Author note: I own nothing...except for Tianshi and Lianmin.
*Beast of the Valley*
-Friends, New and Old
Tigress sat at the edge still attempting to make since of that fact that that idiotic, clumsy, and disgusting pnada know had her captive.
She felt like the princesses in those fairy tales that would be read to the children back at the orphanage. She remembered when she was there, ostralized by all the other children and the workers there, she would dream of a handsome prince coming to get her out of there. These day dreams of her's had helped tp pass the time in confinement and she had actually ended up planing how it would all happen. From her prince coming and getting her out of her "prison" to their wedding-all the details-to what they would name their children.
Once Shifu adopted her though and she began training in kung fu as his student, she left those dreams behind and began to loath those fairy tales that she had once adored and prayed to the gods that she could have her "happily ever after." Now what consumed all her time was training and proving that sh could take care of herself and that she could make somebody proud. That somebody being Shifu.
Knock! Knock!
The knock at the door shoved her out if her thoughts. Slowly she stood up, but she didn't move the to the door. She simply stared at it.
Knock! Knock!
"It's Mr. Ping, dear. I thought you might want some tea," an older man's voice called from the other side of the door.
Relieved that it wasn't Po, she walked to the door and opened it, hoping that whoever was on the otherside would be able to clear up what had happened since the Five had left.
She gasped when she saw who-or more so what- the voice belonged to.
Hopping into her room was a cooking pot, filled with green tea, chattering away as though everthing was fine.
"...this room looks so lovely, don't you think? Unlike the rest of the Palace and the valley this if probably the prettiest thing around anymore..." the pot-Mr. Ping chatted away, nervous about somthing it seemed...
...but how does a pot get nervous?
"Dear, are you alright?" the question from...Mr. Ping made her realize that she was using the wall for support and that she felt dizzy.
"You're a...a pot." Not the most intelligent remark but in this case acceptable.
The pot looked down at itself and said, "Yes, I am a pot."
"But this isn't possible...pots down talk or have eyes or mouths or noses..." Tigress was now backing up and bumped into the dresser...
...the dresser went "oof!"
Jumping away from the dresser in shock she herd a females voice say, "Watch where you, honey. And believe me it's taken some getting use to ourselves." the female dresser sighed.
"This...this just can't be..." Tigress muttered to herself. Did the panda drug her without her knowing...and if he did...would she remember? And if he did knock her out with some herb he would have happened to have...?
Tigress shook her head trying to disspell the other thoughts that were filling her mind.
"Tianshi(angel) come here please! I think our guest needs a cup!" Mr. Ping shouted out to the hall way. Scurrying in came a little granite pink cup. Tigress guessed that this must have at one time been a little village girl and at first glance felt that the name fit her.
"This is my neice, Tianshi. Tianshi, this is our new guest...um..." Mr. Pot-I mean Ping-trailed of not knowing anything about this young lady other than the fact that she was one of the masters that lived here.
"Tigress..." She stated.
"Right, I should have guessed. Tianshi this is our guest, Master Tigress," Mr Ping said to his young neice.
"No, just Tigress...please," I don't deserve the title "master" anymore, she though to herself sadly.
"Tigress...well would you like a cup of tea dear...you look like you could need it..."
"Yes, that would be nice, Mr. Ping, Thank you for your hospitality." Tigress said as Tianshi filled herself up and hopped pver to Tigress.
"Carefull not to spill, child," Mr. Ping warned the little cup.
Tigress picked up th cup and took a sip...and Tianshi started to giggle.
"Your fur tickles."
"Hey," the little cup said, getting Tigress's attention. Tigress looked at the little pink cup. "Wanna see a trick." The little cup then held it's breathe and started making bubbles in the tea.
"Tianshi!"
The cup stopped, blushed and apologized to her uncle, "Sorry."
"Now then," the dresser began, "you probably want to know what exactly has happened to the valley...right?"
Tigress nodded her head and said, "That's right...um..."
"Oh that's right...silly me...my name is Lianmin(Mercy)."
"That's a pretty name..." Tigress said.
"Well thank you, but before you hear about what had happened you have to get really for diner...you must be hungry after the day you've had."
"Actually I'ld prefer to stay-" Tigrtess was interupted by her own stomach.
Lianmin grinned and then said, "Let's find you something to wear. Lets see what I got in my drawers!" She opened her drawers only to havre dust fly out of them. She immediatly closed them back, embarrassed.
"Pardon...how embarrassing... here" she said pulling out a lovely blood red dress with a gold dragon on it, "You'll look absolutly beautifull in this-"
"Thanks...but I don't do dresses..." Tigress grimaced at the image of her in a dress.
"Hmmm...well then how about this one then?" Lianmin pulled out a black silk vest and white silk pants. The vest had a gold star embroidered on the front and the pants had gold flames wrapping arounf the legs. On the back of the vest in gold was "flames of my inner star" written in chinese.
"Wow..." Tigress thought that the outfit was beautifull...but she knew she didn't deserve it, "It's lovely, but I don't deserve it."
She then remembered something, "Where's Master Shifu...he's not...?" Tigress couldn't finish the sentence.
"No, he's most certainly alive...and he knows that you're here, my dear...he's just ashamed..." Mr. Ping said sadly.
"Oh...I understand..." Tigress said thinking that her Master was ashamed of her, "I understand...I have failed the valley..."
"Oh...no child...he isn't ashamed of you..he's ashamed of himself..." Mr. Ping looked down sadly.
"Why is he ashamed?" Tigress asked, though she knew the answer. He feels that this is all his fault.
Mr. Ping was about to speak when someone cleared their throat. They looked over at the dooor to see a parcel. There's something familiar about those eyes..
"Master would wish for you to join him for dinner...Mistress Tigress..."
"Zeng? Please just Tigress...what's with the Mistress?" asked the perplexed tigre.
"That's what Master has commanded we refer to you as...Dinner is ready anyway..."
Review! Also if you're wondering the real reason why Shifu isn't here is because ... I couldn't think of what he would be. Any suggestions?