(A/N: Warning: Minor suggestive themes in this chapter!)
-''I'll bet you half of my total almond cookie storage that we're going to hear the padding of small tiger-panda feet around in the barracks in about nine months from now!'' an enthusiastic primate shouted loudly as he was having a fast-paced, intense sparring match with an avian friend of his. While the monkey used flexible and graceful, almost playful, attacks, the bird relied more on speed and agility, dealing swift, powerful strikes. All the while this battle took place; the two friends were forced to keep their balance on an upside-down turtle shell made out of jade.
-''Sounds like you'll never quit making those bets, will you now?'' Crane asked, dodging a spinning kick that Monkey tried to use after blocking a flurry of punches from Crane.
-''Nah, what would the fun be in that?'' Monkey asked as he jumped up in the air, dealing a spinning cartwheel kick as he came back down. Crane swayed to one side, spinning his wings in a graceful cyclone at the primate in an attempt to knock him off balance. Monkey raised his arms and twisted to one side, blocking the attack. Then, he used both his legs to direct a powerful kick at Crane. Crane managed to redirect the attack, but the force behind it nearly caused him to lose his balance. As he attempted to regain it, Monkey used his tail in the air to attack, finally knocking Crane off of the jade bowl.
But Crane wasn't one to give up this easily. Just as he fell, he noticed that Monkey had landed on the spot that Crane had stood moments ago. Monkey smiled and then bowed to his comrade in respect of the victory. Big mistake.
Crane managed to get a hold of one of Monkey's legs. When the primate felt the bird's grasp around his leg, he gasped in surprise and did his best to shake free, as well as trying to jump backwards, but as the avian fell to the ground, Monkey couldn't resist the pull, and was pulled down to the ground along with his friend. They fell down to the ground side by side, both laughing happily.
-''That's what happens if you don't pay attention, Monkey.'' Shifu smiled over from his observation point, a light chuckle in his voice. Crane and Monkey both got up from the floor, bowing to each other.
-''How are you doing on your swiftness, Viper?'' Master Shifu then turned towards the master of the snake style, the female reptilian brilliantly swaying around numerous fire jets that burst up from the ground. Viper had really worked on her speed and agility; she wasn't hit a single time. ''Very good.'' Shifu then walked over to the Seven Swinging Clubs of Instant Oblivion, where Mantis was practicing his jumps. Shifu looked him over as he leaped around, careful at every turn to not get nailed by any of the sharp objects.
-''Good work, Mantis. Keep up your speed.'' Shifu then walked over to the area with the training dummies where Tigress was currently practicing a new technique that Shifu vaguely remembered. Shifu looked on curiously, before clearing his throat.
-''May I ask you what you are practicing, Tigress?'' He asked with a hint of pride in his voice. Tigress noticed it, and stopped attacking the dummy.
-''Alright, who are you and what have you done with Master Shifu?'' Tigress asked quietly, but still with a joking tone in her voice. Shifu gave her slightly confused look, which she picked up on. ''I mean, Master Shifu would normally scold me if I started training on something he hadn't approved of.'' Tigress became a little more serious, but the joking tone was still there.
-''Well, I talked to Karjak both yesterday as well as this morning, and he finally made me realize that I couldn't let my sorrow over Tai Lung's anger be let out on you, Tigress. So I finally decided, I need to be a lot more caring and compassionate for you, my daughter.'' Shifu emphasized the last word in a way that caused a surge of happiness run through Tigress' body.
Finally, he accepts me!
Tigress didn't think as she immediately wrapped her arms around Shifu's back, pulling him into a gentle hug. Shifu was slightly surprised; Other than Po, Tigress had never showed this kind of affection towards anyone. Eventually, Tigress broke the hug and bowed to her master.
-''Thank you, father.'' She then said, smiling at the red panda, who smiled back. Shifu then turned his attention to the group that was training.
-''Alright, students. Listen up.'' He then said loudly with his firm and strong, yet now kind voice as everyone stopped what they were doing, finishing their current move to get away from whatever station they were training at.
-''Yes, master, what is it?'' the different Kung Fu masters asked in unison as they bowed to the elderly master.
-''I've been talking about future plans with the God, Karjak, and we need to make our move fairly soon. Apparently, Xiton needs four orbs of elements in order to summon another orb, The Orb of Darkness! With it, he'll be able to undo all living things, even all the other Gods. He is using both Lord Shen and Tai Lung to find the orbs, so we must to stop him!'' Shifu explained to the masters, who took in the information, nodding as they did.
-''When will we departure, then?'' Po then asked, having listened in on the conversation from outside the training hall as he arrived from the barracks. Shifu turned around and greeted the panda.
-''Ah, Dragon Warrior, how nice of you to join us. We will have to leave in just a few days to begin our search for the Orb of Fire. Xiton already has the Orb of Wind, and so the Orb of Water and the Orb of Earth remains yet to locate.''
-''Where is this… Orb of Fire, then?'' Viper asked as she stretched her back a little. Monkey did so as well, feeling his muscles relax. Suddenly, the doors to the training hall swung open.
