I apologize for the slower schedule, schoolwork, as usual, is a pain in the butt but a priority. However, I'll try to upload at least once a week, if not, twice. Please give this a follow and favorite if you like it :)

"Yes," said much to the surprise of everyone but Po, "The universe has chosen."

"The first ever dragon warrior, the protector of the realm, will be none other than Master Tigress," Po continued in the announcement.

"Th-Th," Shifu stuttered, "this calls for a celebration! Zeng! Prepare posters, scrolls, everything! Have the valley of peace come up here by noon tomorrow as we announce the next dragon warrior."

Tigress was stunned. Her? The Dragon Warrior? She always thought Po would be chosen as a dragon warrior, but he was already The great Sage. What does this mean? She suddenly obtained the most powerful title - along with the great sage - in all of China. She would have to be the most renowned Kung Fu master to have ever lived!

The rest of the furious five's jaws dropped to the ground. They thought they had been surprised enough today already but no. Tigress was announced as Dragon Warrior! They had expected it but after the duel today, they thought that title belonged to Po, but no, he was the great sage and that meant someone else had to be dragon warrior...and that someone was none other than their ferocious leader.

"H-How can this be?" Tigress asked. "I'm only seventeen, I shouldn't be able to claim such a title"

"Young one," Oogway said, "It was your destiny from the moment you were born, and it is up to you whether to embrace it or not."

0000

The five continued their training as it normally was but each member had their thoughts elsewhere. Distracted, and they allowed it so as today, they received big news, probably the biggest news they've heard in their life. The dragon warrior is finally chosen, the epitome of Kung Fu masters...Tigress, Tigress the Dragon warrior. At the same time, as if thinking the exact same thoughts, the four looked towards Tigress who was dueling Po in the field of fiery death, whilst dodging the incoming third-degree burns that would have had them both bedridden for days. Never before had they seen such an astounding warrior, as that of Po. They all had their turns dueling him but they each lasted mere seconds. He was too quick with his strikes and relentless with his impeccable techniques. Even when they tried to go against him altogether, he dispatched them all while only having trouble with Tigress in the end but defeated her anyway. He was better than Master Shifu, even, and they could not help but feel inspired to train harder than ever before. A new master had joined them, a master that would lead their way along with Tigress and would be on their side while fighting against evil. The thought sent shivers down their spine. They wondered how doomed they would all be if Po was on the wrong side of justice. Good thing he was the untaintable great sage...so this was what tigress meant by wanting to stand as his equal. He did not overshadow you to the point of self-hatred or depression, he encouraged you to do better.

Po now finished his third duel with Tigress, and she growled in frustration as the time it took for him to win them all grew shorter and shorter. As strong as Po was as a warrior, he was also a master of analyzing his opponent's strength and weaknesses, able to predict even the most unsuspected strikes through observing their style and patterns. The rest of the five were training far more furiously than ever before, no sloppy strikes, no imperfect dodges. They truly looked like the strongest Kung Fu team of all time, and Tigress couldn't help but feel pride that they all felt what she was feeling for the past seven years. An urge to be better than the best, to do better than perfect, to stand as Po's equal.

Po left earlier than the five to prepare dinner, another pot of noodles, as requested by everyone, and some homemade dumplings. After a while longer, just as Po was almost done cooking, the Five made their way into the dining hall, each looking a bit exhausted, and eagerly awaited their bowls of noodles. Tigress made her way into the kitchen in which Po was working in and the five were surprised, for like the hundredth time, to see a new side of Tigress being revealed. She was cooking. She knew how to cook and she looked like she was good at it. This entire time while they survived on plain tofu and bread, she knew how to cook?

It was heartwarming for Tigress as she worked with Po again. She was used to be alongside him in the kitchen every Sunday and was delighted to be able to once again experience this. They worked together extremely efficiently to finish up the last patches of dumpling and the noodles before serving it to the five. As she saw their stunned faces, she too was surprised. She realized that she had never told them she knew how to cook before...probably because every time she was in the kitchen, she would be reminded of the all too sweet memories of her panda and it would haunt her for the rest of the day. However, now that he's back, she didn't even hesitate to enter the kitchen. It was almost as if she belonged there.

"You knew...how to COOK?" Mantis asked in hilarious accusation.

"..Yes, yes I do," Tigress replied, "Po taught me and I used to work in his noodle shop every Sunday."

"And you didn't tell us?" Monkey asked, "While we were starving to death over the bland and plain Tofu and tasteless bread? Our stomachs scream in vengeance!"

They all chuckled at monkey's reaction. They all knew how secretly fond he was of food, even storing some special almond cookies in the top shelf just to keep it to himself. As much as he was a warrior, he was also a food critic, and with that in mind, he practically fell in love with Po after having a taste of his noodles.

"Well, I didn't want to share the recipe without Po permission, after all," Tigress snarky replied and gave Po a playful glance, in which he returned.

0000

They all ate their fill and headed off their quarters to rest while Po was called by master Oogway to meditate under the dragon scroll, near the moon pool. This was what they have done before during the journey and Po could not help but miss it. They sat together, back to back and cross-legged. Once they started, their Chi's instantly found each other's and they floated to the realm of the universe. They saw the jade palace while floating, with their inanimate bodies, in the clouds which were illuminated by a cool blue from the star-littered sky above. It was just as relaxing as it was thrilling. An eager joy which dwelled within Po started to bloom and he didn't feel this happy in...in three years, since before he entered the void.

Sensing it, Oogway directed his thoughts to Po.

"Tell me, Po, how on earth did you manage to survive the darkness?" Oogway questioned, "where even I could not?"

"It was horrifying Master, it was truly the purgatory for the tormented souls could not help but drown within their own sorrow"

Oogway felt tinges of guilt creaking up within his mind for he already knew that...and he tossed Po in their regardless hoping that the universe was right and that he would survive. That he would come back.

