Chapter 4: Sibling Secrets
"Wow so this is the Jade Palace huh? Pretty cool bro pretty cool," Star said with an impressed look. She always saw the Jade Palace from her window in the room where Po and her shared. When Po was a kid he drew pictures of the Jade Palace with Po and the Five together. Star was proud of her brother for becoming the Dragon Warrior. He was always her hero by keeping her safe and feeding her dreams. All those late nights he played on his flute as she danced to the beat. She remembered the first time she danced in front of a crowd and it scared her but with Po's help she became well a Star. Flashback: Star was about six years old when she danced in the tiny bedroom she shared with Po. Now at the tender age of eight she stood in front of a crowd and she froze. The music was playing but her feet wouldn't respond .She heard the rhythm of the piano a musician was playing. But all she could feel or see was the people staring at her. Waiting to see her perform and her palms got all sweaty and she couldn't breathe. People soon began to laugh and tears fell from her face. Just then a ten year old Po, jumped on the stage and shouted", Star dance to this!" He began to play a few notes from his flute and Star felt her feet tapping and soon she did a small spin as she leaped in the air. Doing twirls and spins her confidence growing with each note Po played. Soon the laughter turned into applause as Star moved her body like a serpent and did a final spin and landed on her feet and bowed to the crowd smiled as they cheered for her. From that day on she was never afraid to dance in front of people again.
Her dream was coming true and it looks like Po's dream had come true as well. But not in the way he expected. All Po wanted to be was a Kung Fu Master and instead became the Dragon Warrior and saved all of China. In addition won the heart of Tigress and Star was just happy her brother was happy.
"If you think the outside is impressive wait till you see the inside," Po said taking her by the paw. He opened the doors and Star's eyes widened as she absorbed the beauty of the Jade Palace.
"Wow it is so beautiful," Star sighed as she looked around the place. Po smiled happy he could show his kid sister the Palace. Master Shifu came into the room and spotted a young panther accompanying the Five and Po into the Palace.
"Hello my dear I am Shifu can I help you?" he asked politely wondering why the Five and Po brought her here. Maybe she was in some sort of trouble.
"Hello sir I am Star Ping, Po's baby sister and it is a true honor to meet you," Star said bowing politely. Shifu's eyes widened with surprise as his ears stiffened by what they heard.
"Po's baby sister, how interesting I never knew you had a sister Po," Shifu said rubbing his chin.
"Yeah well I have been away at the White Blossom Art School and dancing professionally for money. I just came here to see my family and to fulfill my dream of opening my own art school," Star said gently. She heard a lot about Shifu from Po's letters and he seemed nice a bit taller than she imagined but she was trying to make a good impression.
"It is nice to meet you my dear but my students have training to do so if you could wait down at the Valley,' Shifu began.
"Um Master Shifu would you mind if I watched my brother and the Five train?" Star asked. Shifu's eyes widened but he rubbed his chin.
"I guess this one time wouldn't hurt but stay clear so you don't interfere," Shifu said firmly.
"Yes Master," Star said bowing. She was led to the training hall and watched them train. Monkey and Mantis were running through an obstacle course. Viper was sparring with Crane and Tigress and Po were sparring. Star sat in the far corner as Shifu barked instructions during the training. A case of scrolls fell when Star scooted closer to the wall and one fell to the ground. She picked it up but the first two lines grabbed her attention and she began to read. Soon she was grabbing another scroll and each scroll was a dairy of some sort about a Kung Fu Master. Finally after two hours Star read about 30 scrolls and there were 50 scrolls total in the case. She felt someone tap her on the shoulder and saw that it was Shifu.
"What are you doing Star?" he asked. He didn't seem mad at least he didn't look mad. Star said that a scroll fell and she was putting it back but the scroll drew her in and she just kept reading.
"I am sorry sir if I overstepped any boundaries but they were too interesting to put down," Star said sadly hoping Shifu wasn't too angry with her.
"I understand my dear but 30 scrolls in less than two hours I can't get Po to read one scroll in one hour. You seem interested in reading my dear," Shifu said smiling.
"Sir the reason my brother is," Star began but Po and the Five had heard the conversation was giving her a pleading look not to finish her sentence.
"Yes Star?" Shifu asked wondering why she stopped talking.
"Um my brother preferred to actually do Kung Fu instead of reading about it I guess," Star said and Po let out a sigh of relief. Tigress noticed this and wondered what Star knew that Po didn't want her to reveal. Something about reading scrolls and Tigress wanted to know if something was bothering Po. She would ask him later for right now Po wanted to spend some time with his sister. Yet, Star wanted to meet the Furious Five her brother talked about. "So, Viper my brother tells me you are an excellent ribbon dancer. Maybe you could show me sometime?" she asked nicely.
"Po, said that about me? How sweet of him," Viper said blushing. "I would be happy to show you my ribbon dancing some time," Viper said to Star.
"Awesome," Star said flashing a fang smile. Then she turned her attention to Tigress. "You better treat my bro good Master Tigress last girl who broke his heart I broke her face. I will be keeping my eye on you," she said in a joking tone as she winked at Tigress.
"I assure you I would never harm Po or break his heart," Tigress promised giving Star a serious face.
"And I will never hurt or break her heart," Po said kissing Tigress on the cheek. She purred at his touch and Star just smiled knowing her brother finally got this love thing right.
"Well good to know but come on Po. I want to help dad cook dinner I haven't done it in a while and it would be fun," Star said.
"Okay Star see you guys later tonight," Po said waving. He led Star down the steps and once they were out of hearing range Star asked the question that was bugging her.
"Po, how come Shifu and the Five don't know about your reading problem?" Star asked.
"Come on Star I can read just not very well. I have trouble pronouncing words and I don't understand some words. And my mind tries so hard to figure them out my mind begins to hurt and it wanders," Po said blushing.
"I remember Po I was the one who helped you read during school. But why didn't you tell them?" she asked.
"Because I was ashamed, when I became the Dragon Warrior I literally had to jump through hoops just to gain an ounce of respect from them. And when I defeated Tai-Lung they finally accepted me. Then I defeated Shen and Tigress fell in love with me. If I told her and the others all this time I had trouble reading then I would lose the respect I worked so hard to earn and the love of Tigress," Po said frowning. Star could understand Po's distress when she heard briefly on how the Five and Shifu treated her brother. Little sister was about to pay them all a visit and kick their ungrateful asses but remembered that everyone is entitled to their own opinion and Po who wanted to be a Kung Fu Master begged her to stay at school and to let him handle this Dragon Warrior thing. So, Star did and later Po wrote about the Five and their adventures along with the stuff Shifu was teaching him and Star began to like them. For they gave her brother a chance; and by doing this they saw him for what Star always saw him as, a hero.
"Po if they are your friends and if Tigress truly loves you then I am sure they will understand," Star assured him.
"Sorry Star I can't tell them that I had to ask my baby sister to sound words out for me or tell what a word meant. It is beyond embarrassing please promise me you won't tell them. I will tell them soon just not now," Po said giving her a pleading look.
"You know me Po I always keep your secrets safe. But you should tell them soon," she said. Po nodded and Star knew how to put a smile back on his face. "Race you home!" she cried and jumped on all fours and ran down the steps. Po laughed and raced after her sister. Neither one knowing that Po's reading disability wouldn't be the only secret revealed soon in the future.
Author's Note: Hope you all enjoyed this chapter and please review.