Here is another update, this meant to be a part of chapter 5 but I was worried it makes the chapter incredibly long.
Enjoy.
A time for us at last to see
A life worthwhile for you and me
And with our love through tears and thorns
We will endure as we pass surely through every storm
A time for us someday there'll be
A new world, a world of shining hope for you and me
A time for us at last to see
A life worthwhile for you and me
The song was used for the movie Romeo and Juliet.
That night in the training hall after dinner.
Po and Mei Mei headed towards the training hall for more training. The rest of the Five were cleaning the kitchen, while Tigress was off for her night patrol. Po suddenly remembered that he left his gift for Mei Mei at home - a new hand carved nunchucks. He groaned on the prospect of climbing up the palace's thousands stairs but left with no other option. He only had a few days and he thought Mei Mei might be able to use it for her training with Monkey. So he set off quickly for the task.
Tigress was strolling around the village alleyway in her dark colored cloak, watching for any abnormal activities around the village. Everything looked incredibly calm, the village was quiet, almost no citizen found wandering down as soon as the sun bode its farewell for the day. And then she passed by the Dragon Warrior Tofu and Noodle Shop, she landed on its roof checking whether Mr. Ping might be at home; she might pay him a surprise visit.
Ever since their relationship became official, Tigress grew closer to the goose. One excuse was to ease the goose loneliness ever since his son had risen in both rank and duty, and another thing was because Tigress saw a perfect father figure she had been dreaming of, not to say she didn't love Shifu the least. They would spend time playing mahjong and xiangqi while Tigress would patiently listen to Mr. Ping retelling story about his distant youth.
To her surprise, she heard Mr. Ping was talking to someone else inside the house. She perched herself closer to Po's bedroom window which left slightly ajar.
"...Po, what are you doing?" She heard familiar goose with his distinct Chinese accent.
"uh...oh, I just need to give this to Mei Mei Dad...," She heard a muffled answer from Po.
"She has already arrived at Jade Palace?" asked the goose.
"Yes, she arrived yesterday," Po replied shortly.
"Why such a rush to gave her that thing then?" Question the goose "isn't she will be here for the next three months?"
"...Dad, there is something I need to tell you, I'll be leaving for a mission again in 2 days time."
"What? again?..." Tigress heard a deeply dejected sigh, loud enough for her to hear. True enough that Mr. Ping never got used to the fact that Po was a Dragon Warrior, the defender of China. While he was proud of his son achievement, Tigress felt that the old goose did miss the peaceful day before the prophecy began to steal his son away from him.
"And I don't know would I be back, Dad, I'm sorry," Po said apologetically.
"That's alright son, now... are you going to tell Tigress 'the thing' then?" He was emphasizing the word 'the thing' in his sentence. Tigress narrowed her eyes as if listening to something of great importance.
"... no Dad, she was a bit... apprehensive lately."
"Well, Mei Mei already here, and she got what you've wanted am I right?... then why wait?" the goose sounded impatient. Tigress heart impaled at his statement. 'She got what Po had wanted? did I not have that?'
"Come on son, you are Dragon warrior - you beat formidable foe, cheated death, what so difficult to confess something to a girl...you've been waiting for this moment to come in months. Do you know you are denying your own happiness?"
"I know what are you saying dad, it's just... it's harder than I thought."
"Well, you can't wait to settle the score until she gets back, I heard from Shifu her mission is at least one month, and worst now you don't even know when you will be back Son." The goose tried to cajole him further.
"I know dad, I'll do it before I leave. Look, Mei Mei waiting for me, and if Shifu knew I am down here he'll punish me. I have enough of carrying buckets of water up and down those thousand steps. Gotta go, Dad, love you."
Tigress heard a loud creak of the log staircase being pressed by Po's immense weight. She watched the bear carrying something inside a black linen bag - presumably gift for Mei Mei, as he rushed back up the palace.
She couldn't believe her ears. After all these time, had Po already planned to break up with her? Had situation suddenly change that he had to marry Mei Mei? Tigress knew Mei Mei might have the thing that she didn't have, being a panda was one of them, but she couldn't understand why Po had to be cruel enough to wait all these months and years and let her feeling for him grew before burning them to ashes.
Her thought of Po betraying her trust started to burn her soul, but instead of becoming vehemently furious, Tigress took a lotus position and try to quell her temper. Ever since achieving inner peace, Tigress had become more cool-headed when it came to her predicament. Her old self probably would lash in anger or succumbed her sorrow in reclusion. With that, she quickly ran finishing her round of patrol, and dashed to the training hall thinking she might be able to dig some honest explanation from her panda own words.
The training hall.
The door of the training hall left slightly ajar to allow the cooling spring breeze to get inside. From outside Tigress could hear both Po and Mei Mei were still training - occasional 'YATAHHH' and 'HYAHH' reverberating through the empty hall. She carefully peeked her head inside. Tigress saw Po sparring with Mei mei, but very much different from sparring with her. Mei mei was smiling, sometimes giggled as they exchange blows. Tigress could hear Po husky voice in between Mei Mei feminine chuckle.
