A/N: A shorter chapter, but I hope you enjoy the chapter. :) I don't own KFP.
Chapter 6 – The choice
The evening after the warriors arrived home, Tigress just sits on her bed, thinking. She loves Po, but she also loves kung fu, she's worked her entire life dedicated to kung fu, and if she decides to marry Po, she and he would have to leave the Palace. She's been wondering on how she can do kung fu and loving Po. She just buries her head in her paws, thinking deeply. It's a tough call, but she's taken in on what Viper had told her, it's her and Po's life, they're adults and can make their own choices. She knows that kung fu must be passed through the generations and...wait a minute. She lifted her head up, an idea hit her. Passing kung fu through the generations, even though they won't be warriors anymore, maybe they could be kung fu teachers to kids. Yes! They can form their own school to teach kids kung fu! Tigress smiled to herself, even if they're not warriors anymore, they can still teach the young ones kung fu. She pondered even more, knowing they'd have to fill out a bit of paperwork and get the place built wherever they need to build it. She was reminded of the times she did kung fu and how dedicated she was to it, all to earn Shifu's love and approval, but she figured out she's had it all along, and Shifu wants her to be happy in life, and Po...he's brought her so much happiness. She's made her choice. She stood up and walked out of her room into the kitchen where Po is stirring noodles in a pot.
"Hey Po," Tigress said with a smile. Po turned around and said, "Hey Tigress!" Tigress smiled and said, "I...I have an answer for you." Po almost dropped the ladle stirring the noodles. He put the ladle down, to add suspense, Tigress walked up to the panda, whom is feeling nervous, his heart's racing. Tigress smiled at him.
"Yes. Yes I will marry you," she said sweetly. Po put on the happiest face of his life, he's gonna get married to the girl of his dreams! He pulled out the ring from his pocket and slipped it onto her index finger. Tigress smiled widely at him before bringing him in for a kiss.
"Woo hoo!" Monkey shouted, immediately Po and Tigress broke their kiss and Monkey was clapping with the other Five standing by him, "The two lovebirds are getting married!"
"Yeah!" Mantis shouted, "Very good! When will you have babies?!" Viper slapped him with her tail, glaring, "OW!" Po and Tigress slightly blushed while Viper and Crane walked up, smiling.
"Congratulations you two," Viper said sweetly, Crane nodded and said, "Yeah! We're so happy for you."
"Were you guys spying on us?" Tigress asked, suspicious.
"No. We were coming in for dinner and just at the right moment we heard Po propose to you," Crane answers, he put a wing around her and said, "Congratulations, Tigress." He looked at Po, "And to you, Po."
"Thanks Crane," Po said, smiling. They all knew the two warriors would have to leave the Palace, but then Tigress said, "Po...after we leave the Palace, maybe we can start our own school to teach kids kung fu." When she said that, everyone went into shock.
"A kung fu school?!" Po asked with wide eyes, then he smiled, "AWESOME!"
"That's a great idea, Tigress!" Viper said, smiling, "It's indeed important to teach kids kung fu."
"And someday we'll get additional teachers to help with the school," Tigress said, "We need to teach as many styles as we can. Maybe all." Everyone chuckled. Shifu walked in.
"What's the excitement about?" he asked. Po showed Shifu the ring on Tigress' finger. Shifu smiled, happy for both of them.
"So, you two are getting married?" he asked, smiling.
"Yes! And Tigress decided we can start our own school!" Po said, excitedly. Shifu smiled, he nodded and said, "That's a great idea."
"Let's have some dinner!" Po said happily.
With that, they had some steamy noodles with dumplings and tea, they talked about where they'd have the wedding and how they'd plan it. Crane volunteered to make everything look perfect for Po and Tigress. Po and Tigress told Mr. Ping about their engagement and he's so happy for them and he even embarrassed them when he said he wanted grandkids. The wedding's going to be a month away, Po and Tigress hate to leave their friends, but they'll come visit them. One night, someone knocked on the Palace doors, Shifu answered it and a male ox showed up.
"Hello," the ox said, smiling, "I've heard there's some intense training here."
"Yes, do you want to train here?" Shifu asked.
"Well, my mother and I want myself and my brother to learn some kung fu here, I travel for two days to get here," the ox said, smiling.
"Where's your brother?" Shifu asked.
"Oh, he's on his way up, he had to make a quick rest stop but let me go on ahead," the ox replied. Shifu smiled at the ox.
