A/N: And here is the chapter we have been waiting for. I am glad you liked my last one; I found it hard to write. And (once again) thanks for the reviews!
I don't own Kung Fu Panda! I don't, I don't, I don't! Sorry, I just lost the control…
Behind The Golden Eyes, Similarities
Tigress sat down again, realizing her situation. Now she could get the answers she had been searching for in so long time. Maybe her father acted like he was better than her, but she was going to show him how strong she really was.
Jiao-Long's eyes studied her. "I'll speak if you will listen. And that means no interruptions."
The younger tiger nodded, accepting his deal. But the not speaking part could be hard. She would need to be patient, and that was something that was hard for her.
"Your mother was, and still is, a beautiful woman. We were both young when we met, young and naïve. Both believing that the world could be ours. So sure of ourselves… Your mother was already the Dragon Queen, and I was just a soldier. She already had power, and I was still fighting for it. The day we met we talked shortly and ended falling in love." His eyes were distant, seeing the old scene in his mind.
"The masters in the Dragon Palace weren't really pleased with me. They hadn't expected that a simple soldier should be living in their palace. But as you probably know, your mother has a special talent when it comes to convince people of what to do. Of course they ended up changing their mind when they found out that their Dragon Queen was pregnant. It is extremely important that there always is a Dragon Queen. If she passed away, then the daughter would be the next when she grew up."
Tigress watched her father that now again was back on his chair. The thought about herself being the next Dragon Queen was filling her mind.
"I stayed with your mother in a year before I left with you."
"Why did you leave?" Tigress asked, not able to keep curiosity in control.
"I said no interruptions!" Jiao-Long sneered, glaring at his daughter with hard eyes. She returned the glance without even blinking. "As the Dragon Queen your mother serves the dragons. It was her destiny and she did it with honor. She was sure that I would do the same. But I don't bow to anyone."
Tigress didn't find it hard to believe that. The proud tiger that never would serve anybody else than himself.
"The dragons aren't my master; no one is. But she wouldn't understand. You know that your mother is short-tempered, and I have heard that you should be the same." He said, causing a warning sneer to escape from Tigress' mouth. "When she heard my thoughts she became mad. If I wouldn't serve the dragons then I couldn't stay in the Dragon Palace. She told me to leave, but I took you with me."
"And then you left me at Bao Gu?" Tigress ignored the glance he sent her.
"I heard about the Valley of Peace and decided to go there. There weren't really any troubles on the travel, and when I saw the orphanage I let you stay there. And you know the rest of the story." Jiao-Long stopped talking, and laid his glance on her. "Any questions?" He asked annoyed, reminding her of her interruptions while he had spoken.
"Plenty." Tigress spat. "Why did you leave me? Why didn't you just…"
"Raise you by myself?" He finished for her. "Can you imagine me taking care of a child?" He snorted, and Tigress had to give him right. Maybe it was good that she hadn't grown up with him.
"Why not just have left me with Mei-Hua? Why did you take me away from her?" Tigress asked again, happy to finally get some answers.
Jiao-Long's dark eyes looked straight into hers. "If I hadn't gotten you away from there, then you would have ended up being just like your mother. Though, you still remind me of her."
Tigress knew that he was right. Actually, she was grateful that he had saved her from such of fate. Mei-Hua would have made sure that her daughter would grow up to be exactly the daughter she wanted. The Dragon Palace would have had two Mei-Huas.
Yes, Tigress knew that she looked like her mother. But she was also different, and she would make sure that it stayed that way.
"You said that you had spies. If you knew where I was, then why didn't you…"
"What do you think would have happened if I just walked into the Jade Palace? You must learn to think by yourself, girl. You could have lived your own life perfectly without even knowing about me and your mother. That is the reason to why I left you at the orphanage; so you could live your life. But obviously your mother didn't want it that way."
"I am… Was a part of the Furious Five." Tigress corrected herself. "She must have heard of me years ago. Why waiting until now to get me?"
