A/N: I hope you all liked the last two chapter's thanks so much to those how sent reviews . Anyways on to Chapter 4 enjoy.
Monkey, Mantis, Crane and Viper where sitting at the kitchen table, Monkey and Mantis started another 'chopstick war'
"You're going down insect" said monkey
"You'll be begging for mercy primate" said Mantis
But just when they were about to begin Po burst into the kitchen, breathing heavily
"Po what's wrong? Where's Tigress?" asked Viper
Po showed them the necklace and they saw Tigress inside of it
"What happened Po?" asked Crane
"Smoke…smoke came out of that thing, and trapped her inside of it, but something a white fox she told me that if I didn't solve her…her riddle by noon four days from now, Tigress…Tigress will be trapped…forever" he said trying to fighting the tears that came down his face
"What was the riddle Po?" asked Mantis
"It goes like:
I am just two and two
I am warm, I am cold,
I am lawful, unlawful
A duty, a fault
I am often sold dear,
Good for nothing when bought;
An extraordinary boon,
And a matter of course,
And yielding with pleasure
When taken by force.
Who am I?
That's exactly what she said I'm positive. But we need to tell master Shifu we need his help" said Po
"I'll notify Zeng" said Crane and he flew out
Viper slithered next to Po and put her tail on his hand
"We'll get Tigress back Po" she said giving him a small sense of hope. Meanwhile Crane had told Zeng to reach Master Shifu. And within a few hours Zeng reached where Master Shifu was staying
"Ah Zeng come in" said Master Shifu opened the room to Zeng was out of breath, so Shifu served his a glass of water
"Now tell me how are things back at the Jade Palace?" asked Master Shifu
"I'm afraid that I bring unsatisfying news to you Master Shifu" said Zeng
"What has happened?" asked Master Shifu worry growing on his face
"The Dragon Warrior request that you return to the Jade Palace immediately, something has happened to Master Tigress" said Zeng
Master Shifu had a look of worry on his face
"Thank you Zeng, did they say anything else?"
"No Master Shifu. Forgive me but I must leave"
Shifu turned away
"Yes of course, thank you again Zeng" Shifu said
After Zeng left, Shifu summoned the Kung Fu Council's messenger, and told him to alert the masters of the Kung Fu Council that he will no longer attend. Then after the messenger left Shifu packed the little that he brought with him and left to journey back to the Valley of Peace. Meanwhile back at the Jade Palace, Po was trying to solve the riddle with the help of the rest of the Furious Five.
"I hope Shifu gets here soon" he kept thinking
"I am lawful, unlawful…what would that mean?" asked Viper
"It means like it follows the rules but at the same time it goes against them" said Crane
They kept pondering on the Empress' riddle, until Zeng came in
"What's up Zeng" said Monkey
"I came to tell you that Master Shifu will be arriving shortly" he said
"I'm already here" said a voice from behind them
They all turned around, and saw Master Shifu standing there
"Master Shifu thank the Gods you're here" said Po
"No time for welcome back, where's Tigress?" said Shifu
Po's face dropped as he pulled out the necklace. Master Shifu examined it closely and saw Tigress inside the ruby
"How did this happen?" asked Master Shifu not looking away from the trapped Tigress
"A spirit trapped her in there and the spirit gave me a riddle to solve by noon the day after tomorrow, or Tigress…or…Tigress will be trapped…forever" said Po fighting back tears
"The Spirit, what was its name?" asked Shifu looking at Po
"Her name was Empress Mai, she claimed herself to be the spirit of love and affection" said Po
At that name Shifu's ears perked up
"Oh Po" he said
Po turned to face Shifu and saw his head in his hand
"What is it Master?" asked Po
"She gave you the Test of Truth correct?" said Shifu looking up at Po
"Yes it's a riddle" said Po
"What is the riddle Po?" Shifu asked sounding impatient
"I am just two and two
I am warm, I am cold,
I am lawful, unlawful
A duty, a fault
I am often sold dear,
Good for nothing when bought;
An extraordinary boon,
And a matter of course,
And yielding with pleasure
When taken by force.
Who am I?" when Po finished reciting the riddle Shifu looked confused
"I've never heard a riddle like that" said Master Shifu
"Well what are we going to do now?" asked Po
Shifu didn't answer
"We…We have to save Tigress" said Po
"No, YOU have to save Tigress Po that's the way the test works if you get any help it won't count; the answer has to come from you Po in order to save Tigress" Shifu said
Po thought about it for a minute but then his face changed to an expression of determination
"I will get Tigress back Master Shifu I promise" Po said Master Shifu handed him the necklace
And Po ran out of the Palace
"I trust you Po" said Master Shifu
Po ran to the Sacred Peach Tree, he thought that if he meditated he could find the answer
"Don't worry Tigress I'll get you back and I won't rest till I do" said Po as he looked at the Necklace, with Tigress trapped inside
He placed the necklace in front of him as he sat to meditate.
