Hey! So this is my first venture into the Kung Fu Panda fandom… and I've been reading KFP stories for only the last week. I just love it!

So, without further ado… I don't own KFP.

"Sometimes the girl who smiles the most, laughs the loudest, and appears the strongest is the one who cries herself to sleep at night."

It's a Start

I sat there meditating on one of the grass lawns surrounding the palace. There wasn't a cloud in the blue blanket of infinity that we call the sky. The sun cast a soothing layer of warmth on my orange fur. A slight breeze ruffled the grass ever so slightly.

In short, it was a perfect day.

I shifted my focus to my meditation, specifically my Inner Peace. If that black and white lump of fur could achieve harmony with the universe, then so could I.

"Inner peace… inner peace… inner-"

"Ooh, ooh! Come back, pretty butterfly!"

Darn.

And speaking of that black and white lump of fur…

I open one eye to see Po, the famous Dragon Warrior, Savior of China, trying to (and apparently failing at) catching a butterfly.

He seems so engrossed in his task that he doesn't even notice me being here… oh, Po.

I close my eyes and resume my meditation… or at least try to. A few seconds in and I can't seem to evade this nagging feeling I've had since we got back from taking care of Lord Shen. My mind drifts back to what Po said to me…

"-like you Tigress. So hardcore you don't feel anything."

It was then that something clicked. Is that what people really think of me? A stoic, emotionless Kung Fu master?

I was so shocked at the time that I couldn't even tell him the contrary before the others arrived on deck. But I mean is what he said really true?

I know that I tend to burry my feelings away deep inside, but that was the way I was taught. Master Shifu-er, Father, didn't show me many signs of affection growing up, so I learned to shove away the feelings of hurt and just immerse myself in the training, which needed my full attention anyway because of the intensity.

So, I suppose what Po said was true?

No. I can feel pain. I can feel sadness. I just refuse to show it. But what of right now? Do I need to be like that anymore?

I have Viper, Monkey, Crane, and Mantis. And I have a dad who took me in as his own, trained me to become a warrior, and has told me he's proud of me.

And I have Po…

I think back to the hug I gave him at the Gongmen City jail, the first show of emotion I've given anybody in a long time. I remember the feeling of failure and despair when I couldn't save him in time from being blasted by Shen's cannon. I remember the feeling of indescribable relief I felt when I saw him standing there, safe and alive, on the rooftop. I remember how he hugged me immediately after he defeated the crazy peacock.

He wasn't even afraid to do so, like so many others would have been. He saw me as me, and nothing else.

He saw me as a friend.

I took a look at Po. He smiled.

Should I take the chance?

And sure enough, I smile back.

It was at that moment that I knew my answer. And no, I am not going to go all soft. I'm still going to be true to myself and to who I am. I just need... somewhere to start.

I look again to see that Po is now sitting in front of me.

He places the butterfly into my paws.

I can feel another smile tug on my lips as I see Po, with his emerald green eyes, grin in response.

It wasn't much, but it's a start.