Sorry, I kind of had to rush these few chapter. Also notice that I've rewritten part of chapter 4 (nothing much added) because I realize it wasn't updated with the latest version from my drive.
Also, I would recommend reading s/11914368/1/A-Tiger-s-journey it's a fab story and I planned to incorporate the author's OC in my story. As the titled said, the story revealed Tigress journey finding about her past, her race, finding inner peace, reconciled with her adopted father and comes to term with her love life. It's a must read :-)
Special thanks to son-goku5 for letting me incorporating his story in mine.
And again, Dreamworks own KFP.
Enjoy.
"A warrior does not give up what he loves, he finds the love in what he does"
― Dan Millman, Way of the Peaceful Warrior: A Book That Changes Lives
In the hall of Heroes.
Po opened the door of the Hall carefully. His eyes quickly caught a glimpse of the red panda in a lotus position, balancing on Oogway's staff with his back facing him. The Grandmaster sensing his presence, gracefully came down and slowly walked towards the giant panda.
"Master, you wish to see me?"
"Yes, Po, we'll wait for Tigress. I had something to discuss with you two about Mei Mei's training plan. Tigress will be off to mission next week to Lee Da Academy to assist the teaching there, one of the Master was injured badly during the recent mission and rendering him out of action for weeks. As for you Dragon Warrior, you'll be leaving in three days time to Gongmen for Master Council Meeting, they have a pressing matter to be discussed urgently." Shifu stroked his beard while scrutinizing at the giant panda who suddenly looked horrified.
"What, I'll be leaving in 3 days? but M-master... why don't you tell me earlier, you knew that Mei Mei just got here to...-" The red panda stood and moved his staff to Po's lips to silence him.
"I know Po, but this mission is important and I just received the message from Zheng about an hour ago. As Dragon Warrior your opinion is irreplaceable, therefore you just have to change your personal plan to accommodate this. I am sure you have time." The master insisted, there was a slight regret in his face, but his voice remain leveled.
"C-Can't you go for me instead?" Po stuttered nervously.
"No Po, as I said the Dragon Warrior advice are critical for the task at hand... besides, I have a personal appointment I need to attend next week." Shifu sternly replied.
The big panda appeared more flustered by the second, this had not been left unnoticed by the diminutive Master. He cleared his throat attracting his student attention.
"Po, I'll help you so that you can have a time alone with Mei Mei to execute your plan, I will distract Tigress to do something else so that she is not on the way." Shifu proposed nonchalantly. Before Po had a chance to thank his master or gave him the seal of approval, another figure appeared by the hall's entrance.
"Master...you have something to discuss with me?" Tigress placed her fist on the palm of her other hand and bowed respectfully.
"Yes, Tigress, I summoned you and the Dragon warrior regarding Mei Mei's training plan this past few days before you both departed for your respective mission. In the morning Dragon Warrior - you will help Mei Mei with rudimentary techniques of your kung fu style, and after lunch - Tigress, you will be in charge training Mei Mei on the obstacle course. But since Po will be leaving for his mission in 3 days time, you might want to train Mei Mei after dinner to make use of the time you have. You won't know how long you'll be needed in Gongmen. I will discuss with Monkey about training Mei Mei with weaponry after both of you departed. Mei Mei's training will commence tomorrow - the rest of you will train as usual, except if you have patrol duty. Tigress, tomorrow night that would be you. I will make adjustment as deem necessary. Have I made myself clear?" The master closed the case with an authoritative tone.
Both of his prized students bow in agreement.
"Yes, Master."
"Now, you may be dismissed for dinner, I see you all in a couple of minutes." With that, their Master disappeared behind the door. Leaving Po and Tigress alone. Calm jade met dazzling amber, both of them infatuated in each other's gaze. Po saw a glint of smile on the feline lips.
They walked together paw in paw to the kitchen.
"So you'll be leaving in 3 days? that's new." Tigress said gently. But having an urgent mission with unknown deadline wasn't anything new for the masters.
"I know, I didn't expect it as well," Po said with a sad tone. Tigress knew something is not sitting quite right. Po was always enthusiastic about going to mission especially getting to meet other kung fu legends, it's almost like going on an adrenaline ride. The humble panda sometimes forgot that he was a legend himself at his own merit. To the panda (who didn't always love to train as much as Tigress) going for a mission would give a bit of spark to his otherwise mundane training day, especially when Shifu ordered him to meditate or read lengthy scrolls.
