A/N: Hi everybody! *Getting weird glances from everyone" Yeah, I know. *coughing embarrassed* I couldn't resist. I have to write one more chapter to this story. I promise that Friends Forever will be next. I just think that I need to make this story exciting for you! So this chapter will make you gasp in shock! Okay, maybe not, but there is a dilemma.
Oh, and I will recommend you to read my other story "Friends Forever" (I know that many of you already have read it, but…). And a warning for all those who will start and read it now: the first ten chapters are short and full of misspellings (I was new at fanfics), but from ch 11 I think that they are fine.
Last thing: thanks for all the reviews! With all my heart; thank you!
Last last thing (can you say such a thing? Hmm…): My "H"key doesn't work that well, so if there is some places were H is missing, please just ignore it. Stupid keyboard!
I don't own Kung Fu Panda, only the OC's.
Behind The Golden Eyes, The Unexpected
Tigress lay awake long time before the morning gong. There were too many thoughts in her head. She wished that she just could reach out with her paw, grab a thought and hold it there.
She knew what she had to do today. It wouldn't be easy, and maybe she would fail. But she had to give it a try. She didn't want to be a coward. If there was something that Tigress didn't have any respect for, then it was cowards.
Most of the thoughts were once again about Mei-Hua. Tigress admired her. She had never seen such a master like her. Oogway and Shifu were incredible masters, but Mei-Hua was different. Not only the fact that she also was a tiger, but that she was even better to Kung Fu than Tigress. And Tigress looked up to her. She wanted to show her that she could be able to 'feel' the Kung Fu. She wanted to make her proud.
As long as she could remember, Tigress had always tried to make someone proud. It must have started in the awful days in the orphanage. The constant fear of doing something wrong, that she couldn't control herself, that people would call her a monster. And the guilt, the merciless guilt that had killed her inside when it had went wrong for her.
And then when Master Shifu came and taught her that she could be someone else than the monster from Bao Gu. He had showed her Kung Fu. He had given her a new life. And she owed him for that. She wished that she could make him proud, but she always failed. She just couldn't live up to him.
It didn't become better when Po was chosen as the Dragon Warrior. The title that her friends had thought belonged to her. But it didn't. It belonged to a panda that fell down from the sky. Tigress wasn't mad at him. He had proven himself worthy to be the Dragon Warrior.
Tigress was afraid of getting weaker. She couldn't help but compare herself with Po. He defeated Tai Lung and Shen. She got beaten by the snow leopard and had to stay in bed for weeks because she got shot by the peacock's canon. Tigress didn't like to think about how this would end if she continued that way.
She could sense that it was morning now. It couldn't be long before…
GONG!
"Good morning, Masters." Tigress smiled at herself; she was the only one provident enough to greet both masters. The others just said their usually 'Master'.
"Morning, students. Uhm… Enjoy your day off," Shifu said, before moving quickly away when the students rushed out of the barracks to start their day. However, one remained standing.
Tigress walked beside the older tiger, which was waiting for her. "Master Mei-Hua, can we wait a little before we go down in the village? There is something I need to do."
The master chuckled slightly. "I think I know what it is. Don't worry, I have nothing against waiting."
Tigress gave her a grateful smile, then took a deep breath. Master Shifu was already walking out at the way his students had taken, but turned around when he heard Tigress' call.
"Master Shifu! I ask you to do me a favor."
The red panda looked surprised at his student. Sure, he knew that she was going to spend her day with Master Mei-Hua, not that he had anything against that. But what would she with him now?
"What is it, Tigress?"
"I want to have one more try to complete my individual training."
Shifu stared at her. In all his life he had never seen such a stubborn student. All her thoughts were about kung fu, and she couldn't live a day without it. But doing one of the hardest and most painful training on her day off was too much.
"Tigress, the individual training was yesterday."
"I know, but I only ask for one try. If I fail, then I will not try again. Just one try, master."
