A/N: And I am back! Missed me? So, things are going fast. Like really fast. I actually planned to make some more of Tigress in the village but found that it would be too boring. That's why I decided to give Tigress her memory back already.
I do not own Kung Fu Panda.
Long Lost, Long Hidden
Even When They Cry
"Are you sure?" Weimin asked her, his green eyes widened. Was it really true? Were they all truly safe?
Tigress nodded. "I am sure. Po defeated Shen; I was there. I saw it."
"My son," Weimin breathed out as he leaned back in his chair. "I was right."
"You were," Tigress told him. "About everything. Your son… I know him. Very well."
Ning tilted her head. "A friend of yours?"
Tigress thought about it, but then quickly answered, "Yes. He is."
The doctor sighed. "Fine. You win that bet, Weimin. I never ever thought that-"
"Ning," the leader cut her off. "We all understand. But right now we have to think of what to do."
Tigress glared at him. "I know what I should do. I have to go back home."
Ruolan took a step closer to her. "Maybe you should not rush into things."
But Tigress was still upset after her talk with Kiew, and did not want to listen to anybody else who did not agree with her. "I have to. I'll leave before the evening."
"And how will you do that?" Ning said, crossing her arms. "You are far away from home, girl."
"I'll find a way back," Tigress sneered to the panda. "They are my family. They are worried; they probably think I am dead. Tell me one reason why I should not find them."
Ning stared at her, not looking away for a second. "Do not ask me," she told the tiger sternly. "Ask the persons that have let you live with them as you were family."
The words hit the tiger hard. She took a step backwards, staring at the pandas. Why did they say such hurtful words? Why could they not understand her? Did the not know how important it was that she came back to the Jade Palace?
"Ning," Ruolan said, taking the elder panda by the arm. "Don't…"
"Oh, yes I should, Ruolan," the panda answered, not taking her eyes away from the tiger. "Behaving like you are doing, is just rude. They welcomed you into their home…"
"I know exactly what they did," Tigress said and then turned her eyes towards Ruolan. "And for that I am thankful. But I have to go back," she whispered to them.
She then turned around, heading towards the door. "I have to go now. I'll be back soon; I am sure they all would like to meet you all. Especially Po."
Then the door became closed. The panda just continued staring; not being able to realize what had just happened.
But then Ning shook her head as she came back to reality. "That girl is going to kill herself before she even reaches a village. She is not able to think right now."
"Then we have to go after her," Ruolan said, already taking a step forward. She cared about the tiger; everybody could see that. And even though she was happy that Tigress would find her family, a part of her still wanted to keep her here.
But before she could touch the doorknob, a paw was laid on her shoulder. She turned her head around to see Weimin.
"I'll go after her," he told her. "You'll stay here and take care of Kiew."
Ruolan nodded, not being able to find words to tell him. Instead her hands clutched each other, while she hoped for the best.
But Ning was not that satisfied. "Where are you going?" she asked, following him outside.
He started his way out of the village while Ning stayed behind him. "I am going to find Tigress," he said without looking at her. "And my son," he added.
"And how are you going to do that?" she asked him, having troubles with keeping up with him.
"I'll follow Tigress. She knows what she is doing."
"No, she does not. Her whole memory came back to her less than an hour ago, Weimin! She is confused! Maybe her brain is still dizzy! What if Shen is still out there?! What then?"
Weimin stopped only for a second to look at her. Then he started walking again. "I am going to follow her, Ning."
"You… You are putting us all in danger."
"She lost her family, Ning. I just want to help her get it back."
That was when Ning stopped walking. "She is not the only one who lost a family," she yelled after him. "Nor are you."
He stopped too, and turned around to look at her. "I am sorry, Ning. But we have stayed here in too long time. I realize that now." He sighed deeply. "And if Shen still is out there… Then he won't be it very long."
Then he started walking again, leaving Ning behind in the village.
"Tigress!" he called, but then had to gasp after air once again. "Tigress! I know you are there… And my legs aren't the bests."
Finally the tiger showed herself; she jumped down from one of the cliffs to land in front of her. "Am I doing the wrong thing?" she asked him.
