A Cloud on the Sunshine

Tigress tossed and turned on her mat in fitful sleep. Suddenly, she woke up and shouted, "Viper!" Nearly waking up the whole household, Tigress quickly got some paper and pen to write her message to Po. She quickly called the messenger. "Take this to the Dragon Warrior at the Jade Palace immediately! It's an emergency." The goose nodded and flew away. Tigress grieved. "I hope I'm not too late."

Po was just waking up when Master Shifu came rushing in. "It's a letter from Tigress to you. The messenger said it was an emergency," Shifu explained. Po immediately got up and grabbed the scroll from him. When Po looked at the scroll, he was surprised at what the "emergency" was.

How is Viper? Is she okay? Does she seem a bit sad or depressed? Please watch over her carefully. Make sure that there are no hidden problems that she has. I fear for her safety.

Po was confused. She was worried about, Viper? Tigress also didn't explain what was wrong with Viper. Po walked towards Viper's room where she was sleeping. "What's the matter?" Shifu asked.

"Tigress is very worried about Viper and I don't know why?" Po replied. "I think the Master does." With that, Po went to the heavenly peach tree to talk with the Master. He didn't even have to start the conversation for the Master to answer.

"Po?" The Master called.

"Yes, Master?"

"Where is Viper?" The Master asked. Po was confused again. The Master didn't know where Viper was. Po knew he asked these kinds of questions to reveal something in Po rather than himself. But this seemed an odd time to ask that kind of question.

"She is resting in her room," Po explained.

"Keep watch over her. Stay with her and comfort her when needed," The Master replied. What was going on? Both Tigress and the Master were severely concerned about Viper. About what?

"Master, what's going on?" Po asked.

"Trust me, Po," the Master said. Po sighed and simply decided to along with it. Po returned to the kitchen and ate some breakfast. As he was eating, Viper slithered in. Po's eyes widened as he cautiously asked.

"Hello, Viper. Everything okay?" Viper looked at Po suspiciously. They both looked at each other suspiciously.

"I'm fine," She said slowly. She was a little weirded out that Po was acting that way. "Are you okay?" Po knew that she could see through him. Everyone could. Po finally explained.

"Look, Viper, I got a message from Tigress this morning and she seemed very worried about you." Viper's eyes widened.

"Me? Why?"

"I don't know. And when I asked the Master, he seemed even more worried. So, what's wrong?" Po asked.

"Po, I'm fine," Viper replied with a smile. For years Po had been able to trust that smile, but now seemed as if he couldn't.

"Okay, just please, for their sakes and for mine, if anything, anything at all is bothering you, please come talk to me," Po said.

"I'm fine, Po," Viper reassured him. Po offered a smile, but he was still worried.

Later that night, Po couldn't sleep. The message from Tigress and the Master's warning were bugging him to no end. Finally, he decided to get some food. As he passed Viper's room, he heard something. A faint crying. Po looked into Viper's room and saw her crying on the floor. Po quietly came into the room and spoke. "Viper?"

"Po?!" She jumped, shocked. She quickly tried to wipe away her eyes. "What are you doing in my room?"

"You were crying. What's wrong?"

"Nothing, I was just... thinking of something sad," Viper replied.

"Viper, that's not the truth. Something is bothering you. What is it?"

"I told you, I'm fine," Viper said a bit louder.

"Viper, please, I want to help. Please tell me what's wrong?"

"I said I was fine!" Viper yelled. She covered her mouth with her tail in shock. Po knew she didn't mean to yell, but the very fact that she did made him all the more worried. Now Viper knew she couldn't hide the fact anymore.

"Viper, you were crying and you just yelled at me. How can you say that you're fine? Please, I just want to help," Po pleaded. Viper slithered up to him, wrapped around his body, and placed her head on his shoulder.

"I heard it again," Viper replied, tearfully.

"Heard what again?" Po asked, gently stroking her.

"I've been... hearing people say that I'm...too happy. That I don't know what real life is like. They say I wouldn't be happy all the time if I really knew life. They also said my kindness made me vulnerable," Viper replied. She couldn't see Po's face, but she asked. "Do people really think that way of me, Po? Do you think I'm too happy and I don't know what life is really about?" She backed up to see Po's face. What she saw scared her. "Po?" The look on Po's face was twisted in rage and anger. You would have thought that she had said that Attila the Hun was a saint, or that she had insulted him.

