Chapter 4
The next morning was as normal as it should be. Well, almost normal. Po was distracted during training. Ok, so it was as normal as it should be, but Po's distraction is what was out of the norm. During training, he was doing something he wouldn't normally do. Think. He was thinking about Tigress and the matchmaking ceremony. Thinking about whether or not he should tell her how he felt about her, so she wouldn't have to go along with the matchmaking. He's deep thinking, however, earned him a hard hit to the head by a bow staff from Monkey, whom he was sparing with, and landed flat on his belly.
Po groaned as he lay on the ground of the training hall. Monkey walked up to him and stood next to his head. The panda looked up at his friend.
"Po…" he started with a sympathetic expression towards his friend. "Why don't you just tell her? This whole thing has you even more distracted than usual."
Po grunted as he pushed himself up from the ground.
"I don't know what you're talking about, Monkey." Po replied.
"Come on, Po." Monkey said, in a tone that told the panda to admit to something.
Po sighed. He and Monkey looked toward Tigress, who was training on the Swinging Clubs of Instant Oblivion. She was doing ok, but her form and movements looked a bit off. A sure sign that she had something bothering her, but was still able to stay focused enough on her training.
Po turned to face Monkey and sighed again. "Just… just drop it. Ok, Monkey." He stated, before walking off the training field. Monkey frowned towards his friend and went to continue his training on the Seven-Talon Rings.
Po walked over to Master Shifu, who was overseeing their training. He eyed the giant panda as he approached him.
"Master Shifu, May I please be excused for the rest of today's training?" Po politely asked his master.
The red panda was both surprised and not surprised at the same time.
"Is there a reason for your early dismissal of training?" Shifu asked. He could see that something was bothering the panda.
"I… I'd rather not talk about it. May I please go?" Po pushed on, almost begging.
Shifu sighed. "Very well. You are excused."
"Thank you, Master Shifu." Po bow as he thanked his master, then exited the training hall, and disappeared to who-knows-where.
Shifu watched the Dragon Warrior leave from the corner of his eyes. Once he was gone, Shifu sighed, and then continued to watch the others train. His gaze fell upon the feline. He could see that she wasn't giving it her all. Her form was off and looked a little off balance, meaning she wasn't highly focused. Shifu understood considering the situation, so he excused anything she did until it was all over and done with.
An hour and a half later, training was over. Shifu dismissed the five and called out to Tigress. She approached him and bowed, while the others exited the training hall.
"Master, if this is about my performance in today's training, I – "
"No. No, Tigress, this isn't about your performance today, and I'm sure you are aware of that." Shifu cut her off, then continued. "I know this is bothering you, Tigress. I know you don't want to go through with it. But… you do understand why I am doing this, don't you?"
"Of course, Master." Tigress replied with a neutral expression.
"Good." Shifu replied. "The matchmaker should be here by now. I'll go see to her. I suggest you get something to eat, then wait in your room till she is ready for you." He told her.
Tigress nodded then exited the training hall, making her way to the barracks. Shifu followed shortly after, making his way to the Palace Hall.
Tigress didn't bother getting something to eat. She simply went straight to her room, with plans of meditating until the Matchmaker was ready for her. That plan was sunk when she met Viper waiting for her in front of her room. Tigress sighed and walked passed the serpent and entered her room, leaving the door open. Viper knew this meant she could come in. She slithered in after the tiger, closed the door behind her and slithered over to the bed which the feline had occupied.
After a long moment of silence, Viper spoke up.
"Tigress… are you sure you want to go through with this?" she asked.
"We've already discussed this, Viper." Tigress replied, her expression neutral.
"I know, I know. And I know I was the one who encouraged you, but… do you really want to spend the rest of your life with someone you hardly know?" Viper asked.
"You know I'm not a social person, Viper. I don't exactly have too many choices." Tigress deadpanned.
Viper opened her mouth so say something, but closed it again and looked down at the ground in thought while rubbing under her chin with her tail.
