A Change of Plans

"So he's going to get the others? Great," Krystal said. We were out on the top step of the Palace steps. I gently brushed my tail. "Still sore from Miracle's bite marks," Krystal mocked.

"Don't laugh, she can go for you too," I shot back. Krystal just stuck out her tongue playfully.

"When are you guys going to move into your house," Po asked. He was there as well.

"I don't know. I honestly am in no hurry," I said.

"Why," Krystal asked. I knew that the wrong answer to this question would either put me in safe waters or with the sharks.

"Well, I've gotten comfortable with sleeping in the barracks," I said simply. That seemed to ease her. "So Po, any ideas of who you're going to marry?"

"Lion!"

"Hey, he has to start looking now." I could see Po was in deep thought. The look kinda resembles a child pouting.

"I... don't want to think about it," He said.

"Well, you have to start you know. What do you want in your mate and how do you want to become a great mate," I replied.

"I said, 'I don't want to think about it.'" He restated. Krystal gently grabbed my arm to tell me not to continue. I dropped it, but I was a little worried that he was so... aggressive about it. "So, what do you have to teach me now," He said in his usual bubbly voice. I stared at him a little. The sudden change in mood was a little... suspicious.

"Actually, I don't have anything to teach you for today. It's actually Tigress's turn but I don't know where that cat is," I said looking at Krystal. She just shrugged. Suddenly, Tigress came with one of the biggest smiles I've ever seen her with, which to be honest isn't really big at all. "Don't tell me, Yijiro's here?"

"No," She said sternly, "That's not it."

"Then why do you have that look," I asked.

"It's my turn for training, right?"

"Yes."

"Well, I have an idea of what I could be training for INSTEAD of social training," She said with a smile. I frowned.

"You really don't like being outside, do you?" She smirked confidently at me. "Fine, what did you have in mind?"

"I noticed yesterday that you were doing some techniques with the water. That got me thinking. You can't teach me how to control water, but you can help me use the technique as a fighting style," She explained. I thought about it.

"I've done that with the wind tunnel. So you want to continue your 'formal' training," I said. She nodded excitedly. I rolled my eyes. "Fine, but we're going to go back to the social thing." I got up and we went to the training room. "Water is one of the big elements. It pulls and pushes much like Ying and Yang. The major key of water style is making the opponent's attack your attack. Be like a reflective surface."

"But...I already know how to do this," Tigress said.

"Oh, then you're doing the social thing!" Tigress growled lowly.

"Why do you want her to become so social," Po asked as he and Krystal came in.

"Po, a good warrior knows when trouble comes before it comes. In order to do that, you must understand how people function."

"I can help with that," Po replied.

"No, I will not allow you to help her. I need her out of her comfort zone, not jumping into a fray," I remarked.

"Hey, I know what it's like not to be out-going," Po said. Krystal, Tigress, and I all looked at Po with unbelieving looks.

"Really," We said.

"I haven't always been the social out-going panda I use to be," He explained. I looked at Po suspiciously.

"Po, I ask you again. Did you have a good childhood?"

"Yes, I did," Po said annoyed.

"Po, I'm not going to do any more geeky, nerdy festivals," She said bluntly.

"I know, but I know how to slowly get someone out of their shell," Po explained.

"How," I asked.

"Well, first, Tigress has to change or fix any family ties," Po said.

"You mean, Shifu," Krystal asked. Po nodded.

"Okay, simple enough. Then what," I asked.

"Then she needs to deal with all the past troubles she had. Either with her family or trust friends or people look up to. That should help with any bad memories and will help her be more confident about herself."

"I AM confident about myself," She said sternly.

"Are you," Po bravely asked. She was silent. "I know what it's like to think nothing can shake you." Again, she was silent. "Anyways, when she's done that, she'll be able to socialize much better."

"Since when did you become the social guru," I asked.

"Come on, guys. You have to give me a little credit. I know some things, too," He said a little offended that we didn't think he knew anything in this department. I laughed.

"I'm sorry, Master Po, I didn't know you were so knowledgeable. How about we go down the mountain? I'm hungry and the servants haven't cooked anything special for me," I said in a kingly way. Krystal rolled her eyes as we left the Training Hall with Tigress left. "He's right, you know," I said.

"About what," she said coldly.

"You know what I mean. I'm not saying you have to tell us right away, but it will help you become a better warrior. If that's what you really want," I explained. She looked at me curiously. "Time will tell what you REALLY want. And I'm pretty sure it will surprise you." With that, I left her in the Training Hall. We were halfway down the mountain when I sensed her coming behind us. "You're coming?"

