Stumbling Over Love

"You want me to work at the goose's shop," Tigress asked.

"And you want me to work at this Mr. Kia's place," Crane asked.

"Yes," I nodded, "Mr. Ru's friend is in desperate need of help and-"

"I will NOT be covered in soot again," Krystal insisted. I rolled my eyes as Tigress snickered.

"Anyways, Po's been away on the mission Master Shifu sent him on. By the way, does anyone know where he sent him?"

"No, Master Shifu wouldn't say," Tigress replied.

"Okay, I'm getting off topic. The point is these people need some help. Will you help," I asked. Crane shrugged.

"Sure, I'm not really that busy," I said nonchalantly. I looked over to Tigress.

"What about you," I asked.

"I'll... think it over," She replied. I nodded.

"Well, Crane, since you've already decided, you can go to Mr. Kia. Krystal will show you where it is," I explained passing the responsibility on to Krystal. "As for you, Tigress," I said as the others were gone, "I do have a question for you. It's referring to the Incident. Why did you tell me? Why not Po?" Tigress was silent for a while.

"Po means well and he has a great heart. But something just tells me that if I told me he... he wouldn't be right. You understand what I'm saying?"

"I think. Anyways, I was just wondering. You've known me for only a while," I replied.

"I know, but there's something about you that seemed... very trustworthy," She answered. I smiled and nodded. That was right.

"Anyways, when is Po suppose to come back?"

"He's supposed to be here soon with a prince. I don't know who," Tigress said. I just shrugged as we headed in the direction of the Hall of Heroes. It was there that we saw Po was back and he brought two friends with him. I instantly knew who they were.

"Prince Zan and Ai!" I shouted with excitement, calling attention to myself. I bowed before them. "It is so good to see you."

"Um... you too," Zan replied. "I'm sorry for being frank but... who the heck are you?"

"This is Master Lion, the Lion Warrior. And I'm sure that you've already met Master Tigress," Master Shifu explained. Tigress stood there in shock.

"No," she said in denial, "This can't be the duck I trained when he was little." Zan smiled. No, he smirked! I never thought I would see Zan's signature smirk. It's a lot more irritating in person than you think. Zan was different, however. Tall like Crane, wore a red robe with a headband on his head, slick-back head feathers, pointy-ended, orange-rimmed gray feathers, and green eyes. This was the Zan I wrote about. The one I actually spent a lot of time designing even a picture of. And Ai looked very familiar. In fact, she looked just like Lu, with the exception she had a black strap around her waist instead of a pink one. She is actually a lot shorter than Lu, though. She came to Zan's chest where Lu came to the top of Crane's neck. They even had the same eye color.

"You know," I said out loud, "You look a lot like one of my friends here."

"She does doesn't she," Po added, "I thought it was just me."

"Who does she look like," Tigress asked. I told her to examine her closely. Then it dawned on her. "Yes, she does look like her?"

"WHO!" Exclaimed Zan and Ai. Just then, Lu came into the Hall of Heroes. Lu and Ai saw each other.

"Lu?"

"Ai!" Lu screamed as she ran to her and hugged her. "I can't believe you're here."

"I can't believe you're here. In fact, what are you doing here," Ai questioned.

"Can someone help me," Zan butted in.

"Oh, I'm sorry, Zan," Ai apologized, "Lu and I are sisters. She's actually older than I am."

"Don't use the 'O' word," Lu rebutted.

Ai laughed, "Anyways, I was young when she had to go away. It's so good to see you again. You need to visit more."

"Oh sure, and you have been home too, being married to Zan and all," Lu retorted. Zan cringed as Ai flinched.

"We were hoping to tell them... delicately," Zan replied.

"Married!" Po exclaimed. "You two are married!"

"You escorted them and you didn't pick up on this," I mentioned.

"Well, I-"

"How old are you," Tigress questioned.

"Old enough to get married," Zan sighed.

"And are you loving it," I asked in a teasing manner. Zan blushed as Ai became shy. "I'll take that as a yes." Tigress got a little closer to Zan.

"You mean to tell me that this is Zan," Tigress asked in disbelief.

"You're still on that," I asked. "Now, why did you call them here, Master Shifu?"

"Well, it's been a while and he has been asking to come here. I thought he would help everyone relax a bit," he replied. I looked at him questionably. "I'll talk about it later," He whispered to me.

"So anyways," I said, "Why don't you, Zan, Ai, and Lu get acquainted and brush up on old times, Tigress. Po, you can rest," I instructed as everyone went to their places. I went close up to Shifu. "Explain."

"I think Zan, being a child... well, childlike, would help Tigress some," Shifu said. I understood now. Then I remembered something.

"Master Shifu, would you be willing to give Tigress to the right person?"

"Why would you ask something like that," He asked almost infuriated.

"Let's say the person is someone like Po," I said. Shifu calmed himself.

"I've... considered it. Po does have a good heart," Shifu smiled.

"I hope," I muttered.

"Why do you say that," he asked.

"There is... a possibility that Po's life here as made some... difficult past memories, but I don't know what," I replied.

"Po?"

"Everyone has their breaking point," I said sadly. "BAH! I can't take this downed behavior. I'm going to check out the others." So I did. Zan was ecstatic to see Tigress again and Lu and Ai were chasing up on old times. But where was Po? I looked into the barracks to see a sound sleep panda, quietly mumbling about some food. I shook my head. So I went back to the kitchen where Zan and the others were. "Well, it's good to see everyone's getting to know each other." Then something dawned on me. "Wait, since Zan's a prince, and you're her sister, doesn't that make you some type of royalty, Lu?"

"Eh somewhat. It really means if I need some money, Ai only has to smile," she replied. Zan grumbled.

