The Clouds Ahead

The very next day, people around the village were complaining about a cloud producing red drops all over. Zan and the Palace soon realized why. Zan, Ai, and the others were enjoying their breakfast when a loud knock was heard on the palace door. They all went to see who it was. When they opened the door, the person fell into their arms bleeding and bruised. It was a small duck warrior with a scroll in his hand. "Sire," He said weakly. "I am here with a message from the palace." He slowly gave the scroll to Zan.

"Take him to the sick bay," Shifu commanded. Monkey and Crane immediately did so. Zan stood there with the rest, reading the bloodied paper.

To Grandmaster of the Jade Palace,

The war has reached an important and dangerous time. The rebels are getting the upper hand in this war. We need the assistance of the Dragon Warrior and some of the Furious Five to combat this threat. We say some for we know that Prince Zan is with you and needs to be protected. Therefore, we would like it if at least two of the Furious Five would accompany us in this fight. In the meantime, we hope that Prince Zan will be prepared to accept the throne with his father's absence.

from the council of the kingdom.

The team was shocked and speechless for a while. Then Ai spoke. "'Father's absence' does that mean-"

"No," Shifu interrupted. "Your father, Zan, is a lot further away from you than your mother. It's to make sure he's okay. When the war ends, you will have to be king until he gets back."

"So who will go with Po," Viper asked.

"Crane and I will do it," Tigress offered.

"No," Po said. Everyone was shocked. Shifu looked around.

"Everyone, back in the kitchen," Shifu directed. It wasn't safe to talk about these matters out in the open, even though they were away from the valley.

"What do you mean 'no'," Tigress asked kind of offended. "You don't think I can take care of my-"

"Listen! Zan needs a capable person to protect him from any dangers. So you and Crane will stay with him. Monkey, Viper, and Mantis will go with me," Po explained.

"Then I shall keep you company," Shifu offered.

"No, we need you to stay with Zan. If something happens to him, we need you for extra protection," Po replied.

"So you're just going to go there by yourself? Are you crazy," Ai exclaimed.

"I'm not going to be totally alone. I'll have the three to help me," Po replied.

"Po, it will be very dangerous, more dangerous than you've ever had it before," Tigress said worriedly. "There has to be another way."

"There isn't," Zan said darkly. The image of the messenger was still fresh in his mind. The fact that he made it in that shape told a lot of the state of his kingdom. "Po's right. I need protection from the rebels while someone has to take down the threat in my kingdom. Po's arrangement is the most logical."

"No," Tigress protested, "We don't know what you will encounter. Let me go with you." Po smiled as he took Tigress's hands in his.

"Don't worry. I'll be fine. Besides, we have to help Zan," Po softly said. He could see Tigress still hesitant. Then Crane and Monkey came back to the group with solemn faces.

"The messenger's wounds were too deep. He didn't make it," Crane spoke. Zan looked at Tigress with a serious face. Tigress sighed.

"You go," she said sadly. "Just please be safe." Po surprised her by hugging her.

"I'll be fine," Po promised, then he went off to prepare for his journey. Zan's face still looked upset.

"Are you okay," Ai asked.

"No," Zan replied honestly, "If this is happening in my kingdom, what will happen to all the people who are still living there?"

"I don't know," Ai said. "But I think it's best that you prepare to get to go back." Zan could hear her sad tone. Zan lifted her chin up and smiled at her.

"Don't worry. I'll find a way for us to be together," He said comfortingly. Ai hugged him tightly. "But you're right. We should get started on my lessons Master Shifu." The red panda nodded. Zan looked up at the sky where a set of clouds had covered the sun. This was going to be interesting.

Zan's eyes were tired but his persistence knew no bounds. Ai, who had grown a little and had a pink scarf around her neck, came up behind him and rubbed his back. The top of her head had three feathers protruding out. Zan sighed. "You need your rest," Ai stated, giving him some warm tea. He took a sip of the tea and went back to work. "Zan."

"I know," Zan sighed, "I just..." Ai offered a smile. Zan smiled back. She understood. "You're right. I need some rest." They got out to the Training Hall where the Furious Five were training, except one person. Zan came in and talked to Master Shifu. "Where is she?"

"Where she usually is," Shifu sighed. Zan knew where that was. He looked over to Ai, who nodded. Then he went off to Fo's meadow. There he could see the cold earth had changed the meadow. The flowers weren't blooming, the trees' leaves were all gone. It was winter, a particularly cold one too, but Tigress was sitting in her usual attire sadly looking at the wilted flowers. Out of the blue, she felt a cloak come around her body. She looked up to see Zan using a blanket to keep her warm.

"You know I don't get cold easily," She said emotionlessly. Zan sat next to her.

"Sure, you shivering is just your usual way of surviving," Zan came back. Tigress remained silent. "He will come back. I know it. Po's not the one to give up easily."

"I know," Tigress said clutching the blanket tightly to herself. "I just wish I..." She stopped short, but Zan wanted know what she was about to say.

"You wish you what," Zan asked. Tigress didn't say anything. "Mom." Tigress couldn't stay silent when she heard that. Zan had learned this when Po left two years ago. Now sixteen, Zan had a more intimate relationship with his, as he called her, mother. Tigress finally spoke.

"I just wish I...told him how I...felt."

"You had feelings for him," Zan said very calmly. Tigress rolled her eyes.

"Zan don't play dumb. I knew you about this."

"Of course I knew," Zan said as a matter of fact, "But I was just worried that you would revert back to...your agreement with Po...about you just being friends and not dating." Tigress sighed as the cold air made her hot breath show.

"I...I didn't want to have that rule but...in sight of what happened with our prior relationships I wanted the problem to end." They fell silent as the snow clouds above started to clear up.

"May I ask a...personal question?"

"You always do," Tigress muttered. Zan just smiled.

"Why did you date Qiang in the first place?"

"Do you promise on whatever is possessing you to be the weirdly smart and incredibly crazy person you are that you won't tell anyone especially Po?" Zan nodded. "I...didn't think that Po would...like someone like me."

"What the-" Zan stopped himself before he said something he might regret. "What I meant to say is...no I'm just going to say it. What the heck are you talking about?!"

"What?"

"Tigress, you've seen how Po is with you. You know how he is, you know everything about him, he knows everything about you, and even if he says no, you know he wouldn't hurt you."

"Easy for you to say. You still haven't told Ai you-"

"AAHDadada! Okay, I get it. But Tigress, you know Po cares about you." Tigress nodded. "To be honest, no one knew why you dated Qiang. We had speculations, theories, but most led to that." Tigress rolled her eyes but smiled.

"Thanks for understanding," Tigress said as they got up. "Come on, we better get back to the Jade Palace. I'm sure everyone's worried." So they made their way back up to the mountain. They went into the kitchen, where everyone was standing there with a big smile on their faces. "Um...what's going on?"

"Nothing," Everyone replied in union. Zan and Tigress looked at each other.

"I'm...going to my room," Tigress said. Zan looked at the smiling group.

"Okay, what's up?"

"Wait for it," Shifu smiled.

"OH MY GOSH YOU'RE HERE!" Tigress practically screamed from her room. Zan instantly knew what happened. Po was back.

to be continued.