"Hmm… I see your point." She then looked back at the feline. "Well… If it's ok with you, I'd like to stick around and help you through this."
"If the matchmaker allows it, I greatly welcome your assistance, Viper." Tigress replied with a small smile towards the serpent, who in turn, returned the smile.
Meanwhile, in the Palace Hall…
"Oh, Master Shifu, I can't tell you how thrilled I am to help get Master Tigress with her perfect match." Mrs. Zing, the Matchmaker, a sheep, exclaimed.
"No need. I can see it very clearly." Shifu simply stated.
"Yes. *clears throat* Well… you'll be happy to know we've found two potential matches for Tigress." She informed him.
Shifu's eyes widened in disbelief. "Already?! But… I only spoke to you about this yesterday!" he exclaimed. Mrs Zing smiled.
"Master Shifu, we matchmakers don't waist anytime when it comes to finding the perfect partner for anyone. I began my search the moment I left the palace, just in case Master Tigress agreed. And even if she didn't, I'm sure you'd have forced her in some way to go along with it."
Shifu sighed, knowing the sheep was right.
"Very well then. You may proceed. Tigress is waiting in her room. And believe me when I say this. The sooner we get this done with, the better. She really doesn't want to go through with this." Shifu stated.
"Of course, of course. Show me where she is and we can get started." Mrs Zing replied.
Shifu nodded and motioned to the sheep to follow him. It didn't take too long for them to arrive at the barracks. They approached Tigress's room and knocked.
Tigress and Viper looked to the door when they heard a knock.
"Tigress. It's time." They heard Shifu's voice.
Tigress sighed and got up to open the door. When she did, she saw her master and a sheep lady, which she assumed was the Matchmaker, standing at the doorway. Shifu introduced them to each other. Mrs Zing approached Tigress and gave her an all-too-excited grin. Tigress' ears fell back flat on her head as she backed herself back into her room, not liking the look on the Matchmaker's face.
"What have I gotten myself into?" She sadly thought.
Meanwhile, in a secluded area deep in the bamboo forest, near a lake with a waterfall, sat the Great and Almighty, Dragon Warrior.
He sat in a meditation pose, trying to meditate to calm himself after… well… let's just say, bad guys were lucky to not have crossed his path.
After he had left the training hall, he made his way to a secluded area in the bamboo forest, which he had found when he was a cub. He always went there to calm down when he was troubled. Sadly, the area had to suffer this time around. The moment he got to the area, he screamed and began destroying the lush greenery and other objects in the area. Trees, bamboos, boulders, even the cliff side which the water fell from, suffered as the panda let out his anger and frustration. The only thing he did not touch was the crystal clear water.
Once he was done letting out his frustration, he sat at the edge of the lake in order to do some meditating to calm down. He gave a heavy sigh and frowned, as he was unable to do so. The poor panda had no idea what to do. Tigress had not yet gone through with the Matchmaking ceremony and he was already heartbroken.
"What am I going to do?" He asked.
He looked into the lake and saw something he had not seen before. His eyes widened in surprise and confusion. In the lake, he saw his reflection. But the strange thing about it is that it wasn't his entire reflection. Instead, he saw half of his reflection. In a panic, he examined himself to make sure he was still whole. He sighed in relief when he felt that he was, and looked back at his reflection curiously.
"Why is there half of my reflection?" he questioned in confusion.
"Hmm… I wonder…" he thought, turning to look up at the Jade Palace. "No!" he sternly said with determination. "I have to go back. I won't lose her. Not like this!" and swiftly made his way back to the Jade Palace.
Update: 04.05.2015
Hope you all liked this chapter. I'm doing my very best to try to update, but like I said in one of my updates, I don't make money writing these stories, and as an unemployed 25 year old, I'm trying to make a living for myself. If anyone is interested, I do take art commissions. You can visit my art page on Deviantart under the same 'zeaeevee' username.
Anywho, please review.