"Who told you this?" He asked in a low tone. Viper was seriously scared by Po's anger. She had never seen Po this angry.

"It-" Viper stuttered, "It was just some old and younger villagers gossiping." Po's face twisted more. But then he breathed and smiled again.

"Viper, your happiness is something that we just can not live without. If you weren't here, I think I would have left the Jade Palace. You were the first one to be concerned and worried about me when I was chosen as Dragon Warrior. You brighten people's day. Those people don't know what they were talking about. If you were gone for just a day, the village would be as gloomy as ever."

"Po," Viper said, feeling that he was exaggerating, "It wouldn't be that bad."

"Trust me," Po said in a more serious tone, "If what the villagers had said caused you to leave or harm yourself, none of us would be here to protect them."

"You can't do that Po."

"Each and everyone is important, Viper. Your overflowing happiness is something we all need. You're the best friend and person anyone could have," Po replied. Viper smiled. She wrapped herself around Po tighter.

"Thank you, Po."

"And Viper? Never listen to what those others have said about you. If my love, Tigress's love, Shifu's love, and everyone else's love is not enough, then the Master loves you even more than you can understand."

"I'll remember that," Viper replied. "Thank you so much Po." She said as she slithered back to the floor. Po smiled and waved her goodnight. But Po did not go to bed that night.

Tigress was still worried, though she didn't show it. "I'm sure that she's fine," Qiang assured her. Tigress stared out the window. Suddenly, a duck messenger came.

"Zeng? What are you doing here?" Tigress asked. Zeng's heart seemed grieved. "What happened?"

"I have... three messages from the Jade Palace. I've been given specific instructions from Ulaghai and Master Shifu to give you Shifu's message first, then Ulaghai's, then Po's." These were very weird instructions. Tigress read the scroll to everyone in the house, except Rem who was with Tiaopi. The message was simple and explained the situation in the Jade Palace.

We have no more food and no more wooden soldiers.

That meant Po was upset, but he's never been upset enough to make them run out of wooden soldiers. He usually never touches them when he's upset. And the fact that they ran out of them made clear that he was angry to a point that no one had ever seen. Then she read Ulaghai's message.

Viper explained to each and every one of us the trial that she was going through. We thank you greatly for warning us and will make sure to take care of her and make her feel better. However, Po is angry. The message that he has sent is the message that he gave to the people here. He has instructed you to tell the people this message. Please make sure that the message is not seen as hurtful or backlashing when you give it. Thankfully, the Master helped Po control his anger when he wrote this, but please make sure that it's not taken offensively.

"Po's really upset. Why, though?" Monkey asked.

"Po's always stood up for those who feel little. I guess the fact that Viper was so innocent and helpful and yet people picked on her caused him to be angry. She was the first one to be truly concerned about him when he was chosen." Then Tigress opened Po's long scroll. "Oh wow." Was all that Tigress could say.

"How bad is it?" Monkey asked. Tigress let him look at the paper. "Yikes! He's definitely angry."

"How can you tell so quickly?" Gun-Ho asked, noticing they hadn't read the entire thing.

"His handwriting. Usually, it's very great, but Po tends to write his emotions. You see how hasty the writing is? He's angry." Gun-Ho looked at the message. His eyes widened.

"Um... I know my Chinese isn't complete but is that the word I think it is?" Monkey looked at the scroll and his eyes widened.

"Tigress, you got a lot of work to do if you want to make this...appropriate," Monkey said, "And I'd sure hate to be in the village when this was being given."

Rem and Tiaopi were walking through the market. Tiaopi had changed a great deal over the year. She didn't wear her earrings anymore, her bracelets were gone, and her dress wasn't as provocative as it used to be. Rem was concerned about this. "You don't have to change for me to love you, you know that right?" He would say

"I know. I'm changing because I love you and I want to be the best for you," Tiaopi replied. Rem smiled. As they were walking, a couple of pretty women came towards them. Rem noticed that Tiaopi, who was holding his arm, seemed to urge him to go faster. But the women had seen her and came to her.

"Oh, looks like the whore got a new client," jeered one of the women.