They were very… 'snuggly', as Po corrected Mei Mei's posture, his shoulder sometimes brushed against Mei mei's, both having large frame making physical contact more unavoidable. Then he would clutch Mei Mei by the wrist while continued lecturing her on the motion. If Tigress dares to be truthful, there was a hint of jealousy watching her panda sharing 'intimate' time with his ex-fiancee. But those feeling quickly concealed by a pang of guilt. 'Did I not trust my boyfriend and my friend?' But the words of the goose kept reiterating in her mind pricking her heart.
"Mei Mei already here, and she got what you've wanted am I right?... then why wait?"
"Come on son, you are Dragon warrior - you beat formidable foe, cheated death, what so difficult to confess something to a girl...you've been waiting for this moment to come in months. Do you know you are denying your own happiness?"
But how could Mei Mei resist Po? he was the Dragon Warrior-defender of China. Even if he was not, on personal level his charm was inevitable and admirable, even managed to bend her otherwise hardcore soul. Those sincere smile, gentle gaze, and his soft encouraging words coupled with unexpected prolific jokes, sometimes Tigress did wonder whether those jovial actions was intentional. Tigress braced herself kept watching the two panda. Po certainly had evolved to be a better warrior that he meant to be. Every move was purposeful, every step, punch, or kick all intentional and controlled.
Finally, they're done with the sparring. Both panda certainly were not aware of her presence, probably because they thought that she was still doing her patrol. She was at least half an hour early, and since Po had to come to go to the noodle shop to fetch his gift, he wasted nearly an hour of his training time. Tigress silently watched as Po scooted closer next to Mei Mei, he held two bowls of dumpling and offered her one.
"Congratulation, you've survived your first day of training." Po beamed proudly at his student.
"How did I do...?" The female panda eyed him curiously.
"Bodaciously awesome!" He replied loudly, with his fist up in the air. Mei Mei laughed watching the panda antics.
"No honestly Po, how did I do..." She scowled.
"Why would you care? I thought the whole kung fu training thing was a camouflage." Po teased her. Mei Mei playfully punched his upper arm with her fist. "Hey what'ya sayin' there handsome, are you saying I am crap at kung fu?"
Po smiled widely, "No no... you are doing well, much better than what I did down the panda village when you ask me to do ribbon dance." Mei Mei let out a girly laugh and then sighed pensively, "Can't you believe it, it's been two years since that day." She said.
"Yeap, a lot had changed since. Oh yeah... by the way... I have something for you." Po pulled his black linen sack and handed it over to Mei Mei. "Here you go, as my sincere thank you for coming all the way... aaaand as a congratulation for passing your first day of kung fu training without breaking a bone."
Mei Mei enthusiastically tugged the string of the sack revealing beautiful handcrafted nunchucks. "Awww... thank you Po, you are such a sweetheart." She squealed vociferously in merriment. Tigress nearly had to cover her ear.
"Hey it should be the other way around, I should thank you for coming over this far. It was not an easy journey let alone for a female panda." He chuckled.
"Oh well, anything for you Po," She replied sweetly.
"Oh yes, and I believe this is very the reason why I'm here." Mei Mei placed her paw into the pocket of her robe, producing a small tattered blue box tied with a ribbon. Tigress nearly died of heart attack as she identified the same blue box laying back yesterday next to Mei Mei's engagement dress. 'Is that... the ring? Why would she give a ring to Po?'
"There is a note inside, for you and your eyes only." Mei Mei explained. Po smiled sweetly and gave her a bear hug.
"Mei Mei, how can I ever thank you... this means a lot to me." Po thanked her sincerely.
"So, when are you going to tell her about all this? You are leaving the day after tomorrow right?" Mei Mei asked him. Po suddenly became visibly nervous. He squirmed a little bit, slouched himself next to the adversary and massaging his temples.
"Truth be told, I don't know. It's harder than I thought. I feel that she avoiding me lately, maybe an indication that she knew something about all this."
"And….?" Mei Mei eyes met his gaze.
"I'll tell her before I left, so it all can be done with. I can't imagine had to hang on to this thought indefinitely until gods know when I will be back from my mission." Po elaborated.
Mei Mei just stood and patted Po's shoulder. "You can do it Po, I am sure all will be fine. Your father can't wait to break the news to everyone in Panda Village. The sooner the better." And with that she made her move to the door.
Tigress was nearly in tears. Her chest felt so tight she hardly could breathe, small whimper made its way to her throat that she fight to conceal. She knew her heart were shattered by now. Was Mei Mei really going to take Po away? But what if this was Po's choice? and would he left Jade Palace and moved back to Panda Village to be with his real family? Had she said something mean to him that make him doing all this? There were an arduous string of thoughts that were fired at her heart and destroying her soul. She quickly ran on all four to the place she hadn't been in years since Po came into her life.