Change

Ai's eyes gently lifted her eyes opened as the sun's rays poured into the room. Her blue eyes flickered like sparkling sapphire in the light. Her mind kept slipping from unconsciousness to consciousness. She was very sleepy. Then she fully awoke when a thought pervaded her mind. This wasn't her room. Ai's eyes shot open and she stood up right in her mattress. She looked all around. It seemed to her that she was still in the Jade Palace. She must have drifted into one of the warriors' room without knowing. But whose room was it? Ai heard soft breathing. She looked down on the floor to see Zan sprawled out on the floor on a mat. Then she remembered what happened. She decided to spend the night over at the Jade Palace and sleepover with Zan. She heard him rustle in his sleep. She decided it would be best to get out of the room. She climbed out of the bed and stepped quietly around Zan and out the door. When she turned around, she nearly punched the person in front of her. "Easy, it's just me," Tigress said. Ai breathed. "You've become quite jumpy since you've been training with me."

"Do you blame me," Ai remarked, "You had me doing weights while trying not to be cut in half by some sword." Tigress smirked.

"So what are you doing here," she asked. Ai nervously shrank, but then the door opened up behind her.

"She came over for a sleep over. Nothing more," Zan said, popping into the conversation. Tigress's smirk was still visible but she just shrugged it away and went to the kitchen.

"I'm sorry to wake you up," Ai apologized. Zan smiled.

"It's okay," Zan replied. "Come on, let's get you home."

"It's alright. I told my parents that I was actually sleeping over at your place."

"Oh, but still. I want to make sure that you get home safe," Zan replied. So he saw Ai all the way home and flew back up the mountain to the kitchen where Po and the others were there.

"So how was Ai's sleepover," Monkey smirked. Zan just glared at him as the simian slowly dropped the subject. Then he turned to Master Shifu.

"Master Shifu, was there a letter that came from the council recently," Zan asked out of the blue. Shifu stopped chewing his food for a moment and then he swallowed.

"Why yes, one came yesterday I believe. It was just some political contracts and stuff," Shifu spoke. Zan's expression grew angry as he huffed frustrated.

"You all are betrayers," He said bluntly. Everyone looked at him in confusion.

"What do you mean," Po asked.

"Why didn't you tell me the council and my parents wanted me to marry Ai," He replied. Everyone was shocked. Po coughed on his own spit. Monkey threw down his spoon and sighed amazed.

"Okay, we're sorry. Happy? Now how in the world did you figure that out," he asked.

"It all makes sense. I'm of age, the council has to get both my parents to agree in order to determine what age I should start looking for a girl, Shifu wanting my mother to see Ai, which is the only reason why he asked me to bring her along in the first place, and why my mother was so interested in her."

"First of all, I'm glad you met your mother," Po responded to him. "Second of all, we weren't going to force it upon you. Plus, your mother gave us strict instructions not to tell you."

"I still have a question," Mantis came up immediately, "How did you figure that out? I could never put that together."

"There are many reasons why YOU wouldn't be able to put it together," Viper muttered. Zan just grumbled under his breath as Master Shifu came to his side.

"I know that you're hurt, but we had to keep it a secret for your own good. None of us wanted to force this upon you," Shifu stated.

"The 'Forcing upon' is not what I'm worried about. How am I going to tell Ai?"

"Don't," Po replied. "You have plenty of time before the war in your kingdom ceases." Zan just sighed.

"If it makes you feel any better," Crane chimed in, "Po wanted to get you two together, but we wouldn't let him." Zan looked at Crane for a moment.

"That does make me feel better, thanks," Zan replied.

"HEY!" Po exclaimed as everyone burst in laughter. Po looked at Tigress, who was laughing along with them. He sat back in his chair and pouted. Tigress patted him on the back.

"They mean it in love," She smiled.

"Oh yeah sure," Po muttered still upset.

"Anyways," Shifu recovered, "We won't press anything on you."

"Thank you," Zan said. "If you need me, I'll be down at the shop." With that, he went out of the kitchen.

"Do you think that Ai and Zan are really meant for each other," Tigress asked. "Zan is royalty and I don't think Ai has ever been in that type of situation."

"We were just given orders to get him a suitable wife," Shifu replied. "It doesn't matter at this point if she's royalty or not."

Meanwhile, Zan flew inside of the shop to see no one there, just Vick and Ruby talking...alone. Zan smiled and decided it would be best to leave them alone. He could see their relationship blossoming. If they were there, then O was probably at Mr. Shin's place. When he went over there he could see O working away with someone new. It was a female ox, probably a little shorter than O. Zan slowly went out of the carpentry. It seemed now he was truly alone. "Zan," Exclaimed a voice that seemed familiar to Zan. Zan turned around to see two little bunnies with long whiskers. They looked like twins. Wait, twins?

"Aang, Zang," Zan greeted as they hugged each other. "It's so good to see you rascals. What are you doing in the village? I thought you lived on the outskirts."

"We are, but our family has some business here and we're staying here for a while," Aang said.

"So what's been happening," Zang asked. Zan told them about Tigress and Po, Qiang and Song getting married, and the relationship between Ruby and Vick.

"Wow, a lot has changed," Aang marveled. He saw the headband on Zan. "And so have you."

"Yeah," Zan absentmindedly said.

"Well, we'll meet the others soon enough. We have to help our parents with something. See you," Zang said, as they ran off.

"See you," He called after them. A lot had changed. And it seemed to Zan that there was still more to come.

to be continued.