"Po... are you alright?" The bear snapped from whatever he was troubling his mind. He knew he had made a terrible mistake showing any kind of abnormality in front of his girlfriend who could read him like a book.
"Uhm, sure, I am fine. it's just I just came back from mission 2 weeks ago, and now I had to leave again. My dad won't take this news well." He mentally congratulated himself for making such a believable excuse. It was true that since Po became Oogway's successor he had been prominently popular in demand with various political mission. Not to mention that his increasing number of responsibility at the palace was catching up with his popularity, not only he had to teach the Five, he had to make important decision for the palace's future.
All this had caused his relationship with his dad suffered in recent year, and the bear was trying to make amends by excusing himself to work at his dad's restaurant whenever Shifu gave everyone a day off.
"Why don't you asked Shifu to give you permission to stay overnight with your dad one of this day after training? That is if you could convince Shifu you'll make it back here before the gong." She chuckled imagining how plausible that scenario would be. Po was late 56 times last year, and we were talking about the distance between his bedroll and the door, let alone from Mr. Ping noodle shop to the training hall.
"Tigress, that's an excellent idea, thanks." Po gave the feline a quick peck on her cheek.
"Anytime Dragon Warrior..." She smiled, although in her mind she was battling whether or not it's the right time to tell her boyfriend about what's truly had bothered her.
"Po...I had something to talk about." She lifted up her face to find his gaze. Her bear just returned a small smiled in agreement. Almost everyday Tigress and Po would spend a little moment together under the limbs of the ancient tree, simply exchanging story about how their day went.
"Shall I see you tonight before bed time at usual place?" The panda riposted, the feline gave a little nod to the notion.
Before they knew it, they were in front of the kitchen door. As they enter the kitchen, the rest of the four already start massacring the food Po's prepared earlier. Po saw the figure of a certain panda in pink garment skilfully scooping the soup with the ladle and spun the bowl to the table, pretty much almost the same way he did.
"Oh hi, Big Guy... hi Tigress." Mantis greeted his comrades who still stunned by the door.
"Sorry we didn't wait for you guys, we were starving, and Mei Mei offered us to do the honor of being the 'chef de partie' tonight," explained Monkey. "Hope you don't mind."
The female panda gracefully turned around, and aimed her gaze towards Po, his jade orbs met her ocean blue eyes. "Oh hi... handsome, it's been a while isn't?" She gave Po a flirtatious flick.
"Oh hi, Mei Mei! Yes..! It's been a while." He reciprocated exuberantly. But then he remembered what his comrades said about Song, the Dragon Warrior cringed and abruptly move his gaze towards his girlfriend checking her reaction. The tiger next to him had an expressionless face, made Po's tummy churned further not knowing what she was thinking.
"Are you guys going to eat while standing?" Mantis teased the panda and the tiger whom both still wearing befuddled look by the doorway.
"I've saved two chairs for you two," Viper pointed out at two empty spaces on the bench.
"We had to take an extra chair for Shifu." Po reminded, knowing that Mei Mei probably had taken Shifu's usual spot.
"He can eat while balancing on his staff can't he?" joked Monkey.
"The thing is guys, there is no space here on the table," Crane pointed out the problem. "I mean we can always put an extra stool by the corner of the room, but whosoever sat there will have no table space at all, except one can eat without a table."
Po combed his analytical glance around the table, true enough that the table might not be big enough for all of them, save it because not only one but two large figures were hogging a space of equivalent of four tigresses around the table. "Don't worry guys, I can eat after Mei Mei is done, she can sit next to Tigress. I can stand by the counter snacking bean buns while waiting." Before anyone said anything else, Shifu made his way inside the kitchen.
He quickly addressed Mei Mei and all his students and briefly explaining the plan of the day tomorrow.
"Don't you think we need to give Mei Mei a tour of the valley?... and Uh...uh she even has not seen the Hall of Heroes." Po in his fanboyish mode profusely excited of the prospect of showing off his knowledge of the immense collection of super cool kung fu artifacts. Not that Mei Mei would be hugely interested in those things.
Mei Mei just giggled politely in response. "I think I'll stick with the tour of the valley Po."
"I can do that, probably tomorrow night?" Monkey quickly offered, knowing this is his chance to accompany the panda.
