I'm back baby! So, i've been away for a week and I'll make it up to you by making a 3000 words long special! Hope you guys enjoyed it!
Chapter Three: Viper's Arrival
After The Furious Five and the children finished their lunch, they all settled back again. They sat in their previous position, only now Po had a sleepy goose cuddled up on him. The goose snuggled closer, and Po responded by letting out a small chuckle, "Aww, you guys look adorable," said Viper admiring the view.
"Heheh… thanks," Po replied, blushing at her comment.
"Your gut do seems like a mattress to him," commented Mantis pointing at his belly with his pincher. The rest of the boys –including Monkey and Crane- cracked at this, while the girls were not amused.
"Well, better be a bed rather than squish-able bug," Po shot back, grinning
"Ouch," said Monkey, and the rest of them laughing lightly. Fortunately, that comeback from Po shut Mantis's mouth for sure.
"So, what i've been missing?" Po asked to everyone. He's the only one who didn't present when Tigress told her story
"Master Tigress telling us a story about how the Furious Five formed," one of the bunnies replied
"Really?" Po raised his eyebrows. He knew Tigress wasn't the type who told anybody about her past.
"Yes, I did," Tigress replied from his side. Not convinced, he shot a questioning glare at Tigress, she sighed, "Po, do I look like I'm lying?" she suddenly snapped, startled Po greatly that it almost made him fall of his chair.
Po stuttered, he carefully thought of what he's going to say or else he would be a giant fluffy toy afterwards," N-no! I mean… it's just…y'know, you're hardcore and everything…I just…um….never expect you to do…that…," he said nervously as her eyes turned into slits, his tone got lower and lower as every word came out of his mouth. Monkey and Mantis snickered quitely at Po, he has his 'little-kid-busted' look on his face while twiddling his fingers. Even Crane grinned widely at this.
"So… you're saying that I'm a liar?" Tigress asked again, her face leaned closer to his. She wore those deadly menacing glare that said 'I'll-kill-you' as she eyed him. Po swore, if she leaned in closer or even growled, he would die instantly. He's already trembling from the tip of his ears to the tip of his toe, just from her - insanely- intense stare. Suddenly, much to Po's surprise, she broke her gaze and laughed lightly. Eventually, her laughter got louder and it lowered in an amused chuckle
"Sorry Po can't help it," she apologized between her chuckles, while Po just stared at her, dumbstruck.
"Wow, wait… what just happened?" Po asked, dumbfounded while the rest was laughing. Suddenly, realization struck him, "Aw… man!" he whined as he realized what happened.
"Ehm, so… where were we?" Viper interrupted the kids and the rest of the five that was still laughing, except for Tigress who managed to suppress her laugh into a low snicker.
"Err… okay, let's continue…" Tigress said, snapped back to real world. Then, she continued her story
A few months later, I'm able to train in almost every stage except the hanging talons and Pit of Fiery Death. I did try at the fire course, but I just keep burned myself every ten seconds…
"How am I going to get this right!" Tigress threw her arm in frustration as she healed again, her burned tail, "And none of the Tiger Scrolls thought me how, all they said was follow the heat," she was extremely annoyed by the fact that her study scrolls didn't gave her exact instruction. Furious, she went to Gauntlet of Wooden Warriors and destroyed some of it. Because she was extremely powerful when she's mad, she can't control her strength, the debris of the wooden warrior stick like a dart into the walls, and some of it even penetrated it.
Shifu was meditating in Sacred Peach Tree of Heavenly Wisdom, when his ears perked up and heard Tigress's frustrated noise from the training hall. He sighed as his ears folded against his head, then he ended his meditation and went to the training hall. Shifu entered the training hall, and couldn't help but stunned at what he saw. Tigress curled up in the corner, sobbed loudly. And the training hall was a disaster, splinters everywhere, holes here and there, and some of the wood splinters stick to the wall like a dart.
"Tigress," Shifu called her silently, aware to not startled her
"M-master!" Tigress didn't aware of Shifu's presence, she quickly turned around and bowed at him.
"At ease Tigress, no need for such formalities… for now," he answered calmly while stroked her back, "What was happening at your training?" he asked out of curiosity and duty
"I-I can't do the Fiery Pit, I just can't get it right!" she yelled t him and returned to her current state, sobbing with tears welled up on her eyes.
"Tigress, you can't do something with highly needed amount of focus when you did it with anger," Shifu began, sat in front of her, "As Master Oogway said, a mind is like a pond, if it's disturbed it become difficult to see. But if you settled and relax your mind, it's become clear,"
"But I tried! And my study scrolls didn't teach me how!" even though her tone lowered and she seemed calmer than before, Shifu could still saw the frustration in her eyes.
"Patience Tigress, you're too caught up in your emotion. You should still got much to learn about controlling your emotion," Shifu said while he stood from his place, "Why do you need to get it perfect so badly?" he asked suddenly.
"I-I…" Tigress suddenly found herself loss for words when he asked.
