As soon as we arrived, I dropped the act. "Take me home. Now." I demanded. "But dear, you are home. This is your home. Forever." Mother announced, placing a hand on my shoulder. "No!" I shoved it off. "This isn't a home, if I'm here with you." "What do you-" "You abandoned me. Left me to die. Why should I stay with you?" "Because we're your parents." "Parents care about their children, like Master Shifu did to me. Parents don't just leave their three year old daughter in the middle of a flooding village to save themselves!" I was nearly yelling. "But, we-" "I don't want to hear it! I want to go back, back to a family that cares about me. Back to the Jade Palace." "You can't-" "I can. And will. You are not going to stop me." "Tigress, wait." "What?" "You do realize that if you go back, you can never return? You can re-inhabit your body and continue life on Earth, but you'll never have the chance at being an angel again." My mother said. I smiled, knowing she expected me to stay. "I know. Bye." "Wait, what?" My father exclaimed as I disappeared.
I silently teleported into my room, where I saw Po, sitting beside my dead body, holding my hand, crying. Smiling slightly, I floated over to my lifeless form, and in one quick motion, I forced myself in. I felt all tingly, my spiritual form blending with the solid one. It was slightly painful, but endured it. I tested my body, taking a breath. It worked. I blinked, then slowly sat up. I nudged the panda next to me, whispering his name. "Po…" "Not now, Tigress. I- Tigress!" he yelled, looking at me with wide eyes. "But, how? I saw you die." "I know. But I made my choice. I could either stay an angel, or give it up forever and continue living with my family. My real family." I said, smiling. "This is the best thing that ever- wait, did you say give it up?" "Yep. I could've stayed, but I didn't want to. I love being with you more than anything." "This is amazing! Better than anything!" he was nearly yelling, we were both so excited and happy.
We kissed for a brief moment, then decided we should tell everyone of my recent return. They'd probably have a heart attack if they just came across me, still believing I was dead. We found Viper in her room, face buried into her pillow, soaking it with tears, sobbing uncontrollably. We didn't bother knocking; she wouldn't have heard us anyway. "Viper?" I whispered, gently nudging my friend. "Wh-what?" she asked, her voice muffled and choked, due to her crying and her face being isolated in her pillow. "Whatever you want, the answer is no! Can't you see I'm crying over the death of my best friend?" she yelled, still not looking up. "Why don't you just turn over and see who it is?" I asked, becoming slightly annoyed. "Too much effort." She muttered. "Oh, for the gods' sake." I rolled her over in one quick movement. Her expression went from angry to surprise to disbelief. "Ok, I'm obviously dreaming, or died from dehydration." She said, eyes wide. "No, I'm really here." I assured her. "But this is impossible! I'm not complaining, but this is just… wow! You just, I saw- and you- and-" she stopped rambling and sprang at me, wrapping herself around me, hugging me so tight I couldn't breathe. "Uh, Viper? As glad as I am to be back and see you… I do need air if I'm going to last!" "Oh, sorry." She apologized, blushing shyly.
"This is huge! We've got to tell everyone!" she exclaimed. "True. Very true." I agreed. "Ok, let's meet in the training hall in about, mmm, ten minutes. I'll get Mantis, Viper, you get Crane. He's at the Peach Tree. Tigress, will you just make sure Monkey's in the Training hall? Ad if he's not, find him." Po said. I was glad to do my part, but Viper seemed nervous. "W-wait. Why do I have to go get him?" she asked. "What? You scared?" I asked. "No! It's just…" "You like him?" Po teased. "WHAT? No, I just- I- that's not- never mind, I'll do it!" she said, her cheeks turning a magenta pink. She then zipped out the door, still flushing bright pink. "We all know it's true!" I called.
