Here's a three-shot for you guys I came up with. This is what dreamworks should have done with Tigress after kfp1 an apology. The rest is my ideas to make it sweet hehe. Anyway, there should've been a scene where she apologized to Po for insulting him but we never got it. A scene from one of my other favorite cartoons, avatar the last airbender, inspired me to make a similar apology scene, it was the scene was where Zuko made amends with his uncle Iroh for how he treated him through his banishment and especially his betrayal in Ba Sing Se. Here I'm using that almost word for word but I don't own it. This will be emotional and very sweet in the end and there will be a bit of romance towards the end as well so here you go...
*In the Jade Palace in front of the moon pool*
Po had just defeated Tai Lung, and peace was restored upon the valley. Po was relieved to find his master was alive and there, in front of the moon pool, lay an exausted Shifu and Po who were just at peace.
Po broke the calm silence and turned his head to the left to look over to his master laying next to him.
"Wanna go get something to eat?" Po said awkwardly as he twiddled his fingers on his belly.
"Uhhh... yep." Shifu replied quietly and food would seem quite nice at this point to regain their strength.
Tai Lung certainly did a number on Shifu as well as on Po and the rest of the five and dinner sounded like a good idea. A few seconds later, Po got up and helped the red panda to his feet who seemed too tired and hurt to stand. Po then gave him what was left of Oogways staff that Tai Lung broke, and Shifu clutched the staff tightly and leaned on it to stand.
"Thanks, Po." Shifu said straightening himself.
"No problem, master. It's a shame what Tai Lung did to Oogway's staff though." Po said picking up the other hooked piece.
"It's alright, maybe I can repair it later." Shifu replied as Po handed him the top part of the staff.
"Awesome!" Po exclaimed and Shifu smiled weakly.
"Thank you again for saving us, Po you have truly earned the title Dragon Warrior, and exceeded all of our expectations. I'm sorry that we judged you so harshly and bullied you." Shifu said apologetically for realized how judgemental and rude he himself was towards Po for just being humself.
Po smiled and nodded his head. "It's ok Shifu, I forgive you and like I said before, what was said to me may have hurt, but it couldn't have hurt anymore than did everyday just being me." Po said softly getting flashbacks of when he was younger of him getting made fun of for his weight and clumsiness.
"Thank you, dragon warrior and... I'm sorry to hear that, perhaps we can make it up to you - that is if you wish to stay here." Shifu said as the two begin to walk towards the kitchen.
"Ah, it's fine Shifu and of course I'm staying!" Po stated happily with a grin throwing his arms up in the air.
Shifu was shocked he wanted to stay after all that he had and the others did to him. "Wait? You are?" Shifu said surprised to which Po nodded. "I thought you would want to go back down to the village to your father and find a nice girl, and you know... live your normal life." Shifu stated unsure why he still wanted to stay with them.
Po chuckled and rubbed the back of his neck and said, "Nah, I think I'll stay here; I can visit my dad anytime when I'm not busy training..." Po was saying enthusiastically with a smile and Shifu just smiled satisfied as he continued. "...and as for the girl... the one I fancy doesn't really feel the same way, you know?" Po said somewhat sadly with a shrug and then Shifu stopped him before they entered the empty kitchen.
Shifu caught on to what he was saying and already knew whom he was talking about. Shifu then chuckled softly and Po looked at him curiously. Then Shifu punched his arm playfully but hard.
"Ow! Why did you do that for?" Po asked rubbing his arm and Shifu smirked.
"It's Tigress isn't it?" Shifu asked slyly raising a brow and Po's face turned red instantly as he began to stutter nervously. "Yup it's that obvious." he pointed out.
"W-whaaa? Naaaah... I-I-I mean there's no way..." Po stammered nervously and Shifu quickly cut him off by raising his paw.
"C'mon Po, I may be old but I'm no fool. The way you look at her and admire her is so obvious, and not to mention the look on your face, when she broke the tile pieces with a split kick a few days ago." Shifu stated while looking him in the eye, daring him to argue back.
