The Bird and the Snake


Zan forced the sack of sand back to its little corner. It had been a week since the fighting in the palace stopped. There were still some solemn faces and unusually rude laughing remarks at each other, but the surface underneath seemed pretty safe. Zan didn't like it. Never one for settling, he was determined to try and eliminated the past problems of the Furious Five and Po. Presently, he was training with Crane, who was supervising him in his training today. Zan, nay everyone, knew the problem Crane had with his mother's remarriage. Zan punched the bean bag again in an angry rage. He was mad because he couldn't figure out what to do for the Furious Five, currently Crane. He kept thinking and thinking but he couldn't figure something out. Crane, previously not paying attention to Zan's weak punches, now started to notice the angry grunts and powerful growls from his beak. Zan shoved the bean bag ten feet away with his webbed foot. "Zan are you okay," He asked curious.

"I'm fine," He replied just as Tigress would if she was angry. Suddenly, Zan punched the bean bag back to the wall and was about to destroy it. Crane stopped him and held the little quarreling duckling.

"Calm down, Zan," Crane soothed as Zan continued trying to take out the bag.

"I can't! It tasks me," Zan said almost demonically.

"Breathe, breathe," Crane said calmly. Zan did so and slowly came down from his enraged high. "Now, what's got you so riled up today? You look like Tigress when she's having a bad day. What's up?" Zan sighed.

"Well, you...I've been having a problem with my friends," Zan started to explain. "You see, one of my friends, Ai, has been my friend for a long time. But then, she tells me that she has another friend that she's been seeing and never told me. I'm just mad that she-"

"Didn't tell you," Crane finished. Zan looked at the tall bird. He had a fallen face on. "Zan, you're not angry because of your friends. You angry at me, aren't you?"

"I just want to help, but I can't. Master Crane, I don't know when I'll be able to see my mother and you're going to let something like this separate you from yours?" Crane thought about what Zan said. He was right. "I will tell you another story. My friend Zang has been lonely all this time. He has a brother named Aang." Crane looked at Zan with an unbelieving face. "Yeah I know. Anyways, when Aang finally gets a friend, Zang is mad. Why?"

"Because he got a friend and Zang couldn't," Crane sighed. "So you're saying that I'm also jealous that my mother found someone to marry and I haven't so much as dated someone?"

"Are you," Zan asked. Crane was silent for while. Just then Zeng came in.

"Zan, a friend of yours is here. She wants to speak to you." Zan nodded and started his way when Crane stopped him.

"You are right," Crane said, "I've been stupid this whole entire time. She's my mother and I should respect her decision. I know what it's like not having someone. I'll go talk to Master Shifu." Zan nodded as he went away. Zan walked to the courtyard to see Ai waiting for him. When they met, they started down the mountain.

"So how did the plan go," Ai asked.

"It was good. Thank you for coming up with the idea. He bought the act," Zan smiled confidently. Zan actually only acted like he was angry. Apparently he was very good at acting. "Now that's done. I can rest a bit easier. Thanks Ai for helping me with this." The little crane shyly smiled and blushed.

"You're welcome. You can count on all of us to help where we can," Ai replied. Zan smiled. "So where is the prince?"

"Um...He had to do some...princely duties," Zan lied. He couldn't tell them about his 'other' side. "Well, now we can go down the mountain." Ai stopped him.

"Hold up, can you give me a tour of the Jade Palace," Ai asked in a 'pretty pretty please' face. Zan sighed defeated.

"Fine," He muttered. "But I'll only show you the stuff I'm allowed to show you." Ai smiled. They went to the barracks. "This is where the Furious Five and Po sleep. I sleep in the servant's room outside. It's pretty cozy." As they passed the rooms, Ai saw one of the rooms open to Viper's room, who was sadly watching the ground silently. While Zan wasn't looking, Ai stepped into Viper's room.

"Hello," Ai said shyly. Viper was shocked and surprised.

"Wha-Who where did you come from," Viper asked.

"I'm Ai. I'm one of Zan's friends," Ai replied rubbing the back of her head. Viper nodded.

