My Own Destiny

By corset-rebellion-follower

Disclaimer: I don't own Kung Fu Panda. If I did, Shifu and Tigress would be getting married in the sequel.

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A/N: As the title of this chapter suggests, this is in Tigress's point of view. Enjoy!

Chapter 7- A Different Point of View

"Absolutely not!"

Angel's smile slid off her face like butter on a bald gopher. "But why not? It's not like it's anything serious, we're just listening to music!" she protested.

"We don't even know this boy! How do you know what his intentions are?" Shifu asked. I sighed. I knew that this day would come, when Angel wanted to start dating and Shifu would try and keep her from it as long as possible, clutching to her childhood and innocence.

"It's not like we're going to be sitting all alone in the dark! It's not even a real date, we're just hanging out together!" Angel insisted.

"I don't trust this boy, I don't know this boy, I've never even looked him in the face! And you expect me to let you go to his house by yourself and be alone with him? Do you think I'm crazy?" Shifu asked, his voice raising.

"Shifu, calm down. There's no need to yell," I soothed, putting a paw on my husband's shoulder.

"The answer is no!" Shifu pressed.

"Nikko is a straight-A, honor roll student! I don't think he goes around, leading random girls on!" Angel argued.

"Appearances and accomplishments can be deceiving," Shifu retorted stubbornly. I sighed. Shifu was trying to protect Angel. He didn't want her getting hurt. But he hadn't faced a teenage girl since Viper was Angel's age, and that was a while ago.

"His mother is going to be there, do you seriously think he would try anything when his mom is in earshot?" Angel asked.

"You would be surprised."

Angel sighed frustratedly. "Dad. I have been training in kung fu since I was six years old. Do you seriously believe that I couldn't defend myself if he did try anything? You've trained me yourself, you're always telling me how proud you are of me and how I'm so gifted at kung fu, and you don't even trust me to go on one date?" Angel said, desperately trying to prove her point.

"Even the most skilled warriors have weaknesses." This was the part of the argument that I backed up Shifu on 100 percent. From what Angel had told me about Nikko, I could see that he was no Tai Lung, but still. You never fully know what a person is capable of until you see it. Tai Lung had taken my own virginity and had nearly ruined my marriage. I never thought that anyone would stoop that low, not even Tai Lung. I was wrong. And I paid the price.

Shifu sighed despondently. "Cherry blossom, I am only trying to protect you," he soothed, taking our daughter's hands.

"Why? You've spent my entire childhood teaching me how to protect myself. And now you're acting like I'm just beginning my training again," Angel said, taking her hands away.

"Cherry blossom…"

"Stop, Dad, just stop! I'm tired of being fawned over all the time, and I'm tired of being treated like a child! I'm SICK OF IT!" And she stormed away. Shifu's ears had flattened against his head and his eyes were wide.

I took Shifu into my arms. "Take a deep breath, love. Just relax for a minute before you start to react," I whispered, nuzzling the top of his head in between his ears.

"How am I to relax with my daughter being so reckless? She has no idea of how much trouble she could get herself into. She doesn't know what's out there…" he said distantly.

"Of course she doesn't, Shifu. She's only a teenager. But I do think she's right about some things," I said.

"Have you too turned against me, Tigress?" he asked trying to make a joke. I chuckled a little to humor him.

"She barely steps out of the Jade Palace except for school. She needs to see the outside world, Shifu. Even if it means putting her in danger's path."

Shifu sighed. "You are right again. I just… I don't like this. She could be getting set up for a fall."

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"We know nothing about this boy, we've never met his parents… what if he's working for Tai Lung?" Shifu asked.

I looked at him as if he were crazy. "What? No one's seen Tai Lung in years! I doubt that he's sending teenage boys out to get our daughter." Shifu didn't look convinced. I shook my head.

"Shifu, I don't want her to be locked up in the Jade Palace all her life. Not like I was. That's why I wanted her to go to school and why I want her to go on this date. She needs to learn the way of the world. And she can't do that here. You can teach her all the kung fu you want, but she'll never be able to use it properly if she doesn't know what she could be up against." Shifu didn't say anything.

The wall was breaking…

"Please? For me, Shifu?" I asked sweetly, gently pressing a kiss to his mouth.

He sighed. "Alright. But I want to meet this boy afterward if he ever wants to look at my daughter again." BOOM! Wall officially broken.

I smiled and rubbed noses with him. "Thank you."

I stood up and went after Angel to give her our permission. She was in the training hall, pummeling the Adversary. "Angel." She didn't look up at me.

"What is it, Mom?" she asked.

I pulled her away from the Adversary and sat down next to her. "I know you really wanted to go out with Nikko, and—"

"If this is some sort of consolation talk, I really don't want to hear it, Mom. No offense, I'm just not in the mood for a lecture," she said crossly.

"Let me finish. I know you were really looking forward to it, so I convinced your father to let you go on your date." Angel's face brightened.

"Really? Thank you Mom, thank you so much!" She gave me a strong hug before running out of the training hall. She reminds me of myself and my mother. I smiled and went to go write a letter to my parents.

A/N: Another chapter completed! It feels really good to be back in the writing swing. Ok, major thank you to EVERYBODY whose ever been to my profile page! I checked my stats recently, and I have over 5000 profile page hits! You guys rock! And btw, if anyone is interested, I'm looking for someone to draw Nikko. I would do it myself, but my drawing skills are suckish. So if anyone wants to, PM me! Holla!