"Well?" Shifu said impatiently
"I-I want to m-make you proud…" she answered lowly. Even with a low tone, Shifu could still hear what she just said. His eyes went wide suddenly, he didn't expect that answer at all
"Tigress-"he began, but he cut off by Tigress
"I want to make you proud of me okay! You never satisfied with everything I did! All you did was just shrugged it of! So, I figured out the only way to make you love me I to best the best student just like Tai Lung did!" she blurted out, tears started to swell in her eyes again. This time, she broke into a low cry and stormed out of the training hall and running all four to her room.
Shifu just stood there, unmoving. He felt like he just got struck by a lightning by Tigress's words, it stung deep into his heart. A moment after Tigress leave Shifu fell into his knees, he let out a bit of a tear, "W-hat I've done?" he asked himself shakily, "Am I really that bad of a father?" he asked himself. Suddenly Zeng busted in to the training hall, panting as he stood behind Shifu
"Master! You have a guest," he informed him, panting heavily. Hearing Zeng's voice, he quickly regained his composure again, though not completely.
"Thank you Zeng, I'll be there in a minute," Shifu shocked by how weak his voice was sounded at the moment. It was raspy, and sounds like someone who catches a cold.
"Yes Master! And Master Oogway already there waiting for you," Zeng replied before he flew away. Master Oogway also there to greet the guest, whomever it is I assume that he must be important, Shifu thought to himself before made his way to the palace gate with heavy footsteps
I cried for couple of hours at my room after that incident. I buried my head at my blanket, not aware of anything around me. My senses were completely off. I cried out all my emotions until my blanket wet because of my tears. After a couple of god-know-how long I've cried, I finally calmed myself down. I'm back to my senses, and I heard Master Shifu on the hallway. At first, I thought he came to scold me how weak I was and how disappointed he was. However, he talked to someone who sounded like a female –or a girl for that matter- and I wondered whom was he talking to? My curiosity got better of me so I went to eavesdrop to their conversation…
"Here is your dorm room, and this is where you would be staying at the palace," Shifu said to the she-animal as he opened the rice door.
"Thank you Master…" she trailed off, trying to figured out his name
"Shifu, Master Shifu," he replied, smiling warmly at her before quickly returned to his stern face, "Now get some rest, and I expect you to be ready for tomorrow," he said to her in his mentor voice
"Okay, just one question-"she trailed off before continuing sheepishly, "Are there, by any chance, other student beside me here?"
"As a matter of fact, yes. She's a tiger, but I think you'll get along just fine," Shifu said
"A girl? Yay! I have a friend!" she squealed excitedly
"Yes, you'll have a friend, now get some rest. Woke up tomorrow by the time the morning gong ring," he said before walking off the dormitories
The animal already in her room, packing out everything her parents packed up for her. Tigress was out in the hallway now, carefully but gracefully made her way to the door of the new student. As soon as she arrived at the front of the door, she opened it slowly. She was surprised to find a slender rope like figure packed out something, and move gracefully as she organized her stuff. Aware of someone else's presence, the figure turned around to saw a stunned tiger stood in front of the doorway
"W-what… I mean… who a-are you?" Tigress asked with nervousness in her voice.
"I'm a snake, new student here. My name is Hai Yan, but people called me Viper," the snake answered kindly, her bright ocean blue eyes shone brightly at her
"I'm Mei Hua, but they called me Tigress anyway," she answered, feeling more at ease she entered her room and sat with her, "S-sorry, I've never seen a snake before, let alone a Viper," she muttered
"What? We vipers are everywhere, where did you live before Jade Palace?"
"Bao Gu Orphanage," she choke out the words, she did not want to return to that place, remembered it alone made her shudder at the thought.
"Oh… I'm sorry," she apologized and scooted up beside her, trying to comfort her. Tigress felt so good inside because of Viper's action. She was glad; for once, someone showed her a sign of love and affection. She like this snake immediately
"So, what brought you here?" Tigress asked, she was confused because she didn't think someone would vow to live here and train for the rest of their life
"My dad sent me here," she replied
"Oh… Sorry. It must be awful," Tigress thought her dad send her here because her parents didn't want her. Just like whoever put Tigress in the orphanage on the first place.
"No! Don't be, he sent me here on good intention. To learn self-defense, kung-fu. Since I have no fangs, my dad can't thought me how to defend myself. So he sent me here, hoping that Master Oogway will find a technique for me that don't involved fangs," he explained cheery
"Why didn't your dad just teach you?" she asked
"He can't, he only knew technique that involved fangs,"
"Who's you dad anyway?"
"He's Grand Master Viper,"
"Grand Master? Your dad is a Grand Master?" Tigress asked incredulously,
"Yes, and he's an old friend of Master Oogway too,"
"Wow," was all that she said.
"So, why are you here?" she asked back, Viper also want to know something about her. At that question, Tigress's face fell
"I was an orphan, in Bao Gu. I-I was a monster back then. I'm the only tiger, and everybody terrified of my strength," she began, Viper listened to her in sympathy,"Until Master Shifu came along. I was surprised someone as small as him are not scared to see me. So, he trained me to control my strength, and emotion. After my training was complete he took me in, he adopted me and gave me life," she finished her story
"Wow, so he's like… your father?" Viper asked
"Yes, but only on special occasion. Even sometimes, I felt like he didn't accept me as a daughter. I tried really hard to get his acceptance, to make him proud, but none of it worked," she explained, he let out a bit of tear on her eyes. Viper slithered closer and pat Tigress's back sympathetically.