"No," he said. "I understand you."
"But Kiew was so mad," she whispered. "And so was Ning."
Sighing, Weimin took a step closer to her. "Ning often let herself be controlled by her feelings. Sometimes, Kiew can do the same. You just have to give them some time."
"I'll come back," she promised him. "When I have talked with the others… When I have explained… I'll come back so she can understand."
Weimin nodded slowly. "That sounds like a good idea."
"Why are you here?" Tigress suddenly asked him.
"I want to see my son," he told her slowly. "I am coming with you."
Tigress looked at him and their eyes met. "Okay," she finally said. She started walking again, and Weimin did the same.
"What is the plan?" he asked her as they started their travel together.
"I'll find a village," Tigress told him. "I'll send them a message. Then I'll travel towards the Jade Palace."
"And if they don't believe the message?" Weimin asked her. They both knew that it would be a shock for the masters of the Jade Palace when they received the letter.
Not only would they find out that Tigress was alive; they would also get the knowledge of how the pandas had survived.
Why should they believe? And how?
Tigress took in a deep breath. "If they don't believe, then they'll get a surprise when show up in front of them."
Weimin chuckled. "You are absolutely right."
Tigress smiled to him and then they walked some minutes in silence. But then, the panda asked her, "How is he? My son?"
"He is…" Tigress had troubles finding the words. How could she describe Po? "He is not what you expect a warrior would be."
"How's that?" Weimin asked, obviously confused.
"Uhm…" Tigress bit her lip. "You'll understand when you see him. But he is funny and very kind. I am sure he will make you proud."
Weimin smiled dreamingly. "He already has," he then told the tiger beside him.
"I see. I am sure he would like to hear that."
"What about you?" the panda suddenly asked her. "You did say that they are your family, but do you have any…?" He trailed of when she shook her head sadly.
"I am an orphan," she told him with a little voice. "But Master Shifu got me out of the orphanage. I owe him for that."
"I am sorry," Weimin said. "I understand if you had imagined more…"
Tigress gave him a sad smile. "My family is not what you would expect… But it's still my family."
"You are right," he said but then asked, "Do you know why it was that we could find you in the river? Why you were attacked?"
Tigress thought about it before answering. "We have many enemies…. But I never found out why the attack happened. But I… I just hope they are okay," Tigress told him. "You must know that Po doesn't think you are alive. He barely just remembered his mother…"
She stopped as she knew that she should not go further into that subject. Weimin was fully aware that his wife had not been there while his son grew up.
"I would like to meet this 'Mr. Ping'," he then told Tigress. "I want to thank him for taking care of my son."
"He'll be… Glad to meet you," Tigress said, thinking about the goose. "But I think he will be shocked. He was not taking it so easy when Po found out that he was adopted."
"Oh…" Weimin said slowly. "I'll try and make me presence as painless as possible."
"Believe me; Po is going to lose it. I know he has been hoping to meet you; that you were alive."
The panda sucked in a breath. "I was hoping he was alive too."
"It's funny," Tigress suddenly said. "I am supposed to be dead. You are too. And the same with Po… We are many…"
Weimin huffed amusingly. "It's a good thing we are alive then."
"You don't say?" Tigress muttered for herself.
"I think we are here," Tigress said as they looked at the little village that was lying in the distance.
Weimin caught up with her to stand beside her. "What not?"
"I'll find a messenger that can bring a scroll to the Jade Palace," Tigress told him. She then glanced at him as she realized something. "Maybe you should stay here," she said. "If people haven't seen pandas in such a long time…"
"I would create quite a big scene," Weimin said. "And that would not be that good. You are right; I should stay."
She nodded. "Then I'll just go."
"Wait," Weimin suddenly said and stopped her before she could go. He then pulled off the cloak he was wearing, and held it out towards her. "Here," he said. "Take it."
She did what she was told but raised an eyebrow.
Weimin explained, "You are supposed to be dead. If people just see you walking around, then you would create a scene too. And if there is somebody out there that want you killed…"
"They would know that I am here," Tigress said, realizing the same as him. "Good thinking, Weimin." She then wrapped the big fabric around her, also creating a hood that shadowed her face.
