Character Isn't a Dress

"It went good, then," Viper asked.

"Yep," I said confidently.

"I told you not to interfere," Zan protested.

"Yeah, but I didn't listen," I told Zan the next day. Crane and Tigress were down in the village.

"You're lucky you didn't mess up their dinner," Zan grumbled.

"Like I would," I smirked. Po glared at me. "Anyways-" But before I could finish, Tigress and Crane came into the kitchen. "You're here early. I thought you guys had to work." Tigress's hard look suggested something was wrong. Crane seemed like he had been running. "What's the matter?"

"There's a friend of Po's here and she-"

"Oh no," I muttered.

"She's been wondering where Po is," Crane continued.

"Don't tell me, Song," I guessed. Both Tigress and Crane were shocked.

"How did you know," Tigress asked.

"Lucky guess," I mumbled. Krystal, who was sitting next to me, slapped me over the head. "OW! What was that for?"

"For creating this mess," She explained with a smirk. I raged in silence.

"What does she mean," Everyone asked.

"Nothing, in any case, she's baaa aac CCK!" I said in a singsong voice. Then I remembered something and pinched Krystal's arm.

"OW! What was that for?"

"Do you remembered what happened in She's Back?" I asked. "It's not my fault anymore." Krystal just mumbled under her breath. "No need to be angry, Tigress. I know exactly why she's here," I said getting out of my seat and going down the mountain. There in Mr. Ping's shop was the pretty snow leopard. Still physically fit, she still held the umbrella from the Ladies of the Shade. I strolled up to her. "Hello," I said, quite nervous, however. Starting an introduction was always the hardest for me. She looked at me with a surprised but charming smile.

"Oh, hello."

"My name is Lion. You're new here, aren't you?"

"A little bit. Why?"

"Well, I was just wondering if I could help you in any way," I replied.

"Oh no thanks, I'm actually waiting for one of my friends."

"Po?"

"Yeah, how do you know him," She asked surprised.

"Everyone knows the Dragon Warrior around here, but I know him personally. I'm his trainer and his good friend," I finally introduced myself.

"Nice to meet you, Lion. My name is Song," she said bowing as I did the same.

"Song? The Furious Five, especially Viper, Crane, and Tigress, tell me of a beautiful charming snow leopard named Song who was also a part of a gang of thieves." I could tell she was nervous. "Is it true?"

"Well, yes, but I've changed since then. A lot," Song responded. I laughed.

"I can tell. Don't worry, I know you've changed. What I really want to ask is why you're here," I asked.

"It's kind of personal," Song said placing her hand on her belly.

"I understand. And am I right to understand that you're married to a kung fu fighter," I asked.

"Yes, Qiang. He's a gray wolf. How do you know that."

"He's the Lion Warrior," Po said from behind me. "He's studied us for a while so he knows a lot about us. It's good to see you're here." While they got caught up, I had to see Tigress. I found her punching her hardest at some wooden soldiers. I shook my head. As I approached, she slowed her punches. "You know, everyone knows that you only punch them that hard if you're mad."

"Why would I be angry? Because I know that Po is going to let in a former thief just because she has a pretty face," She said with a testy attitude.

"You're right. And I think she would qualify for a wife for Po since she practices Kung Fu... in a way."

"Exactly," She said in a quiet rage.

"So, are you jealous of her," I asked.

"I'm NOT JEALOUS OF HER!" She exclaimed as she 'killed' the wooden soldier. I just stood there with an unchanged look. She stubbornly crossed her arms and looked away.

"Well good, but she's married to someone else. And... if I'm right, she's pregnant. That's why she wants to see Po. Her husband is on the battlegrounds fighting," I explained.

"Really," Tigress asked quietly. I could almost see a smirk on her face.

"Yep, but it's sad really. That was my last hope for Po. Maybe he doesn't need to be in a relationship with anyone," I said. I could see Tigress was anxious. "Something wrong, Tigress," I asked.

"Nothing," She replied. "I... I'm just going to work out some more." She did, but her strong punches were replaced by weak ones. It looked like she was thinking more than training. Then suddenly, Krystal rushed into the Training Hall, took me by the arm, and dragged me back to the house. She locked the door and stood in front of me.

"Well," She urgently asked.

"She's married and pregnant. There's no way Po's going to get in a relationship with her," I replied.

"Good," Krystal sternly said.

"Why are you so stubborn about it," I asked.

"I just want to make sure that they do get each other and Song would be a horrible addition to the mess we already have."

"Yes, it has gotten very crowded around here," I said thoughtfully.

