Chapter 9: Horrible Misunderstanding
Once Tai-Lung found the crystal everyone was reunited. "Po, you are safe," Tigress said kissing him.
"Hey Ti, and Harmony glad to see you both are okay," Po said. He smiled glad to see them alive and unharmed.
"Okay we found the crystal so now what do we do?" Camille asked.
"Well the Dark Moon sets tomorrow, if we use it without reciting the spell to set the Seven Demons free we can go home and keep the crystal away from evil," Snow said.
"So, we have to stay one more night in this place, just great?" Harmony grumbled. Ever since they came here strange things have been happening.
"It will be okay Har, as long as we stick together we will be fine," Po assured her.
"I hope you are right Po," she said frowning. Po grew concerned and led her away to talk privately.
"Har are you okay?" he asked.
"To be honest no this place creeps me out. Something is off about this place, ever since we came here I felt so odd. Tigress and I were talking and once she mentioned something about her parents I saw a vision maybe of my mother. But before that I kept feeling scared the sooner we get out of here the better," Harmony said folding her arms.
"Don't worry Har, we will leave and we will see Dad again. As for your vision I too have seen things. Not sure what they mean but we will figure it out together," Po said holding her paw. The act calmed her and they rejoined the others. Tai-Lung sat by Tigress trying to talk to her.
"Um Tigress I wanted to tell you I am so sorry for what I have done to you," he said getting to the point.
"What do you mean?" she asked.
"If I never broke Shifu's heart then you would have gotten the love you deserved. I was an ungrateful brat and all I can say is I am sorry my sister for causing you harm. Saying I am sorry is not enough but I will make it up to you," he said firmly. Tigress didn't know what to say. She knew he was trying to be sincere and the old Tigress would never have accepted his apology. But since she met Po and Harmony her heart was melting and Shade forgave Tai-Lung for what he did to her and her friends. Maybe giving Tai-Lung one more chance wouldn't hurt.
"Okay I accept your apology brother but know this I don't give out second chances easily if you do anything to harm my family I will take you down there will be no third chance. Is that clear," Tigress told him.
"I understand completely and once we get back I will do whatever it takes to mend my relationship with Shifu and show him I am no longer a monster and Tigress I will do my best to be a brother to you. I am not going to mess up this time," he vowed.
"For your sake I hope that will be true," Tigress said. Then she offered him a small smile and he returned it. Then his eyes locked on Harmony and he wanted to reveal something else. He thought Harmony was a beautiful girl and wanted to ask if he could be her boyfriend. But his confidence was leaving him so he went to the only one he knew could help him. He went to find Shade.
Shade was resting on Red's shoulder watching the flames dance before her. She was still worried about Red and wondered what happened to him when she died. It was like he never wanted her out of his sight and kept glaring at Tai-Lung. Surely Red couldn't possibly blame him for her death. No one twisted her arm to save Tai-Lung once she helped Tai-Lung see the error of his ways and she called him brother. Then she would do anything to keep him safe for that is what she always did in the past. She would have to tell Red that her saving Tai-Lung was her decision and no one told her to do it. But he was sleeping peacefully and she couldn't bear to wake him.
She was about to join Red in the realm of slumber when her ears began to twitch. Shade looked up and heard someone calling her name. "Shade, hey Shade," the voice whispered. Looking behind her was Tai-Lung motioning to her. With gentle grace she got off of Red's shoulder and scurried over to Tai-Lung. He knelt down and scooped her up in his paw.
"What is it Tai-Lung?" Shade asked cocking her head to the side.
"I need to speak with you in private," he said gently. Shade nodded and they went to a bush behind the campfire. He sat on a rock and began to speak. "I told Tigress I was sorry for harming her and vowed to make a mends with Shifu. She accepted my apology but made it clear that if I mess up again I won't get a third chance," he told her.
"Well it is understandable but I am glad she accepted your apology. Is that what you wanted to tell me?" Shade asked.
"No, I need your help again I have developed some feelings for Harmony and I need to tell her. But my confidence is failing me so I am seeking your advice. Please sister, help me," he pleaded.
"Easy brother I will help you. Just pretend I am Harmony and tell me what you would tell her and I will tell you how Harmony may react to it," Shade said.
"Okay," Tai-Lung said smiling. Red woke up and had the Black Crystal in his hand but noticed Shade was not on his shoulder.
"Shade, Shade where are you?" he asked growing worried. He heard voices behind him and went to investigate. To his horror he saw Tai-Lung having Shade in his paw and what Tai-Lung was telling Shade made Red's blood boil.
"I wanted to tell you that I love you. I know we haven't had much time to get to know each other but I feel a strong connection to you. You are the most beautiful creature I have ever seen. I can't get you out of my head and I want to know more about you. And if you would please let me be your boyfriend," Tai-Lung said.
"Oh Tai-Lung that sounds perfect," Shade said smiling.
"Get away from my girlfriend!" Red roared. He leapt out of the bushes and formed a fist knocking Tai-Lung down. Shade fell out of Tai-Lung's paw but he caught her with his tail.
"Shade are you injured?" Tai-Lung asked looking her over.
"Get your paws off of her," Red yelled and charged at him. Tai-Lung placed Shade on a tree branch out of harm's way.
"Red calm down, why are you so angry?" Tai-Lung said.
"You are stealing my girl from me and I have no reason to be angry! I will pound you into dust!" Red yelled charging at him.
"Red stop, please it is not what it looks like!" Shade cried. But Red was too fueled by anger and jealousy to see clearly.
"Please Red I am not in love with Shade I mean I care for her but as a sister I swear!" Tai-Lung said ducking to avoid a punch.
"You lie, I caught you wooing her but she is mine and I am not allowing a monster like you to take my precious Shade from me!" Red yelled. He charged again but Tai-Lung avoided his attacks. "Fight me coward!" Red shouted.
"I will not fight for I am not your enemy," Tai-Lung said trying to calm him down.
"What is going on?" Po asked as the others came upon the fight.
"He is trying to steal Shade from me!" Red yelled.
"I was not I was asking her advice on how to tell Harmony I loved her," Tai-Lung said. Harmony was shocked to hear those words come out of Tai-Lung's mouth. She thought he was a good looking guy and was seeing him in a better light but to have him love her was unexpected, pleasant but unexpected.
"It is true Red I swear!" Shade yelled shedding tears.
"You are so evil you even fooled my Shade but you won't fool me I know what you are up too and I am stopping it!" Red yelled. He finally punched Tai-Lung in the gut and he fell to the ground.
"Tai-Lung!" Shade yelled. She jumped off the tree branch to stop Red from doing something bad.
"Shade stop!" Red snarled.
"Please Red don't hurt Tai-Lung I love you I swear! He loves Harmony no one would ever take me from you!" Shade pleaded.
"I know and I will make sure of that," Red said. He formed a fist with the crystal in his hand and was about to punch Tai-Lung. When Shade jumped on his hand and the contact made Red fling his hand. Both Shade and the crystal fell. They landed on another tree branch by the cliff. But the force was so strong it cracked and Shade holding onto the crystal for dear life plummeted into the river.
"Shade!" everyone screamed. Snow flew after her but the water was so murky and dark not even Snow's eyes could see Shade.
"Come on let's go down river and we are sure to find her!" Po said and they all ran after Shade.
"Oh no what have I done," Red moaned as regret filled his heart. He lost Shade twice now but this time he had no one to blame but himself.
Author's Note: Hope you all enjoyed this chapter and please review.