The sun rose on the peaceful Valley of Wung Ho, waking those who have not yet woken up for the day. The Dragon Warrior had woken up early that day to prepare a nice breakfast for the masters of the Opal Palace. He really wanted to thank them for allowing him to stay with Master Tigress on her yearly trip. Especially since she hadn't told them she was bringing a big ol panda along. Not only that, Tigress's sister, MaSha, didn't seem to like new people and she still hasn't kicked him down the stairs…yet.
MaSha is an interesting person. Only being there for a week now, he had learned quite a few things. Number one being that she and Yang certainly seemed to have a special connection. Their chi's were completely opposite of each other; one being for defending and the other for attacking. Those two were certainly tied to each other no doubt.
Something else he learned was that Tigress treated MaSha completely differently from anyone else, including himself. Tigress smiled and even laughed more. She seemed to be way more relaxed when the two sisters hung out together outside of training. Po could have sworn he had never seen her smile or laugh the way she did when the sisters were together. MaSha certainly gave Tigress a bright new light, something he wished he could see more often.
"What are you thinking about?" Tigress interrupted his racing mind. Po didn't even notice her walk in. The Master of the Tiger style had walked up to him as he had mindlessly cut vegetables, lost in his thoughts.
"Oh you know," Po shrugged. "Stuff." He smiled softly.
"What kind of stuff?" Tigress stood by his side grabbing one of the radishes. Not that she knew how to cut them very well but she tried to be helpful in the kitchen sometimes. Po looked at her, studying her face like a scroll. She had a small smile resting on her face and her fur was shinier, like she had taken a shower that morning. Her amber eyes shone as she faced away from the window that provided light into the small kitchen. She was right there, within his reach. He could just reach and touch her soft cheek…wait no. That wasn't appropriate. What the heck was he thinking?
"Po?" Tigress snapped him from his thoughts once again. "Is everything okay?"
"Oh yeah." Po chuckled nervously. "Sorry. Just….thinking about the last few days is all."
"Is that so?" Tigress placed the radish on the cutting more.
"You've ever noticed how Wung Ho Valley is more peaceful than The Valley of Peace?"
"Of course." Tigress smiled at him as she began to cut the radish. Po smiled at her attempts to improve on her cutting skills. They weren't great but they weren't horrible either. "MaSha was brought here for that reason. Wung Ho Valley has two of the great chi masters here to protect them….and to protect MaSha." Tigress stopped cutting. "She can learn to master her chi while still being safe from…." Tigress could feel tears in her eyes. She did not know the feeling of fearing her own mother, but she could feel her sister's pain.
"Your mom?" Po frowned. Tigress quickly blinked away the tears and nodded in response, not looking at him.
"You two are up early." MaSha walked in. She yawned slightly as she walked over to her usual spot on the dining table.
"Good morning to you too, MaSha." Tigress smiled softly.
"Good morning MaSha." Po smiled as well.
"Morning." MaSha leaned against the table, using her arm to hold her head up. "What's for breakfast?"
"I'm just about to be done preparing some steamed buns." Po pointed to the steaming dish on the furnace. "And the rice noodles should be ready soon as well."
"Then why is Tigress still cutting radishes?" MaSha pointed out. Tigress hadn't even realized she had continued to cut radishes when Po's breakfast was nearly finished.
"She really seemed like she wanted to help." Po shrugged. "Besides, the way she cuts them." Po grabbed one of the pieces she had cut from the cutting board, popping it into his mouth. "Makes for a really great snack." Tigress put the knife down and shook her head, unbelievably, at the panda.
"Wow. You're really bad at cutting Tigress." MaSha could see the size of the cuts from her chair.
"You should have seen them last month." Po laughed. "They were the size of dumplings the way she cut them."
"Really?" MaSha laughed with a smile. Tigress smiled at MaSha, she loved seeing her happy. No matter how long it lasted. Po, too, liked to see MaSha smile. Did he make her smile? Was that another victory for him? Meh, he'll count it as a small victory.
"Something smells delicious." Yang finally walked in.
"Wow, waking up late. That's sooo not like you." MaSha rolled her eyes at him with a smile. Yang sat beside her.
"Alright, Miss Sarcastic." Yang rolled his eyes. "I get it. It's not one of our days off but at least I woke up."
"Waking at the crack of dawn will be one of your duties, Prince Yang." That was Master Boar. He and Master Chicken stood at the doors, looking at the two teens. Yang and MaSha both stood and bowed respectfully. "Ruling your province means being on top of things. You know what legacy you have to follow up on."
"Of course Master Boar." Yang smiled softly.
"MaSha, have you thought about what we spoke about?" Master Chicken turned to the young teen.
