AN: I know the characters are OOC. Read at your own risk. No flames please. Thanks for those who read.
Chapter 7: Halo – Beyoncè
"Where is it? Where is it?" Po had been throwing stuff inside his room struggling find what he lost. "Ok calm down, focus Po, focus." He said to himself as he continued to look around his room. Finally he decided on tracing his steps starting with the Moon Pool. "I had when I talked to Shifu. Then I went to go the kitchen and ate sticky dumplings." He headed to the kitchen and started to look around.
"What are you looking for brother?" Viper asked as she heard noises in the kitchen.
"Oh… nothing?" Po asked tentatively.
The snake smiled. "Monkey did change the location of his almond cookies."
"Oh he did. I knew it. It wasn't in the top shelf." Po said as he remembered when he was looking for it earlier that day. Then he recalled why he was in the kitchen in the first place. "But I wasn't looking for that." He then said.
"What is it then brother? I may be able to help. Looks important with how you are panicking."
Po took a seat on a chair. He knows Viper won't say anything and besides he needs help. "See Viper, just between the two of us," his voice turned into a whisper as he inched closer to Viper. "I was going to ask Tigress to marry me."
A huge smile crept up Master Viper's face. "Oh that is wonderful. I am so happy for both of you."
"Yeah… thanks… But see I cannot ask her to marry me without the ring." Po panicked.
"Yeah right." Viper then said. "Where had you been since the last time you had it?"
"Well I talked to Shifu to ask about marrying
"Thanks, just don't tell Tigress yet because here's the problem." He took a deep breath. "I kinda can't remember… uhmmm…"
"Can't remember what?"
"I CAN'T REMEMBER WHERE I PUT THE RING." He said out loud. Then he slumped his shoulders sadly. "Oh I'm so stupid, Viper."
Viper just tapped his shoulders. "Don't worry brother. We will find it and I will help you."
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"Hey Po." Tigress greeted her boyfriend. He looks agitated. "You want to go to the lake?" She then asked. Both of them hangs out there a lot for their dates. "I prepared some dumplings for us to eat."
Po was surprised to see her. He's in the warrior's hall looking for the ring as he retraced his steps for the nth time. Viper on the other hand went to look at the thousands steps thinking he might have dropped the ring there. Monkey also helped upon learning what happened and is currently in the training hall to see if he dropped the ring there.
"Uhmm about that can I go and take a rain check?"
Tigress didn't look happy. "You're just here. Are thinking of doing something that would annoy Shifu?" She then asked. She planned for this day and the Panda is going whether he likes it or not.
"No…" But I will annoy him nonetheless if he learns that I lost the ring. Oh man how can I be so stupid? "I am just… uhmmm… dusting?"
"Po, you're not doing any cleaning at all. Don't you want to be with me? I just want to hang out. We haven't been out for the entire week because those bandits kept us on our toes. Please."
All his resolve was gone. He can look for it later. "Alright let's go."
The two then headed for the lake. Po was carrying the snacks and was eating along the way. "These are good. You did well my love."
"Well you got to thank your dad for that. I asked him to make those. You know me and the kitchen aren't really friends." Po was about to say something when Tigress cut him off. "Don't say it Panda."
"I… wasn't?" Po then said scared that if he says something about the destruction of the kitchen when Tigress tried to cook would make him her sparring partner for a month. And that's not good.
They walked in comfortable silence for a few more minutes. It was almost dark when they reached the lake. "We're here." Tigress then spoke.
Po looked at the lake in awe. It was beautiful. There were lantern lights around and their favorite spot under the tree overlooking the lake had a table and two chairs under it. On the table were foods and a candle light. "This is beautiful, Tigress."
"I wanted to be the one to surprise you, my Dragon Warrior." She said as she led them to the table.
"This is awesome!" Po screamed. "Oh my, are those my favorite fried rice balls?" He looked at the other food on the table. "Are those dad's special occasion plum dumplings?"
"Yes Po, those are your favorites." Tigress said as she stared at the all-too eager Po.
Po turned his gaze to his girlfriend. "Thank you Tigress. This day is awesome!"
The two then proceeded to eat. Once finished, the two went over to the lake and sat on the ground. Tigress is inside Po's embrace.
"Po… Did you like everything?"
"No need to ask that. You know I did."
Tigress smiled. It's time for her to reveal the real surprise.
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Remember those walls I built?
Well, baby they're tumbling down
And they didn't even put up a fight
They didn't even make a sound
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"Po…?"
"Hmm?" He was so relaxed holding Tigress in his arms. He even forgot that he lost the ring.
"Remember when we first met?" She started.
"Who can forget?" He then replied with a smile on his face. "I fall right in front of you."
Tigress laughed a bit. "You did, didn't you? I was so mad I wanted to throttle you."
It was Po's turn to laugh. "I'm glad you didn't."
