A/N: Here's chapter 16! Enjoy! I don't own KFP or the Kaftar from Cabela's Dangerous Hunts 2011.
Chapter 16 - Comfort, and confronting Lao Hu
In his dark hideout, Tokuta, who has been preparing for this night, tonight he launches his weapon ahead of schedule. Whittelocke is with him, and a full moon was up in the sky.
"Lao Hu is such a fool," the werewolf chuckled, "We're stronger than his team since we've stolen a huge part of it. He should see the consequences he's made!"
"Shouldn't you be concerned at all about Lao Hu?" Whittelocke asked, confused.
"Nonsense!" Tokuta said proudly, "I shouldn't worry about that old tiger. Now that I've got four of the Furious Five and the Dragon Warrior, I'll have the radius of 7,000 miles in a snap!"
Whittelocke sighed, but he was excited about the plan then Tokuta asked, "Is Lockuta ready to send out the red moon?"
"I'm way ahead of you, boss," said a voice. Tokuta looked to his left to see Lockuta and Lionel with him.
"Launch the red moon. We're moving now," Tokuta said with an evil smile, "NOW! Aren't you excited?"
"Can't be anymore excited, boss!" Lockuta declared as he smiled.
"Then turn the moon red."
Lockuta did a few movements and he hit the ground HARD and a soft red boom came from the ground of the city. Tokuta looked up at the moon and then it began turning into a red color.
"Panda! Report!" Tokuta shouted.
Then a hypnotized Po came over and said, "Yes Master Tokuta."
"We're going to have a fun night tonight. In case that Lao Hu and his team arrives, I want you and your team to ambush them. Understand?" Tokuta grinned a toothy grin.
"By your word, Master," Po said in a monotone.
"Good. Now, get moving!"
Po then left, Tokuta turned to the others and said, "Get to your objectives right now." They said in unison, "Yes Master Tokuta," then they left to do their objectives. Tokuta howled because the moon is now a BLOOD SHOT red color!
Meanwhile, in the kitchen of Lao Hu's headquarters, the North American Furious Five, Shifu, and Tai Lung are eating supper. Tigress is nowhere to be seen. They were in their normal clothing still because they've not gotten word to be in action yet.
"I didn't know you were such a good cook, Trisha," Shifu commented as he took another bite out of the lasagna.
"Well, thank you," Trisha said with a smile, "My lasagna is always the best in the city!"
"Yeah, this stuff's amazing! First time I've had it too," Tai Lung said with a smile.
"Master Lao Hu's been pretty busy hasn't he?" Aaron asked.
"Yeah," said Peter, "He never misses out on the famous lasagna made by Trisha."
"Well, think about it; Tokuta's out there trying to take over the city and stuff," said Phil.
"True. I think we should deliver a plate to him when we finish our meal," said Shifu.
Then Trisha noticed that Vanessa was just poking her food with a depressed look on her face.
"Are you okay, Vanessa?" she asked, placing her wing around her.
Vanessa looked at her with her depressed look, "I'm fine…I'm just not hungry…"
Her team was shocked to hear that, she's never said she's not hungry when it's lasagna night!
"Vanessa what's wrong? Are you sick?" Phil asked in a shocked tone.
"No, nothing like that…it's just…"
She paused and Shifu asked. "It's just what?"
"I'm concerned about Tigress…she hasn't been out of her room for hours now…she hasn't come to train, she hasn't been talking with us…and now she's missing supper…" Vanessa seemed to depress a little more after she said that.
They all knew Vanessa was right. She did have a reason to be concerned about Tigress.
"What do you think we should do?" Aaron asked.
"I think someone should go talk to her…"
"But I'm concerned that she'll get mad and might rip out our lungs or something…I've never seen her that mad," Shifu said.
"The only time I've seen someone really mad is when Aaron got embarrassed and overthrew a large generator. But Tigress, she was like a monster…" Trisha said, remembering those moments.
"No kidding about that," agreed Peter.
Vanessa began thinking hard as they discussed about Tigress' temper and who should go talk to her. She was the only one not talking, she then got an idea and she said, "I'll go talk with her." They all looked at her like she was crazy, and she knew she was pretty much crazy.
"But Vanessa…" Shifu said with slightly wide eyes, "Who knows what will happen once you enter that room?"
"I know it's a hard choice, but we can't let her suffer like that," Vanessa pointed out, "Ever since she got here, she's been like a sister to me."
"Do you want someone to come with you?" Tai Lung asked.
"No. I'll handle it myself. I cannot afford to see someone as nice as Tigress going through something that she shouldn't be going through now. I'm gonna talk with her, and that's final."
Vanessa got up from her seat and went out of the kitchen, the others watched her as she left, and they were worried what will happen when Vanessa enters that room.
A little while later, Vanessa walked up to the door that led to where Tigress and her team stayed last night. She knocked on the door and heard nothing. She knocked again, and it was the same result as before. She sighed and said, "Tigress, it's Vanessa. Will you please open up?" She heard nothing once again, she turned the doorknob and it was locked. She sighed again and then she used her claw on her index finger to unlock it, then she entered the room.