"Your mother is a mysterious woman. How she ended up in the Dragon Palace has always been a mystery to me."
"She told me that she had never known her parents." Tigress silently muttered.
"Exactly. But still, she is the Dragon Queen. One day the Elders started to get suspicious. She needed to prove that she really was the Dragon Queen and what could be better than showing them her daughter with the golden eyes? You were the proof without you even knowing it."
"She used me…" Tigress suddenly noticed a pain in her chest. Of course her mother hadn't wanted her, she had just needed her. The younger tiger turned her head away from her father, not wanting him to see her hurt.
"Do you know how much time I have spent waiting on you?" She asked, her voice bitter. "How I kept hoping that you would come back? How I always dreamed of you? Do you know how much it hurts when you realize the truth? How disappointed you are? Not because you didn't want me, but because I was foolish enough to believe it. Do you know the feeling when you understand that your parents don't want you? That no one wants you?" A single tear escaped her eyes, and she quickly brushed it away. "Do you know?" She asked again, turning back to Jiao-Long.
The male tiger didn't answer. "Do you know?" Tigress roared at him. She stood there panting, staring at her father. She had said what she needed to say, and know she suddenly felt empty. Like she had nothing left.
"You don't want a family, do you? That why you left me and Mei-Hua. But don't worry; as soon as the storm is over I will be gone, and you will never have to think of me again."
Jiao-Long rose from his chair and slowly walked towards her. When he was just in front of her, their bodies nearly touching each other, he started to speak. "People will let you down, that's why the only one you can trust is yourself. Maybe I don't want a family, and then it's my choice. I am not your father any more, I am not your family. Your family is in the Jade Palace. It was Shifu who raised you, not me. I don't care if he wasn't the perfect father, but he is more your father than I am. And if I was you, then I would go back the Jade Palace, ask your family for help and never think about me or your mom again."
With that he walked around the stunned Tigress and left the room, slamming the door behind him. When Tigress was able to move again, she sat down on the chair and buried her head in her paws. Why did Jiao-Long have to be so right? A sob escape her throat and her shoulders started to shake. No! A real warrior doesn't cry. A warrior is strong, not weak. Tigress kept telling herself that, but right now it was hard to follow her own advice.
Master Shifu had been the one who had adopted her, and he had been her father no matter how much he and Tigress denied it. He had been the first person who wasn't scared of her, and he had helped her out of the orphanage. She owed him everything.
And her friends in the Jade Palace… There were more than friends and Tigress knew it. She had just kept the thought away. They were her family. Not her real mother and father, but all them in the Jade Palace. Viper had been right; they were sisters. Family shouldn't leave each other like she had done, and now was the time to make things right. Well, when the weather allowed her to go outside again. Then she would find them and apologize. And hopefully, they would forgive her.
How long she just sat there, Tigress didn't know. But when her breathing was normal and she felt like she was ready, she left the room. There were some more secrets that needed to be revealed.
Tigress found Jiao-Long without Yuan's help. Simply, her ears caught the sound of her father's voice and she just walked towards them. When she found the right room, she just walked in without even knocking, telling them that she was there.
"… and our spies tell me that Mei-Hua have left the Jade Palace some days ago…" The Shadow Warrior immediately stopped talking when he saw Tigress entering the room. The warrior glanced at her, then back to Jiao-Long. The question was visible in his eyes.
"Tell the warriors to be ready. Now, if you please could leave; me and my guest need to talk." Jiao-Long said to the Shadow Warrior, eyes not leaving Tigress. After some moments hesitating, the warrior did was he was told. Giving Tigress a last asking glance, he left the room.
"You still have questions?" Jiao-Long asked her calmly, like he had forgotten their fight last time they had talked.
Tigress walked closer. "I want to talk with you about Enlai."
"I understand that you have feelings for this gardener." Jiao-Long said, causing Tigress to blush and deny it all.
"He is my friend. And, after what I have heard, a Shadow Warrior. That means that he must be working for you. Do you know him?"