Po sighed in defeat and his cheeks flushed again as he says, "Fine it's true, Shifu. I do have feelings for her, in fact... I'm in love with her, but I'm sure she'll never feel the same way. I don't think we'll ever be together."
Shifu then limped over to him and placed his paw on his shoulder and smiled softly.
"I wouldn't say that, Po you're a... what's the word you use?... awesome guy." Shifu said and Po grinned this was the second time he used Po's words. "Just give her time and perhaps she'll open up to you and you'll have that chance with her." Shifu replied calmly.
Po however was a bit surprised at what he said for he thought he would put the wuxi finger hold on him again if he knew his feelings for his daughter.
Po smiles slightly and said, "Really!?" with excitement in his voice and Shifu nodded softly.
"Of course, Po. Nothing's impossible - didn't Oogway say that? Now... let's get something to eat." Shifu stated and Po nodded then they made their way into the kitchen where Po began to make a batch of dumplings and noodles.
*In the village*
Meanwhile, the whole valley was still foggy from the effects of the wuxi finger hold that Po used to defeat Tai Lung with. When Po ran off to find Shifu, everyone was still happy and excited accepting Po as their dragon warrior. The five along with the valley bowed to him calling his master and the five knew he was one of them now; everyone seemed to be happy... everyone except Tigress.
While the four helped the villagers back into their homes, Tigress just stood there deep in her thoughts. A sad expression was on her face as she remembered how she treated Po when he first arrived telling him he didn't belong here when he did. She insulted him through her jealousy, venom and hatred lacing every word, even calling him fat and a disgrace to kung fu. The hurt expression on his face afterward that she pictured in her mind, caused her guilt to grow even more. What was wrong with being a little chubby? Po was a panda after all, it's not like he could help it.
Now that her jealousy was gone, she started to see what a kind-hearted, nice sweet guy he really was. And now, she thought his chubbiness was not disgusting but rather... adorable. But Tigress knew she had to aplogize to him for what she had said and done to him and these new strange thoughts would have to wait.
What if she had actually slashed at that face of his with her claws? How would she live with herself seeing a big scar on his left cheek for the rest of his life knowing she did that to him. Tigress's guilt and regret got even worse the more she thought about this and then Viper noticed her saddened face and came to her side breaking her out of her thoughts.
"What's on your mind, sister? The valley is safe again... why the sad face?" Viper asked softly as she slithered up next to her.
Viper could tell she was in deep turmoil unlike she had ever seen her in before. Something or someone had gotten past the walls of the hardcore tiger's heart and Viper could see them crumbling at last. Tigress was now starting to open up for the first time in many years and the emotional walls began to come down.
Tigress sighed heavily and turned her head to the snake with the saddest expression Viper ever saw on her face. "It's Po. I... actaully feel aweful for what I said to him out of my jealousy, insulting him like a spoiled child for just being himself. I made fun of him and... I need to apologize." Tigress stated sadly as she hung her head in shame.
Viper then smiled happily that she realized her mistake and that she was finally opening up; the snake then motioned for Tigress to follow her for a much needed walk while the rest followed some distance behind.
Viper then spoke up while they walked towards the thousand steps. "I am glad that you realize what you've done was wrong, sister. It was indeed and yes, you do need to apologize to him but there is something that happened to Po in his childhood that you don't know about, that you should." Viper said calmly and Tigress looked at her curiously and saw her serious expression.
Tigress nodded, "What happened to him?" Tigress asked not feeling any better but worse by the face Viper was giving her.
Viper sighed sadly and began to tell his story that Po told her when Mantis got the acupuncture needles out of his back and what Mr. Ping told her about him, "Po has been picked on a lot in his life and even physically hurt for just being himself. When Po was little, his dad Mr. Ping, would send him out to the market to get groceries and supplies for the noodle shop. It didn't always go smoothly though, many times when he went, older boys would jump him and push him down just because he was clumsy. Then they would proceed to beat him mercilessly, calling him cruel names, making fun of him just because he was overweight..." Viper told her in a sad tone and Tigress was horrified and her hard heart broke as she heard this.
