War and Peace


Chapter Six- Forest Battle


Day 3

Uatu once again began leading the heroes through the forest, hoping to cover as many miles as possible while there was still daylight, for time was of the essence if they were to defeat Atum. Po was close behind with Tigress and Mei on either side, seemingly oblivious to whenever the two female tigers would glare at one another. Monkey, Viper, Crane, and Mantis covered the rear, all of them ever cautious just in case of bandits or even greater enemies that may lurk in the shadows. The sounds of tree limbs snapping startled Mei, causing her to accidently trip over a tree root and fall to the ground, much to Tigress' dark amusement.

"Are you okay, Mei?", Po asked, leaning down and extending his hand to her in a friendly gesture.

"I'm all right. Thank you, Po.", Mei answered in a sweet and kind voice as Po helped her to her feet.

"Po! Stop comforting the Princess and keep moving!", Tigress ordered as a hint of jealousy entered her voice as she glared at the panda and female white tiger.

"I was only making sure she was okay, Tigress.", Po replied meekly, adverting his gaze away from Tigress' own as he looked at the ground.

"Why do you treat Po so harshly? He has done nothing wrong, Master Tigress!", Mei demanded, narrowing her emerald green eyes at Tigress.

"I'm not saying that Po has done anything wrong, but he should focus on covering more ground before nightfall.", Tigress responded, attempting to keep her temper under control.

"And that is supposed to justify for you treating him so harshly?", Mei questioned, crossing her arms over her chest, defiantly glaring at Tigress.

"Listen here, Princess! Po is my closest friend, and I would never be cruel to him!", Tigress stated, stepping closer until she was face-to-face with the female white tiger.

"Tigress, Mei, please don't fight! We're all friends here, right? Can't we just get along?", Po reasoned, stepping in between the two female tigers, hoping that he could prevent a confrontation between the two.

"No!", Tigress and Mei said in unison, causing the startled panda to take a few steps back.

He couldn't understand why Mei and Tigress always seemed to be at each others throats. Most of their arguments were either regarding their dislike of one another or involved him in some way or another. Despite being most oblivious, Po did notice that whenever Mei would show him friendly affection it would usually result in enraging Tigress, as if it bothered her greatly on some level. If he didn't know any better, Po would have thought that Tigress was jealous, but that couldn't be it... or could it?

It was all so confusing to him, especially when regarding such beautiful women as Tigress and Mei. Tigress had nothing to be jealous about, for she was just as beautiful and attractive as Princess Mei, so that couldn't be the reason why Tigress was so hostile towards the female white tiger. Then Po began to wonder... could the reason for Tigress acting so jealous of Mei be that he was spending time with her? Could it be that Tigress was attracted to Po, thus explaining why she was jealous whenever Mei would show him affection?

"They're at it again.", Viper whispered to Crane, Monkey, and Mantis.

"Again?", Crane groaned, lowering his hat ever so slightly.

"What's up with Tigress, anyway?", Mantis wondered as he rested on Monkey's should.

"I think she's fighting over Po.", Monkey chuckled in amusement.

"Nah! She can't be! Tigress doesn't show affection!", Crane replied, finding it hard to believe that Tigress would fall for Po.

"Yeah, but remember when she hugged Po in Gongmen City?", Monkey reminded.

"Monkey has a point.", Viper interjected, a sly smile gracing her visage.

"Yeah, I almost forgot about that.", Mantis added, his tiny eyes glancing at the two arguing female tigers.

"Love can make one display great affection and express themselves in ways thought impossible, even those who are usually devoid of feelings and emotion.", Uatu stated, much to the surprise of Monkey, Viper, Crane, and Mantis.

"How long have you've been listening?", Viper asked, staring at the old silverback.

"I've heard everything since we left the Valley of Peace.", Uatu answered, turning to face the four Kung Fu Warriors, who appeared to be in shock.

"Don't worry. What was spoken along this journey will remain just between us.", Uatu chuckled, gving them a conspiratorial wink as a smirk graced his features.

