The Panda's Mission

About five months have past. Tai-Lung continued to come down to Mr. Ping's workshop to work. It really took his mind off of things. He and Po started to act like brothers. Always trying to find new ways to have some fun. Innocent fun. His training was getting better the longer he was with Po. I actually have to try now in order to beat him. Tigress was lightening up, too. Of course, she and Po would duke it out at night. She kept challenging Po to a spar, and Po, like a sap, kept accepting. Fortunately, Tigress doesn't bounce him down the stairs like she use to. Peng and Ju were all but boyfriend and girlfriend. Mr. Ping didn't really hold Peng accountable when it came to work, so Peng would hang out with Ju at a special place near a beautiful and quiet stream. They would talk and talk, but both were so nervous to make the next move. I couldn't blame them. Love is best when it is patient. But I just wanted them to not have to be so nervous around each other. That's when I remembered something.

I was contemplating this when Po, Tai-Lung and the rest of the group were in the kitchen having breakfast. Then I remembered the discussion I had with Po. It just so happened that Shifu was there eating with us. "Master Shifu," I began, "is it okay if Po could do a job for me? I need to hear from an old friend of mine." Master Shifu looked at me and then returned to his food.

"May I ask what it is about?" He asked.

"It's about a girl that Po met once," I said. That grabbed the attention of everyone in the room. Tigress's eyes sharpened at me.

"Why do you need to see her?" She asked.

"I don't need to see her. I'm asking someone else about her. Plus, this friend has been whining about seeing me for the longest, so I assume that a message that I'm still alive will be sufficient," I said. Tai-Lung began to stand up.

"Maybe we should go. Could be dangerous," He suggested.

"No," I replied a little too quickly, "It's...It's best that Po do this thing alone. Besides, there's no point in wasting your guys' time." Shifu pondered this for a moment.

"Okay, Lion. I give you permission. How long will it take?" He asked.

"About a week. Maybe two depending on how things go," I said. Master Shifu exited the room after that.

"Are you sure that you don't want us to go with you?" Tai-Lung asked concerned. I smiled.

"Thanks, guys, but it's best if Po make this trip alone, right, Po?" I said. Po nodded. Soon, Po got his stuff ready for the trip. He quickly left the mountain, saying good-bye to everyone. I glanced at Tigress. I could see her stiff and worried face. I said nothing.

About ten minutes after Po left, I was sitting in my room in the barracks when Tai-Lung came in. "Have you seen Tigress? I can't seem to find her anywhere," He said.

"Did you look in the Training Hall, her room, Mr. Ping's shop, and if she's with Shifu?" I asked. He nodded. I knew exactly where she was. "Agh! She must have gone with Po. Stubborn cat."

"Should I tell Shifu?" Tai-Lung asked.

"No, we can't allow her to get in trouble right now," I spoke more to myself than to Tai-Lung. "You go after her. Po went to the Singing Mountain. If you run, you'll be able to catch her." With that Tai-Lung was off in a flash. I smiled. My plan had worked. Now I just had to wait until all three of them came back with an interesting story to tell.

Po was walking through the quiet bamboo forest and was enjoy the peace. He didn't know that Tigress was right behind him in the shadows. About a day had gone by since Po had left, and it was about to be nightfall. So he camped for the night. Tigress watched him in secret. Suddenly, a hand covered her mouth and a strong arm held her in place. She furiously fought. "SSSHHH! It's me. Tai-Lung," he whispered. She seemed to calm down.

"What are you doing here?" she asked frustrated.

"I could ask you the same thing," Tai-Lung whispered back.

"I'm just making sure that the panda doesn't kill himself," Tigress said. Tai-Lung smiled wickedly.

"Awww, does my little sister have a crush on the fluffy bear?" he teased. Tigress punched him in the gut, but she was blushing.

"So why are you here?" she asked eager to know.

"Because Lion and I realized that you weren't at the palace and he sent me to make sure that you came back," Tai-Lung said expecting to get her back immediately. Before she could answer, Po said from the campfire.

"It's too far to turn back now. And since both of you don't have any food with you, you might as well come with me." Tigress and Tai-Lung slowly came out of the shadows ashamed.

"We're sorry, Po. We didn't mean to spy on you," she said. Tai-Lung didn't say a word until Tigress nudged him in the ribs.

"Oh, yeah. We're sorry," he recovered.

"It's all right," Po replied. "I expected someone would try and follow me. You might as well come with me. You're too far in this trip to turn back now." Tigress seemed to brighten up after hearing that. "But I warn you. There are somethings on this trip that you won't believe," Po said ominously. Tigress and Tai-Lung looked at each other with a confused look as they sat and ate with Po.

Now there is a legend behind the Singing Mountain. It's about a fabled musician going there to compose a music. The music he wrote was so good that the mountain began to shine brightly. So bright that people from far away could see it. But no one knows who or what happened to the musician but the mountain still shines sometimes on its snowy top. Tigress and Tai-lung would soon see if that story was true.