-''It's hidden away in a since long forgotten ruin.'' Karjak said as he stepped into the training hall, getting greetings by all of the warriors, his tiger form moving across the floor. ''More exactly known as Kujia Fort, a very old and by now abandoned stronghold a good ways north of here.'' Karjak explained.
-''So…'' Po began, his voice sounding close to what you would call excited. ''We go to a pile of rubble, grab a ball of awesomeness, and then we save the world?'' Karjak had to admit, the enthusiasm of the Dragon Warrior was truly to be credited.
-''I admire your enthusiasm, Po. Don't you agree? His energy spreads to the rest of us, right?'' Karjak then asked the group of Kung Fu warriors, getting nods and encouraging mumbles. The best thing was, however, that they weren't kidding or anything like that; Po's energy really spread to them, his enthusiasm and encouragement affecting them in a really good way.
-''Now, we will leave within three days and head out for the Kujia Fort.'' Shifu then said, crossing his arms behind his back. ''I suggest you start packing .'' With those words, the group started to head back to the barracks, Po and Tigress far ahead of everyone.
Meanwhile, faraway on a small road, a small figure was walking quite quickly. A lot of thoughts were clouding his mind, but the greatest one was the image of what Lord Shen and Tai Lung would do with him if he failed this. He gulped and then focused once again.
-''Come on, Rat. You can do this.'' He then quietly said to himself and continued to walk.
-''You know, Tigress...'' Po said as he sat on her bed, watching the feline stuff some things into a small bag made out of leather. Getting a ''Hmm?'' as a respond, he continued his sentence. ''I'm really glad I met you.'' He then finished, his voice filled with love and kindness. Tigress stopped packing temporarily, standing up. She then walked up to Po and wrapped her arms around him without a single world.
-''I'm happy to oblige.'' She then said, pulling away from the bed. Then, Po got up from the bed and pulled her back into it, starting to kiss her. Soon, the kiss had grown in passion, and both of them were moaning in the other one's mouth. Eventually, they were forced to break apart, gasping violently for air. They hugged once again, and Po kissed her cheek, causing her to start purring. Eventually, Tigress returned to packing her things and Po sat back down on the bed, doing something with his hands.
-''I… I feared something…'' Po then said out loud to no one in particular, although he had meant it for Tigress. Tigress, not stopping the packing this time, continued the conversation.
-''Were you? Of what?'' She asked curiously, elegantly putting a folded vest into place inside the leather bag. Po stuttered slightly before replying.
-''Well… I had this pain inside me, you know… that kind of pain that only a certain somebody can make go away.'' Tigress stopped packing again, but continued shortly thereafter.
-''I've never felt that kind of pain… Or at least I don't think I have.'' She then said shortly, finally wrapping the openings of the leather bag together with some skillful handling of some strings. She heaved the bag up on her shoulder and walked over to Po, who then stood up at her arrival before him.
-''I'm going to go and put these clothes away for now… We're not leaving just yet.''
The day passed quite quickly, the Kung Fu masters, the grandmaster of the Jade Palace, and also the God, had a great time together. After they had completed their training, they, like Tigress, put away the bags with the packings of their belongings in a storage room. It had been decided that they would leave within two days, heading for the Kujia Fort. However, the night was not just over quite yet… Only dusk was upon the peaceful valley, but soon something would happen.
Po yawned as he stepped into Tigress' room, the feline coming in closely behind him. Tigress closed the door behind her as she too yawned. Ever since she had that horrid nightmare, she wanted Po to share a bed with her. Not to rush things, just to make sure that she always kept him close. Po then lied down on the bed, exhaling and inhaling deeply.
-''Feeling comfortable?'' Tigress then teased, walking over to the lying panda. Po just chuckled and sat up again.
-''I want to thank you again, Tigress, for healing that pain. I honestly didn't think that I would ever get a girlfriend. Thank you.'' Po then said, sounding very serious, straying from his usually joking manner. Tigress then smiled at him before playfully shoving him down to his lying position once again on the bed. She then started to take off her outer clothes, mainly her vest and pants, leaving her only in her bra and panties. Po caught himself staring at her, his mouth hung agape. This caused Tigress to blush tremendously.
-''What?'' she then managed to tease through her giggles as the panda's gaze never leaving her.
-''You're… Well… I mean, you're… No, I mean, you're hot!'' Po then blurted out, instantly covering his mouth with his paws. Tigress simply grinned and then lied down beside Po.
However, what they both thought was going to end in falling asleep fairly quickly, instead ended with loud moans echoing throughout the barracks, followed by the sound that two bodies made when they made physical contact. After a while of said moans and sounds, an intensely loud scream of pleasure pierced the night, having been coupled with someone urging, practically begging, something or someone, to go faster.
When they were done, they both panted, and lied down beside one another.
-''I love you, Tigress…'' Po whispered as he caressed her, nuzzling her neck with his nose, allowing his warm breath to hit her fur. Tigress moaned very quietly before muttering an almost non-hearable ''Love you too.'' Before she went out like a light.