This time, it was Po who sensed his master's distress.

"Master, It's all right. I knew it was something I had to do," Po said, "Besides, within that darkness, there also laid...beauty...I had the chance to listen to the more passive souls on why they were trapped in there and from them, I have gained wisdom to the motives and causes of evil. As it turned out, some of them sacrificed themselves for their families and committed wrong for their loved ones...it was heartbreaking"

"...and what did you do Po?"

"You won't believe it master but I founded a way out, not just for me but for the righteous souls that were trapped there to travel to the spirit world where they belong"

"But wouldn't that allow the evil ones to pass too?"

"No, you see Master, at that time I was approaching the end of the three-year stay within the void and I had enough experience to infuse my chi with both yin and yang to create life itself:

Oogway gasped. How much had this boy grown? He had enough power to create life? This was unheard of.

Po continued: "So I created a three-headed dog whom I named Cerberus which guarded the gate between the realms. He holds immense power along with the ability to proclaim judgment amongst those who deserved to pass by looking into their memories"

Oogway wasn't sure if he was even shocked anymore. This was Po. Po, the great sage after all...and this great sage is far stronger than himself, the previous one. Po will be the one he passes his duties to and now he was sure...that he will be able to rest in peace.

They two jumped back to reality as they ended their meditation sessions. The sky now painted in a dark blue hue and stars started to reveal themselves under the blanket of orange light that was the luminescence of the sun. It was an early sunset, and Oogway felt a twinge in his heart.

"I will call Shifu," Po said as he headed off towards the residential area of the palace.

000000

It was time for a great warrior, leader, and master to pass.

Under the sacred tree of heavenly wisdom, Shifu was agasp to find that his master is moving on to the spirit realm before his very eyes. He did not say anything except belief, believe in yourself, and believe in Po. He is the one who holds the light now. The pink peach petals swirl around the old turtle, escorting him to the place of his final destination after his long and eventful life. The five stood behind Master Shifu, shocked to the core themselves but everyone had seen it coming. The old turtle was getting weaker every day and, as much as everyone denied it, he was going to pass on soon...and this was that time.

Po stood beside Shifu as he watched his master's passing disdainfully. He did not say a word as his inner peace had swallowed all the sorrow and only spat out the gratefulness that the panda felt for the old master. Oogway's passing was unlike any other, peaceful, heartfelt, respected and it was as if the universe had personally guided his soul towards the heaven that he deserved. Po only wished that when it was his time, he would be able to pass like this as well.

0000

The night went on and everyone returned to their living quarters whilst Master Shifu was still at the peach tree grieving over the loss of his master. He was hurt and sorrow overtook ever fiber of his frame, his heart felt as if it was punched by a trillion sharp stings of a wasp...but Po knew he would recover, and through this, he will finally able to move on as a master and as a person. We will be on his journey to finally find inner peace.

Po was at his quarters meditating now. Everyone sleeping peacefully in a solemn mood that flowed along the silence of the quarters. He had already sensed Tigress approaching his room before he heard the turning of the gears that existed under the sliding doors. She approached silently and embraced his meditating form from behind as she sighed. She wasn't sure whether she was feeling proud to be named a dragon warrior or despair from her grandfather's death. It was all so daunting to her and all she wanted right now was to be with Po and escape this reality just for a night. She wanted to feel his skin upon hers, the very sensation she was craving ever since he left. She wanted him to embrace her- and the moment she thought that Po turned and engulfed her with wet, heart tingling, gut melting kisses that almost ended her. Her eyes rolled upwards to the back of her head as she let herself drown in the hot sensation that was his tongue against hers. She pulled him in with a force and she couldn't care less if others were still awake. She needed him. She gave out a quiet moan and a purr that made the hairs on Po rise in anticipation. She snarled playfully and gently bit his bottom lip, making Po freeze in heart-clenching shock. Tigress didn't stop as she took a hold on his robe and dragged him to his bed before spreading her legs to sit on top of him and kissing him more. More. She wanted so much more. She wanted his lips, his heart, his eyes, his smile, his everything.

0000

Oh, gods, Po trained like it was do or die and literally walked through hell yet he still did not know how he ended up on his bed with Tigress on top of him. He wasn't grieving over his master's death for he had foreseen it and his inner peace allowed him to accept it yet no amount of inner peace could prevent the hot passion and burning desire he felt for Tigress. Her playful teasing and tugging at his lips made firecrackers go off inside him. Her low growls and adorable purrs made his heart stop. What is he going to do with her? With determined force, Po twisted sharply so that now Tigress is under him, and she gave a satisfied moan that, his extraordinary senses could tell, almost woke viper up...but didn't. Thus he continued, drowning himself in desire and took a moment to separate from his kiss with Tigress to work his way down her neck, which made her furs stand on end and her purrs louder than before. He found a spot, that he kissed, just where her jaw bone ended and on the right side of her neck which made her body convulse and a pressured moan to escape her lips. He made sure, one more time, that the five were in deep sleep with his keen awareness before kissing and playfully biting that spot again. Tigress was racing in adrenaline and her breathing intense with an eagerness that made Po's stomach flip in unyielding love. They were both in heat and in need of each other from their long long time away. Tigress could no longer hold it in and ripped open his robe to reveal his chest. Her eyes widened and she gasped. Po was surprised as to why she reacted this way before realizing it himself, for beneath his robe was a body riddled with scars….

Sorry for making this chapter shorter. I'm planning my next moves like I'm treading in unclear water filled with crocodiles. It would be great if you guys tell me what you think by reviewing.

Chido! (an expression I learned from my greatest reviewer, TheAlienHeart, which was something I embarrassingly mistook for his name. Curse my uncultured ass)