A/N: Okay, sorry this took awhile. I was at a point in the story where I knew where I needed to go, I just didn't know how to get there. :/ But hopefully that won't happen again!

I realized that, after writing it, it's kind of like a handful of fanfictions out there. This was not on purpose! This next chapter should be a bit more creative, so don't worry. :P

...I can't think of anything else to say, so I guess I'm done. Enjoy! (and, yes, I know the title is crap...deal with it...)

Disclaimer: If only, if only...

Scene IV

Singing, Fighting, and Questions

Shifu closed his eyes as he leaned against his staff. Just ignore him. Just ignore him.

Po continued his singing.

"Kung fu masters are here to save you!

Them bad guys won't even have a clue!

When he kick 'em so hard, they'll turn black and blue!

They'll feel so sick, like they've got the flu!"

Shifu sighed to himself, discouraged. He then looked up at the dark and cloudy sky with hope. "This can't last too much longer."

Time passed, and still Po was singing as they traveled on.

"We are the awesome masters of kung fu!

When we're finished, we'll make you a fondue!

Because we like to be nice and tell things true!

And – "

Shifu turned around, his eye twitching as he looked at Tigress. "How do you deal with this?"

"You learn to ignore it." She answered honestly, causing Po to give her a shocked look.

"Perhaps you should stop singing, panda." Shifu said, holding his head. "I think I'm beginning to get a headache."

"Hey, is it true that when you get old, you – " Po started to say, genuinely curious, but stopped when he heard Shifu moan and saw him walk away. "Okay, I'll ask you later!"

Po took the time to look at his surroundings, realizing that there hardly were things surrounding. They were on a wide, dirt road, with flat land around them. The road, however, was more mud than dirt with puddles too numerous to count. He looked at the dark sky above him, a sign of the past rain that caused the now muddy path and a threat to make it even muddier.

"How are we doing?" Po asked, referring to the distance they had traveled for the day. It was nearing dinnertime, which he knew by the rumbling in his stomach, and they had only stopped once for a small noontime snack. Shifu pulled out his map, pausing a moment to look down at the scroll. Po came from behind him, looking over his master's shoulder at the map.

Shifu sighed. "We're not as far as I would like." He rolled up the scroll as he continued on. "We need to move faster."

As he was about to put scroll back into his cloak, Po said, "Hey, can I see it?"

Shifu looked at him skeptically, then sighed and handed him the scroll. "Yes, but be careful."

"'Course." Po replied at his unrolled the scroll and looked at it. Tigress came up beside him as he stared intensely at the scroll, before finally saying, "Where are we?"

"Right here." Tigress said, pointing her finger at a point on the map.

"Oh. Wow, we really do have awhile to go." Po said with a sigh. He looked at her, and she responded with a shrug. Po opened his mouth to reply, when he suddenly felt something wet drop on his nose. He looked up with furrowed eyebrows, and she did the same. Only a moment later, raindrops began to fall.

And only another moment, their speed increased, and it was now pouring.

Shifu turned around at once. "Po! The map!"

"What?" Po said blankly, looking down at the scroll in his hands, now drenched.

Shifu raced over, taking the scroll and sighing as it wilted in his hands. "It is ruined now."

The three stood together in a group as the rain continued to pour hard. Po finally spoke up. "So, what do we do?"

Shifu was silent for a moment before saying, "There is a village not too far from here. We'll go there and ask for directions."

No one argued, and they hurriedly made their way to the village. By the time they had actually made it, they were soaked, but the rain had stopped to a drizzle. They arrived at the entrance of the village, when Tigress suddenly stopped.

"Tigress?" Po asked, stopping, too, when he noticed she had paused.

She quickly responded. "I think it's best we have a guard around the village – who knows what's around here? You two go in, and I'll go around."

Po's eyebrows furrowed in confusion, not believing her for a second. "It'll be best if we're in a group – "

"I told you, Po," She said sternly, eyes narrowed with determination. "I will go around."

"But we need to stay together!" Po exclaimed, and as he spoke, Tigress' eyes jumped over to Shifu, and he caught the silent plea.

"Po, let's go." Shifu said sternly.

"But – "

"Drop it." Shifu interrupted, and Po sighed as he turned to follow his master into the village. Po looked back at Tigress; her eyes were wide as she looked at the village in front of her. She looked scared. But when she noticed he was looking at her, she gave a reassuring smile and turned to walk around the village.

The rain had stopped completely, and the sky was beginning to clear up as Po and Shifu walked into the village. Po looked around, observing each detail of every shop as Shifu looked for someone who knew directions to where they needed to go.