About two days after Song arrived, Tai-gee and his family came back. "Master Swordsmen," I started, "Emperor Lee and Empress Mai are leaving to Japan today. I want Saber and Mei-Ling to go with them as escorts. Meanwhile, Leo and Miwa will return to their kingdom. They will be returning back to Tigress's parents. I want Nelon and Tai-gee to go with them and bring them back safely. They are considered fragile cargo. Do not tell anyone of this mission. I want it to be a surprise to Tigress."

"Will do," Tai-gee saluted. And they were off. Then I went to Viper, where Tigress was with Krystal.

"What are you doing here," I asked.

"We're actually trying out dresses for Tigress," Viper said. This stumped me. "Yeah, it puzzled me, too."

"For what," I questioned. Krystal and Viper looked to Tigress.

"Well, I... have always lacked feminine characteristics. So I want to see if I can change that."

"Okay," I said slowly, "But why do you have Viper doing it?"

"Hey, what happened with Lu was Mei-Ling's mistake," Viper defended. I rolled my eyes. "The problem is that I don't know what dress to give her."

"I do, but we'll have to make it."

"What do you know about fashion, Lion," Krystal asked.

"Nothing, but I know what men will like. First, we'll need lots of red cloth, then some golden silk strings. That should do it. Now, this is the design that I have in mine," I said as I explained the design. Soon, they were off to work. They took measurements of Tigress, and then pushed her out of the room along with us.

"I'll be at the tailor is you need me. Bye-bye," Viper said and then went away down the mountain. I strolled off to the Training Hall with Krystal holding my arm.

"Why did you really want to try out the dresses, Tigress," I asked her. Krystal looked at her too with questioning eyes. Tigress's eyes darted around the room as we entered the Training Hall.

"I already said, I want to explore... what normal female wear and how they act," Tigress struggled to say.

"Tigress, you're not normal," I simply said as her ears sloped down. "But that's okay. That just means that you're extraordinary. You don't need to be like everyone else. That's boring, demeaning, and you lose yourself in the process. No, just be yourself. That's what makes every person unique. That's what makes Krystal her."

"That hasn't gotten me far," Tigress replied.

"There are too many fake people in the world, Tigress," Krystal assured her. "We need more people who embrace their personality, not what people demand of them. There are too many people who rush to be the best of their career rather than the best of their character."

"Just be... natural," I said.

"That's the problem," Tigress said sadly, "I've been conditioning myself so much to be a warrior that I don't know how to be my normal self."

"You'll learn," I said reassuringly. "So, for the most part, you don't have to worry about what people want." Just then, Po rushed into the room to see us.

"Bandits."

"Meet me there," I said as I teleported to the place. "Ah, if it isn't Tong Fo, the gang boss." There stood the... whatever he was with two gorillas and Fung's group.

"And who the heck are you," He asked.

"They call me Lion," I smirked.

"Well, Lion, you might want to get out of my way before you become...very damaged," Tong Fo said as one of the gorillas cracked his knuckles. I forced him back with a big puff of wind, sending him crashing into the outskirts of the village. I got into my stance.

"Come and get me," I taunted. The next gorilla came at me. I smacked him with a large slab of rock. "Next."

"Um... I'm going to go," Fung said. I disappeared and reappeared in front of him. "AHAAHA!"

"Bye!" I smirked as I lifted him up and threw him clear across the town.

"DARN IT!" He screamed.

"If you want something done," Tong Fo said as he was about to attack. I dodged his flying kick, grabbed his foot, and slammed him to the ground. Tong Fo got up and punched me and continued trying to punch me as I dodged each one. Then I forced him back with a puff of air. I made the ground swallow him up to his neck. "This does not please me," Tong Fo grumbled. Only then did Po and the others show up.

"Couldn't you have waited," Po complained. Monkey and Crane struggled taking Tong Fo out of the rock. So I moved him out of the ground surrounded by his rock restraint and they took him to the prison. I decided to swing by the shop where Mr. Ping was.

"Ohh, Master Lion! How is my best customer," He asked.

"Mr. Ping, I'm only your best customer because I pay the best," I replied. The money was coming from generous donations people gave me for them. Plus, and I don't know how Demi managed to do this, I have a forever replenishing storage of money at the end of the journal. There's a little compartment at the end of the book and it was a bag of the yen. "I'll just have the usual cup of tea," I said, sitting at my usual table. So I sat there waiting for the others to come back when they did, it was only Monkey, Tigress, and Mantis. Their conversation was interesting, however.

"You're kidding me, Tigress," Monkey said.

"I'm serious," Tigress replied.

"Since when did you get into stuff like that? Not that it will do you any good," Mantis commented. Tigress glared at the little bug and seemed like she was about to jump him.

"What Mantis is trying to say is that you don't have to participate in those things. It's... well... just not something I thought you would do," Monkey explained.