"What is it that you want?" Tiaopi reluctantly asked.

"Well, we were just wondering why you changed your look. What, the old look wasn't getting you money?" Another woman joked. Tiaopi rolled her eyes. Their words didn't affect her, but she wanted to get away from them. She knew Rem's temper would lash out at them, and she didn't want him doing something that would get him in trouble. But Rem spoke.

"Ladies, why are you so mean to this woman? Why are you so hateful towards her? What has she done to you? Has she stolen your husbands? Has she lowered your income? If she has done nothing to you, why do you hate her?" The women were strangely quiet. "Answer me!" He demanded calmly. Other times, Rem's angry voice and temper were childish. But now, Tiaopi felt protected by him and she could tell his tone frightened them.

"No," they quickly answered.

"Then go, and don't tease this woman or any person ever again," He said. He didn't say this threateningly or angrily but said it so tenderly, lovingly, and respectfully that they listened and left her alone. Tiaopi was in awe.

"What was that?" Tiaopi asked.

"What?"

"You were... different. I thought you were going to be so upset," Tiaopi explained.

"I was, but I guess the Master has changed me a lot," Rem smiled. Tiaopi smiled back as she hugged his arm tighter.

"I like this change," She said leaning her head on his arm. Rem wrapped his arm around her waist and brought her closer to his side. Then, he decided to be a little...cheeky. (the pun kills) He extracted his claws and lightly pinched Tiaopi's right buttock. She gasped and her eyes widened as she looked at Rem.

"Rem!" She gasped. Rem smirked.

"I can be playful too," He replied. Tiaopi looked away and actually blushed with a slightly excited smile on her face. It was then that the two realized that a large crowd gathered in the marketplace. Tigress was speaking. "Let's see what's she has to say," Rem suggested. It was apparent when they got closer that she was reading something.

"A message from the Dragon Warrior," She read out loud, "Those who can listen, listen. The Master loves all. Even the enemies he loves. Therefore, none of you are to persecute each other on any circumstance. Do not cause even one of these people to go astray from the Master. If anyone is guilty of this, confess to the person of your wrong. Yet, if you are mean to people, if you judge people, if you love people, if you care about people, if you've done whatever of these things to people, you have done it unto the Master. Because whoever offends the insignificant people are guilty of offending the Master himself. It is better for you to have died than you to have led one of these people astray because of your actions, words, and behavior. But forcing a person to love the Master is the same as leading them astray, because when one is forced to love, they hate. Love one another, just as the Master has loved you. Can you not even follow this SIMPLE command? This simple plea?! What are you doing then? Evil is twofold. It's evil to do wrong and it's evil NOT to do right. If you can not learn this simple command from the Master, then the end result is that your life will be miserable, empty, lost, hopeless, and meaningless. For all things without the Master is a loss." With that, the crowd walked away in silence. A few in the crowd felt sad. Others were wondering what was wrong with Po. Tigress sighed and went back to the house.

"Wow," Tiaopi whispered, "I thought Po was kind."

"Me too," Rem replied. "Why don't you come over to the house? We're having your favorite."

"I'll come later. I need to get something from my house," Tiaopi answered. Then she kissed him on the cheek. "Goodbye, Remy." Rem smiled as the tiger left. Rem hurried to the house to speak with Tigress.

"What was that?" Rem asked. Tigress told him what happened with Po and Viper. Rem could understand his frustration. In the short time he had with Viper, he could tell she was a sun shining person. As they started to eat, a knock came at the door. Rem answered it. Tiaopi peaked her head in the doorway.

"Hey, are you guys having dinner?"

"Yes, why?"

"Um... You remember those women that were mean to me? Well, they heard what Po said, came to my house, and apologized," Tiaopi said.

"That's great."

"Yeah, but the thing is I want to invite them for dinner but I don't have any food in the house," Tiaopi explained.

"You don't?"

"I usually leech off of you, and your food is much better than my cooking."

"That is true," Rem muttered.

"Hey!"

"So what are you asking?" Rem asked. Tiaopi opened the door all the way to show the women there.

"I was hoping there was... more room at the table," Tiaopi said hopefully. Before Rem could answer, Tigress came to the door.

"Of course there's more. Come on in," Tigress said. The women came in and they all enjoyed the feast.

continued...