"Excuse me." Shifu said, walking up to an elderly male goat. "Do you how to get to the Outstretched Forest from here?"

The goat nodded, pointing with his finger as he spoke. "Sure do. Just continue on through the village – when you get out, don't follow the path, and instead walk straight. Eventually you'll hit the forest, and you'll find a path through it."

Shifu nodded. "Thank you."

"Thank you, Grandmaster." The goat replied with a bow, and Shifu gave a nod of gratitude. The goat went back to his work, placing fruits in a bin to sell.

This village was slowly beginning to become alive, since the rain ended. Po and Shifu walked side by side as they walked through the village square. Pedestrians who noticed the kung fu masters stood in awe and shock, and some bowed low to show their respect. Shifu kept his face forward, serious and respectable, while Po waved and smiled at the villagers.

"Hey, Master Shifu?" Po said as he grinned and waved at a young lamb. Shifu looked up at Po, and he continued on. "Why didn't Tigress come in with us?"

Shifu sighed, looking away from the panda and going back to looking straight ahead seriously. "It's complicated."

"How complicated can it be?"

Shifu opened his mouth to respond, but a sharp cry interrupted. Being the two kung fu masters that they were, the two sprung into action, sprinting towards the sound of the cry.

Moments later, they arrived and surveyed the scene. Before them stood a dozen wolves, half preparing their fight against the masters, and the other half harassing random citizens.

"Wolves?" Po screamed, looking at each one as he stood prepared to fight. He said to Shifu, "They're the same wolves that worked for Shen!"

Shifu's eyes narrowed as he realized the same as Po. It didn't make sense, but he would think about it later. It was a wolf who started the fight, and so it began.

The masters split up, Po taking on half, and Shifu taking on the other. It was easy at first; Po landed numerous blows and knockouts to the opposing wolves, and Shifu took out double whatever Po did. But the wolves had weapons and endurance.

Time passed, and while Shifu and Po clearly and easily stood their own, it was hard to end the fight.

"Ugh!" Po shouted as he punched and kicked a wolf to the ground, and another took its place. "Why won't they stay down?"

Shifu didn't reply, but he was wondering the same question. Nothing changed at the moments passed, although Po seemed to be losing his stamina.

Po moaned aloud. "This would be so much easier if Tigress was –"

Before he could finish, Tigress had already arrived, kicking the wolf Po was fighting in the stomach and sending him flying against the wall.

"Miss me?" She stood ready, her body prepared for the next opponent, although she stole a glance at Po, smirking.

"Yeah!" Po yelled excitedly. "Let's kick some wolf butt!"

It was clear who the victors were going to be right away. Tigress, Shifu, and Po worked together to knock out each wolf easily.

"Retreat!" A wolf shouted, and the dozen fled immediately.

Po threw his arms in the air. "Victory!" He turned to Tigress at once, pointing a finger at her with a huge smile. "And you! Showing up at the last minute! It was awesome!"

Tigress gave him a genuine smile. "Thanks. I heard the cry, and I couldn't just…"

Her eyes looked behind Po, and she trailed off, her smile instantly fading. Po caught this and turned around to see what made her stop. He saw a mother rabbit, clutching her child in absolute terror. Po's eyes scanned the other villagers, and each had the exact same look: fear.

"Guys!" Po said, his eyebrows scrunched together in confusion. "We just won! We beat up the wolves!"

His comment didn't help, and every eye was on Tigress. Finally, a quivering statement from somewhere in the crowd rang out, "It's the monster of Bao Gu!"

Po looked at Tigress. Her face contorted into a look of pure grief and horror. He gasped, never before had he seen such emotion from her. But as he blinked, her face became emotionless.

Instead, she said, "Let's go."

Shifu stepped forward straightaway, leading the masters towards their destination. The villagers parted like the Red Sea, not out of reverence, but pure fear. It was like a walk of shame; Shifu looked straight ahead, his head held high. Tigress tried the same, but her eyes darted, showing that her mind was busy. Po, on the other hand, looked at each villager in pure confusion.

"Monster!"

Tigress stopped. The words rang through the air, and she brought her ear down to her shoulder, trying to block out the echoes of the horrid word.

"Monster?" Po said, turning around to face the sound. He said as he was genuinely confused, "She just saved all of your guys' lives! Why would – "

"Po." He turned to look at her as she sternly said his name. "Don't." The word was said with gritted teeth, but her eyes were desperately pleading for him. He didn't say or do anything, and she turned and continued walking.

His mind was racing with so many questions. Where are we going? Will we get to Tai Wei in time? What's up with Shen's wolves?

Why is Tigress a monster?