I would just like to say that I don't own KFP and this story is inspired AndrewGuy! I don't want to have to say it every chapter…

Chapter 1

Every morning, the itching feeling of guilt resided in Po's belly. Of course, he might've just been hungry, but it was just a really constant feeling. It reigned over his gut, making him lose his appetite every once in a while, but he would shove the food down his throat or else concerning questions would be thrown his way.

This had been going on for about five weeks now, since he had found out. Sudden episodes of pain would stab into his skull, conjuring up an image of his past. Images that he had not yet seen. Should he tell someone? It was obvious that he needed help but what if it was too late? He didn't want to be guarded by everyone, he didn't want anyone to worry.

He had lost his power to connect with Oogway, no matter how hard he tried, he was prevented from reaching the spirit world because of these random visions as if they were a barrier. No day went by without this thought process. I need help but if I tell, I'm in even more danger. What do I do?

While taking a seat in his train of thought, he didn't even realise that Crane was talking to him.

"Po? Po!" he shouted with frustration and a hint of concern.

Po blinked is eyes and was punched back into reality, "Yeah?"

"Are you okay? You haven't even touched your dumplings and you didn't laugh at Monkey's joke."

Po wracked his brain for an answer to suit his situation.

"Ummm, yeah, I'm fine… It's just that my dad just invented a new recipe and he wanted me to remember it, so I'm trying to keep it in my head until he writes it down." He improvised effortlessly.

"Like that's gonna happen! I bet you can't even remember what happened, like, two seconds ago." Mantis mocked, earning a chuckle from Monkey.

Viper glared at the rowdy pair and hissed, an immediate silence occurring.

Out of the blue, Master Shifu struck his meditation gong, emitting the metallic sound that Po cringed at, while that others bowed in respect, Po joining in later.

"Alright students, as you know, today is the day of the Summer Solstice, meaning that training finishes early, so that you are not affected by the heat wave."

Of course everyone cheered, except Tigress. She was cheering…. Internally.

Training was disastrous. Po couldn't even take a simple punch and was thrown around the hall like a helpless rag doll. Tigress suspected something, everyone did, but they just presumed that Po was taking advantage of an early break, but there was one thing that convinced Tigress that the panda was hiding something. Po was a panda so obviously he had dark circles around his eyes but it seemed like they were dragged downwards due to the lack of sleep and for the past few weeks, Po was losing his 'mojo'. He wasn't the funny, loving, cuddly panda. He was just… well, he was just a panda. Suddenly, Tigress felt a prick at her heart, and another one and another one. She winced and placed a paw over it, making Po snap his head around, with a slanted expression.

"Tigress? What's wrong?"

She bit her lip and forced her mouth shut, seeming like if she opened her mouth, it hurt to breathe. Everyone turned to Tigress and gathered around, shooting a worried glare towards her. Every person made a proposition, yelling instructions, "Get some water! Breathe! Find a medic!"

The voices whirled around in her head, poisoning her thoughts as Po gripped her shoulders and demanded for her to look at him. Her body begged for her to give up, her eyes threatening to either tear up or roll back, sending flashbacks, memories, screams, laughter, cries, whimpers and just then, a voice broke into her conscience.

"Yeah, this is your room- No, you don't belong at the Jade Palace… The hard core can't understand- The hard core do understand, but I can't watch my friend be killed… Hey Tigress, what's your favourite colour? – Here's my rule about idle chit chat, I don't do it… You've got to let go of that stuff from the past because it just doesn't matter! The only thing that matters is who you choose to be now."

Po. That was the last thing she saw and thought of.

A few hours later

Tigress squinted as her eyes took their time to adjust to the summer sunshine, when she saw Po hovering over her, with the rest of the Furious Five at her feet and Master Shifu beside her, looking like a distraught mess. They all breathed out a sigh of relief knowing that she was fine releasing a burden of regret and fear.

"Oh my gosh, Tigress! What happened? I- I was just standing next to you, and the next thing I know, y-you.." Po trailed off, too shocked to say anything.

Tigress opened her mouth to speak but had no clue about what to say even though she very well knew what had happened. She felt. She felt concern for Po. He didn't get to stop sleeping and eating, leaving everyone worried and actually making her pass out. He didn't have the permission to do that. He wasn't allowed to let her feel.

"I-I'm cold." She whispered, with a rasping cough.

Shifu pursed his lips and spoke, "Don't lie, Tigress. You can't be cold. It's a major heat wave, it's playing with your head. Everyone, leave her alone. Po, get her some water. Your training is dismissed."

They all bowed and Po left to fetch a drink. Was that her heart? I'm pretty sure that she nearly had a heart attack. What would I do if I lost her?

Po pulled himself out of his thoughts. He couldn't imagine what would happen, the only things occurring into his mind were dark and twisted, proving that he would be damaged beyond repair. Tears almost escaped his eyes, but he used all his will power to hold them back as he walked back to Tigress's room, his hands shaking and his lips forming a crooked smile as he handed her the cup.

The touch of water to her swelling throat relaxed her a little bit, making her reflect on what had just happened. She had survived many heatwaves and emotional conflicts, so why was Po so different? Why was he able to change that? Her questions faded away as Po began to break the ice.

"Tigress, what happened?"

She tilted her head towards him and lied again, "Heat stroke."

"No. The truth." He demanded.

"Po, I appreciate you trying to care, but I'm really tired right now, so if you could just… leave. Please." She replied bitterly.

Po frowned and shrunk on impact of the insult but obeyed her.

That night

The souls of the Jade Palace were possessed be the effects of the summer solstice, everyone acted as if they were drunk while Tigress 'slept' (or rather, succeeded in over hearing their conversation).

Mantis suggested a game to pass the time that they had. It was called "Tell or Spar". The rules were that they would go round in a circle and confess some of their deepest, darkest secrets or they would have to spar with someone of their choice, but they only had this option twice.

Po's eyes widened upon hearing the rules for the game.

"Okay! Crane you go first!"

Crane looked down and hesitated before he began, "I-I collect scented fabrics."

Everyone in the room broke out into fits of laughter, even Tigress smirked from her room and Shifu's ears twitched from meters away. Everyone, that is, except for Viper.

"What's so bad about collecting scented fabrics?" she tried to protect Crane from his humility.

Crane looked at her in confusion, blushing slightly. Why would she protect me?

"Anyway, moving on. Monkey, you're next!"

Po and Mantis were already aware of his 'secret' which is why he chose it.

"I had a crush on Superintendent Wu's daughter, Ming."

Po and Mantis frowned while Viper and Crane chuckled.

"Hey Monkey, no shame, no game! It has to be your deepest, darkest secret and we already knew that! Spoilsport!" Po whined.

Monkey shrugged as they moved on to Mantis, who confessed that he stole one of Monkey's almond cookies, earning a scowl from him. Next was Viper. She told everyone that she had a thing for tall birds with pointy beaks and knees bending the wrong way, causing Crane to blush again and everyone else to wolf whistle or mock them.

It was finally Po's turn, he felt his palms of his paw sweat and he chose to spar instead.

"But Po, everyone else did it! Pleaaaaaasssse!" Mantis begged.

Po couldn't say anything, he twiddled his thumbs and looked down, darting his eyes around, hoping for a lie to be hanging around somewhere in his brain.

"Come on Po! We don't have all day!" Crane muttered.

Po pressed his paw to his temple and got up, refusing to share a secret.

"I-I can't."

Hope you enjoyed that chapter! I know it was a bit short but it was just a taster, the next one will be longer, I promise!

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