Before either of the four indivduals could ask Uatu anything else, the sound of snapping branches and trees caught their attention, silencing even the verbal argument between Tigress and Mei. Then, as suddenly as the noises began, they were just as quickly silenced. It was then that all eyes fell on Uatu, whose expression became serious, his muscles tensing as he grasped the handle of his blade with his right hand.

"Be on your guard. We're not alone.", Uatu informed, his silver-blue eyes scanning the surroundings.

Then, without warning, a dozen gorilla warriors exploded from the surrounding forest, unleashing horrific roars as they charged towards Uatu, The Furious Five, Po and Mei. It became clear to Uatu that Atum knew that they were coming, for it seemed only natural that the Fallen One would discover their presence sooner or later. Uatu was ready to fight, and it would appear that so was the Furious Five and Po, who got into their fighting stances around Uatu, willing to aid him in the battle that was destined to happen!

"Death to those who dare oppose the reign of Lord Atum!", One of the Gorilla Warriors shouted.

"Oppose this!", Uatu roared, unsheathing his giant deadly blade from its holder.

"Bring it on!", Po shouted before releasing a few kung fu yells.

With incredible speed, Uatu lashed out at the charging apes, taking one down brutally by impaling him with his blade before shattering the jaw of another with a swing of his left fist! Monkey and Viper launched their own attack while Mantis & Crane did as well, each of them working together to take down these monstrous brutes one at a time. Tigress, Po, and Mei stayed close together fending off one monstrous gorilla after another, with Tigress eventually rushing forward to take the brutes on by herself, leaving Po to defend Mei and fight any of the gorilla warriors that dared to attack, using his girth and Kung Fu skills to take them down!

Unlike so many other foes that they faced, these gorilla warriors were consideralbly more difficult to defeat, their immense strength and durability making them extremely deadly enemies. Tigress was finding it difficult taking on more than two of these monstrous brutes at a time, finding herself overpowered as four of the gorilla warriors began beating on her! She soon found herself crashing to the ground, her body aching with pain from the thunderous blows of these monstrous apes, seemingly unaware of the troop leader standing over her ready to strike at her with his battle ax!

Then, from out of nowhere, Uatu came to Tigress' rescue, roaring in primal rage as he quickly and brutally dealt with the four apes! Tigress couldn't believe it... just when she was about to release her true fury upon the apes, Uatu had to rush in and take the battle from her! She didn't need his help, nor did she want it! Still, she had to admit that for an old gorilla, he was as fast as he was brutal and effective!

"You will not harm her!", Uatu snarled, breaking the arm of one of the gorilla warriors before quickly dispatching another viciously with his sword.

"What's the matter, Uatu? Afraid that we'll hurt the little kitten?", The Troop Leader snarled mockingly, swinging his battle ax at Uatu, only to have it shatter as it collided with Uatu's mystical blade.

"Leave... my... god-child... alone!", Uatu roared while brutally snapping the neck of the troop leader, unaware that Tigress had heard the words that escaped his mouth.

Tigress soon shook herself from her thoughts, quickly rising to her feet to help Po defeat two of the gorilla warriors, though he appeared to be more than capable of defending himself. Still, she would help Po, if only because she was angry and she needed to vent some rage on these damn dirty apes! Leaping into the air, Tigress lashed out with a powerful spinning kick, sending one of the gorilla warrior smacking skull first into a nearby boulder, effectively knocking him out.

Then she went about aiding Po, allowing Po to dislocate the ape's right arm before she snapped the left one, causing the ape to growl in pain. Then, as one, Tigress and Po smashed their fists against the gorilla warrior's face, cracking bone as he proceeded to crash to the earth in a state of unconsciousness. Tigress, Po, and Mei were soon joined by Monkey, Viper, Mantis, and Crane, who merely watched as Uatu dealt with the last three remaining gorilla warriors.

Never before had they seen such savage ferocity combined with immeasurable strength and incredible speed, their eyes watching as Uatu violently shattered the leg of one gorilla warrior before smashing his skull into the ground, effectively knocking the ape out as Uatu turned his attention to the remaining two. Neither gorilla warrior seemed eager to fight Uatu, but one was foolish enough to attack, rushing forward only to have his ax wielding right arm grabbed and broken by Uatu. Then, without the slightiest hint of remorse, Uatu drove a powerful knee into the ape warrior's gut before delivering a violent knockout blow to the temple of the ape's skull.