"I'm not that persuadable," he insisted.

"He really isn't," Ai said. "He's smart, smarter than a lot of the people in the court, and doesn't give up easily."

"Just like his babysitter," I eyed Tigress.

"So sis, Zan was talking about you and Master Crane going out," Ai smirked. Lu blushed.

"We've... dated before, but we're just friends for now," Lu said.

"For now," Ai, Zan, Tigress, and I all repeated. Lu just rolled her eyes.

"We're just catching up. It's been a long time since we've seen each other," She replied.

"How was dating Crane anyways," Tigress asked. The whole room looked at her. "Just curious." We all blinked. "Seriously! Just curious."

"Um... anyway, it was good actually. We liked each other a lot and we hung out a lot. It was interesting, to say the least."

"Why don't you continue," Zan suggested. Lu blushed.

"I just got into town. I wouldn't know what to do," Lu explained.

"I do," Zan exclaimed.

"Oh no," I sighed.

"I have a great idea to get you two together," Zan said. I motioned Tigress to come outside the kitchen while the hybrid bird talked to Lu. We walked towards Po's cabin.

"Well, it looks like your little child is... very interesting to say the least. You'll be okay with Crane and Lu getting back together, correct," I asked.

"Of course, he and I are in the past," Tigress said, mistakenly loud. Suddenly, Po popped out of his room with wide eyes and a childish smile. I could see Tigress's face filled with shock and dread.

"You and Crane DATED!"

"Shhh! You little marshmallow!" I exclaimed covering his mouth. "You want the whole palace hearing!?"

"Po, listen to me carefully. If you tell anyone, I will make your life a living nightmare. Understand." Now Tigress usually glares at someone with her sharp teeth, glistening in whatever light they're in when she threatens people. This time, however, she had a bright calm menacing smile that scared the heck out of me! I could feel Po's shaking in my hand that was still over his mouth. Po just nodded as I released his mouth. "Good, now if you'll excuse me, I'll be exercising. And remember our little agreement, Po," She said in an almost singsong teasing voice. Po and I just stood there amazed as she passed us both.

"Whatever you're teaching her in the social department, is definitely working," Po gulped.

"Hehe," I laughed nervously. "Well, just keep your promise and you won't have to worry about that." Leaving Po to his fear-ridden self, I went to talk to the tiger. "Why?"

"Why what," She asked so innocently.

"Why did you threaten Po like that?" I clarified.

"Well, I've seen Krystal do it on you and it seems to work very efficiently. Plus, the social protocol would suggest that Po is used to my style of threatening. So I have to change it," Tigress explained.

"I don't like the idea of having to threaten Po. I believe that Po will do anything you ask if you just ask him," I suggested. Tigress seemed to think about it.

"Maybe you're right," She replied. I looked at her. "I have to apologize to him for scaring him, don't I?" I nodded. So we went back to the panda's room, where he was actually sleeping again. "Oh well, he's sleeping, might as well-"

"Get your tail in there," I commanded her. She groaned as she inched further to the sleeping panda. I could tell that Po was sleeping again. He moves very awkwardly when he sleeps.

"Hmmm mm hmm," He mumbled in his sleep, "Tigres." That caught Tigress's and my attention. Why would he be dreaming of Tigress? Tigress dismissed it, but just as she was about to shake him awake, it happened. Before Tigress could react much, Po launched up, grabbed Tigress's face, and kissed her.

You know that feeling when you've opened your eyes too wide? That's what I was experiencing. The kiss lasted three seconds before Tigress punched Po awake. "Ooh, my stomach," Po exclaimed, now fully awake. Then he realized that Tigress was there, with wide eyes and jaw open. Mine was too. "Hey guys, what's wrong now?" Before Tigress could say anything, I covered her mouth. I did not think I would have to do this with HER.

"Nothing, Tigress wanted to say she was sorry for threatening you and she wanted to apologize. Now just please keep your promise of not telling anyone about Crane and them, okay," I quickly said. "Good? Good. Now Tigress and I will just be leaving," I said rushing her out the door to the courtyard.

"Um..." was all Tigress could manage to say.

"I saw nothing, you did nothing, and he doesn't know anything. Let's just keep this between you and me." And about 500 other people reading this, I thought to myself. Oh, there was no way I was NOT going to put this in the journal.

"O... okay," She said a little unsteady. I tried to look her in the eye but she was staring at the ground with her hand on her lips.

"Are you going to be okay," I asked.

"Yeah, I'll be fine. I... I just need to get some training in," she said. And she walked away after that.

Have you ever heard a silent excited scream? Yeah, I thought I wouldn't either, but Krystal was able to scream at a level that I'm sure only dogs could hear in my world. "Are you done," I asked.

"You mean they actually-"

"Accidentally kissed," I replied.

"Still kissing. How did she react? Did she kiss back? I know it was romantic," Krystal asked excitedly teeming with a bouncy behavior.

"No, actually, she punched him in the gut. I told you he was sleeping," I said. Krystal's face fell.

"Aw man, I was hoping for something more... special," She complained.

"Oh, it was special alright," I said, "First time I've actually seen someone kiss someone in their sleep," I said as I wrote in the journal, "But let's keep this a secret. And no telling or pestering Tigress. She'll kill me if I told you. And DO NOT tell her that I wrote it in here."

"You, the mighty Lion Warrior, are afraid of a female tiger," Krystal teased.

"Yes," I nodded with a smile. "Because they can hurt me in ways a male couldn't."

"How?"

"You don't want to know," I shivered.

"Hey, doesn't Tigress have to work tomorrow at Mr. Ping's?"

"Yes," I replied. "Why?" She stared at me with a face that suggested that I already knew the answer. "Oh no."

to be continued.