Sorry about the slow update. Here's the new chapter! I hope you all enjoy :)
Chapter 6: Food Conquers
It was the following morning and Dai still felt sore from the fight with Yao, but significantly better than she would have been without the acupuncture. She got up before anyone else did and went to the kitchen. She decided that she would cook breakfast for them. She remembered times when she convinced the stubbornest people to see things her way with food.
It wasn't long and the warriors started roaming in. "Hey, Dai. What's all this?" asked Po.
"I wanted to cook for you to, you know, be useful. I need you to know that I am a person… my species is not who I am," said Dai.
"Good indicator though," said Tigress under her breath. Dai heard this and her ear twitched. She pretended not to be offended and moved on.
"Anyway, I hope you all like it," said Dai. The meal was quiet. It was only through Po starting up a conversation that the air grew less heavy. He and Dai talked and got to know each other better. While the others were steeped in silence or prejudice, Dai and Po talked.
When the meal was over and they were getting ready to go to the training hall, Monkey and Mantis stayed behind with Viper, Dai, and Po. Monkey spoke first, "That was a very good meal, Daiyu. I wanted to apologize for my rudeness before. I remember when Po first came here and no one really supported him or respected him."
"Hey!" said Po.
"But, after getting to know Po more and trying his food, we learned more about him. Now, we're all friends," said Mantis.
"Hm… does this mean that by cooking you food, I have changed your minds about me?" asked Dai.
"Hey, anyone who cooks that well can't be all bad," said Monkey.
"Thank you, guys, that means a lot to me," said Dai with a small smile.
"Hey, don't worry about it. If we can get past how clumsy Po is-" said Mantis.
"And how he obviously is not the normal kind of kung fu warrior-" said Monkey.
"Despite what we originally thought about Po," said Viper with a glare to the boys. "We got to know him. The others will come around too, you'll see."
Monkey, Viper, and Mantis started heading to the training hall. Dai laughed and said, "You got some good friends here, Po."
"You could say they're like a second family to me," said Po.
"I think if they were, Mantis and Monkey would be little brothers annoying everyone and Viper would be an older sister that takes care of everyone."
"I always saw Tigress as the older sister."
"If you're all kids here, then that makes Shifu a very stressed-out dad."
"I guess so." They both knew the story of Tai Lung and how much like a father Shifu could be.
"Well, come on, then. Let's get going." Dai and Po followed the others to the training hall.
During their training, however, Dai broke away. She went down to the village to Ping's Noodle Shop. She wanted to talk to Po's father, if he would let her.
When Mr. Ping saw her, he was quick to reprimand, "What are you doing here?! Do you want to scare away my customers?!"
"Mr. Ping, I just wanted to talk to you," she said.
"Oh, so you can learn where I keep all my valuables? Well, I'm not talking."
"I'm not here to talk about that. I wanted the honor of talking to the goose who raised Po."
"Oh, so you want to learn his weaknesses? Well, you're gonna have to go through me first."
Dai sighed and suppressed an eye roll. "I just wanna talk. I wanna know how Po came to be how he is today. He's so kind and understanding. He sees the good in even the worst places. He's also very funny. I am sure that such fine characteristics must be due to his awesome upbringing." Mr. Ping gave her a long stare. Dai added, "I'm hungry and I have yuan."
"Well, why didn't you say so? Come , let's have that talk."
It was around lunch time that Po came in and saw the two talking. Dai was helping serve the customers food and she and Mr. Ping were chatting away like old friends. Po would have been more touched by this had he not heard his dad telling embarrassing stories from his childhood.
"Dad," said Po, trying to nudge his dad to stop.
"Oh, Po, there you are. I have been having a good day for customers. When Daiyu came and asked me to tell her stories about you, others began listening in too," said Mr. Ping.
"Everyone likes a good origin story," said Dai. She walked off to wait on more customers and Mr. Ping pulled his son aside.
"I had my doubts about her at first, but she really is good with people. One minute, I'll be telling stories about you and the next she'll be telling stories about her adventures. And…" he hesitated and admitted, somewhat begrudgingly, "She really is a good cook. We've been swapping ideas all day. I can't wait to try some of them on customers."
Po looked on as Dai was telling a small group of children a story about how she helped save someone from a ferocious dog. He went to sit in on the story. She told one after the other of not just stories from her adventures, but stories Po remembered as well. She told old legends, old tales, and newer ones featuring him with such a light in her eyes and with words that entranced the audience.
Po lost track of how long he had been listening, but was reminded when Dai brought up the subject of supper. Po shook out of his thoughts. "It's dinner already?" he asked.
"Yeah, where've you been?" Dai asked teasingly.
"I guess I was too caught up in your stories. You told ones I've never heard and the ones that I had heard before were told in a way that made them new again."
Dai smiled. "I'm glad you liked it, Po. I'm glad I got to be down here and be understood for once."
"If you have more stories like that, you should come back again tomorrow," said Mr. Ping.
"I'm sure I can come up with a few," said Dai.
"That sounds awesome!" said Po. They agreed on arrangements for tomorrow and Po and Dai had dinner there. It was all coming along so well. People were finally opening up to her and seeing her as a person. She wished it could last… she hoped it could last.
That's all for now. Please let me know any ideas you guys have for future chapters. I am totally open to suggestions! Until next chapter, please keep reading and reviewing, thanks :)