The final gorilla warrior didn't even bother attempting to fight Uatu, choosing to drop his weapon and run back into the forest, leaving his fallen or unconscious comrades where they now rested in defeat. Uatu turned to face Po, Mei, and the Furious Five, placing his mystical sword back in its holder before resuming to approach them. It appeared that they were unharmed from the battle, which caused the old ape to release a heavy sigh of relief, his silver-blue eyes falling upon Po, Tigress, and Mei.

"Is everyone all right?", Uatu asked, getting a nod of confirmation from the seven individuals.

"Good... now we must move. Night will soon fall, and Atum knows that we're coming.", Uatu informed, turning as he began walking away.

"We're not going anywhere until you tell me what you're hiding!", Tigress snarled, narrowing her eyes at the old silverback.

"I know not of what you mean, Tigress.", Uatu lied, refusing to face her or any of the others.

"Tigress, what are you talking about?", Po asked, confusion and concern evident in his voice.

"He knows something... something about me! Of who I am! And I want to know what it is... now!", Tigress demanded, shouting at the Uatu as he slowly turned to stare at her.

"Some things... no matter how important... are better left undiscovered.", Uatu responded, his voice devoid of any emotion.

"If you won't tell me by choice... I'll force you to tell me, even if I have to beat it out of you, Uatu!", Tigress snarled, narrowing her fiery eyes at the old gorilla.

"Your threats may intimidate your enemies and your friends, but I can't be so easily threatened, especially by one who is little more than a cub herself.", Uatu retorted indifferently, which only seemed to enrage Tigress even further.

With a savage snarl, Tigress ran full speed at Uatu before leaping at the old silverback, intending to beat the information out of him. Then, almost too fast for the eye to comprehend, Uatu reached out and caught Tigress by the throat before slamming her down to the ground, pinning her to the ground as he kept his hand around her neck. Despite his hand grasping her throat, Tigress noticed that he never tightened his grip nor attempted to harm her in any way, but was merely displaying that no matter how skilled she was, he was stronger.

"I may be old and not as powerful as I once was, but I'm still more than capable of defeating you, Master Tigress.", Uatu stated, his silver-blue eyes staring into Tigress defiant fiery irises.

"It doesn't matter! I'll fight you until my last breath!", Tigress replied, remaining defiant even in the face of a stronger being.

"Do you honestly wish to know, Tigress?", Uatu asked, releasing his grip on her, thus allowing her to stand.

"Yes.", Tigress answered, calming her temper as she stared at the towering silverback.

"Then... I will tell you... once we reached our destination for the night.", Uatu stated, closing his eyes as a sorrowful expression appeared on his features.

Tigress, Po, Mei, and the others could only look on as Uatu walked away. As they followed the old silverback, each of them wondered what it could be that he was keeping secret for so long. And more intriguing... why does it involve Master Tigress? Even as Tigress continued to walk, she closed her eyes briefly before clenching her paws into fists, if only to relieve the tension she felt within her.

She wanted to know who she was, perhaps finally know of who her parents were and what happened to them. She knew so little of her past, and despite the hesitation she felt, she wanted to know. She has been having these same horrific dreams for years, yet not really knowing what they were about or why they concerned her! All that Tigress knew was that Uatu had the answers... and she wanted them!

She was disturbed from her thoughts as she felt a comforting paw on her should, causing her to open her eyes and look upon none other than Po, who was offering her a supportive smile as always. Regardless of what she would find out, she at least had the comfort to know that she had Po and her friends there to help her. After all of these years, the truth of Master Tigress and her origins would finally be revealed!


Author's Notes

It will finally be revealed! What connection does Uatu have with Tigress and her past? Does it involve her parents and what fate befell them? How will she react to this once she discovers the truth of her origins? How will Po and the others react to this discovery?