The Prince

"Well you are the person he liked so much, why don't you care for him," Shouted Po to Tigress. Everyone was in the kitchen, debating over where Zan was.

"You're the one who said I wasn't a very good person for him to be around, considering you're so great with children," Tigress argued back, "Besides, I can't watch him every minute. Why can't the others do it?"

"It's not my responsibility because I am, as Monkey said, a little insignificant tiny bug," Mantis grumbled.

"What about Viper? Why can't she do it," Monkey said shifting the blame, "Because Mantis can't keep anything or anyone." Mantis and Monkey glared at each other. Master Viper was silent through the whole thing. She was still upset about her parents.

"Can't you guys stop bickering over your petty relationship problems," Crane muttered, "It's obvious you two can't keep one." Everyone started arguing and shouting. Then, Po looked out the window to see Zan sitting alone looking at the moon. Then he looked at his fellow comrades arguing. This wasn't right. Not for Zan, not for the village, not for them. Po would later call this time of his life as 'coming back to his senses'. Anyways, this had to end.

"GUYS GUYS GUYS LISTEN!" Po shouted at the top of his voice. Everyone stopped. "This is not right. Zan's outside right now alone with no one talk to. As it stands, he has had Master Shifu, Zeng, and my father. He hasn't made any friends in the village. He's been here now for two weeks and all we've done is bicker about things that are in the past." Everyone looked at the ground ashamed. "Listen, I heard some of what you guys have been saying and so far I don't see anything as anyone's fault. Regardless of who is to blame we shouldn't try and make it fester. We should try to heal it. Look, let's all just agree to let things in the past be in the past. Agreed?"

"Agreed," Everyone said.

"Good, now let's get a good night's rest. After all this fighting I know that no one has gotten good sleep," Po said. Everyone trickled out of the kitchen. Tigress looked at the little duck through the window.

"This is my fault," Tigress accused. Po rested his hand on her shoulder.

"We're all to blame here. Especially me," Po said.

"What's makes you say that," Tigress asked, not looking at him.

"I'm the one who usually keeps the group together. I failed that job," Po said sadly looking away. Tigress turned to the sad panda. He was right. Po usual kept the Furious Five in one piece. So where did it all go wrong?

Tigress sighed. It was when they got in relationships they KNEW wouldn't work out. And it was all because...Tigress shook her head. Now wasn't the time to bring up the past. Now was time for damage control. She headed for the door way. "Where are you going," Po asked.

"To care for my baby," Tigress replied. Po smiled. Zan continued to look at the moon as Tigress came to his side. "Hey Zan." The little duck was surprised to see Tigress as she sat by him.

"Master Tigress," he said surprised. Tigress smiled for the first time in a long time.

"I thought I was your aunt," Tigress said. She became sad. "Zan, I...apologize for not be a good mentor for you, and I'm sorry for causing you so much grief."

"It's alright," Zan said, trying not to let her take all the blame.

"No, it's not. I shouldn't have let my...personal things get in the way of taking care of you. I'm sorry about that," Tigress said bowing her head in shame. Zan surprised her by hugging her. She sat up stiff as a board but offered a small smile.

"Apology accepted," Zan replied. Then he yawned.

"It seems you need to go to bed. Come on, you have a lot to do in the morning. Tomorrow we start the Kung Fu training that I promised we would do," Tigress soothingly said. Zan was excited. He went straight to bed. Tigress watched him as he went to sleep. So today wasn't that bad.

"So all in all, you had a good day yesterday," Vick observed. They sat in Mr. Ping's shop after the work's day was over. Zan's head was resting on the table and it seemed that he couldn't move it.

"Yep," Zan growled.

"Are you okay," Ai asked. "You seem a bit tense. I thought after last night that you would be happier."

"I am," Zan said as he slowly moved his head to towards the crane. "The problem is Kung Fu training."

"Ah, you're sore," Aang guessed.

"Yep," Zan replied.

