Cruise Again


Po was happy, extremely happy. This whole two years had been blissful. A promotion, being on one of the best cruises of his life, and now he was in a relationship with the most beautiful person he had ever met, Tigress. He was standing on the balcony looking at the sea. The ship wouldn't be leaving after they did the drill. Po just continued to smile at the bustling port of the cruise. "Pleasant sight, isn't it?" said a voice behind him. Crane came up behind him. Po sighed as he looked on the horizon.

"Yeah," He smiled. Crane just shook his head with a smirk.

"That smile on your face has really been plastered on ever since Tigress moved to your area. Doesn't it hurt by now?" Crane joked.

"To be honest, a little bit. But I'm just... happy," Po replied. Crane smiled back.

"Just remember there is the reality of the situation," Crane warned. Po was confused. "Yes there are many great things in an intimate relationship, but there are also many pitfalls. Just make sure you guys one, go through the pitfalls together, and two, ask for help if you need it. Love nowadays is something everyone wants but no one wants to work for it."

"I'll try my best," Po replied. "Come on, we better get to the muster station."

Tigress, Dr. Po, Crane, Viper, and Dr. Monkey had agreed to take another cruise. Crane and Po would sleep in one room and Tigress and Viper in the other. Though Viper and Crane did want some alone time together, Po and Tigress were very... adamant about not sleeping in the same bed. They said the temptation would be too great for them. "Plus," Po added, "There a lot of places for you two to be alone," He smirked. Tigress and Po had been dating each other for two years now. Po was still the head doctor at the hospital. Tigress had decided to change career settings and became a physical therapist. She and Po would often work together helping patients. As a result, they had a reputation of being one of the best in their fields. Dr. Monkey was in a room by himself, not that he mind. He was still much a party animal. There was also something special that was going to take place on this cruise. As Po and Crane finishing up the muster station drill, Crane immediately got up.

"Well, I'm off to go find Viper, see you," He said flying off to see Viper. Po shook his head as he traveled around the ship. He didn't know where Tigress was but he knew where her room was. As Po went to Tigress's room, which I may mention is right next to his room, Po found an envelope with three claw marks on it. That was their sign of communication. Po never really explained it to the others. Po opened the envelope.

This is a riddle to see if you really do know me. I stand and fight with the bishop and the knight.

Po knew she was talking about the card room. Po also knew that he had to hurry. This many people on one ship and the fact that the crew members clean the ship frequently means that the envelope may have been taken or discarded. Being excellent at maps and knowing the ship pretty well, (The ship had the same design as the previous one) Po got to the card room. It was a little smaller than the one he remembered on the other ship. Po could see it was empty too. Po looked in the drawers of the chess tables and finally found the envelope.

If you've found this well done, now it's time to go forward and do a little run.

That got confused Po for a moment, then he remembered there was a track course. He guessed it would be in the front of the ship. Po groaned. He was in back and ship was huge. He got on the elevator, went down to the jogging track, ran to the front to see the door to the gym. Po looked all around. No note. He walked to the front desk. Before he could even say anything, the kind bunny at the desk asked. "Are you Dr. Po?"

"Yes," Po replied.

"A female tiger wanted me to give you this," he said. Po took the letter, opened it, and read it.

Good for you, your reward is in full, now go to get a drink at the carnival.

Po grimaced. The ship had a special open place where it was fashioned from an old-fashioned amusement pier. It was called the Boardwalk. It had a handmade carousel with old style shops and restaurants surrounding it. It also had the big aqua theater and two massive rock climbing walls. Po groaned because it was in the back of the ship! Not only that, it was on the 6th deck where he was, but there was no way straight to the front from the back on this deck without using the staterooms' hallway. Po sighed and ran through the hallway, ducking and dodging several packages and luggage. He finally got to back where he saw the carousel. He remembered that the letter said drinks so Po looked at one of the bars. Yet again, the bartender looked at Po and asked.

"Are you Dr. Po?"

"Don't tell me, a female tiger gave you a letter for me?" Po guessed. The bartender nodded and gave him the letter.

Stop running around and sit back, take a drink, and smell the roses.

Po sighed again. It was obviously the botanic gardens. Po walked up the flight of stairs because the elevators were crowded. He made it to the 8th deck. He walked through the botanic gardens with the lovely and exotic plants, flowers, and roses. He saw Tigress in her casual clothing sitting at a bar. Po looked around to make sure it was Tigress. He quietly came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. "GOTCHA!"

"AH!" Tigress squealed in surprise. She turned around in his arms and hit him on the arm playfully. "Po, don't scare me like that!"

"I think you deserve it, considering you had me chasing you around the entire ship, you cheeky cat," Po muttered. Tigress just grinned ever so innocently. "You're lucky I'm too tired to stay angry."

"Sorry," Tigress apologized, kissing him on the cheek. Po sat down next to her. "Could I have a virgin strawberry daiquiri?"

"I'll just have a glass of water," Po panted. The bartender gave them their drinks. "Now tell me again why you don't drink?"

"I don't like looking like an idiot in front of the public," Tigress said.

"And you never drank in your life, right?" Po asked.

"Never," Tigress said. "What about you? Why haven't you drunk?"

"I've lost too many friends for me to drink. I've lost too many friends to alcohol," Po said somberly.

"I'm sorry you've been through that," Tigress said sadly. Po hugged her from the side.

"I'm fine," He smiled. "Excuse me, could I get a virgin bloody mary?" Po had learned about different drinks before and knew that all of them could be done without alcohol. But he never knew what was in them without it. The bartender and Tigress looked at him with surprised faces. The bartender finally made his drink and gave it to him. Once Po had a sip, he winced. "It's tomato juice," He exclaimed in surprise. Tigress laughed.

"You didn't know that?" Tigress said.

"No, I thought it would have cherries or raspberries or something. Yeck!" Po grimaced. This made the bartender and Tigress laugh. "Now I'm afraid to ask for a virgin Sherly Temple."

"That's a soda," Tigress explained. Po grimaced.

"Well, this is good for my prostate," Po said, downing the juice in one. "Ugh!"

"Hehe, so what are your plans," Tigress asked.

"You mean our plans," Po replied, "I'm not going to do my walking alone routine again". Tigress smiled. She simply shrugged, meaning she didn't know. "By the way, why didn't you go to your room. I thought we were going to meet there."

"One, I wanted to give you some... pre-cruise exercise. I mean, you're still thin but we need to work on your stamina," Tigress replied. "Two, the moment we finished the drill, Crane bursts in, I get shoved out of my room by Viper, and the next noise I hear from outside my room is 'thump thump'." Po couldn't help but laugh.

"Sorry you had to be rudely evacuated," Po sympathized. Tigress held his hand.

"At least I'm with you," Tigress said kissing him on the lips.

"Alright, you two. I'm glad you're together but please, there are children here," The bartender politely said.

"At a bar?" Po reasoned.

"Good point, carry on," The bartender said, going into the back.

Continued...