Shifu sighed and rubbed his neck. He knew that she wouldn't give up. Sometimes it could worry him that she behaved like this. She wasn't like the other students on that way. It was like she had given her life to Kung Fu. Maybe he could just refuse and then she would forget about it. But one try couldn't hurt that much…
"Fine, one try. But I am expecting to see improvement."
"Thank you, Master," Tigress said and bowed for him. She could do this. She just had to believe and… And to feel.
She and Mei-Hua followed Shifu to the palace arena. Once again Shifu was standing in the middle and Mei-Hua was in the corner. She smiled encouragingly to Tigress. The younger tiger gave a nod back and she could see how the master formed the sentence with her mouth,
"Feel it."
Taking her battle stance, Tigress was getting herself ready. No failing this time. Searching deep inside herself, she found what she needed. Her love to Kung Fu. It had saved her life and she didn't know what she had become without it. It was this love that had made her able to manage twenty years training. She had managed it because she wanted it. She wanted to be even better to kung fu. She wanted to be the best. And it was this love that could make her better.
A warm feeling spread through her body and an incredible calm filed her. She closed her eyes and listened to her heartbeat. She knew that she could do this. She just had to try.
"Begin."
Tigress opened her eyes in a flash and leaped forward. Dodging her master's strike, she ran behind, trying to kick his leg. He jumped over her spinning foot and made a powerful hit towards her stomach. Tigress grabbed his little paw and swung him above her shoulder.
He landed on the ground and backed away just in time to dodge Tigress' next attack. The warm feeling had taken her body and was now controlling her every move. Laughter nearly escaped her throat; it felt so great. Shifu couldn't win now.
Shifu blocked all the kick and hit, but felt how he was pushed backwards by a particularly strong stroke. Before he knew it ad Tigress jumped high into the air. He quickly moved away from the spot were Tigress was about to land; the result was that she landed just in front of him. She didn't give him time to think, but kicked towards his leg.
He jumped to avoid, but Tigress paw nearly hit him when he was in the air. He tapped her paw hardly with the staff. She hissed by the sharp pain, but didn't let it destroy her concentration. When he landed, she made her final moves.
Tigress tried to hit his arm, but he blocked it with his staff. Exactly as Tigress had hoped. She grabbed the staff with one paw and swung it around. Shifu didn't let go, but suddenly she had both paws on her goal. Before Shifu could react, she kicked him in the abdomen. He flew backwards, before landing hard on the ground. When he stood up again, he realized that he wasn't holding his staff.
Tigress was standing with it in her paws, looking at it like she just had seen it for the first time. A proud smile shined on her face. She had done it. She had felt it.
"Nicely done, Tigress."
She looked at her master that now was bowing for her. She bowed back, before giving him the staff back. Shifu examined it, looking for any damage in the old wood.
"Thank you, Master. If you don't mind, I will go with Master Mei-Hua now."
The red panda glanced surprised at his student that now was leaving with that other tiger, spine erect and head high.
"I can't believe I just did it!" Tigress exclaimed as the two tigers walked down the many stairs. "Thank you, Master Mei-Hua. I couldn't have done it without your advice."
Tigress smiled at her, for the first time in really long time she felt actually happy. She had proven herself worthy for her master and now the smile couldn't be erased from her striped face. She remembered the same happiness when she was a kid, the proudness that came she had destroyed a wooden opponent. But the happiness had always disappeared when her master ad corrected her, showing that she could have done it better.
But this tiger master didn't correct her; she took part in the joy.
"I told you that you could do it. I must say that you have impressed me. That fight was incredible," Mei-Hua said to the proud tiger.
"So what do you want to see?" Tigress asked her; suddenly she remembered that she actually should show this master the valley, not just talking with her.
"Well, I have already seen the palace and I explored the ironwoods last night, if you remember. But I want see more about the village and gladly more than that." Mei-Hua looked at the sky for a moment, as if she wanted to explore it. Then she looked back at the younger tiger who was glancing at her with a shy look in the eyes.
Then they heard a sound and they turned around to see Kang coming stumbling down the stairs toward them. The tigers moved to each side, when the gorilla landed face first on the ground between them. Tigress stared at him in mild shock.
