The Purpose of the Chest

Po crossed his arms, leaning his weight against one of the pillars of the Hall of Heroes. "That's a lot of money to just 'lose' Master Shifu," Po said accusingly. Shifu looked into the chest and closed it back with a sigh.

"I know, but for the mission that we have for the future, we need the extra money," Shifu said.

"Where did it come from, and how did you lose it?" Po asked. Shifu was silent for a while.

"This is the Bei-Lang region's money. It was gathered by the Master's Council there. It...it wasn't really lost. It was...abandoned," Shifu explained.

"By whom?" Po asked. Then it clicked in his head, "The lions of Bei-Lang." Shifu nodded.

"When they heard that the Gong-Go Warrior was in the Valley of Peace, they ran for their lives. I'm just glad you didn't have any trouble with the chest, especially since you forced the lock," Shifu glared at a nervously smiling Po. "I'm just glad Tigress didn't see it."

"Yeah," Po muttered. He didn't tell Shifu that it was Tigress that did it. Po didn't want Tigress to get in trouble. "Anyways, who is the chest of money for?"

"I can't tell you that yet," Shifu said.

"Darn it," Po muttered.

"Thank you, Dragon Warrior. I appreciate your work," Shifu bowed. Po bowed as well and left the red panda. Po found Tigress on the steps.

"Well?"

"He bought it," Po said. Tigress sighed with relief. "You know, I didn't think you would do something like that."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, you're usually trying to impress Shifu or make him proud. I'm surprised you were okay with it," Po smiled. Tigress smirked.

"I can be... mischievous when I want to be," Tigress said with her back up straight.

"I know that. You do it every time I have the upper hand when we spar," Po replied.

"I don't."

"You do."

"You can't prove it," Tigress smirked. Po had an emotionless face. She was right. "But not everything is about Master Shifu."

"Like?" Po asked, scooting closer to her.

"Like training for example," Tigress said. "I don't do training because I want to make Shifu happy. I do it because I actually enjoy a challenge."

"So is that why you like to be around me?" Po asked eagerly. Tigress gave a small smile.

"Yes, you do challenge me sometimes. In more ways than one," Tigress smirked. Po chuckled shyly.

"Yeah, sorry about that."

"But I've come to welcome it," Tigress said. Po smiled happily. "So what's the money for?"

"He wouldn't tell me," Po replied, "And even if he did, I don't think I could tell you." Tigress nodded. This had been a major secret mission. He couldn't tell her everything. "Well, what else do you do that isn't about Shifu?" Tigress thought about it for a while.

"My past. For a long time, I thought about where I came from and why my parents left me," Tigress said, staring at the village below and the land beyond. The wind calmly swirled around them. "But now that you had the dream, I don't have to think about it anymore. They died protecting me."

"I wish I could have helped more," Po sighed. He felt Tigress's hand on his leg. He looked up at her smiling face.

"Trust me, you've done more than you could ever think of," Tigress replied. Po smiled back.

"Well, this is touching," Lillia said from the back. The two looked at the lamb, then looked at their position. They were very close, closer than two people should be. They jumped back from each other. Tigress growled at Lillia's interruption.

"What is it, Lillia?" She asked irritated.

"I was just wondering where you two were. I've missed my punch dummy, I mean my sparring partner," Lillia smirked. Tigress growled as Po slowly went away.

"I'll just be going now," He said, rushing down to the village. Tigress sighed shaking her head.

"Fine, I'll spar with you. But you could have waited," Tigress said as they went to the Training Hall.

"I know. I'm sorry for interrupting the moment," Lillia said with a smirk.

"Moment?" Tigress questioned. Tigress suddenly realized what she was talking about. "That's not what we were having."

"You can't deny that you aren't particularly close to the panda," Lillia replied.

"That's not the point," Tigress defensively answered. "I could be close to you since I've been around you."

"Yes, but you felt bad when he didn't hang around you. When he was distancing himself, you were the first one to get him back. Admit it, you like the panda." Tigress narrowed her eyes at the lamb.

"I'm not answering that," Tigress wisely said. Lillia only shrugged.

"I've always wondered what a panda and a tiger looked like combined," Lillia teased. Tigress seemed to grow a shade redder.

"Let's just spar," Tigress groaned. Meanwhile, Po was in the village serving a guest to the Valley of Peace. He was in a thick robe and Po couldn't see exactly what kind of person he was.

"Thank you for your hospitality," The hooded man said as Po gave him his food.

"You're welcome," Po smiled brightly. "So, what brings you to the village?"

"I'm supposed to be taught by some people and also get my bodyguard at the Jade Palace," the man said.

"You're a special person then," Po guessed.

"I guess you can say that. I'm going to be taught to fight for myself," the man replied. "So I don't have to rely on my guards. My good friend used to protect me, but he passed away."

"I'm sorry to hear that, but the Jade Palace has some of the best fighters around! You'll definitely be safe," Po said confidently.

"Thank you," the man said, bowing.

"My pleasure. By the way, what's your name?" Po asked. It was then that the man's hood fell off when he came back up. Po could see for himself that he was a lion, but it was his name that got Po.

"My name is Maz," The lion said happily. Po replayed their entire conversation.

"Did you say you were going to be taught and protected by someone at the Jade Palace?" Po asked. Maz nodded. "OOOOOOH, Lillia's going to be pissed," Po muttered lowly.

Continued...