Lei-Lei Grows Up

OWN NOTHING

She rested in her room with a white lotus pattern dress still on. Her front was lying on the bed while she read her scrolls, kicking her feet in the air. "Ah, the quiet peace," She sighed. Suddenly-

"She is impossible, Lei-Lei!" Barged in a frustrated white tiger.

"And there goes the peace," Lei-Lei muttered. The large panda sat upright as the white tiger paced around in a rant. "Lily, what's going on?"

"It's mom! She's grounded me from training, AGAIN!"

"What did you do this time?"

"Nothing," Lily shouted. Lei-Lei didn't believe it for a moment. "Okay, she may have figured out about my boyfriend, but-"

"I told you she would. Why are you so worried about having a boyfriend, though? Though I'm proud of you making your first boyfriend, you knew that your mom didn't want you to start dating until you're 16. You just have one more year to go."

"But it's the principle of the matter!"

"That you're a crazy white cat?" Lei-Lei suggested snarkily.

"No, she can't just take away one of the things I love!" Lei-Lei sighed.

"You are just like your mother," She muttered. The white tiger, Lily, was the daughter of Po and Tigress. "Okay, so why don't you just apologize to your mother and she'll remove you from the punishment?"

"I can't. It's the principle. I can't be punished for having friends outside of the Jade Palace. Even though one of them is a boy and more dear to me than other ones."

"Ugh. Who is the boy again? And more importantly, does your mother know him?"

"No, she doesn't know. And um... it's... um... Bao," She shyly said. Lei-Lei jumped up.

"Bao? My panda friend, Bao?"

"SHHH! Yes, it is."

"Wow, this family of tigers really likes their pandas," Lei-Lei joked, smugly.

"Okay, just because you're older than me by two years, doesn't mean you can make it sound like I'm going through a ridiculous teenage phase."

"It's not that. You're just annoyingly prideful is all it is," the female panda smirked. Lily rolled her eyes. Then she came up with an idea.

"Hey, Lei-Lei."

"No, I will not talk to Tigress for you to try and get you out of trouble."

"Aw come on!"

"Has it ever occurred to you that she'll know what I'm up to?" Lei-Lei pointed out.

"At least try, please?!" Lily said with her cute kitty eyes.

"Ugh, I hate it when you do that," Lei-Lei muttered as she walked out to find Tigress. She was training in the Training Hall. Lei-Lei and Lily were different in character. Lei-Lei was more like Tigress while Lily was a perfect blend between Tigress and Po, minus the big appetite. Lei-Lei respectfully waited until Tigress was done to talk. "Master Tigress," She bowed, respectfully. "May I have a word with you?"

"Of course, Lei-Lei," Tigress smiled walking over to the sidelines and grabbing a towel.

"So... Lily told me... very calmly," Lei-Lei said sarcastically, "That you grounded her from training?"

"Yes, I did."

"I was wondering why?"

"You know the rule I have for you girls. No dating before 15." Tigress became curious. "Why are you here, Lei-Lei?"

"Well, you know that you treat me differently than Lily because she's your REAL daughter."

"I treat you two the same," Tigress interrupted. "You don't tend to challenge my authority. Lily, on the other hand, is different. And," Tigress paused looking at Lei-Lei more closely, "I don't think I've ever caught you doing anything wrong."

"Hehehe," Lei-Lei nervously laughed. "Well, do you know who it was?" Tigress's eyebrow rose.

"No."

"Would you like to know?"

"Why would turn on Lily like that?"

"Because if she wants to get out of trouble, it's going to cost her," Lei-Lei smirked. "Everything has a price." Tigress smiled.

"You're too much like me. Calculating." Tigress sighed, "Try as you might, Lei-Lei. It won't work. My mind is already set." She said as she took a drink of water.

"It's Bao the panda." Tigress spat up her water as she stared at the grown-up 17-year-old panda. Tigress stood there in silence for a while.

"Fine, she can train again," Tigress sighed.

"Wait, that worked?"

"I... I honestly thought whoever she was dating was just using her to get to us or hurt her. I was trying to protect her. But Bao is a family friend and I've trained him a bit. I... didn't think that Lily would like him."

"You and me both," Lei-Lei muttered.

"But... I do want her to have some... trustworthy friends outside of the Jade Palace. I don't want her to be locked up like I was. And Bao is a good person," Tigress replied.

"I give it five weeks," Lei-Lei bluntly replied, unimpressed. Tigress crossed her arms.

"Are you saying that my daughter is destined to fail in love relationships?" Tigress asked a little offended.

"I meant no disrespect, Master Tigress," Lei-Lei bowed, "But she is... a teen."

"And you aren't?"

"I'm an older teen. There is a big difference. I don't have the time to be in relationships," Lei-Lei answered. Tigress rubbed her nose's bridge.

"You're too much like me," She muttered. "Go and tell Lily that she's no longer grounded, but next time I won't be so lenient."

