Almost done with the story! It'll be almost a year since I started this thing. Lets get started.
Saying that riding on a warship filled with over six hundred villagers, warriors, and Kung fu Masters was nerve racking would be an understatement. Unfortunately for Shifu, he had to find some way to maintain the peace and prosperity through all the hectic yelling and chaos.
"Master Shifu!?" a villager yelled, running up to the port side where Shifu meditated.
"Yes, what is it?" Shifu asked, pinching his brow to refrain from becoming angered.
"Master Goat keeps eating my grass! My husband needs it for protein, and its really pissing me off!"
Shifu sighed, looking up to the sky and mumbling. He then stood up, grabbed his staff, and proceeded to walk through the dangerously crowded shop deck. Arguing was inevitable between people, so all that could be heard were screams of anger and stomping of feet, paws, hoofs, etc. Halfway through the crowd, A rhino bumped into Shifu, creating a spark of tension.
"HEY! Watch where ya goin' shorty!"
"Excuse me sir, I do not mean to interrupt." Shifu said softly and quietly.
"Yeah, you'd better be- MMNH!"
Shifu hit the rhino's mouth with his staff, causing his head to jerk back furiously. Shifu then swept his leg swiftly and put the edge of his staff at the stunned rhino's neck. Shifu pinched the bridge between his eyes and sighed while the rhino silently begged for mercy, causing Shifu to ease the stress on the rhino's neck.
"Excuse me sir, I do not mean to interrupt." Shifu repeated. The rest of the crowd had stopped to watch the scene, some saying "ooooh". Shifu removed the staff from the rhino's neck and waved for him to stand.
"We will be arriving at shore in two hours, be ready." With that, Shifu walked toward Master Goat and the two villagers, while all the way trying to maintain his composure.
"Where is Po when you need him?"
KFP
The cave was barely lit, what with the fire that once burned bright now turned into bright orange sticks and ashes. The black rock walls barely reflected the light of the ambers, and dawn was not yet ready to creep over the horizon. The two masters lay next to each other, comforted in the other's warmth. However, neither of them were sleep, but they did not want to admit it. Their war, their friend's agony, and their personal vendetta's for their enemy kept their minds awake but their bodies still. Po opened his eyes, looking into the face of Tigress. He stared for a moment, noticing the healing cuts and abrasions that riddled her beauty. Slowly, he raised an arm and stroked her fur.
"Po."
"GAAAAH!"
Po nearly jumped from his position, jerking back from Tigress crazily. Tigress opened her eyes, looking down, sad even. Po regained his composure and cuddled closer to Tigress. Po stroked her face again, seeing her disturbance.
"Hey, what's the matter?"
Tigress put a paw over Po's, still maintaining her gaze downward." I have a strong feeling that this will not equal out well. The odds are against us extremely, and-" Po put a finger over Tigress mouth, srtopping her mid-sentence.
"I thought you were supposed to be the hardcore one."
Tigress smiled and sat up, putting on her vest and bandages. Po remained laying down, covering his eyes with his paw, causing Tigress to remember that she took them off before they slept together. To cover up the awkward moment, Tigress spoke first.
"Po, you don't have to cover your eyes. You saw enough already."
"It still feels like I'm peeping. I'll wait."
One awkward moment later…
"Curse it, I put on the wrong vest. This one's too short."
Although he pushed back the urge, Po still couldn't resist seeing Tigress in a stomach shirt. He made a little opening between his fingers so he could see, only to see Tigress standing with her hands on her hips. Po tried to cover his eye again, but Tigress spotted him and plucked his head.
"I cannot honestly believe you fell for something so blatant. Why would I have two vests with me? Why would one be shrunken?" Po further hid his face in embarrassment while Tigress playfully laughed and rested her head on Po's arms. Po opened his arms and let Tigress in to kiss him. It was quick and meaningful, but it eased the atmosphere enough. Tigress pulled back and connected foreheads with Po, looking at him in the eyes.
"We have to begin training for your battle. I haven't seen you use the "Strength of the Heart" at its full power yet." Po sighed, wanting to relish the moment.