"Yeah...I'm...actually hungry as well," She said, seemingly shy. I smiled. Looks like Po could get her to do what I could only dream of her doing. And that got me thinking.

"I think we need a change of plan to get those two together," I told Krystal as we went our way to Ru.

"How?"

"For the longest, I thought I would have to get closer to Tigress as a friend to try and understand her, but I'm figuring out that Po is closer to her," I said. She stopped and looked at me. "Yeah I know. I should have seen this earlier, but I didn't think Po had it in him."

"Okay, so what about him?"

"Well, I need to have Po like Tigress," I explained. She was confused. "Okay, hear me out. Po can get Tigress and everyone in the Jade Palace in and out of trouble. He can also get them to tell him things we could only dream of. I don't know if it's because he's persistent or because of his golden heart. Either way, they trust him. So if we get Po to like Tigress, it will be fairly easy for her to look at him with interest." Maybe we need to do what Zan did I thought to myself.

"Okay, but doesn't Po already kinda like Tigress?"

"That's the problem. I don't know what kind of relationship they have. I don't know if Po sees her as just a friend or sister or-or... I don't know. Step-half-former-twice removed cousin." Krystal giggled a bit. "But Po has to like her first. Then I think everything will fall into place."

"So why are we going to Ru's," Krystal asked.

"I just want to go somewhere different. I'm bored," I complained. Krystal rolled her eyes. We soon made it to the little house in the woods. Ru was outside the house making pottery. "Mr. Ru, it's good to see you."

"Master Lion, what brings you here," He asked kindly.

"We were just wondering if we could help you. You know, give you some help with the pottery," I said.

"Do you know anything about pottery," Krystal asked.

"Well, I've made a Ying-Yang bowl and a blue pyramid. Plus, I've read Single Shard so I think I have some experience," I said confidently. Ru smiled.

"Well, you can practice," Ru said giving us some clay. So we set to work forming and sculpting the clay. Krystal designed a decorative orb with white and blue dyes. I tried to make a better design of the Ying Yang bowl that I had. Then came the firing. I was glad that I made more than one bowl because the first was a bust. Soon, we were able to perfect our firing technique, but by the time it was done, we had to go back to the Jade Palace, a different way.

"Take hold of me," I said with a mischievous smile. Krystal looked at me suspiciously. Before she could say anything, I lifted her in my arms like a bride and blasted my way up the mountain. She was, of course, screaming all the way. When we finally got to the top, I looked at her frightened face and laughed. She returned the kindness by slapping me.

"That's for doing that without my permission," She said upset. I smirked.

"You mean you liked it then," I asked. She looked away from me. I still chuckled. "Anyways, let's get to our room."

"Carry me," Krystal asked in a cute smile. My face fell.

"Oh now you want me to carry you," I said. "Fine." So I lifted her up and carried her to our room, where I dropped her on the mat.

"OFT! Hey! That wasn't the gentlest letdown," Krystal complained.

"Sue me," I replied gruffly. I sat down on the side of the mat. Something was still bugging me. Krystal seemed to notice it.

"What's the matter," she asked.

"It was earlier with Po. I didn't like how he answered the question," I replied.

"He doesn't want to be pestered about his love life. I can understand that" She countered.

"No, it's specifically HOW he answered it. It wasn't frustrated and acting without thinking like he usually does. He answered in a controlled, I want to say almost sinister, rage. He usually doesn't do that."

"I'm guessing your stories have something to do with it," Krystal asked.

"Why do you automatically assume I did it," I questioned.

"Because you're usually the culprit," She smiled.

"Okay fair enough," I nodded. "It's something I'm not sure I want to talk about. And I pray that it isn't true. 'Cause if it is, we can kiss our plan to get the two together good-bye." Then I thought about it. "Actually, maybe we could work with it. Assuming it's really real." Krystal hit me with the pillow. "Why do you do that?" She just laughed.

"Let's put 'assuming' behind us. Just write what happened today and go to bed," Krystal commanded.

"Yes, dear," I said, pretending to be dreary. Krystal almost hit me with the pillow but I ducked.

So I wrote the day's record in the book. "Look on the bright side, Lion. If you don't get those guys together you can always write your way out. That's what got you here," Krystal smirked. I frowned at her.

"You know, I could've just left you down the mountain," I snarled.

"Love you too honey," Krystal smiled.

To Be Continued.