Lotus Blade
Ch 11
Tigress was worried.
It had been three weeks since Master Shifu had ascended to the spirit world.
She'd gotten over it but the rest of the Furious Five hadn't especially Po.
He'd changed since it happened.
He barely smiled or cracked jokes with them.
Also the depression was evident in his training.
He messed up more than once.
Even Lotus noticed her father had changed.
Tigress had heard the girl tell her every day.
She wished there was something she and the others could do.
She then entered Po's house.
It was quiet and there was an uneasy aura.
She then looked into Po's room.
All the stuff was there but he wasn't.
She sighed sadly looking at a poster on the wall of the Furious Five.
"Master Shifu we need you to help us.
I'm worried for Po and Lotus but mainly more so Po.
You were a big part of him and now that you're gone, he's shut down, upset." She thought as she walked out of the room.
She then saw Mantis and Monkey approach her.
"have you seen Po?
He wasn't in his place." She told them with concern in her eyes.
"Yeah he moved back into his room in the bunk house.
With a lot of food." Monkey answered her.
Tigress was relieved but still worried.
She then followed them to the bunk house.
Tigress's POV
He's changed since the last few weeks.
He couldn't take Shifu leaving him like that.
He never smiles, cracks jokes anymore.
It's like he's becoming Shifu after Tai Lung was imprisoned after his mistake.
But why do I care?
Yes he is the Dragon Warrior but why… do I feel weird around him?
Could it?
No it couldn't be but it might.
What Po needs right now is a friend, someone to talk to, to help him be his old self again.
End POV.
She then entered the bunk house with the others.
Crane and Viper were standing near the door to the kitchen.
"Where is he?
H-How is he?" Tigress asked them.
"He's been in there since dawn just cooking and humming.
I think he's just grieving in his own way.
We're worried for him.
Even though at first we tried to get rid of him, there was something inside him that wouldn't let him give up.
Shifu's leaving has brought a dark cloud over him.
We must lift it." Viper told her.
She nodded entering the kitchen.
Po was in there trying to make Secret Ingredient Soup but it wasn't tasting the way he normally made it.
"Why isn't it working?
I make this stuff all the time!" he yelled angry.
That shocked Tigress.
"…. Hey how're you?
The others said you'd been in here since dawn just cooking.
Does it hurt a lot, your heart?" she asked softly.
"Yes it does.
I-I just miss him so much.
He was the only one left…" he answered trailing off.
She then left the kitchen.
Shifu was growing more worried especially for his Dragon Warrior.
Tigress then meditated.
She found her astral form in a valley.
It was the Valley of Heavenly Peace.
She approached the temple and heard the sounds of training.
She couldn't believe it.
It was Master Shifu ytaining.
He then stopped as he saw her.
"I see you made it here.
I know the others are depressed but at least they have somebody to lean on.
Po has nobody to lean on since I've gone and…." Shifu said to her.
"What Master?
Please I… want to help him." Tigress asked him.
"Since his father died.
He's been holding it in since then and now my ascension has made things worse." He explained to her.
"W-What should we do to help him?" Tigress asked.
"Allow him to let the pain out, the sadness he feels for his father and me.
I…. Want you to promise to be the one he can lean on.
I've seen how you two are when you train together.
Promise me this." Shifu answered.
"I promise Master.
I won't fail you." She replied as she faded…
Shifu smiled at that.
"I hope he'll be in peaceful mood soon, then things will go back to normal." He thought…
Tigress then opened her eyes.
It was the middle of the night.
Po was outside sitting under the Sacred Peach Tree of Heavenly Wisdom.
He seemed sad as he ate some dumplings.
"Hey Tigress what's up?
You couldn't sleep either?
I find it hard to sleep since... they left.
I try to be strong but every day I want to cry, to let it out but I know I can't.
The Dragon Warrior has to be strong inside and out.
He can't let his emotions get in the way." he told her looking away from her.
"Po... it's okay.
The Dragon Warrior is strong when he lets what's bugging him out.
Shifu told me it was okay.
I talked to him when I was meditating eariler.
I'm sorry about your Dad.
It must hurt.
Then Shifu goes and you're an emotional wreck.
Please don't let the grief sink you into emotiona quick sand, you've got to let it out." SHE REPLIED.
There was silence for a moment but she heard soft sobbing.
"I...I miss them okay?
My Dad was the only person who made me feel like I fit in in this village even if we're not the same.
Shifu was like a dad to me too. He taught me about being a great warrior and being strong.
Without them, I.. feel so alone.
I have nobody to turn to." Po replied through tears.
Tigress nearly couldn't help crying herself.
"I'm... sorry. I didn't mean to show weakness. " pO TOLD HER SADLY.
"It's okay.
This is stressful for all of... us including you.
Shifu was a part of us all.
He raised us to be warriors since we were very young." Tigress replied with tears in her eyes.
"You miss him too, don't you?" Po told her wrapping his arms around her gently.
"Yes I do miss him.
I also held the pain within me too.
Without you, the Valley is lost without hope or protection.
I know Master Shifu would be happy knowing that he didn't ascend in vain." she said through tears.
Monkey and the others watched the tender scene.
"T-Thanks for understanding, letting me unleash my weakness.
For a long time I had to hold it in but now I can let it flow like a river." she replied kissing him.
Viper gasped at that in quiet shock along with the others.
Monkey smiled at that.
Later that night Po had a dream where he was in the Valley of Heavenly Peace training with Shifu.
"I see you're feeling a little better.
I wonder why?
It was Tigress wasn't it?" Shifu asked him.
Po couldn't help but smile sheepishly at that.
"Yeah you're right. It... was her that made me feel a bit better." he said softly.
"I sense sadness in you.
That and doubt are your greatest weaknesses.
They stop you from being the Dragon Warrior and protecting those you love including Tigress.
Yes I know." Shifu told him.
"You saw that?
Don't tell anybody! We're sort of keeping it on the down low for now." Po replied.
"The Universe told me that.
Also your father and I met.
He's nice but a little odd." he said.
He saw an expression of sadness in Po's eyes hearing that.
"What did he say?" he asked softly.
"He said that he misses you and knows you miss him too but knows that you shouldn't be upset because of him passing.
He said he was proud of you being his son.
He knows that you're meant to be a warrior.
I... am also proud of you too.
You've been something quiet unexpected but you brought peace to the Valley and to me.
I know every day it hurts inside without me around but it shouldn't stop you from being you.
Life goes on.
We will always be joined together in heart and spirit.
The others need you as well as Lotus." he told him.
"I understand Master.
I'll try." Po answered.
He then woke up.
It was late in the morning.
But inside he felt at peace...
Tigress saw him enter the kitchen making noodles and laughing about something.
This surprised her greatly.
"You're feeling better?
That's great!
But how?
Was it me?" she asked him.
"Yeah, oh wait!
I had the most awesome dream.
I was in the other side with Master Shifu training.
He... sort of helped make things better." he explained as he kissed her.
He then poured the soup and noodles into a bowl and began to eat...
"He's back to normal him, the self I love." she thought walking out of there...
