Ying and Yang of the Future

Po woke up to his new house in bed beside with his beautiful sleeping wife. He smiled as he kissed her on the cheek. "I love you," Po sweetly said as the tiger slumbered. Po got dressed and went to the barracks kitchen. The house had a kitchen, but nothing was in it. Po had to walk a long way to the kitchen where he just so happened to find Master Shifu. "Good morning Master Shifu," Po smiled.

"Good morning. How is married life?" Shifu smirked. Po nervously laughed.

"It's great. Hey, why is the house so far from the barracks? It's practically isolated." Po asked.

"Because we want to sleep," Shifu said. Po didn't realize what he meant until he remembered last night. Po blushed bright red. He just sat and ate.

"Well, thank you," Po replied, "By the way, why didn't you make a big fuss over me marrying Tigress?" Po asked.

"Because I know you two are just right for each other," Shifu smiled, "That and I placed fifteen yuan on you."

"Ah HA!" Lillia shouted, bursting into the kitchen. "So you cheated!"

"No, you said I couldn't influence their relationship. You didn't say anything about giving them the right 'tools'," Shifu smirked.

"All you gave them was your approval and a ring," Lillia protested.

"So I did not violate the rules and you still owe me," Shifu replied. Lillia glared at the red panda and went out the kitchen.

"You guys made bets on me and Tigress," Po asked.

"It was nothing personal. We all knew about the relationship between you two before you guys first kissed," Shifu replied.

"Were we that obvious," Po uneasily grimaced.

"No need to feel bad Po. We were... kind of expecting you guys to get together," Shifu replied with a smile. He got up and went out the kitchen. Po soon heard the purr of a certain cat.

"Tigress, I know you're there," Po laughed. Tigress grumbled a little at being found out so easily.

"You continue to surprise me, Po," Tigress commented.

"I aim to please," Po replied. Tigress smiled as she sat down. Po's mind had been gnawing on something for a while and finally drew up the courage to say. "Tigress, I have to confess something."

"What's that?"

"I... when I asked you to marry you, the reason I did it was because I had a dream that Gong-Go told me to do it," Po replied. Tigress shrugged.

"So?"

"Well, he explained that Lillia and Maz wouldn't be married if we weren't," Po answered. Tigress was a little angry and disappointed.

"So you just married me because you wanted to move on to the next wedding?" Tigress asked.

"No, I didn't," Po replied quickly. He nervously rubbed the back of his head. "It was more of a push. I was really scared that you would completely reject me."

"Don't you think I would have said it earlier?" Tigress said.

"Hehe, Gong-Go said that too," Po chuckled, "But I married you because I love you. The dream was just a... push in the right direction." Tigress smiled.

"Good, I'm actually excited for the next wedding," Tigress smiled. Then her smile fell. "But what about Leona?"

"What about her?" Po said, eating a dumpling.

"Your dream didn't have her in it. What happens to her?" Tigress asked. Po thought about it. He didn't remember seeing Leona. Now he understood Tigress's worry. Maybe something happens to Leona.

"I... I don't know," Po grimly said. The room seemed to get darker as the two looked at each other. Just then, Leona came into the room.

"Hey, why are you so down?" Leona asked, "You just got married. You should be happy!" Tigress gave a small smile. Without warning, Tigress grabbed Leona and hugged her tightly. "Mrs. Tigress? Are you okay?"

"Yes, I'm fine," Tigress said. She didn't know if this would be the last time she saw her. Po went over to her and hugged Leona too, but was happy about it.

"Let's not worry about the future," Po told Tigress. "Today is a gift. That's why it is called the present." Tigress bravely smiled. The future seemed more trouble ladened now more than ever. Leona was still confused as to why they still seemed upset.

Meanwhile, Lillia was walking towards Maz's room. The lion came out of his room with a nervous and worried look. "What's the matter?"

"I just got word from my brother. The council wants an heir to the throne," Maz replied. Lillia jerked her head back a bit. Already? He had just gotten to the throne it seems and now they were already planning his successor.

"Well, who do they want?" Lillia asked. Maz grimly sighed.

"They want Leona to be their adopted daughter," Maz replied. Lillia's eyes widened.

"Oh," Lillia replied. Maz was incredulous.

"Oh? That's all you can say?" Maz asked, a little upset. Lillia seemed offended.

"What was I suppose to say," she remarked.

"Lillia, Leona looks to you like a mother. If anything I expected you to say that they would have to go through you to get her."

"She's not going off to a far away land," Lillia argued. "She's just going be with your brother and his wife. They're just around the corner. They're only half a day's journey away."

"Why are you so afraid of showing your soft side?"

"Hmm, maybe because someone's uncle caused something to make me distrust everyone!" Lillia shouted, brushing Maz to the side. Maz sighed. He couldn't argue with that.

"I'm sorry," Maz replied softly. Lillia rolled her eyes and exhaled in exasperation.

"For the last time, stop apologizing so much," Lillia said. "You sound so weak."

"That's because I'm showing you my vulnerable side."

"Why?"

"Because I trust you," Maz said. Lillia sighed, calming down a bit.

"I'm sorry I got angry."

"I've seen you at worse," Maz joked. Lillia smirked at him.

"Look, I'm going to miss her as well. Just like I'm going to miss you when I leave," Lillia said sadly. She turned away, hiding the single tear coming out of her eyes. Maz grabbed her waist, spun her around, and kissed her. Once he pulled away, Maz smiled.

"You don't have to leave, Lillia," Maz said.

"It's so you can be protected," Lillia replied.

"And, even if you were to go, don't you think I would still be at risk because of bandits trying to steal a royal?" You could literally hear the light switch turning on in Lillia's head. Then she grinned evilly.

"That's right," She said, slowly grabbing on to Maz's mane. "You are royal. And no matter how much we train you, you'll always need someone to guard your back. Which means someone is going to have to protect you. Well, Mr. big shot, I think we just found our loophole." With that, she kissed Maz passionately, eager about the future ahead.

Continued...