"He is not good at stairs," Mei-Hua said, shaking her head in despair. Kang quickly got up at the tigers' glances, and walked some steps backward to have a polite distance between him and the Kung Fu masters.
Tigress glanced questioningly at Mei-Hua. She caught her glance and whispered to her, "He is used to be near me. I will try to fix it so we can get some time in peace."
Tigress nodded. She didn't exactly enjoy having a gorilla walking behind her all time. But maybe it wasn't a good idea to leave the servant in the palace. Just try to imagine how many things he could break. But Mei-Hua probably had a plan of what to do with her servant.
They walked in silence until they reached the bottom of the stairs. It was a busy day in the village and there were people everywhere. But the weather was also really good today; no clouds on the sky, but not burning summer hot. Children were running around, playing different games. A group of little girl-bunnies spotted the two tigers and Tigress could hear them whispering excited,
"It's Master Tigress!"
"But who are the other one?"
"I don't know, but she is pretty!"
"Do you think that this is the lady Fai talked about? The lady that saved him from the gorilla?"
"You could ask her!"
"I don't dare that!"
Tigress glanced at Mei-Hua and the tiger's face expressed that she too had heard the girls' conversation. Tigress shook her head of herself; of course the master had heard that; tigers had good ears.
"Stay here. I am going to handle this," Mei-Hua whispered into the stunned Tigress' ear. She did what the older tiger wanted and didn't move. Mei-Hua walked towards the girls with Kang following behind her. The kids immediately stopped their whispering. They froze and looked with big eyes at the tiger.
"Hello girls. I am Master Mei-Hua, a visitor at the Jade Palace. I see that you are having fun in the good weather."
The girls smiled at the friendly tiger with the warm voice. One of the bravest of them stepped forward.
"Yeah, we are playing with makeup." The other showed her their tools to beauty. "Do you want to play with us?"
Mei-Hua chuckled. "I am sorry girls, but I am a bit busy. But I know someone who can play with you."
Tigress could feel how her body flinched. Mei-Hua couldn't mean her, could she? Kids were fine and sometimes cute, but makeup was absolutely not her thing! Tigress remembered the times where Viper had tried to convince her to wear it, but the snake had always got a refuse.
"Kang, could you please come over here."
Tigress could imagine how all the color disappeared from the gorilla's black-furred face. He slowly walked over to his master and the girls; fearing the worst.
"Girls, this is my servant, Kang. Don't worry, he is completely harmless and he just loves to play. Can he join you?"
The girls looked at each other, before giving her the clear answer, "Yes!"
They started to drag the poor gorilla away. "Don't worry; you are going to be pretty!"
Tigress managed to see the servant's terrified face, then he was out of sight together with the bunnies.
The older tiger chuckled slightly as she walked over to her. "Believe me; he is going to have some fun."
"And the kids?" Tigress asked a little nervous; what if the gorilla accidently hurt the girls?
"There is no problem with that; my servant loves children."
Tigress nodded a little absent, but she was sure that the Mei-Hua knew her servant better than her. They continued their walk through the valley, Tigress telling about its history.
When they were finally done, it was over noon. Tigress had showed the older tiger the most of the valley; the places they were missing were too far away. Now they were walking back to the palace to get some dinner.
"Thank you, Tigress, for showing me all this. I am very grateful," Mei-Hua said as they walked.
Tigress didn't forget her manners. "It was an honor, Master Mei-Hua."
In long time they walked in silence. Tigress glanced at the other tiger; she looked like she was in big thoughts. A little frown shaded her face. Tigress wondered if she was trying to decide something. Though, she didn't ask; she wouldn't be rude.
Finally Mei-Hua spoke; "Tigress, I have to admit that I haven't been completely honest with you."
The younger tiger looked surprised at the master. She hadn't thought that Mei-Hua would be the type of person that lied.
The master sighed, before continuing her confession, "It wasn't just a coincidence that I came here. The trip that I have been on was actually a search. A search for a student, Tigress."