The panda took a look on her. "Now you should be fine. Go on; I'll just wait here."
"Are you sure?" Tigress asked him, not wanting to leave him alone for some reason.
He nodded. "I am sure."
"I'll be back soon," she promised as she started walking.
The panda leaned against a big rock as he watched her leave. At least now he would get some rest.
It was weird for Tigress to be surrounded again by other animals than pandas. No one was really noticing her; she could just as well be a beggar.
A messenger… Where could she find one? It had to be a bird obviously.
She walked into a shop, looking around to try and spot something or someone that could help her. After some time, the owner notices her struggles.
"Miss?" she called, and Tigress walked closer. "Can a help you?" She was a female pig, and by judging of her clothes, she did not need money.
"I need someone to deliver a message to the Jade Palace," Tigress told her and the pig widened her eyes.
"That's pretty far away."
"I know. But it's important."
"I see…" the pig said, but then suddenly yelled out, "Bolin!" Tigress flinched by the sound, but suddenly a goose appeared in front of her.
"I heard somebody needs a messenger," he said while tilting his head. By the way he was looking at Tigress it was clear that he was not impressed.
The tiger pulled the cloak closer around her. "I need somebody to deliver a message to the Jade Palace."
"And how are you going to pay for that?" the black goose then asked her, still not looking away from her form.
"Uhm…" Tigress said nervously, while biting her lip. She had no money and neither had Weimin. The pandas had been living in peace; there you helped each other without having to use money.
"No money, no delivery," the goose told her and was about the walk away when Tigress stopped him.
"Wait," she called. Taking in a deep breath after making sure that no one else was in the shop, she removed her hood.
The pig and the goose just stared at her.
"Haven't I… Seen you before?" the goose asked, tilting his head. "You look familiar…"
"Oh, for the Gods' sake!" the pig exclaimed, gently smacking him in the back head. "It's Master Tigress!"
"Shh!" Tigress desperately tried. "Quiet! You can't tell anybody about this."
The two looked confused. "But why? Whole China believes you're…"
"I know," Tigress quickly said, putting her hood back, so nobody could see her striped face again. "But do me a favor and then don't tell anybody about this."
They bowed to her. "Of course, Mas…" But they both stopped themselves before they finished her name.
"And I am sure that the Jade Palace will pay you if it's necessary," Tigress said, but the pig shook her head.
"Of course we'll do it for free. Right, Bolin?" she asked, sending the bird a sharp glance.
"Right," he said slowly, but was clearly not happy about it.
Tigress gave them a little smile. "Thank you."
"Here," the pig said, handing her a scroll. "Call when you are finished."
Tigress nodded and started to think of what to write. She wanted it to be as simple as possible so they would understand.
And believe.
But as she wrote, she started to think. Once again she heard Kiew's words inside her head, wanting her to go back.
She was doing the right thing, was she not?
But she had not even said goodbye…
Growling slightly, Tigress stopped writing. She now had the chance to see her family… But she would also lose some family.
She could not do this.
Tigress finished her message and gave it to the goose that was awaiting her. "Please be quick," she told him and he nodded. Then he took off and disappeared into the sky.
"How did it go?" Weimin asked her when he saw her. He did not like the look on her face.
"We have to go back," Tigress told him, walking towards the way they had come from.
He followed her with a confused face. "Why the change of plans? Is something wrong?"
"We'll head towards the Valley of Peace after I have talked with Kiew."
"May I ask why?"
The tiger stopped to take in a breath. "Because if I go without her understanding, then she'll hate me when I come back. I have to make her understand," Tigress told him. "I don't want to lose any more family." She turned around to look at the panda. "I am sorry."
"Don't be," the gentle panda said. "Now they know that you are alive, and you will be there soon. We won't be much delayed."
She smiled to him and they both started walking back again.
But none of them saw the brown snake that had been following them ever since Tigress entered the shop.
A/N: And another cliffhanger. My fault! So I hope you liked it!
Please review! I would love to hear your thoughts! Seriously; please tell me! What do you think of my OC's? Who's your favorite? Is the story exciting enough? How am I doing with the characters?