But before anyone throwing any sort of agreement, Shifu interrupted.
"Unfortunately the tour would have to wait until Po left for his mission. Since we wouldn't know when will he be returning, and he is the only one who can teach Mei Mei the bear style. So, Mei Mei, I expect you to train hard with Po this three days." Shifu smirked to both panda, making Mei Mei squirmed distressfully at her seat.
Everyone quickly finished their meal. Po ate the last, while Tigress and Viper help with the dishes.
That night by the peach tree. Tigress sat quietly, she leaned her back letting it comfortably rested on the bark of the ancient tree. The smell of the peach blossom carried by the gust of spring wind tickled her nose. She examined the magnificent tree with its skeletal limbs swaying gently, creating incredibly exquisite petals rain from time to time. Until then she heard familiar footsteps approaching, slowly taking her back from her world of imagination. She quickly stood up.
A pair of warm black arm welcomed her before anything else.
"Tigress..." She heard his gentle deep voice.
"Good evening Dragon Warrior," She chuckled mischievously. She stood where she was and gently caressing the black arm around her. The intense scent of sandalwood filled her nostril.
"You just took a bath before seeing me?" She nuzzled his neck, feeling his slightly wet fur around her cheek.
"Well yeah, I spent the whole day in the kitchen and today has been horrifyingly hot. I don't want to meet you and smelling like sweat-mixed-with-secret-ingredient-soup. That would be repulsive." He snickered. As much as Tigress loved the scent of Po's musk and the aroma of his famous soup, she didn't think she wished to have both at the same time.
"So, what you said you want to talk about." The bear sat down by the tree, and pulled her by the wrist and signaling her to have on the empty space next to him. Tigress deposited her body on Po's muscular arm, and leaned by his side. Her eyes met gaze with his green orbs.
"It's about Mei Mei." She paused reading her panda response to her statement. The panda cringed slightly at the mention of her name.
"What about her?" He dared to ask.
"I don't know... I saw her taking her engagement dress with her. She said it was accidental." She peered over to Po, perusing his reaction. The panda next to her perusing at his own blunt claw not that there was anything interesting to see, but she knew he was absorbing her statement intently.
"And I overheard her and Viper by the bath house, saying that she actually came here to see you..." Po heard a dose of melancholy and anxiety in her voice. And Po knew exactly where her mind took her.
"Something inside me told me there is something she purposely withholds from me, and it has something to do with you, not to mentioned the mysterious blue box that she carried with her." Po flinched at her statement, unfortunately, this has not gone overlooked by Tigress. Her temper gradually grew shorter realizing that Po knew something that she wasn't.
"Po... did you purposely hide something behind me?" There was a potent amount of venom laced in her voice.
"Tigress... it's not like that, please." He begged. "Let me explain..."
Tigress sighed, he knew Po normally had a good reason behind anything, even when it was hurtful - normally he was correct.
"Tigress, me and Mei Mei was just a friend. There is nothing between us, even when everything around you might suggest there is something. You had to believe me." She caught his somber captivating stare on her. She didn't see any dishonesty there, only concern and truthfulness. All the while they were courting, Po had never once been unfaithful. He is a warrior or honor and integrity. If Tigress wanted to be truthful to herself, there was no concrete evidence on her supposition over Mei Mei and Po deeper relationship than a friend.
How could she let a little speculation destroying the wall of trust he built for years to crumble down in a matter of seconds? She blamed it on the venomous power of her own jealousy, it sort of fibbed her objective outlook and let her anger and vengeance took over. Before she had a chance to questioned him any further the bear gave her his last statement.
"I will let you know in due time Tigress, please be patient with me. At the moment I am just... not ready." He dared himself looking up at her fiery amber eyes, there was a glint sense of upheaval mixed with anger and betrayal right there. He sadly had to leave let her because there was nothing he could say any further.
"Now let's go to sleep, we have a long day ahead of us." With that, both silently went back to the barrack.
Next morning, in the training hall.
The next day, the Five, Dragon Warrior and Mei mei began to train. To everyone's surprise, Mei Mei didn't miss the gong knowing that while they were extending their welcome in panda village, each and every panda woke up past noon time. However Po, who despite mastering more scroll than Tai Lung, defeating spirit warrior, even made it to the Spirit Realm and back... yet still in all those 8 years little had changed in his sleeping department. The old habit may be hard to break, but it was not impossible. Everybody speculated Tigress was kind enough to wake Mei Mei up from her panda slumber considering today was her first day of impressing their Master.