She looked the shocked Tigress in the eyes. She just hadn't expected what the master what saying. Suddenly, she felt like her stomach was a heavy ice cube. She had a feeling that she never had felt before and she didn't really understand it.
"You see, Tigress, I have never had a student before. I am not exactly so young anymore and I want to give my knowledge to someone I can trust. I have been looking for one in a while, but I haven't found one who has the skills I seek. But you, Tigress, you have a talent that I have never seen before. I know that you are Master Shifu's student, but… But I think that you can be more than you are now. Maybe you didn't become the Dragon Warrior, but that doesn't mean that you can't be something more important than you already are."
Tigress nearly had to force the air down to her lungs. It was like she had forgotten to breathe when she heard the things Mei-Hua said about her. But was it really true? Did Mei-Hua really want her as a student?
"Of course I know that you can't just leave your master and friends, but… Tigress, do you want to be my student?"
Tigress couldn't find her voice. What could she say? The master that she respected so much, the master that had helped her and had made her smile. The master that now was asking her to be her student. But… But Master Shifu. She was his student. The Jade Palace was her home. Her friends were here. But she wanted to say yes. Even though she hated herself for it, she wanted to be this master's student.
"Yes, but as you said; Master Shifu is my master and this is my home," she answered with a little voice.
"I clearly understand that, but I am happy to hear that you are interested. I can try and talk with Master Shifu. I am sure that he would understand."
"Don't be so sure on that," Tigress murmured. She didn't think that her master would be so glad to hear about this.
"Maybe we could try for a short period. I am sure that he would allow that. A student always has the choice about how she will have her future. I remember my youth; I had many masters and often shifted between them. I did what I thought could help my training. And I think that it has gone well for me. But as I said; the choice is yours," Mei-Hua said with a warm voice.
"I think that you can teach me more than he…" Tigress shook her head. She couldn't just say something bad about her master. It was just wrong. Tigress hoped that she soon could find a way out of this situation.
"I will let you think about this, Tigress. Just talk to me when you have made your choice. I am sure that we can find out something," Mei-Hua said, giving the torn student a comforting smile. "I think that you should find your friends. Weren't they talking about being in the village? I just don't want you to feel pressed, Tigress. It's your choice and I understand if you change your mind. Enough about this; I will go back to the palace. I'll see you later, Tigress. And again; thanks for showing me all this."
Tigress bowed to her again and the master bowed back. After some seconds looking each other in the eyes, Mei-Hua walked towards the palace that was visible in the horizon. Tigress walked towards the village, that wasn't too far away.
One question was haunting her mind; what had just happened?
Had she just agreed to leave her master? Had she chosen a master that she only had known in some few days? But she felt like she had known her in longer time. She trusted this master, and she was so different than master Shifu. Tigress was sure that Mei-Hua could be strict too, but maybe not like Shifu.
She remembered the long nights where she ad sitting alone in her room, forcing back the tears and wondering why she wasn't good enough for him. Why he wasn't proud of her. She had never blamed him, but instead herself. But now it had changed.
Now she was considering a new master. And she felt horrible. She wasn't supposed to think like that. A student should honor her master. But… But was Mei-Hua right when she was saying that she could choose her own master? Could she really do that?
The thought was enticing. The few days she had known Master Mei-Hua her respect had grown for this tiger master. She had helped her and, unlike Shifu, showed her emotions and had joined Tigress in her happiness. Tigress was sure that she could learn a lot from her.
"Hi Tigress!"
The tiger turned towards the voice, which happened to belong to Po. She must have walked into the noodle shop without noticing. Her thoughts must have gotten all her attention. Well, at least she had ended where she wanted.
"Hi," she said, glancing at them all. They were obviously finished eating; maybe they had been helping Mr. Ping?
"So how was the trip with Master Mei-Hua?" Viper asked, slithering closer to her friend.
"It was fine. I showed her the most of the valley." Tigress just couldn't tell them about the whole student-thing. Maybe later, but now she was trying to clear her own thoughts. And after all; what would they say when they found out that she was considering leaving them?
"It must have been a long trip if you have walked until now. No wonder why Master Mei-Hua wants to stop now," Crane said.