"I was the one who sent him to the Dragon Palace."
Tigress widened her eyes. "You…"
"When I heard that your mother had brought you to the palace, then I needed someone to keep an eye on you. Enlai is a skilled warrior, and perfect for the mission. And I don't believe that you are unhappy with my choice."
The daughter ignored his comment, eyes flashing. "Then where is he now?"
"Searching for you."
"That wasn't exactly precise…" Tigress muttered annoyed. Though, the thought of Enlai trying to find her was warming her heart. Lu Chu and Piao must have told him what had happened. Then she remembered something. "Mei-Hua has been in the Jade Palace?"
"I don't remember inviting you to that conversation." Jiao-Long said, obviously annoyed of his curious daughter.
"No, but I accidently heard him." Tigress simply answered him. "Is she coming this way?" She asked, going back to the serious subject.
Jiao-Long sighed, and suddenly looked older than Tigress thought he was. "Your mother believed that you were back with Shifu, and when she found out that you weren't hiding the Jade Palace, it was easy for her to figure out that you were trying to find me."
"So Shifu and the others…"
"Are right now not allowed to leave the Jade Palace." Tigress widened her eyes, waiting for him to continue. "Master Lynx and a dozen high trained guards have now surrounded the Valley of Peace. No one can get in or out."
"Wait, do the others know about…"
"If they haven't figured it out by themselves, then I am sure that Shifu has told them it all."
"Shifu knows?"
Jiao-Long chuckled at the look in his daughter's face. "It isn't that hard to tell. Shifu have met your mother before and you are his student. He would be blind if he couldn't see the similarities. You…"
"I look like my mother. I know that; you have said that before." Tigress said, and couldn't help but be surprised when she saw the smile on her father's face. It was little, but still, it was the first time she had seen him smile. And then back to being serious. "Why didn't he tell me?"
Jiao-Long leaned himself closer to her. "Maybe you should ask Shifu about that, and not me."
"How can I come back to the Jade Palace without being caught by Mei-Hua's guards?"
"You should be more concerned about the fact that she soon will be here."
"But with the storm…"
"Your mother doesn't let anything stop her. You should know that. Now, I will suggest you to rest and then we'll see what my warriors have to say about the situation tomorrow." Jiao-Long said, sinking back in his chair.
"Shifu and the others… They aren't in danger, right?" Tigress asked, concerned about her friends' wellbeing.
"They are safe. The guards will only attack if they try to pass them. Shifu isn't stupid, he'll think of a plan. You should be worrying about the problem that is nearing us."
Tigress knew that he again was right. Master Shifu wouldn't let anyone get hurt. That master had something to explain when he saw her again. Why hadn't he told her about her parents? Why hadn't he stopped Mei-Hua? The thought about her mother coming closer to her by any minute made Tigress feel uncomfortable. But if Jiao-Long was so calm, then maybe she should be the same.
Right now, here with her father, Tigress wasn't really that scared of Mei-Hua. Like she was counting on the Jiao-Long would protect her.
Before she walked out of the room, she turned to her father. "You say that I remind you of Mei-Hua. But you know what? You and I also share similarities. Maybe not so much in the look, but that isn't important. We aren't as different as you think we are."
Then she left, silently closing the door behind her. Jiao-Long didn't say a word; he was just staring into nothing. Then a small smile came to his face again.
A/N: So that was chap 16. Maybe a little short, but it felt right ending it there.
Wait! Before you stop reading and leave a review (Which I hoping you do, and if you do, then thank you), then I will like to say something. Because now I have a little question you readers. There is something special in this chapter about Jiao-Long, and I would like to see if any of you can figure out what it is. Of course I will reveal it in the next chapter (it is actually important). Let me give you a hint; try to look closely at all the things that Jiao-Long have said about Mei-Hua. Hope I didn't confuse you too much, and of course you don't have to do this. Maybe it's a little hard (I don't think that I would be able to do it). Well, good luck!