Rest and Recovery

Daylight broke into the tattered Hall of Heroes as the sun peaked over the horizon. Morning dew dripped from the tree leaves and blades of grass. Villagers woke as clatter slowly seeped up from the valley floor. Shifu sat, his ears twitching slowly, as he watched Po's motionless body. Po's body had remained on the ground, his eyes shining white for the past few hours.

Crane and Monkey rested their aching bodies against one of the pillars, Monkey dozing off into sleep. Crane tipped his straw hat down before his tired eyes as he tried to relax. Mantis shifted around the hall as he placed the weapons back where they belonged; hoping that the worst was behind them. Viper coiled herself close to Shifu as she eagerly waited for Tigress to come back. "How long have they been gone?" she asked, her voice carrying the weight of her worry.

Shifu glanced at his student and gave her a reassuring look. "It's been some time, Viper." Shifu nodded as he looked back at the motionless panda. Beautiful blue petals surrounded the panda's body, as though they were protecting it. "But hopefully, this means Tigress and Po are still alive."

"True…" Viper sighed, placing her head down onto her body to rest. "It's almost as if the petals are protecting Po's body, right Master?" Her voice raised slightly with hope near the end of her sentence.

A small chuckle broke from Shifu's mouth as a tiny grin formed. "Yes, it appears even as petals, Tigress will continue to protect Po." he said, a small bite on his words as he pictured his daughter and the Dragon Warrior together. A small shiver climbed his spine in response. "I wonder when she fell for the Dragon Warrior." he sighed.

"After Gognmen City." Viper replied, still watching the petals. A warm breeze passed through the hall, though no petals were moved. The sun's bright rays entered through the door before it washed the fighters in a bath of light.

"Really?" Shifu questioned, a twinge of annoyance in his voice.

"After we thought Po died, after Tigress thought Po died by Shen's fire-cannon, she was heartbroken. There wasn't any fighting spirit left in her. When Po came back to save us, I think then she realized how much she cared for him." Viper explained as a reminiscent smile briefly appeared on her face. "I think her feelings only got stronger after Po was killed by Ke-Pa, and then when he left for the spirit realm fighting Kai."

"So many times she has come close to losing him." Shifu thought outloud, stroking the small patch of fur on his chin. "It's no wonder that Tigress so eagerly put herself in danger to save Po. I could only image that losing him again would break her."

"Break her? This is Tigress we are talking about, Master." Viper replied, a small giggle attached to her voice.

"Viper, you should know more than anybody else, that Tigresses' tough exterior is a facade." Shifu stated, glancing towards the coiled snake. "She's trained her entire life to master Kung Fu, and gave everything else up. And then came along Po. His time here has changed all of us, but most of all, it changed Tigress."

"But that still doesn't make sense." Mantis chimed in as he hopped over towards Viper. "How would that break Tigress? I'm pretty sure she would just get pissed and go on a rampage." A sarcastic chuckle escaped his mouth as he finished.

"Po has obviously shown Tigress a new side to life. She's opened up to us more, interacts with us more, and no longer spends all her time training." Shifu continued, not liking where he was going. "She clings to Po now, in her heart. I believe that if Tigress were to lose him, if the Dragon Warrior were to die, her spirit would crumble."

"You mean…" Viper trailed off.

A shifting wind blew through the hall as the blue petals around Po's body started to dance. Shifu eagerly stood up with anticipation while Viper and Mantis waited. The petals swirled around the air as Po's body gently lifted off the ground. A bright yellow chi swept out from Po's body as the petals formed back into Tigresses' body.

"Tigress!" Viper exclaimed as she dashed towards her sister.

Po's eyes slowly closed as the bright white left them. His feet drifted towards the ground before his eyes opened again. Tigress fully came back, her paw softly gripping the side Ku Bah had struck her. A small grin placed itself on herself as her eyes twinkled brilliantly. "He's gone." she said happily as she gave a glance towards Po. "Ku Bah is gone."

Mantis rushed over towards Monkey and Crane. "Wake up!" he yelled excitedly, "Tigress is back!"

"Are you sure he's gone?" Shifu asked as he walked up towards Tigress. His eyes noticed the cut in her side as the blood soaked into her fur. "You need medical attention, come."

"Wait, Master. Po is-" Tigress started as she turned towards Shifu.

"Absolutely awesome!" Po shouted out as he opened his eyes, the green jade pupils shimmering in the morning light. A large grin appeared on his face as he bursted with pride. The air around the hall quickly lifted with his laughter.

"Back." Tigress finished with a happy sigh. She gazed at Po, her eyes passing him a loving look. A sharp twinge shot through her body as she winced.

"Let's take you to lay down." Shifu repeated as he tightly gripped Tigresses' free paw. He lead Tigress off towards the medical ward. Monkey and Crane dashed over towards Po as Viper left to follow her sister.

"Buddy!" Monkey shouted happily as he leaped up for a high-five.

"It's good to have you back." Crane stated as he gave Po a nod.

"Thanks guys, it's good to be back." Po started as he returned the high-five. "I'm so sorry about everything that Ku Bah did to you guys! I could only watch, which was really cool by the way, but awful! He was practically draining me of my power and-"

"He's gone, so it's fine." Mantis interrupted as he hopped on to Po's shoulder. "Don't worry, we will get back at you later. But first, go make us something to eat!"

Monkey and Crane nodded in agreement as they snickered. Po sighed happily as he brushed them off. "Cmon guys I said I was sorry! And food sounds so great right now! You guys have no idea how starved I am!" he said cheerily, following them off towards the kitchen.