"Do we really have to?"
"Yes," Tigress said sternly whilst standing up, "We have to. Now get up and let's go outside." Tigress stretched and exited the cave, leaving Po behind inside the cave.
"She's back to normal."
KFP
"Alright, Po, you have to be prepared to fight a lion."
"You don't think I'm prepared enough already?"
Tigress paused, staring intently into Po's eyes. She remained staring for minutes, making Po feel insanely nervous and uncomfortable.
"Did I say somethin-"
"GRAAAAAH!"
"AAAH NOODlES!"
Tigress roar made him cringe up and jump, allowing Tigress an opportunity to pounce on him and tackle him to the ground, pinning his arms and legs. Po, shocked, could do nothing but stare wide eyed at an irritated Tigress. She let go of one of Po's arms to clench her side wound, and she scolded-
"Lions do not fight fair; they use fear and intimidation to win the battle. Most mammals have a natural fear of apex predators like lions, so half of the battle is overcoming your internal fear."
"Ok."
"No, Po, I need you to fully understand what I'm saying."
"I understand." Saying that, Po's face turned stern, and his mind became focused on the situation at hand. Tigress stood up and helped po up, wincing and grabbing at her wound. Po reached for her, but Tigress just raised a hand, signaling for him to step down.
"Tigress, we can't spar with you like this."
"We have to have you do something."
They paused for a moment, exchanging ideas.
"Wait, I know what to do!"
"What have you come up with?"
"You'll see."
While Tigress stared confusingly, Po sat down in a meditating position. Po grabbed his scarf on both ends spread it across his chest.
"Po, I do not think meditation is the best solution at the moment." However, Po could not hear her, as he started to drift into the peaceful spirit world. Po saw black, a deep darkness that did not end, then saw a glimmer out of the corner of his eye. He ran toward the glimmer, which became brighter the closer Po got to it. Eventually, an unbelievably bright light blinded Po, forcing him to cover his face.
( Outside of Po's mind-Real World. )
Tigress stood in impatience as Po became separated from the world, and she became irritated when all attempts to bring him back to the real word turned out futile. So, to pass the time, Tigress thoroughly examined her injured state, analyzing her fighting capabilities and weaknesses.
"Two deep incisions, eight torn muscles, and a un-countable number of fractures."
She paused.
"I've endured worse."
Using that as her motivation, Tigress began walking, trying to condition her body back into Kung Fu shape. She escalated into power walking, then into sprints, and further onto actual stances and Kung Fu attacks. Every kicked burned, and punch hurt, but pain was not a factor. She only focused on the upcoming battle ahead.
Exactly 1 hour later….
Tigress, now completely worn, searched for a place to relax her body. She did not want to lay on the ground; The rigid earth would tense her up. She considered Po, but quickly put the thought it away as that seemed like she was becoming some love crazy teen. So, instead, she sat beside him in her meditating position, resting her head on his shoulder after some time. However, as soon as Tigress felt comfortable, Po opened his eyes and sprung up, literally throwing Tigress into the ground. Needless to say, before the Panda could mutter an apology, the Tiger put him in a bloodchoke and made him beg for mercy.
"I'm… UGH- SORRY!"
"I SHOULD RIP OUT YOUR INTESTINES!"
"…CANT-BREATH-…!"
Tigress released just before he lost consciences, watching as he gasped for air. He tried to reach out to her, like a child to its mother, but she put him back in the choke-hold when he began to whimper. Once she let him go, Po scratched the ground in frenzy, literally squirming for air. Tigress, who know regained her level composure, notice the position of the sun, what with it beaming directly over them.
"Noon."
"I know," Po said, ceasing his flailing arms and gasping for air.
They paused for a moment, both trying to find the right words for the situation.
"Po," Tigress finally said.
"Tigress, don't-"
"No," She cut him off, "I need to let this go."
Po never took his gaze off the city, but he was completely focused on her words.
