Young Love

There was some interesting news that came from Zan's kingdom next morning. A messenger had given Master Shifu a letter early in the morning. When the gong for the morning rang-it's more or less for knowing what time it is now-, the Furious Five, Po, and Zan came into the kitchen to see a worried red panda. "Master Shifu, are you okay," Zan asked.

"Nothing, really. Zan, today I don't have any lessons for you so you can go play with your friends," Shifu dismissed. Zan, after eating his breakfast, went down the mountain to do just so. Then Master Shifu sighed.

"What's the matter, Master," Tigress asked.

"A letter from Zan's kingdom came in earlier today," Shifu said. Everyone stopped what they were doing and looked at him. "It's from the council there. Since Zan is thirteen, he is of age for us to get him married, and the council wants us to get him a girl." Everyone was shocked.

"Can they do that," Crane asked, "Don't they need the approval of the emperor or empress?"

"They need BOTH and they managed to do so. In fact, the empress wants us to make sure that he gets the right person. The problem we have is finding the right girl," Shifu sighed. Everyone looked at him with an obvious type of look. Shifu huffed. "Look I know they like each other, but I was hoping not force them to do it." Everyone nodded.

"So," Mantis spoke, "we need an Operation: Get Together- Zan and Ai." Shifu grumbled rubbing his head.

"There are too many Operation Get Together's to keep track of," he muttered.

"How many are there," Tigress asked confused. Shifu was nervous but Viper was prepared.

"There's Qiang and Song, Zan and Ai now, and Ruby and Vick," She said.

"Really," Shifu asked shocked. "I mean yes! Really, Ruby and Vick?"

"I was as shocked as you when I found out," Viper said. Tigress grumbled.

"What are we a romance business now," Tigress asked.

"No, that's usually Zan's job," Monkey laughed. "I don't know how we'll break the news to Zan, though."

"We can't," Shifu said, "I've been given strict instructions not to tell him until the situation in his kingdom is over with."

"Well," Po said standing up triumphantly. "I'll lead the operation."

"No," Everyone exclaimed.

"Why not," Po pouted. "I know some things about romance." Everyone, save Tigress, looked at each other in doubt.

"First of all, no you don't," Monkey stated simply. "Because if you did, you would-" He stopped short when everyone, save Tigress, glared at him with 'shut up' looks. "Well, you just don't. Second of all, if I remember correctly, you trying to initiate romance nearly got Shifu killed and you and me in a battle." Po sat back down. He was right about that. "Third-"

"There's another," retorted Mantis, "You're really not good at this." Po glared at the bug.

"Third, this is Zan we're talking about. Possibly the smartest kid there ever was. He'll know what you're planning to do before you even do it. Fourth,-"

"Fourth," Shifu interrupted, "We don't need you to do it. His friends will be able to do it very well. That and you've noticed that he watches you and Tigress the most. But simply, now is not the time. We have plenty of it." Tigress patted Po on the back.

"It's not that you're bad at getting people together, but this is a bit different," Tigress said comfortingly.

"It's going to be hard to do this. Zan's usually the one who knows how to get people in a relationship the best. Without him, we're going to have to be discreet about this, so Po don't say anything."

"Why me? Why not Mantis or Monkey be told not to tell them," Po argued.

"Because they still haven't told," Shifu said not explaining what he meant. With that, he left the room. Po pouted.

"You know what it's like with this situation," Tigress said to him, "One slip up and things will be hard for them." Po sighed.

"I know," Po replied. "I guess they're right."

"What do you mean by that," Ai asked. Zan sighed as they walked through the busy village as people passed by.

"I mean that I think Tigress and Po are going to be together after Qiang and Song get married. So, I'll have to make sure that those two don't blow it," Zan explained with a huff of annoyance.

"They seem to be in love," Ai replied.

"Hmm, there are different kinds of love and most aren't on the surface," Zan sighed again. Ai exhaled scratching her wing nervously. Zan noticed this. "What's up? You look itchy," Zan joked, but Ai was still pensive. "What's the matter?"

"Um...I was just wondering. Do you...ever think about love," Ai said awkwardly.

"Of course I do. I have to in order to get Po and Tigress together," Zan said simply.

"That's not what I meant," Ai scoffed, rolling her eyes but then became weird again. "I meant have you ever thought about being in love...for yourself." Zan stopped right where he was. His eyes were wide, it seemed like he couldn't move, and he was having trouble responding to her question. He finally said.

"Kind of...It's...something I don't really like to think about," Zan confessed.

"Why not," Ai asked.

"Well, being prince has some setbacks when it comes to finding someone who loves you. They're usually looking for fame and glory or money."

"You've had this problem before?"

"No, but I know enough about people to predict what could happen," Zan said.

"There are some honest people in the world," Ai argued.

"Yes, but they are hard to find," Zan sighed. They continued to walk through the village. They didn't know where they were going.

"So, do you have a...type of girl you want to be with," Ai asked. Her nerves were tangled all in her stomach. Zan scratched the back of his head out of habit. He always did that when he was nervous.

"I...don't know. I guess I would like a girl that's pretty and beautiful, but she has to be pretty both ways," Zan said. He looked at Ai's confused face. "She has to be pretty on the outside and pretty on the inside. Her attitude has to be kind, caring for others, strong and brave, tough loving, and knows me inside out."

"What do you mean by tough loving," Ai asked.

"She has to love like Tigress does," Zan explained as Ai's eyes widened.

"Wow, that's tough," she muttered. Zan shrugged.

"But I don't need to be thinking about that right now. I'm 13 soon to be 14. I have plenty of time to figure that out," Zan said.

"I hope so," Ai whispered to herself. When they realized where they were, they recognized the area. "I know where we are! I wonder if it's still standing," Ai said, dashing off excitedly.

"What's still standing," Zan asked running after her.

"Come on," Ai urged. They ran over to a familiar area to Ai. "Wow, it's still here." When Zan got there, he remembered what it was too. It was the old house that O had lived in before they knew Zan. Ai slowly went in and Zan went after her.

"I'm surprised no one's taken the metal and stuff here for scrap," Zan said poking at on of the odd metal sheets in the wall. Ai sighed remembering.

"We had a lot of adventures here. We were pretty crazy kids. Always coming up with new ideas to get O food," Ai lightly chuckled. Then she turned to Zan and smiled. "Then you came along and gave him a home, a job, and a life to live. You've been the best addition to the team, Zan," She said hugging him. Zan blushed as he hugged back.

"You're welcome," he replied as she released him. Zan looked at her as she browsed and drifted slowly to the exact place he first saw her when he met the group. A lot of things had changed. Her height, her wings, her character, her smile, her face, her lovely eyes. He went over the list for the girl he wanted in his mind. 'kind, caring for others, strong and brave, knows me inside out, and tough loving. Okay five out of six ain't bad,' he thought to himself. He continued to look at Ai until she realized she was being watched.

"What are you looking at," Ai asked, snapping Zan back to reality.

"Nothing! I was just thinking," Zan recovered, laughing nervously.

to be continued.