When po woke up the next morning, tigress was still asleep. They technically weren't supposed to see each other before the wedding, so he kissed the top of her head and left the room where monkey, crane and mantis were helping the wedding decorators.
"Hey po! Today's the big day! Aren't you excited?" mantis asked, and he nodded silently. He was nervous.
"I'm going to go meditate and try not to puke" he said, and they all chuckled. When he got to the meditation room, shifu was sitting in silence, hand's on his knees, meditating. Po walked in as quietly as he could and began to meditate.
"Why are you nervous po?" shifu asked, startling po.
"I'm not nervous… ok, I am nervous. But all the preparing, everything we've done, you'd think after all this talk, I wouldn't be. But I am." He said quietly. Shifu opened his eyes and stared at po.
"If you are having second thoughts-" he began but po cut him off.
"There is absolutely no way I would be having second thoughts master. I fell in love with tigress the moment I met her, and ive been falling deeper and deeper, if that's even possible. She, and our cub, are my life." He said simply. Shifu smiled a very rare smile at po. He got up, and bowed to the dragon warrior.
"You are ready. Go, prepare your vows, talk to the other masters. I am proud of you po. Thank you for making my daughter happy" he said, and po got up and hugged shifu.
"I didn't say hug me" he whispered, his breathe escaping from his crushed lungs. Po chuckled, bowed, and left the room to rejoin the other masters.
Tigress however was not in a happy mood. She was not only nervous, but in a fair amout of pain. She took some deep breaths, did some yoga, trying to do whatever it took to make her relax. When viper came in an hour and a half later to help her get ready, she noticed something was off.
"Nothing is off viper. I am fine. I promise. Just nervous. Will you do my make up for me, I don't think I can. My hands are shaking" she said, and viper smiled at her best friend. Tigress went to get into the shower. As soon as the hot water hit her back, her muscles started to relax, and she was able to keep herself calm. At least, until her father showed up.
While viper was helping tigress get into her kimono, shifu knocked on her bedroom door. After viper zipped her up, she said 'come in' and he opened the door.
"Oh tigress… you're beautiful" he whispered, looking her up and down. He couldn't believe his beautiful daughter was getting married today.
"Thank you dad… please don't cry. You're going to make me cry… stupid hormones" she said, and he kissed her cheek softly. She smiled at him and he watched as viper helped her with her makeup. Once viper left, shifu wanted to speak to her alone.
"Are you nervous?" he asked her and she nodded.
"A little bit, but I'm sure that's normal, right?" she asked him and he nodded.
"Perfectly normal." He said, and she took a deep breath as she felt another pain in her lower region.
"Are you alright? Do you need me to send for a doctor?" he asked her. She shook her head and took another deep breathe. Strong kid.
"Just the baby" she said, and he smiled and touched her stomach.
"I can't wait to meet you, my young grandchild. I am so proud of you tigress. I love you" He said, and viper rushed in.
"Come on, the band is about to start" viper said, and tigress put on her white flats and left her bedroom. Viper gave her the bouquet, and they heard the music start.
"Wait until I get to the front and you hear the music change and then start walking down the aisle. Good luck tigress" she said, giving her friend one final hug, and turning to face the entrance. She started to walk and they waited until viper made it all the way to the end.
"You ready?" shifu whispered, and she nodded, keeping her eyes on po. He smiled lovingly at her, taking her in. She looked beautiful. Even with the baby bump, she glowed. When she reached the end, she heard the preacher ask.
"Who gives this woman to this man?"
"I do" shifu said, hugging tigress and kissing her cheek. He placed her hand in his and went to take his seat.
"Dearly beloved, we are gathered together here in the sight of God, and in the face of this company, to join together this Panda and this Tiger in holy Matrimony; which is an honourable estate, instituted of God, signifying unto us the mystical union that is betwixt Christ and his Church: which holy estate Christ adorned and beautified with his presence and first miracle that he wrought in Cana of Galilee, and is commended of Saint Paul to be honourable among all men: and therefore is not by any to be entered into unadvisedly or lightly; but reverently, discreetly, advisedly, soberly, and in the fear of God. Into this holy estate these two persons present come now to be joined. If any man can show just cause, why they may not lawfully be joined together, let him now speak, or else hereafter for ever hold his peace." No one spoke, so he continued. Po stood, facing tigress, and took both of her hands.
"po, Wilt thou have this Tiger to thy wedded wife, to live together after God's ordinance in the holy estate of Matrimony? Wilt thou love her, comfort her, honour, and keep her in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all others, keep thee only unto her, so long as you both shall live?" he asked. Po grinned.
"I will" he said, and tigress looked as if she was about to cry.
"Tigress, Wilt thou have this Panda to thy wedded husband, to live together after God's ordinance in the holy estate of Matrimony? Wilt thou love him, comfort him, honour, and keep him in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all others, keep thee only unto him, so long as you both shall live?" he asked her. She thanked the ancestors that she was wearing waterproof mascara.
"I will" she said shakily, sniffling. Po smiled at her and squeezed her hands.
"Po, please repeat after me I, po promise to respect you tigress, honour you, and take you, tigress to be my wife. I promise to be true to you in good times and in bad threw health and sickness, threw sorrow and success for all the days of my life."
"I, po promise to respect you tigress, honour you, and take you, tigress to be my wife. I promise to be true to you in good times and in bad threw health and sickness, threw sorrow and success for all the days of my life." He said.
"Tigress, please repeat after me. I, tigress promise to respect you po, to honour you, and take you, po to be my husband. I promise to be true to you in good times and in bad threw health and sickness, threw sorrow and success for all the days of my life."
"I, tigress promise to respect you po, to honour you, and take you, po to be my husband. I promise to be true to you in good times and in bad threw health and sickness, threw sorrow and success for all the days of my life." She said, and her voice cracked with tears.
"can we have the rings please?" the preacher asked. Monkey gave the preacher the rings and patted po on the back and he went to stand back in line.
"Po, please repeat after me. With this ring, I thee wed" he said.
"With this ring, I thee wed" he said, and he slid the ring onto her finger.
"Tigress, please repeat after me. With this ring, I thee wed" he said.
"With this ring, I thee, finally, wed" she said, and he chuckled as she slid the ring onto his finger.
"Because po and tigress have commited their love for each other, and have extchanged their vows, and spoke of their commitments to each other. By the power of their love and commitment, I pronouse them husband and wife. You may now kiss each other." He said. as po went to put his lips onto hers, she felt like she was being stabbed by a thousand knives in her abdomen. She put her hands on her stomach and screamed. Her body hit the ground, and she was out.
IT'S SO LONG! I'm so proud of it, their officially married! Be prepared for the birth of a cub hopefully within the next chapter? Maybe? Thank you for all the nice comments you all have left me for!