And on that day, the two oxes were accepted into the Jade Palace to train, the warriors showed them how they train, and gave them a basic run-through of the training hall. They learned how to protect the Valley while Crane kept getting ready for the wedding and Viper picked Tigress out a dress, the tiger doesn't like dressing up but she's getting married for her panda. Viper picked Tigress a red dress with yellow flowers along the bottom of it with a see through red gale to cover her face walking down the aisle. Mr. Ping began making his finest dishes with Wo Hop, Zeng sent out invitations to people all across the Valley to see the wedding, Po and Tigress are both excited but also nervous for being in front of everyone in the Valley. Everyone's buzzing about the wedding, and the guards of the Valley will make sure that it's safe for Po, Tigress and the civilians. The night before the wedding, Tigress and Viper are walking, well, Viper's slithering, down the hall to their rooms.
"So, Tigress, are you ready for tomorrow's wedding?" Viper asked sweetly.
"I...I guess..." Tigress said, rubbing her striped arm. Viper looked at her sister and asked, "Something's troubling you. Isn't it?" Tigress looked at Viper, she is nervous about the wedding.
"I...I...I've just never been so nervous in my life, Viper..." Tigress confessed, "I'm getting married, moving to the next Valley over to start a kung fu school...it's just...changing..."
"Tigress," Viper said, stopping, making Tigress stop too, "Change can be good. Everyone in the Valley's going to be so excited for you and Po."
"I know...it's just a bit nerve wreaking leaving my home for my entire life..."
"Po will give you a better life, I know it, Tigress. Also, Shifu wants you happy as well. I can understand the change. Like when I had to leave my parents to come and train here," Viper said. Tigress sighed and said, "I also...don't want to fail to be a good wife. I know Po and I probably can't have kids on our own...but adopting..." Viper smiled sweetly at Tigress and said, "Po doesn't care if he has to adopt or not, he loves you, Tigress. And he wants to have a happy life with you." Tigress looked at Viper, she saw the sweet smile and look in her eyes. Tigress smiled at Viper.
"Thanks Viper, you think that?" Tigress asked.
"I know that," Viper said sweetly but sincerely. Tigress knelt down and gave Viper a big hug, Viper hugged back.
On the day the wedding came, everyone got up quickly, had a quick breakfast, and headed down to the Valley to see Po and Tigress get married. Mr. Ping put out his finest dishes along with Wo Hop's, Po made Monkey his best man, Tigress changed into her red wedding dress while Po changed into an outfit with long blue sleeves and a red middle and red pants, they're excited yet a bit nervous. Crane had set up the stage for the wedding with a lattice spread with pink and white flowers in front of the Jade Palace steps. The villagers began gathering in the Valley, they're all so excited for them. Tigress and Viper made sure her dress was on right, Shifu came up to Tigress as she put on her gale.
"Tigress," Shifu said softly. Tigress looked down at him, she smiled at him.
"Tigress, I just...I've never been so proud of you, I'm very proud to have been your master," Shifu said, smiling and bowing to her, Tigress held back tears of joy as she bowed back, she wanted to thank him, then Shifu said, "I'm sorry for not being a good father in your young age, but I want you to know, that I've always been proud of you, and I wish you and Po nothing but the best."
That did it, tears of pure joy and happiness slipped out of Tigress' eyes to hear him say that. She knelt down and hugged her foster father, Shifu smiled as he hugged her back.
"Thank you...Baba..." Tigress said, voice cracking a bit. Shifu allowed one tear to slip out before they broke apart, Viper put her tail around Tigress' arm and said, "I wish you and Po the best too." Viper and Tigress hugged, Shifu went up to Po and told him how proud he was of him, and how he wished him nothing but the best. Po picked Shifu up in a hug, annoying the red panda, but he smiled and hugged back. After that, Mr. Ping wished Po the best as well...and to have grandkids, embarrassing the panda again. Now, everyone in the Valley is sitting in their seats, it's never been this crowded before, everyone seems to have come, the guards chased off assassins or bandits to keep the wedding safe for everyone. Po stands onstage with Monkey by his side as his best man as a gazelle priest stands in the middle of the stage. The two oxes are sitting in seats next to Viper and Mantis while Crane made sure everything's in order. Then, a sheep began playing the flute, everyone stood up while Po smiled brightly as his beautiful bride walks down the aisle with Shifu by her side.
"She's so beautiful in that dress," a civilian said.
"Yeah, Po's so lucky," said another.
"Man I'm a bit jealous..." another said.
"I wish you the best, buddy," Monkey whispered, smiling. Po smiled down at Monkey as Tigress, feeling a bit nervous but wanting to marry her panda, walks onto the stage, smiling, Po smiled as he lifted the gale to see his bride's beautiful face. Shifu stood by Tigress while the gazelle smiled and Crane got in his seat finally.
"Dearly beloved," the gazelle said, "We've gathered here today to witness Po the Dragon Warrior and Master Tigress joined together by holy matrimony." He looked at Po and asked, "Dragon Warrior, do you take, Tigress, to be your wedded wife? Love her, honor her and in sickness and in health for as long as you two shall live?"
