A/N: I have a really good reason for posting this when I leaft Friends Forever with a cliffhanger! The reason… Okay, I am blank, but I just need to continue this! I didn't really like the place I leaved you in the last chapter.
We can say that this story's weather is inspired by the Danish. Oh, Danish Weather, I grew up with you and I have learned to live with you! Back to the point, after seeing rain outside my window, this chapter became a rainy chapter.
Thanks for the wonderful reviews!
I don't own Kung Fu Panda! I don't! I don't! I don't! I think you get it now…
Behind The Golden Eyes, Coward
Tigress glanced at the gray sky. When she had left the palace, it had rained. It didn't exactly make the mood better. Saying goodbye to her friends had been harder than she had thought. They had been standing outside the palace, getting wet in the cold rain.
Too afraid to meet their eyes, she had bowed to her friends. It had been her silent way to say goodbye. But before she knew it, she was pulled into a hug. A big hug. All of her friends, those she had thought were hating here, hugged her.
The tiger had frozen, not knowing what to do. When they finally had let go of her, she had stammered a stunned, "thanks". Not only for the hug, but because they had forgiven her. Maybe they were still a little angry, but it was going the right way. She had promised them that she would write to them as soon as she arrived.
It had been different with her master. Or more correct; her former master. Neither of them was especially good at hugging or just showing their feelings. Tigress had bowed for him. He had looked like he was going to say something, but not a sound had come out. He had bowed back and before she had left he had said some words she was going to need.
"Good luck, Tigress."
Then she had left. Of course Master Mei-Hua and Kang had walked with her. And they were still walking.
They had started their trip at the morning. Now it was dinner time. Tigress didn't know where they were anymore. But Mei-Hua obviously did.
"We will stay here. Then we will continue again tomorrow," she announced. Tigress glanced at their surroundings. They were in a forest near a little lake. The night and the darkness would come soon. She started to find some trees they could use to a campfire.
Kang sat down Mei-Hua's suitcases. The gorilla had cared all of their bags, also Tigress' after Mei-Hua had convinced her that the little extra weight wouldn't bother the servant. The older tiger found their bedrolls that had been rolled together and placed on the gorilla's back.
Tigress made the campfire, but it had a hard fight against the rain. Even with the trees as protections it was nearly impossible to keep it alive. Before it burned down, they all ate the bread Mei-Hua had brought with them.
When the darkness came, they were ready to sleep. Tigress couldn't really relax. She stared at her bag that was standing beside her bedroll. Beside her extra clothes, there was one more thing inside.
Yesterday when dinner was finished, she hadn't been able to sleep. She couldn't bear the thought that she was going to leave without her friends understanding why. So she had found some paper and ink. She would write a letter to them, explaining why she would leave them.
The letter was now lying in her bag. Unopened. She hadn't given it to them. They hadn't read it. It was useless.
Tigress hated herself for not being strong enough to giving them it.
Weak. Scared. Afraid. Pathetic. Wimp. Coward.
She disgusted herself. She was a Kung Fu warrior and yet she wasn't able to give her friends a letter.
Suddenly, something warm covered her. Tigress looked up to see Mei-Hua standing over her, laying a cloak over her student's striped body.
"I am sorry if I woke you up, Tigress. But I didn't like the thought that you should sleep in the rain. Just take this; I have one more to myself."
"Thank you, Master," Tigress murmured tired.
"Sweet dreams, Tigress," Mei-Hua whispered, before she walked back to her transportable bed.
Tigress lie awake in a long time. The cloak kept her warm, but its scent didn't belong to her. It was Mei-Hua's scent. It took some time before she got so used to it that she could fall asleep.
"Tigress. Tigress, you have to get up now."
The student slowly opened her eyes. Weird, she wasn't normally the type that slept in long time. Mei-Hua gently shook her shoulder. "Good morning, Tigress."
"Good morning, Master." It was kind of weird without the usually morning gong. Tigress had gotten used to it after all those years.
"There is breakfast ready. It is bread and dried fruit. I know that it isn't the biggest, but it is good to have when you travel."
Tigress quickly got up. "It sounds fine, Master. I'll be there in a minute." She started to roll her bed together. When she was done, she joined her master and Kang.
She was about to hand Master Mei-Hua her cloak, but the tiger master shook her head. "You should keep it on, Tigress. It looks like it's going to rain again."
Tigress nodded and swung the cloak over her shoulder again. It was red just like her vest. It fitted her perfectly.
The wind was strong and it was raining more. But for Tigress it didn't matter; she couldn't be inside the boat anymore. She needed some fresh air. They would soon arrive at the Dragon City. The travel had been fine. They had slept in a forest or, if they had been lucky, rented place to stay in a village. The last three days they had been on a boat as the last part of their journey.