"I'm sure he's not like that. Maybe he's been holding back those feelings. I think he's a nice figure," Viper said comfortingly. Tigress smiled a bitter smile and nodded at her
"Thanks Viper, I like you," Tigress said
"And from now on, I got your back Mei… uh… I mean, Tigress," Viper assured her. Tigress felt happy and warm for the first time since Shifu adopted him. She had a feeling that Viper was like a sister to her. A sister she never had.
"Good night Viper," Tigress said before going back to her room
"Good night Tigress," Viper countered.
The day after, I went to the training hall together with Viper. Master Shifu just smiled, knowing we will be best friend but he didn't expect it to happen so soon. If you wondering, why I'm able to train in the Fiery Pit without burned myself, it's because I watched Viper did it, and she thought me how before I went and interpreted it with my own style…
"Wow!" the kids all stared at her in awe, while the rest of the five stared at her in shock, except Viper. While Po, was nowhere to be seen, which I weird how a panda that big that once sat beside her, disappeared into thin air?
"So, you were like remake Viper style?" one of the bunny asked, the other just stared at her in curiosity
"Oh, No. I just went few steps ahead. Months later, I figured out that the detail of the technique is exactly the same when I finally found the scroll," Tigress explained to them. The kids suddenly blared in excitement and started running around, and played with each other.
Tigress sighed; months ago, she would have a problem with telling other people her history, but now he never felt more at ease. She felt something that she never felt before, content, peace, and pure happiness. Then, she looked at the five who just stared at her in shock, "What?" she asked oblivious of the meaning behind their stares
Monkey walked to her and waved his hand in front of her. Tigress just stared at him, and raised her eyebrows in confusion, "Where's Tigress? What have you done to her?" Monkey asked suddenly
"What do you mean? I'm right here," she replied, completely confused
"Uh… No you're not," Mantis chirped in
"Uh… Tigress? We just confused as to why suddenly you told your past to them," Crane said uneasily. Viper was the only one that silent the whole time; she didn't need to asked anything because she knew what happened.
"Come on guys, give me a little credit! What's the harm in telling the children my story? It could be a lesson to them," she said defensively
"I don't know, it's just not you," Monkey pointed out
"Oh, thanks for pointing out that," Tigress said, growled at him. While Monkey just backed out in fear, "Anyway, where's Po?" she suddenly asked, he was nowhere in sight
"Aww, the mighty Tigress misses the big guy!" Mantis teased. He suddenly had thrown away by a piece of dumpling.
"Watch it Mantis," Tigress warned him as she threw another dumpling at him.
"I saw him walked up into his room, he seems pretty upset," Viper pointed out helpfully, and sent a meaningful wink at her
"Uh, thanks Viper," she thanked before made her way to Po's room
Tigress entered Po's room, to find the giant panda sitting by the bed facing the window and stacks of empty bowls beside him, "Ehm," she cleared her throat, aware the panda of her presence.
Po turned around, mouth full with dumplings and his eyes widen in surprised, "'igresh!" he said before gulping down all the food in his mouth
"Careful Po, you can get fat," she joked and sat beside him
"Haha, really funny," he said sarcastically before turned to face her
"What are you doing here?" he asked
"I'm the one who should ask that same question," Tigress replied, raised an eyebrow
"I eat when I'm upset, okay?" he said defensively
"I see that you upset a lot," she joked again, pointed at his whole body
"Real funny Tigress, you could be a comedian," he said, chuckling lightly
"I prefer Kung Fu," she replied simply, "So why are you upset?" she asked, with more point this time
Po sighed, "I just can't stand hearing your story, It was so sad. And to think what you've been going through, it upset me," he confessed.
"Hey, you don't need to be sorry," she said while comfortingly rubbed his shoulder," It's not happened to you. But thank you to show such concern,"
Po nodded approvingly, " It's just you know… It's hard not to think about someone past that is almost similar to yourself,"
"Yet we are here know, I'm a master and you're the Dragon Warrior," she paused before said again, "Remember Po, you may have not such a great beginning, but look at you know. You got everything,"
"You started to sound like that Soothsayer guy," he chuckled
"I'll take that as a compliment," she smirked, "And the Soothsayer is a woman, not man," she corrected him. He nodded sheepishly
"Thanks Tigress,"
"Your welcome, Po," she said, "Now go down there, everybody waiting," Po nodded before walked with Tigress downstairs to the restaurant. He saw the kids still playing, and called them out
"Okay, now you guys heard how Tigress met Viper, now who want to hear the famous pant puller joined the group?" he called out to them. All of them suddenly sat back, waiting for the story
"Pants puller? Who-"Monkey paused before realized who he was talking about, "Hey!" he protested while the rest of the gang fell into loud echo of laughter.
How you like it? I spiced up Po/Tigress a bit. And as for the flashback, Oogway didn't say something once, so I quoted it from the first movie. Anyway, if there a comment or suggestion it's welcomed. R&R!