his walk and turned to face his students.
"It is obvious that we've been taking things a little too lightly as of late. It is not like you two to be so fidgety." He aimed his staff at Mantis and Monkey who both flinched. "It's certainly not like you Viper and Crane to neglect your training for the past few days. Don't think I haven't noticed you two sneaking off to the hot springs lately. It would be unfair of me, however, to reprove your actions when even I have been inattentive. Surely I am more at fault here and I apologize for my actions. We've all been taking it a little too easy and we need to get back on track. It's not good to get so distracted so easily. Just because we are at peace again doesn't mean we will always be. I hope I don't sound too pessimistic."
Mantis bowed and wished to speak, which Shifu granted. "Forgive me if I sound brash Master, but why be so hard on Tigress? You seem to be forgiving to all of us, yet you punished Tigress firmly. She was the one who brought this whole mess to your attention in the first place."
Viper nodded in agreement and had to speak up too. "I feel the same Master. Even if Tigress snapped at you for not seeing how things were going she still helped you see the light. She helped all of us see the light to what we were becoming."
Shifu meditated for a moment as he took in their thoughts.
"It goes beyond that my students. I am not just punishing Tigress for her actions last night, but for her repeated actions. She is a wonderful pupil, but she has a problem with obeying orders. Sometimes her actions against my orders inspire you to join her, need I remind you about the time you went after Tai Lung? I need her to stop doing so. It may seem harmless now, but who knows what will happen if she feels she can get away with disobeying me all the time."
Crane frilled his feathers, he didn't like what Master Shifu was suggesting. "Tigress may disobey you from time to time, but she will never go wayward. She loves you! She loves all of us! She's only doing what she feels is best for everyone, even if it sometimes involves a little disobedience."
"Don't you think I want to believe that? I know she loves us, but things can go wrong like they did before!" Shifu shouted gripping his staff firmly.
"Get your mind off Tai Lung Master! He's dead! I thought Po defeating him would bring your inner peace?" Crane retorted, although his voice sounded more desperate than angry.
"I have felt inner peace my child. I have, but something has been bothering me lately." Shifu's angry tone dropped to a more somber one.
"It has to do with Tigress then Master?" Monkey finally spoke up. He was never one to get involved in arguments. "Did you have a premonition?"
They all looked at Shifu intently. If he did have a premonition about her they wanted to know. Shifu sighed deeply and sat down placing his staff next to him.
"I am not completely sure to be perfectly honest. It's not clear to me, but I feel something will happen with Tigress in the future. It's not good I can sense that much. I just wish that vision would become clearer to me! I would hate for Tigress to betray us all!" Shifu wasn't at all happy about what he hazily foresaw.
"Maybe you're thinking too much about it Master? Why would it have to be Tigress betraying us? Aren't there less drastic things that could happen? Not that anything should happen at all, but if you're saying it is then we need to be clear on what it is. Please don't go assuming the worse." Mantis tried his best to reason with Shifu, but even he was thinking the worst.
"It's not that I want to assume the worse. I just feel that whatever is going to happen is not going to be easy to handle. I don't know whether I should protect her, or reprimand her. Its times like these I wish Master Oogway were still alive." Shifu kept his head low, rubbing his fingers over his temples. "I feel if I show her too much affection it will only blow up in my face. Or if I just punish her for every little thing then I'll just drive her away. I know I am just thinking about what happened with Tai Lung, but I can't help it. I promise you though that I will get to the bottom of this even if it takes non stop meditation. I will make this vision clear."