"If it's anything like how you normally are, I think we know." Mantis joked.

The day drew on as the villagers blissfully went about their daily routine. The sun rose sharply in the sky as it brightly lit the earth below. The rays warmed the surrounding air. White clouds puffed through the breeze as they provided comforting shade.

Tigress laid on her back in the medical ward as she drifted into sleep. Pictures of Po's lips fluttered through her mind as a small smile crept along her face. Butterflies filled her heart and stomach. The magical kiss that she shared with Po played on repeat before her eyes. Her lips twinged with happiness with the thought. A sudden knock on the ward door rippled through the quiet air, awakening her.

"Tigress?" Po asked as he continued to knock on the door. A knot formed in his gut as he eagerly waited for a response. His mind raced with emotion. 'Tigress kissed me! THE Tigress kissed my lips and said that she loves me! Are you freaking kidding me?!' he screamed in his head, nearly exploding from excitement.

"Po?" Tigress groaned happily as she began to wake up. Her arms stretched up as she tried to recover from her sleep. A small ache flared through her nerves from her sides.

Po happily slide the door open as he walked into the room. His eyes fixed on the beautiful tiger lying on the bed. Blood rushed to his cheeks as he crept closer. "H-how are you feeling?" he asked, his eyes darting around. His feet shifted underneath him.

"I'm feeling better," Tigress started as her heart began to pound heavily in her chest. "now that you're here to visit me." A small giggle escaped her mouth as she watched Po's reaction.

"W-wow~" Po sighed ecstatically as her words touched his ears. His heart shot into his throat with feelings. "Your voice is amazing. Like, melted butter over fresh noodles amazing!" His voice echoed about the small room.

"Thank you." Tigress said, a shy smile appearing as she finished. Her tail coiled behind her happily. Blood rushed to her cheeks as a blush resignated off her fur. Her eyes glistened in the sunlight as she continued to gaze at the panda. "How are you feeling?" she asked.

"Me? Pfft I'm good! I mean, yeah Ku Bah took over my mind and all, but you saved me! So, I'm good." Po laughed out, as a sense of pride and nervousness filled his chest.

Tigresses' heart continued to pound as Po kept on with his compliments. She watched silently, a loving smile on her face, as Po continued to reenact how she had saved him from the evil Ku Bah. Her lips curled up as he got to the kissing part of the story, her mind filling with the memories.

Po finished his story before he looked at the tiger. Their eyes met as a spark flew between them. His eyes widened by her beauty. "J-just to make sure...heheh.." Po gulped as he nervously rubbed his neck, "you...I mean, you really, um, you know. You really...love me?" His heart skipped a beat as the words left his lips. Cold sweat rattled off his brow as his nervousness grew.

Tigress leaned back as Po's nervous chatter warmed her heart. "Yes, Po, I really do love you." she smiled softly. Her eyes glimmered at him. "I couldn't fake these feelings just to save you. I even kissed you, twice." Her voice carried softly through the air as they washed over Po.

Shifu had stepped just outside the door to the medical ward as he was about to check on Tigress. His large ears perked as her words seeped past the door. 'She what?!' Shifu gasped internally as he stepped back from the door. A rush of anger flew through him as images of harming the Dragon Warrior filled his mind. 'Tigress and Po, kissed?!' his thoughts continued as more and more ways to harm Po emerged.

"Well, maybe I still don't believe you." Po teased as he shyly gazed at Tigress. "Maybe I need a third kiss to really believe that. Otherwise, who knows, maybe Ku Bah will come back." A tiny smirk emerged on his lips. His cunning teasing surprised him as he watched Tigress for a reaction. 'Is she going to kill me? No, maybe? Maybe she'll kiss me again? Please oh-oh-oh-oh please~~!' he thought excitedly to himself, though a small amount of fear also settled in his mind.

Tigresses' heart doubled in speed as Po's blatant advances touched her ears. Her ears perked strongly, her amber eyes widened, as a feint shy smile crawled across her face. A wash of shyness and giddiness covered her heart. "You…" she started as she turned her face away from the grinning panda, "would have to come closer for that…" Her voice whispered through the air, just strong enough to kiss Po's ears and wisp past the door.

Shifu's heart nearly stopped as he continued to listen in on the two's conversation. 'Tigress, acting shy?!' he thought, absolutely astonished by the development of events. Memories torrented through his mind, struggling to find a single time Tigress ever acted shy to him before. A long sigh escaped his lungs as he stepped away from the door. 'Tigress is an adult know, she has the right to love and be loved' he reminded himself, forcefully stopping his urge to go after the Dragon Warrior.

His small feet turned silently on the wooden floor before he walked off back towards the Training Hall. A small smile fell his face after a few steps. "Maybe I'll be a grandfather soon…" he pondered as his eyes gazed upon the large Oogway statue in the courtyard. A falling peace gripped his heart. "Did you know this would happen, Master?" he asked, as the smile on his face grew slightly larger.

A hot breeze blew down from the Peach Tree of Heavenly Wisdom, gently drifting a few of the tree's leaves in its clutches, as it swept around Oogway's statue. Two leaves, conjoined at the stems, drifted lovingly closer to Shifu. His eyes widened in honor and amazement as he slowly reached his paw out. The leaves danced momentarily in the air before him, their movements like a loving dance. They fell slowly in their dance as the breeze continued, before their gracefully landed in the palm of his paw. As he slowly closed his paw, the breeze quickly left as the rest of the leaves followed behind. A glimmer appeared in his eye as he watched his master's response drift away. "I'll take that as a yes." he chuckled silently to himself.

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