The Curious Tale Of Momoda

Better than Okay

Shifu rubbed his temples with a stress vein popping out the side of his head. "This is getting out of hand," He muttered. "The masters can't do anything and almost everyone that we've tried fails." He sighed. "I would get you, Crane, and Tigress on the case, but Momoda seems to have distracted Crane and weakened Tigress."

"Tigress isn't completely out of commission, Master Shifu," Po protested. "Fighting Momoda just takes a lot out of her. You should know that better than anyone." The red panda gave a hard stare back over his shoulder. "I mean... with your arm feeling better I'm just-"

"I know what you mean, Po," Shifu grumbled. He paced around the jade floors of the Hall of Heroes with his hands folded behind his back. "The only person that seems to keep her in one place for long enough is... you, Po," Shifu said slowly.

Po's eyes went wide. "Ohhh no, you're not setting me up as bait, right?"

"Do you have a better idea?"

"What about Viper and me try and find her?" Po asked. "She's already taken down Mantis and Monkey."

"Hmm, I don't know. Viper might not have the strength we need," Shifu said.

"Master Shifu, Viper isn't that weak. You can't count her out."

"I'm being practical, Po. If you and Tigress can't defeat Momoda and Monkey, Mantis, and Crane are easily taken down, what makes you think that someone like Viper can face an opponent like Momoda? She's just... not enough." Both pandas heard a small hiss. They turned to the front doors and saw Master Viper standing there with a shocked and sad frown. "Master Viper. I didn't mean to-"

"I understand Master Shifu," The viper bowed her head. "I... I understand my limitations. I won't... I won't jeopardize the mission." She slithered away with her head lower to the ground than both pandas had ever seen.

Shifu looked at Po. The giant panda glared at his master, crossing his arms in a tight knot. Shifu sighed. There were only a few times that Po's anger flared up, but in these situations, it always felt like the burning sting of deserved rage. "I've been having a problem with my words lately."

"Maybe," Po grunted roughly, "It's not your words, but what your words say about you."

Shifu's heart sank lower. The panda had a point. Shifu simply turned and clopped away to his room. He looked back at Po, but the panda's glare and crossed arms still sat firmly on his frame. He knew he messed up. Shifu sighed again and limped into his room.

"Ugh, great. Now I have to make sure Viper is okay. Geez, and he says I have a hard time zipping my mouth," Po grumbled. He walked around the palace grounds trying to find Viper until he crossed the Training Hall. He noticed a lack of something. Looking inside the drilling hall, he found his answer. It was morning, and there was no sign or sound of a hard-working tiger. "Huh? Where is she?" Po walked over to the barracks and passed empty room after empty room until he found Tigress in hers. The floor was littered with scrolls and the tiger was in the middle, meditating.

Po rolled his eyes and sighed, "Tigress."

"Yes, Po."

"What are you doing?"

"I'm trying to meditate. Is there a reason why you're interrupting," She said sternly.

"Why are you meditating?"

"Because it trains the mind."

Po sighed again as he stepped inside, "Don't you think you're overdoing it? I mean, looking at these scrolls, you must have been up all night."

"I wasn't up all night... tonight."

"Tigress," Po said seriously.

"I'm fine, Po."