Chapter Three: Adopted

"Okay Tigress ready?" Po asked. Tigress tensed up and her eyes were fixed on what was in Po's paw.

"Ready," she said.

"Okay, one, two," Po began. Then he shouted", Three!" and threw what was in his paw in the air. It was a bunch of dominoes and Tigress leaped up and swiped them with her paws. She did a back flip and smiled as she showed them to Po. Yet, the smile faded when she was them broken. It was part of her training to learn to control her strength. Tigress grew angry and threw them to the ground and let out an angry roar. "Tigress calm down it is okay breathe, breathe," Po said gripping her by the shoulders. He was taking a chance for Tigress had her claws out and one wrong move and Po would be sliced and diced. Tigress looked into his jade orbs and felt calm as she put her claws back in and breathed.

"I am sorry Po, I didn't mean to roar like that," she said in an apologetic tone.

"It is fine you just got frustrated it is perfectly understandable," Po said smiling at her.

"I have been at this for months and I still can't do it," Tigress said sadly. Po hugged her and she leaned into him placing her head on his shoulder.

"You will get it I know you will," Po assured her. Then an idea came to him. Tigress was always gently around him for she didn't want to hurt him. Maybe he could use that to help her focus. "Hey Ti I want you to try something okay," Po said releasing her from the hug.

"Okay what?" Tigress asked in confusion.

"When I throw these dominoes in the air pretend they are not dominoes," Po began.

"Okay, and what are they then?" Tigress asked with a confused look.

"Pretend they are tiny ME's and I am about to fall to my death but you can save me if you catch me. But if you are too rough I could break a bone or something so act like you are hugging me. You know how careful you are with me pretend these dominoes are me," Po explained.

"What if it doesn't work?" Tigress asked.

"Then we try something else but for now let's just do this okay. Now get ready," Po told her. Tigress nodded and Po counted and threw the dominoes in the air. Yet when Tigress saw them she did not see dominoes but tiny versions of Po and they were all about to fall. She swiped them with her paws and had her eyes closed. She opened one eye and then opened her paw. All the dominoes were still in one piece.

"Hey it worked I did it. I did it!" Tigress cheered. She rushed into Po's arms and he swung her around.

"Knew you could," Po said happily. "Wait till Shifu comes tomorrow to see how you progressed. He will be so proud of you," Po said as him and Tigress high fived each other. Back at the Jade Palace Master Shifu was meditating with a very old green turtle. His name was Oogway and he was Master Shifu's Master in Kung Fu. During Tigress's training Shifu told him all about Tigress and about her panda friend Po.

"It seems the panda cools young Tigress's fiery spirit," Oogway said smiling.

"Yes, he is a nice boy," Shifu said.

"This Tigress sounds special I am sure she will be a great warrior someday," Oogway said smiling a knowing smile.

"I am sure she could be given the proper training," Shifu said.

"Too bad little Tigress is all alone at the orphanage. When Po goes home she is by herself and being called a monster at such a young age just for being different. That is so sad," Oogway said shedding a tear.

"Yes, Master it is very sad," Shifu said wiping a tear away but hiding it from Oogway. "I have been thinking Master maybe I could adopt Tigress and have her live here," Shifu said.

"Now that sounds like a good idea Shifu a very good idea," Oogway said smiling. The next day, Po had to work at the shop but promised Tigress he would be by later that night. When he was finished with his chores the sun was setting. Po begged his dad if he could go visit Tigress real quick and Mr. Ping said okay but try to be back before it got too dark. Po promised he would and ran all the way to the orphanage. He knocked on the door and the caregiver let him in. He bowed to her and went to Tigress's room.

"Hey Ti, I am here," Po said poking his head through the door and smiling. Tigress was busy packing up her things and gave Po a wide grin.

"Po I have excellent news," Tigress said happily.

"What is it Ti?" Po asked.

"I am getting adopted tomorrow," Tigress said jumping up and down.

"That is awesome Ti," Po said as he held her by the paws and jumped with her. "Who adopted you?" he asked.

"Master Shifu once he saw me complete my training of my strength he told me to pack up my things and tomorrow he was going to adopt me and I would live at the Jade Palace," Tigress said with tears in her eyes. "I never thought I would get adopted but I did I am finally getting out of here," Tigress said as she hugged Po tightly. Po's smile faded as Tigress hugged him. If Tigress went to the Jade Palace to learn more Kung Fu then Po could never see her. Only Kung Fu Master or students got to go into the Jade Palace. And last time Po checked he was neither of those things. This maybe the last time he ever saw Tigress. The only friend he ever had was going to a place that he could never go. Still he hid his sadness for Tigress deserved to get adopted and be a great Kung Fu Master so he will just keep his mouth shut and be happy for her.

"Po are you okay? You are quiet all of a sudden?" Tigress asked looking at him with worried eyes.

"Oh yeah Ti I am just so happy for you I am speechless," Po said smiling but on the inside he was crying. Soon Shifu came and Tigress asked Po the night before to meet her before she left. Po made it five minutes before Shifu and the two cubs waited for him. Shifu came and got Tigress. He could see a sad look in Po's eyes and wondered why the boy was upset. Shifu asked to talk to Po alone and he asked Po why he looked sad.

Po said," Tigress is going to the Jade Palace and I will never see her again because only Kung Fu Masters or students are allowed into the Jade Palace and I am neither. I want Tigress to be happy but she was my first friend and I will miss her dearly". He was fighting tears and Shifu sensed the devotion the panda had for Tigress.

"Do not fear Po, I will make an exception. You can still visit Tigress whenever you want but it will have to be after her training exercises and maybe you can help like you have been doing," Master Shifu said placing a paw on Po's shoulder.

"Really awesome thank you Master Shifu thank you," Po said happily as he bowed to him.

"Well everyone needs a friend and I can't take Tigress's only friend away from her so it is only fitting for her to continue to see you and you help in more ways than you know," Shifu said. He patted Po's head and led Tigress down the path towards the palace.

"Bye Po, see you tomorrow," Tigress called waving happily. Po waved and smiled for he knew that statement would be true.

Author's Note: Hope you all enjoyed this chapter and please review.