"Well, before the trip I was actually taking the individually training again." As soon as she had said it, Tigress wished that she had bitten her tongue of. Her friends would not understand…
"You did what?!" Everybody was staring at her like she had grown an extra head.
"You use your day off, a day that we haven't got in like forever, on training?" Po's eyes were full of disbelieve. "Seriously Tigress, you need to have a life sometimes."
The silence lay dangerously in the air, like the calm before the storm. Tigress was now showing him all of her sharp fangs, her eyes glowing of anger. How dared he say that? Did he know why she did what she did? No! He didn't understand her. Just like the rest of the world, only except one certain master….
"Let me tell you something, Dragon Warrior. Kung Fu is my life. And if I was you, I wouldn't forget it," she growled, causing the panda to take some steps backwards.
"Tigress! Calm down! He didn't say that you should stop kung fu, only that you should rest sometimes. It can't be healthy training all time," Viper said, defending her panda friend. The other nodded in agreement; they have all seen Tigress train to her paws was bleeding and her bones shattered.
"It's not your job to worry about me, so don't. I can handle myself." Tigress turned around to leave. She knew she was being unfair, but right now she was just irritated. Too many thoughts in her head.
"Tigress." She heard Po say her name, but didn't respond. She weakly expected that they would try to stop her, take her by the shoulder and hold her back, but they didn't. She knew that it was her own fault. She scared people with her temper, she had always done that. Maybe it was her talent; to make people avoid her.
She comforted herself with the fact that Mei-Hua just had asked her to be her student. It warmed her depressed soul that she hadn't scared her away. Yet…
No! She would make her proud of her! And maybe she could successes this time. Mei-Hua had said something that Shifu had never said; that she had impressed her.
Then it hit her. Why it was that she was trusting Mei-Hua. Why she so deeply wanted her to be proud of her. Why she now wanted her as her master.
She thought back to the lonely days in the orphanage, where she only had wished one thing; a family. And now, so many years after, a tiger comes. Not only that she was a tiger, but that she cared about her and always smiled when she saw her; those were some of those things that made Tigress to think of her as a family. As a mother.
Once again, Tigress shook her head of herself. She was an orphan and she must not forget that. Mei-Hua could be her master, but never her mother. And deep inside, was Mei-Hua as her master good enough.
She was tired of no one that understood her. She was tired of never getting any praise. She was tired of not being good enough.
Maybe, she could try and leave the Jade Palace. Maybe only for some months, like Mei-Hua had said. Then Shifu would understand what he had done wrong. When she wasn't there anymore, maybe he would miss her. And maybe when she would come back, he would say that he was sorry. That he was sorry for everything.
Tigress knew that it was only childish dreams. Some selfish wishes. But still, she had the chance to make them come true. At least one of them.
She couldn't even remember climbing the stairs. She had done so many times in the twenty years that she had been in the palace, that it just had become a routine.
She found Master Mei-Hua under the Sacred Peach Tree, meditating. Tigress slowly walked closer, not wanting to wake the master from her thoughts. But suddenly the older tiger opened one of her eyes and her mouth formed a smile.
"Yes, Tigress?"
The younger tiger clenched her paws. She couldn't feel how her claws dug into the skin of her paws, but she could smell the blood. But she simply ignored it.
"I have taken my decision." Tigress took one more deep breath. "Can you please talk with Master Shifu? I am sure that you can explain the situation better than I can."
"Of course, Tigress. I will go and find him now." Mei-Hua rose from her position. She placed her paw on Tigress' shoulder. "I am honored that such a talented tiger wants to be my student."
Then she walked towards the palace to find the red panda master. Tigress watched her go, with the feeling that she had done something wrong. And a question repeated in her brain.
"What have I just done?"
A/N again: So that was chapter 4, peoples! Hope you liked it! So many questions, huh?
Will Tigress leave the Jade Palace?
How will her friends react on her decision?
Will Kang survive playing with the girls?
Why do I keep asking questions?
Find out in the next chapter (that will come after Friends Forever)!