"What are you guys talking about," I asked.

"Tigress told us about her idea of becoming a girl," Mantis joked.

"Grrrr!" Tigress growled.

"She just wants to seem more... feminine, but we're trying to talk her out of it," Monkey said.

"Why," I asked. I wasn't getting on Tigress's side, I was just wondering why THEY didn't want her to be more feminine.

"Well, to be perfectly honest it would be a bit strange," Mantis admitted, "I've always looked to Tigress as the strong one in the palace."

"I didn't think you could be soft," Tigress muttered.

"But it is true," Monkey joined in, "We do see you as the emotionally strong one and the idea of you... changing to something that people think you should be is never good."

"Okay, okay, listen. We all respect Tigress's wishes and thoughts. If she thinks this way, let her think that way," I told them. "Now, I want you two to look after Song. She's at Mrs. Yun's place." With that, Monkey and Mantis left as Tigress sat next to me. She sighed.

"I don't know why I told them."

"They're right, you know," I said sipping my tea.

"I thought you were on my side," Tigress complained.

"I'm on the side of truth. Tigress, do you even like the idea of having to change?" She shook her head. "Then why change to this? Now, if you wanted to be kinder and gentler than I'd be totally behind you. You'd be changing for the better. This, this isn't necessarily for the better. This is because society seems to favor people better when they're like that. But society has very rarely ever known what's best for itself. You just do you, alright." She nodded, but I could see she wasn't really listening to me. Then Krystal came in. I spent the next hour talking about the two tigers. Just then, Viper slithered in with an excited smile.

"The dress is ready," she said.

"Really? That was quick," I commented.

"Come on," Viper said.

"Wait! I know what to do. Everyone grab hold of me. Viper, just curl around my neck," I said. They looked at me with strange faces, but they did it anyway. Then I teleported us right into Viper's room. "Did it work?"

"You say that like you were expecting it to go horribly wrong," Krystal wondered.

"Hehehe," I laughed nervously.

"Nevermind that," Viper said, "Put the dress on. You two, out!" So we waited outside Viper's door. Just then Zan came.

"What are you two doing outside," He asked.

"The dress is finished," I said. Then the door opened up. There stood Tigress with the beautiful red two strapped dress and the shining golden flower pattern wrapping around the front and back.

"Well," Tigress asked.

"Beautiful," Krystal said excitedly.

"Amazing," I smiled.

"Great," Zan smiled with a thumbs up. "Now, what are you going to use it for?" Tigress scratched the back of her head nervously.

"I was just wondering if you could make a dress for me in... emergencies," Tigress said.

"Like what," I asked.

"You never know," Tigress replied. I shrugged and left to the kitchen, where Po was.

"Hey, why do you seem so bummed out," Po asked.

"Tigress wants to be-"

"Nothing!" Tigress interrupted, who barged into the room with her normal clothes. "It's nothing!"

"You mean about her wanting to be more girly," Po asked. Tigress glared at me with both fire and daggers.

"Ya ha ha!" I exclaimed. "I didn't tell him!"

"I was eavesdropping," Po explained. "You guys don't really say things quietly. I don't think you should worry about it, Tigress."

"Why not," Tigress asked.

"I've been trying to do something like that for a long time." Tigress and I looked at each other.

"You've been trying to be a... girl," I asked.

"No, trying to be someone that I'm not. It's what happened when I first got here. I thought I could change into something that wasn't me. I thought Shifu could help me. You remember Tigress," Po said, surprising her. "I knew you were on the roof listening to the whole thing." Tigress looked away a bit ashamed. "What I'm saying is I know what it's like. Yeah, you could be kinder or less hot-tempered, but being someone you're not, isn't what people are designed to do. They're made to be real." Tigress smiled.

"Thanks, Po," She replied. We looked to the doorway to see Monkey, Mantis, Viper, Krystal, Zan, and Crane.

"What's up, guys," Po asked.

"Your dad actually wanted some help with the loading," Monkey said.

"Well, see you guys later," Po replied and went out the door. The rest all looked at Tigress.

"What," she asked.

"You wouldn't listen to me, you wouldn't listen to Monkey, Mantis, and Viper, but you would listen to Po," I said, plainly.

"Well, I wanted to get some advice from... someone knowledgeable." I raised my hand. "Who's more like me." Krystal raised her hand. "Who's a male." Zan raised his hand. "Who isn't married." Crane raised his hand...er, wing. "Nor in a relationship!" Monkey and Mantis rose their hands. "I got what I needed from Po okay?!"

"Uh-Huh," We all said.

"I'm out," I said disappearing into my house. I wrote everything in the journal.

to be continued.