Meeting in the Night
Qiang and Song got married about two weeks after Zan's fourteenth birthday. The couple was just about to go on their honeymoon when they first wanted to say goodbye to everyone at the Palace. The warriors all gave them tips and advice, but Po and Zan's were the most memorable. "I hope you two have a great honeymoon," Po smiled.
"Save some treats for me when you come home," Zan replied.
"So do you two have any advice for us? I know that Zan must have something," Qiang jested.
"Do you want to go or me," Po asked.
"How about we just do it together," Zan suggested. Po agreed.
"Don't pull the tail until you're ready," They both said. Everyone, especially Tigress and Song, looked at the two with shocked faces. Po and Zan looked at each other in bewilderment. "How do you know about that," Said together again.
"How do you know that Zan," Song asked sternly.
"I've read books and have been around China. I know all there is to know about...that," Zan said carefully. "What I want to know is how Po knows about it." Zan saw Po's eyes darting over to Tigress with a blush. Tigress just looked around embarrassed. "Actually, never mind. The thing is not to do it until you're ready."
"Why," Qiang asked, quite stupidly.
"Because they become very feisty very quickly," Po breathed out.
"How do you-nevermind!" Zan recovered. "Just take the advice." With that, the couple went away to enjoy their honeymoon. Everyone left Tigress and Po alone in the hall, except Zan. "Seriously, how do you know?"
"Zan," Tigress warned.
"I'm out," Zan said flying away. Tigress sternly looked at Po's nervous grin. She rolled her eyes and said,
"What happened in the meadow, stays in the meadow," Tigress stated simply.
"I'm sorry! I didn't mean to pull on it. I was falling and I grabbed the first thing I could," Po apologized.
"I know it wasn't your fault," Tigress recomposed herself.
"Plus, it was your fault for losing your cool," Po shot back. Tigress stomped up to his face and pressed her finger to his chest.
"I never lose my 'cool'," Tigress said, but then she shut her mouth tight as she felt Po's hand gliding across her tail. She saw the grin on Po's face. She was trying to not purr. "Po, quit it," She muscled out. Po smirked smugly.
"What was that about not losing your cool," Po asked. Tigress backed away from him and glared at his cocky grin. She crossed her arms and looked away from him.
"You're beginning to be like Zan. Cocky," Tigress muttered. Po chuckled as he rested his arms playfully around her shoulders and neck.
"I'm sorry. I couldn't help myself. How about I get you an almond cookie as a way of saying sorry," Po offered. Tigress slipped out of his grip and smirked.
"Last one to get there confesses to Monkey," She taunted.
"You're on," Po accepted as they dashed for the kitchen. Meanwhile, Zan was browsing around the courtyard to see Master Shifu talking to a messenger. When the messenger was gone, Shifu turned around with a worried face.
"What's the matter, Master Shifu," Zan asked.
"I've gotten news from your mother. She's arranging a secret meeting with you. I'm to take you to her around nightfall." Shifu thought a moment in silence. "Bring Ai along. I want you to have a companion in this," Shifu said.
"Why," Zan asked.
"Just trust me on this, little one," Shifu replied with a smile.
"Yes, red one," Zan came back. Shifu's face fell as Zan ran off with a smirk. Zan took to the skies and glided through the air, swooping down to the mountain to the little village below. He flew into the Mr. Ping's shop, landing softly on the floor. Ai quickly wrapped an apron around his waist.
"Hi Zan, table six needs bean buns and table four needs a clean up," she stated rapidly. Zan quickly went to work. As they were working, Zan was working up the courage to talk to Ai.
"So um...Ai. Are you doing anything this evening," Zan asked her. Ai stopped right in her tracks. It seemed like everyone in the shop was looking at him.
"Oooooh," Vick and Ruby teasingly raised their voices.
"Yes," Said O.
"Not you," Ruby scorned.
"What do you mean," Ai asked slowly returning to her work. Zan looked around before whispering to her. Ai's eyes widened. When Zan moved back, Ai nodded. "I'll be able to."
"To do what," Vick smirked, but Ai held her serious face.
"It's personal guys. Just drop it," Ai warned. With that, they didn't talk about it for the rest of the day. When the sun was getting low, Zan waited for Ai to come back from her parents. Then she took her brown cloak, flew up the mountain, and was ready to go with Zan. Zan giggled a bit.
"Are you here to tell me something, Mrs. mysterious," He joked. Ai smirked and playfully pushed him as Master Shifu came with his cloak on.
"Remember, we need to be very discreet. I know you miss your mother, but you two being together will put you at risk, so be careful," Shifu warned. Zan and Ai nodded. Zan covered his head with his hooded cloak and rushed after Shifu and Ai. They quickly made their way through the dark forest and over a bridge hanging over a narrow river. As they passed an open field, they saw two figures on the other side of the field. Zan's wing gradually dangled protectively in front of Ai as the two figures came forward. Once they were right in front Master Shifu, they took off their hoods.
"Mom," Zan said in relief as he rushed over to hug her. The once young lady goose seemed to have more creases and curls in her face. Though her smile still broke through as Zan held her, the lines on her face suggested that she was worried a lot, probably about Zan. Zan's mother gave a sigh of relief.
"I'm so glad to see you're safe and sound," She breathed. Shifu looked at the other figure that revealed his face. It was one of the court officials that usually announced the coming of the empress. Zan's mother pulled away from him and looked at him. "Oh my! You've grown so much," She said starting to cry. Zan realized she came to his chest now. He had grown. "Are you being taken care of? Have you eaten well? Are you being sleeping well? Have you brushed your teeth? Are you-"
"Mom, I'm fine," Zan laughed, hugging her again. "I'm just glad you're here." Zan's mother's eyes looked over his shoulder to see the young crane by Shifu's side.
"And who is this lovely lady," she asked with a smile, making Ai nervous.
"I'm Ai. I'm just a close friend of Zan, your highness," Ai whispered. Zan's mother smiled widely, making Zan confused.
"It is great to see you, Ai. I hope that my son is treating you well," She asked looked at Zan's blushing face. Ai nervously looked away.
"Yes, he is," she replied. The official looked around.
"Are you sure that the area is secured," the official asked.
"It is comprisable, so we best be quick about this," Shifu urged. Zan sighed as his mom stroked his face. He smiled at her.
"Don't worry, mother. I'll be alright. Stop worrying about me. It's starting to take it's toll on you," Zan said. The lady goose smirked.
"Now who's nagging," She joked lightly laughing. "You look so much like your father. I just wish that all of us could be here."
"We will soon," Zan replied. "I promise." Then they all heard a crack in the forest. It was just the falling of a tree branch, but Shifu and the official didn't take any chances.
"We must leave now. I'm sorry, Zan," Shifu said.
"I know. I love you mom," Zan said sadly hugging her one last time.
"I love you too my Little One," She replied crying again. Any other time, Zan would have winced and corrected the person, but now, to hear his mother calling him "Little One" meant the world to him. They finally released each other, hiding their faces once again from the light of the bright moon, and scampered off to darkness. They passed the bridge again, ran through the dark forest, and finally into the village. They seemed to run up the mountain at an incredible speed. They didn't stop until they reached the doors of the Jade Palace and went into the kitchen. Everyone else was asleep. Zan collapsed into the chair and stared at the ground. Ai sat next to him and just held his hand gingerly. Shifu stroked his beard thinking. They all stayed like that for an hour, and then they all went to bed.
to be continued.