First Shifu gave the Five instruction while Po taught Mei mei basic bear style kung fu. From where Tigress doing her training by the Jade Tortoise bowl, she could hear Po's encouraging words to his new apprentice. 'That was awesome' or 'Cool move' echoed through the hall with occasional 'KIYAHHH' and 'AIYAHHH'. And then while the rest of the Five were outside sparring, Tigress taught Mei mei how to run portion of the obstacle course. Tigress decided to go easy with Mei Mei, although she was proven to be tougher than her looks. She even effortlessly graduated from 'level 0' against the adversary without losing a tooth. Before ending the day, master Shifu asked Po and Tigress to spar. The rest had stopped to watch.
"This is normally the most exciting part of the training." Informed Monkey.
"I bet 20 almond cookies that Tigress will beat Po in 20 minutes," said Mantis.
"Make it 30 almond cookies, she will beat Po in 10 minutes," Monkey challenged.
"Does Tigress always beat the pulp out of Po?" Mei mei raised her eyebrows. "Well, he might be the Dragon Warrior, and he is improving in leap and bound - however, Tigress due to 20 years rigorously discipline training, often get the upper hand in the sparring." Viper explained, "And these boys always do the bets on who wins."
"Ok, I bet a jar of almond cookie that Po will win this time." Rebutted Mei Mei. The rest gasped and stared in disbelief. "What? Did I do anything wrong?"
"You are the first girl that join the bet!" Monkey exclaimed. "And I think you are going to be the first who lose, Dude!" Mantis chortled. "Man, I can already taste the victory in my mouth."
"Is there anything wrong with girl joining the bet?" She asked.
"Errr…. no, technically no rules what said girls can't join the bet," Mantis smirked. "But you don't even have almond cookies? don't you… you just arrived a day ago!"
Mei mei mentally facepalmed herself "Dang you are right!".
"That's ok, I lend you mine for the bet meanwhile." Crane offered.
"Thanks, Master Crane, such a gentleman." She elbowed him flirtatiously. The rest just stared lost for words with jaw hanging on the floor.
"Ok Mei mei, the bet is on!"
Down at the middle of the clearing is Tigress and Po getting ready on their defensive stances. "Are you ready to feel the THUNDER?" Po taunted.
"Ready as ever Dragon Warrior. Now…. fight me!" And with that, the two started the onslaught. Tigress was the first to launch her first attack. But Po quickly stepped away and attacked back. They exchanged furious kicks and punches for a couple of minutes, no one seemed to give away any opening for the other to attack. It was a close call.
"Oh gosh, this is so exciting". Mantis exclaimed excitedly. "Our big guy clearly getting better, he can hold Tigress for more than 15 minutes now."
They are still exchanging blows, until Po managed to corner Tigress to the wall, their muzzle nearly touch each other.
"Got ya!" He was grinning victoriously.
But before he managed to pin her down completely. "She stared at him with an intense sultry gaze, Po mentally felt he was being stripped naked right then.
"I love your husky voice, Dragon Warrior". She smiled seductively, and with that she gave him a quick kiss on his lips. Po was caught off guard, his mind lost in the glow of those piercing sunset orbs, and yes the most beautiful smile of the best warrior in China. Tigress saw an opportunity to attack back and quickly grabbed both his hand and with her leg suppressed the panda down to the floor.
"One point for Tigress" Shifu ended the spar.
"Hey…. that's not fair!" He exclaimed. "She just...just...flirt with me!"
"You let your guard down Dragon Warrior, just because I tried to seduce you." She retorted. "Remember, expect the unexpected."
Po pouted like a little child. Tigress just snickered at his antics.
"Tigress is right Po, your enemy will try to find any distraction for you to give away opening. You need to stay focus." Shifu added. "Enough training for today. Dragon Warrior, after dinner, do one more spar with Mei mei as for the rest of you - you all free to do what you like. Except for you Tigress, you have patrol duty tonight."
"Yes, Master". The student said in unison.
"Mei mei, seem like you had to pay us that one jar of almond cookies." Mantis and Monkey smiled. "Told ya Tigress will win."
"Dang it," she mumbled and gave Crane some coin to buy his jar of almond cookies.