And despite her hard heartedness, she began to feel water in her eyes but held them back. Her guilt only got worse after hearing this. Tigress tried to restrain herself but couldn't as her only thoughts were, "What have I done? I was just another bully for him and I've acted way below a master... how could I have done this?" Viper then continued,
"...And several times he would be sent home to his dad, Mr. Ping, empty handed - often in tears with bruises, and cuts all over his body." Viper said gravely and Tigress's hard heart broke hearing this and she couldn't take it anymore.
Her face contorted and her lip quivered sorrowfully as her mind raced. "Poor, Po..."
"Didn't anyone try to help him?" Tigress asked, grief lacing her words and Viper shook her head. "W-what h-have I done!?" Tigress asked in a shaky voice and Viper sighed as the two stopped half way up the thousand steps.
"Nothing that can't be forgiven or made right, Tigress." Viper stated with a small smile and Tigress felt like the most vile person on earth.
"But how Viper? How!?" Tigress asked somewhat desperately. "There's no way he could ever forgive me after everything I've said and how badly I treated... ugh!" Tigress whispered still fighting back tears but to no avail as a tear finally escaped her eyes and rolled down her cheek.
"Yes there is, Tigress! Po is a very nice guy he will forgive you... you just have ask." Viper stated kindly with a small smile and Tigress tried her best to prevent a sob, feeling guilty and totally ashamed.
"No there's not! I know he is, he's very kind but there's no way he can-" Tigress was saying but Viper cut her off.
"Yes there is! Enough, Tigress he WILL forgive you, again, you just need to ask and stop being afraid to feel for once!" Viper said and Tigress nodded but still wasn't convinced.
"And do you want to know what kept a smile on his face? What helped him stop crying and feel better through his pain?" Viper questioned with a smile growing.
"What?" Tigress whispered weakly.
"It was YOU, Tigress!" Viper said, almost shouted happily and Tigress's eyes widened in shock.
"Me?"
The snake nodded, "After Mr. Ping tended to Po's bruises and cuts, he would then try many things to help him stop crying but none would work. Finally, he would sit him in his lap and tell him stories about the furious five and then he would stop crying. And when he heard about YOU, his eyes lit up! It has been his dream, since he was little to one day meet you, his hero. He's VERY fond of you, Tigress." Viper said now finished with a smile and Tigress painfully smiled back.
"And to think that when he finally meets me; I treat him this way..." she whispered to herself.
As Tigress heard what Viper said, her turmoil and guilt pained within her as she heard how Po had admired her and looked up to her in times of great pain for him. Tigress indeed felt so low for what she said and how she treated him after hearing what Po's been through. Oh, how she wish she wouldn't have said those things to him! Tigress truly cared for him now, and was beginning to feel something for him. Tigress winced painfully at the image of his plushy face all bruised up with blood oozing from the corners of his lips and tears streaming down his cheeks. Tigress knew what she had to do and then Viper broke her out of her thoughts.
"It's time to redeem yourself, Tigress. Go to him. You know what you have to do." Viper said gently but seriously and Tigress nodded with a pained smile.
"Thank you, Viper." Tigress whispered as she kept thinking about all that Viper had said.
"You're welcome sister, now I suppose I should slither back up to the palace." Viper said looking up the steps. "Crane said he needed help with a canvas so I must be going. And remember what I said." Viper said seriously giving her a firm glare and then she slithered up the steps with the other three.
Tigress nodded and she continued up the thousand steps behind the four while deep in thought. Tigress swore to herself that if Po somehow forgave her, she would try to be a real, true friend to him and be there for him making sure no one would hurt or bully him ever again. But for now she had to reconcile with him and make right her deepest regret.
That's it for part 1! What y'all think? Will Tigress be able to make amends with Po and will he forgive her so they can start over on the right foot? Or did her insults hurt him to the very core to the point of no return? Find out in part 2! Sorry if the title sucks but idk what else to name it maybe I'll come up with a better name. And yes I cut out the second chapter plz dont be mad. I decided to not make it three parts but two. Anyway, thanks for reading and plz be nice in the reviews! :) See you in the next chapter!
Peace out!
- Tipofan4life