"I am glad too. Otherwise, I wouldn't have found love." Tigress then turned to face Po. "Before you came, I was just a warrior. Trying to go by the book, waiting for Master Shifu to finally see me as a daughter and not just one of his students." Po was about to cut her off but she beat him to it. "I know he loves me now. And thank you for that. But, I had built thick walls into my heart. No one can penetrate. Then despite me not wanting you to be in life, you destroyed those walls no one has done before. No one even attempted to."
"I didn't do it all alone. You helped me get there too. You let me love you." Po kissed her forehead.
"Yes… At first I wanted to remain solid. Not to let you in but before I even noticed it, you had already broken. And I am so glad you did."
"Me too… Thank you for trusting me."
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I found a way to let you in
But, I never really had a doubt
Standing in the light of your halo
I got my angel now
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"You're my angel Po."
"And you are mine. You helped me too. A lot more than you think. I always lacked confidence. You knew something was wrong with me when we were on the boat to Gongmen City. The rest are my friends but it was only you who noticed. It was you who let me vent out. And when you hugged me at the prison, it was you who cared. It was you who understood."
"Because I do understand Po. I wanted to know about my past but other than the fact that I was left at the orphanage, there's nothing else I could do. But at least I knew I was adopted. You didn't."
"I had my doubts but yeah for most part I believe that I am a panda raised by a goose." A small smile crept into his face. "But I am at peace with it now. I just wanted you to know that you've done a lot for me."
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It's like I've been awakened
Every rule I had you breakin'
It's the risk that I'm taking
I ain't never gonna shut you out!
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"When I finally realized that I love you, it's like I've awakened. Like everything is clear now. All my life I was clouded by the fact that everything has to be perfect. Then you came like a star falling from the sky. And you broke the rules. Just happiness. You live by heart not by the rules. And when I got to understand it, I finally felt free. I fought for peace not to bring pride for Shifu. I train so I can do better in helping the others not because I wanted to be like Master Shifu. And when I did, when I was no longer doing things for him but for the others, that's when I finally realized that he loved me all along."
"I am happy that you did. And you don't need to prove yourself to anyone, Tigress. Because you are wonderful just the way you are."
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Everywhere I'm looking now
I'm surrounded by your embrace
Baby, I can see your halo
You know you're my saving grace
You're everything I need and more
It's written all over your face
Baby, I can feel your halo
Pray it won't fade away
XxxxxxxxxxxxxxX
"You let me know that every day. And Po, you saved me. You saved me from the others, saved me from falling and you saved me from myself. I will never ever let you go."
"I won't let you go either."
"You better not." Tigress said with a smile.
Po then remembered about the ring. He suddenly got agitated. Tonight would have been perfect to confess but he really need to lose the ring which he personally made.
"Listen Tigress, don't be mad okay."
"Every time you say that we end up in trouble." Tigress quipped.
"Well you see, I wanted to ask you something. Then give you something but I kinda lost it and now I don't know how to ask you anymore."
Tigress smiled. "Well if you can't ask me the question then perhaps I can." She then got into her knees. Po was surprised and can't say anything. "Po Ping, Master of the Panda Style and Dragon Warrior, will you do me an honor of becoming my husband?"
To say that he was shocked was an understatement. Tigress was on her knee holding HIS RING! "Tigress, that ring is for you. Why do you have it?" He then asked.
"Not the reply that I was expecting but can you answer my question please."
"Of course I will marry you. But I should be the one asking." He looked annoyed.
Tigress got up and hugged her boyfriend. "Don't be mad Po."
Po sighed. It's not as if he can be mad with her. "No I can't be mad at you. I love you too much. I just wanted to be the one to ask you to marry me."
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Hit me like a ray of sun
Burning through my darkest night
You're the only one that I want
Think I'm addicted to your light
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"I know Po. The fact that you have a ring that you made yourself is a dead giveaway. But I wanted to it. So when I accidentally heard you asking Shifu for my hand, I followed you and took the ring in your room. Because you've done so much for me. You became my light. You're the only one for me. And I want to do something for you."
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I swore I'd never fall again
But this don't even feel like falling
Gravity can't forget to pull me back to the ground again
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Po kissed her on her lips. When they finished he spoke. "You don't have to do anything for me. Just having you is more than enough."
"Having you is more than enough for me too. And when I thought I would never fall in love, you came. You came and never let me fall. I wanted to be the one to ask you to marry me. It's not conventional but it feels right. So right." Tigress then pulled Po for another kiss.
XxxxxxxxxxxxxxX
Everywhere I'm looking now
I'm surrounded by your embrace
Baby, I can see your halo
You know you're my saving grace
You're everything I need and more
It's written all over your face
Baby, I can feel your halo
Pray it won't fade away
XxxxxxxxxxxxxxX
When they pulled apart, Tigress spoke. "Thank you Po. You are my saving grace."
"And you're my forever, Tigress."