When she entered, she saw Tigress covered up in the sheets, her pillow was soaked from tears from her eyes, her tail drooped over the bed, her shirt was soaked, and she was just a mess. The sight broke Vanessa's heart right in two.
"Tigress…" Vanessa said in a concerned tone.
"Please…go away…" Tigress said in a sad tone.
"Tigress, please let me help…"
"Go away now…"
Vanessa's heart broke even more, she then said, "Tigress, I'm here to talk to you…to help you out."
"I told you to go away four hours ago."
That confused Vanessa for a second, and then she realized that Tigress wasn't talking to her, she was talking to the Kaftar. She put her paw on Tigress' shoulder making Tigress jump a bit and say, "What? Who's there?" When Vanessa turned her over, her face was completely wet with tears, her eyes are bloodshot red and watery, Vanessa's heart broke once again.
"Oh my…Tigress…" she said in a horrified tone.
"Vanessa…" Tigress said as tears fell from her eyes.
Vanessa sat down on a dry part of Tigress' bed and she had to sit Tigress upright to talk with her.
"Tigress, look at you. You're a mess…" Vanessa said in a concerned tone.
"I know…" Tigress said in a sad tone, "I'm a complete mess…my life's a complete mess now…"
"I meant that you're soaked and that you need new clothing on. Why do you say you're life's a mess?" Vanessa asked softly.
"My father won't let me marry my panda…" Tigress sobbed, "The dang werewolf took him away…and the stupid Kaftar's been saying things to me for four straight hours!"
Tigress began to cry again, Vanessa saw that Tigress really is torn apart from the recent events.
"What's the Kaftar been saying to you? Don't cry, I'm here for you," Vanessa asked in a concerned tone.
Tigress sniffed and wiped away some more tears that fell out, she looked at Vanessa's concerned sapphire eyes and Tigress said in a broken tone, "He's…been saying that I'm nothing…and that I'm a failure. He says I can't save anyone, my life's a mess, everything I touch breaks, I have uncontrolled strength, and I'm a woman…I shouldn't be doing kung fu…women don't do that, they stay tucked away in their homes…and he's been saying a lot more stuff…too much to keep track…" She began crying again, Vanessa felt extremely sorry for what Tigress is going through. She pulled her into a hug and Tigress hugged her back.
"Shhhhh, don't let the Kaftar's objections affect you," the cougar said softly, "You are not a failure, Tigress. We couldn't have done anything to save them at that time."
"But Po got in the way. It should've been me," Tigress replied in a broken tone.
"If he didn't he wouldn't love you. He saved you, Tigress."
"I wish I could've done something. I feel like a failure."
"Shhhh, we'll get him back," Vanessa said as she began to rub Tigress' back, "If I could've done something, I would've done it. If you can't do something, you can't do it. But you must try to find a way to resolve things. And women normally don't do kung fu, but if it's what they want to do, they can do it. Look at you, Tigress, you're a kung fu master all grown up into a beautiful young woman. You've saved many lives and you saved China along with the Dragon Warrior is what I heard."
"I helped him," Tigress said sadly, "Besides, I may be a beautiful woman, but I've lived in an orphanage for a long time as a kid…I was feared by the kids at the orphanage, I had uncontrolled strength and temper back then. Tigers are born with tempers and uncontrolled strength."
"Tigress, you've gotta let go of that stuff from the past, because it just doesn't matter. Po told me the only thing that matters is what you choose to me now. He also said what Oogway said; "Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That is why it's called the present.'"
Tigress looked at Vanessa with a little awe from what she was telling her, this cougar that she met last night was treating her like she was a sister her entire life.
"You're no failure, Tigress," Vanessa said with a gentle smile, "You're a strong woman, made wonderfully in God's image. Everyone's made special in a way. You've gained love from other people, your fellow warriors love you, Shifu loves you, a lot of people love you, Tigress. And…I love you too."
Tears of joy and happiness slipped out of Tigress' eyes and she said, "Thank you, Vanessa." She hugged the cougar a bit tighter, thanking her once again.
"But…my father won't let me marry Po…" Tigress said in a little sad tone.
Vanessa looked into Tigress' eyes and said, "I'm gonna take care of that. He can't control your life like this! And we need to find a way to counter the Kaftar right away!"
"Straight down right, Vanessa!"
"Let go of the past, and live for the present, Tigress. Don't let the Kaftar ruin your life," the cougar said, smiling.
Tigress nodded and they broke loose from the hug. Then they headed out to confront Lao Hu.
When they exited the room, the two felines are tromping down the hallway towards the main room. The others came to see if Tigress hurt Vanessa or worse, but to their surprise, Vanessa was okay and Tigress was a bit better.
"Vanessa! How'd you make her better?" Aaron asked in a shocked tone.