"As of late, I am aware things have been occurring… rather quickly (Authors Note: My fault. Im gonna work on that.) and recent events have taken a turn for the worst, but I would like you to know, no matter how rushed things are, or how unfair things seem to be, I am-"
Po cut her off by grabbing her into a hug, only letting her hug him back before he responded.
"I know… and I have no doubt that things will go back to being normal after this… but before I do this, before I go down there and show off my awesome moves, you need to know that Im glad we had this."
Tigress, now looking past him, nodded in agreement. There was no need or desire to be fluffy about it, whatever relationship they had was now over. Po made sure that, if it came down to it, his relationship with Tigress wouldn't hinder his battle in anyway. As they separated, Tigress felt that they were re-entering the friend-comrade level again, and their usual behavior resumed almost immediately afterward.
"So, I'm no cannibal or anything, but are you up for some lion-noodle-soup?"
Tigress chuckled, realizing she hadn't heard Po crack a joke in a while, spoke back,
"I do believe I am hungry."
"Well shall I take you to dinner?"
"Oh, wait, never mind. I suddenly lost my appetite."
"OOOOOOH BURNED ME, HAHA!"
Tigress chuckled at Po's reaction, and followed him as he walked to the city. Although their little "fluff" lasted only a day, their friendship will seem to last forever.
KFP
Jiong waited in the circle built for him and the dragon warrior. It was a platform, only raised two feet off the ground, and extended forty feet all around. However, Jiong was not alone; Jiong was joined by his army, which crowded the streets, and the remaining furious five, chained and bonded, along with Lei. They waited in a loud silence, feeling the rush of anxiety from every minute that passed.
"You think Po will come?" Viper whispered to Crane, who seemed to have lost all feeling and emotion. He nodded slowly, then put his head back down.
"Of course big guy'll come. I mean, he must be furious that we ate prison food instead of his soup." Mantis reassured.
"Yeah, I doubt Po will runoff with Tigress and forget this ever happened." Monkey added.
"Well he has runoff before." Lei whispered.
They exchanged a minor chuckle, a slight peaceful moment in which they all needed; but it was silenced when a guard hit Crane again, even though he had not said a word.
"You idiots haven't learned yet? I'll kill this here bird if that what it takes for you to shut up!"
Viper hissed at the panther, then turned to look at Crane. He told her he was alright by nodding, then let his head fall once more. They all paid their attention back to Jiong, who's ears perked up seemingly out of nowhere.
"Hah, He's come…"
Every soldier, villager, insect, and even the people inside the tower squinted down the wide street in the middle of the city. Low and behold, despite the blazing heat from the mid-summer non sun, they saw Po. He walked with short, powerful strides, accompanied by Tigress. Without a word, he and Tigress walked through the crowd, and, leaving Tigress by the base of the platform, stepped onto said platform and eyed Jiong. Jiong wore no top, revealing his heavily scarred chest and arms. His pants were a dark purple, contrasting against his brown fur and mane. Po wore his sacred clothing, leaving the straw hat with Tigress. The two stared at each other for what seemed like hours, and Jiong decided to speak first.
"Po."
"Jiong."
"You do realize that even if you defeat me, these men will shred you to pieces."
"Do I hear doubt in the kitty's voice?"
Jiong laughed, and Po chuckled. The two readied themselves, both entering their fighting positions.
"Dragon Warrior, allow me to ask you a question."
"Ask away bro."
"What full name? I want to remember the man I killed to achieve world domination."
Po laughed again, looking Jiong in the eyes.
"Po ping. You?"
Jiong set his head down for a second, then raised his head once more.
"Jiong Hibachi."
The two warriors entered each other's name into the depths of their mind, keeping them there to remember always. Then, as soon as one could blink, they lunged for one another, fist meeting fist.
"You're strong." Jiong said.
"You're on steroids." Po shot back.
Then the fight continued.
HEEEEEEEEEEEEY IM BACK. I finally found the inspiration to write this. I am sorry for my absence. Its not like ya'll review anyway, but I made this because I think this is my one year anniversary. I want to thank one of my old readers, vPnda for Pm'ing me the other day. May me feel like someone was reading. Im back guys, and Stay Unbound Folks!
