The Next Day
Tigress could not solve the riddle and it drove her mad. She hadn't even slept in fear of losing him and to settle out her emotions for the panda. She had no idea how to let Po know she felt this way without losing the cursed challenge. The very fact she had been smitten by a Panda and that she was in the Pure Mate challenge was not helping. Before she could go any deeper in thought she heard:
"Tigress, I know you are concerned but thinking about how unfair the whole thing is won't help." Ai whisper while placing a paw on her shoulder
"What else can I do, Ai? He's everything to me and to find another like him as a tiger is unbearable." Tigress whispered trying to hold back the tears
"It is nowhere near over, yet. Jing challenged you because he had no idea that the Dragon Warrior can and will change form due to the Heaven's challenge. I know how you feel but you can't see a rainbow in the storm." Ai whispers back sitting next to Tigress
"What on earth is that suppose to mean?" Tigress replies confused
"It means that the hope in good times can be your strength in the bad times. I grew up in storms that held no ends and cherished each rainbow that came from it. You grew in the gray clouds that held no storm or rainbow to learn from. This is your first storm and even though this is a storm that no one should go through I know you have the strength to pull through." Ai replies smiling a heartwarming smile
"So if I have faith in Po, he will pull through for me." Tigress replies hopeful
"That depends on how strong your faith is. If you believe that Po will win and become a tiger than he will have the strength to fight. If you believe that he could save you from this storm than he will. It's all about how much you trust him." Ai replies smiling a smile that could melt any heart
Before Tigress could even say anything Ai was already waking Po up from their five minute rest and packing up to continue their journey. Tigress smiled knowing that she had someone to talk to and trust with her emotional trouble besides Po that understood what it is like to live her life. She wiped her eyes and made it look like she had just arisen from her short rest instead of being on the verge of tears like she moments earlier. She looked at Po and gave a genuine smile at how blessed she was to know him. She made a vow to forever be loyal and faithful in Po's abilities. 'I promise you, Po that I will always be there for you. Forever and always.' She thought to herself while stretching for the long run.
Po on the other hand wanted to become a tiger just to be able to tell Tigress how he felt about her. The challenge was the only thing standing in between him and the girl of his dreams; while Tigress was stretching he was hoping that his inner breed was a Tiger. He had not even realized he was staring a love-struck stare until:
"Alright you two, let's get a move on. The playing grounds are just above that mountain." Ai states with a knowing smirk
Due to Ai's speed and strength, she had managed to cut the four week hike to the said mountain into a night long journey. She knew the mountain climb would take up the majority of the day but was willing to pull out all the stops to ensure Po's victory and her freedom. She knew her sibling's job and genders but as she stated herself not their names. The mountain had stated that only when the Dragon Warrior had won the match like she actually had then she would know. She only said she had lost the match to humble herself and to make it seem like the Dragon Warrior was the only one left to save them. She was not aware that the Heaven's Council wanted her to stay a heaven's advocate and merely lied about her victory over them thinking that she would drop her guard.
Ai knew Tigress would not tell Po how she felt in fear of being caught a cheater in the challenge, but she also know that Jing was bluffing because the Tiger race were the most difficult to find in all of China. She knew the Dragon Warrior is a three in one breed, meaning that given the chance he could change form out of free will. She also knew that he knew not of this power so kept quiet about it. They were just at the foot of the mountain when they heard:
"WHO DARE TREADS MY TERRITORY?" a voice boomed from the mountain
"IT IS I, LATEROSE THE DUELIST WITH THE MASTER OF THE TIGER STYLE OF KUNG FU AND THE DRAGON WARRIOR! WE MEAN NO ILL WILL TO YOUR TERRITORY LET US PASS!" Ai replies in a tone that could make Shen shake in his feathers
"THEE WILL ONLY BE GRANTED PASSAGE IF THEE CAN ANSWER THIS RIDDLE! DO YOU ACCEPT?" the voice boomed
"I ACCEPT THY CHALLENGE!" Ai replies standing strong and firm
"TWO HEARTS DESTINED FOR ONE ANOTHER SING TO ONE SONG. WHAT IS THY SONG?" the voice boomed causing Po and Tigress to grow confused
"LOVE'S ENTERNAL SONG!" Ai replies in a firm proud tone
"SING THY SONG!" the voice booms causing Ai to smirk
"You guys have to sing." Ai whispers causing them to grow concern
"What?" they reply nervous
"It is beyond obvious that you two have someone special in mind and since this has to do with love. I won't be able to sing our way in but one of you can. Sing with your heart not with your mind." Ai replies causing them to calm down
"Can't blame you
For thinking
That you never really knew me at all
I try to deny you
But nothing never made me feel so wrong
I thought I was protecting you
From everything that I go through
But I know that we got lost along the way" Tigress started to sing unable to hide the passion she felt
Ai realized that Tigress was indeed her sister by blood because she the passion she held coming off of Tigress' vibe. She smiled as Po stood in complete awe of Tigress' voice and decided to jump in to help. She had pulled out her guitar and started to play to her melody and joined Tigress in her song.