"So now the Jade Palace is safe and you don't have to hear anymore arguing," Ruby said happily. Zan stretched out his arms.

"I guess. I just hope that it stays that way," he said.

"I think the way things go, they'll be arguing the next morning," Vick argued pessimistically.

"Hey, I think they can become better," Ai opposed.

"And I should be there to make sure that it happens," Zan said trying to stand. He fell back into his seat as O and Ai tried to catch him. "Right after I can feel my bones," He groaned, plopping his head on the table again.

"So what is the prince like, Zan? Is he rich and famous? Does he have a big room with toys beyond the eyes can see," Ruby attacked with questions.

"Wait! Give me a slower, calmer version," Zan said holding his head. "To answer your question, no he doesn't have that big of a room or have many toys. Like I said, he's in exile. He doesn't have the most fanciest life."

"Well, it must be interesting to live with him," Ai ventured.

"Yep, but personally, I wouldn't want to be him," Zan said confidently, "All those stuffy palace rooms, trying to follow all those rules. It must be a lot to handle." He was talking as if he was a totally different person. Personally, he liked it, but he still felt uneasy about practically lying to them.

"Wow, I never thought about it like that," Vick said thoughtfully. "So when does he go back to his kingdom?" Zan was stumped with that one.

"I...I don't know," Zan said sadly.

"Are you okay," Ai asked.

"Do you need some sewage water to perk you up," O asked. Zan's head jumped off the table and stared O straight in the eyes with a horrified look.

"Um NO," He exclaimed.

"Sorry about that," Ruby laughed awkwardly. "O tends to distract people from their problems by saying something outrageous. It's weird but it has lifted our moods."

"Well, I'm not sad anymore, just grossed out," Zan said still wary of the little ox. Zan had to look up to O a bit. O was about two inches taller than Zan. "but about the prince, I don't know. The day I go back is the day he can go back."

"Well, will we ever see him," Ai asked. Zan looked nervously around. He was slow with his answer.

"Yeah, I guess," He said unsure.

"Awesome, Yay! Interesting," They all cheered, but Zan was silent. He didn't know how long he could keep this ruse going on. For now, he had to think in the present.

"Come on," Vick urged as they all got up. "Let's go to Mr. Shin's house. He just finished the playground."

"You guys go ahead. I'll catch up," Zan replied. They all went, except O, who sat down with Zan. He looked straight at the little duck, making Zan uncomfortable. O seemed like that strange acquaintance that you try to keep your distance from and only associate with him to make sure he at least liked you. "What is it, O," Zan asked wondering why he was looking at him like that. O just smirked.

"I know you're the prince, Zan," He said calmly. Zan's eyes shot up and he spluttered.

"Wwwhat?! What do you mean? Do I look like a great prince?"

"Yes," O replied. "I can tell from your clothes. They're too fine for a relative of a servant. Why are you lying to them?" Zan decided to drop the facade.

"I have to. My kingdom is in civil war, people are being...hurt, and they're looking for me. I have to do it in order to protect myself and them."

"And," O asked, knowing that wasn't the only thing. Zan sighed and made a pouting face. He hated the fact that O seemed to read him so easily.

"I don't want them to treat me like I'm a prince. I don't want them to treat me like a pampered thing that has to get his manicure every minute. Please O, don't tell them. For the safety of their lives," Zan pleaded.

"Don't worry," O smiled. "I won't tell. But you have to tell them some time. I've been alive eleven years now and know enough that wars don't end quickly."

"How long do you expect me to stay here," Zan asked honestly. Suddenly, O seemed to be a friend that knew everything. O blew out a huff of air, thinking about it.

"About 5 years at the very least," O said solemnly. Zan's head dropped to the table again. "Don't worry about it. You'll become accustom to this place."

"That's not the problem. My problem is my mother and father. Where are they and will I see them again?" O rested his hand on Zan's shoulder and offered a great smile.

"I'm sure you will."

to be continued.