Tigress had finally getting use to not having solid ground under her feet. The captain was an old goat that only spoke if it was necessary. Not exactly the most friendly creature. But if Tigress really needed someone to talk with, Mei-Hua was always there to tell exciting stories. Kang was only to see at the dinners, he spent the other time in his cabin, trying not to throw up. He had been seasick since they had begun their trip on the water.
It was early morning and the Tigress pulled the cloak closer round her. It was cold and she slightly shivered. But it didn't stop her for looking after the first signs of the buildings. And finally began some contours of a city to appear.
"This is the Dragon City, Tigress." Mei-Hua had silently walked behind the amazed student.
"It's beautiful," Tigress said honestly. Colorful houses and buildings were now fully visible. The harbor was full of ships, both large and little fisher boats. The tiger squinted, trying to see more. But the town was so large that she couldn't see the end of it.
But further away she could see a large building, a palace, that she guessed was her new home.
Tigress couldn't help but feel relieved when she felt the ground under her feet felt once again. Kang looked like he had come to heaven. The only thing missing was that he started to actually kiss the ground. The tiger glanced at him. He couldn't be that desperate, could he?
Tigress had found out that the gorilla was one of the most unlucky people she had ever met. Everything just went wrong for him. Poor guy.
"If the weather had been better, I would have showed you the city. But in this rain we will just see the palace. But believe me, there is much to show."
The few people that were outside in this weather bowed to the two tigers. Tigress could feel them staring at her, and she knew what they were wondering about. She could hear their whispers.
"Who is she?"
"It can be. Can it?"
"Is that… Master Tigress?"
"What is she doing here?"
"Could she really be Master Mei-Hua's student? Wasn't she Master Shifu's?"
Tigress ignored them, but glanced at her master. She seemed perfectly calm. Tigress tried to do the same, but she couldn't stop thinking about Shifu and the others in the Jade Palace. It was nearly two weeks since she had left them.
Were they missing her now? She thought so.
And hoped with all her heart. If they didn't then her travel hadn't meant anything. She missed them, but she enjoyed being with her new master. She looked forward to start her training.
Like the Jade Palace, they had to climb some stairs before they could go inside the palace. Not as many as Tigress was used to, but still enough to make untrained people exhausted. When they reached the top a big wall welcomed them. After what Tigress could see, it must surround the whole palace.
There were carved images anywhere in the wall. Most of them were dragons. Tigress didn't have time to study them more, before the large gated opened. She, Mei-Hua and Kang walked inside. They were now standing in the front yard.
Tigress was stunned. The palace was huge! How could she ever learn to navigate in this building?
Mei-Hua continued to walk and Tigress followed. The next door that leaded directly into the palace also became opened. An antelope came into sight. A smile spread on his face when he saw the two tigers.
"Your highness!"
Mei-Hua smiled, amused. "Nice to see you again, Piao."
"Always an honor to see you, master Mei-Hua." The antelope bowed to them. He glanced a little confused at Tigress. "Oh, I see that your travel gave results."
"Piao, this is Master Tigress. She is my new student. Tigress, this is Piao, one of my servants."
"An important servant, if I must say. The most loyal and dutiful servant of Master Mei-Hua."
By the way he spoke, Tigress could tell that he was one of those that would try anything to impress his master. He would always success his tasks to show that he was much better than others servants. Though, there was so much life in his eyes that it made Tigress to believe that they could get along. She and Kang (that never showed much life) still didn't really talk together.
"And I must say that your student looks very talented. A beautiful example for a tiger warrior. Just like her master, of course. Where have you traveled from, Master Tigress?"
"The Jade Palace in Valley of Peace. Master Shifu was my master."
Piao nodded listening. "I knew that your name sounded familiar. Master Tigress of the Furious Five, if I am correct?"
"Indeed you are, Piao. But could you make sure that we can get some tea? I am sure that Tigress wants to feel warm again," Mei-Hua demanded warmly. Honestly, Tigress looked forward to not be wet and a warm fireplace sounded heavenly.
As the antelope disappeared, Mei-Hua led her student further into the palace. Tigress lost her sense of where they were going; there were too many doors and halls, and she was too exhausted after the trip to try and remember them.
They finally reached their destination; a place that looked like a big living room. To Tigress' delight there was a fireplace. She sat down in furniture near the warm. Tigress glanced at the room. It was filled with paintings of what she guessed was different masters. There was only some candle that filled the room with warm light.
A servant, a female mountain cat, came with their tea. She bowed for them both and Mei-Hua explained.
"Tigress, this is Lu Chu. I have chosen her as your maid. She will help you with what you need. Example with orientating in the palace," Mei-Hua added with a smile.
Lu Chu bowed for her. "It's an honor, Master Tigress." She smiled warmly. "I am sure that we will become great friends."