"Here I am
With all my heart
I hope you understand
I know I let you down
But I'm never gonna make that mistake again
You brought me closer to who I really am
Come take my hand
I want the world to see
What you mean to me?" both Ai and Tigress sang in perfect harmony
Ai played her guitar with her passion into Tigress' song and knew that the riddle was meant to make these two see that the riddle was about them. She however knew that Tigress and Po won't see until the spirit that told her to be humble told them that they were meant to be together. She smiled at how Tigress lost herself in the song her own heart had written in the spur of the moment and sang:
"What you mean to me" before Tigress took the lead
"Just know that I'm sorry
I never wanted to make you feel so small
A story
Is just beginning
For let the truth break down these walls
Oh yea, yea
And every time I think of you
I think of how you push me through
And show me how much better I could be" Tigress sang causing Po to blush and wish that it was him that she was singing about unaware that it was
"Here I am
With all my heart
I hope you understand
I know I let you down
But I'm never gonna make that mistake again
You brought me closer to who I really am
Come take my hand
I want the world to see
What you mean to me" both Ai and Tigress sang unaware of how fair their voice sounded
Po really loved Tigress for who she was but this just made him want her even more. He was completely unaware of Tigress' feelings for him and literally wished beyond all things to turn into a tiger just to help out of this challenge so she can be with the one she truly loved. He was about ready to faint from the awesomeness of her voice until he heard:
"Yeah
You make me feel like myself
Instead of being someone else
I wanna live that everyday
You say what no one else was sayin'
You know exactly how to get to me
You know it's what I need
It's what I need
Yeah" Tigress sang with such passion that it was insane not to feel its presence
"Here I am
With all my heart
I hope you understand
I know I let you down
But I'm never gonna make that mistake again
You brought me closer to who I really am
Come take my hand
I want the world to see
What you mean to me" Both Ai and Tigress sang with a fire in their soul
"What you mean to me." Tigress sang finishing her song enjoying the feeling of singing with her heart
"IMPRESSIVE NOW THAT ANSWER ONLY GRANTS TWO ENTRANCE OF MY TERRITORY. LOVE'S ENTERNAL SONG HAS TWO POINTS OF VIEW!" the voice boomed causing Ai to agree
"Alright Po, now it's your turn." Ai whispers gently pushing Tigress to where she was standing moments earlier
"Ready?" Ai asks Po before she tunes her guitar
"As I'll ever be." Po replies nervous
"Then let's jam." Ai replies before she starts strumming her guitar
Po was nervous out of his mind but figured he might as well sing with his heart than his mind. So he thought of a song that matches Tigress completely. When he realized that no words could even begin to describe her accurately, he merely sang the song his heart wrote when he first saw her at the mere age of twelve.
Po: Aw come on
Thundra501: Sorry Po but I just can't help myself :)
Tigress: I have to agree with Po on this one.
Thundra501: Again I just can't help it.
Huan Yu: Thundra501 does not own Kung Fu Panda Charcters they belong to Dreamworks
Yu MuRong: Hope you enjoy :)
Min Ling: Please click the review button at bottom of screen to tell us what you think
Is there hope for Po's and Ai's freedom or are they doomed? Will Tigress be able to go through the challenge or will she lose? Will Tigress be able to tell Po how she feels or will it remain a secret? Can Ai and the others get to the Fabled Dragon's Mountain in time or will they fail? What song will Po sing? Is Ai truly Tigress' sister? Stay tuned