Anomalies

It had not been a good day for Po. He woke up way past the gong only to find out a horrible truth: there was no gong. Okay, Po admitted, that wasn't that bad, but it's what came after that scared him. It was the day when he was chosen as Dragon Warrior. None of it happened. But, he could remember Tai-lung, Shen, Kai, all of them!

So, he did what he thought was right. He faked it. He played along, got along the day pretty nicely. However, he made a mistake. His 'level zero' didn't go as planned. He slipped up, accidentally reflecting a few attacks from a dummy after he fell in. Noone said anything so he assumed they thought it was a fluke.

Tigress never confronted him. She never told him to go home, so he never went to Oogway. He sighed as he reeled back a punch. He screwed things up. He had decided to go test his strength in the training hall . . . and relieve a bit of frustration. Turns out his body had the strength it would have after he found Kai. He could count it as a blessing or a curse. Either way, he had a second chance, did he really want everything to be the same? Could he make it the same?

Po's fist went right through the dummy. Oh, crap. He pulled his arm back, snapping the machine off of it's hinges. "Man," He used his other arm to rip it off, "Someone is sure to take notice." He gasped as he heard someone clear their throat. He knew who it was, he had heard her clear her throat many times before. Always so condescending. He whipped around and dropped the dummy to the ground, "Tigress!"

The feline walked forward, taking her time to do down the steps into the battle arena. She narrowed her eyes, "That's some arm. Not to mention technique." He could hear the snarl coating her voice. She wasn't supposed to be this mad at him yet. He hadn't even heard the story of Tai-lung. "I knew it. You were holding back."

Po took a step back, "Y-you knew?"

She walked over to the fallen machine, forcing him to take a few steps back. "I saw your reflexes, you blocked a hit earlier today." She kicked it away and turned to him, briskly walking up to him. Po could swear they muzzles were almost touching. When she spoke, he could feel her breath. "Question is: why? Why fake it?"

"I— " He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He reopened his eyes, "Not your problem." His heart skipped a couple beats, that was the most dangerous thing he could have done in this situation.

Her muzzle scrunched up in anger, "Not my problem? Do you think we're unworthy of seeing your true strength, Dragon Warrior?"

Po forced himself to stand his ground, "Trust is a two-way street, Master Tigress." He waited for a response, but the room couldn't be any more silent. It was chilling. "Look, if we're just going to stand her and stare at each other, then I should go." He walked past her and breathed a sigh of relief. He had made it. Now he just had to go to bed. Maybe no one would bother him.

"A wager."

He stopped dead in his tracks, "What?"

He heard Tigress turn, "A fight. If I win you tell me why you're keeping this secret."

Po turned towards her, "If I win?"

"I'll keep your secret."

Po's eyes widened, "You wouldn't— "

"I would. Don't act like you know me."

Right, not the same Tigress he knew. That was something he had to keep reminding himself. "Fine, but we play far. No claws."

She seemed puzzled by his demand. "Claws? I've never used my claws in combat. It'd take killing intent on my part for that." She smiled, "Don't worry, Panda. I don't want to kill you."

His thought fled to Shen. She had used her claws then. Guess she really was mad.

Po entered a defensive stance and clenched his jaw. He was unsure on how this fight was going to go. His body was the same as he remembered, but she was of the past. How much of a difference in strength was there? He didn't have much time to think as she dashed forward. He twisted his neck out of the way, effectively dodging the attack.

He reeled back his fist and struck, grazing her shoulder as she moved to dodge. Despite the time difference, he was surprised. Maybe a stroke of luck? Tigress snarled and struck forward, throwing multiple punches his way. Po dodged the first few before the last one struck his chest. He stumbled back and Tigress rushed forward to continue the assault.

Strike after strike he parried, both of them were a blur, twirling and dancing around each other. However, Po could tell he was losing. He was getting tired while Tigress had yet to start panting. Suddenly she stopped. Po chuckled, "Getting cold feet?"

"You're holding something back." She folded her arms, "If I win, I want it to be because I'm better, not because you were too afraid to fight me with your true power."

Po shrugged, "Caught me red-pawed." He closed his eyes and took a second to take a deep breath. "Are you sure about this? It's going to get humiliating." It wasn't a technique he used often.

"Just do it, already."

He waved his right paw in front of his face and drug his right foot in a circular motion around him. He could feel the energy in his body loosen, almost tranquil in nature. He was glad he could still pull it off. He opened his eyes and stood to his full height. "Ready."

She dashed forward and punched at his chest. Po turned his body and let her pass. She turned and kicked at him. He brought his paw up and and brushed her leg off to the side, forcing her off balance. Despite that, she backflipped onto two feet and pounced forward. She continued her assault and he twisted around each strike before slamming his elbow into the back of her neck.

The power of Inner-Peace.

She pushed herself onto all fours, "How?" When he didn't answer she catapulted into the air and kicked downwards at him. He put his arm up and allowed her leg to slam into it.

His leg buckled and he winced. His body had been moving on its own, but it was starting to make mistakes. He shouldn't have taken that hit. Hr clenched his right paw, letting it simmer with golden energy. "I think that's enough." He slammed his fist into her stomach and the energy rippled through her body. She flew into the wall, shaking the room and fell limp to the floor.

The energy dissipated from his hands. Oh no. He ran over to the wall. "Too much? I thought she was stronger than that." He bent down and reached out a hand to feel her pulse before her arm shot out and knocked his away. He backed off after letting a sigh of relief exit his system.

She pushed herself into a sitting position, "Don't go underestimating me." She placed a hand on her chest, "Just as I did with you. You win." She grumbled out that last part, ears drooping. "I'll keep my secret."

Po smiled, "Thanks, but you okay?"

"Fine." She went quiet, as if thinking about something. "That was chi, right?"

Po blinked, "You know about chi?" Did Tigress know about chi before I fought with Kai?

"We're the Jade Palace, of course we know." She placed a hand on the wall behind her and pushed herself up, "I'm just wondering where you learned it."

Po narrowed his eyes, "I'm done with wagers for today."

She smiled— no, smirked. Po was sure of it. "Maybe you are strong enough to defeat Tai-lung."

Po's eyes widened, no. That was the last he wanted. Where was her stubborn nature? She wasn't supposed to be so happy, so willing for him at the Jade Palace. She was supposed to hate him.

"But, keep one thing in mind. I will catch up." Po smiled at Tigress, at least one thing would remain the same, then.