Tigress blinked a couple of times. She hadn't expected this. But honestly, she was sure that she would need help here sometimes. And Lu Chu seemed happy with it all. She bowed back to the mountain cat, who looked stunned by her greeting.
"I will leave you alone now. Just call after me if you need anything," Lu Chu disappeared out of the door again.
Tigress slowly drank her tea. She could feel how the warmth returned to her body.
"So Tigress, enjoying the palace so far?" Mei-Hua asked her friendly.
"It's really… impressing. I doubt that I will ever be able to find around by myself."
The older tiger chuckled. "But you see, Tigress, that is why you are here; to learn. And remember that Lu Chu always will help you until then."
"She seems nice, though I must say that I never have tried to have a maid before. I am not sure if it's necessary," Tigress told her. What if Lu Chu didn't like being a servant? Tigress didn't want to make the mountain cats life worse.
"Oh, I understand, but Lu Chu actually asked me to be your maid."
"She did?"
"Yes, Lu Chu was tired of being in the kitchen, so I granted her wish. She was really looking forward to your arrival."
"Wait; did she know that it would be me?"
"Of course not. She is not a soothsayer. This reminds me of that I will have to introduce you for my masters. They live in another part of the palace," Mei-Hua said.
Tigress wondered how big this palace was. How many masters did there live here?
"Master Mei-Hua, are there others students than me here?"
The older tiger shook her head. "No, the last one here was me and it is many years ago that I earned my tittle as master. So you are the only one here."
Tigress continued with asking her master. "When will my training begin?"
Mei-Hua smiled at the student's enthusiasm. "Probably already tomorrow. Of course it will after you have been showed around. I don't believe that we will manage to stay awake long enough tonight to show you just a little part of the palace."
The student understood what she meant. Her eyelids were feeling heavy and she was struggling not to yawn. The trip had made her exhausted. Exploring so many new things didn't help.
"Master, could you tell me where Kang is?" Tigress asked suddenly remembering the gorilla.
Mei-Hua glanced surprised at the tired tiger. "He is resting with the others servants. Why?"
"He has my bag. My things are in it."
"Your things have already been brought to your room," the master answered quickly. "But we will have to buy you some new clothes; you need more than you have now. You will also get your own cloak, and then you don't have to wear mine."
"You don't have to spend money on me, Master Mei-Hua. Your cloak is perfectly fine for me."
"Don't worry about such things, Tigress. You are my student and you deserve what I give you." The older tiger smiled.
Tigress weakly smiled back. Her eyes spotted a special painting. It was a dragon, but it looked like it was made of stone. She walked towards to get a closer look. Mei-Hua saw what she was doing and rose from her chair.
"That is the painting of the new statue that is going to be made in the edge of the town. They started working on it as I left. I wondered how it's going. Piao!"
The antelope immediately came. "You highness needs my required help? Just say what you need; I can get you warm soup or beautiful handmade blankets or I can call the healer if you're in lack of blood."
Tigress just stared at him. What in the world was he talking about? Mei-Hua chuckled; apparently it was normal behaving for Piao.
"I just want to hear how the Dragon of Justice is doing?" She referred to the statue.
"Oh, your highness, you know that I hate being the bringer of bad news."
Mei-Hua's eyes were flashing dangerously. "I asked you a question, Piao, and I want an answer."
"Of course, your highness. My apologies. Unfortunately, there have been some problems with the making of the statue. Your masters are discussing it now, if you want more information. They are in the negotiation room."
"What kinds of problems?" the older tiger asked harshly.
"They burned down the building with the materials. Everything is destroyed, but luckily no one was hurt by the fire."
Mei-Hua face was completely cold and emotionless. Only her eyes showed her feelings; they were burning of anger. Though, she was a terrifying sight. "Those cowards!" she hissed.
The younger tiger didn't understand the conversation. Who were they?
"Tigress, I will come back soon. There is something I need to talk about with my masters about this." Mei-Hua left the room before Tigress could blink, Piao following her.
After failing keeping her eyes open, Tigress slowly drifted into sleep. Her mind thought back to the Jade Palace, but the sleep erased her memories.
She woke up a little when Mei-Hua helped her to her room. "I am sorry, Tigress. I didn't know what I was thinking. I should have known that there were sleep-helping herbs in the tea. The servants in the kitchen usually do that when it's as late as now. Come on, we are nearly at your room." She nearly had to drag the almost unconscious tiger.
"What about the fire?" Tigress murmured through her sleep.
"Don't think about that. It's nothing serious."
Tigress didn't notice how her room looked. Mei-Hua led her to her bed immediately. Tigress fell asleep before her head touched the pillow.
A/N: I just bought Kung Fu Panda 2 on DVD today. Yay! I needed to be more creative so my mind brought up Piao and Lu Chu. You will hear more about them later. See ya!