"Yes, Master Tigress." The panda left the tiger and returned to her room where Lily was impatiently waiting.

"Well?"

"You can do training," Lei-Lei said. Lily jumped up in celebration.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you. I knew you could do it!" Lily yelled, excitedly hugging the panda. "How did you do it?"

"I ah... may have told her who your boyfriend was," Lei-Lei confessed.

"WHAT!" Lily shouted.

"Geez, Lily! I know you have your father's lungs but still," Lei-Lei muttered, cleaning her ears.

"Why would you tell her that?!"

"Because it worked?" Lily was about to protest, but then she stopped.

"Wait, it did. Why?" Lily asked, running out to find her mom.

"Well, that will give me a few minutes," Lei-Lei sighed, getting back on the bed. Meanwhile, Tigress was in the Hall of Heroes when Lily came in.

"Ah, I see that Lei-Lei told you already," Tigress replied as she sat there meditating.

"Yeah," Lily said, sitting next to her. "Um... why did you un-ground me when she told you about Bao?" Tigress sighed as she stopped meditating.

"Lily, I want to protect you as much as I can. There's a lot in the world that is dangerous and people often will be afraid of you because they either don't understand you or fear you. And people hate that which they fear. You're also a Kung fu trainee and daughter of the Dragon Warrior. You have to be extra careful with people who would use you."

"I understand, but why are you okay with Bao being my boyfriend?" Lily asked. Tigress sighed as she picked up a picture of Po, Tigress, and baby Lily. She looked at it for a long time before she replied.

"I guess it's because he reminds me of your father sometimes." Lily nodded as she rested her head on her shoulder. "And it's hard to come across a character like that. They're very rare."

"I know," Lily sighed. "I miss him."

"Why do you guys act as if I'm dead?" Po asked as he walked into the room. Lily ran up to him and hugged him. "I was gone for one day. And you guys think I'm off to the next world?"

"No, we just like seeing your reaction when we talk about it," Tigress smirked as she kissed his cheek. "How was your trip to the other dojo?"

"Great, and we have a visitor. Lily, get Lei-Lei. I want you two to meet him." Lily ran off. "So what happened while I was gone." Tigress chuckled.

"I'll tell you later," She replied.

Later on, Lei-Lei and Lily went to the courtyard to find an old crane with a long red garment and robe. "Master Crane!" Lily said excitedly, running up to hug the old bird. "How's your wife?"

"She's good. She's with the young one right now." Crane grinned. "And it's nice to see you, Lei-Lei."

"Likewise, Master Crane." Lei-Lei respectfully bowed. Crane rolled his eyes. She was so much like Tigress.

"Well, where is this new student of yours," Po asked.

"Ah, he's right here." Crane moved out of the way. Lei-Lei and Lily saw a young scrappy and lean muscled wolf with an open purple vest and black pants. He had a nervous grin as he scratched the back of his head. "This is Lin, my apprentice. I was hoping that he would learn some things from the Grand Master of the Jade Palace and the Dragon Warrior."

"Of course, how long do you want him to stay with us?" Po asked.

"Well, I was hoping that he would stay with you... permanently. As the next member of a possible new Furious Five." Tigress and Po were shocked.

"Of course, Crane. What are friends for?" Tigress smiled. "Please come in, Lin. You must be tired from your trip."

"Yeah, I... um... thank you, Grand Master Tigress," Lin nervously bowed. Lily glanced at her sister and noticed her absentminded eyes gazed at the young wolf. Lily wore a small smile while Tigress glanced at Lei-Lei was well.

"Lin. This is Lei-Lei and my daughter, Lily. You'll get acquainted with them soon enough," Tigress smirked at Lei-Lei. The panda glared at the tiger, knowing what she was doing. The oblivious wolf simply bowed.

"It's an honor to meet you two," Lin cutely smiled.

"It's nice to meet you, Lin," Lily smiled greatly. "I know that Lei-Lei is really thrilled to see you."

"Well, it's going to be interesting to work alongside fighters like yourselves," Lin replied.

"Ugh," Lei-Lei sighed, rubbing her muzzle, covering her blush.

"Di-Did I do something wrong?" Lin asked, afraid that he offended her.

"Oh no, no. She's just a little tired. Why don't you go inside with Master Crane and Master Po? We'll be there in a while," Lily quickly replied. Lin went in. Tigress and Lily looked at Lei-Lei with knowing grins. The panda didn't dare look at them.

"What was that about having no time for relationships?" Tigress teased. Lei-Lei turned on her feet and walked away.

"I hate cats," She muttered.

"Is that why you're going for a dog?" Lily teased.

"GGRRRRRR!" Lei-Lei growled and finally left.

"You know, it's scary that she can growl like a tiger," Lily confessed.

"Why?" Tigress asked.

"She's a panda," her daughter pointed out. "She really takes after you, mom." Tigress just laughed.

The End... Maybe

I see potential with this one. Maybe remind me someday in the future to come back to this one.