I headed straight for the Training Hall just as I was told, while Po headed off in another direction. As I arrived, I found monkey was indeed there, curled up in a ball huddled in the corner, hugging his knees. "Why? Why?" he whispered, over and over. "Monkey." I said quietly, tapping his shoulder. "What?" he asked, still staring at the wall, finding the corner very interesting. "Just turn around before I make you visit heaven!" I said. He whipped around at the tone of my threatening voice, knowing only I could sound that serious and threatening yet slightly sarcastic at the same time. "Tigress! You're not dead!" he yelled. He pounced on me, hugging me. "Oh, thank the gods! But how is it possible?" he asked, releasing me. "Uh, I'm not really sure. I just wanted to come back, and, well, like I said, I'm not sure." "Ok…"
The doors burst open, and Crane, Mantis, and Po ran in. I almost immediately ended up on the floor, the arms of my family wrapped around me. I laughed, hugging them back. "I missed you all, too." "It's so great to have you back! Even if you weren't gone too long." Mantis said. "Yeah. Agreed. I'm pretty sure I really would have died of dehydration if you'd been gone much longer." Viper said, coiling tighter around me. We all laughed at her little joke, resituating so we were now in a sitting position, all still entwined in a family hug. Well, it was almost a family hug.
"Hey, where's Shifu? Shouldn't he be here?" I asked. "Yeah. You think he'd show up for his daughter's return from the dead." Po muttered. I frowned, thinking he was right, but I wasn't his daughter. He only saw me as a student, nothing more. Well, maybe one of his best students, but so are Viper, Crane, Mantis, Monkey, and Po. We're all equally skilled in Kung Fu. In different styles, but still, I had hoped he be here, happy to see me. Or had anyone even told him? Oh well, I content, embracing my family, my brothers and sister, and the person I loved. "Let's go find him." Crane suggested. "Alright. He deserves to know." I agreed.
We all rose, untangled ourselves. "Did he say where he was headed after I… left?" I questioned. "Uh, no. Just said he had something important to do." Po responded. "Oh my gosh! He was probably talking about a funeral!" Viper exclaimed. "Oh gods! If he finds out you're not there, he'll freak!" Mantis added. We all ran off to the bedroom hall, hoping our Master hadn't already discovered my absence. Unfortunately, he was already there.
The others stepped in first, where Master Shifu was, looking confused and angry. Not a good sign. "Students. What is the meaning of this?" he asked quietly through clenched teeth, gesturing at my empty bed. "Uh, well… you see…." "Where is she?" he growled. "Uh, she's…" Po started. "Right here." I popped in, coming to their aid. His eyes nearly popped out of his head. His jaw dropped, his left eye twitching "How…" "I know, I know, it's impossible. It's hard to explain, let alone understand." He recomposed his posture, standing up straight. "Well, I'm glad you're back." "Just hug her already!" Viper said, giving him a gentle shove forward. "Well, I-" "Oh, c'mon. It won't kill you!" Po said, pushing him forward some more. "Anyone else feel like another group hug…" Viper hinted in a playful voice. "Me." everyone, short of Master Shifu said.
They all lunged for me again, and I ended up on the floor. Again. But I didn't mind. I was home, with my family. I grabbed Shifu, and before he could protest, we were all hugging. The perfect reunion moment. Po kissed me silently, hoping no one would notice, as they all had their eyes closed, faces plastered with dreamy smiles, but Viper did. "Well, if you're gonna be all romantic…" she lurched forward and kissed Crane on the lips, surprising us all. She pulled away, blushing. "I've always wanted to do that." She muttered. "And I've always wanted to do this." Crane then kissed her. "I can explain…" he said quickly. "I don't care what the reason is. Just do it again!" she ordered. "Ok!" he sounded eager.
"So are you together now?" I questioned, smirking. "Are you?" she shot back. "I guess so." I said quietly, laying my head on Po's shoulder. "Love you." "Love you too." We were all still hugging, sitting on the floor, embracing one another, smiling. Sure, we might have looked like idiots, but none of us cared. We were back together, as a team, as friends, as a family. And I couldn't be happier. None of us could.