"I do," Po said, smiling, the priest looked at Tigress and asked, "And do you, Tigress, take Po to be your beloved husband? Love, honor him and in sickness and in health for as long as you live?" Tigress began swallowing the lump in her throat, feeling nervous, "I...I do," Po smiled brightly as the priest pulled out a pillow with the two rings on them. Po smiled even wider as he placed Tigress' ring on her finger and then Tigress put Po's ring on his finger.
"And under holy matrimony, I hereby pronounce you husband and wife, you may kiss the bride," the priest said smiling. Po smiled brightly as he and Tigress kissed one another, the villagers began cheering for the couple, then the priest said, "And Po and Tigress...both have to step down from their titles, but we all wish them the best and not to mention the two new students who're the Valley's protectors!" The villagers cheered for the two oxes who smiled brightly, Po and Tigress looked at each other and knew those oxes are their replacements. Good timing as Tigress would say.
After they were pronounced husband and wife, everyone wanted to get a few words with the married couple, being around many people made Tigress feel a bit on edge, but Po kept her close as he enjoyed the attention. They ate Mr. Ping's finest dishes as Monkey told the kids awesome tales of Po and Tigress, Po and Tigress got the first pieces of the wedding cake and stuck a piece into one another's mouth. It was a great day...no awesome day for everyone, especially Po and Tigress. However, after the wedding, the night came for the two ex-warriors to leave, move into the Valley over from the Valley of Peace. The Furious Five...er Four stand outside the Jade Palace with sad looks with Shifu and the two oxes, Shifu hates they're leaving, but it's for the best. Po and Tigress have their luggage with sad looks too.
"Po...Tigress...this is your path...and we wish you the best..." Shifu said with a sad smile, happy for them, but sad they're leaving.
"And you guys had better visit," Viper said.
"We will," Po said, smiling a sad smile. They went up to their friends and they all got into a group hug, not wanting to let go of one another, Tigress hugged her foster father and sister, they'll miss them, but they'll visit them. After a while of hugging, Po and Tigress bowed to the masters and then they left the Jade Palace.
After leaving the Jade Palace, Po and Tigress both settled into their home in the Valley over from the Valley of Peace, it's big enough for them both, Po and Tigress got jobs to watch kids and start their school before they built it. Years pass, Po and Tigress have enjoyed one another's company, they had better times with one another, they enjoyed sleeping with one another, teaching the kids kung fu and even building their school finally, they began teaching kids kung fu, using everything Shifu taught them to teach the kids, the two oxes became sworn protectors of the Valley of Peace, if an assassin did come to attack Po and Tigress, they'd defend themselves. As they taught school, they hired some more people who know kung fu and they made levels in the school that the kids had to go through before getting to the highest level. They did visit their friends and master like they'd promised, telling them how their life is going and the warriors are still happy for one another. Po and Tigress also went on another vacation to the mountains they had time to themselves, where they decided to make love to at least try to have a baby of their own. After trying many times, Tigress did become pregnant. She gave birth to a healthy baby girl, she's a white tiger with amber eyes, a round black stomach, and black feet. They named her Xiu. Once she was two years of age, they allowed the warriors of the Jade Palace to see her, Shifu and Mr. Ping are so happy to see that they have a grandchild.
Yes. It's a happy life for both Po and Tigress. However, there's one more thing Tigress still wanted to do. While Xiu was taking a nap, Po and Tigress went into the den.
"Are you sure, Tigress?" Po asked.
"Yes," Tigress said, "This'll be the last round. This'll determine if I shouldn't mess with your dumplings. Come on, panda. Please." Tigress gave her best puppy eye look. Po chuckled, he smiled and said, "Fine. One last round." Then Tigress tossed a dumpling into the air. They both went for it, Po grabbed it before Tigress punched him, she dodged him from belly flopping her, she threw punches but Po blocked them, Tigress worked her around Po and punched him on the back. She grabbed the dumpling, but Po punched her, making the dumpling fly out of her hand. She ducked underneath him and tripped him. She jumped and grabbed it, Po grabbed her legs and pulled her to the floor. Po recovered, Tigress blocked an attack from Po, she tried to grab the dumpling, but Po punched her gut, grabbed the dumpling and then belly flopped her out of the den to the outside of the house. Po smiled as he chuckled.
"Never mess with my dumplings," Po said, chuckling before he ate his prize.
The end
A/N: Never mess with Po's dumplings! XD Well, I know it was a shorter chapter, but I hope you enjoyed it nonetheless. :) Please leave a review and check out my poll on my profile! :D I've updated it! :D Oh, please check out Kung Fu Nightfall if you haven't yet, please, please read it. :D
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