"With all due respect, Master." MaSha placed her paws behind her back. "At the moment, I'm still unsure. I need more time to think."
"Of course." Master Boar nodded. "We understand. Right Master Chicken?"
"Yes." Master Chicken nodded with a sigh. "Of course."
"Would you two like to join us for breakfast masters?" Po asked. "There's plenty to go around."
"Afraid we cannot, Dragon Warrior." Boar spoke on behalf of both of them. "We have important business to attend to in The Forbidden City."
"We should be back in time for MaSha's birthday." Chicken assured. "MaSha, you must have a decision by then."
"I understand Master." MaSha bowed.
"Dragon Warrior. Master Tigress." Master Boar turned to the experienced masters. "We trust you both will have things under control."
"Of course Master Boar. You have our word." Tigress and Po bowed. Master Chicken and Master Boar bowed back before leaving the kitchen.
"Have a safe trip!" Po called out to them. MaSha sighed in relief as she finally sat back down.
"Don't pressure yourself MaSha." Tigress placed a comforting paw on her shoulder.
"All I feel is pressure right now Tigress." MaSha frowned. Po placed a bowl of rice noodles in front of her. The delicious smell of the food made her smile in delight, forgetting about Master Chicken's suggestion. Tigress smiled softly seeing how the dish made her feel. Food really seemed to brighten MaSha's mood.
CRASH!
"UGH!" MaSha yelled at the now destroyed dummy in front of her.
"Yelling at it won't fix it." Tigress rolled her eyes.
"I know that!" MaSha kicked a piece of the broken wood. "Makes me feel better though." MaSha crossed her arms. Tigres smiled and walked over to her, placing a paw on MaSha's shoulder. MaSha sighed looking at the ground. "I don't know what's wrong with me lately."
"Mother's attempt to escape?"
"Yeah. That's it." MaSha sighed again.
"Relax." Tigress turned MaSha to face her. "How about we meditate to calm down?"
"Meditating is boring." MaSha frowned. "You know how much I hate it. I fall asleep during it all the time."
"She's got a point." Yang chimed in with a chuckle. "Ow!" Yang grabbed his stomach as he had received a blow from the Dragon Warrior.
"Sorry, but you can't afford to get distracted, Yang." Po chuckled before standing straight from his stance and looking at Tigress. "But MaSha is right. Meditating is sooo boring."
"At least we can agree on that." MaSha smiled.
"Well what do you suggest to relax, Dragon Warrior." Tigress raised a brow at him.
"I make action figures to relax." Po smiled. "Sometimes I even paint some new posters."
"You know how to do those things?" MaSha looked at him. Tigress smiled seeing how her eyes shone at the idea of those suggestions.
"I don't have any materials on me right now but I can go to the Valley to get some and teach you a bit. It's surprisingly calming."
"Can I come along?" MaSha asked. Po couldn't help but notice how her tail swung in excitement. Yang and Tigress smiled as well at the sight. They couldn't remember the last time she was excited for something like that.
"I don't see why not." Po smiled.
"Let me go get my money!" MaSha smiled and before Po could say anything the young teen rushed to the barracks. Tigress placed her hands on her hips as Yang and Po walked over to her.
"Even I didn't know she was interested in crafts." Tigress smiled at Po.
"Master Chicken never really introduced her to anything other than calligraphy." Yang told the two masters. "She's been doing a lot of it lately but she's told me she wants something more colorful."
"Well looks like you found yourself something to bond with her Po." Tigress smiled at him, which he returned. MaSha soon returned with her small bag of yuan and looked quite excited.
"Are you coming with us, Tigress?" MaSha asked.
"No." Tigress shook her head. "You two go ahead. Yang and I are going to stay here."
"We are?" Yang looked at Tigress, only for her to step on his foot causing a small pain. "Oh yeah. We are."
"You two go have fun." Tigress smiled softly at her. "And don't spend too much. Just get what you need."
"Relax, Tigress." Po chuckled confidently. "I'll make sure she doesn't spend more than she should."
"Oh I know she won't." Tigress smirked. "It's you, who spends more than he should."
"Hey! I do not." Po pretended to be offended. MaSha and Yang laughed. "Anyway, we'll see you guys in a few hours. Ready MaSha?" MaSha smiled and nodded excitedly. Finally, she was going to try something new! Sort of.
Once Po and MaSha were out of sight and earshot of MaSha's strong hearing sense, Tigress turned to Yang and looked at him with seriousness. "Now, you and I are going to talk about your courtship with MaSha."
"I had a feeling you were going to say that." Yang sighed.
"She is my only sister Yang." Yang looked up at Master Tigress and nodded in understanding. This was going to be fuuuun. May Oogway help him.
Yay! Onto the Po and MaSha bonding! I'm excited for these two!