"Zan has mentioned a lot about you," Viper commented. "What are you doing here? Is Zan giving you a tour of the palace?" Ai nodded. "Then why aren't you with him?"

"Because I saw that you were sad and I was wondering why you were so sad," Ai commented. Viper tried to offer a smile, but she failed miserably.

"It's nothing really. I don't think you can fix it anyways," Viper sighed.

"You mean your parents splitting," Ai asked. Viper's head whipped around to the young crane so fast, Ai stumbled back a bit. Viper's eyes were calculating.

"How do you know about that," She asked, rather demanded.

"Well," Ai started nervously, "Zan told us about the...um...trouble that happened here. Your situation with your parents was one of them." Viper's glare relaxed. She continued to look at the ground. "So what are you going to do about it?"

"There's nothing I can do," Viper sighed.

"Well, help them," Ai advised. Viper looked at her with her head tilted in confusion. "Your parents are going through a rough time. They need all the help they can get. I mean, that's how it sounds. Even if they do separate, they look to you as a sign of a good relationship." Viper softly chuckled and let a smile surface. Ai had heard about Viper's smile. It was a smile that was pleasant, inviting, and uplifting and she could see that it was true.

"When did you young people become so smart? How old are you," Viper asked.

"I'm nine years old," Ai smiled back. Zan was clear to the Hall of Heroes before he noticed Ai was gone. He retraced his steps back to the barracks' kitchen.

"Where is she," He thought worriedly. He looked up in the overhead cabinets and down underneath the table.

"Zan," Said a voice. Zan hit his head coming back up. He crawled out from out of the table to see Master Viper and Ai giggling. Zan chuckled nervously. "Are you looking for Ai," Viper asked. Zan nodded. "Well, here she is. Now, excuse me while I have to speak with Master Shifu." And she slithered away. Zan glared at Ai.

"Sorry for making you worried but she seemed so sad and I just wanted to help," Ai said. "Maybe we can have the tour some other time. Good-bye." She went out and flew down the mountain. Zan wondered where everyone was. He went back to the Hall of Heroes to see Viper and Crane in with Master Shifu. Zan casually walked up to the group.

"So you each need to be with your families," Shifu said. Viper and Crane nodded. "Very well. I'll give you two weeks to be with your parents. I hope that this helps you with your problems."

"It will and thank you Master Shifu," Crane bowed along with Viper. "And thank you Zan." Zan smiled widely. Viper kissed him on the head, making him chuckle a bit. It tickled. Then they were on their way.

"What did Master Crane mean by that, Zan," Shifu asked.

"Well," Zan started and explained what had happened. Ai had filled him up on what happened with her and Master Viper. Master Shifu quietly listened as Zan finished. He smiled.

"You are proving to be a very great leader. Now get some rest. It's getting late," Shifu instructed. Zan yawned. He was becoming very tired. He strolled to his bed and went fast asleep. Tigress passed by his room to see him sleeping. She smiled and went on her way. Then she found Viper packing.

"You're leaving," She asked. Viper was startled to hear Tigress speak to her. She hadn't spoken to anyone in a while. Well, other than shouting at Po.

"Yyyeah just for a while. I need to settle this thing with my parents," Viper replied as she finished packing. She began going out until she stopped. "Tigress, take care of Zan. He's more helpful than he looks."

"You know I will," Tigress replied sternly.

"And, please get to know Po," Viper said. Tigress became confused. "Tigress, I know the real reason why you dated Qiang. No one else does but I know. Zan looks to you for strength but he also wants you to be happy."

"I'm happy right now," Tigress replied.

"I can accept that lie, but Zan won't. He's smarter than you think. He just got Crane and I to buck up and face our problems. I'm saying this so that he won't force you two to...do...something...that you might not...want to," Viper said carefully. She didn't want to say what was on her mind. "Until then, take care." Then she slithered away. Tigress was very bewildered about what Viper just said. But Viper was right. She probably knew the real reason why Tigress dated Qiang. Viper's eyes could see and tell situations that most people couldn't. But how was Zan going to interfere with that?

to be continued.