{Po's Subconscious}
"Ok this is for Tigress" he said to himself
Suddenly the words of the Riddle flashed before him.
"Let's Do this"
Back at the palace Shifu was in his room, meditating while the other's where in the kitchen eating, but they did not speak
"I hope Po can find the answer" said Viper
"Yeah me to" said Crane
After they finished eating, they all went to bed but there was no sign of Po. The next day after everyone woke up Po was still no were to be seen.
Back where Po was still in his subconscious, he continued to ponder on the riddle
"This doesn't make sense" he thought
Suddenly he saw flashes of when he asked Tigress out, and before when she kissed him that night, and when they were enjoying themselves on their date how happy Tigress was when Po gave her the necklace, and how they kissed…
"Wait a minute…that's it!" Po said
He got up from the ground grabbed the necklace and began to run to the cave where he took Tigress. In the distance Shifu noticed Po running and he started to follow him.
Po looked toward the Sun
"Almost Noon" he said to himself
When he arrived at the Cave, he put the Necklace on the ground and stood back waiting for noon. Master Shifu reached were Po was but he hid behind some boulders by the Cave so he could see.
The minutes passed by till noon, and the red smoke began to emit from the necklace and the fox was again revealed
"Are you prepared?" asked the fox
"Ready as I'll ever be" said Po
"Very well I shall repeat the riddle once again:
I am just two and two
I am warm, I am cold,
I am lawful, unlawful
A duty, a fault
I am often sold dear,
Good for nothing when bought;
An extraordinary boon,
And a matter of course,
And yielding with pleasure
When taken by force.
Who am I?" said the fox
"You are a kiss; it is between two lips and two lovers, it can be cold and warm, it is lawful but unlawful, a duty and a fault, it is often sold dear, but good for nothing when bought, it is an extraordinary boon, a matter, and it yields with pleasure when taken by force." Po said
The Fox only smiled sweetly
"Do you truly believe this is what a true Kiss is?" she asked
"Yes" said Po
"Very well" said the Fox
And just like that she disappeared, but the smoke stayed
"Wait!" Po shouted
Then the smoke moved in front of Po and began to spiral up wards till a column, about Po's height stood in front of him. Then slowly the smoke began to disappear, and Po caught a glance of a figure inside of it.
"Tigress?" Po said
As the smoke continued to cleared Po saw Tigress stand in front of him with her eyes closed, she wore the same clothes she wore when she was on the date with Po, but then she suddenly fell to the ground
"Tigress!" Po said as he kneeled next to her and held her in his arms
Tigress lay motionless
"Tigress, wake up" said Po but she didn't move.
Po was about to cry, but he saw her eyes slowly open
"Po?" said Tigress
Po was overcome with joy
"Oh thank God you're Ok" he said as he held her close
"What happened after that smoke surrounded me I blacked out" she said as she began to sit up, still in Po's arms
"I'll tell you later, but what matters is that you're Ok and that you're back" he said as he looked into her amber eyes, and she looked into his, Po gently brushed his hand over her cheek, and slowly their heads were getting closer and closer, till they closed their eyes and kissed each other, Tigress wrapped her arms around Po's neck and Po held her waist, neither one of them noticed Master Shifu nearby. When they broke away, Master Shifu came out of his hiding place
"Ahem" he said
Po and Tigress looked in his direction and when they saw Shifu, they let go of each other and blushed
"I think we can discuss this later" he said
There was silence
"You can come out now" said Master Shifu
Then the rest of the Five came out of their hiding places, Viper was first to greet Tigress
"Tigress thank God you're Ok" she said
They all crowded around her, all happy that Tigress was safe and back with them. Then they began heading back to the Jade Palace, for dinner, and everyone enjoyed watching Monkey and Mantis have a noodle eating contest, they all talked and laughed, till it was time to rest.
"I'm gonna hit the sac good night guys" said Viper
"Yeah it's getting late see you all in the morning" said Crane as he left with Viper
Monkey yawned and followed them out
"Night everyone" he said
"I'm stuffed and ready for bed night" said Mantis
"I to must retire it has been a long day, good night my students" said Shifu and he left
Tigress and Po where left alone in the kitchen
"Aren't you going to Bed?" asked Po as he picked up the bowls from the table
"I thought that I might help" she said as she took a rag and began to wipe the table
Po smiled; he put the dishes in the sink, and turned around and gave Tigress a hug. She turned around, and faced Po. Tigress stared into his bright green eyes and Po stared into her fiery amber ones. And they kissed each other, after a few minutes they slowly broke away.
"I love you Tigress" said Po
"I love you Po" said Tigress
And they hugged each other, unaware that a certain red panda was watching them, smiling.
"It's about time" she said to himself and he went to bed.