And this is the big wrap-up! What's a holiday traditon in the Valley of Peace without a little dancing?
Chapter 9: The Folk Dances
The next night, the kung-fu masters were set to get themselves ready for the folk dances and everyone was getting excited about this occasion...including Tigress. However for Zhong...he was a little nervous about this and wasn't sure about this. Po could sense that he was a little scared about it and he went up to him and asked, "What's wrong, buddy?"
Zhong had something to hide and he knew what it was, but he didn't know how to respond it any further. He finally answered, "I don't know how to dance."
Po scoffed at this and he asked, "Seriously?"
The wolf shushed the panda with embarassment and told him, in a strained, whispered voice, "Not that I don't know how, but I've never danced with anyone before."
Then it came out that he's never danced with a girl since his wife died and figured that it might be the only chance he can get if he wants to dance with Shu. Po stared at him and he said, "Ohh...I got ya."
Suddenly, Shu came from behind with a black and white dress on and she gave Zhong a bow tie to go along with his attire and she said, "I'm joining you."
Zhong puts on the bow tie and he looked like he was totally different from himself and then Shu said, "You look handsome."
"Thanks." he replied.
They held hands as they went on their way and they heard some folk melodies playing and everyone started dancing. Soon enough, most of the Five started dancing with other people and that leaves Zhong standing there watching them dance as well, but Shu was ready to dance with her mate. She went to him and she asked, "You wanna dance with me?"
The wolf sighed nervously and suddenly, she kissed him in the cheek and that feeling suddenly gave him confidence that he can dance with her and he said, "Okay."
They both held hands and when they got in, she puts her paw on his shoulders and he puts his paws on her waist and started dancing together. As they danced, Zhong could definitely feel like their bodies are holding closely together and he twirled her around and kept dancing and dancing and then, he dipped her. Shu chuckled softly and she never thought that Zhong would be such a great dancer. He said, "Have you been dancing long?"
Zhong chuckled nervously and he replied, "I wouldn't say long. More like...years."
Meanwhile, Po was dancing with Tigress and she felt awkward dancing with the Dragon Warrior, but when she looked at him in the green eyes, it helped her gain much more confidence to know that she can trust him. Po asked her, "You okay?"
Tigress exhaled deeply as she looked at Po and replied, "Yes."
Po chuckled softly and he asked, "Am I making you nervous?"
Tigress stared at Po deeply in the eyes and asked, "About what?"
Po sighed heavily as they were dancing and he answered, "You dancing with a panda like me."
Tigress didn't know how to respond to that, but knowing that question, she felt like it's perfectly natural that she could dance with someone like him. She replied, "No, it doesn't. It's just that...I always thought of you as a friend."
"I know we're masters and everything, but sometimes we can be friends too." Po said.
Tigress could kinda get what Po's saying and he was the one that brought her out of her hardcore wall to reveal her true feelings and it's like she can count on him for anything. As they were dancing together, she definitely felt comfortable to be around Po. She laid her head on his chest and started purring softly and she told him, "You're a good person, Po. A goofy one, but a good person."
Po chuckled at that comment, but felt touched by her words and he said, "Thanks, Tigress."
Later on, Zhong and Shu were still dancing and the music played a gentle, slow song and they started dancing together and as they were spinning around, they completely embraced each other as their bodies came closer to each other and Zhong told her, "I love being with you."
"I love being with you too." Shu replied.
They both smiled and both of them kissed each other in the lips and after that, she laid her head on Zhong's chest and placed her muzzle under his armpit and all he could do is just feel happy that he's finally found love this holiday season. Po looks up and he sees Zhong and Shu just hugging each other while they were dancing and he just let out a smile and thought to himself, 'I knew you two are meant for each other.'
Later that night, Zhong was sitting at the Sacred Peach Tree, looking at the moon while the snow falls down feeling completely happy like it was the best night of his life, especially with being around Shu and he owes it all to the Dragon Warrior for helping him find love and also getting into the holiday spirit.
Po walks behind him and he sat next to him and he asked, "So...did you have fun tonight?"
Zhong looked at Po and he lets out a chuckle and he replied, "Are you kidding, panda? That was the best night of my life so far. Because of you, I was able to find love and also...you brought me into the holidays for the first time in years."
"Hey, no problem, wolfie-boy." Po said, giving him a gentle punch in the arm.
Zhong playfully punched Po's arm and they did the same thing for a few minutes and started laughing. Then, he told Po, "I wanna thank you."
Po scoffs at that and he said, "Thank me? For what?"
"Everything you've done these past couple of days. I don't know how you do it, but I'm glad you did anyway." Zhong added.
Zhong felt pretty happy about himself and Po chuckled softly and said, "You're welcome."
Seconds later, Shu came in and that surprised Zhong to the fullest extent of joy to see her again. He wrapped her arms around her and hugged her tightly. Po could see that they need some alone time, so he left them alone for a bit, leaving Zhong and Shu to spend some time with each other. She told him, "I came here to tell you that you were the best holiday gift I ever had."
"I am?" he asked, confusedly.
"Yes."
She puts in a mistletoe under his head and leaps in for the kiss on the lips. They were near the tree as they were kissing and laid down on top of each other, just kissing away. When they broke off the kiss, they only stared at each other and they started laughing. Shu giggled and and said, "Happy holidays, Zhong."
"You too...Shu." he said, softly.
They sat down and spent most of the night howling to each other and she puts her head on her shoulder and he did the same and Zhong felt like it was the best holiday he's ever had in his entire life and what's better...he had someone to share it with.
And...that's it! I wish I could do more, but this is all I got. Hope you guys love it and Merry Christmas! We need more Wolf Boss fics ASAP! For anyone getting Kung Fu Panda 2 on DVD or Blu-ray this tuesday, make it a priority that more Wolf Boss fics can be expanded. I'll post another KFP christmas fic in a minute, so in the meantime...happy holidays! Most thanks to Wonder Panda Tan-Tan, Landofthefuture, Joe 'Po' Navark and big thanks to son of wind for loving this story. Again, happy holidays!