"I'm Vanessa the Cougar," Vanessa said a little proudly, "And you can join us to confront Lao Hu about Tigress' behavior and that he cannot control her life!"
They all agreed and they began tromping with the two girls.
Meanwhile, Lao Hu is talking on the phone with someone and we hear him say: "Are you sure you're gonna be here with the special upgrades? (pause) Then please hurry up! Tokuta's sent a red moon over the city!"
He hung up and then the North American Furious Five, Shifu, Tai Lung, and Tigress came tromping in with angry expressions.
"Ah, guys. Did you get enough rest?" he asked.
"We could hardly got any, thanks to you," Vanessa said in an angry tone.
"What? What do you mean about that?"
"I mean, your daughter has been crying her eyes out for the last FOUR hours and she looks like a mess!" Vanessa snarled.
Lao Hu looked at his daughter, who still had red watery eyes, he said to Vanessa, "It's her fault. She's choosing to…" He was cut off when Vanessa stomped her foot on the ground, sending a small shockwave out.
"YOU can't control her life!" she roared.
"How DARE you talk to your master in such a disrespectful tone!" Lao Hu shouted.
"I mean no disrespect! But I'm here for my sister-like friend! She's torn apart after the events and for you taking off her ring!"
"She's not marrying…"
"Shut your mouth while I'm talking!"
Lao Hu was shocked; he's never seen Vanessa in such a cold matter before.
"You have barely seen your daughter," the cougar crossed her arms, "You left her at the Bao Gu Orphanage when she wasn't even one year old. She had a true suffering there. All of the kids feared her and adults wouldn't adopt her until Shifu came and took her in as his foster daughter."
"I've always been proud of her. I was just too scared to mention it because of Tai Lung's rage in the past," said Shifu.
"But not anymore. That's not gonna repeat," Tai Lung said.
"That's right," Vanessa said, glaring at Lao Hu, "She grew up in a beautiful Valley and lived in peace. She was joined by her friends and they worked together wonderfully as the Furious Five. Then, Po came into her life. He brought back her sense of humor, friendship, happiness, and she became a lot nicer. She has a wonderful life, Master. She cannot live without that panda, he's so nice and sweet and she fell in love with him. After he proposed to her and came here, you took her ring off and said that she couldn't marry Po, and her life's falling apart!"
Lao Hu was surprised by what Vanessa just said; she's never talked like that before. He knew if she was that upset, that she's telling the truth and she's upset about it.
"Tigress told me her story, and I felt bad," Vanessa continued in a normal tone, "I needed to make a stand for her and Po. You haven't known her for her entire life, and yet you're trying to control it. What kind of father does that? Those things entered her life, she didn't make them come into her life. It's what her heart desires."
Lao Hu was still surprised at all of this, he saw that he was wrong and he'd made a huge mistake. He looked at his daughter and said, "I…I…didn't…realize, Jai-Li…I didn't mean to upset you or anything…I just…I just wanted what was best for you."
"You can have what's best for her," said Shifu, "Her current life now is all she needs. Po's father came and understood that his son belongs in the Valley. He comes to visit him when he can, and they spend the entire time together."
Lao Hu sighed, he now knows that he was the one selfish and blind, not Tigress. He got on his knees and put his hands on Tigress' shoulders saying, "Jai-Li, I am so, so, so, sorry about not listening to you. I should've put it all together at first. I wish I could've seen it first and be happy for you. I can't say I'm sorry enough. I'm deeply sorry about everything…"
Tigress smiled at her father and said, "I forgive you…Dad." Lao Hu smiled and hugged his daughter and she hugged back, Aaron and Phil wiped away some tears, they were touched as were the others. Lao Hu remembered something, he broke loose from the hug, reached into his cloak, pulled out the ring and said, "Here Jai-Li. You can't live without him."
"What?"
"You already had the blessings to marry him," Lao Hu said with a smile.
Lao Hu put the ring back on the finger he took it off of, when it was back on, Tigress smiled and hugged her dad, thanking him.
"I'll never make a huge mistake again…I'm gonna be there for you, Jai-Li," Lao Hu assured her.
"I know you will be," Tigress said with a smile.
"Oh snap! I almost forgot!" Vanessa said, remembering something.
They looked at Vanessa with concern and Shifu asked, "What?"
"Master Lao Hu! We forgot to tell you before, but the Kaftar's been attacking Tigress' mind for a few weeks!" the cougar said in a fast tone.
"WHAT?!" Lao Hu shouted.
"And I'm here to help you get rid of him," said a voice.
They all looked to their left, well, Lao Hu looked to his right and they see the ghost of Oogway!
"Master Oogway?!" Shifu shouted in shock.
"The former Grandmaster of the Jade Palace?!" Lao Hu shouted in disbelief.
"Yes," replied Oogway, "I'm here to help you and the young warrior to get rid of that pain in her head."
A/N: Okay! We're gonna face off with the Kaftar in the next chapter! How will they confront him? We shall see! Remember to leave a review! :D